diff --git a/test/__init__.py b/test/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d21438cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+# coding=utf-8
+
diff --git a/test/test_basic.py b/test/test_basic.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..01c33610
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_basic.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+"""
+A Basic Test Module
+"""
+
+import unittest
+
+class TestBase(unittest.TestCase):
+    """
+    Test basic functionality
+    """
+    DEBUG = True  # set this flag to skip tests while debugging the unit
+
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        """
+        Set up variables at TestCase-level
+        """
+
+        cls.KEY1 = 'QmUNLLsPACCz1vLxQVkXqqLX5R1X345qqfHbsf67hvA3Nn'
+        cls.KEY2 = 'QmR9MzChjp1MdFWik7NjEjqKQMzVmBkdK3dz14A6B5Cupm'
+        cls.NODE = {'Data': b'Hello World'}
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        """
+        Set up variables at test-level
+        """
+        pass
+
+    @unittest.skipIf(DEBUG, "debug")
+    def test_one(self):
+        """
+        Minimal functional test
+        """
+        pass
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()