diff --git a/dist/index.html b/dist/index.html
index e61f3ba..4a67454 100644
--- a/dist/index.html
+++ b/dist/index.html
@@ -12,19 +12,10 @@
     JS app lol
     </div>
   </noscript>
-  <div id="map"></div>
-  
   <div id="err_wrapper" style='display:none'><button id="err_close" onclick="closeErr()">x</button><div id="err_div"></div></div>
-  
-  <nav>
-    <ul>
-      <li><a href="#" onclick="showSettings()">settings</a></li>
-    </ul>
+  <nav id="tabbar_injectparent">
   </nav>
-  <main>
-    <button id="connectbtn" onclick="connect()">Connect</button>
-    <div id="tabbar"></div>
-    <div id="tabcontent"></div>
+  <main id="mainarea_injectparent">
   </main>
 </body>
 <script src="./main.js" type="application/javascript"></script>
diff --git a/dist/style.css b/dist/style.css
index 7b75e12..788ec29 100644
--- a/dist/style.css
+++ b/dist/style.css
@@ -42,4 +42,26 @@ input {
 
 .err {
   color: var(--err_color);
+}
+
+nav ul li {
+  display: inline;
+  padding: 0.5em;
+}
+
+nav {
+  padding: 1em;
+}
+
+nav ul li a {
+  text-decoration: none;
+  border-bottom: solid 1px var(--bg_color);
+}
+
+.tabbar_current {
+  border-bottom: solid 1px var(--main_color);
+}
+
+main {
+  padding: 2em;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ts/adapter.ts b/ts/adapter.ts
index 7fa1d70..2055854 100644
--- a/ts/adapter.ts
+++ b/ts/adapter.ts
@@ -1,14 +1,15 @@
 import {Message, Author} from "./message"
 export class AdapterData {
   public protocol: string;
-  public directMessages Map<string, Message>();
-  public messages: Map<string, Message>();
+  public directMessages: Map<string, Message>;
+  public messages: Map<string, Message>;
   public profileCache: Map<string, Author>;
   
   constructor(protocol: string) {
     this.protocol = protocol;
-    this.messages = [];
-    this.profileCache = [];
+    this.messages = new Map<string, Message>();
+    this.directMessages = new Map<string, Message>();
+    this.profileCache = new Map<string, Author>();
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/ts/index.ts b/ts/index.ts
index 97433a9..81e4c14 100644
--- a/ts/index.ts
+++ b/ts/index.ts
@@ -1,29 +1,31 @@
-import {Adapter} from "./adapter";
-import {Message, Attachment} from "./message"
+import {AdapterState, AdapterData} from "./adapter";
+import {Message, Attachment, Author} from "./message"
 import util from "./util"
+import { TabBarElement } from "./tabbar-element"
+import { MessageElement } from "./message-element"
+import { SettingsElement } from "./settings-element"
 
 var $ = util.$
 var _ = util._
 
-function main():void  {
+function main()  {
   const settings = _("settings", JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem("settings") ?? "{}"));
-  const adapters = _("adapters", []);
   
-  if (settings != null) {
-    for (let s of settings.adapters ?? []) {
-    
-    }
-    if (adapters.length > 0) {
-      _("currentAdapter", adapters[0].nickname);
-      // update tabbar and tabcontent with first adapter
-    }
-  } else {
-    console.log("no settings exist for this client");
-    _("settings", { adapters: [] });
-    showSettings();
-  }
+  customElements.define("underbbs-tabbar", TabBarElement);
+  customElements.define("underbbs-message", MessageElement);
+  customElements.define("underbbs-settings", SettingsElement);
+
+  tabbarInit(settings.adapters?.map((a:any)=>a.nickname) ?? []);
+  
   registerServiceWorker();
-};
+}
+
+function tabbarInit(adapters: string[]) {
+  const nav = $("tabbar_injectparent");
+  if (nav) {
+    nav.innerHTML = `<underbbs-tabbar data-adapters="${adapters.join(",")}" data-currentadapter=""></underbbs-tabbar>`;
+  }
+}
 
 async function registerServiceWorker() {
   if ("serviceWorker" in navigator) {
@@ -44,207 +46,6 @@ async function registerServiceWorker() {
     const registration = await navigator.serviceWorker.ready;
     (registration as any).sync.register("testdata").then((r:any)=>{console.log("but i will see this!")});
   }
-};
-
-
-function showSettings():void {
-  // tab bar hidden
-  const tabbar = $("tabbar");
-  if (tabbar) {
-  tabbar.style.display = "none";
-  }
-  
-  // tabcontent to show settings ui
-  const tabcontent = $("tabcontent");
-  const adapters = _("adapters") as Adapter[] ?? [];
-  
-  if (tabcontent) {
-    let html = "<p>this is our settings dialogue</p>";
-    html += "<button onclick='addAdapter()'>New</button>";
-    html += adapters.reduce((self: string, a: Adapter) => {
-      self += `<li><a href='#' onclick='editAdapter(${a.nickname})'>${a.nickname}</a></li>`
-      return self;
-    }, "<ul id='settings_adapterlist'>");
-    html += "</ul>";
-    html += "<button onclick='saveSettings()'>save</button>";
-    tabcontent.innerHTML = html;
-  }
 }
 
-function addAdapter(): void {
-  const tabcontent = $("tabcontent");
-  if (tabcontent) {
-    // dropdown for protocol
-    let html = "<select id='settings_newadapter_protocolselect' onchange='fillAdapterProtocolOptions()'>";
-    html += [ "nostr", "mastodon", "misskey" ].reduce((self, p)=>{
-      self += `<option value='${p}'>${p}</option>`;
-      return self;
-    }, "");
-    html += "</select>";
-    
-    // nostr is the first protocol, so show its options by default
-    html += "<div id='settings_newadapter_protocoloptions'>";
-    html += "  <label>nickname<input id='settings_newadapter_nickname'/></label>";
-    html += "  <label>privkey<input id='settings_newadapter_nostr_privkey'/></label>";
-    html += "  <label>default relays<input id='settings_newadapter_nostr_default_relays'/></label>";
-    html += "</div>";
-    
-    html += "<button onclick='saveAdapter()'>Add</button>";
-    html += "<button onclick='showSettings()'>Back</button>";
-  
-    tabcontent.innerHTML = html;
-  }
-}
-
-function fillAdapterProtocolOptions(): void {
-  const proto = $("settings_newadapter_protocolselect") as HTMLSelectElement;
-  
-  let html = "";
-  
-  switch(proto?.options[proto.selectedIndex].value) {
-    case "nostr":
-      html += "  <label>nickname<input id='settings_newadapter_nickname'/></label>";
-      html += "  <label>privkey<input id='settings_newadapter_nostr_privkey'/></label>";
-      html += "  <label>default relays<input id='settings_newadapter_nostr_default_relays'/></label>";
-      break;
-    case "mastodon":
-    case "misskey":
-      html += "  <label>nickname<input id='settings_newadapter_nickname'/></label>";
-      html += "  <label>server<input id='settings_newadapter_masto_server'/></label>";
-      html += "  <label>API key<input id='settings_newadapter_masto_apikey'/></label>";
-      break;
-  }
-  
-  
-  const div = $("settings_newadapter_protocoloptions");
-  if (div) {
-    div.innerHTML = html;
-  }
-}
-
-function saveSettings(): void {
-  const settings = _("settings");
-  if (settings) {
-    localStorage.setItem("settings", JSON.stringify(settings));
-  }
-  // tab bar hidden
-  const tabbar = $("tabbar");
-  if (tabbar) {
-    tabbar.style.display = "block";
-  }
-  
-  // tabcontent to show settings ui
-  const tabcontent = $("tabcontent");
-  if (tabcontent) {
-    tabcontent.innerHTML = "";
-  }
-}
-
-function saveAdapter(): void {
-  let self: any = {};
-  // get selected adapter protocol
-  const proto = $("settings_newadapter_protocolselect") as HTMLSelectElement;
-  console.log(proto.options[proto.selectedIndex]);
-  
-  
-  const nickname = ($("settings_newadapter_nickname") as HTMLInputElement)?.value ?? "" ;
-  
-  // switch protocol
-  switch (proto.options[proto.selectedIndex].value) {
-    case "nostr":
-        const privkey = ($("settings_newadapter_nostr_privkey") as HTMLInputElement)?.value ?? "";
-        const relays = ($("settings_newadapter_nostr_default_relays") as HTMLInputElement)?.value ?? "";
-        self = { nickname: nickname, protocol: "nostr", privkey: privkey, relays: relays.split(",").map(r=>r.trim()) };
-      break;
-    case "mastodon":
-    case "misskey":
-      const server = ($("settings_newadapter_masto_server") as HTMLInputElement)?.value ?? "";
-      const apiKey = ($("settings_newadapter_masto_apikey") as HTMLInputElement)?.value ?? "";
-      self = { nickname: nickname, protocol: proto.options[proto.selectedIndex].value, server: server, apiKey: apiKey };
-      break;
-  }
-  const settings = _("settings");
-  if (settings) {
-    if (!settings.adapters) {
-      settings.adapters = [];
-    }
-    settings.adapters.push(self);
-    
-    localStorage.setItem("settings", JSON.stringify(settings));
-    showSettings();
-  }
-}
-
-
-let _conn: WebSocket | null = null;
-
-async function authorizedFetch(method: string, uri: string, body: any): Promise<Response> {
-  const headers = new Headers()
-  headers.set('Authorization', 'Bearer ' + _("skey"))
-  return await fetch(uri, {
-    method: method,
-    headers: headers,
-    body: body,
-  })
-}
-
-function connect() {
-
-   var datastore: AdapterState = {}
-   datastore = _("datastore", datastore);
-
-    const wsProto = location.protocol == "https:" ? "wss" : "ws";
-    _conn = new WebSocket(`${wsProto}://${location.host}/subscribe`, "underbbs");
-    _conn.addEventListener("open", (e: any) => {
-      console.log("websocket connection opened");
-      console.log(JSON.stringify(e));
-    });
-    _conn.addEventListener("message", (e: any) => {
-    
-      // debugging
-      console.log(e)
-      
-      // now we'll figure out what to do with it
-      const data = JSON.parse(e.data);
-      if (data.key) {
-        _("skey", data.key)
-        authorizedFetch("POST", "/api/adapters", JSON.stringify(_("settings").adapters))
-      } else {
-        if (!datastore[data.adapter]) {
-          datastore[data.adapter] = new AdapterData(data.protocol);
-        }
-      
-        // typeswitch on the incoming data type and fill the memory
-        switch (data.type) {
-          case "message":
-            datastore[data.adapter].messages[data.id] = <Message>data;
-            break;
-          case "author":
-            datastore[data.adapter].profileCache[data.id] = <Author>data;
-            break;
-          default:
-            break;
-        }
-        // if the adapter is active, inject the web components
-        // FOR HOTFETCHED DATA:
-        // before fetching, we can set properties on the DOM, 
-        // so when those data return to us we know where to inject components!
-        if (_("currentAdapter") == data.adapter) {
-          // dive in and insert that shit in the dom
-        }
-      }
-    });
-    _conn.addEventListener("error", (e: any) => {
-      console.log("websocket connection error");
-      console.log(JSON.stringify(e));
-    });
-    _("websocket", _conn);
-}
-
-_("addAdapter", addAdapter);
-_("saveAdapter", saveAdapter);
-_("fillAdapterProtocolOptions", fillAdapterProtocolOptions);
-_("showSettings", showSettings);
-_("saveSettings", saveSettings);
-_("connect", connect);
 main();
diff --git a/ts/settings-element.ts b/ts/settings-element.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea6734d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ts/settings-element.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+import util from "./util"
+import websocket from "./websocket"
+
+var $ = util.$
+var _ = util._
+
+export class SettingsElement extends HTMLElement {
+  static observedAttributes = [ "data-adapters" ]
+  
+  private _adapters: string[] = [];
+  
+  constructor() {
+    super();
+  }
+  
+  connectedCallback() {
+    this.attributeChangedCallback();
+  }
+  
+  attributeChangedCallback() {
+    this._adapters = this.getAttribute("data-adapters")?.split(",") ?? [];
+    this.showSettings(this)();
+  }
+
+  showSettings(self: SettingsElement): ()=>void {
+    return ()=>{
+    let html = "";
+    html += "<button id='settings_adapter_create_btn'>New</button>";
+    html += self._adapters.reduce((self: string, a: string) => {
+      self += `<li><a id='settings_adapter_edit_${a}' href='#editadapter'>${a}</a></li>`
+      return self;
+    }, "<ul id='settings_adapterlist'>");
+    html += "</ul>";
+    html += "<button id='settings_save_btn'>save</button>";
+    self.innerHTML = html;
+    
+    let create = $("settings_adapter_create_btn");
+    if (create) {
+      create.addEventListener("click", self.showCreateAdapter(self), false);
+    }
+    for (let a of this._adapters) {
+      let edit = $(`settings_adapter_edit_${a}`);
+      if (edit) {
+        edit.addEventListener("click", self.showEditAdapterFunc(a, self), false);
+      }
+    }
+    let connect = $("settings_connect_btn");
+    if (connect) {
+      connect.addEventListener("click", websocket.connect, false);
+    }
+    }
+  }
+  
+  showCreateAdapter(self: SettingsElement): ()=>void {
+  return ()=>{
+    // dropdown for protocol
+    let html = "<select id='settings_newadapter_protocolselect'>";
+    html += [ "nostr", "mastodon", "misskey" ].reduce((self, p)=>{
+      self += `<option value='${p}'>${p}</option>`;
+      return self;
+    }, "");
+    html += "</select>";
+    
+    // nostr is the first protocol, so show its options by default
+    html += "<div id='settings_newadapter_protocoloptions'>";
+    html += "  <label>nickname<input id='settings_newadapter_nickname'/></label>";
+    html += "  <label>privkey<input id='settings_newadapter_nostr_privkey'/></label>";
+    html += "  <label>default relays<input id='settings_newadapter_nostr_default_relays'/></label>";
+    html += "</div>";
+    
+    html += "<button id='settings_adapter_create_save_btn'>add</button>";
+    html += "<button id='settings_adapter_create_back_btn'>back</button>";
+  
+    self.innerHTML = html;
+    
+    let protocolSelect = $("settings_newadapter_protocolselect");
+    if (protocolSelect) {
+      protocolSelect.addEventListener("change", self.fillAdapterProtocolOptions, false);
+    }
+    
+    let save = $("settings_adapter_create_save_btn");
+    if (save) {
+      save.addEventListener("click", self.saveAdapter(self), false);
+    }
+    
+    let back = $("settings_adapter_create_back_btn");
+    if (back) {
+      back.addEventListener("click", self.showSettings(self), false);
+    }
+    }
+  }
+  
+  saveAdapter(self: SettingsElement): ()=>void {
+    return ()=>{
+    let adapterdata: any = {};
+    // get selected adapter protocol
+    const proto = $("settings_newadapter_protocolselect") as HTMLSelectElement;
+    console.log(proto.options[proto.selectedIndex]);
+   
+    const nickname = ($("settings_newadapter_nickname") as HTMLInputElement)?.value ?? "" ;
+  
+    // switch protocol
+    switch (proto.options[proto.selectedIndex].value) {
+      case "nostr":
+        const privkey = ($("settings_newadapter_nostr_privkey") as HTMLInputElement)?.value ?? "";
+        const relays = ($("settings_newadapter_nostr_default_relays") as HTMLInputElement)?.value ?? "";
+        adapterdata = { nickname: nickname, protocol: "nostr", privkey: privkey, relays: relays.split(",").map(r=>r.trim()) };
+        break;
+      case "mastodon":
+      case "misskey":
+        const server = ($("settings_newadapter_masto_server") as HTMLInputElement)?.value ?? "";
+        const apiKey = ($("settings_newadapter_masto_apikey") as HTMLInputElement)?.value ?? "";
+        adapterdata = { nickname: nickname, protocol: proto.options[proto.selectedIndex].value, server: server, apiKey: apiKey };
+        break;
+    }
+    const settings = _("settings");
+    if (settings) {
+      if (!settings.adapters) {
+        settings.adapters = [];
+      }
+      settings.adapters.push(adapterdata);
+      self._adapters.push(adapterdata.nickname);
+      localStorage.setItem("settings", JSON.stringify(settings));
+      
+      self.setAttribute("adapters", self._adapters.join(","));
+    }
+    }
+  }
+  
+  fillAdapterProtocolOptions() { 
+    const proto = $("settings_newadapter_protocolselect") as HTMLSelectElement;
+  
+    let html = "";
+  
+    switch(proto?.options[proto.selectedIndex].value) {
+      case "nostr":
+        html += "  <label>nickname<input id='settings_newadapter_nickname'/></label>";
+        html += "  <label>privkey<input id='settings_newadapter_nostr_privkey'/></label>";
+        html += "  <label>default relays<input id='settings_newadapter_nostr_default_relays'/></label>";
+        break;
+      case "mastodon":
+      case "misskey":
+        html += "  <label>nickname<input id='settings_newadapter_nickname'/></label>";
+        html += "  <label>server<input id='settings_newadapter_masto_server'/></label>";
+        html += "  <label>API key<input id='settings_newadapter_masto_apikey'/></label>";
+        break;
+    }
+  
+    const div = $("settings_newadapter_protocoloptions");
+    if (div) {
+      div.innerHTML = html;
+    }
+  }
+
+  
+  showEditAdapterFunc(adapter: string, self: SettingsElement): ()=>void {
+    // this UI has to be able to edit an exiting adapter or delete it
+    return ()=>{};
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ts/tabbar-element.ts b/ts/tabbar-element.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ecfef2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ts/tabbar-element.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+import util from "./util"
+var _ = util._
+var $ = util.$
+
+export class TabBarElement extends HTMLElement {
+  static observedAttributes = [ "data-adapters", "data-currentadapter" ]
+  
+  private _adapters: string[] | null = null;
+  private _currentAdapter: string | null = null;
+  
+  constructor() {
+    super();
+  }
+  
+  connectedCallback() {
+    this.attributeChangedCallback();
+    
+    if (this._currentAdapter) {
+      this.showAdapterFunc(this, this._currentAdapter)();
+    } else {
+      this.showSettings(this)();
+    }
+  }
+  
+  attributeChangedCallback() {
+    let html = "<ul><li><a id='tabbar_settings' href='#settings'>settings</a></li>";
+    if (this.getAttribute("data-adapters") == "") {
+      this._adapters = [];
+    } else {
+      this._adapters = this.getAttribute("data-adapters")?.split(",") ?? [];
+    }
+    
+    this._currentAdapter = this.getAttribute("data-currentadapter");
+    if (this._currentAdapter == "") {
+      this._currentAdapter = null;
+    }
+    
+    html = this._adapters.reduce((self: string, a: string)=>{
+      self += `<li><a id="tabbar_${a}" href="#${a}">${a}</a></li>`;
+      return self;
+    }, html);
+    html += "</ul>";
+    
+    this.innerHTML = html;
+    // now we can query the child elements and add click handlers to them
+    var s = $("tabbar_settings");
+    if (s) {
+      s.addEventListener("click", this.showSettings(this), false);
+      if (!this._currentAdapter) {
+        s.classList.add("tabbar_current");
+      }
+    }
+    for (let i of this._adapters) {
+      var a = $(`tabbar_${i}`);
+      if (a) {
+        a.addEventListener("click", this.showAdapterFunc(this, i), false);
+        if (this._currentAdapter == i) {
+          a.classList.add("tabbar_current");
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+  }
+  
+  showSettings(self: TabBarElement): ()=>void {
+    return () => {
+      let x = $("mainarea_injectparent");
+      if (x) {
+        x.innerHTML = `<underbbs-settings data-adapters=${self._adapters?.join(",") ?? []}></underbbs-settings>`;
+        self.setAttribute("data-currentadapter", "");
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  
+  showAdapterFunc(self: TabBarElement, adapter: string): ()=>void {
+    return ()=>{
+      let x = $("mainarea_injectparent");
+      if (x) {
+        x.innerHTML = `<underbbs-adapter data-name="${adapter}"></underbbs-adapter>`;
+        self.setAttribute("data-currentadapter", adapter);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/ts/util.ts b/ts/util.ts
index cdb0818..cbe5f4c 100644
--- a/ts/util.ts
+++ b/ts/util.ts
@@ -11,4 +11,14 @@ function $(id: string): HTMLElement | null {
   return document.getElementById(id);
 }
 
-export default { _, $ }
\ No newline at end of file
+async function authorizedFetch(method: string, uri: string, body: any): Promise<Response> {
+  const headers = new Headers()
+  headers.set('Authorization', 'Bearer ' + _("skey"))
+  return await fetch(uri, {
+    method: method,
+    headers: headers,
+    body: body,
+  })
+}
+
+export default { _, $, authorizedFetch }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ts/websocket.ts b/ts/websocket.ts
index e69de29..b39cdc9 100644
--- a/ts/websocket.ts
+++ b/ts/websocket.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import util from "./util"
+import {AdapterState, AdapterData} from "./adapter";
+import {Message, Attachment, Author} from "./message"
+
+var $ = util.$
+var _ = util._
+
+function connect() {
+
+   var datastore: AdapterState = {}
+   datastore = _("datastore", datastore);
+
+    const wsProto = location.protocol == "https:" ? "wss" : "ws";
+    const _conn = new WebSocket(`${wsProto}://${location.host}/subscribe`, "underbbs");
+    _conn.addEventListener("open", (e: any) => {
+      console.log("websocket connection opened");
+      console.log(JSON.stringify(e));
+    });
+    _conn.addEventListener("message", (e: any) => {
+    
+      // debugging
+      console.log(e)
+      
+      // now we'll figure out what to do with it
+      const data = JSON.parse(e.data);
+      if (data.key) {
+        _("skey", data.key)
+        util.authorizedFetch("POST", "/api/adapters", JSON.stringify(_("settings").adapters))
+      } else {
+        if (!datastore[data.adapter]) {
+          datastore[data.adapter] = new AdapterData(data.protocol);
+        }
+      
+        // typeswitch on the incoming data type and fill the memory
+        switch (data.type) {
+          case "message":
+            datastore[data.adapter].messages.set(data.id, <Message>data);
+            break;
+          case "author":
+            datastore[data.adapter].profileCache.set(data.id, <Author>data);
+            break;
+          default:
+            break;
+        }
+        // if the adapter is active, inject the web components
+        // FOR HOTFETCHED DATA:
+        // before fetching, we can set properties on the DOM, 
+        // so when those data return to us we know where to inject components!
+        if (_("currentAdapter") == data.adapter) {
+          // dive in and insert that shit in the dom
+        }
+      }
+    });
+    _conn.addEventListener("error", (e: any) => {
+      console.log("websocket connection error");
+      console.log(JSON.stringify(e));
+    });
+    _("websocket", _conn);
+}
+
+export default { connect }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tsconfig.json b/tsconfig.json
index 1e49f55..743face 100644
--- a/tsconfig.json
+++ b/tsconfig.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "compilerOptions": {
-    "target": "es5",
+    "target": "es6",
     "lib": [ "es2022", "webworker", "dom" ],
     "skipLibCheck": true,
     "module": "preserve",