diff --git a/cimp.bas b/cimp.bas
index ad57fae..8d0ee67 100644
--- a/cimp.bas
+++ b/cimp.bas
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@ declare library"terminkey"
     sub echooff()
     sub echoon()
     function termwidth()
+    function ipc_init&()
+    function ipc_check_message%(byval buf as _offset, byval max_len as long)
+    sub ipc_send_message(buf as string)
+    sub ipc_cleanup()
+    sub get_absolute_path(rel_path as string, byval abs_path as _offset, byval max_len as long)
 end declare
 
 $console:only
@@ -22,6 +27,65 @@ if command$=""then
     goto quit
 end if
 
+dim ipc_status as long
+ipc_status = ipc_init
+
+if ipc_status = 0 then
+    ' --- CLIENT MODE ---
+    dim cmd_msg as string
+    
+    if command$(1) = "--next" then
+        cmd_msg = "NEXT"
+    elseif command$(1) = "--prev" then
+        cmd_msg = "PREV"
+    elseif command$(1) = "-v" or command$(1) = "--volume" then
+        cmd_msg = "VOL:" + command$(2)
+    elseif command$(1) = "--add" then
+        cmd_msg = "ADD:" + get_abs_path(command$(2))
+    elseif command$(1) = "--playlist" then
+        cmd_msg = "GET_PLAYLIST"
+    else
+        ' Default behavior: Resolve target file/playlist and replace active queue
+        cmd_msg = "PLAY:" + get_abs_path(command$(1))
+    end if
+    
+    ' Send instruction to the main player instance
+    ipc_send_message cmd_msg
+    
+    ' --- Two-way Client feedback for --playlist ---
+    if cmd_msg = "GET_PLAYLIST" then
+        ipc_cleanup
+        _delay 0.1
+        
+        dim client_listen as long
+        client_listen = ipc_init
+        if client_listen = 1 then
+            dim reply_buf as string
+            reply_buf = space$(4096) + chr$(0)
+            dim start_wait as double
+            start_wait = timer
+            
+            do while timer - start_wait < 2
+                dim reply_len as long
+                reply_len = ipc_check_message(_offset(reply_buf), 4096)
+                if reply_len > 0 then
+                    print left$(reply_buf, reply_len)
+                    exit do
+                end if
+                _limit 30
+            loop
+            ipc_cleanup
+        end if
+    end if
+    
+    system ' Exit client instance completely
+elseif ipc_status = -1 then
+    print "Error initializing Inter-Process Communication."
+    goto quit
+end if
+
+' --- SERVER MODE (Main Player Execution continues below) ---
+
 echooff
 cursoroff
 chdir _startdir$
@@ -258,10 +322,76 @@ while keyin<>27
 
     _limit 30
     if _exit then goto quit
-wend
+
+' --- Poll Client Messages ---
+    dim incoming_buf as string
+    incoming_buf = space$(512) + chr$(0)
+    dim msg_len as long
+    msg_len = ipc_check_message(_offset(incoming_buf), 512)
+    
+    if msg_len > 0 then
+        dim client_cmd as string
+        client_cmd = left$(incoming_buf, msg_len)
+        
+        if client_cmd = "NEXT" then
+            playnext = 1
+        elseif client_cmd = "PREV" then
+            playnext = -1
+        elseif left$(client_cmd, 4) = "VOL:" then
+            volume = val(mid$(client_cmd, 5)) / 100
+            if volume > 1 then volume = 1
+            if volume < 0 then volume = 0
+            _sndvol musichandle, volume
+        elseif left$(client_cmd, 4) = "ADD:" then
+            dim new_file as string
+            new_file = mid$(client_cmd, 5)
+            if _fileexists(new_file) then
+                if lcase$(right$(new_file, 4)) = ".m3u" then
+                    parsem3u new_file, file()
+                else
+                    redim _preserve file(ubound(file) + 1) as string
+                    file(ubound(file)) = new_file
+                end if
+            end if
+        elseif left$(client_cmd, 5) = "PLAY:" then
+            dim replace_file as string
+            replace_file = mid$(client_cmd, 6)
+            if _fileexists(replace_file) then
+                redim file(0) as string
+                if lcase$(right$(replace_file, 4)) = ".m3u" then
+                    parsem3u replace_file, file()
+                else
+                    file(0) = replace_file
+                end if
+                i = 0
+                playnext = 1
+            end if
+        elseif client_cmd = "GET_PLAYLIST" then
+            dim p_idx as long
+            dim playlist_payload as string
+            playlist_payload = "=== Current Playlist ===" + chr$(10)
+            for p_idx = lbound(file) to ubound(file)
+                if p_idx = i then
+                    playlist_payload = playlist_payload + "-> " + file(p_idx) + chr$(10)
+                else
+                    playlist_payload = playlist_payload + "   " + file(p_idx) + chr$(10)
+                end if
+            next p_idx
+            
+            ipc_cleanup
+            _delay 0.1
+            ipc_send_message playlist_payload
+            _delay 0.1
+            dim reinit as long
+            reinit = ipc_init
+        end if
+    end if
+    ' --- End Poll Client Messages ---
+    wend
 
 quit:
 _sndclose musichandle
+ipc_cleanup
 print clearrest
 print clearrest;
 print cursorback;
@@ -496,3 +626,16 @@ function getcodepoint& (utf8char$)
             getcodepoint&=(b1 and &h07)*262144+(b2 and &h3f)*4096+(b3 and &h3f)*64+(b4 and &h3f)
     end select
 end function
+
+function get_abs_path$ (relative_path as string)
+    dim abs_buf as string
+    abs_buf = space$(512) + chr$(0) ' Allocate buffer space for the C function
+    get_absolute_path relative_path, _offset(abs_buf), 512
+    dim null_pos as long
+    null_pos = instr(abs_buf, chr$(0))
+    if null_pos > 0 then
+        get_abs_path$ = _trim$(left$(abs_buf, null_pos - 1))
+    else
+        get_abs_path$ = _trim$(abs_buf)
+    end if
+end function
diff --git a/terminkey.h b/terminkey.h
index d8e7ade..81e35a4 100644
--- a/terminkey.h
+++ b/terminkey.h
@@ -3,11 +3,23 @@
 #ifdef _WIN32
     #include <windows.h>
     #include <conio.h>
+    #include <stdio.h>
+    #include <string.h>
+    #include <stdlib.h>
+    #include <stdint.h>
 #else
     #include <termios.h>
     #include <unistd.h>
     #include <fcntl.h>
     #include <sys/ioctl.h>
+    #include <sys/socket.h>
+    #include <sys/un.h>
+    #include <sys/types.h>
+    #include <stdio.h>
+    #include <string.h>
+    #include <stdlib.h>
+    #include <limits.h>
+    #include <stdint.h>
 #endif
 
 // Special key codes (unified across platforms)
@@ -21,8 +33,16 @@ void echooff();
 void echoon();
 int termwidth();
 
+int ipc_init();
+int ipc_check_message(uintptr_t buffer_ptr, int max_len);
+void ipc_send_message(const char* message);
+void ipc_cleanup();
+void get_absolute_path(const char* rel_path, uintptr_t abs_path_ptr, int max_len);
+
 #ifdef _WIN32
 
+static HANDLE hServerPipe = INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE;
+
 int terminkey() {
     if (_kbhit()) {
         int ch = _getch();
@@ -65,8 +85,91 @@ int termwidth() {
     return -1;
 }
 
+int ipc_init() {
+    hServerPipe = CreateNamedPipe(
+        "\\\\.\\pipe\\cimp_ipc",
+        PIPE_ACCESS_DUPLEX | FILE_FLAG_FIRST_PIPE_INSTANCE,
+        PIPE_TYPE_BYTE | PIPE_READMODE_BYTE | PIPE_NOWAIT,
+        1,
+        4096,
+        4096,
+        0,
+        NULL
+    );
+    if (hServerPipe == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
+        DWORD err = GetLastError();
+        if (err == ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED || err == ERROR_PIPE_BUSY) {
+            return 0; // Already running
+        }
+        return -1; // Other error
+    }
+    ConnectNamedPipe(hServerPipe, NULL);
+    return 1;
+}
+
+int ipc_check_message(uintptr_t buffer_ptr, int max_len) {
+    if (hServerPipe == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) return 0;
+    
+    char* buffer = (char*)buffer_ptr;
+    DWORD bytesRead = 0;
+    BOOL connected = ConnectNamedPipe(hServerPipe, NULL) ? 
+                     TRUE : (GetLastError() == ERROR_PIPE_CONNECTED);
+                     
+    if (connected) {
+        BOOL success = ReadFile(hServerPipe, buffer, max_len - 1, &bytesRead, NULL);
+        if (success && bytesRead > 0) {
+            buffer[bytesRead] = '\0';
+            DisconnectNamedPipe(hServerPipe);
+            ConnectNamedPipe(hServerPipe, NULL);
+            return (int)bytesRead;
+        }
+        DisconnectNamedPipe(hServerPipe);
+        ConnectNamedPipe(hServerPipe, NULL);
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+void ipc_send_message(const char* message) {
+    HANDLE hPipe = CreateFile(
+        "\\\\.\\pipe\\cimp_ipc",
+        GENERIC_WRITE,
+        0,
+        NULL,
+        OPEN_EXISTING,
+        0,
+        NULL
+    );
+    if (hPipe != INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
+        DWORD bytesWritten = 0;
+        WriteFile(hPipe, message, strlen(message), &bytesWritten, NULL);
+        CloseHandle(hPipe);
+    }
+}
+
+void ipc_cleanup() {
+    if (hServerPipe != INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
+        CloseHandle(hServerPipe);
+        hServerPipe = INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE;
+    }
+}
+
+void get_absolute_path(const char* rel_path, uintptr_t abs_path_ptr, int max_len) {
+    char* abs_path = (char*)abs_path_ptr;
+    _fullpath(abs_path, rel_path, max_len);
+}
+
 #else
 
+static int server_fd = -1;
+static char socket_path[256] = "";
+
+static void get_socket_path() {
+    if (socket_path[0] == '\0') {
+        uid_t uid = getuid();
+        snprintf(socket_path, sizeof(socket_path), "/tmp/cimp_ipc_%u.sock", (unsigned int)uid);
+    }
+}
+
 int terminkey() {
     struct termios oldt, newt;
     int ch;
@@ -126,4 +229,124 @@ int termwidth() {
     return -1; 
 }
 
+int ipc_init() {
+    get_socket_path();
+    
+    int test_fd = socket(AF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
+    if (test_fd >= 0) {
+        struct sockaddr_un addr;
+        memset(&addr, 0, sizeof(addr));
+        addr.sun_family = AF_UNIX;
+        strncpy(addr.sun_path, socket_path, sizeof(addr.sun_path) - 1);
+        if (connect(test_fd, (struct sockaddr*)&addr, sizeof(addr)) == 0) {
+            close(test_fd);
+            return 0; // Already running
+        }
+        close(test_fd);
+    }
+    
+    unlink(socket_path);
+    
+    server_fd = socket(AF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
+    if (server_fd < 0) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+    
+    int flags = fcntl(server_fd, F_GETFL, 0);
+    fcntl(server_fd, F_SETFL, flags | O_NONBLOCK);
+    
+    struct sockaddr_un addr;
+    memset(&addr, 0, sizeof(addr));
+    addr.sun_family = AF_UNIX;
+    strncpy(addr.sun_path, socket_path, sizeof(addr.sun_path) - 1);
+    
+    if (bind(server_fd, (struct sockaddr*)&addr, sizeof(addr)) < 0) {
+        close(server_fd);
+        server_fd = -1;
+        return -1;
+    }
+    
+    if (listen(server_fd, 5) < 0) {
+        close(server_fd);
+        server_fd = -1;
+        unlink(socket_path);
+        return -1;
+    }
+    
+    return 1;
+}
+
+int ipc_check_message(uintptr_t buffer_ptr, int max_len) {
+    if (server_fd < 0) return 0;
+    
+    char* buffer = (char*)buffer_ptr;
+    int client_fd = accept(server_fd, NULL, NULL);
+    if (client_fd < 0) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+    
+    int total_read = 0;
+    while (total_read < max_len - 1) {
+        int r = read(client_fd, buffer + total_read, max_len - 1 - total_read);
+        if (r <= 0) break;
+        total_read += r;
+    }
+    buffer[total_read] = '\0';
+    close(client_fd);
+    return total_read;
+}
+
+void ipc_send_message(const char* message) {
+    get_socket_path();
+    int client_fd = socket(AF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
+    if (client_fd < 0) return;
+    
+    struct sockaddr_un addr;
+    memset(&addr, 0, sizeof(addr));
+    addr.sun_family = AF_UNIX;
+    strncpy(addr.sun_path, socket_path, sizeof(addr.sun_path) - 1);
+    
+    if (connect(client_fd, (struct sockaddr*)&addr, sizeof(addr)) == 0) {
+        int total_written = 0;
+        int len = strlen(message);
+        while (total_written < len) {
+            int w = write(client_fd, message + total_written, len - total_written);
+            if (w <= 0) break;
+            total_written += w;
+        }
+    }
+    close(client_fd);
+}
+
+void ipc_cleanup() {
+    if (server_fd >= 0) {
+        close(server_fd);
+        server_fd = -1;
+    }
+    get_socket_path();
+    unlink(socket_path);
+}
+
+void get_absolute_path(const char* rel_path, uintptr_t abs_path_ptr, int max_len) {
+    char* abs_path = (char*)abs_path_ptr;
+    char resolved[PATH_MAX];
+    if (realpath(rel_path, resolved) != NULL) {
+        strncpy(abs_path, resolved, max_len);
+        abs_path[max_len - 1] = '\0';
+    } else {
+        if (rel_path[0] == '/') {
+            strncpy(abs_path, rel_path, max_len);
+            abs_path[max_len - 1] = '\0';
+        } else {
+            char cwd[PATH_MAX];
+            if (getcwd(cwd, sizeof(cwd)) != NULL) {
+                snprintf(abs_path, max_len, "%s/%s", cwd, rel_path);
+            } else {
+                strncpy(abs_path, rel_path, max_len);
+                abs_path[max_len - 1] = '\0';
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #endif
diff --git a/test_ipc.bas b/test_ipc.bas
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7402f88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_ipc.bas
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+$console:only
+declare library "terminkey"
+    function ipc_init&()
+    function ipc_check_message%(byval buf as _offset, byval max_len as long)
+    sub ipc_send_message(buf as string)
+    sub ipc_cleanup()
+    sub get_absolute_path(rel_path as string, byval abs_path as _offset, byval max_len as long)
+end declare
+
+dim r as long
+r = ipc_init
+print "ipc_init returned:"; r
+
+if r = 1 then
+    print "We are the server! Waiting for a message..."
+    dim msg as string
+    msg = space$(100) + chr$(0)
+    dim start_time as double
+    start_time = timer
+    do while timer - start_time < 3
+        dim n as long
+        n = ipc_check_message(_offset(msg), 100)
+        if n > 0 then
+            print "Received: "; left$(msg, n)
+            exit do
+        end if
+        _limit 10
+    loop
+    ipc_cleanup
+elseif r = 0 then
+    print "We are the client! Sending a message..."
+    ipc_send_message "Hello from client!"
+else
+    print "Error initializing IPC"
+end if
+
+dim rel as string
+rel = "readme.md"
+dim abs_path as string
+abs_path = space$(512) + chr$(0)
+get_absolute_path rel, _offset(abs_path), 512
+print "Absolute path of '"; rel; "' is: '"; _trim$(abs_path); "'"
+
+system
diff --git a/todo.md b/todo.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1355a0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/todo.md
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# todo
+## ipc
+add ipc functionality so it's possible while the program runs to:
+- play next and previous track with `cimp --next` and `cimp --prev`
+- change volume with `cimp --volume xx`
+- add file to playlist with `cimp --add filename.ext`
+- if started without `--add` it should clear the playlist and load and play the given file or playlist.
+- if given the flag `--playlist` it should output the song array as a playlist.
+
+the c functions are ready in terminkey.h and an example of how it works is found in test_ipc.bas
+
+## recurcive add all music in folder