diff --git a/src/dbg_frontend/dbg_frontend.mdesk b/src/dbg_frontend/dbg_frontend.mdesk
index 3c8210a4..2bc3b37a 100644
--- a/src/dbg_frontend/dbg_frontend.mdesk
+++ b/src/dbg_frontend/dbg_frontend.mdesk
@@ -28,6 +28,74 @@
   @expand(D_CfgSrcTable a) `DF_CmdKind_$(a.apply_cmd)`;
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////
+//~ rjf: Registers Type Table
+
+@table(c_type  name_lower  name)
+DF_RegTable:
+{
+  // rjf: entity slots
+  {D_Handle         machine          Machine       }
+  {D_Handle         module           Module        }
+  {D_Handle         process          Process       }
+  {D_Handle         thread           Thread        }
+  {D_Handle         window           Window        }
+  {D_Handle         panel            Panel         }
+  {D_Handle         view             View          }
+  {D_Handle         prev_view        PrevView      }
+  {D_Handle         dst_panel        DstPanel      }
+  {D_Handle         entity           Entity        }
+  {D_HandleList     entity_list      EntityList    }
+  
+  // rjf: frame selection
+  {U64              unwind_count     UnwindCount   }
+  {U64              inline_depth     InlineDepth   }
+  
+  // rjf: code / address location info
+  {String8          file_path        FilePath      }
+  {TxtPt            cursor           Cursor        }
+  {TxtPt            mark             Mark          }
+  {U128             text_key         TextKey       }
+  {TXT_LangKind     lang_kind        LangKind      }
+  {D_LineList       lines            Lines         }
+  {DI_Key           dbgi_key         DbgiKey       }
+  {Rng1U64          vaddr_range      VaddrRange    }
+  {Rng1U64          voff_range       VoffRange     }
+  
+  // rjf: general parameters
+  {U32              pid              PID           }
+  {B32              force_confirm    ForceConfirm  }
+  {B32              prefer_disasm    PreferDisasm  }
+  {Dir2             dir2             Dir2          }
+  {String8          string           String        }
+  {`MD_Node *`      params_tree      ParamsTree    }
+}
+
+@enum DF_RegSlot:
+{
+  Null,
+  @expand(DF_RegTable a) `$(a.name)`,
+  COUNT,
+}
+
+@struct DF_Regs:
+{
+  @expand(DF_RegTable a) `$(a.c_type) $(a.name_lower)`
+}
+
+@data(Rng1U64) df_reg_slot_range_table:
+{
+  `{0}`,
+  @expand(DF_RegTable a) `{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, $(a.name_lower)), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, $(a.name_lower)) + sizeof($(a.c_type))}`
+}
+
+@gen
+{
+  `#define df_regs_lit_init_top \\`
+  @expand(DF_RegTable a) `.$(a.name_lower) = df_regs()->$(a.name_lower),\\`
+    ``;
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////
 //~ rjf: Command Table
 
diff --git a/src/dbg_frontend/dbg_frontend_core.c b/src/dbg_frontend/dbg_frontend_core.c
index 0164e3d8..d0dd887d 100644
--- a/src/dbg_frontend/dbg_frontend_core.c
+++ b/src/dbg_frontend/dbg_frontend_core.c
@@ -7393,6 +7393,54 @@ df_request_frame(void)
   df_state->num_frames_requested = 4;
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////
+//~ rjf: Main State Accessors
+
+internal Arena *
+df_frame_arena(void)
+{
+  return df_state->frame_arenas[df_state->frame_index%ArrayCount(df_state->frame_arenas)];
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////
+//~ rjf: Registers
+
+internal DF_Regs *
+df_regs(void)
+{
+  DF_Regs *regs = &df_state->top_regs->v;
+  return regs;
+}
+
+internal DF_Regs *
+df_base_regs(void)
+{
+  DF_Regs *regs = &df_state->base_regs.v;
+  return regs;
+}
+
+internal DF_Regs *
+df_push_regs(void)
+{
+  DF_Regs *top = df_regs();
+  DF_RegsNode *n = push_array(df_frame_arena(), DF_RegsNode, 1);
+  MemoryCopyStruct(&n->v, top);
+  SLLStackPush(df_state->top_regs, n);
+  return &n->v;
+}
+
+internal DF_Regs *
+df_pop_regs(void)
+{
+  DF_Regs *regs = &df_state->top_regs->v;
+  SLLStackPop(df_state->top_regs);
+  if(df_state->top_regs == 0)
+  {
+    df_state->top_regs = &df_state->base_regs;
+  }
+  return regs;
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////
 //~ rjf: Commands
 
@@ -7464,6 +7512,10 @@ df_init(CmdLine *cmdln)
   Arena *arena = arena_alloc();
   df_state = push_array(arena, DF_State, 1);
   df_state->arena = arena;
+  for(U64 idx = 0; idx < ArrayCount(df_state->frame_arenas); idx += 1)
+  {
+    df_state->frame_arenas[idx] = arena_alloc();
+  }
   df_state->num_frames_requested = 2;
   df_state->seconds_until_autosave = 0.5f;
   df_state->cmds_arena = arena_alloc();
@@ -7648,10 +7700,10 @@ df_frame(void)
   //
   // TODO(rjf): maximize target, given all windows and their monitors
   F32 target_hz = os_get_gfx_info()->default_refresh_rate;
-  if(df_state->frame_time_us_history_idx > 32)
+  if(df_state->frame_index > 32)
   {
     // rjf: calculate average frame time out of the last N
-    U64 num_frames_in_history = Min(ArrayCount(df_state->frame_time_us_history), df_state->frame_time_us_history_idx);
+    U64 num_frames_in_history = Min(ArrayCount(df_state->frame_time_us_history), df_state->frame_index);
     U64 frame_time_history_sum_us = 0;
     for(U64 idx = 0; idx < num_frames_in_history; idx += 1)
     {
@@ -12208,8 +12260,12 @@ df_frame(void)
   //
   U64 end_time_us = os_now_microseconds();
   U64 frame_time_us = end_time_us-begin_time_us;
-  df_state->frame_time_us_history[df_state->frame_time_us_history_idx%ArrayCount(df_state->frame_time_us_history)] = frame_time_us;
-  df_state->frame_time_us_history_idx += 1;
+  df_state->frame_time_us_history[df_state->frame_index%ArrayCount(df_state->frame_time_us_history)] = frame_time_us;
+  
+  //////////////////////////////
+  //- rjf: bump frame index
+  //
+  df_state->frame_index += 1;
   
   di_scope_close(di_scope);
   scratch_end(scratch);
diff --git a/src/dbg_frontend/dbg_frontend_core.h b/src/dbg_frontend/dbg_frontend_core.h
index 311fc186..2f16f1e5 100644
--- a/src/dbg_frontend/dbg_frontend_core.h
+++ b/src/dbg_frontend/dbg_frontend_core.h
@@ -404,6 +404,16 @@ struct DF_MsgKindInfo
 
 #include "generated/dbg_frontend.meta.h"
 
+////////////////////////////////
+//~ rjf: Context Register Types
+
+typedef struct DF_RegsNode DF_RegsNode;
+struct DF_RegsNode
+{
+  DF_RegsNode *next;
+  DF_Regs v;
+};
+
 ////////////////////////////////
 //~ rjf: Theme Types
 
@@ -641,10 +651,21 @@ struct DF_EvalVizViewCacheSlot
 typedef struct DF_State DF_State;
 struct DF_State
 {
-  // rjf: arenas
+  // rjf: top-level state
   Arena *arena;
   B32 quit;
   
+  // rjf: frame state
+  U64 frame_index;
+  Arena *frame_arenas[2];
+  
+  // rjf: frame time history
+  U64 frame_time_us_history[64];
+  
+  // rjf: registers stack
+  DF_RegsNode base_regs;
+  DF_RegsNode *top_regs;
+  
   // rjf: commands
   Arena *cmds_arena;
   D_CmdList cmds;
@@ -739,10 +760,6 @@ struct DF_State
   
   // rjf: icon texture
   R_Handle icon_texture;
-  
-  // rjf: frame time history
-  U64 frame_time_us_history[64];
-  U64 frame_time_us_history_idx;
 };
 
 ////////////////////////////////
@@ -995,6 +1012,20 @@ internal String8 df_stop_explanation_string_icon_from_ctrl_event(Arena *arena, C
 
 internal void df_request_frame(void);
 
+////////////////////////////////
+//~ rjf: Main State Accessors
+
+internal Arena *df_frame_arena(void);
+
+////////////////////////////////
+//~ rjf: Registers
+
+internal DF_Regs *df_regs(void);
+internal DF_Regs *df_base_regs(void);
+internal DF_Regs *df_push_regs(void);
+internal DF_Regs *df_pop_regs(void);
+#define DF_RegsScope DeferLoop(df_push_regs(), df_pop_regs())
+
 ////////////////////////////////
 //~ rjf: Commands
 
diff --git a/src/dbg_frontend/generated/dbg_frontend.meta.c b/src/dbg_frontend/generated/dbg_frontend.meta.c
index 4fd9e4a6..8cceda1a 100644
--- a/src/dbg_frontend/generated/dbg_frontend.meta.c
+++ b/src/dbg_frontend/generated/dbg_frontend.meta.c
@@ -28,6 +28,39 @@ DF_CmdKind_Null,
 DF_CmdKind_Null,
 };
 
+Rng1U64 df_reg_slot_range_table[29] =
+{
+{0},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, machine), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, machine) + sizeof(D_Handle)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, module), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, module) + sizeof(D_Handle)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, process), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, process) + sizeof(D_Handle)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, thread), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, thread) + sizeof(D_Handle)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, window), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, window) + sizeof(D_Handle)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, panel), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, panel) + sizeof(D_Handle)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, view), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, view) + sizeof(D_Handle)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, prev_view), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, prev_view) + sizeof(D_Handle)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, dst_panel), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, dst_panel) + sizeof(D_Handle)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, entity), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, entity) + sizeof(D_Handle)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, entity_list), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, entity_list) + sizeof(D_HandleList)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, unwind_count), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, unwind_count) + sizeof(U64)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, inline_depth), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, inline_depth) + sizeof(U64)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, file_path), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, file_path) + sizeof(String8)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, cursor), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, cursor) + sizeof(TxtPt)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, mark), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, mark) + sizeof(TxtPt)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, text_key), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, text_key) + sizeof(U128)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, lang_kind), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, lang_kind) + sizeof(TXT_LangKind)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, lines), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, lines) + sizeof(D_LineList)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, dbgi_key), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, dbgi_key) + sizeof(DI_Key)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, vaddr_range), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, vaddr_range) + sizeof(Rng1U64)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, voff_range), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, voff_range) + sizeof(Rng1U64)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, pid), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, pid) + sizeof(U32)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, force_confirm), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, force_confirm) + sizeof(B32)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, prefer_disasm), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, prefer_disasm) + sizeof(B32)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, dir2), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, dir2) + sizeof(Dir2)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, string), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, string) + sizeof(String8)},
+{OffsetOf(DF_Regs, params_tree), OffsetOf(DF_Regs, params_tree) + sizeof(MD_Node *)},
+};
+
 D_CmdSpecInfo df_cmd_kind_spec_info_table[220] =
 {
 {0},
diff --git a/src/dbg_frontend/generated/dbg_frontend.meta.h b/src/dbg_frontend/generated/dbg_frontend.meta.h
index 64d7f041..f314d18b 100644
--- a/src/dbg_frontend/generated/dbg_frontend.meta.h
+++ b/src/dbg_frontend/generated/dbg_frontend.meta.h
@@ -6,6 +6,40 @@
 #ifndef DBG_FRONTEND_META_H
 #define DBG_FRONTEND_META_H
 
+typedef enum DF_RegSlot
+{
+DF_RegSlot_Null,
+DF_RegSlot_Machine,
+DF_RegSlot_Module,
+DF_RegSlot_Process,
+DF_RegSlot_Thread,
+DF_RegSlot_Window,
+DF_RegSlot_Panel,
+DF_RegSlot_View,
+DF_RegSlot_PrevView,
+DF_RegSlot_DstPanel,
+DF_RegSlot_Entity,
+DF_RegSlot_EntityList,
+DF_RegSlot_UnwindCount,
+DF_RegSlot_InlineDepth,
+DF_RegSlot_FilePath,
+DF_RegSlot_Cursor,
+DF_RegSlot_Mark,
+DF_RegSlot_TextKey,
+DF_RegSlot_LangKind,
+DF_RegSlot_Lines,
+DF_RegSlot_DbgiKey,
+DF_RegSlot_VaddrRange,
+DF_RegSlot_VoffRange,
+DF_RegSlot_PID,
+DF_RegSlot_ForceConfirm,
+DF_RegSlot_PreferDisasm,
+DF_RegSlot_Dir2,
+DF_RegSlot_String,
+DF_RegSlot_ParamsTree,
+DF_RegSlot_COUNT,
+} DF_RegSlot;
+
 typedef enum DF_CmdKind
 {
 DF_CmdKind_Null,
@@ -462,6 +496,69 @@ DF_SettingCode_HintCodeText,
 DF_SettingCode_COUNT,
 } DF_SettingCode;
 
+typedef struct DF_Regs DF_Regs;
+struct DF_Regs
+{
+D_Handle machine;
+D_Handle module;
+D_Handle process;
+D_Handle thread;
+D_Handle window;
+D_Handle panel;
+D_Handle view;
+D_Handle prev_view;
+D_Handle dst_panel;
+D_Handle entity;
+D_HandleList entity_list;
+U64 unwind_count;
+U64 inline_depth;
+String8 file_path;
+TxtPt cursor;
+TxtPt mark;
+U128 text_key;
+TXT_LangKind lang_kind;
+D_LineList lines;
+DI_Key dbgi_key;
+Rng1U64 vaddr_range;
+Rng1U64 voff_range;
+U32 pid;
+B32 force_confirm;
+B32 prefer_disasm;
+Dir2 dir2;
+String8 string;
+MD_Node * params_tree;
+};
+
+#define df_regs_lit_init_top \
+.machine = df_regs()->machine,\
+.module = df_regs()->module,\
+.process = df_regs()->process,\
+.thread = df_regs()->thread,\
+.window = df_regs()->window,\
+.panel = df_regs()->panel,\
+.view = df_regs()->view,\
+.prev_view = df_regs()->prev_view,\
+.dst_panel = df_regs()->dst_panel,\
+.entity = df_regs()->entity,\
+.entity_list = df_regs()->entity_list,\
+.unwind_count = df_regs()->unwind_count,\
+.inline_depth = df_regs()->inline_depth,\
+.file_path = df_regs()->file_path,\
+.cursor = df_regs()->cursor,\
+.mark = df_regs()->mark,\
+.text_key = df_regs()->text_key,\
+.lang_kind = df_regs()->lang_kind,\
+.lines = df_regs()->lines,\
+.dbgi_key = df_regs()->dbgi_key,\
+.vaddr_range = df_regs()->vaddr_range,\
+.voff_range = df_regs()->voff_range,\
+.pid = df_regs()->pid,\
+.force_confirm = df_regs()->force_confirm,\
+.prefer_disasm = df_regs()->prefer_disasm,\
+.dir2 = df_regs()->dir2,\
+.string = df_regs()->string,\
+.params_tree = df_regs()->params_tree,\
+
 DF_VIEW_SETUP_FUNCTION_DEF(null);
 DF_VIEW_SETUP_FUNCTION_DEF(empty);
 DF_VIEW_SETUP_FUNCTION_DEF(getting_started);
@@ -581,6 +678,7 @@ C_LINKAGE_BEGIN
 extern DF_CmdKind d_cfg_src_load_cmd_kind_table[4];
 extern DF_CmdKind d_cfg_src_write_cmd_kind_table[4];
 extern DF_CmdKind d_cfg_src_apply_cmd_kind_table[4];
+extern Rng1U64 df_reg_slot_range_table[29];
 extern DF_StringBindingPair df_g_default_binding_table[110];
 extern String8 df_g_binding_version_remap_old_name_table[7];
 extern String8 df_g_binding_version_remap_new_name_table[7];