diff --git a/backend/Cargo.toml b/backend/Cargo.toml
index 22207d7..14ae531 100644
--- a/backend/Cargo.toml
+++ b/backend/Cargo.toml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ edition = "2024"
 [dependencies]
 argon2 = "0.5.3"
 chrono = { version = "0.4.42", features = ["serde"] }
+dotenv = "0.15.0"
 futures-util = "0.3.31"
 image = "0.25.8"
 rand = "0.9.2"
diff --git a/backend/src/llm.rs b/backend/src/llm.rs
index 5a5388a..be47d9f 100644
--- a/backend/src/llm.rs
+++ b/backend/src/llm.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // src/llm.rs
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
-use crate::messages::ChatMsg;
+use crate::messenger::ChatMsg;
 
 #[derive(Serialize)]
 struct LlmRequest {
diff --git a/backend/src/main.rs b/backend/src/main.rs
index a1a298c..90f9bbf 100644
--- a/backend/src/main.rs
+++ b/backend/src/main.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ use rocket::{Build, Rocket};
 use rocket_cors::{AllowedOrigins, CorsOptions};
 use rocket_db_pools::{Connection, Database};
 use rocket_dyn_templates::Template;
-use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::env;
+use std::sync::{Arc, LazyLock};
 
 use crate::auth::Session;
 use crate::db::{Postgres, Redis};
@@ -20,33 +21,18 @@ pub mod cdn;
 pub mod db;
 pub mod handlers;
 pub mod llm;
-pub mod messages;
+pub mod messenger;
+pub mod user;
 
-#[get("/users", rank = 2)]
-async fn users(_ag: Session, mut db: Connection<Postgres>) -> Json<Vec<i32>> {
-    sqlx::query!("SELECT id FROM users")
-        .fetch_all(&mut **db)
-        .await
-        .unwrap_or_else(|_| Vec::new())
-        .into_iter()
-        .map(|row| row.id)
-        .collect::<Vec<i32>>()
-        .into()
-}
-
-#[get("/users/<id>", rank = 1)]
-async fn display_name(
-    id: usize,
-    _ag: Session,
-    mut pgsql_conn: Connection<Postgres>,
-    mut redis_conn: Connection<Redis>,
-) -> String {
-    UserCache::username(id, &mut redis_conn, &mut pgsql_conn).await
-}
+static LMSTUDIO_URL: LazyLock<String> =
+    LazyLock::new(|| env::var("LMSTUDIO_URL").expect("Ensure LMSTUDIO_URL is set!"));
 
 #[launch]
 fn rocket() -> Rocket<Build> {
-    let chat = Arc::new(crate::messages::ChatBroadcaster::new(32));
+    // make sure the env is loaded
+    dotenv::dotenv().expect("Failed to load env! aborting launch!");
+
+    let chat = Arc::new(crate::messenger::ChatBroadcaster::new(32));
 
     let cors = CorsOptions::default()
         .allowed_origins(AllowedOrigins::all())
@@ -70,7 +56,7 @@ fn rocket() -> Rocket<Build> {
             "/",
             routes![
                 favicon,
-                messages::chat_page,
+                messenger::chat_page,
                 auth::signup_page,
                 auth::login_page,
                 auth::mfa_page,
@@ -81,11 +67,11 @@ fn rocket() -> Rocket<Build> {
             "/api",
             routes![
                 cdn::upload_profile_pic,
-                messages::get_messages,
-                messages::post_message,
-                messages::event_stream,
-                users,
-                display_name,
+                messenger::get_messages,
+                messenger::post_message,
+                messenger::event_stream,
+                user::users,
+                user::display_name,
                 auth::signup,
                 auth::login,
                 auth::get_totp,
@@ -107,45 +93,3 @@ fn rocket() -> Rocket<Build> {
 async fn favicon() -> NamedFile {
     NamedFile::open("static/favicon.ico").await.unwrap()
 }
-
-pub struct UserCache {}
-
-impl UserCache {
-    pub async fn username(
-        id: usize,
-        redis_conn: &mut Connection<Redis>,
-        pgsql_conn: &mut Connection<Postgres>,
-    ) -> String {
-        if let Ok(val) = cmd("GET")
-            .arg(&[format!("users:{id}")])
-            .query_async(&mut **redis_conn)
-            .await
-        {
-            return val;
-        }
-
-        if let Ok(v) = sqlx::query!("SELECT username FROM users WHERE id = $1", id as i32)
-            .fetch_one(&mut ***pgsql_conn)
-            .await
-        {
-            let username = v.username;
-            Self::insert(id, &username, redis_conn).await;
-            username
-        } else {
-            unimplemented!()
-        }
-    }
-
-    pub async fn insert(id: usize, username: &str, conn: &mut Connection<Redis>) {
-        cmd("SET")
-            .arg(&[
-                format!("users:{id}"),
-                username.to_string(),
-                "EX".to_string(),
-                "1800".to_string(),
-            ])
-            .query_async(&mut **conn)
-            .await
-            .expect("failed to insert key")
-    }
-}
diff --git a/backend/src/messages/cache.rs b/backend/src/messenger/cache.rs
similarity index 99%
rename from backend/src/messages/cache.rs
rename to backend/src/messenger/cache.rs
index 445f06f..68c2d5e 100644
--- a/backend/src/messages/cache.rs
+++ b/backend/src/messenger/cache.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use rocket_db_pools::Connection;
 
 use crate::{
     db::{Postgres, Redis},
-    messages::ChatMsg,
+    messenger::ChatMsg,
 };
 
 // Helper function to cache message in Redis
diff --git a/backend/src/messages/messages.rs b/backend/src/messenger/messages.rs
similarity index 68%
rename from backend/src/messages/messages.rs
rename to backend/src/messenger/messages.rs
index 3723c70..bf0fffb 100644
--- a/backend/src/messages/messages.rs
+++ b/backend/src/messenger/messages.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,11 @@
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
-use redis::{AsyncCommands, cmd};
 use rocket::{
     Shutdown,
     response::stream::{Event, EventStream},
     serde::json::Json,
     time::OffsetDateTime,
 };
-use rocket_cors::CorsOptions;
 use rocket_db_pools::Connection;
 use rocket_dyn_templates::{Template, context};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
@@ -22,21 +20,34 @@ use crate::{
 
 /// ---------- shared broadcaster ----------
 pub struct ChatBroadcaster {
-    sender: broadcast::Sender<ChatMsg>,
+    buffer_size: usize,
+    senders: std::sync::Mutex<std::collections::HashMap<i32, broadcast::Sender<ChatMsg>>>,
 }
 
 impl ChatBroadcaster {
     pub fn new(buffer_size: usize) -> Self {
-        let (sender, _rx) = broadcast::channel::<ChatMsg>(buffer_size);
-        Self { sender }
+        Self {
+            buffer_size,
+            senders: std::sync::Mutex::new(std::collections::HashMap::new()),
+        }
     }
 
-    pub async fn publish(&self, msg: ChatMsg) {
-        let _ = self.sender.send(msg);
+    /// Publish a message to the specified channel.
+    pub async fn publish(&self, channel_id: i32, msg: ChatMsg) {
+        let mut map = self.senders.lock().unwrap();
+        let sender = map
+            .entry(channel_id)
+            .or_insert_with(|| broadcast::channel::<ChatMsg>(self.buffer_size).0);
+        let _ = sender.send(msg);
     }
 
-    pub fn subscribe(&self) -> broadcast::Receiver<ChatMsg> {
-        self.sender.subscribe()
+    /// Subscribe to the specified channel.
+    pub fn subscribe(&self, channel_id: i32) -> broadcast::Receiver<ChatMsg> {
+        let mut map = self.senders.lock().unwrap();
+        let sender = map
+            .entry(channel_id)
+            .or_insert_with(|| broadcast::channel::<ChatMsg>(self.buffer_size).0);
+        sender.subscribe()
     }
 }
 
@@ -49,18 +60,15 @@ pub struct ChatMsg {
     pub timestamp: usize,
 }
 
-#[post("/chat", format = "json", data = "<msg>")]
+#[post("/chat/<channel_id>", format = "json", data = "<msg>")]
 pub async fn post_message(
     mut msg: Json<ChatMsg>,
     chat: &rocket::State<Arc<ChatBroadcaster>>,
     mut postgres: Connection<Postgres>,
-    mut cache: Connection<Redis>,
+    mut cache: Option<Connection<Redis>>,
     session: Session,
+    channel_id: i32,
 ) -> Result<(), String> {
-    const CHANNEL_ID: i32 = 1;
-    let channel_id = CHANNEL_ID;
-    const LMSTUDIO_URI: &'static str = "http://127.0.0.1:1234/v1/chat/completions";
-
     let chat = chat.inner().clone();
 
     let display_name = sqlx::query!(
@@ -74,11 +82,11 @@ pub async fn post_message(
 
     msg.user_id = session.user_id;
     msg.display_name = Some(display_name);
-    chat.publish(msg.clone().into_inner()).await;
+    chat.publish(channel_id, msg.clone().into_inner()).await;
 
     sqlx::query!(
         "INSERT INTO messages (channel_id, user_id, content, created_at) VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4)",
-        CHANNEL_ID,
+        channel_id,
         msg.user_id as i32,
         msg.text,
         OffsetDateTime::from_unix_timestamp_nanos(msg.timestamp as i128 * 1_000_000).unwrap()
@@ -87,22 +95,30 @@ pub async fn post_message(
     .await
     .map_err(|_| "Failed".to_string())?;
 
-    super::cache::insert(&mut cache, channel_id, &msg)
-        .await
-        .map_err(|_| "Redis cache failed".to_string())?;
+    if let Some(ref mut cache) = cache {
+        messenger::cache::insert(cache, channel_id, &msg)
+            .await
+            .map_err(|_| "Redis cache failed".to_string())?;
+    }
+
     // get response
     tokio::spawn(async move {
-        let response = LlmWorker::new(LMSTUDIO_URI.to_string()).query(&msg).await;
+        let response = LlmWorker::new(crate::LMSTUDIO_URL.to_string())
+            .query(&msg)
+            .await;
 
         if let Ok(reply) = response {
-            chat.publish(reply.clone()).await;
-            super::cache::insert(&mut cache, CHANNEL_ID, &reply)
-                .await
-                .ok();
+            chat.publish(channel_id, reply.clone()).await;
+
+            if let Some(ref mut cache) = cache {
+                messenger::cache::insert(cache, channel_id, &reply)
+                    .await
+                    .ok();
+            }
 
             sqlx::query!(
                 "INSERT INTO messages (channel_id, user_id, content, created_at) VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4)",
-                CHANNEL_ID,
+                channel_id,
                 reply.user_id as i32,
                 reply.text,
                 OffsetDateTime::from_unix_timestamp_nanos(reply.timestamp as i128 * 1_000_000).unwrap()
@@ -126,17 +142,17 @@ pub async fn get_messages(
     const CHANNEL_ID: i32 = 1;
     let channel_id = CHANNEL_ID;
 
-    if let Ok(messages) = super::cache::get(&mut redis, channel_id).await
+    if let Ok(messages) = messenger::cache::get(&mut redis, channel_id).await
         && !messages.is_empty()
     {
         return Json(messages);
     };
 
-    if let Err(x) = super::cache::initialise(&mut redis, &mut db, channel_id).await {
+    if let Err(x) = messenger::cache::initialise(&mut redis, &mut db, channel_id).await {
         eprintln!("WARN: {x:?}");
     }
 
-    if let Ok(messages) = super::cache::get(&mut redis, channel_id).await
+    if let Ok(messages) = messenger::cache::get(&mut redis, channel_id).await
         && !messages.is_empty()
     {
         return Json(messages);
@@ -165,15 +181,16 @@ pub async fn get_messages(
     Json(res)
 }
 
-#[get("/events")]
+#[get("/events/<channel_id>")]
 pub async fn event_stream(
     chat: &rocket::State<Arc<ChatBroadcaster>>,
     postgres: Connection<Postgres>,
     cache: Connection<Redis>,
     ag: Session,
     mut shutdown: Shutdown,
+    channel_id: i32,
 ) -> EventStream![] {
-    let mut rx = chat.subscribe();
+    let mut rx = chat.subscribe(channel_id);
 
     EventStream! {
         // Initialize the stream with the last 100 messages
@@ -202,8 +219,3 @@ pub async fn event_stream(
 pub async fn chat_page(session: Session) -> Template {
     Template::render("chat", context!(user_id: session.user_id))
 }
-
-#[get("/chatpreview")]
-pub async fn chat_page_preview(session: Session) -> Template {
-    Template::render("chatpreview", context!(user_id: session.user_id))
-}
diff --git a/backend/src/messages/mod.rs b/backend/src/messenger/mod.rs
similarity index 100%
rename from backend/src/messages/mod.rs
rename to backend/src/messenger/mod.rs
diff --git a/backend/src/user.rs b/backend/src/user.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bdb6d91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/user.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+use redis::cmd;
+use rocket::serde::json::Json;
+use rocket_db_pools::Connection;
+
+use crate::{
+    auth::Session,
+    db::{Postgres, Redis},
+};
+
+#[get("/users", rank = 2)]
+pub async fn users(_ag: Session, mut db: Connection<Postgres>) -> Json<Vec<i32>> {
+    sqlx::query!("SELECT id FROM users")
+        .fetch_all(&mut **db)
+        .await
+        .unwrap_or_else(|_| Vec::new())
+        .into_iter()
+        .map(|row| row.id)
+        .collect::<Vec<i32>>()
+        .into()
+}
+
+#[get("/users/<id>", rank = 1)]
+pub async fn display_name(
+    id: usize,
+    _ag: Session,
+    mut pgsql_conn: Connection<Postgres>,
+    mut redis_conn: Connection<Redis>,
+) -> String {
+    UserCache::username(id, &mut redis_conn, &mut pgsql_conn).await
+}
+
+pub struct UserCache {}
+
+impl UserCache {
+    pub async fn username(
+        id: usize,
+        redis_conn: &mut Connection<Redis>,
+        pgsql_conn: &mut Connection<Postgres>,
+    ) -> String {
+        if let Ok(val) = cmd("GET")
+            .arg(&[format!("users:{id}")])
+            .query_async(&mut **redis_conn)
+            .await
+        {
+            return val;
+        }
+
+        if let Ok(v) = sqlx::query!("SELECT username FROM users WHERE id = $1", id as i32)
+            .fetch_one(&mut ***pgsql_conn)
+            .await
+        {
+            let username = v.username;
+            Self::insert(id, &username, redis_conn).await;
+            username
+        } else {
+            unimplemented!()
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub async fn insert(id: usize, username: &str, conn: &mut Connection<Redis>) {
+        cmd("SET")
+            .arg(&[
+                format!("users:{id}"),
+                username.to_string(),
+                "EX".to_string(),
+                "1800".to_string(),
+            ])
+            .query_async(&mut **conn)
+            .await
+            .expect("failed to insert key")
+    }
+}