diff --git a/tests/simple/fs.rs b/tests/simple/fs.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0a39ed3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/simple/fs.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+use std::ffi::CString;
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+
+use anyhow::{bail, Error};
+
+use pxar::decoder::sync as decoder;
+use pxar::decoder::SeqRead;
+use pxar::encoder::sync as encoder;
+use pxar::encoder::{LinkOffset, SeqWrite};
+use pxar::format::{self, mode};
+use pxar::Metadata;
+
+#[derive(Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub enum EntryKind {
+    Invalid,
+    File(Vec<u8>),
+    Directory(Vec<Entry>),
+    Symlink(PathBuf),
+    Hardlink, // TODO
+    Device(format::Device),
+    Socket,
+    Fifo,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub struct Entry {
+    pub name: String,
+    pub metadata: Metadata,
+    pub entry: EntryKind,
+}
+
+impl Entry {
+    pub fn new(name: &str) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            name: name.to_string(),
+            metadata: Metadata::default(),
+            entry: EntryKind::Invalid,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn metadata(mut self, metadata: impl Into<Metadata>) -> Self {
+        self.metadata = metadata.into();
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn entry(mut self, entry: EntryKind) -> Self {
+        self.entry = entry;
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn encode_into<T>(&self, encoder: &mut encoder::Encoder<T>) -> Result<(), Error>
+    where
+        T: SeqWrite,
+    {
+        match &self.entry {
+            EntryKind::Invalid => bail!("invalid entry encountered"),
+
+            EntryKind::File(data) => {
+                let _link: LinkOffset = encoder.add_file(
+                    &self.metadata,
+                    &self.name,
+                    data.len() as u64,
+                    &mut &data[..],
+                )?;
+            }
+
+            EntryKind::Directory(entries) => {
+                let mut dir = encoder.create_directory(&self.name, &self.metadata)?;
+                for entry in entries {
+                    entry.encode_into(&mut dir)?;
+                }
+                dir.finish()?;
+            }
+
+            EntryKind::Symlink(path) => {
+                let _: () = encoder.add_symlink(&self.metadata, &self.name, path)?;
+            }
+
+            other => bail!("TODO: encode_entry for {:?}", other),
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub fn decode_from<T: SeqRead>(decoder: &mut decoder::Decoder<T>) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        todo!();
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn test_fs() -> Entry {
+    Entry::new("/")
+        .metadata(Metadata::dir_builder(0o755))
+        .entry(EntryKind::Directory(vec![
+            Entry::new("home")
+                .metadata(Metadata::dir_builder(0o755))
+                .entry(EntryKind::Directory(vec![
+                    Entry::new("user")
+                        .metadata(Metadata::dir_builder(0o700).owner(1000, 1000))
+                        .entry(EntryKind::Directory(vec![
+                            Entry::new(".profile")
+                                .metadata(Metadata::file_builder(0o644).owner(1000, 1000))
+                                .entry(EntryKind::File(b"#umask 022".to_vec())),
+                            Entry::new("data")
+                                .metadata(Metadata::file_builder(0o644).owner(1000, 1000))
+                                .entry(EntryKind::File(b"a file from a user".to_vec())),
+                        ])),
+                ])),
+            Entry::new("bin")
+                .metadata(Metadata::builder(mode::IFLNK | 0o777))
+                .entry(EntryKind::Symlink(PathBuf::from("usr/bin"))),
+        ]))
+}
diff --git a/tests/simple/main.rs b/tests/simple/main.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7899619
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/simple/main.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+use anyhow::{bail, Error};
+
+use pxar::decoder::sync as decoder;
+use pxar::encoder::sync as encoder;
+use pxar::encoder::{LinkOffset, SeqWrite};
+
+mod fs;
+
+fn encode_directory<T: SeqWrite>(
+    encoder: &mut encoder::Encoder<T>,
+    entry: &fs::Entry,
+) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    match &entry.entry {
+        fs::EntryKind::Directory(entries) => {
+            for entry in entries {
+                entry.encode_into(encoder)?;
+            }
+            Ok(())
+        }
+        _ => bail!("encode_directory on a non-directory"),
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test1() {
+    let mut file = Vec::<u8>::new();
+
+    let test_fs = fs::test_fs();
+    let mut encoder = encoder::Encoder::from_std(&mut file, &test_fs.metadata)
+        .expect("failed to create encoder");
+    encode_directory(&mut encoder, &test_fs)
+        .expect("failed to encode test file system");
+    encoder.finish();
+
+    assert!(!file.is_empty(), "encoder did not write any data");
+
+    let mut decoder = decoder::Decoder::from_std(&mut &file[..])
+        .expect("failed to create decoder");
+}