diff --git a/classes/UUID.gd b/classes/UUID.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c03281a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/classes/UUID.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+# MIT License
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2023 Xavier Sellier
+#
+# Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+# of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+# in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+# to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+# copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+# furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+#
+# The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+# copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+#
+# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+# IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+# FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+# AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+# LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+# OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
+# SOFTWARE.
+
+# Note: The code might not be as pretty it could be, since it's written
+# in a way that maximizes performance. Methods are inlined and loops are avoided.
+class_name UUID
+const BYTE_MASK: int = 0b11111111
+
+
+static func uuidbin() -> Array:
+  randomize()
+  # 16 random bytes with the bytes on index 6 and 8 modified
+  return [
+	randi() & BYTE_MASK, randi() & BYTE_MASK, randi() & BYTE_MASK, randi() & BYTE_MASK,
+	randi() & BYTE_MASK, randi() & BYTE_MASK, ((randi() & BYTE_MASK) & 0x0f) | 0x40, randi() & BYTE_MASK,
+	((randi() & BYTE_MASK) & 0x3f) | 0x80, randi() & BYTE_MASK, randi() & BYTE_MASK, randi() & BYTE_MASK,
+	randi() & BYTE_MASK, randi() & BYTE_MASK, randi() & BYTE_MASK, randi() & BYTE_MASK,
+  ]
+
+static func uuidbinrng(rng: RandomNumberGenerator) -> Array:
+  rng.randomize()
+  return [
+	rng.randi() & BYTE_MASK, rng.randi() & BYTE_MASK, rng.randi() & BYTE_MASK, rng.randi() & BYTE_MASK,
+	rng.randi() & BYTE_MASK, rng.randi() & BYTE_MASK, ((rng.randi() & BYTE_MASK) & 0x0f) | 0x40, rng.randi() & BYTE_MASK,
+	((rng.randi() & BYTE_MASK) & 0x3f) | 0x80, rng.randi() & BYTE_MASK, rng.randi() & BYTE_MASK, rng.randi() & BYTE_MASK,
+	rng.randi() & BYTE_MASK, rng.randi() & BYTE_MASK, rng.randi() & BYTE_MASK, rng.randi() & BYTE_MASK,
+  ]
+
+static func v4() -> String:
+  # 16 random bytes with the bytes on index 6 and 8 modified
+  var b = uuidbin()
+
+  return '%02x%02x%02x%02x-%02x%02x-%02x%02x-%02x%02x-%02x%02x%02x%02x%02x%02x' % [
+	# low
+	b[0], b[1], b[2], b[3],
+
+	# mid
+	b[4], b[5],
+
+	# hi
+	b[6], b[7],
+
+	# clock
+	b[8], b[9],
+
+	# clock
+	b[10], b[11], b[12], b[13], b[14], b[15]
+  ]
+
+static func v4_rng(rng: RandomNumberGenerator) -> String:
+  # 16 random bytes with the bytes on index 6 and 8 modified
+  var b = uuidbinrng(rng)
+
+  return '%02x%02x%02x%02x-%02x%02x-%02x%02x-%02x%02x-%02x%02x%02x%02x%02x%02x' % [
+	# low
+	b[0], b[1], b[2], b[3],
+
+	# mid
+	b[4], b[5],
+
+	# hi
+	b[6], b[7],
+
+	# clock
+	b[8], b[9],
+
+	# clock
+	b[10], b[11], b[12], b[13], b[14], b[15]
+	]
diff --git a/classes/deck/deck.gd b/classes/deck/deck.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f32ef42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/classes/deck/deck.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+class_name Deck
+
+var nodes: Dictionary
+
+enum Types{
+	ERROR = -1,
+	BOOL,
+	NUMERIC,
+	STRING,
+	ARRAY,
+	DICTIONARY,
+}
+
+
+static var type_assoc: Dictionary = {
+	Types.ERROR: DeckType.DeckTypeError,
+	Types.BOOL: DeckType.DeckTypeBool,
+	Types.NUMERIC: DeckType.DeckTypeNumeric,
+	Types.STRING: DeckType.DeckTypeString,
+	Types.ARRAY: DeckType.DeckTypeArray,
+	Types.DICTIONARY: DeckType.DeckTypeDictionary,
+}
+
+
+
+func add_node(node: GDScript, meta: Dictionary = {}) -> DeckNode:
+	# TODO: accept instances of DeckNode instead of instancing here?
+	var uuid := UUID.v4()
+	var node_inst: DeckNode = node.new() as DeckNode
+	nodes[uuid] = node_inst
+	node_inst._belonging_to = self
+	node_inst._id = uuid
+
+	if !meta.is_empty():
+		for k in meta:
+			node_inst.set_meta(k, meta[k])
+
+	return node_inst
+
+
+func get_node(uuid: String) -> DeckNode:
+	return nodes.get(uuid)
+
+
+func connect_nodes(from_node: DeckNode, to_node: DeckNode, from_port: int, to_port: int) -> bool:
+	# first, check that we can do the type conversion.
+	var type_a: Types = from_node.input_ports[from_port].type
+	var type_b: Types = to_node.output_ports[to_port].type
+	var err: DeckType = (type_assoc[type_b] as GDScript).from(type_assoc[type_a])
+	if err is DeckType.DeckTypeError:
+		print(err.error_message)
+		return false
+
+	# TODO: prevent duplicate connections
+
+	from_node.add_outgoing_connection(from_port, to_node._id, to_port)
+	return true
diff --git a/classes/deck/deck_node.gd b/classes/deck/deck_node.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..62f0ab6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/classes/deck/deck_node.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+class_name DeckNode
+
+var name: String
+var input_ports: Array[Port]
+var output_ports: Array[Port]
+var outgoing_connections: Dictionary
+
+var _belonging_to: Deck
+var _id: String
+
+
+func add_input_port(type: Deck.Types, label: String, descriptor: String = "") -> void:
+	var port := Port.new(type, label, descriptor)
+	input_ports.append(port)
+
+
+func add_output_port(type: Deck.Types, label: String, descriptor: String = "") -> void:
+	var port := Port.new(type, label, descriptor)
+	output_ports.append(port)
+
+
+func send(from_port: int, data: DeckType, extra_data: Array = []) -> void:
+	if !(outgoing_connections.get(from_port)):
+		return
+
+	for connection in outgoing_connections[from_port]:
+		connection = connection as Dictionary
+		# key is node uuid
+		# value is input port on destination node
+		for node in connection:
+			_belonging_to.get_node(node)._receive(connection[node], data, extra_data)
+
+
+func _receive(to_port: int, data: DeckType, extra_data: Array = []) -> void:
+	pass
+
+
+func add_outgoing_connection(from_port: int, to_node: String, to_port: int) -> void:
+	var port_connections: Array = outgoing_connections.get(from_port, [])
+	port_connections.append({to_node: to_port})
+	outgoing_connections[from_port] = port_connections
diff --git a/classes/deck/nodes/button.gd b/classes/deck/nodes/button.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8b6bd03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/classes/deck/nodes/button.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+extends DeckNode
+
+
+func _init() -> void:
+	add_output_port(
+		Deck.Types.STRING,
+		"Press me",
+		"button"
+	)
+
+	name = "Button"
diff --git a/classes/deck/nodes/print.gd b/classes/deck/nodes/print.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eaf3aae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/classes/deck/nodes/print.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+extends DeckNode
+
+
+func _init() -> void:
+	add_input_port(
+		Deck.Types.STRING,
+		"Input",
+		"field"
+	)
+
+	name = "Print"
+
+
+func _receive(_to_port: int, data: DeckType, extra_data: Array = []) -> void:
+	# we only have one port, so we can skip checking which port we received on
+	var data_to_print = data.get_value()
+	print(data_to_print)
+	print("extra data: ", extra_data)
diff --git a/classes/deck/port.gd b/classes/deck/port.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..258ae10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/classes/deck/port.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+class_name Port
+
+var type: Deck.Types
+var label: String
+var descriptor: String
+
+
+func _init(p_type: Deck.Types, p_label: String, p_descriptor: String = "") -> void:
+	type = p_type
+	label = p_label
+	descriptor = p_descriptor
diff --git a/classes/types/deck_type.gd b/classes/types/deck_type.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..da7e437
--- /dev/null
+++ b/classes/types/deck_type.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+class_name DeckType
+
+var _value: Variant
+var _success: bool = true
+
+
+func is_valid() -> bool:
+	return _success
+
+
+func get_value() -> Variant:
+	return _value
+
+
+static func from(other: DeckType):
+	return null
+
+
+class DeckTypeError extends DeckType:
+	var error_message: String
+
+
+	func _init(p_error_message: String = ""):
+		_value = self
+		_success = false
+
+		error_message = p_error_message
+
+
+	static func from(other: DeckType) -> DeckTypeError:
+		return DeckTypeError.new()
+
+
+class DeckTypeNumeric extends DeckType:
+	static func from(other: DeckType):
+		if other is DeckTypeNumeric:
+			return other
+
+		if other is DeckTypeString:
+			if (other.get_value() as String).is_valid_float():
+				var value: float = float(other.get_value() as String)
+				var inst := DeckTypeNumeric.new()
+				inst._value = value
+				return inst
+			else:
+				var err: DeckTypeError = DeckTypeError.from(other)
+				err.error_message = "Conversion from String to Numeric failed, check the number"
+				return err
+
+		if other is DeckTypeBool:
+			var inst := DeckTypeNumeric.new()
+			inst._value = float(other.get_value() as bool)
+			return inst
+
+		var err: DeckTypeError = DeckTypeError.from(other)
+		err.error_message = "Conversion to Numeric is only possible from String or Bool."
+		return err
+
+
+class DeckTypeString extends DeckType:
+	static func from(other: DeckType):
+		if other is DeckTypeString:
+			return other
+
+		var inst := DeckTypeString.new()
+		inst._value = var_to_str(other.get_value())
+
+
+class DeckTypeBool extends DeckType:
+	static func from(other: DeckType):
+		if other is DeckTypeBool:
+			return other
+
+		if other is DeckTypeNumeric:
+			var inst := DeckTypeBool.new()
+			inst._value = bool(other.get_value())
+			return inst
+
+		if other is DeckTypeDictionary or other is DeckTypeArray:
+			var inst := DeckTypeBool.new()
+			inst._value = !other.get_value().is_empty()
+			return inst
+
+
+class DeckTypeArray extends DeckType:
+	static func from(other: DeckType):
+		if other is DeckTypeString:
+			var inst := DeckTypeArray.new()
+			inst._value = str_to_var(other.get_value())
+			return inst
+
+		var err: DeckTypeError = DeckTypeError.from(other)
+		err.error_message = "conversions to Array is only possible from String"
+		return err
+
+
+class DeckTypeDictionary extends DeckType:
+	static func from(other: DeckType):
+		if other is DeckTypeString:
+			var inst := DeckTypeDictionary.new()
+			inst._value = str_to_var(other.get_value())
+			return inst
+
+		var err: DeckTypeError = DeckTypeError.from(other)
+		err.error_message = "conversions to Dictionary is only possible from String"
+		return err
diff --git a/port_drawer.gd b/port_drawer.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e07c20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/port_drawer.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+extends HBoxContainer
+
+@onready var left_slot: ColorRect = $LeftSlot
+@onready var right_slot: ColorRect = $RightSlot
+
+var text: String
+
+signal button_pressed
+
+
+func set_input_enabled(enabled: bool) -> void:
+	left_slot.visible = enabled
+
+
+func set_output_enabled(enabled: bool) -> void:
+	right_slot.visible = enabled
+
+
+func add_label(text: String) -> void:
+	var l := Label.new()
+	add_child(l)
+	l.text = text
+	move_child(l, 1)
+	l.size_flags_horizontal = Control.SIZE_EXPAND_FILL
+
+
+func add_field() -> void:
+	var le := LineEdit.new()
+	add_child(le)
+	move_child(le, 1)
+	le.size_flags_horizontal = Control.SIZE_EXPAND_FILL
+
+	le.text_changed.connect(
+		func(new_text: String):
+			text = new_text
+	)
+
+
+func get_text() -> String:
+	return text
+
+
+func add_button(text: String) -> void:
+	var b := Button.new()
+	b.text = text
+	add_child(b)
+	move_child(b, 1)
+	b.size_flags_horizontal = Control.SIZE_EXPAND_FILL
+
+	b.pressed.connect(
+		func():
+			button_pressed.emit()
+	)
diff --git a/port_drawer.tscn b/port_drawer.tscn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a7bb465
--- /dev/null
+++ b/port_drawer.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3 uid="uid://ddqtmahfxel26"]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://port_drawer.gd" id="1_wot5w"]
+
+[node name="PortDrawer" type="HBoxContainer"]
+script = ExtResource("1_wot5w")
+
+[node name="LeftSlot" type="ColorRect" parent="."]
+visible = false
+custom_minimum_size = Vector2(12, 12)
+layout_mode = 2
+
+[node name="RightSlot" type="ColorRect" parent="."]
+visible = false
+custom_minimum_size = Vector2(12, 12)
+layout_mode = 2
diff --git a/project.godot b/project.godot
index 34c5313..064e347 100644
--- a/project.godot
+++ b/project.godot
@@ -11,5 +11,7 @@ config_version=5
 [application]
 
 config/name="Re-DotDeck"
+config/tags=PackedStringArray("dot_deck")
+run/main_scene="res://test.tscn"
 config/features=PackedStringArray("4.1", "Forward Plus")
 config/icon="res://icon.svg"
diff --git a/test.gd b/test.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e67e833
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+extends Control
+
+var node_renderer_scene := preload("res://test_node_renderer.tscn")
+@onready var nodes_container: HBoxContainer = $NodesContainer
+
+@onready var add_button_button: Button = $AddButtonButton
+@onready var add_print_button: Button = $AddPrintButton
+@onready var connect_them_button: Button = $ConnectThemButton
+
+var deck: Deck = Deck.new()
+var button_node = preload("res://classes/deck/nodes/button.gd")
+var print_node = preload("res://classes/deck/nodes/print.gd")
+
+
+func _ready() -> void:
+	add_button_button.pressed.connect(
+		func():
+			var node := deck.add_node(button_node)
+			var node_renderer = node_renderer_scene.instantiate()
+			node_renderer.node = node
+			nodes_container.add_child(node_renderer)
+			add_button_button.disabled = true
+	)
+
+	add_print_button.pressed.connect(
+		func():
+			var node := deck.add_node(print_node)
+			var node_renderer = node_renderer_scene.instantiate()
+			node_renderer.node = node
+			nodes_container.add_child(node_renderer)
+			add_print_button.disabled = true
+	)
diff --git a/test.tscn b/test.tscn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..769c9dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3 uid="uid://bhpd6rfiuimw5"]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://test.gd" id="1_in4g7"]
+
+[node name="Test" type="Control"]
+layout_mode = 3
+anchors_preset = 15
+anchor_right = 1.0
+anchor_bottom = 1.0
+grow_horizontal = 2
+grow_vertical = 2
+script = ExtResource("1_in4g7")
+
+[node name="AddButtonButton" type="Button" parent="."]
+layout_mode = 0
+offset_left = 26.0
+offset_top = 576.0
+offset_right = 119.0
+offset_bottom = 607.0
+text = "Add Button"
+
+[node name="AddPrintButton" type="Button" parent="."]
+layout_mode = 0
+offset_left = 152.0
+offset_top = 576.0
+offset_right = 248.0
+offset_bottom = 607.0
+text = "Add Print"
+
+[node name="ConnectThemButton" type="Button" parent="."]
+layout_mode = 0
+offset_left = 283.0
+offset_top = 576.0
+offset_right = 379.0
+offset_bottom = 607.0
+text = "Connect them"
+
+[node name="NodesContainer" type="HBoxContainer" parent="."]
+layout_mode = 1
+anchors_preset = -1
+anchor_right = 0.999646
+anchor_bottom = 0.245654
+offset_right = 0.40799
+offset_bottom = -0.184006
+theme_override_constants/separation = 20
+metadata/_edit_use_anchors_ = true
diff --git a/test_node_renderer.gd b/test_node_renderer.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..33ca14d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_node_renderer.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+extends PanelContainer
+
+@onready var name_label: Label = %NameLabel
+@onready var elements_container: VBoxContainer = %ElementsContainer
+
+var node: DeckNode
+const PortDrawer := preload("res://port_drawer.gd")
+var port_drawer_scene := preload("res://port_drawer.tscn")
+
+# THIS IS SUPER JANK AND A HACK FOR DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES
+# PLEASE DO NOT ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING THIS CLASS DOES
+# IN THE REAL PROJECT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
+
+func _ready() -> void:
+	name_label.text = node.name
+	for input_port in node.input_ports:
+		var port_drawer: PortDrawer = port_drawer_scene.instantiate()
+		elements_container.add_child(port_drawer)
+		port_drawer.set_input_enabled(true)
+		match input_port.descriptor:
+			"field":
+				port_drawer.add_field()
+#			"button":
+#				port_drawer.add_button(input_port.label)
+			_:
+				port_drawer.add_label(input_port.label)
+
+	for i in node.output_ports.size():
+		if elements_container.get_child_count() - 1 < i:
+			var pd: PortDrawer = port_drawer_scene.instantiate()
+			elements_container.add_child(pd)
+		var port_drawer: PortDrawer = elements_container.get_child(i)
+		port_drawer.set_output_enabled(true)
+		var output_port := node.output_ports[i]
+		if output_port.descriptor == "button":
+			port_drawer.add_button(output_port.label)
+
+
diff --git a/test_node_renderer.tscn b/test_node_renderer.tscn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d50f9da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_node_renderer.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3 uid="uid://ch8s1d7vobhi4"]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://test_node_renderer.gd" id="1_85wy1"]
+
+[node name="TestNodeRenderer" type="PanelContainer"]
+custom_minimum_size = Vector2(300, 0)
+anchors_preset = -1
+anchor_right = 0.26
+anchor_bottom = 0.34
+offset_right = 0.47998
+offset_bottom = -0.320007
+script = ExtResource("1_85wy1")
+
+[node name="VBoxContainer" type="VBoxContainer" parent="."]
+layout_mode = 2
+
+[node name="HSeparator" type="HSeparator" parent="VBoxContainer"]
+layout_mode = 2
+
+[node name="HBoxContainer" type="HBoxContainer" parent="VBoxContainer"]
+layout_mode = 2
+
+[node name="ColorRect" type="ColorRect" parent="VBoxContainer/HBoxContainer"]
+custom_minimum_size = Vector2(4, 0)
+layout_mode = 2
+color = Color(1, 1, 0.34902, 1)
+
+[node name="NameLabel" type="Label" parent="VBoxContainer/HBoxContainer"]
+unique_name_in_owner = true
+layout_mode = 2
+text = "Name"
+
+[node name="HSeparator2" type="HSeparator" parent="VBoxContainer"]
+layout_mode = 2
+
+[node name="ElementsContainer" type="VBoxContainer" parent="VBoxContainer"]
+unique_name_in_owner = true
+layout_mode = 2
+size_flags_vertical = 3