diff --git a/src/cfg/opt.c b/src/cfg/opt.c
index 92577d8..b19e506 100644
--- a/src/cfg/opt.c
+++ b/src/cfg/opt.c
@@ -6,6 +6,84 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <sys/log.h>
 #include <io/files.h>
+#include <assert.h>
+
+static GHashTable* args = NULL;
+
+static void clean(void) {
+    GHashTableIter iter;
+    gpointer key, value;
+    g_hash_table_iter_init(&iter, args);
+
+    while (g_hash_table_iter_next(&iter, &key, &value)) {
+        free(value);
+    }
+
+    g_hash_table_destroy(args);
+}
+
+void parse_options(int argc, char* argv[]) {
+    args = g_hash_table_new(g_str_hash, g_str_equal);
+
+    atexit(clean);
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < argc; i++) {
+        Option* option = malloc(sizeof(Option));
+        option->is_opt = g_str_has_prefix(argv[i], "--");
+        option->string = argv[i] + (option->is_opt ? 2 : 0);
+        option->index = i;
+        option->value = NULL;
+
+        char* equals = strchr(argv[i], '=');
+        if (equals != NULL) {
+            option->value = equals;
+        }
+
+        g_hash_table_insert(args, (gpointer) option->string, (gpointer) option);
+    }
+}
+
+bool is_option_set(const char* option) {
+    assert(option != NULL);
+    assert(args != NULL);
+    return g_hash_table_contains(args, option);
+}
+
+const Option* get_option(const char* option) {
+    if (g_hash_table_contains(args, option)) {
+        return g_hash_table_lookup(args, option);
+    }
+
+    return NULL;
+}
+
+GArray* get_non_options_after(const char* command) {
+    const Option* command_option = get_option(command);
+
+    if (command_option == NULL) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    GArray* array = g_array_new(FALSE, FALSE, sizeof(const char*));
+
+    GHashTableIter iter;
+    gpointer key, value;
+    g_hash_table_iter_init(&iter, args);
+
+    while (g_hash_table_iter_next(&iter, &key, &value)) {
+        Option* option = (Option*) value;
+        if (!option->is_opt && command_option->index < option->index) {
+            g_array_append_val(array, option->string);
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (array->len == 0) {
+        g_array_free(array, FALSE);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    return array;
+}
 
 TargetConfig* default_target_config() {
     DEBUG("generating default target config...");
@@ -25,32 +103,44 @@ TargetConfig* default_target_config() {
     return config;
 }
 
-TargetConfig* default_target_config_from_args(int argc, char *argv[]) {
+TargetConfig* default_target_config_from_args() {
     DEBUG("generating default target from command line...");
 
     TargetConfig* config = default_target_config();
 
-    for (int i = 0; i < argc; i++) {
-        DEBUG("processing argument: %ld %s", i, argv[i]);
-        char *option = argv[i];
+    if (is_option_set("print-ast")) {
+        config->print_ast = true;
+    } else if (is_option_set("print-asm")) {
+        config->print_asm = true;
+    } else if (is_option_set("print-ir")) {
+        config->print_ir = true;
+    } else if (is_option_set("mode")) {
+        const Option* opt = get_option("mode");
 
-        if (strcmp(option, "--print-ast") == 0) {
-            config->print_ast = true;
-        } else if (strcmp(option, "--print-asm") == 0) {
-            config->print_asm = true;
-        } else if (strcmp(option, "--print-ir") == 0) {
-            config->print_ir = true;
-        } else if (strcmp(option, "--mode=app") == 0) {
-            config->mode = Application;
-        } else if (strcmp(option, "--mode=lib") == 0) {
-            config->mode = Library;
-        } else if (config->root_module == NULL) {
-            config->root_module = strdup(option);
-        } else {
-            print_message(Warning, "Got more than one file to compile, using first by ignoring others.");
+        if (opt->value != NULL) {
+            if (strcmp(opt->value, "app") == 0) {
+                config->mode = Application;
+            } else if (strcmp(opt->value, "lib") == 0) {
+                config->mode = Library;
+            } else {
+                print_message(Warning, "Invalid compilation mode: %s", opt->value);
+            }
         }
     }
 
+    GArray* files = get_non_options_after("compile");
+
+    if (files == NULL) {
+        print_message(Error, "No input file provided.");
+    } else {
+
+        if (files->len > 1) {
+            print_message(Warning, "Got more than one file to compile, using first, ignoring others.");
+        }
+
+        config->root_module = strdup( ((char**) files->data) [0]);
+    }
+
     return config;
 }
 
@@ -66,7 +156,9 @@ void print_help(void) {
             "    --print-ast      print resulting abstract syntax tree to a file",
             "    --print-asm      print resulting assembly language to a file",
             "    --print-ir       print resulting LLVM-IR to a file",
-            "    --mode=[app|lib] set the compilation mode to either application or library"
+            "    --mode=[app|lib] set the compilation mode to either application or library",
+            "    --verbose        print logs with level information or higher",
+            "    --debug          print debug logs (if not disabled at compile time)"
     };
 
     for (unsigned int i = 0; i < sizeof(lines) / sizeof(const char *); i++) {
diff --git a/src/cfg/opt.h b/src/cfg/opt.h
index c54bfb2..9f0b7c0 100644
--- a/src/cfg/opt.h
+++ b/src/cfg/opt.h
@@ -52,11 +52,18 @@ typedef struct ProjectConfig_t {
     GHashTable* targets;
 } ProjectConfig;
 
+typedef struct Option_t {
+    int index;
+    const char* string;
+    const char* value;
+    bool is_opt;
+} Option;
+
 TargetConfig* default_target_config();
 
 ProjectConfig* default_project_config();
 
-TargetConfig* default_target_config_from_args(int argc, char* argv[]);
+TargetConfig* default_target_config_from_args();
 
 int load_project_config(ProjectConfig *config);
 
@@ -66,4 +73,16 @@ void delete_project_config(ProjectConfig* config);
 
 void delete_target_config(TargetConfig*);
 
+void parse_options(int argc, char* argv[]);
+
+[[gnu::nonnull(1)]]
+bool is_option_set(const char* option);
+
+[[gnu::nonnull(1)]]
+const Option* get_option(const char* option);
+
+[[gnu::nonnull(1)]]
+[[nodiscard("must be freed")]]
+GArray* get_non_options_after(const char* command);
+
 #endif //GEMSTONE_OPT_H
diff --git a/src/compiler.c b/src/compiler.c
index 1889763..79e9b20 100644
--- a/src/compiler.c
+++ b/src/compiler.c
@@ -160,10 +160,10 @@ static void build_target(ModuleFileStack *unit, TargetConfig *target) {
  * @param argc
  * @param argv
  */
-static void compile_file(ModuleFileStack *unit, int argc, char *argv[]) {
+static void compile_file(ModuleFileStack *unit) {
     INFO("compiling basic files...");
 
-    TargetConfig *target = default_target_config_from_args(argc, argv);
+    TargetConfig *target = default_target_config_from_args();
 
     if (target->root_module == NULL) {
         print_message(Error, "No input file specified.");
@@ -180,11 +180,9 @@ static void compile_file(ModuleFileStack *unit, int argc, char *argv[]) {
  * @brief Build all project targets specified by the command line arguments.
  * @param unit
  * @param config
- * @param argc
- * @param argv
  */
-static void build_project_targets(ModuleFileStack *unit, ProjectConfig *config, int argc, char *argv[]) {
-    if (argc == 1 && strcmp(argv[0], "all") == 0) {
+static void build_project_targets(ModuleFileStack *unit, ProjectConfig *config) {
+    if (is_option_set("all")) {
         // build all targets in the project
         GHashTableIter iter;
 
@@ -195,52 +193,51 @@ static void build_project_targets(ModuleFileStack *unit, ProjectConfig *config,
         while (g_hash_table_iter_next(&iter, (gpointer) &key, (gpointer) &val)) {
             build_target(unit, val);
         }
-    } else {
-        // build all targets given in the arguments
-        for (int i = 0; i < argc; i++) {
-            char *target_name = argv[i];
+        return;
+    }
+
+    // build all targets given in the arguments
+    GArray* targets = get_non_options_after("build");
+
+    if (targets != NULL) {
+        for (guint i = 0; i < targets->len; i++) {
+            const char *target_name = (((Option*) targets->data) + i)->string;
+
             if (g_hash_table_contains(config->targets, target_name)) {
                 build_target(unit, g_hash_table_lookup(config->targets, target_name));
+            } else {
+                print_message(Error, "Unknown target: %s", target_name);
             }
         }
+
+        g_array_free(targets, FALSE);
+    } else {
+        print_message(Error, "No targets specified.");
     }
 }
 
 /**
  * @brief Build targets from project. Configuration is provided by command line arguments.
  * @param unit File storage
- * @param argc Number of arguments
- * @param argv Array of Arguments
  */
-static void build_project(ModuleFileStack *unit, int argc, char *argv[]) {
-    if (argc <= 0) {
-        print_message(Error, "No targets specified.");
-        return;
-    }
-
+static void build_project(ModuleFileStack *unit) {
     ProjectConfig *config = default_project_config();
     int err = load_project_config(config);
 
     if (err == PROJECT_OK) {
-        build_project_targets(unit, config, argc, argv);
+        build_project_targets(unit, config);
     }
 
     delete_project_config(config);
 }
 
-void run_compiler(int argc, char *argv[]) {
-    if (argc <= 0) {
-        INFO("no arguments provided");
-        print_help();
-        return;
-    }
-
+void run_compiler() {
     ModuleFileStack files = new_file_stack();
 
-    if (strcmp(argv[0], "build") == 0) {
-        build_project(&files, argc - 1, &argv[1]);
-    } else if (strcmp(argv[0], "compile") == 0) {
-        compile_file(&files, argc - 1, &argv[1]);
+    if (is_option_set("build")) {
+        build_project(&files);
+    } else if (is_option_set("compile")) {
+        compile_file(&files);
     } else {
         print_message(Error, "Invalid mode of operation. Rerun with --help.");
     }
diff --git a/src/compiler.h b/src/compiler.h
index 943e47b..a82a38f 100644
--- a/src/compiler.h
+++ b/src/compiler.h
@@ -7,9 +7,7 @@
 
 /**
  * @brief Run the gemstone compiler with the provided command arguments.
- * @param argc
- * @param argv
  */
-void run_compiler(int argc, char *argv[]);
+void run_compiler();
 
 #endif //GEMSTONE_COMPILER_H
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index a661dfb..72b397a 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include <sys/col.h>
 #include <lex/util.h>
 #include <io/files.h>
+#include <cfg/opt.h>
 #include <compiler.h>
 
 /**
@@ -16,8 +17,9 @@ void notify_exit(void) { DEBUG("Exiting gemstone..."); }
  * @brief Run compiler setup here
  *
  */
-void setup(void) {
+void setup(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     // setup preample
+    parse_options(argc, argv);
 
     log_init();
     DEBUG("starting gemstone...");
@@ -37,11 +39,16 @@ void setup(void) {
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
-    setup();
+    if (argc <= 1) {
+        print_help();
+        exit(1);
+    }
+
+    setup(argc, argv);
 
     print_message(Info, "Running GSC version %s", GSC_VERSION);
 
-    run_compiler(argc - 1, &argv[1]);
+    run_compiler();
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/sys/log.c b/src/sys/log.c
index 0aeab5f..7dcf94e 100644
--- a/src/sys/log.c
+++ b/src/sys/log.c
@@ -4,14 +4,29 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <sys/log.h>
 #include <assert.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <cfg/opt.h>
 
 static struct Logger_t {
     FILE** streams;
     size_t stream_count;
 } GlobalLogger;
 
-void log_init(void)
+int runtime_log_level = LOG_LEVEL_WARNING;
+
+void set_log_level(int level)
 {
+    runtime_log_level = level;
+}
+
+void log_init()
+{
+    if (is_option_set("verbose")) {
+        set_log_level(LOG_LEVEL_INFORMATION);
+    } else if (is_option_set("debug")) {
+        set_log_level(LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG);
+    }
+
     assert(LOG_DEFAULT_STREAM != NULL);
     log_register_stream(LOG_DEFAULT_STREAM);
 }
@@ -30,7 +45,7 @@ void log_register_stream(FILE* restrict stream)
         if (GlobalLogger.streams == NULL)
         {
             PANIC("failed to allocate stream buffer");
-        }   
+        }
     }
     else
     {
diff --git a/src/sys/log.h b/src/sys/log.h
index 6b8991d..6db8fe5 100644
--- a/src/sys/log.h
+++ b/src/sys/log.h
@@ -53,12 +53,22 @@ will not print.
 #define INFO(format, ...) __LOG(LOG_STRING_INFORMATION, LOG_LEVEL_INFORMATION, format"\n", ##__VA_ARGS__)
 #define DEBUG(format, ...) __LOG(LOG_STRING_DEBUG, LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG, format"\n", ##__VA_ARGS__)
 
+extern int runtime_log_level;
+
 #define __LOG(level, priority, format, ...) \
     do { \
         if (LOG_LEVEL <= priority) \
-            syslog_logf(level, __FILE_NAME__, __LINE__, __func__, format, ##__VA_ARGS__); \
+            if (runtime_log_level <= priority) \
+                syslog_logf(level, __FILE_NAME__, __LINE__, __func__, format, ##__VA_ARGS__); \
     } while(0)
 
+/**
+ * @brief Set the runtime log level. Must be one of: LOG_LEVEL_ERROR, LOG_LEVEL_WARNING,
+ *        LOG_LEVEL_INFORMATION, LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG
+ * @param level the new log level
+ */
+void set_log_level(int level);
+
 /**
  * @brief Log a message into all registered streams
  * 
diff --git a/tests/ast/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/ast/CMakeLists.txt
index 88007e4..5bd19b6 100644
--- a/tests/ast/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/ast/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@ find_package(PkgConfig REQUIRED)
 pkg_search_module(GLIB REQUIRED IMPORTED_TARGET glib-2.0)
 include_directories(PRIVATE ${GLIB_INCLUDE_DIRS})
 
+# ------------------------------------------------ #
+# Setup TOML-C99                                   #
+# ------------------------------------------------ #
+
+include_directories(${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/dep/tomlc99)
+
 # ------------------------------------------------------- #
 # CTEST 1
 # test building the syntax tree
@@ -19,6 +25,8 @@ add_executable(ast_build_tree
         ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/sys/log.c
         ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/io/files.c
         ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/sys/col.c
+        ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/cfg/opt.c
+        ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/dep/tomlc99/toml.c
         build_tree.c)
 set_target_properties(ast_build_tree
         PROPERTIES
@@ -38,6 +46,8 @@ add_executable(ast_print_node
         ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/sys/log.c
         ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/io/files.c
         ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/sys/col.c
+        ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/cfg/opt.c
+        ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/dep/tomlc99/toml.c
         print_node.c)
 set_target_properties(ast_print_node
         PROPERTIES
@@ -57,6 +67,8 @@ add_executable(ast_graphviz
         ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/sys/log.c
         ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/io/files.c
         ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/sys/col.c
+        ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/cfg/opt.c
+        ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/dep/tomlc99/toml.c
         print_graphviz.c)
 set_target_properties(ast_graphviz
         PROPERTIES
diff --git a/tests/input_file/test_input_file.py b/tests/input_file/test_input_file.py
index 3721dc0..550f3f4 100644
--- a/tests/input_file/test_input_file.py
+++ b/tests/input_file/test_input_file.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ def check_accept():
 
     test_file_name = sys.argv[1]
 
-    p = subprocess.run(["./gsc", test_file_name], capture_output=True, text=True)
+    p = subprocess.run(["./gsc", "compile", test_file_name], capture_output=True, text=True)
 
     assert p.returncode == 0
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ def check_abort():
 
     logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
 
-    p = subprocess.run("./gsc", capture_output=True, text=True)
+    p = subprocess.run(["./gsc", "compile"], capture_output=True, text=True)
 
     assert p.returncode == 1
 
diff --git a/tests/logging/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/logging/CMakeLists.txt
index d5abada..2bfa385 100644
--- a/tests/logging/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/logging/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -8,6 +8,13 @@ include_directories(${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src)
 
 find_package(PkgConfig REQUIRED)
 pkg_search_module(GLIB REQUIRED IMPORTED_TARGET glib-2.0)
+include_directories(PRIVATE ${GLIB_INCLUDE_DIRS})
+
+# ------------------------------------------------ #
+# Setup TOML-C99                                   #
+# ------------------------------------------------ #
+
+include_directories(${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/dep/tomlc99)
 
 # ------------------------------------------------------- #
 # CTEST 1
@@ -16,11 +23,15 @@ pkg_search_module(GLIB REQUIRED IMPORTED_TARGET glib-2.0)
 add_executable(logging_output
         ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/sys/log.c
         ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/sys/col.c
+        ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/cfg/opt.c
+        ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/io/files.c
         output.c)
 set_target_properties(logging_output
         PROPERTIES
         OUTPUT_NAME "output"
         RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY ${GEMSTONE_BINARY_DIR}/tests/logging)
+target_link_libraries(logging_output PkgConfig::GLIB)
+target_link_libraries(logging_output tomlc99)
 add_test(NAME logging_output
         WORKING_DIRECTORY ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}
         COMMAND python ${GEMSTONE_TEST_DIR}/logging/test_logging.py check_output)
@@ -32,11 +43,15 @@ add_test(NAME logging_output
 add_executable(logging_panic
         ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/sys/log.c
         ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/sys/col.c
+        ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/cfg/opt.c
+        ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/io/files.c
         panic.c)
 set_target_properties(logging_panic
         PROPERTIES
         OUTPUT_NAME "panic"
         RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY ${GEMSTONE_BINARY_DIR}/tests/logging)
+target_link_libraries(logging_panic PkgConfig::GLIB)
+target_link_libraries(logging_panic tomlc99)
 add_test(NAME logging_panic
         WORKING_DIRECTORY ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}
         COMMAND python ${GEMSTONE_TEST_DIR}/logging/test_logging.py check_panic)
@@ -48,11 +63,15 @@ add_test(NAME logging_panic
 add_executable(logging_streams
         ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/sys/log.c
         ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/sys/col.c
+        ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/cfg/opt.c
+        ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/io/files.c
         streams.c)
 set_target_properties(logging_streams
         PROPERTIES
         OUTPUT_NAME "stream"
         RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY ${GEMSTONE_BINARY_DIR}/tests/logging)
+target_link_libraries(logging_streams PkgConfig::GLIB)
+target_link_libraries(logging_streams tomlc99)
 add_test(NAME logging_streams
         WORKING_DIRECTORY ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}
         COMMAND python ${GEMSTONE_TEST_DIR}/logging/test_logging.py check_stream)
@@ -64,11 +83,15 @@ add_test(NAME logging_streams
 add_executable(logging_level
         ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/sys/log.c
         ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/sys/col.c
+        ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/cfg/opt.c
+        ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/io/files.c
         level.c)
 set_target_properties(logging_level
         PROPERTIES
         OUTPUT_NAME "level"
         RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY ${GEMSTONE_BINARY_DIR}/tests/logging)
+target_link_libraries(logging_level PkgConfig::GLIB)
+target_link_libraries(logging_level tomlc99)
 add_test(NAME logging_level
         WORKING_DIRECTORY ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}
         COMMAND python ${GEMSTONE_TEST_DIR}/logging/test_logging.py check_level)
diff --git a/tests/logging/level.c b/tests/logging/level.c
index fd37cc7..ed89205 100644
--- a/tests/logging/level.c
+++ b/tests/logging/level.c
@@ -4,11 +4,14 @@
 
 #include "sys/log.h"
 #include <sys/col.h>
+#include <cfg/opt.h>
 
 #define LOG_LEVEL LOG_LEVEL_WARNING
 
-int main(void) {
+int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
+    parse_options(argc, argv);
     log_init();
+    set_log_level(LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG);
     col_init();
 
     DEBUG("logging some debug...");
diff --git a/tests/logging/output.c b/tests/logging/output.c
index dde7d90..a6cfdb2 100644
--- a/tests/logging/output.c
+++ b/tests/logging/output.c
@@ -4,9 +4,12 @@
 
 #include "sys/log.h"
 #include <sys/col.h>
+#include <cfg/opt.h>
 
-int main(void) {
+int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
+    parse_options(argc, argv);
     log_init();
+    set_log_level(LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG);
     col_init();
 
     DEBUG("logging some debug...");
diff --git a/tests/logging/panic.c b/tests/logging/panic.c
index ecd8815..f64f3a1 100644
--- a/tests/logging/panic.c
+++ b/tests/logging/panic.c
@@ -3,9 +3,12 @@
 //
 
 #include "sys/log.h"
+#include <cfg/opt.h>
 
-int main(void) {
+int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
+    parse_options(argc, argv);
     log_init();
+    set_log_level(LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG);
 
     // this should appear in stderr
     INFO("before exit");
diff --git a/tests/logging/streams.c b/tests/logging/streams.c
index 97599da..5dd7cc2 100644
--- a/tests/logging/streams.c
+++ b/tests/logging/streams.c
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 #include "sys/log.h"
 #include <stdlib.h>
+#include <cfg/opt.h>
 
 static FILE* file;
 
@@ -13,8 +14,10 @@ void close_file(void) {
     }
 }
 
-int main(void) {
+int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
+    parse_options(argc, argv);
     log_init();
+    set_log_level(LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG);
 
     // this should appear in stderr
     INFO("should only be in stderr");