diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index c313b0d..b4de4d0 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 # ---> Zig
 zig-cache/
+zig-cache/*
 zig-out/
+zig-out/*
 build/
 build-*/
 docgen_tmp/
diff --git a/build.zig b/build.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8846398
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+
+// Although this function looks imperative, note that its job is to
+// declaratively construct a build graph that will be executed by an external
+// runner.
+pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
+    // Standard target options allows the person running `zig build` to choose
+    // what target to build for. Here we do not override the defaults, which
+    // means any target is allowed, and the default is native. Other options
+    // for restricting supported target set are available.
+    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
+
+    // Standard optimization options allow the person running `zig build` to select
+    // between Debug, ReleaseSafe, ReleaseFast, and ReleaseSmall. Here we do not
+    // set a preferred release mode, allowing the user to decide how to optimize.
+    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
+
+    const lib = b.addStaticLibrary(.{
+        .name = "zap",
+        // In this case the main source file is merely a path, however, in more
+        // complicated build scripts, this could be a generated file.
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/root.zig"),
+        .target = target,
+        .optimize = optimize,
+    });
+
+    // This declares intent for the library to be installed into the standard
+    // location when the user invokes the "install" step (the default step when
+    // running `zig build`).
+    b.installArtifact(lib);
+
+    const exe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "zap",
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/main.zig"),
+        .target = target,
+        .optimize = optimize,
+    });
+
+    // This declares intent for the executable to be installed into the
+    // standard location when the user invokes the "install" step (the default
+    // step when running `zig build`).
+    b.installArtifact(exe);
+
+    // This *creates* a Run step in the build graph, to be executed when another
+    // step is evaluated that depends on it. The next line below will establish
+    // such a dependency.
+    const run_cmd = b.addRunArtifact(exe);
+
+    // By making the run step depend on the install step, it will be run from the
+    // installation directory rather than directly from within the cache directory.
+    // This is not necessary, however, if the application depends on other installed
+    // files, this ensures they will be present and in the expected location.
+    run_cmd.step.dependOn(b.getInstallStep());
+
+    // This allows the user to pass arguments to the application in the build
+    // command itself, like this: `zig build run -- arg1 arg2 etc`
+    if (b.args) |args| {
+        run_cmd.addArgs(args);
+    }
+
+    // This creates a build step. It will be visible in the `zig build --help` menu,
+    // and can be selected like this: `zig build run`
+    // This will evaluate the `run` step rather than the default, which is "install".
+    const run_step = b.step("run", "Run the app");
+    run_step.dependOn(&run_cmd.step);
+
+    // Creates a step for unit testing. This only builds the test executable
+    // but does not run it.
+    const lib_unit_tests = b.addTest(.{
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/root.zig"),
+        .target = target,
+        .optimize = optimize,
+    });
+
+    const run_lib_unit_tests = b.addRunArtifact(lib_unit_tests);
+
+    const exe_unit_tests = b.addTest(.{
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/main.zig"),
+        .target = target,
+        .optimize = optimize,
+    });
+
+    const run_exe_unit_tests = b.addRunArtifact(exe_unit_tests);
+
+    // Similar to creating the run step earlier, this exposes a `test` step to
+    // the `zig build --help` menu, providing a way for the user to request
+    // running the unit tests.
+    const test_step = b.step("test", "Run unit tests");
+    test_step.dependOn(&run_lib_unit_tests.step);
+    test_step.dependOn(&run_exe_unit_tests.step);
+}
diff --git a/src/main.zig b/src/main.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ad13e35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+
+const stdout_file = std.io.getStdOut().writer();
+var bw = std.io.bufferedWriter(stdout_file);
+const stdout = bw.writer();
+
+pub fn main() !void {
+    try stdout.print("Run `zig build test` to run the tests.\n", .{});
+
+    try bw.flush(); // don't forget to flush!
+}
+
+
+// test "simple test" {
+//     var list = std.ArrayList(i32).init(std.testing.allocator);
+//     defer list.deinit(); // try commenting this out and see if zig detects the memory leak!
+//     try list.append(42);
+//     try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 42), list.pop());
+// }
diff --git a/src/root.zig b/src/root.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ecfeade
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/root.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+const testing = std.testing;
+
+export fn add(a: i32, b: i32) i32 {
+    return a + b;
+}
+
+test "basic add functionality" {
+    try testing.expect(add(3, 7) == 10);
+}