diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index b3078a7..f0866d4 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -76,11 +76,6 @@ 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,
@@ -89,18 +84,10 @@ dependencies += [
   sfml_window, lel_guecs
 ]
 
-caster_lib = static_library('caster',
-  sources,
-  cpp_args: cpp_args,
-  include_directories: inc_dirs,
-  override_options: exe_defaults,
-  dependencies: dependencies)
+inc_dirs = include_directories('src')
 
-caster_dep = declare_dependency(
-  link_with: caster_lib,
-  include_directories: inc_dirs)
-
-dependencies += [ caster_dep ]
+subdir('src')
+subdir('tests')
 
 executable('runtests', sources + tests,
   cpp_args: cpp_args,
@@ -110,7 +97,7 @@ executable('runtests', sources + tests,
   dependencies: dependencies + [catch2])
 
 executable('zedcaster',
-  [ 'src/main.cpp' ],
+  sources + [ 'src/main.cpp' ],
   cpp_args: cpp_args,
   link_args: link_args,
   include_directories: inc_dirs,
@@ -118,7 +105,7 @@ executable('zedcaster',
   dependencies: dependencies)
 
 executable('arena',
-  [ 'tools/arena.cpp' ],
+  arena_sources + [ 'tools/arena.cpp' ],
   cpp_args: cpp_args,
   link_args: link_args,
   include_directories: inc_dirs,
@@ -126,7 +113,7 @@ executable('arena',
   dependencies: dependencies)
 
 executable('animator',
-  [ 'tools/animator.cpp' ],
+  sources + [ 'tools/animator.cpp' ],
   cpp_args: cpp_args,
   link_args: link_args,
   include_directories: inc_dirs,
@@ -134,7 +121,7 @@ executable('animator',
   dependencies: dependencies)
 
 executable('storyboard',
-  [ 'tools/storyboard.cpp' ],
+  sources + [ 'tools/storyboard.cpp' ],
   cpp_args: cpp_args,
   link_args: link_args,
   include_directories: inc_dirs,
@@ -142,7 +129,7 @@ executable('storyboard',
   dependencies: dependencies)
 
 executable('icongen',
-  [ 'tools/icongen.cpp' ],
+  sources + [ 'tools/icongen.cpp' ],
   cpp_args: cpp_args,
   link_args: link_args,
   include_directories: inc_dirs,
@@ -150,7 +137,7 @@ executable('icongen',
   dependencies: dependencies)
 
 executable('fragviewer',
-  [ 'tools/fragviewer.cpp' ],
+  sources + [ 'tools/fragviewer.cpp' ],
   cpp_args: cpp_args,
   link_args: link_args,
   include_directories: inc_dirs,
diff --git a/src/ai/ai.cpp b/src/ai/ai.cpp
index 1df9c07..132d2f0 100644
--- a/src/ai/ai.cpp
+++ b/src/ai/ai.cpp
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ namespace ai {
     AIMGR.profile = json({});
   }
 
-  void init(const std::string& config_path) {
+  void init(std::string config_path) {
     if(!initialized) {
       auto config = settings::get(config_path);
 
@@ -106,9 +106,7 @@ namespace ai {
       }
       initialized = true;
     } else {
-      // BUG: should track the inits per file, or create a separate init that's an overload of the default
-      // then this version is just used in tests
-      dbc::sentinel($F("DOUBLE INIT {}: AI manager should only be intialized once if not in tests.", config_path));
+      dbc::sentinel("DOUBLE INIT: AI manager should only be intialized once if not in tests.");
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/ai/ai.hpp b/src/ai/ai.hpp
index fcf007c..3e0fd81 100644
--- a/src/ai/ai.hpp
+++ b/src/ai/ai.hpp
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ namespace ai {
 
   /* This is really only used in test to load different fixtures. */
   void reset();
-  void init(const std::string& config_path);
+  void init(std::string config_path);
 
   Action config_action(AIProfile& profile, nlohmann::json& config);
   State config_state(AIProfile& profile, nlohmann::json& config);
diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
index 0afa78f..dfc953c 100644
--- a/src/meson.build
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -66,3 +66,57 @@ 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',
+)