diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index de2a028..f74d415 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,9 +1,5 @@
-cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.17)
+cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.27)
 
-set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER "clang")
-set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER "clang++")
-set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -stdlib=libc++ -freflection -fno-access-contexts -std=c++26")
-# set(CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS "${CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS} -stdlib=libc++")
 
 project(mppi
     VERSION 0.10.2
@@ -13,6 +9,9 @@ find_package(MPI REQUIRED)
 
 include(GNUInstallDirs)
 include(CMakePackageConfigHelpers)
+if(PROJECT_IS_TOP_LEVEL)
+    include(CTest)
+endif()
 
 add_library(mppi INTERFACE)
 target_include_directories(mppi
@@ -22,16 +21,9 @@ target_include_directories(mppi
 
 add_library(mppi::mppi ALIAS mppi)
 target_link_libraries(mppi INTERFACE MPI::MPI_CXX)
-target_compile_features(mppi INTERFACE cxx_std_23)
-
-# set Release as the default build type if it is not yet set.
-if(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
-set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE "Release" CACHE STRING
-        "Choose the type of build, options are: Debug Release RelWithDebInfo MinSizeRel." FORCE)
-endif(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
+target_compile_features(mppi INTERFACE cxx_std_26)
     
-# only combile tests in debug mode
-if(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "Debug")
+if(BUILD_TESTING)
     add_subdirectory(tests)
 endif()
 
diff --git a/CMakePresets.json b/CMakePresets.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..71bec7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CMakePresets.json
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+{
+  "version": 5,
+  "cmakeMinimumRequired": {
+    "major": 3,
+    "minor": 27,
+    "patch": 0
+  },
+  "configurePresets": [
+    {
+      "name": "clang_reflection",
+      "hidden": true,
+      "cacheVariables": {
+        "CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD": "26",
+        "CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED": "ON",
+        "CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE": "${sourceDir}/cmake/toolchains/clang-p2996-libcxx.cmake"
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      "name": "release",
+      "displayName": "Release",
+      "inherits": "clang_reflection",
+      "cacheVariables": {
+        "CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE": "Release"
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      "name": "debug",
+      "displayName": "Debug",
+      "inherits": "clang_reflection",
+      "cacheVariables": {
+        "CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE": "Debug"
+      }
+    }
+  ],
+
+  "buildPresets": [
+    {
+      "name": "release",
+      "configurePreset": "release"
+    },
+    {
+      "name": "debug",
+      "configurePreset": "debug"
+    }
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index dc85579..18ec2f9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -23,10 +23,9 @@ Additionally, for the tests:
 
 To build, test and install the MPPI library execute
 ```shell
-mkdir build && cd build
-cmake -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/my/install/prefix ..
-make [-j N] 
-make install
+cmake --preset release -B build -S . -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/my/install/prefix ..
+cmake --build build
+cmake --install build
 ```
 
 ## Notes
diff --git a/cmake/toolchains/clang-p2996-libcxx.cmake b/cmake/toolchains/clang-p2996-libcxx.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2eddef7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmake/toolchains/clang-p2996-libcxx.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER clang)
+set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER clang++)
+
+add_compile_options(-stdlib=libc++ -freflection)
+add_link_options(-stdlib=libc++)