diff --git a/default.nix b/default.nix
index cb7f5f0..fe977bf 100644
--- a/default.nix
+++ b/default.nix
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ let
     modules =
       [
         # ides
-        ./ides.nix
+        ./lib/ides.nix
         # service config and build params
         (_: {
           inherit services serviceDefs auto;
diff --git a/ides.nix b/ides.nix
deleted file mode 100644
index 084910a..0000000
--- a/ides.nix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,439 +0,0 @@
-{
-  pkgs,
-  config,
-  ...
-}:
-{
-  #
-  # interface
-  #
-  options =
-    let
-      inherit (pkgs) lib;
-      inherit (lib) types mkOption;
-      serviceConfig =
-        with types;
-        submodule {
-          options = {
-            pkg = mkOption {
-              type = package;
-              description = "Package to use for service.";
-              example = "pkgs.caddy";
-            };
-            exec = mkOption {
-              type = str;
-              description = "Alternative executable name to use from `pkg`.";
-              example = "caddy";
-              default = "";
-            };
-            args = mkOption {
-              type = str;
-              description = "Arguments to supply to the service binary. Writing %CFG% in this will template to your config location.";
-              example = "run -c %CFG% --adapter caddyfile";
-              default = "";
-            };
-            socket = mkOption {
-              type = attrsOf (listOf str);
-              description = "List of socket options for the unit (see `man systemd.socket`) - supplied as a list due to some options allowing duplicates.";
-              example = {
-                ListenStream = [ "/run/user/1000/myapp.sock" ];
-              };
-              default = { };
-            };
-            path = mkOption {
-              type = attrsOf (listOf str);
-              description = "List of path options for the unit (see `man systemd.path`) - supplied as a list due to some options allowing duplicates.";
-              example = {
-                PathModified = [ "/some/path" ];
-              };
-              default = { };
-            };
-            timer = mkOption {
-              type = attrsOf (listOf str);
-              description = "List of timer options for the unit (see `man systemd.path`) - supplied as a list due to some options allowing duplicates.";
-              example = {
-                OnActiveSec = [ 50 ];
-              };
-              default = { };
-            };
-            config = mkOption {
-              description = "Options for setting the service's configuration.";
-              default = { };
-              type = submodule {
-                options = {
-                  text = mkOption {
-                    type = str;
-                    default = "";
-                    description = "Plaintext configuration to use.";
-                    example = ''
-                      http://*:8080 {
-                        respond "hello"
-                      }
-                    '';
-                  };
-                  ext = mkOption {
-                    type = str;
-                    default = "";
-                    description = "If your service config requires a file extension, set it here. This overrides `format`'s output path'.";
-                    example = "json";
-                  };
-                  file = mkOption {
-                    type = nullOr path;
-                    description = "Path to config file. This overrides all other values.";
-                    example = "./configs/my-config.ini";
-                    default = null;
-                  };
-                  content = mkOption {
-                    type = nullOr attrs;
-                    description = "Attributes that define your config values.";
-                    default = null;
-                    example = {
-                      this = "that";
-                    };
-                  };
-                  format = mkOption {
-                    type = nullOr (enum [
-                      "java"
-                      "json"
-                      "yaml"
-                      "toml"
-                      "ini"
-                      "xml"
-                      "php"
-                    ]);
-                    description = "Config output format.\nOne of:\n`java json yaml toml ini xml php`.";
-                    example = "json";
-                    default = null;
-                  };
-                  formatter = mkOption {
-                    type = types.anything;
-                    description = "Serialisation/writer function to apply to `content`.\n`format` will auto-apply the correct format if the option value is valid.\nShould take `path: attrs:` and return a storepath.";
-                    example = "pkgs.formats.yaml {}.generate";
-                    default = null;
-                  };
-                };
-              };
-            };
-          };
-        };
-    in
-    {
-      serviceDefs = mkOption {
-        type = types.attrsOf serviceConfig;
-        description = "Concrete service definitions, as per submodule options.\nPlease put service-related options into `options.services` instead, and use this to implement those options.";
-      };
-
-      auto = mkOption {
-        type = types.bool;
-        description = "Whether to autostart ides services at devshell instantiation.";
-        default = true;
-      };
-
-      # to prevent generating docs for this option; see https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/293510
-      _module.args = mkOption {
-        internal = true;
-      };
-
-      # for internal use
-      _buildIdes = mkOption {
-        type = types.attrs;
-        internal = true;
-      };
-    };
-
-  #
-  # implementation
-  #
-  config =
-    let
-      # control flow monstrosity
-      branchOnConfig =
-        cfg:
-        {
-          text,
-          file,
-          content,
-          contentFmt,
-        }:
-        if (cfg.text != "") then
-          text
-        else if (cfg.file != null) then
-          file
-        else if (cfg.content != { }) then
-          if (cfg.format != null) then
-            content
-          else if (cfg.formatter != null) then
-            contentFmt
-          else
-            throw "`format` or `formatter` must be set for `content` value ${cfg.content}!"
-        else
-          "";
-    in
-    {
-      # validate and complete the service configurations
-      _buildIdes.finalServices = builtins.mapAttrs (
-        name:
-        {
-          pkg,
-          args ? "",
-          exec ? "",
-          config,
-          path,
-          socket,
-          timer,
-        }:
-        let
-          # make our best effort to use the correct binary
-          bin = if (exec == "") then pkgs.lib.getExe pkg else pkgs.lib.getExe' pkg exec;
-          # set file extension
-          ext =
-            if (config.ext != "") || (config.format != null) then "." + (config.ext or config.format) else "";
-          # config hash for unique service names
-          cfgHash =
-            let
-              # method to hash a set
-              hashContent = builtins.hashString "sha256" (builtins.toJSON config.content);
-            in
-            branchOnConfig config {
-              text = builtins.hashString "sha256" config.text;
-              file = builtins.hashFile "sha256" config.file;
-              content = hashContent;
-              contentFmt = hashContent;
-            };
-
-          confFile =
-            let
-              writers = {
-                java = pkgs.formats.javaProperties { };
-                json = pkgs.formats.json { };
-                yaml = pkgs.formats.yaml { };
-                ini = pkgs.formats.ini { };
-                toml = pkgs.formats.toml { };
-                xml = pkgs.formats.xml { };
-                php = pkgs.formats.php { finalVariable = null; };
-              };
-              # final config name
-              confPath = "config-${name}-${cfgHash}${ext}";
-            in
-            # write out config
-            branchOnConfig config {
-              text = pkgs.writeText confPath config.text;
-              inherit (config) file;
-              content = writers.${config.format}.generate confPath config.content;
-              contentFmt = config.formatter confPath config.content;
-            };
-          # template the config path into the launch command
-          cfgArgs = builtins.replaceStrings [ "%CFG%" ] [ "${confFile}" ] args;
-          # flatten unit options into cli args
-          sdArgs =
-            let
-              inherit (pkgs.lib) foldlAttrs;
-              inherit (builtins) concatStringsSep;
-              convertToArgList =
-                prefix: name: values:
-                (map (inner: "${prefix} ${name}=${inner}") values);
-              writeArgListFor =
-                attrs: prefix:
-                if (attrs != { }) then
-                  concatStringsSep " " (
-                    foldlAttrs (
-                      acc: n: v:
-                      acc + (convertToArgList prefix n v) + " "
-                    ) "" attrs
-                  )
-                else
-                  "";
-            in
-            concatStringsSep " " [
-              (writeArgListFor socket "--socket-property")
-              (writeArgListFor path "--path-property")
-              (writeArgListFor timer "--timer-property")
-            ];
-        in
-        # transform into attrs that mkWorks expects to receive
-        {
-          inherit
-            bin
-            sdArgs
-            cfgArgs
-            ;
-          unitName = "shell-${name}-${cfgHash}";
-        }
-      ) config.serviceDefs;
-
-      # generate service scripts and create the shell
-      _buildIdes.shell =
-        let
-          # create commands to run and clean up services
-          mkWorks =
-            name:
-            {
-              unitName,
-              bin,
-              cfgArgs,
-              sdArgs,
-            }:
-            {
-              runner = pkgs.writeShellScriptBin "run" ''
-                echo "[ides]: Starting ${name}.."
-                systemd-run --user -G -u ${unitName} ${sdArgs} ${bin} ${cfgArgs}
-              '';
-              cleaner = pkgs.writeShellScriptBin "clean" ''
-                echo "[ides]: Stopping ${name}.."
-                systemctl --user stop ${unitName}
-              '';
-            };
-
-          works = pkgs.lib.mapAttrs (
-            name: serviceConf: mkWorks name serviceConf
-          ) config._buildIdes.finalServices;
-
-          # create the ides cli
-          inherit (pkgs) writeShellScriptBin;
-          inherit (pkgs.lib) foldlAttrs;
-          cli =
-            let
-              runAll = foldlAttrs (
-                acc: name: works:
-                acc + "${works.runner}/bin/run\n"
-              ) "" works;
-              runFns = foldlAttrs (
-                acc: name: works:
-                acc
-                + ''
-                  function run-${name}() {
-                    ${works.runner}/bin/run
-                  }
-                ''
-              ) "" works;
-              cleanAll = foldlAttrs (
-                acc: name: works:
-                acc + "${works.cleaner}/bin/clean\n"
-              ) "" works;
-              cleanFns = foldlAttrs (
-                acc: name: works:
-                acc
-                + ''
-                  function clean-${name}() {
-                    ${works.cleaner}/bin/clean
-                  }
-                ''
-              ) "" works;
-              names = foldlAttrs (
-                acc: name: _:
-                acc + "${name}\n"
-              ) "" works;
-            in
-            writeShellScriptBin "ides" (
-              let
-                help = ''
-                  [ides]: use "ides [action] [target]" to control services.
-                  actions: 
-                    start             synonyms: run r       
-                    - start a service
-
-                    stop              synonyms: s clean et-tu
-                    - stop a service
-
-                    restart           synonyms: qq
-                    - stop and then restart all services
-
-                    targets
-                    - print a list of available targets
-
-                    help
-                    - print this helpful information
-
-                  target names are the same as the attribute used to define a service.
-                  an empty target will execute the action on all available services.
-
-                  current targets:
-                '';
-              in
-              ''
-                function print-help() {
-                  printf '${help}'
-                  list-targets
-                }
-
-                function list-targets() {
-                  printf '${names}\n'
-                }
-
-                ${runFns}
-
-                function run-all() {
-                  ${runAll}
-                }
-
-                ${cleanFns}
-
-                function clean-all() {
-                  ${cleanAll}
-                }
-
-                function action() {
-                  action=$1
-                  if [ $# -gt 1 ]; then
-                    shift
-                    for service in "$@"; do
-                      $action-$service
-                    done
-                  else
-                    $action-all
-                  fi
-                }
-
-                case $1 in 
-                  start|run|r)
-                    shift
-                    action run $@
-                  ;;
-                  clean|stop|et-tu|s)
-                    shift
-                    action clean $@
-                  ;;
-                  restart|qq)
-                    clean-all
-                    run-all
-                  ;;
-                  targets)
-                    list-targets
-                  ;;
-                  -h|h|help|*)
-                    print-help
-                  ;;
-                esac
-              ''
-            );
-
-          # create the ides shell
-          final =
-            let
-              inherit (config._buildIdes) shellArgs;
-            in
-            shellArgs
-            // {
-              nativeBuildInputs = (shellArgs.nativeBuildInputs or [ ]) ++ [
-                cli
-              ];
-              shellHook =
-                let
-                  autoRun =
-                    if config.auto then
-                      ''
-                        ides run
-                      ''
-                    else
-                      "";
-                in
-                (shellArgs.shellHook or "")
-                + ''
-                  ides help
-                ''
-                + autoRun;
-            };
-        in
-        config._buildIdes.shellFn final;
-    };
-}
diff --git a/lib/build.nix b/lib/build.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c92f650
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/build.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,188 @@
+{
+  pkgs,
+  config,
+  ...
+}:
+{
+  config =
+    let
+      # control flow monstrosity
+      branchOnConfig =
+        cfg:
+        {
+          text,
+          file,
+          content,
+          contentFmt,
+        }:
+        if (cfg.text != "") then
+          text
+        else if (cfg.file != null) then
+          file
+        else if (cfg.content != { }) then
+          if (cfg.format != null) then
+            content
+          else if (cfg.formatter != null) then
+            contentFmt
+          else
+            throw "`format` or `formatter` must be set for `content` value ${cfg.content}!"
+        else
+          "";
+    in
+    {
+      # validate and complete the service configurations
+      _buildIdes.finalServices = builtins.mapAttrs (
+        name:
+        {
+          pkg,
+          args ? "",
+          exec ? "",
+          config,
+          path,
+          socket,
+          timer,
+        }:
+        let
+          # make our best effort to use the correct binary
+          bin = if (exec == "") then pkgs.lib.getExe pkg else pkgs.lib.getExe' pkg exec;
+          # set file extension
+          ext =
+            if (config.ext != "") || (config.format != null) then "." + (config.ext or config.format) else "";
+          # config hash for unique service names
+          cfgHash =
+            let
+              # method to hash a set
+              hashContent = builtins.hashString "sha256" (builtins.toJSON config.content);
+            in
+            branchOnConfig config {
+              text = builtins.hashString "sha256" config.text;
+              file = builtins.hashFile "sha256" config.file;
+              content = hashContent;
+              contentFmt = hashContent;
+            };
+
+          confFile =
+            let
+              writers = {
+                java = pkgs.formats.javaProperties { };
+                json = pkgs.formats.json { };
+                yaml = pkgs.formats.yaml { };
+                ini = pkgs.formats.ini { };
+                toml = pkgs.formats.toml { };
+                xml = pkgs.formats.xml { };
+                php = pkgs.formats.php { finalVariable = null; };
+              };
+              # final config name
+              confPath = "config-${name}-${cfgHash}${ext}";
+            in
+            # write out config
+            branchOnConfig config {
+              text = pkgs.writeText confPath config.text;
+              inherit (config) file;
+              content = writers.${config.format}.generate confPath config.content;
+              contentFmt = config.formatter confPath config.content;
+            };
+          # template the config path into the launch command
+          cfgArgs = builtins.replaceStrings [ "%CFG%" ] [ "${confFile}" ] args;
+          # flatten unit options into cli args
+          sdArgs =
+            let
+              inherit (pkgs.lib) foldlAttrs;
+              inherit (builtins) concatStringsSep;
+              convertToArgList =
+                prefix: name: values:
+                (map (inner: "${prefix} ${name}=${inner}") values);
+              writeArgListFor =
+                attrs: prefix:
+                if (attrs != { }) then
+                  concatStringsSep " " (
+                    foldlAttrs (
+                      acc: n: v:
+                      acc + (convertToArgList prefix n v) + " "
+                    ) "" attrs
+                  )
+                else
+                  "";
+            in
+            concatStringsSep " " [
+              (writeArgListFor socket "--socket-property")
+              (writeArgListFor path "--path-property")
+              (writeArgListFor timer "--timer-property")
+            ];
+        in
+        # transform into attrs that mkWorks expects to receive
+        {
+          inherit
+            bin
+            sdArgs
+            cfgArgs
+            ;
+          unitName = "shell-${name}-${cfgHash}";
+        }
+      ) config.serviceDefs;
+
+      # generate service scripts and create the shell
+      _buildIdes.shell =
+        let
+          # create commands to run and clean up services
+          mkWorks =
+            name:
+            {
+              unitName,
+              bin,
+              cfgArgs,
+              sdArgs,
+            }:
+            {
+              runner = pkgs.writeShellScriptBin "run" ''
+                echo "[ides]: starting ${name}.."
+                systemd-run --user -G -u ${unitName} ${sdArgs} ${bin} ${cfgArgs}
+              '';
+              cleaner = pkgs.writeShellScriptBin "clean" ''
+                echo "[ides]: stopping ${name}.."
+                systemctl --user stop ${unitName}
+              '';
+            };
+
+          works = pkgs.lib.mapAttrs (
+            name: serviceConf: mkWorks name serviceConf
+          ) config._buildIdes.finalServices;
+
+          # create the ides cli
+          cli = import ./cli.nix {
+            inherit (pkgs) writeShellScriptBin;
+            inherit (pkgs.lib) foldlAttrs;
+            inherit works;
+          };
+
+          # create the ides shell
+          final =
+            let
+              inherit (config._buildIdes) shellArgs;
+            in
+            shellArgs
+            // {
+              nativeBuildInputs = (shellArgs.nativeBuildInputs or [ ]) ++ [
+                cli
+              ];
+              shellHook =
+                let
+                  autoRun =
+                    if config.auto then
+                      ''
+                        ides run
+                      ''
+                    else
+                      "";
+                in
+                (shellArgs.shellHook or "")
+                + ''
+                  printf '[ides]: use "ides [action] [target]" to control services. type "ides help" to find out more.\n'
+                ''
+                + autoRun;
+            };
+        in
+        config._buildIdes.shellFn final;
+    };
+
+}
diff --git a/lib/cli.nix b/lib/cli.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..61251ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/cli.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+{
+  foldlAttrs,
+  writeShellScriptBin,
+  works,
+}:
+let
+  runAll = foldlAttrs (
+    acc: name: works:
+    acc + "${works.runner}/bin/run\n"
+  ) "" works;
+  runFns = foldlAttrs (
+    acc: name: works:
+    acc
+    + ''
+      function run-${name}() {
+        ${works.runner}/bin/run
+      }
+    ''
+  ) "" works;
+  cleanAll = foldlAttrs (
+    acc: name: works:
+    acc + "${works.cleaner}/bin/clean\n"
+  ) "" works;
+  cleanFns = foldlAttrs (
+    acc: name: works:
+    acc
+    + ''
+      function clean-${name}() {
+        ${works.cleaner}/bin/clean
+      }
+    ''
+  ) "" works;
+  names = foldlAttrs (
+    acc: name: _:
+    acc ++ [ name ]
+  ) [ ] works;
+  help = ''
+    [ides]: use "ides [action] [target]" to control services.
+    actions: 
+      start             synonyms: run r       
+      - start a service
+
+      stop              synonyms: s clean et-tu
+      - stop a service
+
+      restart           synonyms: qq
+      - stop and then restart all services
+
+      targets           synonyms: t
+      - print a list of available targets
+
+      help
+      - print this helpful information
+
+    target names are the same as the attribute used to define a service.
+    an empty target will execute the action on all available services.
+
+    current targets:
+  '';
+in
+writeShellScriptBin "ides" ''
+  targets=(${builtins.concatStringsSep " " names})
+
+  function print-help() {
+    printf '${help}'
+    list-targets
+  }
+
+  function list-targets() {
+    echo ''${targets[@]}
+  }
+
+  function check-target() {
+    found=1
+    for target in "''${targets[@]}"; do
+      if [ "$1" == "$target" ]; then
+        found=0
+        break
+      fi
+    done
+    printf $found
+  }
+
+  ${runFns}
+
+  function run-all() {
+    ${runAll}
+  }
+
+  ${cleanFns}
+
+  function clean-all() {
+    ${cleanAll}
+  }
+
+  function action() {
+    action=$1
+    if [[ $# -gt 1 ]]; then
+      shift
+      for service in "$@"; do
+        if [[ $(check-target $service) -eq 0 ]]; then
+          $action-$service
+        else
+          echo "[ides]: no such target: $service"
+        fi
+      done
+    else
+      $action-all
+    fi
+  }
+
+  case $1 in 
+    start|run|r)
+      shift
+      action run $@
+    ;;
+    clean|stop|et-tu|s)
+      shift
+      action clean $@
+    ;;
+    restart|qq)
+      clean-all
+      run-all
+    ;;
+    targets|t)
+      list-targets
+    ;;
+    -h|h|help|*)
+      print-help
+    ;;
+  esac
+''
diff --git a/lib/ides.nix b/lib/ides.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ae7f958
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ides.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  ...
+}:
+{
+  imports = [
+    ./options.nix
+    ./build.nix
+  ];
+}
diff --git a/lib/options.nix b/lib/options.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5a07c78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/options.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+{
+  pkgs,
+  ...
+}:
+{
+  options =
+    let
+      inherit (pkgs) lib;
+      inherit (lib) types mkOption;
+      serviceConfig =
+        with types;
+        submodule {
+          options = {
+            pkg = mkOption {
+              type = package;
+              description = "Package to use for service.";
+              example = "pkgs.caddy";
+            };
+            exec = mkOption {
+              type = str;
+              description = "Alternative executable name to use from `pkg`.";
+              example = "caddy";
+              default = "";
+            };
+            args = mkOption {
+              type = str;
+              description = "Arguments to supply to the service binary. Writing %CFG% in this will template to your config location.";
+              example = "run -c %CFG% --adapter caddyfile";
+              default = "";
+            };
+            socket = mkOption {
+              type = attrsOf (listOf str);
+              description = "List of socket options for the unit (see `man systemd.socket`) - supplied as a list due to some options allowing duplicates.";
+              example = {
+                ListenStream = [ "/run/user/1000/myapp.sock" ];
+              };
+              default = { };
+            };
+            path = mkOption {
+              type = attrsOf (listOf str);
+              description = "List of path options for the unit (see `man systemd.path`) - supplied as a list due to some options allowing duplicates.";
+              example = {
+                PathModified = [ "/some/path" ];
+              };
+              default = { };
+            };
+            timer = mkOption {
+              type = attrsOf (listOf str);
+              description = "List of timer options for the unit (see `man systemd.path`) - supplied as a list due to some options allowing duplicates.";
+              example = {
+                OnActiveSec = [ 50 ];
+              };
+              default = { };
+            };
+            config = mkOption {
+              description = "Options for setting the service's configuration.";
+              default = { };
+              type = submodule {
+                options = {
+                  text = mkOption {
+                    type = str;
+                    default = "";
+                    description = "Plaintext configuration to use.";
+                    example = ''
+                      http://*:8080 {
+                        respond "hello"
+                      }
+                    '';
+                  };
+                  ext = mkOption {
+                    type = str;
+                    default = "";
+                    description = "If your service config requires a file extension, set it here. This overrides `format`'s output path'.";
+                    example = "json";
+                  };
+                  file = mkOption {
+                    type = nullOr path;
+                    description = "Path to config file. This overrides all other values.";
+                    example = "./configs/my-config.ini";
+                    default = null;
+                  };
+                  content = mkOption {
+                    type = nullOr attrs;
+                    description = "Attributes that define your config values.";
+                    default = null;
+                    example = {
+                      this = "that";
+                    };
+                  };
+                  format = mkOption {
+                    type = nullOr (enum [
+                      "java"
+                      "json"
+                      "yaml"
+                      "toml"
+                      "ini"
+                      "xml"
+                      "php"
+                    ]);
+                    description = "Config output format.\nOne of:\n`java json yaml toml ini xml php`.";
+                    example = "json";
+                    default = null;
+                  };
+                  formatter = mkOption {
+                    type = types.anything;
+                    description = "Serialisation/writer function to apply to `content`.\n`format` will auto-apply the correct format if the option value is valid.\nShould take `path: attrs:` and return a storepath.";
+                    example = "pkgs.formats.yaml {}.generate";
+                    default = null;
+                  };
+                };
+              };
+            };
+          };
+        };
+    in
+    {
+      serviceDefs = mkOption {
+        type = types.attrsOf serviceConfig;
+        description = "Concrete service definitions, as per submodule options.\nPlease put service-related options into `options.services` instead, and use this to implement those options.";
+      };
+
+      auto = mkOption {
+        type = types.bool;
+        description = "Whether to autostart ides services at devshell instantiation.";
+        default = true;
+      };
+
+      # to prevent generating docs for this option; see https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/293510
+      _module.args = mkOption {
+        internal = true;
+      };
+
+      # for internal use
+      _buildIdes = mkOption {
+        type = types.attrs;
+        internal = true;
+      };
+    };
+
+}