diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd17261
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+env:
+  RUBY_VERSION: 3.2.2
+
+name: RichEnums CI
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    paths-ignore:
+      - .gitignore
+      - CHANGELOG.md
+      - CONTRIBUTING.md
+      - README.md
+  push:
+    paths-ignore:
+      - .gitignore
+      - CHANGELOG.md
+      - CONTRIBUTING.md
+      - README.md
+
+jobs:
+  rspec-test:
+    name: Run tests (ruby ${{ matrix.ruby }}, rails ${{ matrix.rails }})
+    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        include:
+          - ruby: '3.2'
+            rails: '7.1'
+          - ruby: '3.2'
+            rails: '7.0'
+          - ruby: '3.2'
+            rails: '6.1'
+          - ruby: '3.1'
+            rails: '6.1'
+    env:
+      BUNDLE_GEMFILE: gemfiles/activerecord_${{ matrix.rails }}.gemfile
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - name: Install Ruby
+        uses: ruby/setup-ruby@v1
+        with:
+          ruby-version: ${{ matrix.ruby }}
+      - name: Gem cache
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        with:
+          path: vendor/bundle
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-gem-use-ruby-${{ hashFiles('**/Gemfile.lock') }}
+      - name: Install dependencies
+        run: |
+          gem install bundler --version 2.3.25 --no-document
+          bundle config path vendor/bundle
+          bundle install --jobs 4 --retry 3
+      - name: Run tests
+        run: bundle exec rake spec
diff --git a/.ruby-version b/.ruby-version
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..94ff29c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.ruby-version
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+3.1.1
diff --git a/Gemfile.lock b/Gemfile.lock
index 245890e..eb05564 100644
--- a/Gemfile.lock
+++ b/Gemfile.lock
@@ -1,12 +1,29 @@
 PATH
   remote: .
   specs:
-    rich_enums (0.1.3)
+    rich_enums (0.1.4)
+      activerecord (>= 6.1, < 8.0)
 
 GEM
   remote: https://rubygems.org/
   specs:
+    activemodel (6.1.7.7)
+      activesupport (= 6.1.7.7)
+    activerecord (6.1.7.7)
+      activemodel (= 6.1.7.7)
+      activesupport (= 6.1.7.7)
+    activesupport (6.1.7.7)
+      concurrent-ruby (~> 1.0, >= 1.0.2)
+      i18n (>= 1.6, < 2)
+      minitest (>= 5.1)
+      tzinfo (~> 2.0)
+      zeitwerk (~> 2.3)
+    concurrent-ruby (1.2.3)
     diff-lcs (1.5.0)
+    i18n (1.14.4)
+      concurrent-ruby (~> 1.0)
+    mini_portile2 (2.8.6)
+    minitest (5.22.3)
     rake (12.3.3)
     rspec (3.11.0)
       rspec-core (~> 3.11.0)
@@ -21,6 +38,14 @@ GEM
       diff-lcs (>= 1.2.0, < 2.0)
       rspec-support (~> 3.11.0)
     rspec-support (3.11.0)
+    sqlite3 (1.7.3)
+      mini_portile2 (~> 2.8.0)
+    temping (4.1.1)
+      activerecord (>= 6.0, < 7.2)
+      activesupport (>= 6.0, < 7.2)
+    tzinfo (2.0.6)
+      concurrent-ruby (~> 1.0)
+    zeitwerk (2.6.13)
 
 PLATFORMS
   ruby
@@ -29,6 +54,8 @@ DEPENDENCIES
   rake (~> 12.0)
   rich_enums!
   rspec (~> 3.0)
+  sqlite3 (~> 1.4)
+  temping (~> 4.1)
 
 BUNDLED WITH
    2.4.15
diff --git a/gemfiles/activerecord_6.1.gemfile b/gemfiles/activerecord_6.1.gemfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..511e155
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gemfiles/activerecord_6.1.gemfile
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+source "https://rubygems.org"
+
+gem "activerecord", "~> 6.1"
+gem "rake", "~> 12.0"
+gem "rspec", "~> 3.0"
+
+# Specify your gem's dependencies in rich_enums.gemspec
+gemspec path: "../"
diff --git a/gemfiles/activerecord_7.0.gemfile b/gemfiles/activerecord_7.0.gemfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4bed58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gemfiles/activerecord_7.0.gemfile
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+source "https://rubygems.org"
+
+gem "activerecord", "~> 7.0"
+gem "rake", "~> 12.0"
+gem "rspec", "~> 3.0"
+
+# Specify your gem's dependencies in rich_enums.gemspec
+gemspec path: "../"
diff --git a/gemfiles/activerecord_7.1.gemfile b/gemfiles/activerecord_7.1.gemfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8cdffb0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gemfiles/activerecord_7.1.gemfile
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+source "https://rubygems.org"
+
+gem "activerecord", "~> 7.1"
+gem "rake", "~> 12.0"
+gem "rspec", "~> 3.0"
+
+# Specify your gem's dependencies in rich_enums.gemspec
+gemspec path: "../"
diff --git a/lib/rich_enums.rb b/lib/rich_enums.rb
index e577e4d..917ac2d 100644
--- a/lib/rich_enums.rb
+++ b/lib/rich_enums.rb
@@ -38,22 +38,30 @@ def rich_enum(column_symbol_value_string_options)
       # e.learner_payment_path_name --> "P.O. / Check" -> our custom method that returns the string/description
       # TODO: explore if enum options in Array format instead of Hash format will need to be handled
 
-      raise 'rich_enum error' unless column_symbol_value_string_options.keys.count.positive?
+      unless column_symbol_value_string_options.is_a? Hash
+        raise RichEnums::Error
+      end
+      if column_symbol_value_string_options.keys.count.zero?
+        raise RichEnums::Error
+      end
 
       # extract out the column
       column = column_symbol_value_string_options.keys.first
 
       # extract the Enum options for the column which may be in standard enum hash format or our custom format
       symbol_value_string = column_symbol_value_string_options.delete(column)
+
+      raise RichEnums::Error unless symbol_value_string.is_a? Hash
+
       # at this point, only the enum options like _prefix etc. are present in the original argument
       options = column_symbol_value_string_options
       # we allow for an option called alt: to allow the users to tag the alternate mapping. Defaults to 'alt_name'
-      alt = options.delete(:alt) || 'alt_name'
+      alt = options.delete(:alt).to_s || 'alt_name'
 
       # create two hashes from the provided input - 1 to be used to define the enum and the other for the name map
       split_hash = symbol_value_string.each_with_object({ for_enum: {}, for_display: {} }) do |(symbol, value_string), obj|
-        obj[:for_enum][symbol] = value_string.is_a?(Array) ? value_string.first : value_string
-        obj[:for_display][symbol.to_s] = value_string.is_a?(Array) ? value_string.second : symbol.to_s
+        obj[:for_enum][symbol] = value_string.is_a?(Array) ? value_string[0] : value_string
+        obj[:for_display][symbol.to_s] = value_string.is_a?(Array) ? value_string[1] : symbol.to_s
       end
 
       # 1. Define the Enum
diff --git a/lib/rich_enums/version.rb b/lib/rich_enums/version.rb
index f79005b..1975db6 100644
--- a/lib/rich_enums/version.rb
+++ b/lib/rich_enums/version.rb
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 module RichEnums
-  VERSION = '0.1.3'
+  VERSION = '0.1.4'
 end
diff --git a/rich_enums.gemspec b/rich_enums.gemspec
index cd28b66..cc1b4dc 100644
--- a/rich_enums.gemspec
+++ b/rich_enums.gemspec
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ DESC
   spec.metadata['source_code_uri'] = 'https://github.com/betacraft/rich_enums'
   spec.metadata['changelog_uri'] = 'https://github.com/betacraft/rich_enums/README.md'
 
+  spec.add_development_dependency 'sqlite3', '~> 1.4'
+  spec.add_development_dependency 'temping', '~> 4.1'
+  spec.add_runtime_dependency 'activerecord', '>= 6.1', '< 8.0'
   # Specify which files should be added to the gem when it is released.
   # The `git ls-files -z` loads the files in the RubyGem that have been added into git.
   spec.files         = Dir.chdir(File.expand_path('..', __FILE__)) do
diff --git a/spec/rich_enums_spec.rb b/spec/rich_enums_spec.rb
index 8b7cbcd..37ba0ae 100644
--- a/spec/rich_enums_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/rich_enums_spec.rb
@@ -1,10 +1,149 @@
+require "spec_helper"
+
 RSpec.describe RichEnums do
-  it "has a version number" do
-    expect(RichEnums::VERSION).not_to be nil
+  describe "error scenarios" do
+    it "raises an error if the argument to rich_enum is not a Hash" do
+      expect do
+        Temping.create(:course_class) do
+          include RichEnums
+          rich_enum([])
+        end
+      end.to raise_error(RichEnums::Error)
+    end
+
+    it "raises an error if an empty Hash is passed to rich_enum" do
+      expect do
+        Temping.create(:course_class) do
+          include RichEnums
+          rich_enum({})
+        end
+      end.to raise_error(RichEnums::Error)
+    end
+
+    it "raises an error if the enum definition uses the Array form" do
+      # This is not supported yet
+      expect do
+        Temping.create(:course_class) do
+          include RichEnums
+          rich_enum({status: [:active, :inactive]})
+        end
+      end.to raise_error(RichEnums::Error)
+    end
   end
 
-  it "does something useful" do
-    # TODO write tests
-    expect(false).to eq(true)
+  describe "rich_enum usage" do
+    context "it calls the ActiveRecord::Enum.enum method" do
+      let(:course_class) do
+        Temping.create(:course_class) do
+          with_columns do |t|
+            t.integer :status
+            t.string :category
+          end
+
+          include RichEnums
+        end
+      end
+
+      it "invokes the enum method with the correct arguments" do
+        allow(course_class).to receive(:enum).and_call_original
+
+        course_class.rich_enum status: { active: 0, inactive: 1 }, alt: :name
+        # it passes only the necessary arguments to the enum method, stripping out the alt: option
+        expect(course_class).to have_received(:enum).with(status: { active: 0, inactive: 1 })
+      end
+
+      it "invokes the enum method with the correct arguments" do
+        allow(course_class).to receive(:enum).and_call_original
+
+        course_class.rich_enum status: { active: [0, 'LIVE'], inactive: [1, 'NOT_LIVE'] }, alt: :name
+        # it passes only the necessary arguments to the enum method,
+        # stripping out the alternate names LIVE and NOT_LIVE and the alt: option
+        expect(course_class).to have_received(:enum).with(status: { active: 0, inactive: 1 })
+      end
+
+      it "invokes the enum method with the correct arguments" do
+        allow(course_class).to receive(:enum).and_call_original
+        course_class.rich_enum status: { active: [0, 'LIVE'], inactive: [1, 'NOT_LIVE'] }, _prefix: true, alt: 'state'
+        # it passes only the necessary arguments to the enum method,
+        # stripping out the alternate names LIVE and NOT_LIVE and the alt: option
+        expect(course_class).to have_received(:enum).with(status: { active: 0, inactive: 1 }, _prefix: true)
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "with only an alternate name specified without additional mapping" do
+      let(:course_class) do
+        Temping.create(:course_class) do
+          with_columns do |t|
+            t.integer :status
+            t.string :category
+          end
+
+          include RichEnums
+          rich_enum status: { active: 0, inactive: 1 }, alt: :name
+        end
+      end
+      let(:test_instance) { course_class.new }
+
+      it "defines a class method for each enum" do
+        expect(course_class).to respond_to(:status_names)
+      end
+
+      it "returns a hash of enum values and names" do
+        expect(course_class.status_names).to eq({"active"=>"active", "inactive"=>"inactive"})
+      end
+
+      it "defines an instance method for each enum" do
+        expect(test_instance).to respond_to(:status_name)
+      end
+
+      it "returns the value in response to alternate name" do
+        test_instance.status = 0
+        expect(test_instance.status_name).to eq(test_instance.status)
+        test_instance.status = 1
+        expect(test_instance.status_name).to eq(test_instance.status)
+        test_instance.status = :active
+        expect(test_instance.status_name).to eq(test_instance.status)
+        test_instance.status = 'inactive'
+        expect(test_instance.status_name).to eq(test_instance.status)
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "with an alternate name and mapping specified" do
+      let(:course_class) do
+        Temping.create(:course_class) do
+          with_columns do |t|
+            t.string :status
+          end
+
+          include RichEnums
+          rich_enum status: { active: [0, 'LIVE'], inactive: [1, 'NOT_LIVE'] }, alt: :name
+        end
+      end
+
+      let(:test_instance) { course_class.new }
+
+      it "defines a class method for each enum" do
+        expect(course_class).to respond_to(:status_names)
+      end
+
+      it "returns a hash of enum values and names" do
+        expect(course_class.status_names).to eq({"active"=>"LIVE", "inactive"=>"NOT_LIVE"})
+      end
+
+      it "defines an instance method for each enum" do
+        expect(test_instance).to respond_to(:status_name)
+      end
+
+      it "returns the alternate name of the enum value" do
+        test_instance.status = 0
+        expect(test_instance.status_name).to eq("LIVE")
+        test_instance.status = 1
+        expect(test_instance.status_name).to eq("NOT_LIVE")
+        test_instance.status = :active
+        expect(test_instance.status_name).to eq("LIVE")
+        test_instance.status = 'inactive'
+        expect(test_instance.status_name).to eq("NOT_LIVE")
+      end
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/spec_helper.rb b/spec/spec_helper.rb
index ccf0686..2a61bd0 100644
--- a/spec/spec_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/spec_helper.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 require "bundler/setup"
 require "rich_enums"
+require "temping"
 
 RSpec.configure do |config|
   # Enable flags like --only-failures and --next-failure
@@ -11,4 +12,15 @@
   config.expect_with :rspec do |c|
     c.syntax = :expect
   end
+
+  config.before(:all) do
+    ActiveRecord::Base.establish_connection(
+      adapter: "sqlite3",
+      database: ":memory:"
+    )
+  end
+
+  config.after do
+    Temping.teardown
+  end
 end