diff --git a/src/export_chat.rs b/src/export_chat.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..86b8da87e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/export_chat.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
+// use crate::dc_tools::*;
+use crate::chat::*;
+use crate::constants::DC_CONTACT_ID_SELF;
+use crate::contact::*;
+use crate::context::Context;
+use crate::error::Error;
+use crate::message::*;
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+
+pub struct ExportChatResult {
+    html: String,
+    referenced_blobs: Vec<String>,
+}
+
+struct ContactInfo<'t> {
+    name: &'t str,
+    initial: &'t str,
+    color: &'t str,
+    profile_img: Option<&'t str>,
+}
+
+// pub fn packExportedChat(artifact:ExportChatResult) -> ? {}
+
+pub fn export_chat(context: &Context, chat_id: ChatId) -> ExportChatResult {
+    let mut blobs = Vec::new();
+    let mut chat_author_ids = Vec::new();
+    // get all messages
+    let messages: Vec<std::result::Result<Message, Error>> =
+        get_chat_msgs(context, chat_id, 0, None)
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|msg_id| Message::load_from_db(context, msg_id))
+            .collect();
+    // push all referenced blobs and populate contactid list
+    for message in messages {
+        if let Ok(msg) = message {
+            let filename = msg.get_filename();
+            if let Some(file) = filename {
+                blobs.push(file);
+            }
+            chat_author_ids.push(msg.from_id);
+        }
+    }
+    // deduplicate contact list and load the contacts
+    chat_author_ids.dedup();
+    let mut chat_authors: HashMap<u32, ContactInfo> = HashMap::new();
+    for author_id in chat_author_ids {
+        let contact = Contact::get_by_id(context, author_id);
+        if let Ok(c) = contact {
+            let profile_img_path: String;
+            if let Some(path) = c.get_profile_image(context) {
+                profile_img_path = path.to_str().unwrap_or_else(|| "").to_owned();
+                blobs.push(profile_img_path.clone());
+            } else {
+                profile_img_path = "".to_owned();
+            }
+            chat_authors.insert(
+                author_id,
+                ContactInfo {
+                    name: c.get_display_name(),
+                    initial: "#",
+                    profile_img: match profile_img_path != "" {
+                        true => Some(&profile_img_path),
+                        false => None,
+                    },
+                    color: "rgb(18, 126, 208)",
+                },
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
+    // author props
+    // name, id, image, color
+
+    // push all referenced blobs (avatars)
+
+    // run message_to_html for each message and generate the html that way
+
+    ExportChatResult {
+        html: "".to_owned(),
+        referenced_blobs: blobs,
+    }
+}
+
+fn message_to_html(ctx: &Context, author_cache: HashMap<u32, ContactInfo>, id: MsgId) -> String {
+    let message = Message::load_from_db(ctx, id).unwrap();
+
+    let author: &ContactInfo = {
+        if let Some(c) = author_cache.get(&message.get_from_id()) {
+            c
+        } else {
+            &ContactInfo {
+                name: "Err: Contact not found",
+                initial: "#",
+                profile_img: None,
+                color: "grey",
+            }
+        }
+    };
+
+    let avatar: String = {
+        if let Some(profile_img) = author.profile_img {
+            format!(
+                r#"<div class="author-avatar">
+                    <img
+                        alt="{author_name}"
+                        src="{author_avatar_src}"
+                    />
+                </div>"#,
+                author_name = author.name,
+                author_avatar_src = profile_img
+            )
+        } else {
+            format!(
+                r#"<div class="author-avatar default" alt="{name}">
+                <div class="label" style="background-color: {color}">
+                    {initial}
+                </div>
+            </div>"#,
+                name = author.name,
+                initial = author.initial,
+                color = author.color
+            )
+        }
+    };
+
+    // save and refernce message source code somehow?
+
+    //todo support images / voice message / attachments
+
+    format!(
+        r#"<li><div class='message {direction}'>
+    {avatar}
+    <div class="msg-container">
+          <span class="author" style="color: {author_color};">{author_name}</span>
+          <div class="msg-body">
+            <div dir="auto" class="text">
+              {content}
+            </div>
+            <div class="metadata">
+              {encryption}
+              <span
+                class="date date--{direction}"
+                title="{full_time}"
+                >{relative_time}</span
+              ><span class="spacer"></span>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+    <div></li>"#,
+        direction = match message.from_id == DC_CONTACT_ID_SELF {
+            true => "outgoing",
+            false => "incomming",
+        },
+        avatar = avatar,
+        author_name = author.name,
+        author_color = author.color,
+        content = message.get_text().unwrap_or_else(|| "".to_owned()),
+        encryption = match message.get_showpadlock() {
+            true => r#"<div aria-label="Encryption padlock" class="padlock-icon"></div>"#,
+            false => "",
+        },
+        full_time = "Tue, Feb 25, 2020 3:49 PM", // message.get_timestamp() ?
+        relative_time = "Tue 3:49 PM"
+    )
+
+    // todo link to raw message data / link to message info
+}
+
+//TODO tests
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 3bd459ad9..922b99500 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ pub mod constants;
 pub mod contact;
 pub mod context;
 mod e2ee;
+mod export_chat;
 mod imap;
 pub mod imex;
 #[macro_use]