diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1490b458
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+name: tests
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - main
+    paths:
+      - 'constructor-manager/**'
+      - 'constructor-manager-cli/**'
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+jobs:
+  test:
+    name: ${{ matrix.platform }} py${{ matrix.python-version }}
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.platform }}
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        platform: [ubuntu-latest, windows-latest, macos-latest]
+        python-version: ['3.8', '3.9', '3.10']
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+
+      - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+        with:
+          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
+
+      - name: Install dependencies cli
+        run: |
+          cd constructor-manager-cli
+          python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+          python -m pip install setuptools tox tox-gh-actions
+          pip list
+
+      # this runs the platform-specific tests declared in tox.ini
+      - name: Test with tox
+        run: |
+          cd constructor-manager-cli
+          python -m tox
+        env:
+          PLATFORM: ${{ matrix.platform }}
+
+      # this runs the platform-specific tests declared in tox.ini
+      - name: Test with tox
+        run: |
+          cd constructor-manager
+          python -m tox
+        env:
+          PLATFORM: ${{ matrix.platform }}
diff --git a/constructor-manager-cli/LICENSE b/constructor-manager-cli/LICENSE
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7bc580bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/constructor-manager-cli/LICENSE
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+The MIT License (MIT)
+
+Copyright (c) 2022, Napari
+
+Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+
+The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
+all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
+THE SOFTWARE.
diff --git a/constructor-manager-cli/MANIFEST.in b/constructor-manager-cli/MANIFEST.in
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f3155af7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/constructor-manager-cli/MANIFEST.in
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+include LICENSE
+include README.md
+
+recursive-exclude * __pycache__
+recursive-exclude * *.py[co]
diff --git a/constructor-manager-cli/README.md b/constructor-manager-cli/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f4cb561d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/constructor-manager-cli/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# Constructor Manager Commnand line interface
+
+Handle (conda) constructor based bundled applications from the command line.
diff --git a/constructor-manager-cli/pyproject.toml b/constructor-manager-cli/pyproject.toml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a193db45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/constructor-manager-cli/pyproject.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[build-system]
+requires = ["setuptools>=42.0.0", "wheel"]
+build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
+
+[tool.black]
+line-length = 79
diff --git a/constructor-manager-cli/setup.cfg b/constructor-manager-cli/setup.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e71065d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/constructor-manager-cli/setup.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+[metadata]
+name = constructor-manager-cli
+version = 0.1.0
+description = TODO
+long_description = file: README.md
+long_description_content_type = text/markdown
+url = https://github.com/napari/packaging/constructor-manager-cli
+author = napari
+author_email = TODO
+license = MIT
+license_files = LICENSE
+classifiers =
+    Development Status :: 2 - Pre-Alpha
+    Framework :: napari
+    Intended Audience :: Developers
+    License :: OSI Approved :: MIT License
+    Operating System :: OS Independent
+    Programming Language :: Python
+    Programming Language :: Python :: 3
+    Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: Only
+    Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8
+    Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9
+    Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10
+    Topic :: Scientific/Engineering :: Image Processing
+project_urls =
+    Bug Tracker = https://github.com/napari/packaging/issues
+    Source Code = https://github.com/napari/packaging/constructor-manager-cli
+
+[options]
+packages = find:
+install_requires =
+    packaging
+    requests
+    pyyaml
+python_requires = >=3.8
+include_package_data = True
+package_dir =
+    =src
+[options.packages.find]
+where = src
+
+[options.entry_points]
+console_scripts =
+    constructor-manager = constructor_manager_cli.main:main
+
+[options.extras_require]
+testing =
+    pytest-cov
+    pytest>=7.0.0
+    mypy
+    typing-extensions
+    types-PyYAML
+    types-requests
+
+[mypy]
+exclude = venv|tests
+
+[mypy-packaging.*]
+ignore_missing_imports = True
diff --git a/constructor-manager-cli/src/constructor_manager_cli/__init__.py b/constructor-manager-cli/src/constructor_manager_cli/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..efcc84ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/constructor-manager-cli/src/constructor_manager_cli/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+"""Constructor manager CLI."""
diff --git a/constructor-manager-cli/src/constructor_manager_cli/tests/test_main.py b/constructor-manager-cli/src/constructor_manager_cli/tests/test_main.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cb584462
--- /dev/null
+++ b/constructor-manager-cli/src/constructor_manager_cli/tests/test_main.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+"""Constructor manager CLI."""
+
+import constructor_manager_cli
+
+
+def test_constructor_manager():
+    assert constructor_manager_cli
diff --git a/constructor-manager-cli/tox.ini b/constructor-manager-cli/tox.ini
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4e5403da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/constructor-manager-cli/tox.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+# For more information about tox, see https://tox.readthedocs.io/en/latest/
+[tox]
+envlist = py{38,39,310}-{linux,macos,windows}
+isolated_build=true
+
+[gh-actions]
+python =
+    3.8: py38
+    3.9: py39
+    3.10: py310
+
+[gh-actions:env]
+PLATFORM =
+    ubuntu-latest: linux
+    macos-latest: macos
+    windows-latest: windows
+
+[testenv]
+platform =
+    macos: darwin
+    linux: linux
+    windows: win32
+passenv =
+    CI
+    GITHUB_ACTIONS
+    DISPLAY XAUTHORITY
+    NUMPY_EXPERIMENTAL_ARRAY_FUNCTION
+    PYVISTA_OFF_SCREEN
+extras =
+    testing
+commands = pytest -v --color=yes --cov=constructor_manager_cli
diff --git a/constructor-manager/LICENSE b/constructor-manager/LICENSE
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7bc580bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/constructor-manager/LICENSE
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+The MIT License (MIT)
+
+Copyright (c) 2022, Napari
+
+Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+
+The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
+all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
+THE SOFTWARE.
diff --git a/constructor-manager/MANIFEST.in b/constructor-manager/MANIFEST.in
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f3155af7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/constructor-manager/MANIFEST.in
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+include LICENSE
+include README.md
+
+recursive-exclude * __pycache__
+recursive-exclude * *.py[co]
diff --git a/constructor-manager/README.md b/constructor-manager/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..96c8c0b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/constructor-manager/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# Constructor manager
+
+TODO
diff --git a/constructor-manager/pyproject.toml b/constructor-manager/pyproject.toml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a193db45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/constructor-manager/pyproject.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[build-system]
+requires = ["setuptools>=42.0.0", "wheel"]
+build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
+
+[tool.black]
+line-length = 79
diff --git a/constructor-manager/setup.cfg b/constructor-manager/setup.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3d80485c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/constructor-manager/setup.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+[metadata]
+name = constructor-manager
+version = 0.1.0
+description = TODO
+long_description = file: README.md
+long_description_content_type = text/markdown
+url = https://github.com/napari/packaging/constructor-manager
+author = napari
+author_email = TODO
+license = MIT
+license_files = LICENSE
+classifiers =
+    Development Status :: 2 - Pre-Alpha
+    Framework :: napari
+    Intended Audience :: Developers
+    License :: OSI Approved :: MIT License
+    Operating System :: OS Independent
+    Programming Language :: Python
+    Programming Language :: Python :: 3
+    Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: Only
+    Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8
+    Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9
+    Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10
+    Topic :: Scientific/Engineering :: Image Processing
+project_urls =
+    Bug Tracker = https://github.com/napari/packaging/issues
+    Source Code = https://github.com/napari/packaging/constructor-manager
+
+[options]
+packages = find:
+install_requires =
+    qtpy
+python_requires = >=3.8
+include_package_data = True
+package_dir =
+    =src
+[options.packages.find]
+where = src
+
+[options.extras_require]
+testing =
+    pytest-cov
+    pytest>=7.0.0
+    mypy
+    typing-extensions
+    types-requests
+
+[mypy]
+exclude = venv|tests
+
+[mypy-packaging.*]
+ignore_missing_imports = True
diff --git a/constructor-manager/src/constructor_manager/__init__.py b/constructor-manager/src/constructor_manager/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f4afbfe4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/constructor-manager/src/constructor_manager/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+"""Constructor manager API."""
diff --git a/constructor-manager/src/constructor_manager/tests/test_main.py b/constructor-manager/src/constructor_manager/tests/test_main.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..488bd751
--- /dev/null
+++ b/constructor-manager/src/constructor_manager/tests/test_main.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+"""Constructor manager API."""
+
+import constructor_manager
+
+
+def test_constructor_manager():
+    assert constructor_manager
diff --git a/constructor-manager/tox.ini b/constructor-manager/tox.ini
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b1f09aa6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/constructor-manager/tox.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+# For more information about tox, see https://tox.readthedocs.io/en/latest/
+[tox]
+envlist = py{38,39,310}-{linux,macos,windows}
+isolated_build=true
+
+[gh-actions]
+python =
+    3.8: py38
+    3.9: py39
+    3.10: py310
+
+[gh-actions:env]
+PLATFORM =
+    ubuntu-latest: linux
+    macos-latest: macos
+    windows-latest: windows
+
+[testenv]
+platform =
+    macos: darwin
+    linux: linux
+    windows: win32
+passenv =
+    CI
+    GITHUB_ACTIONS
+    DISPLAY XAUTHORITY
+    NUMPY_EXPERIMENTAL_ARRAY_FUNCTION
+    PYVISTA_OFF_SCREEN
+extras =
+    testing
+commands = pytest -v --color=yes --cov=constructor_manager