diff --git a/piker/data/ffi.py b/piker/data/ffi.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..86cc0b5ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/piker/data/ffi.py
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+import ctypes
+from ctypes import *
+import os
+from os import path
+
+import numpy as np
+import pandas as pd
+try:
+    from StringIO import StringIO
+except ImportError:
+    from io import StringIO
+
+
+def __csv_to_df(raw_data):
+    csv = StringIO("ts,seq,is_trade,is_bid,price,size\n" + raw_data)
+    df = pd.read_csv(csv, dtype={
+        'ts': np.float,
+        'seq': np.int16,
+        'is_trade': np.bool,
+        'is_bid': np.bool,
+        'price': np.float,
+        'size': np.float32}
+    )
+    df.set_index("ts")
+    df = df[:-1]
+    df.ts *= 1000
+    df.ts = df.ts.astype(int)
+    return df
+
+cwd = path.dirname(path.realpath(__file__))
+lib_path = path.normpath(path.join(cwd, '../../target/debug/libtdb_core.so'))
+lib = CDLL(lib_path)
+
+class Update(Structure):
+    """
+    ts: u64,
+    seq: u32,
+    is_trade: bool,
+    is_bid: bool,
+    price: f32,
+    size: f32,
+    """
+    _fields_ = [
+        ("ts", c_uint64),
+        ("seq", c_uint32),
+        ("is_trade", c_bool),
+        ("is_bid", c_bool),
+        ("price", c_float),
+        ("size", c_float),
+    ]
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return 'Update<{},{},{},{},{},{}>'.format(
+            self.ts, self.seq, self.is_trade, self.is_bid,
+            self.price, self.size)
+    def to_dict(self):
+        return {
+            "ts": self.ts,
+            "seq": self.seq,
+            "is_trade": self.is_trade,
+            "is_bid": self.is_bid,
+            "price": self.price,
+            "size": self.size
+        }
+
+class Slice(Structure):
+    _fields_ = [("ptr", POINTER(Update)), ("len", c_uint64)]
+
+def read_dtf_to_csv(fname):
+    ptr = lib.read_dtf_to_csv(fname.encode("utf-8"))
+    try:
+        return ctypes.cast(ptr, c_char_p).value.decode('utf-8')
+    finally:
+        lib.str_free(ptr)
+
+def read_dtf_to_csv_with_limit(fname, num):
+    ptr = lib.read_dtf_to_csv_with_limit(fname.encode("utf-8"), num)
+    try:
+        return ctypes.cast(ptr, c_char_p).value.decode('utf-8')
+    finally:
+        lib.str_free(ptr)
+
+def read_dtf_from_file(fname):
+    ups = lib.read_dtf_to_arr(fname.encode("utf-8"))
+    return [ups.ptr[i] for i in range(ups.len)]
+
+def parse_stream(stream):
+    ups = lib.parse_stream(stream, len(stream))
+    return [ups.ptr[i] for i in range(ups.len)]
+
+## Type Definitions:
+
+lib.str_free.argtypes = (c_void_p, )
+
+lib.read_dtf_to_csv.argtype = (c_char_p,)
+lib.read_dtf_to_csv.restype = c_void_p
+
+lib.read_dtf_to_csv_with_limit.argtype = (c_char_p, c_uint32)
+lib.read_dtf_to_csv_with_limit.restype = c_void_p
+
+lib.read_dtf_to_arr.argtype = (c_char_p,)
+lib.read_dtf_to_arr.restype = Slice
+
+lib.read_dtf_to_arr_with_limit.argtype = (c_char_p, c_uint32)
+lib.read_dtf_to_arr_with_limit.restype = Slice
+
+lib.parse_stream.argtype = (c_char_p, c_uint32)
+lib.parse_stream.restype = Slice
+
+async def test_parse_stream():
+    from tectonic import TectonicDB
+    db = TectonicDB()
+    await db.insert(0,0,True,True,0,0,"default")
+    await db.insert(1,1,False,False,1,1,"default")
+    print(await db.get(2))
+
+def main():
+    fname = "/home/g/Desktop/tick-data/10102017/bf_neobtc.dtf"
+    data = read_dtf_to_csv_with_limit(fname, 100000)
+    df = __csv_to_df(data)
+    print(df)
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    # from time import time
+    # start = time()
+    # main()
+    # print(time() - start)
+
+    import asyncio
+    loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
+    loop.run_until_complete(test_parse_stream())
+    loop.close()
diff --git a/piker/data/tectonicdb.py b/piker/data/tectonicdb.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e94329527
--- /dev/null
+++ b/piker/data/tectonicdb.py
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+# piker: trading gear for hackers
+# Copyright (C) Guillermo Rodriguez (in stewardship for piker0)
+
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+from typing import Union
+
+import trio
+import struct
+
+
+class TectonicDB:
+
+    def __init__(self, host="localhost", port=9001):
+        self.host = host
+        self.port = port
+
+    async def connect(self):
+        self.stream = await trio.open_tcp_stream(
+            self.host, self.port
+        )
+
+    async def cmd(self, cmd: Union[str, bytes]):
+        if isinstance(cmd, str):
+            msg = f'{cmd}\n'.encode()
+
+        else:
+            msg = cmd + b'\n'
+
+        print(msg)
+
+        await self.stream.send_all(msg)
+        
+        return await self._recv_text()
+
+    async def _recv_text(self):
+        header = await self.stream.receive_some(max_bytes=9)
+        current_len = len(header)
+        while current_len < 9:
+            header += await self.stream.receive_some(max_bytes=9 - current_len)
+            current_len = len(header)
+
+        success, bytes_to_read = struct.unpack('>?Q', header)
+        if bytes_to_read == 0:
+            return success, ""
+
+        body = await self.stream.receive_some(max_bytes=1)
+        body_len = len(body)
+        while body_len < bytes_to_read:
+            len_to_read = bytes_to_read - body_len
+            if len_to_read > 32:
+                len_to_read = 32
+            body += await self.stream.receive_some(max_bytes=len_to_read)
+            body_len = len(body)
+
+        return success, body.decode('utf-8')
+
+    def destroy(self):
+        self.stream.aclose()
+
+    async def info(self):
+        return await self.cmd("INFO")
+
+    async def countall(self):
+        return await self.cmd("COUNT ALL")
+
+    async def countall_in_mem(self):
+        return await self.cmd("COUNT ALL IN MEM")
+
+    async def ping(self):
+        return await self.cmd("PING")
+
+    async def help(self):
+        return await self.cmd("HELP")
+
+    async def insert(self, ts, seq, is_trade, is_bid, price, size, dbname):
+        return await self.cmd("INSERT {}, {}, {} ,{}, {}, {}; INTO {}"
+                        .format( ts, seq,
+                            't' if is_trade else 'f',
+                            't' if is_bid else 'f', price, size,
+                            dbname))
+
+    async def add(self, ts, seq, is_trade, is_bid, price, size):
+        return await self.cmd("ADD {}, {}, {} ,{}, {}, {};"
+                        .format( ts, seq,
+                            't' if is_trade else 'f',
+                            't' if is_bid else 'f', price, size))
+
+    async def getall(self):
+        success, ret = await self.cmd("GET ALL")
+        return success, list(map(lambda x:x.to_dict(), ret))
+
+    async def get(self, n):
+        success, ret = await self.cmd("GET {}".format(n))
+        if success:
+            return success, list(map(lambda x:x.to_dict(), ret))
+        else:
+            return False, None
+
+    async def clear(self):
+        return await self.cmd("CLEAR")
+
+    async def clearall(self):
+        return await self.cmd("CLEAR ALL")
+
+    async def flush(self):
+        return await self.cmd("FLUSH")
+
+    async def flushall(self):
+        return await self.cmd("FLUSH ALL")
+
+    async def create(self, dbname):
+        return await self.cmd("CREATE {}".format(dbname))
+
+    async def use(self, dbname):
+        return await self.cmd("USE {}".format(dbname))
+
+    async def unsubscribe(self):
+        await self.cmd("UNSUBSCRIBE")
+        self.subscribed = False
+
+    async def subscribe(self, dbname):
+        res = await self.cmd("SUBSCRIBE {}".format(dbname))
+        if res[0]:
+            self.subscribed = True
+        return res
+
+    async def poll(self):
+        return await self.cmd("")
+
+    async def range(self, dbname, start, finish):
+        self.use(dbname)
+        data = await self.cmd("GET ALL FROM {} TO {} AS CSV".format(start, finish).encode())
+        data = data[1]
+        return data