diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index c5d6074..d27dbec 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -185,13 +185,6 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-TXKDDqsc7sBTLl+oiYNaF6IdNk1n70i8ur8QfwcUU6tegTnrEkvMWy9h5Zdty/fq1ioCNpKLvuXoA+fgYVwKGQ==",
       "requires": {
         "@pushrocks/smartpromise": "^3.0.2"
-      },
-      "dependencies": {
-        "@pushrocks/smartpromise": {
-          "version": "3.0.2",
-          "resolved": "https://verdaccio.lossless.one/@pushrocks%2fsmartpromise/-/smartpromise-3.0.2.tgz",
-          "integrity": "sha512-jmrJMUEmBCWChWK8CIcx4Vw3wv/8OgVNmkaxJrbs+WMaoRUfJtpWWJfrAwwHWt9ZXJbarJ+CwfwfYiiZXymndQ=="
-        }
       }
     },
     "@pushrocks/smartevent": {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 64de393..5dba8c5 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
     "tslint-config-prettier": "^1.15.0"
   },
   "dependencies": {
+    "@pushrocks/smartdelay": "^2.0.3",
     "@pushrocks/smartpromise": "^3.0.2",
     "@pushrocks/smartrx": "^2.0.3",
     "@types/node-ipc": "^9.1.1",
diff --git a/test/test.ts b/test/test.ts
index 4f8f978..91e6347 100644
--- a/test/test.ts
+++ b/test/test.ts
@@ -4,24 +4,36 @@ import * as smartipc from '../ts/index';
 import * as smartspawn from '@pushrocks/smartspawn';
 import * as smartpromise from '@pushrocks/smartpromise';
 
-let testIpc: smartipc.SmartIpc;
+let serverIpc: smartipc.SmartIpc;
+let clientIpc: smartipc.SmartIpc;
 
 tap.test('should instantiate a valid instance', async () => {
-  testIpc = new smartipc.SmartIpc({
+  serverIpc = new smartipc.SmartIpc({
     ipcSpace: 'testSmartIpc',
     type: 'server'
   });
-  testIpc.start();
+  serverIpc.registerHandler({
+    keyword: 'hi',
+    handlerFunc: data => {
+      console.log(data);
+    }
+  });
+  await serverIpc.start();
 });
 
 tap.test('should create a client', async tools => {
-  const clientIpc = new smartipc.SmartIpc({
+  clientIpc = new smartipc.SmartIpc({
     ipcSpace: 'testSmartIpc',
     type: 'client'
   });
-  clientIpc.sendMessage();
+  await clientIpc.start();
+  clientIpc.sendMessage('hi', { awesome: 'yes' });
 });
 
-tap.test('should terminate the smartipc process', async () => {});
+tap.test('should terminate the smartipc process', async (tools) => {
+  await tools.delayFor(1000);
+  await clientIpc.stop();
+  await serverIpc.stop();
+});
 
 tap.start();
diff --git a/ts/index.ts b/ts/index.ts
index 75e0916..e901807 100644
--- a/ts/index.ts
+++ b/ts/index.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import * as plugins from './smartipc.plugins';
+import { EventEmitter } from 'events';
 
 export interface ISmartIpcConstructorOptions {
   type: 'server' | 'client';
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@ export interface ISmartIpcConstructorOptions {
 
 export interface ISmartIpcHandlerPackage {
   keyword: string;
-  handlerFunc: () => void;
+  handlerFunc: (dataArg: string) => void;
 }
 
 export class SmartIpc {
@@ -27,38 +28,77 @@ export class SmartIpc {
    * connect to the channel
    */
   public async start() {
+    const done = plugins.smartpromise.defer();
+    let ipcEventEmitter;
     switch (this.options.type) {
       case 'server':
         this.ipc.config.id = this.options.ipcSpace;
-        const done = plugins.smartpromise.defer();
         this.ipc.serve(() => {
+          ipcEventEmitter = this.ipc.server;
+          done.resolve();
+        });
+        this.ipc.server.start();
+        await plugins.smartdelay.delayFor(1000);
+        await done.promise;
+        break;
+      case 'client':
+        this.ipc.connectTo(this.options.ipcSpace, () => {
+          ipcEventEmitter = this.ipc.of[this.options.ipcSpace];
           done.resolve();
         });
         await done.promise;
         break;
-      case 'client':
-        this.ipc.connectTo(this.options.ipcSpace);
       default:
         throw new Error('type of ipc is not valid. Must be "server" or "client"');
     }
+
+    for (const handler of this.handlers) {
+      ipcEventEmitter.on(handler.keyword, (dataArg) => {
+        handler.handlerFunc(dataArg);
+      });
+    }
   }
 
   /**
    * should stop the server
    */
   public async stop() {
-    plugins.nodeIpc.server.stop();
+    switch (this.options.type) {
+      case 'server':
+      this.ipc.server.stop();
+      break;
+      case 'client':
+      break;
+    }
+    plugins.smartdelay.delayFor(2000).then(() => {
+      process.exit(0);
+    });
   }
 
   /**
    * regsiters a handler
    */
-  registerHandler(handlerPackage: ISmartIpcHandlerPackage) {
+  public registerHandler(handlerPackage: ISmartIpcHandlerPackage) {
     this.handlers.push(handlerPackage);
   }
 
-  sendMessage() {
+  /**
+   * sends a message
+   * @param payloadArg
+   */
+  public sendMessage(messageIdentifierArg: string, payloadArg: string | any) {
+    let payload: string = null;
+    if (typeof payloadArg === 'string') {
+      payload = payloadArg;
+    } else {
+      payload = JSON.stringify(payloadArg);
+    }
     switch (this.options.type) {
+      case 'server':
+        this.ipc.server.emit(messageIdentifierArg, payload);
+        break;
+      case 'client':
+        this.ipc.of[this.options.ipcSpace].emit(messageIdentifierArg, payload);
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/ts/smartipc.plugins.ts b/ts/smartipc.plugins.ts
index 5c14e71..339443c 100644
--- a/ts/smartipc.plugins.ts
+++ b/ts/smartipc.plugins.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 // pushrocks scope
+import * as smartdelay from '@pushrocks/smartdelay';
 import * as smartpromise from '@pushrocks/smartpromise';
 import * as smartrx from '@pushrocks/smartrx';
 
-export { smartpromise, smartrx };
+export { smartdelay, smartpromise, smartrx };
 
 // third party scope
 import * as nodeIpc from 'node-ipc';