diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f1881e8..3527f78 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -6,3 +6,4 @@ tests/testing/
 include/sql/*.h
 
 emgauwa-core.sqlite
+vgcore.*
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 7ffe4ed..a83fd30 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ add_custom_target(sql
 )
 
 add_custom_target(run
-    COMMAND ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/core start
+    COMMAND ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/core
     DEPENDS core
     WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}
 )
@@ -56,24 +56,24 @@ add_custom_target(docs
 )
 
 IF(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE MATCHES Debug)
-    message("debug mode")
+    message(STATUS "loading debug targets")
     add_custom_target(debug
         COMMAND gdb ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/core
         DEPENDS core
         WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}
     )
     add_custom_target(valgrind
-        COMMAND valgrind -s ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/core start
+        COMMAND valgrind -s ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/core
         DEPENDS core
         WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}
     )
     add_custom_target(valgrind-leak
-        COMMAND valgrind --leak-check=full --show-leak-kinds=all ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/core start
+        COMMAND valgrind --leak-check=full --show-leak-kinds=all ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/core
         DEPENDS core
         WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}
     )
     add_custom_target(valgrind-callgrind
-        COMMAND valgrind --tool=callgrind ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/core start
+        COMMAND valgrind --tool=callgrind ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/core
         DEPENDS core
         WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}
     )
diff --git a/emgauwa-core.ini b/emgauwa-core.ini
index cd40564..0d2ab88 100644
--- a/emgauwa-core.ini
+++ b/emgauwa-core.ini
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [core]
 server-port = 5000
-database = core.sqlite
+database = emgauwa-core.sqlite
 content-dir = /usr/share/webapps/emgauwa
 not-found-file = 404.html
 not-found-file-mime = text/html
diff --git a/include/cli.h b/include/cli.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..54e48ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/cli.h
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#ifndef CORE_CLI_H
+#define CORE_CLI_H
+
+typedef struct cli
+{
+    char *config_path;
+} cli_t;
+
+
+void
+cli_parse(int argc, const char **argv, config_t *config);
+
+#endif /* CORE_CLI_H */
diff --git a/include/config.h b/include/config.h
index e7e7adb..09f2b31 100644
--- a/include/config.h
+++ b/include/config.h
@@ -6,12 +6,6 @@
 #include <mongoose.h>
 #include <confini.h>
 
-typedef enum
-{
-    RUN_TYPE_START,
-    RUN_TYPE_INVALID,
-} run_type_t;
-
 typedef struct
 {
     char *file;
@@ -21,7 +15,6 @@ typedef struct
     char *group;
     int log_level;
     FILE *log_file;
-    run_type_t run_type;
     uint16_t server_port;
     uint16_t discovery_port;
     uint16_t mqtt_port;
@@ -33,7 +26,7 @@ typedef struct
     struct mg_serve_http_opts http_server_opts;
 } config_t;
 
-extern config_t global_config;
+extern config_t *global_config;
 
 void
 config_init();
@@ -42,7 +35,7 @@ void
 config_free();
 
 void
-config_try_ini_files(config_t *config);
+config_load_string(char **holder, const char *value);
 
 int
 config_load(IniDispatch *disp, void *config_void);
diff --git a/include/constants.h b/include/constants.h
index 329868c..358e0a4 100644
--- a/include/constants.h
+++ b/include/constants.h
@@ -14,13 +14,6 @@
  */
 #define MAX_NAME_LENGTH 128
 
-/**
- * @brief Maximum number of dbs for the databases for the MDB_env
- *
- * Used when calling mdb_env_set_maxdbs() in database_setup()
- */
-#define MDB_MAXDBS 8
-
 /**
  * @brief How many milli seconds to wait until poll timeout in main loop
  */
@@ -28,4 +21,6 @@
 
 #define PIFACE_GPIO_BASE 200
 
+#define DEFAULT_CONFIG_PATH "emgauwa-core.ini"
+
 #endif /* CORE_CONTANTS_H */
diff --git a/include/helpers.h b/include/helpers.h
index e2ead83..fa2cb30 100644
--- a/include/helpers.h
+++ b/include/helpers.h
@@ -3,14 +3,10 @@
 
 #include <time.h>
 #include <config.h>
-#include <confini.h>
 
 int
 helper_connect_tcp_server(char* host, uint16_t port);
 
-void
-helper_parse_cli(int argc, const char **argv, config_t *config);
-
 int
 helper_get_weekday(const struct tm *time_struct);
 
diff --git a/src/helpers/parse_cli.c b/src/cli.c
similarity index 63%
rename from src/helpers/parse_cli.c
rename to src/cli.c
index f205541..afdfccd 100644
--- a/src/helpers/parse_cli.c
+++ b/src/cli.c
@@ -10,20 +10,20 @@
 #include <version.h>
 
 static const char *const usage[] = {
-    "core [options] [[--] args]",
     "core [options]",
     NULL,
 };
 
 void
-helper_parse_cli(int argc, const char **argv, config_t *config)
+cli_parse(int argc, const char **argv, config_t *config)
 {
+    const char *config_file = NULL;
     int version = 0;
     struct argparse_option options[] =
     {
         OPT_HELP(),
         OPT_GROUP("Basic options"),
-        OPT_STRING('c', "config", &config->file, "path to config file", NULL, 0, OPT_NONEG),
+        OPT_STRING('c', "config", &config_file, "path to config file", NULL, 0, OPT_NONEG),
         OPT_BOOLEAN('v', "version", &version, "print version", NULL, 0, OPT_NONEG),
         OPT_END(),
     };
@@ -37,27 +37,15 @@ helper_parse_cli(int argc, const char **argv, config_t *config)
     );
     argc = argparse_parse(&argparse, argc, argv);
 
+    if(config_file)
+    {
+        config_load_string(&config->file, config_file);
+    }
+
     if(version)
     {
         printf("%s\n", EMGAUWA_CORE_VERSION);
         exit(0);
     }
-
-    if(argc == 1)
-    {
-        config->run_type = RUN_TYPE_INVALID;
-        if(strcmp(argv[0], "start") == 0)
-        {
-            config->run_type = RUN_TYPE_START;
-            return;
-        }
-        LOGGER_CRIT("bad action '%s' given ('start')\n", argv[0]);
-        exit(1);
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        LOGGER_CRIT("no action given ('start')\n");
-        exit(1);
-    }
     return;
 }
diff --git a/src/config.c b/src/config.c
index db45711..e4c507c 100644
--- a/src/config.c
+++ b/src/config.c
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
-#include <logger.h>
 #include <config.h>
+#include <constants.h>
+#include <logger.h>
 
-config_t global_config;
+config_t *global_config;
 
 
 #define CONFINI_IS_KEY(SECTION, KEY) \
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ config_load_log_level(IniDispatch *disp, config_t *config)
         return 0;
     }
     LOGGER_WARNING("invalid log-level '%s'\n", disp->value);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -77,8 +79,49 @@ config_load_log_file(IniDispatch *disp, config_t *config)
     return 0;
 }
 
-static void
-config_load_string(char **holder, char *value)
+void
+config_init()
+{
+    global_config = calloc(1, sizeof(config_t));
+
+    config_load_string(&global_config->file, DEFAULT_CONFIG_PATH);
+
+    global_config->discovery_port = 4421;
+    global_config->mqtt_port = 1885;
+    global_config->server_port = 5000;
+
+    global_config->log_level = LOG_DEBUG;
+    global_config->log_file = stdout;
+
+    global_config->user = NULL;
+    global_config->group = NULL;
+
+    config_load_string(&global_config->content_dir, ".");
+    config_load_string(&global_config->not_found_file, "404.html");
+    config_load_string(&global_config->not_found_file_type, "text/html");
+    config_load_string(&global_config->not_found_content, "404 - NOT FOUND");
+    config_load_string(&global_config->not_found_content_type, "text/plain");
+}
+
+void
+config_free()
+{
+    free(global_config->file);
+    free(global_config->include);
+    free(global_config->database);
+    free(global_config->user);
+    free(global_config->group);
+    free(global_config->content_dir);
+    free(global_config->not_found_file);
+    free(global_config->not_found_file_type);
+    free(global_config->not_found_content);
+    free(global_config->not_found_content_type);
+
+    free(global_config);
+}
+
+void
+config_load_string(char **holder, const char *value)
 {
     if(*holder)
     {
@@ -93,50 +136,6 @@ config_load_string(char **holder, char *value)
     *holder = new_holder;
 }
 
-
-void
-config_init()
-{
-    memset(&global_config, 0, sizeof(config_t));
-
-    global_config.discovery_port = 4421;
-    global_config.mqtt_port = 1885;
-    global_config.server_port = 5000;
-
-    global_config.log_level = LOG_INFO;
-    global_config.log_file = stdout;
-
-    global_config.user = NULL;
-    global_config.group = NULL;
-
-    config_load_string(&global_config.content_dir, ".");
-    config_load_string(&global_config.not_found_file, "404.html");
-    config_load_string(&global_config.not_found_file_type, "text/html");
-    config_load_string(&global_config.not_found_content, "404 - NOT FOUND");
-    config_load_string(&global_config.not_found_content_type, "text/plain");
-}
-
-void
-config_free()
-{
-    free(global_config.file);
-    free(global_config.include);
-    free(global_config.database);
-    free(global_config.user);
-    free(global_config.group);
-    free(global_config.content_dir);
-    free(global_config.not_found_file);
-    free(global_config.not_found_file_type);
-    free(global_config.not_found_content);
-    free(global_config.not_found_content_type);
-}
-
-void
-config_try_ini_files(config_t *config)
-{
-    (void)config;
-}
-
 int
 config_load(IniDispatch *disp, void *config_void)
 {
diff --git a/src/database.c b/src/database.c
index 7a46488..272ef4c 100644
--- a/src/database.c
+++ b/src/database.c
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ static database_transaction_lock *transaction_lock;
 void
 database_init()
 {
-    int rc = sqlite3_open(global_config.database, &global_database);
+    int rc = sqlite3_open(global_config->database, &global_database);
 
     if(rc)
     {
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ database_init()
         exit(1);
     }
 
+    LOGGER_DEBUG("Opened database %s\n", global_config->database);
+
     database_migrate();
 
     sqlite3_exec(global_database, "PRAGMA foreign_keys = ON", 0, 0, 0);
diff --git a/src/endpoint.c b/src/endpoint.c
index 5173538..3902e33 100644
--- a/src/endpoint.c
+++ b/src/endpoint.c
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ endpoint_func_index(struct mg_connection *nc, struct http_message *hm, endpoint_
 
     response->status_code = 0;
 
-    mg_serve_http(nc, hm, global_config.http_server_opts);
+    mg_serve_http(nc, hm, global_config->http_server_opts);
 }
 
 void
@@ -24,19 +24,19 @@ endpoint_func_not_found(struct mg_connection *nc, struct http_message *hm, endpo
     (void)hm;
     (void)nc;
     
-    if(access(global_config.not_found_file, R_OK) != -1)
+    if(access(global_config->not_found_file, R_OK) != -1)
     {
-        struct mg_str mime_type = mg_mk_str(global_config.not_found_file_type);
+        struct mg_str mime_type = mg_mk_str(global_config->not_found_file_type);
         response->status_code = 0;
-        mg_http_serve_file(nc, hm, global_config.not_found_file, mime_type, mg_mk_str(""));
+        mg_http_serve_file(nc, hm, global_config->not_found_file, mime_type, mg_mk_str(""));
     }
     else
     {
         LOGGER_DEBUG("404 file not found\n");
         response->status_code = 404;
-        response->content_type = global_config.not_found_content_type;
-        response->content_length = strlen(global_config.not_found_content);
-        response->content = global_config.not_found_content;
+        response->content_type = global_config->not_found_content_type;
+        response->content_length = strlen(global_config->not_found_content);
+        response->content = global_config->not_found_content;
         response->alloced_content = false;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/endpoints/api_v1_controllers_discover.c b/src/endpoints/api_v1_controllers_discover.c
index 189e5b6..6ba374e 100644
--- a/src/endpoints/api_v1_controllers_discover.c
+++ b/src/endpoints/api_v1_controllers_discover.c
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ api_v1_controllers_discover_PUT(struct mg_connection *nc, struct http_message *h
     payload[0] = discover_server_port;
 
     LOGGER_DEBUG("sending udp broadcast\n");
-    if(send_udp_broadcast("255.255.255.255", global_config.discovery_port, payload, sizeof(payload)) < 0)
+    if(send_udp_broadcast("255.255.255.255", global_config->discovery_port, payload, sizeof(payload)) < 0)
     {
         M_RESPONSE_TEXT_STATIC(LOGGER_ERR, response, 500, "the server failed to send discovery broadcast");
         return;
diff --git a/src/endpoints/api_v1_schedules.c b/src/endpoints/api_v1_schedules.c
index 7a9ad6e..d72b34b 100644
--- a/src/endpoints/api_v1_schedules.c
+++ b/src/endpoints/api_v1_schedules.c
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ api_v1_schedules_POST(struct mg_connection *nc, struct http_message *hm, endpoin
     cJSON *json_name = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(json, "name");
     if(!cJSON_IsString(json_name) || (json_name->valuestring == NULL))
     {
+        cJSON_Delete(json);
+
         M_RESPONSE_400_NO_NAME(response);
         return;
     }
diff --git a/src/handlers/http.c b/src/handlers/http.c
index 84c4a36..324db67 100644
--- a/src/handlers/http.c
+++ b/src/handlers/http.c
@@ -17,16 +17,16 @@ static char*
 add_extra_headers(char *extra_headers)
 {
     char *result;
-    size_t std_headers_len = strlen(global_config.http_server_opts.extra_headers);
+    size_t std_headers_len = strlen(global_config->http_server_opts.extra_headers);
     if(extra_headers == NULL)
     {
         result = malloc(sizeof(char) * (std_headers_len + 1));
-        strcpy(result, global_config.http_server_opts.extra_headers);
+        strcpy(result, global_config->http_server_opts.extra_headers);
         return result;
     }
 
     result = malloc(sizeof(char) * (std_headers_len + strlen(extra_headers) + 3));
-    sprintf(result, "%s\r\n%s", global_config.http_server_opts.extra_headers, extra_headers);
+    sprintf(result, "%s\r\n%s", global_config->http_server_opts.extra_headers, extra_headers);
     return result;
 }
 
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ handle_http_request(struct mg_connection *nc, struct http_message *hm)
     {
         /* Normalize path - resolve "." and ".." (in-place). */
         if (!mg_normalize_uri_path(&hm->uri, &hm->uri)) {
-            mg_http_send_error(nc, 400, global_config.http_server_opts.extra_headers);
+            mg_http_send_error(nc, 400, global_config->http_server_opts.extra_headers);
             LOGGER_DEBUG("failed to normalize uri %.*s\n", hm->uri.len, hm->uri.p);
             return;
         }
@@ -105,15 +105,15 @@ handle_http_request(struct mg_connection *nc, struct http_message *hm)
             ++request_file;
         }
 
-        char *request_file_path = malloc(sizeof(char) * (strlen(request_file) + strlen(global_config.content_dir) + 2));
-        sprintf(request_file_path, "%s/%s", global_config.content_dir, request_file);
+        char *request_file_path = malloc(sizeof(char) * (strlen(request_file) + strlen(global_config->content_dir) + 2));
+        sprintf(request_file_path, "%s/%s", global_config->content_dir, request_file);
         int access_result = access(request_file_path, R_OK);
         free(request_file_path);
         free(request_file_org);
         if(access_result != -1)
         {
             response.status_code = 0;
-            mg_serve_http(nc, hm, global_config.http_server_opts);
+            mg_serve_http(nc, hm, global_config->http_server_opts);
             LOGGER_DEBUG("serving %.*s\n", hm->uri.len, hm->uri.p);
             return;
         }
diff --git a/src/helpers/drop_privileges.c b/src/helpers/drop_privileges.c
index e2dde8a..df0ba7f 100644
--- a/src/helpers/drop_privileges.c
+++ b/src/helpers/drop_privileges.c
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ get_gid_for_group(char *group)
 int
 helper_drop_privileges()
 {
-    uid_t uid = get_uid_for_user(global_config.user);
-    gid_t gid = get_gid_for_group(global_config.group);
+    uid_t uid = get_uid_for_user(global_config->user);
+    gid_t gid = get_gid_for_group(global_config->group);
 
     LOGGER_DEBUG("drop privileges to %lu:%lu\n", uid, gid);
 
diff --git a/src/logger.c b/src/logger.c
index 1839d38..a467a7d 100644
--- a/src/logger.c
+++ b/src/logger.c
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ const char *COLOR_EMERG = COLOR_MAGENTA;
 void
 logger_log(int level, const char *filename, int line, const char *func, const char *msg, ...)
 {
-    if(global_config.log_level < level || level == LOG_NONE )
+    if(global_config->log_level < level || level == LOG_NONE )
     {
         return;
     }
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ logger_log(int level, const char *filename, int line, const char *func, const ch
     char *buffer_timed = malloc(sizeof(char) * (strlen(timestamp_str) + strlen(buffer) + 2));
     sprintf(buffer_timed, "%s %s", timestamp_str, buffer);
     va_start(args, msg);
-    vfprintf(global_config.log_file, buffer_timed, args);
-    fflush(global_config.log_file);
+    vfprintf(global_config->log_file, buffer_timed, args);
+    fflush(global_config->log_file);
     va_end(args);
 
     free(buffer);
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 43ad767..06031ea 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include <confini.h>
 
 #include <cache.h>
+#include <cli.h>
 #include <router.h>
 #include <logger.h>
 #include <config.h>
@@ -52,22 +53,22 @@ main(int argc, const char** argv)
     signal(SIGABRT, terminate);
     signal(SIGTERM, terminate);
 
-    setlogmask(LOG_UPTO(LOG_INFO));
-
+    openlog("emgauwa-core", 0, LOG_USER);
+    setlogmask(LOG_UPTO(LOG_DEBUG));
 
     /******************** LOAD CONFIG ********************/
 
     config_init();
 
-    helper_parse_cli(argc, argv, &global_config);
+    cli_parse(argc, argv, global_config);
 
-    FILE * const ini_file = fopen(global_config.file, "rb");
+    FILE * const ini_file = fopen(global_config->file, "rb");
     if(ini_file == NULL)
     {
-        LOGGER_CRIT("config file '%s' was not found\n", global_config.file);
+        LOGGER_CRIT("config file '%s' was not found\n", global_config->file);
         exit(1);
     }
-    if(load_ini_file(ini_file, INI_DEFAULT_FORMAT, NULL, config_load, &global_config))
+    if(load_ini_file(ini_file, INI_DEFAULT_FORMAT, NULL, config_load, global_config))
     {
         LOGGER_CRIT("unable to parse ini file\n");
         exit(1);
@@ -75,16 +76,12 @@ main(int argc, const char** argv)
 
     fclose(ini_file);
 
-    memset(&global_config.http_server_opts, 0, sizeof(global_config.http_server_opts));
-    global_config.http_server_opts.document_root = global_config.content_dir;
-    global_config.http_server_opts.enable_directory_listing = "no";
-    global_config.http_server_opts.extra_headers = "Access-Control-Allow-Origin: *\r\nAccess-Control-Allow-Headers: *\r\nAccess-Control-Allow-Methods: *";
-
-    if(global_config.log_file == NULL)
+    if(global_config->log_file == NULL)
     {
-        global_config.log_file = stdout;
+        global_config->log_file = stdout;
     }
-    openlog("emgauwa-core", 0, LOG_USER);
+
+    LOGGER_DEBUG("Loaded config from %s\n", global_config->file);
 
 
     /******************** SETUP CONNECTION ********************/
@@ -94,20 +91,20 @@ main(int argc, const char** argv)
     mg_mgr_init(&mgr, NULL);
 
     char address[100];
-    sprintf(address, "tcp://0.0.0.0:%u", global_config.server_port);
+    sprintf(address, "tcp://0.0.0.0:%u", global_config->server_port);
     struct mg_connection *c_http = mg_bind(&mgr, address, handler_http);
     if(c_http == NULL)
     {
-        LOGGER_CRIT("failed to bind http server to port %u\n", global_config.server_port);
+        LOGGER_CRIT("failed to bind http server to port %u\n", global_config->server_port);
         exit(1);
     }
     mg_set_protocol_http_websocket(c_http);
 
-    sprintf(address, "tcp://0.0.0.0:%u", global_config.mqtt_port);
+    sprintf(address, "tcp://0.0.0.0:%u", global_config->mqtt_port);
     struct mg_connection *c_mqtt = mg_bind(&mgr, address, handler_mqtt);
     if(c_mqtt == NULL)
     {
-        LOGGER_CRIT("failed to bind mqtt server to port %u\n", global_config.mqtt_port);
+        LOGGER_CRIT("failed to bind mqtt server to port %u\n", global_config->mqtt_port);
         exit(1);
     }
     mg_mqtt_broker_init(&brk, NULL);
@@ -116,6 +113,11 @@ main(int argc, const char** argv)
 
     helper_drop_privileges();
 
+    memset(&global_config->http_server_opts, 0, sizeof(global_config->http_server_opts));
+    global_config->http_server_opts.document_root = global_config->content_dir;
+    global_config->http_server_opts.enable_directory_listing = "no";
+    global_config->http_server_opts.extra_headers = "Access-Control-Allow-Origin: *\r\nAccess-Control-Allow-Headers: *\r\nAccess-Control-Allow-Methods: *";
+
 
     /******************** INIT COMPONENTS ********************/
 
diff --git a/tests/run_tests.sh b/tests/run_tests.sh
index 1b158b6..ab5740d 100755
--- a/tests/run_tests.sh
+++ b/tests/run_tests.sh
@@ -41,12 +41,7 @@ touch $working_dir/index.html
 
 cp $1 $working_dir/core
 
-echo "=== invalids start (must exit) ===" >$working_dir/core.log
-$working_dir/core -c $source_dir/emgauwa-core-testing-ini >>$working_dir/core.log 2>&1
-$working_dir/core -c $source_dir/emgauwa-core-testing-ini INVALID_ACTION >>$working_dir/core.log 2>&1
-
-echo "=== valid start ===" >>$working_dir/core.log
-valgrind_emgauwa $working_dir/core -c $source_dir/emgauwa-core-testing.ini start >>$working_dir/core.log 2>&1 &
+valgrind_emgauwa $working_dir/core -c $source_dir/emgauwa-core-testing.ini >>$working_dir/core.log 2>&1 &
 core_id=$!