diff --git a/lib/rb/ext/struct.c b/lib/rb/ext/struct.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0e7aa1a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/rb/ext/struct.c
@@ -0,0 +1,553 @@
+
+#include <struct.h>
+#include <constants.h>
+
+static native_proto_method_table *mt;
+
+#define IS_CONTAINER(ttype) ((ttype) == TTYPE_MAP || (ttype) == TTYPE_LIST || (ttype) == TTYPE_SET)
+#define STRUCT_FIELDS(obj) rb_const_get(CLASS_OF(obj), fields_const_id)
+
+//-------------------------------------------
+// Writing section
+//-------------------------------------------
+
+// default fn pointers for protocol stuff here
+
+VALUE default_write_bool(VALUE protocol, VALUE value) {
+  rb_funcall(protocol, write_boolean_method_id, 1, value);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE default_write_byte(VALUE protocol, VALUE value) {
+  rb_funcall(protocol, write_byte_method_id, 1, value);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE default_write_i16(VALUE protocol, VALUE value) {
+  rb_funcall(protocol, write_i16_method_id, 1, value);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE default_write_i32(VALUE protocol, VALUE value) {
+  rb_funcall(protocol, write_i32_method_id, 1, value);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE default_write_i64(VALUE protocol, VALUE value) {
+  rb_funcall(protocol, write_i64_method_id, 1, value);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE default_write_double(VALUE protocol, VALUE value) {
+  rb_funcall(protocol, write_double_method_id, 1, value);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE default_write_string(VALUE protocol, VALUE value) {
+  rb_funcall(protocol, write_string_method_id, 1, value);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE default_write_list_begin(VALUE protocol, VALUE etype, VALUE length) {
+  rb_funcall(protocol, write_list_begin_method_id, 2, etype, length);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE default_write_list_end(VALUE protocol) {
+  rb_funcall(protocol, write_list_end_method_id, 0);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE default_write_set_begin(VALUE protocol, VALUE etype, VALUE length) {
+  rb_funcall(protocol, write_set_begin_method_id, 2, etype, length);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE default_write_set_end(VALUE protocol) {
+  rb_funcall(protocol, write_set_end_method_id, 0);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE default_write_map_begin(VALUE protocol, VALUE ktype, VALUE vtype, VALUE length) {
+  rb_funcall(protocol, write_map_begin_method_id, 3, ktype, vtype, length);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE default_write_map_end(VALUE protocol) {
+  rb_funcall(protocol, write_map_end_method_id, 0);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE default_write_struct_begin(VALUE protocol, VALUE struct_name) {
+  rb_funcall(protocol, write_struct_begin_method_id, 1, struct_name);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE default_write_struct_end(VALUE protocol) {
+  rb_funcall(protocol, write_struct_end_method_id, 0);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE default_write_field_begin(VALUE protocol, VALUE name, VALUE type, VALUE id) {
+  rb_funcall(protocol, write_field_begin_method_id, 3, name, type, id);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE default_write_field_end(VALUE protocol) {
+  rb_funcall(protocol, write_field_end_method_id, 0);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE default_write_field_stop(VALUE protocol) {
+  rb_funcall(protocol, write_field_stop_method_id, 0);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE default_read_field_begin(VALUE protocol) {
+  return rb_funcall(protocol, read_field_begin_method_id, 0);
+}
+
+VALUE default_read_field_end(VALUE protocol) {
+  return rb_funcall(protocol, read_field_end_method_id, 0);
+}
+
+VALUE default_read_map_begin(VALUE protocol) {
+  return rb_funcall(protocol, read_map_begin_method_id, 0);
+}
+
+VALUE default_read_map_end(VALUE protocol) {
+  return rb_funcall(protocol, read_map_end_method_id, 0);
+}
+
+VALUE default_read_list_begin(VALUE protocol) {
+  return rb_funcall(protocol, read_list_begin_method_id, 0);
+}
+
+VALUE default_read_list_end(VALUE protocol) {
+  return rb_funcall(protocol, read_list_end_method_id, 0);
+}
+
+VALUE default_read_set_begin(VALUE protocol) {
+  return rb_funcall(protocol, read_set_begin_method_id, 0);
+}
+
+VALUE default_read_set_end(VALUE protocol) {
+  return rb_funcall(protocol, read_set_end_method_id, 0);
+}
+
+VALUE default_read_byte(VALUE protocol) {
+  return rb_funcall(protocol, read_byte_method_id, 0);
+}
+
+VALUE default_read_bool(VALUE protocol) {
+  return rb_funcall(protocol, read_bool_method_id, 0);
+}
+
+VALUE default_read_i16(VALUE protocol) {
+  return rb_funcall(protocol, read_i16_method_id, 0);
+}
+
+VALUE default_read_i32(VALUE protocol) {
+  return rb_funcall(protocol, read_i32_method_id, 0);
+}
+
+VALUE default_read_i64(VALUE protocol) {
+  return rb_funcall(protocol, read_i64_method_id, 0);
+}
+
+VALUE default_read_double(VALUE protocol) {
+  return rb_funcall(protocol, read_double_method_id, 0);
+}
+
+VALUE default_read_string(VALUE protocol) {
+  return rb_funcall(protocol, read_string_method_id, 0);
+}
+
+VALUE default_read_struct_begin(VALUE protocol) {
+  return rb_funcall(protocol, read_struct_begin_method_id, 0);
+}
+
+VALUE default_read_struct_end(VALUE protocol) {
+  return rb_funcall(protocol, read_struct_end_method_id, 0);
+}
+
+static void set_default_proto_function_pointers() {
+  mt = ALLOC(native_proto_method_table);
+  
+  mt->write_field_begin = default_write_field_begin;
+  mt->write_field_stop = default_write_field_stop;
+  mt->write_map_begin = default_write_map_begin;
+  mt->write_map_end = default_write_map_end;
+  mt->write_list_begin = default_write_list_begin;
+  mt->write_list_end = default_write_list_end;
+  mt->write_set_begin = default_write_set_begin;
+  mt->write_set_end = default_write_set_end;
+  mt->write_byte = default_write_byte;
+  mt->write_bool = default_write_bool;
+  mt->write_i16 = default_write_i16;
+  mt->write_i32 = default_write_i32;
+  mt->write_i64 = default_write_i64;
+  mt->write_double = default_write_double;
+  mt->write_string = default_write_string;
+  mt->write_struct_begin = default_write_struct_begin;
+  mt->write_struct_end = default_write_struct_end;
+  mt->write_field_end = default_write_field_end;
+
+  mt->read_struct_begin = default_read_struct_begin;
+  mt->read_struct_end = default_read_struct_end;
+  mt->read_field_begin = default_read_field_begin;
+  mt->read_field_end = default_read_field_end;
+  mt->read_map_begin = default_read_map_begin;
+  mt->read_map_end = default_read_map_end;
+  mt->read_list_begin = default_read_list_begin;
+  mt->read_list_end = default_read_list_end;
+  mt->read_set_begin = default_read_set_begin;
+  mt->read_set_end = default_read_set_end;
+  mt->read_byte = default_read_byte;
+  mt->read_bool = default_read_bool;
+  mt->read_i16 = default_read_i16;
+  mt->read_i32 = default_read_i32;
+  mt->read_i64 = default_read_i64;
+  mt->read_double = default_read_double;
+  mt->read_string = default_read_string;
+  
+}
+
+static void set_native_proto_function_pointers(VALUE protocol) {
+  VALUE method_table_object = rb_const_get(CLASS_OF(protocol), rb_intern("@native_method_table"));
+  // TODO: check nil?
+  Data_Get_Struct(method_table_object, native_proto_method_table, mt);
+}
+
+// end default protocol methods
+
+
+static VALUE rb_thrift_struct_write(VALUE self, VALUE protocol);
+static void write_anything(int ttype, VALUE value, VALUE protocol, VALUE field_info);
+
+VALUE get_field_value(VALUE obj, VALUE field_name) {
+  char name_buf[RSTRING(field_name)->len + 1];
+  
+  name_buf[0] = '@';
+  strlcpy(&name_buf[1], RSTRING(field_name)->ptr, sizeof(name_buf));
+
+  VALUE value = rb_ivar_get(obj, rb_intern(name_buf));
+  
+  return value;
+}
+
+static void write_container(int ttype, VALUE field_info, VALUE value, VALUE protocol) {
+  int sz, i;
+  
+  if (ttype == TTYPE_MAP) {
+    VALUE keys;
+    VALUE key;
+    VALUE val;
+
+    Check_Type(value, T_HASH);
+    
+    VALUE key_info = rb_hash_aref(field_info, key_sym);
+    VALUE keytype_value = rb_hash_aref(key_info, type_sym);
+    int keytype = FIX2INT(keytype_value);
+    
+    VALUE value_info = rb_hash_aref(field_info, value_sym);
+    VALUE valuetype_value = rb_hash_aref(value_info, type_sym);
+    int valuetype = FIX2INT(valuetype_value);
+    
+    keys = rb_funcall(value, keys_method_id, 0);
+    
+    sz = RARRAY(keys)->len;
+    
+    mt->write_map_begin(protocol, keytype_value, valuetype_value, INT2FIX(sz));
+    
+    for (i = 0; i < sz; i++) {
+      key = rb_ary_entry(keys, i);
+      val = rb_hash_aref(value, key);
+      
+      if (IS_CONTAINER(keytype)) {
+        write_container(keytype, key_info, key, protocol);
+      } else {
+        write_anything(keytype, key, protocol, key_info);
+      }
+      
+      if (IS_CONTAINER(valuetype)) {
+        write_container(valuetype, value_info, val, protocol);
+      } else {
+        write_anything(valuetype, val, protocol, value_info);
+      }
+    }
+    
+    mt->write_map_end(protocol);
+  } else if (ttype == TTYPE_LIST) {
+    Check_Type(value, T_ARRAY);
+
+    sz = RARRAY(value)->len;
+
+    VALUE element_type_info = rb_hash_aref(field_info, element_sym);
+    VALUE element_type_value = rb_hash_aref(element_type_info, type_sym);
+    int element_type = FIX2INT(element_type_value);
+    
+    mt->write_list_begin(protocol, element_type_value, INT2FIX(sz));
+    for (i = 0; i < sz; ++i) {
+      VALUE val = rb_ary_entry(value, i);
+      if (IS_CONTAINER(element_type)) {
+        write_container(element_type, element_type_info, val, protocol);
+      } else {
+        write_anything(element_type, val, protocol, element_type_info);
+      }
+    }
+    mt->write_list_end(protocol);
+  } else if (ttype == TTYPE_SET) {
+    VALUE items;
+
+    if (TYPE(value) == T_ARRAY) {
+      items = value;
+    } else {        
+      if (rb_cSet == CLASS_OF(value)) {
+        items = rb_funcall(value, entries_method_id, 0);
+      } else {
+        Check_Type(value, T_HASH);
+        items = rb_funcall(value, keys_method_id, 0);
+      }
+    }
+
+    sz = RARRAY(items)->len;
+
+    VALUE element_type_info = rb_hash_aref(field_info, element_sym);
+    VALUE element_type_value = rb_hash_aref(element_type_info, type_sym);
+    int element_type = FIX2INT(element_type_value);
+    
+    mt->write_set_begin(protocol, element_type_value, INT2FIX(sz));
+    
+    for (i = 0; i < sz; i++) {
+      VALUE val = rb_ary_entry(items, i);
+      if (IS_CONTAINER(element_type)) {
+        write_container(element_type, element_type_info, val, protocol);
+      } else {
+        write_anything(element_type, val, protocol, element_type_info);
+      }
+    }
+    
+    mt->write_set_end(protocol);
+  } else {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNotImpError, "can't write container of type: %d", ttype);
+  }
+}
+
+static void write_anything(int ttype, VALUE value, VALUE protocol, VALUE field_info) {
+  if (ttype == TTYPE_BOOL) {
+    mt->write_bool(protocol, value);
+  } else if (ttype == TTYPE_BYTE) {
+    mt->write_byte(protocol, value);
+  } else if (ttype == TTYPE_I16) {
+    mt->write_i16(protocol, value);
+  } else if (ttype == TTYPE_I32) {
+    mt->write_i32(protocol, value);
+  } else if (ttype == TTYPE_I64) {
+    mt->write_i64(protocol, value);
+  } else if (ttype == TTYPE_DOUBLE) {
+    mt->write_double(protocol, value);
+  } else if (ttype == TTYPE_STRING) {
+    mt->write_string(protocol, value);
+  } else if (IS_CONTAINER(ttype)) {
+    write_container(ttype, field_info, value, protocol);
+  } else if (ttype == TTYPE_STRUCT) {
+    rb_thrift_struct_write(value, protocol);
+  } else {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNotImpError, "Unknown type for binary_encoding: %d", ttype);
+  }
+}
+
+static VALUE rb_thrift_struct_write(VALUE self, VALUE protocol) {
+  // call validate
+  rb_funcall(self, validate_method_id, 0);
+
+  if (RTEST(rb_funcall(protocol, native_qmark_method_id, 0))) {
+    set_native_proto_function_pointers(protocol);
+  } else {
+    set_default_proto_function_pointers();
+  }
+  
+  // write struct begin
+  mt->write_struct_begin(protocol, rb_class_name(CLASS_OF(self)));
+  
+  // iterate through all the fields here
+  VALUE struct_fields = STRUCT_FIELDS(self);
+  VALUE struct_field_ids_unordered = rb_funcall(struct_fields, keys_method_id, 0);
+  VALUE struct_field_ids_ordered = rb_funcall(struct_field_ids_unordered, sort_method_id, 0);
+  
+  int i = 0;
+  for (i=0; i < RARRAY(struct_field_ids_ordered)->len; i++) {
+    VALUE field_id = rb_ary_entry(struct_field_ids_ordered, i);
+    VALUE field_info = rb_hash_aref(struct_fields, field_id);
+
+    VALUE ttype_value = rb_hash_aref(field_info, type_sym);
+    int ttype = FIX2INT(ttype_value);
+    VALUE field_name = rb_hash_aref(field_info, name_sym);
+    VALUE field_value = get_field_value(self, field_name);
+
+    if (!NIL_P(field_value)) {
+      mt->write_field_begin(protocol, field_name, ttype_value, field_id);
+      
+      write_anything(ttype, field_value, protocol, field_info);
+      
+      mt->write_field_end(protocol);
+    }
+  }
+  
+  mt->write_field_stop(protocol);
+  
+  // write struct end
+  mt->write_struct_end(protocol);
+  
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+//-------------------------------------------
+// Reading section
+//-------------------------------------------
+
+static VALUE rb_thrift_struct_read(VALUE self, VALUE protocol);
+
+static void set_field_value(VALUE obj, VALUE field_name, VALUE value) {
+  char name_buf[RSTRING(field_name)->len + 1];
+
+  name_buf[0] = '@';
+  strlcpy(&name_buf[1], RSTRING(field_name)->ptr, sizeof(name_buf));
+
+  rb_ivar_set(obj, rb_intern(name_buf), value);
+}
+
+static VALUE read_anything(VALUE protocol, int ttype, VALUE field_info) {
+  VALUE result = Qnil;
+  
+  if (ttype == TTYPE_BOOL) {
+    result = mt->read_bool(protocol);
+  } else if (ttype == TTYPE_BYTE) {
+    result = mt->read_byte(protocol);
+  } else if (ttype == TTYPE_I16) {
+    result = mt->read_i16(protocol);
+  } else if (ttype == TTYPE_I32) {
+    result = mt->read_i32(protocol);
+  } else if (ttype == TTYPE_I64) {
+    result = mt->read_i64(protocol);
+  } else if (ttype == TTYPE_STRING) {
+    result = mt->read_string(protocol);
+  } else if (ttype == TTYPE_DOUBLE) {
+    result = mt->read_double(protocol);
+  } else if (ttype == TTYPE_STRUCT) {
+    VALUE klass = rb_hash_aref(field_info, class_sym);
+    result = rb_class_new_instance(0, NULL, klass);
+    rb_thrift_struct_read(result, protocol);
+  } else if (ttype == TTYPE_MAP) {
+    int i;
+
+    VALUE map_header = mt->read_map_begin(protocol);
+    int key_ttype = FIX2INT(rb_ary_entry(map_header, 0));
+    int value_ttype = FIX2INT(rb_ary_entry(map_header, 1));
+    int num_entries = FIX2INT(rb_ary_entry(map_header, 2));
+    
+    VALUE key_info = rb_hash_aref(field_info, key_sym);
+    VALUE value_info = rb_hash_aref(field_info, value_sym);
+
+    result = rb_hash_new();
+    
+    for (i = 0; i < num_entries; ++i) {
+      VALUE key, val;
+      
+      key = read_anything(protocol, key_ttype, key_info);
+      val = read_anything(protocol, value_ttype, value_info);
+      
+      rb_hash_aset(result, key, val);
+    }
+    
+    mt->read_map_end(protocol);
+  } else if (ttype == TTYPE_LIST) {
+    int i;
+
+    VALUE list_header = mt->read_list_begin(protocol);
+    int element_ttype = FIX2INT(rb_ary_entry(list_header, 0));
+    int num_elements = FIX2INT(rb_ary_entry(list_header, 1));
+    result = rb_ary_new2(num_elements);
+    
+    for (i = 0; i < num_elements; ++i) {
+      rb_ary_push(result, read_anything(protocol, element_ttype, rb_hash_aref(field_info, element_sym)));
+    }
+
+
+    mt->read_list_end(protocol);
+  } else if (ttype == TTYPE_SET) {
+    VALUE items;
+    int i;
+
+    VALUE set_header = mt->read_set_begin(protocol);
+    int element_ttype = FIX2INT(rb_ary_entry(set_header, 0));
+    int num_elements = FIX2INT(rb_ary_entry(set_header, 1));
+    items = rb_ary_new2(num_elements);
+    
+    for (i = 0; i < num_elements; ++i) {
+      rb_ary_push(items, read_anything(protocol, element_ttype, rb_hash_aref(field_info, element_sym)));
+    }
+    
+
+    mt->read_set_end(protocol);
+    
+    result = rb_class_new_instance(1, &items, rb_cSet);
+  } else {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNotImpError, "read_anything not implemented for type %d!", ttype);
+  }
+  
+  return result;
+}
+
+static VALUE rb_thrift_struct_read(VALUE self, VALUE protocol) {
+  // read struct begin
+  mt->read_struct_begin(protocol);
+
+  VALUE struct_fields = STRUCT_FIELDS(self);
+  
+  // read each field
+  while (true) {
+    VALUE field_header = rb_funcall(protocol, read_field_begin_method_id, 0);
+    VALUE field_type_value = rb_ary_entry(field_header, 1);
+    int field_type = FIX2INT(field_type_value);
+    
+    if (field_type == TTYPE_STOP) {
+      break;
+    }
+
+    // make sure we got a type we expected
+    VALUE field_info = rb_hash_aref(struct_fields, rb_ary_entry(field_header, 2));
+
+    if (!NIL_P(field_info)) {
+      int specified_type = FIX2INT(rb_hash_aref(field_info, type_sym));
+      if (field_type == specified_type) {
+        // read the value
+        VALUE name = rb_hash_aref(field_info, name_sym);
+        set_field_value(self, name, read_anything(protocol, field_type, field_info));
+      } else {
+        rb_funcall(protocol, skip_method_id, 1, field_type_value);
+      }
+    } else {
+      rb_funcall(protocol, skip_method_id, 1, field_type_value);
+    }
+    
+    // read field end
+    mt->read_field_end(protocol);
+  }
+  
+  // read struct end
+  mt->read_struct_end(protocol);
+  
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+void Init_struct() {
+  VALUE struct_module = rb_const_get(thrift_module, rb_intern("Struct"));
+  
+  rb_define_method(struct_module, "write", rb_thrift_struct_write, 1);
+  rb_define_method(struct_module, "read", rb_thrift_struct_read, 1);
+  
+  set_default_proto_function_pointers();
+}
+