diff --git a/Readme.md b/Readme.md
index d2dc393..e26fe09 100644
--- a/Readme.md
+++ b/Readme.md
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ Basically, this is supposed to be a modernized BBS for radio,
 but with clients and servers exchanging binary messages 
 (which can be compressed automatically) rather than human-typed text.
 
+Right now, it will use ax25 connected sessions through AGWPE, 
+though I make add an unconnected protocol using UI later on..
+
 I'm planning several features like:
 
 - automatic compression for all RF communication
@@ -11,7 +14,7 @@ I'm planning several features like:
 - RF beacon
 - administration over RF
 - object storage/retrieval
-- running user-scripts scripts or shell commands on the server in containers with podman/docker
+- running user-defined scripts or shell commands on the server in containers with podman/docker
 - possibly a cron system (again in containers for safety)
 - maybe an e-mail or an sms gateway (though clever user uploaded scripts could do this instead)
 - maybe APRS integration through APRS-IS
diff --git a/src/packetserver/common/__init__.py b/src/packetserver/common/__init__.py
index 438c837..7cff2b5 100644
--- a/src/packetserver/common/__init__.py
+++ b/src/packetserver/common/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 from pe.connect import Connection
 from threading import Lock
 from msgpack import Unpacker
+from msgpack import packb, unpackb
+from enum import Enum
+import bz2
+from typing import Union, Self
 
 
 class PacketServerConnection(Connection):
@@ -32,3 +36,207 @@ class PacketServerConnection(Connection):
     def query_accept(cls, port, call_from, call_to):
         return True
 
+
+class Message:
+    """Base class for communication encapsulated in msgpack objects."""
+
+    class CompressionType(Enum):
+        NONE = 0
+        BZIP2 = 1
+        GZIP = 2
+        DEFLATE = 3
+
+    class MessageType(Enum):
+        REQUEST = 0
+        RESPONSE = 1
+
+    def __init__(self, msg_type: MessageType, compression: CompressionType,  payload: dict):
+        self.type = Message.MessageType(msg_type)
+        self.compression = Message.CompressionType(compression)
+        self.data = payload
+
+    @property
+    def vars(self) -> dict:
+        if 'v' in self.data:
+            if type(self.data['v']) is dict:
+                return self.data['v']
+        return {}
+
+    def get_var(self, key: str):
+        if 'v' not in self.data:
+            raise KeyError(f"Variable '{key}' not found.")
+        if str(key) not in self.data['v']:
+            raise KeyError(f"Variable '{key}' not found.")
+        return self.data['v'][str(key)]
+
+    def set_var(self, key: str, value):
+        if 'v' not in self.data:
+            self.data['v'] = {}
+        self.data['v'][str(key)] = value
+
+    @property
+    def data_bytes(self):
+        return packb(self.data)
+
+    def pack(self) -> bytes:
+        output = {'t': self.type.value, 'c': self.compression.value}
+        data_bytes = self.data_bytes
+
+        if (self.compression is self.CompressionType.NONE) or (len(data_bytes) < 30):
+            output['d'] = data_bytes
+            return packb(output)
+
+        if self.compression is self.CompressionType.BZIP2:
+            compressed = bz2.compress(packb(self.data))
+        else:
+            raise NotImplementedError(f"Compression type {self.compression.name} is not implemented yet.")
+
+        if len(compressed) < len(data_bytes):
+            output['d'] = compressed
+        else:
+            output['d'] = data_bytes
+            output['c'] = self.CompressionType.NONE.value
+        return packb(output)
+
+    @property
+    def payload(self):
+        if 'd' in self.data:
+            pl = self.data['d']
+            if type(pl) in (dict, str, bytes):
+                return pl
+            else:
+                return str(pl)
+        else:
+            return ""
+
+    @payload.setter
+    def payload(self, payload: Union[str, bytes, dict]):
+        if type(payload) in (str, bytes, dict):
+            self.data['d'] = payload
+        else:
+            self.data['d'] = str(payload)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def unpack(cls, msg_bytes: bytes) -> Self:
+        try:
+            unpacked = unpackb(msg_bytes)
+        except Exception as e:
+            raise ValueError("ERROR: msg_bytes didn't contain a valid msgpack object.\n" + str(e))
+        for i in ('t', 'c', 'd'):
+            if i not in unpacked:
+                raise ValueError("ERROR: unpacked bytes do not contain a valid Message object.")
+
+        comp = Message.CompressionType(unpacked['c'])
+        msg_type = Message.MessageType(unpacked['t'])
+        raw_data = unpacked['d']
+
+        if comp is Message.CompressionType.NONE:
+            data = unpackb(raw_data)
+        elif comp is Message.CompressionType.BZIP2:
+            data = unpackb(bz2.decompress(raw_data))
+        else:
+            raise NotImplementedError(f"Compression type {comp.name} is not implemented yet.")
+        return Message(msg_type, comp, data)
+
+class Request(Message):
+    class Method(Enum):
+        GET = 0
+        POST = 1
+        UPDATE = 2
+        DELETE = 3
+
+    def __init__(self, msg: Message):
+        if msg.type is not Message.MessageType.REQUEST:
+            raise ValueError(f"Can't create a Request Object from a {msg.type} Message object.")
+
+        super().__init__(msg.type, msg.compression, msg.data)
+
+        if ('p' in msg.data) and (type(msg.data['p']) is not str):
+            raise ValueError("Path of Request must be a string.")
+
+        if 'm' in msg.data:
+            if type(msg.data['m']) is not bytes:
+                raise ValueError("Method of Request must be bytes.")
+            self.Method(int(self.data['m'][0]))
+
+    @property
+    def path(self):
+        if 'p' in self.data:
+            return str(self.data['p'])
+        else:
+            return ""
+
+    @path.setter
+    def path(self, path: str):
+        self.data['p'] = str(path.strip())
+
+    @property
+    def method(self) -> Method:
+        if 'm' in self.data:
+            return self.Method(int(self.data['m'][0]))
+        else:
+            return self.Method.GET
+
+    @method.setter
+    def method(self, meth: Method):
+        meth = self.Method(meth)
+        self.data['m'] = meth.value.to_bytes(1)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def unpack(cls, msg_bytes: bytes) -> Self:
+        msg = super().unpack(msg_bytes)
+        return Request(msg)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def blank(cls) -> Self:
+        msg = Message(Message.MessageType.REQUEST, Message.CompressionType.NONE, {})
+        return Request(msg)
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return f"<Request: {self.method.name} '{self.path}'>"
+
+class Response(Message):
+    def __init__(self, msg: Message):
+        if msg.type is not Message.MessageType.RESPONSE:
+            raise ValueError(f"Can't create a Response Object from a {msg.type} Message object.")
+
+        super().__init__(msg.type, msg.compression, msg.data)
+        if 'c' in msg.data:
+            status_bytes = self.data['c']
+            if type(status_bytes) is not bytes:
+                raise ValueError("Invalid Response data")
+            status_code = int.from_bytes(status_bytes)
+            if status_code >= 600:
+                raise ValueError("Invalid status code.")
+
+    @classmethod
+    def unpack(cls, msg_bytes: bytes) -> Self:
+        msg = super().unpack(msg_bytes)
+        return Response(msg)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def blank(cls) -> Self:
+        msg = Message(Message.MessageType.RESPONSE, Message.CompressionType.NONE, {})
+        return Response(msg)
+
+    @property
+    def status_code(self) -> int:
+        if 'c' in self.data:
+            status_bytes = self.data['c']
+            if type(status_bytes) is not bytes:
+                raise ValueError("Invalid Response data")
+            status_code = int.from_bytes(status_bytes)
+            if status_code >= 600:
+                raise ValueError("Invalid status code.")
+            return status_code
+        else:
+            return 200
+
+    @status_code.setter
+    def status_code(self, code: int):
+        if (code <= 0) or (code >= 600):
+            raise ValueError("Status must be a positive integer <= 600")
+        self.data['c'] = code.to_bytes(2)
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return f"<Response: {self.status_code}>"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/packetserver/server/__init__.py b/src/packetserver/server/__init__.py
index d0121ce..a24c8ac 100644
--- a/src/packetserver/server/__init__.py
+++ b/src/packetserver/server/__init__.py
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 import pe
 from ..common import PacketServerConnection
 import ax25
-from configparser import ConfigParser
 from pathlib import Path
-import ZODB, transaction
+import ZODB, transaction, ZODB.FileStorage
 
 class Server:
     def __init__(self, pe_server: str, port: int, server_callsign: str, data_dir: str = None):
@@ -13,8 +12,27 @@ class Server:
         self.pe_server = pe_server
         self.pe_port = port
         if data_dir:
-            if Path.is_dir(data_dir):
+            data_path = Path(data_dir)
+        else:
+            data_path = Path.home().joinpath(".packetserver")
+        if data_path.is_dir():
+            if data_path.joinpath("data.zopedb").exists():
+                if not data_path.joinpath("data.zopedb").is_file():
+                    raise FileExistsError("data.zopedb exists as non-file in specified path")
+            self.home_dir = data_dir
+        else:
+            if data_path.exists():
+                raise FileExistsError(f"Non-Directory path '{data_dir}' already exists.")
+            else:
+                data_path.mkdir()
                 self.home_dir = data_dir
+        self.storage = ZODB.FileStorage.FileStorage(self.data_file)
+        self.db = ZODB.DB(self.storage)
+
+
+    @property
+    def data_file(self) -> str:
+        return str(Path(self.home_dir).joinpath('data.zopedb'))
 
 
     def server_receiver(self, conn: PacketServerConnection):