diff --git a/.github/workflows/appimage.yml b/.github/workflows/appimage.yml
index 9c26a805..bac80b19 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/appimage.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/appimage.yml
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Run tests
         run: ctest --test-dir ${{github.workspace}}/build
       - name: Run engine (headless)
+        timeout-minutes: 1
         run: |
             chmod +x ${{github.workspace}}/build/VoxelEngine
             ${{github.workspace}}/build/VoxelEngine --headless --dir ${{github.workspace}}/userdir
diff --git a/.github/workflows/macos.yml b/.github/workflows/macos.yml
index 0d76f5f4..d3adc67f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/macos.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/macos.yml
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           chmod +x build/VoxelEngine
           build/VoxelEngine --headless --dir userdir
+        timeout-minutes: 1
 #      - name: Create DMG
 #        run: |
 #          mkdir VoxelEngineDmgContent
diff --git a/.github/workflows/windows.yml b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
index 57338d34..c11d0da4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/windows.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ jobs:
         run: ctest --output-on-failure --test-dir build
       - name: Run engine (headless)
         run: build/Release/VoxelEngine.exe --headless --dir userdir
+        timeout-minutes: 1
 #      - name: Package for Windows
 #        run: |
 #          mkdir packaged
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 9e84d36d..57f19747 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -82,3 +82,5 @@ if (VOXELENGINE_BUILD_TESTS)
     enable_testing()
     add_subdirectory(test)
 endif()
+
+add_subdirectory(vctest)
diff --git a/dev/tests/example.lua b/dev/tests/example.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3b724d47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dev/tests/example.lua
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+print("Hello from the example test!")
diff --git a/res/scripts/stdlib.lua b/res/scripts/stdlib.lua
index 9cf23cc3..d5f8eed1 100644
--- a/res/scripts/stdlib.lua
+++ b/res/scripts/stdlib.lua
@@ -328,6 +328,43 @@ function __vc_on_world_quit()
     _rules.clear()
 end
 
+local __vc_coroutines = {}
+local __vc_next_coroutine = 1
+local __vc_coroutine_error = nil
+
+function __vc_start_coroutine(chunk)
+    local co = coroutine.create(function()
+        local status, err = pcall(chunk)
+        if not status then
+            __vc_coroutine_error = err
+        end
+    end)
+    local id = __vc_next_coroutine
+    __vc_next_coroutine = __vc_next_coroutine + 1
+    __vc_coroutines[id] = co
+    return id
+end
+
+function __vc_resume_coroutine(id)
+    local co = __vc_coroutines[id]
+    if co then
+        coroutine.resume(co)
+        if __vc_coroutine_error then
+            error(__vc_coroutine_error)
+        end
+        return coroutine.status(co) ~= "dead"
+    end
+    return false
+end
+
+function __vc_stop_coroutine(id)
+    local co = __vc_coroutines[id]
+    if co then
+        coroutine.close(co)
+        __vc_coroutines[id] = nil
+    end
+end
+
 assets = {}
 assets.load_texture = core.__load_texture
 
diff --git a/src/engine.cpp b/src/engine.cpp
index 422637b8..49386b65 100644
--- a/src/engine.cpp
+++ b/src/engine.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "window/Events.hpp"
 #include "window/input.hpp"
 #include "window/Window.hpp"
+#include "interfaces/Process.hpp"
 
 #include <iostream>
 #include <assert.h>
@@ -178,12 +179,25 @@ void Engine::saveScreenshot() {
 
 void Engine::run() {
     if (params.headless) {
-        logger.info() << "nothing to do";
+        runTest();
     } else {
         mainloop();
     }
 }
 
+void Engine::runTest() {
+    if (params.testFile.empty()) {
+        logger.info() << "nothing to do";
+        return;
+    }
+    logger.info() << "starting test " << params.testFile;
+    auto process = scripting::start_coroutine(params.testFile);
+    while (process->isActive()) {
+        process->update();
+    }
+    logger.info() << "test finished";
+}
+
 void Engine::mainloop() {
     logger.info() << "starting menu screen";
     setScreen(std::make_shared<MenuScreen>(this));
diff --git a/src/engine.hpp b/src/engine.hpp
index f05a4607..c3559fa8 100644
--- a/src/engine.hpp
+++ b/src/engine.hpp
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ struct CoreParameters {
     bool headless = false;
     std::filesystem::path resFolder {"res"};
     std::filesystem::path userFolder {"."};
+    std::filesystem::path testFile;
 };
 
 class Engine : public util::ObjectsKeeper {
@@ -93,6 +94,8 @@ public:
     /// Automatically sets MenuScreen
     void mainloop();
 
+    void runTest();
+
     /// @brief Called after assets loading when all engine systems are initialized
     void onAssetsLoaded();
     
diff --git a/src/interfaces/Process.hpp b/src/interfaces/Process.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b62b1e0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/interfaces/Process.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#pragma once
+
+/// @brief Process interface.
+class Process {
+public:
+    virtual ~Process() {}
+
+    virtual bool isActive() const = 0;
+    virtual void update() = 0;
+    virtual void waitForEnd() = 0;
+    virtual void terminate() = 0;
+};
diff --git a/src/logic/scripting/scripting.cpp b/src/logic/scripting/scripting.cpp
index ded9a970..9abe534c 100644
--- a/src/logic/scripting/scripting.cpp
+++ b/src/logic/scripting/scripting.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include "util/timeutil.hpp"
 #include "voxels/Block.hpp"
 #include "world/Level.hpp"
+#include "interfaces/Process.hpp"
 
 using namespace scripting;
 
@@ -71,6 +72,59 @@ void scripting::initialize(Engine* engine) {
     load_script(fs::path("classes.lua"), true);
 }
 
+class LuaCoroutine : public Process {
+    lua::State* L;
+    int id;
+    bool alive = true;
+public:
+    LuaCoroutine(lua::State* L, int id) : L(L), id(id) {
+    }
+
+    bool isActive() const override {
+        return alive;
+    }
+    
+    void update() override {
+        if (lua::getglobal(L, "__vc_resume_coroutine")) {
+            lua::pushinteger(L, id);
+            if (lua::call(L, 1)) {
+                alive = lua::toboolean(L, -1);
+                lua::pop(L);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    void waitForEnd() override {
+        while (isActive()) {
+            update();
+        }
+    }
+    
+    void terminate() override {
+        if (lua::getglobal(L, "__vc_stop_coroutine")) {
+            lua::pushinteger(L, id);
+            lua::pop(L, lua::call(L, 1));
+        }
+    }
+};
+
+std::unique_ptr<Process> scripting::start_coroutine(
+    const std::filesystem::path& script
+) {
+    auto L = lua::get_main_state();
+    if (lua::getglobal(L, "__vc_start_coroutine")) {
+        auto source = files::read_string(script);
+        lua::loadbuffer(L, 0, source, script.filename().u8string());
+        if (lua::call(L, 1)) {
+            int id = lua::tointeger(L, -1);
+            lua::pop(L, 2);
+            return std::make_unique<LuaCoroutine>(L, id);
+        }
+        lua::pop(L);
+    }
+    return nullptr;
+}
+
 [[nodiscard]] scriptenv scripting::get_root_environment() {
     return std::make_shared<int>(0);
 }
diff --git a/src/logic/scripting/scripting.hpp b/src/logic/scripting/scripting.hpp
index 0ab3c035..4ccba2cb 100644
--- a/src/logic/scripting/scripting.hpp
+++ b/src/logic/scripting/scripting.hpp
@@ -11,8 +11,6 @@
 #include "typedefs.hpp"
 #include "scripting_functional.hpp"
 
-namespace fs = std::filesystem;
-
 class Engine;
 class Content;
 struct ContentPack;
@@ -34,6 +32,7 @@ class Entity;
 struct EntityDef;
 class GeneratorScript;
 struct GeneratorDef;
+class Process;
 
 namespace scripting {
     extern Engine* engine;
@@ -60,6 +59,10 @@ namespace scripting {
 
     void process_post_runnables();
 
+    std::unique_ptr<Process> start_coroutine(
+        const std::filesystem::path& script
+    );
+
     void on_world_load(LevelController* controller);
     void on_world_tick();
     void on_world_save();
@@ -136,7 +139,7 @@ namespace scripting {
     void load_content_script(
         const scriptenv& env,
         const std::string& prefix,
-        const fs::path& file,
+        const std::filesystem::path& file,
         const std::string& fileName,
         block_funcs_set& funcsset
     );
@@ -150,7 +153,7 @@ namespace scripting {
     void load_content_script(
         const scriptenv& env,
         const std::string& prefix,
-        const fs::path& file,
+        const std::filesystem::path& file,
         const std::string& fileName,
         item_funcs_set& funcsset
     );
@@ -161,13 +164,13 @@ namespace scripting {
     /// @param fileName script file path using the engine format
     void load_entity_component(
         const std::string& name,
-        const fs::path& file,
+        const std::filesystem::path& file,
         const std::string& fileName
     );
 
     std::unique_ptr<GeneratorScript> load_generator(
         const GeneratorDef& def,
-        const fs::path& file,
+        const std::filesystem::path& file,
         const std::string& dirPath
     );
 
@@ -179,7 +182,7 @@ namespace scripting {
     void load_world_script(
         const scriptenv& env,
         const std::string& packid,
-        const fs::path& file,
+        const std::filesystem::path& file,
         const std::string& fileName,
         world_funcs_set& funcsset
     );
@@ -193,7 +196,7 @@ namespace scripting {
     void load_layout_script(
         const scriptenv& env,
         const std::string& prefix,
-        const fs::path& file,
+        const std::filesystem::path& file,
         const std::string& fileName,
         uidocscript& script
     );
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index a11020de..b0d03412 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -3,17 +3,23 @@
 #include "util/command_line.hpp"
 #include "debug/Logger.hpp"
 
+#include <iostream>
 #include <stdexcept>
 
 static debug::Logger logger("main");
 
 int main(int argc, char** argv) {
-    debug::Logger::init("latest.log");
-
     CoreParameters coreParameters;
-    if (!parse_cmdline(argc, argv, coreParameters)) {
-        return EXIT_SUCCESS;
+    try {
+        if (!parse_cmdline(argc, argv, coreParameters)) {
+            return EXIT_SUCCESS;
+        }
+    } catch (const std::runtime_error& err) {
+        std::cerr << err.what() << std::endl;
+        return EXIT_FAILURE;
     }
+
+    debug::Logger::init(coreParameters.userFolder.string()+"/latest.log");
     platform::configure_encoding();
     try {
         Engine(std::move(coreParameters)).run();
diff --git a/src/util/ArgsReader.hpp b/src/util/ArgsReader.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..90d159f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/util/ArgsReader.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <string>
+#include <stdexcept>
+#include <cstring>
+
+namespace util {
+    class ArgsReader {
+        const char* last = "";
+        char** argv;
+        int argc;
+        int pos = 0;
+    public:
+        ArgsReader(int argc, char** argv) : argv(argv), argc(argc) {
+        }
+
+        void skip() {
+            pos++;
+        }
+
+        bool hasNext() const {
+            return pos < argc && std::strlen(argv[pos]);
+        }
+
+        bool isKeywordArg() const {
+            return last[0] == '-';
+        }
+
+        std::string next() {
+            if (pos >= argc) {
+                throw std::runtime_error("unexpected end");
+            }
+            last = argv[pos];
+            return argv[pos++];
+        }
+    };
+}
diff --git a/src/util/command_line.cpp b/src/util/command_line.cpp
index e5a76197..768c6260 100644
--- a/src/util/command_line.cpp
+++ b/src/util/command_line.cpp
@@ -1,48 +1,16 @@
 #include "command_line.hpp"
 
-#include <cstring>
 #include <filesystem>
 #include <iostream>
-#include <stdexcept>
-#include <string>
 
 #include "files/engine_paths.hpp"
+#include "util/ArgsReader.hpp"
 #include "engine.hpp"
 
 namespace fs = std::filesystem;
 
-class ArgsReader {
-    const char* last = "";
-    char** argv;
-    int argc;
-    int pos = 0;
-public:
-    ArgsReader(int argc, char** argv) : argv(argv), argc(argc) {
-    }
-
-    void skip() {
-        pos++;
-    }
-
-    bool hasNext() const {
-        return pos < argc && strlen(argv[pos]);
-    }
-
-    bool isKeywordArg() const {
-        return last[0] == '-';
-    }
-
-    std::string next() {
-        if (pos >= argc) {
-            throw std::runtime_error("unexpected end");
-        }
-        last = argv[pos];
-        return argv[pos++];
-    }
-};
-
 static bool perform_keyword(
-    ArgsReader& reader, const std::string& keyword, CoreParameters& params
+    util::ArgsReader& reader, const std::string& keyword, CoreParameters& params
 ) {
     if (keyword == "--res") {
         auto token = reader.next();
@@ -53,22 +21,25 @@ static bool perform_keyword(
     } else if (keyword == "--help" || keyword == "-h") {
         std::cout << "VoxelEngine command-line arguments:\n";
         std::cout << " --help - show help\n";
-        std::cout << " --res [path] - set resources directory\n";
-        std::cout << " --dir [path] - set userfiles directory\n";
+        std::cout << " --res <path> - set resources directory\n";
+        std::cout << " --dir <path> - set userfiles directory\n";
         std::cout << " --headless - run in headless mode\n";
+        std::cout << " --test <path> - test script file\n";
         std::cout << std::endl;
         return false;
     } else if (keyword == "--headless") {
         params.headless = true;
+    } else if (keyword == "--test") {
+        auto token = reader.next();
+        params.testFile = fs::u8path(token);
     } else {
-        std::cerr << "unknown argument " << keyword << std::endl;
-        return false;
+        throw std::runtime_error("unknown argument " + keyword);
     }
     return true;
 }
 
 bool parse_cmdline(int argc, char** argv, CoreParameters& params) {
-    ArgsReader reader(argc, argv);
+    util::ArgsReader reader(argc, argv);
     reader.skip();
     while (reader.hasNext()) {
         std::string token = reader.next();
diff --git a/vctest/CMakeLists.txt b/vctest/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6c1a3843
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vctest/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+project(vctest)
+
+set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17)
+
+file(GLOB_RECURSE SOURCES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/*.cpp)
+
+add_executable(${PROJECT_NAME} ${SOURCES})
+
+if(MSVC)
+    if(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
+      set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE Release CACHE STRING "Build type" FORCE)
+    endif()
+    if((CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE EQUAL "Release") OR (CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE EQUAL "RelWithDebInfo"))
+      set(CMAKE_MSVC_RUNTIME_LIBRARY "MultiThreaded$<$<CONFIG:Release>:Release>")
+      target_compile_options(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE /W4 /MT /O2)
+    else()
+      target_compile_options(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE /W4)
+    endif()
+  set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS}")
+else()
+  target_compile_options(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE -Wall -Wextra
+    -Wformat-nonliteral -Wcast-align
+    -Wpointer-arith -Wundef
+    -Wwrite-strings -Wno-unused-parameter)
+endif()
+
+if (CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID STREQUAL "GNU")
+    set(CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS "${CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS} -no-pie -lstdc++fs")
+endif()
+
+target_include_directories(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../src ${CMAKE_DL_LIBS})
diff --git a/vctest/main.cpp b/vctest/main.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f6d3e773
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vctest/main.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,213 @@
+#include <chrono>
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <sstream>
+#include <vector>
+
+#include "util/ArgsReader.hpp"
+
+namespace fs = std::filesystem;
+
+inline fs::path TESTING_DIR = fs::u8path(".vctest");
+
+struct Config {
+    fs::path executable;
+    fs::path directory;
+    fs::path resDir {"res"};
+    fs::path workingDir {"."};
+    bool outputAlways = false;
+};
+
+static bool perform_keyword(
+    util::ArgsReader& reader, const std::string& keyword, Config& config
+) {
+    if (keyword == "--help" || keyword == "-h") {
+        std::cout << "Options\n\n";
+        std::cout << "  --help, -h                      = show help\n";
+        std::cout << "  --exe <path>, -e <path>         = VoxelCore executable path\n";
+        std::cout << "  --tests <path>, -d <path>       = tests directory path\n";
+        std::cout << "  --res <path>, -r <path>         = 'res' directory path\n";
+        std::cout << "  --working-dir <path>, -w <path> = user directory path\n";
+        std::cout << "  --output-always                 = always show tests output\n";
+        std::cout << std::endl;
+        return false;
+    } else if (keyword == "--exe" || keyword == "-e") {
+        config.executable = fs::path(reader.next());
+    } else if (keyword == "--tests" || keyword == "-d") {
+        config.directory = fs::path(reader.next());
+    } else if (keyword == "--res" || keyword == "-r") {
+        config.resDir = fs::path(reader.next());
+    } else if (keyword == "--user" || keyword == "-u") {
+        config.workingDir = fs::path(reader.next());
+    } else if (keyword == "--output-always") {
+        config.outputAlways = true;
+    } else {
+        std::cerr << "unknown argument " << keyword << std::endl;
+        return false;
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+
+static bool parse_cmdline(int argc, char** argv, Config& config) {
+    util::ArgsReader reader(argc, argv);
+    while (reader.hasNext()) {
+        std::string token = reader.next();
+        if (reader.isKeywordArg()) {
+            if (!perform_keyword(reader, token, config)) {
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+
+static bool check_dir(const fs::path& dir) {
+    if (!fs::is_directory(dir)) {
+        std::cerr << dir << " is not a directory" << std::endl;
+        return false;
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+
+static void print_separator(std::ostream& stream) {
+    for (int i = 0; i < 32; i++) {
+        stream << "=";
+    }
+    stream << "\n";
+}
+
+static bool check_config(const Config& config) {
+    if (!fs::exists(config.executable)) {
+        std::cerr << "file " << config.executable << " not found" << std::endl;
+        return true;
+    }
+    if (!check_dir(config.directory)) {
+        return true;
+    }
+    if (!check_dir(config.resDir)) {
+        return true;
+    }
+    if (!check_dir(config.workingDir)) {
+        return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+static void dump_config(const Config& config) {
+    std::cout << "paths:\n";
+    std::cout << "  VoxelCore executable = " << fs::canonical(config.executable).string() << "\n";
+    std::cout << "  Tests directory      = " << fs::canonical(config.directory).string() << "\n";
+    std::cout << "  Resources directory  = " << fs::canonical(config.resDir).string() << "\n";
+    std::cout << "  Working directory    = " << fs::canonical(config.workingDir).string();
+    std::cout << std::endl;
+}
+
+static void cleanup(const fs::path& workingDir) {
+    auto dir = workingDir / TESTING_DIR;
+    std::cout << "cleaning up " << dir << std::endl;
+    fs::remove_all(dir);
+}
+
+static void setup_working_dir(const fs::path& workingDir) {
+    auto dir = workingDir / TESTING_DIR;
+    std::cout << "setting up working directory " << dir << std::endl;
+    if (fs::is_directory(dir)) {
+        cleanup(workingDir);
+    }
+    fs::create_directories(dir);
+}
+
+static void display_test_output(const fs::path& path, std::ostream& stream) {
+    stream << "[OUTPUT]" << std::endl;
+    if (fs::exists(path)) {
+        std::ifstream t(path);
+        stream << t.rdbuf();
+    }
+}
+
+static bool run_test(const Config& config, const fs::path& path) {
+    using std::chrono::duration_cast;
+    using std::chrono::high_resolution_clock;
+    using std::chrono::milliseconds;
+
+    auto outputFile = config.workingDir / "output.txt";
+
+    auto name = path.stem();
+    std::stringstream ss;
+    ss << config.executable << " --headless";
+    ss << " --test " << path;
+    ss << " --res " << config.resDir;
+    ss << " --dir " << config.workingDir;
+    ss << " >" << (config.workingDir / "output.txt") << " 2>&1";
+    auto command = ss.str();
+
+    print_separator(std::cout);
+    std::cout << "executing test " << name << "\ncommand: " << command << std::endl;
+
+    auto start = high_resolution_clock::now();
+    int code = system(command.c_str());
+    auto testTime =
+        duration_cast<milliseconds>(high_resolution_clock::now() - start)
+            .count();
+
+    if (code) {
+        display_test_output(outputFile, std::cerr);
+        std::cerr << "[FAILED] " << name << " in " << testTime << " ms" << std::endl;
+        fs::remove(outputFile);
+        return false;
+    } else {
+        if (config.outputAlways) {
+            display_test_output(outputFile, std::cout);
+        }
+        std::cout << "[PASSED] " << name << " in " << testTime << " ms" << std::endl;
+        fs::remove(outputFile);
+        return true;
+    }
+}
+
+int main(int argc, char** argv) {
+    Config config;
+    try {
+        if (!parse_cmdline(argc, argv, config)) {
+            return 0;
+        }
+    } catch (const std::runtime_error& err) {
+        std::cerr << err.what() << std::endl;
+        throw;
+    }
+    if (check_config(config)) {
+        return 1;
+    }
+    dump_config(config);
+    
+    std::vector<fs::path> tests;
+    std::cout << "scanning for tests" << std::endl;
+    for (const auto& entry : fs::directory_iterator(config.directory)) {
+        auto path = entry.path();
+        if (path.extension().string() != ".lua") {
+            std::cout << "  " << entry.path() << " skipped" << std::endl;
+            continue;
+        }
+        std::cout << "  " << entry.path() << " enqueued" << std::endl;
+        tests.push_back(path);
+    }
+
+    setup_working_dir(config.workingDir);
+    config.workingDir /= TESTING_DIR;
+
+    size_t passed = 0;
+    std::cout << "running " << tests.size() << " test(s)" << std::endl;
+    for (const auto& path : tests) {
+        passed += run_test(config, path);
+    }
+    print_separator(std::cout);
+    cleanup(config.workingDir);
+    std::cout << std::endl;
+    std::cout << passed << " test(s) passed, " << (tests.size() - passed)
+              << " test(s) failed" << std::endl;
+    if (passed < tests.size()) {
+        return 1;
+    }
+    return 0;
+}