diff --git a/run_server.py b/run_server.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2b4f0fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/run_server.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+import sys
+import collab
+
+def main(argv):
+    if len(argv) == 1:
+        if ':' not in argv[0]:
+            sys.stderr.write("please provide `host:port' to bind or just `host:' for default port\n")
+            return -2
+        else:
+            host, port = argv[0].split(':', 1)
+    elif len(argv) == 2:
+        host,port = [x.strip() for x in argv]
+    elif len(argv) > 2:
+        sys.stderr.write("use `host:port' arguments\n")
+        return -3
+    else:
+        host, port = '', ''
+
+    if host == '':
+        host = '0.0.0.0'
+    if port == '':
+        port = 6633
+    try:
+        sys.stderr.write('Starting at ' + host +':' + str(port) + '...')
+        server = collab.server.CollabServer({'host':host, 'port': int(port)})
+        sys.stderr.write(' started.\n')
+        server.run_forever()
+    except KeyboardInterrupt:
+        print("^C received, server stopped")
+        return -1
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    sys.exit(main(sys.argv[1:]))