diff --git a/.github/workflows/checks.yml b/.github/workflows/checks.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4f2f8c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/checks.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+#
+# check that all code complies w/ the clang-format specification
+#
+# if all is well, returns w/o errors and does not print anything.
+# otherwise, return an error and print offending changes
+
+set -e # abort on error
+
+INCLUDE_DIRS=("core data meta tests web")
+
+if [ $# -ne 1 ]; then
+    echo "wrong number of arguments"
+    echo ""
+    echo "usage: check_format <DIR>"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+_binary=${CLANG_FORMAT_BINARY:-clang-format}
+
+$_binary --version
+
+cd $1
+$_binary -i -style=file $(find ${INCLUDE_DIRS} \( -iname '*.cpp' -or -iname '*.hpp' -or -iname '*.ipp' \))
+
+if ! [ -z $CI ] || ! [ -z $GITHUB_ACTIONS ]; then
+  mkdir changed
+  for f in $(git diff --name-only -- ${INCLUDE_DIRS[@]/#/:/}); do
+    cp --parents $f changed
+  done
+fi
+    
+echo "clang-format done"
+    
+set +e
+git diff --exit-code --stat -- ${INCLUDE_DIRS[@]/#/:/}
+result=$?
+
+if [ "$result" -eq "128" ]; then
+    echo "Format was successfully applied"
+    echo "Could not create summary of affected files"
+    echo "Are you in a submodule?"
+
+fi
+
+exit $result