diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 01c0bf9..106d3d9 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@ fn run(params: &mut RunParams, test_data_glob: &str) -> Result<()> {
 /// Builder for configuring and running testscript tests
 ///
 /// This provides a fluent interface for setting up and executing test scripts.
-/// Network detection and 35+ common programs are automatically detected by default.
 ///
 /// ## Automatic Condition Detection
 ///
@@ -79,11 +78,10 @@ fn run(params: &mut RunParams, test_data_glob: &str) -> Result<()> {
 /// - **Platform conditions**: `[unix]`, `[windows]`, `[linux]`, `[darwin]`, `[macos]`
 /// - **Network condition**: `[net]` - Tests network connectivity by pinging reliable hosts
 /// - **Build conditions**: `[debug]`, `[release]` - Based on compilation flags
-/// - **Program conditions**: `[exec:program]` - Detects 15+ common programs including:
-///   - Basic tools: cat, echo, ls, mkdir, rm, cp, mv, grep, find
-///   - Development: git, make, curl, python, node, docker  
-///   - System: sleep, true, false, sh
+/// - **Program conditions**: `[exec:program]` - Checks if a program is available in PATH
 /// - **Environment conditions**: `[env:VAR]` - Dynamic checking of environment variables
+/// - **Program existence**: `[exec:program]` - Checks if a program is available in PATH
+/// - **Negation**: Use `!` to negate any condition, e.g. `[!windows]`, `[!env:CI]`, `[!exec:git]`
 ///
 /// ## Examples
 ///
diff --git a/src/run/execution.rs b/src/run/execution.rs
index db1c8ea..551d7ce 100644
--- a/src/run/execution.rs
+++ b/src/run/execution.rs
@@ -197,8 +197,9 @@ fn execute_command_inner(
         let condition_met = if let Some(value) = params.conditions.get(condition) {
             *value
         } else if condition.starts_with("env:") {
-            // Dynamic environment variable condition
             RunParams::check_env_condition(condition)
+        } else if let Some(program) = condition.strip_prefix("exec:") {
+            RunParams::program_exists(program)
         } else if let Some(base_condition) = condition.strip_prefix('!') {
             // Handle negated conditions
             if let Some(value) = params.conditions.get(base_condition) {
@@ -206,6 +207,8 @@ fn execute_command_inner(
             } else if base_condition.starts_with("env:") {
                 // Dynamic negated environment variable condition
                 !RunParams::check_env_condition(base_condition)
+            } else if let Some(program) = base_condition.strip_prefix("exec:") {
+                !RunParams::program_exists(program)
             } else {
                 return Err(Error::UnknownCondition {
                     condition: base_condition.to_string(),
diff --git a/src/run/params.rs b/src/run/params.rs
index 461a794..0b98c6c 100644
--- a/src/run/params.rs
+++ b/src/run/params.rs
@@ -42,39 +42,6 @@ impl RunParams {
         // Add network condition - check if network is available by default
         conditions.insert("net".to_string(), Self::check_network_available());
 
-        // Check for common programs - optimized set for better CI performance
-        let common_programs = [
-            // Essential Unix/Windows commands (most likely to exist)
-            "cat",
-            "echo",
-            "ls",
-            "mkdir",
-            "rm",
-            "cp",
-            "mv",
-            "grep",
-            "find",
-            // Core development tools that are commonly available
-            "git",
-            "make",
-            "curl",
-            "python",
-            "node",
-            "docker",
-            // System tools
-            "sleep",
-            "true",
-            "false",
-            "sh",
-            // Test programs (for testing purposes - these likely don't exist)
-            "nonexistent_rare_program_xyz123",
-        ];
-
-        for program in &common_programs {
-            let condition_name = format!("exec:{}", program);
-            conditions.insert(condition_name, Self::program_exists(program));
-        }
-
         // Check UPDATE_SCRIPTS environment variable
         let update_scripts = std::env::var("UPDATE_SCRIPTS")
             .map(|v| v == "1" || v.to_lowercase() == "true")
@@ -116,7 +83,9 @@ impl RunParams {
     }
 
     /// Check if a program exists in PATH (cross-platform)
-    fn program_exists(program: &str) -> bool {
+    pub fn program_exists(program: &str) -> bool {
+        // TODO: Consider caching results for performance if needed
+
         // Use different commands based on platform
         #[cfg(windows)]
         let check_cmd = "where";