diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 88fb675..13b8ecc 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,39 +1,53 @@
 install:
-	cd backend && dep ensure
-	cd backend && go install ./...
-	cd frontend && npm install
+	@echo "* Installing Go dependencies"
+	@cd backend && dep ensure
+	@echo "* Pre-building Go code"
+	@cd backend && go install ./...
+	@echo "* Installing JavaScript dependencies"
+	@cd frontend && npm install &> /dev/null
 
 build: assets
-	go build -tags=binassets -o backend/build/cmdui backend/main.go
-	@echo Build complete!
-	@echo Binary is located at backend/build/cmdui
+	@echo "* Building binary"
+	@go build -tags=binassets -o backend/build/cmdui backend/main.go
+	@echo "* Build complete!"
+	@echo "* Binary is located at backend/build/cmdui"
 
 build_linux: assets build_docker
 
 build_docker:
-	cd backend && docker build . -t cmdui:build
-	cd backend && docker run -i -v ${PWD}/backend/build:/build cmdui:build \
-		go build -tags=binassets -o /build/cmdui_linux main.go
-	gzip -kf backend/build/cmdui_linux
-	@echo Build complete!
-	@echo Binary: backend/build/cmdui_linux
-	@echo GZIP:   backend/build/cmdui_linux.gz
+	@echo "* Preparing Docker image"
+	@cd backend && docker build . -t cmdui:build &>/dev/null
+	@echo "* Building Linux binary"
+	@cd backend && docker run -i -v ${PWD}/backend/build:/build cmdui:build \
+			go build -tags=binassets -o /build/cmdui_linux main.go \
+			&>/dev/null
+	@echo "* Creating GZIP archive"
+	@gzip -kf backend/build/cmdui_linux
+	@echo "* Build complete!"
+	@echo "* Binary: backend/build/cmdui_linux"
+	@echo "* GZIP:   backend/build/cmdui_linux.gz"
 
 assets:
-	cd frontend && npm run build
-	go-bindata-assetfs \
+	@echo "* Compiling asset files"
+	@cd frontend && npm run build &>/dev/null
+	@echo "* Building embedded assets file"
+	@go-bindata-assetfs \
 		-o=backend/api/assets/bindata_assetfs.go \
 		-pkg=assets \
 		-prefix=frontend/build \
-		frontend/build/...
+		frontend/build/... \
+		&>/dev/null
 
 clean:
-	rm -rf frontend/build
-	rm -rf backend/build
-	rm -f backend/api/assets/bindata_assetfs.go
+	@echo "* Removing build artefacts"
+	@rm -rf frontend/build
+	@rm -rf backend/build
+	@rm -f backend/api/assets/bindata_assetfs.go
 
 create_db:
-	sqlite3 backend/data/cmdui.db < backend/schema_sqlite.sql
+	@echo "* Creating a blank database"
+	@sqlite3 backend/data/cmdui.db < backend/schema_sqlite.sql
+	@echo "* Here it is: backend/data/cmdui.db"
 
 cloc:
-	cloc --exclude-dir=vendor,build,node_modules .
+	@cloc --exclude-dir=vendor,build,node_modules .