diff --git a/cmake/utils.cmake b/cmake/utils.cmake
index e354f3c..fd4f539 100644
--- a/cmake/utils.cmake
+++ b/cmake/utils.cmake
@@ -7,3 +7,7 @@ function(link_system_libs target_name)
         target_link_libraries(${target_name} pthread m dl atomic)
     endif()
 endfunction()
+
+macro(populate_pkt_srcs)
+	file(GLOB PKT_SRCS ../../common/packets/*.h ../../common/packets/*.c)
+endmacro()
diff --git a/code/apps/client/CMakeLists.txt b/code/apps/client/CMakeLists.txt
index b2a0398..bc5d382 100644
--- a/code/apps/client/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/code/apps/client/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,12 +1,16 @@
 include(FindRaylib.cmake)
 
+populate_pkt_srcs()
 add_library(client-common STATIC
-  source/network.c
-  source/game.c
-  source/main.c
-  source/utils/options.c
+    source/network.c
+    source/game.c
+    source/main.c
+	source/entity_view.c
+  
+    source/utils/options.c
 
-  header/network.h
+    header/network.h
+    ${PKT_SRCS}
 )
 
 add_executable(eco2d-client
@@ -17,6 +21,7 @@ add_executable(eco2d-cli
   source/platform_text.c
 )
 
+target_compile_definitions(client-common PRIVATE CLIENT)
 set(LIBS client-common cwpack eco2d-common eco2d-modules flecs-bundle)
 
 include_directories(header ../../modules)
diff --git a/code/apps/client/header/entity_view.h b/code/apps/client/header/entity_view.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e08b7ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/apps/client/header/entity_view.h
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#pragma once
+#include "system.h"
+
+#define ZPL_PICO
+#include "zpl.h"
+
+typedef struct entity_view {
+    double X;
+    double Y;
+} entity_view;
+
+ZPL_TABLE_DECLARE(, entity_view_tbl, entity_view_tbl_, entity_view);
+
+void entity_view_init(void);
+void entity_view_free(void);
+
+void entity_view_update_or_create(uint64_t ent_id, entity_view data);
+void entity_view_destroy(uint64_t ent_id);
+
+entity_view *entity_view_get(uint64_t ent_id);
+void entity_view_map(void (*map_proc)(uint64_t key, entity_view value));
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/code/apps/client/source/entity_view.c b/code/apps/client/source/entity_view.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d54aaab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/apps/client/source/entity_view.c
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#include "entity_view.h"
+
+ZPL_TABLE_DEFINE(entity_view_tbl, entity_view_tbl_, entity_view);
+
+static entity_view_tbl cli_entities = {0};
+
+
+void entity_view_init(void) {
+    entity_view_tbl_init(&cli_entities, zpl_heap());
+}
+
+void entity_view_free(void) {
+    entity_view_tbl_destroy(&cli_entities);
+}
+
+void entity_view_update_or_create(uint64_t ent_id, entity_view data) {
+    entity_view_tbl_set(&cli_entities, ent_id, data);
+}
+
+void entity_view_destroy(uint64_t ent_id) {
+    entity_view_tbl_remove(&cli_entities, ent_id);
+}
+
+entity_view *entity_view_get(uint64_t ent_id) {
+    return entity_view_tbl_get(&cli_entities, ent_id);
+}
+
+void entity_view_map(void (*map_proc)(uint64_t key, entity_view value)) {
+    entity_view_tbl_map(&cli_entities, map_proc);
+}
diff --git a/code/apps/client/source/game.c b/code/apps/client/source/game.c
index 13494fd..7af14bc 100644
--- a/code/apps/client/source/game.c
+++ b/code/apps/client/source/game.c
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 #include "game.h"
 #include "platform.h"
 #include "world/world.h"
-#include "packets/packet.h"
+#include "packet.h"
 #include "signal_handling.h"
 #include "network.h"
+#include "entity_view.h"
 
 #include "flecs/flecs.h"
 #include "flecs/flecs_dash.h"
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ static WORLD_PKT_WRITER(mp_pkt_writer) {
 void game_init(int8_t play_mode, int32_t seed, uint16_t block_size, uint16_t chunk_size, uint16_t world_size) {
     is_networked_play = play_mode;
     platform_init();
+    entity_view_init();
     
     if (is_networked_play) {
         world_init_minimal(0, 0, 0, pkt_reader, mp_pkt_writer);
@@ -61,7 +63,7 @@ void game_init(int8_t play_mode, int32_t seed, uint16_t block_size, uint16_t chu
         
         sp_player = player_spawn("unnamed");
         
-        pkt_01_welcome table = {.block_size = block_size, .chunk_size = chunk_size, .world_size = world_size};
+        pkt_01_welcome table = {.ent_id = 0, .block_size = block_size, .chunk_size = chunk_size, .world_size = world_size};
         pkt_world_write(MSG_ID_01_WELCOME, pkt_01_welcome_encode(&table), 1, NULL);
     }
 }
@@ -71,6 +73,8 @@ int8_t game_is_networked() {
 }
 
 void game_shutdown() {
+    entity_view_free();
+
     if (is_networked_play) {
         network_client_disconnect();
         network_destroy();
diff --git a/code/apps/client/source/network.c b/code/apps/client/source/network.c
index 911bdea..736dc58 100644
--- a/code/apps/client/source/network.c
+++ b/code/apps/client/source/network.c
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #include "librg.h"
 
 #include "network.h"
-#include "packets/packet.h"
+#include "packet.h"
 
 #define NETWORK_UPDATE_DELAY 0.100
 
diff --git a/code/apps/client/source/platform_raylib.c b/code/apps/client/source/platform_raylib.c
index a111a20..2505ee1 100644
--- a/code/apps/client/source/platform_raylib.c
+++ b/code/apps/client/source/platform_raylib.c
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #include "platform.h"
 #include "raylib.h"
+#include "network.h"
 #include "game.h"
+#include "entity_view.h"
 
 const uint16_t screenWidth = 800;
 const uint16_t screenHeight = 450;
@@ -20,11 +22,13 @@ uint8_t platform_is_running() {
 
 void display_conn_status();
 
+void DEBUG_draw_entities(uint64_t key, entity_view data);
+
 void platform_render() {
     BeginDrawing();
     ClearBackground(BLACK);
-    DrawText("NOBODY EXPECTS SPANISH INQUISITION!", 190, 200, 20, RED);
-    display_conn_status();    
+    entity_view_map(DEBUG_draw_entities);
+    display_conn_status();
     EndDrawing();
 }
 
@@ -38,4 +42,8 @@ void display_conn_status() {
     } else {
         DrawText("Connection: single-player", 5, 5, 12, BLUE);
     }
+}
+
+void DEBUG_draw_entities(uint64_t key, entity_view data) {
+    DrawCircle(data.X, data.Y, 15.0f, RAYWHITE);
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/code/apps/playground/CMakeLists.txt b/code/apps/playground/CMakeLists.txt
index 6601226..89f8dea 100644
--- a/code/apps/playground/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/code/apps/playground/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
+populate_pkt_srcs()
 add_executable(playground
-  source/main.c
-  source/game.c
+    source/main.c
+    source/game.c
+
+	${PKT_SRCS}
 )
 
 include_directories(header ../modules ../common)
diff --git a/code/apps/playground/source/game.c b/code/apps/playground/source/game.c
index b723210..6aaf80c 100644
--- a/code/apps/playground/source/game.c
+++ b/code/apps/playground/source/game.c
@@ -1,13 +1,4 @@
 #include "game.h"
-#include "platform.h"
-#include "world/world.h"
-#include "packets/packet.h"
-#include "signal_handling.h"
-
-#include "flecs/flecs.h"
-#include "flecs/flecs_dash.h"
-#include "flecs/flecs_systems_civetweb.h"
-#include "flecs/flecs_os_api_stdcpp.h"
 
 void game_init(int8_t play_mode, int32_t seed, uint16_t block_size, uint16_t chunk_size, uint16_t world_size) {
     
diff --git a/code/apps/playground/source/main.c b/code/apps/playground/source/main.c
index c1e8723..cfbfa6c 100644
--- a/code/apps/playground/source/main.c
+++ b/code/apps/playground/source/main.c
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@
 #define LIBRG_CUSTOM_ZPL
 #include "librg.h"
 
-#include "packets/packet.h"
+#include "packet.h"
+#include "game.h"
 
 int32_t mock_pkt_decode(pkt_desc *desc, uint32_t args, size_t msg_size, void *data, uint32_t size) {
     pkt_header header = {
diff --git a/code/apps/server/CMakeLists.txt b/code/apps/server/CMakeLists.txt
index 61b11bf..99733a3 100644
--- a/code/apps/server/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/code/apps/server/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
+populate_pkt_srcs()
 add_executable(eco2d-server
-  source/main.c
-  source/network.c
-  source/game.c
-  source/utils/options.c
+    source/main.c
+    source/network.c
+    source/game.c
+    source/utils/options.c
 
-  header/network.h
-  header/utils/options.h
+    header/network.h
+    header/utils/options.h
+
+	${PKT_SRCS}
 )
 
 include_directories(header ../../modules)
diff --git a/code/apps/server/source/game.c b/code/apps/server/source/game.c
index 29ad85d..f0f9b3c 100644
--- a/code/apps/server/source/game.c
+++ b/code/apps/server/source/game.c
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #include "game.h"
 #include "platform.h"
 #include "world/world.h"
-#include "packets/packet.h"
+#include "packet.h"
 #include "signal_handling.h"
 #include "network.h"
 
diff --git a/code/apps/server/source/network.c b/code/apps/server/source/network.c
index 5d51986..c7b28ae 100644
--- a/code/apps/server/source/network.c
+++ b/code/apps/server/source/network.c
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 #include "system.h"
 #include "network.h"
-#include "packets/packet.h"
+#include "packet.h"
 #include "world/world.h"
 
 #include "player.h"
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ int32_t network_server_tick(void) {
                 // TODO: Make sure ent_id does not get truncated with large entity numbers.
                 event.peer->data = (void*)((uint32_t)ent_id);
                 
-                pkt_01_welcome table = {.block_size = world_block_size(), .chunk_size = world_chunk_size(), .world_size = world_world_size()};
+                pkt_01_welcome table = {.ent_id = ent_id, .block_size = world_block_size(), .chunk_size = world_chunk_size(), .world_size = world_world_size()};
                 pkt_world_write(MSG_ID_01_WELCOME, pkt_01_welcome_encode(&table), 1, event.peer);
             } break;
             case ENET_EVENT_TYPE_DISCONNECT:
diff --git a/code/common/CMakeLists.txt b/code/common/CMakeLists.txt
index 74a2329..5a97693 100644
--- a/code/common/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/code/common/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-file(GLOB SRCS *.h *.c packets/*.c packets/*.h world/*.h)
+file(GLOB SRCS *.h *.c packets/*.h world/*.h)
 set(SRCS ${SRCS}
 	world/blocks.c
 	world/perlin.c
diff --git a/code/common/packets/compress.c b/code/common/compress.c
similarity index 100%
rename from code/common/packets/compress.c
rename to code/common/compress.c
diff --git a/code/common/packets/compress.h b/code/common/compress.h
similarity index 100%
rename from code/common/packets/compress.h
rename to code/common/compress.h
diff --git a/code/common/packets/packet.c b/code/common/packet.c
similarity index 100%
rename from code/common/packets/packet.c
rename to code/common/packet.c
diff --git a/code/common/packets/packet.h b/code/common/packet.h
similarity index 95%
rename from code/common/packets/packet.h
rename to code/common/packet.h
index 75b4e70..deebf97 100644
--- a/code/common/packets/packet.h
+++ b/code/common/packet.h
@@ -34,4 +34,4 @@ extern uint8_t pkt_buffer[];
 
 // NOTE(zaklaus): packets
 
-#include "pkt_01_welcome.h"
\ No newline at end of file
+#include "packets/pkt_01_welcome.h"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/code/common/packets/packet_utils.h b/code/common/packet_utils.h
similarity index 100%
rename from code/common/packets/packet_utils.h
rename to code/common/packet_utils.h
diff --git a/code/common/packets/pkt_01_welcome.c b/code/common/packets/pkt_01_welcome.c
index bff09cc..a2b768a 100644
--- a/code/common/packets/pkt_01_welcome.c
+++ b/code/common/packets/pkt_01_welcome.c
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 #include "pkt_01_welcome.h"
 #include "packet_utils.h"
-#include "world.h"
+#include "world/world.h"
 #include "game.h"
 
+#ifdef CLIENT
+#include "entity_view.h"
+#endif
+
 pkt_desc pkt_01_welcome_desc[] = {
+    { PKT_FIELD(CWP_ITEM_POSITIVE_INTEGER, pkt_01_welcome, ent_id) },
     { PKT_FIELD(CWP_ITEM_POSITIVE_INTEGER, pkt_01_welcome, block_size) },
     { PKT_FIELD(CWP_ITEM_POSITIVE_INTEGER, pkt_01_welcome, chunk_size) },
     { PKT_FIELD(CWP_ITEM_POSITIVE_INTEGER, pkt_01_welcome, world_size) },
@@ -21,10 +26,13 @@ int32_t pkt_01_welcome_handler(pkt_header *header) {
     pkt_01_welcome table;
     PKT_IF(pkt_msg_decode(header, pkt_01_welcome_desc, pkt_pack_desc_args(pkt_01_welcome_desc), PKT_STRUCT_PTR(&table)));
 
-    zpl_printf("we received: block_size: %d, chunk_size: %d and world_size: %d\n", table.block_size, table.chunk_size, table.world_size);
-    
+    #ifdef CLIENT
     if (game_is_networked()) {
+        zpl_printf("[INFO] initializing read-only world view ...\n");
         world_init_minimal(table.block_size, table.chunk_size, table.world_size, NULL, NULL);
     }
+    
+    entity_view_update_or_create(table.ent_id, (entity_view){0});
+    #endif
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/code/common/packets/pkt_01_welcome.h b/code/common/packets/pkt_01_welcome.h
index e164536..d07b661 100644
--- a/code/common/packets/pkt_01_welcome.h
+++ b/code/common/packets/pkt_01_welcome.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "packet_utils.h"
 
 typedef struct {
+    uint64_t ent_id;
     uint16_t block_size;
     uint16_t chunk_size;
     uint16_t world_size;
diff --git a/code/common/world/world.h b/code/common/world/world.h
index 489dd0d..7f31cb0 100644
--- a/code/common/world/world.h
+++ b/code/common/world/world.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 #include "system.h"
 #include "librg.h"
-#include "packets/packet.h"
+#include "packet.h"
 #include "flecs/flecs.h"
 
 #define WORLD_ERROR_NONE                +0x0000
diff --git a/project.4coder b/project.4coder
index 9ef5500..fe62ba4 100644
--- a/project.4coder
+++ b/project.4coder
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ patterns =
     "*.sh",
     "*.4coder",
     "*.txt",
+    "*.cmake",
 };
 
 blacklist_patterns =