diff --git a/cpp_examples/example.cpp b/cpp_examples/example.cpp
index 9defc3e..269ea9c 100644
--- a/cpp_examples/example.cpp
+++ b/cpp_examples/example.cpp
@@ -6,16 +6,15 @@ using namespace std;
 using namespace quick_ftxui;
 
 int main() {
-
-  set_int_var("x", 5);
-  set_str_var("y", "");
-  string source_code = R"(Vertical{
+  int x = 5;
+  set_int_var("x", &x);
+  set_str_var("y");
+  string source_code = R"(DashedBorder Vertical{
         str z = "init"
         str a
         int o = 0
         Input {
             "Type something...",
-            Password,
             y
         }
         RedLight Slider {
@@ -26,12 +25,12 @@ int main() {
             2
         }
         Magenta Button{
-            "ls",
+            "Chrome",
             System("/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable"),
-            Ascii,
+            Animated,
             z
         }
-        Menu{
+        Green Menu{
             [ "Physics",  "Maths",  "Chemistry",  "Biology",],
             VerticalAnimated,
             o
@@ -44,7 +43,7 @@ int main() {
 
   parse_qf(source_code);
 
-  cout << "x is: " << get_int("x") << "\n";
+  cout << "x is: " << x << "\n";
   cout << "y is: " << get_str("y") << "\n";
   cout << "o is: " << get_int("o") << "\n";
   cout << "z is: " << get_str("z") << "\n";
diff --git a/include/quick-ftxui.hpp b/include/quick-ftxui.hpp
index 7621564..20b80fd 100644
--- a/include/quick-ftxui.hpp
+++ b/include/quick-ftxui.hpp
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ namespace quick_ftxui_ast {
 std::map<std::string, int> numbers;
 std::map<std::string, std::string> strings;
 
+std::map<int *, std::string> ref_nums;
+
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //  The AST
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -1087,6 +1089,10 @@ void parse_qf(std::string source_code) {
       }
 
       screen.Loop(main_renderer);
+
+      for (auto It : quick_ftxui_ast::ref_nums) {
+        *(It.first) = quick_ftxui_ast::numbers[It.second];
+      }
     }
   } else {
     throw std::runtime_error("Parsing failed\n");
@@ -1114,6 +1120,27 @@ void set_int_var(std::string var_name, int init_value) {
   }
 }
 
+void set_int_var(std::string var_name, int *init_value) {
+  if (auto It = quick_ftxui_ast::numbers.find(var_name);
+      It != quick_ftxui_ast::numbers.end()) {
+    throw std::runtime_error("Integer variable with name " + var_name +
+                             " already exists, please use another name");
+  } else {
+    quick_ftxui_ast::numbers.insert({var_name, (*init_value)});
+    quick_ftxui_ast::ref_nums.insert({init_value, var_name});
+  }
+}
+
+void set_int_var(std::string var_name) {
+  if (auto It = quick_ftxui_ast::numbers.find(var_name);
+      It != quick_ftxui_ast::numbers.end()) {
+    throw std::runtime_error("Integer variable with name " + var_name +
+                             " already exists, please use another name");
+  } else {
+    quick_ftxui_ast::numbers.insert({var_name, 0});
+  }
+}
+
 std::string get_str(std::string var_name) {
   if (auto It = quick_ftxui_ast::strings.find(std::string(var_name));
       It != quick_ftxui_ast::strings.end()) {
@@ -1135,6 +1162,16 @@ void set_str_var(std::string var_name, std::string init_value) {
   }
 }
 
+void set_str_var(std::string var_name) {
+  if (auto It = quick_ftxui_ast::strings.find(var_name);
+      It != quick_ftxui_ast::strings.end()) {
+    throw std::runtime_error("Integer variable with name " + var_name +
+                             " already exists, please use another name");
+  } else {
+    quick_ftxui_ast::strings.insert({var_name, ""});
+  }
+}
+
 } // namespace quick_ftxui
 
 #endif // QUICK_FTXUI_HPP
\ No newline at end of file