diff --git a/backend/meson.build b/backend/meson.build
index 9c6b70df..7fcf00b8 100644
--- a/backend/meson.build
+++ b/backend/meson.build
@@ -1,29 +1,33 @@
-wlr_files += files(
-    'backend.c',
-    'udev.c',
-    'session/direct-ipc.c',
-    'session/direct.c',
-    'session/session.c',
-    'drm/backend.c',
-    'drm/drm.c',
-    'drm/drm-atomic.c',
-    'drm/drm-legacy.c',
-    'drm/drm-properties.c',
-    'drm/drm-util.c',
-    'libinput/backend.c',
-    'libinput/events.c',
-    'libinput/keyboard.c',
-    'libinput/pointer.c',
-    'libinput/tablet_pad.c',
-    'libinput/tablet_tool.c',
-    'libinput/touch.c',
-    'multi/backend.c',
-    'wayland/backend.c',
-    'wayland/output.c',
-    'wayland/registry.c',
-    'wayland/wl_seat.c',
+backend_files = files(
+  'backend.c',
+  'udev.c',
+  'session/direct-ipc.c',
+  'session/direct.c',
+  'session/session.c',
+  'drm/backend.c',
+  'drm/drm.c',
+  'drm/drm-atomic.c',
+  'drm/drm-legacy.c',
+  'drm/drm-properties.c',
+  'drm/drm-util.c',
+  'libinput/backend.c',
+  'libinput/events.c',
+  'libinput/keyboard.c',
+  'libinput/pointer.c',
+  'libinput/tablet_pad.c',
+  'libinput/tablet_tool.c',
+  'libinput/touch.c',
+  'multi/backend.c',
+  'wayland/backend.c',
+  'wayland/output.c',
+  'wayland/registry.c',
+  'wayland/wl_seat.c',
 )
 
-if dep_systemd.found()
-    wlr_files += files('session/logind.c')
+if systemd.found()
+  wlr_files += files('session/logind.c')
 endif
+
+lib_wlr_backend = static_library('wlr_backend', backend_files,
+  include_directories: wlr_inc,
+  dependencies: [wayland_server, egl, gbm, libinput, systemd])
diff --git a/examples/compositor/main.c b/examples/compositor/main.c
index f115d267..933e27c7 100644
--- a/examples/compositor/main.c
+++ b/examples/compositor/main.c
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include <wlr/render/gles2.h>
 #include <wlr/types/wlr_output.h>
 #include <wlr/types/wlr_surface.h>
+#include <wlr/types/wlr_xdg_shell_v6.h>
 #include <xkbcommon/xkbcommon.h>
 #include <wlr/util/log.h>
 #include "shared.h"
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ struct sample_state {
 	struct wlr_renderer *renderer;
 	struct wl_compositor_state compositor;
 	struct wl_shell_state shell;
-	struct xdg_shell_state xdg_shell;
+	struct wlr_xdg_shell_v6 *xdg_shell;
 };
 
 /*
@@ -72,9 +73,7 @@ int main() {
 	wl_display_init_shm(compositor.display);
 	wl_compositor_init(compositor.display, &state.compositor, state.renderer);
 	wl_shell_init(compositor.display, &state.shell);
-	xdg_shell_init(compositor.display, &state.xdg_shell);
+	state.xdg_shell = wlr_xdg_shell_v6_init(compositor.display);
 
 	compositor_run(&compositor);
-
-	xdg_shell_release(&state.xdg_shell);
 }
diff --git a/examples/meson.build b/examples/meson.build
index 646a4b88..e3f9cf84 100644
--- a/examples/meson.build
+++ b/examples/meson.build
@@ -1,39 +1,19 @@
 lib_shared = static_library('shared',
     ['shared.c', 'cat.c'],
-    dependencies: dep_wlr)
+    dependencies: wlroots)
 
-executable('simple', 'simple.c', dependencies: dep_wlr, link_with: lib_shared)
-executable('rotation', 'rotation.c', dependencies: dep_wlr, link_with: lib_shared)
-executable('pointer', 'pointer.c', dependencies: dep_wlr, link_with: lib_shared)
-executable('touch', 'touch.c', dependencies: dep_wlr, link_with: lib_shared)
-executable('tablet', 'tablet.c', dependencies: dep_wlr, link_with: lib_shared)
-
-wayland_scanner = find_program('wayland-scanner')
-wl_protocol_dir = dep_wayland_proto.get_pkgconfig_variable('pkgdatadir')
-
-wayland_scanner_server = generator(wayland_scanner,
-		output: '@BASENAME@-protocol.h',
-		arguments: ['server-header', '@INPUT@', '@OUTPUT@'])
-
-wayland_scanner_code = generator(wayland_scanner,
-		output: '@BASENAME@-protocol.c',
-		arguments: ['code', '@INPUT@', '@OUTPUT@'])
+executable('simple', 'simple.c', dependencies: wlroots, link_with: lib_shared)
+executable('rotation', 'rotation.c', dependencies: wlroots, link_with: lib_shared)
+executable('pointer', 'pointer.c', dependencies: wlroots, link_with: lib_shared)
+executable('touch', 'touch.c', dependencies: wlroots, link_with: lib_shared)
+executable('tablet', 'tablet.c', dependencies: wlroots, link_with: lib_shared)
 
 compositor_src = [
     'compositor/main.c',
     'compositor/wl_compositor.c',
     'compositor/wl_shell.c',
-    'compositor/xdg_shell.c',
 ]
 
-protocols = [
-	[ 'unstable', 'xdg-shell', 'xdg-shell-unstable-v6.xml' ]
-]
-
-foreach p : protocols
-	xml = join_paths([wl_protocol_dir] + p)
-	compositor_src += wayland_scanner_code.process(xml)
-	compositor_src += wayland_scanner_server.process(xml)
-endforeach
-
-executable('compositor', compositor_src, dependencies: dep_wlr, link_with: lib_shared)
+executable('compositor', compositor_src,
+    dependencies: wlroots,
+    link_with: lib_shared)
diff --git a/include/wlr/types/wlr_xdg_shell_v6.h b/include/wlr/types/wlr_xdg_shell_v6.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3fe6189e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/wlr/types/wlr_xdg_shell_v6.h
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#ifndef _WLR_XDG_SHELL_V6_H
+#define _WLR_XDG_SHELL_V6_H
+#include <wayland-server.h>
+
+struct wlr_xdg_shell_v6 {
+	struct wl_global *wl_global;
+	struct wl_list wl_resources;
+	struct wl_list surfaces;
+};
+
+struct wlr_xdg_surface_v6 {
+	struct wl_resource *resource;
+	struct wl_resource *surface;
+	struct wl_list link;
+};
+
+struct wlr_xdg_shell_v6 *wlr_xdg_shell_v6_init(struct wl_display *display);
+void wlr_xdg_shell_v6_destroy(struct wlr_xdg_shell_v6 *xdg_shell);
+
+#endif
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index b4a7fdc4..d79290bd 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -19,61 +19,71 @@ if cc.get_id() == 'clang'
     add_project_arguments('-Wno-missing-braces', language: 'c')
 endif
 
-dep_wayland_server = dependency('wayland-server')
-dep_wayland_client = dependency('wayland-client')
-dep_wayland_egl    = dependency('wayland-egl')
-dep_wayland_proto  = dependency('wayland-protocols')
-dep_egl            = dependency('egl')
-dep_glesv2         = dependency('glesv2')
-dep_drm            = dependency('libdrm')
-dep_gbm            = dependency('gbm')
-dep_libinput       = dependency('libinput')
-dep_xkbcommon      = dependency('xkbcommon')
-dep_udev           = dependency('libudev')
-dep_pixman           = dependency('pixman-1')
-dep_libcap         = dependency('libcap', required: false)
-dep_systemd        = dependency('libsystemd', required: false)
-dep_math           = cc.find_library('m', required: false)
+wayland_server = dependency('wayland-server')
+wayland_client = dependency('wayland-client')
+wayland_egl    = dependency('wayland-egl')
+wayland_protos = dependency('wayland-protocols')
+egl            = dependency('egl')
+glesv2         = dependency('glesv2')
+drm            = dependency('libdrm')
+gbm            = dependency('gbm')
+libinput       = dependency('libinput')
+xkbcommon      = dependency('xkbcommon')
+udev           = dependency('libudev')
+pixman         = dependency('pixman-1')
+libcap         = dependency('libcap', required: false)
+systemd        = dependency('libsystemd', required: false)
+math           = cc.find_library('m', required: false)
 
-all_deps = [
-    dep_wayland_server,
-    dep_wayland_client,
-    dep_wayland_egl,
-    dep_wayland_proto,
-    dep_egl,
-    dep_glesv2,
-    dep_drm,
-    dep_gbm,
-    dep_libinput,
-    dep_xkbcommon,
-    dep_udev,
-    dep_pixman,
-    dep_libcap,
-    dep_systemd,
-    dep_math,
-]
-
-if dep_libcap.found()
+if libcap.found()
     add_project_arguments('-DHAS_LIBCAP', language: 'c')
 endif
 
-if dep_systemd.found()
+if systemd.found()
     add_project_arguments('-DHAS_SYSTEMD', language: 'c')
 endif
 
 wlr_files = []
 
+subdir('protocol')
 subdir('backend')
 subdir('render')
 subdir('types')
 subdir('util')
 subdir('xcursor')
 
+_wlr_deps = [
+    wayland_server,
+    wayland_client,
+    wayland_egl,
+    wayland_protos,
+    egl,
+    glesv2,
+    drm,
+    gbm,
+    libinput,
+    xkbcommon,
+    udev,
+    pixman,
+    libcap,
+    systemd,
+    math,
+]
+
 lib_wlr = library('wlroots', wlr_files,
-	dependencies: all_deps,
+    link_whole: [
+        lib_wl_protos,
+        lib_wlr_backend,
+        lib_wlr_render,
+        lib_wlr_types,
+        lib_wlr_util,
+        lib_wlr_xcursor,
+    ],
+	dependencies: _wlr_deps,
 	include_directories: wlr_inc)
-dep_wlr = declare_dependency(link_with: lib_wlr,
-	dependencies: all_deps,
+
+wlroots = declare_dependency(link_with: lib_wlr,
+	dependencies: _wlr_deps,
 	include_directories: wlr_inc)
 
 subdir('examples')
diff --git a/protocol/meson.build b/protocol/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9a24f455
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocol/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+wl_protocol_dir = wayland_protos.get_pkgconfig_variable('pkgdatadir')
+
+wayland_scanner = find_program('wayland-scanner')
+
+wayland_scanner_server = generator(wayland_scanner,
+		output: '@BASENAME@-protocol.h',
+		arguments: ['server-header', '@INPUT@', '@OUTPUT@'])
+
+wayland_scanner_code = generator(wayland_scanner,
+		output: '@BASENAME@-protocol.c',
+		arguments: ['code', '@INPUT@', '@OUTPUT@'])
+
+protocols = [
+	[ wl_protocol_dir, 'unstable/xdg-shell/xdg-shell-unstable-v6.xml' ]
+]
+
+wl_protos_src = []
+wl_protos_headers = []
+
+foreach p : protocols
+	xml = join_paths(p)
+	wl_protos_src += wayland_scanner_code.process(xml)
+	wl_protos_headers += wayland_scanner_server.process(xml)
+endforeach
+
+lib_wl_protos = static_library('wl_protos', wl_protos_src + wl_protos_headers)
+wlr_protos = declare_dependency(
+    link_with: lib_wl_protos,
+    sources: wl_protos_headers)
diff --git a/render/meson.build b/render/meson.build
index a0a44ea2..388a6080 100644
--- a/render/meson.build
+++ b/render/meson.build
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
-wlr_files += files(
-    'egl.c',
-    'matrix.c',
-    'gles2/pixel_format.c',
-    'gles2/renderer.c',
-    'gles2/shaders.c',
-    'gles2/texture.c',
-    'gles2/util.c',
-    'wlr_renderer.c',
-    'wlr_texture.c',
-)
+lib_wlr_render = static_library('wlr_render', files(
+        'egl.c',
+        'matrix.c',
+        'gles2/pixel_format.c',
+        'gles2/renderer.c',
+        'gles2/shaders.c',
+        'gles2/texture.c',
+        'gles2/util.c',
+        'wlr_renderer.c',
+        'wlr_texture.c',
+    ),
+    include_directories: wlr_inc,
+    dependencies: [glesv2, egl])
diff --git a/types/meson.build b/types/meson.build
index a07daf85..8df25e52 100644
--- a/types/meson.build
+++ b/types/meson.build
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
-wlr_files += files(
-    'wlr_input_device.c',
-    'wlr_keyboard.c',
-    'wlr_output.c',
-    'wlr_pointer.c',
-    'wlr_region.c',
-    'wlr_surface.c',
-    'wlr_tablet_pad.c',
-    'wlr_tablet_tool.c',
-    'wlr_touch.c',
-)
+lib_wlr_types = static_library('wlr_types', [
+        'wlr_input_device.c',
+        'wlr_keyboard.c',
+        'wlr_output.c',
+        'wlr_pointer.c',
+        'wlr_region.c',
+        'wlr_surface.c',
+        'wlr_tablet_pad.c',
+        'wlr_tablet_tool.c',
+        'wlr_touch.c',
+        'wlr_xdg_shell_v6.c',
+    ],
+    include_directories: wlr_inc,
+    dependencies: [wayland_server, pixman, wlr_protos])
diff --git a/examples/compositor/xdg_shell.c b/types/wlr_xdg_shell_v6.c
similarity index 68%
rename from examples/compositor/xdg_shell.c
rename to types/wlr_xdg_shell_v6.c
index 98aa47a0..46f1c98e 100644
--- a/examples/compositor/xdg_shell.c
+++ b/types/wlr_xdg_shell_v6.c
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 #include <assert.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <wayland-server.h>
+#include <wlr/types/wlr_xdg_shell_v6.h>
 #include <wlr/util/log.h>
-#include <stdlib.h>
-#include "compositor.h"
 #include "xdg-shell-unstable-v6-protocol.h"
 
-static void resource_destructor(struct wl_client *client,
-		struct wl_resource *resource) {
+static void resource_destroy(struct wl_client *client, struct wl_resource *resource) {
+	// TODO: we probably need to do more than this
 	wl_resource_destroy(resource);
 }
 
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ static void xdg_toplevel_set_minimized(struct wl_client *client, struct wl_resou
 }
 
 static const struct zxdg_toplevel_v6_interface zxdg_toplevel_v6_implementation = {
-	.destroy = resource_destructor,
+	.destroy = resource_destroy,
 	.set_parent = xdg_toplevel_set_parent,
 	.set_title = xdg_toplevel_set_title,
 	.set_app_id = xdg_toplevel_set_app_id,
@@ -91,25 +91,20 @@ static const struct zxdg_toplevel_v6_interface zxdg_toplevel_v6_implementation =
 	.set_minimized = xdg_toplevel_set_minimized
 };
 
-struct xdg_surface_state {
-	struct wlr_texture *wlr_texture;
-	struct wl_display *display;
-};
-
-
-static void destroy_xdg_shell_surface(struct wl_resource *resource) {
-	struct xdg_surface_state *state = wl_resource_get_user_data(resource);
-	free(state);
+static void xdg_surface_destroy(struct wl_resource *resource) {
+	struct wlr_xdg_surface_v6 *surface = wl_resource_get_user_data(resource);
+	free(surface);
 }
 
 static void xdg_surface_get_toplevel(struct wl_client *client,
 		struct wl_resource *resource, uint32_t id) {
-	struct xdg_surface_state *state = wl_resource_get_user_data(resource);
+	// TODO: Flesh out
 	struct wl_resource *toplevel_resource = wl_resource_create(client,
 		&zxdg_toplevel_v6_interface, wl_resource_get_version(resource), id);
 	wl_resource_set_implementation(toplevel_resource,
-		&zxdg_toplevel_v6_implementation, state, NULL);
-	zxdg_surface_v6_send_configure(resource, wl_display_next_serial(state->display));
+		&zxdg_toplevel_v6_implementation, NULL, NULL);
+	struct wl_display *display = wl_client_get_display(client);
+	zxdg_surface_v6_send_configure(resource, wl_display_next_serial(display));
 }
 
 static void xdg_surface_get_popup(struct wl_client *client,
@@ -118,7 +113,6 @@ static void xdg_surface_get_popup(struct wl_client *client,
 	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "TODO xdg surface get popup");
 }
 
-
 static void xdg_surface_ack_configure(struct wl_client *client,
 		struct wl_resource *resource, uint32_t serial) {
 	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "TODO xdg surface ack configure");
@@ -131,7 +125,7 @@ static void xdg_surface_set_window_geometry(struct wl_client *client,
 }
 
 static const struct zxdg_surface_v6_interface zxdg_surface_v6_implementation = {
-	.destroy = resource_destructor,
+	.destroy = resource_destroy,
 	.get_toplevel = xdg_surface_get_toplevel,
 	.get_popup = xdg_surface_get_popup,
 	.ack_configure = xdg_surface_ack_configure,
@@ -143,63 +137,75 @@ static void xdg_shell_create_positioner(struct wl_client *client,
 	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "TODO: xdg shell create positioner");
 }
 
-static void xdg_shell_get_xdg_surface(struct wl_client *client, struct
-		wl_resource *resource, uint32_t id,
-		struct wl_resource *surface_resource) {
-	struct xdg_shell_state *shell_state = wl_resource_get_user_data(resource);
-	struct wlr_texture *wlr_texture = wl_resource_get_user_data(surface_resource);
-	struct xdg_surface_state *state = malloc(sizeof(struct xdg_surface_state));
-	state->display = shell_state->display;
-	state->wlr_texture = wlr_texture;
-	struct wl_resource *shell_surface_resource = wl_resource_create(client,
-		&zxdg_surface_v6_interface, wl_resource_get_version(resource), id);
-	wl_resource_set_implementation(shell_surface_resource,
-		&zxdg_surface_v6_implementation, state, destroy_xdg_shell_surface);
+static void xdg_shell_get_xdg_surface(struct wl_client *client,
+		struct wl_resource *_xdg_shell, uint32_t id,
+		struct wl_resource *_surface) {
+	struct wlr_xdg_shell_v6 *xdg_shell = wl_resource_get_user_data(_xdg_shell);
+	struct wlr_xdg_surface_v6 *surface =
+		calloc(1, sizeof(struct wlr_xdg_surface_v6));
+	surface->surface = _surface;
+	surface->resource = wl_resource_create(client,
+		&zxdg_surface_v6_interface, wl_resource_get_version(_xdg_shell), id);
+	wl_resource_set_implementation(surface->resource,
+		&zxdg_surface_v6_implementation, surface, xdg_surface_destroy);
+	wl_list_insert(&xdg_shell->surfaces, &surface->link);
 }
 
-static void xdg_shell_pong(struct wl_client *client, struct wl_resource *resource, uint32_t serial) {
+static void xdg_shell_pong(struct wl_client *client,
+		struct wl_resource *resource, uint32_t serial) {
 	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "TODO xdg shell pong");
 }
 
 static struct zxdg_shell_v6_interface xdg_shell_impl = {
-	.destroy = resource_destructor,
+	.destroy = resource_destroy,
 	.create_positioner = xdg_shell_create_positioner,
 	.get_xdg_surface = xdg_shell_get_xdg_surface,
 	.pong = xdg_shell_pong,
 };
 
-static void xdg_shell_bind(struct wl_client *wl_client, void *_state,
+static void xdg_shell_bind(struct wl_client *wl_client, void *_xdg_shell,
 		uint32_t version, uint32_t id) {
-	struct xdg_shell_state *state = _state;
-	assert(wl_client && state);
+	struct wlr_xdg_shell_v6 *xdg_shell = _xdg_shell;
+	assert(wl_client && xdg_shell);
 	if (version > 1) {
-		wlr_log(L_ERROR, "Client requested unsupported wl_shell version, disconnecting");
+		wlr_log(L_ERROR, "Client requested unsupported xdg_shell_v6 version, disconnecting");
 		wl_client_destroy(wl_client);
 		return;
 	}
 	struct wl_resource *wl_resource = wl_resource_create(
 		wl_client, &zxdg_shell_v6_interface, version, id);
-	wl_resource_set_implementation(wl_resource, &xdg_shell_impl,
-		state, NULL);
-	wl_list_insert(&state->wl_resources, wl_resource_get_link(wl_resource));
+	wl_resource_set_implementation(wl_resource, &xdg_shell_impl, xdg_shell, NULL);
+	wl_list_insert(&xdg_shell->wl_resources, wl_resource_get_link(wl_resource));
 }
 
-void xdg_shell_init(struct wl_display *display, struct xdg_shell_state *state) {
+struct wlr_xdg_shell_v6 *wlr_xdg_shell_v6_init(struct wl_display *display) {
+	struct wlr_xdg_shell_v6 *xdg_shell =
+		calloc(1, sizeof(struct wlr_xdg_shell_v6));
+	if (!xdg_shell) {
+		return NULL;
+	}
 	struct wl_global *wl_global = wl_global_create(display,
-		&zxdg_shell_v6_interface, 1, state, xdg_shell_bind);
-	state->wl_global = wl_global;
-	state->display = display;
-	wl_list_init(&state->wl_resources);
+		&zxdg_shell_v6_interface, 1, xdg_shell, xdg_shell_bind);
+	if (!wl_global) {
+		wlr_xdg_shell_v6_destroy(xdg_shell);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	xdg_shell->wl_global = wl_global;
+	wl_list_init(&xdg_shell->wl_resources);
+	wl_list_init(&xdg_shell->surfaces);
+	return xdg_shell;
 }
 
-void xdg_shell_release(struct xdg_shell_state *state) {
-	if (!state) {
+void wlr_xdg_shell_v6_destroy(struct wlr_xdg_shell_v6 *xdg_shell) {
+	if (!xdg_shell) {
 		return;
 	}
-
 	struct wl_resource *resource = NULL, *temp = NULL;
-	wl_resource_for_each_safe(resource, temp, &state->wl_resources) {
+	wl_resource_for_each_safe(resource, temp, &xdg_shell->wl_resources) {
 		struct wl_list *link = wl_resource_get_link(resource);
 		wl_list_remove(link);
 	}
+	// TODO: destroy surfaces
+	wl_global_destroy(xdg_shell->wl_global);
+	free(xdg_shell);
 }
diff --git a/util/meson.build b/util/meson.build
index 7b80c23f..a66cefce 100644
--- a/util/meson.build
+++ b/util/meson.build
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-wlr_files += files(
-    'list.c',
-    'log.c',
-)
+lib_wlr_util = static_library('wlr_util', files(
+        'list.c',
+        'log.c',
+    ),
+    include_directories: wlr_inc)
diff --git a/xcursor/meson.build b/xcursor/meson.build
index 570d1fe1..95455c7c 100644
--- a/xcursor/meson.build
+++ b/xcursor/meson.build
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-wlr_files += files(
-    'xcursor.c',
-    'wlr_cursor.c',
-)
+lib_wlr_xcursor = static_library('wlr_xcursor', files(
+        'xcursor.c',
+        'wlr_cursor.c',
+    ),
+    include_directories: wlr_inc)