diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index db67a8d..ac38494 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -9,4 +9,7 @@ build:
 
 run:
 	make -B build
-	$(OUT)
\ No newline at end of file
+	$(OUT)
+
+clean:
+	rm -fr $(OUT)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/build/chess b/build/chess
deleted file mode 100755
index 22d87b2..0000000
Binary files a/build/chess and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/src/chess.c b/src/chess.c
index e80738d..573f838 100644
--- a/src/chess.c
+++ b/src/chess.c
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 #include "chess.h"
-#include <stdbool.h>
 
-int board[BOARD_VERTICAL][BOARD_HORIZONTAL];
-
-bool init_board() {
+bool init_board(board_t *board) {
     
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/chess.h b/src/chess.h
index ab1cbd4..b5a028d 100644
--- a/src/chess.h
+++ b/src/chess.h
@@ -12,9 +12,14 @@
  * 6 - king
 */
 
+#include <stdbool.h>
+
+// board size constraints
 #define BOARD_HORIZONTAL 8
 #define BOARD_VERTICAL 8
-//int board[BOARD_VERTICAL][BOARD_HORIZONTAL];
+
+// just a simple type abstraction
+typedef int board_t[BOARD_HORIZONTAL][BOARD_VERTICAL];
 
 // the default arrangment of pieces on the board
 #define BOARD_DEFAULT_CONFIG \
@@ -29,6 +34,6 @@
 }
 
 // initializes the board with the default configuration of pieces
-bool init_board();
+bool init_board(board_t *board);
 
 #endif // CHESS_H
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 1d0edd9..c6424b5 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -1,7 +1,29 @@
 // a chess implementation in pure C :)
 
-#include <stdio.h>
+#include "util.h"
+#include "chess.h"
+
+/**
+ * steps to victory:
+ * 1. init the board with the default config
+ * 2. game loop
+ *  2a. select the current player (if first round - white starts)
+ *  2b. wait for the movement of the current player
+ *  2c. once a move is registered, perform it IF POSSIBLE
+ *  2d. check for captures and/or promotions and/or mates (check, stale...)
+ *  2e. if there is an end condition that is met, end the game; announce
+ *      the results
+*/
 
 int main() {
+    board_t board;
+    bool running = true;
     
+    init_board(&board);
+
+    while (running) {
+        
+    }
+
+    return EXIT_SUCCESS;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/util.h b/src/util.h
index 1aa2989..ab25d30 100644
--- a/src/util.h
+++ b/src/util.h
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
 #ifndef UTIL_H
 #define UTIL_H
 
+// misc. defines and methods
+
+#define EXIT_SUCCESS 0
+#define EXIT_FAILURE 1
+
 #endif // UTIL_H
\ No newline at end of file