diff --git a/bunkdeck b/bunkdeck
index 907abaf..590c05f 100755
--- a/bunkdeck
+++ b/bunkdeck
@@ -1,121 +1,156 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-set -e
+#!/bin/sh -e
 
-heedPane="bunkdeck:0.0"
-proclaimPane="bunkdeck:0.1"
-shellPane="bunkdeck:0.2"
+sessionname=bunkdeck
+heedPane=bunkdeck:0.0
+proclaimPane=bunkdeck:0.1
+shellPane=bunkdeck:0.2
 
-function isExistingDeck {
-	set +e
-	sessions=$(tmux list-sessions)
-	set -e
-
-	if [[ $sessions == *"bunkdeck"* ]]; then
-		return 0
-	else
-		return 1
-	fi
+isExistingDeck () {
+    if tmux has -t $sessionname ; then
+		    return 0
+    else
+		    return 1
+	  fi
 }
 
-function startNewDeck {
-	tmux new -d -s bunkdeck heed
-	tmux split-window -h -t bunkdeck -p 70
-	tmux split-window -t $heedPane -v -p 3
-	tmux send-keys -t $proclaimPane 'proclaim' C-m
-	tmux send-keys -t $shellPane 'cowsay "press [CTRL+b then o] to cycle through panes"' C-m
-	# turn on pane titling
-	tmux select-pane -t $heedPane -T heed
-	tmux select-pane -t $proclaimPane -T proclaim
-	tmux select-pane -t $shellPane -T shell
-	tmux set -g set-titles on
-	# attach session to shell
-	tmux attach -t $shellPane
+attachToDeck () {
+    # does not currently protect against nesting sessions (tmux does this for us)
+    tmux attach-session -d -t bunkdeck
 }
 
-function killDeck {
-	tmux kill-session -t bunkdeck
+startNewDeck () {
+	  tmux new -d -s $sessionname heed
+	  tmux split-window -h -t $sessionname -p 70
+	  tmux split-window -t $heedPane -v -p 3
+	  tmux send-keys -t $proclaimPane 'proclaim' C-m
+	  tmux send-keys -t $shellPane 'cowsay "press [CTRL+b then o] to cycle through panes"' C-m
+	  # turn on pane titling
+	  tmux select-pane -t $heedPane -T heed
+	  tmux select-pane -t $proclaimPane -T proclaim
+	  tmux select-pane -t $shellPane -T shell
+	  tmux set -g set-titles on
+	  # attach session to shell
+	  tmux attach -t $shellPane
 }
 
-function growPane {
-	case $2 in
-		shell)
-			tmux resize-pane -t $shellPane -L "$3"
-		;;
-		proclaim)
-			tmux resize-pane -t $proclaimPane -U "$3"
-		;;
-		heed)
-			tmux resize-pane -t $heedPane -D "$3"
-		;;
-		*)
-			echo "usage: bunkdeck grow [WINDOW] [SIZE]"
-			echo 
-			echo "windows:"
-			echo "  shell         horizontally grow the shell window"
-			echo "  proclaim      vertically grow the window where you send text"
-			echo "  heed          vertically grow the window where you read texts"
+killDeck () {
+    if isExistingDeck; then
+        tmux kill-session -t $sessionname
+    else
+        echo "you don't have bunkdeck running!"
+    fi
+}
+
+leaveDeck () {
+    # currently assumes that bunkdeck is only session running
+    # if bunkdeck leave is issued from within another session, silent failure occurs
+    if isExistingDeck && [ "${TMUX}" != "" ]; then
+        tmux detach -s $sessionname
+        echo "you are not inside bunkdeck! for help:"
+        echo "$ bunkdeck help"
+    fi
+}
+
+growPane () {
+	  case $2 in
+		    shell)
+			      tmux resize-pane -t $shellPane -L "$3"
+		        ;;
+		    proclaim)
+			      tmux resize-pane -t $proclaimPane -U "$3"
+		        ;;
+		    heed)
+			      tmux resize-pane -t $heedPane -D "$3"
+		        ;;
+		    *)
+			      echo "usage: bunkdeck grow [WINDOW] [SIZE]"
+			      echo
+			      echo "windows:"
+			      echo "  shell         horizontally grow the shell window"
+			      echo "  proclaim      vertically grow the window where you send text"
+			      echo "  heed          vertically grow the window where you read texts"
 		       	echo
-			echo "size:"
-			echo "  number of cells to grow the selected window"
-			exit 1
-		;;
-	esac
+			      echo "size:"
+			      echo "  number of cells to grow the selected window"
+			      exit 1
+		        ;;
+	  esac
 }
 
-function shrinkPane {
-	case $2 in
-		shell)
-			tmux resize-pane -t $shellPane -R "$3"
-		;;
-		proclaim)
-			tmux resize-pane -t $proclaimPane -D "$3"
-		;;
-		heed)
-			tmux resize-pane -t $heedPane -U "$3"
-		;;
-		*)
-			echo "usage: bunkdeck shrink [WINDOW] [SIZE]"
-			echo 
-			echo "windows:"
-			echo "  shell         horizontally shrink the shell window"
-			echo "  proclaim      vertically shrink the window where you send text"
-			echo "  heed          vertically shrink the window where you read texts"
+shrinkPane () {
+	  case $2 in
+		    shell)
+			      tmux resize-pane -t $shellPane -R "$3"
+		        ;;
+		    proclaim)
+			      tmux resize-pane -t $proclaimPane -D "$3"
+		        ;;
+		    heed)
+			      tmux resize-pane -t $heedPane -U "$3"
+		        ;;
+		    *)
+			      echo "usage: bunkdeck shrink [WINDOW] [SIZE]"
+			      echo
+			      echo "windows:"
+			      echo "  shell         horizontally shrink the shell window"
+			      echo "  proclaim      vertically shrink the window where you send text"
+			      echo "  heed          vertically shrink the window where you read texts"
 		       	echo
-			echo "size:"
-			echo "  number of cells to shrink the selected window"
-			exit 1
-		;;
-	esac
+			      echo "size:"
+			      echo "  number of cells to shrink the selected window"
+			      exit 1
+		        ;;
+	  esac
 }
 
+helpText () {
+    usageText
+    echo
+    echo "help:"
+    echo
+    echo "  movement:"
+    echo "    bunkdeck gives you three panes, 'proclaim' to chat, 'heed' to read chats"
+    echo "    and 'shell' to do whatever you want!"
+    echo "    to move between panes you press [CTL + b] at the same time"
+    echo "    then [arrow key] to move to a new pane, or 'o' to cycle around"
+}
 
-case $1 in
-
-	kill)
-		killDeck
-	;;
-	"")
-		if isExistingDeck; then
-			tmux attach-session -t bunkdeck
-		else
-			startNewDeck
-		fi
-	;;
-	grow)
-		growPane "$@"
-	;;
-	shrink)
-		shrinkPane "$@"
-	;;
-	*)
+usageText () {
 		echo "usage: bunkdeck [COMMAND]"
 		echo
 		echo "commands:"
 		echo "  (none)      attach to existing bunkdeck or start new one"
 		echo "  kill        kill running bunkdeck"
-		echo "  grow        grow the size of a bunkdeck window"
+    echo "  leave       close bunkdeck without killing it"
+    echo "  grow        grow the size of a bunkdeck window"
 		echo "  shrink      shrink the size of a bunkdeck window"
-		exit 1
-  	;;
-esac
+}
 
+case $1 in
+
+	  kill)
+		    killDeck
+	      ;;
+	  "")
+		    if isExistingDeck; then
+			      attachToDeck
+		    else
+			      startNewDeck
+		    fi
+	      ;;
+    leave)
+        leaveDeck
+        ;;
+	  grow)
+		    growPane "$@"
+	      ;;
+	  shrink)
+		    shrinkPane "$@"
+	      ;;
+    help)
+        helpText
+        ;;
+	  *)
+        usageText
+        ;;
+esac
diff --git a/delete.sh b/delete.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1e84a94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/delete.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#!/bin/sh -e
+chatlog=/var/log/bunkchat/chat.log
+
+chattr -a $chatlog
+echo > $chatlog
+chattr +a $chatlog
diff --git a/heed b/heed
deleted file mode 100755
index 96a82d5..0000000
--- a/heed
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh -e
-
-clear
-
-figlet -f future heed - bunkchat
-echo "#######################################################################"
-echo "# Take heed, $USER! This is a group chat with everyone on the server! #"
-echo "# You can view earlier chat with 'scry' or 'less /srv/bunkchat.txt'   #"
-echo "#######################################################################"
-echo
-
-tail -f /srv/bunkchat.txt
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..fb1647e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+#!/bin/sh -e
+
+installtarget=/usr/local/bin
+bunkchatrepo=https://git.bunk.computer/bunk/bunkchat.git
+
+missingtmux() {
+    echo
+    echo 'ERROR: tmux not found in $PATH'
+    echo '       please install tmux or add it to $PATH'
+    exit 1
+}
+
+missinggit() {
+    echo
+    echo 'ERROR: git not found in $PATH'
+    echo '       please install git or add it to $PATH'
+    exit 1
+}
+
+# check for tmux and cowsay
+# if not prompt and exit
+checkdeps() {
+    which tmux 1>/dev/null || missingtmux
+    which git 1>/dev/null || git
+    echo
+    echo 'deps located'
+}
+
+clonebunkchat() {
+    echo "cloning bunkchat repo"
+    git clone $bunkchatrepo
+}
+
+# if not found prompt for git clone or exit
+prompttoclone() {
+    echo
+    echo "INFO: could not locate bunkchat scripts"
+    echo
+    printf "install bunkchat? (Y/n): "
+    read -r response
+    case $response in
+        n)
+            echo "exiting bunkchat install"
+            exit 0
+            ;;
+        y)
+            clonebunkchat
+            ;;
+        "")
+            clonebunkchat
+            ;;
+        *)
+            prompttoclone
+            ;;
+    esac
+}
+
+installbunkchat() {
+    (cd ../bunkchat && ./install.sh)
+}
+
+missingbunkchat() {
+    echo "bunk chat not installed"
+    # check for bunkchat repo in parent dir
+    needclone=1
+    for f in ./*
+    do
+        case $f in
+            bunkchat)
+                needclone=0
+                break
+                ;;
+        esac
+    done
+    if [ $needclone == 1 ] ; then
+        prompttoclone
+    fi
+    # run bunkchat install script
+    installbunkchat
+}
+
+# check for installed bunkchat && continue
+checkbunkchat() {
+    which heed 1>/dev/null || missingbunkchat
+    which proclaim 1>/dev/null || missingbunkchat
+    which scry 1>/dev/null || missingbunkchat
+}
+
+# install buckdeck in /usr/local/bin
+installbunkdeck() {
+    echo "installing bunkchat"
+    cp bunkdeck $installtarget
+    chmod 755 ${installtarget}/bunkdeck
+    chown root:root ${installtarget}/bunkdeck
+    echo
+    echo "SUCCESS! bunkdeck installed!"
+}
+
+infocron() {
+    echo
+    echo "INFO: bunkdeck comes with a script to clear chat history"
+    echo "      if you would  like to enable this copy the script to crontab scripts"
+    echo "      and enable a cron for your desired cadence"
+    echo
+    echo "# cp delete.sh /root/crontab-scripts/delete-bunkchat.sh"
+    echo "# crontab -u root -e"
+    echo "# EXAMPLE FOR WEEKLY HISTORY DELETION"
+    echo "0 0 * * 6 /root/crontab-scripts/delete-bunkchat.sh"
+}
+
+# check for root perms
+if ! [ "$(id -u)" = 0 ]; then
+    echo
+    echo "ERROR: please run install with root permissions"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+checkdeps
+checkbunkchat
+installbunkdeck
+infocron
+exit 0
diff --git a/proclaim b/proclaim
deleted file mode 100755
index 48391ce..0000000
--- a/proclaim
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash -e
-
-# make username uppercase
-username=$(echo "$USER" | tr '[:lower:]' '[:upper:]')
-timezone="America/New_York"
-declare prompt
-
-makeSlug () {
-	# make time and date
-	time=$(TZ=${timezone} date +%I:%M%p)
-	date=$(TZ=${timezone} date +%m/%d)
-
-	# make name/time string
-	prompt="${username}-${date}-${time}"
-}
-
-# enter bunkchat mode (clear the screen)
-clear
-
-while true
-do
-	figlet -f future proclaim - bunkchat
-	echo "You may view old chat with 'scry', heathen."
-	echo "-------------------------------------------"
-	read -r -p "speak to the server: " text
-	makeSlug
-	echo "${prompt}: $text" >> /srv/bunkchat.txt
-	clear
-done
diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index 5741545..2543c3a 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -6,11 +6,8 @@ tmux wraps some hand-rolled local chat scripts, and the`bunkdeck` command starts
 
 bunkdeck is comprised of these lil things:
 * `bunkdeck` - run this command to start the interface
-* `proclaim` - post in chat
-* `heed` - read the chat
-* `scry` - read the old chat
+* `bunkchat` - the actual chat functionality [git](https://git.bunk.computer/bunk/bunkchat)
 
 on the server, these are all installed in `/usr/local/bin` so everyone can run them
 
-the file they all interact with, `/srv/bunkchat.txt` has permissions such that everyone can read and write to it
-
+the file they all interact with, `/var/log/bunkchat/chat.log` is append-only
diff --git a/scry b/scry
deleted file mode 100755
index 432c623..0000000
--- a/scry
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh -e
-
-less /srv/bunkchat.txt
diff --git a/uninstall.sh b/uninstall.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..9ae4c23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/uninstall.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#!/bin/sh -e
+
+installtarget=/usr/local/bin
+
+# check for root perms
+if ! [ "$(id -u)" = 0 ]; then
+    echo
+    echo "ERROR: please run install with root permissions"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo
+echo "uninstalling bunkdeck"
+echo
+printf "also uninstall bunkchat commands? (y/N): "
+read -r response
+case $response in
+    n)
+        rm ${installtarget}/bunkdeck
+        ;;
+    "")
+        rm ${installtarget}/bunkdeck
+        ;;
+    y)
+        (../bunkchat/uninstall.sh)
+        # 2>/dev/null || \
+        #    echo && echo "ERROR: couldn't run bunkchat uninstall script" && exit 1
+        rm ${installtarget}/bunkdeck
+        ;;
+    *)
+        echo
+        echo "ERROR: invalid response"
+        exit 1
+        ;;
+esac
+
+echo
+echo "SUCCESS: bunkdeck uninstalled"
+echo "         remember to clean up crontab /root/crontab-scripts/delete-bunkchat.sh"
+exit 0