diff --git a/.buildkite/linux/entrypoint b/.buildkite/linux/entrypoint
index 8bda23ad1..5686997b2 100755
--- a/.buildkite/linux/entrypoint
+++ b/.buildkite/linux/entrypoint
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ if [ "$CLEAR_RUST" = "1" ]; then
     rm -rf $BUILD_ROOT/rust
 fi
 
-./ninja pylib/anki qt/aqt check
+./ninja pylib qt check
 
 echo "--- Ensure libs importable"
 SKIP_RUN=1 ./run
diff --git a/.buildkite/mac/entrypoint b/.buildkite/mac/entrypoint
index 4534cac36..a1754a2a7 100755
--- a/.buildkite/mac/entrypoint
+++ b/.buildkite/mac/entrypoint
@@ -7,4 +7,4 @@ mkdir -p $STATE
 
 echo "+++ Building and testing"
 ln -sf out/node_modules .
-BUILD_ROOT=$STATE/build ./ninja pylib/anki qt/aqt wheels check
+BUILD_ROOT=$STATE/build ./ninja pylib qt wheels check
diff --git a/.buildkite/windows/entrypoint.bat b/.buildkite/windows/entrypoint.bat
index 1b45b7455..f3c544e52 100755
--- a/.buildkite/windows/entrypoint.bat
+++ b/.buildkite/windows/entrypoint.bat
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ if exist \buildkite\state\node_modules (
     move \buildkite\state\node_modules .
 )
 
-call tools\ninja build pylib/anki qt/aqt check || exit /b 1
+call tools\ninja build pylib qt check || exit /b 1
 
 echo --- Cleanup
 move out \buildkite\state\
diff --git a/build/configure/src/aqt.rs b/build/configure/src/aqt.rs
index 8d50c8b25..6b6f2706e 100644
--- a/build/configure/src/aqt.rs
+++ b/build/configure/src/aqt.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ fn build_forms(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
         py_files.push(outpath.replace(".ui", "_qt6.py"));
     }
     build.add_action(
-        "qt/aqt:forms",
+        "qt:aqt:forms",
         RunCommand {
             command: ":pyenv:bin",
             args: "$script $first_form",
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ fn build_forms(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
 /// _aqt module.
 fn build_generated_sources(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
     build.add_action(
-        "qt/aqt:hooks.py",
+        "qt:aqt:hooks.py",
         RunCommand {
             command: ":pyenv:bin",
             args: "$script $out",
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ fn build_generated_sources(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
         },
     )?;
     build.add_action(
-        "qt/aqt:sass_vars",
+        "qt:aqt:sass_vars",
         RunCommand {
             command: ":pyenv:bin",
             args: "$script $root_scss $out",
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ fn build_generated_sources(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
     // we need to add a py.typed file to the generated sources, or mypy
     // will ignore them when used with the generated wheel
     build.add_action(
-        "qt/aqt:py.typed",
+        "qt:aqt:py.typed",
         CopyFile {
             input: "qt/aqt/py.typed".into(),
             output: "qt/_aqt/py.typed",
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ fn build_css(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
         out_path.set_extension("css");
 
         build.add_action(
-            "qt/aqt:data/web/css",
+            "qt:aqt:data:web:css",
             CompileSass {
                 input: scss.into(),
                 output: out_path.as_str(),
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ fn build_css(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
         ".css",
     );
     build.add_action(
-        "qt/aqt:data/web/css",
+        "qt:aqt:data:web:css",
         CopyFiles {
             inputs: other_ts_css.into(),
             output_folder: "qt/_aqt/data/web/css",
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ fn build_css(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
 
 fn build_imgs(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
     build.add_action(
-        "qt/aqt:data/web/imgs",
+        "qt:aqt:data:web:imgs",
         CopyFiles {
             inputs: inputs![glob!["qt/aqt/data/web/imgs/*"]],
             output_folder: "qt/_aqt/data/web/imgs",
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ fn build_imgs(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
 fn build_js(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
     for ts_file in &["deckbrowser", "webview", "toolbar", "reviewer-bottom"] {
         build.add_action(
-            "qt/aqt:data/web/js",
+            "qt:aqt:data:web:js",
             EsbuildScript {
                 script: "ts/transform_ts.mjs".into(),
                 entrypoint: format!("qt/aqt/data/web/js/{ts_file}.ts").into(),
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ fn build_js(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
         ".js",
     );
     build.add_action(
-        "qt/aqt:data/web/js",
+        "qt:aqt:data:web:js",
         CopyFiles {
             inputs: files_from_ts.into(),
             output_folder: "qt/_aqt/data/web/js",
@@ -199,9 +199,9 @@ fn build_js(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
 }
 
 fn build_vendor_js(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
-    build.add_action("qt/aqt:data/web/js/vendor:mathjax", copy_mathjax())?;
+    build.add_action("qt:aqt:data:web:js:vendor:mathjax", copy_mathjax())?;
     build.add_action(
-        "qt/aqt:data/web/js/vendor",
+        "qt:aqt:data:web:js:vendor",
         CopyFiles {
             inputs: inputs![
                 ":node_modules:jquery",
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ fn build_vendor_js(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
 
 fn build_pages(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
     build.add_action(
-        "qt/aqt:data/web/pages",
+        "qt:aqt:data:web:pages",
         CopyFiles {
             inputs: inputs![":ts:pages"],
             output_folder: "qt/_aqt/data/web/pages",
@@ -229,30 +229,30 @@ fn build_pages(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
 fn build_icons(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
     build_themed_icons(build)?;
     build.add_action(
-        "qt/aqt:data/qt/icons:mdi_unthemed",
+        "qt:aqt:data:qt:icons:mdi_unthemed",
         CopyFiles {
             inputs: inputs![":node_modules:mdi_unthemed"],
             output_folder: "qt/_aqt/data/qt/icons",
         },
     )?;
     build.add_action(
-        "qt/aqt:data/qt/icons:from_src",
+        "qt:aqt:data:qt:icons:from_src",
         CopyFiles {
             inputs: inputs![glob!["qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/*.{png,svg}"]],
             output_folder: "qt/_aqt/data/qt/icons",
         },
     )?;
     build.add_action(
-        "qt/aqt:data/qt/icons",
+        "qt:aqt:data:qt:icons",
         RunCommand {
             command: ":pyenv:bin",
             args: "$script $out $in",
             inputs: hashmap! {
                 "script" => inputs!["qt/tools/build_qrc.py"],
                 "in" => inputs![
-                    ":qt/aqt:data/qt/icons:mdi_unthemed",
-                    ":qt/aqt:data/qt/icons:mdi_themed",
-                    ":qt/aqt:data/qt/icons:from_src",
+                    ":qt:aqt:data:qt:icons:mdi_unthemed",
+                    ":qt:aqt:data:qt:icons:mdi_themed",
+                    ":qt:aqt:data:qt:icons:from_src",
                 ]
             },
             outputs: hashmap! {
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ fn build_themed_icons(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
             colors.extend(extra);
         }
         build.add_action(
-            "qt/aqt:data/qt/icons:mdi_themed",
+            "qt:aqt:data:qt:icons:mdi_themed",
             BuildThemedIcon {
                 src_icon: path,
                 colors,
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ impl BuildAction for BuildThemedIcon<'_> {
         build.add_inputs("pyenv_bin", inputs![":pyenv:bin"]);
         build.add_inputs("script", inputs!["qt/tools/color_svg.py"]);
         build.add_inputs("in", inputs![self.src_icon.as_str()]);
-        build.add_inputs("", inputs![":qt/aqt:sass_vars"]);
+        build.add_inputs("", inputs![":qt:aqt:sass_vars"]);
         build.add_variable("colors", self.colors.join(":"));
         build.add_outputs("out", outputs);
     }
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ impl BuildAction for BuildThemedIcon<'_> {
 fn build_macos_helper(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
     if cfg!(target_os = "macos") {
         build.add_action(
-            "qt/aqt:data/lib:libankihelper",
+            "qt:aqt:data:lib:libankihelper",
             RunCommand {
                 command: ":pyenv:bin",
                 args: "$script $out $in",
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ fn build_wheel(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
             src_folder: "qt/aqt",
             gen_folder: "$builddir/qt/_aqt",
             platform: None,
-            deps: inputs![":qt/aqt", glob!("qt/aqt/**"), "python/requirements.aqt.in"],
+            deps: inputs![":qt:aqt", glob!("qt/aqt/**"), "python/requirements.aqt.in"],
         },
     )
 }
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ fn check_python(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
         PythonTest {
             folder: "qt/tests",
             python_path: &["pylib", "$builddir/pylib", "$builddir/qt"],
-            deps: inputs![":pylib/anki", ":qt/aqt", glob!["qt/tests/**"]],
+            deps: inputs![":pylib:anki", ":qt:aqt", glob!["qt/tests/**"]],
         },
     )
 }
diff --git a/build/configure/src/main.rs b/build/configure/src/main.rs
index d0c21099f..377b06c08 100644
--- a/build/configure/src/main.rs
+++ b/build/configure/src/main.rs
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
     check_sql(build)?;
     check_minilints(build)?;
 
-    build.trailing_text = "default pylib/anki qt/aqt\n".into();
+    build.trailing_text = "default pylib qt\n".into();
 
     build.write_build_file();
 
diff --git a/build/configure/src/pylib.rs b/build/configure/src/pylib.rs
index 070c100aa..3b59fcc2d 100644
--- a/build/configure/src/pylib.rs
+++ b/build/configure/src/pylib.rs
@@ -21,14 +21,14 @@ use crate::python::GenPythonProto;
 pub fn build_pylib(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
     // generated files
     build.add_action(
-        "pylib/anki:proto",
+        "pylib:anki:proto",
         GenPythonProto {
             proto_files: inputs![glob!["proto/anki/*.proto"]],
         },
     )?;
 
     build.add_action(
-        "pylib/anki:_fluent.py",
+        "pylib:anki:_fluent.py",
         RunCommand {
             command: ":pyenv:bin",
             args: "$script $strings $out",
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ pub fn build_pylib(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
         },
     )?;
     build.add_action(
-        "pylib/anki:hooks_gen.py",
+        "pylib:anki:hooks_gen.py",
         RunCommand {
             command: ":pyenv:bin",
             args: "$script $out",
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@ pub fn build_pylib(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
         },
     )?;
     build.add_action(
-        "pylib/anki:_rsbridge",
+        "pylib:anki:rsbridge",
         LinkFile {
-            input: inputs![":pylib/rsbridge"],
+            input: inputs![":pylib:rsbridge"],
             output: &format!(
                 "pylib/anki/_rsbridge.{}",
                 match build.host_platform {
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ pub fn build_pylib(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
             ),
         },
     )?;
-    build.add_action("pylib/anki:buildinfo.py", GenBuildInfo {})?;
+    build.add_action("pylib:anki:buildinfo.py", GenBuildInfo {})?;
 
     // wheel
     build.add_action(
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ pub fn build_pylib(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
             gen_folder: "$builddir/pylib/anki",
             platform: overriden_python_target_platform().or(Some(build.host_platform)),
             deps: inputs![
-                ":pylib/anki",
+                ":pylib:anki",
                 glob!("pylib/anki/**"),
                 "python/requirements.anki.in",
             ],
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ pub fn check_pylib(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
         PythonTest {
             folder: "pylib/tests",
             python_path: &["$builddir/pylib"],
-            deps: inputs![":pylib/anki", glob!["pylib/{anki,tests}/**"]],
+            deps: inputs![":pylib:anki", glob!["pylib/{anki,tests}/**"]],
         },
     )
 }
diff --git a/build/configure/src/python.rs b/build/configure/src/python.rs
index c5fb330b6..82cea4845 100644
--- a/build/configure/src/python.rs
+++ b/build/configure/src/python.rs
@@ -175,8 +175,8 @@ pub fn check_python(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
             ],
             deps: inputs![
                 glob!["{pylib,ftl,qt}/**/*.{py,pyi}"],
-                ":pylib/anki",
-                ":qt/aqt"
+                ":pylib:anki",
+                ":qt:aqt"
             ],
         },
     )?;
@@ -191,9 +191,9 @@ fn add_pylint(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
     // so we need to merge our pylib sources and generated files before invoking it,
     // and add a top-level __init__.py
     build.add_action(
-        "pylint/anki",
+        "check:pylint:copy_pylib",
         RsyncFiles {
-            inputs: inputs![":pylib/anki"],
+            inputs: inputs![":pylib:anki"],
             target_folder: "pylint/anki",
             strip_prefix: "$builddir/pylib/anki",
             // avoid copying our large rsbridge binary
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ fn add_pylint(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
         },
     )?;
     build.add_action(
-        "pylint/anki",
+        "check:pylint:copy_pylib",
         RsyncFiles {
             inputs: inputs![glob!["pylib/anki/**"]],
             target_folder: "pylint/anki",
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ fn add_pylint(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
         },
     )?;
     build.add_action(
-        "pylint/anki",
+        "check:pylint:copy_pylib",
         RunCommand {
             command: ":pyenv:bin",
             args: "$script $out",
@@ -231,8 +231,8 @@ fn add_pylint(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
             ],
             pylint_ini: inputs![".pylintrc"],
             deps: inputs![
-                ":pylint/anki",
-                ":qt/aqt",
+                ":check:pylint:copy_pylib",
+                ":qt:aqt",
                 glob!("{pylib/tools,ftl,qt,python,tools}/**/*.py")
             ],
         },
diff --git a/build/configure/src/rust.rs b/build/configure/src/rust.rs
index e6c8d1efc..a0ae0526d 100644
--- a/build/configure/src/rust.rs
+++ b/build/configure/src/rust.rs
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ fn build_rsbridge(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
         "native-tls"
     };
     build.add_action(
-        "pylib/rsbridge",
+        "pylib:rsbridge",
         CargoBuild {
             inputs: inputs![
                 glob!["{pylib/rsbridge/**,rslib/**}"],
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ pub fn check_rust(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
     let inputs = inputs![
         inputs,
         // defer tests until build has completed; ensure re-run on changes
-        ":pylib/rsbridge"
+        ":pylib:rsbridge"
     ];
 
     build.add_action(
diff --git a/build/ninja_gen/src/configure.rs b/build/ninja_gen/src/configure.rs
index 50f55722b..211ed1500 100644
--- a/build/ninja_gen/src/configure.rs
+++ b/build/ninja_gen/src/configure.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ pub struct ConfigureBuild {}
 
 impl BuildAction for ConfigureBuild {
     fn command(&self) -> &str {
-        "$cmd && ninja -f $builddir/build.ninja -t cleandead"
+        "$cmd"
     }
 
     fn files(&mut self, build: &mut impl FilesHandle) {
diff --git a/docs/build.md b/docs/build.md
index b1f4dbeaf..14fdd9d97 100644
--- a/docs/build.md
+++ b/docs/build.md
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ The build/ folder is made up of 4 packages:
 
 If you run into trouble with the build process:
 
-- You can see the executed commands with e.g. `./ninja pylib/anki -v`
+- You can see the executed commands with e.g. `./ninja pylib -v`
 - You can see the output of successful commands by defining OUTPUT_SUCCESS=1
 - You can see what's triggering a rebuild of a target with e.g.
   `./ninja qt/anki -d explain`.
diff --git a/run b/run
index bca066321..27fbda0a0 100755
--- a/run
+++ b/run
@@ -6,5 +6,5 @@ export PYTHONWARNINGS=default
 export PYTHONPYCACHEPREFIX=out/pycache
 export ANKIDEV=1
 
-./ninja pylib/anki qt/aqt
+./ninja pylib qt
 ./out/pyenv/bin/python tools/run.py $*
diff --git a/run.bat b/run.bat
index 81b4df042..c8a1fb306 100755
--- a/run.bat
+++ b/run.bat
@@ -8,6 +8,6 @@ set ANKIDEV=1
 REM put mpv on the path
 set PATH=%PATH%;out\extracted\win_amd64_audio
 
-call tools\ninja pylib/anki qt/aqt extract:win_amd64_audio || exit /b 1
+call tools\ninja pylib qt extract:win_amd64_audio || exit /b 1
 .\out\pyenv\scripts\python tools\run.py %* || exit /b 1
 popd
diff --git a/tools/dmypy b/tools/dmypy
index b24c9ffa8..4f3b93a95 100755
--- a/tools/dmypy
+++ b/tools/dmypy
@@ -2,5 +2,5 @@
 #
 # Run mypy in daemon mode for fast checking
 
-./ninja pylib/anki qt/aqt
+./ninja pylib qt
 MYPY_CACHE_DIR=out/tests/mypy out/pyenv/bin/dmypy run pylib/anki qt/aqt pylib/tests
diff --git a/tools/run-qt5.14 b/tools/run-qt5.14
index e5aa9ae1e..a4ee95f88 100755
--- a/tools/run-qt5.14
+++ b/tools/run-qt5.14
@@ -6,5 +6,5 @@ export PYTHONWARNINGS=default
 export PYTHONPYCACHEPREFIX=out/pycache
 export ANKIDEV=1
 
-./ninja pylib/anki qt/aqt pyenv-qt5.14
+./ninja pylib qt pyenv-qt5.14
 ./out/pyenv-qt5.14/bin/python tools/run.py $*
diff --git a/tools/run-qt5.15 b/tools/run-qt5.15
index 93cb9af2f..753ef561e 100755
--- a/tools/run-qt5.15
+++ b/tools/run-qt5.15
@@ -6,5 +6,5 @@ export PYTHONWARNINGS=default
 export PYTHONPYCACHEPREFIX=out/pycache
 export ANKIDEV=1
 
-./ninja pylib/anki qt/aqt pyenv-qt5.15
+./ninja pylib qt pyenv-qt5.15
 ./out/pyenv-qt5.15/bin/python tools/run.py $*