diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index f2fa516..82b1e83 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-LDFLAGS?=--ldflags '-extldflags "-static"'
+LDFLAGS?=--ldflags '-extldflags "-static"' --ldflags="-X 'main.commit=$(shell git rev-parse HEAD)' -X 'main.version=$(shell git describe --tags)' -X 'main.date=$(shell date '+%Y-%m-%d %T.%s%z')'"
 export CGO_ENABLED=0
 
 build:
-	
+
 test:
-	go test ./...
+	go test -coverprofile=artifacts/coverage.profile ./...
+	go tool cover -html=artifacts/coverage.profile -o artifacts/code-coverage.html
diff --git a/context/context.go b/context/context.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7872b3b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/context/context.go
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+// Copyright 2024 Matthew Rich <matthewrich.conf@gmail.com>. All rights reserved.
+ 
+package context
+
+import (
+  "fmt"
+  "strings"
+  "gitea.rosskeen.house/rosskeen.house/machine"
+  "feudal/feudal"
+  "feudal/identity"
+  "feudal/message"
+  "feudal/subjects"
+)
+
+// a context has the creator interface, identifier?
+// has a factor.producer
+// dispatcher calls receive on self
+
+type Abstract struct {
+  name string
+  state machine.Stater
+  id identity.Identifier
+  self feudal.Worker
+  ruler feudal.WorkerRouter
+  subjects feudal.Subjects
+  messages *Queue
+  sovereign feudal.Sovereign
+  subscribers map[string]feudal.Subjects
+}
+
+func New(name string, ruler feudal.WorkerRouter, worker feudal.Worker) feudal.WorkerRouter {
+  var i identity.Identifier
+  var sovereign feudal.Sovereign = nil
+  if ruler == nil {
+    i = identity.NewRoot(name)
+  } else {
+    i = ruler.Id().CreateChild(name)
+    sovereign = ruler.(feudal.Audience).Sovereign()
+  }
+  a := &Abstract{ name: name, id: i, ruler: ruler, self: worker, messages: NewBufferedQueue(1024), state: NewWorkerStateMachine(), subjects: subjects.New(), sovereign: sovereign, subscribers: make(map[string]feudal.Subjects) }
+  a.subscribers["lifecycle"] = subjects.New()
+  a.subscribers["subjects"] = subjects.New()
+  a.state.AddSubscription("start", a)
+  a.state.AddSubscription("stop", a)
+  worker.SetContext(a)
+  a.messages.Start(DefaultDispatcher(a), a)
+  return a
+}
+
+func NewWorkerStateMachine() machine.Stater {
+  m := machine.New("initialized")
+  m.AddStates("initialized", "started", "stopped")
+  m.AddTransition("start", "initialized", "started")
+  m.AddTransition("stop", "started", "stopped")
+  return m
+}
+
+func (a *Abstract) Receive(m message.Envelope) {
+  a.self.Receive(m)
+}
+
+func (a *Abstract) Send(m message.Envelope) {
+  if a.State() == "stopped" {
+    if a.sovereign != nil {
+      dn := a.sovereign.Subjects().Get("devnull")
+      if dn != nil {
+        dn.Send(m)
+      }
+    }
+  } else {
+    a.messages.Add(m)
+  }
+}
+
+func (a *Abstract) Address() string {
+  return a.id.Address()
+}
+
+func (a *Abstract) Id() identity.Identifier {
+  return a.id
+}
+
+func (a *Abstract) Type() string {
+  typeName := fmt.Sprintf("%T", a.self)
+  n := strings.Split(typeName, ".")
+  return n[len(n) - 1]
+}
+
+func (a *Abstract) Disolve() {
+  if a.subjects != nil {
+    a.subjects.Disolve()
+  }
+}
+
+func (a *Abstract) Self() feudal.WorkerRouter {
+  return a
+}
+
+func (a *Abstract) Stop() {
+  if a.State() != "stopped" {
+    a.messages.Stop()
+  }
+}
+
+func (a *Abstract) WorkerWhence(f feudal.Factory, name string) feudal.WorkerRouter {
+  ruler := a
+  if ruler.isStarted() {
+    w := f(name, ruler)
+    wr := New(name, ruler, w)
+    a.subscribers["subjects"].Add(name, wr)
+    return wr
+  }
+  return nil
+}
+
+func (a *Abstract) State() string {
+  return string(a.state.CurrentState())
+}
+
+func (a *Abstract) isStarted() bool {
+  if a.State() == "started" {
+    return true
+  }
+  return false
+}
+
+func (a *Abstract) isStopped() bool {
+  if a.State() == "stopped" {
+    return true
+  }
+  return false
+}
+
+func (a *Abstract) Trigger(transition string) {
+  a.state.Trigger(transition)
+}
+
+func (a *Abstract) Subjects() feudal.Subjects {
+  return a.subscribers["subjects"]
+}
+
+func (a *Abstract) Subscribers(topic string) feudal.Subjects {
+  return a.subscribers[topic]
+}
+
+func (a *Abstract) Sovereign() feudal.Sovereign {
+  return a.sovereign
+}
+
+func (a *Abstract) SwearFealty(s feudal.Sovereign) {
+  a.sovereign = s
+}
+
+func (a *Abstract) Notify(m *machine.EventMessage) {
+  a.Send(message.New(m, a))
+}
diff --git a/context/context_test.go b/context/context_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7edc988
--- /dev/null
+++ b/context/context_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+// Copyright 2024 Matthew Rich <matthewrich.conf@gmail.com>. All rights reserved.
+
+package context;
+
+import (
+  "testing"
+  "log"
+  "gitea.rosskeen.house/rosskeen.house/machine"
+  "feudal/message"
+  "feudal/interrogator"
+  "feudal/tests"
+  "feudal/tests/ponger"
+  "feudal/feudal"
+)
+
+type testWorker struct {
+  context interface{}
+}
+
+func (w *testWorker) Receive(m message.Envelope) {
+  switch m.Body().(type) {
+  case string:
+    m.Sender().Send(m)
+  case *machine.EventMessage:
+    log.Printf("event: %s on %s", m.Body(), w.context.(feudal.Context).Address())
+  default:
+    log.Fatal("unexpected message")
+  }
+}
+
+func (w *testWorker) Address() string { return w.context.(*Abstract).id.Address() }
+
+func (w *testWorker) SetContext(c interface{}) { w.context = c }
+
+func setupTestWorker() feudal.WorkerRouter {
+  return New("test", nil, &testWorker{})
+}
+
+func TestNew(t *testing.T) {
+  w := New("test", nil, &testWorker{})
+  defer w.Stop()
+  r := tests.SendTestMessage(w, "test message")
+  tests.AssertMessageValue(r, "test message")
+}
+
+func TestWorkerType(t *testing.T) {
+  nw := setupTestWorker()
+  defer nw.Stop()
+  ty := nw.Type()
+  if ty != "testWorker" {
+    t.Errorf("Type() returned incorrect type %s", ty)
+  }
+}
+
+func TestWorkerStop(t *testing.T) {
+  nw := setupTestWorker()
+  defer nw.Stop()
+}
+
+func TestWorkerStateInitial(t *testing.T) {
+  nw := setupTestWorker()
+  defer nw.Stop()
+  if nw.State() != "initialized" {
+    t.Errorf("Invalid state")
+  }
+}
+
+func TestWorkerStateStarted(t *testing.T) {
+  i := interrogator.NewBuffered(10)
+  nw := setupTestWorker()
+  nw.(feudal.Context).Subscribers("lifecycle").Add("test", i)
+  defer nw.Stop()
+  _ = <- i
+  _ = <- i
+  if ! nw.(*Abstract).isStarted() {
+    t.Errorf("worker failed to transition to started state")
+  }
+}
+
+func TestWorkerWhenceParentState(t *testing.T) {
+  nw := setupTestWorker()
+  nw.Stop()
+  p1 := nw.(feudal.Context).WorkerWhence(ponger.PongerFactory(), "p1")
+  if p1 != nil {
+    t.Errorf("Created worker from invalid state")
+  }
+}
+
+func TestWorkerWhence(t *testing.T) {
+  i := interrogator.NewBuffered(10)
+  nw := setupTestWorker()
+  nw.(feudal.Context).Subscribers("lifecycle").Add("test", i)
+  enter_start_nw := <- i
+  log.Printf("%s", enter_start_nw.(*message.AbstractEnvelope))
+  exit_start_nw := <- i
+  log.Printf("%s", exit_start_nw.(*message.AbstractEnvelope))
+
+  ip := interrogator.NewBuffered(10)
+  p1 := nw.(feudal.Context).WorkerWhence(ponger.PongerFactory(), "p1")
+  p1.(feudal.Context).Subscribers("lifecycle").Add("testip", ip)
+
+  sp1 := <- ip
+  log.Printf("%s %s", sp1.Sender().Address(), sp1.(*message.AbstractEnvelope))
+
+  p2 := p1.(feudal.Context).WorkerWhence(ponger.PongerFactory(), "p2")
+  if nw.State() == "started" && p1.State() == "started" && p2.State() == "started" {
+    
+  }
+  
+}
diff --git a/context/dispatcher.go b/context/dispatcher.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..22f3c88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/context/dispatcher.go
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+// Copyright 2024 Matthew Rich <matthewrich.conf@gmail.com>. All rights reserved.
+
+package context;
+
+import (
+  "feudal/feudal"
+  "gitea.rosskeen.house/rosskeen.house/machine"
+  "feudal/message"
+)
+
+type DispatchReceiveFunc func(m message.Envelope, r message.Receiver)
+
+type Dispatcher interface {
+  Dispatch(m message.Envelope, r message.Receiver)
+}
+
+type DispatchReceive struct {
+  worker feudal.Context
+}
+
+func (d *DispatchReceive) DispatchToStateSubscribers(m message.Envelope, r message.Receiver) {
+  switch b := m.Body().(type) {
+  case *machine.EventMessage:
+    recipients := d.worker.Subscribers("lifecycle")
+    var event machine.EventMessage = *b
+    recipients.Send(message.New(event, m.Sender()))
+  }
+}
+
+func (d *DispatchReceive) Dispatch(m message.Envelope, r message.Receiver) {
+  d.DispatchToStateSubscribers(m, r)
+  r.Receive(m)
+}
+
+func DefaultDispatcher(worker feudal.Context) Dispatcher {
+  return &DispatchReceive{ worker: worker }
+}
+
+func (f DispatchReceiveFunc) Dispatch(m message.Envelope, r message.Receiver) {
+  f(m, r)
+}
diff --git a/context/dispatcher_test.go b/context/dispatcher_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a50a158
--- /dev/null
+++ b/context/dispatcher_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+// Copyright 2024 Matthew Rich <matthewrich.conf@gmail.com>. All rights reserved.
+
+package context;
+
+import (
+  "testing"
+  "feudal/message"
+  "feudal/interrogator"
+  "feudal/tests/receiver"
+)
+
+func TestRunner(t *testing.T) {
+  q := NewQueue()
+  q.Start(DefaultDispatcher(nil), &receiver.Ctx{})
+
+  i := interrogator.New()
+  q.receive <- message.New("test message", i)
+  r := <- i
+  if r.Body() != "test message" {
+    t.Errorf("invalid message")
+  }
+}
+
+func TestRunnerStartStop(t *testing.T) {
+  q := NewQueue()
+  worker := &receiver.Ctx{}
+  q.Start(DefaultDispatcher(worker), worker)
+
+  select {
+  case _, ok := <- q.receive:
+    if ! ok {
+      t.Errorf("receive channel closed")
+    }
+  default:
+  }
+
+  select {
+  case _, ok := <- q.quit:
+    if ! ok {
+      t.Errorf("quit channel closed")
+    }
+  default:
+  }
+
+  select {
+  case _, ok := <- q.stopped:
+    if ! ok {
+      t.Errorf("stopped channel closed")
+    }
+  default:
+  }
+
+  q.Stop()
+
+  select {
+  case _, ok := <- q.receive:
+    if ok {
+      t.Errorf("receive channel not closed")
+    }
+  default:
+    t.Errorf("receive channel not closed")
+  }
+
+  select {
+  case _, ok := <- q.quit:
+    if ok {
+      t.Errorf("quit channel not closed")
+    }
+  default:
+    t.Errorf("quit channel not closed")
+  }
+
+  select {
+  case _, ok := <- q.stopped:
+    if ok {
+      t.Errorf("stopped channel not closed")
+    }
+  default:
+    t.Errorf("stopped channel not closed")
+  }
+}
diff --git a/context/handler.go b/context/handler.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ae05e3f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/context/handler.go
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+// Copyright 2024 Matthew Rich <matthewrich.conf@gmail.com>. All rights reserved.
+ 
+package context
+
+import (
+  "feudal/message"
+)
+
+// Register a handler for a message event type
+
+type MessageHandler func(m message.Envelope)
+
+func (h MessageHandler) Handle(m message.Envelope) {
+  h(m)
+}
diff --git a/context/queue.go b/context/queue.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0af4e31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/context/queue.go
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+// Copyright 2024 Matthew Rich <matthewrich.conf@gmail.com>. All rights reserved.
+ 
+package context;
+
+import (
+  "log"
+  "feudal/message"
+  "feudal/feudal"
+)
+
+type Runner interface {
+  Start(d Dispatcher, c feudal.Context)
+  Stop()
+}
+
+type Queue struct {
+  receive chan message.Envelope
+  quit chan bool
+  stopped chan bool
+}
+
+func NewQueue() *Queue {
+  return &Queue{ receive: make(chan message.Envelope), quit: make(chan bool), stopped: make(chan bool) }
+}
+
+func NewBufferedQueue(size int) *Queue {
+  return &Queue{ receive: make(chan message.Envelope, size), quit: make(chan bool), stopped: make(chan bool) }
+}
+
+func (q *Queue) Add(m message.Envelope) {
+  q.receive <- m
+}
+
+func (q *Queue) Remove() message.Envelope {
+  return <- q.receive
+}
+
+func (q *Queue) contextTrigger(c feudal.Context, trigger string) {
+  if c != nil {
+    log.Printf("triggering %s on %s", trigger, c.Address())
+    c.Trigger(trigger)
+  }
+}
+
+func (q *Queue) Start(d Dispatcher, c feudal.Context) {
+  go func() {
+    q.contextTrigger(c, "start")
+    for {
+      select {
+      case m := <- q.receive:
+        d.Dispatch(m, c)
+      case <- q.quit:
+        close(q.receive)
+        c.Disolve() // change to trigger
+        close(q.stopped)
+        q.contextTrigger(c, "stop")
+        return
+      }
+    }
+  }()
+}
+
+func (q *Queue) Stop() {
+  close(q.quit)
+  select {
+  case <- q.stopped:
+  }
+}
+
+func (q *Queue) Len() int {
+  return len(q.receive)
+}
diff --git a/context/queue_test.go b/context/queue_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f8faae9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/context/queue_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+// Copyright 2024 Matthew Rich <matthewrich.conf@gmail.com>. All rights reserved.
+ 
+
+package context
+
+import (
+  "testing"
+  "feudal/message"
+)
+
+func setupQueue() *Queue {
+  q := NewQueue()
+  return q
+}
+
+func setupBufferedQueue(size int) *Queue {
+  return NewBufferedQueue(size)
+}
+
+func TestNewQueue(t *testing.T) {
+  q := setupQueue()
+  if q == nil {
+    t.Errorf("Failed creating new queue")
+  }
+}
+
+func TestNewBufferedQueue(t *testing.T) {
+  q := setupBufferedQueue(10)
+  if q == nil {
+    t.Errorf("Failed creating new buffered queue")
+  } 
+}
+
+func TestQueueAdd(t *testing.T) {
+  q := setupQueue()
+  var result message.Envelope
+  var testDispatcher DispatchReceiveFunc = func(m message.Envelope, r message.Receiver) { result = m }
+
+  q.Start(testDispatcher, nil)
+  q.Add(message.NewAnonymous(""))
+  if result.Body().(string) != "" {
+    t.Errorf("Failed receiving queued message")
+  }
+}
+
+func TestQueueRemove(t *testing.T) {
+  q := setupBufferedQueue(1)
+  q.Add(message.NewAnonymous(""))
+  result := q.Remove()
+  if result.Body().(string) != "" {
+    t.Errorf("Failed removing queued message")
+  }
+}
+
+func TestQueueMetrics(t *testing.T) {
+  q := setupBufferedQueue(1)
+  q.Add(message.NewAnonymous(""))
+  if q.Len() != 1 {
+    t.Errorf("Failed checking queue length")
+  }
+}
diff --git a/feudal/interfaces.go b/feudal/interfaces.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c55648f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/feudal/interfaces.go
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+// Copyright 2024 Matthew Rich <matthewrich.conf@gmail.com>. All rights reserved.
+ 
+package feudal
+
+import(
+  "feudal/message"
+  "feudal/identity"
+)
+
+type Transporter interface {
+  Transport(m message.Envelope)
+}
+
+type WorkerRouter interface {
+  message.Sender
+  Id() identity.Identifier
+  Type() string
+  State() string
+  Stop()
+}
+
+type Factory func(name string, ruler WorkerRouter) Worker
+
+type Creator interface {
+  WorkerWhence(Factory, string) WorkerRouter
+}
+
+type Division interface {
+  Join(w Worker)
+  Disolve()
+}
+
+type Worker interface {
+  message.Receiver
+  SetContext(c interface{})
+}
+
+type Subjects interface {
+  Add(name string, worker WorkerRouter)
+  Remove(name string)
+  Get(name string) WorkerRouter
+  message.Sender
+  Disolve()  
+}
+
+type Context interface {
+  Creator
+  message.Receiver
+  Disolve()
+  Self() WorkerRouter
+  Subjects() Subjects
+  Trigger(transition string)
+  Subscribers(topic string) Subjects
+}
+
+type Audience interface {
+  SwearFealty(Sovereign)
+  Sovereign() Sovereign
+}
+
+type Sovereign interface {
+  Creator
+  Subjects() Subjects
+}
+
+/*
+
+// provides interfaces for managing the worker tree (organization)
+type Context interface {
+  Creator
+  System() System
+  Ruler() feudal.Worker
+  Subjects() Subjects
+}
+
+type System interface {
+  identity.Addresser
+  Creator
+  Terminator
+  WorkersPath(path string) subjects.Selector
+}
+
+*/
diff --git a/feudal/messenger.go b/feudal/messenger.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..90e2539
--- /dev/null
+++ b/feudal/messenger.go
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+// Copyright 2024 Matthew Rich <matthewrich.conf@gmail.com>. All rights reserved.
+ 
+package feudal
+
+import (
+	"feudal/message"
+)
+
+type Messenger interface {
+  Deliver(message message.Envelope)
+}
diff --git a/interrogator/interrogator.go b/interrogator/interrogator.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f53131c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/interrogator/interrogator.go
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+// Copyright 2024 Matthew Rich <matthewrich.conf@gmail.com>. All rights reserved.
+
+package interrogator;
+
+import (
+  "feudal/message"
+  "feudal/identity"
+)
+
+type Interrogator chan message.Envelope
+
+// workerrouter interface: this is degenerate
+func (i Interrogator) Type() string { return "" }
+func (i Interrogator) Stop() {}
+func (i Interrogator) State() string { return "started" }
+
+func (i Interrogator) Id() identity.Identifier {
+  return nil
+}
+
+func (i Interrogator) Address() string {
+  return ""
+}
+
+func (i Interrogator) Send(m message.Envelope) {
+  i <- m
+}
+
+func New() Interrogator {
+  return make(chan message.Envelope)
+}
+
+func NewBuffered(size int) Interrogator {
+  return make(chan message.Envelope, size)
+}
diff --git a/interrogator/interrogator_test.go b/interrogator/interrogator_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e05d78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/interrogator/interrogator_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+// Copyright 2024 Matthew Rich <matthewrich.conf@gmail.com>. All rights reserved.
+
+package interrogator;
+
+import (
+  "testing"
+  "feudal/message"
+)
+
+func TestInterrogator(t *testing.T) {
+  i := New()
+  m := message.New("foo", i)
+  go i.Send(m)
+  r := <- i
+  if r.Body() != "foo" {
+    t.Errorf("Invalid message")
+  }
+}
+
+func TestBufferedInterrogator(t *testing.T) {
+  i := NewBuffered(1)
+  m := message.New("foo", i)
+  i.Send(m)
+  r := <- i
+  if r.Body() != "foo" {
+    t.Errorf("Invalid message")
+  }
+}
diff --git a/worker/clock.go b/worker/clock.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..648e7fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/worker/clock.go
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+// Copyright 2024 Matthew Rich <matthewrich.conf@gmail.com>. All rights reserved.
+
+package worker;
+
+import (
+  "feudal/message"
+  "time"
+)
+
+// A ticker thread that implements the runner interface and generates tick events for the given context
+
+type Clock struct {
+  ticker *time.Ticker
+  quit chan bool
+  stopped chan bool
+}
+
+func NewClock(interval int) *Clock {
+  return &Clock{ ticker: time.NewTicker(time.Duration(interval) * time.Millisecond), quit: make(chan bool), stopped: make(chan bool) }
+}
+
+func (l *Clock) Start(d Dispatcher, c Context) {
+  go func() {
+    for {
+      select {
+      case tick := <- l.ticker.C:
+	d.Dispatch(message.New(&message.ClockTick{ T:tick }, c), c)
+      case <- l.quit:
+        l.ticker.Stop()
+        if v := c.Division(); v != nil {
+          v.Disolve()
+        }
+        close(l.stopped)
+        return
+      }
+    }
+  }()
+}
+
+func (l *Clock) Stop() {
+  close(l.quit)
+  select {
+  case <- l.stopped:
+  }
+}
diff --git a/worker/clock_test.go b/worker/clock_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..59dee9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/worker/clock_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+// Copyright 2024 Matthew Rich <matthewrich.conf@gmail.com>. All rights reserved.
+
+package worker;
+
+import (
+  "testing"
+  "log"
+  "feudal/message"
+)
+
+type testClockWorker struct {
+  AbstractContext
+  ticker Runner
+  recipients []message.Sender
+}
+
+func (w *testClockWorker) Receive(m message.Envelope) {
+  switch m.Body().(type) {
+  case *message.SubscribeToClockTick:
+    w.Subscribe(m.Sender())
+  case *message.ClockTick:
+    for _,r := range(w.recipients) {
+      r.Send(m)
+    }
+  default:
+    log.Fatalln("unexpected message", m.Body())
+  }
+}
+
+func (w *testClockWorker) Subscribe(recipient message.Sender) {
+  w.recipients = append(w.recipients, recipient)
+}
+
+func (w *testClockWorker) Stop() {
+  w.ticker.Stop()
+  w.AbstractContext.Queue.Stop()
+}
+
+func TestNewClock(t *testing.T) {
+  nw := &testClockWorker{ ticker: NewClock(500) }
+
+  subscriber := NewInterrogator()
+
+  nw.Init(nw, "clocktest")
+  nw.Start(DefaultDispatcher(), nw)
+  nw.ticker.Start(DefaultDispatcher(), nw)
+
+  nw.Send(message.New(&message.SubscribeToClockTick{}, subscriber))
+  tick := <- subscriber
+  switch tick.Body().(type) {
+  case *message.ClockTick:
+  default:
+    t.Errorf("invalid message")
+  }
+}