diff --git a/src/level.rs b/src/level.rs
index ec353da..e07d5ba 100644
--- a/src/level.rs
+++ b/src/level.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+pub mod generation;
+
 /// a classic level
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct Level {
diff --git a/src/level/generation.rs b/src/level/generation.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6865d37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/level/generation.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+use rand::Rng;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+
+use super::Level;
+
+/// enum for different kinds of level generation
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(tag = "type")]
+pub enum LevelGeneration {
+	/// an empty level
+	Empty,
+	/// a level where every block up to the given height is randomized
+	FullRandom { height: usize },
+	/// a flat level with the given preset
+	Flat(FlatPreset),
+}
+
+/// enum for level presents
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(tag = "flat_type")]
+pub enum FlatPreset {
+	/// the level is mostly stone, then dirt, then a layer of grass on the top
+	StoneAndGrass,
+	/// the level layers are custom as defined in server config
+	Custom { layers: Vec<FlatLayer> },
+}
+
+/// description of a flat world's layer
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct FlatLayer {
+	/// the block for the layer
+	pub block: u8,
+	/// the depth of the layer
+	pub depth: usize,
+}
+
+impl LevelGeneration {
+	/// generates the level
+	pub fn generate<R>(&self, level: &mut Level, rng: &mut R)
+	where
+		R: Rng,
+	{
+		match self {
+			Self::Empty => {}
+			Self::FullRandom { height } => {
+				let height = *height.min(&level.y_size);
+				for x in 0..level.x_size {
+					for y in 0..height {
+						for z in 0..level.z_size {
+							level.set_block(x, y, z, rng.gen_range(0..49));
+						}
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			Self::Flat(preset) => {
+				let custom_layers;
+				let layers_ref;
+
+				match preset {
+					FlatPreset::StoneAndGrass => {
+						custom_layers = vec![
+							FlatLayer {
+								block: 1,
+								depth: level.y_size / 2 - 4,
+							},
+							FlatLayer { block: 3, depth: 3 },
+							FlatLayer { block: 2, depth: 1 },
+						];
+						layers_ref = &custom_layers;
+					}
+					FlatPreset::Custom { layers } => {
+						layers_ref = layers;
+					}
+				}
+
+				let mut y = 0;
+				for layer in layers_ref {
+					for _ in 0..layer.depth {
+						for x in 0..level.x_size {
+							for z in 0..level.z_size {
+								level.set_block(x, y, z, layer.block);
+							}
+						}
+						y += 1;
+						if y >= level.y_size {
+							return;
+						}
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/server.rs b/src/server.rs
index 9afafcb..312f966 100644
--- a/src/server.rs
+++ b/src/server.rs
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ mod network;
 
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
-// use parking_lot::RwLock;
-use rand::Rng;
 use tokio::{net::TcpListener, sync::RwLock};
 
 use crate::{level::Level, player::Player};
@@ -50,13 +48,7 @@ impl Server {
 			)
 		};
 		let mut level = Level::new(level_x, level_y, level_z);
-		for x in 0..level.x_size {
-			for y in 0..(level.y_size / 2) {
-				for z in 0..level.z_size {
-					level.set_block(x, y, z, rng.gen_range(0..50));
-				}
-			}
-		}
+		config.generation.generate(&mut level, &mut rng);
 		println!("done!");
 
 		Self::new_with_level(config, level).await
diff --git a/src/server/config.rs b/src/server/config.rs
index 15acc11..9c43c3f 100644
--- a/src/server/config.rs
+++ b/src/server/config.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
+use crate::level::generation::LevelGeneration;
+
 /// configuration for the server
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct ServerConfig {
@@ -13,6 +15,8 @@ pub struct ServerConfig {
 	pub level_size: Option<ConfigCoordinates>,
 	/// the level's spawn point
 	pub spawn: Option<ConfigCoordinates>,
+	/// the method to generate the server's level with
+	pub generation: LevelGeneration,
 }
 
 impl Default for ServerConfig {
@@ -23,6 +27,7 @@ impl Default for ServerConfig {
 			password: None,
 			level_size: None,
 			spawn: None,
+			generation: LevelGeneration::Empty,
 		}
 	}
 }