diff --git a/src/config.hpp b/src/config.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0c6920f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// Tyler Perkins
+// 7-23-21
+// config files
+//
+
+#pragma once
+
+/* Tests:
+ * Set to 1 to compile and run the test suite
+ */
+
+#define _TESTS_ 1
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..553cad3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// Tyler Perkins
+// 7-23-21
+// entry point
+//
+
+#include <iostream>
+#include "config.hpp"
+#include "rss.hpp"
+
+#if _TESTS_ == 1
+#include "tests.hpp"
+#endif
+
+void help(char* progName){
+    std::cout << "Usage: " << progName << "[-u FEED_URI]\n";
+    std::cout << "Options:\n";
+    std::cout << " [-u, --uri]            URI of the rss stream\n\n";
+    std::cout << " [-t, --title]          Get title of channel\n";
+    std::cout << " [-l, --link]           Get link to channel\n";
+    std::cout << " [-d, --description]    Get Description of channel\n";
+    std::cout << " [-e, --language]       Get language code of channel\n";
+    std::cout << " [-m, --webmaster]      Get webMaster's email\n";
+    std::cout << " [-c, --copyright]      Get copyright\n";
+    std::cout << " [-p, --pubdate]        Get publishing date\n";
+    std::cout << " [-q, --managingeditor] Get Managing Editor\n";
+    std::cout << " [-g, --generator]      Get generator of this feed\n";
+    std::cout << " [-o, --docs]           Get link to RSS documentation\n";
+    std::cout << " [-w, --ttl]            Get ttl, time that channel can be\n";
+    std::cout << "                         cached before being updated\n";
+    std::cout << " [-b, --builddate]      Get last time the channel's\n";
+    std::cout << "                         content changed\n";
+
+}
+
+int main(int argc, char** argv) {
+#if _TESTS_ == 1
+    rss_utils::testRSS();
+    return 0;
+#endif
+
+
+
+
+
+
+}
diff --git a/src/rss.cpp b/src/rss.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1865c1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/rss.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,232 @@
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// Tyler Perkins
+// 7-23-21
+// rss implementation
+//
+
+#include "rss.hpp"
+
+using namespace rss_utils;
+
+rss::rss() {
+    uri = "";
+    ok = false;
+    item_node = nullptr;
+}
+
+rss::rss(const std::string& rss_uri, bool perf_update){
+    uri = rss_uri;
+    item_node = nullptr;
+    ok = false;
+    if(perf_update)
+        update();
+}
+
+rss::rss(const char* rss_uri, bool perf_update){
+    uri = std::string(rss_uri);
+    ok = false;
+    item_node = nullptr;
+    if(perf_update)
+        update();
+}
+
+rss::rss(const rss& rhs){
+    uri = rhs.uri;
+    ok = false;
+    item_node = nullptr;
+    update();
+}
+
+rss::~rss(){
+    doc.clear();
+}
+
+rss& rss::operator=(const rss& rhs){
+    if(this != &rhs){
+        uri = rhs.uri;
+        ok = false;
+        item_node = nullptr;
+        update();
+    }
+    return *this;
+}
+
+rss* rss::clone() const {
+    rss* clone = new rss(*this);
+    return clone;
+}
+
+bool rss::isOk() const { return ok; }
+
+void rss::setURI(const std::string& rss_uri, bool perf_update) {
+    uri = rss_uri;
+    ok = false;
+    if(perf_update)
+        update();
+}
+
+void rss::setURI(const char* rss_uri, bool perf_update) {
+    uri = std::string(rss_uri);
+    ok = false;
+    if(perf_update)
+        update();
+}
+
+std::string rss::getURI() const { return uri; }
+
+bool rss::update() {
+    std::string result;
+
+    CURL *curl;
+    CURLcode res;
+    curl = curl_easy_init();
+
+    if(curl){
+        curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_URL, uri.c_str());
+        curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_WRITEFUNCTION, rss_utils::write_to_string);
+        curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_WRITEDATA, &result);
+        res = curl_easy_perform(curl);
+        curl_easy_cleanup(curl);
+
+        if(res == CURLE_OK){
+            return parse(result);
+        } else {
+            std::cerr << "curl_easy_perform(curl) failed: "
+                << curl_easy_strerror(res) << std::endl;
+        }
+    }
+    ok = false;
+    return false;
+}
+
+std::string rss::getTitle() const {
+    if(!ok)
+        return "";
+
+    rapidxml::xml_node<> *tmp = item_node->first_node("title");
+    if(tmp == 0)
+        return "";
+    return tmp->value();
+}
+
+std::string rss::getLink() const {
+    if(!ok)
+        return "";
+
+    rapidxml::xml_node<> *tmp = item_node->first_node("link");
+    if(tmp == 0)
+        return "";
+    return tmp->value();
+}
+
+std::string rss::getDescription() const {
+    if(!ok)
+        return "";
+
+    rapidxml::xml_node<> *tmp = item_node->first_node("description");
+    if(tmp == 0)
+        return "";
+    return tmp->value();
+}
+
+std::string rss::getLanguage() const {
+    if(!ok)
+        return "";
+
+    rapidxml::xml_node<> *tmp = item_node->first_node("language");
+    if(tmp == 0)
+        return "";
+    return tmp->value();
+}
+
+std::string rss::getWebMaster() const {
+    if(!ok)
+        return "";
+
+    rapidxml::xml_node<> *tmp = item_node->first_node("webMaster");
+    if(tmp == 0)
+        return "";
+    return tmp->value();
+}
+
+std::string rss::getCopyright() const {
+    if(!ok)
+        return "";
+
+    rapidxml::xml_node<> *tmp = item_node->first_node("copyright");
+    if(tmp == 0)
+        return "";
+    return tmp->value();
+}
+
+std::string rss::getPubDate() const {
+    if(!ok)
+        return "";
+
+    rapidxml::xml_node<> *tmp = item_node->first_node("pubDate");
+    if(tmp == 0)
+        return "";
+    return tmp->value();
+
+}
+
+std::vector<std::map<std::string, std::string>> rss::getItems() const {
+    std::vector<std::map<std::string, std::string>> items;
+
+    if(!ok)
+        return items;
+
+    rapidxml::xml_node<> *first_item = item_node->first_node("item");
+    //there are no items, return empty vector
+    if(first_item == 0)
+        return items;
+
+    for(; first_item != NULL; first_item = first_item->next_sibling()){
+        std::map<std::string, std::string> tmp_item;
+        for(rapidxml::xml_node<> *item_val = first_item->first_node();
+                item_val != NULL; item_val = item_val->next_sibling())
+            tmp_item[item_val->name()] = item_val->value();
+        items.push_back(tmp_item);
+    }
+
+    return items;
+}
+
+bool rss::parse(const std::string& rss_str){
+    ok = true;
+
+    //parse, check for errors in xml doc
+    try {
+        doc.parse<0>(doc.allocate_string(rss_str.c_str()));
+    } catch (const std::runtime_error& e){
+        std::cerr << "rss::parse() runtime error: " << e.what() << std::endl;
+        ok = false;
+    } catch (const rapidxml::parse_error& e){
+        std::cerr << "rss::parse() error with file: " << e.what() << std::endl;
+        ok = false;
+    }
+
+    //verify that it is an rss file
+    rapidxml::xml_node<> *tmp = doc.first_node("rss");
+    if(tmp == NULL){
+        std::cerr << "rss::parse() error with file: XML is not an rss feed!" << std::endl;
+        ok = false;
+    } else {
+        tmp = tmp->first_node("channel");
+        if(tmp == NULL){
+            std::cerr << "rss::parse() error with file: RSS feed has no channels!" 
+                << std::endl;
+            ok = false;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if(ok){
+        item_node = tmp;
+    }
+    return ok;
+}
+
+size_t rss_utils::write_to_string(void* ptr, size_t size, size_t nmemb, std::string* s){
+    s->append(static_cast<char *>(ptr), size * nmemb);
+    return size * nmemb;
+}
diff --git a/src/rss.hpp b/src/rss.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aa31f37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/rss.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// Tyler Perkins
+// 7-23-21
+// rss definition
+//
+
+#pragma once
+
+#if _TESTS_ == 1
+#include "config.hpp"
+#endif
+
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+#include <map>
+#include <iostream>
+
+#include <rapidxml/rapidxml.hpp>
+#include <rapidxml/rapidxml_print.hpp>
+#include <curl/curl.h>
+
+namespace rss_utils {
+    typedef std::vector<std::map<std::string, std::string>> item_map;
+    class rss {
+    public:
+        rss();
+        rss(const std::string&, bool = true);
+        rss(const char*, bool = true);
+        rss(const rss&);
+        ~rss();
+        rss& operator=(const rss&);
+        rss* clone() const;
+
+        bool isOk() const;
+
+        void setURI(const std::string&, bool = true);
+        void setURI(const char*, bool = true);
+        std::string getURI() const;
+
+        bool update();
+
+        std::string getTitle()          const;
+        std::string getLink()           const;
+        std::string getDescription()    const;
+        std::string getLanguage()       const;
+        std::string getWebMaster()      const;
+        std::string getCopyright()      const;
+        std::string getPubDate()        const;
+        std::string getManagingEditor() const;
+        std::string getGenerator()      const;
+        std::string getDocs()           const;
+        std::string getTTL()            const;
+        std::string getLastBuildDate()  const;
+
+        //TODO
+        //std::string getImage()          const;
+        //std::string getCloud()          const;
+
+        std::vector<std::map<std::string, std::string>> getItems() const;
+
+    private:
+        bool parse(const std::string&);
+
+        bool ok;
+        std::string uri;
+        rapidxml::xml_node<> *item_node;
+        rapidxml::xml_document<> doc;
+    };
+
+    size_t write_to_string(void*, size_t, size_t, std::string*);
+}
diff --git a/src/tests.cpp b/src/tests.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e410e02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tests.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// Tyler Perkins
+// 7-23-21
+// tests implementation
+//
+
+#include "tests.hpp"
+
+using namespace rss_utils;
+
+void rss_utils::testRSS() {
+    std::cout << "===== test RSS class =====" << std::endl;
+    std::string url1 = "https://www.feedforall.com/sample-feed.xml";
+    std::string bad_url = "https://www.not_a_real_link.com/";
+
+    //test default constructor
+    {
+        rss_utils::rss feed;
+        assert(feed.getURI() == "");
+        assert(feed.isOk() == false);
+        std::cout << "def cont tests passed!" << std::endl;
+    }
+    {
+        rss_utils::rss feed(url1);
+        assert(feed.getURI() == url1);
+        assert(feed.isOk() == true);
+        std::cout << "std::string& cont tests passed!" << std::endl;
+    }
+    {
+        rss_utils::rss feed(url1.c_str());
+        assert(feed.getURI() == url1);
+        assert(feed.isOk() == true);
+        std::cout << "char* cont tests passed!" << std::endl;
+    }
+    {
+        rss_utils::rss feed(url1);
+        rss_utils::rss feed2(feed);
+        assert(feed2.getURI() == url1);
+        assert(feed2.isOk() == true);
+        std::cout << "copy cont tests passed!" << std::endl;
+    }
+    {
+        rss_utils::rss feed(url1);
+        rss_utils::rss feed2 = feed;
+        assert(feed2.getURI() == url1);
+        assert(feed2.isOk() == true);
+        std::cout << "assignment operator tests passed!" << std::endl;
+    }
+    {
+        rss_utils::rss feed(url1);
+        rss_utils::rss* feed2 = feed.clone();
+        assert(feed2->getURI() == url1);
+        assert(feed2->isOk() == true);
+        std::cout << "clone functions tests passed!" << std::endl;
+    }
+    {
+        rss_utils::rss feed(url1);
+        feed.setURI(bad_url);
+        assert(feed.getURI() == bad_url);
+        assert(feed.isOk() == false);
+        std::cout << "std::string& setURI tests passed!" << std::endl;
+    }
+    {
+        rss_utils::rss feed;
+        feed.setURI(bad_url.c_str());
+        assert(feed.getURI() == bad_url);
+        assert(feed.isOk() == false);
+        std::cout << "char* setURI tests passed!" << std::endl;
+    }
+    {
+        rss_utils::rss feed(url1);
+        rss_utils::item_map items = feed.getItems();
+        for(auto it = items.begin(); it != items.end(); ++it){
+            std::cout << "=== Item ===" << std::endl;
+            std::cout << "Item: " << (*it)["title"] << std::endl;
+            std::cout << "Description: " << (*it)["description"] << std::endl;
+            std::cout << "Link: " << (*it)["link"] << std::endl;
+            std::cout << "pubDate: " << (*it)["pubDate"] << std::endl;
+        }
+        std::cout << "=== Done with Items ===" << std::endl;
+    }
+    std::cout << "===== test RSS class =====" << std::endl;
+}
diff --git a/src/tests.hpp b/src/tests.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6b95935
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tests.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// Tyler Perkins
+// 7-23-21
+// tests definition
+//
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <cassert>
+#include <string>
+#include <iostream>
+#include "rss.hpp"
+
+namespace rss_utils {
+    void testRSS();
+
+
+}