diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index b9a2c56..3e83f82 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-module gameoflife
+module github.com/tlinden/gameoflife
 
 go 1.22
 
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 1fa7440..bd496d1 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
-	"github.com/alecthomas/repr"
+	"github.com/tlinden/gameoflife/rle"
+
 	"github.com/hajimehoshi/ebiten/v2"
 	"github.com/hajimehoshi/ebiten/v2/ebitenutil"
 	"github.com/hajimehoshi/ebiten/v2/inpututil"
@@ -40,12 +41,13 @@ type Game struct {
 	ScreenWidth, ScreenHeight         int
 	Generations                       int // Stats
 	Black, White, Grey, Beige         color.RGBA
-	TPG                               int    // ticks per generation/game speed, 1==max
-	TicksElapsed                      int    // tick counter for game speed
-	Debug, Paused, Empty, Invert      bool   // game modi
-	ShowEvolution, NoGrid, RunOneStep bool   // flags
-	Rule                              *Rule  // which rule to use, default: B3/S23
-	Tiles                             Images // pre-computed tiles for dead and alife cells
+	TPG                               int      // ticks per generation/game speed, 1==max
+	TicksElapsed                      int      // tick counter for game speed
+	Debug, Paused, Empty, Invert      bool     // game modi
+	ShowEvolution, NoGrid, RunOneStep bool     // flags
+	Rule                              *Rule    // which rule to use, default: B3/S23
+	Tiles                             Images   // pre-computed tiles for dead and alife cells
+	RLE                               *rle.RLE // loaded GOL pattern from RLE file
 }
 
 func (game *Game) Layout(outsideWidth, outsideHeight int) (int, int) {
@@ -294,6 +296,7 @@ func (game *Game) Draw(screen *ebiten.Image) {
 	}
 }
 
+// returns current memory usage in MB
 func GetMem() float64 {
 	var m runtime.MemStats
 	runtime.ReadMemStats(&m)
@@ -301,6 +304,28 @@ func GetMem() float64 {
 	return float64(m.Alloc) / 1024 / 1024
 }
 
+// load a pre-computed pattern from RLE file
+func (game *Game) InitPattern() {
+	if game.RLE != nil {
+		startX := (game.Width / 2) - (game.RLE.Width / 2)
+		startY := (game.Height / 2) - (game.RLE.Height / 2)
+		var y, x int
+
+		for rowIndex, patternRow := range game.RLE.Pattern {
+			for colIndex := range patternRow {
+				if game.RLE.Pattern[rowIndex][colIndex] > 0 {
+					x = colIndex + startX
+					y = rowIndex + startY
+
+					game.History.Data[y][x] = 1
+					game.Grids[0].Data[y][x] = 1
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// initialize playing field/grid
 func (game *Game) InitGrid() {
 	grid := &Grid{Data: make([][]int, game.Height)}
 	gridb := &Grid{Data: make([][]int, game.Height)}
@@ -310,6 +335,7 @@ func (game *Game) InitGrid() {
 		grid.Data[y] = make([]int, game.Width)
 		gridb.Data[y] = make([]int, game.Width)
 		history.Data[y] = make([]int, game.Width)
+
 		if !game.Empty {
 			for x := 0; x < game.Width; x++ {
 				if rand.Intn(game.Density) == 1 {
@@ -370,6 +396,7 @@ func (game *Game) Init() {
 	game.ScreenHeight = game.Cellsize * game.Height
 
 	game.InitGrid()
+	game.InitPattern()
 	game.InitTiles()
 
 	game.Index = 0
@@ -401,6 +428,7 @@ func main() {
 	game := &Game{}
 	showversion := false
 	var rule string
+	var rlefile string
 
 	pflag.IntVarP(&game.Width, "width", "W", 40, "grid width in cells")
 	pflag.IntVarP(&game.Height, "height", "H", 40, "grid height in cells")
@@ -409,6 +437,7 @@ func main() {
 	pflag.IntVarP(&game.TPG, "ticks-per-generation", "t", 10, "game speed: the higher the slower (default: 10)")
 
 	pflag.StringVarP(&rule, "rule", "r", "B3/S23", "game rule")
+	pflag.StringVarP(&rlefile, "rlefile", "f", "", "RLE pattern file")
 
 	pflag.BoolVarP(&showversion, "version", "v", false, "show version")
 	pflag.BoolVarP(&game.Paused, "paused", "p", false, "do not start simulation (use space to start)")
@@ -427,7 +456,27 @@ func main() {
 
 	game.Rule = ParseGameRule(rule)
 
-	repr.Print(game.TPG)
+	if rlefile != "" {
+		content, err := os.ReadFile(rlefile)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatal(err)
+		}
+
+		parsedRle, err := rle.Parse(string(content))
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("failed to load RLE pattern file: %s", err)
+		}
+
+		if parsedRle.Width > game.Width || parsedRle.Height > game.Height {
+			log.Fatal("loaded RLE pattern is too large for game grid, adjust width+height")
+		}
+
+		game.RLE = &parsedRle
+
+		// RLE needs an empty grid
+		game.Empty = true
+	}
+
 	game.Init()
 
 	ebiten.SetWindowSize(game.ScreenWidth, game.ScreenHeight)
diff --git a/rle/pattern_parser.go b/rle/pattern_parser.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fb80090
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rle/pattern_parser.go
@@ -0,0 +1,159 @@
+package rle
+
+import (
+	"strconv"
+)
+
+type TokenType string
+
+type Token struct {
+	Type    TokenType
+	Literal string
+}
+
+const (
+	RUN_COUNT  = "RUN_COUNT"
+	DEAD_CELL  = "DEAD_CELL"
+	ALIVE_CELL = "ALIVE_CELL"
+	EOL        = "EOL"
+	EOP        = "EOP"
+)
+
+type Lexer struct {
+	input        string
+	position     int
+	readPosition int
+	char         byte
+}
+
+func NewLexer(input string) *Lexer {
+	l := &Lexer{input: input}
+	l.readChar()
+	return l
+}
+
+func (l *Lexer) NextToken() Token {
+	var tok Token
+
+	l.skipWhitespace()
+
+	switch l.char {
+	case '$':
+		tok = newToken(EOL, l.char)
+	case '!':
+		tok = newToken(EOP, l.char)
+	case 'b':
+		tok = newToken(DEAD_CELL, l.char)
+	case 'o':
+		tok = newToken(ALIVE_CELL, l.char)
+	default:
+		if isDigit(l.char) {
+			tok.Type = RUN_COUNT
+			tok.Literal = l.readNumber()
+			return tok
+		}
+	}
+
+	l.readChar()
+	return tok
+}
+
+func newToken(tokenType TokenType, char byte) Token {
+	return Token{Type: tokenType, Literal: string(char)}
+}
+
+type PatternParser struct {
+	lexer        *Lexer
+	currentToken Token
+	peekToken    Token
+}
+
+func NewParser(lexer *Lexer) *PatternParser {
+	p := &PatternParser{
+		lexer: lexer,
+	}
+	p.nextToken()
+	p.nextToken()
+
+	return p
+}
+
+func (pp *PatternParser) ParsePattern(width, height int) [][]int {
+	result := make([][]int, height)
+
+	row := make([]int, width)
+	var rowIndex int
+	var colIndex int
+	for {
+		switch pp.currentToken.Type {
+		case RUN_COUNT:
+			count, _ := strconv.Atoi(pp.currentToken.Literal)
+			for i := 0; i < count; i++ {
+				switch pp.peekToken.Type {
+				case ALIVE_CELL:
+					row[rowIndex+i] = 1
+				case DEAD_CELL:
+					row[rowIndex+i] = 0
+				case EOL:
+					result[colIndex] = row
+					row = make([]int, width)
+					rowIndex = -1
+					colIndex++
+				}
+			}
+
+			if pp.peekToken.Type != EOL {
+				rowIndex += count - 1
+			}
+			pp.nextToken()
+		case ALIVE_CELL:
+			row[rowIndex] = 1
+		case DEAD_CELL:
+			row[rowIndex] = 0
+		case EOL:
+			result[colIndex] = row
+			row = make([]int, width)
+			rowIndex = -1
+			colIndex++
+		case EOP:
+			result[colIndex] = row
+			return result
+		}
+		rowIndex++
+		pp.nextToken()
+	}
+}
+
+func (pp *PatternParser) nextToken() {
+	pp.currentToken = pp.peekToken
+	pp.peekToken = pp.lexer.NextToken()
+}
+
+func isDigit(char byte) bool {
+	return '0' <= char && char <= '9'
+}
+
+func (l *Lexer) readChar() {
+	if l.readPosition >= len(l.input) {
+		l.char = 0
+	} else {
+		l.char = l.input[l.readPosition]
+	}
+	l.position = l.readPosition
+	l.readPosition++
+}
+
+func (l *Lexer) readNumber() string {
+	position := l.position
+	for isDigit(l.char) {
+		l.readChar()
+	}
+
+	return l.input[position:l.position]
+}
+
+func (l *Lexer) skipWhitespace() {
+	for l.char == ' ' || l.char == '\t' || l.char == '\n' || l.char == '\r' {
+		l.readChar()
+	}
+}
diff --git a/rle/pattern_parser_test.go b/rle/pattern_parser_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..893e7f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rle/pattern_parser_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+package rle
+
+import (
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestNextToken(t *testing.T) {
+	input := "bo$2bo$3o!"
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		expectedType    TokenType
+		expectedLiteral string
+	}{
+		{DEAD_CELL, "b"},
+		{ALIVE_CELL, "o"},
+		{EOL, "$"},
+		{RUN_COUNT, "2"},
+		{DEAD_CELL, "b"},
+		{ALIVE_CELL, "o"},
+		{EOL, "$"},
+		{RUN_COUNT, "3"},
+		{ALIVE_CELL, "o"},
+		{EOP, "!"},
+	}
+
+	l := NewLexer(input)
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		token := l.NextToken()
+
+		if token.Type != test.expectedType {
+			t.Errorf("Token typ not correct")
+		}
+
+		if token.Literal != test.expectedLiteral {
+			t.Errorf("Literal not correct")
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParsePattern(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		input    string
+		expected [][]int
+		width    int
+		height   int
+	}{
+		{
+			input: "bo$2bo$3o!",
+			expected: [][]int{
+				{0, 1, 0},
+				{0, 0, 1},
+				{1, 1, 1},
+			},
+			width:  3,
+			height: 3,
+		},
+		{
+			input: `24bo$22bobo$12b2o6b2o12b2o$11bo3bo4b2o12b2o$2o8bo5bo3b2o$2o8bo3bob2o4b
+							obo$10bo5bo7bo$11bo3bo$12b2o!`,
+			expected: [][]int{
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1},
+				{1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+			},
+			width:  36,
+			height: 9,
+		},
+		{
+			input: `20b2o$
+							20b2o4$
+							9b2o$
+							8bo2bo10b2o$
+							9b2o11bo$
+							22bo12bo$
+							23bo10bobo$
+							34bobo$
+							35bo7$
+							32bo2bo$
+							33b3o$
+							2o38b2o$
+							2o38b2o$
+							6b3o$
+							6bo2bo7$
+							6bo$
+							5bobo$
+							5bobo10bo$
+							6bo12bo$
+							19bo11b2o$
+							18b2o10bo2bo$
+							31b2o4$
+							20b2o$
+							20b2o!`,
+			expected: [][]int{
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1},
+				{1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+			},
+			width:  42,
+			height: 42,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		l := NewLexer(test.input)
+		pp := NewParser(l)
+		result := pp.ParsePattern(test.width, test.height)
+
+		if !reflect.DeepEqual(result, test.expected) {
+			t.Fatalf(
+				"Patterns do not match.\nExpected: %v\nGot: %v",
+				test.expected,
+				result,
+			)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/rle/rle.go b/rle/rle.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a44e241
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rle/rle.go
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+// source: https://github.com/nhoffmann/life by N.Hoffmann 2020.
+package rle
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"regexp"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+type RLE struct {
+	Rule    string  // rule
+	Width   int     // x
+	Height  int     // y
+	Pattern [][]int // The actual pattern
+
+	inputLines       []string
+	headerLineIndex  int
+	patternLineIndex int
+}
+
+func Parse(input string) (RLE, error) {
+	rle := RLE{
+		inputLines: strings.Split(input, "\n"),
+	}
+
+	rle.partitionFile()
+
+	err := rle.parseComments()
+	if err != nil {
+		return RLE{}, err
+	}
+	err = rle.parseHeader()
+	if err != nil {
+		return RLE{}, err
+	}
+	err = rle.parsePattern()
+	if err != nil {
+		return RLE{}, err
+	}
+
+	return rle, nil
+}
+
+func (rle *RLE) partitionFile() error {
+	for index, line := range rle.inputLines {
+		cleanLine := removeWhitespace(line)
+		if strings.HasPrefix(cleanLine, "x=") {
+			rle.headerLineIndex = index
+			rle.patternLineIndex = index + 1
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	return fmt.Errorf("Invlaid input: Header is missing")
+}
+
+func (rle *RLE) parseComments() error {
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (rle *RLE) parseHeader() (err error) {
+	headerLine := removeWhitespace(rle.inputLines[rle.headerLineIndex])
+
+	headerElements := strings.SplitN(headerLine, ",", 3)
+
+	rle.Width, err = strconv.Atoi(strings.TrimPrefix(headerElements[0], "x="))
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	rle.Height, err = strconv.Atoi(strings.TrimPrefix(headerElements[1], "y="))
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	rle.Pattern = make([][]int, rle.Width)
+
+	// check wehter a rule is present, since it's optional
+	if len(headerElements) == 3 {
+		rle.Rule = strings.TrimPrefix(headerElements[2], "rule=")
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (rle *RLE) parsePattern() error {
+	patternString := strings.Join(rle.inputLines[rle.patternLineIndex:], "")
+
+	l := NewLexer(patternString)
+	pp := NewParser(l)
+
+	rle.Pattern = pp.ParsePattern(rle.Width, rle.Height)
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func removeWhitespace(input string) string {
+	re := regexp.MustCompile(` *\t*\r*\n*`)
+	return re.ReplaceAllString(input, "")
+}
diff --git a/rle/rle_test.go b/rle/rle_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..265d993
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rle/rle_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+package rle
+
+import (
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestRLE(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("Parse", func(t *testing.T) {
+		tests := []struct {
+			input           string
+			expectedPattern [][]int
+			expectedComment string
+			expectedWidth   int
+			expectedHeight  int
+			expectedRule    string
+		}{
+			{
+				input: `#C This is a glider.
+				x = 3, y = 3
+				bo$2bo$3o!`,
+				expectedPattern: [][]int{
+					{0, 1, 0},
+					{0, 0, 1},
+					{1, 1, 1},
+				},
+				expectedWidth:  3,
+				expectedHeight: 3,
+				expectedRule:   "",
+			},
+			{
+				input: `#N Gosper glider gun
+				#C This was the first gun discovered.
+				#C As its name suggests, it was discovered by Bill Gosper.
+				x = 36, y = 9, rule = B3/S23
+				24bo$22bobo$12b2o6b2o12b2o$11bo3bo4b2o12b2o$2o8bo5bo3b2o$2o8bo3bob2o4b
+				obo$10bo5bo7bo$11bo3bo$12b2o!`,
+				expectedPattern: [][]int{
+					{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+					{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+					{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1},
+					{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1},
+					{1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+					{1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+					{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+					{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+					{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+				},
+				expectedWidth:  36,
+				expectedHeight: 9,
+				expectedRule:   "B3/S23",
+			},
+		}
+
+		for _, test := range tests {
+			rle, err := Parse(test.input)
+
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Error(err)
+			}
+
+			if rle.Width != test.expectedWidth {
+				t.Errorf("Width dos not match")
+			}
+
+			if rle.Height != test.expectedHeight {
+				t.Errorf("Height does not match")
+			}
+
+			if rle.Rule != test.expectedRule {
+				t.Errorf("Rule does not match")
+			}
+
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(rle.Pattern, test.expectedPattern) {
+				t.Errorf(
+					"Patterns do not match.\nExpected: %v\nGot: %v",
+					test.expectedPattern,
+					rle.Pattern,
+				)
+			}
+		}
+	})
+
+}
diff --git a/sample-rles/64P2H1V0.rle b/sample-rles/64P2H1V0.rle
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f2098c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sample-rles/64P2H1V0.rle
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+x = 8, y = 31, rule = B3/S23
+o$4o$2b2o$5bo$2b4o$6bo$2bo2b3o$4b3o$5bo$ob3o$2o2bo$b3o$bo$3bo$bobo$4bo$bobo$
+3bo$bo$b3o$2o2bo$ob3o$5bo$4b3o$2bo2b3o$6bo$2b4o$5bo$2b2o$4o$o!
diff --git a/sample-rles/p39piheptominohasslerdimer.rle b/sample-rles/p39piheptominohasslerdimer.rle
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4280a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sample-rles/p39piheptominohasslerdimer.rle
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#N p39piheptominohasslerdimer.rle
+#C https://conwaylife.com/wiki/P39_pi-heptomino_hassler
+#C https://www.conwaylife.com/patterns/p39piheptominohasslerdimer.rle
+x = 51, y = 30, rule = B3/S23
+9b2o$8bobo$8bo$3bob2ob2o$3b2obo$6bo$6b2o27b2o$35b2o4$22b2o3b2o$22bobo
+2b2o$10b3o10bo$2obo6bobo25bobo6b2obo$ob2o6bobo25bobo6bob2o$27bo10b3o$
+22b2o2bobo$22b2o3b2o4$14b2o$14b2o27b2o$44bo$44bob2o$41b2ob2obo$42bo$
+40bobo$40b2o!
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/sample-rles/weekender.rle b/sample-rles/weekender.rle
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..819ee64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sample-rles/weekender.rle
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#N 244p7h3v0.rle
+#C https://conwaylife.com/wiki/232P7H3V0
+#C https://www.conwaylife.com/patterns/244p7h3v0.rle
+x = 51, y = 52, rule = B3/S23
+19b3o9b3o$18bo3bo7bo3bo$17bobo3bo5bo3bobo$17bo3b2o7b2o3bo$17b3o3bo5bo
+3b3o$16bo3b2ob3ob3ob2o3bo$16b2o2bo3b2ob2o3bo2b2o$15b3o3b5ob5o3b3o$23bo
+5bo$20bo11bo$15bo4bo11bo4bo$15bo4b4o5b4o4bo$19bo4bo3bo4bo$18b2ob3o5b3o
+b2o$18b2obo3bobo3bob2o$14b3o7b2ob2o7b3o$13bo3b2o4bobobobo4b2o3bo$12bo
+3bo19bo3bo$12bo9b3o3b3o9bo$16bo6b2o3b2o6bo$11bo12bo3bo12bo$11bo2b2o5bo
+9bo5b2o2bo$12b2o8bo7bo8b2o$10bo12bo5bo12bo$9b3o29b3o$8b2o2bo27bo2b2o$
+11b2o27b2o$11bo29bo2$8bo35bo$9b2o31b2o$7bo2bo31bo2bo$6bo39bo$5b2o39b2o
+$4b4o37b4o$3bo45bo$3b3o41b3o$2bo47bo$4b2o41b2o$6bo39bo$4b2o41b2o$5bo
+41bo$4bo43bo$4bo43bo$2b2o$2obo$o$2o$bo3bo$4bo$o2bo$o!