diff --git a/desk/lib/summarize.hoon b/desk/lib/summarize.hoon
index 782e7545..90773fb0 100644
--- a/desk/lib/summarize.hoon
+++ b/desk/lib/summarize.hoon
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ::  summarize: utilities for summarizing groups/chat state in various ways
 ::
-/-  chat, groups
+/-  c=channels, ct=chat, chat=chat-2, groups
 ::
 |_  [our=@p now=@da]
 ::  +range: period of time to summarize over
@@ -14,6 +14,48 @@
   [(scot %p our) term (scot %da now) spur]
 ::
 ++  summarize-activity
+  ?:  .^(? %gu (scry-path %channels /$))
+    summarize-activity-new-groups
+  summarize-activity-old-groups
+::
+++  summarize-activity-new-groups
+  ^-  $:  sent=@ud
+          received=@ud
+          most-sent-group=@t
+      ==
+  =-  :+  s  r
+      =/  g=flag:groups
+        =<  -
+        ::TODO  crashes if no groups
+        %+  snag  0
+        %+  sort  ~(tap by g)
+        |=([[* a=@ud] [* b=@ud]] (gth a b))
+      =<  title.meta
+      .^  group:groups
+        %gx
+        (scry-path %groups /groups/(scot %p p.g)/[q.g]/group)
+      ==
+  %+  roll
+    %~  tap  by
+    .^  channels:c
+      %gx
+      (scry-path %channels /channels/channels)
+    ==
+  |=  [[n=nest:c channel:c] g=(map flag:groups @ud) s=@ud r=@ud]
+  ?.  ?=(%chat kind.n)  [g s r]
+  =+  .^  paged-posts:c
+        %gx
+        %+  scry-path  %channels
+        /chat/(scot %p ship.n)/[name.n]/posts/newer/(scot %ud (sub now range))/(scot %ud limit)/outline/channel-posts
+      ==
+  :-  %+  ~(put by g)  group.perm
+      (add (~(gut by g) group.perm 0) (wyt:on-posts:c posts))
+  %+  roll  (tap:on-posts:c posts)
+  |=  [[id-post:c p=(unit post:c)] s=_s r=_r]
+  ?~  p  [s r]
+  ?:(=(our author.u.p) [+(s) r] [s +(r)])
+::
+++  summarize-activity-old-groups
   ^-  $:  sent=@ud
           received=@ud
           most-sent-group=@t
@@ -31,7 +73,7 @@
         (scry-path %groups /groups/(scot %p p.g)/[q.g]/group)
       ==
   %+  roll
-    %~  tap  in
+    %~  tap  by
     .^  (map flag:chat chat:chat)
       %gx
       (scry-path %chat /chats/chats)
@@ -50,6 +92,54 @@
   ?:(=(our author) [+(s) r] [s +(r)])
 ::
 ++  summarize-inactivity
+  ?:  .^(? %gu (scry-path %channels /$))
+    summarize-inactivity-new-groups
+  summarize-inactivity-old-groups
+::
+++  summarize-inactivity-new-groups
+  ^-  $:  unread-dms=@ud  ::  unread dm count
+          unread-etc=@ud  ::  unread chats count
+          top-group=@t    ::  most active group
+          top-channel=@t  ::  most active channel
+      ==
+  =+  .^(=unreads:ct %gx (scry-path %chat /unreads/chat-unreads))
+  ::  accumulate unread counts
+  ::
+  =/  dum=@ud
+    %-  ~(rep by unreads)
+    |=  [[w=whom:ct unread:unreads:ct] n=@ud]
+    (add n count)
+  :-  dum
+  ::  gather all chat channels & their groups & unread counts
+  ::
+  =/  [duc=@ud faz=(list [g=flag:groups n=nest:c u=@ud])]
+    %+  roll
+      %~  tap  by
+      .^(channels:c %gx (scry-path %channels /channels/channels))
+    =+  .^(=unreads:c %gx (scry-path %channels /unreads/channel-unreads))
+    |=  [[n=nest:c channel:c] duc=@ud faz=(list [flag:groups nest:c @ud])]
+    ?.  ?=(%chat kind.n)  [duc faz]  ::  ignore non-chat channels for now
+    =/  =unread:c  (~(gut by unreads) n *unread:c)
+    :-  (add duc count.unread)
+    [[group.perm n count.unread] faz]
+  :-  duc
+  =.  faz  (sort faz |=([[* * a=@ud] [* * b=@ud]] (gth a b)))
+  ::  get display titles of most active channel and its group
+  ::
+  ::NOTE  in rare cases, we might not know of the existence of the associated
+  ::      group. simply skip past it and try the next one...
+  =+  .^(=groups:groups %gx (scry-path %groups /groups/groups))
+  |-
+  ?~  faz  ['???' '???']  ::TODO  better copy
+  ~|  i.faz
+  ?.  (~(has by groups) g.i.faz)
+    $(faz t.faz)
+  =/  =group:^groups  (~(got by groups) g.i.faz)
+  ?~  chat=(~(get by channels.group) n.i.faz)
+    $(faz t.faz)
+  [title.meta.group title.meta.u.chat]
+::
+++  summarize-inactivity-old-groups
   ^-  $:  unread-dms=@ud  ::  unread dm count
           unread-etc=@ud  ::  unread chats count
           top-group=@t    ::  most active group
@@ -71,7 +161,7 @@
   ::
   =/  faz=(list [g=flag:chat c=flag:chat n=@ud])
     %+  turn
-      %~  tap  in
+      %~  tap  by
       .^  (map flag:chat chat:chat)
         %gx
         (scry-path %chat /chats/chats)
diff --git a/desk/sur/channels.hoon b/desk/sur/channels.hoon
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2db94219
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desk/sur/channels.hoon
@@ -0,0 +1,461 @@
+::  channels: message stream structures
+::
+::    four shapes that cross client-subscriber-publisher boundaries:
+::    - actions    client-to-subscriber change requests (user actions)
+::    - commands   subscriber-to-publisher change requests
+::    - updates    publisher-to-subscriber change notifications
+::    - responses  subscriber-to-client change notifications
+::
+::        --action-->     --command-->
+::    client       subscriber       publisher
+::      <--response--     <--update--
+::
+::    local actions _may_ become responses,
+::    remote actions become commands,
+::    commands _may_ become updates,
+::    updates _may_ become responses.
+::
+/-  g=groups, c=cite
+/+  mp=mop-extensions
+|%
++|  %ancients
+::
+++  mar
+  |%
+  ++  act  `mark`%channel-action
+  ++  cmd  `mark`%channel-command
+  ++  upd  `mark`%channel-update
+  ++  log  `mark`%channel-logs
+  ++  not  `mark`%channel-posts
+  --
+::
++|  %primitives
+::
++$  v-channels  (map nest v-channel)
+++  v-channel
+  |^  ,[global local]
+  ::  $global: should be identical between ships
+  ::
+  +$  global
+    $:  posts=v-posts
+        order=(rev order=arranged-posts)
+        view=(rev =view)
+        sort=(rev =sort)
+        perm=(rev =perm)
+    ==
+  ::  $window: sparse set of time ranges
+  ::
+  ::TODO  populate this
+  +$  window  (list [from=time to=time])
+  ::  .window: time range for requested posts that we haven't received
+  ::  .diffs: diffs for posts in the window, to apply on receipt
+  ::
+  +$  future
+    [=window diffs=(jug id-post u-post)]
+  ::  $local: local-only information
+  ::
+  +$  local
+    $:  =net
+        =log
+        =remark
+        =window
+        =future
+    ==
+  --
+::  $v-post: a channel post
+::
++$  v-post      [v-seal (rev essay)]
++$  id-post     time
++$  v-posts     ((mop id-post (unit v-post)) lte)
+++  on-v-posts  ((on id-post (unit v-post)) lte)
+++  mo-v-posts  ((mp id-post (unit v-post)) lte)
+::  $v-reply: a post comment
+::
++$  v-reply       [v-reply-seal memo]
++$  id-reply      time
++$  v-replies     ((mop id-reply (unit v-reply)) lte)
+++  on-v-replies  ((on id-reply (unit v-reply)) lte)
+++  mo-v-replies  ((mp time (unit v-reply)) lte)
+::  $v-seal: host-side data for a post
+::
++$  v-seal  $+  channel-seal
+  $:  id=id-post
+      replies=v-replies
+      reacts=v-reacts
+  ==
+::  $v-reply-seal: host-side data for a reply
+::
++$  v-reply-seal
+  $:  id=id-reply
+      reacts=v-reacts
+  ==
+::  $essay: top-level post, with metadata
+::
++$  essay  [memo =kind-data]
+::  $reply-meta: metadata for all replies
++$  reply-meta
+  $:  reply-count=@ud
+      last-repliers=(set ship)
+      last-reply=(unit time)
+  ==
+::  $kind-data: metadata for a channel type's "post"
+::
++$  kind-data
+  $%  [%diary title=@t image=@t]
+      [%heap title=(unit @t)]
+      [%chat kind=$@(~ [%notice ~])]
+  ==
+::  $memo: post data proper
+::
+::    content: the body of the comment
+::    author: the ship that wrote the comment
+::    sent: the client-side time the comment was made
+::
++$  memo
+  $:  content=story
+      author=ship
+      sent=time
+  ==
+::  $story: post body content
+::
++$  story  (list verse)
+::  $verse: a chunk of post content
+::
+::    blocks stand on their own. inlines come in groups and get wrapped
+::    into a paragraph
+::
++$  verse
+  $%  [%block p=block]
+      [%inline p=(list inline)]
+  ==
+::  $listing: recursive type for infinitely nested <ul> or <ol>
++$  listing
+  $%  [%list p=?(%ordered %unordered %tasklist) q=(list listing) r=(list inline)]
+      [%item p=(list inline)]
+  ==
+::  $block: post content that sits outside of the normal text
+::
+::    %image: a visual, we record dimensions for better rendering
+::    %cite: an Urbit reference
+::    %header: a traditional HTML heading, h1-h6
+::    %listing: a traditional HTML list, ul and ol
+::    %code: a block of code
+::
++$  block  $+  channel-block
+  $%  [%image src=cord height=@ud width=@ud alt=cord]
+      [%cite =cite:c]
+      [%header p=?(%h1 %h2 %h3 %h4 %h5 %h6) q=(list inline)]
+      [%listing p=listing]
+      [%rule ~]
+      [%code code=cord lang=cord]
+  ==
+::  $inline: post content that flows within a paragraph
+::
+::    @t: plain text
+::    %italics: italic text
+::    %bold: bold text
+::    %strike: strikethrough text
+::    %inline-code: code formatting for small snippets
+::    %blockquote: blockquote surrounded content
+::    %block: link/reference to blocks
+::    %code: code formatting for large snippets
+::    %tag: tag gets special signifier
+::    %link: link to a URL with a face
+::    %break: line break
+::
++$  inline  $+  channel-inline
+  $@  @t
+  $%  [%italics p=(list inline)]
+      [%bold p=(list inline)]
+      [%strike p=(list inline)]
+      [%blockquote p=(list inline)]
+      [%inline-code p=cord]
+      [%code p=cord]
+      [%ship p=ship]
+      [%block p=@ud q=cord]
+      [%tag p=cord]
+      [%link p=cord q=cord]
+      [%task p=?(%.y %.n) q=(list inline)]
+      [%break ~]
+  ==
+::
++$  kind  ?(%diary %heap %chat)
+::  $nest: identifier for a channel
++$  nest  [=kind =ship name=term]
+::  $view: the persisted display format for a channel
++$  view  $~(%list ?(%grid %list))
+::  $sort: the persisted sort type for a channel
++$  sort  $~(%time ?(%alpha %time %arranged))
+::  $arranged-posts: an array of postIds
++$  arranged-posts  (unit (list time))
+::  $hidden-posts: a set of ids for posts that are hidden
++$  hidden-posts  (set id-post)
+::  $post-toggle: hide or show a particular post by id
++$  post-toggle
+  $%  [%hide =id-post]
+      [%show =id-post]
+  ==
+::  $react: either an emoji identifier like :diff or a URL for custom
++$  react     @ta
++$  v-reacts  (map ship (rev (unit react)))
+::  $scan: search results
++$  scan  (list reference)
++$  reference
+  $%  [%post =post]
+      [%reply =id-post =reply]
+  ==
+::  $said: used for references
++$  said  (pair nest reference)
+::  $plan: index into channel state
+::    p: Post being referred to
+::    q: Reply being referred to, if any
+::
++$  plan
+  (pair time (unit time))
+::
+::  $net: subscriber-only state
+::
++$  net  [p=ship load=_|]
+::
+::  $unreads: a map of channel unread information, for clients
+::  $unread: unread data for a specific channel, for clients
+::    recency:   time of most recent message
+::    count:     how many posts are unread
+::    unread-id: the id of the first unread top-level post
+::    threads:   for each unread thread, the id of the first unread reply
+::
++$  unreads  (map nest unread)
++$  unread
+  $:  recency=time
+      count=@ud
+      unread-id=(unit id-post)
+      threads=(map id-post id-reply)
+  ==
+::  $remark: markers representing unread state
+::    last-read:      time at which the user last read this channel
+::    watching:       unused, intended for disabling unread accumulation
+::    unread-threads: threads that contain unread messages
+::
++$  remark  [recency=time last-read=time watching=_| unread-threads=(set id-post)]
+::
+::  $perm: represents the permissions for a channel and gives a
+::  pointer back to the group it belongs to.
+::
++$  perm
+  $:  writers=(set sect:g)
+      group=flag:g
+  ==
+::
+::  $log: a time ordered history of modifications to a channel
+::
++$  log     ((mop time u-channel) lte)
+++  log-on  ((on time u-channel) lte)
+::
+::  $create-channel: represents a request to create a channel
+::
+::    $create-channel is consumed by the channel agent first and then
+::    passed to the groups agent to register the channel with the group.
+::
+::    Write permission is stored with the specific agent in the channel,
+::    read permission is stored with the group's data.
+::
++$  create-channel
+  $:  =kind
+      name=term
+      group=flag:g
+      title=cord
+      description=cord
+      readers=(set sect:g)
+      writers=(set sect:g)
+  ==
+::  $outline: abridged $post
+::    .replies: number of comments
+::
++$  outline
+  [replies=@ud replyers=(set ship) essay]
+::
+++  outlines
+  =<  outlines
+  |%
+  +$  outlines  ((mop time outline) lte)
+  ++  on        ((^on time outline) lte)
+  --
+++  rev
+  |$  [data]
+  [rev=@ud data]
+::
+++  apply-rev
+  |*  [old=(rev) new=(rev)]
+  ^+  [changed=& old]
+  ?:  (lth rev.old rev.new)
+    &+new
+  |+old
+::
+++  next-rev
+  |*  [old=(rev) new=*]
+  ^+  [changed=& old]
+  ?:  =(+.old new)
+    |+old
+  &+old(rev +(rev.old), + new)
+::
++|  %actions
+::
+::  some actions happen to be the same as commands, but this can freely
+::  change
+::
+::NOTE  we might want to add a action-id=uuid to this eventually, threading
+::      that through all the way, so that an $r-channels may indicate what
+::      originally caused it
++$  a-channels
+  $%  [%create =create-channel]
+      [%pin pins=(list nest)]
+      [%channel =nest =a-channel]
+      [%toggle-post toggle=post-toggle]
+  ==
++$  a-channel
+  $%  [%join group=flag:g]
+      [%leave ~]
+      a-remark
+      c-channel
+  ==
+::
++$  a-remark
+  $~  [%read ~]
+  $%  [%read ~]
+      [%read-at =time]
+      [%watch ~]
+      [%unwatch ~]
+  ==
+::
++$  a-post  c-post
++$  a-reply  c-reply
+::
++|  %commands
+::
++$  c-channels
+  $%  [%create =create-channel]
+      [%channel =nest =c-channel]
+  ==
++$  c-channel
+  $%  [%post =c-post]
+      [%view =view]
+      [%sort =sort]
+      [%order order=arranged-posts]
+      [%add-writers sects=(set sect:g)]
+      [%del-writers sects=(set sect:g)]
+  ==
+::
++$  c-post
+  $%  [%add =essay]
+      [%edit id=id-post =essay]
+      [%del id=id-post]
+      [%reply id=id-post =c-reply]
+      c-react
+  ==
+::
++$  c-reply
+  $%  [%add =memo]
+      [%del id=id-reply]
+      c-react
+  ==
+::
++$  c-react
+  $%  [%add-react id=@da p=ship q=react]
+      [%del-react id=@da p=ship]
+  ==
+::
++|  %updates
+::
++$  update   [=time =u-channel]
++$  u-channels  [=nest =u-channel]
++$  u-channel
+  $%  [%create =perm]
+      [%order (rev order=arranged-posts)]
+      [%view (rev =view)]
+      [%sort (rev =sort)]
+      [%perm (rev =perm)]
+      [%post id=id-post =u-post]
+  ==
+::
++$  u-post
+  $%  [%set post=(unit v-post)]
+      [%reacts reacts=v-reacts]
+      [%essay (rev =essay)]
+      [%reply id=id-reply =u-reply]
+  ==
+::
++$  u-reply
+  $%  [%set reply=(unit v-reply)]
+      [%reacts reacts=v-reacts]
+  ==
+::
++$  u-checkpoint  global:v-channel
+::
++|  %responses
+::
++$  r-channels  [=nest =r-channel]
++$  r-channel
+  $%  [%posts =posts]
+      [%post id=id-post =r-post]
+      [%order order=arranged-posts]
+      [%view =view]
+      [%sort =sort]
+      [%perm =perm]
+    ::
+      [%create =perm]
+      [%join group=flag:g]
+      [%leave ~]
+      a-remark
+  ==
+::
++$  r-post
+  $%  [%set post=(unit post)]
+      [%reply id=id-reply =reply-meta =r-reply]
+      [%reacts =reacts]
+      [%essay =essay]
+  ==
+::
++$  r-reply
+  $%  [%set reply=(unit reply)]
+      [%reacts =reacts]
+  ==
+::  versions of backend types with their revision numbers stripped,
+::  because the frontend shouldn't care to learn those.
+::
++$  channels  (map nest channel)
+++  channel
+  |^  ,[global local]
+  +$  global
+    $:  =posts
+        order=arranged-posts
+        =view
+        =sort
+        =perm
+    ==
+  ::
+  +$  local
+    $:  =net
+        =remark
+    ==
+  --
++$  paged-posts
+  $:  =posts
+      newer=(unit time)
+      older=(unit time)
+      total=@ud
+  ==
++$  posts  ((mop id-post (unit post)) lte)
++$  post   [seal essay]
++$  seal
+  $:  id=id-post
+      =reacts
+      =replies
+      =reply-meta
+  ==
++$  reacts      (map ship react)
++$  reply       [reply-seal memo]
++$  replies     ((mop id-reply reply) lte)
++$  reply-seal  [id=id-reply parent-id=id-post =reacts]
+++  on-posts    ((on id-post (unit post)) lte)
+++  on-replies  ((on id-reply reply) lte)
+--
diff --git a/desk/sur/chat-2.hoon b/desk/sur/chat-2.hoon
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..09225a1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desk/sur/chat-2.hoon
@@ -0,0 +1,356 @@
+/-  g=groups
+/-  meta
+/-  metadata-store
+/-  cite
+/-  e=epic
+|%
+::  +mar:  mark name
+++  okay  `epic:e`0
+++  mar
+  |%
+  ++  act  `mark`(rap 3 %chat-action '-' (scot %ud okay) ~)
+  ++  upd  `mark`(rap 3 %chat-update '-' (scot %ud okay) ~)
+  ++  log  `mark`(rap 3 %chat-logs '-' (scot %ud okay) ~)
+  --
+::
+::  $scan: search results
++$  scan  (list (pair time writ))
+::  $writ: a chat message
++$  writ   [seal memo]
+::  $id: an identifier for chat messages
++$  id     (pair ship time)
+::  $feel: either an emoji identifier like :wave: or a URL for custom
++$  feel   @ta
++$  said   (pair flag writ)
+::
+::  $seal: the id of a chat and its meta-responses
+::
+::    id: the id of the message
+::    feels: reactions to a message
+::    replied: set of replies to a message
+::
++$  seal
+  $:  =id
+      feels=(map ship feel)
+      replied=(set id)
+  ==
+::
+::  $whom: a polymorphic identifier for chats
+::
++$  whom
+  $%  [%flag p=flag]
+      [%ship p=ship]
+      [%club p=id:club]
+  ==
+::
+::  $briefs: a map of chat/club/dm unread information
+::
+::    brief: the last time a message was read, how many messages since,
+::    and the id of the last read message
+::
+++  briefs
+  =<  briefs
+  |%
+  +$  briefs
+    (map whom brief)
+  +$  brief
+    [last=time count=@ud read-id=(unit id)]
+  +$  update
+    (pair whom brief)
+  --
+::
++$  remark-action
+  (pair whom remark-diff)
+::
++$  remark-diff
+  $%  [%read ~]
+      [%read-at p=time]
+      [?(%watch %unwatch) ~]
+  ==
+::
+::  $flag: an identifier for a $chat channel
+::
++$  flag  (pair ship term)
+::
+::  $diff: represents an update to state
+::
+::    %writs: a chat message update
+::    %add-sects: add sects to writer permissions
+::    %del-sects: delete sects from writers
+::    %create: create a new chat
+::
++$  diff
+  $%  [%writs p=diff:writs]
+    ::
+      [%add-sects p=(set sect:g)]
+      [%del-sects p=(set sect:g)]
+    ::
+      [%create p=perm q=pact]
+  ==
+::  $index: a map of chat message id to server received message time
+::
++$  index   (map id time)
+::
+::  $pact: a double indexed map of chat messages, id -> time -> message
+::
++$  pact
+  $:  wit=writs
+      dex=index
+  ==
+::
+::  $club: a direct line of communication between multiple parties
+::
+::    uses gossip to ensure all parties keep in sync
+::
+++  club
+  =<  club
+  |%
+  ::  $id: an identification signifier for a $club
+  ::
+  +$  id  @uvH
+  ::  $net: status of club
+  ::
+  +$  net  ?(%archive %invited %done)
+  +$  club  [=heard =remark =pact =crew]
+  ::
+  ::  $crew: a container for the metadata for the club
+  ::
+  ::    team: members that have accepted an invite
+  ::    hive: pending members that have been invited
+  ::    met: metadata representing club
+  ::    net: status
+  ::    pin: should the $club be pinned to the top
+  ::
+  +$  crew
+    $:  team=(set ship)
+        hive=(set ship)
+        met=data:meta
+        =net
+        pin=_|
+    ==
+  ::  $rsvp: a $club invitation response
+  ::
+  +$  rsvp    [=id =ship ok=?]
+  ::  $create: a request to create a $club with a starting set of ships
+  ::
+  +$  create
+    [=id hive=(set ship)]
+  ::  $invite: the contents to send in an invitation to someone
+  ::
+  +$  invite  [=id team=(set ship) hive=(set ship) met=data:meta]
+  ::  $uid: unique identifier for each club action
+  ::
+  +$  uid    @uv
+  ::  $heard: the set of action uid's we've already heard
+  ::
+  +$  heard  (set uid)
+  ::
+  +$  diff    (pair uid delta)
+  ::
+  +$  delta
+    $%  [%writ =diff:writs]
+        [%meta meta=data:meta]
+        [%team =ship ok=?]
+        [%hive by=ship for=ship add=?]
+        [%init team=(set ship) hive=(set ship) met=data:meta]
+    ==
+  ::
+  +$  action  (pair id diff)
+  --
+::
+::  $writs: a set of time ordered chat messages
+::
+++  writs
+  =<  writs
+  |%
+  +$  writs
+    ((mop time writ) lte)
+  ++  on
+    ((^on time writ) lte)
+  +$  diff
+    (pair id delta)
+  +$  delta
+    $%  [%add p=memo]
+        [%del ~]
+        [%add-feel p=ship q=feel]
+        [%del-feel p=ship]
+    ==
+  --
+::
+::  $dm: a direct line of communication between two ships
+::
+::    net: status of dm
+::    id: a message identifier
+::    action: an update to the dm
+::    rsvp: a response to a dm invitation
+::
+++  dm
+  =<  dm
+  |%
+  +$  dm
+    $:  =pact
+        =remark
+        =net
+        pin=_|
+    ==
+  +$  net     ?(%inviting %invited %archive %done)
+  +$  id      (pair ship time)
+  +$  diff    diff:writs
+  +$  action  (pair ship diff)
+  +$  rsvp    [=ship ok=?]
+  --
+::
+::  $log: a time ordered map of all modifications to chats
+::
++$  log
+  ((mop time diff) lte)
+++  log-on
+  ((on time diff) lte)
++$  remark
+  [last-read=time watching=_| ~]
+::
+::  $chat: a group based channel for communicating
+::
++$  chat
+  [=net =remark =log =perm =pact]
+::
+::  $notice: the contents of an automated message
+::
+::    pfix: text preceding ship name
+::    sfix: text following ship name
+::
++$  notice  [pfix=@t sfix=@t]
+::
+::  $content: the contents of a message whether handwritten or automated
+::
++$  content
+  $%  [%story p=story]
+      [%notice p=notice]
+  ==
+::
+::  $draft: the contents of an unsent message at a particular $whom
+::
++$  draft
+  (pair whom story)
+::
+::  $story: handwritten contents of a message
+::
+::    blocks precede inline content
+::
++$  story
+  (pair (list block) (list inline))
+::
+::  $block: content which stands on it's own outside of inline content
+::
++$  block
+  $%  [%image src=cord height=@ud width=@ud alt=cord]
+      [%cite =cite]
+  ==
+::
+::  $inline: a representation of text with or without formatting
+::
+::    @t: plain text
+::    %italics: italic text
+::    %bold: bold text
+::    %strike: strikethrough text
+::    %blockquote: blockquote surrounded content
+::    %inline-code: code formatting for small snippets
+::    %ship: a mention of a ship
+::    %block: link/reference to blocks
+::    %code: code formatting for large snippets
+::    %tag: tag gets special signifier
+::    %link: link to a URL with a face
+::    %break: line break
+::
++$  inline
+  $@  @t
+  $%  [%italics p=(list inline)]
+      [%bold p=(list inline)]
+      [%strike p=(list inline)]
+      [%blockquote p=(list inline)]
+      [%inline-code p=cord]
+      [%ship p=ship]
+      [%block p=@ud q=cord]
+      [%code p=cord]
+      [%tag p=cord]
+      [%link p=cord q=cord]
+      [%break ~]
+  ==
+::
+::  $memo: a chat message with metadata
+::
+::    replying: what message we're replying to
+::    author: writer of the message
+::    sent: time (from sender) when the message was sent
+::    content: body of the message
+::
++$  memo
+  $:  replying=(unit id)
+      author=ship
+      sent=time
+      =content
+  ==
+::
+::  $net: an indicator of whether I'm a host or subscriber
+::
+::    %load: iniating chat join
+::    %pub: am publisher/host with fresh log
+::    %sub: subscribed to the ship
+::
++$  net
+  $%  [%sub host=ship load=_| =saga:e]
+      [%pub ~]
+  ==
+::
+::  $action: the complete set of data required to edit a chat
+::
++$  action
+  (pair flag update)
+::
+::  $update: a representation in time of a modification of a chat
+::
++$  update
+  (pair time diff)
+::
+::  $logs: a time ordered map of all modifications to groups
+::
++$  logs
+  ((mop time diff) lte)
+::
+::  $perm: represents the permissions for a channel and gives a pointer
+::  back to the group it belongs to.
+::
++$  perm
+  $:  writers=(set sect:g)
+      group=flag:g
+  ==
+::  $join: a group + channel flag to join a channel, group required for perms
+::
++$  join
+  $:  group=flag:g
+      chan=flag:g
+  ==
+::  $leave: a flag to pass for a channel leave
+::
++$  leave  flag:g
+::
+::  $create: represents a request to create a channel
+::
+::    The name will be used as part of the flag which represents the
+::    channel. $create is consumed by the chat agent first
+::    and then passed to the groups agent to register the channel with
+::    the group.
+::
+::    Write permission is stored with the specific agent in the channel,
+::    read permission is stored with the group's data.
+::
++$  create
+  $:  group=flag:g
+      name=term
+      title=cord
+      description=cord
+      readers=(set sect:g)
+      writers=(set sect:g)
+  ==
+++  met     metadata-store
+--
diff --git a/desk/sur/chat.hoon b/desk/sur/chat.hoon
index d2e8963f..9aa1d147 100644
--- a/desk/sur/chat.hoon
+++ b/desk/sur/chat.hoon
@@ -1,107 +1,144 @@
-/-  g=groups, uno=chat-1, zer=chat-0
+/-  g=groups, d=channels, dos=chat-2, uno=chat-1, zer=chat-0
 /-  meta
-/-  cite
-/-  e=epic
 |%
 ++  old
   |%
   ++  zero  zer
-  ++  one  uno
-  --
-::  +mar:  mark name
-++  okay  `epic:e`0
-++  mar
-  |%
-  ++  act  `mark`(rap 3 %chat-action '-' (scot %ud okay) ~)
-  ++  upd  `mark`(rap 3 %chat-update '-' (scot %ud okay) ~)
-  ++  log  `mark`(rap 3 %chat-logs '-' (scot %ud okay) ~)
+  ++  one   uno
+  ++  two   dos
   --
 ::
-::  $scan: search results
-+$  scan  (list (pair time writ))
-::  $writ: a chat message
-+$  writ   [seal memo]
 ::  $id: an identifier for chat messages
 +$  id     (pair ship time)
-::  $feel: either an emoji identifier like :wave: or a URL for custom
-+$  feel   @ta
-+$  said   (pair flag writ)
+::  $writ: a chat message
++$  writ   [seal essay]
+::  $reply: a chat reply
++$  reply   [reply-seal memo:d]
+::  $react: either an emoji identifier like :wave: or a URL for custom
++$  react   @ta
+::  $scan: search results
++$  scan  (list reference)
+::  $blocked: a set of ships that the user has blocked
++$  blocked  (set ship)
++$  blocked-by  (set ship)
++$  hidden-messages  (set id)
++$  message-toggle
+  $%  [%hide =id]
+      [%show =id]
+  ==
++$  reference
+  $%  [%writ =writ]
+      [%reply =id =reply]
+  ==
 ::
 ::  $seal: the id of a chat and its meta-responses
 ::
-::    id: the id of the message  
-::    feels: reactions to a message
-::    replied: set of replies to a message
+::    id: the id of the message
+::    time: the time the message was received
+::    replies: set of replies to a message
+::    reacts: reactions to a message
 ::
 +$  seal
   $:  =id
-      feels=(map ship feel)
-      replied=(set id)
+      time=id-post:d
+      =reacts
+      =replies
+      meta=reply-meta
+  ==
++$  reply-meta
+  $:  reply-count=@ud
+      last-repliers=(set ship)
+      last-reply=(unit time)
   ==
 ::
-::  $whom: a polymorphic identifier for chats
-::
-+$  whom
-  $%  [%flag p=flag]
-      [%ship p=ship]
-      [%club p=id:club]
-  == 
+::  $reply-seal: chat reply metadata
++$  reply-seal
+  $:  =id
+      parent-id=id
+      time=id-post:d
+      =reacts
+  ==
 ::
-::  $briefs: a map of chat/club/dm unread information
+::  $essay: a chat message with metadata
++$  essay  [memo:d %chat =kind]
+::  $kind: whether or not the chat is a system message
++$  kind  $@(~ [%notice ~])
+::  $reacts: a set of reactions to a chat message
++$  reacts  (map ship react)
 ::
-::    brief: the last time a message was read, how many messages since,
-::    and the id of the last read message
+::  $pact: a double indexed map of chat messages, id -> time -> message
 ::
-++  briefs
-  =<  briefs
-  |% 
-  +$  briefs
-    (map whom brief)
-  +$  brief
-    [last=time count=@ud read-id=(unit id)]
-  +$  update
-    (pair whom brief)
-  --
++$  pact
+  $:  wit=writs
+      dex=index
+  ==
 ::
-+$  remark-action
-  (pair whom remark-diff)
+::  $paged-writs: a set of time ordered chat messages, with page cursors
 ::
-+$  remark-diff
-  $%  [%read ~]
-      [%read-at p=time]
-      [?(%watch %unwatch) ~]
++$  paged-writs
+  $:  =writs
+      newer=(unit id)
+      older=(unit id)
+      total=@ud
   ==
 ::
-::  $flag: an identifier for a $chat channel
+::  $writs: a set of time ordered chat messages
 ::
-+$  flag  (pair ship term)
+++  writs
+  =<  writs
+  |%
+  +$  writs
+    ((mop time writ) lte)
+  ++  on
+    ((^on time writ) lte)
+  +$  diff
+    (pair id delta)
+  +$  delta
+    ::  time and meta are units because we won't have it when we send,
+    ::  but we need it upon receipt
+    $%  [%add =memo:d =kind time=(unit time)]
+        [%del ~]
+        [%reply =id meta=(unit reply-meta) =delta:replies]
+        [%add-react =ship =react]
+        [%del-react =ship]
+    ==
+  +$  response  [=id response=response-delta]
+  +$  response-delta
+    $%  [%add =memo:d =time]
+        [%del ~]
+        [%reply =id meta=(unit reply-meta) delta=response-delta:replies]
+        [%add-react =ship =react]
+        [%del-react =ship]
+    ==
+  --
 ::
-::  $diff: represents an update to state
+::  $replies: a set of time ordered chat replies
 ::
-::    %writs: a chat message update
-::    %add-sects: add sects to writer permissions
-::    %del-sects: delete sects from writers
-::    %create: create a new chat
+++  replies
+  =<  replies
+  |%
+  +$  replies
+    ((mop time reply) lte)
+  ++  on
+    ((^on time reply) lte)
+  +$  delta
+    $%  [%add =memo:d time=(unit time)]
+        [%del ~]
+        [%add-react =ship =react]
+        [%del-react =ship]
+    ==
+  +$  response-delta
+    $%  [%add =memo:d =time]
+        [%del ~]
+        [%add-react =ship =react]
+        [%del-react =ship]
+    ==
+  --
 ::
-+$  diff
-  $%  [%writs p=diff:writs]
-    ::
-      [%add-sects p=(set sect:g)]
-      [%del-sects p=(set sect:g)]
-    ::
-      [%create p=perm q=pact]
-  ==
 ::  $index: a map of chat message id to server received message time
 ::
 +$  index   (map id time)
 ::
-::  $pact: a double indexed map of chat messages, id -> time -> message
-::
-+$  pact
-  $:  wit=writs
-      dex=index
-  ==
-::
 ::  $club: a direct line of communication between multiple parties
 ::
 ::    uses gossip to ensure all parties keep in sync
@@ -151,7 +188,7 @@
   ::
   +$  diff    (pair uid delta)
   ::
-  +$  delta    
+  +$  delta
     $%  [%writ =diff:writs]
         [%meta meta=data:meta]
         [%team =ship ok=?]
@@ -162,25 +199,6 @@
   +$  action  (pair id diff)
   --
 ::
-::  $writs: a set of time ordered chat messages
-::
-++  writs
-  =<  writs
-  |%
-  +$  writs
-    ((mop time writ) lte)
-  ++  on
-    ((^on time writ) lte)
-  +$  diff
-    (pair id delta)
-  +$  delta
-    $%  [%add p=memo]
-        [%del ~]
-        [%add-feel p=ship q=feel]
-        [%del-feel p=ship]
-    ==
-  --
-::
 ::  $dm: a direct line of communication between two ships
 ::
 ::    net: status of dm
@@ -197,163 +215,49 @@
         =net
         pin=_|
     ==
-  +$  net     ?(%inviting %invited %archive %done)
-  +$  id      (pair ship time)
-  +$  diff    diff:writs
-  +$  action  (pair ship diff)
-  +$  rsvp    [=ship ok=?]
+  +$  net       ?(%inviting %invited %archive %done)
+  +$  id        (pair ship time)
+  +$  diff      diff:writs
+  +$  action    (pair ship diff)
+  +$  rsvp      [=ship ok=?]
   --
 ::
-::  $log: a time ordered map of all modifications to chats
-::
-+$  log
-  ((mop time diff) lte)
-++  log-on
-  ((on time diff) lte)
-+$  remark
-  [last-read=time watching=_| ~]
-::
-::  $chat: a group based channel for communicating
-::
-+$  chat
-  [=net =remark =log =perm =pact]
-::
-::  $notice: the contents of an automated message
-::  
-::    pfix: text preceding ship name
-::    sfix: text following ship name
-::
-+$  notice  [pfix=@t sfix=@t]
-::
-::  $content: the contents of a message whether handwritten or automated
-::
-+$  content
-  $%  [%story p=story]
-      [%notice p=notice]
-  ==
-::
-::  $draft: the contents of an unsent message at a particular $whom
-::
-+$  draft
-  (pair whom story)
-::
-::  $story: handwritten contents of a message
-::
-::    blocks precede inline content
-::
-+$  story
-  (pair (list block) (list inline))
-::
-::  $block: content which stands on it's own outside of inline content
-::
-+$  block
-  $%  [%image src=cord height=@ud width=@ud alt=cord]
-      [%cite =cite]
-  ==
-::
-::  $inline: a representation of text with or without formatting
-::
-::    @t: plain text
-::    %italics: italic text
-::    %bold: bold text
-::    %strike: strikethrough text
-::    %blockquote: blockquote surrounded content
-::    %inline-code: code formatting for small snippets
-::    %ship: a mention of a ship
-::    %block: link/reference to blocks
-::    %code: code formatting for large snippets
-::    %tag: tag gets special signifier
-::    %link: link to a URL with a face
-::    %break: line break
-::
-+$  inline
-  $@  @t
-  $%  [%italics p=(list inline)]
-      [%bold p=(list inline)]
-      [%strike p=(list inline)]
-      [%blockquote p=(list inline)]
-      [%inline-code p=cord]
-      [%ship p=ship]
-      [%block p=@ud q=cord]
-      [%code p=cord]
-      [%tag p=cord]
-      [%link p=cord q=cord]
-      [%break ~]
-  ==
-::
-::  $memo: a chat message with metadata
-::
-::    replying: what message we're replying to
-::    author: writer of the message
-::    sent: time (from sender) when the message was sent
-::    content: body of the message
-::
-+$  memo  
-  $:  replying=(unit id)
-      author=ship
-      sent=time
-      =content
-  ==
-::
-::  $net: an indicator of whether I'm a host or subscriber
-::
-::    %load: iniating chat join
-::    %pub: am publisher/host with fresh log
-::    %sub: subscribed to the ship
+::  $whom: a polymorphic identifier for chats
 ::
-+$  net
-  $%  [%sub host=ship load=_| =saga:e]
-      [%pub ~]
++$  whom
+  $%  [%ship p=ship]
+      [%club p=id:club]
   ==
 ::
-::  $action: the complete set of data required to edit a chat
-::
-+$  action
-  (pair flag update)
-::
-::  $update: a representation in time of a modification of a chat
-::
-+$  update
-  (pair time diff)
-::
-::  $logs: a time ordered map of all modifications to groups
+::  $unreads: a map of club/dm unread information
 ::
-+$  logs
-  ((mop time diff) lte)
-::
-::  $perm: represents the permissions for a channel and gives a pointer
-::  back to the group it belongs to.
-::
-+$  perm
-  $:  writers=(set sect:g)
-      group=flag:g
-  ==
-::  $join: a group + channel flag to join a channel, group required for perms
+::    unread: the last time a message was read, how many messages since,
+::    and the id of the last read message
 ::
-+$  join
-  $:  group=flag:g
-      chan=flag:g
-  ==
-::  $leave: a flag to pass for a channel leave
+++  unreads
+  =<  unreads
+  |%
+  +$  unreads
+    (map whom unread)
+  +$  unread
+    $:  recency=time
+        count=@ud
+        unread-id=(unit id)
+        threads=(map id id)
+    ==
+  +$  update
+    (pair whom unread)
+  --
 ::
-+$  leave  flag:g
++$  remark
+  [recency=time last-read=time watching=_| unread-threads=(set id)]
 ::
-::  $create: represents a request to create a channel
-::    
-::    The name will be used as part of the flag which represents the
-::    channel. $create is consumed by the chat agent first 
-::    and then passed to the groups agent to register the channel with 
-::    the group. 
-::  
-::    Write permission is stored with the specific agent in the channel,
-::    read permission is stored with the group's data.
++$  remark-action
+  (pair whom remark-diff)
 ::
-+$  create
-  $:  group=flag:g
-      name=term
-      title=cord
-      description=cord
-      readers=(set sect:g)
-      writers=(set sect:g)
++$  remark-diff
+  $%  [%read ~]
+      [%read-at p=time]
+      [?(%watch %unwatch) ~]
   ==
 --