diff --git a/autotest.sh b/autotest.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..2ced84a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/autotest.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,272 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# autotest.sh - Automated testing script for gwatch
+# Tests various scenarios and validates behavior
+
+set -e
+
+# Colors for output
+RED='\033[0;31m'
+GREEN='\033[0;32m'
+YELLOW='\033[1;33m'
+NC='\033[0m' # No Color
+
+# Test counters
+TESTS_PASSED=0
+TESTS_FAILED=0
+
+# Paths
+GWATCH="./build/gwatch"
+SAMPLE_PROGRAM="./sample_program"
+SAMPLE_SOURCE="./sample_program.c"
+
+# Helper function to print test results
+print_result() {
+    local test_name="$1"
+    local result="$2"
+
+    if [ "$result" = "PASS" ]; then
+        echo -e "${GREEN}[PASS]${NC} $test_name"
+        ((TESTS_PASSED++))
+    else
+        echo -e "${RED}[FAIL]${NC} $test_name"
+        ((TESTS_FAILED++))
+    fi
+}
+
+# Helper function to run test
+run_test() {
+    local test_name="$1"
+    echo -e "\n${YELLOW}Running:${NC} $test_name"
+}
+
+# Compile sample program
+echo "=== Preparing Test Environment ==="
+if [ ! -f "$SAMPLE_SOURCE" ]; then
+    echo "Error: $SAMPLE_SOURCE not found"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "Compiling sample program..."
+gcc -g -O0 -o "$SAMPLE_PROGRAM" "$SAMPLE_SOURCE"
+if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo "Error: Failed to compile sample program"
+    exit 1
+fi
+echo "Sample program compiled successfully"
+
+if [ ! -f "$GWATCH" ]; then
+    echo "Error: $GWATCH not found. Build the project first."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo -e "\n=== Starting Tests ===\n"
+
+# Test 1: Monitor global_int with successful writes
+run_test "Test 1: Monitor global_int (4 bytes)"
+OUTPUT=$(timeout 3 $GWATCH --var global_int --exec $SAMPLE_PROGRAM 2>&1)
+EXIT_CODE=$?
+
+# timeout returns 124 if killed, but gwatch itself returns 0
+if echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "global_int.*write.*0->42" && echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "Process exited"; then
+    print_result "Test 1" "PASS"
+else
+    print_result "Test 1" "FAIL"
+    echo "Exit code: $EXIT_CODE"
+fi
+
+# Test 2: Monitor global_long (8 bytes)
+run_test "Test 2: Monitor global_long (8 bytes)"
+OUTPUT=$(timeout 3 $GWATCH --var global_long --exec $SAMPLE_PROGRAM 2>&1)
+EXIT_CODE=$?
+
+if echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "global_long.*write.*1000->5000" && echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "Process exited"; then
+    print_result "Test 2" "PASS"
+else
+    print_result "Test 2" "FAIL"
+fi
+
+# Test 3: Monitor global_uint (unsigned 4 bytes)
+run_test "Test 3: Monitor global_uint (unsigned 4 bytes)"
+OUTPUT=$(timeout 3 $GWATCH --var global_uint --exec $SAMPLE_PROGRAM 2>&1)
+EXIT_CODE=$?
+
+if echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "global_uint.*write.*0->999" && echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "Process exited"; then
+    print_result "Test 3" "PASS"
+else
+    print_result "Test 3" "FAIL"
+fi
+
+# Test 4: Nonexistent variable
+run_test "Test 4: Nonexistent variable (should fail)"
+OUTPUT=$($GWATCH --var nonexistent_var --exec $SAMPLE_PROGRAM 2>&1)
+EXIT_CODE=$?
+
+if [ $EXIT_CODE -ne 0 ] && echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "not found"; then
+    print_result "Test 4" "PASS"
+else
+    print_result "Test 4" "FAIL"
+    echo "Exit code: $EXIT_CODE, Output: $OUTPUT"
+fi
+
+# Test 5: Missing executable
+run_test "Test 5: Missing executable (should fail)"
+OUTPUT=$($GWATCH --var global_int --exec /nonexistent/file 2>&1)
+EXIT_CODE=$?
+
+if [ $EXIT_CODE -ne 0 ] && echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "Cannot open"; then
+    print_result "Test 5" "PASS"
+else
+    print_result "Test 5" "FAIL"
+    echo "Exit code: $EXIT_CODE, Output: $OUTPUT"
+fi
+
+# Test 6: Missing arguments
+run_test "Test 6: Missing required arguments (should fail)"
+OUTPUT=$($GWATCH 2>&1)
+EXIT_CODE=$?
+
+if [ $EXIT_CODE -ne 0 ] && echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "required"; then
+    print_result "Test 6" "PASS"
+else
+    print_result "Test 6" "FAIL"
+    echo "Exit code: $EXIT_CODE, Output: $OUTPUT"
+fi
+
+# Test 7: Help message
+run_test "Test 7: Help message"
+OUTPUT=$($GWATCH --help 2>&1)
+EXIT_CODE=$?
+
+if [ $EXIT_CODE -eq 0 ] && echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "exec" && echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "var"; then
+    print_result "Test 7" "PASS"
+else
+    print_result "Test 7" "FAIL"
+    echo "Exit code: $EXIT_CODE, Output: $OUTPUT"
+fi
+
+# Test 8: Command-line argument passing
+run_test "Test 8: Command-line arguments to traced program"
+OUTPUT=$(timeout 3 $GWATCH --var global_int --exec $SAMPLE_PROGRAM -- 777 2>&1)
+EXIT_CODE=$?
+
+if echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "777" && echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "Process exited"; then
+    print_result "Test 8" "PASS"
+else
+    print_result "Test 8" "FAIL"
+fi
+
+# Test 9: Unsupported type (char - 1 byte)
+run_test "Test 9: Unsupported type - char (1 byte, should fail)"
+cat > /tmp/test_char_gwatch.c <<'EOF'
+#include <stdio.h>
+char global_char = 'A';
+int main() {
+    global_char = 'B';
+    printf("Char: %c\n", global_char);
+    return 0;
+}
+EOF
+gcc -g -O0 -o /tmp/test_char_gwatch /tmp/test_char_gwatch.c 2>/dev/null
+
+OUTPUT=$($GWATCH --var global_char --exec /tmp/test_char_gwatch 2>&1)
+EXIT_CODE=$?
+
+if [ $EXIT_CODE -ne 0 ] && echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "unsupported size"; then
+    print_result "Test 9" "PASS"
+else
+    print_result "Test 9" "FAIL"
+    echo "Exit code: $EXIT_CODE, Output: $OUTPUT"
+fi
+
+# Test 10: Unsupported type (short - 2 bytes)
+run_test "Test 10: Unsupported type - short (2 bytes, should fail)"
+cat > /tmp/test_short_gwatch.c <<'EOF'
+#include <stdio.h>
+short global_short = 10;
+int main() {
+    global_short = 20;
+    printf("Short: %d\n", global_short);
+    return 0;
+}
+EOF
+gcc -g -O0 -o /tmp/test_short_gwatch /tmp/test_short_gwatch.c 2>/dev/null
+
+OUTPUT=$($GWATCH --var global_short --exec /tmp/test_short_gwatch 2>&1)
+EXIT_CODE=$?
+
+if [ $EXIT_CODE -ne 0 ] && echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "unsupported size"; then
+    print_result "Test 10" "PASS"
+else
+    print_result "Test 10" "FAIL"
+    echo "Exit code: $EXIT_CODE, Output: $OUTPUT"
+fi
+
+# Test 11: Unsupported type (float)
+run_test "Test 11: Unsupported type - float (should fail)"
+cat > /tmp/test_float_gwatch.c <<'EOF'
+#include <stdio.h>
+float global_float = 3.14f;
+int main() {
+    global_float = 6.28f;
+    printf("Float: %f\n", global_float);
+    return 0;
+}
+EOF
+gcc -g -O0 -o /tmp/test_float_gwatch /tmp/test_float_gwatch.c 2>/dev/null
+
+OUTPUT=$($GWATCH --var global_float --exec /tmp/test_float_gwatch 2>&1)
+EXIT_CODE=$?
+
+if [ $EXIT_CODE -ne 0 ] && echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "not found or is not a supported integer type"; then
+    print_result "Test 11" "PASS"
+else
+    print_result "Test 11" "FAIL"
+    echo "Exit code: $EXIT_CODE, Output: $OUTPUT"
+fi
+
+# Test 12: Output format validation (tab-delimited)
+run_test "Test 12: Output format validation (tab-delimited)"
+OUTPUT=$(timeout 3 $GWATCH --var global_int --exec $SAMPLE_PROGRAM 2>&1)
+EXIT_CODE=$?
+
+# Check if output contains tabs between fields
+if echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -P "global_int\twrite\t\d+->\d+" >/dev/null && echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "Process exited"; then
+    print_result "Test 12" "PASS"
+else
+    print_result "Test 12" "FAIL"
+fi
+
+# Test 13: Multiple writes detection
+run_test "Test 13: Multiple writes detection"
+OUTPUT=$(timeout 3 $GWATCH --var global_int --exec $SAMPLE_PROGRAM 2>&1)
+EXIT_CODE=$?
+
+# Count number of write events (should be at least 5)
+WRITE_COUNT=$(echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -c "global_int.*write" || true)
+
+if [ "$WRITE_COUNT" -ge 5 ] && echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "Process exited"; then
+    print_result "Test 13" "PASS"
+else
+    print_result "Test 13" "FAIL"
+    echo "Expected at least 5 writes, got $WRITE_COUNT"
+fi
+
+# Cleanup
+rm -f /tmp/test_char_gwatch /tmp/test_char_gwatch.c
+rm -f /tmp/test_short_gwatch /tmp/test_short_gwatch.c
+rm -f /tmp/test_float_gwatch /tmp/test_float_gwatch.c
+
+# Summary
+echo -e "\n=== Test Summary ==="
+echo -e "Tests passed: ${GREEN}$TESTS_PASSED${NC}"
+echo -e "Tests failed: ${RED}$TESTS_FAILED${NC}"
+echo -e "Total tests: $((TESTS_PASSED + TESTS_FAILED))"
+
+if [ $TESTS_FAILED -eq 0 ]; then
+    echo -e "\n${GREEN}All tests passed!${NC}"
+    exit 0
+else
+    echo -e "\n${RED}Some tests failed!${NC}"
+    exit 1
+fi
diff --git a/sample_program.c b/sample_program.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..546cbbf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sample_program.c
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
+// Global variables for testing
+volatile int global_int = 0;
+volatile long global_long = 1000L;
+volatile unsigned int global_uint = 0U;
+
+int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
+    printf("=== Sample Program for gwatch ===\n");
+
+    // Test 1: Simple write
+    printf("Test 1: Simple write\n");
+    global_int = 42;
+    printf("  global_int = %d\n", global_int);
+
+    // Test 2: Multiple writes
+    printf("Test 2: Multiple writes\n");
+    global_int = 100;
+    printf("  global_int = %d\n", global_int);
+    global_int = 200;
+    printf("  global_int = %d\n", global_int);
+
+    // Test 3: Increment operation
+    printf("Test 3: Increment\n");
+    global_int++;
+    printf("  global_int = %d\n", global_int);
+
+    // Test 4: Arithmetic
+    printf("Test 4: Arithmetic\n");
+    global_int = global_int + 50;
+    printf("  global_int = %d\n", global_int);
+
+    // Test 5: Read operation (shouldn't show write)
+    printf("Test 5: Read operation\n");
+    int temp = global_int;
+    printf("  Read value: %d\n", temp);
+
+    // Test 6: Long variable operations
+    printf("Test 6: Long variable\n");
+    global_long = 5000L;
+    printf("  global_long = %ld\n", global_long);
+    global_long += 2500L;
+    printf("  global_long = %ld\n", global_long);
+
+    // Test 7: Unsigned int operations
+    printf("Test 7: Unsigned int\n");
+    global_uint = 999U;
+    printf("  global_uint = %u\n", global_uint);
+
+    // Test 8: Command-line argument handling
+    if (argc > 1) {
+        printf("Test 8: With command-line args\n");
+        int arg_val = atoi(argv[1]);
+        global_int = arg_val;
+        printf("  global_int = %d (from arg)\n", global_int);
+    }
+
+    printf("=== Program Complete ===\n");
+    return 0;
+}