diff --git a/imap/Cargo.toml b/imap/Cargo.toml
index 99bd30a..d025b96 100644
--- a/imap/Cargo.toml
+++ b/imap/Cargo.toml
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ required-features = ["stderrlog"]
 
 [features]
 default = ["rfc2177", "rfc6154"]
+low-level = []
 rfc2087 = [] # quota
 rfc2177 = [] # idle
 rfc6154 = [] # list
diff --git a/imap/src/client/client.rs b/imap/src/client/client.rs
index 1d297d9..05db555 100644
--- a/imap/src/client/client.rs
+++ b/imap/src/client/client.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use futures::{
     future::{self, FutureExt},
     stream::{Stream, StreamExt},
 };
-use tokio::{net::TcpStream, sync::mpsc};
+use tokio::net::TcpStream;
 use tokio_rustls::client::TlsStream;
 
 use crate::proto::{
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub verify_hostname: bool,
 }
 
+impl Config {
+    pub fn builder() -> ConfigBuilder { ConfigBuilder::default() }
+}
+
 impl ConfigBuilder {
     pub async fn open(&self) -> Result<ClientUnauthenticated> {
         let config = self.build()?;
@@ -67,6 +71,7 @@ impl ConfigBuilder {
     }
 }
 
+/// A client that hasn't been authenticated.
 pub enum ClientUnauthenticated {
     Encrypted(Inner<TlsStream<TcpStream>>),
     Unencrypted(Inner<TcpStream>),
@@ -87,6 +92,7 @@ impl ClientUnauthenticated {
     client_expose!(async has_capability(cap: impl AsRef<str>) -> Result<bool>);
 }
 
+/// A client that has been authenticated.
 pub enum ClientAuthenticated {
     Encrypted(Inner<TlsStream<TcpStream>>),
     Unencrypted(Inner<TcpStream>),
@@ -96,13 +102,6 @@ impl ClientAuthenticated {
     client_expose!(async execute(cmd: Command) -> Result<ResponseStream>);
     client_expose!(async has_capability(cap: impl AsRef<str>) -> Result<bool>);
 
-    fn sender(&self) -> mpsc::UnboundedSender<String> {
-        match self {
-            ClientAuthenticated::Encrypted(e) => e.write_tx.clone(),
-            ClientAuthenticated::Unencrypted(e) => e.write_tx.clone(),
-        }
-    }
-
     /// Runs the LIST command
     pub async fn list(&mut self) -> Result<Vec<Mailbox>> {
         let cmd = Command::List(CommandList {
@@ -216,11 +215,13 @@ impl ClientAuthenticated {
     /// Runs the IDLE command
     #[cfg(feature = "rfc2177")]
     #[cfg_attr(docsrs, doc(cfg(feature = "rfc2177")))]
-    pub async fn idle(&mut self) -> Result<IdleToken> {
+    pub async fn idle<'a>(&'a mut self) -> Result<IdleToken<'a>> {
         let cmd = Command::Idle;
         let stream = self.execute(cmd).await?;
-        let sender = self.sender();
-        Ok(IdleToken { stream, sender })
+        Ok(IdleToken {
+            stream,
+            _client: self,
+        })
     }
 }
 
@@ -240,23 +241,24 @@ pub struct SelectResponse {
 /// DONE command will be sent to the server as a result.
 #[cfg(feature = "rfc2177")]
 #[cfg_attr(docsrs, doc(cfg(feature = "rfc2177")))]
-pub struct IdleToken {
+pub struct IdleToken<'a> {
     pub stream: ResponseStream,
-    sender: mpsc::UnboundedSender<String>,
+    // sender: mpsc::UnboundedSender<TaggedCommand>,
+    _client: &'a mut ClientAuthenticated,
 }
 
 #[cfg(feature = "rfc2177")]
 #[cfg_attr(docsrs, doc(cfg(feature = "rfc2177")))]
-impl Drop for IdleToken {
+impl<'a> Drop for IdleToken<'a> {
     fn drop(&mut self) {
-        // TODO: should ignore this?
-        self.sender.send(format!("DONE\r\n")).unwrap();
+        // TODO: put this into a channel instead
+        // tokio::spawn(self.client.execute(Command::Done));
     }
 }
 
 #[cfg(feature = "rfc2177")]
 #[cfg_attr(docsrs, doc(cfg(feature = "rfc2177")))]
-impl Stream for IdleToken {
+impl<'a> Stream for IdleToken<'a> {
     type Item = Response;
     fn poll_next(mut self: Pin<&mut Self>, cx: &mut Context) -> Poll<Option<Self::Item>> {
         let stream = Pin::new(&mut self.stream);
diff --git a/imap/src/codec.rs b/imap/src/client/codec.rs
similarity index 67%
rename from imap/src/codec.rs
rename to imap/src/client/codec.rs
index ecc39da..b1144e3 100644
--- a/imap/src/codec.rs
+++ b/imap/src/client/codec.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,16 @@
 use std::io;
 
-use bytes::{Buf, BytesMut};
+use bytes::{Buf, BufMut, BytesMut};
 use nom::Needed;
 use tokio_util::codec::{Decoder, Encoder};
 
-use crate::proto::{command::Command, response::Response, rfc3501::response as parse_response};
+use crate::proto::{
+    command::Command,
+    response::{Response, Tag},
+    rfc3501::response as parse_response,
+};
 
+/// A codec that can be used for decoding `Response`s and encoding `Command`s.
 #[derive(Default)]
 pub struct ImapCodec {
     decode_need_message_bytes: usize,
@@ -47,14 +52,19 @@ impl<'a> Decoder for ImapCodec {
     }
 }
 
-impl<'a> Encoder<&'a Command> for ImapCodec {
+/// A command with its accompanying tag.
+pub struct TaggedCommand(pub Tag, pub Command);
+
+impl<'a> Encoder<&'a TaggedCommand> for ImapCodec {
     type Error = io::Error;
-    fn encode(&mut self, _msg: &Command, _dst: &mut BytesMut) -> Result<(), io::Error> {
-        todo!()
-        // dst.put(&*msg.0);
-        // dst.put_u8(b' ');
-        // dst.put_slice(&*msg.1);
-        // dst.put_slice(b"\r\n");
-        // Ok(())
+    fn encode(&mut self, tagged_cmd: &TaggedCommand, dst: &mut BytesMut) -> Result<(), io::Error> {
+        let tag = &tagged_cmd.0;
+        let _command = &tagged_cmd.1;
+
+        dst.put(&*tag.0);
+        dst.put_u8(b' ');
+        // TODO: write command
+        dst.put_slice(b"\r\n");
+        Ok(())
     }
 }
diff --git a/imap/src/client/inner.rs b/imap/src/client/inner.rs
index c78be57..5d14dd4 100644
--- a/imap/src/client/inner.rs
+++ b/imap/src/client/inner.rs
@@ -1,27 +1,33 @@
-use std::sync::atomic::AtomicU32;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicU32, Ordering};
 
 use anyhow::Result;
 use futures::{
-    future::{FutureExt, TryFutureExt},
+    future::{self, FutureExt, TryFutureExt},
+    sink::SinkExt,
     stream::StreamExt,
 };
 use tokio::{
-    io::{split, AsyncRead, AsyncWrite, AsyncWriteExt, ReadHalf, WriteHalf},
+    io::{split, AsyncRead, AsyncWrite, ReadHalf, WriteHalf},
     sync::{mpsc, oneshot},
     task::JoinHandle,
 };
 use tokio_rustls::client::TlsStream;
-use tokio_util::codec::FramedRead;
+use tokio_util::codec::{FramedRead, FramedWrite};
 
-use crate::codec::ImapCodec;
 use crate::proto::{
-    bytes::Bytes, command::Command, response::Response, rfc3501::capability as parse_capability,
+    bytes::Bytes,
+    command::Command,
+    response::{Response, Tag},
+    rfc3501::capability as parse_capability,
 };
 
 use super::client::Config;
+use super::codec::{ImapCodec, TaggedCommand};
 use super::response_stream::ResponseStream;
 use super::upgrade::upgrade;
 
+const TAG_PREFIX: &str = "panotag";
+
 type ExitSender = oneshot::Sender<()>;
 type ExitListener = oneshot::Receiver<()>;
 type GreetingSender = oneshot::Sender<()>;
@@ -32,19 +38,23 @@ type GreetingWaiter = oneshot::Receiver<()>;
 pub struct Inner<C> {
     config: Config,
     tag_number: AtomicU32,
+    command_tx: mpsc::UnboundedSender<CommandContainer>,
 
     read_exit: ExitSender,
     read_handle: JoinHandle<ReadHalf<C>>,
 
     write_exit: ExitSender,
-    pub(crate) write_tx: mpsc::UnboundedSender<String>,
     write_handle: JoinHandle<WriteHalf<C>>,
+    _write_tx: mpsc::UnboundedSender<TaggedCommand>,
 
     greeting_rx: Option<GreetingWaiter>,
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug)]
 struct CommandContainer {
+    tag: Tag,
     command: Command,
+    channel: mpsc::UnboundedSender<Response>,
 }
 
 impl<C> Inner<C>
@@ -52,6 +62,8 @@ where
     C: AsyncRead + AsyncWrite + Unpin + Send + 'static,
 {
     pub async fn new(c: C, config: Config) -> Result<Self> {
+        let (command_tx, command_rx) = mpsc::unbounded_channel();
+
         // break the stream of bytes into a reader and a writer
         // the read_half represents the server->client connection
         // the write_half represents the client->server connection
@@ -63,28 +75,47 @@ where
 
         // spawn the server->client loop
         let (read_exit, exit_rx) = oneshot::channel();
-        let read_handle = tokio::spawn(read_loop(read_half, exit_rx, greeting_tx));
+        let (write_tx, write_rx) = mpsc::unbounded_channel(); // TODO: maybe an arbitrary/configurable limit here would be better?
+        let read_handle = tokio::spawn(read_loop(
+            read_half,
+            exit_rx,
+            greeting_tx,
+            write_tx.clone(),
+            command_rx,
+        ));
 
         // spawn the client->server loop
         let (write_exit, exit_rx) = oneshot::channel();
-        // TODO: maybe an arbitrary/configurable limit here would be better?
-        let (write_tx, write_rx) = mpsc::unbounded_channel();
         let write_handle = tokio::spawn(write_loop(write_half, exit_rx, write_rx));
 
         let tag_number = AtomicU32::new(0);
         Ok(Inner {
             config,
             tag_number,
+            command_tx,
             read_exit,
             read_handle,
             write_exit,
-            write_tx,
             write_handle,
+            _write_tx: write_tx,
             greeting_rx: Some(greeting_rx),
         })
     }
 
-    pub async fn execute(&mut self, _command: Command) -> Result<ResponseStream> { todo!() }
+    pub async fn execute(&mut self, command: Command) -> Result<ResponseStream> {
+        let id = self.tag_number.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
+        let tag = Tag(Bytes::from(format!("{}{}", TAG_PREFIX, id)));
+
+        let (channel, rx) = mpsc::unbounded_channel();
+        self.command_tx.send(CommandContainer {
+            tag,
+            command,
+            channel,
+        })?;
+
+        let stream = ResponseStream { inner: rx };
+        Ok(stream)
+    }
 
     pub async fn has_capability(&mut self, cap: impl AsRef<str>) -> Result<bool> {
         // TODO: cache capabilities if needed?
@@ -139,6 +170,8 @@ async fn read_loop<C>(
     stream: ReadHalf<C>,
     exit: ExitListener,
     greeting_tx: GreetingSender,
+    write_tx: mpsc::UnboundedSender<TaggedCommand>,
+    mut command_rx: mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<CommandContainer>,
 ) -> ReadHalf<C>
 where
     C: AsyncRead,
@@ -158,14 +191,55 @@ where
         let next = framed.next().fuse();
         pin_mut!(next);
 
+        // only listen for a new command if there isn't one already
+        let mut cmd_fut = if let Some(_) = curr_cmd {
+            // if there is one, just make a future that never resolves so it'll always pick
+            // the other options in the select.
+            future::pending().boxed().fuse()
+        } else {
+            command_rx.recv().boxed().fuse()
+        };
+
         select! {
-            msg = next => {
-                println!("hellosu {:?}", msg);
+            // read a command from the command list
+            mut command = cmd_fut => {
+                if curr_cmd.is_none() {
+                    if let Some(CommandContainer { tag, command, .. }) = command.take() {
+                        let _ = write_tx.send(TaggedCommand(tag, command));
+                        // let cmd_str = format!("{} {:?}\r\n", tag, cmd);
+                        // write_tx.send(cmd_str);
+                    }
+                    curr_cmd = command;
+                }
+            }
+
+            // new message from the server
+            resp = next => {
+                let resp = match resp {
+                    Some(Ok(v)) => v,
+                    a => { error!("failed: {:?}", a); todo!("fuck"); },
+                };
+                trace!("S>>>C: {:?}", resp);
 
                 // if this is the very first response, then it's a greeting
                 if let Some(greeting_tx) = greeting_tx.take() {
                     greeting_tx.send(()).unwrap();
                 }
+
+                if let Response::Done(_) = resp {
+                    // since this is the DONE message, clear curr_cmd so another one can be sent
+                    if let Some(CommandContainer { channel, .. }) = curr_cmd.take() {
+                        let _ = channel.send(resp);
+                        // debug!("res0: {:?}", res);
+                    }
+                } else if let Some(CommandContainer { channel, .. }) = curr_cmd.as_mut() {
+                    // we got a response from the server for this command, so send it over the
+                    // channel
+
+                    // debug!("sending {:?} to tag {}", resp, tag);
+                    let _res = channel.send(resp);
+                    // debug!("res1: {:?}", res);
+                }
             }
             _ = exit => break,
         }
@@ -175,30 +249,35 @@ where
 }
 
 async fn write_loop<C>(
-    mut stream: WriteHalf<C>,
+    stream: WriteHalf<C>,
     exit_rx: ExitListener,
-    mut write_rx: mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<String>,
+    mut command_rx: mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<TaggedCommand>,
 ) -> WriteHalf<C>
 where
     C: AsyncWrite,
 {
+    // set up framed communication
+    let codec = ImapCodec::default();
+    let mut framed = FramedWrite::new(stream, codec);
+
     let mut exit_rx = exit_rx.map_err(|_| ()).shared();
     loop {
-        let write_fut = write_rx.recv().fuse();
-        pin_mut!(write_fut);
+        let command_fut = command_rx.recv().fuse();
+        pin_mut!(command_fut);
 
         select! {
-            line = write_fut => {
-                if let Some(line) = line {
-                    // TODO: handle errors here
-                    let _ = stream.write_all(line.as_bytes()).await;
-                    let _ = stream.flush().await;
-                    trace!("C>>>S: {:?}", line);
+            command = command_fut => {
+                // TODO: handle errors here
+                if let Some(command) = command {
+                    let _ = framed.send(&command).await;
                 }
+                // let _ = stream.write_all(line.as_bytes()).await;
+                // let _ = stream.flush().await;
+                // trace!("C>>>S: {:?}", line);
             }
             _ = exit_rx => break,
         }
     }
 
-    stream
+    framed.into_inner()
 }
diff --git a/imap/src/client/mod.rs b/imap/src/client/mod.rs
index 2ef71c9..7edd38a 100644
--- a/imap/src/client/mod.rs
+++ b/imap/src/client/mod.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,27 @@
+//! High-level IMAP Client
+//! ---
+//!
+//! ```no_run
+//! let client = Config::builder()
+//!     .hostname("your.domain")
+//!     .port(993)
+//!     .open().await?;
+//! ```
+
 #[macro_use]
 mod macros;
 
 pub mod auth;
-pub mod client;
 pub mod configurable_cert_verifier;
 pub mod response_stream;
-pub mod upgrade;
 
+mod client;
+mod codec;
 mod inner;
+mod upgrade;
 
-pub use self::client::ConfigBuilder;
+pub use self::client::{ClientAuthenticated, ClientUnauthenticated, Config, ConfigBuilder};
+pub use self::codec::{ImapCodec, TaggedCommand};
+
+#[cfg(feature = "low-level")]
 pub use self::inner::Inner;
diff --git a/imap/src/lib.rs b/imap/src/lib.rs
index 4245a1c..0d7e9c1 100644
--- a/imap/src/lib.rs
+++ b/imap/src/lib.rs
@@ -8,10 +8,9 @@ extern crate log;
 extern crate futures;
 #[macro_use]
 extern crate derive_builder;
-#[macro_use]
-extern crate bitflags;
+// #[macro_use]
+// extern crate bitflags;
 
 pub mod client;
-pub mod codec;
-pub mod events;
+// pub mod events;
 pub mod proto;
diff --git a/imap/src/proto/command.rs b/imap/src/proto/command.rs
index c61a50b..26192f4 100644
--- a/imap/src/proto/command.rs
+++ b/imap/src/proto/command.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use crate::proto::bytes::Bytes;
 
-#[derive(Debug)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub enum Command {
     // Any state
     Capability,
@@ -41,32 +41,34 @@ pub enum Command {
     // Extensions
     #[cfg(feature = "rfc2177")]
     Idle,
+    #[cfg(feature = "rfc2177")]
+    Done,
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct CommandFetch {
     pub ids: Vec<u32>,
     pub items: FetchItems,
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct CommandList {
     pub reference: Bytes,
     pub mailbox: Bytes,
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct CommandLogin {
     pub username: Bytes,
     pub password: Bytes,
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct CommandSearch {
     pub criteria: SearchCriteria,
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct CommandSelect {
     pub mailbox: Bytes,
 }
diff --git a/imap/src/proto/mod.rs b/imap/src/proto/mod.rs
index 17fd2b4..617c5dd 100644
--- a/imap/src/proto/mod.rs
+++ b/imap/src/proto/mod.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+//! Helper functions for manipulating the wire protocol.
+
 #![allow(non_snake_case, dead_code)]
 
 // utils