diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 0b1e0a74..d044531f 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@ use base64::display::Base64Display;
 use base64::engine::general_purpose::STANDARD;
 use clap::{Arg, ArgAction, Command};
 
-use simplicityhl::ast::ElementsJetHinter;
+use simplicityhl::ast::{CoreJetHinter, ElementsJetHinter, JetHinter};
+#[cfg(feature = "external-jets")]
+use simplicityhl::jet::external::{init_external_jet_lib, ExternalJetHinter};
 use simplicityhl::version::SimcDirective;
 use simplicityhl::{
     resolution::DependencyMapBuilder, source::CanonPath, source::CanonSourceFile, AbiMeta,
@@ -10,6 +12,7 @@ use simplicityhl::{
 };
 use simplicityhl::{UnstableFeature, UnstableFeatures};
 use std::path::Path;
+use std::str::FromStr;
 use std::{env, fmt};
 
 #[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(serde::Serialize))]
@@ -44,6 +47,82 @@ impl fmt::Display for Output {
     }
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone)]
+enum Target {
+    Elements,
+    Core,
+    #[cfg(feature = "external-jets")]
+    External(String),
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+struct TargetParseError(String);
+
+impl fmt::Display for TargetParseError {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        write!(f, "{}", self.0)
+    }
+}
+
+impl std::error::Error for TargetParseError {}
+
+#[cfg(feature = "external-jets")]
+const TARGET_HELP: &str =
+    "Target platform for compilation (e.g., --target=elements|core or --target=external:./my_target.dylib)";
+
+#[cfg(not(feature = "external-jets"))]
+const TARGET_HELP: &str = "Target platform for compilation (e.g., --target=elements|core)";
+
+impl Target {
+    #[allow(clippy::unnecessary_wraps)]
+    fn jet_hinter(&self) -> Result<Box<dyn JetHinter>, Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
+        match self {
+            Target::Elements => Ok(Box::new(ElementsJetHinter::new())),
+            Target::Core => Ok(Box::new(CoreJetHinter::new())),
+            #[cfg(feature = "external-jets")]
+            Target::External(path) => {
+                unsafe {
+                    init_external_jet_lib(path)?;
+                }
+
+                Ok(Box::new(ExternalJetHinter::new()))
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl FromStr for Target {
+    type Err = TargetParseError;
+
+    fn from_str(s: &str) -> Result<Self, Self::Err> {
+        match s {
+            "elements" => Ok(Target::Elements),
+            "core" => Ok(Target::Core),
+            #[cfg(feature = "external-jets")]
+            _ if s.starts_with("external:") => {
+                let path = s.trim_start_matches("external:");
+                if path.is_empty() {
+                    Err(TargetParseError(
+                        "Invalid target: external target path cannot be empty".to_string(),
+                    ))
+                } else {
+                    Ok(Target::External(path.to_string()))
+                }
+            }
+            #[cfg(feature = "external-jets")]
+            _ => Err(TargetParseError(format!(
+                "Unknown target: {}. Use one of: elements, core, external:<path>",
+                s
+            ))),
+            #[cfg(not(feature = "external-jets"))]
+            _ => Err(TargetParseError(format!(
+                "Unknown target: {}. Use one of: elements, core",
+                s
+            ))),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     let command = {
         Command::new(env!("CARGO_BIN_NAME"))
@@ -111,6 +190,16 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
                     .value_parser(clap::value_parser!(UnstableFeature))
                     .help(simplicityhl::UnstableFeature::help_message()),
             )
+            .arg(
+                Arg::new("target")
+                    .long("target")
+                    .short('t')
+                    .value_name("TARGET")
+                    .default_value("elements")
+                    .action(ArgAction::Set)
+                    .value_parser(clap::value_parser!(Target))
+                    .help(TARGET_HELP),
+            )
     };
 
     let matches = command.get_matches();
@@ -151,6 +240,10 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
         simplicityhl::Arguments::default()
     };
 
+    let target = matches
+        .get_one::<Target>("target")
+        .expect("target argument should have a default value");
+
     let dep_args = matches
         .get_many::<String>("dependencies")
         .unwrap_or_default();
@@ -201,7 +294,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
         &unstable_features,
         args_opt,
         include_debug_symbols,
-        Box::new(ElementsJetHinter::new()),
+        target.jet_hinter()?,
     ) {
         Ok(program) => program,
         Err(e) => {