diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 3fc24fb..4263704 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ COPY --chown=lorang CMakeLists.txt /home/lorang/
 COPY --chown=lorang run-check-test.sh /home/lorang/
 COPY --chown=lorang .env /home/lorang/
 COPY --chown=lorang run-docker-build.sh /home/lorang/
+COPY --chown=lorang run-lib-build.sh /home/lorang/
 COPY --chown=lorang dep /home/lorang/dep
 COPY --chown=lorang .git /home/lorang/.git
 
diff --git a/lib/CMakeLists.txt b/lib/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6bc0d38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.15...3.25)
+
+project(gemstone_stdlib
+    VERSION 0.1.0
+    DESCRIPTION "gemstone programming language standard library"
+    LANGUAGES C)
+
+set(CMAKE_C_STANDARD 23)
+set(CMAKE_C_STANDARD_REQUIRED TRUE)
+
+set(CMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS ON)
+
+include_directories(${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src)
+set(CMAKE_ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/../bin/std")
+
+# add native module libraries 
+
+file(GLOB_RECURSE STDLIB_IO_SOURCE_FILES src/io/*.c)
+add_library(io ${STDLIB_IO_SOURCE_FILES})
+
+file(GLOB_RECURSE STDLIB_MEM_SOURCE_FILES src/mem/*.c)
+add_library(mem ${STDLIB_MEM_SOURCE_FILES})
+
+file(GLOB_RECURSE STDLIB_OS_SOURCE_FILES src/os/*.c)
+add_library(os ${STDLIB_OS_SOURCE_FILES})
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/build.toml b/lib/build.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..85c5687
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/build.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+[project]
+name = "gemstone standard library"
+version = "0.1.0"
+description = "Cross platform standard library for thr gemstone programming language."
+license = "GPL-2.0"
+authors = [ "Sven Vogel <sven.vogel123@web.de>" ]
+
+[target.release]
+root = "src/std.gem"
+mode = "library"
+output = "bin"
+archive = "archive"
+print_ast = false
+print_asm = false
+print_ir = false
+opt = 3
diff --git a/lib/src/bool.gem b/lib/src/bool.gem
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e028294
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/bool.gem
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+
+import "def.gem"
+
+type unsigned int: bool
+
+static bool: TRUE = 1
+static bool: FALSE = 0
diff --git a/lib/src/capi.h b/lib/src/capi.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0ef22ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/capi.h
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+//
+// Created by servostar on 6/3/24.
+//
+
+#ifndef GEMSTONE_STD_LIB_CAPI_H
+#define GEMSTONE_STD_LIB_CAPI_H
+
+#if defined(_WIN32) || defined (_WIN64)
+#define PLATFORM_WINDOWS
+#elif defined(unix) || defined(__unix) || defined(__unix__) || defined(__linux__)
+#define PLATFORM_POSIX
+#endif
+
+#endif // GEMSTONE_STD_LIB_CAPI_H
diff --git a/lib/src/def.gem b/lib/src/def.gem
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5bd344f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/def.gem
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+# Author: Sven Vogel
+# Edited: 25.05.2024
+# License: GPL-2.0
+
+# ,----------------------------------------.
+# |       Standard Type definitions        |
+# `----------------------------------------`
+
+# Unsigned integrals
+
+type unsgined half half int: u8
+type unsgined half int: u16
+type unsgined int: u32
+type unsgined double int: u64
+type unsgined double double int: u128
+
+# Signed integrals
+
+type signed u8: i8
+type signed u16: i16
+type signed u32: i32
+type signed u64: i64
+type signed u128: i128
+
+# IEEE-754 floating point
+
+type signed half float: f16
+type signed float: f32
+type signed double float: f64
+type signed double double float: f128
+
+# String constant
+
+type ref u8: cstr
+
+# C style void pointer replacement
+
+type ref u8: ptr
diff --git a/lib/src/def/api.h b/lib/src/def/api.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a807865
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/def/api.h
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+// Author: Sven Vogel
+// Edited: 25.05.2024
+// License: GPL-2.0
+
+#ifndef GEMSTONE_STD_LIB_DEF_H_
+#define GEMSTONE_STD_LIB_DEF_H_
+
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <stddef.h>
+
+typedef uint8_t u8;
+typedef uint16_t u16;
+typedef uint32_t u32;
+typedef uint64_t u64;
+
+typedef int8_t i8;
+typedef int16_t i16;
+typedef int32_t i32;
+typedef int64_t i64;
+
+typedef float f32;
+typedef double f64;
+
+typedef u8* cstr;
+
+typedef u8* ptr;
+
+#endif // GEMSTONE_STD_LIB_DEF_H_
diff --git a/lib/src/io.gem b/lib/src/io.gem
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc2c553
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/io.gem
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+# Author: Sven Vogel
+# Edited: 25.05.2024
+# License: GPL-2.0
+
+# ,----------------------------------------.
+# |         Generic Input/Output           |
+# `----------------------------------------`
+
+import "def.gem"
+
+# platform specific handle to an I/O device
+# can a file, buffer, window or something else
+# NOTE: this reference is not meant to be dereferenced
+#       which can lead to errors and undefined behavior
+type ptr: handle
+
+# Returns a handle to this processes standard input I/O handle
+# -- Implementation note
+# On Linux this will return 0 as is it convention under UNIX (see: https://www.man7.org/linux/man-pages/man3/stdin.3.html)
+# On Windows the library will call `GetStdHandle(STD_INPUT_HANDLE)`
+fun getStdinHandle(out handle: stdin)
+
+# Returns a handle to this processes standard input I/O handle
+# -- Implementation note
+# On Linux this will return 1 as is it convention under UNIX (see: https://www.man7.org/linux/man-pages/man3/stdout.3.html)
+# On Windows the library will call `GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE)`
+fun getStdoutHandle(out handle: stdout)
+
+# Returns a handle to this processes standard input I/O handle
+# -- Implementation note
+# On Linux this will return 1 as is it convention under UNIX (see: https://www.man7.org/linux/man-pages/man3/stderr.3.html)
+# On Windows the library will call `GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE)`
+fun getStderrHandle(out handle: stderr)
+
+# Write `len` number of bytes from `buf` into the I/O resource specified
+# by `dev`. Returns the number of bytes written.
+# -- Implementation note
+# On Linux this will use the syscall write
+# On Windows this will use the WriteFile function
+fun writeBytes(in handle: dev, in ref u8: buf, in ref u32: len)(out u32: written)
+
+# Read atmost `len` bytes to `buf` from the I/O resource specified by `dev`
+# Returns the number of read bytes in `written`
+# -- Implementation note
+# On Linux this will use the syscall read
+# On Windows this will use the ReadFile function
+fun readBytes(in handle: dev, in ref u8: buf, in ref u32: len)(out u32: read)
+
+# Flushes the buffers of the I/O resource specified by `dev`
+# -- Implementation note
+# On Linux this will use the fsync function
+# On Windows this will use the FlushFileBuffers function
+fun flush(in handle: dev)
diff --git a/lib/src/io/api.h b/lib/src/io/api.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c642185
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/io/api.h
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+
+#ifndef GEMSTONE_STD_LIB_IO_H_
+#define GEMSTONE_STD_LIB_IO_H_
+
+#include <def/api.h>
+
+typedef ptr handle;
+
+void getStdinHandle(handle* stdin);
+
+void getStdoutHandle(handle* stdout);
+
+void getStderrHandle(handle* stderr);
+
+void writeBytes(handle dev, u8* buf, u32 len, u32* written);
+
+void readBytes(handle dev, u8* buf, u32 len, u32* read);
+
+void flush(handle dev);
+
+#endif //GEMSTONE_STD_LIB_IO_H_
diff --git a/lib/src/io/impl.c b/lib/src/io/impl.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f56c561
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/io/impl.c
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+
+#include <io/api.h>
+#include <capi.h>
+
+#if defined(PLATFORM_WINDOWS)
+
+// Compile for Windows
+
+#include <Windows.h>
+
+// FIXME: error in case GetStdHandle return INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE 
+// FIXME: error in case functions return 0 
+
+void getStdinHandle(handle* stdin) {
+    *stdin = (handle) GetStdHandle(STD_INPUT_HANDLE);
+}
+
+void getStdoutHandle(handle* stdout) {
+    *stdout = (handle) GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE);
+}
+
+void getStderrHandle(handle* stderr) {
+    *stderr = (handle) GetStdHandle(STD_ERROR_HANDLE);
+}
+
+void writeBytes(handle dev, u8* buf, u32 len, u32* bytesWritten) {
+    WriteFile((HANDLE) dev, buf, len, bytesRead, NULL);
+}
+
+void readBytes(handle dev, u8* buf, u32 len, u32* bytesRead) {
+    ReadFile((HANDLE) dev, buf, len, bytesRead, NULL);
+}
+
+void flush(handle dev) {
+    FlushFileBuffers((HANDLE) dev);
+}
+
+#elif defined(PLATFORM_POSIX)
+
+// Compile for Linux and BSD
+
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+// savely cast a 64-bit pointer down to a 32-bit value
+// this assumes that 64-bit system will use 32-bit handles
+// which are stored as 64-bit by zero extending
+#define TO_INT(x) ((int)(long int)(x))
+
+void getStdinHandle(handle* stdin) {
+    *stdin = (handle) STDIN_FILENO;
+}
+
+void getStdoutHandle(handle* stdout) {
+    *stdout = (handle) STDOUT_FILENO;
+}
+
+void getStderrHandle(handle* stderr) {
+    *stderr = (handle) STDERR_FILENO;
+}
+
+void writeBytes(handle dev, u8* buf, u32 len, u32* bytesWritten) {
+    *bytesWritten = write(TO_INT(dev), buf, len);
+}
+
+void readBytes(handle dev, u8* buf, u32 len, u32* bytesRead) {
+    *bytesRead = read(TO_INT(dev), buf, len);
+}
+
+void flush(handle dev) {
+    fsync(TO_INT(dev));
+}
+
+
+#endif
diff --git a/lib/src/mem.gem b/lib/src/mem.gem
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..faecbc4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/mem.gem
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# Author: Sven Vogel
+# Edited: 25.05.2024
+# License: GPL-2.0
+
+# ,----------------------------------------.
+# |            Memory Management           |
+# `----------------------------------------`
+
+import "def.gem"
+
+# Allocate `len` bytes of heap memory
+# Returns a pointer to the memory as `ptr`
+fun heap_alloc(in u32: len)(out ref u8: ptr)
+
+# Rellocate `len` bytes of heap memory
+# Returns a pointer to the memory as `ptr`
+fun heap_realloc(in u32: len, in out ref u8: ptr)
+
+# Free a block of memory
+fun heap_free(in ref u8: ptr)
+
+# Copy `len` bytes from `dst` into `src`
+fun copy(in ref u8: dst, in ref u8: src, in u32 len)
+
+# Fill `len` bytes of `dst` with `byte`
+fun fill(in ref u8: dst, in u8: byte, in u32 len)
+
diff --git a/lib/src/mem/api.h b/lib/src/mem/api.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8ca69c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/mem/api.h
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+
+#ifndef GEMSTONE_STD_LIB_MEM_H_
+#define GEMSTONE_STD_LIB_MEM_H_
+
+#include <def/api.h>
+
+void heap_alloc(u32 len, u8** ptr);
+
+void heap_realloc(u32 len, u8** ptr);
+
+void heap_free(u8* ptr);
+
+void copy(u8* dst, u8* src, u32 len);
+
+void fill(u8* dst, u8 byte, u32 len);
+
+#endif // GEMSTONE_STD_LIB_MEM_H_
diff --git a/lib/src/mem/impl.c b/lib/src/mem/impl.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9d384a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/mem/impl.c
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+
+#include <mem/api.h>
+#include <capi.h>
+
+#if defined(PLATFORM_WINDOWS)
+
+#include <Windows.h>
+
+#define HEAP_API_GLOBAL_FLAGS HEAP_ZERO_MEMORY | HEAP_GENERATE_EXCEPTIONS
+
+void heap_alloc(u32 len, u8** ptr) {
+    HANDLE heap = GetProcessHeap();
+    *ptr = HeapAlloc(heap, HEAP_API_GLOBAL_FLAGS, len);
+}
+
+void heap_realloc(u32 len, u8** ptr) {
+    HANDLE heap = GetProcessHeap();
+    *ptr = HeapReAlloc(heap, HEAP_API_GLOBAL_FLAGS, *ptr, len);
+}
+
+void heap_free(u8* ptr) {
+    HANDLE heap = GetProcessHeap();
+    HeapFree(heap, ptr);
+}
+
+#elif defined(PLATFORM_POSIX)
+
+#include <malloc.h>
+
+void heap_alloc(u32 len, u8** ptr) {
+    *ptr = malloc(len);
+}
+
+void heap_realloc(u32 len, u8** ptr) {
+    *ptr = realloc(*ptr, len);
+}
+
+void heap_free(u8* ptr) {
+    free(ptr);
+}
+
+#endif
+
+#include <string.h>
+
+void copy(u8* dst, u8* src, u32 len) {
+    memcpy(dst, src, len);
+}
+
+void fill(u8* dst, u8 byte, u32 len) {
+    memset(dst, byte, len);
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/src/os.gem b/lib/src/os.gem
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f51a45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/os.gem
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# Author: Sven Vogel
+# Edited: 03.06.2024
+# License: GPL-2.0
+
+# ,----------------------------------------.
+# |           Operating System             |
+# `----------------------------------------`
+
+import "def.gem"
+
+# Return a hard coded C string identifying the underlying operating system
+# Will return one of the following:
+#  - "windows" (for Windows 7, Windows 10 and Windows 11)
+#  - "unix" (for GNU/Linux and BSD)
+fun getPlatformName(out cstr: name)
+
+# Return a C string to the value of an environment varible named
+# after the C string name.
+fun getEnvVar(in cstr: name)(out cstr: value)
+
+# Set the value of an environment variable with name to value.
+fun setEnvVar(in cstr: name, in cstr: value)
+
+# Unset a specific environment variable
+fun unsetEnvVar(in cstr: name)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/src/os/api.h b/lib/src/os/api.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3ed7a1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/os/api.h
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+//
+// Created by servostar on 6/3/24.
+//
+
+#ifndef GEMSTONE_STD_LIB_OS_H
+#define GEMSTONE_STD_LIB_OS_H
+
+#include <def/api.h>
+
+void getPlatformName(cstr* name);
+
+void getEnvVar(cstr name, cstr* value);
+
+void setEnvVar(cstr name, cstr value);
+
+void unsetEnvVar(cstr name);
+
+#endif // GEMSTONE_STD_LIB_OS_H
diff --git a/lib/src/os/impl.c b/lib/src/os/impl.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7bed097
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/os/impl.c
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+//
+// Created by servostar on 6/3/24.
+//
+
+#include <capi.h>
+#include <os/api.h>
+
+#if defined(PLATFORM_WINDOWS)
+
+void getPlatformName(cstr* name) {
+    *name = (u8*) "windows";
+}
+
+#elif defined(PLATFORM_POSIX)
+
+void getPlatformName(cstr * name) {
+    *name = (u8*) "posix";
+}
+
+#endif
+
+// Implementation based on libc
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
+void getEnvVar(cstr name, cstr* value) {
+    *value = (cstr) getenv((char*) name);
+}
+
+void setEnvVar(cstr name, cstr value) {
+    setenv((char*) name, (char*) value, true);
+}
+
+void unsetEnvVar(cstr name) {
+    unsetenv((char*) name);
+}
diff --git a/lib/src/std.gem b/lib/src/std.gem
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e135a13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/std.gem
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# Author: Sven Vogel
+# Edited: 25.05.2024
+# License: GPL-2.0
+
+# ,----------------------------------------.
+# |       Gemstone Standard Library        |
+# `----------------------------------------`
+
+# standard type definitions
+import "def.gem"
+
+# I/O operations
+import "io.gem"
+
+# memory management
+import "mem.gem"
diff --git a/run-check-test.sh b/run-check-test.sh
index a20f2ad..1acba79 100644
--- a/run-check-test.sh
+++ b/run-check-test.sh
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ if [ ! $? -eq 0 ]; then
   exit 1
 fi
 
+sh -c ./run-lib-build.sh
+
 echo "+--------------------------------------+"
 echo "| RUNNING CODE CHECK                   |"
 echo "+--------------------------------------+"
diff --git a/run-lib-build.sh b/run-lib-build.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..ccca62c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/run-lib-build.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+# Author: Sven Vogel
+# Created: 25.05.2024
+# Description: Builds the standard library into bin/std
+
+echo "+--------------------------------------+"
+echo "| CONFIGURE STD LIBRARY                |"
+echo "+--------------------------------------+"
+
+cmake lib
+if [ ! $? -eq 0 ]; then
+  echo "===> failed to configure build"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "+--------------------------------------+"
+echo "| BUILD STD LIBRARY                    |"
+echo "+--------------------------------------+"
+
+cd lib || exit 1
+make -B
+if [ ! $? -eq 0 ]; then
+  echo "===> failed to build standard library"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "+--------------------------------------+"
+echo "| successfully build standard library  |"
+echo "+--------------------------------------+"