diff --git a/cmd/generate/main-generate.go b/cmd/generate/main-generate.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..54b4bd6f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/generate/main-generate.go
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+// Copyright 2024, Command Line Inc.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"reflect"
+
+	"github.com/wavetermdev/thenextwave/pkg/waveobj"
+	"github.com/wavetermdev/thenextwave/pkg/wstore"
+)
+
+func main() {
+	tsTypesMap := make(map[reflect.Type]string)
+	var waveObj waveobj.WaveObj
+	waveobj.GenerateTSType(reflect.TypeOf(waveobj.ORef{}), tsTypesMap)
+	waveobj.GenerateTSType(reflect.TypeOf(&waveObj).Elem(), tsTypesMap)
+	for _, rtype := range wstore.AllWaveObjTypes() {
+		waveobj.GenerateTSType(rtype, tsTypesMap)
+	}
+	for _, ts := range tsTypesMap {
+		fmt.Print(ts)
+		fmt.Print("\n")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/main-wsh.go b/cmd/wsh/main-wsh.go
similarity index 100%
rename from cmd/main-wsh.go
rename to cmd/wsh/main-wsh.go
diff --git a/frontend/app/store/global.ts b/frontend/app/store/global.ts
index f615f4b95..3089e7575 100644
--- a/frontend/app/store/global.ts
+++ b/frontend/app/store/global.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,18 @@
 // Copyright 2024, Command Line Inc.
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
+import * as React from "react";
 import * as jotai from "jotai";
-import { atomFamily } from "jotai/utils";
+import * as jotaiUtils from "jotai/utils";
 import { v4 as uuidv4 } from "uuid";
 import * as rxjs from "rxjs";
 import type { WailsEvent } from "@wailsio/runtime/types/events";
 import { Events } from "@wailsio/runtime";
 import { produce } from "immer";
 import { BlockService } from "@/bindings/blockservice";
+import { ObjectService } from "@/bindings/objectservice";
 import * as wstore from "@/gopkg/wstore";
+import { Call as $Call } from "@wailsio/runtime";
 
 const globalStore = jotai.createStore();
 
@@ -105,4 +108,93 @@ function removeBlockFromTab(tabId: string, blockId: string) {
     BlockService.CloseBlock(blockId);
 }
 
-export { globalStore, atoms, getBlockSubject, addBlockIdToTab, blockDataMap, useBlockAtom, removeBlockFromTab };
+function GetObject(oref: string): Promise<any> {
+    let prtn = $Call.ByName(
+        "github.com/wavetermdev/thenextwave/pkg/service/objectservice.ObjectService.GetObject",
+        oref
+    );
+    return prtn;
+}
+
+type WaveObjectHookData = {
+    oref: string;
+};
+
+type WaveObjectValue<T> = {
+    pendingPromise: Promise<any>;
+    value: T;
+    loading: boolean;
+};
+
+const waveObjectValueCache = new Map<string, WaveObjectValue<any>>();
+let waveObjectAtomCache = new WeakMap<WaveObjectHookData, jotai.Atom<any>>();
+
+function clearWaveObjectCache() {
+    waveObjectValueCache.clear();
+    waveObjectAtomCache = new WeakMap<WaveObjectHookData, jotai.Atom<any>>();
+}
+
+function createWaveObjectAtom<T>(oref: string): jotai.Atom<[T, boolean]> {
+    let cacheVal: WaveObjectValue<T> = waveObjectValueCache.get(oref);
+    if (cacheVal == null) {
+        cacheVal = { pendingPromise: null, value: null, loading: true };
+        cacheVal.pendingPromise = GetObject(oref).then((val) => {
+            cacheVal.value = val;
+            cacheVal.loading = false;
+            cacheVal.pendingPromise = null;
+        });
+        waveObjectValueCache.set(oref, cacheVal);
+    }
+    return jotai.atom(
+        (get) => {
+            return [cacheVal.value, cacheVal.loading];
+        },
+        (get, set, newVal: T) => {
+            cacheVal.value = newVal;
+        }
+    );
+}
+
+function useWaveObjectValue<T>(oref: string): [T, boolean] {
+    const objRef = React.useRef<WaveObjectHookData>(null);
+    if (objRef.current == null) {
+        objRef.current = { oref: oref };
+    }
+    const objHookData = objRef.current;
+    let objAtom = waveObjectAtomCache.get(objHookData);
+    if (objAtom == null) {
+        objAtom = createWaveObjectAtom(oref);
+        waveObjectAtomCache.set(objHookData, objAtom);
+    }
+    const atomVal = jotai.useAtomValue(objAtom);
+    return [atomVal[0], atomVal[1]];
+}
+
+function useWaveObject<T>(oref: string): [T, boolean, (T) => void] {
+    const objRef = React.useRef<WaveObjectHookData>(null);
+    if (objRef.current == null) {
+        objRef.current = { oref: oref };
+    }
+    const objHookData = objRef.current;
+    let objAtom = waveObjectAtomCache.get(objHookData);
+    if (objAtom == null) {
+        objAtom = createWaveObjectAtom(oref);
+        waveObjectAtomCache.set(objHookData, objAtom);
+    }
+    const [atomVal, setAtomVal] = jotai.useAtom(objAtom);
+    return [atomVal[0], atomVal[1], setAtomVal];
+}
+
+export {
+    globalStore,
+    atoms,
+    getBlockSubject,
+    addBlockIdToTab,
+    blockDataMap,
+    useBlockAtom,
+    removeBlockFromTab,
+    GetObject,
+    useWaveObject,
+    useWaveObjectValue,
+    clearWaveObjectCache,
+};
diff --git a/frontend/types/custom.d.ts b/frontend/types/custom.d.ts
index d12626e2e..c7111e1c5 100644
--- a/frontend/types/custom.d.ts
+++ b/frontend/types/custom.d.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,97 @@
 // Copyright 2024, Command Line Inc.
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
-declare global {}
+declare global {
+    type ORef = {
+        otype: string;
+        oid: string;
+    };
+
+    type Block = {
+        otype: string;
+        oid: string;
+        version: number;
+        blockdef: BlockDef;
+        controller: string;
+        view: string;
+        meta?: { [key: string]: any };
+        runtimeopts?: RuntimeOpts;
+    };
+
+    type BlockDef = {
+        controller: string;
+        view?: string;
+        files?: { [key: string]: FileDef };
+        meta?: { [key: string]: any };
+    };
+
+    type FileDef = {
+        filetype?: string;
+        path?: string;
+        url?: string;
+        content?: string;
+        meta?: { [key: string]: any };
+    };
+
+    type TermSize = {
+        rows: number;
+        cols: number;
+    };
+
+    type Client = {
+        otype: string;
+        oid: string;
+        version: number;
+        mainwindowid: string;
+    };
+
+    type Tab = {
+        otype: string;
+        oid: string;
+        version: number;
+        name: string;
+        blockids: string[];
+    };
+
+    type Point = {
+        x: number;
+        y: number;
+    };
+
+    type WinSize = {
+        width: number;
+        height: number;
+    };
+
+    type Workspace = {
+        otype: string;
+        oid: string;
+        version: number;
+        name: string;
+        tabids: string[];
+    };
+
+    type RuntimeOpts = {
+        termsize?: TermSize;
+        winsize?: WinSize;
+    };
+
+    type WaveObj = {
+        otype: string;
+        oid: string;
+    };
+
+    type Window = {
+        otype: string;
+        oid: string;
+        version: number;
+        workspaceid: string;
+        activetabid: string;
+        activeblockmap: { [key: string]: string };
+        pos: Point;
+        winsize: WinSize;
+        lastfocusts: number;
+    };
+}
 
 export {};
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 9c2532355..7b976f801 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/wavetermdev/thenextwave/pkg/service/blockservice"
 	"github.com/wavetermdev/thenextwave/pkg/service/clientservice"
 	"github.com/wavetermdev/thenextwave/pkg/service/fileservice"
+	"github.com/wavetermdev/thenextwave/pkg/service/objectservice"
 	"github.com/wavetermdev/thenextwave/pkg/wavebase"
 	"github.com/wavetermdev/thenextwave/pkg/wstore"
 
@@ -131,6 +132,7 @@ func main() {
 			application.NewService(&fileservice.FileService{}),
 			application.NewService(&blockservice.BlockService{}),
 			application.NewService(&clientservice.ClientService{}),
+			application.NewService(&objectservice.ObjectService{}),
 		},
 		Icon: appIcon,
 		Assets: application.AssetOptions{
diff --git a/pkg/service/objectservice/objectservice.go b/pkg/service/objectservice/objectservice.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..96995599d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/service/objectservice/objectservice.go
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+// Copyright 2024, Command Line Inc.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+package objectservice
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/wavetermdev/thenextwave/pkg/waveobj"
+	"github.com/wavetermdev/thenextwave/pkg/wstore"
+)
+
+type ObjectService struct{}
+
+const DefaultTimeout = 2 * time.Second
+
+func parseORef(oref string) (*waveobj.ORef, error) {
+	fields := strings.Split(oref, ":")
+	if len(fields) != 2 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid object reference: %q", oref)
+	}
+	return &waveobj.ORef{OType: fields[0], OID: fields[1]}, nil
+}
+
+func (svc *ObjectService) GetObject(orefStr string) (any, error) {
+	oref, err := parseORef(orefStr)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	ctx, cancelFn := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), DefaultTimeout)
+	defer cancelFn()
+	obj, err := wstore.DBGetORef(ctx, *oref)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error getting object: %w", err)
+	}
+	return obj, nil
+}
+
+func (svc *ObjectService) GetObjects(orefStrArr []string) (any, error) {
+	ctx, cancelFn := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), DefaultTimeout)
+	defer cancelFn()
+
+	var orefArr []waveobj.ORef
+	for _, orefStr := range orefStrArr {
+		orefObj, err := parseORef(orefStr)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		orefArr = append(orefArr, *orefObj)
+	}
+	return wstore.DBSelectORefs(ctx, orefArr)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/waveobj/waveobj.go b/pkg/waveobj/waveobj.go
index fb773fdf6..0b1a54211 100644
--- a/pkg/waveobj/waveobj.go
+++ b/pkg/waveobj/waveobj.go
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ const (
 	VersionGoFieldName = "Version"
 )
 
+type ORef struct {
+	OType string `json:"otype"`
+	OID   string `json:"oid"`
+}
+
 type WaveObj interface {
 	GetOType() string // should not depend on object state (should work with nil value)
 }
@@ -36,35 +41,37 @@ type waveObjDesc struct {
 var waveObjMap = sync.Map{}
 var waveObjRType = reflect.TypeOf((*WaveObj)(nil)).Elem()
 
-func RegisterType[T WaveObj]() {
-	var waveObj T
+func RegisterType(rtype reflect.Type) {
+	if rtype.Kind() != reflect.Ptr {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("wave object must be a pointer for %v", rtype))
+	}
+	if !rtype.Implements(waveObjRType) {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("wave object must implement WaveObj for %v", rtype))
+	}
+	waveObj := reflect.Zero(rtype).Interface().(WaveObj)
 	otype := waveObj.GetOType()
 	if otype == "" {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("otype is empty for %T", waveObj))
-	}
-	rtype := reflect.TypeOf(waveObj)
-	if rtype.Kind() != reflect.Ptr {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("wave object must be a pointer for %T", waveObj))
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("otype is empty for %v", rtype))
 	}
 	oidField, found := rtype.Elem().FieldByName(OIDGoFieldName)
 	if !found {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("missing OID field for %T", waveObj))
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("missing OID field for %v", rtype))
 	}
 	if oidField.Type.Kind() != reflect.String {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("OID field must be string for %T", waveObj))
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("OID field must be string for %v", rtype))
 	}
 	if oidField.Tag.Get("json") != OIDKeyName {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("OID field json tag must be %q for %T", OIDKeyName, waveObj))
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("OID field json tag must be %q for %v", OIDKeyName, rtype))
 	}
 	versionField, found := rtype.Elem().FieldByName(VersionGoFieldName)
 	if !found {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("missing Version field for %T", waveObj))
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("missing Version field for %v", rtype))
 	}
 	if versionField.Type.Kind() != reflect.Int {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Version field must be int for %T", waveObj))
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Version field must be int for %v", rtype))
 	}
 	if versionField.Tag.Get("json") != VersionKeyName {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Version field json tag must be %q for %T", VersionKeyName, waveObj))
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Version field json tag must be %q for %v", VersionKeyName, rtype))
 	}
 	_, found = waveObjMap.Load(otype)
 	if found {
@@ -286,16 +293,16 @@ func generateTSTypeInternal(rtype reflect.Type) (string, []reflect.Type) {
 		subTypes = append(subTypes, fieldSubTypes...)
 		buf.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("  %s%s: %s;\n", fieldName, optMarker, tsType))
 	}
-	buf.WriteString("}\n")
+	buf.WriteString("};\n")
 	return buf.String(), subTypes
 }
 
 func GenerateWaveObjTSType() string {
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
-	buf.WriteString("type WaveObj {\n")
+	buf.WriteString("type WaveObj = {\n")
 	buf.WriteString("  otype: string;\n")
 	buf.WriteString("  oid: string;\n")
-	buf.WriteString("}\n")
+	buf.WriteString("};\n")
 	return buf.String()
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/wstore/wstore.go b/pkg/wstore/wstore.go
index d71e92677..3e54986d9 100644
--- a/pkg/wstore/wstore.go
+++ b/pkg/wstore/wstore.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package wstore
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"reflect"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
@@ -19,11 +20,9 @@ var TabMap = ds.NewSyncMap[*Tab]()
 var BlockMap = ds.NewSyncMap[*Block]()
 
 func init() {
-	waveobj.RegisterType[*Client]()
-	waveobj.RegisterType[*Window]()
-	waveobj.RegisterType[*Workspace]()
-	waveobj.RegisterType[*Tab]()
-	waveobj.RegisterType[*Block]()
+	for _, rtype := range AllWaveObjTypes() {
+		waveobj.RegisterType(rtype)
+	}
 }
 
 type Client struct {
@@ -36,6 +35,16 @@ func (*Client) GetOType() string {
 	return "client"
 }
 
+func AllWaveObjTypes() []reflect.Type {
+	return []reflect.Type{
+		reflect.TypeOf(&Client{}),
+		reflect.TypeOf(&Window{}),
+		reflect.TypeOf(&Workspace{}),
+		reflect.TypeOf(&Tab{}),
+		reflect.TypeOf(&Block{}),
+	}
+}
+
 // stores the ui-context of the window
 // workspaceid, active tab, active block within each tab, window size, etc.
 type Window struct {
@@ -147,6 +156,10 @@ func CreateWorkspace() (*Workspace, error) {
 	return ws, nil
 }
 
+func GetObject(otype string, oid string) (waveobj.WaveObj, error) {
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
 func EnsureInitialData() error {
 	ctx, cancelFn := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 2*time.Second)
 	defer cancelFn()
diff --git a/pkg/wstore/wstore_dbops.go b/pkg/wstore/wstore_dbops.go
index 3ae151239..393ac6284 100644
--- a/pkg/wstore/wstore_dbops.go
+++ b/pkg/wstore/wstore_dbops.go
@@ -14,9 +14,18 @@ func waveObjTableName(w waveobj.WaveObj) string {
 	return "db_" + w.GetOType()
 }
 
+func tableNameFromOType(otype string) string {
+	return "db_" + otype
+}
+
 func tableNameGen[T waveobj.WaveObj]() string {
 	var zeroObj T
-	return "db_" + zeroObj.GetOType()
+	return tableNameFromOType(zeroObj.GetOType())
+}
+
+func getOTypeGen[T waveobj.WaveObj]() string {
+	var zeroObj T
+	return zeroObj.GetOType()
 }
 
 func DBGetCount[T waveobj.WaveObj](ctx context.Context) (int, error) {
@@ -33,13 +42,26 @@ type idDataType struct {
 	Data    []byte
 }
 
+func genericCastWithErr[T any](v any, err error) (T, error) {
+	if err != nil {
+		var zeroVal T
+		return zeroVal, err
+	}
+	return v.(T), err
+}
+
 func DBGetSingleton[T waveobj.WaveObj](ctx context.Context) (T, error) {
-	return WithTxRtn(ctx, func(tx *TxWrap) (T, error) {
-		table := tableNameGen[T]()
+	rtn, err := DBGetSingletonByType(ctx, getOTypeGen[T]())
+	return genericCastWithErr[T](rtn, err)
+}
+
+func DBGetSingletonByType(ctx context.Context, otype string) (waveobj.WaveObj, error) {
+	return WithTxRtn(ctx, func(tx *TxWrap) (waveobj.WaveObj, error) {
+		table := tableNameFromOType(otype)
 		query := fmt.Sprintf("SELECT oid, version, data FROM %s LIMIT 1", table)
 		var row idDataType
 		tx.Get(&row, query)
-		rtn, err := waveobj.FromJsonGen[T](row.Data)
+		rtn, err := waveobj.FromJson(row.Data)
 		if err != nil {
 			return rtn, err
 		}
@@ -49,12 +71,17 @@ func DBGetSingleton[T waveobj.WaveObj](ctx context.Context) (T, error) {
 }
 
 func DBGet[T waveobj.WaveObj](ctx context.Context, id string) (T, error) {
-	return WithTxRtn(ctx, func(tx *TxWrap) (T, error) {
-		table := tableNameGen[T]()
+	rtn, err := DBGetORef(ctx, waveobj.ORef{OType: getOTypeGen[T](), OID: id})
+	return genericCastWithErr[T](rtn, err)
+}
+
+func DBGetORef(ctx context.Context, oref waveobj.ORef) (waveobj.WaveObj, error) {
+	return WithTxRtn(ctx, func(tx *TxWrap) (waveobj.WaveObj, error) {
+		table := tableNameFromOType(oref.OType)
 		query := fmt.Sprintf("SELECT oid, version, data FROM %s WHERE oid = ?", table)
 		var row idDataType
-		tx.Get(&row, query, id)
-		rtn, err := waveobj.FromJsonGen[T](row.Data)
+		tx.Get(&row, query, oref.OID)
+		rtn, err := waveobj.FromJson(row.Data)
 		if err != nil {
 			return rtn, err
 		}
@@ -63,31 +90,58 @@ func DBGet[T waveobj.WaveObj](ctx context.Context, id string) (T, error) {
 	})
 }
 
-func DBSelectMap[T waveobj.WaveObj](ctx context.Context, ids []string) (map[string]T, error) {
-	return WithTxRtn(ctx, func(tx *TxWrap) (map[string]T, error) {
-		table := tableNameGen[T]()
-		var rows []idDataType
+func dbSelectOIDs(ctx context.Context, otype string, oids []string) ([]waveobj.WaveObj, error) {
+	return WithTxRtn(ctx, func(tx *TxWrap) ([]waveobj.WaveObj, error) {
+		table := tableNameFromOType(otype)
 		query := fmt.Sprintf("SELECT oid, version, data FROM %s WHERE oid IN (SELECT value FROM json_each(?))", table)
-		tx.Select(&rows, query, ids)
-		rtnMap := make(map[string]T)
+		var rows []idDataType
+		tx.Select(&rows, query, oids)
+		rtn := make([]waveobj.WaveObj, 0, len(rows))
 		for _, row := range rows {
-			if row.OId == "" || len(row.Data) == 0 {
-				continue
-			}
-			waveObj, err := waveobj.FromJsonGen[T](row.Data)
+			waveObj, err := waveobj.FromJson(row.Data)
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
 			waveobj.SetVersion(waveObj, row.Version)
-			rtnMap[row.OId] = waveObj
+			rtn = append(rtn, waveObj)
 		}
-		return rtnMap, nil
+		return rtn, nil
 	})
 }
 
-func DBDelete[T waveobj.WaveObj](ctx context.Context, id string) error {
+func DBSelectORefs(ctx context.Context, orefs []waveobj.ORef) ([]waveobj.WaveObj, error) {
+	oidsByType := make(map[string][]string)
+	for _, oref := range orefs {
+		oidsByType[oref.OType] = append(oidsByType[oref.OType], oref.OID)
+	}
+	return WithTxRtn(ctx, func(tx *TxWrap) ([]waveobj.WaveObj, error) {
+		rtn := make([]waveobj.WaveObj, 0, len(orefs))
+		for otype, oids := range oidsByType {
+			rtnArr, err := dbSelectOIDs(tx.Context(), otype, oids)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			rtn = append(rtn, rtnArr...)
+		}
+		return rtn, nil
+	})
+}
+
+func DBSelectMap[T waveobj.WaveObj](ctx context.Context, ids []string) (map[string]T, error) {
+	rtnArr, err := dbSelectOIDs(ctx, getOTypeGen[T](), ids)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	rtnMap := make(map[string]T)
+	for _, obj := range rtnArr {
+		rtnMap[waveobj.GetOID(obj)] = obj.(T)
+	}
+	return rtnMap, nil
+}
+
+func DBDelete(ctx context.Context, otype string, id string) error {
 	return WithTx(ctx, func(tx *TxWrap) error {
-		table := tableNameGen[T]()
+		table := tableNameFromOType(otype)
 		query := fmt.Sprintf("DELETE FROM %s WHERE oid = ?", table)
 		tx.Exec(query, id)
 		return nil
@@ -111,7 +165,7 @@ func DBUpdate(ctx context.Context, val waveobj.WaveObj) error {
 	})
 }
 
-func DBInsert[T waveobj.WaveObj](ctx context.Context, val T) error {
+func DBInsert(ctx context.Context, val waveobj.WaveObj) error {
 	oid := waveobj.GetOID(val)
 	if oid == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("cannot insert %T value with empty id", val)