diff --git a/build.zig b/build.zig
index 00f5577..9a716c1 100644
--- a/build.zig
+++ b/build.zig
@@ -17,6 +17,19 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     });
     lib.addImport("code_point", zg.module("code_point"));
 
+    // main executable (usually used for testing)
+    const exe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "zterm",
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/main.zig"),
+        .target = target,
+        .optimize = optimize,
+    });
+    exe.root_module.addImport("zterm", lib);
+
+    // TODO: add example execution through optional argument to `zig run` to run
+    // an example application instead of the main executable
+
+    // example applications (usually used for documentation and demonstrations)
     const container = b.addExecutable(.{
         .name = "container",
         .root_source_file = b.path("examples/container.zig"),
@@ -26,7 +39,19 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     container.root_module.addImport("zterm", lib);
     b.installArtifact(container);
 
-    // testing
+    // zig build run
+    const run_cmd = b.addRunArtifact(exe);
+    run_cmd.step.dependOn(b.getInstallStep());
+    // Allow additional arguments, 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);
+
+    // zig build test
     const lib_unit_tests = b.addTest(.{
         .root_source_file = b.path("src/zterm.zig"),
         .target = target,
diff --git a/src/main.zig b/src/main.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1e9d5f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+const zterm = @import("zterm");
+
+const App = zterm.App(union(enum) {});
+const Key = zterm.Key;
+
+const log = std.log.scoped(.default);
+
+pub const HelloWorldText = packed struct {
+    const text = "Hello World";
+
+    text_color: zterm.Color = .black,
+
+    // example function to create the interface instance for this `Element` implementation
+    pub fn element(this: *@This()) App.Element {
+        return .{
+            .ptr = this,
+            .vtable = &.{
+                .handle = handle,
+                .content = content,
+            },
+        };
+    }
+
+    // example function to render contents for a `Container`
+    fn content(ctx: *anyopaque, cells: []zterm.Cell, size: zterm.Size) !void {
+        const this: *@This() = @ptrCast(@alignCast(ctx));
+        std.debug.assert(cells.len == @as(usize, size.cols) * @as(usize, size.rows));
+
+        // NOTE: error should only be returned here in case an in-recoverable exception has occured
+        const row = size.rows / 2;
+        const col = size.cols / 2 -| (text.len / 2);
+
+        for (0.., text) |idx, char| {
+            cells[(row * size.cols) + col + idx].style.fg = this.text_color;
+            cells[(row * size.cols) + col + idx].cp = char;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // example function to handle events for a `Container`
+    fn handle(ctx: *anyopaque, event: App.Event) !void {
+        const this: *@This() = @ptrCast(@alignCast(ctx));
+        switch (event) {
+            .init => log.debug(".init event", .{}),
+            .key => |key| {
+                if (key.matches(.{ .cp = zterm.Key.space })) {
+                    var next_color_idx = @intFromEnum(this.text_color);
+                    next_color_idx += 1;
+                    next_color_idx %= 17; // iterate over the first 16 colors (but exclude `.default` == 0)
+                    if (next_color_idx == 0) next_color_idx += 1;
+                    this.text_color = @enumFromInt(next_color_idx);
+                    log.debug("Next color: {s}", .{@tagName(this.text_color)});
+                }
+            },
+            else => {},
+        }
+    }
+};
+
+pub fn main() !void {
+    errdefer |err| log.err("Application Error: {any}", .{err});
+
+    // TODO: maybe create own allocator as some sort of arena allocator to have consistent memory usage
+    var gpa: std.heap.GeneralPurposeAllocator(.{}) = .init;
+    defer {
+        const deinit_status = gpa.deinit();
+        if (deinit_status == .leak) {
+            log.err("memory leak", .{});
+        }
+    }
+    const allocator = gpa.allocator();
+
+    var app: App = .init;
+    var renderer = zterm.Renderer.Buffered.init(allocator);
+    defer renderer.deinit();
+
+    var element_wrapper: HelloWorldText = .{};
+    const element = element_wrapper.element();
+
+    var container = try App.Container.init(allocator, .{
+        .border = .{
+            .separator = .{
+                .enabled = true,
+                .line = .double,
+            },
+        },
+        .layout = .{
+            .gap = 2,
+            .padding = .all(5),
+            .direction = .vertical,
+        },
+    }, .{});
+    var box = try App.Container.init(allocator, .{
+        .rectangle = .{ .fill = .blue },
+        .layout = .{
+            .gap = 1,
+            .direction = .vertical,
+            .padding = .vertical(1),
+        },
+    }, .{});
+    try box.append(try App.Container.init(allocator, .{
+        .rectangle = .{ .fill = .light_green },
+    }, .{}));
+    try box.append(try App.Container.init(allocator, .{
+        .rectangle = .{ .fill = .light_green },
+    }, element));
+    try box.append(try App.Container.init(allocator, .{
+        .rectangle = .{ .fill = .light_green },
+    }, .{}));
+    try container.append(box);
+    try container.append(try App.Container.init(allocator, .{
+        .border = .{
+            .color = .light_blue,
+            .sides = .vertical,
+        },
+    }, .{}));
+    try container.append(try App.Container.init(allocator, .{
+        .rectangle = .{ .fill = .blue },
+    }, .{}));
+    defer container.deinit(); // also de-initializes the children
+
+    try app.start();
+    defer app.stop() catch |err| log.err("Failed to stop application: {any}", .{err});
+
+    // event loop
+    while (true) {
+        const event = app.nextEvent();
+        log.debug("received event: {s}", .{@tagName(event)});
+
+        switch (event) {
+            .init => {
+                try container.handle(event);
+                continue; // do not render
+            },
+            .quit => break,
+            .resize => |size| try renderer.resize(size),
+            .key => |key| {
+                if (key.matches(.{ .cp = 'q' })) app.quit();
+
+                // corresponding element could even be changed from the 'outside' (not forced through the event system)
+                // event system however allows for cross element communication (i.e. broadcasting messages, etc.)
+                if (key.matches(.{ .cp = zterm.Key.escape })) element_wrapper.text_color = .black;
+
+                if (key.matches(.{ .cp = 'n', .mod = .{ .ctrl = true } })) {
+                    try app.interrupt();
+                    defer app.start() catch @panic("could not start app event loop");
+                    var child = std.process.Child.init(&.{"hx"}, allocator);
+                    _ = child.spawnAndWait() catch |err| app.postEvent(.{
+                        .err = .{
+                            .err = err,
+                            .msg = "Spawning $EDITOR failed",
+                        },
+                    });
+                }
+            },
+            // NOTE: errors could be displayed in another container in case one was received, etc. to provide the user with feedback
+            .err => |err| log.err("Received {s} with message: {s}", .{ @errorName(err.err), err.msg }),
+            else => {},
+        }
+
+        // NOTE: returned errors should be propagated back to the application
+        container.handle(event) catch |err| app.postEvent(.{
+            .err = .{
+                .err = err,
+                .msg = "Container Event handling failed",
+            },
+        });
+        try renderer.render(@TypeOf(container), &container);
+        try renderer.flush();
+    }
+}