diff --git a/ai.cpp b/ai.cpp
index aaee0d7..14ad7f0 100644
--- a/ai.cpp
+++ b/ai.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 namespace ai {
   using namespace nlohmann;
+  using namespace dbc;
 
   bool is_subset(State& source, State& target) {
     State result = source & target;
@@ -29,31 +30,6 @@ namespace ai {
     }
   }
 
-  void Action::load(nlohmann::json& profile, nlohmann::json& config) {
-    dbc::check(config.contains("needs"),
-        fmt::format("Action.load({}): no 'needs' field", $name));
-    dbc::check(config.contains("effects"),
-        fmt::format("Action.load({}): no 'effects' field", $name));
-
-    for(auto& [name_key, value] : profile.items()) {
-      dbc::check(value < STATE_MAX, fmt::format("Action.load({}): profile field {} has value {} greater than STATE_MAX {}", $name, (std::string)name_key, (int)value, STATE_MAX));
-    }
-
-    for(auto& [name_key, value] : config["needs"].items()) {
-      dbc::check(profile.contains(name_key), fmt::format("Action.load({}): profile does not have name {}", $name, name_key));
-      int name = profile[name_key].template get<int>();
-
-      needs(name, bool(value));
-    }
-
-    for(auto& [name_key, value] : config["effects"].items()) {
-      dbc::check(profile.contains(name_key), fmt::format("Action.load({}): profile does not have name {}", $name, name_key));
-
-      int name = profile[name_key].template get<int>();
-
-      effect(name, bool(value));
-    }
-  }
 
   bool Action::can_effect(State& state) {
     return ((state & $positive_preconds) == $positive_preconds) &&
@@ -92,7 +68,7 @@ namespace ai {
   }
 
   ActionState find_lowest(std::unordered_map<ActionState, int>& open_set) {
-    dbc::check(!open_set.empty(), "open set can't be empty in find_lowest");
+    check(!open_set.empty(), "open set can't be empty in find_lowest");
     const ActionState *result = nullptr;
     int lowest_score = SCORE_MAX;
 
@@ -148,4 +124,134 @@ namespace ai {
 
     return std::nullopt;
   }
+
+  static AIManager AIMGR;
+  static bool initialized = false;
+
+  inline void validate_profile(nlohmann::json& profile) {
+    for(auto& [name_key, value] : profile.items()) {
+      check(value < STATE_MAX,
+        fmt::format("profile field {} has value {} greater than STATE_MAX {}", (std::string)name_key, (int)value, STATE_MAX));
+    }
+  }
+
+  Action config_action(nlohmann::json& profile, nlohmann::json& config) {
+    check(config.contains("name"), "config_action: action config missing name");
+    check(config.contains("cost"), "config_action: action config missing cost");
+
+    validate_profile(profile);
+
+    Action result(config["name"], config["cost"]);
+
+    check(config.contains("needs"),
+        fmt::format("config_action: no 'needs' field", result.$name));
+    check(config.contains("effects"),
+        fmt::format("config_action: no 'effects' field", result.$name));
+
+    for(auto& [name_key, value] : config["needs"].items()) {
+      check(profile.contains(name_key), fmt::format("config_action: profile does not have name {}", result.$name, name_key));
+      int name = profile[name_key].template get<int>();
+
+      result.needs(name, bool(value));
+    }
+
+    for(auto& [name_key, value] : config["effects"].items()) {
+      check(profile.contains(name_key), fmt::format("config_action: profile does not have name {}", result.$name, name_key));
+
+      int name = profile[name_key].template get<int>();
+
+      result.effect(name, bool(value));
+    }
+
+    return result;
+  }
+
+  State config_state(nlohmann::json& profile, nlohmann::json& config) {
+    State result;
+    validate_profile(profile);
+
+    for(auto& [name_key, value] : config.items()) {
+      check(profile.contains(name_key), fmt::format("config_state: profile does not have name {}", name_key));
+
+      int name = profile[name_key].template get<int>();
+      result[name] = bool(value);
+    }
+
+    return result;
+  }
+
+  void init() {
+    initialized = true;
+    Config config("assets/ai.json");
+
+    // profile specifies what keys (bitset indexes) are allowed
+    // and how they map to the bitset of State
+    AIMGR.profile = config["profile"];
+    validate_profile(AIMGR.profile);
+
+    // load all actions
+    auto& actions = config["actions"];
+    for(auto& action_vars : actions) {
+      auto the_action = config_action(AIMGR.profile, action_vars);
+      AIMGR.actions.insert_or_assign(the_action.$name, the_action);
+    }
+
+    // load all states
+    auto& states = config["states"];
+    for(auto& [name, state_vars] : states.items()) {
+      auto the_state = config_state(AIMGR.profile, state_vars);
+      AIMGR.states.insert_or_assign(name, the_state);
+    }
+
+    auto& scripts = config["scripts"];
+    for(auto& [script_name, action_names] : scripts.items()) {
+      std::vector<Action> the_script;
+      for(auto name : action_names) {
+
+        check(AIMGR.actions.contains(name),
+            fmt::format("ai::init(): script {} uses action {} that doesn't exist",
+              (std::string)script_name, (std::string)name));
+
+        the_script.push_back(AIMGR.actions.at(name));
+      }
+
+      AIMGR.scripts.insert_or_assign(script_name, the_script);
+    }
+  }
+
+  State load_state(std::string state_name) {
+    check(initialized, "you forgot to initialize the AI first.");
+    check(AIMGR.states.contains(state_name), fmt::format(
+          "ai::load_state({}): state does not exist in config",
+          state_name));
+
+    return AIMGR.states.at(state_name);
+  }
+
+  Action load_action(std::string action_name) {
+    check(initialized, "you forgot to initialize the AI first.");
+    check(AIMGR.states.contains(action_name), fmt::format(
+          "ai::load_action({}): action does not exist in config",
+          action_name));
+    return AIMGR.actions.at(action_name);
+  }
+
+  std::vector<Action> load_script(std::string script_name) {
+    check(AIMGR.scripts.contains(script_name), fmt::format(
+          "ai::load_script(): no script named {} configured", script_name));
+    return AIMGR.scripts.at(script_name);
+  }
+
+  std::optional<Script> plan(std::string script_name, State start, State goal) {
+    check(initialized, "you forgot to initialize the AI first.");
+    auto script = load_script(script_name);
+    return plan_actions(script, start, goal);
+  }
+
+  int state_id(std::string name) {
+    check(AIMGR.profile.contains(name), fmt::format(
+          "ai::state_id({}): id is not configured in profile",
+          name));
+    return AIMGR.profile.at(name);
+  }
 }
diff --git a/ai.hpp b/ai.hpp
index fc30eb9..03b6282 100644
--- a/ai.hpp
+++ b/ai.hpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include <limits>
 #include <optional>
 #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+#include "config.hpp"
 
 namespace ai {
   constexpr const int SCORE_MAX = std::numeric_limits<int>::max();
@@ -30,7 +31,6 @@ namespace ai {
 
     void needs(int name, bool val);
     void effect(int name, bool val);
-    void load(nlohmann::json &profile, nlohmann::json& config);
 
     bool can_effect(State& state);
     State apply_effect(State& state);
@@ -61,6 +61,26 @@ namespace ai {
   int distance_to_goal(State& from, State& to);
 
   std::optional<Script> plan_actions(std::vector<Action>& actions, State& start, State& goal);
+
+  struct AIManager {
+    nlohmann::json profile;
+
+    std::unordered_map<std::string, Action> actions;
+    std::unordered_map<std::string, State> states;
+    std::unordered_map<std::string, std::vector<Action>> scripts;
+  };
+
+  void init();
+
+  Action config_action(nlohmann::json& profile, nlohmann::json& config);
+  State config_state(nlohmann::json& profile, nlohmann::json& config);
+
+  int state_id(std::string name);
+  State load_state(std::string state_name);
+  Action load_action(std::string action_name);
+  std::vector<Action> load_script(std::string script_name);
+
+  std::optional<Script> plan(std::string script_name, State start, State goal);
 }
 
 template<> struct std::hash<ai::Action> {
diff --git a/assets/ai.json b/assets/ai.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6dbb6df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/ai.json
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+{
+  "profile": {
+    "target_acquired": 0,
+    "target_lost": 1,
+    "target_in_warhead_range": 2,
+    "target_dead": 3
+  },
+  "actions": [
+    {
+      "name": "searchSpiral",
+      "cost": 10,
+      "needs": {
+        "target_acquired": false,
+        "target_lost": true
+      },
+      "effects": {
+        "target_acquired": true
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      "name": "searchSerpentine",
+      "cost": 5,
+      "needs": {
+        "target_acquired": false,
+        "target_lost": false
+      },
+      "effects": {
+        "target_acquired": true
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      "name": "searchSpiral",
+      "cost": 5,
+      "needs": {
+        "target_acquired": false,
+        "target_lost": true
+      },
+      "effects": {
+        "target_acquired": true
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      "name": "interceptTarget",
+      "cost": 5,
+      "needs": {
+        "target_acquired": true,
+        "target_dead": false
+      },
+      "effects": {
+        "target_in_warhead_range": true
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      "name": "detonateNearTarget",
+      "cost": 5,
+      "needs": {
+        "target_in_warhead_range": true,
+        "target_acquired": true,
+        "target_dead": false
+      },
+      "effects": {
+        "target_dead": true
+      }
+    }
+  ],
+  "states": {
+    "test_start": {
+      "target_acquired": false,
+      "target_lost": true,
+      "target_in_warhead_range": false,
+      "target_dead": false
+    },
+    "test_goal": {
+      "target_dead": true
+    }
+  },
+  "scripts": {
+    "test1": [
+      "searchSpiral",
+      "searchSerpentine",
+      "searchSpiral",
+      "interceptTarget",
+      "detonateNearTarget"]
+  }
+}
diff --git a/tests/ai.cpp b/tests/ai.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..32450e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ai.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,220 @@
+#include <catch2/catch_test_macros.hpp>
+#include "dbc.hpp"
+#include "ai.hpp"
+#include <iostream>
+
+using namespace dbc;
+using namespace nlohmann;
+
+TEST_CASE("worldstate works", "[ai]") {
+  enum StateNames {
+    ENEMY_IN_RANGE,
+    ENEMY_DEAD
+  };
+
+  ai::State goal;
+  ai::State start;
+  std::vector<ai::Action> actions;
+
+  // start off enemy not dead and not in range
+  start[ENEMY_DEAD] = false;
+  start[ENEMY_IN_RANGE] = false;
+
+  // end goal is enemy is dead
+  goal[ENEMY_DEAD] = true;
+
+  ai::Action move_closer("move_closer", 10);
+  move_closer.needs(ENEMY_IN_RANGE, false);
+  move_closer.effect(ENEMY_IN_RANGE, true);
+
+  REQUIRE(move_closer.can_effect(start));
+  auto after_move_state = move_closer.apply_effect(start);
+  REQUIRE(start[ENEMY_IN_RANGE] == false);
+  REQUIRE(after_move_state[ENEMY_IN_RANGE] == true);
+  REQUIRE(after_move_state[ENEMY_DEAD] == false);
+  // start is clean but after move is dirty
+  REQUIRE(move_closer.can_effect(start));
+  REQUIRE(!move_closer.can_effect(after_move_state));
+  REQUIRE(ai::distance_to_goal(start, after_move_state) == 1);
+
+  ai::Action kill_it("kill_it", 10);
+  kill_it.needs(ENEMY_IN_RANGE, true);
+  kill_it.needs(ENEMY_DEAD, false);
+  kill_it.effect(ENEMY_DEAD, true);
+
+  REQUIRE(!kill_it.can_effect(start));
+  REQUIRE(kill_it.can_effect(after_move_state));
+
+  auto after_kill_state = kill_it.apply_effect(after_move_state);
+  REQUIRE(!kill_it.can_effect(after_kill_state));
+  REQUIRE(ai::distance_to_goal(after_move_state, after_kill_state) == 1);
+
+  actions.push_back(kill_it);
+  actions.push_back(move_closer);
+
+  REQUIRE(start != goal);
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("basic feature tests", "[ai]") {
+  enum StateNames {
+    ENEMY_IN_RANGE,
+    ENEMY_DEAD
+  };
+
+  ai::State goal;
+  ai::State start;
+  std::vector<ai::Action> actions;
+
+  // start off enemy not dead and not in range
+  start[ENEMY_DEAD] = false;
+  start[ENEMY_IN_RANGE] = false;
+
+  // end goal is enemy is dead
+  goal[ENEMY_DEAD] = true;
+
+  ai::Action move_closer("move_closer", 10);
+  move_closer.needs(ENEMY_IN_RANGE, false);
+  move_closer.effect(ENEMY_IN_RANGE, true);
+
+  ai::Action kill_it("kill_it", 10);
+  kill_it.needs(ENEMY_IN_RANGE, true);
+  // this is duplicated on purpose to confirm that setting
+  // a positive then a negative properly cancels out
+  kill_it.needs(ENEMY_DEAD, true);
+  kill_it.needs(ENEMY_DEAD, false);
+
+  // same thing with effects
+  kill_it.effect(ENEMY_DEAD, false);
+  kill_it.effect(ENEMY_DEAD, true);
+
+  // order seems to matter which is wrong
+  actions.push_back(kill_it);
+  actions.push_back(move_closer);
+
+  auto result = ai::plan_actions(actions, start, goal);
+  REQUIRE(result != std::nullopt);
+
+  auto state = start;
+
+  for(auto& action : *result) {
+    state = action.apply_effect(state);
+  }
+
+  REQUIRE(state[ENEMY_DEAD]);
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("wargame test from cppAI", "[ai]") {
+  std::vector<ai::Action> actions;
+  auto profile = R"({
+    "target_acquired": 0,
+    "target_lost": 1,
+    "target_in_warhead_range": 2,
+    "target_dead": 3
+  })"_json;
+
+  // Now establish all the possible actions for the action pool
+  // In this example we're providing the AI some different FPS actions
+  auto config = R"({
+    "name": "searchSpiral",
+    "cost": 5,
+    "needs": {
+      "target_acquired": false,
+      "target_lost": true
+    },
+    "effects": {
+      "target_acquired": true
+    }
+  })"_json;
+  auto spiral = ai::config_action(profile, config);
+  actions.push_back(spiral);
+
+  config = R"({
+    "name": "searchSerpentine",
+    "cost": 5,
+    "needs": {
+      "target_acquired": false,
+      "target_lost": false
+    },
+    "effects": {
+      "target_acquired": true
+    }
+  })"_json;
+  auto serpentine = ai::config_action(profile, config);
+  actions.push_back(serpentine);
+
+  config = R"({
+    "name": "interceptTarget",
+    "cost": 5,
+    "needs": {
+      "target_acquired": true,
+      "target_dead": false
+    },
+    "effects": {
+      "target_in_warhead_range": true
+    }
+  })"_json;
+  auto intercept = ai::config_action(profile, config);
+  actions.push_back(intercept);
+
+  config = R"({
+    "name": "detonateNearTarget",
+    "cost": 5,
+    "needs": {
+      "target_in_warhead_range": true,
+      "target_acquired": true,
+      "target_dead": false
+    },
+    "effects": {
+      "target_dead": true
+    }
+  })"_json;
+
+  auto detonateNearTarget = ai::config_action(profile, config);
+  actions.push_back(detonateNearTarget);
+
+  // Here's the initial state...
+  config = R"({
+    "target_acquired": false,
+    "target_lost": true,
+    "target_in_warhead_range": false,
+    "target_dead": false
+  })"_json;
+  auto initial_state = ai::config_state(profile, config);
+
+  // ...and the goal state
+  config = R"({
+    "target_dead": true
+  })"_json;
+  auto goal_target_dead = ai::config_state(profile, config);
+
+  auto result = ai::plan_actions(actions, initial_state, goal_target_dead);
+  REQUIRE(result != std::nullopt);
+
+  auto state = initial_state;
+
+  for(auto& action : *result) {
+    fmt::println("ACTION: {}", action.$name);
+    state = action.apply_effect(state);
+  }
+
+  REQUIRE(state[profile["target_dead"]]);
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("ai as a module like sound/sprites", "[ai]") {
+  ai::init();
+
+  auto start = ai::load_state("test_start");
+  auto goal = ai::load_state("test_goal");
+
+  auto script = ai::plan("test1", start, goal);
+  REQUIRE(script != std::nullopt);
+
+  auto state = start;
+  for(auto& action : *script) {
+    fmt::println("ACTION: {}", action.$name);
+    state = action.apply_effect(state);
+  }
+
+  REQUIRE(state[ai::state_id("target_dead")]);
+
+}