diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 63c0b7f..f1e02ed 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,20 +5,4 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file. This change
 ### Changed
 - Add a new arity to `make-widget-async` to provide a different widget shape.
 
-## [0.1.1] - 2019-07-06
-### Changed
-- Documentation on how to make the widgets.
-
-### Removed
-- `make-widget-sync` - we're all async, all the time.
-
-### Fixed
-- Fixed widget maker to keep working when daylight savings switches over.
-
-## 0.1.0 - 2019-07-06
-### Added
-- Files from the new template.
-- Widget maker public API - `make-widget-sync`.
-
-[Unreleased]: https://github.com/your-name/whisper/compare/0.1.1...HEAD
-[0.1.1]: https://github.com/your-name/whisper/compare/0.1.0...0.1.1
+[Unreleased]: https://git.aidanis.online/aidan/whisper/compare/HEAD
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index de9147f..551f72c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,13 +1,18 @@
-# whisper
+# Whisper
 
-FIXME: description
+Whisper is a client for signald. In combination, the two represent a complete replacement for the official Signal desktop client. Additionally, Whisper and Signald can be run on any mobile device supporting the Java Runtime Environment.
+
+**Whisper is in early stages of development.**
 
 ## Installation
 
-Download from http://example.com/FIXME.
+Currently: use lein run
+TODO: package, wrap with a nice makefile
 
 ## Usage
 
+Call `lein run` in a freshly cloned repository to run Whisper. Make sure Signald is already running.
+
 FIXME: explanation
 
     $ java -jar whisper-0.1.0-standalone.jar [args]
@@ -30,7 +35,7 @@ FIXME: listing of options this app accepts.
 
 ## License
 
-Copyright © 2019 FIXME
+Copyright © 2019 Aidan Hahn
 
 This program and the accompanying materials are made available under the
 terms of the Eclipse Public License 2.0 which is available at
diff --git a/project.clj b/project.clj
index 988511c..cf07531 100644
--- a/project.clj
+++ b/project.clj
@@ -4,9 +4,15 @@
   :license {:name "EPL-2.0 OR GPL-2.0-or-later WITH Classpath-exception-2.0"
             :url "https://www.eclipse.org/legal/epl-2.0/"}
   :dependencies [[org.clojure/clojure "1.10.0"]
-                 [com.kohlschutter.junixsocket/junixsocket-demo "2.2.0"]
-                 [seesaw "1.5.0"]
-                 [org.clojure/data.json "0.2.6"]]
+                 [com.kohlschutter.junixsocket/junixsocket-common "2.3.2"]
+                 [com.kohlschutter.junixsocket/junixsocket-native-common "2.3.2"]
+                 [cljfx "1.7.10"]
+                 [org.clojure/data.json "0.2.6"]
+                 [org.clojure/tools.logging "1.1.0"]
+                 [org.clojure/core.cache "1.0.207"]
+                 [org.clojure/core.async "1.3.610"]
+                 [clj.qrgen "0.4.0"]
+                 [codax "1.3.1"]]
   :main ^:skip-aot whisper.core
   :target-path "target/%s"
   :profiles {:uberjar {:aot :all}})
diff --git a/src/whisper/.#ui.clj b/src/whisper/.#ui.clj
deleted file mode 120000
index bb89933..0000000
--- a/src/whisper/.#ui.clj
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-mortimer@Vespucci.502:1562735217
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/whisper/core.clj b/src/whisper/core.clj
index 0c56039..d362e08 100644
--- a/src/whisper/core.clj
+++ b/src/whisper/core.clj
@@ -1,15 +1,137 @@
 (ns whisper.core
   "Whisper Namespace"
-  (:use [whisper.ui]
-        [whisper.signald]))
+  (:require [clojure.tools.logging :as log]
+            [clojure.data.json     :as json]
+            [clojure.core.async    :as async
+             :refer [<!! thread]]
+            [clojure.java.io       :as io])
 
-;; SEESAW GUI STUFF
-(def mainWindow (frame :title "Signald Version Reader"))
+  (:import (java.io BufferedReader InputStreamReader))
+
+  (:use [whisper.ui]
+        [whisper.signald]
+        [whisper.storage]))
+
+;; TODO: config management
+;; TODO: make config dir
+(def dbpath   "/tmp/temp_db")
+(def sockpath "/var/run/signald/signald.sock")
+(def user (atom {}))
+(def link-status (atom false))
+
+;; TODO: handle multi users (with list ui)
+(defn handle-users
+  [sigd data]
+  (paint-user-select
+   (get-in data ["data" "accounts"])
+   true
+   (fn [x _]
+     ;; TODO: dont magic string this
+     (if (= (get x "username") "Link New User")
+       (make-req sigd {"type" "link"})
+       (do (reset! user x)
+           (init-user-schema (get x "username")))))))
+
+(defn digest-group-or-contact-list
+  [list db]
+  ;; Should we iter in a background thread?
+  (doseq [contact list]
+    (let [id (get-id-from-contact-or-group contact)
+          name (get contact "name")]
+    (store-contact db (get @user "username") id contact)
+    (add-json-contact {:id id :name name}))))
 
 (defn -main
   "packs and shows main window with signald version string"
   [& args]
-  (println (config! (-> mainWindow pack! show!)
-                    :content (reduce (fn [k v]
-                                       (apply str [k v]))
-                                     (get-next-update)))))
+
+  ;; paint main chat window
+  (paint-main)
+
+  ;; prep to read signald
+  ;; also open storage
+  (let [sigd (get-signald-sock sockpath)
+        db   (init-db          dbpath)]
+
+    ;; check if signald conn failed
+    (if (nil? sigd)
+      (add-str-flag "No signald connection."))
+
+      ;; register callbacks between the UI and signald
+      (assoc-callback-type "version" (fn [x] (add-str-flag (get-version-from-version-message x))))
+      (assoc-callback-type "linking_uri" (fn [x] (paint-linking x)))
+      (assoc-callback-type "linking_successful" (fn [_] (paint-linking nil)
+                                                  (reset! link-status true)))
+      (assoc-callback-type "linking_error" (fn [_] (paint-linking nil)
+                                             (log/error "Linking failed")
+                                             (add-str-flag "Linking failed")
+                                             (reset! link-status true)))
+      (assoc-callback-type "unexpected_error" (fn [x] (add-str-flag (str "Unexpected error: "
+                                                                         (get-in x ["data" "message"])))))
+      (assoc-callback-type "contacts_list" (fn [x] (digest-group-or-contact-list
+                                                    (get-in x ["data"]) db)))
+      (assoc-callback-type "group_list" (fn [x] (digest-group-or-contact-list
+                                                  (get-in x ["data" "groups"]) db)))
+
+      ;; get io channels for signald
+      (let [sigd-input  (io/writer (.getOutputStream sigd))
+            sigd-output (BufferedReader. (InputStreamReader. (.getInputStream sigd)))
+            sigd-loop   (thread (callback-loop sigd-output))]
+
+        ;; handle login basically
+        (assoc-callback-type "account_list" (fn [x] (handle-users sigd-input x)))
+
+        ;; log in every time user state changes
+        ;; another way we could do this is to have a callback triggered on a
+        ;; signald message type of "subscribed"
+        ;; but I thought it would be more efficient to just watch for results
+        ;; from the call to handle-users
+        ;; ALSO: close account picker
+        (add-watch user :login-manager
+                   (fn [key atom old-state new-state]
+                     (let [old-user (get old-state "username")
+                           new-user (get new-state "username")]
+
+                       (if (not= old-user new-user)
+                         (do (log/info key " changed state from "
+                                       old-user " to " new-user)
+
+                             ;; unsub from old acc
+                             (if (some? old-user)
+                               ;; TODO: make this a, do statement
+                               ;; add a call to reset the UI
+                               (make-req sigd-input ("type" "unsubscribe"
+                                                     "username" old-user)))
+
+                             ;; sub to new account
+                             (if (some? new-user)
+                               (do
+                                 (make-req sigd-input {"type" "subscribe"
+                                                       "username" new-user})
+                                 (make-req sigd-input {"type" "sync_contacts"
+                                                       "username" new-user})
+                                 (make-req sigd-input {"type" "list_contacts"
+                                                       "username" new-user})
+                                 (make-req sigd-input {"type" "list_groups"
+                                                       "username" new-user})
+                                 ;; TODO: load messages or something
+                                 ;; maybe wait till here to paint main UI
+                                 (add-str-flag (str "Now logged in as " new-user))))
+
+                             ;; close account picker
+                             (paint-user-select [] false (fn [_ _] (log/error "this cannot be called"))))))))
+
+        ;; whenever a link account operation finishes, retrigger handle-users
+        (add-watch link-status :linking-manager
+                   (fn [key atom old-state new-state]
+                     (if (and (not= old-state new-state) new-state)
+                       (do
+                         (log/info key " has detected a link account operation finished.")
+                         (reset! link-status false)
+                         (make-req sigd-input {"type" "list_accounts"})))))
+
+        ;; find avail accounts
+        (make-req sigd-input {"type" "list_accounts"})
+
+        ;; finally, block on signald loop till return
+        (<!! sigd-loop))))
diff --git a/src/whisper/signald.clj b/src/whisper/signald.clj
index b8f203b..dd92e89 100644
--- a/src/whisper/signald.clj
+++ b/src/whisper/signald.clj
@@ -1,17 +1,63 @@
 (ns whisper.signald
-  (:require [clojure.data.json :as json])
+  (:require [clojure.data.json     :as json]
+            [clojure.tools.logging :as log])
   (:import
    (org.newsclub.net.unix AFUNIXSocket AFUNIXSocketAddress)
-   (java.io File BufferedReader InputStreamReader)))
+   (java.io File)))
 
-(def sigdSock (AFUNIXSocket/connectTo
-               (AFUNIXSocketAddress. (File. "/var/run/signald/signald.sock"))))
-(def sigdRead (BufferedReader. (InputStreamReader.
-                                (. sigdSock getInputStream))))
-(def sigdWrite (. sigdSock getOutputStream))
+(def callback-table (atom {}))
 
-(defn get-next-update
-  "Retrieves and parses next line of incoming data from signald"
-  []
-  (:data (json/read-str (.sigdRead readLine) :key-fn keyword)))
+(defn get-signald-sock
+  [filepath]
+  (try
+    (let [target (AFUNIXSocketAddress. (File. filepath))]
+      (log/info "Connected to signald at: " filepath)
+      (AFUNIXSocket/connectTo target))
+    (catch Exception e
+      (log/error e "Caught exception connecting to socket")
+      nil)))
 
+(defn assoc-callback-type
+  [callback-token callback]
+  (swap! callback-table assoc callback-token callback))
+
+(defn disassoc-callback-type
+  [callback-token]
+  (swap! callback-table dissoc callback-token))
+
+;; TODO wrap attempt to call callback func in try catch
+(defn callback-loop
+  [BufferedReader]
+  (doall (for [line (line-seq BufferedReader)]
+           (let [obj (json/read-str line)
+                 type-tok (get obj "type")
+                 callback-func (get @callback-table type-tok)]
+             (log/info "Received message from signald (type: " type-tok ").")
+             (if (nil? callback-func)
+               (log/error "No callback for message type: " type-tok)
+               (callback-func obj))))))
+
+(defn get-version-from-version-message
+  [version-message-obj]
+  (let [data (get version-message-obj "data")]
+    (str (get data "name")    " "
+         (get data "version") " "
+         (get data "branch"))))
+
+(defn get-id-from-contact-or-group
+  [contact]
+  (let [c-id (get-in contact ["address" "number"])
+        g-id (get-in contact ["groupId"])]
+    (if (nil? c-id)
+      (if (nil? g-id)
+        (log/error "Document had no contact id or group id")
+        g-id)
+      c-id)))
+
+;; sends data to signal socket
+;; expects data to be a map
+;; adds a newline
+(defn make-req
+  [output-stream data]
+  (try (.write output-stream (str (json/write-str data) "\n")) (.flush output-stream)
+       (catch Exception e (log/error e "Error sending to signald"))))
diff --git a/src/whisper/storage.clj b/src/whisper/storage.clj
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6aca1e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/whisper/storage.clj
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+(ns whisper.storage
+  "Whisper storage module"
+  (:require [clojure.tools.logging :as log]
+            [codax.core            :as c]))
+
+(defn init-db
+  "opens db at filepath and makes sure schema is in place"
+  [filepath]
+  (let [db (c/open-database! filepath)]
+    ;; TODO: schema preperations here
+    db))
+
+(defn init-user-schema
+  [db username]
+  (let [user-doc (c/get-at! db [username])
+        user-contact-doc (get user-doc :contacts)
+        user-messages-doc (get user-doc :messages)]
+
+    (if (nil? user-doc)
+      (c/assoc-at! db [username] {:contacts {}
+                                  :messages {}}))
+    (if (nil? user-contact-doc)
+      (c/assoc-at! db [username :contacts] {}))
+
+    (if (nil? user-messages-doc)
+      (c/assoc-at! db [username :messages] {}))))
+
+(defn store-contact
+  "adds a new contact to db"
+  [db username contact-id contact-doc]
+  (let [curr-doc (c/get-at! db [username :contacts contact-id])]
+    (if (or (nil? curr-doc) (not= curr-doc contact-doc))
+      (c/assoc-at! db [username :contacts contact-id] contact-doc)))
+  (if (nil? (c/get-at! db [username :messages contact-id]))
+    (c/assoc-at! db [username :messages contact-id] [])))
+
+(defn store-message
+  "adds a message to the db"
+  [db username contact-id message-doc]
+  (let [curr-thread (c/get-at! db [username :messages contact-id])]
+    ;; no contact? dont bother
+    (if (nil? curr-thread)
+      (log/info "Received message for undiscovered contact (wont store).")
+      (c/merge-at! db [username :messages contact-id] [message-doc]))))
+
+(defn get-contacts
+  "retrieve all contacts"
+  [db username]
+  (c/get-at! db [username :contacts]))
+
+(defn get-contact
+  "retrieve a specific contact"
+  [db username contact-id]
+  (c/get-at! db [username :contacts contact-id]))
+
+(defn get-thread
+  "get all messages to and from a specific contact/group"
+  [db username contact-id]
+  (c/get-at! db [username :messages contact-id]))
+
+(defn get-thread-and-contact-if-contact
+  "get all messages to and from a contact, as well as their contact info IF they are a stored contact"
+  [db username contact-id]
+  (let [contact-doc (c/get-at! db [username :contacts contact-id])]
+    (if (not (nil? contact-doc))
+      ;; contact exists
+      {:contact contact-doc :thread (c/get-at! db [username :messages contact-id])}
+      ;; else return nil
+      nil)))
diff --git a/src/whisper/storage.clj~ b/src/whisper/storage.clj~
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f1b157
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/whisper/storage.clj~
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+(ns whisper.storage
+  "Whisper storage module
+  (:require [codax]))
diff --git a/src/whisper/ui.clj b/src/whisper/ui.clj
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2336125
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/whisper/ui.clj
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+(ns whisper.ui
+  "Whisper UI Module"
+  (:require [cljfx.api             :as fx]
+            [clojure.data.json     :as json]
+            [clojure.tools.logging :as log]
+            [clojure.core.cache    :as cache]
+            [clj.qrgen             :as qr]
+            [clojure.java.io       :as io])
+
+  (:import [net.glxn.qrgen.core.image ImageType]
+           [java.io FileInputStream]
+           [javafx.scene.image Image WritableImage]))
+
+;; simple permutation of json into label
+(defn paint-message
+  [message]
+  {:fx/type :label
+   :text (json/write-str message)})
+
+(defn paint-contact
+  [contact]
+  {:fx/type :v-box
+   :children [{:fx/type :label
+               :scale-x 1.1
+               :text (get contact "name")}
+              {:fx/type :label
+               :scale-x 0.9
+               :text (get contact "id")}]})
+
+(defn paint-flag
+  [flag]
+  {:fx/type :label
+   :v-box/margin 10
+   :text (json/write-str flag)})
+
+;; atomic global state for the UI
+(def main-context  (atom (fx/create-context
+                          {:contacts []
+                           :messages []
+                           :flags    []}
+                         cache/lru-cache-factory)))
+
+(def qrcode-context (atom (fx/create-context
+                           {:message "In Progress..." }
+                           cache/lru-cache-factory)))
+
+(defn add-json-message
+  [obj]
+  (swap! main-context fx/swap-context update :messages conj (paint-message obj)))
+
+(defn add-json-contact
+  [obj]
+  (swap! main-context fx/swap-context update :contacts conj (paint-contact obj)))
+
+(defn add-str-flag
+  [str]
+  (swap! main-context fx/swap-context update :flags conj
+         (paint-flag str)))
+
+;; TODO: maybe an actual UI lol
+(defn main-ui
+  [{:keys [fx/context]}]
+  {:fx/type :stage
+   :showing true
+   :width 500
+   :height 500
+   :scene {:fx/type :scene
+           :root {:fx/type :v-box
+                  :children (conj (fx/sub-val context :flags)
+                                   {:fx/type :h-box
+                                     :children [{:fx/type :v-box
+                                                 :children (fx/sub-val context :contacts)}
+                                                ;; TODO: scrollable view (list view?)
+                                                {:fx/type :v-box
+                                                 :children (fx/sub-val context :messages)}
+                                                ;; TODO: compose message view
+                                                ]})}}})
+
+(defn qrcode-ui
+  [{:keys [showing image]}]
+  {:fx/type :stage
+   :showing showing
+   :title "link device"
+   :width 500
+   :height 500
+   :scene {:fx/type :scene
+           :root {:fx/type :v-box
+                  :children [{:fx/type :image-view
+                              :fit-height 480
+                              :fit-width 480
+                              :image image}]}}})
+
+(defn user-select-ui
+  [{:keys [users callback showing]}]
+  {:fx/type :stage
+   :showing showing
+   :title "select a user"
+   :width 200
+   :height 500
+   :scene {:fx/type :scene
+           :root {:fx/type :v-box
+                  :children [{:fx/type :label
+                              :v-box/margin 5
+                              :text "Pick a user to continue"}
+                             {:fx/type fx/ext-let-refs
+                              :refs {::toggle-group {:fx/type :toggle-group}}
+                              :desc {:fx/type :v-box
+                                     :padding 20
+                                     :spacing 10
+                                     :children (for [user users]
+                                                 {:fx/type :radio-button
+                                                  :toggle-group {:fx/type fx/ext-get-ref
+                                                                 :ref ::toggle-group}
+                                                  :selected false
+                                                  :text (get user "username")
+                                                  :on-action #(callback user %)})}}]}}})
+
+(def main-renderer (fx/create-renderer
+                    :middleware (comp
+                                 fx/wrap-context-desc
+                                 (fx/wrap-map-desc (fn [_] {:fx/type main-ui})))
+                    :opts {:fx.opt/type->lifecycle #(or (fx/keyword->lifecycle %)
+                                                        (fx/fn->lifecycle-with-context %))}))
+
+(def aux-renderer (fx/create-renderer))
+
+(defn paint-main
+  []
+  (fx/mount-renderer main-context main-renderer))
+
+(defn paint-linking
+  [obj]
+  (if (nil? obj)
+    ;; if no obj, turn off window
+    (aux-renderer {:fx/type qrcode-ui
+                   :showing false
+                   :image   (WritableImage. 1 1)
+                   :message "lol"})
+
+    ;; else gen qr
+    (let [uri (str (get-in obj ["data" "uri"]))
+          image (io/file (qr/from uri))]
+      (aux-renderer {:fx/type qrcode-ui
+                     :showing true
+                     :image   (Image. (FileInputStream. image))}))))
+
+;; TODO: modify callback into event handler
+(defn paint-user-select
+  [users showing callback]
+  (aux-renderer
+   {:fx/type user-select-ui
+    :showing showing
+    ;; "Make New User" is a magic token. see handle-users in core
+    ;; TODO: dont
+    :users (conj users {"username" "Link New User"})
+    :callback callback}))