diff --git a/db/migrations-blockstore/000001_init.up.sql b/db/migrations-blockstore/000001_init.up.sql
index dd4b70a0e..fce5a6986 100644
--- a/db/migrations-blockstore/000001_init.up.sql
+++ b/db/migrations-blockstore/000001_init.up.sql
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 CREATE TABLE db_block_file (
     blockid varchar(36) NOT NULL,
     name varchar(200) NOT NULL,
-    maxsize bigint NOT NULL,
-    circular boolean NOT NULL,
     size bigint NOT NULL,
     createdts bigint NOT NULL,
     modts bigint NOT NULL,
+    opts json NOT NULL,
     meta json NOT NULL,
     PRIMARY KEY (blockid, name)
 );
diff --git a/pkg/blockstore/blockstore.go b/pkg/blockstore/blockstore.go
index e25b084ee..95514f4a8 100644
--- a/pkg/blockstore/blockstore.go
+++ b/pkg/blockstore/blockstore.go
@@ -14,11 +14,13 @@ import (
 	"time"
 )
 
-const PartDataSize = 64 * 1024
+const DefaultPartDataSize = 64 * 1024
 const DefaultFlushTime = 5 * time.Second
 const NoPartIdx = -1
 
-var GlobalBlockStore *BlockStore = &BlockStore{
+var partDataSize int64 = DefaultPartDataSize // overridden in tests
+
+var GBS *BlockStore = &BlockStore{
 	Lock:      &sync.Mutex{},
 	Cache:     make(map[cacheKey]*CacheEntry),
 	FlushTime: DefaultFlushTime,
@@ -81,6 +83,11 @@ func (s *BlockStore) MakeFile(ctx context.Context, blockId string, name string,
 	if opts.Circular && opts.IJson {
 		return fmt.Errorf("circular file cannot be ijson")
 	}
+	if opts.Circular {
+		if opts.MaxSize%partDataSize != 0 {
+			opts.MaxSize = (opts.MaxSize/partDataSize + 1) * partDataSize
+		}
+	}
 	now := time.Now().UnixMilli()
 	file := &BlockFile{
 		BlockId:   blockId,
@@ -124,7 +131,7 @@ func (s *BlockStore) Stat(ctx context.Context, blockId string, name string) (*Bl
 	if ok {
 		return file, nil
 	}
-	return dbGetFile(ctx, blockId, name)
+	return dbGetBlockFile(ctx, blockId, name)
 }
 
 func stripNils[T any](arr []*T) []*T {
@@ -163,7 +170,7 @@ func (s *BlockStore) ListFiles(ctx context.Context, blockId string) ([]*BlockFil
 func (s *BlockStore) WriteMeta(ctx context.Context, blockId string, name string, meta FileMeta) error {
 	file, ok := s.getFileFromCache(blockId, name)
 	if !ok {
-		dbFile, err := dbGetFile(ctx, blockId, name)
+		dbFile, err := dbGetBlockFile(ctx, blockId, name)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error getting file: %v", err)
 		}
@@ -195,7 +202,7 @@ func (s *BlockStore) loadFileInfo(ctx context.Context, blockId string, name stri
 		}
 		return file, nil
 	}
-	dbFile, err := dbGetFile(ctx, blockId, name)
+	dbFile, err := dbGetBlockFile(ctx, blockId, name)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error getting file: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -222,16 +229,16 @@ func (s *BlockStore) loadFileInfo(ctx context.Context, blockId string, name stri
 }
 
 func (f *BlockFile) getLastIncompletePartNum() int {
-	if f.Size%PartDataSize == 0 {
+	if f.Size%partDataSize == 0 {
 		return NoPartIdx
 	}
 	return f.partIdxAtOffset(f.Size)
 }
 
 func (f *BlockFile) partIdxAtOffset(offset int64) int {
-	partIdx := int(offset / PartDataSize)
+	partIdx := int(offset / partDataSize)
 	if f.Opts.Circular {
-		maxPart := int(f.Opts.MaxSize / PartDataSize)
+		maxPart := int(f.Opts.MaxSize / partDataSize)
 		partIdx = partIdx % maxPart
 	}
 	return partIdx
@@ -363,9 +370,9 @@ func (s *BlockStore) ReadAt(ctx context.Context, blockId string, name string, of
 		}
 	}
 	var partsNeeded []int
-	lastPartOffset := (offset + size) % PartDataSize
-	endOffsetOfLastPart := offset + size - lastPartOffset + PartDataSize
-	for i := offset; i < endOffsetOfLastPart; i += PartDataSize {
+	lastPartOffset := (offset + size) % partDataSize
+	endOffsetOfLastPart := offset + size - lastPartOffset + partDataSize
+	for i := offset; i < endOffsetOfLastPart; i += partDataSize {
 		partsNeeded = append(partsNeeded, file.partIdxAtOffset(i))
 	}
 	dataEntries, err := dbGetFileParts(ctx, blockId, name, partsNeeded)
@@ -398,12 +405,12 @@ func (s *BlockStore) ReadAt(ctx context.Context, blockId string, name string, of
 		partDataEntry := dataEntries[partIdx]
 		var partData []byte
 		if partDataEntry == nil {
-			partData = make([]byte, PartDataSize)
+			partData = make([]byte, partDataSize)
 		} else {
-			partData = partDataEntry.Data[0:PartDataSize]
+			partData = partDataEntry.Data[0:partDataSize]
 		}
-		partOffset := curReadOffset % PartDataSize
-		amtToRead := minInt64(PartDataSize-partOffset, amtLeftToRead)
+		partOffset := curReadOffset % partDataSize
+		amtToRead := minInt64(partDataSize-partOffset, amtLeftToRead)
 		rtn = append(rtn, partData[partOffset:partOffset+amtToRead]...)
 		amtLeftToRead -= amtToRead
 		curReadOffset += amtToRead
diff --git a/pkg/blockstore/blockstore_cache.go b/pkg/blockstore/blockstore_cache.go
index ab88eacef..dc6ba26bc 100644
--- a/pkg/blockstore/blockstore_cache.go
+++ b/pkg/blockstore/blockstore_cache.go
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ func (e *CacheEntry) ensurePart(partIdx int, create bool) *DataCacheEntry {
 	if create && e.DataEntries[partIdx] == nil {
 		e.DataEntries[partIdx] = &DataCacheEntry{
 			PartIdx: partIdx,
-			Data:    make([]byte, 0, PartDataSize),
+			Data:    make([]byte, 0, partDataSize),
 			Dirty:   &atomic.Bool{},
 		}
 	}
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ func (e *CacheEntry) ensurePart(partIdx int, create bool) *DataCacheEntry {
 }
 
 func (dce *DataCacheEntry) writeToPart(offset int64, data []byte) int64 {
-	leftInPart := PartDataSize - offset
+	leftInPart := partDataSize - offset
 	toWrite := int64(len(data))
 	if toWrite > leftInPart {
 		toWrite = leftInPart
@@ -73,12 +73,12 @@ func (dce *DataCacheEntry) writeToPart(offset int64, data []byte) int64 {
 
 func (entry *CacheEntry) writeAt(offset int64, data []byte) {
 	for len(data) > 0 {
-		partIdx := int(offset / PartDataSize)
+		partIdx := int(offset / partDataSize)
 		if entry.FileEntry.File.Opts.Circular {
-			maxPart := int(entry.FileEntry.File.Opts.MaxSize / PartDataSize)
+			maxPart := int(entry.FileEntry.File.Opts.MaxSize / partDataSize)
 			partIdx = partIdx % maxPart
 		}
-		partOffset := offset % PartDataSize
+		partOffset := offset % partDataSize
 		partData := entry.ensurePart(partIdx, true)
 		nw := partData.writeToPart(partOffset, data)
 		data = data[nw:]
diff --git a/pkg/blockstore/blockstore_dbops.go b/pkg/blockstore/blockstore_dbops.go
index 583737ef7..03d338e7d 100644
--- a/pkg/blockstore/blockstore_dbops.go
+++ b/pkg/blockstore/blockstore_dbops.go
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ func dbInsertFile(ctx context.Context, file *BlockFile) error {
 	// will fail if file already exists
 	return WithTx(ctx, func(tx *TxWrap) error {
 		query := "INSERT INTO db_block_file (blockid, name, size, createdts, modts, opts, meta) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)"
-		tx.Exec(query, file.BlockId, file.Name, file.Size, file.CreatedTs, file.ModTs, file.Opts, file.Meta)
+		tx.Exec(query, file.BlockId, file.Name, file.Size, file.CreatedTs, file.ModTs, dbutil.QuickJson(file.Opts), dbutil.QuickJson(file.Meta))
 		return nil
 	})
 }
@@ -46,12 +46,11 @@ func dbDeleteBlock(ctx context.Context, blockId string) error {
 	})
 }
 
-func dbGetFile(ctx context.Context, blockId string, name string) (*BlockFile, error) {
+func dbGetBlockFile(ctx context.Context, blockId string, name string) (*BlockFile, error) {
 	return WithTxRtn(ctx, func(tx *TxWrap) (*BlockFile, error) {
-		var file BlockFile
 		query := "SELECT * FROM db_block_file WHERE blockid = ? AND name = ?"
-		tx.Get(&file, query, blockId, name)
-		return &file, nil
+		file := dbutil.GetMappable[*BlockFile](tx, query, blockId, name)
+		return file, nil
 	})
 }
 
@@ -80,9 +79,8 @@ func dbGetFileParts(ctx context.Context, blockId string, name string, parts []in
 
 func dbGetBlockFiles(ctx context.Context, blockId string) ([]*BlockFile, error) {
 	return WithTxRtn(ctx, func(tx *TxWrap) ([]*BlockFile, error) {
-		var files []*BlockFile
 		query := "SELECT * FROM db_block_file WHERE blockid = ?"
-		tx.Select(&files, query, blockId)
+		files := dbutil.SelectMappable[*BlockFile](tx, query, blockId)
 		return files, nil
 	})
 }
@@ -99,7 +97,7 @@ func dbWriteCacheEntry(ctx context.Context, fileEntry *FileCacheEntry, dataEntri
 		}
 		if fileEntry.Dirty.Load() {
 			query := `UPDATE db_block_file SET size = ?, createdts = ?, modts = ?, opts = ?, meta = ? WHERE blockid = ? AND name = ?`
-			tx.Exec(query, fileEntry.File.Size, fileEntry.File.CreatedTs, fileEntry.File.ModTs, fileEntry.File.Opts, fileEntry.File.Meta, fileEntry.File.BlockId, fileEntry.File.Name)
+			tx.Exec(query, fileEntry.File.Size, fileEntry.File.CreatedTs, fileEntry.File.ModTs, dbutil.QuickJson(fileEntry.File.Opts), dbutil.QuickJson(fileEntry.File.Meta), fileEntry.File.BlockId, fileEntry.File.Name)
 		}
 		dataPartQuery := `REPLACE INTO db_block_data (blockid, name, partidx, data) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)`
 		for _, dataEntry := range dataEntries {
diff --git a/pkg/blockstore/blockstore_test.go b/pkg/blockstore/blockstore_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2fad077f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/blockstore/blockstore_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+// Copyright 2024, Command Line Inc.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+package blockstore
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+)
+
+func initDb(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Logf("initializing db for %q", t.Name())
+	useTestingDb = true
+	partDataSize = 64
+	err := MigrateBlockstore(false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("error migrating blockstore: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func cleanupDb(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Logf("cleaning up db for %q", t.Name())
+	globalDBLock.Lock()
+	defer globalDBLock.Unlock()
+	if globalDB != nil {
+		globalDB.Close()
+		globalDB = nil
+	}
+	globalDBErr = nil
+	useTestingDb = false
+	partDataSize = DefaultPartDataSize
+}
+
+func TestCreate(t *testing.T) {
+	initDb(t)
+	defer cleanupDb(t)
+
+	ctx, cancelFn := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
+	defer cancelFn()
+	blockId := uuid.New().String()
+	err := GBS.MakeFile(ctx, blockId, "testfile", nil, FileOptsType{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("error creating file: %v", err)
+	}
+	file, err := GBS.Stat(ctx, blockId, "testfile")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("error stating file: %v", err)
+	}
+	if file == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("file not found")
+	}
+	if file.BlockId != blockId {
+		t.Fatalf("block id mismatch")
+	}
+	if file.Name != "testfile" {
+		t.Fatalf("name mismatch")
+	}
+	if file.Size != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("size mismatch")
+	}
+	if file.CreatedTs == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("created ts zero")
+	}
+	if file.ModTs == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("mod ts zero")
+	}
+	if file.CreatedTs != file.ModTs {
+		t.Fatalf("create ts != mod ts")
+	}
+	if len(file.Meta) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("meta should have no values")
+	}
+	if file.Opts.Circular || file.Opts.IJson || file.Opts.MaxSize != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("opts not empty")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/blockstore/dbsetup.go b/pkg/blockstore/dbsetup.go
index 500158d7e..49f7f9019 100644
--- a/pkg/blockstore/dbsetup.go
+++ b/pkg/blockstore/dbsetup.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/wavetermdev/thenextwave/pkg/wavebase"
 
 	"github.com/golang-migrate/migrate/v4"
-	_ "github.com/golang-migrate/migrate/v4/database/sqlite3"
+	sqlite3migrate "github.com/golang-migrate/migrate/v4/database/sqlite3"
 	"github.com/golang-migrate/migrate/v4/source/iofs"
 	"github.com/jmoiron/sqlx"
 	_ "github.com/mattn/go-sqlite3"
@@ -35,9 +35,10 @@ var dbWrap *SingleConnDBGetter = &SingleConnDBGetter{SingleConnLock: &sync.Mutex
 var globalDBLock = &sync.Mutex{}
 var globalDB *sqlx.DB
 var globalDBErr error
+var useTestingDb bool // just for testing (forces GetDB() to return an in-memory db)
 
 func InitBlockstore() error {
-	err := MigrateBlockstore()
+	err := MigrateBlockstore(false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -63,6 +64,16 @@ func GetDB(ctx context.Context) (*sqlx.DB, error) {
 	globalDBLock.Lock()
 	defer globalDBLock.Unlock()
 	if globalDB == nil && globalDBErr == nil {
+		if useTestingDb {
+			dbName := ":memory:"
+			globalDB, globalDBErr = sqlx.Open("sqlite3", dbName)
+			if globalDBErr != nil {
+				log.Printf("[db] in-memory db err: %v\n", globalDBErr)
+			} else {
+				log.Printf("[db] using in-memory db\n")
+			}
+			return globalDB, globalDBErr
+		}
 		dbName := GetDBName()
 		globalDB, globalDBErr = sqlx.Open("sqlite3", fmt.Sprintf("file:%s?cache=shared&mode=rwc&_journal_mode=WAL&_busy_timeout=5000", dbName))
 		if globalDBErr != nil {
@@ -110,15 +121,24 @@ func MakeBlockstoreMigrate() (*migrate.Migrate, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("opening iofs: %w", err)
 	}
-	dbUrl := fmt.Sprintf("sqlite3://%s", GetDBName())
-	m, err := migrate.NewWithSourceInstance("iofs", fsVar, dbUrl)
+	ctx, cancelFn := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
+	defer cancelFn()
+	db, err := GetDB(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	mdriver, err := sqlite3migrate.WithInstance(db.DB, &sqlite3migrate.Config{})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("making blockstore migration driver: %w", err)
+	}
+	m, err := migrate.NewWithInstance("iofs", fsVar, "sqlite3", mdriver)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("making blockstore migration db[%s]: %w", GetDBName(), err)
 	}
 	return m, nil
 }
 
-func MigrateBlockstore() error {
+func MigrateBlockstore(shouldClose bool) error {
 	log.Printf("migrate blockstore\n")
 	m, err := MakeBlockstoreMigrate()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -131,7 +151,9 @@ func MigrateBlockstore() error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("cannot get current migration version: %v", err)
 	}
-	defer m.Close()
+	if shouldClose {
+		defer m.Close()
+	}
 	err = m.Up()
 	if err != nil && err != migrate.ErrNoChange {
 		return fmt.Errorf("migrating blockstore: %w", err)