diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index f16a772..89c73f0 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -7,14 +7,9 @@ include (nc)
 
 
 ###############################################################################
-include (FindVulkan)
-if (NOT Vulkan_FOUND)
-    message (FATAL_ERROR "Vulkan client library not found")
-endif ()
-
-
-##-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-find_package(PythonInterp 3 REQUIRED)
+find_package (Vulkan REQUIRED)
+find_package (PythonInterp 3 REQUIRED)
+find_package (glfw3 REQUIRED)
 
 
 ###############################################################################
@@ -99,7 +94,7 @@ endif ()
 
 
 ###############################################################################
-foreach (t info)
+foreach (t info hello)
     add_executable (vk_${t} "tools/${t}.cpp")
         set_target_properties(vk_${t} PROPERTIES
             OUTPUT_NAME
@@ -107,7 +102,7 @@ foreach (t info)
         set_target_properties(vk_${t} PROPERTIES
             RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY
             "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/tools")
-    target_link_libraries (vk_${t} cruft-vk)
+    target_link_libraries (vk_${t} cruft-vk glfw)
 endforeach ()
 
 ###############################################################################
diff --git a/device.cpp b/device.cpp
index 158de23..26c0eef 100644
--- a/device.cpp
+++ b/device.cpp
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include "./device.hpp"
 
 #include "./physical_device.hpp"
+#include "./queue.hpp"
 
 #include <cruft/util/cast.hpp>
 #include <cruft/util/debug.hpp>
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ using cruft::vk::device;
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 device::device (const physical_device &phys,
                 const VkDeviceCreateInfo &info):
-    instantiated (phys.id (), &info, nullptr)
+    descendant (phys, &info, nullptr)
 { ; }
 
 
@@ -42,6 +43,14 @@ device::physical_properties (void) const
 }
 
 
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+cruft::vk::queue
+device::queue (uint32_t id)
+{
+    return ::cruft::vk::queue (*this, id, 0);
+}
+
+
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 void
 device::flush (const VkMappedMemoryRange *first,
diff --git a/device.hpp b/device.hpp
index 8e394fe..4aeb96b 100644
--- a/device.hpp
+++ b/device.hpp
@@ -23,13 +23,15 @@
 #include "./fwd.hpp"
 
 namespace cruft::vk {
-    struct device : public instantiated<device> {
+    struct device : public descendant<device> {
         device (const physical_device&,
                 const VkDeviceCreateInfo&);
 
         VkPhysicalDeviceMemoryProperties
         physical_properties (void) const;
 
+        struct queue queue (uint32_t id);
+
         void flush (const VkMappedMemoryRange *first,
                     const VkMappedMemoryRange *last);
 
diff --git a/except.cpp b/except.cpp
index 3adeeb6..5e0da57 100644
--- a/except.cpp
+++ b/except.cpp
@@ -43,8 +43,7 @@ using cruft::vk::error_code;
         VK_ERROR_FEATURE_NOT_PRESENT, \
         VK_ERROR_INCOMPATIBLE_DRIVER, \
         VK_ERROR_TOO_MANY_OBJECTS, \
-        VK_ERROR_FORMAT_NOT_SUPPORTED, \
-        VK_ERROR_FRAGMENTED_POOL)
+        VK_ERROR_FORMAT_NOT_SUPPORTED)
 
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -74,7 +73,6 @@ to_string (VkResult res)
     case VK_ERROR_INCOMPATIBLE_DRIVER:      return "incompatible driver";
     case VK_ERROR_TOO_MANY_OBJECTS:         return "too many objects";
     case VK_ERROR_FORMAT_NOT_SUPPORTED:     return "format not supported";
-    case VK_ERROR_FRAGMENTED_POOL:          return "fragmented pool";
     }
 
     unreachable ();
diff --git a/except.hpp b/except.hpp
index 319f0d4..ccff147 100644
--- a/except.hpp
+++ b/except.hpp
@@ -30,6 +30,23 @@ namespace cruft::vk {
     };
 
 
+    class invalid_argument : public error {
+    public:
+        invalid_argument (const char *_what) noexcept:
+            m_what (_what)
+        { ; }
+
+        const char*
+        what (void) const noexcept override
+        {
+            return m_what;
+        }
+
+    private:
+        const char *m_what;
+    };
+
+
     template <VkResult>
     class error_code : public error {
     public:
diff --git a/fwd.hpp b/fwd.hpp
index d717492..71d464c 100644
--- a/fwd.hpp
+++ b/fwd.hpp
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 
 
 namespace cruft::vk {
-    template <typename T> struct instantiated;
+    template <typename T> struct descendant;
     template <typename T> struct enumerated;
     template <typename T, typename O> struct owned;
     
@@ -53,14 +53,19 @@ namespace cruft::vk {
         MAP(FUNC,               \
             physical_device)
 
-    #define VK_INSTANTIATED_TYPE_MAP(FUNC) \
+    #define VK_DESCENDANT_TYPE_MAP(FUNC) \
         MAP(FUNC,       \
-            device,     \
-            instance)
+            device)
+
+    #define VK_OWNED_TYPE_MAP(FUNC) \
+        MAP(FUNC, \
+            queue)
 
     #define VK_TYPE_MAP(FUNC) \
+        MAP(FUNC,instance) \
         VK_ENUMERATED_TYPE_MAP(FUNC) \
-        VK_INSTANTIATED_TYPE_MAP(FUNC)
+        VK_DESCENDANT_TYPE_MAP(FUNC) \
+        VK_OWNED_TYPE_MAP(FUNC)
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/instance.cpp b/instance.cpp
index 8416aab..5013bf1 100644
--- a/instance.cpp
+++ b/instance.cpp
@@ -57,11 +57,28 @@ instance::instance ():
 
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-instance::instance (const create_info_t &info):
-    instantiated (&info, nullptr)
+instance::instance (const util::view<const char **> layers,
+                    const util::view<const char **> extensions):
+    instance (VkInstanceCreateInfo {
+        .sType = cruft::vk::structure_type_v<VkInstanceCreateInfo>,
+        .pNext = nullptr,
+        .flags = {},
+        .pApplicationInfo = nullptr,
+        .enabledLayerCount = static_cast<uint32_t> (layers.size ()),
+        .ppEnabledLayerNames = layers.data (),
+        .enabledExtensionCount = static_cast<uint32_t> (extensions.size ()),
+        .ppEnabledExtensionNames = extensions.data ()
+    })
 { ; }
 
 
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+instance::instance (const create_info_t &info):
+    root (&info, nullptr)
+{ ; }
+
+
+
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 std::set<std::string>
 instance::extensions (void) const
@@ -78,3 +95,17 @@ instance::extensions (void) const
         ext.insert (i.extensionName);
     return ext;
 }
+
+
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+std::vector<VkLayerProperties>
+instance::available_layers (void)
+{
+
+    uint32_t count;
+    vk::error::try_code (vkEnumerateInstanceLayerProperties (&count, nullptr));
+
+    std::vector<VkLayerProperties> layers (count);
+    vk::error::try_code (vkEnumerateInstanceLayerProperties (&count, layers.data ()));
+    return layers;
+}
diff --git a/instance.hpp b/instance.hpp
index 040d0d3..46a2c7a 100644
--- a/instance.hpp
+++ b/instance.hpp
@@ -22,12 +22,15 @@
 
 #include "./vk.hpp"
 #include "./traits.hpp"
+#include "./except.hpp"
+
+#include <cruft/util/view.hpp>
 
 #include <set>
 #include <string>
 
 namespace cruft::vk {
-    struct instance : public instantiated<instance> {
+    struct instance : public root<instance> {
         struct create_info_t : public VkInstanceCreateInfo {
             create_info_t ();
             create_info_t (const VkInstanceCreateInfo&);
@@ -39,9 +42,24 @@ namespace cruft::vk {
         };
 
         instance ();
+        instance (util::view<const char**> layers,
+                  util::view<const char**> extensions);
         instance (const create_info_t &info);
 
+        template <typename T>
+        T
+        proc (const char *name)
+        {
+            auto ret = vkGetInstanceProcAddr (id (), name);
+            if (!ret)
+                throw vk::invalid_argument ("invalid procedure name");
+
+            return reinterpret_cast<T> (ret);
+        }
+
         std::set<std::string> extensions (void) const;
+
+        static std::vector<VkLayerProperties> available_layers (void);
     };
 }
 
diff --git a/object.cpp b/object.cpp
index abc015a..36a9520 100644
--- a/object.cpp
+++ b/object.cpp
@@ -69,8 +69,8 @@ VK_TYPE_MAP (OBJECT)
 
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-#define INSTANTIATED(T) template struct cruft::vk::instantiated<cruft::vk::T>;
-VK_INSTANTIATED_TYPE_MAP (INSTANTIATED)
+#define DESCENDANT(T) template struct cruft::vk::descendant<cruft::vk::T>;
+VK_DESCENDANT_TYPE_MAP (DESCENDANT)
 
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/object.hpp b/object.hpp
index 0320cc2..0fc65c7 100644
--- a/object.hpp
+++ b/object.hpp
@@ -43,30 +43,57 @@ namespace cruft::vk {
     };
 
 
+    template <typename SelfT>
+    struct root : public object<SelfT> {
+        using id_t = typename object<SelfT>::id_t;
+
+        template <typename ...Args>
+        root (Args &&...args):
+            object<SelfT> (make (std::forward<Args> (args)...))
+        { ; }
+
+        ~root ()
+        {
+            life_traits<SelfT>::destroy (this->id (), nullptr);
+        }
+
+    private:
+        template <typename ...Args>
+        static id_t
+        make (Args &&...args)
+        {
+            id_t id;
+            auto res = life_traits<SelfT>::create (std::forward<Args> (args)..., &id);
+            error::try_code (res);
+            return id;
+        }
+    };
+
+
     /// a vulkan object that must be directly instantiated through
     /// constructor arguments, rather than being enumerated and owned by
     /// another object.
     template <typename T>
-    struct instantiated : public object<T> {
+    struct descendant : public object<T> {
         using id_t = typename object<T>::id_t;
 
         template <typename ...Args>
-        instantiated (Args &&...args):
+        descendant (Args &&...args):
             object<T> (make (std::forward<Args> (args)...))
         { ; }
 
-        ~instantiated ()
+        ~descendant ()
         {
             life_traits<T>::destroy (this->id (), nullptr);
         }
 
     private:
-        template <typename ...Args>
+        template <typename Base, typename ...Args>
         static
-        id_t make (Args &&...args)
+        id_t make (Base &&base, Args &&...args)
         {
             id_t id;
-            auto res = life_traits<T>::create (std::forward<Args> (args)..., &id);
+            auto res = life_traits<T>::create (base.id (), std::forward<Args> (args)..., &id);
             error::try_code (res);
             return id;
         }
@@ -86,8 +113,26 @@ namespace cruft::vk {
     ///
     /// typically implies that this object must be freed using a reference to
     /// the parent object.
-    template <typename T, typename O>
-    struct owned : public object<T> { };
+    template <typename SelfT, typename OwnerT>
+    struct owned : public object<SelfT> {
+        using id_t = typename object<SelfT>::id_t;
+        using object<SelfT>::object;
+
+        template <typename ...Args>
+        owned (Args &&...args):
+            object<SelfT> (make (std::forward<Args> (args)...))
+        { ; }
+
+    private:
+        template <typename ...Args>
+        static
+        id_t make (OwnerT &owner, Args &&...args)
+        {
+            id_t id;
+            life_traits<SelfT>::get (owner.id (), std::forward<Args> (args)..., &id);
+            return id;
+        }
+    };
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/ostream.cpp b/ostream.cpp
index 118509f..66c12b2 100644
--- a/ostream.cpp
+++ b/ostream.cpp
@@ -93,6 +93,18 @@ cruft::vk::operator<< (std::ostream &os, const instance &i)
 }
 
 
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+std::ostream&
+operator<< (std::ostream &os, const VkLayerProperties &val)
+{
+    return os << "{ name: '" << val.layerName << "'"
+              << ", specVersion: " << val.specVersion
+              << ", implementationVersion: " << val.implementationVersion
+              << ", description: '" << val.description << "'"
+              << " }";
+};
+
+
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 std::ostream&
 operator<< (std::ostream &os, VkPhysicalDeviceType t)
diff --git a/ostream.hpp b/ostream.hpp
index f86b568..0dc5e1b 100644
--- a/ostream.hpp
+++ b/ostream.hpp
@@ -33,10 +33,13 @@ std::ostream& operator<< (std::ostream&, VkPhysicalDeviceType);
 
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-std::ostream& operator<< (std::ostream&, const VkQueueFamilyProperties&);
+std::ostream& operator<< (std::ostream&, const VkLayerProperties&);
+
 std::ostream& operator<< (std::ostream&, const VkPhysicalDeviceLimits&);
 std::ostream& operator<< (std::ostream&, const VkPhysicalDeviceProperties&);
 
+std::ostream& operator<< (std::ostream&, const VkQueueFamilyProperties&);
+
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 namespace cruft::vk {
diff --git a/queue.hpp b/queue.hpp
index 74b02a7..6fdda1b 100644
--- a/queue.hpp
+++ b/queue.hpp
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
 
 namespace cruft::vk {
     struct queue : public owned<queue,device> {
+        using owned<queue,device>::owned;
+
         void wait_idle (void);
 
         template <typename T>
diff --git a/tools/info.cpp b/tools/info.cpp
index 10e0f9f..fbef787 100644
--- a/tools/info.cpp
+++ b/tools/info.cpp
@@ -15,16 +15,23 @@
  *      2017, Danny Robson <danny@nerdcruft.net>
  */
 
+#include <cruft/util/iterator.hpp>
+
 #include <cruft/vk/instance.hpp>
 #include <cruft/vk/physical_device.hpp>
 #include <cruft/vk/ostream.hpp>
 
 #include <iostream>
 
+
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 int
 main (int, char**)
 {
+    std::cout << "available_layers: [ "
+              << util::make_infix (cruft::vk::instance::available_layers ())
+              << " ]\n";
+
     cruft::vk::instance instance;
     std::cout << "instance: " << instance << '\n';
 
diff --git a/traits.hpp b/traits.hpp
index 4caf953..670f4ee 100644
--- a/traits.hpp
+++ b/traits.hpp
@@ -31,13 +31,23 @@ namespace cruft::vk {
 
 
     //-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    #define DEFINE_STRUCTURE_TYPE(KLASS,VALUE)                  \
-    template <>                                                 \
-    struct structure_type<KLASS> :                              \
-        public std::integral_constant<VkStructureType, VALUE>   \
+    #define DEFINE_STRUCTURE_TYPE(KLASS,VALUE)  \
+    template <>                                 \
+    struct structure_type<KLASS> :              \
+        public std::integral_constant<          \
+            VkStructureType,                    \
+            PASTE(VK_STRUCTURE_TYPE_,VALUE)     \
+        >                                       \
     { }
 
-    DEFINE_STRUCTURE_TYPE (VkInstanceCreateInfo, VK_STRUCTURE_TYPE_INSTANCE_CREATE_INFO);
+    DEFINE_STRUCTURE_TYPE (VkInstanceCreateInfo,     INSTANCE_CREATE_INFO);
+    DEFINE_STRUCTURE_TYPE (VkApplicationInfo,        APPLICATION_INFO);
+    DEFINE_STRUCTURE_TYPE (VkDeviceQueueCreateInfo,  DEVICE_QUEUE_CREATE_INFO);
+    DEFINE_STRUCTURE_TYPE (VkDeviceCreateInfo,       DEVICE_CREATE_INFO);
+    DEFINE_STRUCTURE_TYPE (VkSwapchainCreateInfoKHR, SWAPCHAIN_CREATE_INFO_KHR);
+    DEFINE_STRUCTURE_TYPE (VkImageViewCreateInfo,    IMAGE_VIEW_CREATE_INFO);
+    DEFINE_STRUCTURE_TYPE (VkShaderModuleCreateInfo, SHADER_MODULE_CREATE_INFO);
+    DEFINE_STRUCTURE_TYPE (VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo, PIPELINE_SHADER_STAGE_CREATE_INFO);
 
     #undef DEFINE_STRUCTURE_TYPE
 
@@ -47,6 +57,28 @@ namespace cruft::vk {
     constexpr auto structure_type_v = structure_type<T>::value;
 
 
+    ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+    template <typename T>
+    struct create_info { };
+
+
+    //-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    #define DEFINE_CREATE_INFO(TARGET,INFO) \
+    template <> \
+    struct create_info<TARGET> \
+    { using type = INFO; }
+
+    DEFINE_CREATE_INFO (VkImageViewCreateInfo, VkImageViewCreateInfo);
+    DEFINE_CREATE_INFO (VkShaderModule,        VkShaderModuleCreateInfo);
+
+    #undef DEFINE_CREATE_INFO
+
+
+    //-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    template <typename T>
+    using create_info_t = typename create_info<T>::type;
+
+
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     template <typename T> struct id_traits { };
 
@@ -117,6 +149,11 @@ namespace cruft::vk {
         static constexpr auto destroy = vkDestroyShaderModule;
     };
 
+    template <>
+    struct life_traits<queue> {
+        static constexpr auto get = vkGetDeviceQueue;
+    };
+
     template <VkPipelineBindPoint> struct create_traits { };
     template <> struct create_traits<VK_PIPELINE_BIND_POINT_COMPUTE> {
         static constexpr auto func = vkCreateComputePipelines;
@@ -160,6 +197,10 @@ namespace cruft::vk {
     template <> struct enum_traits<physical_device> {
         static constexpr auto enumerate = vkEnumeratePhysicalDevices;
     };
+
+
+    ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+    template <typename T> struct format_traits {};
 }
 
 #endif