diff --git a/tests-ng/symlink.sh b/tests-ng/symlink.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..f68dbe8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests-ng/symlink.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,221 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# author: deadc0de6 (https://github.com/deadc0de6)
+# Copyright (c) 2019, deadc0de6
+#
+# test symlinking dotfiles
+#
+
+# exit on first error
+set -e
+
+# all this crap to get current path
+rl="readlink -f"
+if ! ${rl} "${0}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  rl="realpath"
+
+  if ! hash ${rl}; then
+    echo "\"${rl}\" not found !" && exit 1
+  fi
+fi
+cur=$(dirname "$(${rl} "${0}")")
+
+#hash dotdrop >/dev/null 2>&1
+#[ "$?" != "0" ] && echo "install dotdrop to run tests" && exit 1
+
+#echo "called with ${1}"
+
+# dotdrop path can be pass as argument
+ddpath="${cur}/../"
+[ "${1}" != "" ] && ddpath="${1}"
+[ ! -d ${ddpath} ] && echo "ddpath \"${ddpath}\" is not a directory" && exit 1
+
+export PYTHONPATH="${ddpath}:${PYTHONPATH}"
+bin="python3 -m dotdrop.dotdrop"
+
+echo "dotdrop path: ${ddpath}"
+echo "pythonpath: ${PYTHONPATH}"
+
+# get the helpers
+source ${cur}/helpers
+
+echo -e "\e[96m\e[1m==> RUNNING $(basename $BASH_SOURCE) <==\e[0m"
+
+################################################################
+# this is the test
+################################################################
+
+# the dotfile source
+tmps=`mktemp -d --suffix='-dotdrop-tests'`
+mkdir -p ${tmps}/dotfiles
+# the dotfile destination
+tmpd=`mktemp -d --suffix='-dotdrop-tests'`
+#echo "dotfile destination: ${tmpd}"
+
+##################################################
+# test symlink directory
+##################################################
+# create the dotfile
+mkdir -p ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
+echo "file1" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc/file1
+echo "file2" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc/file2
+
+# create a shell script
+# create the config file
+cfg="${tmps}/config.yaml"
+
+cat > ${cfg} << _EOF
+config:
+  backup: true
+  create: true
+  dotpath: dotfiles
+  link_dotfile_default: nolink
+dotfiles:
+  d_abc:
+    dst: ${tmpd}/abc
+    src: abc
+    link: link
+profiles:
+  p1:
+    dotfiles:
+    - d_abc
+_EOF
+#cat ${cfg}
+
+# install
+cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -f -c ${cfg} -p p1 -V
+#cat ${cfg}
+
+# ensure exists and is link
+[ ! -h ${tmpd}/abc ] && echo "not a symlink" && exit 1
+[ ! -e ${tmpd}/abc/file1 ] && echo "does not exist" && exit 1
+[ ! -e ${tmpd}/abc/file2 ] && echo "does not exist" && exit 1
+
+##################################################
+# test symlink files
+##################################################
+# clean
+rm -rf ${tmps}/dotfiles ${tmpd}/abc
+
+# create the dotfiles
+mkdir -p ${tmps}/dotfiles/
+echo "abc" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
+
+# create a shell script
+# create the config file
+cfg="${tmps}/config.yaml"
+
+cat > ${cfg} << _EOF
+config:
+  backup: true
+  create: true
+  dotpath: dotfiles
+  link_dotfile_default: nolink
+dotfiles:
+  f_abc:
+    dst: ${tmpd}/abc
+    src: abc
+    link: link
+profiles:
+  p1:
+    dotfiles:
+    - f_abc
+_EOF
+#cat ${cfg}
+
+# install
+cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -f -c ${cfg} -p p1 -V
+#cat ${cfg}
+
+# ensure exists and is link
+[ ! -h ${tmpd}/abc ] && echo "not a symlink" && exit 1
+
+##################################################
+# test link_children
+##################################################
+# clean
+rm -rf ${tmps}/dotfiles ${tmpd}/abc
+
+# create the dotfile
+mkdir -p ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
+echo "file1" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc/file1
+echo "file2" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc/file2
+
+# create a shell script
+# create the config file
+cfg="${tmps}/config.yaml"
+
+cat > ${cfg} << _EOF
+config:
+  backup: true
+  create: true
+  dotpath: dotfiles
+  link_dotfile_default: nolink
+dotfiles:
+  d_abc:
+    dst: ${tmpd}/abc
+    src: abc
+    link: link_children
+profiles:
+  p1:
+    dotfiles:
+    - d_abc
+_EOF
+#cat ${cfg}
+
+# install
+cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -f -c ${cfg} -p p1 -V
+#cat ${cfg}
+
+# ensure exists and is link
+[ ! -d ${tmpd}/abc ] && echo "not a symlink" && exit 1
+[ ! -h ${tmpd}/abc/file1 ] && echo "does not exist" && exit 1
+[ ! -h ${tmpd}/abc/file2 ] && echo "does not exist" && exit 1
+
+##################################################
+# test link_children with templates
+##################################################
+# clean
+rm -rf ${tmps}/dotfiles ${tmpd}/abc
+
+# create the dotfile
+mkdir -p ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
+echo "{{@@ profile @@}}" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc/file1
+echo "file2" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc/file2
+
+# create a shell script
+# create the config file
+cfg="${tmps}/config.yaml"
+
+cat > ${cfg} << _EOF
+config:
+  backup: true
+  create: true
+  dotpath: dotfiles
+  link_dotfile_default: nolink
+dotfiles:
+  d_abc:
+    dst: ${tmpd}/abc
+    src: abc
+    link: link_children
+profiles:
+  p1:
+    dotfiles:
+    - d_abc
+_EOF
+#cat ${cfg}
+
+# install
+cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -f -c ${cfg} -p p1 -V
+#cat ${cfg}
+
+# ensure exists and is link
+[ ! -d ${tmpd}/abc ] && echo "not a symlink" && exit 1
+[ ! -h ${tmpd}/abc/file1 ] && echo "does not exist" && exit 1
+[ ! -h ${tmpd}/abc/file2 ] && echo "does not exist" && exit 1
+grep '^p1$' ${tmpd}/abc/file1
+
+## CLEANING
+rm -rf ${tmps} ${tmpd} ${scr}
+
+echo "OK"
+exit 0