diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 838f969..fd90c85 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -10,30 +10,19 @@ name = "codemp"
 # core
 tracing = "0.1"
 # woot
-codemp-woot = { git = "ssh://git@github.com/codewithotherpeopleandchangenamelater/woot.git", features = ["serde"], tag = "v0.1.2", optional = true }
+codemp-woot = { git = "ssh://git@github.com/codewithotherpeopleandchangenamelater/woot.git", features = ["serde"], tag = "v0.1.2" }
 # proto
-uuid = { version = "1.3.1", features = ["v4"], optional = true }
-tonic = { version = "0.9", features = ["tls", "tls-roots"], optional = true }
-prost = { version = "0.11.8", optional = true }
+codemp-proto = { git = "ssh://git@github.com/codewithotherpeopleandchangenamelater/codemp-proto.git", tag = "v0.6.1" }
+uuid = { version = "1.7", features = ["v4"] }
+tonic = { version = "0.11.0", features = ["tls", "tls-roots"] }
 # api
-similar = { version = "2.2", features = ["inline"], optional = true }
-tokio = { version = "1.0", features = ["macros", "rt-multi-thread", "sync"], optional = true }
-async-trait = { version = "0.1", optional = true }
+similar = { version = "2.2", features = ["inline"] }
+tokio = { version = "1.0", features = ["macros", "rt-multi-thread", "sync"] }
+async-trait = { version = "0.1" }
 # client
-md5 = { version = "0.7.0", optional = true }
-serde_json = { version = "1", optional = true }
-tokio-stream = { version = "0.1", optional = true }
+md5 = { version = "0.7.0" }
+serde_json = { version = "1" }
+tokio-stream = { version = "0.1" }
 serde = { version = "1.0.193", features = ["derive"] }
-dashmap = { version = "5.5.3", optional = true }
-postcard = { version = "1.0.8", optional = true }
-
-[build-dependencies]
-tonic-build = "0.9"
-
-[features]
-default = []
-api     = ["dep:async-trait"]
-woot    = ["dep:codemp-woot", "dep:similar"]
-proto   = ["dep:prost", "dep:tonic", "dep:uuid"]
-client  = ["proto", "api", "dep:tokio", "dep:tokio-stream", "dep:uuid", "dep:md5", "dep:serde_json", "dep:dashmap", "dep:postcard"]
-server  = ["proto", "woot"]
+dashmap = { version = "5.5.3" }
+postcard = { version = "1.0.8" }
diff --git a/build.rs b/build.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index d4f38c1..0000000
--- a/build.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-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_transport(cfg!(feature = "proto"))
-		.compile(
-			&[
-				"proto/common.proto",
-				"proto/cursor.proto",
-				"proto/files.proto",
-				"proto/auth.proto",
-				"proto/workspace.proto",
-				"proto/buffer.proto",
-			],
-			&["proto"],
-		)?;
-	Ok(())
- }
diff --git a/proto/auth.proto b/proto/auth.proto
deleted file mode 100644
index 39f7a20..0000000
--- a/proto/auth.proto
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-syntax = "proto2";
-
-package auth;
-
-// authenticates users, issuing tokens
-service Auth {
-  // send credentials and join a workspace, returns ready to use token
-  rpc Login (WorkspaceJoinRequest)    returns (Token);
-}
-
-message Token {
-	required string token = 1;
-}
-
-// TODO one-request-to-do-it-all from login to workspace access
-message WorkspaceJoinRequest {
-  required string username = 1;
-  required string password = 2;
-  optional string workspace_id = 3;
-}
diff --git a/proto/buffer.proto b/proto/buffer.proto
deleted file mode 100644
index e018440..0000000
--- a/proto/buffer.proto
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-syntax = "proto2";
-
-import "common.proto";
-
-package buffer;
-
-// handle buffer changes, keep in sync users
-service Buffer {
-  // attach to a buffer and receive operations
-  rpc Attach (stream Operation) returns (stream BufferEvent);
-}
-
-message Operation {
-  required bytes data = 1;
-}
-
-message BufferEvent {
-	required Operation op = 1;
-	required common.Identity user = 2;
-}
diff --git a/proto/common.proto b/proto/common.proto
deleted file mode 100644
index 6b7ce31..0000000
--- a/proto/common.proto
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-syntax = "proto2";
-
-package common;
-
-
-// a wrapper payload representing an uuid
-message Identity {
-	// uuid bytes, as string
-	required string id = 1;
-}
-
-// a collection of identities
-message IdentityList {
-	repeated Identity users = 1;
-}
-
-//generic Empty message
-message Empty { }
diff --git a/proto/cursor.proto b/proto/cursor.proto
deleted file mode 100644
index 0b4861b..0000000
--- a/proto/cursor.proto
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,36 +0,0 @@
-syntax = "proto2";
-
-package cursor;
-import "common.proto";
-import "files.proto";
-
-// handle cursor events and broadcast to all users
-service Cursor {
-	// subscribe to a workspace's cursor events
-	rpc Attach (stream cursor.CursorPosition) returns (stream cursor.CursorEvent);
-}
-
-
-// a tuple indicating row and column
-message RowCol {
-	required int32 row = 1;
-	required int32 col = 2;
-}
-
-// cursor position object
-message CursorPosition {
-	// path of current buffer this cursor is into
-	required files.BufferNode buffer = 1;
-	// cursor start position
-	required RowCol start = 2;
-	// cursor end position
-	required RowCol end = 3;
-}
-
-// cursor event, with user id and cursor position
-message CursorEvent {
-	// user moving the cursor
-	required common.Identity user = 1;
-	// new cursor position
-	required CursorPosition position = 2;
-}
diff --git a/proto/files.proto b/proto/files.proto
deleted file mode 100644
index 5df3461..0000000
--- a/proto/files.proto
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-syntax = "proto2";
-
-package files;
-
-message BufferNode {
-	required string path = 1;
-}
-
-message BufferTree {
-	repeated BufferNode buffers = 1;
-}
diff --git a/proto/workspace.proto b/proto/workspace.proto
deleted file mode 100644
index 26eaa04..0000000
--- a/proto/workspace.proto
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,54 +0,0 @@
-syntax = "proto2";
-
-package workspace;
-
-import "common.proto";
-import "files.proto";
-import "auth.proto";
-
-service Workspace {
-	rpc Attach (common.Empty) returns (stream WorkspaceEvent);
-	
-	rpc CreateBuffer (files.BufferNode) returns (common.Empty);
-	rpc AccessBuffer (files.BufferNode) returns (BufferCredentials);
-	rpc DeleteBuffer (files.BufferNode) returns (common.Empty);
-
-	rpc ListBuffers (common.Empty) returns (files.BufferTree); 
-	rpc ListUsers (common.Empty) returns (common.IdentityList);
-	rpc ListBufferUsers (files.BufferNode) returns (common.IdentityList);
-}
-
-message WorkspaceEvent {
-	message UserJoin {
-		required common.Identity user = 1;
-	}
-	message UserLeave {
-		required common.Identity user = 1;
-	}
-	message FileCreate {
-		required string path = 1;
-	}
-	message FileRename {
-		required string before = 1;
-		required string after = 2;
-	}
-	message FileDelete {
-		required string path = 1;
-	}
-
-	oneof event {
-		UserJoin join = 1;
-		UserLeave leave = 2;
-		FileCreate create = 3;
-		FileRename rename = 4;
-		FileDelete delete = 5;
-	}
-}
-
-// TODO this is very ugly because we can't just return a new token (which is already smelly but whatev), we also need to tell the underlying id so that
-//      the client can put it as metadata while attaching, because it can't really know the underlying id that the server is using for each buffer without
-//      parsing the token itself. meehhhhhh, this bleeds underlying implementation to the upper levels, how can we avoid this??
-message BufferCredentials {
-	required common.Identity id = 1;
-	required auth.Token token = 2;
-}
diff --git a/src/api/change.rs b/src/api/change.rs
index c04e18d..b5ece0d 100644
--- a/src/api/change.rs
+++ b/src/api/change.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 //! an editor-friendly representation of a text change in a buffer
 //! to easily interface with codemp from various editors
 
-#[cfg(feature = "woot")]
 use crate::woot::{WootResult, woot::Woot, crdt::{TextEditor, CRDT, Op}};
 
 /// an editor-friendly representation of a text change in a buffer
@@ -30,7 +29,6 @@ pub struct TextChange {
 }
 
 impl TextChange {
-	#[cfg(feature = "woot")]
 	/// create a new TextChange from the difference of given strings
 	pub fn from_diff(before: &str, after: &str) -> TextChange {
 		let diff = similar::TextDiff::from_chars(before, after);
@@ -61,7 +59,6 @@ impl TextChange {
 		}
 	}
 
-	#[cfg(feature = "woot")]
 	/// consume the [TextChange], transforming it into a Vec of [woot::crdt::Op]
 	pub fn transform(self, woot: &Woot) -> WootResult<Vec<Op>> {
 		let mut out = Vec::new();
@@ -114,12 +111,11 @@ impl TextChange {
 
 	/// convert from byte index to row and column
 	/// txt must be the whole content of the buffer, in order to count lines
-	#[cfg(feature = "proto")]
-	pub fn index_to_rowcol(txt: &str, index: usize) -> crate::proto::cursor::RowCol {
+	pub fn index_to_rowcol(txt: &str, index: usize) -> codemp_proto::cursor::RowCol {
 		// FIXME might panic, use .get()
 		let row = txt[..index].matches('\n').count() as i32;
 		let col = txt[..index].split('\n').last().unwrap_or("").len() as i32;
-		crate::proto::cursor::RowCol { row, col }
+		codemp_proto::cursor::RowCol { row, col }
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/buffer/worker.rs b/src/buffer/worker.rs
index e98ea7c..297c3e1 100644
--- a/src/buffer/worker.rs
+++ b/src/buffer/worker.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use woot::woot::Woot;
 use crate::errors::IgnorableError;
 use crate::api::controller::ControllerWorker;
 use crate::api::TextChange;
-use crate::proto::buffer::{BufferEvent, Operation};
+use codemp_proto::buffer::{BufferEvent, Operation};
 
 use super::controller::BufferController;
 
diff --git a/src/client.rs b/src/client.rs
index beb5c26..1f6c361 100644
--- a/src/client.rs
+++ b/src/client.rs
@@ -12,17 +12,17 @@ use tonic::transport::{Channel, Endpoint};
 use tonic::IntoRequest;
 use uuid::Uuid;
 
-use crate::proto::auth::auth_client::AuthClient;
+use codemp_proto::auth::auth_client::AuthClient;
+use codemp_proto::{
+	common::Empty,
+	buffer::buffer_client::BufferClient,
+	cursor::cursor_client::CursorClient,
+	auth::{Token, WorkspaceJoinRequest},
+	workspace::workspace_client::WorkspaceClient,
+};
 use crate::{
 	api::controller::ControllerWorker,
 	cursor::worker::CursorWorker,
-	proto::{
-		common::Empty,
-		buffer::buffer_client::BufferClient,
-		cursor::cursor_client::CursorClient,
-		auth::{Token, WorkspaceJoinRequest},
-		workspace::workspace_client::WorkspaceClient,
-	},
 	workspace::Workspace
 };
 
diff --git a/src/cursor/controller.rs b/src/cursor/controller.rs
index a959b1a..5cc583d 100644
--- a/src/cursor/controller.rs
+++ b/src/cursor/controller.rs
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 use tokio::sync::{mpsc, broadcast::{self, error::{TryRecvError, RecvError}}, Mutex, watch};
 use tonic::async_trait;
 
-use crate::{api::Controller, errors::IgnorableError, proto::cursor::{CursorEvent, CursorPosition}};
-
+use crate::{api::Controller, errors::IgnorableError};
+use codemp_proto::cursor::{CursorEvent, CursorPosition};
 /// the cursor controller implementation
 ///
 /// this contains
diff --git a/src/cursor/mod.rs b/src/cursor/mod.rs
index 59d68f3..ed318dc 100644
--- a/src/cursor/mod.rs
+++ b/src/cursor/mod.rs
@@ -11,27 +11,3 @@ pub(crate) mod worker;
 pub mod controller;
 
 pub use controller::CursorController as Controller;
-
-use crate::proto::cursor::RowCol;
-
-impl From::<RowCol> for (i32, i32) {
-	fn from(pos: RowCol) -> (i32, i32) {
-		(pos.row, pos.col)
-	}
-}
-
-impl From::<(i32, i32)> for RowCol {
-	fn from((row, col): (i32, i32)) -> Self {
-		RowCol { row, col }
-	}
-}
-
-impl PartialOrd for RowCol {
-	fn partial_cmp(&self, other: &Self) -> Option<std::cmp::Ordering> {
-		match self.row.partial_cmp(&other.row) {
-			Some(core::cmp::Ordering::Equal) => {}
-			ord => return ord,
-		}
-		self.col.partial_cmp(&other.col)
-	}
-}
diff --git a/src/cursor/worker.rs b/src/cursor/worker.rs
index 3f45dfc..268665d 100644
--- a/src/cursor/worker.rs
+++ b/src/cursor/worker.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 use tokio::sync::{mpsc, broadcast::{self}, Mutex, watch};
 use tonic::{Streaming, async_trait};
 
-use crate::{api::controller::ControllerWorker, errors::IgnorableError, proto::cursor::{CursorPosition, CursorEvent}};
+use crate::{api::controller::ControllerWorker, errors::IgnorableError};
+use codemp_proto::cursor::{CursorPosition, CursorEvent};
 
 use super::controller::CursorController;
 
diff --git a/src/errors.rs b/src/errors.rs
index ac4d616..f4ded8a 100644
--- a/src/errors.rs
+++ b/src/errors.rs
@@ -82,7 +82,6 @@ impl Display for Error {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "client")]
 impl From<tonic::Status> for Error {
 	fn from(status: tonic::Status) -> Self {
 		Error::Transport {
@@ -92,7 +91,6 @@ impl From<tonic::Status> for Error {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "client")]
 impl From<tonic::transport::Error> for Error {
 	fn from(err: tonic::transport::Error) -> Self {
 		Error::Transport {
@@ -102,28 +100,24 @@ impl From<tonic::transport::Error> for Error {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "client")]
 impl<T> From<tokio::sync::mpsc::error::SendError<T>> for Error {
 	fn from(_value: tokio::sync::mpsc::error::SendError<T>) -> Self {
 		Error::Channel { send: true }
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "client")]
 impl<T> From<tokio::sync::watch::error::SendError<T>> for Error {
 	fn from(_value: tokio::sync::watch::error::SendError<T>) -> Self {
 		Error::Channel { send: true }
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "client")]
 impl From<tokio::sync::broadcast::error::RecvError> for Error {
 	fn from(_value: tokio::sync::broadcast::error::RecvError) -> Self {
 		Error::Channel { send: false }
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "client")]
 impl From<tokio::sync::watch::error::RecvError> for Error {
 	fn from(_value: tokio::sync::watch::error::RecvError) -> Self {
 		Error::Channel { send: false }
diff --git a/src/instance.rs b/src/instance.rs
index 90397b4..2299738 100644
--- a/src/instance.rs
+++ b/src/instance.rs
@@ -5,22 +5,18 @@
 //! the global instance reference is immutable and lazy-loaded, and requires `global` feature.
 
 /// static global instance, allocated only if feature `global` is active
-#[cfg(feature = "global")]
 pub mod global {
-	#[cfg(not(feature = "sync"))]
 	lazy_static::lazy_static! {
 		/// the global instance of codemp session
 		pub static ref INSTANCE : super::a_sync::Instance = super::a_sync::Instance::default();
 	}
 
-	#[cfg(feature = "sync")]
 	lazy_static::lazy_static! {
 		/// the global instance of codemp session
 		pub static ref INSTANCE : super::sync::Instance = super::sync::Instance::default();
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "global")]
 pub use global::INSTANCE;
 
 /// async implementation of session instance
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 5421e05..7cd9c06 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -116,105 +116,33 @@
 
 #![doc(html_no_source)]
 
-
 /// public traits exposed to clients
-#[cfg(feature = "api")]
 pub mod api;
 
 /// cursor related types and controller
-#[cfg(feature = "client")]
 pub mod cursor;
 
 /// buffer operations, factory, controller and types
-#[cfg(feature = "client")]
 pub mod buffer;
 
 /// crate error types and helpers
 pub mod errors;
 
 /// underlying client session manager
-#[cfg(feature = "client")]
 pub mod client;
 
 /// workspace operations
-#[cfg(feature = "client")]
 pub mod workspace;
 
 /// all-in-one imports : `use codemp::prelude::*;`
 pub mod prelude;
 
 /// underlying OperationalTransform library used, re-exported
-#[cfg(feature = "woot")]
 pub use woot;
 
-/// protocol types and services auto-generated by grpc
-#[cfg(feature = "proto")]
-#[allow(non_snake_case)]
-pub mod proto {
-	pub mod common {
-		tonic::include_proto!("common");
-
-		impl From<uuid::Uuid> for Identity {
-			fn from(id: uuid::Uuid) -> Self {
-				Identity { id: id.to_string() }
-			}
-		}
-
-		impl From<&uuid::Uuid> for Identity {
-			fn from(id: &uuid::Uuid) -> Self {
-				Identity { id: id.to_string() }
-			}
-		}
-	
-		impl From<Identity> for uuid::Uuid {
-			fn from(value: Identity) -> Self {
-				uuid::Uuid::parse_str(&value.id).expect("invalid uuid in identity")
-			}
-		}
-
-		impl From<&Identity> for uuid::Uuid {
-			fn from(value: &Identity) -> Self {
-				uuid::Uuid::parse_str(&value.id).expect("invalid uuid in identity")
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-
-	pub mod files {
-		tonic::include_proto!("files");
-
-		impl From<String> for BufferNode {
-			fn from(value: String) -> Self {
-				BufferNode { path: value }
-			}
-		}
-
-		impl From<&str> for BufferNode {
-			fn from(value: &str) -> Self {
-				BufferNode { path: value.to_string() }
-			}
-		}
-
-		impl From<BufferNode> for String {
-			fn from(value: BufferNode) -> Self {
-				value.path
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	pub mod buffer { tonic::include_proto!("buffer"); }
-	pub mod cursor { tonic::include_proto!("cursor"); }
-	pub mod workspace { tonic::include_proto!("workspace"); }
-	pub mod auth { tonic::include_proto!("auth"); }
-}
-
 pub use errors::Error;
 pub use errors::Result;
 
-#[cfg(feature = "client")]
 pub use client::Client;
 
-#[cfg(feature = "client")]
 pub use workspace::Workspace;
-
-
diff --git a/src/prelude.rs b/src/prelude.rs
index c01864c..30e46ab 100644
--- a/src/prelude.rs
+++ b/src/prelude.rs
@@ -7,16 +7,13 @@ pub use crate::{
 	Result as CodempResult,
 };
 
-#[cfg(feature = "woot")]
 pub use	crate::woot::crdt::Op as CodempOp;
 
-#[cfg(feature = "api")]
 pub use crate::api::{
 	Controller as CodempController,
 	TextChange as CodempTextChange,
 };
 	
-#[cfg(feature = "client")]
 pub use crate::{
 	// Instance as CodempInstance,
 	client::Client as CodempClient,
@@ -25,10 +22,3 @@ pub use crate::{
 	cursor::Controller as CodempCursorController,
 	buffer::Controller as CodempBufferController,
 };
-
-#[cfg(feature = "proto")]
-pub use crate::{
-	proto::cursor::CursorPosition as CodempCursorPosition,
-	proto::cursor::CursorEvent as CodempCursorEvent,
-	proto::cursor::RowCol as CodempRowCol,
-};
diff --git a/src/workspace.rs b/src/workspace.rs
index 9c42b23..7f141b7 100644
--- a/src/workspace.rs
+++ b/src/workspace.rs
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ use tonic::Streaming;
 use uuid::Uuid;
 use crate::{
 	api::controller::ControllerWorker, buffer::{self, worker::BufferWorker}, client::Services, cursor,
-	proto::{auth::Token, common::{Identity, Empty}, files::BufferNode, workspace::{WorkspaceEvent, workspace_event::{Event as WorkspaceEventInner, FileCreate, FileDelete, FileRename, UserJoin, UserLeave}}}
 };
+use codemp_proto::{auth::Token, common::{Identity, Empty}, files::BufferNode, workspace::{WorkspaceEvent, workspace_event::{Event as WorkspaceEventInner, FileCreate, FileDelete, FileRename, UserJoin, UserLeave}}};
 
 //TODO may contain more info in the future
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]