diff --git a/src/main/java/ftbsc/bscv/Boscovicino.java b/src/main/java/ftbsc/bscv/Boscovicino.java
index 65c5830..8d6ab67 100644
--- a/src/main/java/ftbsc/bscv/Boscovicino.java
+++ b/src/main/java/ftbsc/bscv/Boscovicino.java
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import ftbsc.bscv.api.IModule;
 import ftbsc.bscv.patches.CommandsPatch.CommandsBuiltEvent;
 import ftbsc.bscv.system.Friends;
 import ftbsc.bscv.system.ModManager;
+import ftbsc.bscv.system.Ruler;
 import net.minecraft.client.gui.screen.IngameMenuScreen;
 import net.minecraft.client.gui.widget.button.Button;
 import net.minecraft.command.CommandSource;
@@ -42,6 +43,9 @@ public class Boscovicino implements ICommons {
 	private static Friends friends;
 	public static Friends friends() { return Boscovicino.friends; }
 
+	@SuppressWarnings("unused") // it just needs to exist to be used by player
+	private static Ruler ruler;
+
 	public Boscovicino() {
 		FMLJavaModLoadingContext.get().getModEventBus().addListener(this::onSetupComplete);
 
@@ -53,6 +57,8 @@ public class Boscovicino implements ICommons {
 
 		Boscovicino.modManager.finish();
 
+		Boscovicino.ruler = new Ruler();
+
 		Boscovicino.spec = cfg.build();
 
 		ForgeConfigSpec.Builder friendSpec = new ForgeConfigSpec.Builder();
diff --git a/src/main/java/ftbsc/bscv/modules/QuickModule.java b/src/main/java/ftbsc/bscv/modules/QuickModule.java
index 009a057..648b020 100644
--- a/src/main/java/ftbsc/bscv/modules/QuickModule.java
+++ b/src/main/java/ftbsc/bscv/modules/QuickModule.java
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package ftbsc.bscv.modules;
 
 import ftbsc.bscv.Boscovicino;
+import ftbsc.bscv.tools.Keybind;
 import net.minecraft.client.settings.KeyBinding;
 import net.minecraft.client.util.InputMappings;
 import net.minecraftforge.client.event.InputEvent;
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ public abstract class QuickModule extends AbstractModule {
 	public QuickModule() {
 		super();
 
-		this.keybind = new KeyBinding(key_name(this.getName()), this.getDefaultKey(), key_category());
+		this.keybind = new KeyBinding(Keybind.name(this.getName()), this.getDefaultKey(), Keybind.category());
 		ClientRegistry.registerKeyBinding(this.keybind);
 
 		// register a separate subclass on the hook, so that it's always listening
@@ -76,12 +77,4 @@ public abstract class QuickModule extends AbstractModule {
 		// );
 	}
 
-	private static String key_name(String name) {
-		return String.format("key.%s.%s", Boscovicino.MOD_ID, name);
-	}
-
-	private static String key_category() {
-		return String.format("key.category.%s", Boscovicino.MOD_ID);
-	}
-
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/ftbsc/bscv/system/Ruler.java b/src/main/java/ftbsc/bscv/system/Ruler.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bb4c012
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/ftbsc/bscv/system/Ruler.java
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+package ftbsc.bscv.system;
+
+import ftbsc.bscv.ICommons;
+import ftbsc.bscv.tools.Keybind;
+import net.minecraft.client.settings.KeyBinding;
+import net.minecraft.client.util.InputMappings;
+import net.minecraft.util.math.RayTraceResult;
+import net.minecraft.util.math.RayTraceResult.Type;
+import net.minecraftforge.client.event.InputEvent;
+import net.minecraftforge.common.MinecraftForge;
+import net.minecraftforge.eventbus.api.SubscribeEvent;
+import net.minecraftforge.fml.client.registry.ClientRegistry;
+
+import static ftbsc.bscv.Boscovicino.log;
+
+public class Ruler implements ICommons {
+
+	public final KeyBinding keybind;
+
+	public Ruler() {
+		super();
+
+		this.keybind = new KeyBinding(Keybind.name("Ruler"), InputMappings.UNKNOWN.getValue(), Keybind.category());
+		ClientRegistry.registerKeyBinding(this.keybind);
+
+		// register a separate subclass on the hook, so that it's always listening
+		MinecraftForge.EVENT_BUS.register(new ToggleHook(this.keybind));
+
+		// dispatcher.register(
+		// 	Commands.literal(this.name.toLowerCase())
+		// 		.then(
+		// 			Commands.literal("bind")
+		// 				.then(
+		// 					Commands.argument("key", StringArgumentType.word())
+		// 						.executes( ctx -> {
+		// 							this.keybind.setKey(
+		// 								InputMappings.getKey( // TODO it's not this easy!
+		// 									StringArgumentType.getString(ctx, "key")
+		// 								)
+		// 							);
+		// 							return 1;
+		// 						})
+		// 				)
+		// 		)
+		// );
+	}
+
+	public static void measure() {
+		RayTraceResult aim = MC.player.pick(1024, 0, false); // will 1024 be enough?
+		double distance = Math.sqrt(aim.distanceTo(MC.player));
+		if (aim.getType() == Type.BLOCK) {
+			log("distance: %.1fm", distance);
+		}
+	}
+
+	// TODO can this be made an util or a global event listener?
+	private class ToggleHook {
+		private final KeyBinding key;
+		private       boolean    debounce;
+		// TODO all examples show isPressed() to get a debounced value
+		//  but it seems to be missing? making my own debounce for now
+		protected ToggleHook(KeyBinding key) {
+			this.key = key;
+			this.debounce = false;
+		}
+
+		private void onInput() {
+			if (this.debounce) {
+				if (!this.key.isDown()) {
+					this.debounce = false;
+				}
+			} else {
+				if (this.key.isDown()) {
+					Ruler.measure();
+					this.debounce = true;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		@SubscribeEvent
+		public void onKeyPress(InputEvent.KeyInputEvent event) { this.onInput(); }
+		@SubscribeEvent
+		public void onKeyPress(InputEvent.MouseInputEvent event) { this.onInput(); }
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/ftbsc/bscv/tools/Keybind.java b/src/main/java/ftbsc/bscv/tools/Keybind.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..64fe1ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/ftbsc/bscv/tools/Keybind.java
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+package ftbsc.bscv.tools;
+
+import ftbsc.bscv.Boscovicino;
+
+public class Keybind {
+	public static String name(String name) {
+		return String.format("key.%s.%s", Boscovicino.MOD_ID, name);
+	}
+
+	public static String category() {
+		return String.format("key.category.%s", Boscovicino.MOD_ID);
+	}
+}