diff --git a/zlib/zlib-1.2.8.knapfile b/zlib/zlib-1.2.8.knapfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..22b693a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/zlib/zlib-1.2.8.knapfile
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+recipe "zlib", "1.2.8" do
+  use :autotools
+
+  fetch "http://distfiles.openknapsack.org/#{name}/#{name}-#{version}.tar.gz",
+        :md5 => "44d667c142d7cda120332623eab69f40"
+
+  action :configure do
+    if platform.mingw?
+      # win32/Makefile.gcc needs to be adjusted
+      options.makefile = "win32/Makefile.gcc"
+      work_makefile = work_path(options.makefile)
+      mk = File.read work_makefile
+      File.open work_makefile, "wb" do |f|
+        f.puts "BINARY_PATH  = #{install_path('bin')}"
+        f.puts "INCLUDE_PATH = #{install_path('include')}"
+        f.puts "LIBRARY_PATH = #{install_path('lib')}"
+
+        # TODO: change PREFIX if cross-compiling
+        unless platform.native?
+          mg.sub!(/^PREFIX\s*=\s*$/, "PREFIX = #{platform.host}-")
+        end
+
+        # enable shared object
+        mk.sub!(/^SHARED_MODE\s*=\d*$/, "SHARED_MODE = 1")
+
+        # write the original Makefile content
+        f.puts mk
+      end
+    else
+      # run will chdir into work_path prior executing the command
+      run "sh configure --prefix=#{install_path}"
+    end
+  end
+end