diff --git a/archive/build.zig b/archive/build.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..998903b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/archive/build.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,662 @@
+// MVK_CONFIG_USE_METAL_ARGUMENT_BUFFERS=1 -- use this if you're getting that odd crash on mac
+b: *std.Build,
+nw_builder: *std.Build,
+target: std.Build.ResolvedTarget,
+optimize: std.builtin.OptimizeMode,
+nw_mod: *std.Build.Module,
+gltf2ozz: ozz.GltfToOzz,
+options: *std.Build.Step.Options,
+cookShaders: bool,
+
+backlogRoot: []const u8,
+// list of all shaders discovered under
+// content/_shaders/def
+reflectShaderPathList: [][]u8 = undefined,
+
+staticBuild: bool = false,
+
+nwdep: *std.Build.Dependency,
+apigen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
+shaderEmbedGen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
+loadDynamicsGen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
+rcGen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
+generatedApis: std.StringHashMapUnmanaged(*std.Build.Module) = .{},
+
+const engineDepList = [_][]const u8{
+    "assets",
+    "audio",
+    "core",
+    "net",
+    "papyrus",
+    "platform",
+    "rend",
+    "ui",
+    "imgui",
+    "physics",
+    "sys",
+};
+
+const BuildSystem = @This();
+const std = @import("std");
+const Build = std.Build;
+const LazyPath = Build.LazyPath;
+
+const ozz = @import("ozz");
+
+pub const InitOptions = struct {
+    import_name: []const u8 = "Backlog",
+    backlogRoot: []const u8 = "./BacklogEngine",
+    staticBuild: bool = false,
+    target: Build.ResolvedTarget,
+    optimize: std.builtin.OptimizeMode,
+};
+
+pub fn init(b: *std.Build, opts: InitOptions) BuildSystem {
+    var buildOpts = declareBuildOptions(b);
+
+    if (opts.target.result.os.tag == .linux) {
+        // using a static build for linux... object loading hell is not fun
+        std.debug.print("Important! only supporting static builds for linux", .{});
+        buildOpts.static_build = true;
+    }
+
+    const nwdep = b.dependency(opts.import_name, .{
+        .target = opts.target,
+        .optimize = opts.optimize,
+        .static_build = buildOpts.static_build,
+    });
+
+    var self = BuildSystem{
+        .b = b,
+        .nw_builder = nwdep.builder,
+        .target = opts.target,
+        .optimize = opts.optimize,
+        .nw_mod = nwdep.module("Backlog"),
+        .backlogRoot = opts.backlogRoot,
+        .options = createGameOptions(b, buildOpts),
+        .gltf2ozz = ozz.GltfToOzz.init(nwdep.builder, .{}),
+        .cookShaders = b.option(bool, "cookShaders", "generates shaders and updates .json files before running the build. (needs to be done whenever shaders are updated, this just runs tools/scripts/cook-shaders.py)") orelse false,
+
+        .staticBuild = buildOpts.static_build,
+        .nwdep = nwdep,
+        .apigen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-apigen"),
+        .loadDynamicsGen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-generate-loadDynamics"),
+        .rcGen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-generate-rc"),
+        .shaderEmbedGen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-shaderEmbedGen"),
+    };
+
+    const exeList = [1]*std.Build.Step.Compile{self.gltf2ozz.exe};
+    const install_tools = b.step("tools", "installs tools needed to generate outputs for the engine");
+    for (exeList) |exe| {
+        const toolsInstall = b.addInstallArtifact(exe, .{
+            .dest_dir = .{ .override = .{ .custom = "tools" } },
+        });
+
+        install_tools.dependOn(&toolsInstall.step);
+    }
+
+    {
+        const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(self.gltf2ozz.exe);
+        if (b.args) |args| {
+            runArtifact.addArgs(args);
+        }
+
+        const run_exe = b.step("gltf2ozz", "runs the gltf animation converter.");
+        run_exe.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
+    }
+
+    self.addDependencyInstalls(self.b, .ReleaseFast);
+
+    return self;
+}
+
+pub const AddProgramOptions = struct {
+    name: []const u8,
+    desc: []const u8,
+    root_source_file: LazyPath,
+    imports: []const Build.Module.Import = &.{},
+};
+
+pub fn addProgram(self: *BuildSystem, opts: AddProgramOptions) *std.Build.Module {
+    const b = self.b;
+
+    const exe = self.nw_builder.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = opts.name,
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = self.target,
+            .optimize = self.optimize,
+            .root_source_file = self.nw_builder.path("engine/main.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    b.installArtifact(exe);
+    const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(exe);
+    if (b.args) |args| {
+        runArtifact.addArgs(args);
+    }
+    const run_exe = b.step(self.b.fmt("run-{s}", .{opts.name}), opts.desc);
+    run_exe.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
+
+    // main path = name/main.zig
+    const mod = b.addModule(opts.name, .{
+        .target = self.target,
+        .optimize = self.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = opts.root_source_file,
+        .imports = opts.imports,
+    });
+
+    exe.root_module.addImport("main", mod);
+    // todo.. remove this one and see what happens
+    exe.root_module.addImport("core", self.nwdep.module("core"));
+    // mod.addImport("Backlog", self.nw_mod);
+    exe.root_module.addOptions("BacklogOptions", self.options);
+
+    if (self.cookShaders) {
+        const cookShadersScript = b.fmt("{s}/tools/scripts/cookShaders.py", .{self.backlogRoot});
+        const cookShadersCommand = b.addSystemCommand(&[_][]const u8{"python"});
+        cookShadersCommand.addArg(cookShadersScript);
+
+        run_exe.dependOn(&cookShadersCommand.step);
+    }
+
+    b.getInstallStep().dependOn(self.nw_builder.getInstallStep());
+
+    // run_exe.dependOn(b.getInstallStep());
+
+    return mod;
+}
+
+pub const BuildOptions = struct {
+    mutex_job_queue: bool,
+    static_build: bool,
+    zero_logging: bool,
+    slow_logging: bool,
+    force_mailbox: bool,
+};
+
+pub fn declareBuildOptions(b: *std.Build) BuildOptions {
+    return .{
+        .mutex_job_queue = b.option(bool, "mutex_job_queue", "temporary test, reverts to old mutex based queue behaviour in jobs.zig:JobManager") orelse false,
+        .static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds the entire game as a single executable") orelse false,
+        .zero_logging = b.option(bool, "zero_logging", "disables all logging, only intended for use on job dispatch testing") orelse false,
+        .slow_logging = b.option(bool, "slow_logging", "Disables buffered logging, takes a hit to performance but gain timing information on logging") orelse false,
+        .force_mailbox = b.option(bool, "force_mailbox", "forces mailbox mode for present mode. unlocks framerate to irresponsible levels") orelse false,
+    };
+}
+
+pub fn createGameOptions(b: *std.Build, options: BuildOptions) *std.Build.Step.Options {
+    const opts = b.addOptions();
+
+    inline for (@typeInfo(BuildOptions).@"struct".fields) |field| {
+        opts.addOption(bool, field.name, @field(options, field.name));
+    }
+
+    return opts;
+}
+
+pub fn addExtraModule(self: *BuildSystem, mod: *std.Build.Module, moduleName: []const u8) void {
+    const dep = self.b.dependency(moduleName, .{ .target = self.target, .optimize = self.optimize, .static_build = self.staticBuild });
+    mod.addImport(moduleName, dep.module(moduleName));
+}
+
+pub fn addDependencyInstalls(self: *BuildSystem, b: *std.Build, optimize: std.builtin.OptimizeMode) void {
+    //if (self.staticBuild) {
+    //return;
+    // }
+
+    inline for (DynamicDepList) |d| {
+        b.installArtifact(b.dependency(
+            d.dep,
+            .{ .target = self.target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = self.staticBuild },
+        ).artifact(d.artifact));
+    }
+
+    // b.installArtifact(b.dependency(
+    //     "sdl3",
+    //     .{ .target = self.target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = self.staticBuild },
+    // ).artifact("SDL3"));
+}
+
+const DynamicDepList: []const struct { dep: []const u8, artifact: []const u8 } = &.{
+    .{ .dep = "sdl3", .artifact = "SDL3" },
+    .{ .dep = "spng", .artifact = "spng_c" },
+    .{ .dep = "lua", .artifact = "luac" },
+    .{ .dep = "miniaudio", .artifact = "miniaudio_c" },
+    .{ .dep = "zphysics", .artifact = "joltc" },
+    // .{ .dep = "enet", .artifact = "enet_c" },
+    .{ .dep = "ozz", .artifact = "ozz_cpp" },
+};
+
+// all other modules are disabled by default
+pub const defaultEnabledModules: []const []const u8 = &.{
+    "core",
+    "assets",
+    "platform",
+    "rend",
+};
+
+pub const moduleOrder: []const []const u8 = &.{
+    "core",
+    "sys",
+    "assets",
+    "platform",
+    "net",
+    "physics",
+    "audio",
+    "rend",
+    "ui",
+    "imgui",
+    "papyrus",
+};
+
+pub const DynamicModule = struct {
+    name: []const u8,
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    buildSystem: *BuildSystem,
+    programName: []const u8,
+    opts: AddProgramOptions,
+
+    extras: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
+    gameModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
+
+    library: ?*std.Build.Step.Compile = null,
+
+    pub fn addExtraModule(self: *@This(), module: []const u8) void {
+        self.extras.append(self.allocator, .{ .name = module, .enabled = true }) catch @panic("out of memory");
+    }
+
+    pub fn init(name: []const u8, p: *Program) *@This() {
+        var self: *@This() = p.allocator.create(@This()) catch @panic("out of memory");
+
+        self.* = .{
+            .opts = p.opts,
+            .programName = p.opts.name,
+            .buildSystem = p.buildSystem,
+            .allocator = p.allocator,
+            .name = name,
+        };
+
+        for (p.gameModules.items) |module| {
+            self.gameModules.append(self.allocator, module) catch @panic("out of memory");
+        }
+
+        for (p.extras.items) |module| {
+            self.extras.append(self.allocator, module) catch @panic("out of memory");
+        }
+
+        return self;
+    }
+
+    pub fn compileInstall(self: *@This()) *std.Build.Step.Compile {
+        if (self.library) |lib| {
+            return lib;
+        }
+
+        const b = self.buildSystem.b;
+        const static = self.buildSystem.staticBuild;
+        const lib = b.addLibrary(.{
+            .name = self.name,
+            .linkage = if (static) .static else .dynamic,
+            .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+                .root_source_file = self.opts.root_source_file,
+                .link_libc = true,
+                .optimize = self.buildSystem.optimize,
+                .target = self.buildSystem.target,
+            }),
+        });
+
+        const allocator = self.buildSystem.b.allocator;
+
+        var modlist = std.ArrayList([]const u8){};
+
+        for (self.gameModules.items) |mod| {
+            if (mod.enabled) {
+                modlist.append(allocator, mod.name) catch @panic("out of memory");
+            }
+        }
+
+        for (self.extras.items) |extra| {
+            self.buildSystem.addExtraModule(lib.root_module, extra.name);
+        }
+
+        lib.root_module.addImport("backlog", self.buildSystem.generateApi(self.name, modlist.items, null));
+        lib.root_module.addOptions("BacklogOptions", self.buildSystem.options);
+
+        if (static) {
+            // generateApi should create static callers for the main program
+        } else {
+            const installExtern = b.addInstallArtifact(lib, .{
+                .dest_dir = .{ .override = .{ .custom = "modules" } },
+            });
+            b.getInstallStep().dependOn(&installExtern.step);
+        }
+
+        return lib;
+    }
+};
+
+pub const GameModule = struct {
+    name: []const u8,
+    enabled: bool = true,
+};
+
+pub const Program = struct {
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    opts: AddProgramOptions,
+    gameModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
+    extras: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
+    dynamicModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(*DynamicModule) = .{},
+    buildSystem: *BuildSystem,
+
+    iconPath: ?std.Build.LazyPath = null,
+
+    pub fn setIconPath(self: *@This(), path: []const u8) void {
+        if (self.iconPath != null) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        self.iconPath = self.buildSystem.generateRc(self.opts.name, path) catch return;
+    }
+
+    pub fn setModuleEnabled(self: *@This(), module: []const u8, enable: bool) void {
+        for (self.gameModules.items) |*m| {
+            if (std.mem.eql(u8, m.name, module)) {
+                m.enabled = enable;
+                return;
+            }
+        }
+
+        // module not found, add it here.
+        self.gameModules.append(self.allocator, .{ .name = module, .enabled = enable }) catch @panic("out of memory");
+    }
+
+    pub fn addExtraModule(self: *@This(), module: []const u8) void {
+        self.extras.append(self.allocator, .{ .name = module, .enabled = true }) catch @panic("out of memory");
+    }
+
+    pub fn addDynamicModule(self: *@This(), module: []const u8, root_source_file: std.Build.LazyPath) *DynamicModule {
+        const dynamicModule = DynamicModule.init(module, self);
+        dynamicModule.opts.root_source_file = root_source_file;
+        self.dynamicModules.append(self.allocator, dynamicModule) catch @panic("out of memory");
+
+        return dynamicModule;
+    }
+
+    pub fn compileInstall(self: *@This()) *std.Build.Module {
+        const exe = self.buildSystem.addProgram(self.opts);
+        const allocator = self.buildSystem.b.allocator;
+
+        var modlist = std.ArrayList([]const u8){};
+
+        for (self.gameModules.items) |mod| {
+            if (mod.enabled) {
+                modlist.append(allocator, mod.name) catch @panic("out of memory");
+            }
+        }
+
+        for (self.extras.items) |extra| {
+            self.buildSystem.addExtraModule(exe, extra.name);
+        }
+
+        exe.addImport("backlog", self.buildSystem.generateApi(self.opts.name, modlist.items, self.dynamicModules.items));
+
+        if (self.buildSystem.target.result.os.tag == .windows) {
+            if (self.iconPath) |ip| {
+                exe.addWin32ResourceFile(.{
+                    .file = ip,
+                    .flags = &.{},
+                });
+            }
+        }
+
+        return exe;
+    }
+};
+
+pub fn program(self: *BuildSystem, opts: AddProgramOptions) *Program {
+    const prog = self.b.allocator.create(Program) catch unreachable;
+
+    prog.* = .{
+        .allocator = self.b.allocator,
+        .opts = opts,
+        .buildSystem = self,
+    };
+
+    for (moduleOrder) |module| {
+        prog.setModuleEnabled(module, false);
+    }
+
+    for (defaultEnabledModules) |module| {
+        prog.setModuleEnabled(module, true);
+    }
+
+    return prog;
+}
+
+// ========= standalone build instance =======
+// maybe the default should be like an engine launcher/project launcher or something
+pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
+    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
+    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
+    const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
+
+    const fwdGeneratorExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-generate-fwd",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateFwd.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    const generateExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-apigen",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateApi.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    const generateShaders = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-shaderEmbedGen",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateEmbeddedShaders.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    const generateRcExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-generate-rc",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateRc.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    const generateLoadDynamicsExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-generate-loadDynamics",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateLoadDynamics.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    b.installArtifact(generateLoadDynamicsExe);
+    b.installArtifact(generateExe);
+    b.installArtifact(generateShaders);
+    b.installArtifact(generateRcExe);
+
+    {
+        const loadDynamicsStub = b.addModule("loadDynamicsStub", .{
+            .target = target,
+            .optimize = optimize,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("engine/loadDynamicsStub.zig"),
+        });
+
+        _ = loadDynamicsStub;
+
+        const mod = b.addModule("Backlog", .{
+            .target = target,
+            .optimize = optimize,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("engine/backlog.zig"),
+        });
+
+        for (engineDepList) |depName| {
+            const dep = b.dependency(
+                depName,
+                .{
+                    .target = target,
+                    .optimize = optimize,
+                    .static_build = static_build,
+                },
+            );
+
+            const run = b.addRunArtifact(fwdGeneratorExe);
+            const output = run.addOutputFileArg(b.fmt("{s}_fwd.zig", .{depName}));
+
+            const modFwd = b.addModule(depName, .{
+                .target = target,
+                .optimize = optimize,
+                .root_source_file = output,
+            });
+
+            mod.addImport(b.fmt("{s}", .{depName}), modFwd);
+            modFwd.addImport("module", dep.module(depName));
+
+            // mod.addImport(depName, dep.module(depName));
+        }
+
+        // link in large platform support functions... special case.
+        {
+            const dep = b.dependency("sdl3", .{
+                .target = target,
+                .optimize = optimize,
+                .static_build = static_build,
+            });
+            const lib = dep.module("SDL3");
+
+            mod.addImport("sdl3_fwd", lib);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn generateApi(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, moduleList: []const []const u8, dynamicModules: ?[]const *DynamicModule) *std.Build.Module {
+    // std.debug.print("GENERATE API:: {s}\n", .{programName});
+
+    for (moduleList) |mod| {
+        _ = mod;
+        // std.debug.print("{s}\n", .{mod});
+    }
+    //
+    if (self.generatedApis.get(programName)) |m| {
+        return m;
+    }
+
+    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.apigen);
+    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}Api.zig", .{programName});
+    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
+    for (moduleList) |modName| {
+        run.addArg(modName);
+    }
+
+    const mod = self.b.addModule(pfile, .{
+        .target = self.target,
+        .optimize = self.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = output,
+    });
+    for (moduleList) |modName| {
+        mod.addImport(modName, self.nwdep.module(modName));
+    }
+
+    const loadStatics = self.generateInstallStaticResources(programName, "content/_shaders") catch unreachable;
+    mod.addImport("staticShaderLoader", loadStatics);
+
+    // deal with dynamics
+    if (dynamicModules) |dynamics| {
+        const loadDynamics = self.generateLoadDynamics(programName, dynamics) catch @panic("unknown");
+        mod.addImport("loadDynamics", loadDynamics);
+    } else {
+        mod.addImport("loadDynamics", self.nwdep.module("loadDynamicsStub"));
+    }
+
+    self.generatedApis.put(self.b.allocator, programName, mod) catch @panic("out of memory");
+
+    return mod;
+}
+
+pub fn generateRc(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, iconPath: []const u8) !std.Build.LazyPath {
+    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.rcGen);
+    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}.rc", .{programName});
+    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
+    run.addArg(iconPath);
+
+    return output;
+}
+
+pub fn generateLoadDynamics(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, dynamics: []const *DynamicModule) !*std.Build.Module {
+    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.loadDynamicsGen);
+    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}LoadDynamics.zig", .{programName});
+    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
+    if (self.staticBuild) {
+        run.addArg("static");
+    } else {
+        run.addArg("dynamic");
+    }
+
+    for (dynamics) |dyn| {
+        run.addArg(dyn.name);
+    }
+
+    const mod = self.b.addModule(pfile, .{
+        .target = self.target,
+        .optimize = self.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = output,
+    });
+
+    mod.addImport("core", self.nwdep.module("core"));
+    for (dynamics) |dyn| {
+        const dynmod = dyn.compileInstall();
+        mod.addImport(dyn.name, dynmod.root_module);
+    }
+
+    return mod;
+}
+
+pub fn generateInstallStaticResources(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, shadersPath: []const u8) !*std.Build.Module {
+    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.shaderEmbedGen);
+    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}ShaderGen.zig", .{programName});
+    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
+    run.addArg(shadersPath);
+
+    const b = self.b;
+    const mod = self.b.addModule(pfile, .{
+        .target = self.target,
+        .optimize = self.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = output,
+    });
+    mod.addImport("core", self.nwdep.module("core"));
+
+    var dir = try std.fs.cwd().openDir("content/_shaders", .{ .iterate = true });
+    defer dir.close();
+
+    var walker = dir.iterate();
+    while (try walker.next()) |shaderType| {
+        if (shaderType.kind == .directory) {
+            var d2 = try dir.openDir(shaderType.name, .{ .iterate = true });
+            defer d2.close();
+            var w2 = d2.iterate();
+            while (try w2.next()) |shaderName| {
+                const shaderPath = b.fmt("content/_shaders/{s}/{s}", .{ shaderType.name, shaderName.name });
+                mod.addAnonymousImport(shaderName.name, .{
+                    .root_source_file = b.path(shaderPath),
+                });
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    return mod;
+}
diff --git a/build.zig b/build.zig
index 26771fc..e69de29 100644
--- a/build.zig
+++ b/build.zig
@@ -1,686 +0,0 @@
-// MVK_CONFIG_USE_METAL_ARGUMENT_BUFFERS=1 -- use this if you're getting that odd crash on mac
-b: *std.Build,
-nw_builder: *std.Build,
-target: std.Build.ResolvedTarget,
-optimize: std.builtin.OptimizeMode,
-nw_mod: *std.Build.Module,
-gltf2ozz: ozz.GltfToOzz,
-options: *std.Build.Step.Options,
-cookShaders: bool,
-
-backlogRoot: []const u8,
-// list of all shaders discovered under
-// content/_shaders/def
-reflectShaderPathList: [][]u8 = undefined,
-
-staticBuild: bool = false,
-
-nwdep: *std.Build.Dependency,
-apigen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
-shaderEmbedGen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
-loadDynamicsGen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
-rcGen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
-generatedApis: std.StringHashMapUnmanaged(*std.Build.Module) = .{},
-
-const engineDepList = [_][]const u8{
-    "assets",
-    "audio",
-    "core",
-    "net",
-    "papyrus",
-    "platform",
-    "rend",
-    "ui",
-    "imgui",
-    "physics",
-    "sys",
-};
-
-const BuildSystem = @This();
-const std = @import("std");
-const Build = std.Build;
-const LazyPath = Build.LazyPath;
-
-const ozz = @import("ozz");
-
-pub const InitOptions = struct {
-    import_name: []const u8 = "Backlog",
-    backlogRoot: []const u8 = "./BacklogEngine",
-    staticBuild: bool = false,
-    target: Build.ResolvedTarget,
-    optimize: std.builtin.OptimizeMode,
-};
-
-pub fn init(b: *std.Build, opts: InitOptions) BuildSystem {
-    var buildOpts = declareBuildOptions(b);
-
-    if (opts.target.result.os.tag == .linux) {
-        // using a static build for linux... object loading hell is not fun
-        std.debug.print("Important! only supporting static builds for linux", .{});
-        buildOpts.static_build = true;
-    }
-
-    const nwdep = b.dependency(opts.import_name, .{
-        .target = opts.target,
-        .optimize = opts.optimize,
-        .static_build = buildOpts.static_build,
-    });
-
-    var self = BuildSystem{
-        .b = b,
-        .nw_builder = nwdep.builder,
-        .target = opts.target,
-        .optimize = opts.optimize,
-        .nw_mod = nwdep.module("Backlog"),
-        .backlogRoot = opts.backlogRoot,
-        .options = createGameOptions(b, buildOpts),
-        .gltf2ozz = ozz.GltfToOzz.init(nwdep.builder, .{}),
-        .cookShaders = b.option(bool, "cookShaders", "generates shaders and updates .json files before running the build. (needs to be done whenever shaders are updated, this just runs tools/scripts/cook-shaders.py)") orelse false,
-
-        .staticBuild = buildOpts.static_build,
-        .nwdep = nwdep,
-        .apigen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-apigen"),
-        .loadDynamicsGen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-generate-loadDynamics"),
-        .rcGen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-generate-rc"),
-        .shaderEmbedGen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-shaderEmbedGen"),
-    };
-
-    const exeList = [1]*std.Build.Step.Compile{self.gltf2ozz.exe};
-    const install_tools = b.step("tools", "installs tools needed to generate outputs for the engine");
-    for (exeList) |exe| {
-        const toolsInstall = b.addInstallArtifact(exe, .{
-            .dest_dir = .{ .override = .{ .custom = "tools" } },
-        });
-
-        install_tools.dependOn(&toolsInstall.step);
-    }
-
-    {
-        const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(self.gltf2ozz.exe);
-        if (b.args) |args| {
-            runArtifact.addArgs(args);
-        }
-
-        const run_exe = b.step("gltf2ozz", "runs the gltf animation converter.");
-        run_exe.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
-    }
-
-    self.addDependencyInstalls(self.b, .ReleaseFast);
-
-    return self;
-}
-
-pub const AddProgramOptions = struct {
-    name: []const u8,
-    desc: []const u8,
-    root_source_file: LazyPath,
-    imports: []const Build.Module.Import = &.{},
-};
-
-pub fn addProgram(self: *BuildSystem, opts: AddProgramOptions) *std.Build.Module {
-    const b = self.b;
-
-    const exe = self.nw_builder.addExecutable(.{
-        .name = opts.name,
-        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = self.target,
-            .optimize = self.optimize,
-            .root_source_file = self.nw_builder.path("engine/main.zig"),
-        }),
-    });
-
-    b.installArtifact(exe);
-    const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(exe);
-    if (b.args) |args| {
-        runArtifact.addArgs(args);
-    }
-    const run_exe = b.step(self.b.fmt("run-{s}", .{opts.name}), opts.desc);
-    run_exe.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
-
-    // main path = name/main.zig
-    const mod = b.addModule(opts.name, .{
-        .target = self.target,
-        .optimize = self.optimize,
-        .root_source_file = opts.root_source_file,
-        .imports = opts.imports,
-    });
-
-    exe.root_module.addImport("main", mod);
-    // todo.. remove this one and see what happens
-    exe.root_module.addImport("core", self.nwdep.module("core"));
-    // mod.addImport("Backlog", self.nw_mod);
-    exe.root_module.addOptions("BacklogOptions", self.options);
-
-    if (self.cookShaders) {
-        const cookShadersScript = b.fmt("{s}/tools/scripts/cookShaders.py", .{self.backlogRoot});
-        const cookShadersCommand = b.addSystemCommand(&[_][]const u8{"python"});
-        cookShadersCommand.addArg(cookShadersScript);
-
-        run_exe.dependOn(&cookShadersCommand.step);
-    }
-
-    b.getInstallStep().dependOn(self.nw_builder.getInstallStep());
-
-    // run_exe.dependOn(b.getInstallStep());
-
-    return mod;
-}
-
-pub const BuildOptions = struct {
-    mutex_job_queue: bool,
-    static_build: bool,
-    zero_logging: bool,
-    slow_logging: bool,
-    force_mailbox: bool,
-};
-
-pub fn declareBuildOptions(b: *std.Build) BuildOptions {
-    return .{
-        .mutex_job_queue = b.option(bool, "mutex_job_queue", "temporary test, reverts to old mutex based queue behaviour in jobs.zig:JobManager") orelse false,
-        .static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds the entire game as a single executable") orelse false,
-        .zero_logging = b.option(bool, "zero_logging", "disables all logging, only intended for use on job dispatch testing") orelse false,
-        .slow_logging = b.option(bool, "slow_logging", "Disables buffered logging, takes a hit to performance but gain timing information on logging") orelse false,
-        .force_mailbox = b.option(bool, "force_mailbox", "forces mailbox mode for present mode. unlocks framerate to irresponsible levels") orelse false,
-    };
-}
-
-pub fn createGameOptions(b: *std.Build, options: BuildOptions) *std.Build.Step.Options {
-    const opts = b.addOptions();
-
-    inline for (@typeInfo(BuildOptions).@"struct".fields) |field| {
-        opts.addOption(bool, field.name, @field(options, field.name));
-    }
-
-    // build options for core.zig
-    // opts.addOption(
-    //     bool,
-    //     "mutex_job_queue",
-    // );
-
-    // opts.addOption(
-    //     bool,
-    //     "static_build",
-    // );
-
-    // opts.addOption(
-    //     bool,
-    //     "zero_logging",
-    // );
-    // opts.addOption(
-    //     bool,
-    //     "slow_logging",
-    // );
-    // opts.addOption(
-    //     bool,
-    //     "force_mailbox",
-    // );
-
-    return opts;
-}
-
-pub fn addExtraModule(self: *BuildSystem, mod: *std.Build.Module, moduleName: []const u8) void {
-    const dep = self.b.dependency(moduleName, .{ .target = self.target, .optimize = self.optimize, .static_build = self.staticBuild });
-    mod.addImport(moduleName, dep.module(moduleName));
-}
-
-pub fn addDependencyInstalls(self: *BuildSystem, b: *std.Build, optimize: std.builtin.OptimizeMode) void {
-    //if (self.staticBuild) {
-    //return;
-    // }
-
-    inline for (DynamicDepList) |d| {
-        b.installArtifact(b.dependency(
-            d.dep,
-            .{ .target = self.target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = self.staticBuild },
-        ).artifact(d.artifact));
-    }
-
-    // b.installArtifact(b.dependency(
-    //     "sdl3",
-    //     .{ .target = self.target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = self.staticBuild },
-    // ).artifact("SDL3"));
-}
-
-const DynamicDepList: []const struct { dep: []const u8, artifact: []const u8 } = &.{
-    .{ .dep = "sdl3", .artifact = "SDL3" },
-    .{ .dep = "spng", .artifact = "spng_c" },
-    .{ .dep = "lua", .artifact = "luac" },
-    .{ .dep = "miniaudio", .artifact = "miniaudio_c" },
-    .{ .dep = "zphysics", .artifact = "joltc" },
-    // .{ .dep = "enet", .artifact = "enet_c" },
-    .{ .dep = "ozz", .artifact = "ozz_cpp" },
-};
-
-// all other modules are disabled by default
-pub const defaultEnabledModules: []const []const u8 = &.{
-    "core",
-    "assets",
-    "platform",
-    "rend",
-};
-
-pub const moduleOrder: []const []const u8 = &.{
-    "core",
-    "sys",
-    "assets",
-    "platform",
-    "net",
-    "physics",
-    "audio",
-    "rend",
-    "ui",
-    "imgui",
-    "papyrus",
-};
-
-pub const DynamicModule = struct {
-    name: []const u8,
-    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
-    buildSystem: *BuildSystem,
-    programName: []const u8,
-    opts: AddProgramOptions,
-
-    extras: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
-    gameModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
-
-    library: ?*std.Build.Step.Compile = null,
-
-    pub fn addExtraModule(self: *@This(), module: []const u8) void {
-        self.extras.append(self.allocator, .{ .name = module, .enabled = true }) catch @panic("out of memory");
-    }
-
-    pub fn init(name: []const u8, p: *Program) *@This() {
-        var self: *@This() = p.allocator.create(@This()) catch @panic("out of memory");
-
-        self.* = .{
-            .opts = p.opts,
-            .programName = p.opts.name,
-            .buildSystem = p.buildSystem,
-            .allocator = p.allocator,
-            .name = name,
-        };
-
-        for (p.gameModules.items) |module| {
-            self.gameModules.append(self.allocator, module) catch @panic("out of memory");
-        }
-
-        for (p.extras.items) |module| {
-            self.extras.append(self.allocator, module) catch @panic("out of memory");
-        }
-
-        return self;
-    }
-
-    pub fn compileInstall(self: *@This()) *std.Build.Step.Compile {
-        if (self.library) |lib| {
-            return lib;
-        }
-
-        const b = self.buildSystem.b;
-        const static = self.buildSystem.staticBuild;
-        const lib = b.addLibrary(.{
-            .name = self.name,
-            .linkage = if (static) .static else .dynamic,
-            .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-                .root_source_file = self.opts.root_source_file,
-                .link_libc = true,
-                .optimize = self.buildSystem.optimize,
-                .target = self.buildSystem.target,
-            }),
-        });
-
-        const allocator = self.buildSystem.b.allocator;
-
-        var modlist = std.ArrayList([]const u8){};
-
-        for (self.gameModules.items) |mod| {
-            if (mod.enabled) {
-                modlist.append(allocator, mod.name) catch @panic("out of memory");
-            }
-        }
-
-        for (self.extras.items) |extra| {
-            self.buildSystem.addExtraModule(lib.root_module, extra.name);
-        }
-
-        lib.root_module.addImport("backlog", self.buildSystem.generateApi(self.name, modlist.items, null));
-        lib.root_module.addOptions("BacklogOptions", self.buildSystem.options);
-
-        if (static) {
-            // generateApi should create static callers for the main program
-        } else {
-            const installExtern = b.addInstallArtifact(lib, .{
-                .dest_dir = .{ .override = .{ .custom = "modules" } },
-            });
-            b.getInstallStep().dependOn(&installExtern.step);
-        }
-
-        return lib;
-    }
-};
-
-pub const GameModule = struct {
-    name: []const u8,
-    enabled: bool = true,
-};
-
-pub const Program = struct {
-    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
-    opts: AddProgramOptions,
-    gameModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
-    extras: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
-    dynamicModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(*DynamicModule) = .{},
-    buildSystem: *BuildSystem,
-
-    iconPath: ?std.Build.LazyPath = null,
-
-    pub fn setIconPath(self: *@This(), path: []const u8) void {
-        if (self.iconPath != null) {
-            return;
-        }
-
-        self.iconPath = self.buildSystem.generateRc(self.opts.name, path) catch return;
-    }
-
-    pub fn setModuleEnabled(self: *@This(), module: []const u8, enable: bool) void {
-        for (self.gameModules.items) |*m| {
-            if (std.mem.eql(u8, m.name, module)) {
-                m.enabled = enable;
-                return;
-            }
-        }
-
-        // module not found, add it here.
-        self.gameModules.append(self.allocator, .{ .name = module, .enabled = enable }) catch @panic("out of memory");
-    }
-
-    pub fn addExtraModule(self: *@This(), module: []const u8) void {
-        self.extras.append(self.allocator, .{ .name = module, .enabled = true }) catch @panic("out of memory");
-    }
-
-    pub fn addDynamicModule(self: *@This(), module: []const u8, root_source_file: std.Build.LazyPath) *DynamicModule {
-        const dynamicModule = DynamicModule.init(module, self);
-        dynamicModule.opts.root_source_file = root_source_file;
-        self.dynamicModules.append(self.allocator, dynamicModule) catch @panic("out of memory");
-
-        return dynamicModule;
-    }
-
-    pub fn compileInstall(self: *@This()) *std.Build.Module {
-        const exe = self.buildSystem.addProgram(self.opts);
-        const allocator = self.buildSystem.b.allocator;
-
-        var modlist = std.ArrayList([]const u8){};
-
-        for (self.gameModules.items) |mod| {
-            if (mod.enabled) {
-                modlist.append(allocator, mod.name) catch @panic("out of memory");
-            }
-        }
-
-        for (self.extras.items) |extra| {
-            self.buildSystem.addExtraModule(exe, extra.name);
-        }
-
-        exe.addImport("backlog", self.buildSystem.generateApi(self.opts.name, modlist.items, self.dynamicModules.items));
-
-        if (self.buildSystem.target.result.os.tag == .windows) {
-            if (self.iconPath) |ip| {
-                exe.addWin32ResourceFile(.{
-                    .file = ip,
-                    .flags = &.{},
-                });
-            }
-        }
-
-        return exe;
-    }
-};
-
-pub fn program(self: *BuildSystem, opts: AddProgramOptions) *Program {
-    const prog = self.b.allocator.create(Program) catch unreachable;
-
-    prog.* = .{
-        .allocator = self.b.allocator,
-        .opts = opts,
-        .buildSystem = self,
-    };
-
-    for (moduleOrder) |module| {
-        prog.setModuleEnabled(module, false);
-    }
-
-    for (defaultEnabledModules) |module| {
-        prog.setModuleEnabled(module, true);
-    }
-
-    return prog;
-}
-
-// ========= standalone build instance =======
-// maybe the default should be like an engine launcher/project launcher or something
-pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
-    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
-    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
-    const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
-
-    const fwdGeneratorExe = b.addExecutable(.{
-        .name = "backlog-generate-fwd",
-        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = b.graph.host,
-            .optimize = .Debug,
-            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateFwd.zig"),
-        }),
-    });
-
-    const generateExe = b.addExecutable(.{
-        .name = "backlog-apigen",
-        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = b.graph.host,
-            .optimize = .Debug,
-            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateApi.zig"),
-        }),
-    });
-
-    const generateShaders = b.addExecutable(.{
-        .name = "backlog-shaderEmbedGen",
-        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = b.graph.host,
-            .optimize = .Debug,
-            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateEmbeddedShaders.zig"),
-        }),
-    });
-
-    const generateRcExe = b.addExecutable(.{
-        .name = "backlog-generate-rc",
-        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = b.graph.host,
-            .optimize = .Debug,
-            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateRc.zig"),
-        }),
-    });
-
-    const generateLoadDynamicsExe = b.addExecutable(.{
-        .name = "backlog-generate-loadDynamics",
-        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = b.graph.host,
-            .optimize = .Debug,
-            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateLoadDynamics.zig"),
-        }),
-    });
-
-    b.installArtifact(generateLoadDynamicsExe);
-    b.installArtifact(generateExe);
-    b.installArtifact(generateShaders);
-    b.installArtifact(generateRcExe);
-
-    {
-        const loadDynamicsStub = b.addModule("loadDynamicsStub", .{
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
-            .root_source_file = b.path("engine/loadDynamicsStub.zig"),
-        });
-
-        _ = loadDynamicsStub;
-
-        const mod = b.addModule("Backlog", .{
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
-            .root_source_file = b.path("engine/backlog.zig"),
-        });
-
-        for (engineDepList) |depName| {
-            const dep = b.dependency(
-                depName,
-                .{
-                    .target = target,
-                    .optimize = optimize,
-                    .static_build = static_build,
-                },
-            );
-
-            const run = b.addRunArtifact(fwdGeneratorExe);
-            const output = run.addOutputFileArg(b.fmt("{s}_fwd.zig", .{depName}));
-
-            const modFwd = b.addModule(depName, .{
-                .target = target,
-                .optimize = optimize,
-                .root_source_file = output,
-            });
-
-            mod.addImport(b.fmt("{s}", .{depName}), modFwd);
-            modFwd.addImport("module", dep.module(depName));
-
-            // mod.addImport(depName, dep.module(depName));
-        }
-
-        // link in large platform support functions... special case.
-        {
-            const dep = b.dependency("sdl3", .{
-                .target = target,
-                .optimize = optimize,
-                .static_build = static_build,
-            });
-            const lib = dep.module("SDL3");
-
-            mod.addImport("sdl3_fwd", lib);
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-pub fn generateApi(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, moduleList: []const []const u8, dynamicModules: ?[]const *DynamicModule) *std.Build.Module {
-    // std.debug.print("GENERATE API:: {s}\n", .{programName});
-
-    for (moduleList) |mod| {
-        _ = mod;
-        // std.debug.print("{s}\n", .{mod});
-    }
-    //
-    if (self.generatedApis.get(programName)) |m| {
-        return m;
-    }
-
-    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.apigen);
-    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}Api.zig", .{programName});
-    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
-    for (moduleList) |modName| {
-        run.addArg(modName);
-    }
-
-    const mod = self.b.addModule(pfile, .{
-        .target = self.target,
-        .optimize = self.optimize,
-        .root_source_file = output,
-    });
-    for (moduleList) |modName| {
-        mod.addImport(modName, self.nwdep.module(modName));
-    }
-
-    const loadStatics = self.generateInstallStaticResources(programName, "content/_shaders") catch unreachable;
-    mod.addImport("staticShaderLoader", loadStatics);
-
-    // deal with dynamics
-    if (dynamicModules) |dynamics| {
-        const loadDynamics = self.generateLoadDynamics(programName, dynamics) catch @panic("unknown");
-        mod.addImport("loadDynamics", loadDynamics);
-    } else {
-        mod.addImport("loadDynamics", self.nwdep.module("loadDynamicsStub"));
-    }
-
-    self.generatedApis.put(self.b.allocator, programName, mod) catch @panic("out of memory");
-
-    return mod;
-}
-
-pub fn generateRc(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, iconPath: []const u8) !std.Build.LazyPath {
-    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.rcGen);
-    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}.rc", .{programName});
-    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
-    run.addArg(iconPath);
-
-    return output;
-}
-
-pub fn generateLoadDynamics(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, dynamics: []const *DynamicModule) !*std.Build.Module {
-    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.loadDynamicsGen);
-    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}LoadDynamics.zig", .{programName});
-    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
-    if (self.staticBuild) {
-        run.addArg("static");
-    } else {
-        run.addArg("dynamic");
-    }
-
-    for (dynamics) |dyn| {
-        run.addArg(dyn.name);
-    }
-
-    const mod = self.b.addModule(pfile, .{
-        .target = self.target,
-        .optimize = self.optimize,
-        .root_source_file = output,
-    });
-
-    mod.addImport("core", self.nwdep.module("core"));
-    for (dynamics) |dyn| {
-        const dynmod = dyn.compileInstall();
-        mod.addImport(dyn.name, dynmod.root_module);
-    }
-
-    return mod;
-}
-
-pub fn generateInstallStaticResources(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, shadersPath: []const u8) !*std.Build.Module {
-    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.shaderEmbedGen);
-    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}ShaderGen.zig", .{programName});
-    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
-    run.addArg(shadersPath);
-
-    const b = self.b;
-    const mod = self.b.addModule(pfile, .{
-        .target = self.target,
-        .optimize = self.optimize,
-        .root_source_file = output,
-    });
-    mod.addImport("core", self.nwdep.module("core"));
-
-    var dir = try std.fs.cwd().openDir("content/_shaders", .{ .iterate = true });
-    defer dir.close();
-
-    var walker = dir.iterate();
-    while (try walker.next()) |shaderType| {
-        if (shaderType.kind == .directory) {
-            var d2 = try dir.openDir(shaderType.name, .{ .iterate = true });
-            defer d2.close();
-            var w2 = d2.iterate();
-            while (try w2.next()) |shaderName| {
-                const shaderPath = b.fmt("content/_shaders/{s}/{s}", .{ shaderType.name, shaderName.name });
-                mod.addAnonymousImport(shaderName.name, .{
-                    .root_source_file = b.path(shaderPath),
-                });
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    return mod;
-}
diff --git a/engine/main2.zig b/engine/main2.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..faa6bcc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/engine/main2.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+const core = @import("core").module;
+const panickers = core.panickers;
+
+const realMain = @import("main");
+
+pub const options = @import("BacklogOptions");
+
+pub const std_options = std.Options{
+    .enable_segfault_handler = false,
+};
+
+//pub const build_options = @import("build_options");
+//pub const tracy_enabled = build_options.tracy_enabled;
+
+// pub fn panic(msg: []const u8, error_return_trace: ?*std.builtin.StackTrace, x: ?usize) noreturn {
+//     core.forceFlush();
+//     core.script.lua.takeDump();
+//     std.debug.defaultPanic(error_return_trace, x, msg);
+// }
+
+fn fileExists(path: []const u8) bool {
+    std.fs.cwd().access(path, .{}) catch return false;
+    return true;
+}
+
+pub fn main() !void {
+    if (!core.BuildOption("RootDeploymentOnly")) {
+        // if we don't see a content/ folder or a
+        // content.pak file in the current directory,
+        // walk up the directory tree until we see one, then change dirs to that before doing anything else
+
+        var iterations: u32 = 0;
+        var BUFFER: [8192]u8 = undefined;
+
+        while (iterations < 8) : (iterations += 1) {
+            if (fileExists("content") or fileExists("content.pak")) {
+                break;
+            }
+
+            var dir = try std.fs.cwd().openDir("..", .{});
+            defer dir.close();
+            core.engine_log("content not found scanning dir {s}", .{try dir.realpath(".", &BUFFER)});
+            try dir.setAsCwd();
+        }
+        core.engine_log("Working Dir set: {s}", .{try std.fs.cwd().realpath(".", &BUFFER)});
+    }
+
+    // panickers.attachSegfaultHandler();
+    try realMain.main();
+}
diff --git a/projects/headless/main.zig b/projects/archive/headless/main.zig
similarity index 100%
rename from projects/headless/main.zig
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similarity index 100%
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similarity index 100%
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similarity index 100%
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similarity index 100%
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diff --git a/projects/build.zig b/projects/build.zig
index d51bfd3..bfd8987 100644
--- a/projects/build.zig
+++ b/projects/build.zig
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
 
     const sampleGame = blbuild.program(.{
         .name = "sampleGame",
-        .desc = "sdl3 project sample",
-        .root_source_file = b.path("sampleGame/main.zig"),
+        .desc = "sample game with hot reloading",
+        .root_source_file = b.path("sampleGame/sampleGame.zig"),
     });
 
     sampleGame.setModuleEnabled("imgui", true);
@@ -23,68 +23,14 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     sampleGame.setModuleEnabled("ui", true);
     sampleGame.setModuleEnabled("sys", true);
     sampleGame.setModuleEnabled("net", true);
+
     sampleGame.addExtraModule("gameExtras");
     sampleGame.addExtraModule("videoplayer");
     sampleGame.addExtraModule("doomplayer");
     sampleGame.addExtraModule("bsp");
 
-    { // extern game
-        const externGame = sampleGame.addDynamicModule("externGame", b.path("sampleGame/externGame/externGame.zig"));
-
-        _ = externGame.compileInstall();
-    }
     sampleGame.setIconPath("icons/icon.ico");
+
     const sampleGameExe = sampleGame.compileInstall();
     _ = sampleGameExe;
-
-    // tools
-
-    const newProjectMaker = blbuild.program(.{
-        .name = "newProject",
-        .desc = "new project maker",
-        .root_source_file = b.path("tools/newProjectMaker.zig"),
-    });
-
-    newProjectMaker.setModuleEnabled("imgui", true);
-    newProjectMaker.setModuleEnabled("audio", false);
-    newProjectMaker.setModuleEnabled("sys", true);
-    newProjectMaker.setIconPath("icons/NewProject.ico");
-    _ = newProjectMaker.compileInstall();
-
-    const toolbox = blbuild.program(.{
-        .name = "toolbox",
-        .desc = "graphical toolbox for random stuff",
-        .root_source_file = b.path("tools/toolbox.zig"),
-    });
-
-    toolbox.setModuleEnabled("imgui", true);
-    toolbox.setModuleEnabled("audio", false);
-    toolbox.setModuleEnabled("sys", true);
-    toolbox.setModuleEnabled("net", false);
-    toolbox.addExtraModule("gameExtras");
-
-    const toolboxExe = toolbox.compileInstall();
-    // Add Windows icon resource for toolbox
-    if (target.result.os.tag == .windows) {
-        toolboxExe.addWin32ResourceFile(.{
-            .file = b.path("tools/toolbox.rc"),
-            .flags = &.{},
-        });
-    }
-
-    const headless = blbuild.program(.{
-        .name = "headless",
-        .desc = "headless program, core-only",
-        .root_source_file = b.path("headless/main.zig"),
-    });
-
-    headless.setModuleEnabled("assets", false);
-    headless.setModuleEnabled("platform", false);
-    headless.setModuleEnabled("audio", false);
-    headless.setModuleEnabled("net", false);
-    headless.setModuleEnabled("rend", false);
-
-    _ = headless.compileInstall();
-
-    blbuild.addDependencyInstalls(b, .ReleaseFast); //.ReleaseFast);
 }
diff --git a/projects/sampleGame/sampleGame.zig b/projects/sampleGame/sampleGame.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..07d2707
--- /dev/null
+++ b/projects/sampleGame/sampleGame.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+pub var NeonObjectTable: core.EngineObjectVTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This(), "SampleGame");
+
+allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
+
+pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
+    const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+    self.* = .{};
+    return self;
+}
+
+// called after the object has been reloaded
+pub fn objectReload(self: *@This()) !void {
+    _ = self;
+}
+
+pub fn tick(self: *@This(), dt: f64) void {
+    _ = self;
+    _ = dt;
+}
+
+pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
+    self.allocator.destroy(self);
+}
+
+pub fn start_module(args: core.ModuleLoaderArgs) !void {}
+
+pub fn shutdown_module() void {}
+
+const std = @import("std");
+const backlog = @import("backlog");
+const core = backlog.core;
diff --git a/todo.txt b/todo.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7b4458d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/todo.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+how the fuck do i do this
+
+1. change it so that the core executable only links core
+
+actual issues we need to fix.