diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6cca10d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+.cache
+*~*
+*\#*
+build
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d9a4e8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+.PHONY: build tests
+
+build:
+	meson setup build
+	meson compile -C build
+
+tests: build
+	build/twq-tests
+
+install: tests
+	meson install -C build
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ae1171
--- /dev/null
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+project('tiwiq',
+        'cpp',
+        version: '0.0.0',
+        default_options: [
+          'prefix=/usr',
+          'warning_level=3',
+          'cpp_std=c++17',
+        ])
+
+twq_lib = static_library('tiwiq',
+                         sources: [
+                           'src/core/KeyMod.cpp',
+                           'src/core/Shortcut.cpp',
+                         ],
+                         dependencies: [
+                           dependency('ncursesw')
+                         ])
+
+twq_dep = declare_dependency(
+  link_with: twq_lib,
+  include_directories: ['src/']
+)
+
+executable('twq',
+           sources: [
+             'src/main.cpp'
+           ],
+           dependencies: [
+             twq_dep
+           ],
+           install: true)
+
+executable('twq-tests',
+           sources: [
+             'tests/main.cpp',
+             'tests/Shortcut.cpp',
+           ],
+           dependencies: [
+             twq_dep,
+             dependency('catch2')
+           ])
diff --git a/src/commons.hpp b/src/commons.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea1bc96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/commons.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+#ifndef kwq_COMMONS_HPP
+#define kwq_COMMONS_HPP
+
+#include <cstring>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <sstream>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <optional>
+#include <memory>
+#include <vector>
+#include <unordered_map>
+#include <stdexcept>
+
+#define GEN_ENUM(X) X
+#define GEN_STRING(X) #X
+
+#define TWQ_ENUM(PREFIX, TYPES)                                 \
+  enum PREFIX { TYPES(GEN_ENUM) };                              \
+  constexpr char const* PREFIX ## Str [] = { TYPES(GEN_STRING) }
+
+#define TWQ_ERROR(NAME)                                                 \
+  struct NAME : public std::runtime_error {                             \
+    NAME (std::string const& what): std::runtime_error {what} {}        \
+  }
+
+#define TWQ_ASSERT(COND, MSG)                   \
+  if (! COND) {                                 \
+    std::cerr << MSG << std::endl;              \
+    abort();                                    \
+  }
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/core/KeyMod.cpp b/src/core/KeyMod.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a85a24d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/KeyMod.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+#include "KeyMod.hpp"
+
+namespace twq
+{
+  namespace core
+  {
+    /*static*/ KeyMod KeyMod::key(KeyType key_type,
+                                  std::vector<ModType> const& mods)
+    {
+      return KeyMod { key_type, mods, std::nullopt };
+    }
+
+    /*explicit*/ KeyMod::KeyMod(char text,
+                                std::vector<ModType> const& mods)
+      : m_key_type { KEY_TEXT }
+      , m_mods { mods }
+      , m_text { text }
+    {
+    }
+
+    /*explicit*/ KeyMod::KeyMod(KeyType key_type,
+                                std::vector<ModType> const& mods,
+                                std::optional<char> text)
+      : m_key_type { key_type }
+      , m_mods { mods }
+      , m_text { text }
+    {
+    }
+
+    /*virtual*/ KeyMod::~KeyMod()
+    {
+    }
+
+    bool KeyMod::has_mod(ModType mod_type) const
+    {
+      return
+        std::end(m_mods) !=
+        std::find(std::begin(m_mods), std::end(m_mods), mod_type);
+    }
+
+    std::string KeyMod::string() const
+    {
+      std::stringstream ss;
+
+      if (has_mod(MOD_LCTRL))
+        {
+          ss << "C-";
+        }
+
+      if (has_mod(MOD_ALT))
+        {
+          ss << "A-";
+        }
+
+      if (m_key_type == KEY_TEXT)
+        {
+          ss << *m_text;
+        }
+      else
+        {
+          ss << (KeyTypeStr[m_key_type] + strlen("KEY_"));
+        }
+
+      return ss.str();
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/core/KeyMod.hpp b/src/core/KeyMod.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..41d0e8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/KeyMod.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+#ifndef twq_core_KEYMOD_HPP
+#define twq_core_KEYMOD_HPP
+
+#include "../commons.hpp"
+
+#define KEY_TYPES(G)                            \
+  G(KEY_TEXT),                                  \
+    G(KEY_UP),                                  \
+    G(KEY_DOWN),                                \
+    G(KEY_LEFT),                                \
+    G(KEY_RIGHT),                               \
+    G(KEY_COUNT),
+
+#define MOD_TYPES(G)\
+  G(MOD_LCTRL),     \
+    G(MOD_ALT),     \
+    G(MOD_COUNT),
+
+namespace twq
+{
+  namespace core
+  {
+    TWQ_ENUM(KeyType, KEY_TYPES);
+    TWQ_ENUM(ModType, MOD_TYPES);
+
+    class KeyMod
+    {
+    public:
+      static KeyMod key(KeyType key_type,
+                        std::vector<ModType> const& mods={});
+
+      explicit KeyMod(char text, std::vector<ModType> const& mods={});
+
+      explicit KeyMod(KeyType key_type,
+                      std::vector<ModType> const& mods,
+                      std::optional<char> text);
+
+      KeyType key_type() const { return m_key_type; }
+      std::vector<ModType> mods() const { return m_mods; }
+      std::optional<char> text() const { return m_text; }
+
+      bool has_mod(ModType mod_type) const;
+
+      std::string string() const;
+
+      virtual ~KeyMod();
+
+    private:
+      KeyType m_key_type;
+      std::vector<ModType> m_mods;
+      std::optional<char> m_text;
+    };
+  }
+}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/core/Shortcut.cpp b/src/core/Shortcut.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fef9e31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/Shortcut.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+#include "Shortcut.hpp"
+#include "src/core/KeyMod.hpp"
+
+namespace twq
+{
+  namespace core
+  {
+    /*explicit*/ Shortcut::Shortcut()
+    {
+    }
+
+    /*explicit*/ Shortcut::Shortcut(std::string const& repr)
+    {
+      std::string buffer;
+      std::vector<ModType> mods;
+
+      auto create_keymod = [&](){
+        if (buffer.find("C-") != std::string::npos)
+          {
+            mods.push_back(MOD_LCTRL);
+          }
+
+        if (buffer.find("A-") != std::string::npos)
+          {
+            mods.push_back(MOD_ALT);
+          }
+
+        ssize_t k = buffer.size() - 1;
+        while (k >= 0 && std::isspace(buffer[k]))
+          {
+            k--;
+          }
+
+        std::string value;
+
+        while (k >= 0
+               && !std::isspace(buffer[k])
+               && buffer[k] != '-')
+          {
+            value = buffer[k] + value;
+            k--;
+          }
+
+        if (value.size() == 1)
+          {
+            return KeyMod {KEY_TEXT, mods, value.front()};
+          }
+        else
+          {
+            for (size_t i=0; i<KEY_COUNT; i++)
+              {
+                std::string val = KeyTypeStr[i] + strlen("KEY_");
+
+                if (val == value)
+                  {
+                    return KeyMod {(KeyType) i, mods, std::nullopt};
+                  }
+              }
+
+            throw invalid_shortcut_error {"cannot convert '"
+                                          + repr
+                                          + "' to shortcut."};
+
+          }
+      };
+
+      for (size_t i=0; i<repr.size(); i++)
+        {
+          char c = repr[i];
+
+          if (std::isspace(c))
+            {
+              if (!buffer.empty())
+                {
+                  push(create_keymod());
+                }
+
+              mods.clear();
+              buffer.clear();
+            }
+          else
+            {
+              buffer += c;
+            }
+        }
+
+      if (!buffer.empty())
+        {
+          push(create_keymod());
+        }
+    }
+
+    /*virtual*/ Shortcut::~Shortcut()
+    {
+    }
+
+    void Shortcut::push(KeyMod const& keymod)
+    {
+      m_keymods.push_back(keymod);
+    }
+
+    std::string Shortcut::string() const
+    {
+      std::stringstream ss;
+      std::string sep;
+
+      for (auto const& km: m_keymods)
+        {
+          ss << sep << km.string();
+          sep = " ";
+        }
+
+      return ss.str();
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/core/Shortcut.hpp b/src/core/Shortcut.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..744ef38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/Shortcut.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#ifndef twq_core_SHORTCUT_HPP
+#define twq_core_SHORTCUT_HPP
+
+#include "KeyMod.hpp"
+
+namespace twq
+{
+  namespace core
+  {
+    TWQ_ERROR(invalid_shortcut_error);
+
+    class Shortcut
+    {
+    public:
+      explicit Shortcut();
+      explicit Shortcut(std::string const& repr);
+      virtual ~Shortcut();
+
+      void push(KeyMod const& keymod);
+      std::string string() const;
+
+    private:
+      std::vector<KeyMod> m_keymods;
+    };
+  }
+}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a72903a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#include <iostream>
+
+int main(int, char**)
+{
+  return 0;
+}
diff --git a/tests/Shortcut.cpp b/tests/Shortcut.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..48c5d78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Shortcut.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+#include <catch2/catch.hpp>
+#include "../src/core/Shortcut.hpp"
+
+using namespace twq::core;
+
+class ShortcutTest
+{
+public:
+  explicit ShortcutTest() {}
+  virtual ~ShortcutTest() {}
+
+  void test_to_string(std::string const& oracle,
+                   std::vector<KeyMod> keymods)
+  {
+    Shortcut sc;
+
+    for (auto km: keymods)
+      {
+        sc.push(km);
+      }
+
+    INFO("Expected '" << oracle << "' got '" << sc.string() << "'");
+    REQUIRE(oracle == sc.string());
+  }
+
+  void test_from_string(std::string const& oracle,
+                        std::string const& shortcut)
+  {
+    Shortcut sc { shortcut };
+    INFO("Expected '" << oracle << "' got '" << sc.string() << "'");
+    REQUIRE(oracle == sc.string());
+  }
+
+protected:
+};
+
+TEST_CASE_METHOD(ShortcutTest, "Shortcut_string")
+{
+  test_to_string("f", {KeyMod {'f'}});
+
+  test_to_string("a b c", {
+      KeyMod {'a'},
+      KeyMod {'b'},
+      KeyMod {'c'},
+    });
+
+  test_to_string("C-g", {KeyMod {'g', {MOD_LCTRL}}});
+  test_to_string("A-g", {KeyMod {'g', {MOD_ALT}}});
+  test_to_string("C-A-g", {KeyMod {'g', {MOD_LCTRL, MOD_ALT}}});
+
+  test_to_string("A-a C-A-b C-c d", {
+      KeyMod {'a', {MOD_ALT}},
+      KeyMod {'b', {MOD_LCTRL, MOD_ALT}},
+      KeyMod {'c', {MOD_LCTRL}},
+      KeyMod {'d'},
+    });
+
+  test_to_string("UP", {
+      KeyMod::key(KEY_UP)
+    });
+
+  test_to_string("DOWN", {
+      KeyMod::key(KEY_DOWN)
+    });
+
+  test_to_string("LEFT", {
+      KeyMod::key(KEY_LEFT)
+    });
+
+  test_to_string("RIGHT", {
+      KeyMod::key(KEY_RIGHT)
+    });
+
+  test_to_string("C-UP", {
+      KeyMod::key(KEY_UP, {MOD_LCTRL})
+    });
+
+  test_to_string("A-LEFT", {
+      KeyMod::key(KEY_LEFT, {MOD_ALT}),
+    });
+
+  test_to_string("C-A-RIGHT", {
+      KeyMod::key(KEY_RIGHT, {MOD_LCTRL, MOD_ALT}),
+    });
+
+  test_from_string("", "");
+
+  test_from_string("a", "a");
+  test_from_string("a", " a");
+  test_from_string("a", "a ");
+
+  test_from_string("C-a", "C-a");
+  test_from_string("C-a", " C-a ");
+  test_from_string("A-a", "A-a");
+  test_from_string("A-a", " A-a ");
+
+  test_from_string("C-A-a", " A-C-a ");
+  test_from_string("C-A-a", " C-A-a ");
+
+  test_from_string("C-A-a b C-c", " C-A-a  b   C-c");
+
+  test_from_string("C-A-LEFT RIGHT C-UP",
+                   " C-A-LEFT  RIGHT   C-UP");
+
+  REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(Shortcut { "C-A-DUCK" }, invalid_shortcut_error);
+}
diff --git a/tests/main.cpp b/tests/main.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4ed06df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/main.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+#define CATCH_CONFIG_MAIN
+#include <catch2/catch.hpp>