diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index f0866d4..b3078a7 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -76,6 +76,11 @@ sfml_system = subproject('sfml').get_variable('sfml_system_dep')
 sfml_window = subproject('sfml').get_variable('sfml_window_dep')
 lel_guecs = subproject('lel-guecs').get_variable('lel_guecs_dep')
 
+inc_dirs = include_directories('src')
+
+subdir('src')
+subdir('tests')
+
 dependencies += [
   fmt, json, freetype2,
   flac, ogg, vorbis, vorbisfile, vorbisenc,
@@ -84,10 +89,18 @@ dependencies += [
   sfml_window, lel_guecs
 ]
 
-inc_dirs = include_directories('src')
+caster_lib = static_library('caster',
+  sources,
+  cpp_args: cpp_args,
+  include_directories: inc_dirs,
+  override_options: exe_defaults,
+  dependencies: dependencies)
 
-subdir('src')
-subdir('tests')
+caster_dep = declare_dependency(
+  link_with: caster_lib,
+  include_directories: inc_dirs)
+
+dependencies += [ caster_dep ]
 
 executable('runtests', sources + tests,
   cpp_args: cpp_args,
@@ -97,7 +110,7 @@ executable('runtests', sources + tests,
   dependencies: dependencies + [catch2])
 
 executable('zedcaster',
-  sources + [ 'src/main.cpp' ],
+  [ 'src/main.cpp' ],
   cpp_args: cpp_args,
   link_args: link_args,
   include_directories: inc_dirs,
@@ -105,7 +118,7 @@ executable('zedcaster',
   dependencies: dependencies)
 
 executable('arena',
-  arena_sources + [ 'tools/arena.cpp' ],
+  [ 'tools/arena.cpp' ],
   cpp_args: cpp_args,
   link_args: link_args,
   include_directories: inc_dirs,
@@ -113,7 +126,7 @@ executable('arena',
   dependencies: dependencies)
 
 executable('animator',
-  sources + [ 'tools/animator.cpp' ],
+  [ 'tools/animator.cpp' ],
   cpp_args: cpp_args,
   link_args: link_args,
   include_directories: inc_dirs,
@@ -121,7 +134,7 @@ executable('animator',
   dependencies: dependencies)
 
 executable('storyboard',
-  sources + [ 'tools/storyboard.cpp' ],
+  [ 'tools/storyboard.cpp' ],
   cpp_args: cpp_args,
   link_args: link_args,
   include_directories: inc_dirs,
@@ -129,7 +142,7 @@ executable('storyboard',
   dependencies: dependencies)
 
 executable('icongen',
-  sources + [ 'tools/icongen.cpp' ],
+  [ 'tools/icongen.cpp' ],
   cpp_args: cpp_args,
   link_args: link_args,
   include_directories: inc_dirs,
@@ -137,7 +150,7 @@ executable('icongen',
   dependencies: dependencies)
 
 executable('fragviewer',
-  sources + [ 'tools/fragviewer.cpp' ],
+  [ 'tools/fragviewer.cpp' ],
   cpp_args: cpp_args,
   link_args: link_args,
   include_directories: inc_dirs,
diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
index dfc953c..0afa78f 100644
--- a/src/meson.build
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -66,57 +66,3 @@ sources = files(
   # root
   'dbc.cpp',
 )
-
-arena_sources = files(
-  # ai
-  'ai/ai.cpp',
-  'ai/ai_debug.cpp',
-  'ai/goap.cpp',
-
-  # combat
-  'combat/battle.cpp',
-  'combat/combat.cpp',
-
-  # boss fight mini game
-  'boss/fight.cpp',
-  'boss/system.cpp',
-  'boss/ui.cpp',
-
-  # gui
-  'gui/backend.cpp',
-  'gui/combat_ui.cpp',
-  'gui/debug_ui.cpp',
-  'gui/event_router.cpp',
-  'gui/guecstra.cpp',
-
-  # graphics
-  'graphics/animation.cpp',
-  'graphics/camera.cpp',
-  'graphics/easing.cpp',
-  'graphics/palette.cpp',
-  'graphics/scene.cpp',
-  'graphics/shaders.cpp',
-  'graphics/textures.cpp',
-  'graphics/lights.cpp',
-
-  # algos
-  'algos/matrix.cpp',
-  'algos/maze.cpp',
-  'algos/spatialmap.cpp',
-  'algos/rand.cpp',
-  'algos/pathing.cpp',
-
-  # game
-  'game/worldbuilder.cpp',
-  'game/map.cpp',
-  'game/level.cpp',
-  'game/inventory.cpp',
-  'game/sound.cpp',
-  'game/systems.cpp',
-  'game/components.cpp',
-  'game/config.cpp',
-  'game/rituals.cpp',
-
-  # root
-  'dbc.cpp',
-)