diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index bb288d3..ced7bad 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ set(ibcp_HEADERS
 set(ibcp_SOURCES
 	commandhandlers.cpp
 	commandline.cpp
+	editbox.cpp
 	main.cpp
 	mainwindow.cpp
 	parser.cpp
@@ -153,6 +154,7 @@ set(ibcp_SOURCES
 
 # list the header files containing QOBJECT
 set(ibcp_MOC_SOURCES
+	editbox.h
 	mainwindow.h
 )
 qt4_wrap_cpp(ibcp_MOCS ${ibcp_MOC_SOURCES})
diff --git a/editbox.cpp b/editbox.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c1bd22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/editbox.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+// vim:ts=4:sw=4:
+//
+//	Interactive BASIC Compiler Project
+//	File: editbox.h - edit box functions
+//	Copyright (C) 2012  Thunder422
+//
+//	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 3 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.
+//
+//	For a copy of the GNU General Public License,
+//	see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+//
+//
+//	Change History:
+//
+//	2012-12-29	initial version
+
+#include "editbox.h"
+
+EditBox::EditBox(QWidget *parent) :
+	QTextEdit(parent)
+{
+}
+
+
+// end: editbox.cpp
diff --git a/editbox.h b/editbox.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0e3a2cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/editbox.h
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+// vim:ts=4:sw=4:
+//
+//	Interactive BASIC Compiler Project
+//	File: editbox.h - edit box header file
+//	Copyright (C) 2012  Thunder422
+//
+//	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 3 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.
+//
+//	For a copy of the GNU General Public License,
+//	see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+//
+//
+//	Change History:
+//
+//	2012-12-29	initial version
+
+#ifndef EDITBOX_H
+#define EDITBOX_H
+
+#include <QTextEdit>
+
+class EditBox : public QTextEdit
+{
+	Q_OBJECT
+public:
+	explicit EditBox(QWidget *parent = 0);
+
+signals:
+
+public slots:
+
+};
+
+#endif // EDITBOX_H
diff --git a/mainwindow.cpp b/mainwindow.cpp
index e5ffacb..18ab33c 100644
--- a/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "mainwindow.h"
 #include "ui_mainwindow.h"
 #include "commandline.h"
+#include "editbox.h"
 
 MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent) :
 	QMainWindow(parent),
@@ -51,6 +52,11 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent) :
 	createMenus();
 	settingsRestore();
 	setWindowTitle("IBCP");
+
+	// create the starting program edit box
+	m_editBox = new EditBox;
+	setCentralWidget(m_editBox);
+
 	m_guiActive = true;
 }
 
diff --git a/mainwindow.h b/mainwindow.h
index 425ca80..674ec33 100644
--- a/mainwindow.h
+++ b/mainwindow.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ class MainWindow;
 }
 
 class CommandLine;
+class EditBox;
 
 class MainWindow : public QMainWindow
 {
@@ -73,6 +74,8 @@ private slots:
 
 	QMenu *m_menuFile;
 	QMenu *m_menuHelp;
+
+	EditBox *m_editBox;
 };
 
 #endif // MAINWINDOW_H