diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d1043ee..6f831de 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ reset:
 %.cpp : %.rl
 	ragel -o $@ $<
 
-build: ansi_parser.cpp
+build: ansi_parser.cpp lel.cpp
 	meson compile -j 10 -C builddir
 
 release_build:
diff --git a/ansi_parser.cpp b/ansi_parser.cpp
index 5a1224a..893486d 100644
--- a/ansi_parser.cpp
+++ b/ansi_parser.cpp
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ ANSIParser::ANSIParser(sf::Color default_fg, sf::Color default_bg) :
 }
 
 bool ANSIParser::parse(std::wstring_view codes, ColorCB color_cb, WriteCB write_cb) {
-  const wchar_t *start = NULL;
+  const wchar_t *start = nullptr;
   int cs = 0;
   unsigned int value = 0;
   const wchar_t *p = codes.data();
diff --git a/ansi_parser.rl b/ansi_parser.rl
index dac3e03..0c000eb 100644
--- a/ansi_parser.rl
+++ b/ansi_parser.rl
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ ANSIParser::ANSIParser(sf::Color default_fg, sf::Color default_bg) :
 }
 
 bool ANSIParser::parse(std::wstring_view codes, ColorCB color_cb, WriteCB write_cb) {
-  const wchar_t *start = NULL;
+  const wchar_t *start = nullptr;
   int cs = 0;
   unsigned int value = 0;
   const wchar_t *p = codes.data();
diff --git a/lel.cpp b/lel.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ac59ef0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lel.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,294 @@
+
+#line 1 "lel.rl"
+#include "lel.hpp"
+#include <fmt/core.h>
+
+
+#line 33 "lel.rl"
+
+
+
+#line 7 "lel.cpp"
+static const char _LELParser_actions[] = {
+	0, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 3, 1, 
+	4, 1, 5, 1, 6, 1, 9, 1, 
+	10, 1, 11, 2, 0, 7, 2, 0, 
+	8, 2, 4, 1, 2, 4, 5
+};
+
+static const char _LELParser_key_offsets[] = {
+	0, 0, 4, 18, 20, 24, 35, 47, 
+	52, 66, 68, 72, 83, 95, 99, 101, 
+	104, 106, 109
+};
+
+static const char _LELParser_trans_keys[] = {
+	32, 91, 9, 13, 32, 40, 42, 46, 
+	60, 62, 94, 95, 9, 13, 65, 90, 
+	97, 122, 48, 57, 41, 44, 48, 57, 
+	40, 42, 46, 60, 62, 94, 95, 65, 
+	90, 97, 122, 32, 93, 95, 124, 9, 
+	13, 48, 57, 65, 90, 97, 122, 32, 
+	93, 124, 9, 13, 32, 40, 42, 46, 
+	60, 62, 94, 95, 9, 13, 65, 90, 
+	97, 122, 48, 57, 41, 44, 48, 57, 
+	40, 42, 46, 60, 62, 94, 95, 65, 
+	90, 97, 122, 32, 93, 95, 124, 9, 
+	13, 48, 57, 65, 90, 97, 122, 32, 
+	93, 9, 13, 48, 57, 41, 48, 57, 
+	48, 57, 41, 48, 57, 32, 91, 9, 
+	13, 0
+};
+
+static const char _LELParser_single_lengths[] = {
+	0, 2, 8, 0, 2, 7, 4, 3, 
+	8, 0, 2, 7, 4, 2, 0, 1, 
+	0, 1, 2
+};
+
+static const char _LELParser_range_lengths[] = {
+	0, 1, 3, 1, 1, 2, 4, 1, 
+	3, 1, 1, 2, 4, 1, 1, 1, 
+	1, 1, 1
+};
+
+static const char _LELParser_index_offsets[] = {
+	0, 0, 4, 16, 18, 22, 32, 41, 
+	46, 58, 60, 64, 74, 83, 87, 89, 
+	92, 94, 97
+};
+
+static const char _LELParser_indicies[] = {
+	0, 2, 0, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 
+	7, 7, 6, 8, 3, 8, 8, 1, 
+	9, 1, 10, 11, 12, 1, 4, 5, 
+	6, 7, 7, 6, 8, 8, 8, 1, 
+	13, 15, 14, 16, 13, 14, 14, 14, 
+	1, 17, 18, 19, 17, 1, 20, 21, 
+	22, 23, 24, 24, 23, 25, 20, 25, 
+	25, 1, 26, 1, 27, 28, 29, 1, 
+	21, 22, 23, 24, 24, 23, 25, 25, 
+	25, 1, 30, 15, 31, 16, 30, 31, 
+	31, 31, 1, 32, 18, 32, 1, 33, 
+	1, 34, 35, 1, 36, 1, 37, 38, 
+	1, 39, 2, 39, 1, 0
+};
+
+static const char _LELParser_trans_targs[] = {
+	1, 0, 2, 2, 3, 5, 5, 5, 
+	6, 4, 5, 16, 4, 7, 6, 18, 
+	8, 7, 18, 8, 8, 9, 11, 11, 
+	11, 12, 10, 11, 14, 10, 13, 12, 
+	13, 15, 11, 15, 17, 5, 17, 18
+};
+
+static const char _LELParser_trans_actions[] = {
+	0, 0, 3, 0, 0, 13, 5, 11, 
+	17, 15, 19, 19, 0, 7, 0, 28, 
+	25, 0, 9, 1, 0, 0, 13, 5, 
+	11, 17, 15, 19, 19, 0, 7, 0, 
+	0, 15, 22, 0, 15, 22, 0, 0
+};
+
+static const int LELParser_start = 1;
+static const int LELParser_first_final = 18;
+static const int LELParser_error = 0;
+
+static const int LELParser_en_main = 1;
+
+
+#line 36 "lel.rl"
+
+bool LELParser::parse(std::string input) {
+  int cs = 0;
+  const char *start = nullptr;
+  const char *begin = input.data();
+  const char *p = input.data();
+  const char *pe = p + input.size();
+  std::string tk;
+
+  
+#line 103 "lel.cpp"
+	{
+	cs = LELParser_start;
+	}
+
+#line 46 "lel.rl"
+  
+#line 106 "lel.cpp"
+	{
+	int _klen;
+	unsigned int _trans;
+	const char *_acts;
+	unsigned int _nacts;
+	const char *_keys;
+
+	if ( p == pe )
+		goto _test_eof;
+	if ( cs == 0 )
+		goto _out;
+_resume:
+	_keys = _LELParser_trans_keys + _LELParser_key_offsets[cs];
+	_trans = _LELParser_index_offsets[cs];
+
+	_klen = _LELParser_single_lengths[cs];
+	if ( _klen > 0 ) {
+		const char *_lower = _keys;
+		const char *_mid;
+		const char *_upper = _keys + _klen - 1;
+		while (1) {
+			if ( _upper < _lower )
+				break;
+
+			_mid = _lower + ((_upper-_lower) >> 1);
+			if ( (*p) < *_mid )
+				_upper = _mid - 1;
+			else if ( (*p) > *_mid )
+				_lower = _mid + 1;
+			else {
+				_trans += (unsigned int)(_mid - _keys);
+				goto _match;
+			}
+		}
+		_keys += _klen;
+		_trans += _klen;
+	}
+
+	_klen = _LELParser_range_lengths[cs];
+	if ( _klen > 0 ) {
+		const char *_lower = _keys;
+		const char *_mid;
+		const char *_upper = _keys + (_klen<<1) - 2;
+		while (1) {
+			if ( _upper < _lower )
+				break;
+
+			_mid = _lower + (((_upper-_lower) >> 1) & ~1);
+			if ( (*p) < _mid[0] )
+				_upper = _mid - 2;
+			else if ( (*p) > _mid[1] )
+				_lower = _mid + 2;
+			else {
+				_trans += (unsigned int)((_mid - _keys)>>1);
+				goto _match;
+			}
+		}
+		_trans += _klen;
+	}
+
+_match:
+	_trans = _LELParser_indicies[_trans];
+	cs = _LELParser_trans_targs[_trans];
+
+	if ( _LELParser_trans_actions[_trans] == 0 )
+		goto _again;
+
+	_acts = _LELParser_actions + _LELParser_trans_actions[_trans];
+	_nacts = (unsigned int) *_acts++;
+	while ( _nacts-- > 0 )
+	{
+		switch ( *_acts++ )
+		{
+	case 0:
+#line 8 "lel.rl"
+	{tk = input.substr(start - begin, p - start); }
+	break;
+	case 1:
+#line 10 "lel.rl"
+	{ col(); }
+	break;
+	case 2:
+#line 11 "lel.rl"
+	{ ltab(); }
+	break;
+	case 3:
+#line 12 "lel.rl"
+	{ valign((*p)); }
+	break;
+	case 4:
+#line 13 "lel.rl"
+	{ id(input.substr(start - begin, p - start)); }
+	break;
+	case 5:
+#line 14 "lel.rl"
+	{ row(); }
+	break;
+	case 6:
+#line 15 "lel.rl"
+	{ align((*p)); }
+	break;
+	case 7:
+#line 16 "lel.rl"
+	{ setwidth(std::stoi(tk)); }
+	break;
+	case 8:
+#line 17 "lel.rl"
+	{ setheight(std::stoi(tk)); }
+	break;
+	case 9:
+#line 18 "lel.rl"
+	{ expand(); }
+	break;
+	case 10:
+#line 26 "lel.rl"
+	{ start = p; }
+	break;
+	case 11:
+#line 29 "lel.rl"
+	{start = p;}
+	break;
+#line 215 "lel.cpp"
+		}
+	}
+
+_again:
+	if ( cs == 0 )
+		goto _out;
+	if ( ++p != pe )
+		goto _resume;
+	_test_eof: {}
+	_out: {}
+	}
+
+#line 47 "lel.rl"
+
+  bool good = pe - p == 0;
+
+  return good;
+}
+
+void LELParser::col() {
+  fmt::println("col");
+}
+
+void LELParser::ltab() {
+  fmt::println("ltab");
+}
+
+void LELParser::valign(char dir) {
+  fmt::println("valign: {}", dir);
+}
+
+void LELParser::align(char dir) {
+  fmt::println("align {}", dir);
+}
+
+void LELParser::id(std::string name) {
+  fmt::println("id: {}", name);
+}
+
+void LELParser::row() {
+  fmt::println("row");
+}
+
+void LELParser::setwidth(int width) {
+  fmt::println("setwidth: {}", width);
+}
+
+void LELParser::setheight(int height) {
+  fmt::println("setheight: {}", height);
+}
+
+void LELParser::expand() {
+  fmt::println("expand");
+}
diff --git a/lel.rl b/lel.rl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..555e7b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lel.rl
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+#include "lel.hpp"
+#include <fmt/core.h>
+
+%%{
+  machine LELParser;
+  alphtype char;
+
+  action token {tk = input.substr(start - begin, fpc - start); }
+
+  action col { col(); }
+  action ltab { ltab(); }
+  action valign { valign(fc); }
+  action id { id(input.substr(start - begin, fpc - start)); }
+  action row { row(); }
+  action align { align(fc); }
+  action setwidth { setwidth(std::stoi(tk)); }
+  action setheight { setheight(std::stoi(tk)); }
+  action expand { expand(); }
+
+  col = "|" $col;
+  ltab = "[" $ltab;
+  rtab = "]" $row;
+  valign = ("^" | ".") $valign;
+  expand = "*" $expand;
+  halign = ("<" | ">") $align;
+  number =  digit+ >{ start = fpc; } %token;
+  setw = ("(" number %setwidth ("," number %setheight)? ")") ;
+  modifiers = (expand | valign | halign | setw);
+  id = modifiers* ((alpha | '_')+ :>> (alnum | '_')*) >{start = fpc;} %id;
+  row = space* ltab space* id space* (col space* id)* space* rtab space*;
+
+  main := row+;
+}%%
+
+%% write data;
+
+bool LELParser::parse(std::string input) {
+  int cs = 0;
+  const char *start = nullptr;
+  const char *begin = input.data();
+  const char *p = input.data();
+  const char *pe = p + input.size();
+  std::string tk;
+
+  %% write init;
+  %% write exec;
+
+  bool good = pe - p == 0;
+
+  return good;
+}
+
+void LELParser::col() {
+  fmt::println("col");
+}
+
+void LELParser::ltab() {
+  fmt::println("ltab");
+}
+
+void LELParser::valign(char dir) {
+  fmt::println("valign: {}", dir);
+}
+
+void LELParser::align(char dir) {
+  fmt::println("align {}", dir);
+}
+
+void LELParser::id(std::string name) {
+  fmt::println("id: {}", name);
+}
+
+void LELParser::row() {
+  fmt::println("row");
+}
+
+void LELParser::setwidth(int width) {
+  fmt::println("setwidth: {}", width);
+}
+
+void LELParser::setheight(int height) {
+  fmt::println("setheight: {}", height);
+}
+
+void LELParser::expand() {
+  fmt::println("expand");
+}
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 0c3bc69..fd2a3bd 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ sources = [
   'devices.cpp',
   'gui.cpp',
   'inventory.cpp',
+  'lel.cpp',
   'levelmanager.cpp',
   'lights.cpp',
   'map.cpp',
@@ -77,11 +78,13 @@ sources = [
 ]
 
 executable('runtests', sources + [
+  'tests/ansi_parser.cpp',
   'tests/base.cpp',
   'tests/dbc.cpp',
   'tests/dinkyecs.cpp',
   'tests/fsm.cpp',
   'tests/inventory.cpp',
+  'tests/lel.cpp',
   'tests/levelmanager.cpp',
   'tests/lighting.cpp',
   'tests/map.cpp',
diff --git a/tests/ansi_parser.cpp b/tests/ansi_parser.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1c7a1b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ansi_parser.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+#include <catch2/catch_test_macros.hpp>
+#include <fmt/core.h>
+#include <string>
+#include "ansi_parser.hpp"
+#include <codecvt>
+#include <iostream>
+
+#include "ftxui/dom/elements.hpp"  // for text, bgcolor, color, vbox, hbox, separator, operator|, Elements, Element, Fit, border
+#include "ftxui/dom/node.hpp"      // for Render
+#include "ftxui/screen/color.hpp"  // for Color, Color::Black, Color::Blue, Color::BlueLight, Color::Cyan, Color::CyanLight, Color::Default, Color::GrayDark, Color::GrayLight, Color::Green, Color::GreenLight, Color::Magenta, Color::MagentaLight, Color::Red, Color::RedLight, Color::White, Color::Yellow, Color::YellowLight, Color::Palette256, ftxui
+#include <ftxui/screen/color_info.hpp>  // for ColorInfo
+#include <ftxui/screen/screen.hpp>      // for Full, Screen
+#include <ftxui/screen/screen.hpp>      // for Full, Screen
+#include <ftxui/screen/terminal.hpp>  // for ColorSupport, Color, Palette16, Palette256, TrueColor
+#include "render.hpp"
+
+using namespace fmt;
+using namespace ftxui;
+
+std::string generate_colors() {
+  SFMLRender::init_terminal();
+
+  REQUIRE(ftxui::Terminal::ColorSupport() == ftxui::Terminal::Color::TrueColor);
+
+  const int max_value = 255;
+  const int value_increment = 8;
+  const int hue_increment = 6;
+  int saturation = max_value;
+  Elements array;
+  int count = 0;
+
+  for (int value = 0; value < max_value; value += 2 * value_increment) {
+    Elements line;
+    for (int hue = 0; hue < max_value; hue += hue_increment) {
+      line.push_back(
+          text("#")                                    //
+          | ftxui::color(Color::HSV(hue, saturation, value))  //
+          | ftxui::bgcolor(Color::HSV(hue, saturation, value + value_increment)));
+      count++;
+    }
+    array.push_back(hbox(std::move(line)));
+  }
+
+  auto true_color_display = vbox({
+      vbox(std::move(array)),
+  });
+
+  auto document = vbox({hbox({
+      true_color_display,
+  })});
+
+  auto screen = Screen::Create(Dimension::Full(), Dimension::Fit(document));
+  Render(screen, document);
+  return screen.ToString();
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("test out ragel parser", "[gui]") {
+  SFMLRender::init_terminal();
+  sf::Color default_fg(0,0,0);
+  sf::Color default_bg(100,100,100);
+
+  // this sets the Truecolor so need to do it first
+  ANSIParser ansi(default_fg, default_bg);
+  std::wstring_convert<std::codecvt_utf8_utf16<wchar_t>> $converter;
+  std::string colors = generate_colors();
+  std::wstring colors_utf = $converter.from_bytes(colors);
+
+  bool good = ansi.parse(colors_utf,
+      [&](sf::Color color[[maybe_unused]], sf::Color bgcolor[[maybe_unused]]){
+      },
+      [&](wchar_t ch) {
+      bool correct_char = ch == '#' || ch == ' ' || ch == '\n' || ch == '\r';
+      REQUIRE(correct_char);
+  });
+
+  REQUIRE(good);
+}
diff --git a/tests/lel.cpp b/tests/lel.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b142433
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/lel.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#include "lel.hpp"
+#include <catch2/catch_test_macros.hpp>
+#include <fmt/core.h>
+#include <string>
+#include "ansi_parser.hpp"
+#include <codecvt>
+#include <iostream>
+
+
+
+TEST_CASE("test basic ops", "[lel]") {
+  LELParser parser;
+
+  bool good = parser.parse(
+     "[ label_1         | label3      ]"
+     "[ (300,300)*text1 | (150)people ]"
+     "[ <label2         | _           ]"
+     "[ message         | buttons     ]");
+
+  REQUIRE(good);
+}