diff --git a/lsfg-vk-layer/CMakeLists.txt b/lsfg-vk-layer/CMakeLists.txt
index 34c4a8a..9c1ac7a 100644
--- a/lsfg-vk-layer/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/lsfg-vk-layer/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 set(LAYER_SOURCES
-    "src/config.cpp"
-    "src/detection.cpp"
-    "src/entrypoint.cpp"
-    "src/layer.cpp")
+    "src/configuration/config.cpp"
+    "src/configuration/detection.cpp"
+    "src/context/instance.cpp"
+    "src/entrypoint.cpp")
 
 add_library(lsfg-vk-layer SHARED ${LAYER_SOURCES})
 
diff --git a/lsfg-vk-layer/src/configuration/config.cpp b/lsfg-vk-layer/src/configuration/config.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cae857b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lsfg-vk-layer/src/configuration/config.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,244 @@
+#include "config.hpp"
+#include "lsfg-vk-backend/lsfgvk.hpp"
+
+#include <cstdlib>
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <optional>
+#include <string>
+#include <utility>
+#include <vector>
+
+#define TOML_ENABLE_FORMATTERS 0
+#include <toml.hpp>
+
+using namespace lsfgvk::layer;
+
+namespace {
+    const char* DEFAULT_CONFIG = R"(version = 2
+
+[global]
+# dll = '/media/games/Lossless Scaling/Lossless.dll' # if you don't have LS in the default location
+allow_fp16 = true # this will improve give a MASSIVE performance boost on AMD, but be super slow on older (!) NVIDIA GPUs
+
+[[profile]]
+name = "4x FG / 85% [Performance]"
+active_in = [ # see the wiki for more info
+    'vkcube',
+    'vkcubepp'
+]
+gpu = 'NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080' # see the wiki for more info
+multiplier = 4
+flow_scale = 0.85
+performance_mode = true
+pacing = 'none' # see the wiki for more info
+
+[[profile]]
+name = "2x FG / 100%"
+active_in = 'GenshinImpact.exe'
+gpu = 'NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080'
+multiplier = 2
+)";
+
+    /// parse an activity array from toml value
+    std::vector<std::string> activityFromString(const toml::node_view<const toml::node>& val) {
+        std::vector<std::string> active_in{};
+
+        if (const auto& as_str = val.value<std::string>()) {
+            active_in.push_back(*as_str);
+        }
+
+        if (const auto& as_arr = val.as_array()) {
+            for (const auto& item : *as_arr) {
+                if (const auto& item_str = item.value<std::string>())
+                    active_in.push_back(*item_str);
+            }
+        }
+
+        return active_in;
+    }
+    /// parse a pacing method from string
+    Pacing parcingFromString(const std::string& str) {
+        if (str == "none")
+            return Pacing::None;
+        throw lsfgvk::error("unknown pacing method: " + str);
+    }
+    /// try to find the config
+    std::filesystem::path findPath() {
+        // always honor LSFGVK_CONFIG if set
+        const char* envPath = std::getenv("LSFGVK_CONFIG");
+        if (envPath && *envPath != '\0')
+            return{envPath};
+
+        // then check the XDG overriden location
+        const char* xdgPath = std::getenv("XDG_CONFIG_HOME");
+        if (xdgPath && *xdgPath != '\0')
+            return std::filesystem::path(xdgPath)
+                / "lsfg-vk" / "conf.toml";
+
+        // fallback to typical user home
+        const char* homePath = std::getenv("HOME");
+        if (homePath && *homePath != '\0')
+            return std::filesystem::path(homePath)
+                / ".config" / "lsfg-vk" / "conf.toml";
+
+        // finally, use system-wide config
+        return "/etc/lsfg-vk/conf.toml";
+    }
+    /// parse the global configuration
+    GlobalConf parseGlobalConf(const toml::table& tbl) {
+        const GlobalConf conf{
+            .dll = tbl["dll"].value<std::string>(),
+            .allow_fp16 = tbl["allow_fp16"].value_or(true)
+        };
+
+        if (conf.dll && !std::filesystem::exists(*conf.dll))
+            throw lsfgvk::error("path to dll is invalid");
+
+        return conf;
+    }
+    /// parse a game profile configuration
+    GameConf parseGameConf(const toml::table& tbl) {
+        const GameConf conf{
+            .name = tbl["name"].value_or<std::string>("unnamed"),
+            .active_in = activityFromString(tbl["active_in"]),
+            .gpu = tbl["gpu"].value<std::string>(),
+            .multiplier = tbl["multiplier"].value_or(2U),
+            .flow_scale = tbl["flow_scale"].value_or(1.0F),
+            .performance_mode = tbl["performance_mode"].value_or(false),
+            .pacing = parcingFromString(tbl["pacing"].value_or<std::string>("none"))
+        };
+
+        if (conf.multiplier <= 1)
+            throw lsfgvk::error("multiplier must be greater than 1");
+        if (conf.flow_scale < 0.25F || conf.flow_scale > 1.0F)
+            throw lsfgvk::error("flow_scale must be between 0.25 and 1.0");
+
+        return conf;
+    }
+    /// parse the global configuration from the environment
+    GlobalConf parseGlobalConfFromEnv() {
+        GlobalConf conf{
+            .dll = std::nullopt,
+            .allow_fp16 = true
+        };
+
+        const char* dll = std::getenv("LSFGVK_DLL_PATH");
+        if (dll && *dll != '\0')
+            conf.dll = std::string(dll);
+        const char* no_fp16 = std::getenv("LSFGVK_NO_FP16");
+        if (no_fp16 && *no_fp16 != '\0')
+            conf.allow_fp16 = std::string(no_fp16) != "1";
+
+        if (conf.dll && !std::filesystem::exists(*conf.dll))
+            throw lsfgvk::error("path to dll is invalid");
+
+        return conf;
+    }
+    /// parse a game profile configuration from the environment
+    GameConf parseGameConfFromEnv() {
+        GameConf conf{
+            .name = "(environment)",
+            .active_in = {},
+            .gpu = std::nullopt,
+
+            .multiplier = 2,
+            .flow_scale = 1.0F,
+            .performance_mode = false,
+            .pacing = Pacing::None
+        };
+
+        const char* gpu = std::getenv("LSFGVK_GPU");
+        if (gpu) conf.gpu = std::string(gpu);
+        const char* multiplier = std::getenv("LSFGVK_MULTIPLIER");
+        if (multiplier) conf.multiplier = static_cast<size_t>(std::stoul(multiplier));
+        const char* flow_scale = std::getenv("LSFGVK_FLOW_SCALE");
+        if (flow_scale) conf.flow_scale = std::stof(flow_scale);
+        const char* performance = std::getenv("LSFGVK_PERFORMANCE_MODE");
+        if (performance) conf.performance_mode = std::string(performance) == "1";
+        const char* pacing = std::getenv("LSFGVK_PACING");
+        if (pacing) conf.pacing = parcingFromString(std::string(pacing));
+
+        if (conf.multiplier <= 1)
+            throw lsfgvk::error("multiplier must be greater than 1");
+        if (conf.flow_scale < 0.25F || conf.flow_scale > 1.0F)
+            throw lsfgvk::error("flow_scale must be between 0.25 and 1.0");
+
+        return conf;
+    }
+}
+
+Configuration::Configuration() :
+        path(findPath()),
+        from_env(std::getenv("LSFGVK_ENV") != nullptr) {
+    if (std::filesystem::exists(this->path) || this->from_env)
+        return;
+
+    try {
+        std::filesystem::create_directories(this->path.parent_path());
+        if (!std::filesystem::exists(this->path.parent_path()))
+            throw lsfgvk::error("unable to create configuration directory");
+
+        std::ofstream ofs(this->path);
+        if (!ofs.is_open())
+            throw lsfgvk::error("unable to create default configuration file");
+
+        ofs << DEFAULT_CONFIG;
+        ofs.close();
+    } catch (const std::filesystem::filesystem_error& e) {
+        throw lsfgvk::error("unable to create default configuration file", e);
+    }
+}
+
+bool Configuration::tick() {
+    if (this->from_env) {
+        if (this->profiles.empty()) {
+            this->global = parseGlobalConfFromEnv();
+            this->profiles.push_back(parseGameConfFromEnv());
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        return false; // no need to tick if from env
+    }
+
+    // check for updates
+    try {
+        auto time = std::filesystem::last_write_time(this->path);
+        if (time == this->timestamp)
+            return false;
+
+        this->timestamp = time;
+    } catch (const std::filesystem::filesystem_error& e) {
+        throw lsfgvk::error("unable to access configuration file", e);
+    }
+
+    // parse configuration
+    GlobalConf global{};
+    std::vector<GameConf> profiles{};
+
+    toml::table tbl;
+    try {
+        tbl = toml::parse_file(this->path.string());
+    } catch (const toml::parse_error& e) {
+        throw lsfgvk::error("unable to parse configuration", e);
+    }
+
+    auto vrs = tbl["version"];
+    if (!vrs || !vrs.is_integer() || *vrs.as_integer() != 2)
+        throw lsfgvk::error("unsupported configuration version");
+
+    auto gbl = tbl["global"];
+    if (gbl && gbl.is_table()) {
+        global = parseGlobalConf(*gbl.as_table());
+    }
+
+    auto pfls = tbl["profile"];
+    if (pfls && pfls.is_array_of_tables()) {
+        for (const auto& pfl : *pfls.as_array())
+            profiles.push_back(parseGameConf(*pfl.as_table()));
+    }
+
+    this->global = std::move(global);
+    this->profiles = std::move(profiles);
+    return true;
+}
diff --git a/lsfg-vk-layer/src/configuration/config.hpp b/lsfg-vk-layer/src/configuration/config.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8afee8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lsfg-vk-layer/src/configuration/config.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <chrono>
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <optional>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+
+namespace lsfgvk::layer {
+
+    /// global configuration
+    struct GlobalConf {
+        /// optional dll override
+        std::optional<std::string> dll;
+        /// should fp16 be allowed
+        bool allow_fp16;
+    };
+
+    /// pacing methods
+    enum class Pacing {
+        /// do not perform any pacing (vsync+novrr)
+        None
+    };
+
+    /// game profile configuration
+    struct GameConf {
+        /// name of the profile
+        std::string name;
+        /// optional activation string/array
+        std::vector<std::string> active_in;
+        /// gpu to use (in case of multiple)
+        std::optional<std::string> gpu;
+        /// multiplier for frame generation
+        size_t multiplier;
+        /// non-inverted flow scale
+        float flow_scale;
+        /// use performance mode
+        bool performance_mode;
+        /// pacing method
+        Pacing pacing;
+    };
+
+    /// automatically updating configuration
+    class Configuration {
+    public:
+        /// create a new configuration
+        /// @throws lsfgvk::error on failure
+        Configuration();
+
+        /// reload the configuration from disk if the file has changed
+        /// @throws lsfgvk::error on failure
+        /// @return true if the configuration was reloaded
+        bool tick();
+
+        /// get the global configuration
+        /// @return global configuration
+        [[nodiscard]] const GlobalConf& getGlobalConf() const { return global; }
+
+        /// get the game profiles
+        /// @return list of game profiles
+        [[nodiscard]] const std::vector<GameConf>& getProfiles() const { return profiles; }
+    private:
+        std::filesystem::path path;
+        std::chrono::time_point<std::chrono::file_clock> timestamp;
+        bool from_env{};
+
+        GlobalConf global;
+        std::vector<GameConf> profiles;
+    };
+
+}
diff --git a/lsfg-vk-layer/src/configuration/detection.cpp b/lsfg-vk-layer/src/configuration/detection.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e4144d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lsfg-vk-layer/src/configuration/detection.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+#include "detection.hpp"
+#include "config.hpp"
+
+#include <array>
+#include <cstdlib>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <optional>
+#include <string>
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <utility>
+#include <vector>
+
+#include <sys/types.h>
+
+using namespace lsfgvk;
+using namespace lsfgvk::layer;
+
+namespace {
+    // try to match a profile by id
+    std::optional<GameConf> match(const std::vector<GameConf>& profiles, const std::string& id) {
+        for (const auto& profile : profiles)
+            for (const auto& activation : profile.active_in)
+                if (activation == id)
+                    return profile;
+        return std::nullopt;
+    }
+}
+
+Identification layer::identify() {
+    Identification id{};
+
+    // fetch LSFGVK_PROFILE
+    const char* override = std::getenv("LSFGVK_PROFILE");
+    if (override && *override != '\0')
+        id.override = std::string(override);
+
+    // fetch process exe path
+    std::array<char, 4096> buf{};
+    const ssize_t len = readlink("/proc/self/exe", buf.data(), buf.size() - 1);
+    if (len > 0) {
+        buf.at(static_cast<size_t>(len)) = '\0';
+        id.executable = std::string(buf.data());
+    }
+
+    // if running under wine, fetch the actual exe path
+    if (id.executable.find("wine") != std::string::npos
+        || id.executable.find("proton") != std::string::npos) {
+
+        std::ifstream maps("/proc/self/maps");
+        std::string line;
+        while (maps.is_open() && std::getline(maps, line)) {
+            if (!line.ends_with(".exe"))
+                continue;
+
+            size_t pos = line.find_first_of('/');
+            if (pos == std::string::npos) {
+                pos = line.find_last_of(' ');
+                if (pos == std::string::npos)
+                    continue;
+                pos += 1; // skip space
+            }
+
+            const std::string wine_executable = line.substr(pos);
+            if (wine_executable.empty())
+                continue;
+
+            id.wine_executable = wine_executable;
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // fetch process name
+    std::ifstream comm("/proc/self/comm");
+    if (comm.is_open()) {
+        comm.read(buf.data(), buf.size() - 1);
+        buf.at(static_cast<size_t>(comm.gcount())) = '\0';
+
+        id.process_name = std::string(buf.data());
+        if (id.process_name.back() == '\n')
+            id.process_name.pop_back();
+    }
+
+    return id;
+}
+
+std::optional<std::pair<IdentType, GameConf>> layer::findProfile(
+        const Configuration& config, const Identification& id) {
+    const auto& profiles = config.getProfiles();
+
+    // check for the environment option first
+    if (std::getenv("LSFGVK_ENV") != nullptr)
+        return std::make_pair(IdentType::OVERRIDE, config.getProfiles().front());
+
+    // then override first
+    if (id.override.has_value()) {
+        const auto profile = match(profiles, id.override.value());
+        if (profile.has_value())
+            return std::make_pair(IdentType::OVERRIDE, profile.value());
+    }
+
+    // then check executable
+    const auto exe_profile = match(profiles, id.executable);
+    if (exe_profile.has_value())
+        return std::make_pair(IdentType::EXECUTABLE, exe_profile.value());
+
+    // if present, check wine executable next
+    if (id.wine_executable.has_value()) {
+        const auto wine_profile = match(profiles, id.wine_executable.value());
+        if (wine_profile.has_value())
+            return std::make_pair(IdentType::WINE_EXECUTABLE, wine_profile.value());
+    }
+
+    // finally, fallback to process name
+    if (!id.process_name.empty()) {
+        const auto proc_profile = match(profiles, id.process_name);
+        if (proc_profile.has_value())
+            return std::make_pair(IdentType::PROCESS_NAME, proc_profile.value());
+    }
+
+    return std::nullopt;
+}
diff --git a/lsfg-vk-layer/src/configuration/detection.hpp b/lsfg-vk-layer/src/configuration/detection.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ef9f32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lsfg-vk-layer/src/configuration/detection.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "config.hpp"
+
+#include <optional>
+#include <string>
+#include <utility>
+
+namespace lsfgvk::layer {
+
+    /// identification data for a process
+    struct Identification {
+        /// optional override name
+        std::optional<std::string> override;
+        /// path to exe file
+        std::string executable;
+        /// path to exe file when running under wine
+        std::optional<std::string> wine_executable;
+        /// traditional process name (e.g. GameThread)
+        std::string process_name;
+    };
+
+    /// enum describing which identification method was used
+    enum class IdentType {
+        OVERRIDE, // identified by override
+        EXECUTABLE, // identified by executable path
+        WINE_EXECUTABLE, // identified by wine executable path
+        PROCESS_NAME // identified by process name
+    };
+
+    /// identify the current process
+    Identification identify();
+
+    /// find a profile for the current process
+    /// @param config configuration to search in
+    /// @param id identification data
+    /// @return ident pair if found
+    std::optional<std::pair<IdentType, GameConf>> findProfile(
+        const Configuration& config, const Identification& id);
+}
diff --git a/lsfg-vk-layer/src/context/instance.cpp b/lsfg-vk-layer/src/context/instance.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..14964de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lsfg-vk-layer/src/context/instance.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+#include "instance.hpp"
+#include "../configuration/config.hpp"
+#include "../configuration/detection.hpp"
+#include "lsfg-vk-backend/lsfgvk.hpp"
+#include "lsfg-vk-common/vulkan/vulkan.hpp"
+
+#include <cstdlib>
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <optional>
+#include <string>
+#include <utility>
+#include <vector>
+
+using namespace lsfgvk;
+using namespace lsfgvk::layer;
+
+Root::Root() : identification(identify()) {
+    this->tick();
+
+    if (!this->profile.has_value())
+        return;
+
+    std::cerr << "lsfg-vk: using profile with name '" << this->profile->name << "' ";
+    switch (this->identType) {
+        case IdentType::OVERRIDE:
+            std::cerr << "(identified via override)\n";
+            break;
+        case IdentType::EXECUTABLE:
+            std::cerr << "(identified via executable)\n";
+            break;
+        case IdentType::WINE_EXECUTABLE:
+            std::cerr << "(identified via wine executable)\n";
+            break;
+        case IdentType::PROCESS_NAME:
+            std::cerr << "(identified via process name)\n";
+            break;
+    }
+}
+
+bool Root::tick() {
+    auto res = this->config.tick();
+    if (!res)
+        return false;
+
+    // try to find a profile
+    const auto& detec = findProfile(this->config, identification);
+    if (!detec.has_value())
+        return this->profile.has_value();
+
+    this->identType = detec->first;
+    this->profile = detec->second;
+    return true;
+}
+
+std::vector<const char*> Root::instanceExtensions() const {
+    if (!this->profile.has_value())
+        return {};
+
+    return {
+        "VK_KHR_get_physical_device_properties2",
+        "VK_KHR_external_memory_capabilities",
+        "VK_KHR_external_semaphore_capabilities"
+    };
+}
+
+std::vector<const char*> Root::deviceExtensions() const {
+    if (!this->profile.has_value())
+        return {};
+
+    return {
+        "VK_KHR_external_memory",
+        "VK_KHR_external_memory_fd",
+        "VK_KHR_external_semaphore",
+        "VK_KHR_external_semaphore_fd",
+        "VK_KHR_timeline_semaphore"
+    };
+}
+
+namespace {
+    std::filesystem::path findShaderDll() {
+        const std::vector<std::filesystem::path> FRAGMENTS{{
+            ".local/share/Steam/steamapps/common",
+            ".steam/steam/steamapps/common",
+            ".steam/debian-installation/steamapps/common",
+            ".var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common",
+            "snap/steam/common/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common"
+        }};
+
+        // check XDG overridden location
+        const char* xdgPath = std::getenv("XDG_DATA_HOME");
+        if (xdgPath && *xdgPath != '\0') {
+            auto base = std::filesystem::path(xdgPath);
+
+            for (const auto& frag : FRAGMENTS) {
+                auto full = base / frag / "Lossless Scaling" / "Lossless.dll";
+                if (std::filesystem::exists(full))
+                    return full;
+            }
+        }
+
+        // check home directory
+        const char* homePath = std::getenv("HOME");
+        if (homePath && *homePath != '\0') {
+            auto base = std::filesystem::path(homePath);
+
+            for (const auto& frag : FRAGMENTS) {
+                auto full = base / frag / "Lossless Scaling" / "Lossless.dll";
+                if (std::filesystem::exists(full))
+                    return full;
+            }
+        }
+
+        // fallback to same directory
+        auto local = std::filesystem::current_path() / "Lossless.dll";
+        if (std::filesystem::exists(local))
+            return local;
+
+        throw lsfgvk::error("unable to locate Lossless.dll, please set the path in the configuration");
+    }
+
+    lsfgvk::Instance createBackend(const Root& root) {
+        const auto& conf = root.conf();
+        const auto& profile = root.active();
+        if (!profile.has_value()) // should not happen
+            throw lsfgvk::error("no profile active");
+
+        return {
+            [profile = *profile](
+                const std::string& deviceName,
+                std::pair<const std::string&, const std::string&> ids,
+                const std::optional<std::string>& pci
+            ) {
+                if (!profile.gpu)
+                    return true;
+
+                return (deviceName == *profile.gpu)
+                    || (ids.first + ":" + ids.second == *profile.gpu)
+                    || (pci && *pci == *profile.gpu);
+            },
+            conf.dll.value_or(findShaderDll()),
+            conf.allow_fp16
+        };
+    }
+}
+
+layer::Instance::Instance(const Root& root, vk::Vulkan vk)
+        : vk(std::move(vk))/*, backend(createBackend(layer))*/ {
+}
diff --git a/lsfg-vk-layer/src/context/instance.hpp b/lsfg-vk-layer/src/context/instance.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..24dc7a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lsfg-vk-layer/src/context/instance.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "../configuration/config.hpp"
+#include "../configuration/detection.hpp"
+#include "lsfg-vk-backend/lsfgvk.hpp"
+#include "lsfg-vk-common/helpers/pointers.hpp"
+#include "lsfg-vk-common/vulkan/vulkan.hpp"
+
+#include <optional>
+#include <vector>
+
+namespace lsfgvk::layer {
+
+    /// root of the lsfg-vk layer
+    class Root {
+    public:
+        /// create a new root
+        /// @throws lsfgvk::error on failure
+        Root();
+
+        /// get the global configuration
+        /// @return configuration
+        [[nodiscard]] const auto& conf() const { return config.getGlobalConf(); }
+        /// get the active profile
+        /// @return game configuration
+        [[nodiscard]] const auto& active() const { return profile; }
+
+        /// required instance extensions
+        /// @return list of extension names
+        [[nodiscard]] std::vector<const char*> instanceExtensions() const;
+        /// required device extensions
+        /// @return list of extension names
+        [[nodiscard]] std::vector<const char*> deviceExtensions() const;
+
+        /// tick the root
+        /// @throws lsfgvk::error on failure
+        /// @return true if profile changed
+        bool tick();
+    private:
+        Configuration config;
+        Identification identification;
+
+        IdentType identType{}; // type used to deduce the profile
+        std::optional<GameConf> profile;
+    };
+
+
+    /// instance of the lsfg-vk layer on a VkInstance/VkDevice pair.
+    class Instance {
+    public:
+        /// create a new layer instance
+        /// @param root root of the layer
+        /// @param vk vulkan instance
+        Instance(const Root& root, vk::Vulkan vk);
+    private:
+        vk::Vulkan vk;
+        ls::lazy<lsfgvk::Instance> backend; // lazy due to KhronosGroup/Vulkan-Loader#1739
+    };
+
+}
diff --git a/lsfg-vk-layer/src/entrypoint.cpp b/lsfg-vk-layer/src/entrypoint.cpp
index 9a3c786..3cca3f5 100644
--- a/lsfg-vk-layer/src/entrypoint.cpp
+++ b/lsfg-vk-layer/src/entrypoint.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "layer.hpp"
+#include "context/instance.hpp"
 #include "lsfg-vk-common/vulkan/vulkan.hpp"
 
 #include <algorithm>
@@ -55,10 +55,10 @@ namespace {
 
     // global layer info initialized at layer negotiation
     struct LayerInfo {
-        layer::Layer layer; //!< basic layer info
         std::unordered_map<std::string, PFN_vkVoidFunction> map; //!< function pointer override map
-
         PFN_vkGetInstanceProcAddr GetInstanceProcAddr;
+
+        layer::Root root;
     }* layer_info;
 
     // create instance
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ namespace {
         auto extensions = add_extensions(
             info->ppEnabledExtensionNames,
             info->enabledExtensionCount,
-            layer_info->layer.instanceExtensions());
+            layer_info->root.instanceExtensions());
 
         VkInstanceCreateInfo newInfo = *info;
         newInfo.enabledExtensionCount = static_cast<uint32_t>(extensions.size());
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ namespace {
         auto extensions = add_extensions(
             info->ppEnabledExtensionNames,
             info->enabledExtensionCount,
-            layer_info->layer.deviceExtensions());
+            layer_info->root.deviceExtensions());
 
         VkDeviceCreateInfo newInfo = *info;
         newInfo.enabledExtensionCount = static_cast<uint32_t>(extensions.size());
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ namespace {
                     .handle = *device,
                     .funcs = vk::initVulkanDeviceFuncs(instance_info->funcs, *device),
                     .layer = layer::Instance(
-                        layer_info->layer,
+                        layer_info->root,
                         vk::Vulkan(
                             instance_info->handle, *device, physdev,
                             instance_info->funcs,
@@ -316,12 +316,11 @@ VkResult vkNegotiateLoaderLayerInterfaceVersion(VkNegotiateLayerInterface* pVers
 
     // load the layer configuration
     try {
-        layer::Layer layer{};
-        if (!layer.active()) // skip inactive
+        layer::Root root{};
+        if (!root.active()) // skip inactive
             return VK_ERROR_INITIALIZATION_FAILED;
 
         layer_info = new LayerInfo{
-            .layer = std::move(layer),
             .map = {
 #define VKPTR(name) reinterpret_cast<PFN_vkVoidFunction>(name)
                 { "vkCreateInstance", VKPTR(myvkCreateInstance) },
@@ -329,7 +328,8 @@ VkResult vkNegotiateLoaderLayerInterfaceVersion(VkNegotiateLayerInterface* pVers
                 { "vkDestroyDevice", VKPTR(myvkDestroyDevice) },
                 { "vkDestroyInstance", VKPTR(myvkDestroyInstance) }
 #undef VKPTR
-            }
+            },
+            .root = std::move(root)
         };
     } catch (const std::exception& e) {
         std::cerr << "lsfg-vk: something went wrong during lsfg-vk layer initialization:\n";