diff --git a/.eslintignore b/.eslintignore
index 0448b1c..8c1913b 100644
--- a/.eslintignore
+++ b/.eslintignore
@@ -2,3 +2,4 @@ node_modules/
 dist/
 coverage/
 packages/classic/src/vendor
+packages/core/src/vendor
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5316984..d666112 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ The repository is a monorepo that is composed of several NPM packages.
 | [Classic](/packages/classic)       | The library as a (still) monolithic package.      |
 | [Config](/packages/config)         | Library for setting up layered app configuration. |
 | [Components](/packages/components) | Collection of helpful custom components.          |
+| [Core](/packages/core)             | Essential building blocks of the framework.       |
 
 ## Documentation
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index ed4296f..431c04a 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -21,18 +21,20 @@
     "coverage-report": "cat ./coverage/lcov.info | coveralls",
     "lint": "eslint .",
     "es5":
-      "yarn run es5:classic && yarn run es5:config && yarn run es5:components",
+      "yarn run es5:classic && yarn run es5:config && yarn run es5:components && yarn run es5:core",
     "es5:classic":
       "babel -q packages/classic/src --out-dir packages/classic/dist/es5",
     "es5:config":
       "babel -q packages/config/src --out-dir packages/config/dist/es5",
     "es5:components":
       "babel -q packages/components/src --out-dir packages/components/dist/es5",
+    "es5:core": "babel -q packages/core/src --out-dir packages/core/dist/es5",
     "clean":
-      "yarn run clean:classic && yarn run clean:config && yarn run clean:components",
+      "yarn run clean:classic && yarn run clean:config && yarn run clean:components && yarn run clean:core",
     "clean:classic": "del-cli packages/classic/dist",
     "clean:config": "del-cli packages/config/dist",
     "clean:components": "del-cli packages/components/dist",
+    "clean:core": "del-cli packages/core/dist",
     "build": "yarn run clean && yarn run test && yarn run lint && yarn run es5",
     "release:test-token":
       "test -n \"$CONVENTIONAL_GITHUB_RELEASER_TOKEN\" || (echo 'Setup your github autho token first: https://github.com/conventional-changelog/conventional-github-releaser#cli' && exit 1)",
@@ -90,7 +92,8 @@
     "roots": [
       "<rootDir>/packages/classic",
       "<rootDir>/packages/config",
-      "<rootDir>/packages/components"
+      "<rootDir>/packages/components",
+      "<rootDir>/packages/core"
     ],
     "testMatch": ["**/__tests__/**/*.js"],
     "collectCoverageFrom": [
@@ -98,7 +101,8 @@
       "!**/__tests__/**",
       "!**/node_modules/**",
       "!**/vendor/**",
-      "!**/dist/es5/**"
+      "!**/dist/es5/**",
+      "!packages/core/src/log/**"
     ]
   },
   "workspaces": ["packages/*"]
diff --git a/packages/classic/package.json b/packages/classic/package.json
index 87d0da3..a2366a4 100644
--- a/packages/classic/package.json
+++ b/packages/classic/package.json
@@ -1,20 +1,15 @@
 {
   "name": "@skele/classic",
   "version": "1.0.0-alpha.31",
-  "description": "Skele is an architectural framework that assists with building data-driven apps with React or React Native.",
+  "description":
+    "Skele is an architectural framework that assists with building data-driven apps with React or React Native.",
   "react-native": "src/index.js",
   "main": "dist/es5/index.js",
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
     "url": "git+https://github.com/netceteragroup/skele.git"
   },
-  "keywords": [
-    "react",
-    "react-native",
-    "redux",
-    "redux-saga",
-    "netcetera"
-  ],
+  "keywords": ["react", "react-native", "redux", "netcetera"],
   "author": "netcetera",
   "license": "MIT",
   "bugs": {
@@ -22,6 +17,7 @@
   },
   "homepage": "https://netcetera.gitbooks.io/skele/",
   "dependencies": {
+    "@skele/core": "^1.0.0-alpha.31",
     "immutable": "^3.8.1",
     "invariant": "^2.2.2",
     "ramda": "^0.25.0",
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/__tests__/read.js b/packages/classic/src/__tests__/read.js
index e5a5eb6..1342233 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/__tests__/read.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/__tests__/read.js
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@ import { mount } from 'enzyme'
 
 import React from 'react'
 import { fromJS } from 'immutable'
-import { ui, enrich, enhance, transform, read, data, Engine, http } from '..'
+import { ui, enrich, enhance, transform, read, Engine, http } from '..'
 import * as propNames from '../propNames'
-const { isOfKind } = data.element
+import { data } from '@skele/core'
+const { isOfKind } = data
 
 describe("Reads using core subsystem's Read element", () => {
   const appState = {
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/action.js b/packages/classic/src/action.js
index 39cbd1f..6450e0d 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/action.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/action.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 'use strict'
 
 import * as R from 'ramda'
-import { kindOf } from './data'
+import { data } from '@skele/core'
 
 export const actionMetaProperty = '@@skele/actionMeta'
 
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ export const actionMeta = R.prop(actionMetaProperty)
  */
 export const atCursor = R.curry((cursor, action) => {
   const keyPath = cursor._keyPath
-  const kind = kindOf(cursor)
+  const kind = data.kindOf(cursor)
 
   return { ...action, [actionMetaProperty]: { keyPath, kind } }
 })
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/effect/impl.js b/packages/classic/src/effect/impl.js
index cff00b5..1462a5f 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/effect/impl.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/effect/impl.js
@@ -4,13 +4,14 @@ import * as R from 'ramda'
 
 import * as actions from '../action'
 import { types as actionTypes } from './actions'
-import * as data from '../data'
-import { ActionRegistry } from '../registry'
+import { data, log } from '@skele/core'
 
 import { findParentEntry } from '../impl/cursor'
-import { error } from '../impl/log'
+
+import { ActionRegistry } from '../registry'
 
 const updateStateAction = '@@skele/_effects.updateState'
+const { error } = log
 
 export const middleware = R.curry((config, store, next, action) => {
   const { kernel, effectsRegistry } = config
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/effect/index.js b/packages/classic/src/effect/index.js
index 16a8614..30a9eba 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/effect/index.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/effect/index.js
@@ -3,12 +3,15 @@
 import * as R from 'ramda'
 import invariant from 'invariant'
 
-import { chainRegistries, ActionRegistry } from '../registry'
-import * as data from '../data'
+import { data, registry } from '@skele/core'
+import { ActionRegistry } from '../registry'
+
 import * as Subsystem from '../subsystem'
 
 import * as impl from './impl'
 
+const { chainRegistries } = registry
+
 const effectsRegistryAttribute = '@@skele/_effectsRegistry'
 const sideEffectsRegistryAttribute = '@@skele/_sideEffectsRegistry'
 
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/enhance/__tests__/enhance.js b/packages/classic/src/enhance/__tests__/enhance.js
index e5bfb7a..a0da957 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/enhance/__tests__/enhance.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/enhance/__tests__/enhance.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { fromJS } from 'immutable'
 import * as SubSystem from '../../subsystem'
 import * as Kernel from '../../kernel'
 import * as propNames from '../../propNames'
-import * as data from '../../data'
+import { data } from '@skele/core'
 
 import enhanceSubsystem from '..'
 
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/enhance/impl.js b/packages/classic/src/enhance/impl.js
index 860c0b9..30f799c 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/enhance/impl.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/enhance/impl.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 import * as R from 'ramda'
 import I from 'immutable'
-import * as zip from '../zip'
+import { zip } from '@skele/core'
 
 export async function runEnhancers(el, context, enhancers) {
   return Promise.all(
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/enhance/index.js b/packages/classic/src/enhance/index.js
index bb4c011..a309431 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/enhance/index.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/enhance/index.js
@@ -4,16 +4,18 @@ import * as R from 'ramda'
 import { List } from 'immutable'
 import invariant from 'invariant'
 
-import { isElementRef } from '../data'
+import { data, registry } from '@skele/core'
 
 import * as SubSystem from '../subsystem'
-import { MultivalueRegistry, chainMultivalueRegistries } from '../registry'
 
 import * as impl from './impl'
 
 const readDependentRegistryAttribute = '@@skele/_readDependentEnhanceRegistry'
 const readIndependentListAttribute = '@@skele/_readIndependentEnhanceList'
 
+const { MultivalueRegistry, chainMultivalueRegistries } = registry
+const { isElementRef } = data
+
 SubSystem.extend(() => {
   const readDependentRegistry = new MultivalueRegistry()
   const readIndependentList = List().asMutable()
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/enrich/__tests__/enrich.js b/packages/classic/src/enrich/__tests__/enrich.js
index c0d9c8b..4873ad6 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/enrich/__tests__/enrich.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/enrich/__tests__/enrich.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { fromJS, List } from 'immutable'
 import * as Subsystem from '../../subsystem'
 import * as Kernel from '../../kernel'
 import * as propNames from '../../propNames'
-import * as data from '../../data'
+import { data } from '@skele/core'
 
 import enrichSubsystem from '..'
 
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/enrich/impl.js b/packages/classic/src/enrich/impl.js
index 4a6929e..54dff34 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/enrich/impl.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/enrich/impl.js
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
 
 import * as R from 'ramda'
 import { memoize } from '../impl/util'
-import * as data from '../data'
-import * as zip from '../zip'
+import { data, zip } from '@skele/core'
 
 export function enricher(config) {
   const { registry, elementZipper } = config
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/enrich/index.js b/packages/classic/src/enrich/index.js
index 0993dea..009f2e7 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/enrich/index.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/enrich/index.js
@@ -3,15 +3,16 @@
 import * as R from 'ramda'
 import invariant from 'invariant'
 
-import { isElementRef } from '../data'
+import { data, registry } from '@skele/core'
 
 import * as SubSystem from '../subsystem'
-import { MultivalueRegistry, chainMultivalueRegistries } from '../registry'
-
 import * as impl from './impl'
 
 const registryAttribute = '@@skele/_enrichRegistry'
 
+const { MultivalueRegistry, chainMultivalueRegistries } = registry
+const { isElementRef } = data
+
 SubSystem.extend(() => {
   const registry = new MultivalueRegistry()
 
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/impl/cursor.js b/packages/classic/src/impl/cursor.js
index ba4cd1e..815ae7e 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/impl/cursor.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/impl/cursor.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import * as R from 'ramda'
 import { List, Seq } from 'immutable'
 import Cursor from 'immutable/contrib/cursor'
 
-import * as data from '../data'
+import { data } from '@skele/core'
 
 export const findParentEntry = R.curry((registry, keyfn, cursor) =>
   data.flow(
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/index.js b/packages/classic/src/index.js
index 258d226..6fbc0df 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/index.js
@@ -4,8 +4,7 @@ import * as Subsystem from './subsystem'
 import * as Kernel from './kernel'
 
 import core, { defaultSubsystems } from './core'
-import * as data from './data'
-import * as zip from './zip'
+import { data, zip } from '@skele/core'
 import * as action from './action'
 import * as registry from './registry'
 import * as propNames from './propNames'
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/kernel.js b/packages/classic/src/kernel.js
index dd875b6..280ecb3 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/kernel.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/kernel.js
@@ -4,9 +4,8 @@ import I from 'immutable'
 import Cursor from 'immutable/contrib/cursor'
 import * as R from 'ramda'
 
-import * as zip from './zip'
+import { data, zip } from '@skele/core'
 import * as actions from './action'
-import * as data from './data'
 
 import { createStore, applyMiddleware } from 'redux'
 
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/propNames.js b/packages/classic/src/propNames.js
index b9b3632..4e026d9 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/propNames.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/propNames.js
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 'use strict'
 
+import { propNames } from '@skele/core'
+
 export { actionMetaProperty as actionMeta } from './action'
 export { fallback as readFallback } from './read'
 
-export { childrenProperty as children } from './data'
-export const metadata = '@@skele/metadata'
+const { children, metadata } = propNames
+export { children }
+export { metadata }
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/read/__tests__/read.js b/packages/classic/src/read/__tests__/read.js
index 24e69e6..b422e2b 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/read/__tests__/read.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/read/__tests__/read.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import read from '..'
 import * as http from '../http'
 
 import * as action from '../../action'
-import * as data from '../../data'
+import { data } from '@skele/core'
 
 import * as readActions from '../actions'
 import * as propNames from '../../propNames'
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/read/impl.js b/packages/classic/src/read/impl.js
index c77739a..98297b0 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/read/impl.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/read/impl.js
@@ -6,14 +6,17 @@ import { fromJS } from 'immutable'
 
 import uuid from 'uuid'
 
-import { info, error } from '../impl/log'
+import { data, log } from '@skele/core'
+
 import { time, timeSync } from '../impl/util'
 
-import { canonical, flow, kindOf } from '../data'
 import * as readActions from './actions'
 import * as propNames from '../propNames'
 import { isOK, isResponse } from './http'
 
+const { canonical, flow, kindOf } = data
+const { info, error } = log
+
 export const fallback = '@@skele/defaultRead'
 
 const updateKind = R.curry((update, element) =>
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/read/index.js b/packages/classic/src/read/index.js
index 5d99369..08b4eeb 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/read/index.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/read/index.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import '../enrich'
 import '../enhance'
 import '../transform'
 
-import { PatternRegistry, chainRegistries } from '../registry'
+import { registry } from '@skele/core'
 
 import * as impl from './impl'
 import * as http from './http'
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ import * as readActions from './actions'
 const registryAttribute = '@@skele/_readRegistry'
 const fallback = impl.fallback
 
+const { PatternRegistry, chainRegistries } = registry
+
 /**
  * Extension point for defining reads
  */
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/registry/ActionRegistry.js b/packages/classic/src/registry/ActionRegistry.js
index c2096d4..060a6db 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/registry/ActionRegistry.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/registry/ActionRegistry.js
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@
 
 import { List } from 'immutable'
 
-import { Registry, MultivalueRegistry } from '../registry'
+import { data, registry } from '@skele/core'
 import * as actions from '../action'
-import * as data from '../data'
+
+const { Registry, MultivalueRegistry } = registry
 
 export const keyFor = (kind, action) => List.of(data.canonical(kind), action)
 
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/registry/index.js b/packages/classic/src/registry/index.js
index c4aa583..78fab82 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/registry/index.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/registry/index.js
@@ -1,13 +1,3 @@
 'use strict'
 
-export { default as AbstractRegistry } from './AbstractRegistry'
-export { default as Registry } from './Registry'
-export { default as MultivalueRegistry } from './MultivalueRegistry'
-export { default as PatternRegistry } from './PatternRegistry'
 export { ActionRegistry, ActionMultivalueRegistry } from './ActionRegistry'
-export {
-  RegistryChain,
-  MultivalueRegistryChain,
-  chainRegistries,
-  chainMultivalueRegistries,
-} from './RegistryChain'
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/transform/impl.js b/packages/classic/src/transform/impl.js
index 1c2fb0f..b9092b4 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/transform/impl.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/transform/impl.js
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 'use strict'
 
 import * as R from 'ramda'
-import { kindOf } from '../data/element'
+
+import { data, zip } from '@skele/core'
+
 import { memoize } from '../impl/util'
 
-import { postWalk, root, value } from '../zip'
-import { flow } from '../data'
+const { postWalk, root, value } = zip
+const { flow, kindOf } = data
 
 export function transformer(registry, elementZipper) {
   const elementTransformer = memoize(kind =>
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/transform/index.js b/packages/classic/src/transform/index.js
index 64b077b..ab054a9 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/transform/index.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/transform/index.js
@@ -3,13 +3,15 @@
 import * as R from 'ramda'
 import invariant from 'invariant'
 
-import { isElementRef } from '../data'
+import { data, registry } from '@skele/core'
 
 import * as SubSystem from '../subsystem'
-import { MultivalueRegistry, chainMultivalueRegistries } from '../registry'
 
 import * as impl from './impl'
 
+const { isElementRef } = data
+const { MultivalueRegistry, chainMultivalueRegistries } = registry
+
 const registryAttribute = '@@skele/_transformRegistry'
 
 SubSystem.extend(() => {
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/ui/ElementView.js b/packages/classic/src/ui/ElementView.js
index 6a47ce9..433c938 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/ui/ElementView.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/ui/ElementView.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import I from 'immutable'
 import React from 'react'
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types'
 
-import * as data from '../data'
+import { data } from '@skele/core'
 
 export default R.curry((kind, Component, runtime) => {
   const { uiFor: globalUIFor, system } = runtime
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/ui/__tests__/ui.js b/packages/classic/src/ui/__tests__/ui.js
index 8b7b962..5814815 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/ui/__tests__/ui.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/ui/__tests__/ui.js
@@ -6,13 +6,16 @@ import React from 'react'
 import { Iterable, List, fromJS } from 'immutable'
 import Cursor from 'immutable/contrib/cursor'
 
-import { kindOf, isOfKind } from '../../data'
+import { data } from '@skele/core'
+
 import { isSubclassOf } from '../../impl/classes'
 
 import * as Subsystem from '../../subsystem'
 import * as Kernel from '../../kernel'
 import uiSubsystem from '..'
 
+const { kindOf, isOfKind } = data
+
 const app = Subsystem.create(() => ({
   name: 'app',
 }))
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/ui/index.js b/packages/classic/src/ui/index.js
index b7ec4ea..01df3d7 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/ui/index.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/ui/index.js
@@ -6,13 +6,14 @@ import React from 'react'
 
 import invariant from 'invariant'
 
-import { warning } from '../impl/log'
-import { Registry, chainRegistries } from '../registry'
+import { registry, data, log } from '@skele/core'
 import ElementView from './ElementView'
-import * as data from '../data'
 import { memoize } from '../impl/util'
 import { isSubclassOf } from '../impl/classes'
 
+const { Registry, chainRegistries } = registry
+const { warning } = log
+
 const registryAttribute = '@@skele/_uiRegistry'
 
 // required subsystems
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/update/__tests__/update.js b/packages/classic/src/update/__tests__/update.js
index 5d06591..0d3b231 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/update/__tests__/update.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/update/__tests__/update.js
@@ -2,17 +2,18 @@
 
 import { fromJS } from 'immutable'
 import Cursor from 'immutable/contrib/cursor'
-
+import { data } from '@skele/core'
 import * as actions from '../../action'
+import { ActionRegistry } from '../../registry'
 import * as Subsystem from '../../subsystem'
 import * as Kernel from '../../kernel'
-import { ActionRegistry } from '../../registry'
 
-import { flow } from '../../data'
 import updateSubS from '..'
 
 const registryAttribute = '@@skele/_updateRegistry'
 
+const { flow } = data
+
 describe('updates API', function() {
   const app = Subsystem.create(() => ({
     name: 'app',
@@ -37,27 +38,25 @@ describe('updates API', function() {
       updates.register(action2.type, () => {})
     })
 
-    const registry = app.update[registryAttribute]
+    const reg = app.update[registryAttribute]
 
     expect(
-      registry.get(
-        ActionRegistry.keyFor(['article', 'specific'], 'TOGGLE_BOOKMARK')
-      )
+      reg.get(ActionRegistry.keyFor(['article', 'specific'], 'TOGGLE_BOOKMARK'))
     ).toEqual(expect.anything())
 
-    expect(registry.get(ActionRegistry.keyFor(['article'], '.LOAD'))).toEqual(
+    expect(reg.get(ActionRegistry.keyFor(['article'], '.LOAD'))).toEqual(
       expect.anything()
     )
     expect(
-      registry.get(ActionRegistry.keyFor(['article', 'specific'], '.LOAD'))
+      reg.get(ActionRegistry.keyFor(['article', 'specific'], '.LOAD'))
     ).toEqual(expect.anything())
 
-    expect(
-      registry.get(ActionRegistry.keyFor(['article'], 'unknown'))
-    ).not.toEqual(expect.anything())
-    expect(
-      registry.get(ActionRegistry.keyFor(['unknown'], '.LOAD'))
-    ).not.toEqual(expect.anything())
+    expect(reg.get(ActionRegistry.keyFor(['article'], 'unknown'))).not.toEqual(
+      expect.anything()
+    )
+    expect(reg.get(ActionRegistry.keyFor(['unknown'], '.LOAD'))).not.toEqual(
+      expect.anything()
+    )
   })
 
   it('reduces the app state according to registrations', function() {
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/update/impl.js b/packages/classic/src/update/impl.js
index 8632ccf..c7f59b0 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/update/impl.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/update/impl.js
@@ -3,13 +3,15 @@
 import * as R from 'ramda'
 
 import invariant from 'invariant'
-import { warning } from '../impl/log'
 
-import * as data from '../data'
+import { data, log } from '@skele/core'
 import * as actions from '../action'
 import { findParentEntry } from '../impl/cursor'
 
 import { ActionRegistry } from '../registry'
+
+const { warning } = log
+
 /**
  * Main application reducer.
  *
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/update/index.js b/packages/classic/src/update/index.js
index c8fa68b..b63aa15 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/update/index.js
+++ b/packages/classic/src/update/index.js
@@ -2,18 +2,20 @@
 
 import * as R from 'ramda'
 import invariant from 'invariant'
-import deprecated from '../impl/deprecated'
 
-import { chainRegistries, ActionRegistry } from '../registry'
-import * as data from '../data'
+import { data, registry, log } from '@skele/core'
+import { ActionRegistry } from '../registry'
 import * as Subsystem from '../subsystem'
 
 import * as impl from './impl'
 
 const registryAttribute = '@@skele/_updateRegistry'
 
+const { chainRegistries } = registry
+const { deprecated } = log
+
 Subsystem.extend(() => {
-  const registry = new ActionRegistry()
+  const reg = new ActionRegistry()
 
   const _register = R.curry((kind, action, update) => {
     invariant(
@@ -27,7 +29,7 @@ Subsystem.extend(() => {
     )
     invariant(typeof update === 'function', 'the update must be a function')
 
-    registry.register(ActionRegistry.keyFor(kind, action), update)
+    reg.register(ActionRegistry.keyFor(kind, action), update)
   })
 
   const forKind = R.curry((kind, registrations) => {
@@ -46,7 +48,7 @@ Subsystem.extend(() => {
 
   return {
     update: {
-      [registryAttribute]: registry,
+      [registryAttribute]: reg,
 
       forKind,
 
diff --git a/packages/core/README.md b/packages/core/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/packages/core/package.json b/packages/core/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0c155b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+{
+  "name": "@skele/core",
+  "version": "1.0.0-alpha.31",
+  "description":
+    "Core package of the Skele framework. Element definitions, registrations and traversal.",
+  "react-native": "src/index.js",
+  "main": "dist/es5/index.js",
+  "repository": {
+    "type": "git",
+    "url": "git+https://github.com/netceteragroup/skele.git"
+  },
+  "keywords": ["react", "react-native", "redux", "netcetera"],
+  "author": "netcetera",
+  "license": "MIT",
+  "bugs": {
+    "url": "https://github.com/netceteragroup/skele/issues"
+  },
+  "homepage": "https://github.com/netceteragroup/skele#readme",
+  "dependencies": {
+    "immutable": "^3.8.1",
+    "invariant": "^2.2.2",
+    "ramda": "^0.25.0"
+  },
+  "publishConfig": {
+    "access": "public"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/__tests__/index.js b/packages/core/src/__tests__/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f94f0b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/__tests__/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+'use strict'
+
+import { data, log, registry, zip, propNames } from '../'
+
+const anyFunction = expect.any(Function)
+const anyString = expect.any(String)
+
+test('core.data interface', () => {
+  // functions
+  expect(data.flow).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(data.when).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(data.isOfKind).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(data.isElementRef).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(data.isExactlyOfKind).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(data.kindOf).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(data.isElement).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(data.ancestorKinds).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(data.canonical).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(data.pathsToChildElements).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(data.asList).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(data.childPositions).toEqual(anyFunction)
+
+  // constants
+  expect(data.childrenProperty).toEqual(anyString)
+})
+
+test('core.registry interface', () => {
+  const {
+    AbstractRegistry,
+    Registry,
+    MultivalueRegistry,
+    PatternRegistry,
+    RegistryChain,
+    MultivalueRegistryChain,
+    chainRegistries,
+    chainMultivalueRegistries,
+  } = registry
+
+  expectRegistryToConformAbstractRegistry(new AbstractRegistry())
+  expectRegistryToConformAbstractRegistry(new Registry())
+  expectRegistryToConformAbstractRegistry(new MultivalueRegistry())
+  expectRegistryToConformAbstractRegistry(new PatternRegistry())
+  expectRegistryToConformAbstractRegistry(new RegistryChain())
+  expectRegistryToConformAbstractRegistry(new MultivalueRegistryChain())
+  expect(chainRegistries).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(chainMultivalueRegistries).toEqual(anyFunction)
+})
+
+const expectRegistryToConformAbstractRegistry = reg => {
+  expect(reg.register).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(reg.get).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(reg.isEmpty).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(reg.reset).toEqual(anyFunction)
+}
+
+test('core.zip interface', () => {
+  // from zippa
+  // ...
+
+  // from skele
+  expect(zip.elementZipper).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(zip.reduce).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(zip.reducePre).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(zip.editCond).toEqual(anyFunction)
+})
+
+test('core.log interface', () => {
+  expect(log.deprecated).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(log.info).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(log.warning).toEqual(anyFunction)
+  expect(log.error).toEqual(anyFunction)
+})
+
+test('core.propNames interface', () => {
+  expect(propNames.metadata).toEqual('@@skele/metadata')
+  expect(propNames.children).toEqual('@@skele/children')
+})
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/data/__tests__/element.js b/packages/core/src/data/__tests__/element.js
similarity index 90%
rename from packages/classic/src/data/__tests__/element.js
rename to packages/core/src/data/__tests__/element.js
index ae19e14..03c2cca 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/data/__tests__/element.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/data/__tests__/element.js
@@ -8,10 +8,11 @@ import {
   ancestorKinds,
   canonical,
   isElement,
+  isElementRef,
   childrenProperty,
   childPositions,
   pathsToChildElements,
-} from '../element'
+} from '../'
 
 describe('element', function() {
   it('tests if an object is an element', () => {
@@ -42,6 +43,22 @@ describe('element', function() {
     expect(isElement(aList)).toEqual(false)
   })
 
+  it('tests if an object-kind is a proper ref for an element', () => {
+    // not proper kinds
+    expect(isElementRef(undefined)).toEqual(false)
+    expect(isElementRef(null)).toEqual(false)
+    expect(isElementRef([null])).toEqual(false)
+    expect(isElementRef(['test', null])).toEqual(false)
+    expect(isElementRef(['test', {}])).toEqual(false)
+    expect(isElementRef(['test', []])).toEqual(false)
+
+    // proper kinds
+    expect(isElementRef([])).toEqual(true)
+    expect(isElementRef('test')).toEqual(true)
+    expect(isElementRef(['test'])).toEqual(true)
+    expect(isElementRef(['test', 'test2'])).toEqual(true)
+  })
+
   it('properly checks for element kinds', function() {
     const emptyKind = fromJS({
       kind: [],
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/data/element.js b/packages/core/src/data/element.js
similarity index 84%
rename from packages/classic/src/data/element.js
rename to packages/core/src/data/element.js
index 153fe70..2b5bc4e 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/data/element.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/data/element.js
@@ -1,19 +1,9 @@
-/* @flow */
 'use strict'
 
 import * as R from 'ramda'
 import invariant from 'invariant'
-import deprecated from '../impl/deprecated'
-import {
-  List,
-  Seq,
-  is,
-  Iterable,
-  KeyedIterable,
-  IndexedIterable,
-} from 'immutable'
-
-import type { ElementRef, ElementRefCanonical } from './types'
+import deprecated from '../log/deprecated'
+import { List, Seq, is, Iterable } from 'immutable'
 
 /**
  * Checks if a given object is of the provided kind.
@@ -22,10 +12,7 @@ import type { ElementRef, ElementRefCanonical } from './types'
  * @param element the element
  * @returns {*}
  */
-export const isOfKind = R.curry(function isOfKind(
-  kind: ElementRef,
-  element: ?KeyedIterable
-): boolean {
+export const isOfKind = R.curry(function isOfKind(kind, element) {
   if (element == null) {
     return false
   }
@@ -42,7 +29,7 @@ export const isOfKind = R.curry(function isOfKind(
   return is(elementKindNormalized.take(normalized.count()), normalized)
 })
 
-export function isElementRef(obj: any): boolean {
+export function isElementRef(obj) {
   const isString = o => typeof o === 'string'
 
   if (isString(obj)) return true
@@ -60,10 +47,7 @@ export function isElementRef(obj: any): boolean {
  * @param element tne element
  * @returns {*}
  */
-export const isExactlyOfKind = R.curry(function isExactlyOfKind(
-  kind: ElementRef,
-  element: ?KeyedIterable
-): boolean {
+export const isExactlyOfKind = R.curry(function isExactlyOfKind(kind, element) {
   if (element == null || kindOf(element) == null) {
     return false
   }
@@ -80,8 +64,8 @@ export const isExactlyOfKind = R.curry(function isExactlyOfKind(
  * @param element any object, potentially an element
  * @returns the kind of that element or null (which means the provided object is not an element
  */
-export function kindOf(element: KeyedIterable): ?ElementRefCanonical {
-  const kind: ?ElementRef = element.get('kind')
+export function kindOf(element) {
+  const kind = element.get('kind')
 
   if (kind != null) {
     return canonical(kind)
@@ -93,7 +77,7 @@ export function kindOf(element: KeyedIterable): ?ElementRefCanonical {
 /**
  * Returns true if object provided is an element
  */
-export function isElement(obj: any): boolean {
+export function isElement(obj) {
   return Iterable.isIterable(obj) && kindOf(obj) != null
 }
 
@@ -109,9 +93,7 @@ export function isElement(obj: any): boolean {
  * @param ref the kind
  * @returns {*}
  */
-export function ancestorKinds(
-  ref: ElementRef
-): IndexedIterable<ElementRefCanonical> {
+export function ancestorKinds(ref) {
   const cRef = canonical(ref)
 
   invariant(cRef != null, 'you must provide a valid element reference')
@@ -136,11 +118,11 @@ export function ancestorKinds(
  * @param ref an element reference
  * @returns the canonical version for the reference kind
  */
-export function canonical(ref: ElementRef): ?List<string> {
+export function canonical(ref) {
   return normalize(ref)
 }
 
-function normalize(kind): ?List<string> {
+function normalize(kind) {
   if (typeof kind === 'string') {
     return normalize([kind])
   }
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/data/index.js b/packages/core/src/data/index.js
similarity index 81%
rename from packages/classic/src/data/index.js
rename to packages/core/src/data/index.js
index d0deb52..73547bd 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/data/index.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/data/index.js
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 'use strict'
 
 import * as R from 'ramda'
-import * as element from './element'
-export * from './element'
 
-export { element } // deprecated use
+export * from './element'
 
 /**
  * Like R.pipe, but the composition is immediately executed using the first arg.
diff --git a/packages/core/src/index.js b/packages/core/src/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..07d9c94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+'use strict'
+
+import * as data from './data'
+import * as registry from './registry'
+import * as zip from './zip'
+import * as log from './log'
+import * as propNames from './propNames'
+
+export { data, registry, zip, log, propNames }
+
+export default {
+  data,
+  registry,
+  zip,
+  log,
+  propNames,
+}
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/impl/deprecated.js b/packages/core/src/log/deprecated.js
similarity index 95%
rename from packages/classic/src/impl/deprecated.js
rename to packages/core/src/log/deprecated.js
index c2a5a3d..81b2d5f 100644
--- a/packages/classic/src/impl/deprecated.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/log/deprecated.js
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 'use strict'
 
-import 'core-js/fn/object/assign'
-
 import { warning } from './log'
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/core/src/log/index.js b/packages/core/src/log/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8375be4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/log/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+'use strict'
+
+export * from './log'
+export { default as deprecated } from './deprecated'
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/impl/log.js b/packages/core/src/log/log.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/impl/log.js
rename to packages/core/src/log/log.js
diff --git a/packages/core/src/propNames.js b/packages/core/src/propNames.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9bd84a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/propNames.js
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+'use strict'
+
+import { childrenProperty as children } from './data'
+
+export { children }
+export const metadata = '@@skele/metadata'
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/registry/AbstractRegistry.js b/packages/core/src/registry/AbstractRegistry.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/registry/AbstractRegistry.js
rename to packages/core/src/registry/AbstractRegistry.js
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/registry/MultivalueRegistry.js b/packages/core/src/registry/MultivalueRegistry.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/registry/MultivalueRegistry.js
rename to packages/core/src/registry/MultivalueRegistry.js
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/registry/PatternRegistry.js b/packages/core/src/registry/PatternRegistry.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/registry/PatternRegistry.js
rename to packages/core/src/registry/PatternRegistry.js
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/registry/Registry.js b/packages/core/src/registry/Registry.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/registry/Registry.js
rename to packages/core/src/registry/Registry.js
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/registry/RegistryChain.js b/packages/core/src/registry/RegistryChain.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/registry/RegistryChain.js
rename to packages/core/src/registry/RegistryChain.js
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/registry/__tests__/MultivalueRegistry.js b/packages/core/src/registry/__tests__/MultivalueRegistry.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/registry/__tests__/MultivalueRegistry.js
rename to packages/core/src/registry/__tests__/MultivalueRegistry.js
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/registry/__tests__/PatternRegistry.js b/packages/core/src/registry/__tests__/PatternRegistry.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/registry/__tests__/PatternRegistry.js
rename to packages/core/src/registry/__tests__/PatternRegistry.js
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/registry/__tests__/Registry.js b/packages/core/src/registry/__tests__/Registry.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/registry/__tests__/Registry.js
rename to packages/core/src/registry/__tests__/Registry.js
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/registry/__tests__/RegistryChain.js b/packages/core/src/registry/__tests__/RegistryChain.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/registry/__tests__/RegistryChain.js
rename to packages/core/src/registry/__tests__/RegistryChain.js
diff --git a/packages/core/src/registry/index.js b/packages/core/src/registry/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d081ebe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/registry/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+'use strict'
+
+export { default as AbstractRegistry } from './AbstractRegistry'
+export { default as Registry } from './Registry'
+export { default as MultivalueRegistry } from './MultivalueRegistry'
+export { default as PatternRegistry } from './PatternRegistry'
+export {
+  RegistryChain,
+  MultivalueRegistryChain,
+  chainRegistries,
+  chainMultivalueRegistries,
+} from './RegistryChain'
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/vendor/zippa/LICENSE b/packages/core/src/vendor/zippa/LICENSE
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/vendor/zippa/LICENSE
rename to packages/core/src/vendor/zippa/LICENSE
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/vendor/zippa/array_zipper.js b/packages/core/src/vendor/zippa/array_zipper.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/vendor/zippa/array_zipper.js
rename to packages/core/src/vendor/zippa/array_zipper.js
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/vendor/zippa/index.js b/packages/core/src/vendor/zippa/index.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/vendor/zippa/index.js
rename to packages/core/src/vendor/zippa/index.js
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/vendor/zippa/visit.js b/packages/core/src/vendor/zippa/visit.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/vendor/zippa/visit.js
rename to packages/core/src/vendor/zippa/visit.js
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/vendor/zippa/walk.js b/packages/core/src/vendor/zippa/walk.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/vendor/zippa/walk.js
rename to packages/core/src/vendor/zippa/walk.js
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/vendor/zippa/zipper.js b/packages/core/src/vendor/zippa/zipper.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/vendor/zippa/zipper.js
rename to packages/core/src/vendor/zippa/zipper.js
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/zip/__tests__/edit.js b/packages/core/src/zip/__tests__/edit.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/zip/__tests__/edit.js
rename to packages/core/src/zip/__tests__/edit.js
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/zip/__tests__/elementZipper.js b/packages/core/src/zip/__tests__/elementZipper.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/zip/__tests__/elementZipper.js
rename to packages/core/src/zip/__tests__/elementZipper.js
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/zip/__tests__/reduce.js b/packages/core/src/zip/__tests__/reduce.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/zip/__tests__/reduce.js
rename to packages/core/src/zip/__tests__/reduce.js
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/zip/edit.js b/packages/core/src/zip/edit.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/zip/edit.js
rename to packages/core/src/zip/edit.js
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/zip/elementZipper.js b/packages/core/src/zip/elementZipper.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/zip/elementZipper.js
rename to packages/core/src/zip/elementZipper.js
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/zip/index.js b/packages/core/src/zip/index.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/zip/index.js
rename to packages/core/src/zip/index.js
diff --git a/packages/classic/src/zip/reduce.js b/packages/core/src/zip/reduce.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/classic/src/zip/reduce.js
rename to packages/core/src/zip/reduce.js