build: bump version to 0.7.6

perf: pull distinct to outermost SQL
improvement: make hexsearch structs sortable
2025-09-01 03:40:46 -04:00 · 2022-12-17 07:51:57 -06:00 · 2022-12-17 07:49:28 -06:00 · 2022-12-17 07:49:05 -06:00 · 2022-12-16 17:21:00 -06:00 · 2022-12-16 17:01:49 -06:00
30 changed files with 3689 additions and 1517 deletions
--- a/.build.yml
+++ b/.build.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+image: fedora/latest
+arch: x86_64
+artifacts:
+  - nostr-rs-relay/target/release/nostr-rs-relay
+environment:
+  RUST_LOG: debug
+packages:
+  - cargo
+  - sqlite-devel
+sources:
+  - https://git.sr.ht/~gheartsfield/nostr-rs-relay/
+shell: false
+tasks:
+  - build: |
+      cd nostr-rs-relay
+      cargo build --release
+  - test: |
+      cd nostr-rs-relay
+      cargo test --release
--- a/.cargo/config.toml
+++ b/.cargo/config.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[build]
+rustflags = ["--cfg", "tokio_unstable"]
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# See https://pre-commit.com for more information
+# See https://pre-commit.com/hooks.html for more hooks
+repos:
+- repo: https://github.com/pre-commit/pre-commit-hooks
+  rev: v4.3.0
+  hooks:
+  - id: trailing-whitespace
+  - id: end-of-file-fixer
+  - id: check-yaml
+  - id: check-added-large-files
+- repo: https://github.com/doublify/pre-commit-rust
+  rev: v1.0
+  hooks:
+  - id: fmt
+  - id: cargo-check
+  - id: clippy
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,32 +1,46 @@
 [package]
 name = "nostr-rs-relay"
-version = "0.5.2"
+version = "0.7.6"
 edition = "2021"
+authors = ["Greg Heartsfield <scsibug@imap.cc>"]
+description = "A relay implementation for the Nostr protocol"
+readme = "README.md"
+homepage = "https://sr.ht/~gheartsfield/nostr-rs-relay/"
+repository = "https://git.sr.ht/~gheartsfield/nostr-rs-relay"
+license = "MIT"
+keywords = ["nostr", "server"]
+categories = ["network-programming", "web-programming"]

 [dependencies]
-log = "^0.4"
-env_logger = "^0.9"
-tokio = { version = "^1.16", features = ["full"] }
-futures = "^0.3"
-futures-util = "^0.3"
-tokio-tungstenite = "^0.17"
-tungstenite = "^0.17"
-thiserror = "^1"
-uuid = { version = "^0.8", features = ["v4"] }
-config = { version = "^0.12", features = ["toml"] }
-bitcoin_hashes = { version = "^0.10", features = ["serde"] }
-secp256k1 = {version = "^0.21", features = ["rand", "rand-std", "serde", "bitcoin_hashes"] }
-serde = { version = "^1.0", features = ["derive"] }
-serde_json = {version = "^1.0", features = ["preserve_order"]}
-hex = "^0.4"
-rusqlite = { version = "^0.26", features = ["limits"]}
-r2d2 = "^0.8"
-r2d2_sqlite = "^0.19"
-lazy_static = "^1.4"
-governor = "^0.4"
-nonzero_ext = "^0.3"
+tracing = "0.1.36"
+tracing-subscriber = "0.2.0"
+tokio = { version = "1", features = ["full", "tracing", "signal"] }
+console-subscriber = "0.1.8"
+futures = "0.3"
+futures-util = "0.3"
+tokio-tungstenite = "0.17"
+tungstenite = "0.17"
+thiserror = "1"
+uuid = { version = "1.1.2", features = ["v4"] }
+config = { version = "0.12", features = ["toml"] }
+bitcoin_hashes = { version = "0.10", features = ["serde"] }
+secp256k1 = {version = "0.21", features = ["rand", "rand-std", "serde", "bitcoin_hashes"] }
+serde = { version = "1.0", features = ["derive"] }
+serde_json = {version = "1.0", features = ["preserve_order"]}
+hex = "0.4"
+rusqlite = { version = "0.26", features = ["limits","bundled"]}
+r2d2 = "0.8"
+r2d2_sqlite = "0.19"
+lazy_static = "1.4"
+governor = "0.4"
+nonzero_ext = "0.3"
 hyper = { version="0.14", features=["client", "server","http1","http2","tcp"] }
-hyper-tls = "^0.5"
-http = { version = "^0.2" }
-parse_duration = "^2"
-rand = "^0.8"
+hyper-tls = "0.5"
+http = { version = "0.2" }
+parse_duration = "2"
+rand = "0.8"
+const_format = "0.2.28"
+regex = "1"
+
+[dev-dependencies]
+anyhow = "1"
--- a/16
+++ b/16
@@ -1,18 +1,24 @@
-FROM rust:1.58.1 as builder
+FROM docker.io/library/rust:1.66.0@sha256:359949280cebefe93ccb33089fe25111a3aadfe99eac4b6cbe8ec3e1b571dacb as builder

+RUN USER=root cargo install cargo-auditable
 RUN USER=root cargo new --bin nostr-rs-relay
 WORKDIR ./nostr-rs-relay
 COPY ./Cargo.toml ./Cargo.toml
 COPY ./Cargo.lock ./Cargo.lock
-RUN cargo build --release
+# build dependencies only (caching)
+RUN cargo auditable build --release --locked
+# get rid of starter project code
 RUN rm src/*.rs

+# copy project source code
 COPY ./src ./src

+# build auditable release using locked deps
 RUN rm ./target/release/deps/nostr*relay*
-RUN cargo build --release
+RUN cargo auditable build --release --locked
+
+FROM docker.io/library/debian:bullseye-20221205-slim@sha256:25f10b4f1ded5341a3ca0a30290ff3cd5639415f0c5a2222d5e7d5dd72952aa1

-FROM debian:bullseye-20220125-slim
 ARG APP=/usr/src/app
 ARG APP_DATA=/usr/src/app/db
 RUN apt-get update \
@@ -36,7 +42,7 @@ RUN chown -R $APP_USER:$APP_USER ${APP}
 USER $APP_USER
 WORKDIR ${APP}

-ENV RUST_LOG=info
+ENV RUST_LOG=info,nostr_rs_relay=info
 ENV APP_DATA=${APP_DATA}

 CMD ./nostr-rs-relay --db ${APP_DATA}
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,26 +1,34 @@
 # [nostr-rs-relay](https://git.sr.ht/~gheartsfield/nostr-rs-relay)

-This is a [nostr](https://github.com/fiatjaf/nostr) relay, written in
-Rust.  It currently supports the entire relay protocol, and has a
-SQLite persistence layer.
+This is a [nostr](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nostr) relay,
+written in Rust.  It currently supports the entire relay protocol, and
+persists data with SQLite.

 The project master repository is available on
 [sourcehut](https://sr.ht/~gheartsfield/nostr-rs-relay/), and is
 mirrored on [GitHub](https://github.com/scsibug/nostr-rs-relay).

+[![builds.sr.ht status](https://builds.sr.ht/~gheartsfield/nostr-rs-relay/commits/master.svg)](https://builds.sr.ht/~gheartsfield/nostr-rs-relay/commits/master?)
+
 ## Features

-NIPs with a relay-specific implementation are listed here.
+[NIPs](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips) with a relay-specific implementation are listed here.

- [x] NIP-01: Core event model
- [x] NIP-01: Hide old metadata events
- [x] NIP-01: Id/Author prefix search (_experimental_)
- [x] NIP-02: Hide old contact list events
- [ ] NIP-03: OpenTimestamps
- [x] NIP-05: Mapping Nostr keys to DNS identifiers
- [ ] NIP-09: Event deletion
- [x] NIP-11: Relay information document
- [x] NIP-12: Generic tag search (_experimental_)
+- [x] NIP-01: [Basic protocol flow description](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/01.md)
+  * Core event model
+  * Hide old metadata events
+  * Id/Author prefix search
+- [x] NIP-02: [Contact List and Petnames](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/02.md)
+- [ ] NIP-03: [OpenTimestamps Attestations for Events](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/03.md)
+- [x] NIP-05: [Mapping Nostr keys to DNS-based internet identifiers](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/05.md)
+- [x] NIP-09: [Event Deletion](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/09.md)
+- [x] NIP-11: [Relay Information Document](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/11.md)
+- [x] NIP-12: [Generic Tag Queries](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/12.md)
+- [x] NIP-15: [End of Stored Events Notice](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/15.md)
+- [x] NIP-16: [Event Treatment](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/16.md)
+- [x] NIP-20: [Command Results](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/20.md)
+- [x] NIP-22: [Event `created_at` limits](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/22.md) (_future-dated events only_)
+- [x] NIP-26: [Event Delegation](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/26.md)

 ## Quick Start

@@ -29,15 +37,32 @@ application.  Use a bind mount to store the SQLite database outside of
 the container image, and map the container's 8080 port to a host port
 (7000 in the example below).

+The examples below start a rootless podman container, mapping a local
+data directory and config file.
+
 ```console
-$ docker build -t nostr-rs-relay .
+$ podman build -t nostr-rs-relay .

-$ docker run -it -p 7000:8080 \
-  --mount src=$(pwd)/data,target=/usr/src/app/db,type=bind nostr-rs-relay
+$ mkdir data

-[2021-12-31T19:58:31Z INFO  nostr_rs_relay] listening on: 0.0.0.0:8080
-[2021-12-31T19:58:31Z INFO  nostr_rs_relay::db] opened database "/usr/src/app/db/nostr.db" for writing
-[2021-12-31T19:58:31Z INFO  nostr_rs_relay::db] DB version = 2
+$ podman unshare chown 100:100 data
+
+$ podman run -it --rm -p 7000:8080 \
+  --user=100:100 \
+  -v $(pwd)/data:/usr/src/app/db:Z \
+  -v $(pwd)/config.toml:/usr/src/app/config.toml:ro,Z \
+  --name nostr-relay nostr-rs-relay:latest
+
+Nov 19 15:31:15.013  INFO nostr_rs_relay: Starting up from main
+Nov 19 15:31:15.017  INFO nostr_rs_relay::server: listening on: 0.0.0.0:8080
+Nov 19 15:31:15.019  INFO nostr_rs_relay::server: db writer created
+Nov 19 15:31:15.019  INFO nostr_rs_relay::server: control message listener started
+Nov 19 15:31:15.019  INFO nostr_rs_relay::db: Built a connection pool "event writer" (min=1, max=4)
+Nov 19 15:31:15.019  INFO nostr_rs_relay::db: opened database "/usr/src/app/db/nostr.db" for writing
+Nov 19 15:31:15.019  INFO nostr_rs_relay::schema: DB version = 0
+Nov 19 15:31:15.054  INFO nostr_rs_relay::schema: database pragma/schema initialized to v7, and ready
+Nov 19 15:31:15.054  INFO nostr_rs_relay::schema: All migration scripts completed successfully.  Welcome to v7.
+Nov 19 15:31:15.521  INFO nostr_rs_relay::db: Built a connection pool "client query" (min=4, max=128)
 ```

 Use a `nostr` client such as
@@ -79,8 +104,13 @@ termination, load balancing, and other features), see [Reverse
 Proxy](reverse-proxy.md).

 ## Dev Channel
-The current dev discussions for this project is happening at https://discord.gg/ufG6fH52Vk.
-Drop in to query any development related questions.
+
+For development discussions, please feel free to use the [sourcehut
+mailing list](https://lists.sr.ht/~gheartsfield/nostr-rs-relay-devel).
+Or, drop by the [Nostr Telegram Channel](https://t.me/nostr_protocol).
+
+To chat about `nostr-rs-relay` on `nostr` itself; visit our channel on [anigma](https://anigma.io/) or another client that supports [NIP-28](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/28.md) chats:
+ * `2ad246a094fee48c6e455dd13d759d5f41b5a233120f5719d81ebc1935075194`

 License
 ---
--- a/config.toml
+++ b/config.toml
@@ -16,12 +16,21 @@ description = "A newly created nostr-rs-relay.\n\nCustomize this with your own i
 # Administrative contact URI
 #contact = "mailto:contact@example.com"

+[diagnostics]
+# Enable tokio tracing (for use with tokio-console)
+#tracing = true
+
 [database]
 # Directory for SQLite files.  Defaults to the current directory.  Can
 # also be specified (and overriden) with the "--db dirname" command
 # line option.
 data_directory = "."

+
+# Use an in-memory database instead of 'nostr.db'.
+# Caution; this will not survive a process restart!
+#in_memory = false
+
 # Database connection pool settings for subscribers:

 # Minimum number of SQLite reader connections
@@ -37,10 +46,18 @@ address = "0.0.0.0"
 # Listen on this port
 port = 8080

+# If present, read this HTTP header for logging client IP addresses.
+# Examples for common proxies, cloudflare:
+#remote_ip_header = "x-forwarded-for"
+#remote_ip_header = "cf-connecting-ip"
+
+# Websocket ping interval in seconds, defaults to 5 minutes
+#ping_interval = 300
+
 [options]
 # Reject events that have timestamps greater than this many seconds in
-# the future.  Defaults to rejecting anything greater than 30 minutes
-# from the current time.
+# the future.  Recommended to reject anything greater than 30 minutes
+# from the current time, but the default is to allow any date.
 reject_future_seconds = 1800

 [limits]
--- a/mk-platform-agnostic-dockerfile.sh
+++ b/mk-platform-agnostic-dockerfile.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+sed -E 's/@sha256:[[:alnum:]]+//g' Dockerfile > Dockerfile.any-platform
+echo "Created platform-agnostic Dockerfile in 'Dockerfile.any-platform'"
--- a/reverse-proxy.md
+++ b/reverse-proxy.md
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 # Reverse Proxy Setup Guide

 It is recommended to run `nostr-rs-relay` behind a reverse proxy such
-as `haproxy` or `nginx` to provide TLS termination.  A simple example
-of an `haproxy` configuration is documented here.
+as `haproxy` or `nginx` to provide TLS termination.  Simple examples
+of `haproxy` and `nginx` configurations are documented here.

 ## Minimal HAProxy Configuration

@@ -46,8 +46,47 @@ backend relay
    server relay 127.0.0.1:8080
 ```

-### Notes
+### HAProxy Notes

 You may experience WebSocket connection problems with Firefox if
 HTTP/2 is enabled, for older versions of HAProxy (2.3.x).  Either
 disable HTTP/2 (`h2`), or upgrade HAProxy.
+
+## Bare-bones Nginx Configuration
+
+Assumptions:
+
+* `Nginx` version is `1.18.0` (other versions not tested).
+* Hostname for the relay is `relay.example.com`.
+* SSL certificate and key are located at `/etc/letsencrypt/live/relay.example.com/`.
+* Relay is running on port `8080`.
+
+```
+http {
+    server {
+        listen 443 ssl;
+        server_name relay.example.com;
+        ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/relay.example.com/fullchain.pem;
+        ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/relay.example.com/privkey.pem;
+        ssl_protocols TLSv1 TLSv1.1 TLSv1.2;
+        ssl_ciphers HIGH:!aNULL:!MD5;
+        keepalive_timeout 70;
+
+        location / {
+            proxy_pass http://localhost:8080;
+            proxy_http_version 1.1;
+            proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
+            proxy_set_header Connection "Upgrade";
+            proxy_set_header Host $host;
+        }
+    }
+}
+```
+
+### Nginx Notes
+
+The above configuration was tested on `nginx` `1.18.0` was tested on `Ubuntu 20.04`.
+
+For help installing `nginx` on `Ubuntu`, see [this guide](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-nginx-on-ubuntu-20-04).
+
+For guidance on using `letsencrypt` to obtain a cert on `Ubuntu`, including an `nginx` plugin, see [this post](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-secure-nginx-with-let-s-encrypt-on-ubuntu-20-04).
--- a/rustfmt.toml
+++ b/rustfmt.toml
@@ -1 +1 @@
-edition = "2018"
+edition = "2021"
--- a/src/close.rs
+++ b/src/close.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use crate::error::{Error, Result};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};

 /// Close command in network format
-#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Debug, Clone)]
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct CloseCmd {
    /// Protocol command, expected to always be "CLOSE".
    cmd: String,
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ pub struct CloseCmd {
 }

 /// Identifier of the subscription to be closed.
-#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Debug, Clone)]
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct Close {
    /// The subscription identifier being closed.
    pub id: String,
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@ pub struct Close {
 impl From<CloseCmd> for Result<Close> {
    fn from(cc: CloseCmd) -> Result<Close> {
        // ensure command is correct
-        if cc.cmd != "CLOSE" {
-            Err(Error::CommandUnknownError)
-        } else {
+        if cc.cmd == "CLOSE" {
            Ok(Close { id: cc.id })
+        } else {
+            Err(Error::CommandUnknownError)
        }
    }
 }
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -1,15 +1,8 @@
 //! Configuration file and settings management
 use config::{Config, ConfigError, File};
-use lazy_static::lazy_static;
-use log::*;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use std::sync::RwLock;
 use std::time::Duration;
-
-// initialize a singleton default configuration
-lazy_static! {
-    pub static ref SETTINGS: RwLock<Settings> = RwLock::new(Settings::default());
-}
+use tracing::warn;

 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, Clone)]
 #[allow(unused)]
@@ -21,29 +14,31 @@ pub struct Info {
    pub contact: Option<String>,
 }

-#[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[allow(unused)]
 pub struct Database {
    pub data_directory: String,
+    pub in_memory: bool,
    pub min_conn: u32,
    pub max_conn: u32,
 }

-#[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[allow(unused)]
 pub struct Network {
    pub port: u16,
    pub address: String,
+    pub remote_ip_header: Option<String>, // retrieve client IP from this HTTP header if present
+    pub ping_interval_seconds: u32,
 }

-//
-#[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[allow(unused)]
 pub struct Options {
    pub reject_future_seconds: Option<usize>, // if defined, reject any events with a timestamp more than X seconds in the future
 }

-#[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[allow(unused)]
 pub struct Retention {
    // TODO: implement
@@ -53,7 +48,7 @@ pub struct Retention {
    pub whitelist_addresses: Option<Vec<String>>, // whitelisted addresses (never delete)
 }

-#[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[allow(unused)]
 pub struct Limits {
    pub messages_per_sec: Option<u32>, // Artificially slow down event writing to limit disk consumption (averaged over 1 minute)
@@ -64,13 +59,19 @@ pub struct Limits {
    pub event_persist_buffer: usize, // events to buffer for database commits (block senders if database writes are too slow)
 }

-#[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[allow(unused)]
 pub struct Authorization {
    pub pubkey_whitelist: Option<Vec<String>>, // If present, only allow these pubkeys to publish events
 }

-#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Debug, Clone)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[allow(unused)]
+pub struct Diagnostics {
+    pub tracing: bool, // enables tokio console-subscriber
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone, Copy)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "lowercase")]
 pub enum VerifiedUsersMode {
    Enabled,
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ pub enum VerifiedUsersMode {
    Disabled,
 }

-#[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[allow(unused)]
 pub struct VerifiedUsers {
    pub mode: VerifiedUsersMode, // Mode of operation: "enabled" (enforce) or "passive" (check only). If none, this is simply disabled.
@@ -97,37 +98,46 @@ impl VerifiedUsers {
        self.verify_update_frequency_duration = self.verify_update_duration();
    }

+    #[must_use]
    pub fn is_enabled(&self) -> bool {
        self.mode == VerifiedUsersMode::Enabled
    }

+    #[must_use]
    pub fn is_active(&self) -> bool {
        self.mode == VerifiedUsersMode::Enabled || self.mode == VerifiedUsersMode::Passive
    }

+    #[must_use]
    pub fn is_passive(&self) -> bool {
        self.mode == VerifiedUsersMode::Passive
    }

+    #[must_use]
    pub fn verify_expiration_duration(&self) -> Option<Duration> {
        self.verify_expiration
            .as_ref()
            .and_then(|x| parse_duration::parse(x).ok())
    }
+
+    #[must_use]
    pub fn verify_update_duration(&self) -> Option<Duration> {
        self.verify_update_frequency
            .as_ref()
            .and_then(|x| parse_duration::parse(x).ok())
    }
+
+    #[must_use]
    pub fn is_valid(&self) -> bool {
        self.verify_expiration_duration().is_some() && self.verify_update_duration().is_some()
    }
 }

-#[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[allow(unused)]
 pub struct Settings {
    pub info: Info,
+    pub diagnostics: Diagnostics,
    pub database: Database,
    pub network: Network,
    pub limits: Limits,
@@ -138,6 +148,7 @@ pub struct Settings {
 }

 impl Settings {
+    #[must_use]
    pub fn new() -> Self {
        let default_settings = Self::default();
        // attempt to construct settings with file
@@ -157,22 +168,21 @@ impl Settings {
            // use defaults
            .add_source(Config::try_from(default)?)
            // override with file contents
-            .add_source(File::with_name("config"))
-            .build()?
-            .try_into()
-            .unwrap();
+            .add_source(File::with_name("config.toml"))
+            .build()?;
        let mut settings: Settings = config.try_deserialize()?;
        // ensure connection pool size is logical
-        if settings.database.min_conn > settings.database.max_conn {
-            panic!(
-                "Database min_conn setting ({}) cannot exceed max_conn ({})",
-                settings.database.min_conn, settings.database.max_conn
-            );
-        }
+        assert!(
+            settings.database.min_conn <= settings.database.max_conn,
+            "Database min_conn setting ({}) cannot exceed max_conn ({})",
+            settings.database.min_conn,
+            settings.database.max_conn
+        );
        // ensure durations parse
-        if !settings.verified_users.is_valid() {
-            panic!("VerifiedUsers time settings could not be parsed");
-        }
+        assert!(
+            settings.verified_users.is_valid(),
+            "VerifiedUsers time settings could not be parsed"
+        );
        // initialize durations for verified users
        settings.verified_users.init();
        Ok(settings)
@@ -189,14 +199,18 @@ impl Default for Settings {
                pubkey: None,
                contact: None,
            },
+            diagnostics: Diagnostics { tracing: false },
            database: Database {
                data_directory: ".".to_owned(),
+                in_memory: false,
                min_conn: 4,
                max_conn: 128,
            },
            network: Network {
                port: 8080,
+                ping_interval_seconds: 300,
                address: "0.0.0.0".to_owned(),
+                remote_ip_header: None,
            },
            limits: Limits {
                messages_per_sec: None,
@@ -226,7 +240,7 @@ impl Default for Settings {
                whitelist_addresses: None, // whitelisted addresses (never delete)
            },
            options: Options {
-                reject_future_seconds: Some(30 * 60), // Reject events 30min in the future or greater
+                reject_future_seconds: None, // Reject events in the future if defined
            },
        }
    }
--- a/src/conn.rs
+++ b/src/conn.rs
@@ -2,11 +2,10 @@
 use crate::close::Close;
 use crate::error::Error;
 use crate::error::Result;
-use crate::event::Event;

 use crate::subscription::Subscription;
-use log::*;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
+use tracing::{debug, info};
 use uuid::Uuid;

 /// A subscription identifier has a maximum length
@@ -14,6 +13,8 @@ const MAX_SUBSCRIPTION_ID_LEN: usize = 256;

 /// State for a client connection
 pub struct ClientConn {
+    /// Client IP (either from socket, or configured proxy header
+    client_ip: String,
    /// Unique client identifier generated at connection time
    client_id: Uuid,
    /// The current set of active client subscriptions
@@ -24,39 +25,44 @@ pub struct ClientConn {

 impl Default for ClientConn {
    fn default() -> Self {
-        Self::new()
+        Self::new("unknown".to_owned())
    }
 }

 impl ClientConn {
    /// Create a new, empty connection state.
-    pub fn new() -> Self {
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn new(client_ip: String) -> Self {
        let client_id = Uuid::new_v4();
        ClientConn {
+            client_ip,
            client_id,
            subscriptions: HashMap::new(),
            max_subs: 32,
        }
    }

+    pub fn subscriptions(&self) -> &HashMap<String, Subscription> {
+        &self.subscriptions
+    }
+
    /// Get a short prefix of the client's unique identifier, suitable
    /// for logging.
+    #[must_use]
    pub fn get_client_prefix(&self) -> String {
        self.client_id.to_string().chars().take(8).collect()
    }

-    /// Find all matching subscriptions.
-    pub fn get_matching_subscriptions(&self, e: &Event) -> Vec<&str> {
-        let mut v: Vec<&str> = vec![];
-        for (id, sub) in self.subscriptions.iter() {
-            if sub.interested_in_event(e) {
-                v.push(id);
-            }
-        }
-        v
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn ip(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.client_ip
    }

    /// Add a new subscription for this connection.
+    /// # Errors
+    ///
+    /// Will return `Err` if the client has too many subscriptions, or
+    /// if the provided name is excessively long.
    pub fn subscribe(&mut self, s: Subscription) -> Result<()> {
        let k = s.get_id();
        let sub_id_len = k.len();
@@ -72,8 +78,12 @@ impl ClientConn {
        // check if an existing subscription exists, and replace if so
        if self.subscriptions.contains_key(&k) {
            self.subscriptions.remove(&k);
-            self.subscriptions.insert(k, s);
-            debug!("replaced existing subscription");
+            self.subscriptions.insert(k, s.clone());
+            debug!(
+                "replaced existing subscription (cid: {}, sub: {:?})",
+                self.get_client_prefix(),
+                s.get_id()
+            );
            return Ok(());
        }

@@ -84,19 +94,21 @@ impl ClientConn {
        // add subscription
        self.subscriptions.insert(k, s);
        debug!(
-            "registered new subscription, currently have {} active subs",
-            self.subscriptions.len()
+            "registered new subscription, currently have {} active subs (cid: {})",
+            self.subscriptions.len(),
+            self.get_client_prefix(),
        );
        Ok(())
    }

    /// Remove the subscription for this connection.
-    pub fn unsubscribe(&mut self, c: Close) {
+    pub fn unsubscribe(&mut self, c: &Close) {
        // TODO: return notice if subscription did not exist.
        self.subscriptions.remove(&c.id);
        debug!(
-            "removed subscription, currently have {} active subs",
-            self.subscriptions.len()
+            "removed subscription, currently have {} active subs (cid: {})",
+            self.subscriptions.len(),
+            self.get_client_prefix(),
        );
    }
 }
--- a/src/db.rs
+++ b/src/db.rs
@@ -1,29 +1,31 @@
 //! Event persistence and querying
-use crate::config::SETTINGS;
-use crate::error::Error;
-use crate::error::Result;
-use crate::event::Event;
+//use crate::config::SETTINGS;
+use crate::config::Settings;
+use crate::error::{Error, Result};
+use crate::event::{single_char_tagname, Event};
 use crate::hexrange::hex_range;
 use crate::hexrange::HexSearch;
 use crate::nip05;
+use crate::notice::Notice;
 use crate::schema::{upgrade_db, STARTUP_SQL};
+use crate::subscription::ReqFilter;
 use crate::subscription::Subscription;
-use crate::utils::is_hex;
+use crate::utils::{is_hex, is_lower_hex};
 use governor::clock::Clock;
 use governor::{Quota, RateLimiter};
 use hex;
-use log::*;
 use r2d2;
 use r2d2_sqlite::SqliteConnectionManager;
 use rusqlite::params;
 use rusqlite::types::ToSql;
-use rusqlite::Connection;
 use rusqlite::OpenFlags;
+use std::fmt::Write as _;
 use std::path::Path;
 use std::thread;
 use std::time::Duration;
 use std::time::Instant;
 use tokio::task;
+use tracing::{debug, info, trace, warn};

 pub type SqlitePool = r2d2::Pool<r2d2_sqlite::SqliteConnectionManager>;
 pub type PooledConnection = r2d2::PooledConnection<r2d2_sqlite::SqliteConnectionManager>;
@@ -31,34 +33,45 @@ pub type PooledConnection = r2d2::PooledConnection<r2d2_sqlite::SqliteConnection
 /// Events submitted from a client, with a return channel for notices
 pub struct SubmittedEvent {
    pub event: Event,
-    pub notice_tx: tokio::sync::mpsc::Sender<String>,
+    pub notice_tx: tokio::sync::mpsc::Sender<Notice>,
 }

 /// Database file
 pub const DB_FILE: &str = "nostr.db";

 /// Build a database connection pool.
+/// # Panics
+///
+/// Will panic if the pool could not be created.
+#[must_use]
 pub fn build_pool(
    name: &str,
+    settings: &Settings,
    flags: OpenFlags,
    min_size: u32,
    max_size: u32,
    wait_for_db: bool,
 ) -> SqlitePool {
-    let settings = SETTINGS.read().unwrap();
-
    let db_dir = &settings.database.data_directory;
    let full_path = Path::new(db_dir).join(DB_FILE);
    // small hack; if the database doesn't exist yet, that means the
    // writer thread hasn't finished.  Give it a chance to work.  This
    // is only an issue with the first time we run.
-    while !full_path.exists() && wait_for_db {
-        debug!("Database reader pool is waiting on the database to be created...");
-        thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(500));
+    if !settings.database.in_memory {
+        while !full_path.exists() && wait_for_db {
+            debug!("Database reader pool is waiting on the database to be created...");
+            thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(500));
+        }
    }
-    let manager = SqliteConnectionManager::file(&full_path)
-        .with_flags(flags)
-        .with_init(|c| c.execute_batch(STARTUP_SQL));
+    let manager = if settings.database.in_memory {
+        SqliteConnectionManager::memory()
+            .with_flags(flags)
+            .with_init(|c| c.execute_batch(STARTUP_SQL))
+    } else {
+        SqliteConnectionManager::file(&full_path)
+            .with_flags(flags)
+            .with_init(|c| c.execute_batch(STARTUP_SQL))
+    };
    let pool: SqlitePool = r2d2::Pool::builder()
        .test_on_check_out(true) // no noticeable performance hit
        .min_idle(Some(min_size))
@@ -72,43 +85,36 @@ pub fn build_pool(
    pool
 }

-/// Build a single database connection, with provided flags
-pub fn build_conn(flags: OpenFlags) -> Result<Connection> {
-    let settings = SETTINGS.read().unwrap();
-    let db_dir = &settings.database.data_directory;
-    let full_path = Path::new(db_dir).join(DB_FILE);
-    // create a connection
-    Ok(Connection::open_with_flags(&full_path, flags)?)
-}
-
 /// Spawn a database writer that persists events to the SQLite store.
 pub async fn db_writer(
+    settings: Settings,
    mut event_rx: tokio::sync::mpsc::Receiver<SubmittedEvent>,
    bcast_tx: tokio::sync::broadcast::Sender<Event>,
    metadata_tx: tokio::sync::broadcast::Sender<Event>,
    mut shutdown: tokio::sync::broadcast::Receiver<()>,
 ) -> tokio::task::JoinHandle<Result<()>> {
-    let settings = SETTINGS.read().unwrap();
-
    // are we performing NIP-05 checking?
    let nip05_active = settings.verified_users.is_active();
    // are we requriing NIP-05 user verification?
    let nip05_enabled = settings.verified_users.is_enabled();

    task::spawn_blocking(move || {
-        // get database configuration settings
-        let settings = SETTINGS.read().unwrap();
        let db_dir = &settings.database.data_directory;
        let full_path = Path::new(db_dir).join(DB_FILE);
        // create a connection pool
        let pool = build_pool(
            "event writer",
+            &settings,
            OpenFlags::SQLITE_OPEN_READ_WRITE | OpenFlags::SQLITE_OPEN_CREATE,
            1,
            4,
            false,
        );
-        info!("opened database {:?} for writing", full_path);
+        if settings.database.in_memory {
+            info!("using in-memory database, this will not persist a restart!");
+        } else {
+            info!("opened database {:?} for writing", full_path);
+        }
        upgrade_db(&mut pool.get()?)?;

        // Make a copy of the whitelist
@@ -137,12 +143,15 @@ pub async fn db_writer(
            if next_event.is_none() {
                break;
            }
+            // track if an event write occurred; this is used to
+            // update the rate limiter
            let mut event_write = false;
            let subm_event = next_event.unwrap();
            let event = subm_event.event;
            let notice_tx = subm_event.notice_tx;
            // check if this event is authorized.
            if let Some(allowed_addrs) = whitelist {
+                // TODO: incorporate delegated pubkeys
                // if the event address is not in allowed_addrs.
                if !allowed_addrs.contains(&event.pubkey) {
                    info!(
@@ -150,7 +159,10 @@ pub async fn db_writer(
                        event.get_event_id_prefix()
                    );
                    notice_tx
-                        .try_send("pubkey is not allowed to publish to this relay".to_owned())
+                        .try_send(Notice::blocked(
+                            event.id,
+                            "pubkey is not allowed to publish to this relay",
+                        ))
                        .ok();
                    continue;
                }
@@ -169,7 +181,7 @@ pub async fn db_writer(
            if nip05_enabled {
                match nip05::query_latest_user_verification(pool.get()?, event.pubkey.to_owned()) {
                    Ok(uv) => {
-                        if uv.is_valid() {
+                        if uv.is_valid(&settings.verified_users) {
                            info!(
                                "new event from verified author ({:?},{:?})",
                                uv.name.to_string(),
@@ -181,10 +193,10 @@ pub async fn db_writer(
                                  event.get_author_prefix()
                            );
                            notice_tx
-                                .try_send(
-                                    "NIP-05 verification is no longer valid (expired/wrong domain)"
-                                        .to_owned(),
-                                )
+                                .try_send(Notice::blocked(
+                                    event.id,
+                                    "NIP-05 verification is no longer valid (expired/wrong domain)",
+                                ))
                                .ok();
                            continue;
                        }
@@ -195,7 +207,10 @@ pub async fn db_writer(
                            event.get_author_prefix()
                        );
                        notice_tx
-                            .try_send("NIP-05 verification needed to publish events".to_owned())
+                            .try_send(Notice::blocked(
+                                event.id,
+                                "NIP-05 verification needed to publish events",
+                            ))
                            .ok();
                        continue;
                    }
@@ -207,30 +222,39 @@ pub async fn db_writer(
            }
            // TODO: cache recent list of authors to remove a DB call.
            let start = Instant::now();
-            match write_event(&mut pool.get()?, &event) {
-                Ok(updated) => {
-                    if updated == 0 {
-                        trace!("ignoring duplicate event");
-                    } else {
-                        info!(
-                            "persisted event {:?} from {:?} in {:?}",
-                            event.get_event_id_prefix(),
-                            event.get_author_prefix(),
-                            start.elapsed()
-                        );
-                        event_write = true;
-                        // send this out to all clients
-                        bcast_tx.send(event.clone()).ok();
+            if event.kind >= 20000 && event.kind < 30000 {
+                bcast_tx.send(event.clone()).ok();
+                info!(
+                    "published ephemeral event: {:?} from: {:?} in: {:?}",
+                    event.get_event_id_prefix(),
+                    event.get_author_prefix(),
+                    start.elapsed()
+                );
+                event_write = true
+            } else {
+                match write_event(&mut pool.get()?, &event) {
+                    Ok(updated) => {
+                        if updated == 0 {
+                            trace!("ignoring duplicate or deleted event");
+                            notice_tx.try_send(Notice::duplicate(event.id)).ok();
+                        } else {
+                            info!(
+                                "persisted event: {:?} from: {:?} in: {:?}",
+                                event.get_event_id_prefix(),
+                                event.get_author_prefix(),
+                                start.elapsed()
+                            );
+                            event_write = true;
+                            // send this out to all clients
+                            bcast_tx.send(event.clone()).ok();
+                            notice_tx.try_send(Notice::saved(event.id)).ok();
+                        }
+                    }
+                    Err(err) => {
+                        warn!("event insert failed: {:?}", err);
+                        let msg = "relay experienced an error trying to publish the latest event";
+                        notice_tx.try_send(Notice::error(event.id, msg)).ok();
                    }
-                }
-                Err(err) => {
-                    warn!("event insert failed: {:?}", err);
-                    notice_tx
-                        .try_send(
-                            "relay experienced an error trying to publish the latest event"
-                                .to_owned(),
-                        )
-                        .ok();
                }
            }

@@ -268,16 +292,17 @@ pub fn write_event(conn: &mut PooledConnection, e: &Event) -> Result<usize> {
    let tx = conn.transaction()?;
    // get relevant fields from event and convert to blobs.
    let id_blob = hex::decode(&e.id).ok();
-    let pubkey_blob = hex::decode(&e.pubkey).ok();
+    let pubkey_blob: Option<Vec<u8>> = hex::decode(&e.pubkey).ok();
+    let delegator_blob: Option<Vec<u8>> = e.delegated_by.as_ref().and_then(|d| hex::decode(d).ok());
    let event_str = serde_json::to_string(&e).ok();
    // ignore if the event hash is a duplicate.
-    let ins_count = tx.execute(
-        "INSERT OR IGNORE INTO event (event_hash, created_at, kind, author, content, first_seen, hidden) VALUES (?1, ?2, ?3, ?4, ?5, strftime('%s','now'), FALSE);",
-        params![id_blob, e.created_at, e.kind, pubkey_blob, event_str]
+    let mut ins_count = tx.execute(
+        "INSERT OR IGNORE INTO event (event_hash, created_at, kind, author, delegated_by, content, first_seen, hidden) VALUES (?1, ?2, ?3, ?4, ?5, ?6, strftime('%s','now'), FALSE);",
+        params![id_blob, e.created_at, e.kind, pubkey_blob, delegator_blob, event_str]
    )?;
    if ins_count == 0 {
        // if the event was a duplicate, no need to insert event or
-        // pubkey references.
+        // pubkey references.  This will abort the txn.
        return Ok(ins_count);
    }
    // remember primary key of the event most recently inserted.
@@ -288,48 +313,86 @@ pub fn write_event(conn: &mut PooledConnection, e: &Event) -> Result<usize> {
        if tag.len() >= 2 {
            let tagname = &tag[0];
            let tagval = &tag[1];
-            // if tagvalue is hex;
-            if is_hex(tagval) {
-                tx.execute(
-                    "INSERT OR IGNORE INTO tag (event_id, name, value_hex) VALUES (?1, ?2, ?3)",
-                    params![ev_id, &tagname, hex::decode(&tagval).ok()],
-                )?;
-            } else {
-                tx.execute(
-                    "INSERT OR IGNORE INTO tag (event_id, name, value) VALUES (?1, ?2, ?3)",
-                    params![ev_id, &tagname, &tagval],
-                )?;
+            // only single-char tags are searchable
+            let tagchar_opt = single_char_tagname(tagname);
+            match &tagchar_opt {
+                Some(_) => {
+                    // if tagvalue is lowercase hex;
+                    if is_lower_hex(tagval) && (tagval.len() % 2 == 0) {
+                        tx.execute(
+			    "INSERT OR IGNORE INTO tag (event_id, name, value_hex) VALUES (?1, ?2, ?3)",
+			    params![ev_id, &tagname, hex::decode(tagval).ok()],
+			)?;
+                    } else {
+                        tx.execute(
+                            "INSERT OR IGNORE INTO tag (event_id, name, value) VALUES (?1, ?2, ?3)",
+                            params![ev_id, &tagname, &tagval],
+                        )?;
+                    }
+                }
+                None => {}
            }
        }
    }
-    // if this event is for a metadata update, hide every other kind=0
-    // event from the same author that was issued earlier than this.
-    if e.kind == 0 {
+    // if this event is replaceable update, hide every other replaceable
+    // event with the same kind from the same author that was issued
+    // earlier than this.
+    if e.kind == 0 || e.kind == 3 || (e.kind >= 10000 && e.kind < 20000) {
        let update_count = tx.execute(
-            "UPDATE event SET hidden=TRUE WHERE id!=? AND kind=0 AND author=? AND created_at <= ? and hidden!=TRUE",
-            params![ev_id, hex::decode(&e.pubkey).ok(), e.created_at],
+            "UPDATE event SET hidden=TRUE WHERE id!=? AND kind=? AND author=? AND created_at <= ? and hidden!=TRUE",
+            params![ev_id, e.kind, hex::decode(&e.pubkey).ok(), e.created_at],
        )?;
        if update_count > 0 {
            info!(
-                "hid {} older metadata events for author {:?}",
+                "hid {} older replaceable kind {} events for author: {:?}",
                update_count,
+                e.kind,
                e.get_author_prefix()
            );
        }
    }
-    // if this event is for a contact update, hide every other kind=3
-    // event from the same author that was issued earlier than this.
-    if e.kind == 3 {
-        let update_count = tx.execute(
-            "UPDATE event SET hidden=TRUE WHERE id!=? AND kind=3 AND author=? AND created_at <= ? and hidden!=TRUE",
-            params![ev_id, hex::decode(&e.pubkey).ok(), e.created_at],
-        )?;
-        if update_count > 0 {
+    // if this event is a deletion, hide the referenced events from the same author.
+    if e.kind == 5 {
+        let event_candidates = e.tag_values_by_name("e");
+        // first parameter will be author
+        let mut params: Vec<Box<dyn ToSql>> = vec![Box::new(hex::decode(&e.pubkey)?)];
+        event_candidates
+            .iter()
+            .filter(|x| is_hex(x) && x.len() == 64)
+            .filter_map(|x| hex::decode(x).ok())
+            .for_each(|x| params.push(Box::new(x)));
+        let query = format!(
+            "UPDATE event SET hidden=TRUE WHERE kind!=5 AND author=? AND event_hash IN ({})",
+            repeat_vars(params.len() - 1)
+        );
+        let mut stmt = tx.prepare(&query)?;
+        let update_count = stmt.execute(rusqlite::params_from_iter(params))?;
+        info!(
+            "hid {} deleted events for author {:?}",
+            update_count,
+            e.get_author_prefix()
+        );
+    } else {
+        // check if a deletion has already been recorded for this event.
+        // Only relevant for non-deletion events
+        let del_count = tx.query_row(
+	    "SELECT e.id FROM event e LEFT JOIN tag t ON e.id=t.event_id WHERE e.author=? AND t.name='e' AND e.kind=5 AND t.value_hex=? LIMIT 1;",
+	    params![pubkey_blob, id_blob], |row| row.get::<usize, usize>(0));
+        // check if a the query returned a result, meaning we should
+        // hid the current event
+        if del_count.ok().is_some() {
+            // a deletion already existed, mark original event as hidden.
            info!(
-                "hid {} older contact events for author {:?}",
-                update_count,
+                "hid event: {:?} due to existing deletion by author: {:?}",
+                e.get_event_id_prefix(),
                e.get_author_prefix()
            );
+            let _update_count =
+                tx.execute("UPDATE event SET hidden=TRUE WHERE id=?", params![ev_id])?;
+            // event was deleted, so let caller know nothing new
+            // arrived, preventing this from being sent to active
+            // subscriptions
+            ins_count = 0;
        }
    }
    tx.commit()?;
@@ -337,7 +400,7 @@ pub fn write_event(conn: &mut PooledConnection, e: &Event) -> Result<usize> {
 }

 /// Serialized event associated with a specific subscription request.
-#[derive(PartialEq, Debug, Clone)]
+#[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct QueryResult {
    /// Subscription identifier
    pub sub_id: String,
@@ -356,145 +419,192 @@ fn repeat_vars(count: usize) -> String {
    s
 }

-/// Create a dynamic SQL query string and params from a subscription.
-fn query_from_sub(sub: &Subscription) -> (String, Vec<Box<dyn ToSql>>) {
+/// Create a dynamic SQL subquery and params from a subscription filter.
+fn query_from_filter(f: &ReqFilter) -> (String, Vec<Box<dyn ToSql>>) {
    // build a dynamic SQL query.  all user-input is either an integer
    // (sqli-safe), or a string that is filtered to only contain
    // hexadecimal characters.  Strings that require escaping (tag
    // names/values) use parameters.
-    let mut query =
-        "SELECT DISTINCT(e.content) FROM event e LEFT JOIN tag t ON e.id=t.event_id ".to_owned();
-    // parameters
+
+    // if the filter is malformed, don't return anything.
+    if f.force_no_match {
+        let empty_query = "SELECT e.content, e.created_at FROM event e WHERE 1=0".to_owned();
+        // query parameters for SQLite
+        let empty_params: Vec<Box<dyn ToSql>> = vec![];
+        return (empty_query, empty_params);
+    }
+
+    let mut query = "SELECT e.content, e.created_at FROM event e".to_owned();
+    // query parameters for SQLite
    let mut params: Vec<Box<dyn ToSql>> = vec![];

-    // for every filter in the subscription, generate a where clause
-    let mut filter_clauses: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
-    for f in sub.filters.iter() {
-        // individual filter components
-        let mut filter_components: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
-        // Query for "authors", allowing prefix matches
-        if let Some(authvec) = &f.authors {
-            // take each author and convert to a hexsearch
-            let mut auth_searches: Vec<String> = vec![];
-            for auth in authvec {
-                match hex_range(auth) {
-                    Some(HexSearch::Exact(ex)) => {
-                        auth_searches.push("author=?".to_owned());
-                        params.push(Box::new(ex));
-                    }
-                    Some(HexSearch::Range(lower, upper)) => {
-                        auth_searches.push("(author>? AND author<?)".to_owned());
-                        params.push(Box::new(lower));
-                        params.push(Box::new(upper));
-                    }
-                    Some(HexSearch::LowerOnly(lower)) => {
-                        auth_searches.push("author>?".to_owned());
-                        params.push(Box::new(lower));
-                    }
-                    None => {
-                        info!("Could not parse hex range from author {:?}", auth);
-                    }
+    // individual filter components (single conditions such as an author or event ID)
+    let mut filter_components: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
+    // Query for "authors", allowing prefix matches
+    if let Some(authvec) = &f.authors {
+        // take each author and convert to a hexsearch
+        let mut auth_searches: Vec<String> = vec![];
+        for auth in authvec {
+            match hex_range(auth) {
+                Some(HexSearch::Exact(ex)) => {
+                    auth_searches.push("author=? OR delegated_by=?".to_owned());
+                    params.push(Box::new(ex.clone()));
+                    params.push(Box::new(ex));
+                }
+                Some(HexSearch::Range(lower, upper)) => {
+                    auth_searches.push(
+                        "(author>? AND author<?) OR (delegated_by>? AND delegated_by<?)".to_owned(),
+                    );
+                    params.push(Box::new(lower.clone()));
+                    params.push(Box::new(upper.clone()));
+                    params.push(Box::new(lower));
+                    params.push(Box::new(upper));
+                }
+                Some(HexSearch::LowerOnly(lower)) => {
+                    auth_searches.push("author>? OR delegated_by>?".to_owned());
+                    params.push(Box::new(lower.clone()));
+                    params.push(Box::new(lower));
+                }
+                None => {
+                    info!("Could not parse hex range from author {:?}", auth);
                }
            }
+        }
+        if !authvec.is_empty() {
            let authors_clause = format!("({})", auth_searches.join(" OR "));
            filter_components.push(authors_clause);
+        } else {
+            // if the authors list was empty, we should never return
+            // any results.
+            filter_components.push("false".to_owned());
        }
-        // Query for Kind
-        if let Some(ks) = &f.kinds {
-            // kind is number, no escaping needed
-            let str_kinds: Vec<String> = ks.iter().map(|x| x.to_string()).collect();
-            let kind_clause = format!("kind IN ({})", str_kinds.join(", "));
-            filter_components.push(kind_clause);
-        }
-        // Query for event, allowing prefix matches
-        if let Some(idvec) = &f.ids {
-            // take each author and convert to a hexsearch
-            let mut id_searches: Vec<String> = vec![];
-            for id in idvec {
-                match hex_range(id) {
-                    Some(HexSearch::Exact(ex)) => {
-                        id_searches.push("event_hash=?".to_owned());
-                        params.push(Box::new(ex));
-                    }
-                    Some(HexSearch::Range(lower, upper)) => {
-                        id_searches.push("(event_hash>? AND event_hash<?)".to_owned());
-                        params.push(Box::new(lower));
-                        params.push(Box::new(upper));
-                    }
-                    Some(HexSearch::LowerOnly(lower)) => {
-                        id_searches.push("event_hash>?".to_owned());
-                        params.push(Box::new(lower));
-                    }
-                    None => {
-                        info!("Could not parse hex range from id {:?}", id);
-                    }
+    }
+    // Query for Kind
+    if let Some(ks) = &f.kinds {
+        // kind is number, no escaping needed
+        let str_kinds: Vec<String> = ks.iter().map(|x| x.to_string()).collect();
+        let kind_clause = format!("kind IN ({})", str_kinds.join(", "));
+        filter_components.push(kind_clause);
+    }
+    // Query for event, allowing prefix matches
+    if let Some(idvec) = &f.ids {
+        // take each author and convert to a hexsearch
+        let mut id_searches: Vec<String> = vec![];
+        for id in idvec {
+            match hex_range(id) {
+                Some(HexSearch::Exact(ex)) => {
+                    id_searches.push("event_hash=?".to_owned());
+                    params.push(Box::new(ex));
+                }
+                Some(HexSearch::Range(lower, upper)) => {
+                    id_searches.push("(event_hash>? AND event_hash<?)".to_owned());
+                    params.push(Box::new(lower));
+                    params.push(Box::new(upper));
+                }
+                Some(HexSearch::LowerOnly(lower)) => {
+                    id_searches.push("event_hash>?".to_owned());
+                    params.push(Box::new(lower));
+                }
+                None => {
+                    info!("Could not parse hex range from id {:?}", id);
                }
            }
+        }
+        if !idvec.is_empty() {
            let id_clause = format!("({})", id_searches.join(" OR "));
            filter_components.push(id_clause);
+        } else {
+            // if the ids list was empty, we should never return
+            // any results.
+            filter_components.push("false".to_owned());
        }
-        // Query for tags
-        if let Some(map) = &f.tags {
-            for (key, val) in map.iter() {
-                let mut str_vals: Vec<Box<dyn ToSql>> = vec![];
-                let mut blob_vals: Vec<Box<dyn ToSql>> = vec![];
-                for v in val {
-                    if is_hex(v) {
-                        if let Ok(h) = hex::decode(&v) {
-                            blob_vals.push(Box::new(h));
-                        }
-                    } else {
-                        str_vals.push(Box::new(v.to_owned()));
+    }
+    // Query for tags
+    if let Some(map) = &f.tags {
+        for (key, val) in map.iter() {
+            let mut str_vals: Vec<Box<dyn ToSql>> = vec![];
+            let mut blob_vals: Vec<Box<dyn ToSql>> = vec![];
+            for v in val {
+                if (v.len() % 2 == 0) && is_lower_hex(v) {
+                    if let Ok(h) = hex::decode(v) {
+                        blob_vals.push(Box::new(h));
                    }
+                } else {
+                    str_vals.push(Box::new(v.to_owned()));
                }
-                // create clauses with "?" params for each tag value being searched
-                let str_clause = format!("value IN ({})", repeat_vars(str_vals.len()));
-                let blob_clause = format!("value_hex IN ({})", repeat_vars(blob_vals.len()));
-                let tag_clause = format!("(name=? AND ({} OR {}))", str_clause, blob_clause);
-                // add the tag name as the first parameter
-                params.push(Box::new(key.to_owned()));
-                // add all tag values that are plain strings as params
-                params.append(&mut str_vals);
-                // add all tag values that are blobs as params
-                params.append(&mut blob_vals);
-                filter_components.push(tag_clause);
            }
-        }
-        // Query for timestamp
-        if f.since.is_some() {
-            let created_clause = format!("created_at > {}", f.since.unwrap());
-            filter_components.push(created_clause);
-        }
-        // Query for timestamp
-        if f.until.is_some() {
-            let until_clause = format!("created_at < {}", f.until.unwrap());
-            filter_components.push(until_clause);
-        }
-
-        // combine all clauses, and add to filter_clauses
-        if !filter_components.is_empty() {
-            let mut fc = "( ".to_owned();
-            fc.push_str(&filter_components.join(" AND "));
-            fc.push_str(" )");
-            filter_clauses.push(fc);
+            // create clauses with "?" params for each tag value being searched
+            let str_clause = format!("value IN ({})", repeat_vars(str_vals.len()));
+            let blob_clause = format!("value_hex IN ({})", repeat_vars(blob_vals.len()));
+            // find evidence of the target tag name/value existing for this event.
+            let tag_clause = format!("e.id IN (SELECT e.id FROM event e LEFT JOIN tag t on e.id=t.event_id WHERE hidden!=TRUE and (name=? AND ({} OR {})))", str_clause, blob_clause);
+            // add the tag name as the first parameter
+            params.push(Box::new(key.to_string()));
+            // add all tag values that are plain strings as params
+            params.append(&mut str_vals);
+            // add all tag values that are blobs as params
+            params.append(&mut blob_vals);
+            filter_components.push(tag_clause);
        }
    }
-
+    // Query for timestamp
+    if f.since.is_some() {
+        let created_clause = format!("created_at > {}", f.since.unwrap());
+        filter_components.push(created_clause);
+    }
+    // Query for timestamp
+    if f.until.is_some() {
+        let until_clause = format!("created_at < {}", f.until.unwrap());
+        filter_components.push(until_clause);
+    }
    // never display hidden events
-    query.push_str(" WHERE hidden!=TRUE ");
-
-    // combine all filters with OR clauses, if any exist
-    if !filter_clauses.is_empty() {
-        query.push_str(" AND (");
-        query.push_str(&filter_clauses.join(" OR "));
-        query.push_str(") ");
+    query.push_str(" WHERE hidden!=TRUE");
+    // build filter component conditions
+    if !filter_components.is_empty() {
+        query.push_str(" AND ");
+        query.push_str(&filter_components.join(" AND "));
+    }
+    // Apply per-filter limit to this subquery.
+    // The use of a LIMIT implies a DESC order, to capture only the most recent events.
+    if let Some(lim) = f.limit {
+        let _ = write!(query, " ORDER BY e.created_at DESC LIMIT {}", lim);
+    } else {
+        query.push_str(" ORDER BY e.created_at ASC")
    }
-    // add order clause
-    query.push_str(" ORDER BY created_at ASC");
-    debug!("query string: {}", query);
    (query, params)
 }

+/// Create a dynamic SQL query string and params from a subscription.
+fn query_from_sub(sub: &Subscription) -> (String, Vec<Box<dyn ToSql>>) {
+    // build a dynamic SQL query for an entire subscription, based on
+    // SQL subqueries for filters.
+    let mut subqueries: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
+    // subquery params
+    let mut params: Vec<Box<dyn ToSql>> = vec![];
+    // for every filter in the subscription, generate a subquery
+    for f in sub.filters.iter() {
+        let (f_subquery, mut f_params) = query_from_filter(f);
+        subqueries.push(f_subquery);
+        params.append(&mut f_params);
+    }
+    // encapsulate subqueries into select statements
+    let subqueries_selects: Vec<String> = subqueries
+        .iter()
+        .map(|s| format!("SELECT distinct content, created_at FROM ({})", s))
+        .collect();
+    let query: String = subqueries_selects.join(" UNION ");
+    (query, params)
+}
+
+fn log_pool_stats(pool: &SqlitePool) {
+    let state: r2d2::State = pool.state();
+    let in_use_cxns = state.connections - state.idle_connections;
+    debug!(
+        "DB pool usage (in_use: {}, available: {})",
+        in_use_cxns, state.connections
+    );
+}
+
 /// Perform a database query using a subscription.
 ///
 /// The [`Subscription`] is converted into a SQL query.  Each result
@@ -503,19 +613,21 @@ fn query_from_sub(sub: &Subscription) -> (String, Vec<Box<dyn ToSql>>) {
 /// query is immediately aborted.
 pub async fn db_query(
    sub: Subscription,
+    client_id: String,
    pool: SqlitePool,
    query_tx: tokio::sync::mpsc::Sender<QueryResult>,
    mut abandon_query_rx: tokio::sync::oneshot::Receiver<()>,
 ) {
    task::spawn_blocking(move || {
-        debug!("going to query for: {:?}", sub);
        let mut row_count: usize = 0;
        let start = Instant::now();
        // generate SQL query
        let (q, p) = query_from_sub(&sub);
-        debug!("SQL generated in {:?}", start.elapsed());
+        trace!("SQL generated in {:?}", start.elapsed());
        // show pool stats
-        debug!("DB pool stats: {:?}", pool.state());
+        log_pool_stats(&pool);
+        // cutoff for displaying slow queries
+        let slow_cutoff = Duration::from_millis(1000);
        let start = Instant::now();
        if let Ok(conn) = pool.get() {
            // execute the query. Don't cache, since queries vary so much.
@@ -524,13 +636,36 @@ pub async fn db_query(
            let mut first_result = true;
            while let Some(row) = event_rows.next()? {
                if first_result {
-                    debug!("time to first result: {:?}", start.elapsed());
+                    let first_result_elapsed = start.elapsed();
+                    // logging for slow queries; show sub and SQL
+                    if first_result_elapsed >= slow_cutoff {
+                        info!(
+                            "going to query for: {:?} (cid: {}, sub: {:?})",
+                            sub, client_id, sub.id
+                        );
+                        info!(
+                            "final query string (slow): {} (cid: {}, sub: {:?})",
+                            q, client_id, sub.id
+                        );
+                    } else {
+                        trace!(
+                            "going to query for: {:?} (cid: {}, sub: {:?})",
+                            sub,
+                            client_id,
+                            sub.id
+                        );
+                        trace!("final query string: {}", q);
+                    }
+                    debug!(
+                        "first result in {:?} (cid: {}, sub: {:?})",
+                        first_result_elapsed, client_id, sub.id
+                    );
                    first_result = false;
                }
                // check if this is still active
                // TODO:  check every N rows
                if abandon_query_rx.try_recv().is_ok() {
-                    debug!("query aborted");
+                    debug!("query aborted (cid: {}, sub: {:?})", client_id, sub.id);
                    return Ok(());
                }
                row_count += 1;
@@ -542,10 +677,18 @@ pub async fn db_query(
                    })
                    .ok();
            }
+            query_tx
+                .blocking_send(QueryResult {
+                    sub_id: sub.get_id(),
+                    event: "EOSE".to_string(),
+                })
+                .ok();
            debug!(
-                "query completed ({} rows) in {:?}",
-                row_count,
-                start.elapsed()
+                "query completed in {:?} (cid: {}, sub: {:?}, rows: {})",
+                start.elapsed(),
+                client_id,
+                sub.id,
+                row_count
            );
        } else {
            warn!("Could not get a database connection for querying");
--- a/src/delegation.rs
+++ b/src/delegation.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,416 @@
+//! Event parsing and validation
+use crate::error::Error;
+use crate::error::Result;
+use crate::event::Event;
+use bitcoin_hashes::{sha256, Hash};
+use lazy_static::lazy_static;
+use regex::Regex;
+use secp256k1::{schnorr, Secp256k1, VerifyOnly, XOnlyPublicKey};
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use std::str::FromStr;
+use tracing::{debug, info};
+
+// This handles everything related to delegation, in particular the
+// condition/rune parsing and logic.
+
+// Conditions are poorly specified, so we will implement the minimum
+// necessary for now.
+
+// fields MUST be either "kind" or "created_at".
+// operators supported are ">", "<", "=", "!".
+// no operations on 'content' are supported.
+
+// this allows constraints for:
+// valid date ranges (valid from X->Y dates).
+// specific kinds (publish kind=1,5)
+// kind ranges (publish ephemeral events, kind>19999&kind<30001)
+
+// for more complex scenarios (allow delegatee to publish ephemeral
+// AND replacement events), it may be necessary to generate and use
+// different condition strings, since we do not support grouping or
+// "OR" logic.
+
+lazy_static! {
+    /// Secp256k1 verification instance.
+    pub static ref SECP: Secp256k1<VerifyOnly> = Secp256k1::verification_only();
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
+pub enum Field {
+    Kind,
+    CreatedAt,
+}
+
+impl FromStr for Field {
+    type Err = Error;
+    fn from_str(value: &str) -> Result<Self, Self::Err> {
+        if value == "kind" {
+            Ok(Field::Kind)
+        } else if value == "created_at" {
+            Ok(Field::CreatedAt)
+        } else {
+            Err(Error::DelegationParseError)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
+pub enum Operator {
+    LessThan,
+    GreaterThan,
+    Equals,
+    NotEquals,
+}
+impl FromStr for Operator {
+    type Err = Error;
+    fn from_str(value: &str) -> Result<Self, Self::Err> {
+        if value == "<" {
+            Ok(Operator::LessThan)
+        } else if value == ">" {
+            Ok(Operator::GreaterThan)
+        } else if value == "=" {
+            Ok(Operator::Equals)
+        } else if value == "!" {
+            Ok(Operator::NotEquals)
+        } else {
+            Err(Error::DelegationParseError)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct ConditionQuery {
+    pub(crate) conditions: Vec<Condition>,
+}
+
+impl ConditionQuery {
+    pub fn allows_event(&self, event: &Event) -> bool {
+        // check each condition, to ensure that the event complies
+        // with the restriction.
+        for c in &self.conditions {
+            if !c.allows_event(event) {
+                // any failing conditions invalidates the delegation
+                // on this event
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+        // delegation was permitted unconditionally, or all conditions
+        // were true
+        true
+    }
+}
+
+// Verify that the delegator approved the delegation; return a ConditionQuery if so.
+pub fn validate_delegation(
+    delegator: &str,
+    delegatee: &str,
+    cond_query: &str,
+    sigstr: &str,
+) -> Option<ConditionQuery> {
+    // form the token
+    let tok = format!("nostr:delegation:{}:{}", delegatee, cond_query);
+    // form SHA256 hash
+    let digest: sha256::Hash = sha256::Hash::hash(tok.as_bytes());
+    let sig = schnorr::Signature::from_str(sigstr).unwrap();
+    if let Ok(msg) = secp256k1::Message::from_slice(digest.as_ref()) {
+        if let Ok(pubkey) = XOnlyPublicKey::from_str(delegator) {
+            let verify = SECP.verify_schnorr(&sig, &msg, &pubkey);
+            if verify.is_ok() {
+                // return the parsed condition query
+                cond_query.parse::<ConditionQuery>().ok()
+            } else {
+                debug!("client sent an delegation signature that did not validate");
+                None
+            }
+        } else {
+            debug!("client sent malformed delegation pubkey");
+            None
+        }
+    } else {
+        info!("error converting delegation digest to secp256k1 message");
+        None
+    }
+}
+
+/// Parsed delegation condition
+/// see https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/28#pullrequestreview-1084903800
+/// An example complex condition would be:  kind=1,2,3&created_at<1665265999
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct Condition {
+    pub(crate) field: Field,
+    pub(crate) operator: Operator,
+    pub(crate) values: Vec<u64>,
+}
+
+impl Condition {
+    /// Check if this condition allows the given event to be delegated
+    pub fn allows_event(&self, event: &Event) -> bool {
+        // determine what the right-hand side of the operator is
+        let resolved_field = match &self.field {
+            Field::Kind => event.kind,
+            Field::CreatedAt => event.created_at,
+        };
+        match &self.operator {
+            Operator::LessThan => {
+                // the less-than operator is only valid for single values.
+                if self.values.len() == 1 {
+                    if let Some(v) = self.values.first() {
+                        return resolved_field < *v;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            Operator::GreaterThan => {
+                // the greater-than operator is only valid for single values.
+                if self.values.len() == 1 {
+                    if let Some(v) = self.values.first() {
+                        return resolved_field > *v;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            Operator::Equals => {
+                // equals is interpreted as "must be equal to at least one provided value"
+                return self.values.iter().any(|&x| resolved_field == x);
+            }
+            Operator::NotEquals => {
+                // not-equals is interpreted as "must not be equal to any provided value"
+                // this is the one case where an empty list of values could be allowed; even though it is a pointless restriction.
+                return self.values.iter().all(|&x| resolved_field != x);
+            }
+        }
+        false
+    }
+}
+
+fn str_to_condition(cs: &str) -> Option<Condition> {
+    // a condition is a string (alphanum+underscore), an operator (<>=!), and values (num+comma)
+    lazy_static! {
+        static ref RE: Regex = Regex::new("([[:word:]]+)([<>=!]+)([,[[:digit:]]]*)").unwrap();
+    }
+    // match against the regex
+    let caps = RE.captures(cs)?;
+    let field = caps.get(1)?.as_str().parse::<Field>().ok()?;
+    let operator = caps.get(2)?.as_str().parse::<Operator>().ok()?;
+    // values are just comma separated numbers, but all must be parsed
+    let rawvals = caps.get(3)?.as_str();
+    let values = rawvals
+        .split_terminator(',')
+        .map(|n| n.parse::<u64>().ok())
+        .collect::<Option<Vec<_>>>()?;
+    // convert field string into Field
+    Some(Condition {
+        field,
+        operator,
+        values,
+    })
+}
+
+/// Parse a condition query from a string slice
+impl FromStr for ConditionQuery {
+    type Err = Error;
+    fn from_str(value: &str) -> Result<Self, Self::Err> {
+        // split the string with '&'
+        let mut conditions = vec![];
+        let condstrs = value.split_terminator('&');
+        // parse each individual condition
+        for c in condstrs {
+            conditions.push(str_to_condition(c).ok_or(Error::DelegationParseError)?);
+        }
+        Ok(ConditionQuery { conditions })
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    // parse condition strings
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_empty() -> Result<()> {
+        // given an empty condition query, produce an empty vector
+        let empty_cq = ConditionQuery { conditions: vec![] };
+        let parsed = "".parse::<ConditionQuery>()?;
+        assert_eq!(parsed, empty_cq);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    // parse field 'kind'
+    #[test]
+    fn test_kind_field_parse() -> Result<()> {
+        let field = "kind".parse::<Field>()?;
+        assert_eq!(field, Field::Kind);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+    // parse field 'created_at'
+    #[test]
+    fn test_created_at_field_parse() -> Result<()> {
+        let field = "created_at".parse::<Field>()?;
+        assert_eq!(field, Field::CreatedAt);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+    // parse unknown field
+    #[test]
+    fn unknown_field_parse() {
+        let field = "unk".parse::<Field>();
+        assert!(field.is_err());
+    }
+
+    // parse a full conditional query with an empty array
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_kind_equals_empty() -> Result<()> {
+        // given an empty condition query, produce an empty vector
+        let kind_cq = ConditionQuery {
+            conditions: vec![Condition {
+                field: Field::Kind,
+                operator: Operator::Equals,
+                values: vec![],
+            }],
+        };
+        let parsed = "kind=".parse::<ConditionQuery>()?;
+        assert_eq!(parsed, kind_cq);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+    // parse a full conditional query with a single value
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_kind_equals_singleval() -> Result<()> {
+        // given an empty condition query, produce an empty vector
+        let kind_cq = ConditionQuery {
+            conditions: vec![Condition {
+                field: Field::Kind,
+                operator: Operator::Equals,
+                values: vec![1],
+            }],
+        };
+        let parsed = "kind=1".parse::<ConditionQuery>()?;
+        assert_eq!(parsed, kind_cq);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+    // parse a full conditional query with multiple values
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_kind_equals_multival() -> Result<()> {
+        // given an empty condition query, produce an empty vector
+        let kind_cq = ConditionQuery {
+            conditions: vec![Condition {
+                field: Field::Kind,
+                operator: Operator::Equals,
+                values: vec![1, 2, 4],
+            }],
+        };
+        let parsed = "kind=1,2,4".parse::<ConditionQuery>()?;
+        assert_eq!(parsed, kind_cq);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+    // parse multiple conditions
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_multi_conditions() -> Result<()> {
+        // given an empty condition query, produce an empty vector
+        let cq = ConditionQuery {
+            conditions: vec![
+                Condition {
+                    field: Field::Kind,
+                    operator: Operator::GreaterThan,
+                    values: vec![10000],
+                },
+                Condition {
+                    field: Field::Kind,
+                    operator: Operator::LessThan,
+                    values: vec![20000],
+                },
+                Condition {
+                    field: Field::Kind,
+                    operator: Operator::NotEquals,
+                    values: vec![10001],
+                },
+                Condition {
+                    field: Field::CreatedAt,
+                    operator: Operator::LessThan,
+                    values: vec![1665867123],
+                },
+            ],
+        };
+        let parsed =
+            "kind>10000&kind<20000&kind!10001&created_at<1665867123".parse::<ConditionQuery>()?;
+        assert_eq!(parsed, cq);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+    fn simple_event() -> Event {
+        Event {
+            id: "0".to_owned(),
+            pubkey: "0".to_owned(),
+            delegated_by: None,
+            created_at: 0,
+            kind: 0,
+            tags: vec![],
+            content: "".to_owned(),
+            sig: "0".to_owned(),
+            tagidx: None,
+        }
+    }
+    // Check for condition logic on event w/ empty values
+    #[test]
+    fn condition_with_empty_values() {
+        let mut c = Condition {
+            field: Field::Kind,
+            operator: Operator::GreaterThan,
+            values: vec![],
+        };
+        let e = simple_event();
+        assert!(!c.allows_event(&e));
+        c.operator = Operator::LessThan;
+        assert!(!c.allows_event(&e));
+        c.operator = Operator::Equals;
+        assert!(!c.allows_event(&e));
+        // Not Equals applied to an empty list *is* allowed
+        // (pointless, but logically valid).
+        c.operator = Operator::NotEquals;
+        assert!(c.allows_event(&e));
+    }
+
+    // Check for condition logic on event w/ single value
+    #[test]
+    fn condition_kind_gt_event_single() {
+        let c = Condition {
+            field: Field::Kind,
+            operator: Operator::GreaterThan,
+            values: vec![10],
+        };
+        let mut e = simple_event();
+        // kind is not greater than 10, not allowed
+        e.kind = 1;
+        assert!(!c.allows_event(&e));
+        // kind is greater than 10, allowed
+        e.kind = 100;
+        assert!(c.allows_event(&e));
+        // kind is 10, not allowed
+        e.kind = 10;
+        assert!(!c.allows_event(&e));
+    }
+    // Check for condition logic on event w/ multi values
+    #[test]
+    fn condition_with_multi_values() {
+        let mut c = Condition {
+            field: Field::Kind,
+            operator: Operator::Equals,
+            values: vec![0, 10, 20],
+        };
+        let mut e = simple_event();
+        // Allow if event kind is in list for Equals
+        e.kind = 10;
+        assert!(c.allows_event(&e));
+        // Deny if event kind is not in list for Equals
+        e.kind = 11;
+        assert!(!c.allows_event(&e));
+        // Deny if event kind is in list for NotEquals
+        e.kind = 10;
+        c.operator = Operator::NotEquals;
+        assert!(!c.allows_event(&e));
+        // Allow if event kind is not in list for NotEquals
+        e.kind = 99;
+        c.operator = Operator::NotEquals;
+        assert!(c.allows_event(&e));
+        // Always deny if GreaterThan/LessThan for a list
+        c.operator = Operator::LessThan;
+        assert!(!c.allows_event(&e));
+        c.operator = Operator::GreaterThan;
+        assert!(!c.allows_event(&e));
+    }
+}
--- a/src/error.rs
+++ b/src/error.rs
@@ -17,10 +17,16 @@ pub enum Error {
    ConnWriteError,
    #[error("EVENT parse failed")]
    EventParseFailed,
-    #[error("ClOSE message parse failed")]
+    #[error("CLOSE message parse failed")]
    CloseParseFailed,
-    #[error("Event validation failed")]
-    EventInvalid,
+    #[error("Event invalid signature")]
+    EventInvalidSignature,
+    #[error("Event invalid id")]
+    EventInvalidId,
+    #[error("Event malformed pubkey")]
+    EventMalformedPubkey,
+    #[error("Event could not canonicalize")]
+    EventCouldNotCanonicalize,
    #[error("Event too large")]
    EventMaxLengthError(usize),
    #[error("Subscription identifier max length exceeded")]
@@ -48,6 +54,10 @@ pub enum Error {
    JoinError,
    #[error("Hyper Client error")]
    HyperError(hyper::Error),
+    #[error("Hex encoding error")]
+    HexError(hex::FromHexError),
+    #[error("Delegation parse error")]
+    DelegationParseError,
    #[error("Unknown/Undocumented")]
    UnknownError,
 }
@@ -58,6 +68,12 @@ pub enum Error {
 //    }
 //}

+impl From<hex::FromHexError> for Error {
+    fn from(h: hex::FromHexError) -> Self {
+        Error::HexError(h)
+    }
+}
+
 impl From<hyper::Error> for Error {
    fn from(h: hyper::Error) -> Self {
        Error::HyperError(h)
--- a/src/event.rs
+++ b/src/event.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 //! Event parsing and validation
-use crate::config;
+use crate::delegation::validate_delegation;
 use crate::error::Error::*;
 use crate::error::Result;
 use crate::nip05;
 use crate::utils::unix_time;
 use bitcoin_hashes::{sha256, Hash};
 use lazy_static::lazy_static;
-use log::*;
 use secp256k1::{schnorr, Secp256k1, VerifyOnly, XOnlyPublicKey};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Deserializer, Serialize};
 use serde_json::value::Value;
@@ -14,6 +13,7 @@ use serde_json::Number;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::collections::HashSet;
 use std::str::FromStr;
+use tracing::{debug, info};

 lazy_static! {
    /// Secp256k1 verification instance.
@@ -21,17 +21,25 @@ lazy_static! {
 }

 /// Event command in network format.
-#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Debug, Clone)]
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct EventCmd {
    cmd: String, // expecting static "EVENT"
    event: Event,
 }

+impl EventCmd {
+    pub fn event_id(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.event.id
+    }
+}
+
 /// Parsed nostr event.
-#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Debug, Clone)]
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct Event {
    pub id: String,
    pub(crate) pubkey: String,
+    #[serde(skip)]
+    pub(crate) delegated_by: Option<String>,
    pub(crate) created_at: u64,
    pub(crate) kind: u64,
    #[serde(deserialize_with = "tag_from_string")]
@@ -39,9 +47,9 @@ pub struct Event {
    pub(crate) tags: Vec<Vec<String>>,
    pub(crate) content: String,
    pub(crate) sig: String,
-    // Optimization for tag search, built on demand
+    // Optimization for tag search, built on demand.
    #[serde(skip)]
-    pub(crate) tagidx: Option<HashMap<String, HashSet<String>>>,
+    pub(crate) tagidx: Option<HashMap<char, HashSet<String>>>,
 }

 /// Simple tag type for array of array of strings.
@@ -53,7 +61,26 @@ where
    D: Deserializer<'de>,
 {
    let opt = Option::deserialize(deserializer)?;
-    Ok(opt.unwrap_or_else(Vec::new))
+    Ok(opt.unwrap_or_default())
+}
+
+/// Attempt to form a single-char tag name.
+pub fn single_char_tagname(tagname: &str) -> Option<char> {
+    // We return the tag character if and only if the tagname consists
+    // of a single char.
+    let mut tagnamechars = tagname.chars();
+    let firstchar = tagnamechars.next();
+    match firstchar {
+        Some(_) => {
+            // check second char
+            if tagnamechars.next().is_none() {
+                firstchar
+            } else {
+                None
+            }
+        }
+        None => None,
+    }
 }

 /// Convert network event to parsed/validated event.
@@ -62,12 +89,13 @@ impl From<EventCmd> for Result<Event> {
        // ensure command is correct
        if ec.cmd != "EVENT" {
            Err(CommandUnknownError)
-        } else if ec.event.is_valid() {
-            let mut e = ec.event;
-            e.build_index();
-            Ok(e)
        } else {
-            Err(EventInvalid)
+            ec.event.validate().map(|_| {
+                let mut e = ec.event;
+                e.build_index();
+                e.update_delegation();
+                e
+            })
        }
    }
 }
@@ -92,6 +120,50 @@ impl Event {
        None
    }

+    // is this event delegated (properly)?
+    // does the signature match, and are conditions valid?
+    // if so, return an alternate author for the event
+    pub fn delegated_author(&self) -> Option<String> {
+        // is there a delegation tag?
+        let delegation_tag: Vec<String> = self
+            .tags
+            .iter()
+            .filter(|x| x.len() == 4)
+            .filter(|x| x.get(0).unwrap() == "delegation")
+            .take(1)
+            .next()?
+            .to_vec(); // get first tag
+
+        //let delegation_tag = self.tag_values_by_name("delegation");
+        // delegation tags should have exactly 3 elements after the name (pubkey, condition, sig)
+        // the event is signed by the delagatee
+        let delegatee = &self.pubkey;
+        // the delegation tag references the claimed delagator
+        let delegator: &str = delegation_tag.get(1)?;
+        let querystr: &str = delegation_tag.get(2)?;
+        let sig: &str = delegation_tag.get(3)?;
+
+        // attempt to get a condition query; this requires the delegation to have a valid signature.
+        if let Some(cond_query) = validate_delegation(delegator, delegatee, querystr, sig) {
+            // The signature was valid, now we ensure the delegation
+            // condition is valid for this event:
+            if cond_query.allows_event(self) {
+                // since this is allowed, we will provide the delegatee
+                Some(delegator.into())
+            } else {
+                debug!("an event failed to satisfy delegation conditions");
+                None
+            }
+        } else {
+            debug!("event had had invalid delegation signature");
+            None
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Update delegation status
+    fn update_delegation(&mut self) {
+        self.delegated_by = self.delegated_author();
+    }
    /// Build an event tag index
    fn build_index(&mut self) {
        // if there are no tags; just leave the index as None
@@ -99,18 +171,21 @@ impl Event {
            return;
        }
        // otherwise, build an index
-        let mut idx: HashMap<String, HashSet<String>> = HashMap::new();
+        let mut idx: HashMap<char, HashSet<String>> = HashMap::new();
        // iterate over tags that have at least 2 elements
        for t in self.tags.iter().filter(|x| x.len() > 1) {
            let tagname = t.get(0).unwrap();
+            let tagnamechar_opt = single_char_tagname(tagname);
+            if tagnamechar_opt.is_none() {
+                continue;
+            }
+            let tagnamechar = tagnamechar_opt.unwrap();
            let tagval = t.get(1).unwrap();
            // ensure a vector exists for this tag
-            if !idx.contains_key(tagname) {
-                idx.insert(tagname.clone(), HashSet::new());
-            }
+            idx.entry(tagnamechar).or_insert_with(HashSet::new);
            // get the tag vec and insert entry
-            let tidx = idx.get_mut(tagname).expect("could not get tag vector");
-            tidx.insert(tagval.clone());
+            let idx_tag_vec = idx.get_mut(&tagnamechar).expect("could not get tag vector");
+            idx_tag_vec.insert(tagval.clone());
        }
        // save the tag structure
        self.tagidx = Some(idx);
@@ -124,60 +199,67 @@ impl Event {
        self.pubkey.chars().take(8).collect()
    }

-    /// Check if this event has a valid signature.
-    fn is_valid(&self) -> bool {
-        // TODO: return a Result with a reason for invalid events
-        // don't bother to validate an event with a timestamp in the distant future.
-        let config = config::SETTINGS.read().unwrap();
-        let max_future_sec = config.options.reject_future_seconds;
-        if let Some(allowable_future) = max_future_sec {
+    /// Retrieve tag initial values across all tags matching the name
+    pub fn tag_values_by_name(&self, tag_name: &str) -> Vec<String> {
+        self.tags
+            .iter()
+            .filter(|x| x.len() > 1)
+            .filter(|x| x.get(0).unwrap() == tag_name)
+            .map(|x| x.get(1).unwrap().to_owned())
+            .collect()
+    }
+
+    pub fn is_valid_timestamp(&self, reject_future_seconds: Option<usize>) -> bool {
+        if let Some(allowable_future) = reject_future_seconds {
            let curr_time = unix_time();
            // calculate difference, plus how far future we allow
            if curr_time + (allowable_future as u64) < self.created_at {
                let delta = self.created_at - curr_time;
                debug!(
-                    "Event is too far in the future ({} seconds), rejecting",
+                    "event is too far in the future ({} seconds), rejecting",
                    delta
                );
                return false;
            }
        }
+        true
+    }
+
+    /// Check if this event has a valid signature.
+    fn validate(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        // TODO: return a Result with a reason for invalid events
        // validation is performed by:
        // * parsing JSON string into event fields
        // * create an array:
        // ** [0, pubkey-hex-string, created-at-num, kind-num, tags-array-of-arrays, content-string]
        // * serialize with no spaces/newlines
        let c_opt = self.to_canonical();
-        debug!("Canonical: {:?}", &c_opt);
-        debug!("Canonical: {}", c_opt.as_ref().unwrap());
        if c_opt.is_none() {
-            debug!("event could not be canonicalized");
-            return false;
+            debug!("could not canonicalize");
+            return Err(EventCouldNotCanonicalize);
        }
        let c = c_opt.unwrap();
        // * compute the sha256sum.
        let digest: sha256::Hash = sha256::Hash::hash(c.as_bytes());
        let hex_digest = format!("{:x}", digest);
-        debug!("hex is: {}", hex_digest);
        // * ensure the id matches the computed sha256sum.
        if self.id != hex_digest {
            debug!("event id does not match digest");
-            return false;
+            return Err(EventInvalidId);
        }
        // * validate the message digest (sig) using the pubkey & computed sha256 message hash.
-
        let sig = schnorr::Signature::from_str(&self.sig).unwrap();
        if let Ok(msg) = secp256k1::Message::from_slice(digest.as_ref()) {
            if let Ok(pubkey) = XOnlyPublicKey::from_str(&self.pubkey) {
-                let verify = SECP.verify_schnorr(&sig, &msg, &pubkey);
-                matches!(verify, Ok(()))
+                SECP.verify_schnorr(&sig, &msg, &pubkey)
+                    .map_err(|_| EventInvalidSignature)
            } else {
-                debug!("Client sent malformed pubkey");
-                false
+                debug!("client sent malformed pubkey");
+                Err(EventMalformedPubkey)
            }
        } else {
-            info!("Error converting digest to secp256k1 message");
-            false
+            info!("error converting digest to secp256k1 message");
+            Err(EventInvalidSignature)
        }
    }

@@ -219,9 +301,10 @@ impl Event {
    }

    /// Determine if the given tag and value set intersect with tags in this event.
-    pub fn generic_tag_val_intersect(&self, tagname: &str, check: &HashSet<String>) -> bool {
+    pub fn generic_tag_val_intersect(&self, tagname: char, check: &HashSet<String>) -> bool {
        match &self.tagidx {
-            Some(idx) => match idx.get(tagname) {
+            // check if this is indexable tagname
+            Some(idx) => match idx.get(&tagname) {
                Some(valset) => {
                    let common = valset.intersection(check);
                    common.count() > 0
@@ -240,6 +323,7 @@ mod tests {
        Event {
            id: "0".to_owned(),
            pubkey: "0".to_owned(),
+            delegated_by: None,
            created_at: 0,
            kind: 0,
            tags: vec![],
@@ -266,26 +350,24 @@ mod tests {
    }

    #[test]
-    fn empty_event_tag_match() -> Result<()> {
+    fn empty_event_tag_match() {
        let event = simple_event();
        assert!(!event
-            .generic_tag_val_intersect("e", &HashSet::from(["foo".to_owned(), "bar".to_owned()])));
-        Ok(())
+            .generic_tag_val_intersect('e', &HashSet::from(["foo".to_owned(), "bar".to_owned()])));
    }

    #[test]
-    fn single_event_tag_match() -> Result<()> {
+    fn single_event_tag_match() {
        let mut event = simple_event();
        event.tags = vec![vec!["e".to_owned(), "foo".to_owned()]];
        event.build_index();
        assert_eq!(
            event.generic_tag_val_intersect(
-                "e",
+                'e',
                &HashSet::from(["foo".to_owned(), "bar".to_owned()])
            ),
            true
        );
-        Ok(())
    }

    #[test]
@@ -323,6 +405,7 @@ mod tests {
        let e = Event {
            id: "999".to_owned(),
            pubkey: "012345".to_owned(),
+            delegated_by: None,
            created_at: 501234,
            kind: 1,
            tags: vec![],
@@ -335,11 +418,66 @@ mod tests {
        assert_eq!(c, expected);
    }

+    #[test]
+    fn event_tag_select() {
+        let e = Event {
+            id: "999".to_owned(),
+            pubkey: "012345".to_owned(),
+            delegated_by: None,
+            created_at: 501234,
+            kind: 1,
+            tags: vec![
+                vec!["j".to_owned(), "abc".to_owned()],
+                vec!["e".to_owned(), "foo".to_owned()],
+                vec!["e".to_owned(), "bar".to_owned()],
+                vec!["e".to_owned(), "baz".to_owned()],
+                vec![
+                    "p".to_owned(),
+                    "aaaa".to_owned(),
+                    "ws://example.com".to_owned(),
+                ],
+            ],
+            content: "this is a test".to_owned(),
+            sig: "abcde".to_owned(),
+            tagidx: None,
+        };
+        let v = e.tag_values_by_name("e");
+        assert_eq!(v, vec!["foo", "bar", "baz"]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn event_no_tag_select() {
+        let e = Event {
+            id: "999".to_owned(),
+            pubkey: "012345".to_owned(),
+            delegated_by: None,
+            created_at: 501234,
+            kind: 1,
+            tags: vec![
+                vec!["j".to_owned(), "abc".to_owned()],
+                vec!["e".to_owned(), "foo".to_owned()],
+                vec!["e".to_owned(), "baz".to_owned()],
+                vec![
+                    "p".to_owned(),
+                    "aaaa".to_owned(),
+                    "ws://example.com".to_owned(),
+                ],
+            ],
+            content: "this is a test".to_owned(),
+            sig: "abcde".to_owned(),
+            tagidx: None,
+        };
+        let v = e.tag_values_by_name("x");
+        // asking for tags that don't exist just returns zero-length vector
+        assert_eq!(v.len(), 0);
+    }
+
    #[test]
    fn event_canonical_with_tags() {
        let e = Event {
            id: "999".to_owned(),
            pubkey: "012345".to_owned(),
+            delegated_by: None,
            created_at: 501234,
            kind: 1,
            tags: vec![
--- a/src/hexrange.rs
+++ b/src/hexrange.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use crate::utils::is_hex;
 use hex;

 /// Types of hexadecimal queries.
-#[derive(PartialEq, Debug, Clone)]
+#[derive(PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Debug, Clone)]
 pub enum HexSearch {
    // when no range is needed, exact 32-byte
    Exact(Vec<u8>),
@@ -60,11 +60,10 @@ pub fn hex_range(s: &str) -> Option<HexSearch> {
                upper[byte_len] = b + 16; // bump up the first character in this byte
                                          // increment done, stop iterating through the vec
                break;
-            } else {
-                // if it is 'f', reset the byte to 0 and do a carry
-                // reset and carry
-                upper[byte_len] = 0;
            }
+            // if it is 'f', reset the byte to 0 and do a carry
+            // reset and carry
+            upper[byte_len] = 0;
            // done with odd logic, so don't repeat this
            odd = false;
        } else {
--- a/src/info.rs
+++ b/src/info.rs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ impl From<config::Info> for RelayInfo {
            description: i.description,
            pubkey: i.pubkey,
            contact: i.contact,
-            supported_nips: Some(vec![1, 2, 11]),
+            supported_nips: Some(vec![1, 2, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 20, 22, 26]),
            software: Some("https://git.sr.ht/~gheartsfield/nostr-rs-relay".to_owned()),
            version: CARGO_PKG_VERSION.map(|x| x.to_owned()),
        }
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -2,11 +2,15 @@ pub mod close;
 pub mod config;
 pub mod conn;
 pub mod db;
+pub mod delegation;
 pub mod error;
 pub mod event;
 pub mod hexrange;
 pub mod info;
 pub mod nip05;
+pub mod notice;
 pub mod schema;
 pub mod subscription;
 pub mod utils;
+// Public API for creating relays programatically
+pub mod server;
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -1,579 +1,51 @@
 //! Server process
-use futures::SinkExt;
-use futures::StreamExt;
-use hyper::header::ACCEPT;
-use hyper::service::{make_service_fn, service_fn};
-use hyper::upgrade::Upgraded;
-use hyper::{
-    header, server::conn::AddrStream, upgrade, Body, Request, Response, Server, StatusCode,
-};
-use log::*;
-use nostr_rs_relay::close::Close;
-use nostr_rs_relay::close::CloseCmd;
+
 use nostr_rs_relay::config;
-use nostr_rs_relay::conn;
-use nostr_rs_relay::db;
-use nostr_rs_relay::db::SubmittedEvent;
-use nostr_rs_relay::error::{Error, Result};
-use nostr_rs_relay::event::Event;
-use nostr_rs_relay::event::EventCmd;
-use nostr_rs_relay::info::RelayInfo;
-use nostr_rs_relay::nip05;
-use nostr_rs_relay::subscription::Subscription;
-use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use std::collections::HashMap;
-use std::convert::Infallible;
+use nostr_rs_relay::server::start_server;
 use std::env;
-use std::net::SocketAddr;
-use std::path::Path;
-use std::time::Duration;
-use std::time::Instant;
-use tokio::runtime::Builder;
-use tokio::sync::broadcast::{self, Receiver, Sender};
-use tokio::sync::mpsc;
-use tokio::sync::oneshot;
-use tokio_tungstenite::WebSocketStream;
-use tungstenite::error::Error as WsError;
-use tungstenite::handshake;
-use tungstenite::protocol::Message;
-use tungstenite::protocol::WebSocketConfig;
+use std::sync::mpsc as syncmpsc;
+use std::sync::mpsc::{Receiver as MpscReceiver, Sender as MpscSender};
+use std::thread;
+use tracing::info;
+
+use console_subscriber::ConsoleLayer;

 /// Return a requested DB name from command line arguments.
-fn db_from_args(args: Vec<String>) -> Option<String> {
+fn db_from_args(args: &[String]) -> Option<String> {
    if args.len() == 3 && args.get(1) == Some(&"--db".to_owned()) {
-        return args.get(2).map(|x| x.to_owned());
+        return args.get(2).map(std::clone::Clone::clone);
    }
    None
 }

-/// Handle arbitrary HTTP requests, including for WebSocket upgrades.
-async fn handle_web_request(
-    mut request: Request<Body>,
-    pool: db::SqlitePool,
-    remote_addr: SocketAddr,
-    broadcast: Sender<Event>,
-    event_tx: tokio::sync::mpsc::Sender<SubmittedEvent>,
-    shutdown: Receiver<()>,
-) -> Result<Response<Body>, Infallible> {
-    match (
-        request.uri().path(),
-        request.headers().contains_key(header::UPGRADE),
-    ) {
-        // Request for / as websocket
-        ("/", true) => {
-            debug!("websocket with upgrade request");
-            //assume request is a handshake, so create the handshake response
-            let response = match handshake::server::create_response_with_body(&request, || {
-                Body::empty()
-            }) {
-                Ok(response) => {
-                    //in case the handshake response creation succeeds,
-                    //spawn a task to handle the websocket connection
-                    tokio::spawn(async move {
-                        //using the hyper feature of upgrading a connection
-                        match upgrade::on(&mut request).await {
-                            //if successfully upgraded
-                            Ok(upgraded) => {
-                                // set WebSocket configuration options
-                                let mut config = WebSocketConfig::default();
-                                {
-                                    let settings = config::SETTINGS.read().unwrap();
-                                    config.max_message_size = settings.limits.max_ws_message_bytes;
-                                    config.max_frame_size = settings.limits.max_ws_frame_bytes;
-                                }
-                                //create a websocket stream from the upgraded object
-                                let ws_stream = WebSocketStream::from_raw_socket(
-                                    //pass the upgraded object
-                                    //as the base layer stream of the Websocket
-                                    upgraded,
-                                    tokio_tungstenite::tungstenite::protocol::Role::Server,
-                                    Some(config),
-                                )
-                                .await;
-
-                                tokio::spawn(nostr_server(
-                                    pool, ws_stream, broadcast, event_tx, shutdown,
-                                ));
-                            }
-                            Err(e) => println!(
-                                "error when trying to upgrade connection \
-                                 from address {} to websocket connection. \
-                                 Error is: {}",
-                                remote_addr, e
-                            ),
-                        }
-                    });
-                    //return the response to the handshake request
-                    response
-                }
-                Err(error) => {
-                    warn!("websocket response failed");
-                    let mut res =
-                        Response::new(Body::from(format!("Failed to create websocket: {}", error)));
-                    *res.status_mut() = StatusCode::BAD_REQUEST;
-                    return Ok(res);
-                }
-            };
-            Ok::<_, Infallible>(response)
-        }
-        // Request for Relay info
-        ("/", false) => {
-            // handle request at root with no upgrade header
-            // Check if this is a nostr server info request
-            let accept_header = &request.headers().get(ACCEPT);
-            // check if application/nostr+json is included
-            if let Some(media_types) = accept_header {
-                if let Ok(mt_str) = media_types.to_str() {
-                    if mt_str.contains("application/nostr+json") {
-                        let config = config::SETTINGS.read().unwrap();
-                        // build a relay info response
-                        debug!("Responding to server info request");
-                        let rinfo = RelayInfo::from(config.info.clone());
-                        let b = Body::from(serde_json::to_string_pretty(&rinfo).unwrap());
-                        return Ok(Response::builder()
-                            .status(200)
-                            .header("Content-Type", "application/nostr+json")
-                            .body(b)
-                            .unwrap());
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-            Ok(Response::new(Body::from(
-                "Please use a Nostr client to connect.",
-            )))
-        }
-        (_, _) => {
-            //handle any other url
-            Ok(Response::builder()
-                .status(StatusCode::NOT_FOUND)
-                .body(Body::from("Nothing here."))
-                .unwrap())
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-async fn shutdown_signal() {
-    // Wait for the CTRL+C signal
-    tokio::signal::ctrl_c()
-        .await
-        .expect("failed to install CTRL+C signal handler");
-}
-
 /// Start running a Nostr relay server.
-fn main() -> Result<(), Error> {
-    // setup logger
-    let _ = env_logger::try_init();
+fn main() {
+    // setup tracing
+    let _trace_sub = tracing_subscriber::fmt::try_init();
+    info!("Starting up from main");
    // get database directory from args
    let args: Vec<String> = env::args().collect();
-    let db_dir: Option<String> = db_from_args(args);
-    {
-        let mut settings = config::SETTINGS.write().unwrap();
-        // replace default settings with those read from config.toml
-        let mut c = config::Settings::new();
-        // update with database location
-        if let Some(db) = db_dir {
-            c.database.data_directory = db;
-        }
-        *settings = c;
+    let db_dir: Option<String> = db_from_args(&args);
+    // configure settings from config.toml
+    // replace default settings with those read from config.toml
+    let mut settings = config::Settings::new();
+
+    if settings.diagnostics.tracing {
+        // enable tracing with tokio-console
+        ConsoleLayer::builder().with_default_env().init();
+    }
+    // update with database location
+    if let Some(db) = db_dir {
+        settings.database.data_directory = db;
    }

-    let settings = config::SETTINGS.read().unwrap();
-    trace!("Config: {:?}", settings);
-    // do some config validation.
-    if !Path::new(&settings.database.data_directory).is_dir() {
-        error!("Database directory does not exist");
-        return Err(Error::DatabaseDirError);
-    }
-    let addr = format!(
-        "{}:{}",
-        settings.network.address.trim(),
-        settings.network.port
-    );
-    let socket_addr = addr.parse().expect("listening address not valid");
-    // address whitelisting settings
-    if let Some(addr_whitelist) = &settings.authorization.pubkey_whitelist {
-        info!(
-            "Event publishing restricted to {} pubkey(s)",
-            addr_whitelist.len()
-        );
-    }
-    // check if NIP-05 enforced user verification is on
-    if settings.verified_users.is_active() {
-        info!(
-            "NIP-05 user verification mode:{:?}",
-            settings.verified_users.mode
-        );
-        if let Some(d) = settings.verified_users.verify_update_duration() {
-            info!("NIP-05 check user verification every:   {:?}", d);
-        }
-        if let Some(d) = settings.verified_users.verify_expiration_duration() {
-            info!("NIP-05 user verification expires after: {:?}", d);
-        }
-        if let Some(wl) = &settings.verified_users.domain_whitelist {
-            info!("NIP-05 domain whitelist: {:?}", wl);
-        }
-        if let Some(bl) = &settings.verified_users.domain_blacklist {
-            info!("NIP-05 domain blacklist: {:?}", bl);
-        }
-    }
-    // configure tokio runtime
-    let rt = Builder::new_multi_thread()
-        .enable_all()
-        .thread_name("tokio-ws")
-        .build()
-        .unwrap();
-    // start tokio
-    rt.block_on(async {
-        let settings = config::SETTINGS.read().unwrap();
-        info!("listening on: {}", socket_addr);
-        // all client-submitted valid events are broadcast to every
-        // other client on this channel.  This should be large enough
-        // to accomodate slower readers (messages are dropped if
-        // clients can not keep up).
-        let (bcast_tx, _) = broadcast::channel::<Event>(settings.limits.broadcast_buffer);
-        // validated events that need to be persisted are sent to the
-        // database on via this channel.
-        let (event_tx, event_rx) =
-            mpsc::channel::<SubmittedEvent>(settings.limits.event_persist_buffer);
-        // establish a channel for letting all threads now about a
-        // requested server shutdown.
-        let (invoke_shutdown, shutdown_listen) = broadcast::channel::<()>(1);
-        // create a channel for sending any new metadata event.  These
-        // will get processed relatively slowly (a potentially
-        // multi-second blocking HTTP call) on a single thread, so we
-        // buffer requests on the channel.  No harm in dropping events
-        // here, since we are protecting against DoS.  This can make
-        // it difficult to setup initial metadata in bulk, since
-        // overwhelming this will drop events and won't register
-        // metadata events.
-        let (metadata_tx, metadata_rx) = broadcast::channel::<Event>(4096);
-        // start the database writer thread.  Give it a channel for
-        // writing events, and for publishing events that have been
-        // written (to all connected clients).
-        db::db_writer(
-            event_rx,
-            bcast_tx.clone(),
-            metadata_tx.clone(),
-            shutdown_listen,
-        )
-        .await;
-        info!("db writer created");
-
-        // create a nip-05 verifier thread
-        let verifier_opt = nip05::Verifier::new(metadata_rx, bcast_tx.clone());
-        if let Ok(mut v) = verifier_opt {
-            if settings.verified_users.is_active() {
-                tokio::task::spawn(async move {
-                    info!("starting up NIP-05 verifier...");
-                    v.run().await;
-                });
-            }
-        }
-        // // listen for ctrl-c interruupts
-        let ctrl_c_shutdown = invoke_shutdown.clone();
-        tokio::spawn(async move {
-            tokio::signal::ctrl_c().await.unwrap();
-            info!("shutting down due to SIGINT");
-            ctrl_c_shutdown.send(()).ok();
-        });
-        // build a connection pool for sqlite connections
-        let pool = db::build_pool(
-            "client query",
-            rusqlite::OpenFlags::SQLITE_OPEN_READ_ONLY
-                | rusqlite::OpenFlags::SQLITE_OPEN_SHARED_CACHE,
-            settings.database.min_conn,
-            settings.database.max_conn,
-            true,
-        );
-        // A `Service` is needed for every connection, so this
-        // creates one from our `handle_request` function.
-        let make_svc = make_service_fn(|conn: &AddrStream| {
-            let svc_pool = pool.clone();
-            let remote_addr = conn.remote_addr();
-            let bcast = bcast_tx.clone();
-            let event = event_tx.clone();
-            let stop = invoke_shutdown.clone();
-            async move {
-                // service_fn converts our function into a `Service`
-                Ok::<_, Infallible>(service_fn(move |request: Request<Body>| {
-                    handle_web_request(
-                        request,
-                        svc_pool.clone(),
-                        remote_addr,
-                        bcast.clone(),
-                        event.clone(),
-                        stop.subscribe(),
-                    )
-                }))
-            }
-        });
-        let server = Server::bind(&socket_addr)
-            .serve(make_svc)
-            .with_graceful_shutdown(shutdown_signal());
-        // run hyper
-        if let Err(e) = server.await {
-            eprintln!("server error: {}", e);
-        }
-        // our code
+    let (_, ctrl_rx): (MpscSender<()>, MpscReceiver<()>) = syncmpsc::channel();
+    // run this in a new thread
+    let handle = thread::spawn(|| {
+        // we should have a 'control plane' channel to monitor and bump the server.
+        // this will let us do stuff like clear the database, shutdown, etc.
+        let _svr = start_server(settings, ctrl_rx);
    });
-    Ok(())
-}
-
-/// Nostr protocol messages from a client
-#[derive(Deserialize, Serialize, Clone, PartialEq, Debug)]
-#[serde(untagged)]
-pub enum NostrMessage {
-    /// An `EVENT` message
-    EventMsg(EventCmd),
-    /// A `REQ` message
-    SubMsg(Subscription),
-    /// A `CLOSE` message
-    CloseMsg(CloseCmd),
-}
-
-/// Convert Message to NostrMessage
-fn convert_to_msg(msg: String) -> Result<NostrMessage> {
-    let config = config::SETTINGS.read().unwrap();
-    let parsed_res: Result<NostrMessage> = serde_json::from_str(&msg).map_err(|e| e.into());
-    match parsed_res {
-        Ok(m) => {
-            if let NostrMessage::EventMsg(_) = m {
-                if let Some(max_size) = config.limits.max_event_bytes {
-                    // check length, ensure that some max size is set.
-                    if msg.len() > max_size && max_size > 0 {
-                        return Err(Error::EventMaxLengthError(msg.len()));
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-            Ok(m)
-        }
-        Err(e) => {
-            debug!("proto parse error: {:?}", e);
-            debug!("parse error on message: {}", msg.trim());
-            Err(Error::ProtoParseError)
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-/// Handle new client connections.  This runs through an event loop
-/// for all client communication.
-async fn nostr_server(
-    pool: db::SqlitePool,
-    mut ws_stream: WebSocketStream<Upgraded>,
-    broadcast: Sender<Event>,
-    event_tx: mpsc::Sender<SubmittedEvent>,
-    mut shutdown: Receiver<()>,
-) {
-    // get a broadcast channel for clients to communicate on
-    let mut bcast_rx = broadcast.subscribe();
-    // Track internal client state
-    let mut conn = conn::ClientConn::new();
-    let cid = conn.get_client_prefix();
-    // Create a channel for receiving query results from the database.
-    // we will send out the tx handle to any query we generate.
-    let (query_tx, mut query_rx) = mpsc::channel::<db::QueryResult>(256);
-    // Create channel for receiving NOTICEs
-    let (notice_tx, mut notice_rx) = mpsc::channel::<String>(32);
-
-    // last time this client sent data (message, ping, etc.)
-    let mut last_message_time = Instant::now();
-
-    // ping interval (every 5 minutes)
-    let default_ping_dur = Duration::from_secs(300);
-
-    // disconnect after 20 minutes without a ping response or event.
-    let max_quiet_time = Duration::from_secs(60 * 20);
-
-    let start = tokio::time::Instant::now() + default_ping_dur;
-    let mut ping_interval = tokio::time::interval_at(start, default_ping_dur);
-
-    // maintain a hashmap of a oneshot channel for active subscriptions.
-    // when these subscriptions are cancelled, make a message
-    // available to the executing query so it knows to stop.
-    let mut running_queries: HashMap<String, oneshot::Sender<()>> = HashMap::new();
-
-    // for stats, keep track of how many events the client published,
-    // and how many it received from queries.
-    let mut client_published_event_count: usize = 0;
-    let mut client_received_event_count: usize = 0;
-    info!("new connection for client: {:?}", cid);
-    loop {
-        tokio::select! {
-            _ = shutdown.recv() => {
-                // server shutting down, exit loop
-                break;
-            },
-            _ = ping_interval.tick() => {
-                // check how long since we talked to client
-                // if it has been too long, disconnect
-                if last_message_time.elapsed() > max_quiet_time {
-                    debug!("ending connection due to lack of client ping response");
-                    break;
-                }
-                // Send a ping
-                ws_stream.send(Message::Ping(Vec::new())).await.ok();
-            },
-            Some(notice_msg) = notice_rx.recv() => {
-                let n = notice_msg.to_string().replace("\"", "");
-                ws_stream.send(Message::Text(format!("[\"NOTICE\",\"{}\"]", n))).await.ok();
-            },
-            Some(query_result) = query_rx.recv() => {
-                // database informed us of a query result we asked for
-                client_received_event_count += 1;
-                // send a result
-                let subesc = query_result.sub_id.replace("\"", "");
-                let send_str = format!("[\"EVENT\",\"{}\",{}]", subesc, &query_result.event);
-                ws_stream.send(Message::Text(send_str)).await.ok();
-            },
-            // TODO: consider logging the LaggedRecv error
-            Ok(global_event) = bcast_rx.recv() => {
-                // an event has been broadcast to all clients
-                // first check if there is a subscription for this event.
-                let matching_subs = conn.get_matching_subscriptions(&global_event);
-                for s in matching_subs {
-                    // TODO: serialize at broadcast time, instead of
-                    // once for each consumer.
-                    if let Ok(event_str) = serde_json::to_string(&global_event) {
-                        debug!("sub match: client: {:?}, sub: {:?}, event: {:?}",
-                               cid, s,
-                               global_event.get_event_id_prefix());
-                        // create an event response and send it
-                        let subesc = s.replace("\"", "");
-                        ws_stream.send(Message::Text(format!("[\"EVENT\",\"{}\",{}]", subesc, event_str))).await.ok();
-                        //nostr_stream.send(res).await.ok();
-                    } else {
-                        warn!("could not serialize event {:?}", global_event.get_event_id_prefix());
-                    }
-                }
-            },
-            ws_next = ws_stream.next() => {
-                // update most recent message time for client
-                last_message_time = Instant::now();
-                // Consume text messages from the client, parse into Nostr messages.
-                let nostr_msg = match ws_next {
-                    Some(Ok(Message::Text(m))) => {
-                        convert_to_msg(m)
-                    },
-                    Some(Ok(Message::Binary(_))) => {
-                        ws_stream.send(Message::Text(format!("[\"NOTICE\",\"{}\"]", "binary messages are not accepted"))).await.ok();
-                        continue;
-                    },
-                    Some(Ok(Message::Ping(_))) | Some(Ok(Message::Pong(_))) => {
-                        // get a ping/pong, ignore.  tungstenite will
-                        // send responses automatically.
-                        continue;
-                    },
-                    None |
-                    Some(Ok(Message::Close(_))) |
-                    Some(Err(WsError::AlreadyClosed)) |
-                    Some(Err(WsError::ConnectionClosed)) |
-                    Some(Err(WsError::Protocol(tungstenite::error::ProtocolError::ResetWithoutClosingHandshake)))
-                        => {
-                        debug!("websocket close from client: {:?}",cid);
-                        break;
-                    },
-                    Some(Err(WsError::Io(e))) => {
-                        // IO errors are considered fatal
-                        warn!("IO error (client: {:?}): {:?}", cid, e);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    x => {
-                        // default condition on error is to close the client connection
-                        info!("unknown error (client: {:?}): {:?} (closing conn)", cid, x);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                };
-
-                // convert ws_next into proto_next
-                match nostr_msg {
-                    Ok(NostrMessage::EventMsg(ec)) => {
-                        // An EventCmd needs to be validated to be converted into an Event
-                        // handle each type of message
-                        let parsed : Result<Event> = Result::<Event>::from(ec);
-                        match parsed {
-                            Ok(e) => {
-                                let id_prefix:String = e.id.chars().take(8).collect();
-                                debug!("successfully parsed/validated event: {:?} from client: {:?}", id_prefix, cid);
-                                // Write this to the database.
-                                let submit_event = SubmittedEvent { event: e.clone(), notice_tx: notice_tx.clone() };
-                                event_tx.send(submit_event).await.ok();
-                                client_published_event_count += 1;
-                            },
-                            Err(_) => {
-                                info!("client {:?} sent an invalid event", cid);
-                                ws_stream.send(Message::Text(format!("[\"NOTICE\",\"{}\"]", "event was invalid"))).await.ok();
-                            }
-                        }
-                    },
-                    Ok(NostrMessage::SubMsg(s)) => {
-                        debug!("client {} requesting a subscription", cid);
-                        // subscription handling consists of:
-                        // * registering the subscription so future events can be matched
-                        // * making a channel to cancel to request later
-                        // * sending a request for a SQL query
-                        let (abandon_query_tx, abandon_query_rx) = oneshot::channel::<()>();
-                        match conn.subscribe(s.clone()) {
-                            Ok(()) => {
-                                // when we insert, if there was a previous query running with the same name, cancel it.
-                                if let Some(previous_query) = running_queries.insert(s.id.to_owned(), abandon_query_tx) {
-                                    previous_query.send(()).ok();
-                                }
-                                // start a database query
-                                db::db_query(s, pool.clone(), query_tx.clone(), abandon_query_rx).await;
-                            },
-                            Err(e) => {
-                                info!("Subscription error: {}", e);
-                                let s = e.to_string().replace("\"", "");
-                                ws_stream.send(Message::Text(format!("[\"NOTICE\",\"{}\"]", s))).await.ok();
-                            }
-                        }
-                    },
-                    Ok(NostrMessage::CloseMsg(cc)) => {
-                        // closing a request simply removes the subscription.
-                        let parsed : Result<Close> = Result::<Close>::from(cc);
-                        match parsed {
-                            Ok(c) => {
-                                // check if a query is currently
-                                // running, and remove it if so.
-                                let stop_tx = running_queries.remove(&c.id);
-                                if let Some(tx) = stop_tx {
-                                    tx.send(()).ok();
-                                }
-                                // stop checking new events against
-                                // the subscription
-                                conn.unsubscribe(c);
-                            },
-                            Err(_) => {
-                                info!("invalid command ignored");
-                                ws_stream.send(Message::Text(format!("[\"NOTICE\",\"{}\"]", "could not parse command"))).await.ok();
-                            }
-                        }
-                    },
-                    Err(Error::ConnError) => {
-                        debug!("got connection close/error, disconnecting client: {:?}",cid);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    Err(Error::EventMaxLengthError(s)) => {
-                        info!("client {:?} sent event larger ({} bytes) than max size", cid, s);
-                        ws_stream.send(Message::Text(format!("[\"NOTICE\",\"{}\"]", "event exceeded max size"))).await.ok();
-                    },
-                    Err(Error::ProtoParseError) => {
-                        info!("client {:?} sent event that could not be parsed", cid);
-                        ws_stream.send(Message::Text(format!("[\"NOTICE\",\"{}\"]", "could not parse command"))).await.ok();
-                    },
-                    Err(e) => {
-                        info!("got non-fatal error from client: {:?}, error: {:?}", cid, e);
-                    },
-                }
-            },
-        }
-    }
-    // connection cleanup - ensure any still running queries are terminated.
-    for (_, stop_tx) in running_queries.into_iter() {
-        stop_tx.send(()).ok();
-    }
-    info!(
-        "stopping connection for client: {:?} (client sent {} event(s), received {})",
-        cid, client_published_event_count, client_received_event_count
-    );
+    // block on nostr thread to finish.
+    handle.join().unwrap();
 }
--- a/src/nip05.rs
+++ b/src/nip05.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 //! address with their public key, in metadata events.  This module
 //! consumes a stream of metadata events, and keeps a database table
 //! updated with the current NIP-05 verification status.
-use crate::config::SETTINGS;
+use crate::config::VerifiedUsers;
 use crate::db;
 use crate::error::{Error, Result};
 use crate::event::Event;
@@ -13,13 +13,13 @@ use hyper::body::HttpBody;
 use hyper::client::connect::HttpConnector;
 use hyper::Client;
 use hyper_tls::HttpsConnector;
-use log::*;
 use rand::Rng;
 use rusqlite::params;
 use std::time::Duration;
 use std::time::Instant;
 use std::time::SystemTime;
 use tokio::time::Interval;
+use tracing::{debug, info, warn};

 /// NIP-05 verifier state
 pub struct Verifier {
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ pub struct Verifier {
    read_pool: db::SqlitePool,
    /// SQLite write query pool
    write_pool: db::SqlitePool,
+    /// Settings
+    settings: crate::config::Settings,
    /// HTTP client
    client: hyper::Client<HttpsConnector<HttpConnector>, hyper::Body>,
    /// After all accounts are updated, wait this long before checking again.
@@ -42,7 +44,7 @@ pub struct Verifier {
 }

 /// A NIP-05 identifier is a local part and domain.
-#[derive(PartialEq, Debug, Clone)]
+#[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct Nip05Name {
    local: String,
    domain: String,
@@ -138,11 +140,13 @@ impl Verifier {
    pub fn new(
        metadata_rx: tokio::sync::broadcast::Receiver<Event>,
        event_tx: tokio::sync::broadcast::Sender<Event>,
+        settings: crate::config::Settings,
    ) -> Result<Self> {
        info!("creating NIP-05 verifier");
        // build a database connection for reading and writing.
        let write_pool = db::build_pool(
            "nip05 writer",
+            &settings,
            rusqlite::OpenFlags::SQLITE_OPEN_READ_WRITE,
            1,    // min conns
            4,    // max conns
@@ -150,6 +154,7 @@ impl Verifier {
        );
        let read_pool = db::build_pool(
            "nip05 reader",
+            &settings,
            rusqlite::OpenFlags::SQLITE_OPEN_READ_ONLY,
            1,    // min conns
            8,    // max conns
@@ -174,6 +179,7 @@ impl Verifier {
            event_tx,
            read_pool,
            write_pool,
+            settings,
            client,
            wait_after_finish,
            http_wait_duration,
@@ -214,7 +220,11 @@ impl Verifier {
        pubkey: &str,
    ) -> Result<UserWebVerificationStatus> {
        // determine if this domain should be checked
-        if !is_domain_allowed(&nip.domain) {
+        if !is_domain_allowed(
+            &nip.domain,
+            &self.settings.verified_users.domain_whitelist,
+            &self.settings.verified_users.domain_blacklist,
+        ) {
            return Ok(UserWebVerificationStatus::DomainNotAllowed);
        }
        let url = nip
@@ -239,9 +249,9 @@ impl Verifier {
        // HTTP request with timeout
        match tokio::time::timeout(Duration::from_secs(5), response_fut).await {
            Ok(response_res) => {
-                let response = response_res?;
                // limit size of verification document to 1MB.
                const MAX_ALLOWED_RESPONSE_SIZE: u64 = 1024 * 1024;
+                let response = response_res?;
                // determine content length from response
                let response_content_length = match response.body().size_hint().upper() {
                    Some(v) => v,
@@ -257,12 +267,11 @@ impl Verifier {
                        let body_matches = body_contains_user(&nip.local, pubkey, body_bytes)?;
                        if body_matches {
                            return Ok(UserWebVerificationStatus::Verified);
-                        } else {
-                            // successful response, parsed as a nip-05
-                            // document, but this name/pubkey was not
-                            // present.
-                            return Ok(UserWebVerificationStatus::Unverified);
                        }
+                        // successful response, parsed as a nip-05
+                        // document, but this name/pubkey was not
+                        // present.
+                        return Ok(UserWebVerificationStatus::Unverified);
                    }
                } else {
                    info!(
@@ -347,15 +356,11 @@ impl Verifier {

    /// Reverify the oldest user verification record.
    async fn do_reverify(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
-        let reverify_setting;
-        let max_failures;
-        {
-            // this block prevents a read handle to settings being
-            // captured by the async DB call (guard is not Send)
-            let settings = SETTINGS.read().unwrap();
-            reverify_setting = settings.verified_users.verify_update_frequency_duration;
-            max_failures = settings.verified_users.max_consecutive_failures;
-        }
+        let reverify_setting = self
+            .settings
+            .verified_users
+            .verify_update_frequency_duration;
+        let max_failures = self.settings.verified_users.max_consecutive_failures;
        // get from settings, but default to 6hrs between re-checking an account
        let reverify_dur = reverify_setting.unwrap_or_else(|| Duration::from_secs(60 * 60 * 6));
        // find all verification records that have success or failure OLDER than the reverify_dur.
@@ -506,11 +511,7 @@ impl Verifier {
        let start = Instant::now();
        // we should only do this if we are enabled.  if we are
        // disabled/passive, the event has already been persisted.
-        let should_write_event;
-        {
-            let settings = SETTINGS.read().unwrap();
-            should_write_event = settings.verified_users.is_enabled()
-        }
+        let should_write_event = self.settings.verified_users.is_enabled();
        if should_write_event {
            match db::write_event(&mut self.write_pool.get()?, event) {
                Ok(updated) => {
@@ -538,7 +539,7 @@ impl Verifier {
 }

 /// Result of checking user's verification status against DNS/HTTP.
-#[derive(PartialEq, Debug, Clone)]
+#[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
 pub enum UserWebVerificationStatus {
    Verified,         // user is verified, as of now.
    DomainNotAllowed, // domain blacklist or whitelist denied us from attempting a verification
@@ -547,7 +548,7 @@ pub enum UserWebVerificationStatus {
 }

 /// A NIP-05 verification record.
-#[derive(PartialEq, Debug, Clone)]
+#[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
 // Basic information for a verification event.  Gives us all we need to assert a NIP-05 address is good.
 pub struct VerificationRecord {
    pub rowid: u64,                // database row for this verification event
@@ -562,15 +563,18 @@ pub struct VerificationRecord {

 /// Check with settings to determine if a given domain is allowed to
 /// publish.
-pub fn is_domain_allowed(domain: &str) -> bool {
-    let settings = SETTINGS.read().unwrap();
+pub fn is_domain_allowed(
+    domain: &str,
+    whitelist: &Option<Vec<String>>,
+    blacklist: &Option<Vec<String>>,
+) -> bool {
    // if there is a whitelist, domain must be present in it.
-    if let Some(wl) = &settings.verified_users.domain_whitelist {
+    if let Some(wl) = whitelist {
        // workaround for Vec contains not accepting &str
        return wl.iter().any(|x| x == domain);
    }
    // otherwise, check that user is not in the blacklist
-    if let Some(bl) = &settings.verified_users.domain_blacklist {
+    if let Some(bl) = blacklist {
        return !bl.iter().any(|x| x == domain);
    }
    true
@@ -579,17 +583,21 @@ pub fn is_domain_allowed(domain: &str) -> bool {
 impl VerificationRecord {
    /// Check if the record is recent enough to be considered valid,
    /// and the domain is allowed.
-    pub fn is_valid(&self) -> bool {
-        let settings = SETTINGS.read().unwrap();
+    pub fn is_valid(&self, verified_users_settings: &VerifiedUsers) -> bool {
+        //let settings = SETTINGS.read().unwrap();
        // how long a verification record is good for
-        let nip05_expiration = &settings.verified_users.verify_expiration_duration;
+        let nip05_expiration = &verified_users_settings.verify_expiration_duration;
        if let Some(e) = nip05_expiration {
            if !self.is_current(e) {
                return false;
            }
        }
        // check domains
-        is_domain_allowed(&self.name.domain)
+        is_domain_allowed(
+            &self.name.domain,
+            &verified_users_settings.domain_whitelist,
+            &verified_users_settings.domain_blacklist,
+        )
    }

    /// Check if this record has been validated since the given
@@ -705,9 +713,7 @@ pub async fn get_oldest_user_verification(
    conn: db::PooledConnection,
    earliest: u64,
 ) -> Result<VerificationRecord> {
-    let res =
-        tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || query_oldest_user_verification(conn, earliest)).await?;
-    res
+    tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || query_oldest_user_verification(conn, earliest)).await?
 }

 pub fn query_oldest_user_verification(
--- a/src/notice.rs
+++ b/src/notice.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+pub enum EventResultStatus {
+    Saved,
+    Duplicate,
+    Invalid,
+    Blocked,
+    RateLimited,
+    Error,
+}
+
+pub struct EventResult {
+    pub id: String,
+    pub msg: String,
+    pub status: EventResultStatus,
+}
+
+pub enum Notice {
+    Message(String),
+    EventResult(EventResult),
+}
+
+impl EventResultStatus {
+    pub fn to_bool(&self) -> bool {
+        match self {
+            Self::Saved => true,
+            Self::Duplicate => true,
+            Self::Invalid => false,
+            Self::Blocked => false,
+            Self::RateLimited => false,
+            Self::Error => false,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn prefix(&self) -> &'static str {
+        match self {
+            Self::Saved => "saved",
+            Self::Duplicate => "duplicate",
+            Self::Invalid => "invalid",
+            Self::Blocked => "blocked",
+            Self::RateLimited => "rate-limited",
+            Self::Error => "error",
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Notice {
+    //pub fn err(err: error::Error, id: String) -> Notice {
+    //    Notice::err_msg(format!("{}", err), id)
+    //}
+
+    pub fn message(msg: String) -> Notice {
+        Notice::Message(msg)
+    }
+
+    fn prefixed(id: String, msg: &str, status: EventResultStatus) -> Notice {
+        let msg = format!("{}: {}", status.prefix(), msg);
+        Notice::EventResult(EventResult { id, msg, status })
+    }
+
+    pub fn invalid(id: String, msg: &str) -> Notice {
+        Notice::prefixed(id, msg, EventResultStatus::Invalid)
+    }
+
+    pub fn blocked(id: String, msg: &str) -> Notice {
+        Notice::prefixed(id, msg, EventResultStatus::Blocked)
+    }
+
+    pub fn rate_limited(id: String, msg: &str) -> Notice {
+        Notice::prefixed(id, msg, EventResultStatus::RateLimited)
+    }
+
+    pub fn duplicate(id: String) -> Notice {
+        Notice::prefixed(id, "", EventResultStatus::Duplicate)
+    }
+
+    pub fn error(id: String, msg: &str) -> Notice {
+        Notice::prefixed(id, msg, EventResultStatus::Error)
+    }
+
+    pub fn saved(id: String) -> Notice {
+        Notice::EventResult(EventResult {
+            id,
+            msg: "".into(),
+            status: EventResultStatus::Saved,
+        })
+    }
+}
--- a/src/schema.rs
+++ b/src/schema.rs
@@ -1,30 +1,37 @@
 //! Database schema and migrations
 use crate::db::PooledConnection;
 use crate::error::Result;
-use crate::utils::is_hex;
-use log::*;
+use crate::event::{single_char_tagname, Event};
+use crate::utils::is_lower_hex;
+use const_format::formatcp;
 use rusqlite::limits::Limit;
 use rusqlite::params;
 use rusqlite::Connection;
-
-// TODO: drop the pubkey_ref and event_ref tables
+use std::cmp::Ordering;
+use std::time::Instant;
+use tracing::{debug, error, info};

 /// Startup DB Pragmas
 pub const STARTUP_SQL: &str = r##"
 PRAGMA main.synchronous=NORMAL;
 PRAGMA foreign_keys = ON;
+PRAGMA journal_size_limit=32768;
 pragma mmap_size = 536870912; -- 512MB of mmap
 "##;

+/// Latest database version
+pub const DB_VERSION: usize = 9;
+
 /// Schema definition
-const INIT_SQL: &str = r##"
+const INIT_SQL: &str = formatcp!(
+    r##"
 -- Database settings
 PRAGMA encoding = "UTF-8";
 PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL;
 PRAGMA main.synchronous=NORMAL;
 PRAGMA foreign_keys = ON;
 PRAGMA application_id = 1654008667;
-PRAGMA user_version = 5;
+PRAGMA user_version = {};

 -- Event Table
 CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS event (
@@ -33,6 +40,7 @@ event_hash BLOB NOT NULL, -- 4-byte hash
 first_seen INTEGER NOT NULL, -- when the event was first seen (not authored!) (seconds since 1970)
 created_at INTEGER NOT NULL, -- when the event was authored
 author BLOB NOT NULL, -- author pubkey
+delegated_by BLOB, -- delegator pubkey (NIP-26)
 kind INTEGER NOT NULL, -- event kind
 hidden INTEGER, -- relevant for queries
 content TEXT NOT NULL -- serialized json of event object
@@ -40,9 +48,10 @@ content TEXT NOT NULL -- serialized json of event object

 -- Event Indexes
 CREATE UNIQUE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS event_hash_index ON event(event_hash);
-CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS created_at_index ON event(created_at);
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS author_index ON event(author);
-CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS kind_index ON event(kind);
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS created_at_index ON event(created_at);
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS delegated_by_index ON event(delegated_by);
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS event_composite_index ON event(kind,created_at);

 -- Tag Table
 -- Tag values are stored as either a BLOB (if they come in as a
@@ -53,7 +62,7 @@ id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
 event_id INTEGER NOT NULL, -- an event ID that contains a tag.
 name TEXT, -- the tag name ("p", "e", whatever)
 value TEXT, -- the tag value, if not hex.
-value_hex BLOB, -- the tag value, if it can be interpreted as a hex string.
+value_hex BLOB, -- the tag value, if it can be interpreted as a lowercase hex string.
 FOREIGN KEY(event_id) REFERENCES event(id) ON UPDATE CASCADE ON DELETE CASCADE
 );
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS tag_val_index ON tag(value);
@@ -71,19 +80,37 @@ FOREIGN KEY(metadata_event) REFERENCES event(id) ON UPDATE CASCADE ON DELETE CAS
 );
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS user_verification_name_index ON user_verification(name);
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS user_verification_event_index ON user_verification(metadata_event);
-"##;
+"##,
+    DB_VERSION
+);

 /// Determine the current application database schema version.
-pub fn db_version(conn: &mut Connection) -> Result<usize> {
+pub fn curr_db_version(conn: &mut Connection) -> Result<usize> {
    let query = "PRAGMA user_version;";
    let curr_version = conn.query_row(query, [], |row| row.get(0))?;
    Ok(curr_version)
 }

+fn mig_init(conn: &mut PooledConnection) -> Result<usize> {
+    match conn.execute_batch(INIT_SQL) {
+        Ok(()) => {
+            info!(
+                "database pragma/schema initialized to v{}, and ready",
+                DB_VERSION
+            );
+        }
+        Err(err) => {
+            error!("update failed: {}", err);
+            panic!("database could not be initialized");
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(DB_VERSION)
+}
+
 /// Upgrade DB to latest version, and execute pragma settings
 pub fn upgrade_db(conn: &mut PooledConnection) -> Result<()> {
    // check the version.
-    let mut curr_version = db_version(conn)?;
+    let mut curr_version = curr_db_version(conn)?;
    info!("DB version = {:?}", curr_version);

    debug!(
@@ -99,40 +126,95 @@ pub fn upgrade_db(conn: &mut PooledConnection) -> Result<()> {
        (conn.limit(Limit::SQLITE_LIMIT_SQL_LENGTH) as f64 / (1024 * 1024) as f64).floor()
    );

-    // initialize from scratch
-    if curr_version == 0 {
-        match conn.execute_batch(INIT_SQL) {
-            Ok(()) => {
-                info!("database pragma/schema initialized to v4, and ready");
+    match curr_version.cmp(&DB_VERSION) {
+        // Database is new or not current
+        Ordering::Less => {
+            // initialize from scratch
+            if curr_version == 0 {
+                curr_version = mig_init(conn)?;
            }
-            Err(err) => {
-                error!("update failed: {}", err);
-                panic!("database could not be initialized");
+            // for initialized but out-of-date schemas, proceed to
+            // upgrade sequentially until we are current.
+            if curr_version == 1 {
+                curr_version = mig_1_to_2(conn)?;
+            }
+
+            if curr_version == 2 {
+                curr_version = mig_2_to_3(conn)?;
+            }
+
+            if curr_version == 3 {
+                curr_version = mig_3_to_4(conn)?;
+            }
+
+            if curr_version == 4 {
+                curr_version = mig_4_to_5(conn)?;
+            }
+
+            if curr_version == 5 {
+                curr_version = mig_5_to_6(conn)?;
+            }
+            if curr_version == 6 {
+                curr_version = mig_6_to_7(conn)?;
+            }
+            if curr_version == 7 {
+                curr_version = mig_7_to_8(conn)?;
+            }
+            if curr_version == 8 {
+                curr_version = mig_8_to_9(conn)?;
+            }
+
+            if curr_version == DB_VERSION {
+                info!(
+                    "All migration scripts completed successfully.  Welcome to v{}.",
+                    DB_VERSION
+                );
            }
        }
+        // Database is current, all is good
+        Ordering::Equal => {
+            debug!("Database version was already current (v{})", DB_VERSION);
+        }
+        // Database is newer than what this code understands, abort
+        Ordering::Greater => {
+            panic!(
+                "Database version is newer than supported by this executable (v{} > v{})",
+                curr_version, DB_VERSION
+            );
+        }
    }
-    if curr_version == 1 {
-        // only change is adding a hidden column to events.
-        let upgrade_sql = r##"
+
+    // Setup PRAGMA
+    conn.execute_batch(STARTUP_SQL)?;
+    debug!("SQLite PRAGMA startup completed");
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+//// Migration Scripts
+
+fn mig_1_to_2(conn: &mut PooledConnection) -> Result<usize> {
+    // only change is adding a hidden column to events.
+    let upgrade_sql = r##"
 ALTER TABLE event ADD hidden INTEGER;
 UPDATE event SET hidden=FALSE;
 PRAGMA user_version = 2;
 "##;
-        match conn.execute_batch(upgrade_sql) {
-            Ok(()) => {
-                info!("database schema upgraded v1 -> v2");
-                curr_version = 2;
-            }
-            Err(err) => {
-                error!("update failed: {}", err);
-                panic!("database could not be upgraded");
-            }
+    match conn.execute_batch(upgrade_sql) {
+        Ok(()) => {
+            info!("database schema upgraded v1 -> v2");
+        }
+        Err(err) => {
+            error!("update failed: {}", err);
+            panic!("database could not be upgraded");
        }
    }
-    if curr_version == 2 {
-        // this version lacks the tag column
-        info!("database schema needs update from 2->3");
-        let upgrade_sql = r##"
+    Ok(2)
+}
+
+fn mig_2_to_3(conn: &mut PooledConnection) -> Result<usize> {
+    // this version lacks the tag column
+    info!("database schema needs update from 2->3");
+    let upgrade_sql = r##"
 CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS tag (
 id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
 event_id INTEGER NOT NULL, -- an event ID that contains a tag.
@@ -143,43 +225,43 @@ FOREIGN KEY(event_id) REFERENCES event(id) ON UPDATE CASCADE ON DELETE CASCADE
 );
 PRAGMA user_version = 3;
 "##;
-        // TODO: load existing refs into tag table
-        match conn.execute_batch(upgrade_sql) {
-            Ok(()) => {
-                info!("database schema upgraded v2 -> v3");
-                curr_version = 3;
-            }
-            Err(err) => {
-                error!("update failed: {}", err);
-                panic!("database could not be upgraded");
-            }
+    // TODO: load existing refs into tag table
+    match conn.execute_batch(upgrade_sql) {
+        Ok(()) => {
+            info!("database schema upgraded v2 -> v3");
        }
-        info!("Starting transaction");
-        // iterate over every event/pubkey tag
-        let tx = conn.transaction()?;
-        {
-            let mut stmt = tx.prepare("select event_id, \"e\", lower(hex(referenced_event)) from event_ref union select event_id, \"p\", lower(hex(referenced_pubkey)) from pubkey_ref;")?;
-            let mut tag_rows = stmt.query([])?;
-            while let Some(row) = tag_rows.next()? {
-                // we want to capture the event_id that had the tag, the tag name, and the tag hex value.
-                let event_id: u64 = row.get(0)?;
-                let tag_name: String = row.get(1)?;
-                let tag_value: String = row.get(2)?;
-                // this will leave behind p/e tags that were non-hex, but they are invalid anyways.
-                if is_hex(&tag_value) {
-                    tx.execute(
-                        "INSERT INTO tag (event_id, name, value_hex) VALUES (?1, ?2, ?3);",
-                        params![event_id, tag_name, hex::decode(&tag_value).ok()],
-                    )?;
-                }
-            }
+        Err(err) => {
+            error!("update failed: {}", err);
+            panic!("database could not be upgraded");
        }
-        tx.commit()?;
-        info!("Upgrade complete");
    }
-    if curr_version == 3 {
-        info!("database schema needs update from 3->4");
-        let upgrade_sql = r##"
+    // iterate over every event/pubkey tag
+    let tx = conn.transaction()?;
+    {
+        let mut stmt = tx.prepare("select event_id, \"e\", lower(hex(referenced_event)) from event_ref union select event_id, \"p\", lower(hex(referenced_pubkey)) from pubkey_ref;")?;
+        let mut tag_rows = stmt.query([])?;
+        while let Some(row) = tag_rows.next()? {
+            // we want to capture the event_id that had the tag, the tag name, and the tag hex value.
+            let event_id: u64 = row.get(0)?;
+            let tag_name: String = row.get(1)?;
+            let tag_value: String = row.get(2)?;
+            // this will leave behind p/e tags that were non-hex, but they are invalid anyways.
+            if is_lower_hex(&tag_value) {
+                tx.execute(
+                    "INSERT INTO tag (event_id, name, value_hex) VALUES (?1, ?2, ?3);",
+                    params![event_id, tag_name, hex::decode(&tag_value).ok()],
+                )?;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    info!("Updated tag values");
+    tx.commit()?;
+    Ok(3)
+}
+
+fn mig_3_to_4(conn: &mut PooledConnection) -> Result<usize> {
+    info!("database schema needs update from 3->4");
+    let upgrade_sql = r##"
 -- incoming metadata events with nip05
 CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS user_verification (
 id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
@@ -194,44 +276,148 @@ CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS user_verification_name_index ON user_verification(nam
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS user_verification_event_index ON user_verification(metadata_event);
 PRAGMA user_version = 4;
 "##;
-        match conn.execute_batch(upgrade_sql) {
-            Ok(()) => {
-                info!("database schema upgraded v3 -> v4");
-                curr_version = 4;
-            }
-            Err(err) => {
-                error!("update failed: {}", err);
-                panic!("database could not be upgraded");
-            }
+    match conn.execute_batch(upgrade_sql) {
+        Ok(()) => {
+            info!("database schema upgraded v3 -> v4");
+        }
+        Err(err) => {
+            error!("update failed: {}", err);
+            panic!("database could not be upgraded");
        }
    }
+    Ok(4)
+}

-    if curr_version == 4 {
-        info!("database schema needs update from 4->5");
-        let upgrade_sql = r##"
+fn mig_4_to_5(conn: &mut PooledConnection) -> Result<usize> {
+    info!("database schema needs update from 4->5");
+    let upgrade_sql = r##"
 DROP TABLE IF EXISTS event_ref;
 DROP TABLE IF EXISTS pubkey_ref;
 PRAGMA user_version=5;
 "##;
-        match conn.execute_batch(upgrade_sql) {
-            Ok(()) => {
-                info!("database schema upgraded v4 -> v5");
-                // uncomment if we have a newer version
-                //curr_version = 5;
-            }
-            Err(err) => {
-                error!("update failed: {}", err);
-                panic!("database could not be upgraded");
+    match conn.execute_batch(upgrade_sql) {
+        Ok(()) => {
+            info!("database schema upgraded v4 -> v5");
+        }
+        Err(err) => {
+            error!("update failed: {}", err);
+            panic!("database could not be upgraded");
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(5)
+}
+
+fn mig_5_to_6(conn: &mut PooledConnection) -> Result<usize> {
+    info!("database schema needs update from 5->6");
+    // We need to rebuild the tags table.  iterate through the
+    // event table.  build event from json, insert tags into a
+    // fresh tag table.  This was needed due to a logic error in
+    // how hex-like tags got indexed.
+    let start = Instant::now();
+    let tx = conn.transaction()?;
+    {
+        // Clear out table
+        tx.execute("DELETE FROM tag;", [])?;
+        let mut stmt = tx.prepare("select id, content from event order by id;")?;
+        let mut tag_rows = stmt.query([])?;
+        while let Some(row) = tag_rows.next()? {
+            // we want to capture the event_id that had the tag, the tag name, and the tag hex value.
+            let event_id: u64 = row.get(0)?;
+            let event_json: String = row.get(1)?;
+            let event: Event = serde_json::from_str(&event_json)?;
+            // look at each event, and each tag, creating new tag entries if appropriate.
+            for t in event.tags.iter().filter(|x| x.len() > 1) {
+                let tagname = t.get(0).unwrap();
+                let tagnamechar_opt = single_char_tagname(tagname);
+                if tagnamechar_opt.is_none() {
+                    continue;
+                }
+                // safe because len was > 1
+                let tagval = t.get(1).unwrap();
+                // insert as BLOB if we can restore it losslessly.
+                // this means it needs to be even length and lowercase.
+                if (tagval.len() % 2 == 0) && is_lower_hex(tagval) {
+                    tx.execute(
+                        "INSERT INTO tag (event_id, name, value_hex) VALUES (?1, ?2, ?3);",
+                        params![event_id, tagname, hex::decode(tagval).ok()],
+                    )?;
+                } else {
+                    // otherwise, insert as text
+                    tx.execute(
+                        "INSERT INTO tag (event_id, name, value) VALUES (?1, ?2, ?3);",
+                        params![event_id, tagname, &tagval],
+                    )?;
+                }
            }
        }
-    } else if curr_version == 5 {
-        debug!("Database version was already current");
-    } else if curr_version > 5 {
-        panic!("Database version is newer than supported by this executable");
+        tx.execute("PRAGMA user_version = 6;", [])?;
    }
-
-    // Setup PRAGMA
-    conn.execute_batch(STARTUP_SQL)?;
-    debug!("SQLite PRAGMA startup completed");
-    Ok(())
+    tx.commit()?;
+    info!("database schema upgraded v5 -> v6 in {:?}", start.elapsed());
+    // vacuum after large table modification
+    let start = Instant::now();
+    conn.execute("VACUUM;", [])?;
+    info!("vacuumed DB after tags rebuild in {:?}", start.elapsed());
+    Ok(6)
+}
+
+fn mig_6_to_7(conn: &mut PooledConnection) -> Result<usize> {
+    info!("database schema needs update from 6->7");
+    // only change is adding a hidden column to events.
+    let upgrade_sql = r##"
+ALTER TABLE event ADD delegated_by BLOB;
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS delegated_by_index ON event(delegated_by);
+PRAGMA user_version = 7;
+"##;
+    match conn.execute_batch(upgrade_sql) {
+        Ok(()) => {
+            info!("database schema upgraded v6 -> v7");
+        }
+        Err(err) => {
+            error!("update failed: {}", err);
+            panic!("database could not be upgraded");
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(7)
+}
+
+fn mig_7_to_8(conn: &mut PooledConnection) -> Result<usize> {
+    info!("database schema needs update from 7->8");
+    // Remove redundant indexes, and add a better multi-column index.
+    let upgrade_sql = r##"
+DROP INDEX IF EXISTS created_at_index;
+DROP INDEX IF EXISTS kind_index;
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS event_composite_index ON event(kind,created_at);
+PRAGMA user_version = 8;
+"##;
+    match conn.execute_batch(upgrade_sql) {
+        Ok(()) => {
+            info!("database schema upgraded v7 -> v8");
+        }
+        Err(err) => {
+            error!("update failed: {}", err);
+            panic!("database could not be upgraded");
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(8)
+}
+
+fn mig_8_to_9(conn: &mut PooledConnection) -> Result<usize> {
+    info!("database schema needs update from 8->9");
+    // Those old indexes were actually helpful...
+    let upgrade_sql = r##"
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS created_at_index ON event(created_at);
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS event_composite_index ON event(kind,created_at);
+PRAGMA user_version = 9;
+"##;
+    match conn.execute_batch(upgrade_sql) {
+        Ok(()) => {
+            info!("database schema upgraded v8 -> v9");
+        }
+        Err(err) => {
+            error!("update failed: {}", err);
+            panic!("database could not be upgraded");
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(8)
 }
--- a/src/server.rs
+++ b/src/server.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,688 @@
+//! Server process
+use crate::close::Close;
+use crate::close::CloseCmd;
+use crate::config::{Settings, VerifiedUsersMode};
+use crate::conn;
+use crate::db;
+use crate::db::SubmittedEvent;
+use crate::error::{Error, Result};
+use crate::event::Event;
+use crate::event::EventCmd;
+use crate::info::RelayInfo;
+use crate::nip05;
+use crate::notice::Notice;
+use crate::subscription::Subscription;
+use futures::SinkExt;
+use futures::StreamExt;
+use http::header::HeaderMap;
+use hyper::header::ACCEPT;
+use hyper::service::{make_service_fn, service_fn};
+use hyper::upgrade::Upgraded;
+use hyper::{
+    header, server::conn::AddrStream, upgrade, Body, Request, Response, Server, StatusCode,
+};
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use serde_json::json;
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::convert::Infallible;
+use std::net::SocketAddr;
+use std::path::Path;
+use std::sync::mpsc::Receiver as MpscReceiver;
+use std::time::Duration;
+use std::time::Instant;
+use tokio::runtime::Builder;
+use tokio::sync::broadcast::{self, Receiver, Sender};
+use tokio::sync::mpsc;
+use tokio::sync::oneshot;
+use tokio_tungstenite::WebSocketStream;
+use tracing::*;
+use tungstenite::error::CapacityError::MessageTooLong;
+use tungstenite::error::Error as WsError;
+use tungstenite::handshake;
+use tungstenite::protocol::Message;
+use tungstenite::protocol::WebSocketConfig;
+
+/// Handle arbitrary HTTP requests, including for WebSocket upgrades.
+async fn handle_web_request(
+    mut request: Request<Body>,
+    pool: db::SqlitePool,
+    settings: Settings,
+    remote_addr: SocketAddr,
+    broadcast: Sender<Event>,
+    event_tx: tokio::sync::mpsc::Sender<SubmittedEvent>,
+    shutdown: Receiver<()>,
+) -> Result<Response<Body>, Infallible> {
+    match (
+        request.uri().path(),
+        request.headers().contains_key(header::UPGRADE),
+    ) {
+        // Request for / as websocket
+        ("/", true) => {
+            trace!("websocket with upgrade request");
+            //assume request is a handshake, so create the handshake response
+            let response = match handshake::server::create_response_with_body(&request, || {
+                Body::empty()
+            }) {
+                Ok(response) => {
+                    //in case the handshake response creation succeeds,
+                    //spawn a task to handle the websocket connection
+                    tokio::spawn(async move {
+                        //using the hyper feature of upgrading a connection
+                        match upgrade::on(&mut request).await {
+                            //if successfully upgraded
+                            Ok(upgraded) => {
+                                // set WebSocket configuration options
+                                let config = WebSocketConfig {
+                                    max_message_size: settings.limits.max_ws_message_bytes,
+                                    max_frame_size: settings.limits.max_ws_frame_bytes,
+                                    ..Default::default()
+                                };
+                                //create a websocket stream from the upgraded object
+                                let ws_stream = WebSocketStream::from_raw_socket(
+                                    //pass the upgraded object
+                                    //as the base layer stream of the Websocket
+                                    upgraded,
+                                    tokio_tungstenite::tungstenite::protocol::Role::Server,
+                                    Some(config),
+                                )
+                                .await;
+                                let user_agent = get_header_string("user-agent", request.headers());
+                                // determine the remote IP from headers if the exist
+                                let header_ip = settings
+                                    .network
+                                    .remote_ip_header
+                                    .as_ref()
+                                    .and_then(|x| get_header_string(x, request.headers()));
+                                // use the socket addr as a backup
+                                let remote_ip =
+                                    header_ip.unwrap_or_else(|| remote_addr.ip().to_string());
+                                let client_info = ClientInfo {
+                                    remote_ip,
+                                    user_agent,
+                                };
+                                // spawn a nostr server with our websocket
+                                tokio::spawn(nostr_server(
+                                    pool,
+                                    client_info,
+                                    settings,
+                                    ws_stream,
+                                    broadcast,
+                                    event_tx,
+                                    shutdown,
+                                ));
+                            }
+                            // todo: trace, don't print...
+                            Err(e) => println!(
+                                "error when trying to upgrade connection \
+                                 from address {} to websocket connection. \
+                                 Error is: {}",
+                                remote_addr, e
+                            ),
+                        }
+                    });
+                    //return the response to the handshake request
+                    response
+                }
+                Err(error) => {
+                    warn!("websocket response failed");
+                    let mut res =
+                        Response::new(Body::from(format!("Failed to create websocket: {}", error)));
+                    *res.status_mut() = StatusCode::BAD_REQUEST;
+                    return Ok(res);
+                }
+            };
+            Ok::<_, Infallible>(response)
+        }
+        // Request for Relay info
+        ("/", false) => {
+            // handle request at root with no upgrade header
+            // Check if this is a nostr server info request
+            let accept_header = &request.headers().get(ACCEPT);
+            // check if application/nostr+json is included
+            if let Some(media_types) = accept_header {
+                if let Ok(mt_str) = media_types.to_str() {
+                    if mt_str.contains("application/nostr+json") {
+                        // build a relay info response
+                        debug!("Responding to server info request");
+                        let rinfo = RelayInfo::from(settings.info);
+                        let b = Body::from(serde_json::to_string_pretty(&rinfo).unwrap());
+                        return Ok(Response::builder()
+                            .status(200)
+                            .header("Content-Type", "application/nostr+json")
+                            .header("Access-Control-Allow-Origin", "*")
+                            .body(b)
+                            .unwrap());
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            Ok(Response::builder()
+                .status(200)
+                .header("Content-Type", "text/plain")
+                .body(Body::from("Please use a Nostr client to connect."))
+                .unwrap())
+        }
+        (_, _) => {
+            //handle any other url
+            Ok(Response::builder()
+                .status(StatusCode::NOT_FOUND)
+                .body(Body::from("Nothing here."))
+                .unwrap())
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn get_header_string(header: &str, headers: &HeaderMap) -> Option<String> {
+    headers
+        .get(header)
+        .and_then(|x| x.to_str().ok().map(|x| x.to_string()))
+}
+
+// return on a control-c or internally requested shutdown signal
+async fn ctrl_c_or_signal(mut shutdown_signal: Receiver<()>) {
+    let mut term_signal = tokio::signal::unix::signal(tokio::signal::unix::SignalKind::terminate())
+        .expect("could not define signal");
+    loop {
+        tokio::select! {
+            _ = shutdown_signal.recv() => {
+            info!("Shutting down webserver as requested");
+                    // server shutting down, exit loop
+                    break;
+                },
+            _ = tokio::signal::ctrl_c() => {
+            info!("Shutting down webserver due to SIGINT");
+                    break;
+            },
+        _ = term_signal.recv() => {
+        info!("Shutting down webserver due to SIGTERM");
+        break;
+        },
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Start running a Nostr relay server.
+pub fn start_server(settings: Settings, shutdown_rx: MpscReceiver<()>) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    trace!("Config: {:?}", settings);
+    // do some config validation.
+    if !Path::new(&settings.database.data_directory).is_dir() {
+        error!("Database directory does not exist");
+        return Err(Error::DatabaseDirError);
+    }
+    let addr = format!(
+        "{}:{}",
+        settings.network.address.trim(),
+        settings.network.port
+    );
+    let socket_addr = addr.parse().expect("listening address not valid");
+    // address whitelisting settings
+    if let Some(addr_whitelist) = &settings.authorization.pubkey_whitelist {
+        info!(
+            "Event publishing restricted to {} pubkey(s)",
+            addr_whitelist.len()
+        );
+    }
+    // check if NIP-05 enforced user verification is on
+    if settings.verified_users.is_active() {
+        info!(
+            "NIP-05 user verification mode:{:?}",
+            settings.verified_users.mode
+        );
+        if let Some(d) = settings.verified_users.verify_update_duration() {
+            info!("NIP-05 check user verification every:   {:?}", d);
+        }
+        if let Some(d) = settings.verified_users.verify_expiration_duration() {
+            info!("NIP-05 user verification expires after: {:?}", d);
+        }
+        if let Some(wl) = &settings.verified_users.domain_whitelist {
+            info!("NIP-05 domain whitelist: {:?}", wl);
+        }
+        if let Some(bl) = &settings.verified_users.domain_blacklist {
+            info!("NIP-05 domain blacklist: {:?}", bl);
+        }
+    }
+    // configure tokio runtime
+    let rt = Builder::new_multi_thread()
+        .enable_all()
+        .thread_name("tokio-ws")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    // start tokio
+    rt.block_on(async {
+        let broadcast_buffer_limit = settings.limits.broadcast_buffer;
+        let persist_buffer_limit = settings.limits.event_persist_buffer;
+        let verified_users_active = settings.verified_users.is_active();
+        let db_min_conn = settings.database.min_conn;
+        let db_max_conn = settings.database.max_conn;
+        let settings = settings.clone();
+        info!("listening on: {}", socket_addr);
+        // all client-submitted valid events are broadcast to every
+        // other client on this channel.  This should be large enough
+        // to accomodate slower readers (messages are dropped if
+        // clients can not keep up).
+        let (bcast_tx, _) = broadcast::channel::<Event>(broadcast_buffer_limit);
+        // validated events that need to be persisted are sent to the
+        // database on via this channel.
+        let (event_tx, event_rx) = mpsc::channel::<SubmittedEvent>(persist_buffer_limit);
+        // establish a channel for letting all threads now about a
+        // requested server shutdown.
+        let (invoke_shutdown, shutdown_listen) = broadcast::channel::<()>(1);
+        // create a channel for sending any new metadata event.  These
+        // will get processed relatively slowly (a potentially
+        // multi-second blocking HTTP call) on a single thread, so we
+        // buffer requests on the channel.  No harm in dropping events
+        // here, since we are protecting against DoS.  This can make
+        // it difficult to setup initial metadata in bulk, since
+        // overwhelming this will drop events and won't register
+        // metadata events.
+        let (metadata_tx, metadata_rx) = broadcast::channel::<Event>(4096);
+        // start the database writer thread.  Give it a channel for
+        // writing events, and for publishing events that have been
+        // written (to all connected clients).
+        db::db_writer(
+            settings.clone(),
+            event_rx,
+            bcast_tx.clone(),
+            metadata_tx.clone(),
+            shutdown_listen,
+        )
+        .await;
+        info!("db writer created");
+
+        // create a nip-05 verifier thread; if enabled.
+        if settings.verified_users.mode != VerifiedUsersMode::Disabled {
+            let verifier_opt =
+                nip05::Verifier::new(metadata_rx, bcast_tx.clone(), settings.clone());
+            if let Ok(mut v) = verifier_opt {
+                if verified_users_active {
+                    tokio::task::spawn(async move {
+                        info!("starting up NIP-05 verifier...");
+                        v.run().await;
+                    });
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        // listen for (external to tokio) shutdown request
+        let controlled_shutdown = invoke_shutdown.clone();
+        tokio::spawn(async move {
+            info!("control message listener started");
+            match shutdown_rx.recv() {
+                Ok(()) => {
+                    info!("control message requesting shutdown");
+                    controlled_shutdown.send(()).ok();
+                }
+                Err(std::sync::mpsc::RecvError) => {
+                    // FIXME: spurious error on startup?
+                    debug!("shutdown requestor is disconnected");
+                }
+            };
+        });
+        // listen for ctrl-c interruupts
+        let ctrl_c_shutdown = invoke_shutdown.clone();
+        // listener for webserver shutdown
+        let webserver_shutdown_listen = invoke_shutdown.subscribe();
+
+        tokio::spawn(async move {
+            tokio::signal::ctrl_c().await.unwrap();
+            info!("shutting down due to SIGINT (main)");
+            ctrl_c_shutdown.send(()).ok();
+        });
+        // build a connection pool for sqlite connections
+        let pool = db::build_pool(
+            "client query",
+            &settings,
+            rusqlite::OpenFlags::SQLITE_OPEN_READ_ONLY
+                | rusqlite::OpenFlags::SQLITE_OPEN_SHARED_CACHE,
+            db_min_conn,
+            db_max_conn,
+            true,
+        );
+        // A `Service` is needed for every connection, so this
+        // creates one from our `handle_request` function.
+        let make_svc = make_service_fn(|conn: &AddrStream| {
+            let svc_pool = pool.clone();
+            let remote_addr = conn.remote_addr();
+            let bcast = bcast_tx.clone();
+            let event = event_tx.clone();
+            let stop = invoke_shutdown.clone();
+            let settings = settings.clone();
+            async move {
+                // service_fn converts our function into a `Service`
+                Ok::<_, Infallible>(service_fn(move |request: Request<Body>| {
+                    handle_web_request(
+                        request,
+                        svc_pool.clone(),
+                        settings.clone(),
+                        remote_addr,
+                        bcast.clone(),
+                        event.clone(),
+                        stop.subscribe(),
+                    )
+                }))
+            }
+        });
+        let server = Server::bind(&socket_addr)
+            .serve(make_svc)
+            .with_graceful_shutdown(ctrl_c_or_signal(webserver_shutdown_listen));
+        // run hyper in this thread.  This is why the thread does not return.
+        if let Err(e) = server.await {
+            eprintln!("server error: {}", e);
+        }
+    });
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// Nostr protocol messages from a client
+#[derive(Deserialize, Serialize, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Debug)]
+#[serde(untagged)]
+pub enum NostrMessage {
+    /// An `EVENT` message
+    EventMsg(EventCmd),
+    /// A `REQ` message
+    SubMsg(Subscription),
+    /// A `CLOSE` message
+    CloseMsg(CloseCmd),
+}
+
+/// Convert Message to NostrMessage
+fn convert_to_msg(msg: String, max_bytes: Option<usize>) -> Result<NostrMessage> {
+    let parsed_res: Result<NostrMessage> = serde_json::from_str(&msg).map_err(|e| e.into());
+    match parsed_res {
+        Ok(m) => {
+            if let NostrMessage::EventMsg(_) = m {
+                if let Some(max_size) = max_bytes {
+                    // check length, ensure that some max size is set.
+                    if msg.len() > max_size && max_size > 0 {
+                        return Err(Error::EventMaxLengthError(msg.len()));
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            Ok(m)
+        }
+        Err(e) => {
+            debug!("proto parse error: {:?}", e);
+            debug!("parse error on message: {}", msg.trim());
+            Err(Error::ProtoParseError)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Turn a string into a NOTICE message ready to send over a WebSocket
+fn make_notice_message(notice: Notice) -> Message {
+    let json = match notice {
+        Notice::Message(ref msg) => json!(["NOTICE", msg]),
+        Notice::EventResult(ref res) => json!(["OK", res.id, res.status.to_bool(), res.msg]),
+    };
+
+    Message::text(json.to_string())
+}
+
+struct ClientInfo {
+    remote_ip: String,
+    user_agent: Option<String>,
+}
+
+/// Handle new client connections.  This runs through an event loop
+/// for all client communication.
+async fn nostr_server(
+    pool: db::SqlitePool,
+    client_info: ClientInfo,
+    settings: Settings,
+    mut ws_stream: WebSocketStream<Upgraded>,
+    broadcast: Sender<Event>,
+    event_tx: mpsc::Sender<SubmittedEvent>,
+    mut shutdown: Receiver<()>,
+) {
+    // the time this websocket nostr server started
+    let orig_start = Instant::now();
+    // get a broadcast channel for clients to communicate on
+    let mut bcast_rx = broadcast.subscribe();
+    // Track internal client state
+    let mut conn = conn::ClientConn::new(client_info.remote_ip);
+    // Use the remote IP as the client identifier
+    let cid = conn.get_client_prefix();
+    // Create a channel for receiving query results from the database.
+    // we will send out the tx handle to any query we generate.
+    let (query_tx, mut query_rx) = mpsc::channel::<db::QueryResult>(256);
+    // Create channel for receiving NOTICEs
+    let (notice_tx, mut notice_rx) = mpsc::channel::<Notice>(32);
+
+    // last time this client sent data (message, ping, etc.)
+    let mut last_message_time = Instant::now();
+
+    // ping interval (every 5 minutes)
+    let default_ping_dur = Duration::from_secs(settings.network.ping_interval_seconds.into());
+
+    // disconnect after 20 minutes without a ping response or event.
+    let max_quiet_time = Duration::from_secs(60 * 20);
+
+    let start = tokio::time::Instant::now() + default_ping_dur;
+    let mut ping_interval = tokio::time::interval_at(start, default_ping_dur);
+
+    // maintain a hashmap of a oneshot channel for active subscriptions.
+    // when these subscriptions are cancelled, make a message
+    // available to the executing query so it knows to stop.
+    let mut running_queries: HashMap<String, oneshot::Sender<()>> = HashMap::new();
+    // keep track of the subscriptions we have
+    let mut current_subs: Vec<Subscription> = Vec::new();
+    // for stats, keep track of how many events the client published,
+    // and how many it received from queries.
+    let mut client_published_event_count: usize = 0;
+    let mut client_received_event_count: usize = 0;
+    debug!("new client connection (cid: {}, ip: {:?})", cid, conn.ip());
+    if let Some(ua) = client_info.user_agent {
+        debug!("cid: {}, user-agent: {:?}", cid, ua);
+    }
+    loop {
+        tokio::select! {
+            _ = shutdown.recv() => {
+        info!("Close connection down due to shutdown, client: {}, ip: {:?}, connected: {:?}", cid, conn.ip(), orig_start.elapsed());
+                // server shutting down, exit loop
+                break;
+            },
+            _ = ping_interval.tick() => {
+                // check how long since we talked to client
+                // if it has been too long, disconnect
+                if last_message_time.elapsed() > max_quiet_time {
+                    debug!("ending connection due to lack of client ping response");
+                    break;
+                }
+                // Send a ping
+                ws_stream.send(Message::Ping(Vec::new())).await.ok();
+            },
+            Some(notice_msg) = notice_rx.recv() => {
+                ws_stream.send(make_notice_message(notice_msg)).await.ok();
+            },
+            Some(query_result) = query_rx.recv() => {
+                // database informed us of a query result we asked for
+                let subesc = query_result.sub_id.replace('"', "");
+                if query_result.event == "EOSE" {
+                    let send_str = format!("[\"EOSE\",\"{}\"]", subesc);
+                    ws_stream.send(Message::Text(send_str)).await.ok();
+                } else {
+                    client_received_event_count += 1;
+                    // send a result
+                    let send_str = format!("[\"EVENT\",\"{}\",{}]", subesc, &query_result.event);
+                    ws_stream.send(Message::Text(send_str)).await.ok();
+                }
+            },
+            // TODO: consider logging the LaggedRecv error
+            Ok(global_event) = bcast_rx.recv() => {
+                // an event has been broadcast to all clients
+                // first check if there is a subscription for this event.
+                for (s, sub) in conn.subscriptions() {
+                    if !sub.interested_in_event(&global_event) {
+                        continue;
+                    }
+
+                    // TODO: serialize at broadcast time, instead of
+                    // once for each consumer.
+                    if let Ok(event_str) = serde_json::to_string(&global_event) {
+                        debug!("sub match for client: {}, sub: {:?}, event: {:?}",
+                               cid, s,
+                               global_event.get_event_id_prefix());
+                        // create an event response and send it
+                        let subesc = s.replace('"', "");
+                        ws_stream.send(Message::Text(format!("[\"EVENT\",\"{}\",{}]", subesc, event_str))).await.ok();
+                    } else {
+                        warn!("could not serialize event: {:?}", global_event.get_event_id_prefix());
+                    }
+                }
+            },
+            ws_next = ws_stream.next() => {
+                // update most recent message time for client
+                last_message_time = Instant::now();
+                // Consume text messages from the client, parse into Nostr messages.
+                let nostr_msg = match ws_next {
+                    Some(Ok(Message::Text(m))) => {
+                        convert_to_msg(m,settings.limits.max_event_bytes)
+                    },
+            Some(Ok(Message::Binary(_))) => {
+            ws_stream.send(
+                make_notice_message(Notice::message("binary messages are not accepted".into()))).await.ok();
+                        continue;
+                    },
+                    Some(Ok(Message::Ping(_) | Message::Pong(_))) => {
+                        // get a ping/pong, ignore.  tungstenite will
+                        // send responses automatically.
+                        continue;
+                    },
+            Some(Err(WsError::Capacity(MessageTooLong{size, max_size}))) => {
+            ws_stream.send(
+                make_notice_message(Notice::message(format!("message too large ({} > {})",size, max_size)))).await.ok();
+                        continue;
+            },
+                    None |
+            Some(Ok(Message::Close(_)) |
+             Err(WsError::AlreadyClosed | WsError::ConnectionClosed |
+                 WsError::Protocol(tungstenite::error::ProtocolError::ResetWithoutClosingHandshake)))
+                        => {
+                            debug!("websocket close from client (cid: {}, ip: {:?})",cid, conn.ip());
+                        break;
+                    },
+                    Some(Err(WsError::Io(e))) => {
+                        // IO errors are considered fatal
+                        warn!("IO error (cid: {}, ip: {:?}): {:?}", cid, conn.ip(), e);
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    x => {
+                        // default condition on error is to close the client connection
+                        info!("unknown error (cid: {}, ip: {:?}): {:?} (closing conn)", cid, conn.ip(), x);
+                        break;
+                    }
+                };
+
+                // convert ws_next into proto_next
+                match nostr_msg {
+                    Ok(NostrMessage::EventMsg(ec)) => {
+                        // An EventCmd needs to be validated to be converted into an Event
+                        // handle each type of message
+                        let evid = ec.event_id().to_owned();
+                        let parsed : Result<Event> = Result::<Event>::from(ec);
+                        match parsed {
+                            Ok(e) => {
+                                let id_prefix:String = e.id.chars().take(8).collect();
+                                debug!("successfully parsed/validated event: {:?} (cid: {})", id_prefix, cid);
+                                // check if the event is too far in the future.
+                                if e.is_valid_timestamp(settings.options.reject_future_seconds) {
+                                    // Write this to the database.
+                                    let submit_event = SubmittedEvent { event: e.clone(), notice_tx: notice_tx.clone() };
+                                    event_tx.send(submit_event).await.ok();
+                                    client_published_event_count += 1;
+                } else {
+                    info!("client: {} sent a far future-dated event", cid);
+                    if let Some(fut_sec) = settings.options.reject_future_seconds {
+                        let msg = format!("The event created_at field is out of the acceptable range (+{}sec) for this relay.",fut_sec);
+                        let notice = Notice::invalid(e.id, &msg);
+                        ws_stream.send(make_notice_message(notice)).await.ok();
+                    }
+                }
+                            },
+                            Err(e) => {
+                                info!("client sent an invalid event (cid: {})", cid);
+                                ws_stream.send(make_notice_message(Notice::invalid(evid, &format!("{}", e)))).await.ok();
+                            }
+                        }
+                    },
+                    Ok(NostrMessage::SubMsg(s)) => {
+                        debug!("subscription requested (cid: {}, sub: {:?})", cid, s.id);
+                        // subscription handling consists of:
+                        // * registering the subscription so future events can be matched
+                        // * making a channel to cancel to request later
+                        // * sending a request for a SQL query
+            // Do nothing if the sub already exists.
+            if !current_subs.contains(&s) {
+                current_subs.push(s.clone());
+                            let (abandon_query_tx, abandon_query_rx) = oneshot::channel::<()>();
+                            match conn.subscribe(s.clone()) {
+                Ok(()) => {
+                                    // when we insert, if there was a previous query running with the same name, cancel it.
+                                    if let Some(previous_query) = running_queries.insert(s.id.to_owned(), abandon_query_tx) {
+                    previous_query.send(()).ok();
+                                    }
+                                    // start a database query
+                                    db::db_query(s, cid.to_owned(), pool.clone(), query_tx.clone(), abandon_query_rx).await;
+                },
+                Err(e) => {
+                                    info!("Subscription error: {}", e);
+                                    ws_stream.send(make_notice_message(Notice::message(format!("Subscription error: {}", e)))).await.ok();
+                }
+                            }
+            } else {
+        info!("client send duplicate subscription, ignoring (cid: {}, sub: {:?})", cid, s.id);
+        }
+                    },
+                    Ok(NostrMessage::CloseMsg(cc)) => {
+                        // closing a request simply removes the subscription.
+                        let parsed : Result<Close> = Result::<Close>::from(cc);
+            if let Ok(c) = parsed {
+                                // remove from the list of known subs
+                if let Some(pos) = current_subs.iter().position(|s| *s.id == c.id) {
+                current_subs.remove(pos);
+                }
+
+                                // check if a query is currently
+                                // running, and remove it if so.
+                                let stop_tx = running_queries.remove(&c.id);
+                                if let Some(tx) = stop_tx {
+                                    tx.send(()).ok();
+                                }
+                                // stop checking new events against
+                                // the subscription
+                                conn.unsubscribe(&c);
+                            } else {
+                                info!("invalid command ignored");
+                                ws_stream.send(make_notice_message(Notice::message("could not parse command".into()))).await.ok();
+                            }
+                    },
+                    Err(Error::ConnError) => {
+                        debug!("got connection close/error, disconnecting cid: {}, ip: {:?}",cid, conn.ip());
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    Err(Error::EventMaxLengthError(s)) => {
+                        info!("client sent event larger ({} bytes) than max size (cid: {})", s, cid);
+                        ws_stream.send(make_notice_message(Notice::message("event exceeded max size".into()))).await.ok();
+                    },
+                    Err(Error::ProtoParseError) => {
+                        info!("client sent event that could not be parsed (cid: {})", cid);
+                        ws_stream.send(make_notice_message(Notice::message("could not parse command".into()))).await.ok();
+                    },
+                    Err(e) => {
+                        info!("got non-fatal error from client (cid: {}, error: {:?}", cid, e);
+                    },
+                }
+            },
+        }
+    }
+    // connection cleanup - ensure any still running queries are terminated.
+    for (_, stop_tx) in running_queries {
+        stop_tx.send(()).ok();
+    }
+    info!(
+        "stopping client connection (cid: {}, ip: {:?}, sent: {} events, recv: {} events, connected: {:?})",
+        cid,
+        conn.ip(),
+        client_published_event_count,
+        client_received_event_count,
+	orig_start.elapsed()
+    );
+}
--- a/src/subscription.rs
+++ b/src/subscription.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::collections::HashSet;

 /// Subscription identifier and set of request filters
-#[derive(Serialize, PartialEq, Debug, Clone)]
+#[derive(Serialize, PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct Subscription {
    pub id: String,
    pub filters: Vec<ReqFilter>,
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ pub struct Subscription {
 /// Corresponds to client-provided subscription request elements.  Any
 /// element can be present if it should be used in filtering, or
 /// absent ([`None`]) if it should be ignored.
-#[derive(Serialize, PartialEq, Debug, Clone)]
+#[derive(Serialize, PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct ReqFilter {
    /// Event hashes
    pub ids: Option<Vec<String>>,
@@ -31,9 +31,16 @@ pub struct ReqFilter {
    pub until: Option<u64>,
    /// List of author public keys
    pub authors: Option<Vec<String>>,
+    /// Limit number of results
+    pub limit: Option<u64>,
    /// Set of tags
    #[serde(skip)]
-    pub tags: Option<HashMap<String, HashSet<String>>>,
+    pub tags: Option<HashMap<char, HashSet<String>>>,
+    /// Force no matches due to malformed data
+    // we can't represent it in the req filter, so we don't want to
+    // erroneously match.  This basically indicates the req tried to
+    // do something invalid.
+    pub force_no_match: bool,
 }

 impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for ReqFilter {
@@ -54,7 +61,9 @@ impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for ReqFilter {
            since: None,
            until: None,
            authors: None,
+            limit: None,
            tags: None,
+            force_no_match: false,
        };
        let mut ts = None;
        // iterate through each key, and assign values that exist
@@ -68,22 +77,28 @@ impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for ReqFilter {
                rf.since = Deserialize::deserialize(val).ok();
            } else if key == "until" {
                rf.until = Deserialize::deserialize(val).ok();
+            } else if key == "limit" {
+                rf.limit = Deserialize::deserialize(val).ok();
            } else if key == "authors" {
                rf.authors = Deserialize::deserialize(val).ok();
            } else if key.starts_with('#') && key.len() > 1 && val.is_array() {
-                // remove the prefix
-                let tagname = &key[1..];
-                if ts.is_none() {
-                    // Initialize the tag if necessary
-                    ts = Some(HashMap::new());
-                }
-                if let Some(m) = ts.as_mut() {
-                    let tag_vals: Option<Vec<String>> = Deserialize::deserialize(val).ok();
-                    if let Some(v) = tag_vals {
-                        let hs = HashSet::from_iter(v.into_iter());
-                        m.insert(tagname.to_owned(), hs);
+                if let Some(tag_search) = tag_search_char_from_filter(key) {
+                    if ts.is_none() {
+                        // Initialize the tag if necessary
+                        ts = Some(HashMap::new());
                    }
-                };
+                    if let Some(m) = ts.as_mut() {
+                        let tag_vals: Option<Vec<String>> = Deserialize::deserialize(val).ok();
+                        if let Some(v) = tag_vals {
+                            let hs = HashSet::from_iter(v.into_iter());
+                            m.insert(tag_search.to_owned(), hs);
+                        }
+                    };
+                } else {
+                    // tag search that is multi-character, don't add to subscription
+                    rf.force_no_match = true;
+                    continue;
+                }
            }
        }
        rf.tags = ts;
@@ -91,6 +106,26 @@ impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for ReqFilter {
    }
 }

+/// Attempt to form a single-char identifier from a tag search filter
+fn tag_search_char_from_filter(tagname: &str) -> Option<char> {
+    let tagname_nohash = &tagname[1..];
+    // We return the tag character if and only if the tagname consists
+    // of a single char.
+    let mut tagnamechars = tagname_nohash.chars();
+    let firstchar = tagnamechars.next();
+    match firstchar {
+        Some(_) => {
+            // check second char
+            if tagnamechars.next().is_none() {
+                firstchar
+            } else {
+                None
+            }
+        }
+        None => None,
+    }
+}
+
 impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for Subscription {
    /// Custom deserializer for subscriptions, which have a more
    /// complex structure than the other message types.
@@ -185,11 +220,22 @@ impl ReqFilter {
            .unwrap_or(true)
    }

+    fn delegated_authors_match(&self, event: &Event) -> bool {
+        if let Some(delegated_pubkey) = &event.delegated_by {
+            self.authors
+                .as_ref()
+                .map(|vs| prefix_match(vs, delegated_pubkey))
+                .unwrap_or(true)
+        } else {
+            false
+        }
+    }
+
    fn tag_match(&self, event: &Event) -> bool {
        // get the hashset from the filter.
        if let Some(map) = &self.tags {
            for (key, val) in map.iter() {
-                let tag_match = event.generic_tag_val_intersect(key, val);
+                let tag_match = event.generic_tag_val_intersect(*key, val);
                // if there is no match for this tag, the match fails.
                if !tag_match {
                    return false;
@@ -216,8 +262,9 @@ impl ReqFilter {
            && self.since.map(|t| event.created_at > t).unwrap_or(true)
            && self.until.map(|t| event.created_at < t).unwrap_or(true)
            && self.kind_match(event.kind)
-            && self.authors_match(event)
+            && (self.authors_match(event) || self.delegated_authors_match(event))
            && self.tag_match(event)
+            && !self.force_no_match
    }
 }

@@ -275,6 +322,7 @@ mod tests {
        let e = Event {
            id: "foo".to_owned(),
            pubkey: "abcd".to_owned(),
+            delegated_by: None,
            created_at: 0,
            kind: 0,
            tags: Vec::new(),
@@ -293,6 +341,7 @@ mod tests {
        let e = Event {
            id: "abcd".to_owned(),
            pubkey: "".to_owned(),
+            delegated_by: None,
            created_at: 0,
            kind: 0,
            tags: Vec::new(),
@@ -311,6 +360,7 @@ mod tests {
        let e = Event {
            id: "abcde".to_owned(),
            pubkey: "".to_owned(),
+            delegated_by: None,
            created_at: 0,
            kind: 0,
            tags: Vec::new(),
@@ -330,6 +380,7 @@ mod tests {
        let e = Event {
            id: "abc".to_owned(),
            pubkey: "".to_owned(),
+            delegated_by: None,
            created_at: 50,
            kind: 0,
            tags: Vec::new(),
@@ -353,6 +404,7 @@ mod tests {
        let e = Event {
            id: "abc".to_owned(),
            pubkey: "".to_owned(),
+            delegated_by: None,
            created_at: 150,
            kind: 0,
            tags: Vec::new(),
@@ -374,6 +426,7 @@ mod tests {
        let e = Event {
            id: "abc".to_owned(),
            pubkey: "".to_owned(),
+            delegated_by: None,
            created_at: 50,
            kind: 0,
            tags: Vec::new(),
@@ -392,6 +445,7 @@ mod tests {
        let e = Event {
            id: "abc".to_owned(),
            pubkey: "".to_owned(),
+            delegated_by: None,
            created_at: 1001,
            kind: 0,
            tags: Vec::new(),
@@ -410,6 +464,7 @@ mod tests {
        let e = Event {
            id: "abc".to_owned(),
            pubkey: "".to_owned(),
+            delegated_by: None,
            created_at: 0,
            kind: 0,
            tags: Vec::new(),
@@ -428,6 +483,7 @@ mod tests {
        let e = Event {
            id: "123".to_owned(),
            pubkey: "abc".to_owned(),
+            delegated_by: None,
            created_at: 0,
            kind: 0,
            tags: Vec::new(),
@@ -438,14 +494,15 @@ mod tests {
        assert!(s.interested_in_event(&e));
        Ok(())
    }
-    #[test]

+    #[test]
    fn authors_multi_pubkey() -> Result<()> {
        // check for any of a set of authors, against the pubkey
        let s: Subscription = serde_json::from_str(r#"["REQ","xyz",{"authors":["abc", "bcd"]}]"#)?;
        let e = Event {
            id: "123".to_owned(),
            pubkey: "bcd".to_owned(),
+            delegated_by: None,
            created_at: 0,
            kind: 0,
            tags: Vec::new(),
@@ -464,6 +521,7 @@ mod tests {
        let e = Event {
            id: "123".to_owned(),
            pubkey: "xyz".to_owned(),
+            delegated_by: None,
            created_at: 0,
            kind: 0,
            tags: Vec::new(),
--- a/src/utils.rs
+++ b/src/utils.rs
@@ -13,3 +13,21 @@ pub fn unix_time() -> u64 {
 pub fn is_hex(s: &str) -> bool {
    s.chars().all(|x| char::is_ascii_hexdigit(&x))
 }
+
+/// Check if a string contains only lower-case hex chars.
+pub fn is_lower_hex(s: &str) -> bool {
+    s.chars().all(|x| {
+        (char::is_ascii_lowercase(&x) || char::is_ascii_digit(&x)) && char::is_ascii_hexdigit(&x)
+    })
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn lower_hex() {
+        let hexstr = "abcd0123";
+        assert_eq!(is_lower_hex(hexstr), true);
+    }
+}
--- a/tests/common/mod.rs
+++ b/tests/common/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+use anyhow::{anyhow, Result};
+use nostr_rs_relay::config;
+use nostr_rs_relay::server::start_server;
+//use http::{Request, Response};
+use hyper::{Client, StatusCode, Uri};
+use std::net::TcpListener;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicU16, Ordering};
+use std::sync::mpsc as syncmpsc;
+use std::sync::mpsc::{Receiver as MpscReceiver, Sender as MpscSender};
+use std::thread;
+use std::thread::JoinHandle;
+use std::time::Duration;
+use tracing::{debug, info};
+
+pub struct Relay {
+    pub port: u16,
+    pub handle: JoinHandle<()>,
+    pub shutdown_tx: MpscSender<()>,
+}
+
+pub fn start_relay() -> Result<Relay> {
+    // setup tracing
+    let _trace_sub = tracing_subscriber::fmt::try_init();
+    info!("Starting a new relay");
+    // replace default settings
+    let mut settings = config::Settings::default();
+    // identify open port
+    info!("Checking for address...");
+    let port = get_available_port().unwrap();
+    info!("Found open port: {}", port);
+    // bind to local interface only
+    settings.network.address = "127.0.0.1".to_owned();
+    settings.network.port = port;
+    // create an in-memory DB with multiple readers
+    settings.database.in_memory = true;
+    settings.database.min_conn = 4;
+    settings.database.max_conn = 8;
+    let (shutdown_tx, shutdown_rx): (MpscSender<()>, MpscReceiver<()>) = syncmpsc::channel();
+    let handle = thread::spawn(|| {
+        // server will block the thread it is run on.
+        let _ = start_server(settings, shutdown_rx);
+    });
+    // how do we know the relay has finished starting up?
+    Ok(Relay {
+        port,
+        handle,
+        shutdown_tx,
+    })
+}
+
+// check if the server is healthy via HTTP request
+async fn server_ready(relay: &Relay) -> Result<bool> {
+    let uri: String = format!("http://127.0.0.1:{}/", relay.port);
+    let client = Client::new();
+    let uri: Uri = uri.parse().unwrap();
+    let res = client.get(uri).await?;
+    Ok(res.status() == StatusCode::OK)
+}
+
+pub async fn wait_for_healthy_relay(relay: &Relay) -> Result<()> {
+    // TODO: maximum time to wait for server to become healthy.
+    // give it a little time to start up before we start polling
+    tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(10)).await;
+    loop {
+        let server_check = server_ready(relay).await;
+        match server_check {
+            Ok(true) => {
+                // server responded with 200-OK.
+                break;
+            }
+            Ok(false) => {
+                // server responded with an error, we're done.
+                return Err(anyhow!("Got non-200-OK from relay"));
+            }
+            Err(_) => {
+                // server is not yet ready, probably connection refused...
+                debug!("Relay not ready, will try again...");
+                tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(10)).await;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    info!("relay is ready");
+    Ok(())
+    // simple message sent to web browsers
+    //let mut request = Request::builder()
+    //    .uri("https://www.rust-lang.org/")
+    //    .header("User-Agent", "my-awesome-agent/1.0");
+}
+
+// from https://elliotekj.com/posts/2017/07/25/find-available-tcp-port-rust/
+// This needed some modification; if multiple tasks all ask for open ports, they will tend to get the same one.
+// instead we should try to try these incrementally/globally.
+
+static PORT_COUNTER: AtomicU16 = AtomicU16::new(4030);
+
+fn get_available_port() -> Option<u16> {
+    let startsearch = PORT_COUNTER.fetch_add(10, Ordering::SeqCst);
+    if startsearch >= 20000 {
+        // wrap around
+        PORT_COUNTER.store(4030, Ordering::Relaxed);
+    }
+    (startsearch..20000).find(|port| port_is_available(*port))
+}
+pub fn port_is_available(port: u16) -> bool {
+    info!("checking on port {}", port);
+    match TcpListener::bind(("127.0.0.1", port)) {
+        Ok(_) => true,
+        Err(_) => false,
+    }
+}
--- a/tests/integration_test.rs
+++ b/tests/integration_test.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+use anyhow::Result;
+
+use std::thread;
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+mod common;
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn start_and_stop() -> Result<()> {
+    // this will be the common pattern for acquiring a new relay:
+    // start a fresh relay, on a port to-be-provided back to us:
+    let relay = common::start_relay()?;
+    // wait for the relay's webserver to start up and deliver a page:
+    common::wait_for_healthy_relay(&relay).await?;
+    let port = relay.port;
+    // just make sure we can startup and shut down.
+    // if we send a shutdown message before the server is listening,
+    // we will get a SendError.  Keep sending until someone is
+    // listening.
+    loop {
+        let shutdown_res = relay.shutdown_tx.send(());
+        match shutdown_res {
+            Ok(()) => {
+                break;
+            }
+            Err(_) => {
+                thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(100));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    // wait for relay to shutdown
+    let thread_join = relay.handle.join();
+    assert!(thread_join.is_ok());
+    // assert that port is now available.
+    assert!(common::port_is_available(port));
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn relay_home_page() -> Result<()> {
+    // get a relay and wait for startup...
+    let relay = common::start_relay()?;
+    common::wait_for_healthy_relay(&relay).await?;
+    // tell relay to shutdown
+    let _res = relay.shutdown_tx.send(());
+    Ok(())
+}