diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index ed403be..ca9182f 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -10,16 +10,17 @@ require (
 
 require (
 	github.com/BurntSushi/toml v1.3.2 // indirect
-	github.com/chavacava/garif v0.0.0-20230608123814-4bd63c2919ab // indirect
+	github.com/chavacava/garif v0.1.0 // indirect
 	github.com/fatih/color v1.15.0 // indirect
 	github.com/fatih/structtag v1.2.0 // indirect
 	github.com/mattn/go-colorable v0.1.13 // indirect
 	github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.19 // indirect
-	github.com/mattn/go-runewidth v0.0.9 // indirect
+	github.com/mattn/go-runewidth v0.0.15 // indirect
 	github.com/mgechev/dots v0.0.0-20210922191527-e955255bf517 // indirect
 	github.com/mitchellh/go-homedir v1.1.0 // indirect
 	github.com/olekukonko/tablewriter v0.0.5 // indirect
 	github.com/pkg/errors v0.9.1 // indirect
+	github.com/rivo/uniseg v0.4.4 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/mod v0.12.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/sys v0.11.0 // indirect
 )
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index ce826b1..5125985 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ asciigoat.org/core v0.3.7 h1:tMasdvZgsMJJMVsZVfXXB5lqq82pFiCsyEmOEmcmAfI=
 asciigoat.org/core v0.3.7/go.mod h1:tXj+JUutxRbcO40ZQRuUVaZ4rnYz1kAZ0nblisV8u74=
 github.com/BurntSushi/toml v1.3.2 h1:o7IhLm0Msx3BaB+n3Ag7L8EVlByGnpq14C4YWiu/gL8=
 github.com/BurntSushi/toml v1.3.2/go.mod h1:CxXYINrC8qIiEnFrOxCa7Jy5BFHlXnUU2pbicEuybxQ=
-github.com/chavacava/garif v0.0.0-20230608123814-4bd63c2919ab h1:5JxePczlyGAtj6R1MUEFZ/UFud6FfsOejq7xLC2ZIb0=
-github.com/chavacava/garif v0.0.0-20230608123814-4bd63c2919ab/go.mod h1:XMyYCkEL58DF0oyW4qDjjnPWONs2HBqYKI+UIPD+Gww=
+github.com/chavacava/garif v0.1.0 h1:2JHa3hbYf5D9dsgseMKAmc/MZ109otzgNFk5s87H9Pc=
+github.com/chavacava/garif v0.1.0/go.mod h1:XMyYCkEL58DF0oyW4qDjjnPWONs2HBqYKI+UIPD+Gww=
 github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.0/go.mod h1:J7Y8YcW2NihsgmVo/mv3lAwl/skON4iLHjSsI+c5H38=
 github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1 h1:vj9j/u1bqnvCEfJOwUhtlOARqs3+rkHYY13jYWTU97c=
 github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1/go.mod h1:J7Y8YcW2NihsgmVo/mv3lAwl/skON4iLHjSsI+c5H38=
@@ -16,8 +16,9 @@ github.com/mattn/go-colorable v0.1.13/go.mod h1:7S9/ev0klgBDR4GtXTXX8a3vIGJpMovk
 github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.16/go.mod h1:kYGgaQfpe5nmfYZH+SKPsOc2e4SrIfOl2e/yFXSvRLM=
 github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.19 h1:JITubQf0MOLdlGRuRq+jtsDlekdYPia9ZFsB8h/APPA=
 github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.19/go.mod h1:W+V8PltTTMOvKvAeJH7IuucS94S2C6jfK/D7dTCTo3Y=
-github.com/mattn/go-runewidth v0.0.9 h1:Lm995f3rfxdpd6TSmuVCHVb/QhupuXlYr8sCI/QdE+0=
 github.com/mattn/go-runewidth v0.0.9/go.mod h1:H031xJmbD/WCDINGzjvQ9THkh0rPKHF+m2gUSrubnMI=
+github.com/mattn/go-runewidth v0.0.15 h1:UNAjwbU9l54TA3KzvqLGxwWjHmMgBUVhBiTjelZgg3U=
+github.com/mattn/go-runewidth v0.0.15/go.mod h1:Jdepj2loyihRzMpdS35Xk/zdY8IAYHsh153qUoGf23w=
 github.com/mgechev/dots v0.0.0-20210922191527-e955255bf517 h1:zpIH83+oKzcpryru8ceC6BxnoG8TBrhgAvRg8obzup0=
 github.com/mgechev/dots v0.0.0-20210922191527-e955255bf517/go.mod h1:KQ7+USdGKfpPjXk4Ga+5XxQM4Lm4e3gAogrreFAYpOg=
 github.com/mgechev/revive v1.3.3 h1:GUWzV3g185agbHN4ZdaQvR6zrLVYTUSA2ktvIinivK0=
@@ -30,6 +31,9 @@ github.com/pkg/errors v0.9.1 h1:FEBLx1zS214owpjy7qsBeixbURkuhQAwrK5UwLGTwt4=
 github.com/pkg/errors v0.9.1/go.mod h1:bwawxfHBFNV+L2hUp1rHADufV3IMtnDRdf1r5NINEl0=
 github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0 h1:4DBwDE0NGyQoBHbLQYPwSUPoCMWR5BEzIk/f1lZbAQM=
 github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0/go.mod h1:iKH77koFhYxTK1pcRnkKkqfTogsbg7gZNVY4sRDYZ/4=
+github.com/rivo/uniseg v0.2.0/go.mod h1:J6wj4VEh+S6ZtnVlnTBMWIodfgj8LQOQFoIToxlJtxc=
+github.com/rivo/uniseg v0.4.4 h1:8TfxU8dW6PdqD27gjM8MVNuicgxIjxpm4K7x4jp8sis=
+github.com/rivo/uniseg v0.4.4/go.mod h1:FN3SvrM+Zdj16jyLfmOkMNblXMcoc8DfTHruCPUcx88=
 github.com/stretchr/objx v0.1.0/go.mod h1:HFkY916IF+rwdDfMAkV7OtwuqBVzrE8GR6GFx+wExME=
 github.com/stretchr/objx v0.4.0/go.mod h1:YvHI0jy2hoMjB+UWwv71VJQ9isScKT/TqJzVSSt89Yw=
 github.com/stretchr/objx v0.5.0/go.mod h1:Yh+to48EsGEfYuaHDzXPcE3xhTkx73EhmCGUpEOglKo=
diff --git a/parser/lexer.go b/parser/lexer.go
index 5ed5102..ec8e68c 100644
--- a/parser/lexer.go
+++ b/parser/lexer.go
@@ -5,71 +5,42 @@ import "asciigoat.org/core/lexer"
 // Run parses the source
 func (p *Parser) Run() error {
 	p.setDefaults()
-	p.pos.Reset()
 
 	return lexer.Run(p.lexStart)
 }
 
 func (p *Parser) lexStart() (lexer.StateFn, error) {
 	for {
-		r, _, err := p.src.ReadRune()
+		r, _, err := p.p.ReadRune()
 		switch {
 		case err != nil:
 			return p.emitError("", err)
 		case IsNewLine(r):
 			// new line
-			p.lexMoreNewLine(r)
+			p.p.UnreadRune()
+			p.p.AcceptNewLine()
 			p.stepLine()
 		case IsSpace(r):
 			// whitespace
-			p.stepRune()
+			p.stepString()
 		case IsCommentStart(r):
 			// switch to comment lexer
-			p.src.UnreadRune()
+			p.p.UnreadRune()
 			return p.lexComment, nil
 		case IsSectionStart(r):
 			// section
 			return p.lexSectionStart, nil
 		default:
 			// entry
-			p.src.UnreadRune()
+			p.p.UnreadRune()
 			return p.lexEntryStart, nil
 		}
 	}
 }
 
-func (p *Parser) lexMoreNewLine(r1 rune) {
-	// r1 is warrantied to be either '\r' or '\n'
-	r2, _, err := p.src.ReadRune()
-	switch r1 {
-	case '\n':
-		switch {
-		case r2 == '\r':
-			// LN CR
-		case err == nil:
-			// LN
-			p.src.UnreadRune()
-		default:
-			// LN EOF
-		}
-	case '\r':
-		switch {
-		case r2 == '\n':
-			// CR LN
-		case err == nil:
-			// CR
-			p.src.UnreadRune()
-		default:
-			// CR EOF
-		}
-	default:
-		panic("unreachable")
-	}
-}
-
 func (p *Parser) lexComment() (lexer.StateFn, error) {
 	// until the end of the line
-	p.src.AcceptAll(IsNotNewLine)
+	p.p.AcceptAll(IsNotNewLine)
 
 	err := p.emitString(TokenComment)
 	return p.lexStart, err
@@ -81,11 +52,11 @@ func (p *Parser) lexSectionStart() (lexer.StateFn, error) {
 	}
 
 	// remove whitespace between `[` and the name
-	if p.src.AcceptAll(IsSpaceNotNewLine) {
+	if p.p.AcceptAll(IsSpaceNotNewLine) {
 		p.stepString()
 	}
 
-	if !p.src.AcceptAll(IsName) {
+	if !p.p.AcceptAll(IsName) {
 		// no name
 		return p.emitError("section name missing", lexer.ErrUnacceptableRune)
 	}
@@ -94,12 +65,12 @@ func (p *Parser) lexSectionStart() (lexer.StateFn, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	// remove whitespace between the name andthe closing `]`
-	if p.src.AcceptAll(IsSpaceNotNewLine) {
+	// remove whitespace between the name and the closing `]`
+	if p.p.AcceptAll(IsSpaceNotNewLine) {
 		p.stepString()
 	}
 
-	r, _, err := p.src.ReadRune()
+	r, _, err := p.p.ReadRune()
 	switch {
 	case err != nil:
 		return p.emitError("", err)
@@ -112,17 +83,17 @@ func (p *Parser) lexSectionStart() (lexer.StateFn, error) {
 }
 
 func (p *Parser) lexEntryStart() (lexer.StateFn, error) {
-	p.src.AcceptAll(IsName)
+	p.p.AcceptAll(IsName)
 	if err := p.emitString(TokenFieldKey); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	// ignore whitespace between key and the '=' sign
-	if p.src.AcceptAll(IsSpaceNotNewLine) {
+	if p.p.AcceptAll(IsSpaceNotNewLine) {
 		p.stepString()
 	}
 
-	r, _, err := p.src.ReadRune()
+	r, _, err := p.p.ReadRune()
 	switch {
 	case err != nil:
 		return p.emitError("", err)
@@ -131,11 +102,11 @@ func (p *Parser) lexEntryStart() (lexer.StateFn, error) {
 	}
 
 	// ignore whitespace between the '=' and the value
-	if p.src.AcceptAll(IsSpaceNotNewLine) {
+	if p.p.AcceptAll(IsSpaceNotNewLine) {
 		p.stepString()
 	}
 
-	p.src.AcceptAll(IsNotNewLine)
+	p.p.AcceptAll(IsNotNewLine)
 	if err := p.emitString(TokenFieldValue); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/parser/parser.go b/parser/parser.go
index b526b0c..570e766 100644
--- a/parser/parser.go
+++ b/parser/parser.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Package parser parses dosini-style files
+// Package parser parses ini-style files
 package parser
 
 import (
@@ -8,10 +8,9 @@ import (
 	"asciigoat.org/core/lexer"
 )
 
-// Parser parses a dosini-style document
+// Parser parses a ini-style document
 type Parser struct {
-	src *lexer.Reader
-	pos lexer.Position
+	p TextParser
 
 	// OnToken is called for each identified token. if it returns an error
 	// parsing is interrupted.
@@ -51,15 +50,13 @@ func (p *Parser) setDefaults() {
 }
 
 func (p *Parser) emitString(typ TokenType) error {
-	s := p.src.Emit()
-	err := p.OnToken(p.pos, typ, s)
-	p.pos.StepN(len(s))
-
-	return err
+	pos, s := p.p.Emit()
+	return p.OnToken(pos, typ, s)
 }
 
 func (p *Parser) emitError(content string, err error) (lexer.StateFn, error) {
-	err2 := p.OnError(p.pos, content, err)
+	pos := p.p.Position()
+	err2 := p.OnError(pos, content, err)
 	switch {
 	case err2 != nil:
 		// return wrapped error
@@ -77,33 +74,25 @@ func (p *Parser) emitInvalidRune(r rune) (lexer.StateFn, error) {
 // stepLine discards the data and moves the position
 // to the next line.
 func (p *Parser) stepLine() {
-	p.src.Discard()
-	p.pos.StepLine()
-}
-
-// stepRune discards the data and moves the position
-// one rune forward on the same line.
-func (p *Parser) stepRune() {
-	p.src.Discard()
-	p.pos.Step()
+	p.p.StepLine()
 }
 
 // stepString discards the data and moves the position
 // forward on the same line the length of the discarded
 // content.
 func (p *Parser) stepString() {
-	s := p.src.Emit()
-	p.pos.StepN(len(s))
+	p.p.Step()
 }
 
-// NewParser creates a dosini-style parser using
+// NewParser creates a ini-style parser using
 // an [io.Reader] as source
 func NewParser(r io.Reader) *Parser {
-	if r == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
+	var p *Parser
 
-	return &Parser{
-		src: lexer.NewReader(r),
+	if r != nil {
+		p = new(Parser)
+		p.p.Init(r)
 	}
+
+	return p
 }
diff --git a/parser/text.go b/parser/text.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..84454eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/parser/text.go
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+package parser
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"io"
+	"strings"
+
+	"asciigoat.org/core/lexer"
+)
+
+// TextParser is a generic text parser.
+type TextParser struct {
+	*lexer.Reader
+	pos lexer.Position
+}
+
+// Init initializes the [TextParser] with a non-nil [io.Reader].
+func (p *TextParser) Init(r io.Reader) {
+	switch {
+	case p == nil || r == nil:
+		panic("invalid call")
+	case p.Reader != nil:
+		panic("parser already initialized")
+	default:
+		p.Reader = lexer.NewReader(r)
+		p.pos.Reset()
+	}
+}
+
+// InitBytes initializes the [TextParser] with a byte array
+func (p *TextParser) InitBytes(b []byte) {
+	p.Init(bytes.NewReader(b))
+}
+
+// InitString initializes the [TextParser] with a byte array
+func (p *TextParser) InitString(s string) {
+	p.Init(strings.NewReader(s))
+}
+
+// Discard shadows [lexer.Reader]'s, and takes in consideration
+// new lines on the discarded data when moving the position
+func (*TextParser) Discard() {
+	// TODO: consider new lines
+	panic("not implemented")
+}
+
+// Emit returns the accepted text, its position, and
+// moves the cursor position accordingly
+func (p *TextParser) Emit() (lexer.Position, string) {
+	pos := p.pos
+	s := p.Reader.Emit()
+	// TODO: consider new lines
+	p.pos.StepN(len(s))
+
+	return pos, s
+}
+
+// Step discards what's been accepted and increments the
+// position assuming they all increment the column counter
+func (p *TextParser) Step() {
+	s := p.Reader.Emit()
+	p.pos.StepN(len(s))
+}
+
+// StepLine discards what's been accepted and moves then
+// position to the beginning of the next line
+func (p *TextParser) StepLine() {
+	p.Reader.Discard()
+	p.pos.StepLine()
+}
+
+// Position returns the position of the first character
+// of the accepted text
+func (p *TextParser) Position() lexer.Position {
+	return p.pos
+}
+
+// AcceptNewLine checks if next is a new line.
+// It accepts "\n", "\n\r", "\r" and "\r\n".
+func (p *TextParser) AcceptNewLine() bool {
+	r1, _, err := p.ReadRune()
+	switch {
+	case err != nil:
+		return false
+	case r1 == '\n':
+		p.AcceptRune('\r')
+		return true
+	case r1 == '\r':
+		p.AcceptRune('\n')
+		return true
+	default:
+		p.UnreadRune()
+		return false
+	}
+}
+
+// AcceptRune checks if next is the specified rune
+func (p *TextParser) AcceptRune(r rune) bool {
+	return p.Accept(func(r2 rune) bool {
+		return r == r2
+	})
+}