diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/worker/engine/mod.rs b/espanso/src/cli/worker/engine/mod.rs
index 9917235..c5c136f 100644
--- a/espanso/src/cli/worker/engine/mod.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/worker/engine/mod.rs
@@ -17,10 +17,97 @@
  * along with espanso.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
 
-pub mod ui;
-pub mod source;
-pub mod render;
-pub mod matcher;
+use anyhow::Result;
+use espanso_config::{config::ConfigStore, matches::store::MatchStore};
+use espanso_path::Paths;
+use ui::selector::MatchSelectorAdapter;
+
 pub mod executor;
+pub mod match_cache;
+pub mod matcher;
 pub mod multiplex;
-pub mod match_cache;
\ No newline at end of file
+pub mod render;
+pub mod source;
+pub mod ui;
+
+pub fn initialize_and_spawn(paths: Paths, config_store: Box<dyn ConfigStore>, match_store: Box<dyn MatchStore>) -> Result<()> {
+  std::thread::Builder::new()
+    .name("engine thread".to_string())
+    .spawn(move || {
+      let app_info_provider =
+        espanso_info::get_provider().expect("unable to initialize app info provider");
+      let config_manager =
+        super::config::ConfigManager::new(&*config_store, &*match_store, &*app_info_provider);
+      let match_converter =
+        super::engine::matcher::convert::MatchConverter::new(&*config_store, &*match_store);
+      let match_cache = super::engine::match_cache::MatchCache::load(&*config_store, &*match_store);
+
+      let detect_source =
+        super::engine::source::detect::init_and_spawn().expect("failed to initialize detector module");
+      let sources: Vec<&dyn crate::engine::funnel::Source> = vec![&detect_source];
+      let funnel = crate::engine::funnel::default(&sources);
+
+      let matcher = super::engine::matcher::rolling::RollingMatcherAdapter::new(
+        &match_converter.get_rolling_matches(),
+      );
+      let matchers: Vec<&dyn crate::engine::process::Matcher<super::engine::matcher::MatcherState>> = vec![&matcher];
+      let selector = MatchSelectorAdapter::new();
+      let multiplexer = super::engine::multiplex::MultiplexAdapter::new(&match_cache);
+
+      let injector = espanso_inject::get_injector(Default::default())
+        .expect("failed to initialize injector module"); // TODO: handle the options
+      let clipboard = espanso_clipboard::get_clipboard(Default::default())
+        .expect("failed to initialize clipboard module"); // TODO: handle options
+
+      let clipboard_adapter = super::engine::render::clipboard::ClipboardAdapter::new(&*clipboard);
+      let clipboard_extension =
+        espanso_render::extension::clipboard::ClipboardExtension::new(&clipboard_adapter);
+      let date_extension = espanso_render::extension::date::DateExtension::new();
+      let echo_extension = espanso_render::extension::echo::EchoExtension::new();
+      let random_extension = espanso_render::extension::random::RandomExtension::new();
+      let home_path = dirs::home_dir().expect("unable to obtain home dir path");
+      let script_extension = espanso_render::extension::script::ScriptExtension::new(
+        &paths.config,
+        &home_path,
+        &paths.packages,
+      );
+      let shell_extension = espanso_render::extension::shell::ShellExtension::new(&paths.config);
+      let renderer = espanso_render::create(vec![
+        &clipboard_extension,
+        &date_extension,
+        &echo_extension,
+        &random_extension,
+        &script_extension,
+        &shell_extension,
+      ]);
+      let renderer_adapter =
+        super::engine::render::RendererAdapter::new(&match_cache, &config_manager, &renderer);
+
+      let mut processor = crate::engine::process::default(
+        &matchers,
+        &config_manager,
+        &selector,
+        &multiplexer,
+        &renderer_adapter,
+        &match_cache,
+      );
+
+      let event_injector = super::engine::executor::event_injector::EventInjectorAdapter::new(&*injector);
+      let clipboard_injector = super::engine::executor::clipboard_injector::ClipboardInjectorAdapter::new(
+        &*injector,
+        &*clipboard,
+      );
+      let key_injector = super::engine::executor::key_injector::KeyInjectorAdapter::new(&*injector);
+      let dispatcher = crate::engine::dispatch::default(
+        &event_injector,
+        &clipboard_injector,
+        &config_manager,
+        &key_injector,
+      );
+
+      let mut engine = crate::engine::Engine::new(&funnel, &mut processor, &dispatcher);
+      engine.run();
+    })?;
+
+  Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/worker/mod.rs b/espanso/src/cli/worker/mod.rs
index ca9691b..fca51be 100644
--- a/espanso/src/cli/worker/mod.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/worker/mod.rs
@@ -17,15 +17,13 @@
  * along with espanso.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
 
-use engine::ui::selector::MatchSelectorAdapter;
-use funnel::Source;
-use process::Matcher;
+use self::ui::util::convert_icon_paths_to_tray_vec;
 
 use super::{CliModule, CliModuleArgs};
-use crate::engine::{dispatch, funnel, process, Engine};
 
 mod config;
 mod engine;
+mod ui;
 
 pub fn new() -> CliModule {
   #[allow(clippy::needless_update)]
@@ -46,73 +44,32 @@ fn worker_main(args: CliModuleArgs) {
   let match_store = args
     .match_store
     .expect("missing match store in worker main");
-  
+
   let paths = args.paths.expect("missing paths in worker main");
 
-  let app_info_provider =
-    espanso_info::get_provider().expect("unable to initialize app info provider");
-  let config_manager =
-    config::ConfigManager::new(&*config_store, &*match_store, &*app_info_provider);
-  let match_converter =
-    engine::matcher::convert::MatchConverter::new(&*config_store, &*match_store);
-  let match_cache = engine::match_cache::MatchCache::load(&*config_store, &*match_store);
+  let icon_paths =
+    self::ui::icon::load_icon_paths(&paths.runtime).expect("unable to initialize icons");
 
-  let detect_source =
-    engine::source::detect::init_and_spawn().expect("failed to initialize detector module");
-  let sources: Vec<&dyn Source> = vec![&detect_source];
-  let funnel = funnel::default(&sources);
+  let (remote, mut eventloop) = espanso_ui::create_ui(espanso_ui::UIOptions {
+    // TODO: handle show icon
+    icon_paths: convert_icon_paths_to_tray_vec(&icon_paths),
+    notification_icon_path: icon_paths
+      .logo
+      .map(|path| path.to_string_lossy().to_string()),
+    ..Default::default()
+  })
+  .expect("unable to create tray icon UI module");
 
-  let matcher =
-    engine::matcher::rolling::RollingMatcherAdapter::new(&match_converter.get_rolling_matches());
-  let matchers: Vec<&dyn Matcher<engine::matcher::MatcherState>> = vec![&matcher];
-  let selector = MatchSelectorAdapter::new();
-  let multiplexer = engine::multiplex::MultiplexAdapter::new(&match_cache);
+  eventloop
+    .initialize()
+    .expect("unable to initialize UI module");
 
-  let injector =
-    espanso_inject::get_injector(Default::default()).expect("failed to initialize injector module"); // TODO: handle the options
-  let clipboard = espanso_clipboard::get_clipboard(Default::default())
-    .expect("failed to initialize clipboard module"); // TODO: handle options
+  // TODO: pass the remote
+  // Initialize the engine on another thread and start it
+  engine::initialize_and_spawn(paths.clone(), config_store, match_store)
+    .expect("unable to initialize engine");
 
-  let clipboard_adapter = engine::render::clipboard::ClipboardAdapter::new(&*clipboard);
-  let clipboard_extension = espanso_render::extension::clipboard::ClipboardExtension::new(&clipboard_adapter);
-  let date_extension = espanso_render::extension::date::DateExtension::new();
-  let echo_extension = espanso_render::extension::echo::EchoExtension::new();
-  let random_extension = espanso_render::extension::random::RandomExtension::new();
-  let home_path = dirs::home_dir().expect("unable to obtain home dir path");
-  let script_extension = espanso_render::extension::script::ScriptExtension::new(&paths.config, &home_path, &paths.packages);
-  let shell_extension = espanso_render::extension::shell::ShellExtension::new(&paths.config);
-  let renderer = espanso_render::create(vec![
-    &clipboard_extension,
-    &date_extension,
-    &echo_extension,
-    &random_extension,
-    &script_extension,
-    &shell_extension,
-  ]);
-  let renderer_adapter =
-    engine::render::RendererAdapter::new(&match_cache, &config_manager, &renderer);
-
-  let mut processor = process::default(
-    &matchers,
-    &config_manager,
-    &selector,
-    &multiplexer,
-    &renderer_adapter,
-    &match_cache,
-  );
-
-
-  let event_injector = engine::executor::event_injector::EventInjectorAdapter::new(&*injector);
-  let clipboard_injector =
-    engine::executor::clipboard_injector::ClipboardInjectorAdapter::new(&*injector, &*clipboard);
-  let key_injector = engine::executor::key_injector::KeyInjectorAdapter::new(&*injector);
-  let dispatcher = dispatch::default(
-    &event_injector,
-    &clipboard_injector,
-    &config_manager,
-    &key_injector,
-  );
-
-  let mut engine = Engine::new(&funnel, &mut processor, &dispatcher);
-  engine.run();
+  eventloop.run(Box::new(move |event| {
+    // TODO: handle event
+  }));
 }
diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/worker/ui/icon.rs b/espanso/src/cli/worker/ui/icon.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..20fcc8b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/worker/ui/icon.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of espanso.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2019-2021 Federico Terzi
+ *
+ * espanso is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * espanso is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with espanso.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+use anyhow::Result;
+use log::{debug, info};
+use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
+
+const ICON_BINARY: &[u8] = include_bytes!("../../../res/icon.png");
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+const WINDOWS_ICO_BINARY: &[u8] = include_bytes!("../../../res/windows/espanso.ico");
+#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+const WINDOWS_RED_ICO_BINARY: &[u8] = include_bytes!("../../../res/windows/espansored.ico");
+
+// TODO: macos
+// TODO: linux
+
+#[derive(Debug, Default)]
+pub struct IconPaths {
+  pub tray_icon_normal: Option<PathBuf>,
+  pub tray_icon_disabled: Option<PathBuf>,
+  pub tray_icon_system_disabled: Option<PathBuf>, // TODO: secure input
+
+  pub logo: Option<PathBuf>, 
+}
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+pub fn load_icon_paths(runtime_dir: &Path) -> Result<IconPaths> {
+  Ok(IconPaths {
+    tray_icon_normal: Some(extract_icon(WINDOWS_ICO_BINARY, &runtime_dir.join("normal.ico"))?),
+    tray_icon_disabled: Some(extract_icon(WINDOWS_RED_ICO_BINARY, &runtime_dir.join("disabled.ico"))?),
+    logo: Some(extract_icon(ICON_BINARY, &runtime_dir.join("icon.png"))?),
+    ..Default::default()
+  })
+}
+
+// TODO: macos
+// TODO: linux
+
+// TODO: test
+fn extract_icon(data: &[u8], target_file: &Path) -> Result<PathBuf> {
+  if target_file.exists() {
+    debug!(
+      "skipping extraction for '{:?}', as it's already present",
+      target_file
+    );
+    Ok(target_file.to_owned())
+  } else {
+    std::fs::write(target_file, data)?;
+    info!("extracted icon to: {:?}", target_file);
+    Ok(target_file.to_owned())
+  }
+}
diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/worker/ui/mod.rs b/espanso/src/cli/worker/ui/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5de9509
--- /dev/null
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/worker/ui/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of espanso.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2019-2021 Federico Terzi
+ *
+ * espanso is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * espanso is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with espanso.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+pub mod icon;
+pub mod util;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/worker/ui/util.rs b/espanso/src/cli/worker/ui/util.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a16edaa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/worker/ui/util.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of espanso.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2019-2021 Federico Terzi
+ *
+ * espanso is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * espanso is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with espanso.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+use espanso_ui::icons::TrayIcon;
+
+use super::icon::IconPaths;
+
+// TODO: test
+pub fn convert_icon_paths_to_tray_vec(icon_paths: &IconPaths) -> Vec<(TrayIcon, String)> {
+  let mut paths = Vec::new();
+
+  if let Some(normal) = &icon_paths.tray_icon_normal {
+    paths.push((TrayIcon::Normal, normal.to_string_lossy().to_string()));
+  }
+
+  if let Some(disabled) = &icon_paths.tray_icon_disabled {
+    paths.push((TrayIcon::Disabled, disabled.to_string_lossy().to_string()));
+  }
+
+  if let Some(system_disabled) = &icon_paths.tray_icon_system_disabled {
+    paths.push((TrayIcon::SystemDisabled, system_disabled.to_string_lossy().to_string()));
+  }
+
+  paths
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/espanso/src/res/icon.png b/espanso/src/res/icon.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9bde0d2
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diff --git a/espanso/src/res/linux/icon.png b/espanso/src/res/linux/icon.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9bde0d2
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diff --git a/espanso/src/res/macos/icon.png b/espanso/src/res/macos/icon.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cde3e91
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diff --git a/espanso/src/res/macos/icondisabled.png b/espanso/src/res/macos/icondisabled.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a289156
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diff --git a/espanso/src/res/windows/espanso.ico b/espanso/src/res/windows/espanso.ico
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1d1c06c
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diff --git a/espanso/src/res/windows/espansored.ico b/espanso/src/res/windows/espansored.ico
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..334bab0
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