diff --git a/.github/workflows/system.yml b/.github/workflows/system.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1cc9ba42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/system.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+name: system tests
+on: pull_request
+#on:
+#  workflow_dispatch:
+#    inputs:
+#      run_workflow:
+#        description: 'Run command-line tests'
+jobs:
+  build:
+    name: RunTests
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+
+      - name: Check out code into the Go module directory
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+
+      - name: Set up Go
+        uses: actions/setup-go@v4
+        with:
+          go-version: 'stable'
+        id: go
+
+      - name: Get Dependencies
+        run: |
+          go get -v -t -d ./...
+
+      - name: Install BATS
+        run: |
+          git clone https://github.com/bats-core/bats-core.git
+          cd bats-core && ./install.sh $HOME
+
+      - name: Build and Run
+        run: |
+          make testbin
+          export AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID=user
+          export AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=pass
+          aws configure set aws_access_key_id $AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID --profile versity 
+          aws configure set aws_secret_access_key $AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY --profile versity
+          export VERSITY_EXE=./versitygw
+          mkdir /tmp/gw
+          VERSITYGW_TEST_ENV=$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/tests/.env.versitygw $HOME/bin/bats ./tests/s3_bucket_tests.sh
+          VERSITYGW_TEST_ENV=$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/tests/.env.versitygw $HOME/bin/bats ./tests/posix_tests.sh
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index c07c17f3..9270630e 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -39,3 +39,10 @@ VERSION
 /profile.txt
 
 dist/
+
+# secrets file for local github-actions testing
+.secrets
+
+# env files for testing
+.env*
+!.env.default
diff --git a/tests/.env.default b/tests/.env.default
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cdf12fb0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/.env.default
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+AWS_REGION=us-west-2
+AWS_PROFILE=versity
+VERSITY_EXE=./versitygw
+BACKEND=posix
+LOCAL_FOLDER=/tmp/gw
+AWS_ENDPOINT_URL=http://127.0.0.1:7070
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/.env.versitygw b/tests/.env.versitygw
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a11be239
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/.env.versitygw
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+AWS_REGION=us-east-1
+AWS_PROFILE=versity
+VERSITY_EXE=./versitygw
+BACKEND=posix
+LOCAL_FOLDER=/tmp/gw
+AWS_ENDPOINT_URL=http://127.0.0.1:7070
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/README.md b/tests/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..351b393b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Command-Line Tests
+
+Instructions:
+1. Build the `versitygw` binary.
+2. Create a local AWS profile for connection to S3, and add the `AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID` and `AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY` values above to the profile.
+3. Create an environment file (`.env`) similar to the ones in this folder, setting the `AWS_PROFILE` parameter to the name of the profile you created.
+4. In the root repo folder, run with `VERSITYGW_TEST_ENV=<env file> tests/s3_bucket_tests.sh`.
+5. If running/testing the GitHub workflow locally, create a `.secrets` file, and set the `AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID` and `AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY` parameters here to the values of your AWS S3 IAM account.
+```
+AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID=<key_id>
+AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=<secret_key>
+```
+6. To run the workflow locally, install **act** and run with `act -W .github/workflows/system.yml`.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/posix_tests.sh b/tests/posix_tests.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..56b5c878
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/posix_tests.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bats
+
+source ./tests/tests.sh
+
+# check if object exists both on S3 and locally
+# param:  object path
+# 0 for yes, 1 for no, 2 for error
+object_exists_remote_and_local() {
+  if [ $# -ne 1 ]; then
+    echo "object existence check requires single name parameter"
+    return 2
+  fi
+  object_exists "$1" || local exist_result=$?
+  if [[ $exist_result -eq 2 ]]; then
+    echo "Error checking if object exists"
+    return 2
+  fi
+  if [[ $exist_result -eq 1 ]]; then
+    echo "Error:  object doesn't exist remotely"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  if [[ ! -e "$LOCAL_FOLDER"/"$1" ]]; then
+    echo "Error:  object doesn't exist locally"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+# check if object doesn't exist both on S3 and locally
+# param:  object path
+# return 0 for doesn't exist, 1 for still exists, 2 for error
+object_not_exists_remote_and_local() {
+  if [ $# -ne 1 ]; then
+    echo "object non-existence check requires single name parameter"
+    return 2
+  fi
+  object_exists "$1" || local exist_result=$?
+  if [[ $exist_result -eq 2 ]]; then
+    echo "Error checking if object doesn't exist"
+    return 2
+  fi
+  if [[ $exist_result -eq 0 ]]; then
+    echo "Error:  object exists remotely"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  if [[ -e "$LOCAL_FOLDER"/"$1" ]]; then
+    echo "Error:  object exists locally"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+# check if a bucket doesn't exist both on S3 and on gateway
+# param: bucket name
+# return:  0 for doesn't exist, 1 for does, 2 for error
+bucket_not_exists_remote_and_local() {
+  if [ $# -ne 1 ]; then
+    echo "bucket existence check requires single name parameter"
+    return 2
+  fi
+  bucket_exists "$1" || local exist_result=$?
+  if [[ $exist_result -eq 2 ]]; then
+    echo "Error checking if bucket exists"
+    return 2
+  fi
+  if [[ $exist_result -eq 0 ]]; then
+    echo "Error:  bucket exists remotely"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  if [[ -e "$LOCAL_FOLDER"/"$1" ]]; then
+    echo "Error:  bucket exists locally"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+# check if a bucket exists both on S3 and on gateway
+# param: bucket name
+# return:  0 for yes, 1 for no, 2 for error
+bucket_exists_remote_and_local() {
+  if [ $# -ne 1 ]; then
+    echo "bucket existence check requires single name parameter"
+    return 2
+  fi
+  bucket_exists "$1" || local exist_result=$?
+  if [[ $exist_result -eq 2 ]]; then
+    echo "Error checking if bucket exists"
+    return 2
+  fi
+  if [[ $exist_result -eq 1 ]]; then
+    echo "Error:  bucket doesn't exist remotely"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  if [[ ! -e "$LOCAL_FOLDER"/"$1" ]]; then
+    echo "Error:  bucket doesn't exist locally"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+# test that changes to local folders and files are reflected on S3
+@test test_local_creation_deletion {
+
+  local bucket_name="versity-gwtest-put-object-test"
+  local object_name="test-object"
+
+  bucket_exists_remote_and_local $bucket_name || local bucket_exists=$?
+  if [[ $bucket_exists -eq 2 ]]; then
+    fail "Bucket existence check error"
+  fi
+  local object="$bucket_name"/"$object_name"
+  if [[ $bucket_exists -eq 0 ]]; then
+    object_exists_remote_and_local "$object" || local object_exists=$?
+    if [[ $object_exists -eq 2 ]]; then
+      fail "Object existence check error"
+    fi
+    if [[ $object_exists -eq 0 ]]; then
+      delete_object "$object" || local delete_object=$?
+      [[ $delete_object -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed to delete object"
+    fi
+    delete_bucket $bucket_name || local delete_bucket=$?
+    [[ $delete_bucket -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed to delete bucket"
+  fi
+  mkdir "$LOCAL_FOLDER"/$bucket_name
+  touch "$LOCAL_FOLDER"/$object
+  bucket_exists_remote_and_local $bucket_name || local bucket_exists_two=$?
+  [[ $bucket_exists_two -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed bucket existence check"
+  object_exists_remote_and_local $object || local object_exists_two=$?
+  [[ $object_exists_two -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed object existence check"
+  rm "$LOCAL_FOLDER"/$object
+  sleep 1
+  object_not_exists_remote_and_local $object || local object_deleted=$?
+  [[ $object_deleted -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed object deletion check"
+  rmdir "$LOCAL_FOLDER"/$bucket_name
+  sleep 1
+  bucket_not_exists_remote_and_local $bucket_name || local bucket_deleted=$?
+  [[ $bucket_deleted -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed bucket deletion check"
+}
+
diff --git a/tests/s3_bucket_tests.sh b/tests/s3_bucket_tests.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..39b4cf6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/s3_bucket_tests.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,353 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bats
+
+source ./tests/tests.sh
+
+# create an AWS bucket
+# param:  bucket name
+# return 0 for success, 1 for failure
+create_bucket() {
+  if [ $# -ne 1 ]; then
+    echo "create bucket missing bucket name"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  local exit_code=0
+  local error
+  error=$(aws s3 mb s3://"$1" 2>&1) || exit_code=$?
+  if [ $exit_code -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo "error creating bucket: $error"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+# delete an AWS bucket
+# param:  bucket name
+# return 0 for success, 1 for failure
+delete_bucket() {
+  if [ $# -ne 1 ]; then
+    echo "delete bucket missing bucket name"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  local exit_code=0
+  local error
+  error=$(aws s3 rb s3://"$1" 2>&1) || exit_code="$?"
+  if [ $exit_code -ne 0 ]; then
+    if [[ "$error" == *"The specified bucket does not exist"* ]]; then
+      return 0
+    else
+      echo "error deleting bucket: $error"
+      return 1
+    fi
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+# check if bucket exists
+# param:  bucket name
+# return 0 for true, 1 for false, 2 for error
+bucket_exists() {
+  if [ $# -ne 1 ]; then
+    echo "bucket exists check missing bucket name"
+    return 2
+  fi
+  local exit_code=0
+  local error
+  error=$(aws s3 ls s3://"$1" 2>&1) || exit_code="$?"
+  echo "Exit code: $exit_code, error: $error"
+  if [ $exit_code -ne 0 ]; then
+    if [[ "$error" == *"The specified bucket does not exist"* ]] || [[ "$error" == *"Access Denied"* ]]; then
+      return 1
+    else
+      echo "error checking if bucket exists: $error"
+      return 2
+    fi
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+# create bucket if it doesn't exist
+# param:  bucket name
+# return 0 for success, 1 for failure
+check_and_create_bucket() {
+  if [ $# -ne 1 ]; then
+    echo "bucket creation function requires bucket name"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  local exists_result
+  bucket_exists "$1" || exists_result=$?
+  if [[ $exists_result -eq 2 ]]; then
+    echo "Bucket existence check error"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  local create_result
+  if [[ $exists_result -eq 1 ]]; then
+    create_bucket "$1" || create_result=$?
+    if [[ $create_result -ne 0 ]]; then
+      echo "Error creating bucket"
+      return 1
+    fi
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+# check if object exists on S3 via gateway
+# param:  object path
+# return 0 for true, 1 for false, 2 for error
+object_exists() {
+  if [ $# -ne 1 ]; then
+    echo "object exists check missing object name"
+    return 2
+  fi
+  local exit_code=0
+  local error
+  error=$(aws s3 ls s3://"$1" 2>&1) || exit_code="$?"
+  if [ $exit_code -ne 0 ]; then
+    if [[ "$error" == "" ]]; then
+      return 1
+    else
+      echo "error checking if object exists: $error"
+      return 2
+    fi
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+# add object to versitygw
+# params:  source file, destination copy location
+# return 0 for success, 1 for failure
+put_object() {
+  if [ $# -ne 2 ]; then
+    echo "put object command requires source, destination"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  local exit_code=0
+  local error
+  error=$(aws s3 cp "$1" s3://"$2" 2>&1) || exit_code=$?
+  if [ $exit_code -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo "error copying object to bucket: $error"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+# add object to versitygw if it doesn't exist
+# params:  source file, destination copy location
+# return 0 for success or already exists, 1 for failure
+check_and_put_object() {
+  if [ $# -ne 2 ]; then
+    echo "check and put object function requires source, destination"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  object_exists "$2" || local exists_result=$?
+  if [ $exists_result -eq 2 ]; then
+    echo "error checking if object exists"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  if [ $exists_result -eq 1 ]; then
+    put_object "$1" "$2" || local put_result=$?
+    if [ $put_result -ne 0 ]; then
+      echo "error adding object"
+      return 1
+    fi
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+# delete object from versitygw
+# param:  object location
+# return 0 for success, 1 for failure
+delete_object() {
+  if [ $# -ne 1 ]; then
+    echo "delete object command requires object parameter"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  local exit_code=0
+  local error
+  error=$(aws s3 rm s3://"$1" 2>&1) || exit_code=$?
+  if [ $exit_code -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo "error deleting object: $error"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+# list buckets on versitygw
+# no params
+# export bucket_array (bucket names) on success, return 1 for failure
+list_buckets() {
+  local exit_code=0
+  local output
+  output=$(aws s3 ls 2>&1) || exit_code=$?
+  if [ $exit_code -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo "error listing buckets: $output"
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  bucket_array=()
+  while IFS= read -r line; do
+    bucket_name=$(echo "$line" | awk '{print $NF}')
+    bucket_array+=("$bucket_name")
+  done <<< "$output"
+
+  export bucket_array
+}
+
+# list objects on versitygw, in bucket or folder
+# param:  path of bucket or folder
+# export object_array (object names) on success, return 1 for failure
+list_objects() {
+  if [ $# -ne 1 ]; then
+    echo "list objects command requires bucket or folder"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  local exit_code=0
+  local output
+  output=$(aws s3 ls s3://"$1" 2>&1) || exit_code=$?
+  if [ $exit_code -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo "error listing objects: $output"
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  object_array=()
+  while IFS= read -r line; do
+    object_name=$(echo "$line" | awk '{print $NF}')
+    object_array+=("$object_name")
+  done <<< "$output"
+
+  export object_array
+}
+
+# test creation and deletion of bucket on versitygw
+@test "create_delete_bucket_test" {
+
+  local bucket_name="versity-gwtest-create-delete-bucket-test"
+
+  bucket_exists $bucket_name || local exists=$?
+  if [[ $exists -eq 2 ]]; then
+    fail "Bucket existence check error"
+  fi
+  if [[ $exists -eq 0 ]]; then
+    delete_bucket $bucket_name || local delete_result=$?
+    [[ $delete_result -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed to delete bucket"
+    bucket_exists $bucket_name || local exists_two=$?
+    [[ $exists_two -eq 1 ]] || fail "Failed bucket deletion"
+  fi
+  create_bucket $bucket_name || local create_result=$?
+  [[ $create_result -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed to create bucket"
+  bucket_exists $bucket_name || local exists_three=$?
+  [[ $exists_three -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed bucket existence check"
+  delete_bucket $bucket_name || local delete_result_two=$?
+  [[ $delete_result_two -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed to delete bucket"
+}
+
+# test adding and removing an object on versitygw
+@test "put_object_test" {
+
+  local bucket_name="versity-gwtest-put-object-test"
+  local object_name="test-object"
+
+  bucket_exists $bucket_name || local bucket_exists=$?
+  if [[ $bucket_exists -eq 2 ]]; then
+    fail "Bucket existence check error"
+  fi
+  local object="$bucket_name"/"$object_name"
+  if [[ $bucket_exists -eq 0 ]]; then
+    object_exists "$object" || local object_exists=$?
+    if [[ $object_exists -eq 2 ]]; then
+      fail "Object existence check error"
+    fi
+    if [[ $object_exists -eq 0 ]]; then
+      delete_object "$object" || local delete_object=$?
+      [[ $delete_object -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed to delete object"
+    fi
+    delete_bucket $bucket_name || local delete_bucket=$?
+    [[ $delete_bucket -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed to delete bucket"
+  fi
+  touch "$object_name"
+  create_bucket $bucket_name || local create_bucket=$?
+  [[ $create_bucket -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed to create bucket"
+  put_object "$object_name" "$object" || local put_object=$?
+  [[ $put_object -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed to add object to bucket"
+  object_exists "$object" || local object_exists_two=$?
+  [[ $object_exists_two -eq 0 ]] || fail "Object not added to bucket"
+  delete_object "$object" || local delete_object_two=$?
+  [[ $delete_object_two -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed to delete object"
+  delete_bucket $bucket_name || local delete_bucket=$?
+  [[ $delete_bucket -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed to delete bucket"
+  rm "$object_name"
+}
+
+# test listing buckets on versitygw
+@test "test_list_buckets" {
+
+  bucket_name_one="versity-gwtest-list-one"
+  bucket_name_two="versity-gwtest-list-two"
+
+  bucket_exists $bucket_name_one || local exists=$?
+  if [[ $exists -eq 2 ]]; then
+    fail "Bucket existence check error"
+  fi
+  if [[ $exists -eq 1 ]]; then
+    create_bucket $bucket_name_one || local bucket_create_one=$?
+    [[ $bucket_create_one -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed to create bucket"
+  fi
+  bucket_exists $bucket_name_two || local exists_two=$?
+  if [[ $exists_two -eq 2 ]]; then
+    fail "Bucket existence check error"
+  fi
+  if [[ $exists_two -eq 1 ]]; then
+    create_bucket $bucket_name_two || local bucket_create_two=$?
+    [[ $bucket_create_two -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed to create bucket"
+  fi
+  list_buckets
+  local bucket_one_found=false
+  local bucket_two_found=false
+  for bucket in "${bucket_array[@]}"; do
+    if [ "$bucket" == $bucket_name_one ]; then
+      bucket_one_found=true
+    elif [ "$bucket" == $bucket_name_two ]; then
+      bucket_two_found=true
+    fi
+    if [ $bucket_one_found == true ] && [ $bucket_two_found == true ]; then
+      return
+    fi
+  done
+  fail "$bucket_name_one and/or $bucket_name_two not listed (all buckets: ${bucket_array[*]})"
+  delete_bucket $bucket_name_one || local deleted_one=$?
+  [[ $deleted_one -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed to delete bucket one"
+  delete_bucket $bucket_name_two || local deleted_two=$?
+  [[ $deleted_two -eq 0 ]] || fail "Failed to delete bucket one"
+}
+
+# test listing a bucket's objects on versitygw
+@test test_list_objects {
+
+  bucket_name="versity-gwtest-list-object"
+  object_one="test-file-one"
+  object_two="test-file-two"
+
+  touch $object_one $object_two
+  check_and_create_bucket $bucket_name || local result_one=$?
+  [[ result_one -eq 0 ]] || fail "Error creating bucket"
+  put_object $object_one "$bucket_name"/"$object_one"  || local result_two=$?
+  [[ result_two -eq 0 ]] || fail "Error adding object one"
+  put_object $object_two "$bucket_name"/"$object_two" || local result_three=$?
+  [[ result_three -eq 0 ]] || fail "Error adding object two"
+  list_objects $bucket_name
+  local object_one_found=false
+  local object_two_found=false
+  for object in "${object_array[@]}"; do
+    if [ "$object" == $object_one ]; then
+      object_one_found=true
+    elif [ "$object" == $object_two ]; then
+      object_two_found=true
+    fi
+  done
+  if [ $object_one_found != true ] || [ $object_two_found != true ]; then
+    fail "$object_one and/or $object_two not listed (all objects: ${object_array[*]})"
+  fi
+  delete_object "$bucket_name"/"$object_one"
+  delete_object "$bucket_name"/"$object_two"
+  delete_bucket $bucket_name
+  rm $object_one $object_two
+}
diff --git a/tests/tests.sh b/tests/tests.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..291219cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/tests.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bats
+
+setup() {
+
+  if [ "$GITHUB_ACTIONS" != "true" ] && [ -r .secrets ]; then
+    source .secrets
+  else
+    echo "Warning: no secrets file found"
+  fi
+  if [ -z "$VERSITYGW_TEST_ENV" ]; then
+    if [ -r tests/.env ]; then
+      source tests/.env
+    else
+      echo "Warning: no .env file found in tests folder"
+    fi
+  else
+    echo "$VERSITYGW_TEST_ENV"
+    source $VERSITYGW_TEST_ENV
+  fi
+
+  if [ -z "$AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID" ]; then
+    echo "No AWS access key set"
+    return 1
+  elif [ -z "$AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY" ]; then
+    echo "No AWS secret access key set"
+    return 1
+  elif [ -z "$VERSITY_EXE" ]; then
+    echo "No versity executable location set"
+    return 1
+  elif [ -z "$BACKEND" ]; then
+    echo "No backend parameter set (options: 'posix')"
+    return 1
+  elif [ -z "$AWS_REGION" ]; then
+    echo "No AWS region set"
+    return 1
+  elif [ -z "$AWS_PROFILE" ]; then
+    echo "No AWS profile set"
+    return 1
+  elif [ -z "$LOCAL_FOLDER" ]; then
+    echo "No local storage folder set"
+    return 1
+  elif [ -z "$AWS_ENDPOINT_URL" ]; then
+    echo "No AWS endpoint URL set"
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  ROOT_ACCESS_KEY="$AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID" ROOT_SECRET_KEY="$AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY" "$VERSITY_EXE" "$BACKEND" "$LOCAL_FOLDER" &
+
+  export AWS_REGION
+  export AWS_PROFILE
+  export AWS_ENDPOINT_URL
+  export LOCAL_FOLDER
+
+  versitygw_pid=$!
+  export versitygw_pid
+}
+
+fail() {
+  echo "$1"
+  return 1
+}
+
+teardown() {
+  if [ -n "$versitygw_pid" ]; then
+    if ps -p "$versitygw_pid" > /dev/null; then
+      kill "$versitygw_pid"
+      wait "$versitygw_pid" || true
+    else
+      echo "Process with PID $versitygw_pid does not exist."
+    fi
+  else
+    echo "versitygw_pid is not set or empty."
+  fi
+}