diff --git a/core/src/attr.rs b/core/src/attr.rs
index 99d4151..6d0a28e 100644
--- a/core/src/attr.rs
+++ b/core/src/attr.rs
@@ -1,15 +1,15 @@
-use crate::{HasUi, WidgetIdFn, WidgetLike, WidgetRef};
+use crate::{UiRsc, WidgetIdFn, WidgetLike, WeakWidget};
 
 pub trait WidgetAttr<Rsc, W: ?Sized> {
     type Input;
-    fn run(rsc: &mut Rsc, id: WidgetRef<W>, input: Self::Input);
+    fn run(rsc: &mut Rsc, id: WeakWidget<W>, input: Self::Input);
 }
 
 pub trait Attrable<Rsc, W: ?Sized, Tag> {
     fn attr<A: WidgetAttr<Rsc, W>>(self, input: A::Input) -> impl WidgetIdFn<Rsc, W>;
 }
 
-impl<Rsc: HasUi, WL: WidgetLike<Rsc, Tag>, Tag> Attrable<Rsc, WL::Widget, Tag> for WL {
+impl<Rsc: UiRsc, WL: WidgetLike<Rsc, Tag>, Tag> Attrable<Rsc, WL::Widget, Tag> for WL {
     fn attr<A: WidgetAttr<Rsc, WL::Widget>>(
         self,
         input: A::Input,
diff --git a/core/src/event/ctx.rs b/core/src/event/ctx.rs
index a16cfd9..0997e1f 100644
--- a/core/src/event/ctx.rs
+++ b/core/src/event/ctx.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::{HasEvents, HasUi, Widget, WidgetRef};
+use crate::{HasEvents, WeakWidget, Widget};
 
 pub struct EventCtx<'a, Rsc: HasEvents, Data> {
     pub state: &'a mut Rsc::State,
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@ pub struct EventCtx<'a, Rsc: HasEvents, Data> {
 }
 
 pub struct EventIdCtx<'a, Rsc: HasEvents, Data, W: ?Sized> {
-    pub widget: WidgetRef<W>,
+    pub widget: WeakWidget<W>,
     pub state: &'a mut Rsc::State,
     pub data: Data,
 }
 
-impl<Rsc: HasEvents + HasUi, Data, W: Widget> EventIdCtx<'_, Rsc, Data, W> {
+impl<Rsc: HasEvents, Data, W: Widget> EventIdCtx<'_, Rsc, Data, W> {
     pub fn widget<'a>(&self, rsc: &'a mut Rsc) -> &'a mut W {
-        &mut rsc.ui_mut()[self.widget]
+        &mut rsc.widgets_mut()[self.widget]
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/src/event/manager.rs b/core/src/event/manager.rs
index 5876eeb..6896478 100644
--- a/core/src/event/manager.rs
+++ b/core/src/event/manager.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use crate::{
     ActiveData, Event, EventCtx, EventFn, EventIdCtx, EventLike, HasEvents, IdLike, LayerId,
-    Widget, WidgetEventFn, WidgetId, WidgetRef,
+    Widget, WidgetEventFn, WidgetId, WeakWidget,
     util::{HashMap, HashSet, TypeMap},
 };
 use std::{any::TypeId, rc::Rc};
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ impl<Rsc: HasEvents + 'static> EventManager<Rsc> {
 
     pub fn register<W: Widget + ?Sized, E: EventLike>(
         &mut self,
-        id: WidgetRef<W>,
+        id: WeakWidget<W>,
         event: E,
         f: impl WidgetEventFn<Rsc, <E::Event as Event>::Data, W>,
     ) {
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ impl<Rsc: HasEvents, E: Event> Default for TypeEventManager<Rsc, E> {
 impl<Rsc: HasEvents + 'static, E: Event> TypeEventManager<Rsc, E> {
     fn register<W: Widget + ?Sized>(
         &mut self,
-        widget: WidgetRef<W>,
+        widget: WeakWidget<W>,
         event: impl EventLike<Event = E>,
         f: impl WidgetEventFn<Rsc, E::Data, W>,
     ) {
diff --git a/core/src/event/rsc.rs b/core/src/event/rsc.rs
index 0ef2ba8..bcd174f 100644
--- a/core/src/event/rsc.rs
+++ b/core/src/event/rsc.rs
@@ -1,18 +1,18 @@
 use crate::{
-    Event, EventCtx, EventLike, EventManager, HasUi, IdLike, Widget, WidgetEventFn, WidgetRef,
+    Event, EventCtx, EventLike, EventManager, IdLike, UiRsc, Widget, WidgetEventFn, WeakWidget,
 };
 
 pub trait HasState: 'static {
     type State;
 }
 
-pub trait HasEvents: Sized + HasUi + HasState {
+pub trait HasEvents: Sized + UiRsc + HasState {
     fn events(&self) -> &EventManager<Self>;
     fn events_mut(&mut self) -> &mut EventManager<Self>;
 
     fn register_event<W: Widget + ?Sized, E: EventLike>(
         &mut self,
-        id: WidgetRef<W>,
+        id: WeakWidget<W>,
         event: E,
         f: impl WidgetEventFn<Self, <E::Event as Event>::Data, W>,
     ) {
diff --git a/core/src/primitive/mod.rs b/core/src/primitive/mod.rs
index 8284a05..7d81635 100644
--- a/core/src/primitive/mod.rs
+++ b/core/src/primitive/mod.rs
@@ -7,3 +7,12 @@ pub use color::*;
 pub use layer::*;
 pub use text::*;
 pub use texture::*;
+
+use crate::{Mask, util::TrackedArena};
+
+#[derive(Default)]
+pub struct PainterData {
+    pub textures: Textures,
+    pub text: TextData,
+    pub masks: TrackedArena<Mask, u32>,
+}
diff --git a/core/src/primitive/text.rs b/core/src/primitive/text.rs
index 663af0f..820d1f0 100644
--- a/core/src/primitive/text.rs
+++ b/core/src/primitive/text.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use cosmic_text::{
     Attrs, AttrsList, Buffer, CacheKey, Color, Family, FontSystem, Metrics, Placement, SwashCache,
     SwashContent,
 };
-use image::{GenericImageView, RgbaImage};
+use image::{DynamicImage, GenericImageView, RgbaImage};
 use std::simd::{Simd, num::SimdUint};
 
 /// TODO: properly wrap this
@@ -185,3 +185,7 @@ pub struct RenderedText {
     pub top_left_offset: Vec2,
     pub size: Vec2,
 }
+
+pub trait HasTextures {
+    fn add_texture(&mut self, image: DynamicImage) -> TextureHandle;
+}
diff --git a/core/src/render/mod.rs b/core/src/render/mod.rs
index dece8a8..65ad0a1 100644
--- a/core/src/render/mod.rs
+++ b/core/src/render/mod.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use std::num::NonZero;
 
 use crate::{
-    Ui,
+    Textures, UiRenderState,
     render::{data::PrimitiveInstance, texture::GpuTextures, util::ArrBuf},
     util::HashMap,
 };
@@ -59,7 +59,13 @@ impl UiRenderNode {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn update(&mut self, device: &Device, queue: &Queue, ui: &mut Ui) {
+    pub fn update(
+        &mut self,
+        device: &Device,
+        queue: &Queue,
+        ui: &mut UiRenderState,
+        textures: &mut Textures,
+    ) {
         self.active.clear();
         for (i, primitives) in ui.layers.iter_mut() {
             self.active.push(i);
@@ -101,7 +107,7 @@ impl UiRenderNode {
             }
         }
         let mut changed = false;
-        changed |= self.textures.update(&mut ui.textures);
+        changed |= self.textures.update(textures);
         if ui.masks.changed {
             ui.masks.changed = false;
             self.masks.update(device, queue, &ui.masks[..]);
diff --git a/core/src/ui/draw_state.rs b/core/src/ui/draw_state.rs
index 555acb7..02b1d19 100644
--- a/core/src/ui/draw_state.rs
+++ b/core/src/ui/draw_state.rs
@@ -1,22 +1,34 @@
 use crate::{
-    ActiveData, Axis, EventsLike, Painter, SizeCtx, Ui, UiRegion, UiVec2, WidgetId,
+    ActiveData, Axis, EventsLike, Painter, PainterData, SizeCtx, StrongWidget, UiRegion,
+    UiRenderState, UiVec2, WidgetId, Widgets,
     render::MaskIdx,
     util::{HashSet, forget_ref},
 };
-use std::ops::{Deref, DerefMut};
 
 /// state maintained between widgets during painting
-pub struct DrawState<'a> {
-    pub(super) ui: &'a mut Ui,
+pub struct Drawer<'a> {
+    pub(super) widgets: &'a mut Widgets,
+    pub(super) data: &'a mut PainterData,
     pub(super) events: &'a mut dyn EventsLike,
+    pub(super) render: &'a mut UiRenderState,
+    root: Option<&'a StrongWidget>,
     draw_started: HashSet<WidgetId>,
 }
 
-impl<'a> DrawState<'a> {
-    pub fn new(ui: &'a mut Ui, events: &'a mut dyn EventsLike) -> Self {
+impl<'a> Drawer<'a> {
+    pub fn new(
+        widgets: &'a mut Widgets,
+        data: &'a mut PainterData,
+        render: &'a mut UiRenderState,
+        events: &'a mut dyn EventsLike,
+        root: Option<&'a StrongWidget>,
+    ) -> Self {
         Self {
-            ui,
+            widgets,
+            data,
             events,
+            render,
+            root,
             draw_started: Default::default(),
         }
     }
@@ -34,13 +46,17 @@ impl<'a> DrawState<'a> {
         self.draw_started.remove(&id);
         // check if parent depends on the desired size of this, if so then redraw it first
         for axis in [Axis::X, Axis::Y] {
-            if let Some(&(outer, old)) = self.cache.size.axis_dyn(axis).get(&id)
-                && let Some(current) = self.active.get(&id)
+            if let Some(&(outer, old)) = self.render.cache.size.axis_dyn(axis).get(&id)
+                && let Some(current) = self.render.active.get(&id)
                 && let Some(pid) = current.parent
             {
-                self.cache.size.axis_dyn(axis).remove(&id);
+                self.render.cache.size.axis_dyn(axis).remove(&id);
                 let new = self.size_ctx(id, outer).len_axis(id, axis);
-                self.cache.size.axis_dyn(axis).insert(id, (outer, new));
+                self.render
+                    .cache
+                    .size
+                    .axis_dyn(axis)
+                    .insert(id, (outer, new));
                 if new != old {
                     self.redraw(pid);
                 }
@@ -68,27 +84,27 @@ impl<'a> DrawState<'a> {
     pub(super) fn size_ctx<'b>(&'b mut self, source: WidgetId, outer: UiVec2) -> SizeCtx<'b> {
         SizeCtx {
             source,
-            cache: &mut self.ui.cache,
-            text: &mut self.ui.text,
-            textures: &mut self.ui.textures,
-            widgets: &self.ui.widgets,
+            cache: &mut self.render.cache,
+            text: &mut self.data.text,
+            textures: &mut self.data.textures,
+            widgets: &self.widgets,
             outer,
-            output_size: self.ui.output_size,
+            output_size: self.render.output_size,
             id: source,
         }
     }
 
     pub fn redraw_all(&mut self) {
         // free all resources & cache
-        for (_, active) in self.ui.active.drain() {
+        for (_, active) in self.render.active.drain() {
             self.events.undraw(&active);
         }
-        self.ui.cache.clear();
+        self.render.cache.clear();
         self.ui.free(self.events);
-        self.layers.clear();
+        self.render.layers.clear();
         self.widgets.needs_redraw.clear();
 
-        if let Some(id) = &self.ui.root {
+        if let Some(id) = self.root {
             self.draw_inner(0, id.id(), UiRegion::FULL, None, MaskIdx::NONE, None);
         }
     }
@@ -103,8 +119,8 @@ impl<'a> DrawState<'a> {
         old_children: Option<Vec<WidgetId>>,
     ) {
         let mut old_children = old_children.unwrap_or_default();
-        if let Some(active) = self.ui.active.get_mut(&id)
-            && !self.ui.widgets.needs_redraw.contains(&id)
+        if let Some(active) = self.render.active.get_mut(&id)
+            && !self.widgets.needs_redraw.contains(&id)
         {
             // check to see if we can skip drawing first
             if active.region == region {
@@ -124,7 +140,7 @@ impl<'a> DrawState<'a> {
         self.draw_started.insert(id);
 
         let mut painter = Painter {
-            state: self,
+            drawer: self,
             region,
             mask,
             layer,
@@ -134,12 +150,12 @@ impl<'a> DrawState<'a> {
             children: Vec::new(),
         };
 
-        let mut widget = painter.state.widgets.get_dyn_dynamic(id);
+        let mut widget = painter.drawer.widgets.get_dyn_dynamic(id);
         widget.draw(&mut painter);
         drop(widget);
 
         let Painter {
-            state: _,
+            drawer: _,
             region,
             mask,
             textures,
@@ -170,13 +186,13 @@ impl<'a> DrawState<'a> {
 
         // update modules
         self.events.draw(&active);
-        self.active.insert(id, active);
+        self.render.active.insert(id, active);
     }
 
     fn mov(&mut self, id: WidgetId, from: UiRegion, to: UiRegion) {
-        let active = self.ui.active.get_mut(&id).unwrap();
+        let active = self.render.active.get_mut(&id).unwrap();
         for h in &active.primitives {
-            let region = self.ui.layers[h.layer].region_mut(h);
+            let region = self.render.layers[h.layer].region_mut(h);
             *region = region.outside(&from).within(&to);
         }
         active.region = active.region.outside(&from).within(&to);
@@ -189,16 +205,16 @@ impl<'a> DrawState<'a> {
 
     /// NOTE: instance textures are cleared and self.textures freed
     fn remove(&mut self, id: WidgetId, undraw: bool) -> Option<ActiveData> {
-        let mut active = self.active.remove(&id);
+        let mut active = self.render.active.remove(&id);
         if let Some(active) = &mut active {
             for h in &active.primitives {
-                let mask = self.layers.free(h);
+                let mask = self.render.layers.free(h);
                 if mask != MaskIdx::NONE {
-                    self.masks.remove(mask);
+                    self.data.masks.remove(mask);
                 }
             }
             active.textures.clear();
-            self.textures.free();
+            self.data.textures.free();
             if undraw {
                 self.events.undraw(active);
             }
@@ -207,7 +223,7 @@ impl<'a> DrawState<'a> {
     }
 
     fn remove_rec(&mut self, id: WidgetId) -> Option<ActiveData> {
-        self.cache.remove(id);
+        self.render.cache.remove(id);
         let inst = self.remove(id, true);
         if let Some(inst) = &inst {
             for c in &inst.children {
@@ -217,16 +233,3 @@ impl<'a> DrawState<'a> {
         inst
     }
 }
-
-impl Deref for DrawState<'_> {
-    type Target = Ui;
-
-    fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
-        self.ui
-    }
-}
-impl DerefMut for DrawState<'_> {
-    fn deref_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Self::Target {
-        self.ui
-    }
-}
diff --git a/core/src/ui/mod.rs b/core/src/ui/mod.rs
index aa14ec7..f6eaf77 100644
--- a/core/src/ui/mod.rs
+++ b/core/src/ui/mod.rs
@@ -1,211 +1,22 @@
-use crate::{
-    EventsLike, IdLike, Mask, PixelRegion, PrimitiveLayers, TextData, TextureHandle, Textures,
-    Widget, WidgetHandle, WidgetId, Widgets,
-    ui::draw_state::DrawState,
-    util::{HashMap, TrackedArena, Vec2},
-};
-use image::DynamicImage;
-use std::{
-    ops::{Index, IndexMut},
-    sync::mpsc::{Receiver, channel},
-};
+use crate::{WeakWidget, Widget, Widgets};
 
 mod active;
 mod cache;
 mod draw_state;
 mod painter;
+mod render_state;
 mod size;
 mod state;
 
 pub use active::*;
-use cache::*;
 pub use painter::Painter;
+pub use render_state::*;
 pub use size::*;
 
-pub struct Ui {
-    // TODO: edit visibilities
-    pub widgets: Widgets,
+pub struct Ui {}
 
-    // retained painter state
-    pub active: HashMap<WidgetId, ActiveData>,
-    pub layers: PrimitiveLayers,
-    pub textures: Textures,
-    pub text: TextData,
-    output_size: Vec2,
-    pub masks: TrackedArena<Mask, u32>,
-    pub cache: Cache,
-
-    pub root: Option<WidgetHandle>,
-    old_root: Option<WidgetId>,
-    recv: Receiver<WidgetId>,
-    resized: bool,
-}
-
-pub trait HasUi: Sized {
-    fn ui(&self) -> &Ui;
-    fn ui_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Ui;
-}
-
-impl HasUi for Ui {
-    fn ui(&self) -> &Ui {
-        self
-    }
-
-    fn ui_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Ui {
-        self
-    }
-}
-
-impl Ui {
-    /// useful for debugging
-    pub fn set_label(&mut self, id: impl IdLike, label: String) {
-        self.widgets.data_mut(id.id()).unwrap().label = label;
-    }
-
-    pub fn label(&self, id: impl IdLike) -> &String {
-        &self.widgets.data(id.id()).unwrap().label
-    }
-
-    pub fn new() -> Self {
-        Self::default()
-    }
-
-    pub fn get<I: IdLike>(&self, id: &I) -> Option<&I::Widget>
-    where
-        I::Widget: Sized + Widget,
-    {
-        self.widgets.get(id)
-    }
-
-    pub fn get_mut<I: IdLike>(&mut self, id: &I) -> Option<&mut I::Widget>
-    where
-        I::Widget: Sized + Widget,
-    {
-        self.widgets.get_mut(id)
-    }
-
-    pub fn add_texture(&mut self, image: DynamicImage) -> TextureHandle {
-        self.textures.add(image)
-    }
-
-    pub fn resize(&mut self, size: impl Into<Vec2>) {
-        self.output_size = size.into();
-        self.resized = true;
-    }
-
-    pub fn update(&mut self, events: &mut dyn EventsLike) {
-        if !self.widgets.waiting.is_empty() {
-            let len = self.widgets.waiting.len();
-            let all: Vec<_> = self
-                .widgets
-                .waiting
-                .iter()
-                .map(|&w| format!("'{}' ({w:?})", self.label(w)))
-                .collect();
-            panic!(
-                "{len} widget(s) were never upgraded\n\
-                this is likely a memory leak; consider upgrading to strong if you plan on using it later\n\
-                weak widgets: {all:#?}"
-            );
-        }
-        if self.root_changed() {
-            DrawState::new(self, events).redraw_all();
-            self.old_root = self.root.as_ref().map(|r| r.id());
-        } else if self.widgets.has_updates() {
-            DrawState::new(self, events).redraw_updates();
-        }
-        if self.resized {
-            self.resized = false;
-            DrawState::new(self, events).redraw_all();
-        }
-    }
-
-    /// free any resources that don't have references anymore
-    fn free(&mut self, events: &mut dyn EventsLike) {
-        for id in self.recv.try_iter() {
-            events.remove(id);
-            self.widgets.delete(id);
-        }
-        self.textures.free();
-    }
-
-    pub fn root_changed(&self) -> bool {
-        self.root.as_ref().map(|r| r.id()) != self.old_root
-    }
-
-    pub fn needs_redraw(&self) -> bool {
-        self.root_changed() || self.widgets.has_updates()
-    }
-
-    pub fn num_widgets(&self) -> usize {
-        self.widgets.len()
-    }
-
-    pub fn active_widgets(&self) -> usize {
-        self.active.len()
-    }
-
-    pub fn debug_layers(&self) {
-        for ((idx, depth), primitives) in self.layers.iter_depth() {
-            let indent = " ".repeat(depth * 2);
-            let len = primitives.instances().len();
-            print!("{indent}{idx}: {len} primitives");
-            if len >= 1 {
-                print!(" ({})", primitives.instances()[0].binding);
-            }
-            println!();
-        }
-    }
-
-    pub fn window_region(&self, id: &impl IdLike) -> Option<PixelRegion> {
-        let region = self.active.get(&id.id())?.region;
-        Some(region.to_px(self.output_size))
-    }
-
-    pub fn debug(&self, label: &str) -> impl Iterator<Item = &ActiveData> {
-        self.active.iter().filter_map(move |(&id, inst)| {
-            let l = self.widgets.label(id);
-            if l == label { Some(inst) } else { None }
-        })
-    }
-}
-
-impl<I: IdLike> Index<I> for Ui
-where
-    I::Widget: Sized + Widget,
-{
-    type Output = I::Widget;
-
-    fn index(&self, id: I) -> &Self::Output {
-        self.get(&id).unwrap()
-    }
-}
-
-impl<I: IdLike> IndexMut<I> for Ui
-where
-    I::Widget: Sized + Widget,
-{
-    fn index_mut(&mut self, id: I) -> &mut Self::Output {
-        self.get_mut(&id).unwrap()
-    }
-}
-
-impl Default for Ui {
-    fn default() -> Self {
-        let (send, recv) = channel();
-        Self {
-            widgets: Widgets::new(send),
-            active: Default::default(),
-            layers: Default::default(),
-            masks: Default::default(),
-            text: Default::default(),
-            textures: Default::default(),
-            cache: Default::default(),
-            output_size: Vec2::ZERO,
-            root: None,
-            old_root: None,
-            recv,
-            resized: false,
-        }
-    }
+pub trait UiRsc: Sized {
+    fn add_widget<W: Widget>(&mut self, widget: W) -> WeakWidget<W>;
+    fn widgets(&self) -> &Widgets;
+    fn widgets_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Widgets;
 }
diff --git a/core/src/ui/painter.rs b/core/src/ui/painter.rs
index dc707b2..e48c774 100644
--- a/core/src/ui/painter.rs
+++ b/core/src/ui/painter.rs
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 use crate::{
-    Axis, Len, RenderedText, Size, SizeCtx, TextAttrs, TextBuffer, TextData, TextureHandle,
-    UiRegion, Widget, WidgetHandle, WidgetId,
+    Axis, Len, RenderedText, Size, SizeCtx, StrongWidget, TextAttrs, TextBuffer, TextData,
+    TextureHandle, UiRegion, Widget, WidgetId,
     render::{Mask, MaskIdx, Primitive, PrimitiveHandle, PrimitiveInst},
-    ui::draw_state::DrawState,
+    ui::draw_state::Drawer,
     util::Vec2,
 };
 
 /// makes your surfaces look pretty
 pub struct Painter<'a, 'b> {
-    pub(super) state: &'a mut DrawState<'b>,
+    pub(super) drawer: &'a mut Drawer<'b>,
 
     pub(super) region: UiRegion,
     pub(super) mask: MaskIdx,
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ pub struct Painter<'a, 'b> {
 
 impl<'a, 'c> Painter<'a, 'c> {
     fn primitive_at<P: Primitive>(&mut self, primitive: P, region: UiRegion) {
-        let h = self.state.layers.write(
+        let h = self.drawer.layers.write(
             self.layer,
             PrimitiveInst {
                 id: self.id,
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ impl<'a, 'c> Painter<'a, 'c> {
         );
         if self.mask != MaskIdx::NONE {
             // TODO: I have no clue if this works at all :joy:
-            self.state.masks.push_ref(self.mask);
+            self.drawer.masks.push_ref(self.mask);
         }
         self.primitives.push(h);
     }
@@ -48,23 +48,23 @@ impl<'a, 'c> Painter<'a, 'c> {
 
     pub fn set_mask(&mut self, region: UiRegion) {
         assert!(self.mask == MaskIdx::NONE);
-        self.mask = self.state.masks.push(Mask { region });
+        self.mask = self.drawer.masks.push(Mask { region });
     }
 
     /// Draws a widget within this widget's region.
-    pub fn widget<W: ?Sized>(&mut self, id: &WidgetHandle<W>) {
+    pub fn widget<W: ?Sized>(&mut self, id: &StrongWidget<W>) {
         self.widget_at(id, self.region);
     }
 
     /// Draws a widget somewhere within this one.
     /// Useful for drawing child widgets in select areas.
-    pub fn widget_within<W: ?Sized>(&mut self, id: &WidgetHandle<W>, region: UiRegion) {
+    pub fn widget_within<W: ?Sized>(&mut self, id: &StrongWidget<W>, region: UiRegion) {
         self.widget_at(id, region.within(&self.region));
     }
 
-    fn widget_at<W: ?Sized>(&mut self, id: &WidgetHandle<W>, region: UiRegion) {
+    fn widget_at<W: ?Sized>(&mut self, id: &StrongWidget<W>, region: UiRegion) {
         self.children.push(id.id());
-        self.state
+        self.drawer
             .draw_inner(self.layer, id.id(), region, Some(self.id), self.mask, None);
     }
 
@@ -85,21 +85,21 @@ impl<'a, 'c> Painter<'a, 'c> {
 
     /// returns (handle, offset from top left)
     pub fn render_text(&mut self, buffer: &mut TextBuffer, attrs: &TextAttrs) -> RenderedText {
-        self.state
+        self.drawer
             .ui
             .text
-            .draw(buffer, attrs, &mut self.state.ui.textures)
+            .draw(buffer, attrs, &mut self.drawer.ui.textures)
     }
 
     pub fn region(&self) -> UiRegion {
         self.region
     }
 
-    pub fn size<W: ?Sized + Widget>(&mut self, id: &WidgetHandle<W>) -> Size {
+    pub fn size<W: ?Sized + Widget>(&mut self, id: &StrongWidget<W>) -> Size {
         self.size_ctx().size(id)
     }
 
-    pub fn len_axis<W: ?Sized + Widget>(&mut self, id: &WidgetHandle<W>, axis: Axis) -> Len {
+    pub fn len_axis<W: ?Sized + Widget>(&mut self, id: &StrongWidget<W>, axis: Axis) -> Len {
         match axis {
             Axis::X => self.size_ctx().width(id),
             Axis::Y => self.size_ctx().height(id),
@@ -107,27 +107,27 @@ impl<'a, 'c> Painter<'a, 'c> {
     }
 
     pub fn output_size(&self) -> Vec2 {
-        self.state.output_size
+        self.drawer.output_size
     }
 
     pub fn px_size(&mut self) -> Vec2 {
-        self.region.size().to_abs(self.state.output_size)
+        self.region.size().to_abs(self.drawer.output_size)
     }
 
     pub fn text_data(&mut self) -> &mut TextData {
-        &mut self.state.text
+        &mut self.drawer.text
     }
 
     pub fn child_layer(&mut self) {
-        self.layer = self.state.layers.child(self.layer);
+        self.layer = self.drawer.layers.child(self.layer);
     }
 
     pub fn next_layer(&mut self) {
-        self.layer = self.state.layers.next(self.layer);
+        self.layer = self.drawer.layers.next(self.layer);
     }
 
     pub fn label(&self) -> &str {
-        &self.state.widgets.data(self.id).unwrap().label
+        &self.drawer.widgets.data(self.id).unwrap().label
     }
 
     pub fn id(&self) -> &WidgetId {
@@ -135,6 +135,6 @@ impl<'a, 'c> Painter<'a, 'c> {
     }
 
     pub fn size_ctx(&mut self) -> SizeCtx<'_> {
-        self.state.size_ctx(self.id, self.region.size())
+        self.drawer.size_ctx(self.id, self.region.size())
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/src/ui/render_state.rs b/core/src/ui/render_state.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aad10dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/src/ui/render_state.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+use crate::{
+    ActiveData, EventsLike, IdLike, PixelRegion, PrimitiveLayers, StrongWidget, WidgetId, Widgets,
+    ui::{cache::Cache, draw_state::Drawer},
+    util::{HashMap, Vec2},
+};
+
+pub struct UiRenderState {
+    pub active: HashMap<WidgetId, ActiveData>,
+    pub layers: PrimitiveLayers,
+    pub(super) output_size: Vec2,
+    pub cache: Cache,
+
+    old_root: Option<WidgetId>,
+    resized: bool,
+}
+
+impl UiRenderState {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            active: Default::default(),
+            layers: Default::default(),
+            cache: Default::default(),
+            output_size: Vec2::ZERO,
+            old_root: None,
+            resized: false,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn resize(&mut self, size: impl Into<Vec2>) {
+        self.output_size = size.into();
+        self.resized = true;
+    }
+
+    pub fn update<'a>(
+        &mut self,
+        root: impl Into<Option<&'a StrongWidget>>,
+        widgets: &mut Widgets,
+        events: &mut dyn EventsLike,
+    ) {
+        // safety mechanism for memory leaks; might wanna return a result instead so user can
+        // decide whether to panic or not
+        if !widgets.waiting.is_empty() {
+            let len = widgets.waiting.len();
+            let all: Vec<_> = widgets
+                .waiting
+                .iter()
+                .map(|&w| format!("'{}' ({w:?})", widgets.label(w)))
+                .collect();
+            panic!(
+                "{len} widget(s) were never upgraded\n\
+                this is likely a memory leak; consider upgrading to strong if you plan on using it later\n\
+                weak widgets: {all:#?}"
+            );
+        }
+        if self.root_changed(root) {
+            Drawer::new(self, events).redraw_all();
+            self.old_root = root.into().map(|r| r.id());
+        } else if widgets.has_updates() {
+            Drawer::new(self, events).redraw_updates();
+        }
+        if self.resized {
+            self.resized = false;
+            Drawer::new(self, events).redraw_all();
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn root_changed<'a>(&self, root: impl Into<Option<&'a StrongWidget>>) -> bool {
+        root.into().map(|r| r.id()) != self.old_root
+    }
+
+    pub fn needs_redraw<'a>(
+        &self,
+        root: impl Into<Option<&'a StrongWidget>>,
+        widgets: &Widgets,
+    ) -> bool {
+        self.root_changed(root) || widgets.has_updates()
+    }
+
+    pub fn active_widgets(&self) -> usize {
+        self.active.len()
+    }
+
+    pub fn debug(&self, widgets: &Widgets, label: &str) -> impl Iterator<Item = &ActiveData> {
+        self.active.iter().filter_map(move |(&id, inst)| {
+            let l = widgets.label(id);
+            if l == label { Some(inst) } else { None }
+        })
+    }
+
+    pub fn debug_layers(&self) {
+        for ((idx, depth), primitives) in self.layers.iter_depth() {
+            let indent = " ".repeat(depth * 2);
+            let len = primitives.instances().len();
+            print!("{indent}{idx}: {len} primitives");
+            if len >= 1 {
+                print!(" ({})", primitives.instances()[0].binding);
+            }
+            println!();
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn window_region(&self, id: &impl IdLike) -> Option<PixelRegion> {
+        let region = self.active.get(&id.id())?.region;
+        Some(region.to_px(self.output_size))
+    }
+}
+
+pub trait HasRoot {
+    fn set_root(&mut self, root: StrongWidget);
+}
+
+impl Default for UiRenderState {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::new()
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/src/widget/handle.rs b/core/src/widget/handle.rs
index 98e6951..7b52275 100644
--- a/core/src/widget/handle.rs
+++ b/core/src/widget/handle.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use std::{marker::Unsize, ops::CoerceUnsized, sync::mpsc::Sender};
 
 use crate::{
-    HasUi, Widget,
+    UiRsc, Widget,
     util::{RefCounter, SlotId},
 };
 
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ pub type WidgetId = SlotId;
 /// a signal is sent to the owning UI to clean up the resources.
 ///
 /// TODO: ergonomic clones when they get put in rust-analyzer & don't cause ICEs?
-pub struct WidgetHandle<W: ?Sized = dyn Widget> {
+pub struct StrongWidget<W: ?Sized = dyn Widget> {
     pub(super) id: WidgetId,
     counter: RefCounter,
     send: Sender<WidgetId>,
@@ -21,24 +21,19 @@ pub struct WidgetHandle<W: ?Sized = dyn Widget> {
 
 /// A weak handle to a widget.
 /// Will not keep it alive, but can still be used for indexing like WidgetHandle.
-pub struct WidgetRef<W: ?Sized = dyn Widget> {
+pub struct WeakWidget<W: ?Sized = dyn Widget> {
     pub(super) id: WidgetId,
     #[allow(unused)]
     ty: *const W,
 }
 
-pub struct WidgetHandles<W: ?Sized = dyn Widget> {
-    pub h: WidgetHandle<W>,
-    pub r: WidgetRef<W>,
-}
-
-impl<W: Widget + ?Sized + Unsize<dyn Widget>> WidgetHandle<W> {
-    pub fn any(self) -> WidgetHandle<dyn Widget> {
+impl<W: Widget + ?Sized + Unsize<dyn Widget>> StrongWidget<W> {
+    pub fn any(self) -> StrongWidget<dyn Widget> {
         self
     }
 }
 
-impl<W: ?Sized> WidgetHandle<W> {
+impl<W: ?Sized> StrongWidget<W> {
     pub(crate) fn new(id: WidgetId, send: Sender<WidgetId>) -> Self {
         Self {
             id,
@@ -56,18 +51,13 @@ impl<W: ?Sized> WidgetHandle<W> {
         self.counter.refs()
     }
 
-    pub fn weak(&self) -> WidgetRef<W> {
+    pub fn weak(&self) -> WeakWidget<W> {
         let Self { ty, id, .. } = *self;
-        WidgetRef { ty, id }
-    }
-
-    pub fn handles(self) -> WidgetHandles<W> {
-        let r = self.weak();
-        WidgetHandles { h: self, r }
+        WeakWidget { ty, id }
     }
 }
 
-impl<W: ?Sized> WidgetRef<W> {
+impl<W: ?Sized> WeakWidget<W> {
     pub(crate) fn new(id: WidgetId) -> Self {
         Self { id, ty: null_ptr() }
     }
@@ -77,12 +67,12 @@ impl<W: ?Sized> WidgetRef<W> {
     }
 
     #[track_caller]
-    pub fn upgrade(self, ui: &mut impl HasUi) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
-        ui.ui_mut().widgets.upgrade(self)
+    pub fn upgrade(self, ui: &mut impl UiRsc) -> StrongWidget<W> {
+        ui.widgets_mut().upgrade(self)
     }
 }
 
-impl<W: ?Sized> Drop for WidgetHandle<W> {
+impl<W: ?Sized> Drop for StrongWidget<W> {
     fn drop(&mut self) {
         if self.counter.drop() {
             let _ = self.send.send(self.id);
@@ -90,29 +80,29 @@ impl<W: ?Sized> Drop for WidgetHandle<W> {
     }
 }
 
-pub trait WidgetIdFn<Rsc, W: ?Sized = dyn Widget>: FnOnce(&mut Rsc) -> WidgetRef<W> {}
-impl<Rsc, W: ?Sized, F: FnOnce(&mut Rsc) -> WidgetRef<W>> WidgetIdFn<Rsc, W> for F {}
+pub trait WidgetIdFn<Rsc, W: ?Sized = dyn Widget>: FnOnce(&mut Rsc) -> WeakWidget<W> {}
+impl<Rsc, W: ?Sized, F: FnOnce(&mut Rsc) -> WeakWidget<W>> WidgetIdFn<Rsc, W> for F {}
 
 pub trait IdLike {
     type Widget: ?Sized;
     fn id(&self) -> WidgetId;
 }
 
-impl<W: ?Sized> IdLike for &WidgetHandle<W> {
+impl<W: ?Sized> IdLike for &StrongWidget<W> {
     type Widget = W;
     fn id(&self) -> WidgetId {
         self.id
     }
 }
 
-impl<W: ?Sized> IdLike for WidgetHandle<W> {
+impl<W: ?Sized> IdLike for StrongWidget<W> {
     type Widget = W;
     fn id(&self) -> WidgetId {
         self.id
     }
 }
 
-impl<W: ?Sized> IdLike for WidgetRef<W> {
+impl<W: ?Sized> IdLike for WeakWidget<W> {
     type Widget = W;
     fn id(&self) -> WidgetId {
         self.id
@@ -126,38 +116,38 @@ impl IdLike for WidgetId {
     }
 }
 
-impl<T: ?Sized + Unsize<U>, U: ?Sized> CoerceUnsized<WidgetHandle<U>> for WidgetHandle<T> {}
-impl<T: ?Sized + Unsize<U>, U: ?Sized> CoerceUnsized<WidgetRef<U>> for WidgetRef<T> {}
+impl<T: ?Sized + Unsize<U>, U: ?Sized> CoerceUnsized<StrongWidget<U>> for StrongWidget<T> {}
+impl<T: ?Sized + Unsize<U>, U: ?Sized> CoerceUnsized<WeakWidget<U>> for WeakWidget<T> {}
 
-impl<W: ?Sized> Clone for WidgetRef<W> {
+impl<W: ?Sized> Clone for WeakWidget<W> {
     fn clone(&self) -> Self {
         *self
     }
 }
-impl<W: ?Sized> Copy for WidgetRef<W> {}
-impl<W: ?Sized> PartialEq for WidgetRef<W> {
+impl<W: ?Sized> Copy for WeakWidget<W> {}
+impl<W: ?Sized> PartialEq for WeakWidget<W> {
     fn eq(&self, other: &Self) -> bool {
         self.id == other.id
     }
 }
 
-impl<W> PartialEq for WidgetHandle<W> {
+impl<W> PartialEq for StrongWidget<W> {
     fn eq(&self, other: &Self) -> bool {
         self.id == other.id
     }
 }
 
-impl<W> std::fmt::Debug for WidgetHandle<W> {
+impl<W> std::fmt::Debug for StrongWidget<W> {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
         self.id.fmt(f)
     }
 }
 
-impl<'a, W: Widget + 'a, State: HasUi> FnOnce<(&'a mut State,)> for WidgetRef<W> {
+impl<'a, W: Widget + 'a, State: UiRsc> FnOnce<(&'a mut State,)> for WeakWidget<W> {
     type Output = &'a mut W;
 
     extern "rust-call" fn call_once(self, args: (&'a mut State,)) -> Self::Output {
-        &mut args.0.ui_mut()[self]
+        &mut args.0.widgets_mut()[self]
     }
 }
 
@@ -170,5 +160,5 @@ fn null_ptr<W: ?Sized>() -> *const W {
     }
 }
 
-unsafe impl<W: ?Sized> Send for WidgetRef<W> {}
-unsafe impl<W: ?Sized> Sync for WidgetRef<W> {}
+unsafe impl<W: ?Sized> Send for WeakWidget<W> {}
+unsafe impl<W: ?Sized> Sync for WeakWidget<W> {}
diff --git a/core/src/widget/like.rs b/core/src/widget/like.rs
index 5937f03..fe4b0ea 100644
--- a/core/src/widget/like.rs
+++ b/core/src/widget/like.rs
@@ -1,20 +1,20 @@
-use crate::HasUi;
+use crate::{HasRoot, UiRsc};
 
 use super::*;
 use std::marker::Unsize;
 
-pub trait WidgetLike<Rsc: HasUi, Tag>: Sized {
+pub trait WidgetLike<Rsc: UiRsc, Tag>: Sized {
     type Widget: Widget + ?Sized + Unsize<dyn Widget>;
 
-    fn add(self, rsc: &mut Rsc) -> WidgetRef<Self::Widget>;
+    fn add(self, rsc: &mut Rsc) -> WeakWidget<Self::Widget>;
 
-    fn add_strong(self, rsc: &mut Rsc) -> WidgetHandle<Self::Widget> {
-        self.add(rsc).upgrade(rsc.ui_mut())
+    fn add_strong(self, rsc: &mut Rsc) -> StrongWidget<Self::Widget> {
+        self.add(rsc).upgrade(rsc)
     }
 
     fn with_id<W2>(
         self,
-        f: impl FnOnce(&mut Rsc, WidgetRef<Self::Widget>) -> WidgetRef<W2>,
+        f: impl FnOnce(&mut Rsc, WeakWidget<Self::Widget>) -> WeakWidget<W2>,
     ) -> impl WidgetIdFn<Rsc, W2> {
         move |state| {
             let id = self.add(state);
@@ -22,14 +22,12 @@ pub trait WidgetLike<Rsc: HasUi, Tag>: Sized {
         }
     }
 
-    fn set_root(self, state: &mut Rsc) {
-        let id = self.add(state);
-        let ui = state.ui_mut();
-        ui.root = Some(id.upgrade(ui));
-    }
-
-    fn handles(self, state: &mut Rsc) -> WidgetHandles<Self::Widget> {
-        self.add(state).upgrade(state.ui_mut()).handles()
+    fn set_root(self, rsc: &mut Rsc)
+    where
+        Rsc: HasRoot,
+    {
+        let id = self.add_strong(rsc);
+        rsc.set_root(id);
     }
 }
 
@@ -50,12 +48,12 @@ macro_rules! impl_widget_arr {
         impl_widget_arr!($n;$($W)*;$(${concat($W,Tag)})*);
     };
     ($n:expr;$($W:ident)*;$($Tag:ident)*) => {
-        impl<Rsc: HasUi, $($W: WidgetLike<Rsc, $Tag>,$Tag,)*> WidgetArrLike<Rsc, $n, ($($Tag,)*)> for ($($W,)*) {
+        impl<Rsc: UiRsc, $($W: WidgetLike<Rsc, $Tag>,$Tag,)*> WidgetArrLike<Rsc, $n, ($($Tag,)*)> for ($($W,)*) {
             fn add(self, rsc: &mut Rsc) -> WidgetArr<$n> {
                 #[allow(non_snake_case)]
                 let ($($W,)*) = self;
                 WidgetArr::new(
-                    [$($W.add(rsc).upgrade(rsc.ui_mut()),)*],
+                    [$($W.add(rsc).upgrade(rsc),)*],
                 )
             }
         }
diff --git a/core/src/widget/mod.rs b/core/src/widget/mod.rs
index b47cf67..a0f084c 100644
--- a/core/src/widget/mod.rs
+++ b/core/src/widget/mod.rs
@@ -61,27 +61,27 @@ pub trait WidgetFn<State, W: Widget + ?Sized>: FnOnce(&mut State) -> W {}
 impl<State, W: Widget + ?Sized, F: FnOnce(&mut State) -> W> WidgetFn<State, W> for F {}
 
 pub struct WidgetArr<const LEN: usize> {
-    pub arr: [WidgetHandle; LEN],
+    pub arr: [StrongWidget; LEN],
 }
 
 impl<const LEN: usize> WidgetArr<LEN> {
-    pub fn new(arr: [WidgetHandle; LEN]) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(arr: [StrongWidget; LEN]) -> Self {
         Self { arr }
     }
 }
 
 pub trait WidgetOption<State> {
-    fn get(self, state: &mut State) -> Option<WidgetHandle>;
+    fn get(self, state: &mut State) -> Option<StrongWidget>;
 }
 
 impl<State> WidgetOption<State> for () {
-    fn get(self, _: &mut State) -> Option<WidgetHandle> {
+    fn get(self, _: &mut State) -> Option<StrongWidget> {
         None
     }
 }
 
-impl<State, F: FnOnce(&mut State) -> Option<WidgetHandle>> WidgetOption<State> for F {
-    fn get(self, state: &mut State) -> Option<WidgetHandle> {
+impl<State, F: FnOnce(&mut State) -> Option<StrongWidget>> WidgetOption<State> for F {
+    fn get(self, state: &mut State) -> Option<StrongWidget> {
         self(state)
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/src/widget/tag.rs b/core/src/widget/tag.rs
index e7c9454..dc51221 100644
--- a/core/src/widget/tag.rs
+++ b/core/src/widget/tag.rs
@@ -1,19 +1,19 @@
 use super::*;
-use crate::HasUi;
+use crate::UiRsc;
 use std::marker::Unsize;
 
 pub struct WidgetTag;
-impl<Rsc: HasUi, W: Widget> WidgetLike<Rsc, WidgetTag> for W {
+impl<Rsc: UiRsc, W: Widget> WidgetLike<Rsc, WidgetTag> for W {
     type Widget = W;
-    fn add(self, rsc: &mut Rsc) -> WidgetRef<W> {
-        rsc.ui_mut().widgets.add_weak(self)
+    fn add(self, rsc: &mut Rsc) -> WeakWidget<W> {
+        rsc.add_widget(self)
     }
 }
 
 pub struct FnTag;
-impl<Rsc: HasUi, W: Widget, F: FnOnce(&mut Rsc) -> W> WidgetLike<Rsc, FnTag> for F {
+impl<Rsc: UiRsc, W: Widget, F: FnOnce(&mut Rsc) -> W> WidgetLike<Rsc, FnTag> for F {
     type Widget = W;
-    fn add(self, rsc: &mut Rsc) -> WidgetRef<W> {
+    fn add(self, rsc: &mut Rsc) -> WeakWidget<W> {
         self(rsc).add(rsc)
     }
 }
@@ -23,36 +23,38 @@ pub trait WidgetFnTrait<Rsc> {
     fn run(self, rsc: &mut Rsc) -> Self::Widget;
 }
 pub struct FnTraitTag;
-impl<Rsc: HasUi, T: WidgetFnTrait<Rsc>> WidgetLike<Rsc, FnTraitTag> for T {
+impl<Rsc: UiRsc, T: WidgetFnTrait<Rsc>> WidgetLike<Rsc, FnTraitTag> for T {
     type Widget = T::Widget;
     #[track_caller]
-    fn add(self, rsc: &mut Rsc) -> WidgetRef<T::Widget> {
+    fn add(self, rsc: &mut Rsc) -> WeakWidget<T::Widget> {
         self.run(rsc).add(rsc)
     }
 }
 
 pub struct RefTag;
-impl<Rsc: HasUi, W: ?Sized + Widget + Unsize<dyn Widget>> WidgetLike<Rsc, RefTag> for WidgetRef<W> {
+impl<Rsc: UiRsc, W: ?Sized + Widget + Unsize<dyn Widget>> WidgetLike<Rsc, RefTag>
+    for WeakWidget<W>
+{
     type Widget = W;
-    fn add(self, _: &mut Rsc) -> WidgetRef<W> {
+    fn add(self, _: &mut Rsc) -> WeakWidget<W> {
         self
     }
 }
 
 pub struct RefFnTag;
-impl<Rsc: HasUi, W: ?Sized + Widget + Unsize<dyn Widget>, F: FnOnce(&mut Rsc) -> WidgetRef<W>>
+impl<Rsc: UiRsc, W: ?Sized + Widget + Unsize<dyn Widget>, F: FnOnce(&mut Rsc) -> WeakWidget<W>>
     WidgetLike<Rsc, RefFnTag> for F
 {
     type Widget = W;
-    fn add(self, rsc: &mut Rsc) -> WidgetRef<W> {
+    fn add(self, rsc: &mut Rsc) -> WeakWidget<W> {
         self(rsc)
     }
 }
 
 pub struct ViewTag;
-impl<Rsc: HasUi, V: WidgetView> WidgetLike<Rsc, ViewTag> for V {
+impl<Rsc: UiRsc, V: WidgetView> WidgetLike<Rsc, ViewTag> for V {
     type Widget = V::Widget;
-    fn add(self, _: &mut Rsc) -> WidgetRef<Self::Widget> {
+    fn add(self, _: &mut Rsc) -> WeakWidget<Self::Widget> {
         self.root()
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/src/widget/view.rs b/core/src/widget/view.rs
index 3e6bfe5..042f9b8 100644
--- a/core/src/widget/view.rs
+++ b/core/src/widget/view.rs
@@ -1,16 +1,16 @@
 use std::marker::Unsize;
 
-use crate::{Widget, WidgetRef};
+use crate::{Widget, WeakWidget};
 
 pub trait WidgetView {
     type Widget: Widget + ?Sized + Unsize<dyn Widget>;
-    fn root(&self) -> WidgetRef<Self::Widget>;
+    fn root(&self) -> WeakWidget<Self::Widget>;
 }
 
 pub trait HasWidget {
     type Widget: Widget + ?Sized + Unsize<dyn Widget>;
 }
 
-impl<W: Widget + Unsize<dyn Widget> + ?Sized> HasWidget for WidgetRef<W> {
+impl<W: Widget + Unsize<dyn Widget> + ?Sized> HasWidget for WeakWidget<W> {
     type Widget = W;
 }
diff --git a/core/src/widget/widgets.rs b/core/src/widget/widgets.rs
index 751ddbf..19ecbeb 100644
--- a/core/src/widget/widgets.rs
+++ b/core/src/widget/widgets.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-use std::sync::mpsc::Sender;
+use std::sync::mpsc::{Receiver, Sender, channel};
 
 use crate::{
-    IdLike, Widget, WidgetData, WidgetHandle, WidgetId, WidgetRef,
+    IdLike, StrongWidget, WeakWidget, Widget, WidgetData, WidgetId,
     util::{DynBorrower, HashSet, SlotVec, forget_mut, to_mut},
 };
 
@@ -9,16 +9,19 @@ pub struct Widgets {
     pub needs_redraw: HashSet<WidgetId>,
     vec: SlotVec<WidgetData>,
     send: Sender<WidgetId>,
+    recv: Receiver<WidgetId>,
     pub(crate) waiting: HashSet<WidgetId>,
 }
 
 impl Widgets {
-    pub fn new(send: Sender<WidgetId>) -> Self {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        let (send, recv) = channel();
         Self {
             needs_redraw: Default::default(),
             vec: Default::default(),
             waiting: Default::default(),
             send,
+            recv,
         }
     }
 
@@ -61,25 +64,27 @@ impl Widgets {
         self.get_dyn_mut(id.id())?.as_any_mut().downcast_mut()
     }
 
-    pub fn add_strong<W: Widget>(&mut self, widget: W) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
+    pub fn add_strong<W: Widget>(&mut self, widget: W) -> StrongWidget<W> {
         let id = self.vec.add(WidgetData::new(widget));
-        WidgetHandle::new(id, self.send.clone())
+        StrongWidget::new(id, self.send.clone())
     }
 
-    pub fn add_weak<W: Widget>(&mut self, widget: W) -> WidgetRef<W> {
+    pub fn add_weak<W: Widget>(&mut self, widget: W) -> WeakWidget<W> {
         let id = self.vec.add(WidgetData::new(widget));
         self.waiting.insert(id);
-        WidgetRef::new(id)
+        WeakWidget::new(id)
     }
 
     #[track_caller]
-    pub fn upgrade<W: ?Sized>(&mut self, rf: WidgetRef<W>) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
+    pub fn upgrade<W: ?Sized>(&mut self, rf: WeakWidget<W>) -> StrongWidget<W> {
         if !self.waiting.remove(&rf.id()) {
             let label = self.label(rf);
             let id = rf.id();
-            panic!("widget '{label}' ({id:?}) was already added\ncannot add a widget twice; consider creating two")
+            panic!(
+                "widget '{label}' ({id:?}) was already added\ncannot add a widget twice; consider creating two"
+            )
         }
-        WidgetHandle::new(rf.id(), self.send.clone())
+        StrongWidget::new(rf.id(), self.send.clone())
     }
 
     pub fn data(&self, id: impl IdLike) -> Option<&WidgetData> {
@@ -90,14 +95,19 @@ impl Widgets {
         &self.data(id.id()).unwrap().label
     }
 
+    /// useful for debugging
+    pub fn set_label(&mut self, id: impl IdLike, label: String) {
+        self.data_mut(id.id()).unwrap().label = label;
+    }
+
     pub fn data_mut(&mut self, id: impl IdLike) -> Option<&mut WidgetData> {
         self.vec.get_mut(id.id())
     }
 
-    pub fn delete(&mut self, id: impl IdLike) {
-        self.vec.free(id.id());
-        // not sure if there's any point in this
-        // self.updates.remove(&id);
+    pub fn free(&mut self) {
+        for id in self.recv.try_iter() {
+            self.vec.free(id.id());
+        }
     }
 
     #[allow(clippy::len_without_is_empty)]
@@ -106,4 +116,30 @@ impl Widgets {
     }
 }
 
+impl Default for Widgets {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::new()
+    }
+}
+
 pub type WidgetWrapper<'a> = DynBorrower<'a, dyn Widget>;
+
+impl<I: IdLike> std::ops::Index<I> for Widgets
+where
+    I::Widget: Sized + Widget,
+{
+    type Output = I::Widget;
+
+    fn index(&self, id: I) -> &Self::Output {
+        self.get(&id).unwrap()
+    }
+}
+
+impl<I: IdLike> std::ops::IndexMut<I> for Widgets
+where
+    I::Widget: Sized + Widget,
+{
+    fn index_mut(&mut self, id: I) -> &mut Self::Output {
+        self.get_mut(&id).unwrap()
+    }
+}
diff --git a/examples/tabs/main.rs b/examples/tabs/main.rs
index 6bb1e37..fa90797 100644
--- a/examples/tabs/main.rs
+++ b/examples/tabs/main.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ fn main() {
 #[derive(DefaultUiState)]
 pub struct Client {
     ui_state: DefaultUiState,
-    info: WidgetRef<Text>,
+    info: WeakWidget<Text>,
 }
 
 impl DefaultAppState for Client {
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ impl DefaultAppState for Client {
         let main = WidgetPtr::new().add(rsc);
 
         let vals = Rc::new(RefCell::new((0, Vec::new())));
-        let mut switch_button = |color, to: WidgetRef, label| {
+        let mut switch_button = |color, to: WeakWidget, label| {
             let to = to.upgrade(rsc);
             let vec = &mut vals.borrow_mut().1;
             let i = vec.len();
diff --git a/examples/view.rs b/examples/view.rs
index 5c8bcc3..5557b72 100644
--- a/examples/view.rs
+++ b/examples/view.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ type Rsc = DefaultRsc<State>;
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, WidgetView)]
 struct Test {
     #[root]
-    root: WidgetRef<Rect>,
+    root: WeakWidget<Rect>,
 }
 
 impl Test {
diff --git a/src/default/attr.rs b/src/default/attr.rs
index fc0f933..f387d56 100644
--- a/src/default/attr.rs
+++ b/src/default/attr.rs
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@ impl<Rsc: HasEvents, W: Widget + 'static> WidgetAttr<Rsc, W> for Selector
 where
     Rsc::State: HasDefaultUiState,
 {
-    type Input = WidgetRef<TextEdit>;
+    type Input = WeakWidget<TextEdit>;
 
-    fn run(rsc: &mut Rsc, container: WidgetRef<W>, id: Self::Input) {
+    fn run(rsc: &mut Rsc, container: WeakWidget<W>, id: Self::Input) {
         rsc.register_event(container, CursorSense::click_or_drag(), move |ctx, rsc| {
             let region = rsc.ui().window_region(&id).unwrap();
             let id_pos = region.top_left;
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ where
 {
     type Input = ();
 
-    fn run(rsc: &mut Rsc, id: WidgetRef<TextEdit>, _: Self::Input) {
+    fn run(rsc: &mut Rsc, id: WeakWidget<TextEdit>, _: Self::Input) {
         rsc.register_event(id, CursorSense::click_or_drag(), move |ctx, rsc| {
             select(
                 rsc,
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ where
 fn select(
     rsc: &mut impl HasUi,
     state: &mut impl HasDefaultUiState,
-    id: WidgetRef<TextEdit>,
+    id: WeakWidget<TextEdit>,
     pos: Vec2,
     size: Vec2,
     dragging: bool,
diff --git a/src/default/mod.rs b/src/default/mod.rs
index f41ab57..106e5b7 100644
--- a/src/default/mod.rs
+++ b/src/default/mod.rs
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ pub type Proxy<Event> = EventLoopProxy<Event>;
 pub struct DefaultUiState {
     pub renderer: UiRenderer,
     pub input: Input,
-    pub focus: Option<WidgetRef<TextEdit>>,
+    pub focus: Option<WeakWidget<TextEdit>>,
     pub clipboard: Clipboard,
     pub window: Arc<Window>,
     pub ime: usize,
diff --git a/src/event.rs b/src/event.rs
index 5cd0691..dfb3422 100644
--- a/src/event.rs
+++ b/src/event.rs
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ impl<
 }
 
 pub struct AsyncEventIdCtx<Rsc: HasEvents, Data, W: ?Sized> {
-    pub widget: WidgetRef<W>,
+    pub widget: WeakWidget<W>,
     pub data: Data,
     pub task: TaskCtx<Rsc>,
 }
diff --git a/src/widget/mask.rs b/src/widget/mask.rs
index 5b16337..cc075e9 100644
--- a/src/widget/mask.rs
+++ b/src/widget/mask.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use crate::prelude::*;
 
 pub struct Masked {
-    pub inner: WidgetHandle,
+    pub inner: StrongWidget,
 }
 
 impl Widget for Masked {
diff --git a/src/widget/position/align.rs b/src/widget/position/align.rs
index c475b4b..1a6d6a5 100644
--- a/src/widget/position/align.rs
+++ b/src/widget/position/align.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use crate::prelude::*;
 
 pub struct Aligned {
-    pub inner: WidgetHandle,
+    pub inner: StrongWidget,
     pub align: Align,
 }
 
diff --git a/src/widget/position/layer.rs b/src/widget/position/layer.rs
index ef55139..fb2ced3 100644
--- a/src/widget/position/layer.rs
+++ b/src/widget/position/layer.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use crate::prelude::*;
 
 pub struct LayerOffset {
-    pub inner: WidgetHandle,
+    pub inner: StrongWidget,
     pub offset: usize,
 }
 
diff --git a/src/widget/position/max_size.rs b/src/widget/position/max_size.rs
index 83071d8..1a9aa39 100644
--- a/src/widget/position/max_size.rs
+++ b/src/widget/position/max_size.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use crate::prelude::*;
 
 pub struct MaxSize {
-    pub inner: WidgetHandle,
+    pub inner: StrongWidget,
     pub x: Option<Len>,
     pub y: Option<Len>,
 }
diff --git a/src/widget/position/offset.rs b/src/widget/position/offset.rs
index e7a19d8..da54f69 100644
--- a/src/widget/position/offset.rs
+++ b/src/widget/position/offset.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use crate::prelude::*;
 
 pub struct Offset {
-    pub inner: WidgetHandle,
+    pub inner: StrongWidget,
     pub amt: UiVec2,
 }
 
diff --git a/src/widget/position/pad.rs b/src/widget/position/pad.rs
index 26554ee..5619d0f 100644
--- a/src/widget/position/pad.rs
+++ b/src/widget/position/pad.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use crate::prelude::*;
 
 pub struct Pad {
     pub padding: Padding,
-    pub inner: WidgetHandle,
+    pub inner: StrongWidget,
 }
 
 impl Widget for Pad {
diff --git a/src/widget/position/scroll.rs b/src/widget/position/scroll.rs
index c414b11..c789acc 100644
--- a/src/widget/position/scroll.rs
+++ b/src/widget/position/scroll.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use crate::prelude::*;
 
 pub struct Scroll {
-    inner: WidgetHandle,
+    inner: StrongWidget,
     axis: Axis,
     amt: f32,
     snap_end: bool,
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ impl Widget for Scroll {
 }
 
 impl Scroll {
-    pub fn new(inner: WidgetHandle, axis: Axis) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(inner: StrongWidget, axis: Axis) -> Self {
         Self {
             inner,
             axis,
diff --git a/src/widget/position/sized.rs b/src/widget/position/sized.rs
index 8aed65e..aa1fc58 100644
--- a/src/widget/position/sized.rs
+++ b/src/widget/position/sized.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use crate::prelude::*;
 
 pub struct Sized {
-    pub inner: WidgetHandle,
+    pub inner: StrongWidget,
     pub x: Option<Len>,
     pub y: Option<Len>,
 }
diff --git a/src/widget/position/span.rs b/src/widget/position/span.rs
index 9c4c802..ad4f932 100644
--- a/src/widget/position/span.rs
+++ b/src/widget/position/span.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use crate::prelude::*;
 use std::marker::PhantomData;
 
 pub struct Span {
-    pub children: Vec<WidgetHandle>,
+    pub children: Vec<StrongWidget>,
     pub dir: Dir,
     pub gap: f32,
 }
@@ -62,11 +62,11 @@ impl Span {
         self
     }
 
-    pub fn push(&mut self, w: WidgetHandle) {
+    pub fn push(&mut self, w: StrongWidget) {
         self.children.push(w);
     }
 
-    pub fn pop(&mut self) -> Option<WidgetHandle> {
+    pub fn pop(&mut self) -> Option<StrongWidget> {
         self.children.pop()
     }
 
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ impl<State, const LEN: usize, Wa: WidgetArrLike<State, LEN, Tag>, Tag>
 }
 
 impl std::ops::Deref for Span {
-    type Target = Vec<WidgetHandle>;
+    type Target = Vec<StrongWidget>;
 
     fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
         &self.children
diff --git a/src/widget/position/stack.rs b/src/widget/position/stack.rs
index 44f751a..fb4a591 100644
--- a/src/widget/position/stack.rs
+++ b/src/widget/position/stack.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use std::marker::PhantomData;
 use crate::prelude::*;
 
 pub struct Stack {
-    pub children: Vec<WidgetHandle>,
+    pub children: Vec<StrongWidget>,
     pub size: StackSize,
 }
 
diff --git a/src/widget/ptr.rs b/src/widget/ptr.rs
index ebe8cb9..1e6241b 100644
--- a/src/widget/ptr.rs
+++ b/src/widget/ptr.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use crate::prelude::*;
 use std::marker::{Sized, Unsize};
 
 pub struct WidgetPtr {
-    pub inner: Option<WidgetHandle>,
+    pub inner: Option<StrongWidget>,
 }
 
 impl Widget for WidgetPtr {
@@ -38,14 +38,14 @@ impl WidgetPtr {
             inner: Default::default(),
         }
     }
-    pub fn set<W: ?Sized + Unsize<dyn Widget>>(&mut self, to: WidgetHandle<W>) {
+    pub fn set<W: ?Sized + Unsize<dyn Widget>>(&mut self, to: StrongWidget<W>) {
         self.inner = Some(to)
     }
 
     pub fn replace<W: ?Sized + Unsize<dyn Widget>>(
         &mut self,
-        to: WidgetHandle<W>,
-    ) -> Option<WidgetHandle> {
+        to: StrongWidget<W>,
+    ) -> Option<StrongWidget> {
         self.inner.replace(to)
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/widget/text/mod.rs b/src/widget/text/mod.rs
index 54375a1..cc9c94f 100644
--- a/src/widget/text/mod.rs
+++ b/src/widget/text/mod.rs
@@ -22,11 +22,11 @@ pub struct TextView {
     // cache
     tex: Option<RenderedText>,
     width: Option<f32>,
-    pub hint: Option<WidgetHandle>,
+    pub hint: Option<StrongWidget>,
 }
 
 impl TextView {
-    pub fn new(buf: TextBuffer, attrs: TextAttrs, hint: Option<WidgetHandle>) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(buf: TextBuffer, attrs: TextAttrs, hint: Option<StrongWidget>) -> Self {
         Self {
             attrs: attrs.into(),
             buf: buf.into(),
diff --git a/src/widget/trait_fns.rs b/src/widget/trait_fns.rs
index b526d40..87af7fe 100644
--- a/src/widget/trait_fns.rs
+++ b/src/widget/trait_fns.rs
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ widget_trait! {
         |state| self.add(state)
     }
 
-    fn set_ptr(self, ptr: WidgetRef<WidgetPtr>, state: &mut Rsc) {
+    fn set_ptr(self, ptr: WeakWidget<WidgetPtr>, state: &mut Rsc) {
         let id = self.add_strong(state);
         state.ui_mut()[ptr].inner = Some(id);
     }