diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 088ba6b..756e7da 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -8,3 +8,6 @@ Cargo.lock
 
 # These are backup files generated by rustfmt
 **/*.rs.bk
+
+# VSCode
+.history
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3d13fdc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+[package]
+name = "zcash-devtools"
+version = "0.1.0"
+authors = ["Kevin Gorham <kevin.gorham@electriccoin.co>"]
+edition = "2018"
+
+# See more keys and their definitions at https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/manifest.html
+
+[dependencies]
+failure = "0.1"
+tiny-bip39 = "0.8.0"
+zcash_primitives = "0.5"
+zcash_client_sqlite = "0.3"
+zcash_client_backend = "0.5"
+
+
+[patch.crates-io]
+zcash_primitives = { path = '../../clones/librustzcash/zcash_primitives' }
+zcash_client_sqlite = { path = '../../clones/librustzcash/zcash_client_sqlite' }
+zcash_client_backend = { path = '../../clones/librustzcash/zcash_client_backend' }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b03c273
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+
+use bip39::{Mnemonic, Language, Seed};
+use failure::format_err;
+use std::path::Path;
+
+use zcash_primitives::{consensus::{MainNetwork, Parameters}, transaction::Transaction};
+use zcash_client_backend::data_api::WalletRead;
+use zcash_client_sqlite::WalletDB;
+
+fn main() {
+    // TODO: get this path from CLI args
+    let db_path = "/home/gmale/kg/work/clones/librustzcash/ZcashSdk_mainnet_Data.db";
+    let db_data = wallet_db(db_path, MainNetwork).unwrap();
+
+    let phrase = "chat error pigeon main parade window scene breeze scene frog inherit enforce wise resist rotate van pistol coral tide faint arm elegant velvet anxiety";
+
+    show_seed(phrase);
+    let tx = load_tx(&db_data, 3);
+    println!("loaded tx: {:?}", &tx.unwrap());
+}
+
+fn wallet_db<P: Parameters>(db_path: &str, params: P) -> Result<WalletDB<P>, failure::Error> {
+    if !Path::new(db_path).exists() {
+        Err(format_err!("Path {} did not exist", db_path))
+    } else {
+        WalletDB::for_path(db_path, params)
+        .map_err(|e| format_err!("Error opening wallet database connection: {}", e))
+    }
+}
+
+fn load_tx(db_data: &WalletDB<MainNetwork>, id_tx: i64) -> Result<Transaction, failure::Error> {
+    return (&db_data).get_transaction(id_tx).map_err(|_| format_err!("Invalid amount, out of range"));
+}
+
+
+
+
+
+// seed things
+
+fn show_seed(phrase: &str) {
+    let mnemonic = Mnemonic::from_phrase(phrase, Language::English).unwrap();
+    let seed = Seed::new(&mnemonic, "");
+    println!("{:X}", seed);
+}
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