diff --git a/src/db.c b/src/db.c
index f117455..92ced72 100644
--- a/src/db.c
+++ b/src/db.c
@@ -12,9 +12,10 @@
 #include "planner.h"
 #include <stdio.h>
 
-// serialize struct test
-const char format[] = "{%s = {%lu, %lu, %d}\n"; //
-int serialize(Subject *s) {
-  printf(format, s->name, s->created, s->deadline, s->priority);
+// serialize struct test format
+const char format[] = "{%s = {%lu, %lu, %d, %lu}\n";
+
+int serialize(Task *s) {
+  printf(format, s->name, s->created, s->deadline, s->priority, s->spare);
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/db.h b/src/db.h
index 01cea33..ce91910 100644
--- a/src/db.h
+++ b/src/db.h
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@
 #define DB
 
 #include "planner.h"
-int serialize(Subject *s);
+int serialize(Task *s);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/planner.c b/src/planner.c
index 5583fd8..2d704ca 100644
--- a/src/planner.c
+++ b/src/planner.c
@@ -7,4 +7,29 @@
  */
 
 #include "planner.h" // for subject and event structs
-#include "config.h"
+// #include "config.h"
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
+Event *newEvent(Task *t, time_t s, time_t e, uint64_t sp) {
+  Event *r = (Event *)malloc(sizeof(Event));
+  if (r != NULL) {
+    r->task = t;
+    r->plannedEndTime = s;
+    r->plannedEndTime = e;
+    r->spare = sp;
+  }
+  return r;
+}
+
+Task *newTask(char *n, time_t c, time_t d, int p, uint64_t sp) {
+  Task *r = (Task *)malloc(sizeof(Task));
+  if (r != NULL) {
+    r->created = c;
+    r->deadline = d;
+    r->priority = p;
+    r->spare = sp;
+    r->name = n;
+  }
+
+  return r;
+}
diff --git a/src/planner.h b/src/planner.h
index 3b2c37d..e12af76 100644
--- a/src/planner.h
+++ b/src/planner.h
@@ -1,22 +1,51 @@
 #ifndef PLANNER
 #define PLANNER
+#include <stdint.h>
 #include <time.h>
 
-typedef struct Subject {
+/*
+ * task subject struct used to track different tasks
+ * create new task with taskNew(name, time_t created, time_t deadline, int
+ * priority, uint64_t spare)
+ *
+ * should be freed by user
+ *
+ * used to interface with human and store data
+ */
+typedef struct Task {
   char *name;
   time_t created;
   time_t deadline;
   int priority;
-  unsigned long long spare;
-} Subject;
+  uint64_t spare;
+} Task;
 
+/*
+ * allocates and returns Task (free after use)
+ * returns NULL on failure
+ */
+Task *newTask(char *n, time_t c, time_t d, int p, uint64_t sp);
+
+/*
+ * Event struct contains task and planned time frame
+ *
+ * used to create timetable
+ *
+ * eventNew(task, start, end, spare)
+ *
+ */
 typedef struct Event {
-  Subject subject;
+  Task *task;
   time_t plannedStartTime;
   time_t plannedEndTime;
-  unsigned long long spare;
+  uint64_t spare; // spare var
 } Event;
+/*
+ * allocates and returns Event (free after use)
+ * returns NULL on failure
+ */
+Event *newEvent(Task *t, time_t s, time_t e, uint64_t sp);
 
-int genPlan(Subject *head);
+int genPlan(Task *head);
 
 #endif // !PLANNER
diff --git a/src/test.c b/src/test.c
index 0427e6c..030824d 100644
--- a/src/test.c
+++ b/src/test.c
@@ -4,17 +4,15 @@
 #include "planner.h" // for subject and event structs
 #include "ui.h"
 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 
 int main() {
 
   time_t now = time(NULL);
 
-  Subject t1 = {.name = "LinAlg",
-                .created = now,
-                .deadline = now + days(5),
-                .priority = 3};
+  Task *t1 = newTask("LinAlg", now, now + days(5), 3, 0);
 
-  Subject t2 = {
+  Task t2 = {
       .name = "Phys", .created = now, .deadline = now + days(2), .priority = 7};
 
   // create plan
@@ -22,8 +20,9 @@ int main() {
   //
   printf("%s\n", ctime(&now));
 
-  serialize(&t1);
+  serialize(t1);
   serialize(&t2);
+  free(t1);
 
   return 0;
 }