diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 90c5cd71..8cc860a9 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # additional include paths necessary to compile the C++ library
-SUBDIRS = lib benchmarks tests
+SUBDIRS = lib benchmarks tests programs
 
 AM_CXXFLAGS += -I$(top_builddir)/include
 ACLOCAL_AMFLAGS = -I m4
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 7bcdc49f..81ced467 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -326,6 +326,8 @@ AC_CONFIG_FILES(tests/hmc/Makefile)
 AC_CONFIG_FILES(tests/solver/Makefile)
 AC_CONFIG_FILES(tests/qdpxx/Makefile)
 AC_CONFIG_FILES(benchmarks/Makefile)
+AC_CONFIG_FILES(programs/Makefile)
+AC_CONFIG_FILES(programs/qed-fvol/Makefile)
 AC_OUTPUT
 
 echo "
diff --git a/programs/Makefile.am b/programs/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ff7f6584
--- /dev/null
+++ b/programs/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+SUBDIRS = qed-fvol
diff --git a/programs/qed-fvol/Global.cc b/programs/qed-fvol/Global.cc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..57ed97cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/programs/qed-fvol/Global.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#include <qed-fvol/Global.hpp>
+
+using namespace Grid;
+using namespace QCD;
+using namespace QedFVol;
+
+QedFVolLogger QedFVol::QedFVolLogError(1,"Error");
+QedFVolLogger QedFVol::QedFVolLogWarning(1,"Warning");
+QedFVolLogger QedFVol::QedFVolLogMessage(1,"Message");
+QedFVolLogger QedFVol::QedFVolLogIterative(1,"Iterative");
+QedFVolLogger QedFVol::QedFVolLogDebug(1,"Debug");
diff --git a/programs/qed-fvol/Global.hpp b/programs/qed-fvol/Global.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7f07200d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/programs/qed-fvol/Global.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+#ifndef QedFVol_Global_hpp_
+#define QedFVol_Global_hpp_
+
+#include <Grid/Grid.h>
+
+#define BEGIN_QEDFVOL_NAMESPACE \
+namespace Grid {\
+using namespace QCD;\
+namespace QedFVol {\
+using Grid::operator<<;
+#define END_QEDFVOL_NAMESPACE }}
+
+/* the 'using Grid::operator<<;' statement prevents a very nasty compilation
+ * error with GCC (clang compiles fine without it).
+ */
+
+BEGIN_QEDFVOL_NAMESPACE
+
+class QedFVolLogger: public Logger
+{
+public:
+    QedFVolLogger(int on, std::string nm): Logger("QedFVol", on, nm,
+                                                  GridLogColours, "BLACK"){};
+};
+
+#define LOG(channel) std::cout << QedFVolLog##channel
+#define QEDFVOL_ERROR(msg)\
+LOG(Error) << msg << " (" << __FUNCTION__ << " at " << __FILE__ << ":"\
+           << __LINE__ << ")" << std::endl;\
+abort();
+
+#define DEBUG_VAR(var) LOG(Debug) << #var << "= " << (var) << std::endl;
+
+extern QedFVolLogger QedFVolLogError;
+extern QedFVolLogger QedFVolLogWarning;
+extern QedFVolLogger QedFVolLogMessage;
+extern QedFVolLogger QedFVolLogIterative;
+extern QedFVolLogger QedFVolLogDebug;
+
+END_QEDFVOL_NAMESPACE
+
+#endif // QedFVol_Global_hpp_
diff --git a/programs/qed-fvol/Makefile.am b/programs/qed-fvol/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cd762e94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/programs/qed-fvol/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+AM_CXXFLAGS += -I$(top_srcdir)/programs -I../$(top_srcdir)/programs
+
+bin_PROGRAMS = qed-fvol
+
+qed_fvol_SOURCES =   \
+    qed-fvol.cc      \
+    Global.cc
+
+qed_fvol_LDADD   = -lGrid
diff --git a/programs/qed-fvol/qed-fvol.cc b/programs/qed-fvol/qed-fvol.cc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bb3204c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/programs/qed-fvol/qed-fvol.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+#include <Global.hpp>
+
+using namespace Grid;
+using namespace QCD;
+using namespace QedFVol;
+
+int main(int argc, char *argv[])
+{
+    // parse command line
+    std::string parameterFileName;
+    
+    if (argc < 2)
+    {
+        std::cerr << "usage: " << argv[0] << " <parameter file> [Grid options]";
+        std::cerr << std::endl;
+        std::exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+    }
+    parameterFileName = argv[1];
+    
+    // initialization
+    Grid_init(&argc, &argv);
+    QedFVolLogError.Active(GridLogError.isActive());
+    QedFVolLogWarning.Active(GridLogWarning.isActive());
+    QedFVolLogMessage.Active(GridLogMessage.isActive());
+    QedFVolLogIterative.Active(GridLogIterative.isActive());
+    QedFVolLogDebug.Active(GridLogDebug.isActive());
+    LOG(Message) << "Grid initialized" << std::endl;
+    
+
+    
+    // epilogue
+    LOG(Message) << "Grid is finalizing now" << std::endl;
+    Grid_finalize();
+    
+    return EXIT_SUCCESS;
+}