diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 8ee1a8e..74d237b 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -9,3 +9,7 @@ nanopb-0.4.4
 .coverage
 *.py-E
 venv/
+*pyc
+.DS_Store
+__pycache__
+examples/__pycache__
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aa8f164
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# unit test
+test:
+	pytest
+
+# local install
+install:
+	pip install .
+
+# lint the codebase
+lint:
+	pylint meshtastic
+
+cov:
+	pytest --cov-report html --cov=meshtastic
+	# on mac, this will open the coverage report in a browser
+	open htmlcov/index.html
+
+# run cli examples
+examples: FORCE
+	pytest -mexamples
+
+FORCE: ;
diff --git a/examples/hello_world_serial.py b/examples/hello_world_serial.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5c0b0b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/hello_world_serial.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+"""Simple program to demo how to use meshtastic library.
+   To run: python examples/hello_world_serial.py
+"""
+
+import sys
+import meshtastic
+import meshtastic.serial_interface
+
+# simple arg check
+if len(sys.argv) < 2:
+    print(f"usage: {sys.argv[0]} message")
+    sys.exit(3)
+
+# By default will try to find a meshtastic device,
+# otherwise provide a device path like /dev/ttyUSB0
+iface = meshtastic.serial_interface.SerialInterface()
+iface.sendText(sys.argv[1])
+iface.close()
diff --git a/examples/pub_sub_example.py b/examples/pub_sub_example.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a58d83a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/pub_sub_example.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+"""Simple program to demo how to use meshtastic library.
+   To run: python examples/pub_sub_example.py
+"""
+
+import sys
+from pubsub import pub
+
+import meshtastic
+import meshtastic.tcp_interface
+
+# simple arg check
+if len(sys.argv) < 2:
+    print(f"usage: {sys.argv[0]} host")
+    sys.exit(1)
+
+def onConnection(interface, topic=pub.AUTO_TOPIC):
+    """This is called when we (re)connect to the radio."""
+    print(interface.myInfo)
+    interface.close()
+pub.subscribe(onConnection, "meshtastic.connection.established")
+
+try:
+    iface = meshtastic.tcp_interface.TCPInterface(sys.argv[1])
+except:
+    print(f"Error: Could not connect to {sys.argv[1]}")
+    sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/examples/pub_sub_example2.py b/examples/pub_sub_example2.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b8ee60b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/pub_sub_example2.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+"""Simple program to demo how to use meshtastic library.
+   To run: python examples/pub_sub_example2.py
+"""
+
+import sys
+import time
+from pubsub import pub
+
+import meshtastic
+import meshtastic.tcp_interface
+
+# simple arg check
+if len(sys.argv) < 2:
+    print(f"usage: {sys.argv[0]} host")
+    sys.exit(1)
+
+def onReceive(packet, interface):
+    """called when a packet arrives"""
+    print(f"Received: {packet}")
+
+def onConnection(interface, topic=pub.AUTO_TOPIC):
+    """called when we (re)connect to the radio"""
+    # defaults to broadcast, specify a destination ID if you wish
+    interface.sendText("hello mesh")
+
+pub.subscribe(onReceive, "meshtastic.receive")
+pub.subscribe(onConnection, "meshtastic.connection.established")
+try:
+    iface = meshtastic.tcp_interface.TCPInterface(hostname=sys.argv[1])
+    while True:
+        time.sleep(1000)
+    iface.close()
+except(Exception) as ex:
+    print(f"Error: Could not connect to {sys.argv[1]} {ex}")
+    sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/meshtastic/tests/test_examples.py b/meshtastic/tests/test_examples.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f162d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/meshtastic/tests/test_examples.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+"""Meshtastic test that the examples run as expected.
+   We assume you have a python virtual environment in current directory.
+   If not, you need to run: "python3 -m venv venv", "source venv/bin/activate", "pip install ."
+"""
+import subprocess
+
+import pytest
+
+@pytest.mark.examples
+def test_examples_hello_world_serial_no_arg():
+    """Test hello_world_serial without any args"""
+    return_value, _ = subprocess.getstatusoutput('source venv/bin/activate; python3 examples/hello_world_serial.py')
+    assert return_value == 3
+
+
+@pytest.mark.examples
+def test_examples_hello_world_serial_with_arg(capsys):
+    """Test hello_world_serial with arg"""
+    return_value, _ = subprocess.getstatusoutput('source venv/bin/activate; python3 examples/hello_world_serial.py hello')
+    assert return_value == 1
+    _, err = capsys.readouterr()
+    assert err == ''
+    # TODO: Why does this not work?
+    # assert out == 'Warning: No Meshtastic devices detected.'
diff --git a/pytest.ini b/pytest.ini
index 62e2a7b..315962e 100644
--- a/pytest.ini
+++ b/pytest.ini
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [pytest]
 
-addopts = -m "not smoke1 and not smoke2 and not smokewifi"
+addopts = -m "not smoke1 and not smoke2 and not smokewifi and not examples"
 
 markers =
     unit: marks tests as unit tests
@@ -8,3 +8,4 @@ markers =
     smoke1: runs smoke tests on a single device connected via USB
     smoke2: runs smoke tests on a two devices connected via USB
     smokewifi: runs smoke test on an esp32 device setup with wifi
+    examples: runs the examples tests which validates the library