diff --git a/examples/basic.cpp b/examples/basic.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4852aa8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/basic.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#include <sol.hpp>
+
+int main() {
+    // create an empty lua state
+    sol::state lua;
+
+    // by default, libraries are not opened
+    // you can open libraries by using open_libraries
+    // the libraries reside in the sol::lib enum class
+    lua.open_libraries(sol::lib::base);
+
+    // call lua code directly
+    lua.script("print('hello world')");
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/config.cpp b/examples/config.cpp
index fb92eb68..9ab7a8e3 100644
--- a/examples/config.cpp
+++ b/examples/config.cpp
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-// shows how to load basic data to a struct
-
 #include <sol.hpp>
 #include <string>
 #include <iostream>
 
+// shows how to load basic data to a struct
+
 struct config {
     std::string name;
     int width;
diff --git a/examples/functions.cpp b/examples/functions.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ee85ebf3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/functions.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+#include <sol.hpp>
+#include <cassert>
+
+inline int my_add(int x, int y) {
+    return x + y;
+}
+
+struct multiplier {
+    int operator()(int x) {
+        return x * 10;
+    }
+
+    static int by_five(int x) {
+        return x * 5;
+    }
+};
+
+int main() {
+    sol::state lua;
+    lua.open_libraries(sol::lib::base);
+
+    // setting a function is simple
+    lua.set_function("my_add", my_add);
+
+    // you could even use a lambda
+    lua.set_function("my_mul", [](double x, double y) { return x * y; });
+
+    // member function pointers and functors as well
+    lua.set_function("mult_by_ten", multiplier{});
+    lua.set_function("mult_by_five", &multiplier::by_five);
+
+    // assert that the functions work
+    lua.script("assert(my_add(10, 11) == 21)");
+    lua.script("assert(my_mul(4.5, 10) == 45)");
+    lua.script("assert(mult_by_ten(50) == 500)");
+    lua.script("assert(mult_by_five(10) == 50)");
+
+    // using lambdas, functions could have state.
+    int x = 0;
+    lua.set_function("inc", [&x]() { x += 10; });
+
+    // calling a stateful lambda modifies the value
+    lua.script("inc()");
+    assert(x == 10);
+
+    // this can be done as many times as you want
+    lua.script("inc()\ninc()\ninc()");
+    assert(x == 40);
+
+    // retrieval of a function is done similarly
+    // to other variables, using sol::function
+    sol::function add = lua["my_add"];
+    assert(add.call<int>(10, 11) == 21);
+
+    // multi-return functions are supported using
+    // std::tuple as the interface.
+    lua.set_function("multi", []{ return std::make_tuple(10, "goodbye"); });
+    lua.script("x, y = multi()");
+    lua.script("assert(x == 10 and y == 'goodbye')");
+
+    auto multi = lua.get<sol::function>("multi");
+    int first;
+    std::string second;
+    std::tie(first, second) = multi.call<int, std::string>();
+
+    // assert the values
+    assert(first == 10);
+    assert(second == "goodbye");
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/variables.cpp b/examples/variables.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d627980d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/variables.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#include <sol.hpp>
+#include <cassert>
+
+int main() {
+    sol::state lua;
+
+    // need the base library for assertions
+    lua.open_libraries(sol::lib::base);
+
+    // basic setting of a variable
+    // through multiple ways
+    lua["x"] = 10;
+    lua.set("y", "hello");
+
+    // assert values are as given
+    lua.script("assert(x == 10)");
+    lua.script("assert(y == 'hello')");
+
+
+    // basic retrieval of a variable
+    // through multiple ways
+    int x = lua["x"];
+    auto y = lua.get<std::string>("y");
+
+    int x2;
+    std::string y2;
+    std::tie(x2, y2) = lua.get<int, std::string>("x", "y");
+
+    // assert the values
+    assert(x == 10);
+    assert(y == "hello");
+    assert(x2 == 10);
+    assert(y2 == "hello");
+}
\ No newline at end of file