diff --git a/test/pitytest11/src/AbstractPityUnit.cc b/test/pitytest11/src/AbstractPityUnit.cc
index dce26a6..e8c7fa4 100644
--- a/test/pitytest11/src/AbstractPityUnit.cc
+++ b/test/pitytest11/src/AbstractPityUnit.cc
@@ -25,18 +25,29 @@ namespace pEp {
         // static
         int AbstractPityUnit::procUnitsCount = 0;
 
+        AbstractPityUnit::AbstractPityUnit(const std::string &name, ExecutionMode exec_mode) :
+            PityTree<AbstractPityUnit>(*this, name),
+            _exec_mode{ exec_mode }
+        {
+            _init();
+        }
+
         AbstractPityUnit::AbstractPityUnit(
-            AbstractPityUnit *const parent,
+            AbstractPityUnit &parent,
             const std::string &name,
             ExecutionMode exec_mode) :
-            _parent{ parent },
-            _name{ _normalizeName(name) }, _exec_mode{ exec_mode }
+            PityTree<AbstractPityUnit>(*this, name, parent),
+            _exec_mode{ exec_mode }
+        {
+            _init();
+        }
+
+        void AbstractPityUnit::_init()
         {
             logger_debug.set_instancename(getPath());
-            if (!_isRootUnit()) {
-                parent->_addChildUnit(*this);
+            if (!isRoot()) {
                 // Inherit
-                procUnitNr = _parent->procUnitNr;
+                procUnitNr = getParent()->procUnitNr;
                 //Or update if procUnit
                 if (_isProcessUnit()) {
                     _createTransport();
@@ -47,36 +58,18 @@ namespace pEp {
                 procUnitNr = procUnitsCount;
             }
         }
-
-        std::string AbstractPityUnit::getName() const
+        // static
+        void AbstractPityUnit::setGlobalRootDir(const std::string &dir)
         {
-            return _name;
+            AbstractPityUnit::_global_root_dir = dir;
         }
 
-        // name is alphanumeric only (everything else will be replaced by an underscore)
         // static
-        std::string AbstractPityUnit::_normalizeName(std::string name)
+        std::string AbstractPityUnit::getGlobalRootDir()
         {
-            replace_if(
-                name.begin(),
-                name.end(),
-                [](char c) -> bool { return !isalnum(c); },
-                '_');
-
-            return name;
+            return AbstractPityUnit::_global_root_dir;
         }
 
-        std::string AbstractPityUnit::getPath() const
-        {
-            std::string ret;
-
-            if (!_isRootUnit()) {
-                ret = _parent->getPath() + "/" + getName();
-            } else {
-                ret = getName();
-            }
-            return ret;
-        }
 
         // For:
         // RootUnit                         - "<name>"
@@ -86,13 +79,13 @@ namespace pEp {
         std::string AbstractPityUnit::getPathShort() const
         {
             std::string ret;
-            if (_isRootUnit()) {
+            if (isRoot()) {
                 ret = getName();
             } else {
                 if (_isProcessUnit()) {
                     ret += ".../" + getName();
                 } else {
-                    if (&(parentingProcessUnit()) == (_parent)) {
+                    if (&(parentingProcessUnit()) == (getParent())) {
                         ret = parentingProcessUnit().getPathShort() + "/" + getName();
                     } else {
                         ret = parentingProcessUnit().getPathShort() + "/.../" + getName();
@@ -102,22 +95,17 @@ namespace pEp {
             return ret;
         }
 
-        AbstractPityUnit *AbstractPityUnit::getParent() const
-        {
-            return _parent;
-        }
-
         // Every process has its own dir inside its rootUnitDir
         // All other units inherit processDir from their Root/ProcessUnit
         std::string AbstractPityUnit::processDir()
         {
-            if (_isRootUnit()) {
+            if (isRoot()) {
                 return _rootUnitDir();
             } else {
                 if (_isProcessUnit()) {
                     return _rootUnitDir() + getName() + "/";
                 } else {
-                    return _parent->processDir();
+                    return getParent()->processDir();
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -125,36 +113,24 @@ namespace pEp {
         // Every RootUnit has its own dir
         std::string AbstractPityUnit::_rootUnitDir()
         {
-            return getGlobalRootDir() + rootUnit()->getName() + "/";
+            return getGlobalRootDir() + getRoot().getName() + "/";
         }
 
         // Every process has its own dir inside its rootUnitDir
         // All other units inherit transportDir from their Root/ProcessUnit
         std::string AbstractPityUnit::transportDir()
         {
-            if (_isRootUnit()) {
+            if (isRoot()) {
                 throw std::runtime_error("No transport dir");
             } else {
                 if (_isProcessUnit()) {
                     return processDir() + "inbox/";
                 } else {
-                    return _parent->transportDir();
+                    return getParent()->transportDir();
                 }
             }
         }
 
-        // static
-        void AbstractPityUnit::setGlobalRootDir(const std::string &dir)
-        {
-            AbstractPityUnit::_global_root_dir = dir;
-        }
-
-        // static
-        std::string AbstractPityUnit::getGlobalRootDir()
-        {
-            return AbstractPityUnit::_global_root_dir;
-        }
-
         void AbstractPityUnit::run()
         {
             pEpLogClass("called");
@@ -163,8 +139,8 @@ namespace pEp {
 
             setenv("HOME", processDir().c_str(), true);
 
-            if (_isRootUnit()) {
-                _init();
+            if (isRoot()) {
+                _initrun();
             }
 
             // Execute in fork and wait here until process ends
@@ -182,7 +158,7 @@ namespace pEp {
                 throw std::invalid_argument(to_string(_exec_mode) + " - not implemented");
             }
 
-            if (_isRootUnit()) {
+            if (isRoot()) {
                 _waitChildProcesses();
             }
         }
@@ -202,9 +178,9 @@ namespace pEp {
             ret = builder.str();
 
             if (recursive) {
-                if (!_children.empty()) {
+                if (!getChildren().empty()) {
                     indent++;
-                    for (const std::pair<std::string, AbstractPityUnit &> child : _children) {
+                    for (const auto child : getChildren()) {
                         ret += child.second.to_string(true, indent);
                     }
                     indent--;
@@ -236,8 +212,8 @@ namespace pEp {
         void AbstractPityUnit::recreateDirsRecursively()
         {
             Utils::dir_recreate(processDir());
-            if (!_children.empty()) {
-                for (const std::pair<std::string, AbstractPityUnit &> child : _children) {
+            if (!getChildren().empty()) {
+                for (const auto child : getChildren()) {
                     child.second.recreateDirsRecursively();
                 }
             }
@@ -250,10 +226,10 @@ namespace pEp {
 
         Endpoints &AbstractPityUnit::transportEndpoints()
         {
-            if (_isRootUnit()) {
+            if (isRoot()) {
                 return _transport_endpoints;
             } else {
-                return rootUnit()->transportEndpoints();
+                return getRoot().transportEndpoints();
             }
         }
 
@@ -286,7 +262,7 @@ namespace pEp {
         }
 
         // PRIVATE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-        void AbstractPityUnit::_init()
+        void AbstractPityUnit::_initrun()
         {
             logH1("PityTest Starting...");
             _logRaw("RootUnit: " + getPathShort());
@@ -310,8 +286,8 @@ namespace pEp {
 
         void AbstractPityUnit::_runChildren() const
         {
-            if (!_children.empty()) {
-                for (const std::pair<std::string, AbstractPityUnit &> child : _children) {
+            if (!getChildren().empty()) {
+                for (const auto child : getChildren()) {
                     child.second.run();
                 }
             }
@@ -350,11 +326,6 @@ namespace pEp {
             }
         }
 
-        void AbstractPityUnit::_addChildUnit(AbstractPityUnit &unit)
-        {
-            _children.insert(std::pair<std::string, AbstractPityUnit &>(unit.getName(), unit));
-        }
-
         bool AbstractPityUnit::_isProcessUnit() const
         {
             bool ret = false;
@@ -365,30 +336,12 @@ namespace pEp {
             return ret;
         }
 
-        bool AbstractPityUnit::_isRootUnit() const
-        {
-            if (_parent == nullptr) {
-                return true;
-            } else {
-                return false;
-            }
-        }
-
-        AbstractPityUnit *AbstractPityUnit::rootUnit()
-        {
-            if (!_isRootUnit()) {
-                return _parent->rootUnit();
-            } else {
-                return this;
-            }
-        }
-
         const AbstractPityUnit &AbstractPityUnit::parentingProcessUnit() const
         {
-            if (_isRootUnit() || _isProcessUnit()) {
+            if (isRoot() || _isProcessUnit()) {
                 return *this;
             } else {
-                return _parent->parentingProcessUnit();
+                return getParent()->parentingProcessUnit();
             }
         }
 
@@ -409,8 +362,8 @@ namespace pEp {
             if (_transport != nullptr) {
                 ret = _transport.get();
             } else {
-                if (!_isRootUnit()) {
-                    ret = _parent->transport();
+                if (!isRoot()) {
+                    ret = getParent()->transport();
                 }
             }
             return ret;
@@ -449,7 +402,6 @@ namespace pEp {
             }
         }
 
-
         Utils::Color AbstractPityUnit::_termColor() const
         {
             return _colForProcUnitNr(procUnitNr);
@@ -465,4 +417,3 @@ namespace pEp {
 
     } // namespace PityTest11
 } // namespace pEp
-
diff --git a/test/pitytest11/src/AbstractPityUnit.hh b/test/pitytest11/src/AbstractPityUnit.hh
index 4f664df..e0511ba 100644
--- a/test/pitytest11/src/AbstractPityUnit.hh
+++ b/test/pitytest11/src/AbstractPityUnit.hh
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "../../../src/pEpLog.hh"
 #include "../../../src/std_utils.hh"
 #include "fs_mutex.hh"
+#include "PityTree.hh"
 #include "PityTransport.hh"
 #include <string>
 #include <map>
@@ -18,7 +19,7 @@
 
 namespace pEp {
     namespace PityTest11 {
-        class AbstractPityUnit {
+        class AbstractPityUnit : public PityTree<AbstractPityUnit> {
         public:
             enum class ExecutionMode
             {
@@ -30,8 +31,9 @@ namespace pEp {
                 INHERIT
             };
 
+            AbstractPityUnit(const std::string& name, ExecutionMode exec_mode = ExecutionMode::FUNCTION);
             AbstractPityUnit(
-                AbstractPityUnit* const parent,
+                AbstractPityUnit& parent,
                 const std::string& name,
                 ExecutionMode exec_mode = ExecutionMode::FUNCTION);
 
@@ -40,13 +42,9 @@ namespace pEp {
             static std::string getGlobalRootDir();
 
             // Read-Only
-            std::string getName() const;
-            std::string getPath() const;
             std::string getPathShort() const;
             std::string processDir(); // own process dir
             std::string transportDir();
-            AbstractPityUnit* getParent() const;
-            bool _isRootUnit() const; // true if has no parent
 
             // Main funcs
             void run();
@@ -61,8 +59,6 @@ namespace pEp {
             void logH3(const std::string& msg) const;
 
             // Util
-            static std::string _normalizeName(
-                std::string name); //TODO HACK in PityTransport this should be private
             void recreateDirsRecursively();
 
             //Transport
@@ -87,17 +83,13 @@ namespace pEp {
             // METHODS
             // Execution
             void _init();
+            void _initrun();
             void _run();
             virtual void _runSelf() = 0;
             void _runChildren() const;
             void _executeInFork(std::function<void(void)> func, bool wait_child) const;
             void _waitChildProcesses() const;
 
-
-            // Modify
-            void _addChildUnit(AbstractPityUnit& unit);
-
-            AbstractPityUnit* rootUnit();
             const AbstractPityUnit& parentingProcessUnit() const;
 
             // Query
@@ -107,13 +99,9 @@ namespace pEp {
             // Transport
             void _createTransport();
 
-
             // Fields
             // ------
-            AbstractPityUnit* _parent;                                //nullptr if RootUnit
-            std::map<const std::string, AbstractPityUnit&> _children; // map to guarantee uniqueness of sibling-names
             static std::string _global_root_dir;
-            const std::string _name;
             int procUnitNr;
             ExecutionMode _exec_mode;
             static int procUnitsCount; // will be increased in every constructor
diff --git a/test/pitytest11/src/PityTree.hh b/test/pitytest11/src/PityTree.hh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..543d9fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/pitytest11/src/PityTree.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+// This file is under GNU General Public License 3.0
+// see LICENSE.txt
+
+#ifndef PITYTEST_PITYTREE_HH
+#define PITYTEST_PITYTREE_HH
+
+//#include "../../../src/pEpLog.hh"
+#include <string>
+#include <map>
+#include <memory>
+#include <unordered_map>
+#include <functional>
+#include <type_traits>
+
+namespace pEp {
+    namespace PityTest11 {
+        template<class T>
+        class PityTree {
+            // TODO: NEEEEED THIS
+//            static_assert(std::is_base_of<PityTree<T>, T>::value, "PityTree<T> must be a base of T");
+        public:
+            using Children = std::map<const std::string, T&>;
+
+            explicit PityTree(T& self, const std::string& name);
+            explicit PityTree(T& self, const std::string& name, T& parent);
+
+            T& add(T& node);
+
+            T* getParent() const;
+            Children getChildren() const;
+
+            T& getRoot();
+
+            std::string getName() const;
+            std::string getPath() const;
+            bool isRoot() const; // true if has no parent
+
+            std::string to_string(bool recursive = true, int indent = 0);
+
+            //TODO HACK in PityTransport, this should be private
+            static std::string _normalizeName(std::string name);
+
+            virtual ~PityTree() = default;
+
+        protected:
+            void setParent(T* const parent);
+
+        private:
+            // Fields
+            const std::string _nodename;
+            T& _self;
+            T* _parent = nullptr; //nullptr if RootUnit
+            Children _children;   // map to guarantee uniqueness of sibling-names
+        };
+    }; // namespace PityTest11
+};     // namespace pEp
+
+#include "PityTree.hxx"
+#endif
diff --git a/test/pitytest11/src/PityTree.hxx b/test/pitytest11/src/PityTree.hxx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2ec4773
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/pitytest11/src/PityTree.hxx
@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+// This file is under GNU General Public License 3.0
+// see LICENSE.txt
+
+#ifndef PITYTEST_PITYTREE_HXX
+#define PITYTEST_PITYTREE_HXX
+
+#include <iostream>
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <cstdlib>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+#include <functional>
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <sstream>
+#include <exception>
+#include <memory>
+#include <unordered_map>
+#include <sys/wait.h>
+
+
+namespace pEp {
+    namespace PityTest11 {
+
+        template<class T>
+        PityTree<T>::PityTree(T& self, const std::string &name) :
+            _self{ self }, _nodename{ _normalizeName(name) }
+        {
+        }
+
+        template<class T>
+        PityTree<T>::PityTree(T& self, const std::string &name, T& parent) :
+            _self(self), _nodename{ _normalizeName(name) }
+        {
+            parent.add(_self);
+        }
+
+        template<class T>
+        T& PityTree<T>::add(T& node)
+        {
+            node.setParent(&_self);
+            _children.insert(std::pair<const std::string, T&>(node.getName(), node));
+            return node;
+        }
+
+        template<class T>
+        void PityTree<T>::setParent(T *parent)
+        {
+            _parent = parent;
+        }
+
+        template<class T>
+        T *PityTree<T>::getParent() const
+        {
+            return _parent;
+        }
+
+        template<class T>
+        bool PityTree<T>::isRoot() const
+        {
+            if (_parent == nullptr) {
+                return true;
+            } else {
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+
+        template<class T>
+        std::string PityTree<T>::getName() const
+        {
+            return _nodename;
+        }
+
+        template<class T>
+        std::string PityTree<T>::getPath() const
+        {
+            std::string ret;
+
+            if (!isRoot()) {
+                ret = _parent->getPath() + "/" + getName();
+            } else {
+                ret = getName();
+            }
+            return ret;
+        }
+
+        template<class T>
+        std::string PityTree<T>::to_string(bool recursive, int indent)
+        {
+            std::string ret;
+            std::stringstream builder;
+            builder << std::string(indent * 4, ' ');
+            builder << getName();
+            builder << std::endl;
+            ret = builder.str();
+
+            if (recursive) {
+                if (!getChildren().empty()) {
+                    indent++;
+                    for (auto child : getChildren()) {
+                        ret += child.second.to_string(true, indent);
+                    }
+                    indent--;
+                }
+            }
+            return ret;
+        }
+
+        template<class T>
+        T& PityTree<T>::getRoot()
+        {
+            if (!isRoot()) {
+                return _parent->getRoot();
+            } else {
+                return _self;
+            }
+        }
+
+        template<class T>
+        typename PityTree<T>::Children PityTree<T>::getChildren() const
+        {
+            return _children;
+        }
+
+        // name is alphanumeric only (everything else will be replaced by an underscore)
+        // static
+        template<class T>
+        std::string PityTree<T>::_normalizeName(std::string name)
+        {
+            replace_if(
+                name.begin(),
+                name.end(),
+                [](char c) -> bool { return !isalnum(c); },
+                '_');
+
+            return name;
+        }
+    } // namespace PityTest11
+} // namespace pEp
+
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file