diff --git a/doc/examples/makefile.am b/doc/examples/makefile.am
index a05446e..99f3829 100644
--- a/doc/examples/makefile.am
+++ b/doc/examples/makefile.am
@@ -4,17 +4,19 @@
 ## 45678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890
 
 exampledir = ${docdir}/examples
-example_PROGRAMS = exceptionhandling smartpointer
-example_DATA = ${smartpointer_SOURCES} ${exceptionhandling_SOURCES}
+example_PROGRAMS = exceptionhandling smartpointer arguments
+example_DATA = ${smartpointer_SOURCES} ${exceptionhandling_SOURCES}	\
+               ${arguments_SOURCES}
+
+CPPFLAGS = -I${top_srcdir}/src
+LDFLAGS = -L${top_builddir}/src
 
 exceptionhandling_SOURCES = exceptionhandling.cxx
-exceptionhandling_CPPFLAGS = -I${top_srcdir}/src
-exceptionhandling_LDFLAGS = -L${top_builddir}/src
 exceptionhandling_LDADD = ${top_builddir}/src/.libs/libmrw.la
 
 smartpointer_SOURCES = smartpointer.cxx
-smartpointer_CPPFLAGS = -I${top_srcdir}/src
-smartpointer_LDFLAGS = -L${top_builddir}/src
 smartpointer_LDADD = ${top_builddir}/src/.libs/libmrw.la
 
+arguments_SOURCES = arguments.cxx
+
 MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = makefile.in
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/mrw-c++.spec.in b/mrw-c++.spec.in
index 082ff47..780fbc4 100644
--- a/mrw-c++.spec.in
+++ b/mrw-c++.spec.in
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # rpmbuild -bb --clean @PACKAGENAME@.spec
 BuildRequires: boost-devel subversion gcc-c++ doxygen graphviz texlive automake autoconf libtool make
 %if 0%{?fedora} || 0%{?rhel_version} || 0%{?centos_version}
-BuildRequires: cppunit-devel
+BuildRequires: cppunit-devel libtool-ltdl-devel
 %else%if 0%{?suse_version} || 0%{?sles_version}
 BuildRequires: libcppunit-devel
 %endif%endif
diff --git a/src/makefile.am b/src/makefile.am
index 4f40f4e..2af95d1 100644
--- a/src/makefile.am
+++ b/src/makefile.am
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ nobase_include_HEADERS = mrw/arg.hxx mrw/auto.hxx mrw/configfile.hxx	\
                          mrw/smartpointer.hxx mrw/stacktrace.hxx	\
                          mrw/stdext.hxx mrw/string.hxx			\
                          mrw/tokenizer.hxx mrw/unistd.hxx		\
-                         mrw/vector.hxx
+                         mrw/vector.hxx mrw/args
 
 if HAVE_STACKTRACE
   AM_CPPFLAGS += -DHAVE_STACKTRACE
diff --git a/src/mrw/args b/src/mrw/args
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b71c618
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mrw/args
@@ -0,0 +1,438 @@
+/*! @file
+
+    @id $Id$
+*/
+//       1         2         3         4         5         6         7         8
+// 45678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890
+#ifndef __ARGS__
+#define __ARGS__
+
+#include <vector>
+#include <map>
+#include <memory>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <iomanip>
+#include <sstream>
+#include <stdexcept>
+#include <numeric>
+#include <cstdlib>
+
+// check if code is compiled with a new C++11 compiler
+// otherwise there is a fallback wich makes everything much more compliacted
+#if __cplusplus < 201103L
+/// Code is compiled with an old non C++11 standard compliant compiler
+/** There are workarounds for old non C++11 compatible
+    compilers. These workarounds are deprecated, but will remain until
+    most compilers fully support C++11. So this workaround will be
+    removed in future releases, when support for C++11 is more
+    common. Only rely on this workaround, if you really have to.
+    @see oldcompiler for details on usage */
+#define ARGS__OLD_PRE11_COMPILER
+#warning You need a C++11 compliant compiler, on gcc use option -std=c++11
+#warning emulating C++11 - this changes the way you use the library
+#warning this is deprecated and will be removed in future releases
+#warning refere to the library documentation for more details
+#endif
+
+#ifdef ARGS__OLD_PRE11_COMPILER
+#include <boost/shared_ptr.hpp>
+namespace std {
+  // there is no std::shared_ptr in pre C++11 compilers, so we use the
+  // one from the boost library as a 1:1 replacement
+  template <typename T> class shared_ptr: public boost::shared_ptr<T> {
+    public:
+      explicit shared_ptr(T* p): boost::shared_ptr<T>(p) {}
+  };
+};
+#endif
+
+/** @page oldcompiler Workaround for old non C++11 compilers
+    ... to be documented
+    @note Old compilers are automatically detected and the flag
+          @refs ARGS__OLD_PRE11_COMPILER is set.
+    */
+
+/// Cool and easy evaluation of commandline arguments in C++11.
+/** Evaluating command line arguments is extremely easy with this library:
+    @begincode
+    void test_func();                // bound to option --test
+    
+    int main(int argc, char** argv) try {
+    
+      // option variables
+      bool flag;                      // bound to option --flag
+      int r(5);                       // bound to option --repeat
+      std::string txt("Hello World"); // bound to option --text
+      int x(0), y(0);                 // bound to option --coord
+
+      // bind and evaluate options
+      args::init(argc, argv, "This is an example for argument processing.", {
+        {"h", "help", "show this help", {args::help(), args::exit()}},
+        {"r", "repeat", "number of repetitions", {args::param(r, "number")}},
+        {"f", "flag", "check a flag", {args::param(flag)}},
+        {"t", "text", "pass a text", {args::param(txt, "text")}},
+        {"c", "coord", "add some 2D coordinates", {args::param(x, "x"),
+                                                   args::param(y, "y")}},
+        {"",  "test", "call test_func, no shortcut", {args::func(test_func)}},
+      });
+
+      // [...] now the variables are setup according to the user's choice
+
+      return 0;
+    } catch (const std::exception& x) { // error in commandline options
+      std::cerr<<"**** ERROR: "<<x.what()<<std::endl;
+      args::show_help(); // display help
+      return 1;
+    }
+    @endcode
+    @note This library requires C++11, but there is also a fallback
+          for old compilers. But the calling syntax is much worse on
+          non C++11 compliant compilers, so the use of a modern
+          compiler is strongly recommended. On GNU GCC, you may have
+          to add the commandline option @c -std=c++11
+    @note I suggest to take this library into the next C++ standard.
+    */
+namespace args {
+  /// Parent for holding a reference to a parameter variable.
+  /** This class ist used only as parent for instances of template
+      parameters.  It represents one parameter that is evaluated when
+      a commandline option is given. The derived classes hold a
+      reference to a variable that is set in method @ref evaluate when
+      the specific commandline parameter is given. */
+  class abstract_parameter {
+    public:
+      /// Called when the user specifies the related commandline option.
+      /** Method must be implemented according to the specific type in
+          the child classes. */
+      virtual void evaluate(char**& a, char** max) = 0;
+      /// Convert the actual value to a string.
+      /** Defaults to empty string, can be overwritten in child
+          classes. Used by the help function to show the default
+          value. */
+      virtual operator std::string() {
+        return std::string();
+      }
+      virtual std::string type() {
+        return std::string();
+      }
+  };
+  // default implementation for all types
+  template<typename T> class parameter: public abstract_parameter {
+    public:
+      parameter(T& ref, const std::string& s = std::string()):
+          _ref(ref), _type(s) {}
+      virtual void evaluate(char**& a, char** max) {
+        if (max<a+1)
+          throw std::runtime_error("missing parameter for: "+std::string(*a));
+        std::stringstream ss;
+        ss<<*++a;
+        ss>>_ref;
+      }
+      virtual operator std::string() {
+        std::stringstream ss;
+        ss<<_ref;
+        return ss.str();
+      }
+      virtual std::string type() {
+        return _type.size()?" <"+_type+">":"";
+      }
+    private:
+      T& _ref;
+      std::string _type;
+  };
+  // special case: boolean has no parameter
+  template<> class parameter<bool>: public abstract_parameter {
+    public:
+      parameter(bool& ref, const std::string& = std::string()): _ref(ref=false) {}
+      virtual void evaluate(char**&, char**) {
+        _ref = true;
+      }
+    private:
+      bool& _ref;
+  };
+  // special case: string cannot easily be shifted
+  template<typename T> class parameter<std::basic_string<T> >: public abstract_parameter {
+    public:
+      parameter(std::basic_string<T>& ref, const std::string& s = std::string()):
+          _ref(ref), _type(s) {}
+      virtual void evaluate(char**& a, char** max) {
+        if (max<a+1)
+          throw std::runtime_error("missing parameter for: "+std::string(*a));
+        std::stringstream ss;
+        ss<<*++a;
+        _ref = std::basic_string<T>(std::istreambuf_iterator<T>(ss),
+                                    std::istreambuf_iterator<T>());
+      }
+      virtual operator std::string() {
+        std::stringstream ss;
+        ss<<_ref;
+        return ss.str();
+      }
+      virtual std::string type() {
+        return _type.size()?" <"+_type+">":"";
+      }
+    private:
+      std::basic_string<T>& _ref;
+      std::string _type;
+  };
+  // special case: if a function is called
+  template<> class parameter<void(*)()>: public abstract_parameter {
+    public:
+      parameter(void(*ref)(), const std::string& = std::string()): _ref(ref) {}
+      virtual void evaluate(char**&, char**) {
+        _ref();
+      }
+    private:
+      void(*_ref)();
+  };
+  template<typename T>
+      std::shared_ptr<abstract_parameter> param
+      (T& t, const std::string& s = std::string()) {
+    return std::shared_ptr<abstract_parameter>(new args::parameter<T>(t, s));
+  }
+  struct declaration {
+#ifndef ARGS__CPLUSPLUS11
+      declaration(std::string p1, std::string p2, std::string p3,
+                  std::vector<std::shared_ptr<abstract_parameter> > p4):
+          short_arg(p1), long_arg(p2), desc(p3), params(p4) {
+      }
+#endif
+      std::string short_arg;
+      std::string long_arg;
+      std::string desc;
+      std::vector<std::shared_ptr<abstract_parameter> > params;
+  };
+  typedef std::map<std::string,
+                   std::vector<std::shared_ptr<abstract_parameter> > >
+      arg_map;
+  static arg_map& args() {
+    static arg_map a;
+    return a;
+  }
+  typedef std::vector<declaration> list;
+  static list& arg_list() {
+    static list a;
+    return a;
+  }
+  void match(const std::string& arg, char**& a, char** max) {
+#ifndef ARGS__CPLUSPLUS11
+    arg_map::iterator it(args().find(arg));
+#else
+    auto it(args().find(arg));
+#endif
+    if (it==args().end())
+      throw std::runtime_error("unknown argument: "+std::string(*a));
+#ifndef ARGS__CPLUSPLUS11
+    for (std::vector<std::shared_ptr<abstract_parameter> >::iterator
+           it2(it->second.begin()); it2!=it->second.end(); ++it2) {
+#else
+    for (auto it2(it->second.begin()); it2!=it->second.end(); ++it2) {
+#endif
+      (*it2)->evaluate(a, max);
+    }
+  }
+  /// Filename as passed in argv[0].
+  /** Used in the help display.
+      @note This function emulates a global variable using parts of a
+            singleton pattern. */
+  static std::string filename(const std::string& arg0 = std::string()) {
+    static std::string file(arg0);
+    return file;
+  }
+  /// Description of the program.
+  /** Used in the help display.
+      @note This function emulates a global variable using parts of a
+            singleton pattern. */
+  static std::string description(const std::string& desc = std::string()) {
+    static std::string d(desc);
+    return d;
+  }
+  /// Return values of the program.
+  /** Used in the help display.
+      @note This function emulates a global variable using parts of a
+            singleton pattern. */
+  static std::string returns(const std::string& ret = std::string()) {
+    static std::string r(ret);
+    return r;
+  }
+  /// Initialize all parameters according to the commandline options.
+  /** Sets up the parser from the @ref list of parameters
+      @param argc  the argument count as given in C++ @c main function
+      @param argv  the array of arguments as given in C++ @c main function
+      @param descr a string describing what the program does,
+                   used in @ref show_help
+      @param l     list of options and parameters to be parsed
+      @raram ret   documentation of the return values of the program */
+  static void init(int argc, char** argv, const std::string& desc, list l,
+                   const std::string& ret = std::string()) {
+    filename(argv[0]); // store filename for later use in help
+    description(desc); // store program description for later use in help
+    returns(ret);      // store return values description for later use in help
+    arg_list() = l;    // store options and parameters for later use in help
+    // setup the argument mapping table
+#ifndef ARGS__CPLUSPLUS11
+    for (list::iterator it(l.begin()); it!=l.end(); ++it) {
+#else
+    for (auto it(l.begin()); it!=l.end(); ++it) {
+#endif
+      if (it->short_arg.size()==1) args()[it->short_arg] = it->params;
+      if (it->long_arg.size()) args()["--"+it->long_arg] = it->params;
+    }
+    // parse commandline and evaluate the arguments
+#ifndef ARGS__CPLUSPLUS11
+    for (char** a(argv+1); a<argv+argc; ++a) {
+#else
+    for (auto a(argv+1); a<argv+argc; ++a) {
+#endif
+      std::string arg(*a);
+      if (arg.size()>1&&arg[0]=='-'&&arg[1]!='-') { // short argument
+#ifndef ARGS__CPLUSPLUS11
+        for (std::string::iterator it(arg.begin()+1); it!=arg.end(); ++it)
+#else
+        for (auto it(arg.begin()+1); it!=arg.end(); ++it)
+#endif
+          match(std::string(1, *it), a, argv+argc);
+      } else { // long argument or wrong argument
+        match(arg, a, argv+argc);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  //! IO-Manipulator to split long lines into several shorter lines.
+  template <class _CharT = char, class _Traits = std::char_traits<_CharT> >
+    class basic_split /*: public std::basic_ostream<_CharT, _Traits>*/ {
+    public:
+      basic_split(int width=80, int indent=0, char fill=' '):
+          _width(width), _indent(indent), _fill(fill), _os(0) {
+        if (_width<_indent)
+#ifndef ARGS__CPLUSPLUS11
+          throw std::runtime_error(((std::stringstream&)
+                                    (std::stringstream()
+                                     <<"wrong use of split: width is "<<_width
+                                     <<" but should be larger than indent,"
+                                     <<" which is "<<_indent)).str());
+#else
+          throw std::runtime_error("wrong use of split: width is "+
+                                   std::to_string(_width)+
+                                   " but should be larger than indent,"
+                                   " which is "+std::to_string(_indent));
+#endif
+      }
+      virtual ~basic_split() {
+        flush();
+      }
+      friend basic_split& operator<<(std::basic_ostream<_CharT, _Traits>& os,
+                               const basic_split& s) {
+        if (s._os!=&os) {
+          const_cast<basic_split&>(s).flush();
+          const_cast<basic_split&>(s)._os = &os;
+        }
+        return const_cast<basic_split&>(s);
+      }
+      template <typename T> basic_split& operator<<(T t) {
+        if (!_os)
+          throw std::runtime_error("wrong use of split, it is an io manipulator"
+                                   " and must be used within a stream");
+        _buffer<<t;
+        while (_buffer.str().size()>=_width-_indent) {
+          if (_indent) *_os<<std::setw(_indent)<<std::setfill(_fill)<<_fill;
+          std::string::size_type pos
+            (_buffer.str().find_last_of(' ', _width-_indent));
+          std::string::size_type next(pos+1);
+          if (pos==std::string::npos) {
+            pos=_width-_indent;
+            next=pos;
+          }
+          *_os<<_buffer.str().substr(0, pos)<<std::endl;
+          _buffer.str(_buffer.str().substr(next));
+        }
+        return *this;
+      }
+    private:
+      void flush() {
+        if (_os) {
+          if (_indent) *_os<<std::setw(_indent)<<std::setfill(_fill)<<_fill;
+          *_os<<_buffer.str();
+          _buffer.clear();
+        }
+      }
+    private:
+      int _width;
+      int _indent;
+      char _fill;
+      std::stringstream _buffer;
+      std::basic_ostream<_CharT, _Traits>* _os;
+  };
+  typedef basic_split<char> split;
+  void show_help(const std::string& synopsis_txt="SYNOPSIS",
+                 const std::string& description_txt="DESCRIPTION",
+                 const std::string& options_txt="OPTIONS",
+                 const std::string& returns_txt="RETURNS",
+                 int max_line=80, int indent=2, int long_indent=4,
+                 int option_len=16, int param_len=21) {
+    std::cout<<synopsis_txt<<std::endl<<std::endl
+             <<"  "<<filename()<<" ["<<options_txt<<"]"<<std::endl<<std::endl
+             <<description_txt<<std::endl<<std::endl
+             <<split(max_line, indent)<<description(); //! @bug
+    std::cout<<std::endl<<std::endl
+             <<options_txt<<std::endl;
+#ifndef ARGS__CPLUSPLUS11
+    for (list::iterator arg(arg_list().begin()); arg!=arg_list().end(); ++arg) {
+#else
+    for (auto arg(arg_list().begin()); arg!=arg_list().end(); ++arg) {
+#endif
+      std::string o((arg->short_arg.size()?"-"+arg->short_arg:"")+
+                    (arg->short_arg.size()&&arg->long_arg.size()?", ":"")+
+                    (arg->long_arg.size()?"--"+arg->long_arg:""));
+#ifndef ARGS__CPLUSPLUS11
+      std::string a;
+      for (std::vector<std::shared_ptr<abstract_parameter> >::iterator
+             p(arg->params.begin());
+           p!=arg->params.end(); ++p) {
+        std::string def(**p);
+        a+=(*p)->type()+(def.size()?"="+def:"");
+      }
+#else
+      std::string a(std::accumulate(arg->params.begin(), arg->params.end(),
+                                    std::string(),
+                                    [](const std::string& s,
+                                       std::shared_ptr<abstract_parameter> p)
+                                    -> std::string {
+                      std::string def(**p);
+                      return s+p->type()+(def.size()?"="+def:"");
+                    }));
+#endif
+      std::cout<<std::endl<<"  "
+               <<o<<std::setw(option_len-o.size())<<' '
+               <<a;
+      if (arg->desc.size()>max_line-indent-option_len-param_len)
+        std::cout<<std::endl<<std::endl<<split(max_line, long_indent)
+                 <<arg->desc;
+      else
+        std::cout<<std::setw(param_len-a.size())<<' '<<arg->desc;
+      std::cout<<std::endl;
+    }
+    if (returns().size()) {
+      std::cout<<std::endl<<returns_txt<<std::endl<<std::endl
+               <<split(max_line, indent)<<returns();
+      std::cout<<std::endl;
+    }
+  }
+  void help_no_arg() {
+    show_help();
+  }
+  void do_exit() {
+    exit(1);
+  }
+  std::shared_ptr<args::abstract_parameter> func(void(*fn)()) {
+    return
+      std::shared_ptr<args::abstract_parameter>
+      (new args::parameter<void(*)()>(fn));
+  }
+  std::shared_ptr<args::abstract_parameter> help() {
+    return func(args::help_no_arg);
+  }
+  std::shared_ptr<args::abstract_parameter> exit() {
+    return func(args::do_exit);
+  }
+}
+#endif