diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 046cc30..d6d907c 100755
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -23,6 +23,5 @@ each host should have these files:
   - better theming for hyprlock, rofi, dunst (accent for hyprlock & dunst, variants for rofi)
   - some way for border radius, border, tranparency theme options
   - tags for pip and popups in hyprland config
-  - make wl-clip-persist, polkit agent, and networkmanager applet systemd services?
-  - uh oh! it seems clipse is broken. the listen-shell service stops after you open the gui
+  - remove exec-once stuff and use systemd services instead
   - gtk cursors are MESSED UP. top priority rn
diff --git a/hosts/goopnet-interface/default.nix b/hosts/goopnet-interface/default.nix
index 027737a..78c1cf9 100755
--- a/hosts/goopnet-interface/default.nix
+++ b/hosts/goopnet-interface/default.nix
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@
     # debug
     strace ltrace lsof
     # apps
-    firefox qalculate-gtk krita inkscape onlyoffice-desktopeditors vlc nicotine-plus transmission_4-gtk font-manager obs-studio kdePackages.kdenlive
+    firefox qalculate-gtk krita inkscape onlyoffice-desktopeditors vlc nicotine-plus transmission_4-gtk font-manager
     # compatibility
     wineWowPackages.waylandFull winetricks
     # misc
-    bat file which packwiz yt-dlp hyfetch
+    bat file which packwiz yt-dlp wl-screenrec wl-clipboard grim hyfetch
     # games
     prismlauncher
   ] ++ (with pkgs.my; [
diff --git a/modules/desktop/batsignal.nix b/modules/desktop/batsignal.nix
index 2ed6d78..9b2c3c1 100644
--- a/modules/desktop/batsignal.nix
+++ b/modules/desktop/batsignal.nix
@@ -6,18 +6,18 @@ let
 in {
   options.modules.desktop.batsignal = {
     enable = mkEnableOption "Enable batsignal, a battery notification service";
+    package = mkOption {
+      type = types.package;
+      default = pkgs.batsignal;
+    };
   };
 
   config = mkIf cfg.enable {
-    hm.services.batsignal = {
-      enable = true;
-
-      extraArgs = [
-        # -w 20 -c 10 -d 5  --  set battery levels
-        # -p                --  notify on plug/unplug
-        # -m 2              --  set interval to 2 seconds
-        "-w 20" "-c 10" "-d 5" "-p" "-m 2"
-      ];
-    };
+    modules.desktop.execOnStart = [
+      # -w 20 -c 10 -d 5  --  set battery levels
+      # -p                --  notify on plug/unplug
+      # -m 2              --  set interval to 2 seconds
+      "${lib.getExe cfg.package} -w 20 -c 10 -d 5 -p -m 2"
+    ];
   };
 }
diff --git a/modules/desktop/clipse.nix b/modules/desktop/clipse.nix
index e29b7b2..f512a53 100644
--- a/modules/desktop/clipse.nix
+++ b/modules/desktop/clipse.nix
@@ -9,28 +9,28 @@ in {
     package = mkOption {
       type = types.package;
       default = pkgs.clipse;
-      example = "pkgs.clipse";
     };
   };
 
   config = mkIf cfg.enable {
-    hm.systemd.user.services.clipse = {
-      Unit = {
-        Description = "clipse, a generic clipboard manager";
-        After = [ "graphical-session-pre.target" ];
-        PartOf = [ "graphical-session.target" ];
-      };
+    # runtime dependencies
+    user.packages = with pkgs; [ wl-clipboard ];
 
-      Install = {
-        WantedBy = [ "graphical-session.target" ];
-      };
+    modules.desktop.execOnStart = [ "${lib.getExe cfg.package} -listen-shell" ];
+    hm.wayland.windowManager.hyprland.settings = let
+      class = "clipse";
+    in {
+      windowrulev2 = [
+        "float, class:^${class}$"
+        "size 622 652, class:^${class}$"
+        "center, class:^${class}$"
+        "stayfocused, class:^${class}$"
+        "dimaround, class:^${class}$"
+      ];
 
-      Service = {
-        Type = "simple";
-        ExecStart = "${lib.getExe cfg.package} -listen-shell";
-        Restart = "on-failure";
-        RestartSec = 5;
-      };
+      bind = [
+        "$mod, V, exec, ${lib.getExe pkgs.wezterm} start --class ${class} -e '${lib.getExe cfg.package}'"
+      ];
     };
   };
 }
diff --git a/modules/desktop/default.nix b/modules/desktop/default.nix
index 420d503..a2e4d0b 100644
--- a/modules/desktop/default.nix
+++ b/modules/desktop/default.nix
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@ in {
       type = types.nullOr (types.enum ["x11" "wayland"]);
       description = "What display protocol to use";
     };
+    execOnStart = mkOption {
+      type = types.listOf types.str;
+      description = "List of commands to run on startup";
+      default = null;
+    };
   };
 
   config = mkMerge [
@@ -52,18 +57,9 @@ in {
         SDL_VIDEODRIVER = "wayland";
         CLUTTER_BACKEND = "wayland";
       };
-
-      hm.home.packages = with pkgs; [
-        wl-clipboard
-        wl-clipboard-x11 # compat with xclip
-      ];
     })
     (mkIf (cfg.envProto == "x11") {
       services.xserver.excludePackages = [ pkgs.xterm ];
-
-      hm.home.packages = with pkgs; [
-        xclip
-      ];
     })
   ];
 }
diff --git a/modules/desktop/dunst.nix b/modules/desktop/dunst.nix
index 1bef859..e5c70e0 100644
--- a/modules/desktop/dunst.nix
+++ b/modules/desktop/dunst.nix
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ in {
   config = mkIf cfg.enable {
     hm.services.dunst = {
       enable = true;
-
       settings = with config.colorScheme.palette; {
         global = {
           follow = "mouse";
diff --git a/modules/desktop/gammastep.nix b/modules/desktop/gammastep.nix
index 01b800e..ee78e84 100644
--- a/modules/desktop/gammastep.nix
+++ b/modules/desktop/gammastep.nix
@@ -9,10 +9,9 @@ in {
   };
 
   config = mkIf cfg.enable {
+    modules.desktop.execOnStart = [ "${pkgs.gammastep}/bin/gammastep-indicator" ];
     hm.services.gammastep = {
       enable = true;
-      tray = true;
-
       # portland, oregon
       latitude = 45.3112;
       longitude = -122.4055;
diff --git a/modules/desktop/hyprland.nix b/modules/desktop/hyprland.nix
index 0ae38ad..a6d202c 100644
--- a/modules/desktop/hyprland.nix
+++ b/modules/desktop/hyprland.nix
@@ -88,10 +88,10 @@ in {
           ", XF86AudioMute, exec, wpctl set-mute @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@ toggle"
         ]));
         bindr = [ # "bind released"
-          "SUPER, Super_L, exec, ${lib.getExe config.modules.desktop.nwg-drawer.package}"
+          "SUPER, Super_L, exec, ${lib.getExe pkgs.nwg-drawer}"
         ];
         bind = let
-          screenshotScript = pkgs.writeShellScript "screenshot" ''
+          screenshotScript = pkgs.writeScript "screenshot" ''
             temp_file=$(mktemp)
             trap 'rm -f "$temp_file"' EXIT
 
@@ -149,10 +149,9 @@ in {
           "$mod, bracketleft, workspace, e-1"
           "$mod, bracketright, workspace, e+1"
 
-          "$mod, R, exec, ${lib.getExe config.modules.desktop.rofi.package} -show run"
-          "$mod, T, exec, ${lib.getExe config.modules.software.system.wezterm.package}"
+          "$mod, R, exec, ${lib.getExe pkgs.rofi-wayland} -show run"
+          "$mod, T, exec, ${lib.getExe pkgs.wezterm}"
           "$mod, L, exec, ${lib.getExe config.modules.desktop.hyprlock.package}"
-          "$mod, V, exec, ${lib.getExe config.modules.software.system.wezterm.package} start --class 'clipse' -e '${lib.getExe config.modules.desktop.clipse.package}'"
 
           # screenshot
           # area
@@ -165,6 +164,10 @@ in {
           ", XF86LaunchA, exec, ${screenshotScript} area"
           ", XF86LaunchB, exec, ${lib.getExe pkgs.rofi-rbw-wayland} -a copy -t password --clear-after 20"
           ", XF86ScreenSaver, exec, ${lib.getExe config.modules.desktop.hyprlock.package}"
+
+          # alt-tab emulation
+          # doesnt activate when we let go of alt sadly
+          "ALT, Tab, exec, ${lib.getExe pkgs.rofi-wayland} -show window"
         ] ++ (
           # workspaces
           # binds $mod + [shift +] {1..10} to [move to] workspace {1..10}
@@ -202,7 +205,7 @@ in {
           "${lib.getExe pkgs.networkmanagerapplet}"                          # network applet
           "${pkgs.polkit_gnome}/libexec/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1" # polkit agent
           "${lib.getExe pkgs.wl-clip-persist} --clipboard regular"           # to fix wl clipboards disappearing
-        ];
+        ] ++ config.modules.desktop.execOnStart;
 
         env = [
           "XCURSOR_THEME,${config.modules.desktop.themes.cursorTheme.name}"
@@ -221,17 +224,17 @@ in {
         };
 
         windowrulev2 = [
-          # TODO: dedupe
-          # commons
-          "float, class:^org.gnome.FileRoller$"
-          "size 1100 650, class:^org.gnome.FileRoller$"
-          "center, class:^org.gnome.FileRoller$"
-          "float, class:^org.gnome.Loupe$"
-          "size 1100 650, class:^org.gnome.Loupe$"
-          "center class:^org.gnome.Loupe$"
-          "float, class:^com.gabm.satty$"
-          "size 1100 650, class:^com.gabm.satty$"
-          "center 1100 650, class:^com.gabm.satty$"
+          # common popups
+          # we should totally dedupe these
+          "float, class:org.gnome.FileRoller"
+          "size 1100 650, class:org.gnome.FileRoller"
+          "center, class:org.gnome.FileRoller"
+          "float, class:org.gnome.Loupe"
+          "size 1100 650, class:org.gnome.Loupe"
+          "center class:org.gnome.Loupe"
+          "float, class:com.gabm.satty"
+          "size 1100 650, class:com.gabm.satty"
+          "center 1100 650, class:com.gabm.satty"
           "float, initialTitle:^Open Folder$"
           "size 1100 650, initialTitle:^Open Folder$"
           "center, initialTitle:^Open Folder$"
@@ -250,29 +253,17 @@ in {
           "float, initialTitle:^File Upload$"
           "size 1100 650, initialTitle:^File Upload$"
           "center, initialTitle:^File Upload$"
-          "float, class:^clipse$"
-          "size 1100 650, class:^clipse$"
-          "center, class:^clipse$"
-          # privacy popups
-          "stayfocused, class:^clipse$"
-          "dimaround, class:^clipse$"
-          "stayfocused, class:^gcr-prompter$"
-          "dimaround, class:^gcr-prompter$"
+
+          "float, class:\.exe$"
+
+          # fix focus
+          "stayfocused, class:^gcr-prompter"
+          "dimaround, class:^gcr-prompter"
           "stayfocused, class:^pinentry-"
           "dimaround, class:^pinentry-"
           "stayfocused, class:^polkit-"
           "dimaround, class:^polkit-"
 
-          "float, class:\.exe$"
-          "rounding 0, class:\.exe$"
-
-          # steam notifs
-          "rounding 0, title:^notificationtoasts_"
-          "pin, title:^notificationtoasts_"
-          "noborder, title:^notificationtoasts_"
-          "nofocus, title:^notificationtoasts_"
-          "noshadow, title:^notificationtoasts_"
-
           # firefox pip
           "float, title:^Picture-in-Picture$"
           "pin, title:^Picture-in-Picture$"
@@ -281,12 +272,11 @@ in {
           # discord pip
           "pin, initialTitle:^Discord Popout$"
           "float, initialTitle:^Discord Popout$"
-          "noborder, initialTitle:^Discord Popout$"
 
           # workspace moving
-          "workspace 1 silent, class:^firefox$"
-          "workspace 2 silent, class:^code$"
-          "workspace 4 silent, class:^vesktop$"
+          "workspace 1 silent, class:^firefox"
+          "workspace 2 silent, class:code"
+          "workspace 4 silent, class:vesktop"
         ];
 
         layerrule = [
diff --git a/modules/desktop/nwg-drawer.nix b/modules/desktop/nwg-drawer.nix
index 6f6564f..e159d6a 100644
--- a/modules/desktop/nwg-drawer.nix
+++ b/modules/desktop/nwg-drawer.nix
@@ -6,31 +6,9 @@ let
 in {
   options.modules.desktop.nwg-drawer = {
     enable = mkEnableOption "Enable nwg-drawer, a GTK based application launcher for wayland";
-    package = mkOption {
-      type = types.package;
-      default = pkgs.nwg-drawer;
-      example = "pkgs.nwg-drawer";
-    };
   };
 
   config = mkIf cfg.enable {
-    hm.systemd.user.services.nwg-drawer = {
-      Unit = {
-        Description = "nwg-drawer, a GTK based application launcher for wayland";
-        After = [ "graphical-session-pre.target" ];
-        PartOf = [ "graphical-session.target" ];
-      };
-
-      Install = {
-        WantedBy = [ "graphical-session.target" ];
-      };
-
-      Service = {
-        Type = "simple";
-        ExecStart = "${lib.getExe cfg.package} -r -nofs -nocats -ovl -term wezterm -spacing 15 -fm nautilus";
-        Restart = "on-failure";
-        RestartSec = 5;
-      };
-    };
+    modules.desktop.execOnStart = [ "${lib.getExe pkgs.nwg-drawer} -r -nofs -nocats -ovl -term wezterm -spacing 15 -fm nautilus" ];
   };
 }
diff --git a/modules/desktop/rofi.nix b/modules/desktop/rofi.nix
index 5d4a5eb..d27c114 100644
--- a/modules/desktop/rofi.nix
+++ b/modules/desktop/rofi.nix
@@ -6,18 +6,12 @@ let
 in {
   options.modules.desktop.rofi = {
     enable = mkEnableOption "Enable rofi, a window switcher, run dialog and dmenu replacement";
-    package = mkOption {
-      type = types.package;
-      default = pkgs.rofi-wayland-unwrapped;
-      example = "pkgs.rofi";
-    };
   };
 
   config = mkIf cfg.enable {
     hm.programs.rofi = {
       enable = true;
-      package = cfg.package;
-
+      package = pkgs.rofi-wayland;
       font = with config.modules.desktop.fonts.fonts.monospace; "${family} ${toString size}px";
       extraConfig = {
         show-icons = true;
diff --git a/modules/desktop/swww.nix b/modules/desktop/swww.nix
index b2426ba..3c4fdb9 100644
--- a/modules/desktop/swww.nix
+++ b/modules/desktop/swww.nix
@@ -14,20 +14,21 @@ in {
       default = pkgs.swww;
       example = "pkgs.swww";
     };
-    setScript = mkOption {
+    startScript = mkOption {
       type = types.package;
-      default = pkgs.writeShellScript "swww-set" ''
+      default = pkgs.writeScript "swww-start" ''
         if [ ! -f "${lastWallpaper}" ]; then
           echo "$(ls ${wallpapersFolder} | shuf -n 1)" > "${lastWallpaper}"
         fi
 
+        ${cfg.package}/bin/swww-daemon &
         ${lib.getExe cfg.package} img "${wallpapersFolder}/$(cat ${lastWallpaper})" --transition-type none
       '';
     };
     swapScript = mkOption {
       type = types.package;
-      default = pkgs.writeShellScript "swww-swap" ''
-        file=$(ls ${wallpapersFolder} | ${lib.getExe config.modules.desktop.rofi.package} -dmenu -sep '\n' -i -p "select a wallpaper")
+      default = pkgs.writeScript "swww-swap" ''
+        file=$(ls ${wallpapersFolder} | ${lib.getExe pkgs.rofi-wayland} -dmenu -sep '\n' -i -p "select a wallpaper")
         wallpaper="${wallpapersFolder}/$file"
 
         [ ! -f "$wallpaper" ] && exit 1
@@ -41,24 +42,6 @@ in {
 
   config = mkIf cfg.enable {
     hm.home.packages = [ cfg.package ];
-    hm.systemd.user.services.swww = {
-      Unit = {
-        Description = "swww, a Solution to your Wayland Wallpaper Woes";
-        After = [ "graphical-session-pre.target" ];
-        PartOf = [ "graphical-session.target" ];
-      };
-
-      Install = {
-        WantedBy = [ "graphical-session.target" ];
-      };
-
-      Service = {
-        Type = "simple";
-        ExecStart = "${cfg.package}/bin/swww-daemon";
-        ExecStartPost = "${cfg.setScript}";
-        Restart = "on-failure";
-        RestartSec = 5;
-      };
-    };
+    modules.desktop.execOnStart = [ "${cfg.startScript}" ];
   };
 }
diff --git a/modules/desktop/themes/catppuccin/waybar.css b/modules/desktop/themes/catppuccin/waybar.css
index b45b69d..47888ec 100644
--- a/modules/desktop/themes/catppuccin/waybar.css
+++ b/modules/desktop/themes/catppuccin/waybar.css
@@ -104,52 +104,24 @@ window#waybar.floating #window {
   color: @teal;
 }
 
-#cpu {
-  color: @sapphire;
-}
-
-@keyframes blink {
-  to {
-    color: @text;
-  }
-}
-
-#memory {
-  animation-timing-function: linear;
-  animation-iteration-count: infinite;
-  animation-direction: alternate;
-  color: @lavender;
-}
-#memory.warning {
-  color: @peach;
-  animation-name: blink;
-  animation-duration: 3s;
-}
-#memory.critical {
-  color: @maroon;
-  animation-name: blink;
-  animation-duration: 2s;
-}
-
 #battery {
-  animation-timing-function: linear;
-  animation-iteration-count: infinite;
-  animation-direction: alternate;
   color: @green;
 }
-/* this here is ditto */
+
 #battery.charging {
   color: @green;
 }
-#battery.warning.discharging {
+
+#battery.warning:not(.charging) {
   color: @peach;
-  animation-name: blink;
-  animation-duration: 3s;
 }
-#battery.critical.discharging {
+
+#battery.critical:not(.charging) {
   color: @maroon;
-  animation-name: blink;
-  animation-duration: 2s;
+}
+
+#network {
+  color: @sapphire;
 }
 
 #backlight {
@@ -159,9 +131,6 @@ window#waybar.floating #window {
 #pulseaudio {
   color: @pink;
 }
-#pulseaudio.muted {
-  color: @overlay1;
-}
 
 #custom-power {
   color: @red;
@@ -180,58 +149,13 @@ window#waybar.floating #window {
   color: @text;
 }
 
-box#playback {
-  background-color: transparent;
-  margin: 0 0;
-  padding: 0 0;
-}
-
-#mpris {
-  background-color: @surface0;
-  margin: 0 0.25em;
-  padding: 0.15em 0.5em;
-  border-radius: 1em;
-}
-#mpris.playing {
-  color: @accent;
-  background: @surface0;
-}
-#mpris.paused, #mpris.stopped {
-  color: @overlay1;
-}
-
-window decoration {
-  box-shadow: none;
-}
-
-tooltip, window.popup menu {
+tooltip {
   background: @base;
   border: 1px solid @surface2;
-  font-size: 12px;
-  color: @text;
-}
-tooltip *, window.popup {
-  font-family: CozetteVector, monospace;
 }
 tooltip * {
   padding: 0px;
   margin: 0px;
   color: @text;
-}
-
-window.popup separator {
-  background-color: @surface0;
-}
-
-window.popup menuitem:disabled {
-  color: @overlay1;
-}
-
-window.popup menuitem:hover {
-  background-color: @accent;
-  color: @surface0;
-}
-
-window.popup menuitem:hover > box {
-  background-color: transparent;
+  font-family: CozetteVector, monospace;
 }
diff --git a/modules/desktop/waybar.nix b/modules/desktop/waybar.nix
index 78f29eb..254bb00 100644
--- a/modules/desktop/waybar.nix
+++ b/modules/desktop/waybar.nix
@@ -14,15 +14,16 @@ in {
   };
 
   config = mkIf cfg.enable {
-    # enables playerctld bus, required for waybar to read mpris
-    hm.services.playerctld.enable = true;
+    # runtime requirements for modules
+    user.packages = with pkgs; [
+      # mpris
+      playerctl
+    ];
+
+    modules.desktop.execOnStart = [ "${lib.getExe cfg.package}" ];
     hm.programs.waybar = {
       enable = true;
-      # essentially just the service
-      # peculiar how this is a program
-      systemd.enable = true;
       package = cfg.package;
-
       settings = {
         mainBar = {
           layer = "top";
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ in {
             ];
           };
           "custom/power" = let
-            powerSelect = pkgs.writeShellScript "power-menu" ''
+            powerSelect = pkgs.writeScript "power-menu" ''
               cmd=$(echo '⏻ shutdown|↻ reboot| lock|⎋ exit desktop environment' | ${lib.getExe pkgs.rofi-wayland} -dmenu -sep '|' -i -p 'what to do ?' -theme-str 'window { height: 132px; }')
               case "$cmd" in
                 "⏻ shutdown")
@@ -171,17 +172,11 @@ in {
           cpu = {
             interval = 4;
             format = " {usage}% {avg_frequency}GHz";
-            on-click = "${lib.getExe pkgs.gnome-system-monitor}";
           };
           memory = {
             interval = 4;
             format = " {percentage}%";
             tooltip-format = "{used:0.1f}GiB/{avail:0.1f}GiB used\n{swapUsed:0.1f}GiB/{swapAvail:0.1f}GiB swap";
-            on-click = "${lib.getExe pkgs.gnome-system-monitor}";
-            states = {
-              warning = 80;
-              critical = 90;
-            };
           };
           power-profiles-daemon = {
             format = "{icon}";
@@ -217,11 +212,10 @@ in {
             ];
           };
           mpris = {
-            format = "♫ {dynamic}";
+            format = "{status_icon} {dynamic}";
             format-paused = "{status_icon} {dynamic}";
-            dynamic-order = [ "artist" "title" ];
-            tooltip-format = "{player} | {status_icon} {artist} - {title} from {album} ({position}/{length})";
-            title-length = 48;
+            dynamic-order = [ "title" ];
+            tooltip-format = "{player}: {dynamic}";
             interval = 1;
             status-icons = {
               playing = "⏸";
diff --git a/modules/desktop/wob.nix b/modules/desktop/wob.nix
index e8ee49d..30247f9 100644
--- a/modules/desktop/wob.nix
+++ b/modules/desktop/wob.nix
@@ -14,11 +14,14 @@ in {
   };
 
   config = mkIf cfg.enable {
-    # uhm uh um
-    # i don't know how the code in home-manager is making the wob socket, but it is
+    modules.desktop.execOnStart = let
+      path = cfg.sockPath;
+      script = pkgs.writeScript "launch-wob" ''
+        rm -f ${path} && mkfifo ${path} && tail -f ${path} | ${lib.getExe pkgs.wob}
+      '';
+    in [ (toString script) ];
     hm.services.wob = {
       enable = true;
-
       settings = {
         "" = {
           timeout = 1000;
diff --git a/modules/software/system/wezterm.nix b/modules/software/system/wezterm.nix
index 6242f3f..ba094b6 100644
--- a/modules/software/system/wezterm.nix
+++ b/modules/software/system/wezterm.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ lib, config, pkgs, ... }:
+{ lib, config, ... }:
 
 with lib;
 let
@@ -6,10 +6,6 @@ let
 in {
   options.modules.software.system.wezterm = {
     enable = mkEnableOption "Enable wezterm, a blazingly fast terminal emulator";
-    package = mkOption {
-      type = types.package;
-      default = pkgs.wezterm;
-    };
   };
 
   config = mkIf cfg.enable {
@@ -17,8 +13,6 @@ in {
 
     hm.programs.wezterm = {
       enable = true;
-      package = cfg.package;
-
       extraConfig = let
         fonts = config.modules.desktop.fonts.fonts;
       in ''