diff --git a/context.go b/context.go
index c313383..96a3e57 100644
--- a/context.go
+++ b/context.go
@@ -43,7 +43,9 @@ func NewPolicyType(name string) PolicyType {
 }
 
 func NewSerializedType(name string) SerializedType {
-  return SerializedType(Hash(SerializedTypeBase, name))
+  val := SerializedType(Hash(SerializedTypeBase, name))
+  println(fmt.Sprintf("TYPE: %s: %d", name, val))
+  return val
 }
 
 const (
@@ -89,6 +91,7 @@ var (
   ExtensionType = NewSerializedType("extension")
 
   StringType = NewSerializedType("string")
+  Uint8Type = NewSerializedType("uint8")
   NodeKeyType = NewSerializedType("node_key")
 
   NodeNotFoundError = errors.New("Node not found in DB")
@@ -112,18 +115,6 @@ type TypeInfo struct {
   Deserialize TypeDeserialize
 }
 
-type Int int
-func (i Int) MarshalBinary() ([]byte, error) {
-  ret := make([]byte, 8)
-  binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(ret, uint64(i))
-  return ret, nil
-}
-
-type String string
-func (str String) MarshalBinary() ([]byte, error) {
-  return []byte(str), nil
-}
-
 // A Context stores all the data to run a graphvent process
 type Context struct {
   // DB is the database connection used to load and write nodes
@@ -328,124 +319,194 @@ type SerializedValue struct {
   Data []byte
 }
 
-func (field SerializedValue) MarshalBinary() ([]byte, error) {
-  data := []byte{}
-  for _, t := range(field.TypeStack) {
-    t_ser := make([]byte, 8)
-    binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(t_ser, uint64(t))
-    data = append(data, t_ser...)
-  }
-  data = append(data, field.Data...)
-  return data, nil
+func SerializeValue(ctx *Context, value reflect.Value) (SerializedValue, error) {
+  val, err := serializeValue(ctx, value.Type(), &value)
+  ctx.Log.Logf("serialize", "SERIALIZED_VALUE(%+v): %+v - %s", value, val, err)
+  return val, err
 }
 
-func RecurseTypes(ctx *Context, t reflect.Type) ([]uint64, []reflect.Kind, error) {
+func serializeValue(ctx *Context, t reflect.Type, value *reflect.Value) (SerializedValue, error) {
   var ctx_type uint64 = 0x00
   ctype, exists := ctx.TypeReflects[t]
+  ctx.Log.Logf("serialize", "TYPE_REFLECTS: %+v", ctx.TypeReflects)
   if exists == true {
+    type_info := ctx.Types[ctype]
     ctx_type = uint64(ctype)
+    val_ser, err := type_info.Serialize(ctx, value.Interface())
+    if err != nil {
+      return SerializedValue{}, err
+    }
+    return SerializedValue{
+      []uint64{ctx_type},
+      val_ser,
+    }, nil
   }
 
-  var new_types []uint64
-  var new_kinds []reflect.Kind
   kind := t.Kind()
   switch kind {
-  case reflect.Array:
-    if ctx_type == 0x00 {
-      ctx_type = uint64(ArrayType)
-    }
-    elem_types, elem_kinds, err := RecurseTypes(ctx, t.Elem())
-    if err != nil {
-      return nil, nil, err
-    }
-    new_types = append(new_types, ctx_type)
-    new_types = append(new_types, elem_types...)
-
-    new_kinds = append(new_kinds, reflect.Array)
-    new_kinds = append(new_kinds, elem_kinds...)
   case reflect.Map:
     if ctx_type == 0x00 {
       ctx_type = uint64(MapType)
     }
-    key_types, key_kinds, err := RecurseTypes(ctx, t.Key())
+    var data []byte 
+    if value == nil {
+      data = nil
+    } else if value.IsZero() {
+      data = []byte{0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF}
+    } else if value.Len() == 0 {
+      data = []byte{0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00}
+    } else {
+      map_iter := value.MapRange()
+      key_data := []byte{}
+      val_data := []byte{}
+      var key_types []uint64 = nil
+      var val_types []uint64 = nil
+      map_len := 0
+      for map_iter.Next() {
+        map_len += 1
+        key_value := map_iter.Key()
+        val_value := map_iter.Value()
+
+        key, err := serializeValue(ctx, t.Key(), &key_value)
+        if err != nil {
+          return SerializedValue{}, err
+        }
+        val, err := serializeValue(ctx, t.Elem(), &val_value)
+        if err != nil {
+          return SerializedValue{}, err
+        }
+
+        if key_types == nil {
+          key_types = key.TypeStack
+          val_types = val.TypeStack
+        }
+
+        key_data = append(key_data, key.Data...)
+        val_data = append(val_data, val.Data...)
+      }
+
+      type_stack := []uint64{ctx_type}
+      type_stack = append(type_stack, key_types...)
+      type_stack = append(type_stack, val_types...)
+
+      data := make([]byte, 8)
+      binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(data, uint64(map_len))
+      data = append(data, key_data...)
+      data = append(data, val_data...)
+      return SerializedValue{
+        type_stack,
+        data,
+      }, nil
+    }
+    key, err := serializeValue(ctx, t.Key(), nil)
     if err != nil {
-      return nil, nil, err
+      return SerializedValue{}, err
     }
-    elem_types, elem_kinds, err := RecurseTypes(ctx, t.Elem())
+    elem, err := serializeValue(ctx, t.Elem(), nil)
     if err != nil {
-      return nil, nil, err
+      return SerializedValue{}, err
     }
-    new_types = append(new_types, ctx_type)
-    new_types = append(new_types, key_types...)
-    new_types = append(new_types, elem_types...)
-
-    new_kinds = append(new_kinds, reflect.Map)
-    new_kinds = append(new_kinds, key_kinds...)
-    new_kinds = append(new_kinds, elem_kinds...)
+    type_stack := []uint64{ctx_type}
+    type_stack = append(type_stack, key.TypeStack...)
+    type_stack = append(type_stack, elem.TypeStack...)
+    return SerializedValue{
+      type_stack,
+      data,
+    }, nil
   case reflect.Slice:
     if ctx_type == 0x00 {
       ctx_type = uint64(SliceType)
     }
-    elem_types, elem_kinds, err := RecurseTypes(ctx, t.Elem())
+    var data []byte
+    if value == nil {
+      data = nil
+    } else if value.IsZero() {
+      data = []byte{0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF}
+    } else if value.Len() == 0 {
+      data = []byte{0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00}
+    } else {
+      data := make([]byte, 8)
+      binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(data, uint64(value.Len()))
+      var elem SerializedValue
+      for i := 0; i < value.Len(); i += 1 {
+        val := value.Index(i)
+        element, err := serializeValue(ctx, t.Elem(), &val)
+        if err != nil {
+          return SerializedValue{}, err
+        }
+        if i == 0 {
+          elem = element
+        }
+        data = append(data, elem.Data...)
+      }
+      return SerializedValue{
+        append([]uint64{ctx_type}, elem.TypeStack...),
+        data,
+      }, nil
+    }
+    elem, err := serializeValue(ctx, t.Elem(), nil)
     if err != nil {
-      return nil, nil, err
+      return SerializedValue{}, err
     }
-    new_types = append(new_types, ctx_type)
-    new_types = append(new_types, elem_types...)
-
-    new_kinds = append(new_kinds, reflect.Slice)
-    new_kinds = append(new_kinds, elem_kinds...)
+    return SerializedValue{
+      append([]uint64{ctx_type}, elem.TypeStack...),
+      data,
+    }, nil
   case reflect.Pointer:
     if ctx_type == 0x00 {
       ctx_type = uint64(PointerType)
     }
-    elem_types, elem_kinds, err := RecurseTypes(ctx, t.Elem())
+    var data []byte 
+    var elem_value *reflect.Value = nil
+    if value == nil {
+      data = nil
+    } else if value.IsZero() {
+      data = []byte{0x01}
+    } else {
+      data = []byte{0x00}
+      ev := value.Elem()
+      elem_value = &ev
+    }
+    elem, err := serializeValue(ctx, t.Elem(), elem_value)
     if err != nil {
-      return nil, nil, err
+      return SerializedValue{}, err
     }
-    new_types = append(new_types, ctx_type)
-    new_types = append(new_types, elem_types...)
-
-    new_kinds = append(new_kinds, reflect.Pointer)
-    new_kinds = append(new_kinds, elem_kinds...)
+    if elem.Data != nil {
+      data = append(data, elem.Data...)
+    }
+    return SerializedValue{
+      append([]uint64{uint64(ctx_type)}, elem.TypeStack...),
+      data,
+    }, nil
   case reflect.String:
     if ctx_type == 0x00 {
       ctx_type = uint64(StringType)
     }
-    new_types = append(new_types, ctx_type)
-    new_kinds = append(new_kinds, reflect.String)
-  default:
-    return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("unhandled kind: %+v - %+v", kind, t)
-  }
-  return new_types, new_kinds, nil
-}
+    if value == nil {
+      return SerializedValue{
+        []uint64{ctx_type},
+        nil,
+      }, nil
+    }
 
-func serializeValue(ctx *Context, kind_stack []reflect.Kind, value reflect.Value) ([]byte, error) {
-  kind := kind_stack[len(kind_stack) - 1]
-  switch kind {
+    data := make([]byte, 8)
+    str := value.String()
+    binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(data, uint64(len(str)))
+    return SerializedValue{
+      []uint64{uint64(ctx_type)},
+      append(data, []byte(str)...),
+    }, nil
+  case reflect.Uint8:
+    if ctx_type == 0x00 {
+      ctx_type = uint64(Uint8Type)
+    }
+    return SerializedValue{
+      []uint64{uint64(ctx_type)},
+      []byte{uint8(value.Uint())},
+    }, nil
   default:
-    return nil, fmt.Errorf("unhandled kind: %+v", kind)
-  }
-}
-
-func SerializeValue(ctx *Context, value reflect.Value) (SerializedValue, error) {
-  if value.IsValid() == false {
-    return SerializedValue{}, fmt.Errorf("Cannot serialize invalid value: %+v", value)
-  }
-
-  type_stack, kind_stack, err := RecurseTypes(ctx, value.Type())
-  if err != nil {
-    return SerializedValue{}, err
-  }
-
-  bytes, err := serializeValue(ctx, kind_stack, value)
-  if err != nil {
-    return SerializedValue{}, err
+    return SerializedValue{}, fmt.Errorf("unhandled kind: %+v - %+v", kind, t)
   }
-  return SerializedValue{
-    type_stack,
-    bytes,
-  }, nil
 }
 
 /*
@@ -532,13 +593,16 @@ func SerializeExtension(ctx *Context, ext Extension, ctx_type ExtType) (Serializ
   }, nil
 }
 
+func (value SerializedValue) MarshalBinary() ([]byte, error) {
+  return nil, fmt.Errorf("SerializedValue.MarshalBinary Undefined")
+}
+
+func ParseSerializedValue(ctx *Context, data []byte) (SerializedValue, []byte, error) {
+  return SerializedValue{}, nil, fmt.Errorf("ParseSerializedValue Undefined")
+}
+
 func DeserializeValue(ctx *Context, value SerializedValue) (interface{}, error) {
-  // TODO: do the opposite of SerializeValue.
-  // 1) Check the type to handle special types(array, list, map, pointer)
-  // 2) Check if the type is registered in the context, handle if so
-  // 3) Check if the type is a default type, handle if so
-  // 4) Return error if we don't know how to deserialize the type
-  return nil, fmt.Errorf("Undefined")
+  return nil, fmt.Errorf("DeserializeValue Undefined")
 }
 
 // Create a new Context with the base library content added
@@ -559,6 +623,21 @@ func NewContext(db * badger.DB, log Logger) (*Context, error) {
   }
 
   var err error
+  err = ctx.RegisterType(reflect.TypeOf(SerializedValue{}), NewSerializedType("SerializedValue"),
+  func(ctx *Context, val interface{}) ([]byte, error) {
+    value := val.(SerializedValue)
+    return value.MarshalBinary()
+  }, func(ctx *Context, data []byte) (interface{}, error) {
+    value, data, err := ParseSerializedValue(ctx, data)
+    if err != nil {
+      return nil, err
+    }
+    if data != nil {
+      return nil, fmt.Errorf("%+v remaining after parse", data)
+    }
+    return value, nil
+  })
+
   err = ctx.RegisterExtension(reflect.TypeOf((*LockableExt)(nil)), LockableExtType, nil)
   if err != nil {
     return nil, err
diff --git a/gql_test.go b/gql_test.go
index f157db6..771b7dd 100644
--- a/gql_test.go
+++ b/gql_test.go
@@ -64,18 +64,20 @@ func TestGQLServer(t *testing.T) {
   fatalErr(t, err)
 
   listener_ext := NewListenerExt(10)
-  n1 := NewNode(ctx, nil, TestNodeType, 10, map[PolicyType]Policy{
+  n1, err := NewNode(ctx, nil, TestNodeType, 10, map[PolicyType]Policy{
     MemberOfPolicyType: &user_policy_2,
     AllNodesPolicyType: &user_policy_1,
   }, NewLockableExt(nil))
+  fatalErr(t, err)
 
-  gql := NewNode(ctx, gql_key, GQLNodeType, 10, map[PolicyType]Policy{
+  gql, err := NewNode(ctx, gql_key, GQLNodeType, 10, map[PolicyType]Policy{
     MemberOfPolicyType: &group_policy_2,
     AllNodesPolicyType: &group_policy_1,
   }, NewLockableExt([]NodeID{n1.ID}), gql_ext, NewGroupExt(map[NodeID]string{
     n1.ID: "user",
     gql_id: "self",
   }), listener_ext)
+  fatalErr(t, err)
 
   ctx.Log.Logf("test", "GQL:  %s", gql.ID)
   ctx.Log.Logf("test", "NODE: %s", n1.ID)
@@ -213,17 +215,19 @@ func TestGQLDB(t *testing.T) {
   TestUserNodeType := NewNodeType("TEST_USER")
   err := ctx.RegisterNodeType(TestUserNodeType, []ExtType{})
   fatalErr(t, err)
-  u1 := NewNode(ctx, nil, TestUserNodeType, 10, nil)
+  u1, err := NewNode(ctx, nil, TestUserNodeType, 10, nil)
+  fatalErr(t, err)
 
   ctx.Log.Logf("test", "U1_ID: %s", u1.ID)
 
   gql_ext, err := NewGQLExt(ctx, ":0", nil, nil)
   fatalErr(t, err)
   listener_ext := NewListenerExt(10)
-  gql := NewNode(ctx, nil, GQLNodeType, 10, nil,
+  gql, err := NewNode(ctx, nil, GQLNodeType, 10, nil,
                  gql_ext,
                  listener_ext,
                  NewGroupExt(nil))
+  fatalErr(t, err)
   ctx.Log.Logf("test", "GQL_ID: %s", gql.ID)
 
   msgs := Messages{}
diff --git a/graph_test.go b/graph_test.go
index 7481fd4..04fa6e6 100644
--- a/graph_test.go
+++ b/graph_test.go
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@ import (
 
 var SimpleListenerNodeType = NewNodeType("SIMPLE_LISTENER")
 
-func NewSimpleListener(ctx *Context, buffer int) (*Node, *ListenerExt) {
+func NewSimpleListener(ctx *Context, buffer int) (*Node, *ListenerExt, error) {
   listener_extension := NewListenerExt(buffer)
-  listener := NewNode(ctx,
+  listener, err := NewNode(ctx,
                       nil,
                       SimpleListenerNodeType,
                       10,
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ func NewSimpleListener(ctx *Context, buffer int) (*Node, *ListenerExt) {
                       listener_extension,
                       NewLockableExt(nil))
 
-  return listener, listener_extension
+  return listener, listener_extension, err
 }
 
 func logTestContext(t * testing.T, components []string) *Context {
diff --git a/group.go b/group.go
index 792c3b0..0237e48 100644
--- a/group.go
+++ b/group.go
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 type GroupExt struct {
-  Members map[NodeID]string `json:"members"`
+  Members map[NodeID]string
 }
 
 func (ext *GroupExt) Type() ExtType {
diff --git a/lockable_test.go b/lockable_test.go
index 1a0242d..0eb7eed 100644
--- a/lockable_test.go
+++ b/lockable_test.go
@@ -28,19 +28,21 @@ func TestLink(t *testing.T) {
   })
 
   l2_listener := NewListenerExt(10)
-  l2 := NewNode(ctx, nil, TestLockableType, 10,
+  l2, err := NewNode(ctx, nil, TestLockableType, 10,
                 map[PolicyType]Policy{
                   PerNodePolicyType: &policy,
                 },
                   l2_listener,
                   NewLockableExt(nil),
                 )
+  fatalErr(t, err)
 
   l1_listener := NewListenerExt(10)
-  l1 := NewNode(ctx, l1_key, TestLockableType, 10, nil,
+  l1, err := NewNode(ctx, l1_key, TestLockableType, 10, nil,
                  l1_listener,
                  NewLockableExt(nil),
                )
+  fatalErr(t, err)
 
   msgs := Messages{}
   msgs = msgs.Add(ctx, l1.ID, l1.Key, NewLinkSignal("add", l2.ID), l1.ID)
@@ -75,12 +77,13 @@ func Test10KLink(t *testing.T) {
     },
   })
   NewLockable := func()(*Node) {
-    l := NewNode(ctx, nil, TestLockableType, 10,
+    l, err := NewNode(ctx, nil, TestLockableType, 10,
                   map[PolicyType]Policy{
                     PerNodePolicyType: &child_policy,
                   },
                   NewLockableExt(nil),
                 )
+    fatalErr(t, err)
     return l
   }
 
@@ -95,13 +98,14 @@ func Test10KLink(t *testing.T) {
     uint64(LockSignalType): nil,
   })
   listener := NewListenerExt(100000)
-  node := NewNode(ctx, listener_key, TestLockableType, 10000,
+  node, err := NewNode(ctx, listener_key, TestLockableType, 10000,
                 map[PolicyType]Policy{
                   AllNodesPolicyType: &l_policy,
                 },
                 listener,
                 NewLockableExt(reqs),
               )
+  fatalErr(t, err)
   ctx.Log.Logf("test", "CREATED_LISTENER")
 
   _, err = LockLockable(ctx, node, node.ID)
@@ -128,13 +132,14 @@ func TestLock(t *testing.T) {
 
   NewLockable := func(reqs []NodeID)(*Node, *ListenerExt) {
     listener := NewListenerExt(100)
-    l := NewNode(ctx, nil, TestLockableType, 10,
+    l, err := NewNode(ctx, nil, TestLockableType, 10,
                   map[PolicyType]Policy{
                     AllNodesPolicyType: &policy,
                   },
                   listener,
                   NewLockableExt(reqs),
                 )
+    fatalErr(t, err)
     return l, listener
   }
 
diff --git a/node.go b/node.go
index 3f0f1a7..aaa7c7c 100644
--- a/node.go
+++ b/node.go
@@ -562,6 +562,7 @@ func (node *Node) Serialize(ctx *Context) (SerializedValue, error) {
     if err != nil {
       return SerializedValue{}, err
     }
+    ctx.Log.Logf("serialize", "SERIALIZED_EXTENSION: %+v", ext_bytes)
 
     node_bytes = append(node_bytes, ext_bytes...)
   }
@@ -581,13 +582,13 @@ func KeyID(pub ed25519.PublicKey) NodeID {
 
 // Create a new node in memory and start it's event loop
 // TODO: Change panics to errors
-func NewNode(ctx *Context, key ed25519.PrivateKey, node_type NodeType, buffer_size uint32, policies map[PolicyType]Policy, extensions ...Extension) *Node {
+func NewNode(ctx *Context, key ed25519.PrivateKey, node_type NodeType, buffer_size uint32, policies map[PolicyType]Policy, extensions ...Extension) (*Node, error) {
   var err error
   var public ed25519.PublicKey
   if key == nil {
     public, key, err = ed25519.GenerateKey(rand.Reader)
     if err != nil {
-      panic(err)
+      return nil, err
     }
   } else {
     public = key.Public().(ed25519.PublicKey)
@@ -595,23 +596,23 @@ func NewNode(ctx *Context, key ed25519.PrivateKey, node_type NodeType, buffer_si
   id := KeyID(public)
   _, exists := ctx.Node(id)
   if exists == true {
-    panic("Attempted to create an existing node")
+    return nil, fmt.Errorf("Attempted to create an existing node")
   }
 
   def, exists := ctx.Nodes[node_type]
   if exists == false {
-    panic("Node type %s not registered in Context")
+    return nil, fmt.Errorf("Node type %+v not registered in Context", node_type)
   }
 
   ext_map := map[ExtType]Extension{}
   for _, ext := range(extensions) {
     ext_type, exists := ctx.ExtensionTypes[reflect.TypeOf(ext)]
     if exists == false {
-      panic(fmt.Sprintf("%+v is not a known Extension", reflect.TypeOf(ext)))
+      return nil, fmt.Errorf(fmt.Sprintf("%+v is not a known Extension", reflect.TypeOf(ext)))
     }
     _, exists = ext_map[ext_type]
     if exists == true {
-      panic("Cannot add the same extension to a node twice")
+      return nil, fmt.Errorf("Cannot add the same extension to a node twice")
     }
     ext_map[ext_type] = ext
   }
@@ -619,7 +620,7 @@ func NewNode(ctx *Context, key ed25519.PrivateKey, node_type NodeType, buffer_si
   for _, required_ext := range(def.Extensions) {
     _, exists := ext_map[required_ext]
     if exists == false {
-      panic(fmt.Sprintf("%+v requires %+v", node_type, required_ext))
+      return nil, fmt.Errorf(fmt.Sprintf("%+v requires %+v", node_type, required_ext))
     }
   }
 
@@ -657,14 +658,14 @@ func NewNode(ctx *Context, key ed25519.PrivateKey, node_type NodeType, buffer_si
 
   err = WriteNode(ctx, node)
   if err != nil {
-    panic(err)
+    return nil, err
   }
 
   node.Process(ctx, ZeroID, NewCreateSignal())
 
   go runNode(ctx, node)
 
-  return node
+  return node, nil
 }
 
 // Write a node to the database
diff --git a/node_test.go b/node_test.go
index 6603c56..2e1f222 100644
--- a/node_test.go
+++ b/node_test.go
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ func TestNodeDB(t *testing.T) {
   err := ctx.RegisterNodeType(node_type, []ExtType{GroupExtType})
   fatalErr(t, err)
 
-  node := NewNode(ctx, nil, node_type, 10, nil, NewGroupExt(nil), NewLockableExt(nil))
+  node, err := NewNode(ctx, nil, node_type, 10, nil, NewGroupExt(nil), NewLockableExt(nil))
+  fatalErr(t, err)
 
   ctx.nodeMap = map[NodeID]*Node{}
   _, err = ctx.getNode(node.ID)
@@ -44,11 +45,13 @@ func TestNodeRead(t *testing.T) {
   })
 
   n2_listener := NewListenerExt(10)
-  n2 := NewNode(ctx, n2_key, node_type, 10, nil, NewGroupExt(nil), n2_listener)
+  n2, err := NewNode(ctx, n2_key, node_type, 10, nil, NewGroupExt(nil), n2_listener)
+  fatalErr(t, err)
 
-  n1 := NewNode(ctx, n1_key, node_type, 10, map[PolicyType]Policy{
+  n1, err := NewNode(ctx, n1_key, node_type, 10, map[PolicyType]Policy{
     PerNodePolicyType: &n1_policy,
   }, NewGroupExt(nil))
+  fatalErr(t, err)
 
   read_sig := NewReadSignal(map[ExtType][]string{
     GroupExtType: {"members"},