diff --git a/engine.scm b/engine.scm
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..d2ecbaf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/engine.scm
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+#! /usr/bin/env guile -e main -s
+!#
+
+(use-modules (ice-9 format)
+             (srfi srfi-26))
+
+(define-values (u d l r) (values 'u 'd 'l 'r))
+
+(define (set-raw-mode!)
+  (system "stty raw -echo"))
+
+(define (unset-raw-mode!)
+  (system "stty -raw echo"))
+
+(define* (clear #:optional (port (current-output-port)))
+  (format port "\x1b[0m\x1b[2J\x1b[H"))
+
+;; TODO: customizable keybindings
+
+;; #\sub is C-z
+(define (undo? c) (memv c '(#\u #\z #\delete #\sub)))
+
+;; TODO: redo (relatively low prio)
+
+(define (u? c) (memv c '(#\w #\k u)))
+(define (d? c) (memv c '(#\s #\j d)))
+(define (l? c) (memv c '(#\a #\h l)))
+(define (r? c) (memv c '(#\d #\l r)))
+
+(define (c->udlr c)
+  (cond
+   [(u? c) u]
+   [(d? c) d]
+   [(l? c) l]
+   [(r? c) r]
+   [else  #f]))
+
+;; step : state -> udlr -> state
+;; render : state -> ()
+;; that's it lol
+(define* (game-loop init step #:optional (render (cut format #t "~a\r\n" <>)))
+  (define state-stack (list init))
+  (define (redraw) (clear) (render (car state-stack)))
+  (define (undo!)
+    (unless (null? (cdr state-stack))
+      (set! state-stack (cdr state-stack))))
+  (define (push! state)
+    (set! state-stack (cons state state-stack)))
+
+  (redraw)
+  (input-loop
+   (lambda (c)
+     (if (undo? c)
+         (undo!)
+         (push! (step (car state-stack) c)))
+     (redraw))))
+
+(define* (input-loop handle-input #:optional (should-quit? (lambda (c) (eqv? c #\q))))
+  (dynamic-wind
+    set-raw-mode!
+    (lambda ()
+      (define escaped? #f)
+      (define open-bracketed? #f)
+      (while #t
+        (let ([c (read-char)])
+          (when (and escaped? open-bracketed?)
+            (set! c (case c
+                      [(#\A) u]
+                      [(#\B) d]
+                      [(#\C) r]
+                      [(#\D) l]
+                      [else (error "idk this escape[" c)]))
+            (set! escaped? #f)
+            (set! open-bracketed? #f))
+
+          (when (and escaped? (eqv? c #\[))
+            (set! open-bracketed? #t)
+            (continue))
+
+          (when (eqv? c #\esc)
+            (set! escaped? #t)
+            (continue))
+
+          (when (should-quit? c)
+            (break))
+
+          (handle-input c))))
+    unset-raw-mode!))
+
+(define (main . args)
+  (game-loop 0 (lambda (state c) (+ state (list-index '(u d l r) c)))))