diff --git a/pygomx/pyproject.toml b/pygomx/pyproject.toml
index b09b354..662608a 100644
--- a/pygomx/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pygomx/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "pygomx"
-version = "0.0.1"
+version = "0.0.2"
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
 description = "python pindings for a golang matrix library"
 license = "AGPL-3.0-only"
 readme = "README.txt"
 
-dependencies = ["cffi>=2.0.0"]
+dependencies = ["asyncio", "cffi>=2.0.0"]
 
 [project.urls]
 homepage = "https://codeberg.org/saces/pygomx"
diff --git a/smal/src/smal/pygomx.py b/pygomx/src/pygomx/client.py
similarity index 73%
rename from smal/src/smal/pygomx.py
rename to pygomx/src/pygomx/client.py
index 2c0ebc7..aefc67f 100644
--- a/smal/src/smal/pygomx.py
+++ b/pygomx/src/pygomx/client.py
@@ -1,29 +1,19 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-import logging
-from _pygomx import lib, ffi
+
+
 import json
-from .errors import APIError
+import logging
+
+from _pygomx import ffi, lib
+
+from .errors import APIError, CheckApiError, CheckApiResult
+import asyncio
+import threading
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-def checkApiError(cstr):
-    result = ffi.string(cstr).decode("utf-8")
-    lib.FreeCString(cstr)
-
-    if result.startswith("ERR:"):
-        raise APIError(result)
-
-    if result == "SUCCESS.":
-        return
-
-    logger.debug(result)
-
-    result_dict = json.loads(result)
-    return result_dict
-
-
-class _MXClient:
+class _AsyncClient:
     """
     core binding
     """
@@ -71,48 +61,59 @@ class _MXClient:
         self.UserID = result_dict["userid"]
         self.DeviceID = result_dict["deviceid"]
 
-    def _sync(self):
+    async def _sync(self):
         r = lib.apiv0_startclient(self.client_id)
-        checkApiError(r)
+        CheckApiError(r)
 
     def _stopsync(self):
         r = lib.apiv0_stopclient(self.client_id)
-        checkApiError(r)
+        CheckApiError(r)
 
-    def _sendmessage(self, data_dict):
+    async def _sendmessage(self, data_dict):
         data = json.dumps(data_dict).encode(encoding="utf-8")
         r = lib.apiv0_sendmessage(self.client_id, data)
-        result = checkApiError(r)
-        return result
+        return CheckApiResult(r)
 
     def leaveroom(self, roomid):
         r = lib.apiv0_leaveroom(self.client_id, roomid.encode(encoding="utf-8"))
-        checkApiError(r)
+        CheckApiError(r)
 
-    def joinedrooms(self):
+    async def joinedrooms(self):
         r = lib.apiv0_joinedrooms(self.client_id)
-        return checkApiError(r)
+        return CheckApiResult(r)
 
     def _createroom(self, data_dict):
         data = json.dumps(data_dict).encode(encoding="utf-8")
         r = lib.apiv0_createroom(self.client_id, data)
-        return checkApiError(r)
+        return CheckApiError(r)
 
     def process_event(self, evt):
         if hasattr(self, "on_event") and callable(self.on_event):
-            self.on_event(evt)
+            loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
+            threading.Thread(
+                target=loop.run_forever, name="Async Runner", daemon=True
+            ).start()
+            asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(self.on_event(evt), loop).result()
         else:
             logger.warn(f"got event but on_event not declared: {evt}")
 
     def process_message(self, msg):
         if hasattr(self, "on_message") and callable(self.on_message):
-            self.on_message(msg)
+            loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
+            threading.Thread(
+                target=loop.run_forever, name="Async Runner", daemon=True
+            ).start()
+            asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(self.on_message(msg), loop).result()
         else:
             logger.warn(f"got message but on_message not declared: {msg}")
 
     def process_sys(self, ntf):
         if hasattr(self, "on_sys") and callable(self.on_sys):
-            self.on_sys(ntf)
+            loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
+            threading.Thread(
+                target=loop.run_forever, name="Async Runner", daemon=True
+            ).start()
+            asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(self.on_sys(ntf), loop).result()
         else:
             logger.warn(f"got systen notification but on_sys not declared: {ntf}")
 
diff --git a/pygomx/src/pygomx/errors.py b/pygomx/src/pygomx/errors.py
index 38ca664..f8f1a99 100644
--- a/pygomx/src/pygomx/errors.py
+++ b/pygomx/src/pygomx/errors.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+from _pygomx import ffi, lib
+import json
 
 
 class APIError(Exception):
@@ -11,3 +13,29 @@ class APIError(Exception):
     def __init__(self, message):
         self.message = message[4:]
         super().__init__(self.message)
+
+
+def apiResult(cstr):
+    result = ffi.string(cstr).decode("utf-8")
+    lib.FreeCString(cstr)
+    return result
+
+
+def CheckApiError(cstr):
+    result = apiResult(cstr)
+
+    if result.startswith("ERR:"):
+        raise APIError(result)
+
+
+def CheckApiResult(cstr):
+    result = apiResult(cstr)
+
+    if result.startswith("ERR:"):
+        raise APIError(result)
+
+    if result == "SUCCESS.":
+        return None
+
+    result_dict = json.loads(result)
+    return result_dict
diff --git a/pygomx/src/pygomx/py.typed b/pygomx/src/pygomx/py.typed
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/pygomx/src/pygomx/pygomx.py b/pygomx/src/pygomx/simple/client.py
similarity index 86%
rename from pygomx/src/pygomx/pygomx.py
rename to pygomx/src/pygomx/simple/client.py
index aa34b5f..11977f2 100644
--- a/pygomx/src/pygomx/pygomx.py
+++ b/pygomx/src/pygomx/simple/client.py
@@ -4,30 +4,14 @@ import logging
 
 from _pygomx import ffi, lib
 
-from .errors import APIError
+from .errors import APIError, CheckApiError
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-def checkApiError(cstr):
-    result = ffi.string(cstr).decode("utf-8")
-    lib.FreeCString(cstr)
-
-    if result.startswith("ERR:"):
-        raise APIError(result)
-
-    if result == "SUCCESS.":
-        return
-
-    logger.debug(result)
-
-    result_dict = json.loads(result)
-    return result_dict
-
-
-class _MXClient:
+class _SimpleClient:
     """
-    core binding
+    synchronous core binding
     """
 
     def __init__(self):
@@ -75,30 +59,30 @@ class _MXClient:
 
     def _sync(self):
         r = lib.apiv0_startclient(self.client_id)
-        checkApiError(r)
+        CheckApiError(r)
 
     def _stopsync(self):
         r = lib.apiv0_stopclient(self.client_id)
-        checkApiError(r)
+        CheckApiError(r)
 
     def _sendmessage(self, data_dict):
         data = json.dumps(data_dict).encode(encoding="utf-8")
         r = lib.apiv0_sendmessage(self.client_id, data)
-        result = checkApiError(r)
+        result = CheckApiError(r)
         return result
 
     def leaveroom(self, roomid):
         r = lib.apiv0_leaveroom(self.client_id, roomid.encode(encoding="utf-8"))
-        checkApiError(r)
+        CheckApiError(r)
 
     def joinedrooms(self):
         r = lib.apiv0_joinedrooms(self.client_id)
-        return checkApiError(r)
+        return CheckApiError(r)
 
     def _createroom(self, data_dict):
         data = json.dumps(data_dict).encode(encoding="utf-8")
         r = lib.apiv0_createroom(self.client_id, data)
-        return checkApiError(r)
+        return CheckApiError(r)
 
     def process_event(self, evt):
         if hasattr(self, "on_event") and callable(self.on_event):
diff --git a/smal/pyproject.toml b/smal/pyproject.toml
index ebcb97b..d41747e 100644
--- a/smal/pyproject.toml
+++ b/smal/pyproject.toml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 [project]
 name = "smal"
 version = "0.0.1"
-requires-python = ">=3.11"
+requires-python = ">=3.10"
 description = "smal - simple matrix application library"
 authors = [{ name = "saces" }]
 license = "AGPL-3.0-only"
@@ -16,8 +16,10 @@ classifiers = [
 ]
 
 dependencies = [
+    "asyncio",
     "cffi>=2.0.0",
     "click",
+    "pygomx>=0.0.2"
 ]
 
 [tool.setuptools.package-dir]
@@ -38,3 +40,4 @@ mxclearaccount = "pymxutils.mxutils:clearaccount"
 mxserverinfo = "pymxutils.mxutils:serverinfo"
 smalsetup = "smal.smalsetup:smalsetup"
 demobot = "demobot:main"
+simplebot = "demobot.simple:main"
diff --git a/smal/src/demobot/demobot.py b/smal/src/demobot/demobot.py
index a6be4ad..b1afbc1 100644
--- a/smal/src/demobot/demobot.py
+++ b/smal/src/demobot/demobot.py
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ DEFAULT_PREFIX = "!"
 
 class DemoBot(SMALBot):
 
-    def on_sys(self, ntf):
+    async def on_sys(self, ntf):
         print("Got a system notification: ", ntf)
 
-    def on_event(self, evt):
+    async def on_event(self, evt):
         print("Got an event: ", evt)
 
-    def on_message(self, msg):
+    async def on_message(self, msg):
 
         if msg["type"] != "m.room.message":
             # not a room message
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class DemoBot(SMALBot):
 
         if msg["content"]["body"] == "!leave":
             logger.info(f"leaving room {msg['roomid']}")
-            self.leaveroom(msg["roomid"])
+            await self.leaveroom(msg["roomid"])
             return
 
         if msg["content"]["body"].startswith("!echo"):
@@ -57,32 +57,30 @@ class DemoBot(SMALBot):
                 txt = "Empty text? Are you kidding me?"
 
             if msg["is_direct"]:
-                self.sendmessage(msg["roomid"], txt)
+                await self.sendmessage(msg["roomid"], txt)
             else:
-                self.sendmessagereply(msg["roomid"], msg["id"], msg["sender"], txt)
+                await self.sendmessagereply(
+                    msg["roomid"], msg["id"], msg["sender"], txt
+                )
             return
 
         logger.info(f"ignored a message: {msg}")
 
-    def listjoinedrooms(self):
-        roomlist = self.joinedrooms()
+    async def on_startup_run(self):
+        roomlist = await self.joinedrooms()
         for room in roomlist:
             if room["is_direct"]:
                 txt = "Hey, I'm back for secret talk :)"
             else:
                 txt = "I'm back online."
-            self.sendnotice(room["roomid"], txt)
+            await self.sendnotice(room["roomid"], txt)
 
 
 def main():
     # create and initialize the bot
     bot = DemoBot(DEFAULT_PREFIX)
 
-    # the bot's matrix client is ready to use now
-    # request the list of joined rooms
-    bot.listjoinedrooms()
-
-    # start syncing forever (listen for incommmig messages/events)
+    # start the asyncio event loop and sync forever (listen for incommmig messages/events)
     bot.run()
 
 
diff --git a/smal/src/demobot/simple/__init__.py b/smal/src/demobot/simple/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8cf9cb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/smal/src/demobot/simple/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+from .demobot import main
diff --git a/smal/src/demobot/simple/__main__.py b/smal/src/demobot/simple/__main__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..40ba55d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/smal/src/demobot/simple/__main__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+import sys
+from .demobot import main
+
+sys.exit(main())
diff --git a/smal/src/demobot/simple/demobot.py b/smal/src/demobot/simple/demobot.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..069cf93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/smal/src/demobot/simple/demobot.py
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+import logging
+from smal.simple.bot import SMALBot
+
+# setup logging, we want timestamps
+logging.basicConfig(
+    level=logging.INFO,
+    format="%(asctime)s.%(msecs)03d %(levelname)s %(name)s - %(funcName)s: %(message)s",
+    datefmt="%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S",
+)
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+logger.setLevel(level=logging.INFO)
+
+
+DEFAULT_PREFIX = "!"
+
+
+class SimpleDemoBot(SMALBot):
+
+    def on_sys(self, ntf):
+        print("Got a system notification: ", ntf)
+
+    def on_event(self, evt):
+        print("Got an event: ", evt)
+
+    def on_message(self, msg):
+
+        if msg["type"] != "m.room.message":
+            # not a room message
+            logger.error(f"not a room message: {msg}")
+            return
+
+        if msg["sender"] == self.UserID:
+            # ignore own messages
+            logger.info(f"ignore own message: {msg}")
+            return
+
+        if "msgtype" in msg["content"].keys() and msg["content"]["msgtype"] != "m.text":
+            # only react to messages, not emotes
+            logger.debug(f"ignore unknown message type: {msg}")
+            return
+
+        if msg["content"]["body"] == "!stop":
+            logger.info("stopping the bot")
+            self.stop()
+            return
+
+        if msg["content"]["body"] == "!leave":
+            logger.info(f"leaving room {msg['roomid']}")
+            self.leaveroom(msg["roomid"])
+            return
+
+        if msg["content"]["body"].startswith("!echo"):
+
+            txt = msg["content"]["body"][5:].strip()
+
+            if txt == "":
+                txt = "Empty text? Are you kidding me?"
+
+            if msg["is_direct"]:
+                self.sendmessage(msg["roomid"], txt)
+            else:
+                self.sendmessagereply(msg["roomid"], msg["id"], msg["sender"], txt)
+            return
+
+        logger.info(f"ignored a message: {msg}")
+
+    def listjoinedrooms(self):
+        roomlist = self.joinedrooms()
+        for room in roomlist:
+            if room["is_direct"]:
+                txt = "Hey, I'm back for secret talk :)"
+            else:
+                txt = "I'm back online."
+            self.sendnotice(room["roomid"], txt)
+
+
+def main():
+    # create and initialize the bot
+    bot = SimpleDemoBot(DEFAULT_PREFIX)
+
+    # the bot's matrix client is ready to use now
+    # request the list of joined rooms
+    bot.listjoinedrooms()
+
+    # start syncing forever (listen for incommmig messages/events)
+    bot.run()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/smal/src/smal/app.py b/smal/src/smal/app.py
index 2144c91..7a4813b 100644
--- a/smal/src/smal/app.py
+++ b/smal/src/smal/app.py
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 import logging
+import asyncio
 
-from .pygomx import _MXClient
+from pygomx.client import _AsyncClient
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -11,8 +12,35 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 """
 
 
-class SMALApp(_MXClient):
-    """ """
+class SMALApp(_AsyncClient):
+    """
+
+    implement 'async def self.on_startup()'
+        async_client is logged in & ready.
+        time to setup extra things & hooks not covered by this class
+        sync_loop will not start til we return
+
+    implement 'async def self.on_startup_run()'
+        async_client is logged in & ready.
+        this will not wait for return
+        do your even long running startup code here
+
+    """
 
     def __init__(self):
         super().__init__()
+
+    def run(self):
+        asyncio.run(self.main_loop())
+
+    async def main_loop(self):
+        if hasattr(self, "on_startup") and callable(self.on_startup):
+            await self.on_startup()
+
+        if hasattr(self, "on_startup_run") and callable(self.on_startup_run):
+            await asyncio.ensure_future(self.on_startup_run())
+
+        await self._sync()
+
+    def stop(self):
+        self._stopsync()
diff --git a/smal/src/smal/bot.py b/smal/src/smal/bot.py
index c4f085b..1921f4e 100644
--- a/smal/src/smal/bot.py
+++ b/smal/src/smal/bot.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 import logging
-import sys
 
 from .app import SMALApp
 
@@ -18,22 +17,16 @@ class SMALBot(SMALApp):
         super().__init__()
         self._sigil = sigil
 
-    def run(self):
-        self._sync()
-
-    def stop(self):
-        self._stopsync()
-
-    def sendmessage(self, roomid, text):
+    async def sendmessage(self, roomid, text):
         data = {}
         data["roomid"] = roomid
         data["content"] = {}
         data["content"]["body"] = text
         data["content"]["msgtype"] = "m.text"
 
-        self._sendmessage(data)
+        await self._sendmessage(data)
 
-    def sendmessagereply(self, roomid, msgid, mxid, text):
+    async def sendmessagereply(self, roomid, msgid, mxid, text):
         data = {}
         data["roomid"] = roomid
         data["content"] = {}
@@ -47,13 +40,13 @@ class SMALBot(SMALApp):
         data["content"]["m.relates_to"]["m.in_reply_to"] = {}
         data["content"]["m.relates_to"]["m.in_reply_to"]["event_id"] = msgid
 
-        self._sendmessage(data)
+        await self._sendmessage(data)
 
-    def sendnotice(self, roomid, text):
+    async def sendnotice(self, roomid, text):
         data = {}
         data["roomid"] = roomid
         data["content"] = {}
         data["content"]["body"] = text
         data["content"]["msgtype"] = "m.notice"
 
-        self._sendmessage(data)
+        await self._sendmessage(data)
diff --git a/smal/src/smal/py.typed b/smal/src/smal/py.typed
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/smal/src/smal/simple/app.py b/smal/src/smal/simple/app.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..abfb8a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/smal/src/smal/simple/app.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+import logging
+
+from pygomx.simple import _SimpleClient
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+"""
+
+"""
+
+
+class SMALApp(_SimpleClient):
+    """ """
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        super().__init__()
diff --git a/smal/src/smal/simple/bot.py b/smal/src/smal/simple/bot.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..85e2db4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/smal/src/smal/simple/bot.py
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+import logging
+
+from .app import SMALApp
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+"""
+
+"""
+
+
+class SMALBot(SMALApp):
+    """ """
+
+    def __init__(self, sigil):
+        super().__init__()
+        self._sigil = sigil
+
+    def run(self):
+        self._sync()
+
+    def stop(self):
+        self._stopsync()
+
+    def sendmessage(self, roomid, text):
+        data = {}
+        data["roomid"] = roomid
+        data["content"] = {}
+        data["content"]["body"] = text
+        data["content"]["msgtype"] = "m.text"
+
+        self._sendmessage(data)
+
+    def sendmessagereply(self, roomid, msgid, mxid, text):
+        data = {}
+        data["roomid"] = roomid
+        data["content"] = {}
+        data["content"]["body"] = text
+        data["content"]["msgtype"] = "m.text"
+        data["content"]["m.mentions"] = {}
+        data["content"]["m.mentions"]["user_ids"] = [
+            mxid,
+        ]
+        data["content"]["m.relates_to"] = {}
+        data["content"]["m.relates_to"]["m.in_reply_to"] = {}
+        data["content"]["m.relates_to"]["m.in_reply_to"]["event_id"] = msgid
+
+        self._sendmessage(data)
+
+    def sendnotice(self, roomid, text):
+        data = {}
+        data["roomid"] = roomid
+        data["content"] = {}
+        data["content"]["body"] = text
+        data["content"]["msgtype"] = "m.notice"
+
+        self._sendmessage(data)