diff --git a/src/config.hpp b/src/config.hpp
index 0c6920f..1de2e1a 100644
--- a/src/config.hpp
+++ b/src/config.hpp
@@ -10,4 +10,4 @@
  * Set to 1 to compile and run the test suite
  */
 
-#define _TESTS_ 1
+#define _TESTS_ 0
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 553cad3..9b07100 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 //
 
 #include <iostream>
+#include <getopt.h>
 #include "config.hpp"
 #include "rss.hpp"
 
@@ -12,10 +13,52 @@
 #include "tests.hpp"
 #endif
 
+struct option_flags {
+    unsigned int title : 1;
+    unsigned int link : 1;
+    unsigned int description : 1;
+    unsigned int language : 1;
+    unsigned int webmaster : 1;
+    unsigned int copyright : 1;
+    unsigned int pubdate : 1;
+    unsigned int managingeditor : 1;
+    unsigned int generator : 1;
+    unsigned int docs : 1;
+    unsigned int ttl : 1;
+    unsigned int builddate : 1;
+
+    std::string uri;
+};
+
+//cli options
+static struct option long_options[] =
+{
+    {"uri",   required_argument,    0, 'u'},
+    {"title", no_argument,          0, 't'},
+    {"link",  no_argument,          0, 'l'},
+    {"description", no_argument,    0, 'd'},
+    {"language", no_argument,       0, 'e'},
+    {"webmaster", no_argument,      0, 'm'},
+    {"copyright", no_argument,      0, 'c'},
+    {"pubdate", no_argument,        0, 'p'},
+    {"managingeditor", no_argument, 0, 'q'},
+    {"generator", no_argument,      0, 'g'},
+    {"docs", no_argument,           0, 'o'},
+    {"ttl", no_argument,            0, 'w'},
+    {"builddate", no_argument,      0, 'b'},
+    {"help", no_argument,           0, 'h'},
+    {0, 0, 0, 0},
+};
+
+constexpr char* optarg_string = "u:tldemcpqgowbh";
+
 void help(char* progName){
     std::cout << "Usage: " << progName << "[-u FEED_URI]\n";
     std::cout << "Options:\n";
+    std::cout << "Required Options:\n";
     std::cout << " [-u, --uri]            URI of the rss stream\n\n";
+
+    std::cout << "Channel information:\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";
@@ -27,21 +70,103 @@ void help(char* progName){
     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 << "                        cached before being updated\n";
     std::cout << " [-b, --builddate]      Get last time the channel's\n";
-    std::cout << "                         content changed\n";
+    std::cout << "                        content changed\n\n";
 
+    std::cout << "General options:\n";
+    std::cout << " [-h, --help]           Show this message\n";
+
+    exit(1);
 }
 
+option_flags* parse_options(int argc, char** argv) {
+    int option_index = 0;
+    int c;
+    option_flags* ret = new option_flags;
+
+    while(true){
+        c = getopt_long(argc, argv, optarg_string, 
+                long_options, &option_index);
+        if(c == -1)
+            break;
+
+        switch(c){
+            case 'u':
+                ret->uri = std::string(optarg);
+                break;
+            case 't':
+                ret->title ^= 1;
+                break;
+            case 'l':
+                ret->link ^= 1;
+                break;
+            case 'd':
+                ret->description ^= 1;
+                break;
+            case 'e':
+                ret->language ^= 1;
+                break;
+            case 'm':
+                ret->webmaster ^= 1;
+                break;
+            case 'c':
+                ret->copyright ^= 1;
+                break;
+            case 'p':
+                ret->pubdate ^= 1;
+                break;
+            case 'q':
+                ret->managingeditor ^= 1;
+                break;
+            case 'g':
+                ret->generator ^= 1;
+                break;
+            case 'o':
+                ret->docs ^= 1;
+                break;
+            case 'w':
+                ret->ttl ^= 1;
+                break;
+            case 'b':
+                ret->builddate ^= 1;
+                break;
+            case '?':
+                std::cerr << "Misunderstood flag!" << std::endl;
+            case 'h':
+                help(argv[0]);
+                break;
+            default:
+                abort();
+        }
+    }
+    
+    if(ret->uri == ""){
+        std::cerr << "Missing required option! -u/--uri" << std::endl;
+        exit(-1);
+    }
+
+
+    return ret;
+}
+
+
 int main(int argc, char** argv) {
 #if _TESTS_ == 1
     rss_utils::testRSS();
     return 0;
 #endif
 
+    //get the passed options
+    option_flags* opts = parse_options(argc, argv);
+
+    //setup the rss object
+
+    
 
 
 
 
 
+    return 0;
 }