diff --git a/lisp/progmodes/project.el b/lisp/progmodes/project.el
index f2a27ff91dd..263b980ac18 100644
--- a/lisp/progmodes/project.el
+++ b/lisp/progmodes/project.el
@@ -51,6 +51,16 @@
 ;; files inside the root must not be considered a part of it).  It
 ;; should be consistent with `project-files'.
 ;;
+;; `project-extra-info' is a user custom variable and a method to
+;; specify extra project information like build command or equivalent.
+;; The variable is a plist were the values can be strings or functions
+;; that receive the project-current as argument.  The
+;; `project-extra-info' expect project current as first parameter and an
+;; extra parameter equivalent to the plist key.  The user defined plist
+;; takes precedence over the backend defined methods, but all the
+;; specializations are optional and the functions calling them may
+;; provide conditions in case both are undefined.
+;;
 ;; This list can change in future versions.
 ;;
 ;; Transient project:
@@ -295,6 +305,52 @@ project-external-roots
 headers search path, load path, class path, and so on."
   nil)
 
+(defcustom project-extra-info nil
+  "Project extra info defined in user space.
+
+This is intended to be set by the user.  This is expected to be a plist
+with key entries for compile.  At the moment the implemented keys are
+`:compile-command' and `:test-command'.  The entries may be either
+string constants, paths or functions.  This custom has a symmetric
+generic method with the same name that are intended to be implemented by
+the project backends.  When this variable is defined it takes precedence
+over the backend methods."
+  :safe t
+  :version "30.1"
+  :type '(plist :key-type (choice (const :build-dir)
+                                  (const :compile-command))
+                :value-type (choice string
+                                    directory
+                                    function)))
+
+(cl-defgeneric project-extra-info (_project _info)
+  "Return extra INFO for the current PROJECT.
+
+This function is intended to be defined by the backend when needed.
+Otherwise this returns nil and the `project-compile' command will use
+some default values.  The current valid values for INFO are the same key
+types in `project-extra-info': `:test-command' and `:compile-command'
+This method is independent from the custom variable with same name
+because project.el initializes itself lazily and variable propagation
+within directories and buffers already open will require too much work
+in the user side potentially more error prone."
+  nil)
+
+(defun project--get-extra-info (project info)
+  "Steps to get PROJECT's INFO internally.
+1. Parse the user defined variable `project-extra-info'.  If the key
+exists:
+   a. Check if it is a function and call it passing project as the first
+parameter.
+   b. If the key is a string return it as is.
+   c. Otherwise return nil.
+2. Else call the backend defined method `project-extra-info'."
+  (if-let* ((value (plist-get project-extra-info info)))
+      (cond ((functionp value) (funcall value project))
+            ((stringp info) info)
+            (t nil))
+    (project-extra-info project info)))
+
 (cl-defgeneric project-name (project)
   "A human-readable name for the PROJECT.
 Nominally unique, but not enforced."
@@ -1477,16 +1533,32 @@ project-compilation-buffer-name-function
                         project-prefixed-buffer-name)
                  (function :tag "Custom function")))
 
-;;;###autoload
-(defun project-compile ()
-  "Run `compile' in the project root."
-  (declare (interactive-only compile))
-  (interactive)
-  (let ((default-directory (project-root (project-current t)))
-        (compilation-buffer-name-function
-         (or project-compilation-buffer-name-function
-             compilation-buffer-name-function)))
-    (call-interactively #'compile)))
+(defmacro project-compile-helper (name command-key)
+  "Run `compile' in the project root.
+When the variable `project-extra-info' contains the entries
+`command-key' or the project backend specializes the method
+`project-extra-info' for those values; then this command uses that
+instead of the default `compile-command'."
+  `(defun ,name ()
+     (declare (interactive-only compile))
+     (interactive)
+     (let* ((project (project-current t))
+            (default-directory (project-root project))
+            (compile-command
+	     (or (project--get-extra-info project ,command-key)
+                 compile-command))
+            (compilation-buffer-name-function
+	     (or project-compilation-buffer-name-function
+	         compilation-buffer-name-function)))
+       (call-interactively #'compile))))
+
+
+;;;###autoload (autoload 'project-compile "project")
+(project-compile-helper project-compile :compile-command)
+
+;;;###autoload (autoload 'project-test "project")
+(project-compile-helper project-test :test-command)
+
 
 ;;;###autoload
 (defun project-recompile (&optional edit-command)