diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index f7eb291..d5eb61f 100644
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -1,11 +1,50 @@
 #!/bin/sh
+if [ -f "/opt/mow/uninst" ]; then
+  mow -u -f
+fi
+
 if [ ! -d "/opt/mow" ]; then
   mkdir /opt/mow
 fi
-cp ./.build-mow/mow /opt/mow/bin
+
+if [ ! -d "/var/opt/mow" ]; then
+  mkdir /var/opt/mow
+fi
+
+if [ ! -d "/etc/mow" ]; then
+  mkdir /etc/mow
+fi
+
+if [ ! -d "/var/opt/mow/buf" ]; then
+  mkdir /var/opt/mow/buf
+fi
+
+if [ ! -d "/var/opt/mow/web" ]; then
+  mkdir /var/opt/mow/web
+fi
+
+cp -v ./.build-mow/mow /opt/mow/bin
+
+echo "writing /opt/mow/run"
 printf "#!/bin/sh\n" > /opt/mow/run
 printf "/opt/mow/bin \$1 \$2 \$3\n" >> /opt/mow/run
-chmod +x /opt/mow/run
-chmod +x /opt/mow/bin
-rm /usr/bin/mow
-ln -s /opt/mow/run /usr/bin/mow
+
+echo "writing /opt/mow/uninst"
+printf "#!/bin/sh\n" > /opt/mow/uninst
+printf "rm -v /opt/mow/bin\n" >> /opt/mow/uninst
+printf "rm -v /opt/mow/run\n" >> /opt/mow/uninst
+printf "rm -v /opt/mow/uninst\n" >> /opt/mow/uninst
+printf "rm -v /usr/bin/mow\n" >> /opt/mow/uninst
+printf "rm -rv /opt/mow\n" >> /opt/mow/uninst
+printf "rm -r /var/opt/mow/buf\n" >> /opt/mow/uninst
+printf "deluser mow\n" >> /opt/mow/uninst
+
+useradd -r mow
+
+chown -R mow:mow /var/opt/mow
+
+chmod -v +x /opt/mow/run
+chmod -v +x /opt/mow/bin
+chmod -v +x /opt/mow/uninst
+
+ln -sv /opt/mow/run /usr/bin/mow
diff --git a/src/camera.cpp b/src/camera.cpp
index b555fa8..494ff41 100644
--- a/src/camera.cpp
+++ b/src/camera.cpp
@@ -12,46 +12,55 @@
 
 #include "camera.h"
 
-Camera::Camera(QObject *parent) : QObject(parent)
-{
-    shared.recordUrl.clear();
-    shared.postCmd.clear();
-    shared.camName.clear();
-
-    shared.retCode    = 0;
-    shared.imgThresh  = 8000;
-    shared.maxEvents  = 100;
-    shared.maxLogSize = 100000;
-    shared.skipCmd    = false;
-    shared.postSecs   = 60;
-    shared.evMaxSecs  = 30;
-    shared.buffPath   = QDir::tempPath();
-    shared.webRoot    = "/var/www/html";
-    shared.webBg      = "#485564";
-    shared.webTxt     = "#dee5ee";
-    shared.webFont    = "courier";
-}
+Camera::Camera(QObject *parent) : QObject(parent) {}
 
 int Camera::start(const QStringList &args)
 {
-    shared.conf = getParam("-c", args);
+    if (rdConf(getParam("-c", args), &shared))
+    {   
+        QDir().mkpath(shared.outDir);
+        QDir().mkpath(shared.tmpDir);
 
-    if (rdConf(&shared))
-    {
-        auto thr1 = new QThread(nullptr);
-        auto thr2 = new QThread(nullptr);
-        auto thr3 = new QThread(nullptr);
-        auto thr4 = new QThread(nullptr);
+        QDir().mkpath(shared.outDir + "/events");
+        QDir().mkpath(shared.tmpDir + "/live");
+        QDir().mkpath(shared.tmpDir + "/logs");
+        QDir().mkpath(shared.tmpDir + "/img");
 
-        new RecLoop(&shared, thr1, nullptr);
-        new Upkeep(&shared, thr2, nullptr);
-        new EventLoop(&shared, thr3, nullptr);
-        new DetectLoop(&shared, thr4, nullptr);
+        touch(shared.tmpDir + "/index.html");
+        touch(shared.tmpDir + "/stream.html");
+        touch(shared.tmpDir + "/stream.m3u8");
 
-        thr1->start();
-        thr2->start();
-        thr3->start();
-        thr4->start();
+        QFile::link(shared.tmpDir + "/live",        shared.outDir + "/live");
+        QFile::link(shared.tmpDir + "/logs",        shared.outDir + "/logs");
+        QFile::link(shared.tmpDir + "/img",         shared.outDir + "/img");
+        QFile::link(shared.tmpDir + "/index.html",  shared.outDir + "/index.html");
+        QFile::link(shared.tmpDir + "/stream.html", shared.outDir + "/stream.html");
+        QFile::link(shared.tmpDir + "/stream.m3u8", shared.outDir + "/stream.m3u8");
+        QFile::link(shared.outDir + "/events",      shared.tmpDir + "/events");
+
+        if (!QDir::setCurrent(shared.tmpDir))
+        {
+            QTextStream(stderr) << "err: failed to change/create the current working directory to camera folder: '" << shared.outDir << "' does it exists?" << Qt::endl;
+
+            shared.retCode = ENOENT;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            auto thr1 = new QThread(nullptr);
+            auto thr2 = new QThread(nullptr);
+            auto thr3 = new QThread(nullptr);
+            auto thr4 = new QThread(nullptr);
+
+            new RecLoop(&shared, thr1, nullptr);
+            new Upkeep(&shared, thr2, nullptr);
+            new EventLoop(&shared, thr3, nullptr);
+            new DetectLoop(&shared, thr4, nullptr);
+
+            thr1->start();
+            thr2->start();
+            thr3->start();
+            thr4->start();
+        }
     }
 
     return shared.retCode;
diff --git a/src/common.cpp b/src/common.cpp
index b4aaa1b..1afb09e 100644
--- a/src/common.cpp
+++ b/src/common.cpp
@@ -194,6 +194,24 @@ bool rdConf(const QString &filePath, shared_t *share)
     }
     else
     {
+        share->recordUrl.clear();
+        share->postCmd.clear();
+        share->camName.clear();
+
+        share->retCode    = 0;
+        share->imgThresh  = 8000;
+        share->maxEvents  = 100;
+        share->maxLogSize = 100000;
+        share->skipCmd    = false;
+        share->postSecs   = 60;
+        share->evMaxSecs  = 30;
+        share->conf       = filePath;
+        share->buffPath   = "/var/opt/" + QString(APP_BIN) + "/buf";
+        share->webRoot    = "/var/opt/" + QString(APP_BIN) + "/web";
+        share->webBg      = "#485564";
+        share->webTxt     = "#dee5ee";
+        share->webFont    = "courier";
+
         QString line;
 
         do
@@ -218,88 +236,47 @@ bool rdConf(const QString &filePath, shared_t *share)
             }
 
         } while(!line.isEmpty());
-    }
 
-    return share->retCode == 0;
-}
-
-bool rdConf(shared_t *share)
-{
-    if (rdConf(share->conf, share))
-    {
         if (share->camName.isEmpty())
         {
             share->camName = QFileInfo(share->conf).fileName();
         }
 
-        share->outDir = QDir().cleanPath(share->webRoot) + "/" + share->camName;
-        share->tmpDir = share->buffPath + "/" + APP_BIN + "/" + share->camName;
-
-        QDir().mkpath(share->outDir);
-        QDir().mkpath(share->tmpDir);
-
-        QDir().mkpath(share->outDir + "/events");
-        QDir().mkpath(share->tmpDir + "/live");
-        QDir().mkpath(share->tmpDir + "/logs");
-        QDir().mkpath(share->tmpDir + "/img");
-
-        touch(share->tmpDir + "/index.html");
-        touch(share->tmpDir + "/stream.html");
-        touch(share->tmpDir + "/stream.m3u8");
-
-        QFile::link(share->tmpDir + "/live",        share->outDir + "/live");
-        QFile::link(share->tmpDir + "/logs",        share->outDir + "/logs");
-        QFile::link(share->tmpDir + "/img",         share->outDir + "/img");
-        QFile::link(share->tmpDir + "/index.html",  share->outDir + "/index.html");
-        QFile::link(share->tmpDir + "/stream.html", share->outDir + "/stream.html");
-        QFile::link(share->tmpDir + "/stream.m3u8", share->outDir + "/stream.m3u8");
-        QFile::link(share->outDir + "/events",      share->tmpDir + "/events");
-
-        if (!QDir::setCurrent(share->tmpDir))
-        {
-            QTextStream(stderr) << "err: failed to change/create the current working directory to camera folder: '" << share->outDir << "' does it exists?" << Qt::endl;
-
-            share->retCode = ENOENT;
-        }
+        share->outDir   = QDir().cleanPath(share->webRoot) + "/" + share->camName;
+        share->tmpDir   = share->buffPath + "/" + APP_BIN + "/" + share->camName;
+        share->servPath = QString("/var/opt/") + APP_BIN + "/" + APP_BIN + "." + share->camName + ".service";
     }
 
     return share->retCode == 0;
 }
 
-MultiInstance::MultiInstance(QObject *parent) : QObject(parent) {}
-
-void MultiInstance::instStdout()
+void rmServices()
 {
-    for (auto &&proc : procList)
+    auto files = lsFilesInDir(QString("/var/opt/") + APP_BIN, ".service");
+
+    for (auto &&serv : files)
     {
-        QTextStream(stdout) << proc->readAllStandardOutput();
+        QProcess::execute("systemctl", {"stop", serv});
+        QProcess::execute("systemctl", {"disable", serv});
+
+        QFile::remove(QString("/lib/systemd/system/") + serv);
+        QFile::remove(QString("/var/opt/") + APP_BIN + "/" + serv);
+    }
+
+    QProcess::execute("systemctl", {"daemon-reload"});
+}
+
+void listServices()
+{
+    auto files = lsFilesInDir(QString("/var/opt/") + APP_BIN, ".service");
+
+    for (auto &&serv : files)
+    {
+        QTextStream(stdout) << serv << ": "; QProcess::execute("systemctl", {"is-active", serv});
     }
 }
 
-void MultiInstance::instStderr()
-{
-    for (auto &&proc : procList)
-    {
-        QTextStream(stderr) << proc->readAllStandardError();
-    }
-}
-
-void MultiInstance::procChanged(QProcess::ProcessState newState)
-{
-    Q_UNUSED(newState)
-
-    for (auto &&proc : procList)
-    {
-        if (proc->state() == QProcess::Running)
-        {
-            return;
-        }
-    }
-
-    QCoreApplication::quit();
-}
-
-int MultiInstance::start(const QStringList &args)
+int loadServices(const QStringList &args)
 {
     auto ret   = ENOENT;
     auto path  = QDir().cleanPath(getParam("-d", args));
@@ -307,35 +284,77 @@ int MultiInstance::start(const QStringList &args)
 
     if (!QDir(path).exists())
     {
-        QTextStream(stderr) << "err: the supplied directory in -d '" << path << "' does not exists or is not a directory.";
+        QTextStream(stderr) << "err: the supplied directory in -d '" << path << "' does not exists or is not a directory." << Qt::endl;
     }
     else if (files.isEmpty())
     {
-        QTextStream(stderr) << "err: no config files found in '" << path << "'";
+        QTextStream(stderr) << "err: no config files found in '" << path << "'" << Qt::endl;
     }
     else
     {
         ret = 0;
 
+        QTextStream(stdout) << "loading conf files from dir: " << path << Qt::endl;
+
         for (auto &&conf : files)
         {
-            auto proc = new QProcess(this);
+            shared_t shared;
 
-            QStringList subArgs;
+            if (!rdConf(path + "/" + conf, &shared))
+            {
+                ret = shared.retCode; break;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                QTextStream(stdout) << conf << " --" << Qt::endl;
 
-            subArgs << "-c" << path + "/" + conf;
+                QFile file(shared.servPath);
 
-            connect(proc, &QProcess::readyReadStandardOutput, this, &MultiInstance::instStdout);
-            connect(proc, &QProcess::readyReadStandardError,  this, &MultiInstance::instStderr);
-            connect(proc, &QProcess::stateChanged,            this, &MultiInstance::procChanged);
+                if (!file.open(QFile::ReadWrite | QFile::Truncate))
+                {
+                    QTextStream(stderr) << "err: failed to open service file: " << shared.servPath << " for writing. reason: " << file.errorString();
 
-            connect(QCoreApplication::instance(), &QCoreApplication::aboutToQuit, proc, &QProcess::terminate);
+                    ret = EACCES; file.close(); break;
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    file.write("[Unit]\n");
+                    file.write("Description=" + QByteArray(APP_NAME) + " Camera - " + shared.camName.toUtf8() + "\n");
+                    file.write("After=network.target\n\n");
+                    file.write("[Service]\n");
+                    file.write("Type=simple\n");
+                    file.write("User=" + QByteArray(APP_BIN) + "\n");
+                    file.write("Restart=always\n");
+                    file.write("RestartSec=5\n");
+                    file.write("TimeoutStopSec=infinity\n");
+                    file.write("ExecStart=/usr/bin/env " + QByteArray(APP_BIN) + " -c " + shared.conf.toUtf8() + "\n\n");
+                    file.write("[Install]\n");
+                    file.write("WantedBy=multi-user.target");
+                    file.close();
 
-            proc->setProgram(APP_BIN);
-            proc->setArguments(subArgs);
-            proc->start();
+                    auto servName = QFileInfo(shared.servPath).fileName();
 
-            procList.append(proc);
+                    if (!QFile::link(shared.servPath, "/lib/systemd/system/" + servName))
+                    {
+                        ret = EACCES; break;
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        if (ret == 0) ret = QProcess::execute("systemctl", {"daemon-reload"});
+                        if (ret == 0) ret = QProcess::execute("systemctl", {"enable", servName});
+                        if (ret == 0) ret = QProcess::execute("systemctl", {"start", servName});
+
+                        if (ret != 0)
+                        {
+                            break;
+                        }
+                        else
+                        {
+                            QTextStream(stdout) << "Successfully loaded camera service: " << servName << Qt::endl;
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/common.h b/src/common.h
index 00c33e9..400e067 100644
--- a/src/common.h
+++ b/src/common.h
@@ -26,10 +26,11 @@
 #include <QTimer>
 #include <QStringList>
 #include <QMutex>
+#include <iostream>
 
 using namespace std;
 
-#define APP_VER      "3.1"
+#define APP_VER      "3.2.t1"
 #define APP_NAME     "Motion Watch"
 #define APP_BIN      "mow"
 #define REC_LOG_NAME "rec_log_lines.html"
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ struct shared_t
     QString      webTxt;
     QString      webFont;
     QString      webRoot;
+    QString      servPath;
     bool         skipCmd;
     int          evMaxSecs;
     int          postSecs;
@@ -82,7 +84,9 @@ QStringList listFacingFiles(const QString &path, const QString &ext, const QDate
 QStringList backwardFacingFiles(const QString &path, const QString &ext, const QDateTime &stamp, int secs);
 QStringList forwardFacingFiles(const QString &path, const QString &ext, const QDateTime &stamp, int secs);
 bool        rdConf(const QString &filePath, shared_t *share);
-bool        rdConf(shared_t *share);
+int         loadServices(const QStringList &args);
+void        listServices();
+void        rmServices();
 void        touch(const QString &path);
 void        rdLine(const QString &param, const QString &line, QString *value);
 void        rdLine(const QString &param, const QString &line, int *value);
@@ -90,25 +94,4 @@ void        enforceMaxEvents(shared_t *share);
 void        enforceMaxImages();
 void        enforceMaxVids();
 
-class MultiInstance : public QObject
-{
-    Q_OBJECT
-
-private:
-
-    QList<QProcess*> procList;
-
-private slots:
-
-    void instStdout();
-    void instStderr();
-    void procChanged(QProcess::ProcessState newState);
-
-public:
-
-    explicit MultiInstance(QObject *parent = nullptr);
-
-    int start(const QStringList &args);
-};
-
 #endif // COMMON_H
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 78779ee..b7303ba 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,27 @@
 #include "common.h"
 #include "camera.h"
 
+void showHelp()
+{
+    QTextStream(stdout) << APP_NAME << " " << APP_VER << Qt::endl << Qt::endl;
+    QTextStream(stdout) << "Usage: mow <argument>" << Qt::endl << Qt::endl;
+    QTextStream(stdout) << "-h : display usage information about this application." << Qt::endl;
+    QTextStream(stdout) << "-c : path to the config file used to run a single camera instance." << Qt::endl;
+    QTextStream(stdout) << "-d : path to a directory that can contain multiple config files." << Qt::endl;
+    QTextStream(stdout) << "     each file found in the directory will be used to create a " << Qt::endl;
+    QTextStream(stdout) << "     systemd service for the camera. already existing camera" << Qt::endl;
+    QTextStream(stdout) << "     services will be reloaded and restarted. any services without" << Qt::endl;
+    QTextStream(stdout) << "     a config file will be removed." << Qt::endl;
+    QTextStream(stdout) << "-i : this is the same as -d except a directory does not need to be" << Qt::endl;
+    QTextStream(stdout) << "     provided. the default directory /etc/" << APP_BIN << " will be used." << Qt::endl;
+    QTextStream(stdout) << "-v : display the current version." << Qt::endl;
+    QTextStream(stdout) << "-u : uninstall the entire app from your system, including all" << Qt::endl;
+    QTextStream(stdout) << "     camera services." << Qt::endl;
+    QTextStream(stdout) << "-f : force an action without pausing for user confirmation." << Qt::endl;
+    QTextStream(stdout) << "-l : list all camera services along with statuses." << Qt::endl;
+    QTextStream(stdout) << "-r : remove all camera services." << Qt::endl;
+ }
+
 int main(int argc, char** argv)
 {   
     QCoreApplication app(argc, argv);
@@ -25,14 +46,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 
     if (args.contains("-h"))
     {
-        QTextStream(stdout) << "Motion Watch " << APP_VER << Qt::endl << Qt::endl;
-        QTextStream(stdout) << "Usage: mow <argument>" << Qt::endl << Qt::endl;
-        QTextStream(stdout) << "-h : display usage information about this application." << Qt::endl;
-        QTextStream(stdout) << "-c : path to the config file used to run a single camera instance." << Qt::endl;
-        QTextStream(stdout) << "-d : path to a directory that can contain multiple config files." << Qt::endl;
-        QTextStream(stdout) << "     each file found in the directory will be used to run a" << Qt::endl;
-        QTextStream(stdout) << "     camera instance." << Qt::endl;
-        QTextStream(stdout) << "-v : display the current version." << Qt::endl << Qt::endl;
+        showHelp();
     }
     else if (args.contains("-v"))
     {
@@ -40,14 +54,17 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
     }
     else if (args.contains("-d"))
     {
-        auto *muli = new MultiInstance(&app);
+        rmServices(); ret = loadServices(args);
+    }
+    else if (args.contains("-l"))
+    {
+        listServices();
+    }
+    else if (args.contains("-i"))
+    {
+        args = {"-d", "/etc/" + QString(APP_BIN)};
 
-        ret = muli->start(args);
-
-        if (ret == 0)
-        {
-            ret = QCoreApplication::exec();
-        }
+        rmServices(); ret = loadServices(args);
     }
     else if (args.contains("-c"))
     {
@@ -60,9 +77,32 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
             ret = QCoreApplication::exec();
         }
     }
+    else if (args.contains("-u"))
+    {
+        if (args.contains("-f"))
+        {
+            rmServices(); QProcess::execute("/opt/mow/uninst");
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            char ans;
+
+            std::cout << "This will completely uninstall " << APP_NAME << " from your system. continue y/n? ";
+            std::cin >> ans;
+
+            if (ans == 'y' || ans == 'Y')
+            {
+                rmServices(); QProcess::execute("/opt/mow/uninst");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    else if (args.contains("-r"))
+    {
+        rmServices();
+    }
     else
     {
-        QTextStream(stderr) << "err: no config file(s) were given in -c" << Qt::endl;
+        showHelp();
     }
 
     return ret;