diff --git a/clients/cellular.py b/clients/cellular.py
index 2fd5825..683dd84 100644
--- a/clients/cellular.py
+++ b/clients/cellular.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ local_port = 5001
 # UDP webserver port to bypass frameserver for testing
 remote_port = 4422
 # port to frameserver
-#remote_port = 4321
+remote_port = 4321
 
 # TODO: autodetect interface address for remote application
 outgoing_if = "127.0.0.1"
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ frequency = 1000 / sleeptime # frames per second
 
 # function resets map to zero
 def set_wdata(r, g, b):
+  global wdata
+  wdata = []
+
   for x in xrange(width):
     wdata.append([0] * height)
     for y in xrange(height):
@@ -80,6 +83,21 @@ def i2c(rgba):
   # ignore rgba[0] because it is the state
   return chr(int(rgba[1])) + chr(int(rgba[2])) + chr(int(rgba[3])) + chr(int(rgba[4])) 
 
+# determine if a cells neighbour is active (any will do)
+def has_active_neighb(x, y):
+	# check the cell to the left
+	if x > 0 and wdata[x - 1][y][0] > 0:
+		return True
+	# check the cell above
+	if y > 0 and wdata[x][y - 1][0] > 0:
+		return True
+	# check the cell to the right
+	if x < (width - 1) and wdata[x + 1][y][0] > 0:
+		return True
+	# check the cell below
+	if y < (height - 1) and wdata[x][y + 1][0] > 0:
+		return True
+
 # function sends wdata and sdata state to server
 def send_update():
   #zero out the data buffer
@@ -105,101 +123,75 @@ def send_update():
   # send the data packet to remote host
   UDPSock.sendto(data,(remote_host,remote_port))
 
-# initialize map
-set_wdata(67,67,67)
-set_sdata(0,0,255)
+# main loop
+while True:
+	# reset/initialize map
+	set_wdata(67,67,67)
+	set_sdata(255,255,255)
 
-# set start seed
-# get random location
-rx = randint(0, width - 1)
-ry = randint(0, height - 1)
-wdata[rx][ry] = [1,1,0,0,1]
-print "origin(" + str(rx) + "," + str(ry) + ")"
-
-def has_active_neighb(x, y):
-	# check the cell to the left
-	if x > 0 and wdata[x - 1][y][0] > 0:
-		return True
-	# check the cell above
-	if y > 0 and wdata[x][y - 1][0] > 0:
-		return True
-	# check the cell to the right
-	if x < (width - 1) and wdata[x + 1][y][0] > 0:
-		return True
-	# check the cell below
-	if y < (height - 1) and wdata[x][y + 1][0] > 0:
-		return True
-		
-# main logic loop
-for t in range(60):
-	
-	# push update to clients
-	send_update()
-
-	# create CA buffer
-	data_buffer = deepcopy(wdata)
-
-	for y in xrange(height):
-		for x in xrange(width):
-			# if cell is active, increase its rating/value
-			if wdata[x][y][0] > 0:
-				# change the state of the cell
-				data_buffer[x][y][0] += 10
-
-				# assign stat to red colour
-				data_buffer[x][y][1] = data_buffer[x][y][0]
-
-				# check we don't go too high
-				if data_buffer[x][y][0] > 127:
-					data_buffer[x][y][1] = 127
-					# assign stat to green colour
-					data_buffer[x][y][2] = data_buffer[x][y][0] - 127
-
-				if data_buffer[x][y][0] > 255:
-					data_buffer[x][y][2] = 127
-					# assign stat to blue colour
-					data_buffer[x][y][3] = data_buffer[x][y][0] - 255
-					
-				if data_buffer[x][y][0] > 383:
-					data_buffer[x][y][3] = 127
-
-					set_sdata(0,0,0)
-					# E
-					sdata[0][0] = [0,255,0,0,1]
-					sdata[0][3] = [0,255,0,0,1]
-					sdata[0][4] = [0,255,0,0,1]
-					sdata[0][5] = [0,255,0,0,1]
-					sdata[0][6] = [0,255,0,0,1]
-					# N
-					sdata[1][2] = [0,255,0,0,1]
-					sdata[1][4] = [0,255,0,0,1]
-					sdata[1][5] = [0,255,0,0,1]
-					sdata[1][6] = [0,255,0,0,1]
-					# D
-					sdata[2][1] = [0,255,0,0,1]
-					sdata[2][2] = [0,255,0,0,1]
-					sdata[2][3] = [0,255,0,0,1]
-					sdata[2][4] = [0,255,0,0,1]
-					sdata[2][6] = [0,255,0,0,1]
-
-					send_update()
-					exit()
+	# set start seed
+	# get random location
+	rx = randint(0, width - 1)
+	ry = randint(0, height - 1)
+	wdata[rx][ry] = [1,1,0,0,1]
+	# print "origin(" + str(rx) + "," + str(ry) + ")"
 				
+	# main logic loop
+	for t in range(23):
+		
+		# push update to clients
+		send_update()
 
-			# if not active, check if adjacent cell is active
-			if wdata[x][y][0] == 0 and has_active_neighb(x, y):
-				# activate and colour
-				data_buffer[x][y][0] = 1
-				data_buffer[x][y][1] = 1
-				data_buffer[x][y][2] = 0
-				data_buffer[x][y][3] = 0
+		# create CA buffer
+		data_buffer = deepcopy(wdata)
+
+		for y in xrange(height):
+			for x in xrange(width):
+				# if cell is active, increase its rating/value
+				if wdata[x][y][0] > 0:
+					# change the state of the cell
+					data_buffer[x][y][0] += 16
+
+					# assign stat to red colour
+					data_buffer[x][y][1] = data_buffer[x][y][0]
+
+					# check we don't go too high
+					# if the state is over 127, reset red
+					if data_buffer[x][y][0] > 127:
+						# assign max stat to red colour
+						data_buffer[x][y][1] = 0
+						# assign stat to green colour
+						data_buffer[x][y][2] = data_buffer[x][y][0] - 128
+
+					# if the state is over 128*2, reset green 
+					if data_buffer[x][y][0] > 255:
+						# assign max stat to green colour
+						data_buffer[x][y][2] = 0
+						# assign stat to blue colour
+						data_buffer[x][y][3] = data_buffer[x][y][0] - 255
+						
+					# if the state is over 128*3, reset blue 
+					if data_buffer[x][y][0] > 383:
+						data_buffer[x][y][3] = data_buffer[x][y][0]%128
+
+				# if not active, check if adjacent cell is active
+				if wdata[x][y][0] == 0 and has_active_neighb(x, y):
+					# activate and colour
+					data_buffer[x][y][0] = 1
+					data_buffer[x][y][1] = 1
+					data_buffer[x][y][2] = 0
+					data_buffer[x][y][3] = 0
 
 
-	# set wdata to new buffer
-	wdata = data_buffer
+		# set wdata to new buffer
+		wdata = data_buffer
 
-	# wait to paint process next frame
-	time.sleep(sleeptime/1000.0)
+		# wait to paint process next frame
+		time.sleep(sleeptime/1000.0)
+
+		# end of iteration, restart
+
+	# end of main animation loop
 
 # close socket
 UDPSock.close()
diff --git a/clients/plasma.py b/clients/plasma.py
index 455cb86..2120f41 100644
--- a/clients/plasma.py
+++ b/clients/plasma.py
@@ -27,8 +27,6 @@ UDPSock.bind((outgoing_if, local_port))
 # goes down or refuses connection
 #UDPSock.connect((remote_host, remote_port))
 
-segmentsfile = open('segments','r')
-
 hash = "s2l\n<8<18 " # 10 bytes
 
 alpha = chr(255)
diff --git a/clients/s2llib.py b/clients/s2llib.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c562a81
--- /dev/null
+++ b/clients/s2llib.py
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+# s2llib.py
+# Python utility functions for syndelights
+
+from socket import *
+import sys, time
+#from copy import deepcopy
+
+class syndelights_canvas:
+	"""Holds the state of the canvas to be sent"""
+	segments_in_window = 8
+
+	def __init__(self, hpc, zb, w, h, seg_wins, hs, hsp, ts, tsp, deblvl):
+		# get hash passcode and z-buffer depth
+		self.hash_passcode = hpc
+		self.zed_buffer = zb
+
+		# main window dimensions
+		self.width = w
+		self.height = h
+		
+		# number of windows with segment displays
+		self.segmented_windows_num = seg_wins
+
+		# set servers and ports
+		self.host_server = hs
+		self.host_server_port = hsp
+		self.target_server = ts
+		self.target_server_port = tsp
+
+		# debugging
+		self.debug_level = deblvl
+
+		# make data structures for windows and segments
+		self.reset_windows(0,127,127,127, 255)
+		self.reset_segment_windows(0, 127, 127, 127, 255)
+
+	
+	def reset_windows(self, state, red, green, blue, alpha):
+		self.window_data = []
+		for y in xrange(self.height):
+			self.window_data.append([0] * self.width)
+			for x in xrange(self.width):
+				self.window_data[y][x] = dict(s=state, r=red, g=green, b=blue, a=alpha)
+
+	def reset_segment_windows(self, state, red, green, blue, alpha):
+		self.segmented_windows = []
+		for w in xrange(self.segmented_windows_num):
+			self.segmented_windows.append([0] * self.segments_in_window)
+			for s in xrange(self.segments_in_window):
+				self.segmented_windows[w][s] = dict(s=state, r=red, g=green, b=blue, a=alpha)
+		
+	# convert [r, g, b, a] into a 4 character string
+	def int2chr(self, rgba_dict):
+		return chr(int(rgba_dict["r"])) + chr(int(rgba_dict["g"])) + chr(int(rgba_dict["b"])) + chr(int(rgba_dict["a"]))
+
+	# draw the data object, send it to the target server
+	def draw(self):
+		# prep header with hash, z-buffer and new line (12 bytes)
+		data = self.hash_passcode + chr(self.zed_buffer) + "\n"
+
+		# package window data
+		for y in xrange(self.height):
+			for x in xrange(self.width):
+				data = data + self.int2chr( self.window_data[y][x] )
+			data = data + "\n"
+
+		# package segment data
+		for w in xrange(self.segmented_windows_num):
+			for s in xrange(self.segments_in_window):
+				data = data + self.int2chr( self.segmented_windows[w][s] )
+			data = data + "\n"
+
+		if self.debug_level > 2:
+			print data
+
+		# send the data through UDP to remote server
+		self.UDPSock.sendto(data, (self.target_server, self.target_server_port))
+
+	def setwin_xy_srgba_array(self, x, y, srgba):
+		self.window_data[y][x] = dict(s=srgba[0], r=srgba[1], g=srgba[2], b=srgba[3], a=srgba[4])
+
+	def setwin_xy_sval(self, x, y, col, val):
+		if col == 's':
+			self.window_data[y][x]['s'] = val
+		if col == 'r':
+			self.window_data[y][x]['r'] = val
+		if col == 'g':
+			self.window_data[y][x]['r'] = val
+		if col == 'b':
+			self.window_data[y][x]['r'] = val
+		if col == 'a':
+			self.window_data[y][x]['r'] = val
+
+	def connect(self):
+		self.UDPSock = socket(AF_INET, SOCK_DGRAM)
+		self.UDPSock.bind((self.host_server, self.host_server_port))
+
+	def disconnect(self):
+		self.UDPSock.close()
diff --git a/clients/test.py b/clients/test.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..877fc60
--- /dev/null
+++ b/clients/test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+from s2llib import *
+import time
+
+width = 12
+height = 8
+
+test = syndelights_canvas("s2l\n<8<18 ", 1, width, height, width, "127.0.0.1", 5001, "127.0.0.1", 4422, 3)
+test = syndelights_canvas("s2l\n<8<18 ", 1, width, height, width, "127.0.0.1", 5001, "127.0.0.1", 4321, 3)
+
+test.connect()
+test.reset_windows(0, 0, 0, 0, 127)
+test.reset_segment_windows(0, 62, 62, 62, 63)
+
+
+for y in xrange(height):
+	for x in xrange(width):
+		test.setwin_xy_srgba_array(x, y, [0, 255, 0, 0, 127])
+		test.draw()
+		time.sleep(0.5)
+		test.setwin_xy_srgba_array(x, y, [0, 0, 0, 0, 127])
+
+test.disconnect()
diff --git a/frameserver/Server.cpp b/frameserver/Server.cpp
index 1377638..659e331 100644
--- a/frameserver/Server.cpp
+++ b/frameserver/Server.cpp
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ void Server::listen()
 void Server::send()
 {
 
-  const int length = 12 + HEIGHT*(WIDTH*CHANNELS+1) + SEGWIDTH*(SEGNUM*SEGCHANNELS+1);
+  const int length = HEADEROFFSET + HEIGHT*(WIDTH*CHANNELS+1) + SEGWIDTH*(SEGNUM*SEGCHANNELS+1);
   static char data[length];
   
   while(1)
@@ -188,10 +188,10 @@ void Server::send()
         {
           for(int k = 0; k < CHANNELS; k++)
           {
-            data[i*(WIDTH*CHANNELS+1) + j*CHANNELS + k] = frame.windows[i][j][k];
+            data[HEADEROFFSET + i*(WIDTH*CHANNELS+1) + j*CHANNELS + k] = frame.windows[i][j][k];
           }
         }
-        data[i*(WIDTH*CHANNELS+1) + (WIDTH*CHANNELS)] = '\n';
+        data[HEADEROFFSET + i*(WIDTH*CHANNELS+1) + (WIDTH*CHANNELS)] = '\n';
       }
       
       for(int i = 0; i < SEGWIDTH; i++)
@@ -200,11 +200,11 @@ void Server::send()
         {
           for(int k = 0; k < SEGCHANNELS; k++)
           {
-            data[HEIGHT*(WIDTH*CHANNELS+1) +
+            data[HEADEROFFSET + HEIGHT*(WIDTH*CHANNELS+1) +
                   i*(SEGNUM*SEGCHANNELS+1) + j*SEGCHANNELS + k] = frame.segments[i][j][k];
           }
         }
-        data[HEIGHT*(WIDTH*CHANNELS+1) +
+        data[HEADEROFFSET + HEIGHT*(WIDTH*CHANNELS+1) +
                   i*(SEGNUM*SEGCHANNELS+1) + (SEGNUM*SEGCHANNELS)] = '\n';
       }
     }