diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 28c7938..4643d2b 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ add_library(fragment_store
 	./fragment_store/meta_components.hpp
 	./fragment_store/meta_components_id.inl
 	./fragment_store/serializer.hpp
+	./fragment_store/file2_stack.hpp
+	./fragment_store/file2_stack.cpp
 	./fragment_store/fragment_store.hpp
 	./fragment_store/fragment_store.cpp
 
diff --git a/src/fragment_store/file2_stack.cpp b/src/fragment_store/file2_stack.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..70b599a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/fragment_store/file2_stack.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+#include "./file2_stack.hpp"
+
+#include <solanaceae/file/file2_std.hpp>
+#include "./file2_zstd.hpp"
+
+#include <cassert>
+
+#include <iostream>
+
+// add enc and comp file layers
+// assumes a file is already in the stack
+bool buildStackRead(std::stack<std::unique_ptr<File2I>>& file_stack, Encryption encryption, Compression compression) {
+	assert(!file_stack.empty());
+
+	// TODO: decrypt here
+	assert(encryption == Encryption::NONE);
+
+	// add layer based on enum
+	if (compression == Compression::ZSTD) {
+		file_stack.push(std::make_unique<File2ZSTDR>(*file_stack.top().get()));
+	} else {
+		// TODO: make error instead
+		assert(compression == Compression::NONE);
+	}
+
+	if (!file_stack.top()->isGood()) {
+		std::cerr << "FS error: file failed to add " << (int)compression << " decompression layer\n";
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	return true;
+}
+
+// do i need this?
+std::stack<std::unique_ptr<File2I>> buildFileStackRead(std::string_view file_path, Encryption encryption, Compression compression) {
+	std::stack<std::unique_ptr<File2I>> file_stack;
+	file_stack.push(std::make_unique<File2RFile>(file_path));
+
+	if (!file_stack.top()->isGood()) {
+		std::cerr << "FS error: opening file for reading '" << file_path << "'\n";
+		return {};
+	}
+
+	if (!buildStackRead(file_stack, encryption, compression)) {
+		std::cerr << "FS error: file failed to add layers for '" << file_path << "'\n";
+		return {};
+	}
+
+	return file_stack;
+}
+
+// add enc and comp file layers
+// assumes a file is already in the stack
+bool buildStackWrite(std::stack<std::unique_ptr<File2I>>& file_stack, Encryption encryption, Compression compression) {
+	assert(!file_stack.empty());
+
+	// TODO: encrypt here
+	assert(encryption == Encryption::NONE);
+
+	// add layer based on enum
+	if (compression == Compression::ZSTD) {
+		file_stack.push(std::make_unique<File2ZSTDW>(*file_stack.top().get()));
+	} else {
+		// TODO: make error instead
+		assert(compression == Compression::NONE);
+	}
+
+	if (!file_stack.top()->isGood()) {
+		std::cerr << "FS error: file failed to add " << (int)compression << " compression layer\n";
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	return true;
+}
+
+// do i need this?
+std::stack<std::unique_ptr<File2I>> buildFileStackWrite(std::string_view file_path, Encryption encryption, Compression compression) {
+	std::stack<std::unique_ptr<File2I>> file_stack;
+	file_stack.push(std::make_unique<File2WFile>(file_path));
+
+	if (!file_stack.top()->isGood()) {
+		std::cerr << "FS error: opening file for writing '" << file_path << "'\n";
+		return {};
+	}
+
+	if (!buildStackWrite(file_stack, encryption, compression)) {
+		std::cerr << "FS error: file failed to add layers for '" << file_path << "'\n";
+		return {};
+	}
+
+	return file_stack;
+}
+
diff --git a/src/fragment_store/file2_stack.hpp b/src/fragment_store/file2_stack.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c1e878c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/fragment_store/file2_stack.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "./types.hpp"
+
+#include <solanaceae/file/file2.hpp>
+
+#include <stack>
+#include <memory>
+#include <string_view>
+
+// add enc and comp file layers
+// assumes a file is already in the stack
+[[nodiscard]] bool buildStackRead(std::stack<std::unique_ptr<File2I>>& file_stack, Encryption encryption, Compression compression);
+
+// do i need this?
+[[nodiscard]] std::stack<std::unique_ptr<File2I>> buildFileStackRead(std::string_view file_path, Encryption encryption, Compression compression);
+
+// add enc and comp file layers
+// assumes a file is already in the stack
+[[nodiscard]] bool buildStackWrite(std::stack<std::unique_ptr<File2I>>& file_stack, Encryption encryption, Compression compression);
+
+// do i need this?
+[[nodiscard]] std::stack<std::unique_ptr<File2I>> buildFileStackWrite(std::string_view file_path, Encryption encryption, Compression compression);
diff --git a/src/fragment_store/fragment_store.cpp b/src/fragment_store/fragment_store.cpp
index 963f67a..d8fe80d 100644
--- a/src/fragment_store/fragment_store.cpp
+++ b/src/fragment_store/fragment_store.cpp
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@
 
 #include <solanaceae/file/file2_std.hpp>
 #include <solanaceae/file/file2_mem.hpp>
-#include "./file2_zstd.hpp"
+
+#include "./file2_stack.hpp"
 
 #include <zstd.h>
 
@@ -51,92 +52,6 @@ static ByteSpan spanFromRead(const std::variant<ByteSpan, std::vector<uint8_t>>&
 	}
 }
 
-// TODO: these stacks are file specific
-
-// add enc and comp file layers
-// assumes a file is already in the stack
-static bool buildStackRead(std::stack<std::unique_ptr<File2I>>& file_stack, Encryption encryption, Compression compression) {
-	assert(!file_stack.empty());
-
-	// TODO: decrypt here
-	assert(encryption == Encryption::NONE);
-
-	// add layer based on enum
-	if (compression == Compression::ZSTD) {
-		file_stack.push(std::make_unique<File2ZSTDR>(*file_stack.top().get()));
-	} else {
-		// TODO: make error instead
-		assert(compression == Compression::NONE);
-	}
-
-	if (!file_stack.top()->isGood()) {
-		std::cerr << "FS error: file failed to add " << (int)compression << " decompression layer\n";
-		return false;
-	}
-
-	return true;
-}
-
-// do i need this?
-static std::stack<std::unique_ptr<File2I>> buildFileStackRead(std::string_view file_path, Encryption encryption, Compression compression) {
-	std::stack<std::unique_ptr<File2I>> file_stack;
-	file_stack.push(std::make_unique<File2RFile>(file_path));
-
-	if (!file_stack.top()->isGood()) {
-		std::cerr << "FS error: opening file for reading '" << file_path << "'\n";
-		return {};
-	}
-
-	if (!buildStackRead(file_stack, encryption, compression)) {
-		std::cerr << "FS error: file failed to add layers for '" << file_path << "'\n";
-		return {};
-	}
-
-	return file_stack;
-}
-
-// add enc and comp file layers
-// assumes a file is already in the stack
-static bool buildStackWrite(std::stack<std::unique_ptr<File2I>>& file_stack, Encryption encryption, Compression compression) {
-	assert(!file_stack.empty());
-
-	// TODO: encrypt here
-	assert(encryption == Encryption::NONE);
-
-	// add layer based on enum
-	if (compression == Compression::ZSTD) {
-		file_stack.push(std::make_unique<File2ZSTDW>(*file_stack.top().get()));
-	} else {
-		// TODO: make error instead
-		assert(compression == Compression::NONE);
-	}
-
-	if (!file_stack.top()->isGood()) {
-		std::cerr << "FS error: file failed to add " << (int)compression << " compression layer\n";
-		return false;
-	}
-
-	return true;
-}
-
-// do i need this?
-static std::stack<std::unique_ptr<File2I>> buildFileStackWrite(std::string_view file_path, Encryption encryption, Compression compression) {
-	std::stack<std::unique_ptr<File2I>> file_stack;
-	file_stack.push(std::make_unique<File2WFile>(file_path));
-
-	if (!file_stack.top()->isGood()) {
-		std::cerr << "FS error: opening file for writing '" << file_path << "'\n";
-		return {};
-	}
-
-	if (!buildStackWrite(file_stack, encryption, compression)) {
-		std::cerr << "FS error: file failed to add layers for '" << file_path << "'\n";
-		return {};
-	}
-
-	return file_stack;
-}
-
 FragmentStore::FragmentStore(void) {
 	registerSerializers();
 }