diff --git a/.flake8 b/.flake8
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eed4137
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.flake8
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+[flake8]
+select = C,E,F,W,S
+ignore = E203,W503
+per-file-ignores = tests/*:S101
diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5540cce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+repos:
+-   repo: https://github.com/pre-commit/pre-commit-hooks
+    rev: v2.4.0
+    hooks:
+    -   id: check-added-large-files
+    -   id: check-byte-order-marker
+    -   id: check-json
+    -   id: check-merge-conflict
+    -   id: check-toml
+    -   id: debug-statements
+    -   id: detect-private-key
+-   repo: local
+    hooks:
+    -   id: isort-project
+        name: isort_project
+        entry: isort -rc elab_users
+        language: system
+        pass_filenames: false
+    -   id: isort-test
+        name: isort_test
+        entry: isort -rc tests
+        language: system
+        pass_filenames: false
+    -   id: black
+        name: black
+        entry: black elab_users tests
+        language: system
+        pass_filenames: false
+    -   id: flake8
+        name: flake8
+        entry: flake8 elab_users tests
+        language: system
+        pass_filenames: false
+    -   id: pytest
+        name: pytest
+        entry: pytest tests
+        pass_filenames: false
+        language: system
diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2fd3f54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+0.0.1  - first version
+----------------------
+
+ - setting up the project
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..30b93d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+Contributing
+============
+
+Contributions are welcome, and they are greatly appreciated! Every little bit
+helps, and credit will always be given.
+
+You can contribute in many ways:
+
+Types of Contributions
+----------------------
+
+### Report Bugs
+
+Report bugs at https://git.cpi.imtek.uni-freiburg.de/CPI/elab-users.git/issues.
+
+If you are reporting a bug, please include:
+
+* Your operating system name and version.
+* Any details about your local setup that might be helpful in troubleshooting.
+* Detailed steps to reproduce the bug.
+
+### Fix Bugs
+
+Look through the GitHub issues for bugs. Anything tagged with "bug" and "help
+wanted" is open to whoever wants to implement it.
+
+### Implement Features
+
+Look through the GitHub issues for features. Anything tagged with "enhancement"
+and "help wanted" is open to whoever wants to implement it.
+
+### Write Documentation
+
+Elab Users could always use more documentation, whether as part of the
+official Elab Users docs, in docstrings, or even on the web in blog posts,
+articles, and such.
+
+### Submit Feedback
+
+The best way to send feedback is to file an issue at https://git.cpi.imtek.uni-freiburg.de/CPI/elab-users.git/issues.
+
+If you are proposing a feature:
+
+* Explain in detail how it would work.
+* Keep the scope as narrow as possible, to make it easier to implement.
+* Remember that this is a volunteer-driven project, and that contributions
+  are welcome :)
+
+Get Started!
+------------
+
+Ready to contribute? Here's how to set up `elab_users` for local development.
+
+1. Fork the `elab_users` repo on GitHub.
+2. Clone your fork locally::
+
+    `$ git clone git@github.com:your_name_here/elab_users.git`
+
+3. Install your local copy into a virtualenv.
+
+    `$ cd elab_users/`
+    `$ make devenv`
+
+4. Create a branch for local development::
+
+    `$ git checkout -b name-of-your-bugfix-or-feature`
+
+   Now you can make your changes locally.
+
+5. When you're done making changes, check that your changes passes the linters and the
+   tests, including testing other Python versions with tox::
+
+    ```
+    $ make lint
+    $ make coverage
+    $ make tox
+    ```
+
+6. Commit your changes and push your branch to GitHub::
+
+    ```
+    $ git add .
+    $ git commit -m "Your detailed description of your changes."
+    $ git push origin name-of-your-bugfix-or-feature
+    ```
+
+7. Submit a pull request through the GitHub website.
+
+Pull Request Guidelines
+-----------------------
+
+Before you submit a pull request, check that it meets these guidelines:
+
+1. The pull request should include tests.
+2. If the pull request adds functionality, the docs should be updated. Put
+   your new functionality into a function with a docstring, and add the
+   feature to the list in README.md and CHANGES.md
+
+Tips
+----
+
+To run a quick set of tests without coverage report
+
+    $ make test
+
+Deploying
+---------
+
+A reminder for the maintainers on how to deploy.
+Bump the version in `elab_users/__init__.py` and
+make sure all your changes are committed (including an entry in CHANGES.md).
+
+	$ git tag <new version>
+	$ git push
+	$ git push --tags
+	$ flit publish
+
diff --git a/LICENSE b/LICENSE
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a3dfb3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+/*
+* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+* "THE BEER-WARE LICENSE" (Revision 42):
+* frey@imtek.de wrote this file. As long as you retain this notice you
+* can do whatever you want with this stuff. If we meet some day, and you think
+* this stuff is worth it, you can buy me a beer in return. Holger Frey
+* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+*/
+
+
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c21cadb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+.PHONY: clean clean-test clean-pyc clean-build docs help
+.DEFAULT_GOAL := help
+
+define BROWSER_PYSCRIPT
+import os, webbrowser, sys
+
+try:
+	from urllib import pathname2url
+except:
+	from urllib.request import pathname2url
+
+webbrowser.open("file://" + pathname2url(os.path.abspath(sys.argv[1])))
+endef
+export BROWSER_PYSCRIPT
+
+define PRINT_HELP_PYSCRIPT
+import re, sys
+
+for line in sys.stdin:
+	match = re.match(r'^([a-zA-Z_-]+):.*?## (.*)$$', line)
+	if match:
+		target, help = match.groups()
+		print("%-20s %s" % (target, help))
+endef
+export PRINT_HELP_PYSCRIPT
+
+BROWSER := python -c "$$BROWSER_PYSCRIPT"
+
+help:
+	@python -c "$$PRINT_HELP_PYSCRIPT" < $(MAKEFILE_LIST)
+
+clean: clean-build clean-pyc clean-test ## remove all build, test, coverage and Python artifacts
+
+clean-build: ## remove build artifacts
+	rm -fr build/
+	rm -fr dist/
+	rm -fr .eggs/
+	find . -name '*.egg-info' -exec rm -fr {} +
+	find . -name '*.egg' -exec rm -f {} +
+
+clean-pyc: ## remove Python file artifacts
+	find . -name '*.pyc' -exec rm -f {} +
+	find . -name '*.pyo' -exec rm -f {} +
+	find . -name '*~' -exec rm -f {} +
+	find . -name '__pycache__' -exec rm -fr {} +
+
+clean-test: ## remove test and coverage artifacts
+	rm -fr .pytest_cache/
+	rm -fr .tox/
+	rm -f .coverage
+	rm -fr htmlcov/
+
+lint: ## reformat with black and check style with flake8
+	isort elab_users
+	isort tests
+	black elab_users tests
+	flake8 elab_users tests
+
+test: lint ## run tests quickly with the default Python
+	pytest tests -x --disable-warnings -m "not fun"
+
+testall: lint ## run tests quickly with the default Python
+	pytest tests
+
+coverage: lint ## full test suite, check code coverage and open coverage report
+	pytest tests --cov=elab_users -m "fun"
+	coverage html
+	$(BROWSER) htmlcov/index.html
+
+tox:  ## run fully isolated tests with tox
+	tox
+
+install:  ## install updated project.toml with flint
+	flit install --pth-file
+
+devenv: ## setup development environment
+	python3 -m venv --prompt elab_users .venv
+	.venv/bin/pip3 install --upgrade pip
+	.venv/bin/pip3 install flit
+	.venv/bin/flit install --pth-file
+
+repo: devenv ## complete project setup with development environment and git repo
+	git init .
+	git branch -m main
+	git add .
+	git commit -m "import of project template"
+	git remote add origin https://git.cpi.imtek.uni-freiburg.de/CPI/elab-users.git
+	git push -u origin main --no-verify
+	
+	.venv/bin/pre-commit install --install-hooks
diff --git a/elab_users/__init__.py b/elab_users/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e0219af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elab_users/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+""" Elab Users
+
+Manage elab (svn) users
+"""
+
+__version__ = "0.0.1"
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c6c0c34
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+
+
+[build-system]
+requires = ["flit"]
+build-backend = "flit.buildapi"
+
+[tool.flit.metadata]
+module = "elab_users"
+dist-name = "elab_users"
+author = "Holger Frey"
+author-email = "frey@imtek.de"
+home-page = "https://git.cpi.imtek.uni-freiburg.de/CPI/elab-users.git"
+description-file = "README.md"
+license = "Beerware"
+
+# see https://pypi.org/classifiers/
+classifiers = [
+    "Development Status :: 2 - Pre-Alpha",
+    "Intended Audience :: Developers",
+    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7",
+    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8",
+    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: Only",
+    "License :: Freely Distributable",
+]
+
+requires = [
+
+]
+requires-python = ">=3.7"
+
+[tool.flit.metadata.requires-extra]
+test = [
+    "pytest >=4.0.0",
+    "pytest-cov",
+    "pytest-mock",
+    "pytest-randomly",
+    "tox",
+]
+dev = [
+    "black",
+    "flake8",
+    "flake8-comprehensions",
+    "flake8-bandit",
+    "isort >= 5.0.0",
+    "keyring",
+    "pre-commit",
+]
+
+[tool.black]
+line-length = 79
+py37 = true
+include = '\.pyi?$'
+exclude = '''
+/(
+    \.git
+  | \.tox
+  | \.venv
+  | build
+  | dist
+)/
+'''
+
+[tool.isort]
+line_length=79
+multi_line_output=3
+length_sort="True"
+include_trailing_comma="True"
+
+[tool.pytest.ini_options]
+markers = [
+    "fun: marks tests as functional (deselect with '-m \"not fun\"')",
+]
+addopts = [
+    "--strict-markers",
+]
diff --git a/tests/test_elab_users.py b/tests/test_elab_users.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ab75af1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_elab_users.py
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+""" Stub file for testing the project
+
+There are three predefined ways to run tests:
+
+make test:
+    runs only unit tests, that are not marked with "fun" (for functional test)
+    in a random order. If a test failed before, only the failed tests will be
+    run. This is intended to be the default testing method while developing.
+
+make testall:
+    runs unit tests and functional tests in random order. Will give a complete
+    overview of the test suite.
+
+make coverage:
+    runs only tests marked with "fun" (for functional tests) and generates a
+    coverage report for the test run. The idea is to check the test coverage
+    only on functinal tests to see if a) everything is as much covered as
+    possible and b) to find dead code that is not called in end-to-end tests.
+
+all three test strategies will run "make lint" before to catch easily made
+mistakes.
+"""
+
+import pytest
+
+
+def test_example_unittest():
+    """ example unittest
+
+    will be run by 'make test' and 'make testall' but not 'make  coverage'
+    """
+    assert True
+
+
+@pytest.mark.fun
+def test_example_functional_test():
+    """ example unittest
+
+    will be by 'make  coverage' and 'make testall' but not 'make test'
+    """
+    assert True
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1aae05d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+[tox]
+envlist = py37
+isolated_build = True
+
+[testenv]
+deps =
+    pytest
+    pytest-cov
+    pytest-mock
+    setuptools>=41.2.0
+    pip>=20.0.2
+
+changedir = {toxinidir}/tests
+commands = pytest --cov=elab_users