diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d5ccc42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+name: Run Tests
+
+on:
+  - push
+  - pull_request
+
+jobs:
+  test:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        python-version:
+          - "3.10"
+          - "3.11"
+          - "3.12"
+          - "3.13"
+          - "3.14"
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - name: Set up git-annex
+        run: |
+          sudo apt-get update
+          sudo apt-get install -y git-annex
+      - name: Install Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v6
+        with:
+          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
+      - name: Install Python dependencies
+        run: |
+          python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel
+          python -m pip install tox tox-gh-actions
+      - name: Configure Git for DataLad
+        run: |
+          git config --global user.email "julio-runner@github.com"
+          git config --global user.name "GitHub Runner"
+      - name: Test with tox
+        run: |
+          tox
+      - name: Upload coverage to Codecov
+        uses: codecov/codecov-action@v5
+        with:
+          fail_ci_if_error: true
+          flags: julio
+        if: success() && matrix.python-version == 3.13
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 3a1bff0..364bff6 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+## [0.0.1](https://github.com/juaml/junifer-julio/tree/0.0.1) - 2025-12-11
+
+### Added
+
+- Introduce registry creation ([#2](https://github.com/juaml/juni-julio/issues/2))
+
+
 ## [0.0.0](https://github.com/juaml/junifer-julio/tree/0.0.0) - 2025-12-11
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/codecov.yml b/codecov.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d080813
--- /dev/null
+++ b/codecov.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+codecov:
+  notify: {}
+  require_ci_to_pass: false
+
+comment: # this is a top-level key
+  layout: "reach, diff, flags, files"
+  behavior: default
+  require_changes: false # if true: only post the comment if coverage changes
+  require_base: no # [yes :: must have a base report to post]
+
+coverage:
+  status:
+    project: off
+    patch: off
+
+flag_management:
+  default_rules:
+    carryforward: true
+  individual_flags:
+    - name: julio
+      paths:
+        - julio/
+      statuses:
+        - type: project
+          target: 90%
+          threshold: 1%
+        - type: patch
+          target: 95%
+          threshold: 1%
diff --git a/julio/__init__.pyi b/julio/__init__.pyi
index e69de29..575fb65 100644
--- a/julio/__init__.pyi
+++ b/julio/__init__.pyi
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+__all__ = [
+    "create",
+]
+
+from ._functions import create
diff --git a/julio/_cli.py b/julio/_cli.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..42a922e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/julio/_cli.py
@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+"""CLI for julio."""
+
+# Authors: Synchon Mandal <s.mandal@fz-juelich.de>
+# License: AGPL
+
+import logging
+import logging.config
+import pathlib
+import sys
+
+import click
+import datalad
+import structlog
+
+from . import _functions as cli_func
+
+
+__all__ = ["cli", "create"]
+
+# Common processors for stdlib and structlog
+_timestamper = structlog.processors.TimeStamper(fmt="%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
+
+
+def _remove_datalad_message(_, __, event_dict):
+    """Clean datalad records."""
+    if "message" in event_dict:
+        event_dict.pop("message")
+    if "dlm_progress" in event_dict:
+        event_dict.pop("dlm_progress")
+    if "dlm_progress_noninteractive_level" in event_dict:
+        event_dict.pop("dlm_progress_noninteractive_level")
+    if "dlm_progress_update" in event_dict:
+        event_dict.pop("dlm_progress_update")
+    if "dlm_progress_label" in event_dict:
+        event_dict.pop("dlm_progress_label")
+    if "dlm_progress_unit" in event_dict:
+        event_dict.pop("dlm_progress_unit")
+    if "dlm_progress_total" in event_dict:
+        event_dict.pop("dlm_progress_total")
+    return event_dict
+
+
+_pre_chain = [
+    structlog.stdlib.add_log_level,
+    structlog.stdlib.add_logger_name,
+    structlog.stdlib.ExtraAdder(),
+    _timestamper,
+    _remove_datalad_message,
+]
+
+
+def _set_log_config(verbose: int) -> None:
+    """Set logging config.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    verbose : int
+        Verbosity.
+
+    """
+    # Configure logger based on verbosity
+    if verbose == 0:
+        level = logging.WARNING
+    elif verbose == 1:
+        level = logging.INFO
+    else:
+        level = logging.DEBUG
+    # Configure stdlib
+    logging.config.dictConfig(
+        {
+            "version": 1,
+            "disable_existing_loggers": False,
+            "formatters": {
+                "console": {
+                    "()": structlog.stdlib.ProcessorFormatter,
+                    "processors": [
+                        structlog.stdlib.add_logger_name,
+                        structlog.stdlib.ProcessorFormatter.remove_processors_meta,
+                        structlog.dev.ConsoleRenderer(
+                            colors=sys.stdout.isatty() and sys.stderr.isatty()
+                        ),
+                    ],
+                    "foreign_pre_chain": _pre_chain,
+                },
+            },
+            "handlers": {
+                "default": {
+                    "level": level,
+                    "class": "logging.StreamHandler",
+                    "formatter": "console",
+                },
+            },
+            "loggers": {
+                "": {
+                    "handlers": ["default"],
+                    "level": level,
+                    "propagate": True,
+                },
+            },
+        }
+    )
+    # Configure structlog
+    structlog.configure(
+        processors=[
+            structlog.stdlib.add_log_level,
+            structlog.stdlib.PositionalArgumentsFormatter(),
+            structlog.processors.TimeStamper(fmt="%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S"),
+            structlog.processors.StackInfoRenderer(),
+            structlog.processors.format_exc_info,
+            structlog.stdlib.ProcessorFormatter.wrap_for_formatter,
+        ],
+        logger_factory=structlog.stdlib.LoggerFactory(),
+        wrapper_class=structlog.make_filtering_bound_logger(level),
+        cache_logger_on_first_use=True,
+    )
+    # Remove datalad logger handlers to avoid duplicate logging
+    _datalad_lgr_hdlrs = datalad.log.lgr.handlers
+    for h in _datalad_lgr_hdlrs:
+        datalad.log.lgr.removeHandler(h)
+    datalad.log.lgr.setLevel(level)
+
+
+@click.group
+@click.version_option(prog_name="julio")
+@click.help_option()
+def cli() -> None:
+    """julio CLI."""  # noqa: D403
+
+
+@cli.command
+@click.argument(
+    "registry_path",
+    type=click.Path(
+        exists=False,
+        readable=True,
+        writable=True,
+        file_okay=False,
+        path_type=pathlib.Path,
+    ),
+    metavar="<registry>",
+)
+@click.option("-v", "--verbose", count=True, type=int)
+def create(
+    registry_path: click.Path,
+    verbose: int,
+) -> None:
+    """Create registry."""
+    _set_log_config(verbose)
+    try:
+        cli_func.create(registry_path)
+    except RuntimeError as err:
+        click.echo(f"{err}", err=True)
+    else:
+        click.echo("Success")
diff --git a/julio/_functions.py b/julio/_functions.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8f5ce90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/julio/_functions.py
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+"""Functions for julio."""
+
+# Authors: Synchon Mandal <s.mandal@fz-juelich.de>
+# License: AGPL
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import datalad.api as dl
+import structlog
+from datalad.support.exceptions import IncompleteResultsError
+
+
+__all__ = ["create"]
+
+
+logger = structlog.get_logger()
+
+
+def create(registry_path: Path):
+    """Create a registry at `registry_path`.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    registry_path : pathlib.Path
+        Path to the registry.
+
+    Raises
+    ------
+    RuntimeError
+        If there is a problem creating the registry.
+
+    """
+    try:
+        ds = dl.create(
+            path=registry_path,
+            cfg_proc="text2git",
+            on_failure="stop",
+            result_renderer="disabled",
+        )
+    except IncompleteResultsError as e:
+        raise RuntimeError(f"Failed to create dataset: {e.failed}") from e
+    else:
+        logger.debug(
+            "Registry created successfully",
+            cmd="create",
+            path=str(registry_path.resolve()),
+        )
+    # Add config file
+    conf_path = Path(ds.path) / "registry-config.yml"
+    conf_path.touch()
+    ds.save(
+        conf_path,
+        message="[julio] add registry configuration",
+        on_failure="stop",
+        result_renderer="disabled",
+    )
diff --git a/julio/tests/test_functions.py b/julio/tests/test_functions.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..978fb8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/julio/tests/test_functions.py
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+"""Test for functions."""
+
+# Authors: Synchon Mandal <s.mandal@fz-juelich.de>
+# License: AGPL
+
+import shutil
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+from julio import create
+
+
+def test_create(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    """Test registry creation.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    tmp_path : Path
+        Pytest fixture that provides a temporary directory.
+
+    """
+    registry_path = tmp_path / "test_registry"
+    create(registry_path)
+    config_path = registry_path / "registry-config.yml"
+    assert config_path.is_file()
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
+        create(registry_path)
+    shutil.rmtree(registry_path)
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index c09fa5d..7fe3fda 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ dependencies = [
     "click>=8.1.3,<8.2",
     "datalad>=1.0.0,<1.3.0",
     "lazy_loader==0.4",
+    "structlog>=25.0.0,<26.0.0",
 ]
 dynamic = ["version"]
 
@@ -123,12 +124,13 @@ known-first-party = ["julio"]
 known-third-party =[
     "click",
     "datalad",
+    "structlog",
     "pytest",
 ]
 
 [tool.pytest.ini_options]
 minversion = "7.0"
-testpaths = "tests"
+testpaths = "julio"
 log_cli_level = "INFO"
 xfail_strict = true
 addopts = [
@@ -176,3 +178,29 @@ showcontent = true
 directory = "fixed"
 name = "Fixed"
 showcontent = true
+
+[tool.coverage.paths]
+source = [
+    "julio",
+    "*/site-packages/julio",
+]
+
+[tool.coverage.run]
+branch = true
+omit = [
+    "*/__init__.py",
+    "*/_version.py",
+    "*/_cli.py",
+    "*/tests/*",
+]
+
+[tool.coverage.report]
+exclude_lines = [
+    # Have to re-enable the standard pragma
+    "pragma: no cover",
+    # Type checking if statements should not be considered
+    "if TYPE_CHECKING:",
+    # Don't complain if non-runnable code isn't run:
+    "if __name__ == .__main__.:",
+]
+precision = 2
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index abf06aa..f46a1e7 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ requires =
 env_list =
     ruff,
     changelog,
-    test,
+    coverage,
     py3{10,11,12,13,14}
 isolated_build = true
 
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ python =
     3.10: py310
     3.11: py311
     3.12: py312
-    3.13: py313
+    3.13: coverage
     3.14: py314
 
 [testenv]
@@ -42,3 +42,11 @@ deps =
     lazy_loader==0.4
 commands =
     towncrier build --draft
+
+[testenv:coverage]
+description = run tests with coverage
+skip_install = false
+deps =
+    pytest-cov
+commands =
+    pytest --cov={envsitepackagesdir}/julio --cov-report=xml --cov-report=term --cov-config=pyproject.toml {envsitepackagesdir}/julio
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index dcff20f..8b60db2 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -488,6 +488,7 @@ dependencies = [
     { name = "click" },
     { name = "datalad" },
     { name = "lazy-loader" },
+    { name = "structlog" },
 ]
 
 [package.optional-dependencies]
@@ -505,6 +506,7 @@ requires-dist = [
     { name = "lazy-loader", specifier = "==0.4" },
     { name = "pre-commit", marker = "extra == 'dev'" },
     { name = "ruff", marker = "extra == 'dev'" },
+    { name = "structlog", specifier = ">=25.0.0,<26.0.0" },
     { name = "towncrier", marker = "extra == 'dev'" },
     { name = "tox", marker = "extra == 'dev'" },
 ]
@@ -1000,6 +1002,18 @@ wheels = [
     { url = "https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/b7/ce/149a00dd41f10bc29e5921b496af8b574d8413afcd5e30dfa0ed46c2cc5e/six-1.17.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:4721f391ed90541fddacab5acf947aa0d3dc7d27b2e1e8eda2be8970586c3274", size = 11050, upload-time = "2024-12-04T17:35:26.475Z" },
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "structlog"
+version = "25.5.0"
+source = { registry = "https://pypi.org/simple" }
+dependencies = [
+    { name = "typing-extensions", marker = "python_full_version < '3.11'" },
+]
+sdist = { url = "https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/ef/52/9ba0f43b686e7f3ddfeaa78ac3af750292662284b3661e91ad5494f21dbc/structlog-25.5.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:098522a3bebed9153d4570c6d0288abf80a031dfdb2048d59a49e9dc2190fc98", size = 1460830, upload-time = "2025-10-27T08:28:23.028Z" }
+wheels = [
+    { url = "https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/a8/45/a132b9074aa18e799b891b91ad72133c98d8042c70f6240e4c5f9dabee2f/structlog-25.5.0-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:a8453e9b9e636ec59bd9e79bbd4a72f025981b3ba0f5837aebf48f02f37a7f9f", size = 72510, upload-time = "2025-10-27T08:28:21.535Z" },
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "tomli"
 version = "2.3.0"