diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 1394be10ad9ba..3612b3a3e9ca4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ jobs:
             ~/.cargo/registry/index
             ~/.cargo/registry/cache
             ~/.cargo/git/db
-          key: 8-cargo-home-${{ matrix.os }}-${{ hashFiles('Cargo.lock') }}
+          key: 9-cargo-home-${{ matrix.os }}-${{ hashFiles('Cargo.lock') }}
 
       # In main branch, always creates fresh cache
       - name: Cache build output (main)
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ jobs:
             !./target/*/*.zip
             !./target/*/*.tar.gz
           key: |
-            8-cargo-target-${{ matrix.os }}-${{ matrix.profile }}-${{ github.sha }}
+            9-cargo-target-${{ matrix.os }}-${{ matrix.profile }}-${{ github.sha }}
 
       # Restore cache from the latest 'main' branch build.
       - name: Cache build output (PR)
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ jobs:
             !./target/*/*.tar.gz
           key: never_saved
           restore-keys: |
-            8-cargo-target-${{ matrix.os }}-${{ matrix.profile }}-
+            9-cargo-target-${{ matrix.os }}-${{ matrix.profile }}-
 
       # Don't save cache after building PRs or branches other than 'main'.
       - name: Skip save cache (PR)
diff --git a/cli/diagnostics.rs b/cli/diagnostics.rs
index 8181c5fa0165b..24d7ab0e7c386 100644
--- a/cli/diagnostics.rs
+++ b/cli/diagnostics.rs
@@ -66,6 +66,12 @@ const UNSTABLE_DENO_PROPS: &[&str] = &[
   "umask",
   "utime",
   "utimeSync",
+  "spawnChild",
+  "Child",
+  "spawn",
+  "spawnSync",
+  "ChildStatus",
+  "SpawnOutput",
 ];
 
 static MSG_MISSING_PROPERTY_DENO: Lazy<Regex> = Lazy::new(|| {
diff --git a/cli/dts/lib.deno.unstable.d.ts b/cli/dts/lib.deno.unstable.d.ts
index 0ad0704690925..6d5ad3af3c38c 100644
--- a/cli/dts/lib.deno.unstable.d.ts
+++ b/cli/dts/lib.deno.unstable.d.ts
@@ -1361,6 +1361,145 @@ declare namespace Deno {
   export function upgradeHttp(
     request: Request,
   ): Promise<[Deno.Conn, Uint8Array]>;
+
+  export interface SpawnOptions {
+    /** Arguments to pass to the process. */
+    args?: string[];
+    /**
+     * The working directory of the process.
+     * If not specified, the cwd of the parent process is used.
+     */
+    cwd?: string | URL;
+    /**
+     * Clear environmental variables from parent process.
+     * Doesn't guarantee that only `opt.env` variables are present,
+     * as the OS may set environmental variables for processes.
+     */
+    clearEnv?: boolean;
+    /** Environmental variables to pass to the subprocess. */
+    env?: Record<string, string>;
+    /**
+     * Sets the child process’s user ID. This translates to a setuid call
+     * in the child process. Failure in the setuid call will cause the spawn to fail.
+     */
+    uid?: number;
+    /** Similar to `uid`, but sets the group ID of the child process. */
+    gid?: number;
+
+    /** Defaults to "null". */
+    stdin?: "piped" | "inherit" | "null";
+    /** Defaults to "piped". */
+    stdout?: "piped" | "inherit" | "null";
+    /** Defaults to "piped". */
+    stderr?: "piped" | "inherit" | "null";
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Spawns a child process.
+   *
+   * If stdin is set to "piped", the stdin WritableStream needs to be closed manually.
+   *
+   * ```ts
+   * const child = Deno.spawnChild(Deno.execPath(), {
+   *   args: [
+   *     "eval",
+   *     "console.log('Hello World')",
+   *   ],
+   *   stdin: "piped",
+   * });
+   *
+   * // open a file and pipe the subprocess output to it.
+   * child.stdout.pipeTo(Deno.openSync("output").writable);
+   *
+   * // manually close stdin
+   * child.stdin.close();
+   * const status = await child.status;
+   * ```
+   */
+  export function spawnChild<T extends SpawnOptions = SpawnOptions>(
+    command: string | URL,
+    options?: T,
+  ): Child<T>;
+
+  export class Child<T extends SpawnOptions> {
+    readonly stdin: T["stdin"] extends "piped" ? WritableStream<Uint8Array>
+      : null;
+    readonly stdout: T["stdout"] extends "inherit" | "null" ? null
+      : ReadableStream<Uint8Array>;
+    readonly stderr: T["stderr"] extends "inherit" | "null" ? null
+      : ReadableStream<Uint8Array>;
+
+    readonly pid: number;
+    /** Get the status of the child. */
+    readonly status: Promise<ChildStatus>;
+
+    /** Waits for the child to exit completely, returning all its output and status. */
+    output(): Promise<SpawnOutput<T>>;
+    /** Kills the process with given Signal. */
+    kill(signo: Signal): void;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Executes a subprocess, waiting for it to finish and
+   * collecting all of its output.
+   * The stdio options are ignored.
+   *
+   * ```ts
+   * const { status, stdout, stderr } = await Deno.spawn(Deno.execPath(), {
+   *   args: [
+   *     "eval",
+   *        "console.log('hello'); console.error('world')",
+   *   ],
+   * });
+   * console.assert(status.code === 0);
+   * console.assert("hello\n" === new TextDecoder().decode(stdout));
+   * console.assert("world\n" === new TextDecoder().decode(stderr));
+   * ```
+   */
+  export function spawn<T extends SpawnOptions = SpawnOptions>(
+    command: string | URL,
+    options?: T,
+  ): Promise<SpawnOutput<T>>;
+
+  /**
+   * Synchronously executes a subprocess, waiting for it to finish and
+   * collecting all of its output.
+   * The stdio options are ignored.
+   *
+   * * ```ts
+   * const { status, stdout, stderr } = Deno.spawnSync(Deno.execPath(), {
+   *   args: [
+   *     "eval",
+   *       "console.log('hello'); console.error('world')",
+   *   ],
+   * });
+   * console.assert(status.code === 0);
+   * console.assert("hello\n" === new TextDecoder().decode(stdout));
+   * console.assert("world\n" === new TextDecoder().decode(stderr));
+   * ```
+   */
+  export function spawnSync<T extends SpawnOptions = SpawnOptions>(
+    command: string | URL,
+    options?: T,
+  ): SpawnOutput<T>;
+
+  export type ChildStatus =
+    | {
+      success: true;
+      code: 0;
+      signal: null;
+    }
+    | {
+      success: false;
+      code: number;
+      signal: number | null;
+    };
+
+  export interface SpawnOutput<T extends SpawnOptions> {
+    status: ChildStatus;
+    stdout: T["stdout"] extends "inherit" | "null" ? null : Uint8Array;
+    stderr: T["stderr"] extends "inherit" | "null" ? null : Uint8Array;
+  }
 }
 
 declare function fetch(
diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/command_test.ts b/cli/tests/unit/command_test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..f7213f03447cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/command_test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,687 @@
+// Copyright 2018-2021 the Deno authors. All rights reserved. MIT license.
+import {
+  assert,
+  assertEquals,
+  assertRejects,
+  assertStringIncludes,
+  assertThrows,
+} from "./test_util.ts";
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { write: true, run: true, read: true } },
+  async function spawnWithCwdIsAsync() {
+    const enc = new TextEncoder();
+    const cwd = await Deno.makeTempDir({ prefix: "deno_command_test" });
+
+    const exitCodeFile = "deno_was_here";
+    const programFile = "poll_exit.ts";
+    const program = `
+async function tryExit() {
+  try {
+    const code = parseInt(await Deno.readTextFile("${exitCodeFile}"));
+    Deno.exit(code);
+  } catch {
+    // Retry if we got here before deno wrote the file.
+    setTimeout(tryExit, 0.01);
+  }
+}
+
+tryExit();
+`;
+
+    Deno.writeFileSync(`${cwd}/${programFile}`, enc.encode(program));
+
+    const child = Deno.spawnChild(Deno.execPath(), {
+      cwd,
+      args: ["run", "--allow-read", programFile],
+      stdout: "inherit",
+      stderr: "inherit",
+    });
+
+    // Write the expected exit code *after* starting deno.
+    // This is how we verify that `Child` is actually asynchronous.
+    const code = 84;
+    Deno.writeFileSync(`${cwd}/${exitCodeFile}`, enc.encode(`${code}`));
+
+    const status = await child.status;
+    await Deno.remove(cwd, { recursive: true });
+    assertEquals(status.success, false);
+    assertEquals(status.code, code);
+    assertEquals(status.signal, null);
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true } },
+  async function spawnStdinPiped() {
+    const child = Deno.spawnChild(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: [
+        "eval",
+        "if (new TextDecoder().decode(await Deno.readAll(Deno.stdin)) !== 'hello') throw new Error('Expected \\'hello\\'')",
+      ],
+      stdin: "piped",
+      stdout: "null",
+      stderr: "null",
+    });
+
+    assert(child.stdin !== null);
+    assert(child.stdout === null);
+    assert(child.stderr === null);
+
+    const msg = new TextEncoder().encode("hello");
+    const writer = child.stdin.getWriter();
+    await writer.write(msg);
+    writer.releaseLock();
+
+    await child.stdin.close();
+    const status = await child.status;
+    assertEquals(status.success, true);
+    assertEquals(status.code, 0);
+    assertEquals(status.signal, null);
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true } },
+  async function spawnStdoutPiped() {
+    const child = Deno.spawnChild(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: [
+        "eval",
+        "await Deno.stdout.write(new TextEncoder().encode('hello'))",
+      ],
+      stderr: "null",
+    });
+
+    assert(child.stdin === null);
+    assert(child.stdout !== null);
+    assert(child.stderr === null);
+
+    const readable = child.stdout.pipeThrough(new TextDecoderStream());
+    const reader = readable.getReader();
+    const res = await reader.read();
+    assert(!res.done);
+    assertEquals(res.value, "hello");
+
+    const resEnd = await reader.read();
+    assert(resEnd.done);
+    assertEquals(resEnd.value, undefined);
+    reader.releaseLock();
+
+    const status = await child.status;
+    assertEquals(status.success, true);
+    assertEquals(status.code, 0);
+    assertEquals(status.signal, null);
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true } },
+  async function spawnStderrPiped() {
+    const child = Deno.spawnChild(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: [
+        "eval",
+        "await Deno.stderr.write(new TextEncoder().encode('hello'))",
+      ],
+      stderr: "piped",
+      stdout: "null",
+    });
+
+    assert(child.stdin === null);
+    assert(child.stdout === null);
+    assert(child.stderr !== null);
+
+    const readable = child.stderr.pipeThrough(new TextDecoderStream());
+    const reader = readable.getReader();
+    const res = await reader.read();
+    assert(!res.done);
+    assertEquals(res.value, "hello");
+
+    const resEnd = await reader.read();
+    assert(resEnd.done);
+    assertEquals(resEnd.value, undefined);
+    reader.releaseLock();
+
+    const status = await child.status;
+    assertEquals(status.success, true);
+    assertEquals(status.code, 0);
+    assertEquals(status.signal, null);
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, write: true, read: true } },
+  async function spawnRedirectStdoutStderr() {
+    const tempDir = await Deno.makeTempDir();
+    const fileName = tempDir + "/redirected_stdio.txt";
+    const file = await Deno.open(fileName, {
+      create: true,
+      write: true,
+    });
+
+    const child = Deno.spawnChild(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: [
+        "eval",
+        "Deno.stderr.write(new TextEncoder().encode('error\\n')); Deno.stdout.write(new TextEncoder().encode('output\\n'));",
+      ],
+    });
+    await child.stdout.pipeTo(file.writable, {
+      preventClose: true,
+    });
+    await child.stderr.pipeTo(file.writable);
+    await child.status;
+
+    const fileContents = await Deno.readFile(fileName);
+    const decoder = new TextDecoder();
+    const text = decoder.decode(fileContents);
+
+    assertStringIncludes(text, "error");
+    assertStringIncludes(text, "output");
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, write: true, read: true } },
+  async function spawnRedirectStdin() {
+    const tempDir = await Deno.makeTempDir();
+    const fileName = tempDir + "/redirected_stdio.txt";
+    const encoder = new TextEncoder();
+    await Deno.writeFile(fileName, encoder.encode("hello"));
+    const file = await Deno.open(fileName);
+
+    const child = Deno.spawnChild(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: [
+        "eval",
+        "if (new TextDecoder().decode(await Deno.readAll(Deno.stdin)) !== 'hello') throw new Error('Expected \\'hello\\'')",
+      ],
+      stdin: "piped",
+      stdout: "null",
+      stderr: "null",
+    });
+    await file.readable.pipeTo(child.stdin, {
+      preventClose: true,
+    });
+
+    await child.stdin.close();
+    const status = await child.status;
+    assertEquals(status.code, 0);
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true } },
+  async function spawnKillSuccess() {
+    const child = Deno.spawnChild(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: ["eval", "setTimeout(() => {}, 10000)"],
+      stdout: "null",
+      stderr: "null",
+    });
+
+    child.kill("SIGKILL");
+    const status = await child.status;
+
+    assertEquals(status.success, false);
+    if (Deno.build.os === "windows") {
+      assertEquals(status.code, 1);
+      assertEquals(status.signal, null);
+    } else {
+      assertEquals(status.code, 137);
+      assertEquals(status.signal, 9);
+    }
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true } },
+  async function spawnKillFailed() {
+    const child = Deno.spawnChild(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: ["eval", "setTimeout(() => {}, 5000)"],
+      stdout: "null",
+      stderr: "null",
+    });
+
+    assertThrows(() => {
+      // @ts-expect-error testing runtime error of bad signal
+      child.kill("foobar");
+    }, TypeError);
+
+    await child.status;
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { read: true, run: false } },
+  async function spawnPermissions() {
+    await assertRejects(async () => {
+      await Deno.spawn(Deno.execPath(), {
+        args: ["eval", "console.log('hello world')"],
+      });
+    }, Deno.errors.PermissionDenied);
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { read: true, run: false } },
+  function spawnSyncPermissions() {
+    assertThrows(() => {
+      Deno.spawnSync(Deno.execPath(), {
+        args: ["eval", "console.log('hello world')"],
+      });
+    }, Deno.errors.PermissionDenied);
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true } },
+  async function spawnSuccess() {
+    const { status } = await Deno.spawn(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: ["eval", "console.log('hello world')"],
+    });
+
+    assertEquals(status.success, true);
+    assertEquals(status.code, 0);
+    assertEquals(status.signal, null);
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true } },
+  function spawnSyncSuccess() {
+    const { status } = Deno.spawnSync(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: ["eval", "console.log('hello world')"],
+    });
+
+    assertEquals(status.success, true);
+    assertEquals(status.code, 0);
+    assertEquals(status.signal, null);
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true } },
+  async function spawnUrl() {
+    const { status, stdout } = await Deno.spawn(
+      new URL(`file:///${Deno.execPath()}`),
+      {
+        args: ["eval", "console.log('hello world')"],
+      },
+    );
+
+    assertEquals(new TextDecoder().decode(stdout), "hello world\n");
+
+    assertEquals(status.success, true);
+    assertEquals(status.code, 0);
+    assertEquals(status.signal, null);
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true } },
+  function spawnSyncUrl() {
+    const { status, stdout } = Deno.spawnSync(
+      new URL(`file:///${Deno.execPath()}`),
+      {
+        args: ["eval", "console.log('hello world')"],
+      },
+    );
+
+    assertEquals(new TextDecoder().decode(stdout), "hello world\n");
+
+    assertEquals(status.success, true);
+    assertEquals(status.code, 0);
+    assertEquals(status.signal, null);
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test({ permissions: { run: true } }, async function spawnNotFound() {
+  await assertRejects(
+    () => Deno.spawn("this file hopefully doesn't exist"),
+    Deno.errors.NotFound,
+  );
+});
+
+Deno.test({ permissions: { run: true } }, function spawnSyncNotFound() {
+  assertThrows(
+    () => Deno.spawnSync("this file hopefully doesn't exist"),
+    Deno.errors.NotFound,
+  );
+});
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true } },
+  async function spawnFailedWithCode() {
+    const { status } = await Deno.spawn(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: ["eval", "Deno.exit(41 + 1)"],
+    });
+    assertEquals(status.success, false);
+    assertEquals(status.code, 42);
+    assertEquals(status.signal, null);
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true } },
+  function spawnSyncFailedWithCode() {
+    const { status } = Deno.spawnSync(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: ["eval", "Deno.exit(41 + 1)"],
+    });
+    assertEquals(status.success, false);
+    assertEquals(status.code, 42);
+    assertEquals(status.signal, null);
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  {
+    permissions: { run: true, read: true },
+  },
+  async function spawnFailedWithSignal() {
+    const { status } = await Deno.spawn(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: ["eval", "--unstable", "Deno.kill(Deno.pid, 'SIGKILL')"],
+    });
+    assertEquals(status.success, false);
+    if (Deno.build.os === "windows") {
+      assertEquals(status.code, 1);
+      assertEquals(status.signal, null);
+    } else {
+      assertEquals(status.code, 128 + 9);
+      assertEquals(status.signal, 9);
+    }
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  {
+    permissions: { run: true, read: true },
+  },
+  function spawnSyncFailedWithSignal() {
+    const { status } = Deno.spawnSync(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: ["eval", "--unstable", "Deno.kill(Deno.pid, 'SIGKILL')"],
+    });
+    assertEquals(status.success, false);
+    if (Deno.build.os === "windows") {
+      assertEquals(status.code, 1);
+      assertEquals(status.signal, null);
+    } else {
+      assertEquals(status.code, 128 + 9);
+      assertEquals(status.signal, 9);
+    }
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true } },
+  async function spawnOutput() {
+    const { stdout } = await Deno.spawn(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: [
+        "eval",
+        "await Deno.stdout.write(new TextEncoder().encode('hello'))",
+      ],
+    });
+
+    const s = new TextDecoder().decode(stdout);
+    assertEquals(s, "hello");
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true } },
+  function spawnSyncOutput() {
+    const { stdout } = Deno.spawnSync(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: [
+        "eval",
+        "await Deno.stdout.write(new TextEncoder().encode('hello'))",
+      ],
+    });
+
+    const s = new TextDecoder().decode(stdout);
+    assertEquals(s, "hello");
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true } },
+  async function spawnStderrOutput() {
+    const { stderr } = await Deno.spawn(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: [
+        "eval",
+        "await Deno.stderr.write(new TextEncoder().encode('error'))",
+      ],
+    });
+
+    const s = new TextDecoder().decode(stderr);
+    assertEquals(s, "error");
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true } },
+  function spawnSyncStderrOutput() {
+    const { stderr } = Deno.spawnSync(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: [
+        "eval",
+        "await Deno.stderr.write(new TextEncoder().encode('error'))",
+      ],
+    });
+
+    const s = new TextDecoder().decode(stderr);
+    assertEquals(s, "error");
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true } },
+  async function spawnOverrideStdio() {
+    const { stdout, stderr } = await Deno.spawn(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: [
+        "eval",
+        "console.log('hello'); console.error('world')",
+      ],
+      stdin: "piped",
+      stdout: "null",
+      stderr: "null",
+    });
+
+    // @ts-ignore: for testing
+    assertEquals(new TextDecoder().decode(stdout), "hello\n");
+    // @ts-ignore: for testing
+    assertEquals(new TextDecoder().decode(stderr), "world\n");
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true } },
+  function spawnSyncOverrideStdio() {
+    const { stdout, stderr } = Deno.spawnSync(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: [
+        "eval",
+        "console.log('hello'); console.error('world')",
+      ],
+      stdin: "piped",
+      stdout: "null",
+      stderr: "null",
+    });
+
+    // @ts-ignore: for testing
+    assertEquals(new TextDecoder().decode(stdout), "hello\n");
+    // @ts-ignore: for testing
+    assertEquals(new TextDecoder().decode(stderr), "world\n");
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true } },
+  async function spawnEnv() {
+    const { stdout } = await Deno.spawn(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: [
+        "eval",
+        "Deno.stdout.write(new TextEncoder().encode(Deno.env.get('FOO') + Deno.env.get('BAR')))",
+      ],
+      env: {
+        FOO: "0123",
+        BAR: "4567",
+      },
+    });
+    const s = new TextDecoder().decode(stdout);
+    assertEquals(s, "01234567");
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true } },
+  function spawnEnv() {
+    const { stdout } = Deno.spawnSync(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: [
+        "eval",
+        "Deno.stdout.write(new TextEncoder().encode(Deno.env.get('FOO') + Deno.env.get('BAR')))",
+      ],
+      env: {
+        FOO: "0123",
+        BAR: "4567",
+      },
+    });
+    const s = new TextDecoder().decode(stdout);
+    assertEquals(s, "01234567");
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true, env: true } },
+  async function spawnClearEnv() {
+    const { stdout } = await Deno.spawn(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: [
+        "eval",
+        "-p",
+        "JSON.stringify(Deno.env.toObject())",
+      ],
+      clearEnv: true,
+      env: {
+        FOO: "23147",
+      },
+    });
+
+    const obj = JSON.parse(new TextDecoder().decode(stdout));
+
+    // can't check for object equality because the OS may set additional env
+    // vars for processes, so we check if PATH isn't present as that is a common
+    // env var across OS's and isn't set for processes.
+    assertEquals(obj.FOO, "23147");
+    assert(!("PATH" in obj));
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { run: true, read: true, env: true } },
+  function spawnSyncClearEnv() {
+    const { stdout } = Deno.spawnSync(Deno.execPath(), {
+      args: [
+        "eval",
+        "-p",
+        "JSON.stringify(Deno.env.toObject())",
+      ],
+      clearEnv: true,
+      env: {
+        FOO: "23147",
+      },
+    });
+
+    const obj = JSON.parse(new TextDecoder().decode(stdout));
+
+    // can't check for object equality because the OS may set additional env
+    // vars for processes, so we check if PATH isn't present as that is a common
+    // env var across OS's and isn't set for processes.
+    assertEquals(obj.FOO, "23147");
+    assert(!("PATH" in obj));
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  {
+    permissions: { run: true, read: true },
+    ignore: Deno.build.os === "windows",
+  },
+  async function spawnUid() {
+    const { stdout } = await Deno.spawn("id", {
+      args: ["-u"],
+    });
+
+    const currentUid = new TextDecoder().decode(stdout);
+
+    if (currentUid !== "0") {
+      await assertRejects(async () => {
+        await Deno.spawn("echo", {
+          args: ["fhqwhgads"],
+          uid: 0,
+        });
+      }, Deno.errors.PermissionDenied);
+    }
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  {
+    permissions: { run: true, read: true },
+    ignore: Deno.build.os === "windows",
+  },
+  function spawnSyncUid() {
+    const { stdout } = Deno.spawnSync("id", {
+      args: ["-u"],
+    });
+
+    const currentUid = new TextDecoder().decode(stdout);
+
+    if (currentUid !== "0") {
+      assertThrows(() => {
+        Deno.spawnSync("echo", {
+          args: ["fhqwhgads"],
+          uid: 0,
+        });
+      }, Deno.errors.PermissionDenied);
+    }
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  {
+    permissions: { run: true, read: true },
+    ignore: Deno.build.os === "windows",
+  },
+  async function spawnGid() {
+    const { stdout } = await Deno.spawn("id", {
+      args: ["-g"],
+    });
+
+    const currentGid = new TextDecoder().decode(stdout);
+
+    if (currentGid !== "0") {
+      await assertRejects(async () => {
+        await Deno.spawn("echo", {
+          args: ["fhqwhgads"],
+          gid: 0,
+        });
+      }, Deno.errors.PermissionDenied);
+    }
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  {
+    permissions: { run: true, read: true },
+    ignore: Deno.build.os === "windows",
+  },
+  function spawnSyncGid() {
+    const { stdout } = Deno.spawnSync("id", {
+      args: ["-g"],
+    });
+
+    const currentGid = new TextDecoder().decode(stdout);
+
+    if (currentGid !== "0") {
+      assertThrows(() => {
+        Deno.spawnSync("echo", {
+          args: ["fhqwhgads"],
+          gid: 0,
+        });
+      }, Deno.errors.PermissionDenied);
+    }
+  },
+);
diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/process_test.ts b/cli/tests/unit/process_test.ts
index e4e2cc3c52661..5acb9222682d0 100644
--- a/cli/tests/unit/process_test.ts
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/process_test.ts
@@ -557,8 +557,9 @@ Deno.test(
 
     const obj = JSON.parse(new TextDecoder().decode(await p.output()));
 
-    // can't check for object equality because the OS may set additional env vars for processes
-    // so we check if PATH isn't present as that is a common env var across OS's and isn't set for processes.
+    // can't check for object equality because the OS may set additional env
+    // vars for processes, so we check if PATH isn't present as that is a common
+    // env var across OS's and isn't set for processes.
     assertEquals(obj.FOO, "23147");
     assert(!("PATH" in obj));
 
diff --git a/ext/web/lib.deno_web.d.ts b/ext/web/lib.deno_web.d.ts
index 8c845ced105f9..13ad113fe2a94 100644
--- a/ext/web/lib.deno_web.d.ts
+++ b/ext/web/lib.deno_web.d.ts
@@ -630,6 +630,7 @@ interface WritableStreamErrorCallback {
 interface WritableStream<W = any> {
   readonly locked: boolean;
   abort(reason?: any): Promise<void>;
+  close(): Promise<void>;
   getWriter(): WritableStreamDefaultWriter<W>;
 }
 
diff --git a/runtime/js/40_spawn.js b/runtime/js/40_spawn.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..c55ce657de3c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/js/40_spawn.js
@@ -0,0 +1,206 @@
+// Copyright 2018-2021 the Deno authors. All rights reserved. MIT license.
+"use strict";
+
+((window) => {
+  const core = window.Deno.core;
+  const { pathFromURL } = window.__bootstrap.util;
+  const { illegalConstructorKey } = window.__bootstrap.webUtil;
+  const {
+    ArrayPrototypeMap,
+    ObjectEntries,
+    String,
+    TypeError,
+    Uint8Array,
+    PromiseAll,
+  } = window.__bootstrap.primordials;
+  const { readableStreamForRid, writableStreamForRid } =
+    window.__bootstrap.streamUtils;
+
+  function spawnChild(command, {
+    args = [],
+    cwd = undefined,
+    clearEnv = false,
+    env = {},
+    uid = undefined,
+    gid = undefined,
+    stdin = "null",
+    stdout = "piped",
+    stderr = "piped",
+  } = {}) {
+    const child = core.opSync("op_spawn_child", {
+      cmd: pathFromURL(command),
+      args: ArrayPrototypeMap(args, String),
+      cwd: pathFromURL(cwd),
+      clearEnv,
+      env: ObjectEntries(env),
+      uid,
+      gid,
+      stdin,
+      stdout,
+      stderr,
+    });
+    return new Child(illegalConstructorKey, child);
+  }
+
+  async function collectOutput(readableStream) {
+    if (!(readableStream instanceof ReadableStream)) {
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    const bufs = [];
+    let size = 0;
+    for await (const chunk of readableStream) {
+      bufs.push(chunk);
+      size += chunk.byteLength;
+    }
+
+    const buffer = new Uint8Array(size);
+    let offset = 0;
+    for (const chunk of bufs) {
+      buffer.set(chunk, offset);
+      offset += chunk.byteLength;
+    }
+
+    return buffer;
+  }
+
+  class Child {
+    #rid;
+
+    #pid;
+    get pid() {
+      return this.#pid;
+    }
+
+    #stdinRid;
+    #stdin = null;
+    get stdin() {
+      return this.#stdin;
+    }
+
+    #stdoutRid;
+    #stdout = null;
+    get stdout() {
+      return this.#stdout;
+    }
+
+    #stderrRid;
+    #stderr = null;
+    get stderr() {
+      return this.#stderr;
+    }
+
+    constructor(key = null, {
+      rid,
+      pid,
+      stdinRid,
+      stdoutRid,
+      stderrRid,
+    } = null) {
+      if (key !== illegalConstructorKey) {
+        throw new TypeError("Illegal constructor.");
+      }
+
+      this.#rid = rid;
+      this.#pid = pid;
+
+      if (stdinRid !== null) {
+        this.#stdinRid = stdinRid;
+        this.#stdin = writableStreamForRid(stdinRid);
+      }
+
+      if (stdoutRid !== null) {
+        this.#stdoutRid = stdoutRid;
+        this.#stdout = readableStreamForRid(stdoutRid);
+      }
+
+      if (stderrRid !== null) {
+        this.#stderrRid = stderrRid;
+        this.#stderr = readableStreamForRid(stderrRid);
+      }
+
+      this.#status = core.opAsync("op_spawn_wait", this.#rid).then((res) => {
+        this.#rid = null;
+        return res;
+      });
+    }
+
+    #status;
+    get status() {
+      return this.#status;
+    }
+
+    async output() {
+      if (this.#rid === null) {
+        throw new TypeError("Child process has already terminated.");
+      }
+      if (this.#stdout?.locked) {
+        throw new TypeError(
+          "Can't collect output because stdout is locked",
+        );
+      }
+      if (this.#stderr?.locked) {
+        throw new TypeError(
+          "Can't collect output because stderr is locked",
+        );
+      }
+
+      const [status, stdout, stderr] = await PromiseAll([
+        this.#status,
+        collectOutput(this.#stdout),
+        collectOutput(this.#stderr),
+      ]);
+
+      return {
+        status,
+        stdout,
+        stderr,
+      };
+    }
+
+    kill(signo) {
+      if (this.#rid === null) {
+        throw new TypeError("Child process has already terminated.");
+      }
+      core.opSync("op_kill", this.#pid, signo);
+    }
+  }
+
+  function spawn(command, options) { // TODO(@crowlKats): more options (like input)?
+    return spawnChild(command, {
+      ...options,
+      stdin: "null",
+      stdout: "piped",
+      stderr: "piped",
+    }).output();
+  }
+
+  function spawnSync(command, {
+    args = [],
+    cwd = undefined,
+    clearEnv = false,
+    env = {},
+    uid = undefined,
+    gid = undefined,
+  } = {}) { // TODO(@crowlKats): more options (like input)?
+    return core.opSync("op_spawn_sync", {
+      cmd: pathFromURL(command),
+      args: ArrayPrototypeMap(args, String),
+      cwd: pathFromURL(cwd),
+      clearEnv,
+      env: ObjectEntries(env),
+      uid,
+      gid,
+      stdin: "null",
+      stdout: "piped",
+      stderr: "piped",
+    });
+  }
+
+  window.__bootstrap.spawn = {
+    Child,
+    spawnChild,
+    spawn,
+    spawnSync,
+  };
+})(this);
diff --git a/runtime/js/90_deno_ns.js b/runtime/js/90_deno_ns.js
index ddaecd7c9fc24..61e894f8a003c 100644
--- a/runtime/js/90_deno_ns.js
+++ b/runtime/js/90_deno_ns.js
@@ -151,5 +151,9 @@
     funlockSync: __bootstrap.fs.funlockSync,
     refTimer: __bootstrap.timers.refTimer,
     unrefTimer: __bootstrap.timers.unrefTimer,
+    Child: __bootstrap.spawn.Child,
+    spawnChild: __bootstrap.spawn.spawnChild,
+    spawn: __bootstrap.spawn.spawn,
+    spawnSync: __bootstrap.spawn.spawnSync,
   };
 })(this);
diff --git a/runtime/ops/io.rs b/runtime/ops/io.rs
index b8449af86b743..34cd541d5cd33 100644
--- a/runtime/ops/io.rs
+++ b/runtime/ops/io.rs
@@ -134,6 +134,10 @@ where
     stream.shutdown().await?;
     Ok(())
   }
+
+  pub fn into_inner(self) -> S {
+    self.stream.into_inner()
+  }
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -178,6 +182,10 @@ where
       .await?;
     Ok((nread, buf))
   }
+
+  pub fn into_inner(self) -> S {
+    self.stream.into_inner()
+  }
 }
 
 pub type ChildStdinResource = WriteOnlyResource<process::ChildStdin>;
diff --git a/runtime/ops/mod.rs b/runtime/ops/mod.rs
index 750dfe0f2c6bd..526c36d6305af 100644
--- a/runtime/ops/mod.rs
+++ b/runtime/ops/mod.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ pub mod permissions;
 pub mod process;
 pub mod runtime;
 pub mod signal;
+pub mod spawn;
 pub mod tty;
 mod utils;
 pub mod web_worker;
diff --git a/runtime/ops/spawn.rs b/runtime/ops/spawn.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..196a7eed65f2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/ops/spawn.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,263 @@
+// Copyright 2018-2021 the Deno authors. All rights reserved. MIT license.
+
+use super::io::ChildStderrResource;
+use super::io::ChildStdinResource;
+use super::io::ChildStdoutResource;
+use crate::permissions::Permissions;
+use deno_core::error::AnyError;
+use deno_core::op;
+use deno_core::Extension;
+use deno_core::OpState;
+use deno_core::Resource;
+use deno_core::ResourceId;
+use deno_core::ZeroCopyBuf;
+use serde::Deserialize;
+use serde::Serialize;
+use std::borrow::Cow;
+use std::cell::RefCell;
+use std::process::ExitStatus;
+use std::rc::Rc;
+
+#[cfg(unix)]
+use std::os::unix::prelude::ExitStatusExt;
+#[cfg(unix)]
+use std::os::unix::process::CommandExt;
+
+pub fn init() -> Extension {
+  Extension::builder()
+    .ops(vec![
+      op_spawn_child::decl(),
+      op_spawn_wait::decl(),
+      op_spawn_sync::decl(),
+    ])
+    .build()
+}
+
+struct ChildResource(tokio::process::Child);
+
+impl Resource for ChildResource {
+  fn name(&self) -> Cow<str> {
+    "child".into()
+  }
+}
+
+#[derive(Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+pub enum Stdio {
+  Inherit,
+  Piped,
+  Null,
+}
+
+fn subprocess_stdio_map(s: &Stdio) -> Result<std::process::Stdio, AnyError> {
+  match s {
+    Stdio::Inherit => Ok(std::process::Stdio::inherit()),
+    Stdio::Piped => Ok(std::process::Stdio::piped()),
+    Stdio::Null => Ok(std::process::Stdio::null()),
+  }
+}
+
+#[derive(Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+pub struct SpawnArgs {
+  cmd: String,
+  args: Vec<String>,
+  cwd: Option<String>,
+  clear_env: bool,
+  env: Vec<(String, String)>,
+  #[cfg(unix)]
+  gid: Option<u32>,
+  #[cfg(unix)]
+  uid: Option<u32>,
+
+  #[serde(flatten)]
+  stdio: ChildStdio,
+}
+
+#[derive(Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+pub struct ChildStdio {
+  stdin: Stdio,
+  stdout: Stdio,
+  stderr: Stdio,
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+pub struct ChildStatus {
+  success: bool,
+  code: i32,
+  signal: Option<i32>,
+}
+
+impl From<std::process::ExitStatus> for ChildStatus {
+  fn from(status: ExitStatus) -> Self {
+    let code = status.code();
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    let signal = status.signal();
+    #[cfg(not(unix))]
+    let signal = None;
+
+    if let Some(signal) = signal {
+      ChildStatus {
+        success: false,
+        code: 128 + signal,
+        signal: Some(signal),
+      }
+    } else {
+      let code = code.expect("Should have either an exit code or a signal.");
+
+      ChildStatus {
+        success: code == 0,
+        code,
+        signal: None,
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+pub struct SpawnOutput {
+  status: ChildStatus,
+  stdout: Option<ZeroCopyBuf>,
+  stderr: Option<ZeroCopyBuf>,
+}
+
+fn create_command(
+  state: &mut OpState,
+  args: SpawnArgs,
+) -> Result<std::process::Command, AnyError> {
+  super::check_unstable(state, "Deno.spawn");
+  state.borrow_mut::<Permissions>().run.check(&args.cmd)?;
+
+  let mut command = std::process::Command::new(args.cmd);
+  command.args(args.args);
+
+  if let Some(cwd) = args.cwd {
+    command.current_dir(cwd);
+  }
+
+  if args.clear_env {
+    command.env_clear();
+  }
+  command.envs(args.env);
+
+  #[cfg(unix)]
+  if let Some(gid) = args.gid {
+    super::check_unstable(state, "Deno.spawn.gid");
+    command.gid(gid);
+  }
+  #[cfg(unix)]
+  if let Some(uid) = args.uid {
+    super::check_unstable(state, "Deno.spawn.uid");
+    command.uid(uid);
+  }
+  #[cfg(unix)]
+  unsafe {
+    command.pre_exec(|| {
+      libc::setgroups(0, std::ptr::null());
+      Ok(())
+    });
+  }
+
+  command.stdin(subprocess_stdio_map(&args.stdio.stdin)?);
+  command.stdout(subprocess_stdio_map(&args.stdio.stdout)?);
+  command.stderr(subprocess_stdio_map(&args.stdio.stderr)?);
+
+  Ok(command)
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+struct Child {
+  rid: ResourceId,
+  pid: u32,
+  stdin_rid: Option<ResourceId>,
+  stdout_rid: Option<ResourceId>,
+  stderr_rid: Option<ResourceId>,
+}
+
+#[op]
+fn op_spawn_child(
+  state: &mut OpState,
+  args: SpawnArgs,
+) -> Result<Child, AnyError> {
+  let mut command = tokio::process::Command::from(create_command(state, args)?);
+  // TODO(@crowlkats): allow detaching processes.
+  //  currently deno will orphan a process when exiting with an error or Deno.exit()
+  // We want to kill child when it's closed
+  command.kill_on_drop(true);
+
+  let mut child = command.spawn()?;
+  let pid = child.id().expect("Process ID should be set.");
+
+  let stdin_rid = child
+    .stdin
+    .take()
+    .map(|stdin| state.resource_table.add(ChildStdinResource::from(stdin)));
+
+  let stdout_rid = child
+    .stdout
+    .take()
+    .map(|stdout| state.resource_table.add(ChildStdoutResource::from(stdout)));
+
+  let stderr_rid = child
+    .stderr
+    .take()
+    .map(|stderr| state.resource_table.add(ChildStderrResource::from(stderr)));
+
+  let child_rid = state.resource_table.add(ChildResource(child));
+
+  Ok(Child {
+    rid: child_rid,
+    pid,
+    stdin_rid,
+    stdout_rid,
+    stderr_rid,
+  })
+}
+
+#[op]
+async fn op_spawn_wait(
+  state: Rc<RefCell<OpState>>,
+  rid: ResourceId,
+) -> Result<ChildStatus, AnyError> {
+  let resource = state
+    .borrow_mut()
+    .resource_table
+    .take::<ChildResource>(rid)?;
+  Ok(
+    Rc::try_unwrap(resource)
+      .ok()
+      .unwrap()
+      .0
+      .wait()
+      .await?
+      .into(),
+  )
+}
+
+#[op]
+fn op_spawn_sync(
+  state: &mut OpState,
+  args: SpawnArgs,
+) -> Result<SpawnOutput, AnyError> {
+  let stdout = matches!(args.stdio.stdout, Stdio::Piped);
+  let stderr = matches!(args.stdio.stderr, Stdio::Piped);
+  let output = create_command(state, args)?.output()?;
+
+  Ok(SpawnOutput {
+    status: output.status.into(),
+    stdout: if stdout {
+      Some(output.stdout.into())
+    } else {
+      None
+    },
+    stderr: if stderr {
+      Some(output.stderr.into())
+    } else {
+      None
+    },
+  })
+}
diff --git a/runtime/web_worker.rs b/runtime/web_worker.rs
index f4c040aa4fb1e..ac103addae422 100644
--- a/runtime/web_worker.rs
+++ b/runtime/web_worker.rs
@@ -427,6 +427,7 @@ impl WebWorker {
       .enabled(options.use_deno_namespace),
       ops::permissions::init().enabled(options.use_deno_namespace),
       ops::process::init().enabled(options.use_deno_namespace),
+      ops::spawn::init().enabled(options.use_deno_namespace),
       ops::signal::init().enabled(options.use_deno_namespace),
       ops::tty::init().enabled(options.use_deno_namespace),
       deno_http::init().enabled(options.use_deno_namespace),
diff --git a/runtime/worker.rs b/runtime/worker.rs
index fa147a7e669b8..37047570362f9 100644
--- a/runtime/worker.rs
+++ b/runtime/worker.rs
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ impl MainWorker {
         options.create_web_worker_cb.clone(),
         options.web_worker_preload_module_cb.clone(),
       ),
+      ops::spawn::init(),
       ops::fs_events::init(),
       ops::fs::init(),
       ops::io::init(),