diff --git a/lib/mom.rb b/lib/mom.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3a07947f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/mom.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# The *essential* step from vool to risc, is the one from a language to a machine. From statements
+# that hang in the air, to an instruction set.
+# 
+# ### Tree based:  So almost 1-1 from vool
+#
+# ### Use object memory :  object to object transfer + no registers
+#
+# ### Instruction based
+#
+# So a machine than language. No control structures, but compare and jump instructions.
+# No send or call, just objects and jump.
+# Machine capabilities (instructions) for basic operations. Use of macros for higher level.
+
+module Mom
+end
+
+require_relative "mom/instruction.rb"
diff --git a/lib/mom/README.rd b/lib/mom/README.rd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..08181a2e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/mom/README.rd
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+# MOM , Minimal Object Machine
+
+This layer sits between the language layer (vool) and the risc machine layer.
+It is meant to make the transition (between vool and risc) easier to understand.
+
+Previous efforts were doing the transition without an intermediate layer. But while
+this was possible, it was more difficult than need be, and so we go to the old saying
+than everything in computing can be fixed by another layer :-)
+
+## Recap
+
+A little recap of why the transition was too steep will naturally reveal the design of MOM.
+
+### Structure
+
+Vool has a tree structure. Risc is a linked list, so essentially flat.
+
+### Memory model
+
+Vool has no memory, it has objects and they just are. Risc on the other hand has only registers
+and memory. Data can only move to/from/between registers, ie not from memory to memory.
+While Risc knows about objects, it deals in machine words.
+
+### Execution model
+
+Vool's implicit execution model would be interpretation, ie tree traversal. Vool has high level
+control structures, including send, and no goto, it is a language after all.
+
+Risc is close to a cpu, it has a current instruction (pc), registers (8) and a register based
+instruction set. Risc has word comparisons and a jump. Call is not used as the stack is not
+used (stacks are messy, not oo)
+
+## Design
+
+The *essential* step from vool to risc, is the one from a language to a machine. From statements
+that hang in the air, to an instruction set.
+So to put a layer in the middle of those two, MOM will be:
+
+### Tree based
+
+So almost 1-1 from vool (leave that transformation for next step, which is part of the
+simplification. Flattening needs state to be carried around and so we can do without that)
+
+### Use object memory
+
+object to object transfer
+
+no registers
+
+### Instruction based
+
+So a machine than language. No control structures, but compare and jump instructions.
+
+No send or call, just objects and jump.
+
+Machine capabilities (instructions) for basic operations. Use of macros for higher level.
+
+## Outlook
+
+The next transformation from mom to the Risc layer will naturally include the transformation of:
+- tree to list
+- mom instructions to risc instructions (which is 1 to n so relatively simple)
+- memory to memory transfer, to memory register memory transfers.
diff --git a/lib/mom/instruction.rb b/lib/mom/instruction.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..72030c11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/mom/instruction.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+module Mom
+
+  # Base class for MOM instructions
+  class Instruction
+  end
+
+end
diff --git a/lib/rubyx.rb b/lib/rubyx.rb
index 43bab94a..e9d96a67 100644
--- a/lib/rubyx.rb
+++ b/lib/rubyx.rb
@@ -14,4 +14,5 @@ require "risc/builtin/space"
 require "arm/arm_machine"
 require "arm/translator"
 require "rubyx/ruby_compiler"
-require "vool.rb"
+require "vool"
+require "mom"
diff --git a/test/mom/helper.rb b/test/mom/helper.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..26258082
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/mom/helper.rb
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+require_relative "../helper"
diff --git a/test/mom/test_all.rb b/test/mom/test_all.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..17ef6964
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/mom/test_all.rb
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+require_relative "test_instruction"
diff --git a/test/mom/test_instruction.rb b/test/mom/test_instruction.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a0d7eb2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/mom/test_instruction.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+require_relative "helper"
+
+module Mom
+  class TestInstruction < MiniTest::Test
+
+    def test_class_exists
+      assert Instruction.new
+    end
+  end
+end