diff --git a/src/allocator.rs b/src/allocator.rs
index f638248..9afe9a5 100644
--- a/src/allocator.rs
+++ b/src/allocator.rs
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@ impl SlabKind {
             Self::SingleBytes
         } else if size < size_of::<FilePointer>() as u32 {
             Self::RelativeFreeList
-        } else if (size as u64) <= PAGE_SIZE {
+        } else if (size as u64) <= PAGE_SIZE / 2 {
             // TODO
-            // slabs of really big object are very inefficient.
-            // find a better way/ allocate more pages at once e.g. at least 10 elements?
+            // slabs of really big objects are very inefficient.
+            // find a better way/ allocate e.g. more pages at once or at least 10 elements?
             Self::AbsoluteFreeList
         } else {
             panic!("invalid size")
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 41e83e1..b7c393b 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -151,6 +151,22 @@ struct Snapshot {
     map: Mmap,
 }
 
+impl Snapshot {
+    fn read<T: FromBytes>(&self, at: FilePointer) -> &T {
+        self.read_range(at.range(size_of::<T>() as u64))
+    }
+
+    fn read_range<T: FromBytes>(&self, range: FileRange) -> &T {
+        LayoutVerified::<_, T>::new(&self.map[range.as_range()])
+            .unwrap()
+            .into_ref()
+    }
+
+    fn read_raw(&self, range: FileRange) -> &[u8] {
+        &self.map[range.as_range()]
+    }
+}
+
 pub struct Reader {
     state: Arc<AtomicArc<Snapshot>>,
 }
@@ -160,12 +176,18 @@ pub struct Db {
     map: MmapMut,
     slabs: BTreeMap<u32, SlabPointer>,
     state: Arc<AtomicArc<Snapshot>>,
+    snapshots: Vec<SnapshotAndFreeList>,
+}
+
+struct SnapshotAndFreeList {
+    snapshot: Arc<Snapshot>,
+    to_free: Vec<FileRange>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone, Copy)]
 struct Replaced {
     from: FileRange,
-    to: Option<FileRange>,
+    to: FileRange,
 }
 
 pub struct TransactionHandle<'t> {
@@ -175,35 +197,23 @@ pub struct TransactionHandle<'t> {
 }
 
 impl<'t> TransactionHandle<'t> {
-    unsafe fn get_data(&mut self, range: FileRange) -> &mut [u8] {
-        &mut self.db.map[range.as_range()]
-    }
-
-    pub unsafe fn modify(&mut self, range: FileRange) -> (FileRange, &mut [u8]) {
-        let new = if let Some(&replaced) = self.replaced.get(&range.start) {
+    pub unsafe fn modify_raw(&mut self, range: FileRange) -> (FileRange, &mut [u8]) {
+        let range = if let Some(&replaced) = self.replaced.get(&range.start) {
             assert_eq!(replaced.from, range);
-
-            if let Some(to) = replaced.to {
-                assert_eq!(to, range);
-                to
-            } else {
-                let (to, _) = self.allocate(range.len());
-
-                self.replaced.get_mut(&range.start).unwrap().to = Some(to);
-
-                to
-            }
+            replaced.to
         } else if let Some(&new) = self.new.get(&range.start) {
             assert_eq!(new, range);
             new
         } else {
-            let (new, _) = self.allocate(range.len());
+            let (new, _) = self.allocate_raw(range.len());
+
+            self.db.copy(range, new);
 
             let res = self.replaced.insert(
                 new.start,
                 Replaced {
                     from: range,
-                    to: Some(new),
+                    to: new,
                 },
             );
             debug_assert!(res.is_none());
@@ -211,28 +221,86 @@ impl<'t> TransactionHandle<'t> {
             new
         };
 
-        (new, self.get_data(new))
+        (range, &mut self.db.map[range.as_range()])
     }
 
-    pub fn allocate(&mut self, length: u64) -> (FileRange, &mut [u8]) {
-        unsafe {
-            let new = self.allocate_range(length);
+    pub fn read_raw(&mut self, range: FileRange) -> (FileRange, &[u8]) {
+        let range = if let Some(&replaced) = self.replaced.get(&range.start) {
+            assert_eq!(replaced.from, range);
+            replaced.to
+        } else if let Some(&new) = self.new.get(&range.start) {
+            assert_eq!(new, range);
+            new
+        } else {
+            range
+        };
 
-            let res = self.new.insert(new.start, new);
+        (range, &self.db.map[range.as_range()])
+    }
+
+    pub fn allocate_raw(&mut self, length: u64) -> (FileRange, &mut [u8]) {
+        unsafe {
+            let range = self.allocate_range(length);
+
+            let res = self.new.insert(range.start, range);
             debug_assert!(res.is_none());
 
-            (new, self.get_data(new))
+            (range, &mut self.db.map[range.as_range()])
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn modify_range<T: FromBytes + AsBytes>(
+        &mut self,
+        range: FileRange,
+    ) -> (FileRange, &mut T) {
+        unsafe {
+            let (ptr, _) = self.modify_raw(range);
+            (ptr, self.db.modify_range(ptr))
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn modify<T: FromBytes + AsBytes>(&mut self, at: FilePointer) -> (FileRange, &mut T) {
+        self.modify_range(at.range(size_of::<T>() as u64))
+    }
+
+    pub fn read_range<T: FromBytes>(&mut self, range: FileRange) -> (FileRange, &T) {
+        unsafe {
+            let (ptr, _) = self.read_raw(range);
+            (ptr, self.db.reference_range(ptr))
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn read<T: FromBytes>(&mut self, at: FilePointer) -> (FileRange, &T) {
+        unsafe {
+            let (ptr, _) = self.read_raw(at.range(size_of::<T>() as u64));
+            (ptr, self.db.reference_range(ptr))
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn allocate_size<T: FromBytes + AsBytes>(&mut self, length: u64) -> (FileRange, &mut T) {
+        unsafe {
+            let (ptr, _) = self.allocate_raw(length);
+            (ptr, self.db.modify_range(ptr))
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn allocate<T: FromBytes + AsBytes>(&mut self) -> (FileRange, &mut T) {
+        unsafe {
+            let (ptr, _) = self.allocate_raw(size_of::<T>() as u64);
+            (ptr, self.db.modify_range(ptr))
         }
     }
 
     pub fn free(&mut self, range: FileRange) {
-        //
+        self.db.free(range)
     }
 
-    fn allocate_range(&mut self, length: u64) -> FileRange {
-        let range: FileRange = todo!();
+    fn allocate_range(&mut self, size: u64) -> FileRange {
+        self.db.allocate(size)
+    }
 
-        range
+    fn root(&self) -> FilePointer {
+        self.db.header().root
     }
 }
 
@@ -263,8 +331,45 @@ impl Db {
             .unwrap_or_else(|| self.add_slab(size))
     }
 
-    fn transaction(f: impl FnOnce(TransactionHandle)) {
-        // let handle = TransactionHandle {};
+    fn transaction(&mut self, f: impl FnOnce(&mut TransactionHandle) -> FilePointer) {
+        let mut handle = TransactionHandle {
+            db: self,
+            replaced: HashMap::new(),
+            new: HashMap::new(),
+        };
+
+        let root = f(&mut handle);
+
+        let to_free = handle
+            .replaced
+            .values()
+            .map(|replaced| replaced.from)
+            .collect();
+
+        let snapshot = self.update_root(root);
+
+        self.snapshots
+            .push(SnapshotAndFreeList { snapshot, to_free });
+    }
+
+    fn free_old_epochs(&mut self) {
+        let mut snapshots = std::mem::take(&mut self.snapshots);
+
+        snapshots.retain_mut(|snapshot| {
+            if Arc::get_mut(&mut snapshot.snapshot).is_some() {
+                println!("freeing epoch");
+                // if the snapshot is uniqe we are the only owner and can
+                // free the epoch.
+                for allocation in std::mem::take(&mut snapshot.to_free) {
+                    self.free(allocation);
+                }
+                false
+            } else {
+                true
+            }
+        });
+
+        self.snapshots = snapshots;
     }
 
     fn header_ptr() -> FilePointer {
@@ -314,6 +419,13 @@ impl Db {
         }))
     }
 
+    // TODO: fix pls
+    #[track_caller]
+    unsafe fn copy(&mut self, from: FileRange, to: FileRange) {
+        let (head, tail) = self.map.split_at_mut(to.start.0.get() as usize);
+        tail[0..to.len() as usize].copy_from_slice(&head[from.as_range()]);
+    }
+
     #[track_caller]
     unsafe fn read<T: FromBytes>(&self, at: FilePointer) -> T {
         self.read_range(at.range(size_of::<T>() as u64))
@@ -394,6 +506,15 @@ impl Db {
         PagePointer::nth((len / PAGE_SIZE).try_into().unwrap())
     }
 
+    fn remove_pages(&mut self, n: u64) {
+        let len = self.file.metadata().unwrap().len();
+        self.file
+            .set_len(len.checked_sub(PAGE_SIZE * n).unwrap())
+            .unwrap();
+
+        self.remap();
+    }
+
     pub fn create(file: File, slabs: &[u32]) -> Self {
         // clear file
         file.set_len(0).unwrap();
@@ -409,6 +530,7 @@ impl Db {
             file,
             map,
             slabs: BTreeMap::new(),
+            snapshots: Vec::new(),
         };
 
         unsafe {
@@ -435,6 +557,7 @@ impl Db {
             file,
             map,
             slabs: BTreeMap::new(),
+            snapshots: Vec::new(),
         };
 
         let _ = db.state.swap(Arc::new(Snapshot {
@@ -468,6 +591,7 @@ impl Db {
             .copied()
     }
 
+    // TODO: scrap the PAGE-wise allocation and make slab allocations allocations of the general allocator.
     pub fn allocate(&mut self, size: u64) -> FileRange {
         if let Some(slab) = self.get_slab(size) {
             slab.alloc(self)
@@ -652,32 +776,119 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn it_works() {
-        let mut db = Db::create(tempfile::tempfile().unwrap(), &[4, 16]);
+        let mut db = Db::create(tempfile::tempfile().unwrap(), &[4, 7, 16]);
 
-        fn alloc_and_free_many<const N: usize>(db: &mut Db, n: u64) {
-            let mut ranges = Vec::new();
-            for i in 1..n {
-                let range = db.allocate(N as u64);
+        let mut ranges = Vec::new();
+        for i in 0..10000 {
+            ranges.push(db.allocate(i % 32));
+        }
 
-                let data = [0; N].map(|_| i as u8);
+        let n = ranges.len();
+        for range in ranges.drain(n / 4..n * 3 / 4) {
+            db.free(range);
+        }
 
-                unsafe {
-                    db.write_range(range, data);
-                }
+        for i in 0..10000 {
+            ranges.push(db.allocate((4 * i) % 32));
+        }
 
-                ranges.push(range);
+        for range in ranges.drain(..) {
+            db.free(range);
+        }
+
+        // hexdump(db.map.as_bytes());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn transactions_work() {
+        #[derive(Clone, Copy, FromBytes, AsBytes, Unaligned)]
+        #[repr(C)]
+        struct DataHeader {
+            generation: U64,
+            list: FilePointer,
+        }
+
+        #[derive(Clone, Copy, FromBytes, AsBytes, Unaligned)]
+        #[repr(C)]
+        struct DataList {
+            next: FilePointer,
+            data: U64,
+        }
+
+        let mut db = Db::create(
+            tempfile::tempfile().unwrap(),
+            &[size_of::<DataHeader>() as u32, size_of::<DataList>() as u32],
+        );
+
+        let mut snapshots = Vec::new();
+
+        for i in 0..10 {
+            db.transaction(|transaction| {
+                let root = transaction.root();
+
+                let root = if root.is_null() {
+                    let (root, data) = transaction.allocate::<DataHeader>();
+
+                    *data = DataHeader {
+                        generation: 0.into(),
+                        list: FilePointer::null(),
+                    };
+
+                    root.start
+                } else {
+                    root
+                };
+
+                let (root, &data) = transaction.read::<DataHeader>(root);
+
+                assert_eq!(data.generation.get(), i);
+
+                let (elem_ptr, element) = transaction.allocate::<DataList>();
+
+                element.next = data.list;
+                element.data = i.into();
+
+                let (root, data) = transaction.modify::<DataHeader>(root.start);
+                data.list = elem_ptr.start;
+                data.generation = (i + 1).into();
+                root.start
+            });
+
+            snapshots.push(db.create_reader().state.get());
+        }
+
+        for (i, snapshot) in snapshots.iter().enumerate() {
+            let root = snapshot.read::<DataHeader>(snapshot.root);
+
+            assert_eq!(root.generation.get(), i as u64 + 1);
+
+            let mut items = Vec::new();
+
+            let mut ptr = root.list;
+
+            while !ptr.is_null() {
+                let element = snapshot.read::<DataList>(ptr);
+
+                items.push(element.data.get());
+                ptr = element.next;
             }
 
-            for range in ranges.into_iter().rev() {
-                db.free(range);
+            assert_eq!(items.len(), i + 1);
+            for (expected, &is) in items.iter().rev().enumerate() {
+                assert_eq!(expected as u64, is);
             }
         }
 
-        // alloc_and_free_many::<1>(&mut db, 3 * PAGE_SIZE);
-        alloc_and_free_many::<4>(&mut db, PAGE_SIZE / 4 * 3);
-        alloc_and_free_many::<4>(&mut db, PAGE_SIZE / 4 * 3);
-        alloc_and_free_many::<16>(&mut db, PAGE_SIZE / 16 * 3);
+        drop(snapshots);
 
+        // hexdump(db.map.as_bytes());
+
+        db.free_old_epochs();
+
+        // hexdump(db.map.as_bytes());
+    }
+
+    fn hexdump(bytes: &[u8]) {
         let mut child = std::process::Command::new("hexdump")
             .arg("-C")
             .stdin(Stdio::piped())
@@ -687,7 +898,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         let mut stdin = child.stdin.take().expect("failed to get stdin");
 
-        stdin.write_all(db.map.as_bytes()).unwrap();
+        stdin.write_all(bytes).unwrap();
 
         std::mem::drop(stdin);