diff --git a/spec/config_spec.cr b/spec/config_spec.cr
index 9ead52f..f6db81f 100644
--- a/spec/config_spec.cr
+++ b/spec/config_spec.cr
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ describe "Config" do
     application = Kemal::Application.new
     application.add_handler CustomTestHandler.new
     application.setup
-    application.handlers.size.should eq 9
+    application.handlers.size.should eq 8
   end
 
   it "toggles the shutdown message" do
diff --git a/spec/helpers_spec.cr b/spec/helpers_spec.cr
index 21272ed..a7290d6 100644
--- a/spec/helpers_spec.cr
+++ b/spec/helpers_spec.cr
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ describe "Macros" do
     it "adds a custom handler" do
       add_handler CustomTestHandler.new
       Kemal.application.setup
-      Kemal.application.handlers.size.should eq 7
+      Kemal.application.handlers.size.should eq 8
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/src/kemal/application.cr b/src/kemal/application.cr
index e7fa19c..c5d1c4c 100644
--- a/src/kemal/application.cr
+++ b/src/kemal/application.cr
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 class Kemal::Application < Kemal::Base
   def initialize(config = Config.default)
-    super config
-    add_filter_handler(filter_handler)
+    super(config)
   end
 
   # Overload of self.run with the default startup logging
diff --git a/src/kemal/base.cr b/src/kemal/base.cr
index 09af652..f33e1bc 100644
--- a/src/kemal/base.cr
+++ b/src/kemal/base.cr
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 require "./helpers/*"
+require "./base/*"
 
 # Kemal Base
 # The DSL currently consists of
@@ -10,19 +11,18 @@ class Kemal::Base
   include FileHelpers
   include Templates
   include Macros
+  include Base::DSL
+  include Base::Builder
 
-  HTTP_METHODS   = %w(get post put patch delete options)
-  FILTER_METHODS = %w(get post put patch delete options all)
-
+  # :nodoc:
   getter route_handler = Kemal::RouteHandler.new
+  # :nodoc:
   getter filter_handler = Kemal::FilterHandler.new
+  # :nodoc:
   getter websocket_handler = Kemal::WebSocketHandler.new
 
   getter handlers = [] of HTTP::Handler
-  getter custom_handlers = [] of Tuple(Nil | Int32, HTTP::Handler)
-  getter filter_handlers = [] of HTTP::Handler
   getter error_handlers = {} of Int32 => HTTP::Server::Context, Exception -> String
-  @handler_position = 0
 
   getter config : Config
 
@@ -31,133 +31,11 @@ class Kemal::Base
   property? running = false
 
   def initialize(@config = Config.base)
-    @logger = if @config.logging?
-                Kemal::LogHandler.new
-              else
-                Kemal::NullLogHandler.new
-              end
-    add_filter_handler(filter_handler)
-  end
+    @filter_handler = FilterHandler.new(self)
+    @route_handler = RouteHandler.new(self)
+    @websocket_handler = WebSocketHandler.new(self)
 
-  {% for method in HTTP_METHODS %}
-    def {{method.id}}(path, &block : HTTP::Server::Context -> _)
-      raise Kemal::Exceptions::InvalidPathStartException.new({{method}}, path) unless Kemal::Utils.path_starts_with_slash?(path)
-      route_handler.add_route({{method}}.upcase, path, &block)
-    end
-  {% end %}
-
-  def ws(path, &block : HTTP::WebSocket, HTTP::Server::Context -> Void)
-    raise Kemal::Exceptions::InvalidPathStartException.new("ws", path) unless Kemal::Utils.path_starts_with_slash?(path)
-    websocket_handler.add_route path, &block
-  end
-
-  def error(status_code, &block : HTTP::Server::Context, Exception -> _)
-    add_error_handler status_code, &block
-  end
-
-  # All the helper methods available are:
-  #  - before_all, before_get, before_post, before_put, before_patch, before_delete, before_options
-  #  - after_all, after_get, after_post, after_put, after_patch, after_delete, after_options
-  {% for type in ["before", "after"] %}
-    {% for method in FILTER_METHODS %}
-      def {{type.id}}_{{method.id}}(path = "*", &block : HTTP::Server::Context -> _)
-        filter_handler.{{type.id}}({{method}}.upcase, path, &block)
-      end
-    {% end %}
-  {% end %}
-
-  def clear
-    @router_included = false
-    @handler_position = 0
-    @default_handlers_setup = false
-
-    handlers.clear
-    custom_handlers.clear
-    filter_handlers.clear
-    error_handlers.clear
-
-    route_handler.clear
-    websocket_handler.clear
-  end
-
-  def handlers=(handlers : Array(HTTP::Handler))
-    clear
-    @handlers.replace(handlers)
-  end
-
-  def add_handler(handler : HTTP::Handler)
-    @custom_handlers << {nil, handler}
-  end
-
-  def add_handler(handler : HTTP::Handler, position : Int32)
-    @custom_handlers << {position, handler}
-  end
-
-  def add_filter_handler(handler : HTTP::Handler)
-    @filter_handlers << handler
-  end
-
-  def add_error_handler(status_code, &handler : HTTP::Server::Context, Exception -> _)
-    @error_handlers[status_code] = ->(context : HTTP::Server::Context, error : Exception) { handler.call(context, error).to_s }
-  end
-
-  def setup
-    unless @default_handlers_setup && @router_included
-      setup_init_handler
-      setup_log_handler
-      setup_error_handler
-      setup_static_file_handler
-      setup_custom_handlers
-      setup_filter_handlers
-      @default_handlers_setup = true
-      @router_included = true
-      handlers.insert(handlers.size, websocket_handler)
-      handlers.insert(handlers.size, route_handler)
-    end
-  end
-
-  private def setup_init_handler
-    @handlers.insert(@handler_position, Kemal::InitHandler.new(self))
-    @handler_position += 1
-  end
-
-  private def setup_log_handler
-    @handlers.insert(@handler_position, logger)
-    @handler_position += 1
-  end
-
-  private def setup_error_handler
-    if @config.always_rescue?
-      @error_handler ||= Kemal::ExceptionHandler.new
-      @handlers.insert(@handler_position, @error_handler.not_nil!)
-      @handler_position += 1
-    end
-  end
-
-  private def setup_static_file_handler
-    if @config.serve_static.is_a?(Hash)
-      @handlers.insert(@handler_position, Kemal::StaticFileHandler.new(@config.public_folder))
-      @handler_position += 1
-    end
-  end
-
-  private def setup_custom_handlers
-    @custom_handlers.each do |ch|
-      position = ch[0]
-      if !position
-        @handlers.insert(@handler_position, ch[1])
-        @handler_position += 1
-      else
-        @handlers.insert(position, ch[1])
-        @handler_position += 1
-      end
-    end
-  end
-
-  private def setup_filter_handlers
-    @filter_handlers.each do |h|
-      @handlers.insert(@handler_position, h)
-    end
+    initialize_defaults
   end
 
   # Overload of self.run with the default startup logging
@@ -180,6 +58,11 @@ class Kemal::Base
     end
   end
 
+  # DEPRECATED: This method should be replaced with `#running?`
+  def running
+    running?
+  end
+
   private def prepare_for_server_start
     unless @config.env == "test"
       Signal::INT.trap do
diff --git a/src/kemal/base/builder.cr b/src/kemal/base/builder.cr
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f330234
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/kemal/base/builder.cr
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+class Kemal::Base
+  module Builder
+    getter custom_handlers = [] of Tuple(Nil | Int32, HTTP::Handler)
+    getter filter_handlers = [] of HTTP::Handler
+    @handler_position = 0
+
+    def clear
+      @router_included = false
+      @handler_position = 0
+      @default_handlers_setup = false
+
+      handlers.clear
+      custom_handlers.clear
+      filter_handlers.clear
+      error_handlers.clear
+
+      route_handler.clear
+      websocket_handler.clear
+    end
+
+    def handlers=(handlers : Array(HTTP::Handler))
+      clear
+      @handlers.replace(handlers)
+    end
+
+    def add_handler(handler : HTTP::Handler)
+      @custom_handlers << {nil, handler}
+    end
+
+    def add_handler(handler : HTTP::Handler, position : Int32)
+      @custom_handlers << {position, handler}
+    end
+
+    def add_filter_handler(handler : HTTP::Handler)
+      @filter_handlers << handler
+    end
+
+    def add_error_handler(status_code, &handler : HTTP::Server::Context, Exception -> _)
+      @error_handlers[status_code] = ->(context : HTTP::Server::Context, error : Exception) { handler.call(context, error).to_s }
+    end
+
+    def setup
+      @logger = if @config.logging?
+                  LogHandler.new
+                else
+                  NullLogHandler.new
+                end
+      unless @default_handlers_setup && @router_included
+        setup_init_handler
+        setup_log_handler
+        setup_error_handler
+        setup_static_file_handler
+        setup_custom_handlers
+        setup_filter_handlers
+        @default_handlers_setup = true
+        @router_included = true
+        handlers.insert(handlers.size, websocket_handler)
+        handlers.insert(handlers.size, route_handler)
+      end
+    end
+
+    private def setup_init_handler
+      @handlers.insert(@handler_position, Kemal::InitHandler.new(self))
+      @handler_position += 1
+    end
+
+    private def setup_log_handler
+      @handlers.insert(@handler_position, logger)
+      @handler_position += 1
+    end
+
+    private def setup_error_handler
+      if @config.always_rescue?
+        error_handler = @error_handler ||= Kemal::ExceptionHandler.new
+        @handlers.insert(@handler_position, error_handler)
+        @handler_position += 1
+      end
+    end
+
+    private def setup_static_file_handler
+      if @config.serve_static.is_a?(Hash)
+        @handlers.insert(@handler_position, Kemal::StaticFileHandler.new(@config.public_folder))
+        @handler_position += 1
+      end
+    end
+
+    # Handle WebSocketHandler
+    private def setup_custom_handlers
+      @custom_handlers.each do |ch|
+        position = ch[0]
+        if !position
+          @handlers.insert(@handler_position, ch[1])
+          @handler_position += 1
+        else
+          @handlers.insert(position, ch[1])
+          @handler_position += 1
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    private def setup_filter_handlers
+      @handlers.insert(@handler_position, filter_handler)
+      @filter_handlers.each do |h|
+        @handlers.insert(@handler_position, h)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/src/kemal/base/dsl.cr b/src/kemal/base/dsl.cr
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a7473ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/kemal/base/dsl.cr
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+class Kemal::Base
+  module DSL
+    HTTP_METHODS   = %w(get post put patch delete options)
+    FILTER_METHODS = %w(get post put patch delete options all)
+
+    macro included
+      # :nodoc:
+      DEFAULT_HANDLERS = [] of {String, String, (HTTP::Server::Context -> Nil)}
+      # :nodoc:
+      WEBSOCKET_HANDLERS = [] of {String, (HTTP::WebSocket, HTTP::Server::Context -> Void)}
+      # :nodoc:
+      DEFAULT_ERROR_HANDLERS = [] of {Int32, (HTTP::Server::Context, Exception -> Nil)}
+      # :nodoc:
+      DEFAULT_FILTERS = [] of {Symbol, String, String, (HTTP::Server::Context -> Nil)}
+    end
+
+    {% for method in HTTP_METHODS %}
+      def {{method.id}}(path, &block : HTTP::Server::Context -> _)
+        raise Kemal::Exceptions::InvalidPathStartException.new({{method}}, path) unless Kemal::Utils.path_starts_with_slash?(path)
+        route_handler.add_route({{method}}.upcase, path, &block)
+      end
+    {% end %}
+
+    def ws(path, &block : HTTP::WebSocket, HTTP::Server::Context -> Void)
+      raise Kemal::Exceptions::InvalidPathStartException.new("ws", path) unless Kemal::Utils.path_starts_with_slash?(path)
+      websocket_handler.add_route path, &block
+    end
+
+    def error(status_code, &block : HTTP::Server::Context, Exception -> _)
+      add_error_handler status_code, &block
+    end
+
+    # All the helper methods available are:
+    #  - before_all, before_get, before_post, before_put, before_patch, before_delete, before_options
+    #  - after_all, after_get, after_post, after_put, after_patch, after_delete, after_options
+    {% for type in ["before", "after"] %}
+      {% for method in FILTER_METHODS %}
+        def {{type.id}}_{{method.id}}(path = "*", &block : HTTP::Server::Context -> _)
+          filter_handler.{{type.id}}({{method}}.upcase, path, &block)
+        end
+      {% end %}
+    {% end %}
+
+    private def initialize_defaults
+      DEFAULT_HANDLERS.each do |method, path, block|
+        route_handler.add_route(method.upcase, path, &block)
+      end
+
+      WEBSOCKET_HANDLERS.each do |path, block|
+        ws(path, &block)
+      end
+
+      DEFAULT_ERROR_HANDLERS.each do |status_code, block|
+        add_error_handler status_code, &block
+      end
+
+      DEFAULT_FILTERS.each do |type, method, path, block|
+        if type == :before
+          filter_handler.before(method, path, &block)
+        else
+          filter_handler.after(method, path, &block)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    {% for method in HTTP_METHODS %}
+      def self.{{method.id}}(path, &block : HTTP::Server::Context -> _)
+        DEFAULT_HANDLERS << { {{method}}, path, block }
+      end
+    {% end %}
+
+    def self.ws(path, &block : HTTP::WebSocket, HTTP::Server::Context -> Void)
+      WEBSOCKET_HANDLERS << {path, block}
+    end
+
+    def self.error(status_code, &block : HTTP::Server::Context, Exception -> _)
+      DEFAULT_ERROR_HANDLERS << {status_code, block}
+    end
+
+    # All the helper methods available are:
+    #  - before_all, before_get, before_post, before_put, before_patch, before_delete, before_options
+    #  - after_all, after_get, after_post, after_put, after_patch, after_delete, after_options
+    {% for type in [:before, :after] %}
+      {% for method in FILTER_METHODS %}
+        def self.{{type.id}}_{{method.id}}(path = "*", &block : HTTP::Server::Context -> _)
+          DEFAULT_FILTERS << { {{type}}, {{method}}, path, block }
+        end
+      {% end %}
+    {% end %}
+  end
+end
diff --git a/src/kemal/config.cr b/src/kemal/config.cr
index e4db16a..58f4979 100644
--- a/src/kemal/config.cr
+++ b/src/kemal/config.cr
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ module Kemal
       (config.is_a?(Hash) && config[key]?) || false
     end
 
-
     def extra_options(&@extra_options : OptionParser ->)
     end
 
@@ -65,12 +64,12 @@ module Kemal
 
     # Creates a config with basic value (disabled logging, disabled serve_static, disabled shutdown_message)
     def self.base
-      new.tap do |config|
-        config.logging = false
-        config.serve_static = false
-        config.shutdown_message = false
-        config.always_rescue = false
-      end
+      new(
+        logging: false,
+        serve_static: false,
+        shutdown_message: false,
+        always_rescue: false,
+      )
     end
   end
 end