diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 765d83e..c29ff78 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
-source = parse.cpp parserstate.cpp parser.cpp templates.cpp terminal.cpp termemu.cpp parseraction.cpp terminalfunctions.cpp swrite.cpp terminalframebuffer.cpp terminaldispatcher.cpp terminaluserinput.cpp terminaldisplay.cpp network.cpp ntester.cpp ocb.cpp base64.cpp encrypt.cpp decrypt.cpp crypto.cpp networktransport.cpp networkinstruction.cpp keystroke.cpp
-objects = parserstate.o parser.o templates.o terminal.o parseraction.o terminalfunctions.o swrite.o terminalframebuffer.o terminaldispatcher.o terminaluserinput.o terminaldisplay.o network.o ocb.o base64.o crypto.o networktransport.o networkinstruction.o keystroke.o
+proto = userinput.proto
+source = parse.cpp parserstate.cpp parser.cpp templates.cpp terminal.cpp termemu.cpp parseraction.cpp terminalfunctions.cpp swrite.cpp terminalframebuffer.cpp terminaldispatcher.cpp terminaluserinput.cpp terminaldisplay.cpp network.cpp ntester.cpp ocb.cpp base64.cpp encrypt.cpp decrypt.cpp crypto.cpp networktransport.cpp networkinstruction.cpp user.cpp userinput.pb.cc
+objects = parserstate.o parser.o templates.o terminal.o parseraction.o terminalfunctions.o swrite.o terminalframebuffer.o terminaldispatcher.o terminaluserinput.o terminaldisplay.o network.o ocb.o base64.o crypto.o networktransport.o networkinstruction.o user.o userinput.pb.o
 repos = templates.rpo
 executables = parse termemu ntester encrypt decrypt
 
 CXX = g++
-CXXFLAGS = -g -O2 --std=c++0x -pedantic -Werror -Wall -Wextra -Weffc++ -fno-implicit-templates -fno-default-inline -pipe -D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64 -D_XOPEN_SOURCE=500 -D_GNU_SOURCE -D_BSD_SOURCE
-LIBS = -lutil -lssl -lrt -lm
+CXXFLAGS = -g --std=c++0x -pedantic -Werror -Wall -Wextra -Weffc++ -fno-implicit-templates -fno-default-inline -pipe -D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64 -D_XOPEN_SOURCE=500 -D_GNU_SOURCE -D_BSD_SOURCE
+LIBS = -lutil -lssl -lrt -lm -lprotobuf-lite
+PROTOC = protoc
 
 all: $(executables)
 
@@ -30,6 +32,12 @@ templates.o: templates.cpp
 %.o: %.cpp
 	$(CXX) $(CXXFLAGS) -c -o $@ $<
 
+%.pb.cc: %.proto
+	$(PROTOC) --cpp_out=. $<
+
+%.pb.o: %.pb.cc
+	$(CXX) $(CXXFLAGS) -frepo -Wno-effc++ -c -o $@ $<
+
 -include depend
 
 depend: $(source)
@@ -37,4 +45,4 @@ depend: $(source)
 
 .PHONY: clean
 clean:
-	-rm -f $(executables) depend *.o *.rpo
+	-rm -f $(executables) depend *.o *.rpo *.pb.cc *.pb.h
diff --git a/keystroke.cpp b/keystroke.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 20e4f54..0000000
--- a/keystroke.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,49 +0,0 @@
-#include <assert.h>
-
-#include "keystroke.hpp"
-
-void KeyStroke::subtract( KeyStroke * const prefix )
-{
-  for ( deque<char>::iterator i = prefix->user_bytes.begin();
-	i != prefix->user_bytes.end();
-	i++ ) {
-    assert( !user_bytes.empty() );
-    assert( *i == user_bytes.front() );
-    user_bytes.pop_front();
-  }
-}
-
-string KeyStroke::diff_from( KeyStroke const & existing )
-{
-  string ret;
-
-  deque<char>::iterator my_it = user_bytes.begin();
-
-  for ( deque<char>::const_iterator i = existing.user_bytes.begin();
-	i != existing.user_bytes.end();
-	i++ ) {
-    assert( my_it != user_bytes.end() );
-    if ( *i != *my_it ) {
-      fprintf( stderr, "BUG: existing state has %c and new state has %c\n",
-	       *i, *my_it );
-    }
-    assert( *i == *my_it );
-    my_it++;
-  }
-
-  while ( my_it != user_bytes.end() ) {
-    ret += string( &( *my_it ), 1 );
-    my_it++;
-  }
-
-  return ret;
-}
-
-void KeyStroke::apply_string( string diff )
-{
-  for ( string::iterator i = diff.begin();
-	i != diff.end();
-	i++ ) {
-    user_bytes.push_back( *i );
-  }
-}
diff --git a/keystroke.hpp b/keystroke.hpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 26a4aee..0000000
--- a/keystroke.hpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-#ifndef KEYSTROKE_HPP
-#define KEYSTROKE_HPP
-
-#include <deque>
-#include <string>
-#include <assert.h>
-
-using namespace std;
-
-class KeyStroke
-{
-public:
-  deque<char> user_bytes;
-
-  KeyStroke() : user_bytes() {}
-
-  void key_hit( char x ) { user_bytes.push_back( x ); }
-
-  /* interface for Network::Transport */
-  void subtract( KeyStroke * const prefix );
-  string diff_from( KeyStroke const & existing );
-  void apply_string( string diff );
-  bool operator==( KeyStroke const &x ) const { return user_bytes == x.user_bytes; }
-};
-
-#endif
diff --git a/networktransport.cpp b/networktransport.cpp
index f0ea2cb..9256678 100644
--- a/networktransport.cpp
+++ b/networktransport.cpp
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ void Transport<MyState, RemoteState>::send_to_receiver( void )
       return;
     }
 
+    /* XXX should increment number each time */
+
     Instruction inst( assumed_receiver_state->num,
 		      assumed_receiver_state->num,
 		      received_states.back().num,
diff --git a/ntester.cpp b/ntester.cpp
index 718e2e5..ea41d4c 100644
--- a/ntester.cpp
+++ b/ntester.cpp
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <poll.h>
 
-#include "keystroke.hpp"
+#include "user.hpp"
 #include "networktransport.hpp"
 
+using namespace Network;
+
 int main( int argc, char *argv[] )
 {
   bool server = true;
@@ -12,9 +14,9 @@ int main( int argc, char *argv[] )
   char *ip;
   int port;
 
-  KeyStroke me, remote;
+  UserStream me, remote;
 
-  Network::Transport<KeyStroke, KeyStroke> *n;
+  Transport<UserStream, UserStream> *n;
 
   try {
     if ( argc > 1 ) {
@@ -25,9 +27,9 @@ int main( int argc, char *argv[] )
       ip = argv[ 2 ];
       port = atoi( argv[ 3 ] );
       
-      n = new Network::Transport<KeyStroke, KeyStroke>( me, remote, key, ip, port );
+      n = new Transport<UserStream, UserStream>( me, remote, key, ip, port );
     } else {
-      n = new Network::Transport<KeyStroke, KeyStroke>( me, remote );
+      n = new Transport<UserStream, UserStream>( me, remote );
     }
   } catch ( CryptoException e ) {
     fprintf( stderr, "Fatal error: %s\n", e.text.c_str() );
@@ -94,13 +96,13 @@ int main( int argc, char *argv[] )
 	if ( fds[ 0 ].revents & POLLIN ) {
 	  char x;
 	  assert( read( STDIN_FILENO, &x, 1 ) == 1 );
-	  n->get_current_state().key_hit( x );
+	  n->get_current_state().push_back( Parser::UserByte( x ) );
 	}
 
 	if ( fds[ 1 ].revents & POLLIN ) {
 	  n->recv();
 	}
-      } catch ( Network::NetworkException e ) {
+      } catch ( NetworkException e ) {
 	fprintf( stderr, "%s: %s\r\n", e.function.c_str(), strerror( e.the_errno ) );
 	break;
       } catch ( CryptoException e ) {
diff --git a/parseraction.cpp b/parseraction.cpp
index 097f6fc..f5fdf12 100644
--- a/parseraction.cpp
+++ b/parseraction.cpp
@@ -80,3 +80,10 @@ void Resize::act_on_terminal( Terminal::Emulator *emu )
   emu->resize( width, height );
   handled = true;
 }
+
+bool Action::operator==( const Action &other ) const
+{
+  return ( char_present == other.char_present )
+    && ( ch == other.ch )
+    && ( handled == other.handled );
+}
diff --git a/parseraction.hpp b/parseraction.hpp
index 3a644e9..7709b69 100644
--- a/parseraction.hpp
+++ b/parseraction.hpp
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ namespace Parser {
 
     Action() : char_present( false ), ch( -1 ), handled( false ) {};
     virtual ~Action() {};
+
+    virtual bool operator==( const Action &other ) const;
   };
 
   class Ignore : public Action {
@@ -97,6 +99,11 @@ namespace Parser {
     void act_on_terminal( Terminal::Emulator *emu );
 
     UserByte( int s_c ) : c( s_c ) {}
+
+    bool operator==( const UserByte &other ) const
+    {
+      return c == other.c;
+    }
   };
 
   class Resize : public Action {
@@ -111,6 +118,11 @@ namespace Parser {
       : width( s_width ),
 	height( s_height )
     {}
+
+    bool operator==( const Resize &other ) const
+    {
+      return ( width == other.width ) && ( height == other.height );
+    }
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/templates.cpp b/templates.cpp
index 1c0c930..66ee288 100644
--- a/templates.cpp
+++ b/templates.cpp
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@
 
 #include "terminal.hpp"
 
-#include "keystroke.hpp"
+#include "user.hpp"
 #include "networktransport.cpp"
+#include "userinput.pb.h"
 
 namespace Parser {
   class Action;
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ namespace Parser {
 
 using namespace std;
 using namespace Terminal;
+using namespace Network;
 
 template class list<Parser::Action *>;
 template class vector<Cell>;
@@ -24,7 +26,8 @@ template class vector<wchar_t>;
 template class vector<int>;
 template class map<string, Function>;
 template class vector<bool>;
-template class deque<char>;
-template class vector<Network::Instruction>;
 
-template class Network::Transport<KeyStroke, KeyStroke>;
+template class vector<Instruction>;
+template class Transport<UserStream, UserStream>;
+
+template class deque<UserEvent>;
diff --git a/user.cpp b/user.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8e1755d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/user.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+#include <assert.h>
+#include <typeinfo>
+
+#include "user.hpp"
+#include "userinput.pb.h"
+
+using namespace Parser;
+using namespace Network;
+using namespace ClientBuffers;
+
+void UserStream::subtract( UserStream * const prefix )
+{
+  for ( deque<UserEvent>::iterator i = prefix->actions.begin();
+	i != prefix->actions.end();
+	i++ ) {
+    assert( !actions.empty() );
+    assert( *i == actions.front() );
+    actions.pop_front();
+  }
+}
+
+string UserStream::diff_from( UserStream const & existing )
+{
+  deque<UserEvent>::iterator my_it = actions.begin();
+
+  for ( deque<UserEvent>::const_iterator i = existing.actions.begin();
+	i != existing.actions.end();
+	i++ ) {
+    assert( my_it != actions.end() );
+    assert( *i == *my_it );
+    my_it++;
+  }
+
+  ClientBuffers::UserMessage output;
+
+  while ( my_it != actions.end() ) {
+    switch ( my_it->type ) {
+    case UserByteType:
+      {
+	char the_byte = my_it->userbyte.c;
+	/* can we combine this with a previous Keystroke? */
+	if ( (output.instruction_size() > 0)
+	     && (output.instruction( output.instruction_size() - 1 ).HasExtension( keystroke )) ) {
+	  output.mutable_instruction( output.instruction_size() - 1 )->MutableExtension( keystroke )->mutable_keys()->append( string( &the_byte, 1 ) );
+	} else {
+	  Instruction *new_inst = output.add_instruction();
+	  new_inst->MutableExtension( keystroke )->set_keys( &the_byte, 1 );
+	}
+      }
+      break;
+    case ResizeType:
+      {
+	Instruction *new_inst = output.add_instruction();
+	new_inst->MutableExtension( resize )->set_width( my_it->resize.width );
+	new_inst->MutableExtension( resize )->set_height( my_it->resize.height );
+      }
+      break;
+    default:
+      assert( false );
+    }
+
+    my_it++;
+  }
+
+  return output.SerializeAsString();
+}
+
+void UserStream::apply_string( string diff )
+{
+  ClientBuffers::UserMessage input;
+  assert( input.ParseFromString( diff ) );
+
+  for ( int i = 0; i < input.instruction_size(); i++ ) {
+    if ( input.instruction( i ).HasExtension( keystroke ) ) {
+      string the_bytes = input.instruction( i ).GetExtension( keystroke ).keys();
+      for ( unsigned int loc = 0; loc < the_bytes.size(); loc++ ) {
+	actions.push_back( UserEvent( UserByte( the_bytes.at( loc ) ) ) );
+      }
+    } else if ( input.instruction( i ).HasExtension( resize ) ) {
+      actions.push_back( UserEvent( Resize( input.instruction( i ).GetExtension( resize ).width(),
+					    input.instruction( i ).GetExtension( resize ).height() ) ) );
+    }
+  }
+}
+
diff --git a/user.hpp b/user.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cea00c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/user.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+#ifndef USER_HPP
+#define USER_HPP
+
+#include <deque>
+#include <list>
+#include <string>
+#include <assert.h>
+
+#include "parseraction.hpp"
+
+using namespace std;
+
+namespace Network {
+  enum UserEventType {
+    UserByteType = 0,
+    ResizeType = 1
+  };
+
+  class UserEvent
+  {
+  public:
+    UserEventType type;
+    Parser::UserByte userbyte;
+    Parser::Resize resize;
+
+    UserEvent( Parser::UserByte s_userbyte ) : type( UserByteType ), userbyte( s_userbyte ), resize( -1, -1 ) {}
+    UserEvent( Parser::Resize s_resize ) : type( ResizeType ), userbyte( 0 ), resize( s_resize ) {}
+
+    bool operator==( const UserEvent &x ) const { return ( type == x.type ) && ( userbyte == x.userbyte ) && ( resize == x.resize ); }
+  };
+
+  class UserStream
+  {
+  private:
+    deque<UserEvent> actions;
+    
+  public:
+    UserStream() : actions() {}
+    
+    void push_back( Parser::UserByte s_userbyte ) { actions.push_back( UserEvent( s_userbyte ) ); }
+    void push_back( Parser::Resize s_resize ) { actions.push_back( UserEvent( s_resize ) ); }
+    
+    list<Parser::Action *> get_actions( void );
+    
+    /* interface for Network::Transport */
+    void subtract( UserStream * const prefix );
+    string diff_from( UserStream const & existing );
+    void apply_string( string diff );
+    bool operator==( UserStream const &x ) const { return actions == x.actions; }
+  };
+}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/userinput.proto b/userinput.proto
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..32bceca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/userinput.proto
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+option optimize_for = LITE_RUNTIME;
+
+package ClientBuffers;
+
+message UserMessage {
+  repeated Instruction instruction = 1;
+}
+
+message Instruction {
+  extensions 2 to max;
+}
+
+message Keystroke {
+  optional bytes keys = 4;
+}
+
+message ResizeMessage {
+  optional int32 width = 5;
+  optional int32 height = 6;
+}
+
+extend Instruction {
+  optional Keystroke keystroke = 2;
+  optional ResizeMessage resize = 3;
+}