diff --git a/scripts/core/engine.js b/scripts/core/engine.js
index d96f4a52..c237d282 100644
--- a/scripts/core/engine.js
+++ b/scripts/core/engine.js
@@ -31,10 +31,6 @@ if (os.trace)
 
 var js = use_embed('js')
 
-prosperon.on('exit', _ => {
-  os.mailbox_destroy(prosperon.id);
-})
-
 prosperon.on('SIGINT', function() {
   os.exit(1)
 })
@@ -206,7 +202,7 @@ console.assert = function(op, str = `assertion failed [value '${op}']`) {
   if (!op) console.panic(str)
 }
 
-os.on('uncaught_exception', function(e) { console.error(e) })
+//os.on('uncaught_exception', function(e) { console.log("HERRE!"); console.error(e); })
 
 console[prosperon.DOC] = {
   doc:       "The console object provides various logging, debugging, and output methods.",
@@ -727,7 +723,7 @@ $_.start = function(cb, prg, arg) {
   if (prg) argv = argv.concat(['--program', prg])
   if (arg) argv = argv.concat(cmd.encode(arg))
   underlings.add(id)
-  os.createthread(argv)
+  os.createactor(argv)
 }
 $_.start[prosperon.DOC] = "The start function creates a new actor..."
 
@@ -758,12 +754,9 @@ $_.unneeded = function(fn, seconds = ar) {
 }
 $_.unneeded[prosperon.DOC] = "registers a function that is called when the actor..."
 
-var timers = []
-var timer_id = 0
-
 $_.delay = function(fn, seconds) {
-  var id = os.os.addtimer(prosperon.id, fn, seconds);
-  return function() { os.removetimer(id); }
+  var id = os.addtimer(prosperon.id, fn, seconds);
+  return function() { os.removetimer(prosperon.id, id); }
 }
 $_.delay[prosperon.DOC] = "used to schedule the invocation of a function..."
 
@@ -843,6 +836,8 @@ cmd.process(prosperon.argv)
 if (!prosperon.args.id) prosperon.id = util.guid()
 else prosperon.id = prosperon.args.id
 
+os.register_actor(prosperon.id, handle_local);
+
 tracy.thread_name(prosperon.id)
 
 $_.__ACTORDATA__.id = prosperon.id
@@ -851,13 +846,9 @@ if (prosperon.args.overling) overling = { __ACTORDATA__: {id: prosperon.args.ove
 if (prosperon.args.root) root = json.decode(prosperon.args.root)
 else root = $_
 
-os.mailbox_start(prosperon.id)
-
 if (overling) actor_send(overling, {type:'greet', id: prosperon.id})
 if (prosperon.args.program) actor.spawn(prosperon.args.program)
 
-var unneeded_timer = $_.delay($_.stop, ar)
-
 function destroyself() {
   console.log(`Got the message to destroy self.`)
   if (overling) actor_send(overling, { type: "stopped", id: prosperon.id })
@@ -876,10 +867,12 @@ function handle_actor_disconnect(id) {
 }
 
 function handle_local(msg) {
+  console.log("LOCAL MESSAGE");
   handle_message(wota.decode(msg))
 }
 
 function handle_message(msg) {
+  console.log(`message was ${json.encode(msg)}`)
   if (msg.target) {
     if (msg.target !== prosperon.id) {
       os.mailbox_push(msg.target, wota.encode(msg))
@@ -932,24 +925,6 @@ function handle_message(msg) {
   unneeded_timer = $_.delay(unneeded_fn, unneeded_time)
 }
 
-var hang = 0.1
-var last_t = os.now()
-
-var doexit = false
-while (!doexit) {
-  if (portal) portal.service(handle_host, hang)
-  if (contactor) contactor.service(handle_host, hang)
-  os.mailbox_service(prosperon.id, handle_local, hang)
-  var elapsed = os.now() - last_t
-  last_t = os.now()
-  for (var i in timers) {
-    var t = timers[i]
-    t.seconds -= elapsed
-    if (t.seconds <= 0) {
-      t.fn()
-      delete timers[i]
-    }
-  }
-}
+var unneeded_timer = $_.delay($_.stop, ar)
 
 })()
diff --git a/source/jsffi.c b/source/jsffi.c
index 942cc2a5..2844c839 100644
--- a/source/jsffi.c
+++ b/source/jsffi.c
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@
 #include "par/par_shapes.h"
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include "timer.h"
-#include <signal.h>
 #include "cute_aseprite.h"
 #include "cgltf.h"
 #include "physfs.h"
+#include "prosperon.h"
 
 #include "qjs_dmon.h"
 #include "qjs_nota.h"
@@ -2483,9 +2483,6 @@ JSC_CCALL(os_engine_start,
   JS_SDL_PROP(js, p, SDL_PROP_APP_METADATA_URL_STRING, url)  
   JS_SDL_PROP(js, p, SDL_PROP_APP_METADATA_TYPE_STRING, type)  
   
-  if (!SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO | SDL_INIT_CAMERA))
-    return JS_ThrowReferenceError(js, "Couldn't initialize SDL: %s\n", SDL_GetError());
-
   const char *title;
   JS_GETPROP(js,title,argv[0],title,cstring)
   
@@ -6505,20 +6502,56 @@ JSC_CCALL(os_value_id,
   return number2js(js,(intptr_t)JS_VALUE_GET_PTR(self));
 )
 
-static double gc_t = 0;
-static double gc_mem = 0;
-static double gc_startmem = 0;
-void script_report_gc_time(double t, double startmem, double mem)
-{
-  gc_t = t;
-  gc_mem = mem;
-  gc_startmem = startmem;
-}
+JSC_SSCALL(os_eval,
+  ret = JS_Eval(js, str2, strlen(str2), str, JS_EVAL_FLAG_STRICT);
+)
 
-JSC_SSCALL(os_eval, ret = script_eval(js,str, str2))
 JSC_CCALL(os_make_timer, return timer2js(js,timer_make(js,argv[0])))
 JSC_CCALL(os_update_timers, timer_update(js, js2number(js,argv[0])))
 
+Uint32 timer_cb(prosperon_rt *actor, SDL_TimerID id, Uint32 interval)
+{
+  int idx = hmgeti(actor->timers, id);
+  if (idx == -1) return 0;
+
+  SDL_LockMutex(actor->mutex);
+  JSValue cb = actor->timers[idx].value;
+  hmdel(actor->timers, id);
+  arrput(actor->events, cb);
+  SDL_UnlockMutex(actor->mutex);
+
+  actor_signal(actor);
+}
+
+JSC_CCALL(os_addtimer,
+  char *guid = JS_ToCString(js,argv[0]);
+  prosperon_rt *actor = get_actor(guid);
+  JS_FreeCString(js, guid);
+  if (!actor) return JS_ThrowInternalError(js, "Could not get actor from guid.");
+
+  Uint64 ns = js2number(js,argv[2]) * 1000000000.0f;
+  Uint32 id = SDL_AddTimerNS(ns, timer_cb, actor);
+  
+  // appropriately add it to the actor
+  SDL_LockMutex(actor->mutex);
+  hmput(actor->timers, id, JS_DupValue(js,argv[1]));
+  SDL_UnlockMutex(actor->mutex);
+)
+
+JSC_CCALL(os_removetimer,
+  char *guid = JS_ToCString(js,argv[0]);
+  prosperon_rt *actor = get_actor(guid);
+  JS_FreeCString(js, guid);
+  if (!actor) return JS_ThrowInternalError(js, "Could not get actor from guid.");
+
+  Uint32 timer_id = js2number(js,argv[1]);
+  SDL_RemoveTimer(timer_id);
+
+  SDL_LockMutex(actor->mutex);
+  hmdel(actor->timers, timer_id);
+  SDL_UnlockMutex(actor->mutex);
+)
+
 // input: (encoded image data of jpg, png, bmp, tiff)
 JSC_CCALL(os_make_texture,
   size_t len;
@@ -6956,8 +6989,9 @@ JSC_CCALL(os_rects_to_sprites,
 )
 
 JSC_CCALL(os_on,
-  JSValue *onexp = SDL_GetTLS(&on_exception);
-  *onexp = JS_DupValue(js,argv[1]);
+  prosperon_rt *rt = JS_GetContextOpaque(js);
+  JS_FreeValue(js, rt->on_exception);
+  rt->on_exception = JS_DupValue(js,argv[1]);
 )
 
 JSC_CCALL(os_clean_transforms,
@@ -7086,83 +7120,30 @@ JSC_CCALL(os_createprocess,
     return JS_ThrowReferenceError(js, "Unable to create process: %s\n", SDL_GetError());
 )
 
-typedef struct {
-  int argc;
-  char **argv;
-} cmdargs;
+JSC_CCALL(os_createactor,
+  int margc = JS_ArrayLength(js, argv[0]);
 
-int create_new_runtime(cmdargs *data)
-{
-  script_startup(data->argc, data->argv);
-  for (int i = 0; i < data->argc; i++) free(data->argv[i]);
-  free(data->argv);
-  free(data);
-  return 0;
-}
+  char **margv = malloc(margc*sizeof(char*));
 
-JSC_CCALL(os_createthread,
-  cmdargs *cmd = malloc(sizeof(cmdargs));
-  if (!cmd) return JS_ThrowInternalError(js, "Out of memory");
-  cmd->argc = JS_ArrayLength(js, argv[0]);
-  cmd->argv = (char **)calloc(cmd->argc, sizeof(char *));
-  if (!cmd->argv) {
-    free(cmd);
-    return JS_ThrowInternalError(js, "Out of memory");
-  }
-  for (int i = 0; i < cmd->argc; i++) {
+  for (int i = 0; i < margc; i++) {
     JSValue val = JS_GetPropertyUint32(js, argv[0], i);
-    if (JS_IsException(val)) {
-      for (int j = 0; j < i; j++) free(cmd->argv[j]);
-      free(cmd->argv);
-      free(cmd);
-      return val;
-    }
-    const char *str = JS_ToCString(js, val);
-    if (!str) {
-      for (int j = 0; j < i; j++) free(cmd->argv[j]);
-      free(cmd->argv);
-      free(cmd);
-      JS_FreeValue(js, val);
-      return JS_ThrowInternalError(js, "Could not convert argument to string");
-    }
-    cmd->argv[i] = strdup(str);
-    JS_FreeCString(js, str);
-    JS_FreeValue(js, val);
+    char *cstr = JS_ToCString(js,val);
+    margv[i] = strdup(cstr);
+    JS_FreeCString(js,cstr);
+    JS_FreeValue(js,val);
   }
-  SDL_Thread *thread = SDL_CreateThread(create_new_runtime, "newrt", cmd);
-  if (!thread) {
-    for (int i = 0; i < cmd->argc; i++) free(cmd->argv[i]);
-    free(cmd->argv);
-    free(cmd);
-    return JS_ThrowInternalError(js, "Could not create a new thread: %s", SDL_GetError());
-  }
-  SDL_DetachThread(thread);
-  return JS_UNDEFINED;
+  
+  create_actor(margc, margv);
 )
 
-struct message {
-  void *data;
-  size_t size;
-};
-
-typedef struct mailbox {
-  SDL_Mutex *mutex;
-  SDL_Condition *cond;
-  struct message *messages;
-} mailbox;
-
-static struct { char *key; mailbox value; } *mailboxes = NULL;
-static SDL_Mutex *mailboxes_mutex = NULL;
-
 JSC_CCALL(os_mailbox_push,
   if (argc < 2) return JS_ThrowInternalError(js, "Need an actor and a message");
   if (!JS_IsArrayBuffer(js, argv[1])) return JS_ThrowInternalError(js, "Object to push must be an array buffer");
 
   const char *id = JS_ToCString(js, argv[0]);
-  int mailbox_index = shgeti(mailboxes, id);
-  JS_FreeCString(js, id);
-
-  if (mailbox_index == -1) return JS_ThrowInternalError(js, "No mailbox found for given ID");
+  prosperon_rt *target = get_actor(id);
+  if (!target)
+    return JS_ThrowInternalError(js, "No mailbox found for given ID");
 
   size_t size;
   uint8_t *buf = JS_GetArrayBuffer(js, &size, argv[1]);
@@ -7173,116 +7154,41 @@ JSC_CCALL(os_mailbox_push,
 
   memcpy(data, buf, size);
 
-  mailbox *mb = &mailboxes[mailbox_index].value;
-  SDL_LockMutex(mb->mutex);
   struct message msg = {data, size};
-  arrput(mb->messages, msg);
-  SDL_SignalCondition(mb->cond);  // Signal waiting threads
-  SDL_UnlockMutex(mb->mutex);
+  send_message(target, msg);
 )
 
-void js_dofree(JSRuntime *rt, void *opaque, void *ptr)
-{
-  js_free_rt(rt, ptr);
-}
-
-JSC_CCALL(os_mailbox_service,
-  if (!JS_IsFunction(js, argv[1])) return JS_ThrowInternalError(js, "Arg 2 must be a function");
-  if (argc < 3 || !JS_IsNumber(argv[2])) return JS_ThrowInternalError(js, "Arg 3 must be a number (timeout in seconds)");
-
-  const char *id = JS_ToCString(js, argv[0]);
-  int mb_index = shgeti(mailboxes, id);
-  JS_FreeCString(js, id);
-
-  if (mb_index == -1) return JS_ThrowInternalError(js, "No mailbox found for given ID");
-
-  // Get timeout in seconds and convert to milliseconds
-  int32_t timeout_seconds;
-  if (JS_ToInt32(js, &timeout_seconds, argv[2]) != 0) return JS_ThrowInternalError(js, "Invalid timeout value");
-  int timeout_ms = timeout_seconds * 1000;  // Convert to milliseconds for SDL
-
-  mailbox *mb = &mailboxes[mb_index].value;
-  struct message *temp = NULL;
-  SDL_LockMutex(mb->mutex);
-
-  // Wait for messages if the mailbox is empty
-  while (arrlen(mb->messages) == 0) {
-    bool signaled = SDL_WaitConditionTimeout(mb->cond, mb->mutex, timeout_ms);
-    if (!signaled) {  // Timeout occurred
-      SDL_UnlockMutex(mb->mutex);
-      return JS_UNDEFINED;
-    }
-  }
-
-  // Process messages after wait
-  int count = arrlen(mb->messages);
-  if (count > 0) {
-    arrsetlen(temp, count);
-    memcpy(temp, mb->messages, sizeof(*mb->messages) * count);
-    arrsetlen(mb->messages, 0);
-  }
-  SDL_UnlockMutex(mb->mutex);
-
-  if (count == 0) return JS_UNDEFINED;
-
-  JSValue fn = JS_DupValue(js, argv[1]);
-
-  for (int i = 0; i < count; i++) {
-    JSValue arg = JS_NewArrayBuffer(js, temp[i].data, temp[i].size, js_dofree, NULL, 0);
-    JSValue call = JS_Call(js, fn, JS_UNDEFINED, 1, &arg);
-    uncaught_exception(js, call);
-    JS_FreeValue(js, arg);
-  }
-
-  arrfree(temp);
-  JS_FreeValue(js, fn);
+JSC_CCALL(os_register_actor,
+  printf("calling registera ctor for context %p\n", js);
+  prosperon_rt *rt = JS_GetContextOpaque(js);
+  printf("context after get_opaque: %p\n", js);
+  char *id = JS_ToCString(js, argv[0]);
+  printf("context after get_id: %p\n", js);
+  char *err = register_actor(id, rt);
+  printf("context after register_actor: %p\n", js);
+  if (err) return JS_ThrowInternalError(js, "Could not register actor: %s", err);
+  rt->message_handle = JS_DupValue(js, argv[1]);
+  printf("context after dup_value: %p\n", js);
+  const char *fnstr = JS_ToCString(js, rt->message_handle);
+  printf("context after get_fnstr: %p\n", js);
+  printf("registered %s\n", fnstr);
+  JS_FreeCString(js, fnstr);
+  rt->context = js;
+  printf("jsvalue is in context %p\n", js);
+  int tag = JS_VALUE_GET_TAG(rt->message_handle);
+  printf("message_handle tag: %d\n", tag);
+  if (tag == 0) printf("  as int: %d\n", JS_VALUE_GET_INT(rt->message_handle));
+  else printf("  as ptr: %p\n", JS_VALUE_GET_PTR(rt->message_handle));
+  
 )
 
 JSC_CCALL(os_mailbox_exist,
   const char *id = JS_ToCString(js, argv[0]);
-  bool exists = shgeti(mailboxes, id) != -1;
-  JS_FreeCString(js, id);
-  return JS_NewBool(js, exists);
-)
-
-JSC_CCALL(os_mailbox_start,
-  const char *id = JS_ToCString(js, argv[0]);
-  mailbox mb;
-  mb.mutex = SDL_CreateMutex();
-  mb.cond = SDL_CreateCondition();
-  mb.messages = NULL;
-  if (!mailboxes_mutex) mailboxes_mutex = SDL_CreateMutex();
-  
-  SDL_LockMutex(mailboxes_mutex);
-  shput(mailboxes, id, mb);
-  SDL_UnlockMutex(mailboxes_mutex);
-  JS_FreeCString(js, id);
-)
-
-JSC_CCALL(os_mailbox_destroy,
-  if (argc < 1) return JS_ThrowInternalError(js, "Need an actor/mailbox ID to destroy");
-  
-  const char *id = JS_ToCString(js, argv[0]);
-  int mailbox_index = shgeti(mailboxes, id);
+  prosperon_rt *actor = get_actor(id);
+  printf("actor from %s is %p\n", id, actor);  
   JS_FreeCString(js, id);
 
-  if (mailbox_index != -1) {
-    mailbox *mb = &mailboxes[mailbox_index].value;
-    SDL_LockMutex(mb->mutex);
-
-    int count = arrlen(mb->messages);
-    for (int i = 0; i < count; i++)
-      js_free_rt(JS_GetRuntime(js), mb->messages[i].data);
-    arrfree(mb->messages);
-    SDL_UnlockMutex(mb->mutex);
-
-    SDL_DestroyMutex(mb->mutex);
-    SDL_DestroyCondition(mb->cond);
-
-    SDL_LockMutex(mailboxes_mutex);
-    shdel(mailboxes, id);
-    SDL_UnlockMutex(mailboxes_mutex);
-  }
+  return JS_NewBool(js, actor ? 1 : 0);
 )
 
 JSC_CCALL(os_waitevent,
@@ -7317,50 +7223,10 @@ JSValue js_os_set_trace(JSContext *js, JSValue self, JSValue value)
   return JS_UNDEFINED;
 }
 
-typedef struct {
-  char *timer_id;     // Unique timer identifier
-  char *mailbox_id;   // Mailbox to send the message to
-} timer_data;
-
-typedef struct {
-  char *timer_id;     // Timer ID
-  JSValue fn;         // Function to invoke
-} timer_mapping;
-
-static timer_mapping *timers = NULL;  // Dynamic array of timer mappings
-static SDL_Mutex *timers_mutex = NULL;  // Mutex for thread-safe access to timers
-
-void init_timers(void)
-{
-  if (!timers_mutex) timers_mutex = SDL_CreateMutex();
-}
-
-typedef struct {
-  JSValue fn;
-  const char *id;
-} timer_cb;
-
-JSC_CCALL(os_addtimer,
-  
-  Uint64 ns = js2number(js,argv[1])*1000000000.0;
-  timer_cb cb;
-  cb.fn = JS_DupValue(js,argv[0]);
-  cb.id = JS_ToCString(js,argv[2]);
-
-  
-)
-
-JSC_CCALL(os_removetimer,
-
-)
-
 static const JSCFunctionListEntry js_os_funcs[] = {
   MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, make_transform, 0),
   MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, clean_transforms, 0),
 
-  MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, addtimer, 3),
-  MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, removetimer, 1),
-
   MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, platform, 0),
   MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, arch, 0),
   MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, totalmem, 0),
@@ -7394,14 +7260,14 @@ static const JSCFunctionListEntry js_os_funcs[] = {
   MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, env, 1),  
   MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, system, 1),
   MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, createprocess, 0),
+  MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, createactor, 1),
   MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, waitevent, 2),
   
   MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, mailbox_push, 2),
-  MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, mailbox_service, 2),
-  MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, mailbox_start, 1),
   MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, mailbox_exist, 1),
-  MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, mailbox_destroy, 1),
-  MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, createthread, 1),
+  MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, addtimer, 3),
+  MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, removetimer, 2),
+  MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, register_actor, 2),
 };
 
 JSC_CCALL(js_dump_class, return js_get_object_class_distribution(js))
@@ -7750,41 +7616,6 @@ JSValue js_miniz_use(JSContext *js);
 JSValue js_tracy_use(JSContext *js);
 #endif
 
-static void signal_handler(int sig) {
-  const char *str = NULL;
-  switch(sig) {
-    case SIGABRT:
-      str = "SIGABRT";
-      break;
-    case SIGFPE:
-      str = "SIGFPE";
-      break;
-    case SIGILL:
-      str = "SIGILL";
-      break;
-    case SIGINT:
-      str = "SIGINT";
-      break;
-    case SIGSEGV:
-      str = "SIGSEGV";
-      break;
-    case SIGTERM:
-      str = "SIGTERM";
-      break;
-   }
-  if (!str) return;
-
-  JSContext *js = SDL_GetTLS(&js_id);
-
-  script_evalf(js, "prosperon.dispatch('%s')", str);
-}
-
-static void exit_handler()
-{
-//  JSContext *js = SDL_GetTLS(&js_id);
-//  script_evalf(js, "prosperon.dispatch('exit')");
-}
-
 #include "monocypher.h"
 
 // randombytes.c - Minimal cross-platform CSPRNG shim (single file)
@@ -8019,9 +7850,10 @@ JSValue js_imgui_use(JSContext *js);
 
 #define MISTLINE(NAME) (ModuleEntry){#NAME, js_##NAME##_use}
 
-void ffi_load(JSContext *js, int argc, char **argv) {
-  prosperon_rt *rt = calloc(1,sizeof(*rt));
-  JS_SetContextOpaque(js, rt);
+void ffi_load(JSContext *js)
+{
+  prosperon_rt *rt = JS_GetContextOpaque(js);
+  
   m_seedRand(&rt->mrand, time(NULL));
 
   arrput(rt->module_registry, MISTLINE(io));
@@ -8114,15 +7946,9 @@ void ffi_load(JSContext *js, int argc, char **argv) {
   JS_FreeValue(js,jsnumber);
   JS_FreeValue(js,number_proto);
   
-  signal(SIGINT, signal_handler);
-  signal(SIGTERM, signal_handler);
-  signal(SIGSEGV, signal_handler);
-  signal(SIGABRT, signal_handler);
-  atexit(exit_handler);
-
   JSValue args = JS_NewArray(js);
-  for (int i = 0; i < argc; i++)
-    JS_SetPropertyUint32(js,args, i, JS_NewString(js,argv[i]));
+  for (int i = 0; i < rt->cmd.argc; i++)
+    JS_SetPropertyUint32(js,args, i, JS_NewString(js,rt->cmd.argv[i]));
 
   JS_SetPropertyStr(js,prosp,"argv", args);
   JS_SetPropertyStr(js,prosp, "version", JS_NewString(js,PROSPERON_VERSION));
@@ -8130,6 +7956,4 @@ void ffi_load(JSContext *js, int argc, char **argv) {
   JS_SetPropertyStr(js,prosp,"engine_start", JS_NewCFunction(js,js_os_engine_start, "engine_start", 1));
 
   JS_FreeValue(js,globalThis);
-  
-  SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_EVENTS);
 }
diff --git a/source/jsffi.h b/source/jsffi.h
index d8524404..a6f9b51b 100644
--- a/source/jsffi.h
+++ b/source/jsffi.h
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 #ifndef FFI_H
 #define FFI_H
+
 #include <quickjs.h>
-void ffi_load(JSContext *js, int argc, char **argv);
+void ffi_load(JSContext *js);
 int js_print_exception(JSContext *js, JSValue v);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/source/prosperon.c b/source/prosperon.c
index 1836b097..257b4726 100644
--- a/source/prosperon.c
+++ b/source/prosperon.c
@@ -4,10 +4,26 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
+#include <signal.h>
+
+#include "stb_ds.h"
+
+#include "prosperon.h"
+#include "jsffi.h"
+
+static prosperon_rt **ready_queue = NULL;
+static prosperon_rt **slow_queue = NULL;     // Slow actors
+static prosperon_rt **reclaim_queue = NULL;  // Actors needing reclamation
+static SDL_Mutex *queue_mutex = NULL;        // Protects queue access
+static SDL_Condition *queue_cond = NULL;          // Signals when work is available
+
+static struct { char *key; prosperon_rt *value } *actors;
 
 static unsigned char *zip_buffer_global;
 static char *prosperon;
 
+SDL_ThreadID main_thread = 0;
+
 void free_zip(void)
 {
   free(zip_buffer_global);
@@ -92,7 +108,179 @@ if (!ret) {
   return 1;
 }
 
+void free_actor(prosperon_rt *actor)
+{
+  for (int i = 0; i < actor->cmd.argc; i++) free(actor->cmd.argv[i]);
+  script_stop(actor->context);
+  JSRuntime *rt = JS_GetRuntime(actor->context);
+  arrfree(actor->messages);
+  SDL_DestroyMutex(actor->mutex);
+  arrfree(actor->js_swapchains);
+  arrfree(actor->module_registry);
+  free(actor);
+}
+
+// this function should be called to spin off a new thread with actor
+prosperon_rt *create_actor(int argc, char **argv)
+{
+  prosperon_rt *rt = calloc(sizeof(*rt),1);
+  rt->cmd.argc = argc;
+  rt->cmd.argv = argv;
+  rt->cycle_fn = JS_UNDEFINED;
+  rt->idx_buffer = JS_UNDEFINED;
+
+  script_startup(rt);
+  
+  return rt;
+}
+
+void js_dofree(JSRuntime *rt, void *opaque, void *ptr)
+{
+  js_free_rt(rt, ptr);
+}
+
+void run_actor_turn(prosperon_rt *actor)
+{
+  SDL_LockMutex(actor->mutex);
+  if (actor->state != ACTOR_READY) goto END;
+  if (arrlen(actor->messages) == 0) {
+    actor->state = ACTOR_IDLE;
+    goto END;
+  }
+  struct message msg = actor->messages[0];
+  arrdel(actor->messages, 0);
+  JSValue arg = JS_NewArrayBuffer(actor->context, msg.data, msg.size, js_dofree, NULL, 0);
+  printf("running actor %p, fn? %d. context %p\n", actor, JS_IsFunction(actor->context, actor->message_handle), actor->context);
+  int tag = JS_VALUE_GET_TAG(actor->message_handle);
+  printf("message_handle tag: %d, value: %llu\n", tag, actor->message_handle);
+  if (tag >= 0) printf("  as ptr: %p\n", JS_VALUE_GET_PTR(actor->message_handle));
+  JSValue fstr = JS_ToString(actor->context, actor->message_handle);
+  const char *fnstr = JS_ToCString(actor->context, fstr);
+  printf("function is %s\n", fnstr ? fnstr : "(null)");
+  JS_FreeCString(actor->context, fnstr);
+  JSValue result = JS_Call(actor->context, actor->message_handle, JS_UNDEFINED, 1, &arg);
+  printf("exception? %d\n", JS_IsException(result));
+  if (JS_IsException(result)) {
+    JSValue exception = JS_GetException(actor->context);
+    const char *err_str = JS_ToCString(actor->context, exception);
+    printf("exception details: %s\n", err_str ? err_str : "(null)");
+    JS_FreeCString(actor->context, err_str);
+    JS_FreeValue(actor->context, exception);
+  }
+  uncaught_exception(actor->context, result);
+  printf("ran actor %p\n", actor);
+END:
+  SDL_UnlockMutex(actor->mutex);
+}
+
+int reclaimer_thread(void *data)
+{
+  while (true) {
+    SDL_LockMutex(queue_mutex);
+    while (arrlen(reclaim_queue) == 0)
+      SDL_WaitCondition(queue_cond, queue_mutex);
+
+    prosperon_rt *actor = reclaim_queue[0];
+    arrdel(reclaim_queue, 0);
+    SDL_UnlockMutex(queue_mutex);
+
+    SDL_LockMutex(actor->mutex);
+    if (actor->state == ACTOR_EXHAUSTED) {
+      actor->state = ACTOR_RECLAIMING;
+      JS_RunGC(JS_GetRuntime(actor->context));
+    }
+    SDL_UnlockMutex(actor->mutex);
+
+    actor_signal(actor);
+  }
+}
+
+int crank_actor()
+{
+  while (true) {
+    prosperon_rt *actor = NULL;
+    SDL_LockMutex(queue_mutex);
+    if (arrlen(ready_queue) > 0) {
+      actor = ready_queue[0];
+      arrdel(ready_queue, 0);
+    } else if (arrlen(slow_queue) > 0) {
+      actor = slow_queue[0];
+      arrdel(slow_queue, 0);
+    } else {
+      SDL_WaitCondition(queue_cond, queue_mutex);
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    SDL_UnlockMutex(queue_mutex);
+    if (actor)
+      run_actor_turn(actor);
+  }
+
+  return 0;
+}
+
+static void signal_handler(int sig) {
+  const char *str = NULL;
+  switch(sig) {
+    case SIGABRT:
+      str = "SIGABRT";
+      break;
+    case SIGFPE:
+      str = "SIGFPE";
+      break;
+    case SIGILL:
+      str = "SIGILL";
+      break;
+    case SIGINT:
+      str = "SIGINT";
+      break;
+    case SIGSEGV:
+      str = "SIGSEGV";
+      break;
+    case SIGTERM:
+      str = "SIGTERM";
+      break;
+   }
+  if (!str) return;
+
+  for (int i = 0; i < shlen(actors); i++) {
+    prosperon_rt *main = actors[i].value;
+    JSContext *js = main->context;
+    script_evalf(js, "prosperon.dispatch('%s')", str);    
+  }
+
+  switch(sig) {
+    case SIGTERM:
+      exit(1);
+    case SIGINT:
+      exit(1);
+  }
+}
+
+static void exit_handler()
+{
+  for (int i = 0; i < shlen(actors); i++) {
+    prosperon_rt *main = actors[i].value;
+    JSContext *js = main->context;
+    script_evalf(js, "prosperon.dispatch('exit')", NULL); 
+  }
+}
+
 int main(int argc, char **argv) {
+  SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_EVENTS | SDL_INIT_VIDEO);
+  int cores = SDL_GetNumLogicalCPUCores();
+  if (cores == 1) {
+    printf("Platform has only one core!\n");
+    return 1;
+  }
+  
+  main_thread = SDL_GetCurrentThreadID();
+
+  if (!main_thread) {
+    printf("Platform does not support threads!\n");
+    return 1;
+  }
+
   prosperon = argv[0];
 
   PHYSFS_init(argv[0]);
@@ -107,7 +295,74 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     printf("Could not mount core. Reason: %s\n", PHYSFS_getErrorByCode(PHYSFS_getLastErrorCode()));
     return 1;
   }
+
+  char **margv = malloc(sizeof(char*));
+  for (int i = 0; i < argc; i++)
+    margv[i] = strdup(argv[i]);
+
+  create_actor(argc, margv);
+
+  queue_mutex = SDL_CreateMutex();
+  queue_cond = SDL_CreateCondition();
+  
+  for (int i = 0; i < 1; i++)
+    SDL_CreateThread(crank_actor, "actor_runner", NULL);
+
+  SDL_CreateThread(reclaimer_thread, "reclaimer", NULL);
+  
+  signal(SIGINT, signal_handler);
+  signal(SIGTERM, signal_handler);
+  signal(SIGSEGV, signal_handler);
+  signal(SIGABRT, signal_handler);
+  atexit(exit_handler);
+
+  SDL_Event *event;
+  while (SDL_WaitEvent(event)) {
+    printf("Got event!\n");
+    if (event->type == SDL_EVENT_QUIT)
+      return 0;
+  }
   
-  script_startup(argc, argv); // runs engine.js
   return 0; 
 }
+
+prosperon_rt *get_actor(char *id)
+{
+  int idx = shgeti(actors, id);
+  if (idx == -1) return NULL;
+
+  return actors[idx].value;
+}
+
+char *register_actor(char *id, prosperon_rt *actor)
+{
+  if (shgeti(actors, id) != -1) return "Actor with given ID already exists.";
+  shput(actors, id, actor);
+  printf("registerd actor %s as %p\n", id, actor);
+  return NULL;
+}
+
+void send_message(prosperon_rt *target, struct message msg)
+{
+  printf("sending message to actor %p\n", target);
+  SDL_LockMutex(target->mutex);
+  arrput(target->messages, msg);
+  SDL_UnlockMutex(target->mutex);
+  
+  actor_signal(target);
+}
+
+void actor_signal(prosperon_rt *actor)
+{
+  printf("waking actor %p\n", actor);
+  SDL_LockMutex(actor->mutex);
+  if (actor->state != ACTOR_READY) {
+    actor->state = ACTOR_READY;
+    SDL_LockMutex(queue_mutex);
+    arrput(ready_queue, actor);
+    SDL_SignalCondition(queue_cond);
+    SDL_UnlockMutex(queue_mutex);
+  }
+
+  SDL_UnlockMutex(actor->mutex);
+}
diff --git a/source/prosperon.h b/source/prosperon.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ae7c6710
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/prosperon.h
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+#ifndef PROSPERON_H
+#define PROSPERON_H
+
+#include <SDL3/SDL.h>
+#include "quickjs.h"
+
+typedef JSValue (*MODULEFN)(JSContext *js);
+
+#define STATE_VECTOR_LENGTH 624
+#define STATE_VECTOR_M      397 /* changes to STATE_VECTOR_LENGTH also require changes to this */
+
+typedef struct tagMTRand {
+  uint32_t mt[STATE_VECTOR_LENGTH];
+  int32_t index;
+} MTRand;
+
+extern SDL_ThreadID main_thread;
+
+extern SDL_TLSID prosperon_id;
+
+typedef struct {
+  const char *name;
+  MODULEFN fn;
+} ModuleEntry;
+
+typedef struct {
+  int argc;
+  char **argv;
+} cmdargs;
+
+struct message {
+  void *data;
+  size_t size;
+};
+
+#define ACTOR_IDLE 0
+#define ACTOR_READY 1
+#define ACTOR_RUNNING 2
+#define ACTOR_EXHAUSTED 3 // flagged when the actor is running GC
+#define ACTOR_RECLAIMING 4
+#define ACTOR_SLOW 5
+
+typedef struct prosperon_rt {
+  cmdargs cmd; // args this actor was started with
+  JSContext *context; // The context this actor uses
+  MTRand mrand;
+  JSValue cycle_fn;
+  JSValue idx_buffer;
+  JSValue on_exception;
+  JSValue message_handle;
+  int idx_count;
+  ModuleEntry *module_registry;
+  JSValue *js_swapchains;
+  struct { Uint32 key; JSValue value; } *timers;
+  JSValue *events; // stack of events that need triggered on this actor
+  SDL_Mutex *mutex; // blocks access to modifying this actor
+  struct message *messages;
+  int state; //
+} prosperon_rt;
+
+prosperon_rt *get_actor(char *id);
+char *register_actor(char *id, prosperon_rt *actor);
+prosperon_rt *create_actor();
+void actor_signal(prosperon_rt *actor);
+void actor_turn(prosperon_rt *actor);
+void send_message(prosperon_rt *actor, struct message msg);
+#endif
diff --git a/source/script.c b/source/script.c
index 17877b4a..5c71a890 100644
--- a/source/script.c
+++ b/source/script.c
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 #include <assert.h>
 #include "quickjs.h"
 
+#include "prosperon.h"
+
 #if defined(__APPLE__)
   #include <malloc/malloc.h>
 #elif defined(_WIN32)
@@ -22,13 +24,8 @@
 
 #include "physfs.h"
 
-SDL_TLSID on_exception = {0};
-SDL_TLSID js_id = {0};
-
 #define ENGINE "scripts/core/engine.js"
 
-#define JS_EVAL_FLAGS JS_EVAL_FLAG_STRICT 
-
 #ifdef TRACY_ENABLE
 #include <tracy/TracyC.h>
 
@@ -135,7 +132,8 @@ static const JSMallocFunctions tracy_malloc_funcs = {
 
 #endif
 
-void script_startup(int argc, char **argv) {
+// this function takes control of the program.
+void script_startup(prosperon_rt *prt) {
   JSRuntime *rt;
 #ifdef TRACY_ENABLE
   rt = JS_NewRuntime2(&tracy_malloc_funcs, NULL);
@@ -143,7 +141,6 @@ void script_startup(int argc, char **argv) {
   rt = JS_NewRuntime();
 #endif
   JSContext *js = JS_NewContextRaw(rt);
-  SDL_SetTLS(&js_id, js, NULL);
   JS_AddIntrinsicBaseObjects(js);
   JS_AddIntrinsicEval(js);
   JS_AddIntrinsicRegExp(js);
@@ -156,11 +153,11 @@ void script_startup(int argc, char **argv) {
   JS_AddIntrinsicOperators(js);
   JS_EnableBignumExt(js, 1);
 
-  JSValue *onexp = malloc(sizeof(JSValue));
-  *onexp = JS_UNDEFINED;
-  SDL_SetTLS(&on_exception, onexp, NULL);
+  JS_SetContextOpaque(js, prt);
+  prt->context = js;
+  printf("started actor %p with context %p\n", prt, prt->context);
 
-  ffi_load(js, argc, argv);
+  ffi_load(js);
 
   PHYSFS_File *eng = PHYSFS_openRead(ENGINE);
   if (!eng) {
@@ -173,9 +170,10 @@ void script_startup(int argc, char **argv) {
   void *data = malloc(stat.filesize);
   PHYSFS_readBytes(eng,data,stat.filesize);
   PHYSFS_close(eng);
-  JSValue v = script_eval(js, ENGINE, data);
+  SDL_LockMutex(prt->mutex);
+  JSValue v = JS_Eval(js, data, strlen(data), ENGINE, JS_EVAL_FLAG_STRICT);
   uncaught_exception(js,v);
-  script_stop(js);
+  SDL_UnlockMutex(prt->mutex);
 }
 
 void script_stop(JSContext *js)
@@ -188,13 +186,9 @@ void script_stop(JSContext *js)
     
   free(prt);
   
-  JSValue *onexp = SDL_GetTLS(&on_exception);
-  JS_FreeValue(js,*onexp);
   JSRuntime *rt = JS_GetRuntime(js);
   JS_FreeContext(js);
   JS_FreeRuntime(rt);
-
-  free(onexp);
 }
 
 void uncaught_exception(JSContext *js, JSValue v)
@@ -204,11 +198,13 @@ void uncaught_exception(JSContext *js, JSValue v)
     return;
   }
 
-  JSValue *onexp = SDL_GetTLS(&on_exception);
+  prosperon_rt *rt = JS_GetContextOpaque(js);
+
+  JSValue onexp = rt->on_exception;
   
-  if (!JS_IsUndefined(*onexp)) {
+  if (!JS_IsUndefined(onexp)) {
     JSValue ex = JS_GetException(js);
-    JSValue ret = JS_Call(js, *onexp, JS_UNDEFINED, 1, &ex);
+    JSValue ret = JS_Call(js, onexp, JS_UNDEFINED, 1, &ex);
     JS_FreeValue(js,ret);
     JS_FreeValue(js,ex);
   } else {
@@ -239,13 +235,8 @@ void script_evalf(JSContext *js, const char *format, ...)
   vsnprintf(eval, len+1, format, args);
   va_end(args);
 
-  obj = JS_Eval(js, eval, len, "C eval", JS_EVAL_FLAGS);
+  obj = JS_Eval(js, eval, len, "C eval", JS_EVAL_FLAG_STRICT);
   free(eval);
 
   uncaught_exception(js,obj);
 }
-
-JSValue script_eval(JSContext *js, const char *file, const char *script)
-{
-  return JS_Eval(js, script, strlen(script), file, JS_EVAL_FLAGS);
-}
diff --git a/source/script.h b/source/script.h
index c72eec87..f482ff55 100644
--- a/source/script.h
+++ b/source/script.h
@@ -3,35 +3,9 @@
 
 #include "quickjs.h"
 #include <SDL3/SDL.h>
+#include "prosperon.h"
 
-typedef JSValue (*MODULEFN)(JSContext *js);
-
-typedef struct {
-  const char *name;
-  MODULEFN fn;
-} ModuleEntry;
-
-#define STATE_VECTOR_LENGTH 624
-#define STATE_VECTOR_M      397 /* changes to STATE_VECTOR_LENGTH also require changes to this */
-
-typedef struct tagMTRand {
-  uint32_t mt[STATE_VECTOR_LENGTH];
-  int32_t index;
-} MTRand;
-
-typedef struct prosperon_rt {
-  MTRand mrand;
-  JSValue cycle_fn;
-  JSValue idx_buffer;
-  int idx_count;
-  ModuleEntry *module_registry;
-  JSValue *js_swapchains;
-} prosperon_rt;
-
-extern SDL_TLSID on_exception;
-extern SDL_TLSID js_id;
-
-void script_startup(int argc, char **argv);
+void script_startup(prosperon_rt *rt);
 void script_stop(JSContext*);
 
 void script_evalf(JSContext *js, const char *format, ...);