diff --git a/core.py b/core.py
index a530524..9ed44eb 100644
--- a/core.py
+++ b/core.py
@@ -2,114 +2,127 @@ import os
 import sys
 import configparser
 import telegram
-import threading
 import time
 import strings
 import worker
 
-# Check if a configuration file exists, create one if it doesn't and get the template version number.
-with open("config/template_config.ini") as template_file:
-    # Check if the config file exists
-    if not os.path.isfile("config/config.ini"):
-        # Copy the template file to the config file
+def main():
+    """The core code of the program. Should be run only in the main process!"""
+
+    # Check if a configuration file exists, create one if it doesn't and get the template version number.
+    with open("config/template_config.ini") as template_file:
+        # Check if the config file exists
+        if not os.path.isfile("config/config.ini"):
+            # Copy the template file to the config file
+            with open("config/config.ini", "w") as config_file:
+                config_file.write(template_file.read())
+        # Find the template version number
+        config = configparser.ConfigParser()
+        config.read_file(template_file)
+        template_version = int(config["Config"]["version"])
+
+    # Overwrite the template config with the values in the config
+    with open("config/config.ini") as config_file:
+        config.read_file(config_file)
+
+    # Check if the file has been edited
+    if config["Config"]["is_template"] == "yes":
+        print("A config file has been created in config/config.ini.\n"
+              "Edit it with your configuration, set the is_template flag to false and restart this script.")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    # Check if the version has changed from the template
+    if template_version > int(config["Config"]["version"]):
+        # Reset the is_template flag
+        config["Config"]["is_template"] = "yes"
+        # Update the config version
+        config["Config"]["version"] = str(template_version)
+        # Save the file
         with open("config/config.ini", "w") as config_file:
-            config_file.write(template_file.read())
-    # Find the template version number
-    config = configparser.ConfigParser()
-    config.read_file(template_file)
-    template_version = int(config["Config"]["version"])
+            config.write(config_file)
+        # Notify the user and quit
+        print("The config file in config/config.ini has been updated.\n"
+              "Edit it with the new required data, set the is_template flag to true and restart this script.")
+        sys.exit(1)
 
-# Overwrite the template config with the values in the config
-with open("config/config.ini") as config_file:
-    config.read_file(config_file)
+    # Create a bot instance
+    bot = telegram.Bot(config["Telegram"]["token"])
 
-# Check if the file has been edited
-if config["Config"]["is_template"] == "yes":
-    print("A config file has been created in config/config.ini.\n"
-          "Edit it with your configuration, set the is_template flag to false and restart this script.")
-    sys.exit(1)
+    # Test the specified token
+    try:
+        bot.get_me()
+    except telegram.error.Unauthorized:
+        print("The token you have entered in the config file is invalid.\n"
+              "Fix it, then restart this script.")
+        sys.exit(1)
 
-# Check if the version has changed from the template
-if template_version > int(config["Config"]["version"]):
-    # Reset the is_template flag
-    config["Config"]["is_template"] = "yes"
-    # Update the config version
-    config["Config"]["version"] = str(template_version)
-    # Save the file
-    with open("config/config.ini", "w") as config_file:
-        config.write(config_file)
-    # Notify the user and quit
-    print("The config file in config/config.ini has been updated.\n"
-          "Edit it with the new required data, set the is_template flag to true and restart this script.")
-    sys.exit(1)
+    # Create a dictionary linking the chat ids to the ChatWorker objects
+    # {"1234": <ChatWorker>}
+    chat_workers = {}
 
-# Create a bot instance
-bot = telegram.Bot(config["Telegram"]["token"])
+    # Current update offset; if None it will get the last 100 unparsed messages
+    next_update = None
 
-# Test the specified token
-try:
-    bot.get_me()
-except telegram.error.Unauthorized:
-    print("The token you have entered in the config file is invalid.\n"
-          "Fix it, then restart this script.")
-    sys.exit(1)
-
-# Create a dictionary linking the chat ids to the ChatWorker objects
-# {"1234": <ChatWorker>}
-chat_workers = {}
-
-# Current update offset; if None it will get the last 100 unparsed messages
-next_update = None
+    # Main loop of the program
+    while True:
+        # Get a new batch of 100 updates and mark the last 100 parsed as read
+        # TODO: handle possible errors
+        updates = bot.get_updates(offset=next_update)
+        # Parse all the updates
+        for update in updates:
+            # If the update is a message...
+            if update.message is not None:
+                # Ensure the message has been sent in a private chat
+                if update.message.chat.type != "private":
+                    # Notify the chat
+                    bot.send_message(update.message.chat.id, strings.error_nonprivate_chat)
+                    # Skip the update
+                    continue
+                # If the message is a start command...
+                if update.message.text == "/start":
+                    # Check if a worker already exists for that chat
+                    old_worker = chat_workers.get(update.message.chat.id)
+                    # If it exists, gracefully stop the worker
+                    if old_worker:
+                        old_worker.stop()
+                    # Initialize a new worker for the chat
+                    new_worker = worker.ChatWorker(bot, update.message.chat)
+                    # Start the worker
+                    new_worker.start()
+                    # Store the worker in the dictionary
+                    chat_workers[update.message.chat.id] = new_worker
+                    # Skip the update
+                    continue
+                # Otherwise, forward the update to the corresponding worker
+                receiving_worker = chat_workers.get(update.message.chat.id)
+                # Ensure a worker exists for the chat
+                if receiving_worker is None:
+                    # Suggest that the user restarts the chat with /start
+                    bot.send_message(update.message.chat.id, strings.error_no_worker_for_chat)
+                    # Skip the update
+                    continue
+                # Forward the update to the worker
+                receiving_worker.pipe.send(update)
+            # If the update is a inline keyboard press...
+            if update.inline_query is not None:
+                # Forward the update to the corresponding worker
+                receiving_worker = chat_workers.get(update.inline_query.chat.id)
+                # Ensure a worker exists for the chat
+                if receiving_worker is None:
+                    # Suggest that the user restarts the chat with /start
+                    bot.send_message(update.inline_query.chat.id, strings.error_no_worker_for_chat)
+                    # Skip the update
+                    continue
+                # Forward the update to the worker
+                receiving_worker.pipe.send(update)
+        # If there were any updates...
+        if len(updates):
+            # Mark them as read by increasing the update_offset
+            next_update = updates[-1].update_id + 1
+        # Temporarily prevent rate limits (remove this later)
+        time.sleep(5)
 
 
-# Main loop of the program
-while True:
-    # Get a new batch of 100 updates and mark the last 100 parsed as read
-    updates = bot.get_updates(offset=next_update)
-    # Parse all the updates
-    for update in updates:
-        # If the update is a message...
-        if update.message is not None:
-            # Ensure the message has been sent in a private chat
-            if update.message.chat.type != "private":
-                # Notify the chat
-                bot.send_message(update.message.chat.id, strings.error_nonprivate_chat)
-                # Skip the update
-                continue
-            # If the message is a start command...
-            if update.message.text == "/start":
-                # Check if a worker already exists for that chat
-                old_worker = chat_workers.get(update.message.chat.id)
-                # If it exists, gracefully stop the worker
-                if old_worker:
-                    old_worker.stop()
-                # Initialize a new worker for the chat
-                new_worker = worker.ChatWorker(bot, update.message.chat)
-                # Start the worker
-                new_worker.start()
-                # Store the worker in the dictionary
-                chat_workers[update.message.chat.id] = new_worker
-                # Skip the update
-                continue
-            # Otherwise, forward the update to the corresponding worker
-            receiving_worker = chat_workers.get(update.message.chat.id)
-            # Ensure a worker exists for the chat
-            if receiving_worker is None:
-                # Suggest that the user restarts the chat with /start
-                bot.send_message(update.message.chat.id, strings.error_no_worker_for_chat)
-            # Forward the update to the worker
-            receiving_worker.pipe.send(update)
-        # If the update is a inline keyboard press...
-        if update.inline_query is not None:
-            # Forward the update to the corresponding worker
-            receiving_worker = chat_workers.get(update.message.chat.id)
-            # Ensure a worker exists for the chat
-            if receiving_worker is None:
-                # Suggest that the user restarts the chat with /start
-                bot.send_message(update.message.chat.id, strings.error_no_worker_for_chat)
-            # Forward the update to the worker
-            receiving_worker.pipe.send(update)
-        # Mark the update as read by increasing the update_offset
-        next_update = update.update_id + 1
-    # Temporarily prevent rate limits (remove this later)
-    time.sleep(5)
\ No newline at end of file
+# Run the main function only in the main process
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/strings.py b/strings.py
index c1b65fb..4115cb6 100644
--- a/strings.py
+++ b/strings.py
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 # Strings / localization file for greed
 # Can be edited, but DON'T REMOVE THE REPLACEMENT FIELDS (words surrounded by {curly braces})
+# TODO: maybe add a preformat to all strings in this file
+
+# Answer: the start command was sent and the bot should welcome the user
+conversation_after_start = "Ciao!\n" \
+                           "Benvenuto su greed!"
 
 # Error: message received not in a private chat
 error_nonprivate_chat = "⚠️ Questo bot funziona solo in chat private."
 
 # Error: a message was sent in a chat, but no worker exists for that chat. Suggest the creation of a new worker with /start
 error_no_worker_for_chat = "⚠️ La conversazione con il bot si è interrotta.\n" \
-                           "Per riavviarla, manda il comando /start al bot."
\ No newline at end of file
+                           "Per riavviarla, manda il comando /start al bot."
diff --git a/worker.py b/worker.py
index 34c645d..3a86163 100644
--- a/worker.py
+++ b/worker.py
@@ -1,12 +1,20 @@
 import multiprocessing
 import telegram
+import strings
+
+class StopSignal:
+    """A data class that should be sent to the worker when the conversation has to be stopped abnormally."""
+
+    def __init__(self, reason: str=""):
+        self.reason = reason
+
 
 class ChatWorker:
     """A worker for a single conversation. A new one should be created every time the /start command is sent."""
 
     def __init__(self, bot: telegram.Bot, chat: telegram.Chat):
         # A pipe connecting the main process to the chat process is created
-        in_pipe, out_pipe = multiprocessing.Pipe(duplex=False)
+        out_pipe, in_pipe = multiprocessing.Pipe(duplex=False)
         # The sending pipe is stored in the ChatWorker class, allowing the forwarding of messages to the chat process
         self.pipe = in_pipe
         # A new process running the conversation handler is created, and the receiving pipe is passed to its arguments to enable the receiving of messages
@@ -16,13 +24,40 @@ class ChatWorker:
         """Start the worker process."""
         self.process.start()
 
-    def stop(self):
-        # Gracefully stop the worker process
-        # TODO: send a stop message to the process
-        raise NotImplementedError()
+    def stop(self, reason: str=""):
+        """Gracefully stop the worker process"""
+        # Send a stop message to the process
+        self.pipe.send(StopSignal(reason))
         # Wait for the process to stop
         self.process.join()
 
 
-def conversation_handler(bot: telegram.Bot, chat: telegram.Chat, pipe: multiprocessing.Connection):
-    raise NotImplementedError()
\ No newline at end of file
+def receive_next_update(pipe) -> telegram.Update:
+    """Get the next update from a pipe.
+    If no update is found, block the process until one is received.
+    If a stop signal is sent, try to gracefully stop the process."""
+    # Receive data from the pipe
+    data = pipe.recv()
+    # Check if the data is a stop signal instance
+    if isinstance(data, StopSignal):
+        # Gracefully stop the process
+        graceful_stop()
+    # Return the received update
+    return data
+
+
+def graceful_stop():
+    """Handle the graceful stop of the process."""
+    raise NotImplementedError()
+
+
+def conversation_handler(bot: telegram.Bot, chat: telegram.Chat, pipe):
+    """This function is ran once for every conversation (/start command) by a separate process."""
+    # TODO: catch all the possible exceptions
+    # Welcome the user to the bot
+    bot.send_message(chat.id, strings.conversation_after_start)
+    # TODO: Send a command list or something
+    while True:
+        # For now, echo the sent message
+        update = receive_next_update(pipe)
+        bot.send_message(chat.id, update.message.text)
\ No newline at end of file