diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 59a3c5ad5af..734242835f3 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 set(SOUFFLE_SOURCES
     FunctorOps.cpp
     Global.cpp
+    MainDriver.cpp
     ast/Aggregator.cpp
     ast/IntrinsicAggregator.cpp
     ast/UserDefinedAggregator.cpp
@@ -220,7 +221,10 @@ target_compile_features(libsouffle PUBLIC cxx_std_17)
 target_compile_features(compiled PUBLIC cxx_std_17)
 
 set_target_properties(libsouffle PROPERTIES CXX_EXTENSIONS OFF)
+set_target_properties(libsouffle PROPERTIES POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE ON)
+
 set_target_properties(compiled PROPERTIES CXX_EXTENSIONS OFF)
+set_target_properties(compiled PROPERTIES POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE ON)
 
 if (NOT MSVC)
   target_compile_options(libsouffle PUBLIC -Wall -Wextra -Werror -fwrapv)
@@ -315,7 +319,7 @@ set_target_properties(libsouffle PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME "souffle")
 # Souffle binary
 # --------------------------------------------------
 add_executable(souffle
-               main.cpp)
+               souffle.cpp)
 target_link_libraries(souffle libsouffle)
 install(TARGETS souffle DESTINATION bin)
 
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/MainDriver.cpp
similarity index 77%
rename from src/main.cpp
rename to src/MainDriver.cpp
index eba0866f888..0f60cf8da8b 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/MainDriver.cpp
@@ -8,12 +8,13 @@
 
 /************************************************************************
  *
- * @file main.cpp
+ * @file MainDriver.cpp
  *
  * Main driver for Souffle
  *
  ***********************************************************************/
 
+#include "MainDriver.h"
 #include "Global.h"
 #include "ast/Clause.h"
 #include "ast/Node.h"
@@ -103,6 +104,7 @@
 #include "souffle/utility/SubProcess.h"
 #include "synthesiser/GenDb.h"
 #include "synthesiser/Synthesiser.h"
+
 #include <cassert>
 #include <chrono>
 #include <cstdio>
@@ -183,6 +185,10 @@ void compileToBinary(
         argv.push_back(glb.config().get("swig"));
     }
 
+    if (glb.config().has("verbose")) {
+        argv.push_back("-v");
+    }
+
     for (auto&& path : glb.config().getMany("library-dir")) {
         // The first entry may be blank
         if (path.empty()) {
@@ -395,134 +401,300 @@ static WarnSet process_warn_opts(const Global& glb) {
     return warns;
 }
 
-int main(Global& glb, int argc, char** argv) {
-    /* Time taking for overall runtime */
-    auto souffle_start = std::chrono::high_resolution_clock::now();
+Own<ast::transform::PipelineTransformer> astTransformationPipeline(Global& glb) {
+    // clang-format off
+    // Equivalence pipeline
+    auto equivalencePipeline =
+            mk<ast::transform::PipelineTransformer>(mk<ast::transform::NameUnnamedVariablesTransformer>(),
+                    mk<ast::transform::FixpointTransformer>(mk<ast::transform::MinimiseProgramTransformer>()),
+                    mk<ast::transform::ReplaceSingletonVariablesTransformer>(),
+                    mk<ast::transform::RemoveRelationCopiesTransformer>(),
+                    mk<ast::transform::RemoveEmptyRelationsTransformer>(),
+                    mk<ast::transform::RemoveRedundantRelationsTransformer>());
 
-    std::string versionFooter;
+    // Magic-Set pipeline
+    auto magicPipeline = mk<ast::transform::PipelineTransformer>(
+            mk<ast::transform::ConditionalTransformer>(
+                    glb.config().has("magic-transform"), mk<ast::transform::ExpandEqrelsTransformer>()),
+            mk<ast::transform::MagicSetTransformer>(), mk<ast::transform::ResolveAliasesTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::RemoveRelationCopiesTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::RemoveEmptyRelationsTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::RemoveRedundantRelationsTransformer>(), clone(equivalencePipeline));
 
-    /* have all to do with command line arguments in its own scope, as these are accessible through the global
-     * configuration only */
+    // Partitioning pipeline
+    auto partitionPipeline =
+            mk<ast::transform::PipelineTransformer>(mk<ast::transform::NameUnnamedVariablesTransformer>(),
+                    mk<ast::transform::PartitionBodyLiteralsTransformer>(),
+                    mk<ast::transform::ReplaceSingletonVariablesTransformer>());
+
+    // Provenance pipeline
+    auto provenancePipeline = mk<ast::transform::ConditionalTransformer>(glb.config().has("provenance"),
+            mk<ast::transform::PipelineTransformer>(mk<ast::transform::ExpandEqrelsTransformer>(),
+                    mk<ast::transform::NameUnnamedVariablesTransformer>()));
+
+    // Main pipeline
+    auto pipeline = mk<ast::transform::PipelineTransformer>(mk<ast::transform::ComponentChecker>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::ComponentInstantiationTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::IODefaultsTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::SimplifyAggregateTargetExpressionTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::UniqueAggregationVariablesTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::FixpointTransformer>(mk<ast::transform::PipelineTransformer>(
+                    mk<ast::transform::ResolveAnonymousRecordAliasesTransformer>(),
+                    mk<ast::transform::FoldAnonymousRecords>())),
+            mk<ast::transform::SubsumptionQualifierTransformer>(), mk<ast::transform::SemanticChecker>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::GroundWitnessesTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::UniqueAggregationVariablesTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::MaterializeSingletonAggregationTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::FixpointTransformer>(
+                    mk<ast::transform::MaterializeAggregationQueriesTransformer>()),
+            mk<ast::transform::RemoveRedundantSumsTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::NormaliseGeneratorsTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::ResolveAliasesTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::RemoveBooleanConstraintsTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::ResolveAliasesTransformer>(), mk<ast::transform::MinimiseProgramTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::InlineUnmarkExcludedTransform>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::InlineRelationsTransformer>(), mk<ast::transform::GroundedTermsChecker>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::ResolveAliasesTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::RemoveRedundantRelationsTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::RemoveRelationCopiesTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::RemoveEmptyRelationsTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::ReplaceSingletonVariablesTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::FixpointTransformer>(mk<ast::transform::PipelineTransformer>(
+                    mk<ast::transform::ReduceExistentialsTransformer>(),
+                    mk<ast::transform::RemoveRedundantRelationsTransformer>())),
+            mk<ast::transform::RemoveRelationCopiesTransformer>(), std::move(partitionPipeline),
+            std::move(equivalencePipeline), mk<ast::transform::RemoveRelationCopiesTransformer>(),
+            std::move(magicPipeline), mk<ast::transform::RemoveEmptyRelationsTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::AddNullariesToAtomlessAggregatesTransformer>(),
+            mk<ast::transform::ExecutionPlanChecker>(), std::move(provenancePipeline),
+            mk<ast::transform::IOAttributesTransformer>());
+    // clang-format on
+
+    return pipeline;
+}
+
+Own<ast2ram::UnitTranslator> getUnitTranslator(Global& glb) {
+    auto translationStrategy =
+            glb.config().has("provenance")
+                    ? mk<ast2ram::TranslationStrategy, ast2ram::provenance::TranslationStrategy>()
+                    : mk<ast2ram::TranslationStrategy, ast2ram::seminaive::TranslationStrategy>();
+    auto unitTranslator = Own<ast2ram::UnitTranslator>(translationStrategy->createUnitTranslator());
+
+    return unitTranslator;
+}
+
+Own<ram::transform::Transformer> ramTransformerSequence(Global& glb) {
+    using namespace ram::transform;
+    // clang-format off
+    Own<Transformer> ramTransform = mk<TransformerSequence>(
+            mk<LoopTransformer>(mk<TransformerSequence>(mk<ExpandFilterTransformer>(),
+                    mk<HoistConditionsTransformer>(), mk<MakeIndexTransformer>())),
+            mk<IfConversionTransformer>(), mk<IfExistsConversionTransformer>(),
+            mk<CollapseFiltersTransformer>(), mk<TupleIdTransformer>(),
+            mk<LoopTransformer>(
+                    mk<TransformerSequence>(mk<HoistAggregateTransformer>(), mk<TupleIdTransformer>())),
+            mk<ExpandFilterTransformer>(), mk<HoistConditionsTransformer>(),
+            mk<CollapseFiltersTransformer>(), mk<EliminateDuplicatesTransformer>(),
+            mk<ReorderConditionsTransformer>(), mk<LoopTransformer>(mk<ReorderFilterBreak>()),
+            mk<ConditionalTransformer>(
+                    // job count of 0 means all cores are used.
+                    [&]() -> bool { return std::stoi(glb.config().get("jobs")) != 1; },
+                    mk<ParallelTransformer>()),
+            mk<ReportIndexTransformer>());
+    // clang-format on
+
+    return ramTransform;
+}
+
+bool interpretTranslationUnit(Global& glb, ram::TranslationUnit& ramTranslationUnit) {
     try {
-        std::stringstream header;
-        header << "============================================================================" << std::endl;
-        header << "souffle -- A datalog engine." << std::endl;
-        header << "Usage: souffle [OPTION] FILE." << std::endl;
-        header << "----------------------------------------------------------------------------" << std::endl;
-        header << "Options:" << std::endl;
-
-        std::stringstream footer;
-        footer << "----------------------------------------------------------------------------" << std::endl;
-        footer << "Version: " << PACKAGE_VERSION << std::endl;
-        footer << "Word size: " << RAM_DOMAIN_SIZE << " bits" << std::endl;
-        footer << "Options enabled:";
+        std::thread profiler;
+        // Start up profiler if needed
+        if (glb.config().has("live-profile")) {
+#ifdef _MSC_VER
+            throw("No live-profile on Windows\n.");
+#else
+            profiler = std::thread([]() { profile::Tui().runProf(); });
+#endif
+        }
+
+        // configure and execute interpreter
+        const std::size_t numThreadsOrZero = std::stoi(glb.config().get("jobs"));
+        Own<interpreter::Engine> interpreter(mk<interpreter::Engine>(ramTranslationUnit, numThreadsOrZero));
+        interpreter->executeMain();
+        // If the profiler was started, join back here once it exits.
+        if (profiler.joinable()) {
+            profiler.join();
+        }
+        if (glb.config().has("provenance")) {
+#ifdef _MSC_VER
+            throw("No explain/explore provenance on Windows\n.");
+#else
+            // only run explain interface if interpreted
+            interpreter::ProgInterface interface(*interpreter);
+            if (glb.config().get("provenance") == "explain") {
+                explain(interface, false);
+            } else if (glb.config().get("provenance") == "explore") {
+                explain(interface, true);
+            }
+#endif
+        }
+        return true;
+    } catch (std::exception& e) {
+        std::cerr << e.what() << std::endl;
+        return false;
+    }
+}
+
+const char* packageVersion() {
+    return PACKAGE_VERSION;
+}
+
+std::size_t ramDomainSizeInBits() {
+    return RAM_DOMAIN_SIZE;
+}
+
+std::string versionFooter() {
+    std::stringstream footer;
+    footer << "----------------------------------------------------------------------------" << std::endl;
+    footer << "Version: " << packageVersion() << std::endl;
+    footer << "Word size: " << ramDomainSizeInBits() << " bits" << std::endl;
+    footer << "Options enabled:";
 #ifdef USE_LIBFFI
-        footer << " ffi";
+    footer << " ffi";
 #endif
 #ifdef _OPENMP
-        footer << " openmp";
+    footer << " openmp";
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_NCURSES
-        footer << " ncurses";
+    footer << " ncurses";
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_SQLITE
-        footer << " sqlite";
+    footer << " sqlite";
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_LIBZ
-        footer << " zlib";
+    footer << " zlib";
 #endif
-        footer << std::endl;
-        footer << "----------------------------------------------------------------------------" << std::endl;
-        footer << "Copyright (c) 2016-22 The Souffle Developers." << std::endl;
-        footer << "Copyright (c) 2013-16 Oracle and/or its affiliates." << std::endl;
-        footer << "All rights reserved." << std::endl;
-        footer << "============================================================================" << std::endl;
-
-        versionFooter = footer.str();
-
-        // command line options, the environment will be filled with the arguments passed to them, or
-        // the empty string if they take none
-        // main option, the datalog program itself, has an empty key
-        std::vector<MainOption> options{{"", 0, "", "", false, ""},
-                {"auto-schedule", 'a', "FILE", "", false,
-                        "Use profile auto-schedule <FILE> for auto-scheduling."},
-                {"fact-dir", 'F', "DIR", ".", false, "Specify directory for fact files."},
-                {"include-dir", 'I', "DIR", ".", true, "Specify directory for include files."},
-                {"output-dir", 'D', "DIR", ".", false,
-                        "Specify directory for output files. If <DIR> is `-` then stdout is used."},
-                {"jobs", 'j', "N", "1", false,
-                        "Run interpreter/compiler in parallel using N threads, N=auto for system "
-                        "default."},
-                {"compile", 'c', "", "", false,
-                        "Generate C++ source code, compile to a binary executable, then run this "
-                        "executable."},
-                {"compile-many", 'C', "", "", false,
-                        "Generate C++ source code in multiple files, compile to a binary executable, then "
-                        "run this "
-                        "executable."},
-                {"generate", 'g', "FILE", "", false,
-                        "Generate C++ source code for the given Datalog program and write it to "
-                        "<FILE>. If <FILE> is `-` then stdout is used."},
-                {"generate-many", 'G', "DIR", "", false,
-                        "Generate C++ source code in multiple files for the given Datalog program "
-                        "and write it to <DIR>."},
-                {"inline-exclude", '\x7', "RELATIONS", "", false,
-                        "Prevent the given relations from being inlined. Overrides any `inline` qualifiers."},
-                {"swig", 's', "LANG", "", false,
-                        "Generate SWIG interface for given language. The values <LANG> accepts is java and "
-                        "python. "},
-                {"library-dir", 'L', "DIR", "", true, "Specify directory for library files."},
-                {"libraries", 'l', "FILE", "", true, "Specify libraries."},
-                {"no-warn", 'w', "", "", false, "Disable warnings."},
-                {"warn", 'W', "WARN", "all", true, "Enable a warning."},
-                {"wno", '\xb', "WARN", "none", true, "Disable a specific warning."},
-                // TODO(lb):
-                // {"Werror", '\xc', "WARN", "none", false, "Turn a warning into an error."},
-                {"magic-transform", 'm', "RELATIONS", "", false,
-                        "Enable magic set transformation changes on the given relations, use '*' "
-                        "for all."},
-                {"magic-transform-exclude", '\x8', "RELATIONS", "", false,
-                        "Disable magic set transformation changes on the given relations. Overrides "
-                        "`magic-transform`. Implies `inline-exclude` for the given relations."},
-                {"macro", 'M', "MACROS", "", false, "Set macro definitions for the pre-processor"},
-                {"disable-transformers", 'z', "TRANSFORMERS", "", false,
-                        "Disable the given AST transformers."},
-                {"dl-program", 'o', "FILE", "", false,
-                        "Generate C++ source code, written to <FILE>, and compile this to a "
-                        "binary executable (without executing it)."},
-                {"emit-statistics", '\x9', "", "", false,
-                        "Enable collection of statistics for auto-scheduling"},
-                {"live-profile", '\1', "", "", false, "Enable live profiling."},
-                {"profile", 'p', "FILE", "", false, "Enable profiling, and write profile data to <FILE>."},
-                {"profile-frequency", '\2', "", "", false, "Enable the frequency counter in the profiler."},
-                {"debug-report", 'r', "FILE", "", false, "Write HTML debug report to <FILE>."},
-                {"pragma", 'P', "OPTIONS", "", true, "Set pragma options."},
-                {"provenance", 't', "[ none | explain | explore ]", "", false,
-                        "Enable provenance instrumentation and interaction."},
-                {"verbose", 'v', "", "", false, "Verbose output."},
-                {"version", '\3', "", "", false, "Version."},
-                {"show", '\4', "[ <see-list> ]", "", true,
-                        "Print selected program information.\n"
-                        "Modes:\n"
-                        "\tinitial-ast\n"
-                        "\tinitial-ram\n"
-                        "\tparse-errors\n"
-                        "\tprecedence-graph\n"
-                        "\tprecedence-graph-text\n"
-                        "\tscc-graph\n"
-                        "\tscc-graph-text\n"
-                        "\ttransformed-ast\n"
-                        "\ttransformed-ram\n"
-                        "\ttype-analysis"},
-                {"parse-errors", '\5', "", "", false, "Show parsing errors, if any, then exit."},
-                {"help", 'h', "", "", false, "Display this help message."},
-                {"legacy", '\6', "", "", false, "Enable legacy support."},
-                {"preprocessor", '\7', "CMD", "", false, "C preprocessor to use."},
-                {"no-preprocessor", 10, "", "", false, "Do not use a C preprocessor."}};
-        glb.config().processArgs(argc, argv, header.str(), versionFooter, options);
-
-        // ------ command line arguments -------------
+    footer << std::endl;
+    footer << "----------------------------------------------------------------------------" << std::endl;
+    footer << "Copyright (c) 2016-22 The Souffle Developers." << std::endl;
+    footer << "Copyright (c) 2013-16 Oracle and/or its affiliates." << std::endl;
+    footer << "All rights reserved." << std::endl;
+    footer << "============================================================================" << std::endl;
+
+    return footer.str();
+}
 
+std::vector<MainOption> getMainOptions() {
+    char nextOptChar = 1;
+    // clang-format off
+  std::vector<MainOption> options{
+      {"", 0, "", "", false, ""},
+      {"auto-schedule", 'a', "FILE", "", false,
+          "Use profile auto-schedule <FILE> for auto-scheduling."},
+      {"compile", 'c', "", "", false,
+          "Generate C++ source code, compile to a binary executable, then run this "
+          "executable."},
+      {"compile-many", 'C', "", "", false,
+          "Generate C++ source code in multiple files, compile to a binary executable, then "
+          "run this "
+          "executable."},
+      {"debug-report", 'r', "FILE", "", false,
+          "Write HTML debug report to <FILE>."},
+      {"disable-transformers", 'z', "TRANSFORMERS", "", false,
+          "Disable the given AST transformers."},
+      {"dl-program", 'o', "FILE", "", false,
+          "Generate C++ source code, written to <FILE>, and compile this to a "
+          "binary executable (without executing it)."},
+      {"emit-statistics", nextOptChar++, "", "", false,
+          "Enable collection of statistics for auto-scheduling"},
+      {"fact-dir", 'F', "DIR", ".", false,
+          "Specify directory for fact files."},
+      {"generate", 'g', "FILE", "", false,
+          "Generate C++ source code for the given Datalog program and write it to "
+          "<FILE>. If <FILE> is `-` then stdout is used."},
+      {"generate-many", 'G', "DIR", "", false,
+          "Generate C++ source code in multiple files for the given Datalog program "
+          "and write it to <DIR>."},
+      {"help", 'h', "", "", false,
+          "Display this help message."},
+      {"include-dir", 'I', "DIR", ".", true,
+          "Specify directory for include files."},
+      {"inline-exclude", nextOptChar++, "RELATIONS", "", false,
+          "Prevent the given relations from being inlined. Overrides any `inline` qualifiers."},
+      {"jobs", 'j', "N", "1", false,
+          "Run interpreter/compiler in parallel using N threads, N=auto for system "
+          "default."},
+      {"legacy", nextOptChar++, "", "", false,
+          "Enable legacy support."},
+      {"libraries", 'l', "FILE", "", true,
+          "Specify libraries."},
+      {"library-dir", 'L', "DIR", "", true,
+          "Specify directory for library files."},
+      {"live-profile", nextOptChar++, "", "", false,
+          "Enable live profiling."},
+      {"macro", 'M', "MACROS", "", false,
+          "Set macro definitions for the pre-processor"},
+      {"magic-transform", 'm', "RELATIONS", "", false,
+          "Enable magic set transformation changes on the given relations, use '*' "
+          "for all."},
+      {"magic-transform-exclude", nextOptChar++, "RELATIONS", "", false,
+          "Disable magic set transformation changes on the given relations. Overrides "
+          "`magic-transform`. Implies `inline-exclude` for the given relations."},
+      {"no-preprocessor", nextOptChar++, "", "", false,
+          "Do not use a C preprocessor."},
+      {"no-warn", 'w', "", "", false,
+          "Disable warnings."},
+      {"output-dir", 'D', "DIR", ".", false,
+          "Specify directory for output files. If <DIR> is `-` then stdout is used."},
+      {"parse-errors", nextOptChar++, "", "", false,
+          "Show parsing errors, if any, then exit."},
+      {"pragma", 'P', "OPTIONS", "", true,
+          "Set pragma options."},
+      {"preprocessor", nextOptChar++, "CMD", "", false,
+          "C preprocessor to use."},
+      {"profile", 'p', "FILE", "", false,
+          "Enable profiling, and write profile data to <FILE>."},
+      {"profile-frequency", nextOptChar++, "", "", false,
+          "Enable the frequency counter in the profiler."},
+      {"provenance", 't', "[ none | explain | explore ]", "", false,
+          "Enable provenance instrumentation and interaction."},
+      {"show", nextOptChar++, "[ <see-list> ]", "", true,
+          "Print selected program information.\n"
+          "Modes:\n"
+              "\tinitial-ast\n"
+              "\tinitial-ram\n"
+              "\tparse-errors\n"
+              "\tprecedence-graph\n"
+              "\tprecedence-graph-text\n"
+              "\tscc-graph\n"
+              "\tscc-graph-text\n"
+              "\ttransformed-ast\n"
+              "\ttransformed-ram\n"
+              "\ttype-analysis"},
+      {"swig", 's', "LANG", "", false,
+          "Generate SWIG interface for given language. The values <LANG> accepts is java and "
+          "python. "},
+      {"verbose", 'v', "", "", false,
+          "Verbose output."},
+      {"version", nextOptChar++, "", "", false,
+          "Version."},
+      {"warn", 'W', "WARN", "all", true,
+          "Enable a warning."},
+      {"wno", nextOptChar++, "WARN", "none", true,
+          "Disable a specific warning."},
+      // TODO(lb):
+      // {"Werror", '\xc', "WARN", "none", false, "Turn a warning into an error."},
+  };
+  // clang-format off
+  return options;
+}
+
+int main(Global& glb, const char* souffle_executable) {
+    /* Time taking for overall runtime */
+    auto souffle_start = std::chrono::high_resolution_clock::now();
+
+    try {
         // Take in pragma options from the command line
         if (glb.config().has("pragma")) {
             ast::transform::PragmaChecker::Merger merger(glb);
@@ -542,10 +714,10 @@ int main(Global& glb, int argc, char** argv) {
 
         /* for the version option, if given print the version text then exit */
         if (glb.config().has("version")) {
-            std::cout << versionFooter << std::endl;
+            std::cout << versionFooter() << std::endl;
             return 0;
         }
-        glb.config().set("version", PACKAGE_VERSION);
+        glb.config().set("version", packageVersion());
 
         /* for the help option, if given simply print the help text then exit */
         if (glb.config().has("help")) {
@@ -638,7 +810,7 @@ int main(Global& glb, int argc, char** argv) {
 
     // ------ start souffle -------------
 
-    const std::string souffleExecutable = which(argv[0]);
+    const std::string souffleExecutable = which(souffle_executable);
 
     if (souffleExecutable.empty()) {
         throw std::runtime_error("failed to determine souffle executable path");
@@ -676,7 +848,7 @@ int main(Global& glb, int argc, char** argv) {
     // parse file
     ErrorReport errReport(process_warn_opts(glb));
 
-    DebugReport debugReport;
+    DebugReport debugReport(glb);
     Own<ast::TranslationUnit> astTranslationUnit = ParserDriver::parseTranslationUnit(
             glb, InputPath.string(), Input->getInputStream(), errReport, debugReport);
     Input->endInput();
@@ -716,72 +888,7 @@ int main(Global& glb, int argc, char** argv) {
     }
 
     /* construct the transformation pipeline */
-
-    // Equivalence pipeline
-    auto equivalencePipeline =
-            mk<ast::transform::PipelineTransformer>(mk<ast::transform::NameUnnamedVariablesTransformer>(),
-                    mk<ast::transform::FixpointTransformer>(mk<ast::transform::MinimiseProgramTransformer>()),
-                    mk<ast::transform::ReplaceSingletonVariablesTransformer>(),
-                    mk<ast::transform::RemoveRelationCopiesTransformer>(),
-                    mk<ast::transform::RemoveEmptyRelationsTransformer>(),
-                    mk<ast::transform::RemoveRedundantRelationsTransformer>());
-
-    // Magic-Set pipeline
-    auto magicPipeline = mk<ast::transform::PipelineTransformer>(
-            mk<ast::transform::ConditionalTransformer>(
-                    glb.config().has("magic-transform"), mk<ast::transform::ExpandEqrelsTransformer>()),
-            mk<ast::transform::MagicSetTransformer>(), mk<ast::transform::ResolveAliasesTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::RemoveRelationCopiesTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::RemoveEmptyRelationsTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::RemoveRedundantRelationsTransformer>(), clone(equivalencePipeline));
-
-    // Partitioning pipeline
-    auto partitionPipeline =
-            mk<ast::transform::PipelineTransformer>(mk<ast::transform::NameUnnamedVariablesTransformer>(),
-                    mk<ast::transform::PartitionBodyLiteralsTransformer>(),
-                    mk<ast::transform::ReplaceSingletonVariablesTransformer>());
-
-    // Provenance pipeline
-    auto provenancePipeline = mk<ast::transform::ConditionalTransformer>(glb.config().has("provenance"),
-            mk<ast::transform::PipelineTransformer>(mk<ast::transform::ExpandEqrelsTransformer>(),
-                    mk<ast::transform::NameUnnamedVariablesTransformer>()));
-
-    // Main pipeline
-    auto pipeline = mk<ast::transform::PipelineTransformer>(mk<ast::transform::ComponentChecker>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::ComponentInstantiationTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::IODefaultsTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::SimplifyAggregateTargetExpressionTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::UniqueAggregationVariablesTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::FixpointTransformer>(mk<ast::transform::PipelineTransformer>(
-                    mk<ast::transform::ResolveAnonymousRecordAliasesTransformer>(),
-                    mk<ast::transform::FoldAnonymousRecords>())),
-            mk<ast::transform::SubsumptionQualifierTransformer>(), mk<ast::transform::SemanticChecker>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::GroundWitnessesTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::UniqueAggregationVariablesTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::MaterializeSingletonAggregationTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::FixpointTransformer>(
-                    mk<ast::transform::MaterializeAggregationQueriesTransformer>()),
-            mk<ast::transform::RemoveRedundantSumsTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::NormaliseGeneratorsTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::ResolveAliasesTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::RemoveBooleanConstraintsTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::ResolveAliasesTransformer>(), mk<ast::transform::MinimiseProgramTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::InlineUnmarkExcludedTransform>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::InlineRelationsTransformer>(), mk<ast::transform::GroundedTermsChecker>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::ResolveAliasesTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::RemoveRedundantRelationsTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::RemoveRelationCopiesTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::RemoveEmptyRelationsTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::ReplaceSingletonVariablesTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::FixpointTransformer>(mk<ast::transform::PipelineTransformer>(
-                    mk<ast::transform::ReduceExistentialsTransformer>(),
-                    mk<ast::transform::RemoveRedundantRelationsTransformer>())),
-            mk<ast::transform::RemoveRelationCopiesTransformer>(), std::move(partitionPipeline),
-            std::move(equivalencePipeline), mk<ast::transform::RemoveRelationCopiesTransformer>(),
-            std::move(magicPipeline), mk<ast::transform::RemoveEmptyRelationsTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::AddNullariesToAtomlessAggregatesTransformer>(),
-            mk<ast::transform::ExecutionPlanChecker>(), std::move(provenancePipeline),
-            mk<ast::transform::IOAttributesTransformer>());
+    auto pipeline = astTransformationPipeline(glb);
 
     // Disable unwanted transformations
     if (glb.config().has("disable-transformers")) {
@@ -865,11 +972,7 @@ int main(Global& glb, int argc, char** argv) {
     // ------- execution -------------
     /* translate AST to RAM */
     debugReport.startSection();
-    auto translationStrategy =
-            glb.config().has("provenance")
-                    ? mk<ast2ram::TranslationStrategy, ast2ram::provenance::TranslationStrategy>()
-                    : mk<ast2ram::TranslationStrategy, ast2ram::seminaive::TranslationStrategy>();
-    auto unitTranslator = Own<ast2ram::UnitTranslator>(translationStrategy->createUnitTranslator());
+    auto unitTranslator = getUnitTranslator(glb);
     auto ramTranslationUnit = unitTranslator->translateUnit(*astTranslationUnit);
     debugReport.endSection("ast-to-ram", "Translate AST to RAM");
 
@@ -881,23 +984,7 @@ int main(Global& glb, int argc, char** argv) {
 
     // Apply RAM transforms
     {
-        using namespace ram::transform;
-        Own<Transformer> ramTransform = mk<TransformerSequence>(
-                mk<LoopTransformer>(mk<TransformerSequence>(mk<ExpandFilterTransformer>(),
-                        mk<HoistConditionsTransformer>(), mk<MakeIndexTransformer>())),
-                mk<IfConversionTransformer>(), mk<IfExistsConversionTransformer>(),
-                mk<CollapseFiltersTransformer>(), mk<TupleIdTransformer>(),
-                mk<LoopTransformer>(
-                        mk<TransformerSequence>(mk<HoistAggregateTransformer>(), mk<TupleIdTransformer>())),
-                mk<ExpandFilterTransformer>(), mk<HoistConditionsTransformer>(),
-                mk<CollapseFiltersTransformer>(), mk<EliminateDuplicatesTransformer>(),
-                mk<ReorderConditionsTransformer>(), mk<LoopTransformer>(mk<ReorderFilterBreak>()),
-                mk<ConditionalTransformer>(
-                        // job count of 0 means all cores are used.
-                        [&]() -> bool { return std::stoi(glb.config().get("jobs")) != 1; },
-                        mk<ParallelTransformer>()),
-                mk<ReportIndexTransformer>());
-
+        auto ramTransform = ramTransformerSequence(glb);
         ramTransform->apply(*ramTranslationUnit);
     }
 
@@ -924,45 +1011,13 @@ int main(Global& glb, int argc, char** argv) {
     try {
         if (must_interpret) {
             // ------- interpreter -------------
-
-            std::thread profiler;
-            // Start up profiler if needed
-            if (glb.config().has("live-profile")) {
-#ifdef _MSC_VER
-                throw("No live-profile on Windows\n.");
-#else
-                profiler = std::thread([]() { profile::Tui().runProf(); });
-#endif
-            }
-
-            // configure and execute interpreter
-            const std::size_t numThreadsOrZero = std::stoi(glb.config().get("jobs"));
-            Own<interpreter::Engine> interpreter(
-                    mk<interpreter::Engine>(*ramTranslationUnit, numThreadsOrZero));
-            interpreter->executeMain();
-            // If the profiler was started, join back here once it exits.
-            if (profiler.joinable()) {
-                profiler.join();
-            }
-            if (glb.config().has("provenance")) {
-#ifdef _MSC_VER
-                throw("No explain/explore provenance on Windows\n.");
-#else
-                // only run explain interface if interpreted
-                interpreter::ProgInterface interface(*interpreter);
-                if (glb.config().get("provenance") == "explain") {
-                    explain(interface, false);
-                } else if (glb.config().get("provenance") == "explore") {
-                    explain(interface, true);
-                }
-#endif
+            const bool success = interpretTranslationUnit(glb, *ramTranslationUnit);
+            if (!success) {
+                std::exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
         } else {
             // ------- compiler -------------
-            // int jobs = std::stoi(glb.config().get("jobs"));
-            // jobs = (jobs <= 0 ? MAX_THREADS : jobs);
-            auto synthesiser =
-                    mk<synthesiser::Synthesiser>(/*static_cast<std::size_t>(jobs),*/ *ramTranslationUnit);
+            auto synthesiser = mk<synthesiser::Synthesiser>(*ramTranslationUnit);
 
             // Find the base filename for code generation and execution
             std::string baseFilename;
@@ -1070,7 +1125,3 @@ int main(Global& glb, int argc, char** argv) {
 
 }  // end of namespace souffle
 
-int main(int argc, char** argv) {
-    souffle::Global glb;
-    return souffle::main(glb, argc, argv);
-}
diff --git a/src/MainDriver.h b/src/MainDriver.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6f529c63e64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/MainDriver.h
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+/*
+ * Souffle - A Datalog Compiler
+ * Copyright (c) 2022, The Souffle Developers. All rights reserved
+ * Licensed under the Universal Permissive License v 1.0 as shown at:
+ * - https://opensource.org/licenses/UPL
+ * - <souffle root>/licenses/SOUFFLE-UPL.txt
+ */
+
+/**
+ * @file MainDriver.h
+ *
+ * Main driver interface for Souffle
+ */
+#pragma once
+
+#include "Global.h"
+#include "ast/transform/Pipeline.h"
+#include "ast2ram/UnitTranslator.h"
+#include "ast2ram/utility/TranslatorContext.h"
+#include "include/souffle/utility/Types.h"
+#include "ram/Program.h"
+#include "ram/transform/Transformer.h"
+
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+
+namespace souffle {
+
+/** Return the package version string. */
+const char* packageVersion();
+
+/** Return the size in bits of the RamDomain type. */
+std::size_t ramDomainSizeInBits();
+
+/** Return the copyright and version footer banner string. */
+std::string versionFooter();
+
+/** Return the command-line options that can be passed to `MainConfig::processArgs()`. */
+std::vector<MainOption> getMainOptions();
+
+/** Execute entire Souffle driver. */
+int main(Global& glb, const char* souffle_executable);
+
+/** Construct and return an AST transformer pipeline. */
+Own<ast::transform::PipelineTransformer> astTransformationPipeline(Global& glb);
+
+/** Construct and return an AST to RAM unit translator. */
+Own<ast2ram::UnitTranslator> getUnitTranslator(Global& glb);
+
+/** Construct and return a RAM transformer pipeline */
+Own<ram::transform::Transformer> ramTransformerSequence(Global& glb);
+
+/** Interpret the RAM translation unit using Souffle's interpreter engine. */
+bool interpretTranslationUnit(Global& glb, ram::TranslationUnit& ramTranslationUnit);
+
+}  // namespace souffle
diff --git a/src/souffle.cpp b/src/souffle.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a95bddc908d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/souffle.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/*
+ * Souffle - A Datalog Compiler
+ * Copyright (c) 2022, The Souffle Developers. All rights reserved
+ * Licensed under the Universal Permissive License v 1.0 as shown at:
+ * - https://opensource.org/licenses/UPL
+ * - <souffle root>/licenses/SOUFFLE-UPL.txt
+ */
+
+/**
+ * @file The souffle executable
+ */
+
+#include "MainDriver.h"
+
+#include <sstream>
+#include <vector>
+
+namespace {
+
+bool processArgs(souffle::Global& glb, int argc, char** argv) {
+    /* have all to do with command line arguments in its own scope, as these are accessible through the global
+     * configuration only */
+    std::stringstream header;
+
+    header << "============================================================================" << std::endl;
+    header << "souffle -- A datalog engine." << std::endl;
+    header << "Usage: souffle [OPTION] FILE." << std::endl;
+    header << "----------------------------------------------------------------------------" << std::endl;
+    header << "Options:" << std::endl;
+
+    // command line options, the environment will be filled with the arguments passed to them, or
+    // the empty string if they take none
+    // main option, the datalog program itself, has an empty key
+    const std::vector<souffle::MainOption> options = souffle::getMainOptions();
+    glb.config().processArgs(argc, argv, header.str(), souffle::versionFooter(), options);
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+}  // namespace
+
+int main(int argc, char** argv) {
+    souffle::Global glb;
+
+    processArgs(glb, argc, argv);
+
+    return souffle::main(glb, argv[0]);
+}