diff --git a/src/http/lib.zig b/src/http/lib.zig
index c64db18..9a767f0 100644
--- a/src/http/lib.zig
+++ b/src/http/lib.zig
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 const std = @import("std");
 const ciutf8 = @import("util").ciutf8;
 
-const routing = @import("./routing.zig");
 const request = @import("./request.zig");
 
 pub const server = @import("./server.zig");
@@ -12,12 +11,6 @@ pub const Status = std.http.Status;
 pub const Request = request.Request;
 pub const Server = server.Server;
 
-// TODO: rework routing
-pub fn Router(comptime ServerContext: type) type {
-    return routing.Router(ServerContext, *server.Context);
-}
-pub const RouteArgs = routing.RouteArgs;
-
 pub const Headers = std.HashMap([]const u8, []const u8, struct {
     pub fn eql(_: @This(), a: []const u8, b: []const u8) bool {
         return ciutf8.eql(a, b);
@@ -29,7 +22,6 @@ pub const Headers = std.HashMap([]const u8, []const u8, struct {
 }, std.hash_map.default_max_load_percentage);
 
 test {
-    _ = routing;
     _ = server;
     _ = request;
 }
diff --git a/src/http/routing.zig b/src/http/routing.zig
deleted file mode 100644
index 472d5aa..0000000
--- a/src/http/routing.zig
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,372 +0,0 @@
-const std = @import("std");
-const util = @import("util");
-const builtin = @import("builtin");
-
-const http = @import("./lib.zig");
-
-pub const RouteArgs = struct {
-    const max_args = 16;
-
-    names: [max_args]?[]const u8 = [_]?[]const u8{null} ** max_args,
-    values: [max_args]?[]const u8 = [_]?[]const u8{null} ** max_args,
-
-    pub fn get(self: RouteArgs, name: []const u8) ?[]const u8 {
-        for (self.names) |arg_name, i| {
-            if (arg_name == null) return null;
-
-            if (util.ciutf8.eql(name, arg_name.?)) return self.values[i];
-        }
-
-        return null;
-    }
-};
-
-pub fn Router(comptime ServerContext: type, comptime RequestContext: type) type {
-    return struct {
-        const Self = @This();
-
-        routes: []const Route,
-
-        pub const Handler = *const fn (ServerContext, RequestContext, RouteArgs) anyerror!void;
-        pub const Route = struct {
-            pub const Args = RouteArgs;
-
-            method: http.Method,
-            path: []const u8,
-            path_segments: []const RouteSegment,
-            handler: Handler,
-
-            pub fn new(method: http.Method, comptime path: []const u8, handler: Handler) Route {
-                const result = .{
-                    .method = method,
-                    .path = path,
-                    .path_segments = splitPathSegments(path),
-                    .handler = handler,
-                };
-
-                var param_count: usize = 0;
-                for (result.path_segments) |seg| {
-                    if (seg == .param) param_count += 1;
-                }
-
-                if (param_count > RouteArgs.max_args) @panic("Too many params");
-
-                return result;
-            }
-
-            fn dispatch(route: Route, sctx: ServerContext, rctx: RequestContext, req_method: std.http.Method, req_path: []const u8) anyerror!void {
-                if (req_method != route.method) return error.RouteNotApplicable;
-
-                var args = RouteArgs{};
-                var arg_count: usize = 0;
-                var req_segments = util.PathIter.from(req_path);
-                for (route.path_segments) |seg| {
-                    const req_seg = req_segments.next() orelse return error.RouteNotApplicable;
-                    switch (seg) {
-                        .literal => |literal| {
-                            if (!util.ciutf8.eql(literal, req_seg)) return error.RouteNotApplicable;
-                        },
-                        .param => |param| {
-                            args.names[arg_count] = param;
-                            args.values[arg_count] = req_seg;
-                        },
-                    }
-                }
-
-                if (req_segments.next() != null) return error.RouteNotApplicable;
-
-                std.log.debug("selected route {s} {s}", .{ @tagName(route.method), route.path });
-                if (builtin.zig_backend == .stage1) {
-                    return route.handler.*(sctx, rctx, args);
-                }
-
-                return route.handler(sctx, rctx, args);
-            }
-        };
-
-        pub fn dispatch(self: Self, sctx: ServerContext, rctx: RequestContext, method: std.http.Method, path: []const u8) anyerror!void {
-            const eff_path = std.mem.sliceTo(std.mem.sliceTo(path, '#'), '?');
-            for (self.routes) |r| {
-                r.dispatch(sctx, rctx, method, eff_path) catch |err| switch (err) {
-                    error.RouteNotApplicable => continue,
-                    else => return err,
-                };
-
-                return;
-            }
-
-            return error.RouteNotApplicable;
-        }
-    };
-}
-
-const RouteSegment = union(enum) {
-    literal: []const u8,
-    param: []const u8,
-};
-
-fn paramNameFrom(segment: []const u8) []const u8 {
-    return segment[1..];
-}
-
-fn isParamSegment(segment: []const u8) bool {
-    return segment[0] == ':';
-}
-
-fn splitPathSegments(comptime path: []const u8) []const RouteSegment {
-    comptime {
-        var segments: [path.len]RouteSegment = undefined;
-        var segment_count: usize = 0;
-
-        var iter = util.PathIter.from(path);
-        while (iter.next()) |segment| {
-            if (isParamSegment(segment)) {
-                segments[segment_count] = .{
-                    .param = paramNameFrom(segment),
-                };
-            } else {
-                segments[segment_count] = .{ .literal = segment };
-            }
-
-            segment_count += 1;
-        }
-
-        return segments[0..segment_count];
-    }
-}
-
-const _test = struct {
-    fn CallTracker(comptime _uniq: anytype, comptime next: anytype) type {
-        _ = _uniq;
-
-        var ctx_type: type = undefined;
-        var args_type: type = undefined;
-        switch (@typeInfo(@TypeOf(next))) {
-            .Fn => |func| {
-                if (func.args.len != 3) @compileError("next() must take 3 arguments");
-
-                ctx_type = func.args[0].arg_type.?;
-                args_type = func.args[2].arg_type.?;
-                //if (@typeInfo(RouteArgs) != .Struct) @compileError("second argument to next() must be struct");
-            },
-            else => @compileError("next must be function"),
-        }
-
-        const Context = ctx_type;
-
-        return struct {
-            var calls: u32 = 0;
-
-            var last_rctx: ?Context = null;
-            var last_sctx: ?Context = null;
-            var last_args: ?RouteArgs = null;
-
-            fn func(sctx: Context, rctx: Context, args: RouteArgs) !void {
-                calls += 1;
-                last_sctx = sctx;
-                last_rctx = rctx;
-                last_args = args;
-                return next(sctx, rctx, args);
-            }
-
-            fn expectCalledOnceWith(exp_sctx: Context, exp_rctx: Context, exp_args: RouteArgs) !void {
-                try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 1), calls);
-                try std.testing.expectEqual(exp_sctx, last_sctx.?);
-                try std.testing.expectEqual(exp_rctx, last_rctx.?);
-                for (exp_args.names) |exp_name, i| {
-                    if (exp_name == null) {
-                        try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(?[]const u8, null), last_args.?.names[i]);
-                        try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(?[]const u8, null), last_args.?.values[i]);
-                    } else {
-                        try std.testing.expectEqualStrings(exp_name.?, last_args.?.names[i].?);
-                        try std.testing.expectEqualStrings(exp_args.values[i].?, last_args.?.values[i].?);
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-
-            fn expectNotCalled() !void {
-                try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 0), calls);
-            }
-
-            fn reset() void {
-                calls = 0;
-                last_sctx = null;
-                last_rctx = null;
-                last_args = null;
-            }
-        };
-    }
-    const TestContext = u32;
-    fn dummyHandler(_: TestContext, _: TestContext, _: RouteArgs) anyerror!void {}
-};
-
-test "route(T, ...) basic" {
-    const mock_a = _test.CallTracker(.{}, _test.dummyHandler);
-
-    const MyRouter = Router(_test.TestContext, _test.TestContext);
-    const MyRoute = MyRouter.Route;
-
-    const my_router = MyRouter{ .routes = &[_]MyRoute{
-        MyRoute.new(.GET, "/a", mock_a.func),
-    } };
-
-    _ = try my_router.dispatch(10, 100, .GET, "/a");
-    try mock_a.expectCalledOnceWith(10, 100, .{});
-    mock_a.reset();
-}
-
-test "Route(T) matches correct route from multiple routes" {
-    const mock_a = _test.CallTracker(.{}, _test.dummyHandler);
-    const mock_b = _test.CallTracker(.{}, _test.dummyHandler);
-
-    const MyRouter = Router(_test.TestContext, _test.TestContext);
-    const MyRoute = MyRouter.Route;
-
-    const my_router = MyRouter{ .routes = &[_]MyRoute{
-        MyRoute.new(.GET, "/a", mock_a.func),
-        MyRoute.new(.GET, "/b", mock_b.func),
-    } };
-
-    _ = try my_router.dispatch(10, 100, .GET, "/a");
-    try mock_a.expectCalledOnceWith(10, 100, .{});
-    try mock_b.expectNotCalled();
-    mock_a.reset();
-
-    _ = try my_router.dispatch(10, 100, .GET, "/b");
-    try mock_a.expectNotCalled();
-    try mock_b.expectCalledOnceWith(10, 100, .{});
-    mock_b.reset();
-}
-
-test "Route(T) passes correct context" {
-    const mock_a = _test.CallTracker(.{}, _test.dummyHandler);
-
-    const MyRouter = Router(_test.TestContext, _test.TestContext);
-    const MyRoute = MyRouter.Route;
-
-    const my_router = MyRouter{ .routes = &[_]MyRoute{
-        MyRoute.new(.GET, "/a", mock_a.func),
-    } };
-
-    _ = try my_router.dispatch(10, 100, .GET, "/a");
-    try mock_a.expectCalledOnceWith(10, 100, .{});
-    mock_a.reset();
-
-    _ = try my_router.dispatch(16, 32, .GET, "/a");
-    try mock_a.expectCalledOnceWith(16, 32, .{});
-    mock_a.reset();
-}
-
-test "Route(T) errors on no matching route" {
-    const mock_a = _test.CallTracker(.{}, _test.dummyHandler);
-    const mock_b = _test.CallTracker(.{}, _test.dummyHandler);
-
-    const MyRouter = Router(_test.TestContext, _test.TestContext);
-    const MyRoute = MyRouter.Route;
-
-    const my_router = MyRouter{ .routes = &[_]MyRoute{
-        MyRoute.new(.GET, "/a", mock_a.func),
-        MyRoute.new(.GET, "/b", mock_b.func),
-    } };
-
-    try std.testing.expectError(error.RouteNotApplicable, my_router.dispatch(10, 100, .GET, "/c"));
-    try mock_a.expectNotCalled();
-    try mock_b.expectNotCalled();
-}
-
-test "route(T) with no routes" {
-    const MyRouter = Router(_test.TestContext, _test.TestContext);
-    const MyRoute = MyRouter.Route;
-
-    const my_router = MyRouter{ .routes = &[_]MyRoute{} };
-
-    try std.testing.expectError(error.RouteNotApplicable, my_router.dispatch(10, 100, .GET, "/c"));
-}
-
-test "route(T, ...) same path different methods" {
-    const mock_get = _test.CallTracker(.{}, _test.dummyHandler);
-    const mock_post = _test.CallTracker(.{}, _test.dummyHandler);
-
-    const MyRouter = Router(_test.TestContext, _test.TestContext);
-    const MyRoute = MyRouter.Route;
-
-    const my_router = MyRouter{ .routes = &[_]MyRoute{
-        MyRoute.new(.GET, "/a", mock_get.func),
-        MyRoute.new(.POST, "/a", mock_post.func),
-    } };
-
-    _ = try my_router.dispatch(10, 100, .GET, "/a");
-    try mock_get.expectCalledOnceWith(10, 100, .{});
-    try mock_post.expectNotCalled();
-    mock_get.reset();
-
-    _ = try my_router.dispatch(10, 100, .POST, "/a");
-    try mock_get.expectNotCalled();
-    try mock_post.expectCalledOnceWith(10, 100, .{});
-}
-
-test "route(T, ...) route under subpath" {
-    const mock_a = _test.CallTracker(.{}, _test.dummyHandler);
-    const mock_b = _test.CallTracker(.{}, _test.dummyHandler);
-
-    const MyRouter = Router(_test.TestContext, _test.TestContext);
-    const MyRoute = MyRouter.Route;
-
-    const my_router = MyRouter{ .routes = &[_]MyRoute{
-        MyRoute.new(.GET, "/a", mock_a.func),
-        MyRoute.new(.GET, "/a/b", mock_b.func),
-    } };
-
-    _ = try my_router.dispatch(10, 100, .GET, "/a");
-    try mock_a.expectCalledOnceWith(10, 100, .{});
-    try mock_b.expectNotCalled();
-    mock_a.reset();
-
-    _ = try my_router.dispatch(10, 100, .GET, "/a/b");
-    try mock_a.expectNotCalled();
-    try mock_b.expectCalledOnceWith(10, 100, .{});
-}
-
-test "route(T, ...) case-insensitive route" {
-    const mock_a = _test.CallTracker(.{}, _test.dummyHandler);
-
-    const MyRouter = Router(_test.TestContext, _test.TestContext);
-    const MyRoute = MyRouter.Route;
-
-    const my_router = MyRouter{ .routes = &[_]MyRoute{
-        MyRoute.new(.GET, "/test/a", mock_a.func),
-    } };
-
-    _ = try my_router.dispatch(10, 100, .GET, "/TEST/A");
-    try mock_a.expectCalledOnceWith(10, 100, .{});
-    mock_a.reset();
-
-    _ = try my_router.dispatch(10, 100, .GET, "/TesT/a");
-    try mock_a.expectCalledOnceWith(10, 100, .{});
-}
-
-test "route(T, ...) redundant /" {
-    const mock_a = _test.CallTracker(.{}, _test.dummyHandler);
-
-    const MyRouter = Router(_test.TestContext, _test.TestContext);
-    const MyRoute = MyRouter.Route;
-
-    const my_router = MyRouter{ .routes = &[_]MyRoute{
-        MyRoute.new(.GET, "/test/a", mock_a.func),
-    } };
-
-    _ = try my_router.dispatch(10, 100, .GET, "/test//a");
-    try mock_a.expectCalledOnceWith(10, 100, .{});
-    mock_a.reset();
-
-    _ = try my_router.dispatch(10, 100, .GET, "//test///////////a////");
-    try mock_a.expectCalledOnceWith(10, 100, .{});
-    mock_a.reset();
-
-    _ = try my_router.dispatch(10, 100, .GET, "test/a");
-    try mock_a.expectCalledOnceWith(10, 100, .{});
-    mock_a.reset();
-
-    try std.testing.expectError(error.RouteNotApplicable, my_router.dispatch(10, 100, .GET, "/te/st/a"));
-    try mock_a.expectNotCalled();
-}
diff --git a/src/main/controllers.zig b/src/main/controllers.zig
index 7f6a34e..3844af3 100644
--- a/src/main/controllers.zig
+++ b/src/main/controllers.zig
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ const http = @import("http");
 const api = @import("api");
 const util = @import("util");
 const query_utils = @import("./query.zig");
+const json_utils = @import("./json.zig");
 
 pub const auth = @import("./controllers/auth.zig");
 pub const communities = @import("./controllers/communities.zig");
@@ -12,6 +13,17 @@ pub const invites = @import("./controllers/invites.zig");
 pub const users = @import("./controllers/users.zig");
 pub const notes = @import("./controllers/notes.zig");
 
+pub fn routeRequest(api_source: anytype, request: http.Request, response: http.Response, alloc: std.mem.Allocator) void {
+    // TODO: hashmaps?
+    inline for (routes) |route| {
+        if (Context(route).matchAndHandle(api_source, request, response, alloc)) return;
+    }
+
+    // todo 404
+}
+
+const routes = .{sample_api};
+
 pub const sample_api = struct {
     const Self = @This();
 
@@ -24,7 +36,7 @@ pub const sample_api = struct {
     };
 
     pub const Body = struct {
-        content: []const u8,
+        content: util.Uuid,
     };
 
     pub const Query = struct {
@@ -32,6 +44,7 @@ pub const sample_api = struct {
     };
 
     pub fn handler(ctx: Context(Self), response: *Response, _: api.ApiSource.Conn) !void {
+        std.log.debug("{}", .{ctx.body.content});
         try response.writeJson(.created, ctx.query);
     }
 };
@@ -115,14 +128,13 @@ pub fn Context(comptime Route: type) type {
         fn parseBody(self: *Self, req: http.Request) !void {
             if (Body != void) {
                 const body = req.body orelse return error.NoBody;
-                var tokens = std.json.TokenStream.init(body);
-                self.body = try std.json.parse(Body, &tokens, .{ .allocator = self.allocator });
+                self.body = try json_utils.parse(Body, body, self.allocator);
             }
         }
 
         fn freeBody(self: *Self) void {
             if (Body != void) {
-                std.json.parseFree(Body, self.body, .{ .allocator = self.allocator });
+                json_utils.parseFree(self.body, self.allocator);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/src/main/main.zig b/src/main/main.zig
index 3649e54..4eb0a71 100644
--- a/src/main/main.zig
+++ b/src/main/main.zig
@@ -6,46 +6,8 @@ const util = @import("util");
 
 const api = @import("api");
 const migrations = @import("./migrations.zig");
-const Uuid = util.Uuid;
 const c = @import("./controllers.zig");
 
-// this thing is overcomplicated and weird. stop this
-const Router = http.Router(*RequestServer);
-const Route = Router.Route;
-const RouteArgs = http.RouteArgs;
-const router = Router{
-    .routes = &[_]Route{
-        //Route.new(.GET, "/healthcheck", &c.healthcheck),
-
-        //prepare(c.auth.login),
-        //prepare(c.auth.verify_login),
-
-        //prepare(c.communities.create),
-
-        //prepare(c.invites.create),
-
-        //prepare(c.users.create),
-
-        //prepare(c.notes.create),
-        //prepare(c.notes.get),
-
-        //prepare(c.communities.query),
-
-        //Route.new(.GET, "/notes/:id/reacts", &c.notes.reacts.list),
-        //Route.new(.POST, "/notes/:id/reacts", &c.notes.reacts.create),
-
-        //Route.new(.GET, "/actors/:id", &c.actors.get),
-
-        //Route.new(.GET, "/admin/invites/:id", &c.admin.invites.get),
-
-        //Route.new(.GET, "/admin/communities/:host", &c.admin.communities.get),
-    },
-};
-
-fn prepare(comptime route_desc: type) Route {
-    return Route.new(route_desc.method, route_desc.path, &route_desc.handler);
-}
-
 pub const RequestServer = struct {
     alloc: std.mem.Allocator,
     api: *api.ApiSource,
@@ -74,14 +36,6 @@ pub const RequestServer = struct {
 
             _ = c.Context(c.sample_api).matchAndHandle(self.api, ctx, self.alloc);
             if (true) continue;
-
-            router.dispatch(self, &ctx, ctx.request.method, ctx.request.path) catch |err| switch (err) {
-                error.NotFound, error.RouteNotApplicable => c.notFound(self, &ctx),
-                else => {
-                    std.log.err("Unhandled error in controller ({s}): {}\nStack Trace\n{?}", .{ ctx.request.path, err, @errorReturnTrace() });
-                    c.internalServerError(self, &ctx);
-                },
-            };
         }
     }
 };
diff --git a/src/util/Uuid.zig b/src/util/Uuid.zig
index 7d1c8b9..baffb06 100644
--- a/src/util/Uuid.zig
+++ b/src/util/Uuid.zig
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ pub fn format(value: Uuid, comptime _: []const u8, _: std.fmt.FormatOptions, wri
     });
 }
 
+pub const JsonParseAs = []const u8;
 pub fn jsonStringify(value: Uuid, _: std.json.StringifyOptions, writer: anytype) !void {
     try std.fmt.format(writer, "\"{}\"", .{value});
 }