diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f68e8f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+name: main
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    branches: [ main ]
+jobs:
+  pre_commit_run:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+      - uses: pre-commit/action@v3.0.0
+  unit_tests:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - run: sudo apt-get install clang-19 -y
+      - run: cmake -S . -B build && cmake --build build
+      - run: ./build/willow_test
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 6622204..ec9da65 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,2 +1,4 @@
 iris.log
-build/ 
+build/
+.gdb_history
+.cache
diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index 3d928b2..1fee693 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 ---
+exclude: ^include|^build
 repos:
   - repo: https://github.com/pre-commit/pre-commit-hooks
     rev: v6.0.0
@@ -16,19 +17,10 @@ repos:
     hooks:
       - id: clang-format
         exclude: ".json"
-  - repo: local
-    hooks:
-      - id: clang-tidy
-        name: clang-tidy
-        language: system
-        entry: clang-tidy -p build/compile_commands.json -extra-arg=-std=c++23
-        files: cpp
-        exclude: "^build/"
   - repo: https://github.com/cmake-lint/cmake-lint
     rev: 1.4.3
     hooks:
       - id: cmakelint
-        exclude: "^include/"
   - repo: https://github.com/asottile/reorder-python-imports
     rev: v3.16.0
     hooks:
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bf6718d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.30)
+set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER "/usr/bin/clang++")
+project(willow-test LANGUAGES CXX)
+
+set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 23)
+set(CMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS ON)
+
+add_compile_options(-g)
+add_compile_options(-Wall)
+add_compile_options(-Wextra)
+add_compile_options(-Wconversion)
+add_compile_options(-Wimplicit-fallthrough)
+
+add_subdirectory(src/willow)
+add_executable(willow_test src/main.cpp)
+target_link_libraries(willow_test PRIVATE willow)
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 46be4a5..cc91cfb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 # Willow
 
-A unit testing library for modern c++23 
+A unit testing library for modern c++23
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0e83379
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#include "tests/test_reporters.h"
+#include "tests/test_test.h"
+#include "tests/test_willow.h"
+#include "willow/reporters.h"
+#include "willow/willow.h"
+
+auto main() -> int {
+    Willow::PreCommitReporter reporter = {};
+
+    return Willow::runTests(
+        {
+            {"test_runTests", test_runTests},
+            {"test_alert", test_alert},
+            {"test_toString", test_toString},
+            {"test_Test_Operator()", test_Test_Operator},
+            {"PreCommitReporter::print", TestPreCommitReporter::test_print},
+            {"PreCommitReporter::cleanup", TestPreCommitReporter::test_cleanup},
+            {"PreCommitReporter::highlight", TestPreCommitReporter::test_highlight},
+        },
+        reporter);
+}
diff --git a/src/tests/testReporter.h b/src/tests/testReporter.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b5abc86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tests/testReporter.h
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#ifndef WILLOW_TEST_SILENT_REPORTER_H
+#define WILLOW_TEST_SILENT_REPORTER_H
+
+#include "willow/reporters.h"
+
+class SilentReporter : public Willow::Reporter {
+   public:
+    constexpr SilentReporter() {}
+    constexpr inline auto print([[maybe_unused]] const Willow::Test& test) -> void {}
+    constexpr inline auto cleanup() -> void {}
+};
+
+#endif  // WILLOW_TEST_SILENT_REPORTER_H
diff --git a/src/tests/test_reporters.h b/src/tests/test_reporters.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..13937a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tests/test_reporters.h
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#include "willow/reporters.h"
+
+// PreCommitReporter
+class TestPreCommitReporter : public Willow::PreCommitReporter {
+   public:
+    static constexpr auto test_print([[maybe_unused]] Willow::Test* test) -> int {
+        // NOTE: WE can test the logic and what's held in `results`
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    static constexpr auto test_cleanup([[maybe_unused]] Willow::Test* test) -> int { return 0; }
+
+    static constexpr auto test_highlight([[maybe_unused]] Willow::Test* test) -> int { return 0; }
+};
diff --git a/src/tests/test_test.h b/src/tests/test_test.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..62e2642
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tests/test_test.h
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#include "willow/test.h"
+
+constexpr auto test_toString([[maybe_unused]] Willow::Test* test) -> int {
+    if (Willow::toString(Willow::Status::None) != "None") {
+        return 1;
+    }
+    if (Willow::toString(Willow::Status::Pass) != "Passed") {
+        return 2;
+    }
+    if (Willow::toString(Willow::Status::Fail) != "Failed") {
+        return 3;
+    }
+    if (Willow::toString(Willow::Status::Skip) != "Skipped") {
+        return 4;
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+namespace FixtureFuncs {
+    constexpr auto op_bracket([[maybe_unused]] Willow::Test* t) -> int {
+        return 42;
+    }
+}  // namespace FixtureFuncs
+
+constexpr auto test_Test_Operator([[maybe_unused]] Willow::Test* test) -> int {
+    Willow::Test t = {"t", FixtureFuncs::op_bracket};
+    t();
+
+    return !(t.retcode == 42);
+}
diff --git a/src/tests/test_willow.h b/src/tests/test_willow.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1ff04a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tests/test_willow.h
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+#include "testReporter.h"
+#include "willow/willow.h"
+
+namespace FixtureFuncs {
+    constexpr auto pass([[maybe_unused]] Willow::Test* t) -> int {
+        return 0;
+    }
+    constexpr auto fail([[maybe_unused]] Willow::Test* t) -> int {
+        return 1;
+    }
+};  // namespace FixtureFuncs
+
+constexpr auto test_runTests([[maybe_unused]] Willow::Test* test) -> int {
+    SilentReporter r = {};
+    int ret = Willow::runTests(
+        {{"pass", FixtureFuncs::pass},
+         {"fail", FixtureFuncs::fail},
+         {"skip", FixtureFuncs::fail, Willow::Status::Skip}},
+        r);
+
+    return !(ret == 1);
+}
+
+constexpr auto test_alert([[maybe_unused]] Willow::Test* test) -> int {
+    Willow::Test t {};
+    Willow::alert(&t, "fail");
+
+    if (t.msg.has_value() && t.msg.value() == "fail") {
+        return 0;
+    }
+    return 1;
+}
diff --git a/src/willow/CMakeLists.txt b/src/willow/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..868b0c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/willow/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+add_library(willow STATIC
+    willow.cpp
+)
+
+target_include_directories(willow PUBLIC
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/..
+)
diff --git a/src/willow/reporters.h b/src/willow/reporters.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..63f8e6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/willow/reporters.h
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+#ifndef WILLOW_REPORTER_H
+#define WILLOW_REPORTER_H
+
+#include <print>
+
+#include "test.h"
+
+namespace Willow {
+    class Reporter {
+       public:
+        virtual constexpr auto print(const Test& test) -> void = 0;
+        virtual constexpr auto cleanup() -> void = 0;
+        virtual constexpr ~Reporter() = default;
+    };
+
+    class DefaultReporter : public Reporter {
+       private:
+        int test_count = 0;
+
+       public:
+        inline constexpr auto print(const Test& test) -> void {
+            std::println("[{}] {}\t{}", ++test_count, test.name, toString(test.status));
+        }
+
+        inline constexpr auto cleanup() -> void {}
+    };
+
+    // A reporter that displays based on the output from pre-commit
+    class PreCommitReporter : public Reporter {
+       protected:
+        struct Results {
+            int pass = 0;
+            int fail = 0;
+            int skip = 0;
+        };
+
+        const std::size_t screen_len = 80;
+        Results results = {};
+
+       public:
+        inline constexpr auto print(const Test& test) -> void {
+            const std::size_t name_len = test.name.size();
+            const std::size_t status_len = toString(test.status).size();
+            const std::string ansi = highlight(test.status);
+
+            std::println(
+                "{}{}{}{}\x1b[0m", test.name,
+                std::string(screen_len - (name_len + status_len), '.'), ansi,
+                toString(test.status));
+
+            if (test.status == Status::Fail) {
+                results.fail++;
+                std::println("\x1b[31m\tReturn code: {}\x1b[0m", test.retcode);
+                if (test.msg.has_value()) {
+                    std::println("\x1b[31m\t{}\x1b[0m", test.msg.value());
+                }
+
+            } else if (test.status == Status::Skip) {
+                results.skip++;
+                if (test.msg.has_value()) {
+                    std::println("\x1b[33m\t{}\x1b[0m", test.msg.value());
+                }
+            } else {
+                results.pass++;
+            }
+        }
+
+        inline constexpr auto cleanup() -> void {
+            Status final =
+                (results.fail ? Status::Fail : (results.skip ? Status::Skip : Status::Pass));
+
+            auto make_bar = [&](std::size_t len) { return std::string((len - 2) / 2, '='); };
+
+            switch (final) {
+                case Status::Pass: {
+                    std::string msg = "All tests passed!";
+                    std::println(
+                        "\x1b[32m{} {} {}\x1b[0m", make_bar((screen_len - msg.size()) + 1), msg,
+                        make_bar(screen_len - msg.size()));
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case Status::Skip: {
+                    std::string msg = std::to_string(results.pass) + " tests passed (" +
+                                      std::to_string(results.skip) + " skipped)";
+                    std::println(
+                        "\x1b[33m{} {} {}\x1b[0m", make_bar(screen_len - msg.size()), msg,
+                        make_bar(screen_len - msg.size()));
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case Status::Fail: {
+                    std::string msg = std::to_string(results.fail) + " tests failed, (" +
+                                      std::to_string(results.pass) + " passed)";
+                    std::println(
+                        "\x1b[31m{} {} {}\x1b[0m", make_bar(screen_len - msg.size()), msg,
+                        make_bar(screen_len - msg.size()));
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case Status::None:
+                default:
+                    break;
+            }
+        }
+
+        inline constexpr auto highlight(const Status& st) -> std::string {
+            switch (st) {
+                case Status::None:
+                    return "\x1b[0m";
+                    break;
+                case Status::Pass:
+                    return "\x1b[42m";
+                    break;
+                case Status::Fail:
+                    return "\x1b[41m";
+                    break;
+                case Status::Skip:
+                    return "\x1b[43m";
+                    break;
+            }
+
+            return "";
+        }
+    };
+
+}  // namespace Willow
+
+#endif  // WILLOW_REPORTER_H
diff --git a/src/willow/test.h b/src/willow/test.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bb8fa15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/willow/test.h
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+#ifndef WILLOW_TEST_H
+#define WILLOW_TEST_H
+
+#include <string>
+
+namespace Willow {
+    // forward declaration for type alias
+    struct Test;
+    using TestFn = int (*)(Test*);
+
+    enum class Status { None, Pass, Fail, Skip };
+
+    constexpr auto toString(const Status& st) -> std::string {
+        switch (st) {
+            case Status::None:
+                return "None";
+                break;
+            case Status::Pass:
+                return "Passed";
+                break;
+            case Status::Fail:
+                return "Failed";
+                break;
+            case Status::Skip:
+                return "Skipped";
+                break;
+        };
+
+        return "";
+    }
+
+    struct Test {
+        std::string name;
+        TestFn fn;
+        int retcode = 0;
+        std::optional<std::string> msg = std::nullopt;
+        Status status = Status::None;
+
+        constexpr Test() : name(""), fn(NULL) {}
+        constexpr Test(std::string given_name, TestFn f) : name {given_name}, fn {f} {}
+        constexpr Test(std::string given_name, TestFn f, Status st)
+            : name {given_name}, fn {f}, status {st} {}
+
+        auto operator()() -> void { retcode = fn(this); }
+    };
+};  // namespace Willow
+
+#endif  // WILLOW_TEST_H
diff --git a/src/willow/willow.cpp b/src/willow/willow.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..858d882
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/willow/willow.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#include "willow.h"
+
+#include <algorithm>
+
+#include "reporters.h"
+#include "test.h"
+
+namespace Willow {}  // namespace Willow
diff --git a/src/willow/willow.h b/src/willow/willow.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..452894c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/willow/willow.h
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+#ifndef WILLOW_H
+#define WILLOW_H
+
+#include <vector>
+
+#include "reporters.h"
+#include "test.h"
+
+namespace Willow {
+    constexpr auto runTests(std::vector<Test> tests, Reporter& reporter) -> int {
+        for (auto&& test : tests) {
+            if (test.status == Status::Skip) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            test();
+            if (test.retcode != 0) {
+                test.status = Status::Fail;
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            test.status = Status::Pass;
+        }
+
+        std::for_each(tests.begin(), tests.end(), [&reporter](Test& t) { reporter.print(t); });
+        reporter.cleanup();
+
+        return int32_t(std::count_if(tests.begin(), tests.end(), [](Test& t) {
+            return t.status == Status::Fail;
+        }));
+    }
+
+    constexpr auto alert(Test* test, std::string message) -> void {
+        test->msg = message;
+    }
+
+}  // namespace Willow
+
+#endif  // WILLOW_H