diff --git a/rodo.rkt b/rodo.rkt
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..2afc602
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rodo.rkt
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#! /usr/bin/env racket
+#lang racket/base
+
+(define message (hash 
+                  'help-message "For usage type `rodo -h` or `rodo --help`"
+                  'file-not-found ".rodo file was not found in your home directory. Would you like to create it?"
+                  'file-exists ".rodo file exists"
+                  'item-added "Item added"
+                  'item-removed "item removed"
+                  'initializing "Initializing rodo in your home directory"))
+
+(define (todo-list-exist?)
+  (if (file-exists? (expand-user-path "~/.rodo"))
+    ; the displayln here removes the quotes from appearing
+    ; in the stdout. from ".rodo file exists" -> .rodo file exists
+    ; not sure if this is the cleanest way to do so
+    (displayln (hash-ref message 'file-exists))
+    (displayln (hash-ref message 'file-not-found))))
+
+(todo-list-exist?)