diff --git a/base/src/main/kotlin/de/staropensource/engine/base/Engine.kt b/base/src/main/kotlin/de/staropensource/engine/base/Engine.kt
index 8a4bed3..bca4e69 100644
--- a/base/src/main/kotlin/de/staropensource/engine/base/Engine.kt
+++ b/base/src/main/kotlin/de/staropensource/engine/base/Engine.kt
@@ -38,13 +38,176 @@ class Engine private constructor() {
      */
     companion object {
         /**
-         * Initializes the engine.
+         * Contains the [Logger] instance of the engine.
          *
          * @since v1-alpha10
          */
+        internal val logger: Logger = Logger("engine-core")
+
+        /**
+         * Contains the state the engine is in.
+         *
+         * @since v1-alpha10
+         */
+        var state: State = State.UNINITIALIZED
+            private set
+
+        /**
+         * Contains if the engine is currently
+         * bootstrapping or has been bootstrapped.
+         *
+         * `null` indicates that the engine hasn't
+         * been bootstrapped yet, `true` indicates
+         * that the engine has been bootstrapped
+         * and `false` indicates that the engine
+         * is currently bootstrapping itself.
+         *
+         * @see bootstrap
+         * @since v1-alpha10
+         */
+        var bootstrapping: Boolean? = null
+
+
+        // -----> Initialization
+        /**
+         * Bootstraps the engine.
+         *
+         * This method initializes static variables
+         * and generally performs actions which
+         * should only be executed once.
+         *
+         * @throws Throwable on initialization error
+         * @since v1-alpha10
+         */
         @JvmStatic
+        @Throws(Throwable::class)
+        private fun bootstrap() {
+            if (state != State.UNINITIALIZED || bootstrapping != null)
+                return
+
+            bootstrapping = true
+            logger.info("Bootstrapping")
+
+            // Run bootstrapping code
+
+            bootstrapping = false
+        }
+
+        /**
+         * Initializes the engine.
+         *
+         * @throws Throwable on initialization error
+         * @since v1-alpha10
+         */
+        @JvmStatic
+        @Throws(Throwable::class)
         fun initialize() {
-            Logger.instance.info("Initializing")
+            // Abort if initializing, shutting down
+            // or the engine has crashed
+            if (
+                bootstrapping == true
+                || state == State.INITIALIZING
+                || state == State.SHUTTING_DOWN
+                || state == State.CRASHED
+            ) return
+
+            // Bootstrap if not already done so
+            bootstrap()
+
+            state = State.INITIALIZING
+            logger.info("Initializing")
+
+            // Run initialization code
+
+            state = State.INITIALIZED
+        }
+
+        /**
+         * Shuts the engine down.
+         *
+         * @throws Throwable on shutdown error
+         * @since v1-alpha10
+         */
+        @JvmStatic
+        @Throws(Throwable::class)
+        fun shutdown() {
+            // Abort if not initialized
+            if (state != State.INITIALIZED)
+                return
+
+            state = State.SHUTTING_DOWN
+            logger.info("Shutting down")
+
+            // Run shutdown code
+
+            state = State.SHUT_DOWN
         }
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Represents the states the engine can be in.
+     *
+     * @since v1-alpha10
+     */
+    enum class State {
+        /**
+         * Specifies that the engine has
+         * not been initialized at least
+         * once yet.
+         *
+         * @since v1-alpha10
+         */
+        UNINITIALIZED,
+
+        /**
+         * Indicates that the engine is
+         * in the initialization process.
+         *
+         * Many methods are considered
+         * unsafe and should not be called.
+         *
+         * @since v1-alpha10
+         */
+        INITIALIZING,
+
+        /**
+         * Specifies that the engine has fully
+         * initialized and can be safely used.
+         *
+         * @since v1-alpha10
+         */
+        INITIALIZED,
+
+        /**
+         * Indicates that the engine is in
+         * the process of shutting down.
+         *
+         * Many methods are considered
+         * unsafe and should not be called.
+         */
+        SHUTTING_DOWN,
+
+        /**
+         * Indicates that the engine has been shut down.
+         *
+         * This may not be a final state.
+         *
+         * @since v1-alpha10
+         */
+        SHUT_DOWN,
+
+        /**
+         * Indicates that the engine has crashed and
+         * is in a state where further usage is
+         * HIGHLY discouraged. Any further calls may
+         * cause the process or virtual machine to
+         * exit with a fatal error.
+         *
+         * This is a final state. The engine cannot
+         * be initialized again after having crashed.
+         *
+         * @since v1-alpha10
+         */
+        CRASHED
+    }
 }
diff --git a/testapp/src/main/kotlin/de/staropensource/engine/testapp/Main.kt b/testapp/src/main/kotlin/de/staropensource/engine/testapp/Main.kt
index bc499bb..a9827e2 100644
--- a/testapp/src/main/kotlin/de/staropensource/engine/testapp/Main.kt
+++ b/testapp/src/main/kotlin/de/staropensource/engine/testapp/Main.kt
@@ -50,7 +50,10 @@ class Main private constructor() {
             Engine.initialize()
 
             // Print hello world
-            logger.info("Hello World! <red><bold>Caused by <clinit> and \\<init>.")
+            logger.info("Hello World!")
+
+            // Shutdown engine
+            Engine.shutdown()
         }
     }
 }