diff --git a/build.rs b/build.rs
index b9f9a1c..c035671 100644
--- a/build.rs
+++ b/build.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
 	tonic_build::configure()
 		// .build_client(cfg!(feature = "client"))
-		//.build_server(cfg!(feature = "server")) // FIXME if false, build fails????
+		// .build_server(cfg!(feature = "server")) // FIXME if false, build fails????
 		// .build_transport(cfg!(feature = "transport"))
 		.compile(
 			&[
@@ -11,9 +11,10 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
 				"proto/workspace.proto",
 				"proto/buffer_service.proto",
 				"proto/cursor_service.proto",
-				"proto/workspace_service.proto"
+				"proto/workspace_service.proto",
+				"proto/auth_service.proto",
 			],
-			&["proto"]
+			&["proto"],
 		)?;
 	Ok(())
- }
\ No newline at end of file
+ }
diff --git a/proto/auth_service.proto b/proto/auth_service.proto
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4d5ef47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proto/auth_service.proto
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+syntax = "proto2";
+
+package auth_service;
+
+// authenticates users, issuing tokens
+service Auth {
+  // send credentials and join a workspace
+  rpc Login (WorkspaceJoinRequest)    returns (Token);
+}
+
+message Token {
+	required string token = 1;
+}
+
+message WorkspaceJoinRequest {
+  required string workspace_id = 1;
+  required string username = 2;
+  required string password = 3;
+}
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index c305f03..bcceca7 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -173,7 +173,8 @@ pub mod proto {
 	pub mod buffer_service { tonic::include_proto!("buffer_service"); }
 	pub mod cursor_service { tonic::include_proto!("cursor_service"); }
 	pub mod workspace_service { tonic::include_proto!("workspace_service"); }
+	pub mod auth_service { tonic::include_proto!("auth_service"); }
 }
 
 pub use errors::Error;
-pub use errors::Result;
\ No newline at end of file
+pub use errors::Result;