diff --git a/src/backend/configitem.h b/src/backend/configitem.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a84013060
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/backend/configitem.h
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+/*
+  configitem.h  -  generalized hierachy of configuration items
+
+  Copyright (C)         Lumiera.org
+    2008,               Christian Thaeter <ct@pipapo.org>
+
+  This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+  modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
+  published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the
+  License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+  This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+  GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+  along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+  Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
+*/
+
+#ifndef LUMIERA_CONFIGITEM_H
+#define LUMIERA_CONFIGITEM_H
+
+//TODO: Support library includes//
+
+
+//TODO: Forward declarations//
+typedef struct lumiera_configitem_struct lumiera_configitem;
+typedef struct lumiera_configitem* LumieraConfigitem;
+
+
+//TODO: Lumiera header includes//
+
+
+//TODO: System includes//
+#include <nobug.h>
+
+
+/**
+ * @file
+ * configitems build a 3 level hierachy:
+ *
+ * 1. file:
+ *      contain sections
+ *
+ * 2.   section:
+ *        [prefix suffix]
+ *        contain lines
+ *
+ * 3.     lines are
+ *        comment:
+ *          empty line or line only containing spaces and tabs
+ *          line starting with spaces and tabs followed by a #
+ *        directive:
+ *          '@include name' or '@readonly'
+ *          directives are only valid at the toplevel section []
+ *        configurationentry:
+ *          'key = value' or 'key < redirect'
+ */
+
+//TODO: declarations go here//
+struct lumiera_configitem_struct
+{
+  llist link;                   // all lines on the same hierachy level are linked here (see childs)
+  LumieraConfigitem parent;     // parent section
+  llist childs;                 // root node for all lines below this hierachy
+
+  llist lookup;                 // all lines with the same key are stacked up on the loockup
+
+  char* line;                   // raw line as read in allocated here trailing \n will be replaced with \0
+  char* key;                    // pointer into line to start of key
+  size_t key_size;
+  char* delim;                  // delimiter, value starts at delim+1
+};
+
+/*
+brainstorm:
+
+identify the type of a configitem:
+
+file:
+  parent == NULL
+  line = filename (might be NULL for virtual files)
+  delim = NULL
+section:
+  *delim == ' ' or ']'
+  *key != '@'
+comment:
+  *key == NULL
+directive:
+  *key == '@'
+  *delim == ' '
+configurationentry:
+  *delim == '='
+
+*/
+
+
+#endif
+/*
+// Local Variables:
+// mode: C
+// c-file-style: "gnu"
+// indent-tabs-mode: nil
+// End:
+*/
diff --git a/src/backend/configline.h b/src/backend/configline.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..91ad5f764
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/backend/configline.h
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+/*
+  configline.h  -  single lines from configfiles
+
+  Copyright (C)         Lumiera.org
+    2008,               Christian Thaeter <ct@pipapo.org>
+
+  This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+  modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
+  published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the
+  License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+  This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+  GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+  along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+  Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
+*/
+
+#ifndef LUMIERA_CONFIGLINE_H
+#define LUMIERA_CONFIGLINE_H
+
+//TODO: Support library includes//
+
+
+//TODO: Forward declarations//
+
+
+//TODO: Lumiera header includes//
+#include "backend/configitem.h"
+
+//TODO: System includes//
+#include <nobug.h>
+
+
+/**
+ * @file
+ */
+
+//TODO: declarations go here//
+struct lumiera_configline_struct
+{
+  lumiera_configitem line;
+}
+
+
+#endif
+/*
+// Local Variables:
+// mode: C
+// c-file-style: "gnu"
+// indent-tabs-mode: nil
+// End:
+*/