diff --git a/patchodon.py b/patchodon.py
index dc4d0fd..8fdf95f 100755
--- a/patchodon.py
+++ b/patchodon.py
@@ -3,9 +3,118 @@
 import sys, os
 import argparse
 import requests
+import hashlib
+import time
+
+# NOTES: html2text: html2text
+# the replies are listed by context, should be link-listed to avoid issues,
+# should specify next hash to provide some kind of a filter
+# visibility public+unlisted, all unlisted, all private, all direct
 
 VERSION = "0.1.0"
 
+DPASTE_URL = "https://dpaste.com"
+
+STATUS_LENGTH_LIMIT = 400
+
+
+def trace(x):
+    sys.stderr.write(sys.argv[0] + ": " + x + "\n")
+
+
+def api_token(args):
+    if args.debug_api_token:
+        return args.debug_api_token
+    if args.env_api_token:
+        return os.environ["PATCHODON_API_TOKEN"]
+    raise ("API token not specified")
+
+
+def do_post_status(args, body, parent=None, optional=None):
+    if len(body) > STATUS_LENGTH_LIMIT:
+        raise ("required status body too long")
+
+    if not args.instance_url:
+        raise ("mastodon instance not specified")
+
+    token = api_token(args)
+
+    headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {token}"}
+    st = body + (
+        "\n" + optional[0 : (STATUS_LENGTH_LIMIT - len(body) - 1)]
+        if optional
+        else ""
+    )
+    data = {status: st, visibility: "unlisted"}
+    if parent:
+        data["in_reply_to_id"] = parent
+
+    r = requests.post(
+        args.instance_url + "/api/v1/statuses", data=data, headers=headers
+    )
+    if r.status_code != 200:
+        raise ("mastodon status posting failed ({r.status_code})")
+
+    return r.json.id
+
+
+def do_pastebin_file(file):
+    # DPASTE API USE RULES:
+    # - user-agent must be set properly
+    # - 1 second between requests
+    trace(f"pasting {file}...")
+    r = requests.post(
+        DPASTE_URL + "/api/v2/",
+        data={
+            "contents": open(file, "r").read(),
+            "syntax": "diff",
+            "title": os.path.basename(file),
+            "expiry_days": 30,
+        },
+        headers={"User-agent": f"patchodon v{VERSION}"},
+    )
+    if r.status_code != 201:
+        raise (f"dpaste POST failed for `{file}'")
+    sleep(1.1)
+    return r.headers["location"] + ".txt"
+
+
+def split_off_diff(s):
+    return s.split("\ndiff --git ")[0]
+
+
+def do_post(args):
+    files = args.patchfile
+    if not files:
+        trace("reading patchfile series from stdin")
+        files = sys.stdin.readlines().map(lambda x: x.rstrip(chars="\n"))
+    n_patches = len(files)
+    hashes = files.map(lambda x: hashlib.sha1(open(x, "r").read()).hexdigest())
+    short_hashes = hashes.map(lambda x: x[0:8])
+    full_hash = hashlib.sha1(hashes.join(" ")).hexdigest()
+    paste_raw_urls = map(do_pastebin_file, files)
+    trace("posting the header...")
+    parent_post_id, url = do_post_status(
+        args,
+        args.subject
+        + f"\n[patchodon hash {full_hash} shorts {short_hashes.join(' ')}]",
+    )
+    for fn, pst, hsh, series in zip(
+        files, paste_raw_urls, hashes, range(n_patches)
+    ):
+        trace(f"posting patch {series+1}/{n_patches}...")
+        parent_post_id, _ = do_post_status(
+            args,
+            f"[patchodon {series+1}/{n_patches} {hsh}\n{pst}\n",
+            parent=parent_post_id,
+            optional=split_off_diff(open(fn, "r").read()),
+        )
+    print(url)
+
+
+def do_get(args):
+    pass
+
 
 def main():
     ap = argparse.ArgumentParser(
@@ -38,7 +147,13 @@ def main():
             "-i", "--instance-url", help="mastodon instance URL to post to"
         )
         post.add_argument(
-            "-r", "--recipient", help="recipient to tag in the initial post"
+            "-s",
+            "--subject",
+            default="",
+            help=(
+                "start of the initial post (e.g. to @tag someone and name the"
+                " project and topic)"
+            ),
         )
         post.add_argument(
             "patchfile",
@@ -93,7 +208,13 @@ def main():
         ),
     )
     args = ap.parse_args()
-    print(args)
+
+    if args.command == "post":
+        do_post(args)
+    elif args.command == "get":
+        do_get(args)
+    else:
+        raise ("fatal: args borked")
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":