diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index e1ca0dc..544a7cb 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "embedded-graphics",
  "embedded-sdmmc",
  "rand_core 0.9.3",
- "spin 0.10.0",
- "talc",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -1039,6 +1037,7 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "embedded-snake"
 version = "0.0.3"
+source = "git+https://github.com/LegitCamper/embedded-snake-rs#3986819c55819283dc5c1e89717d2a2f52e9b161"
 dependencies = [
  "embedded-graphics",
  "rand_core 0.9.3",
diff --git a/abi/Cargo.toml b/abi/Cargo.toml
index 935faa5..47e7d1f 100644
--- a/abi/Cargo.toml
+++ b/abi/Cargo.toml
@@ -7,6 +7,4 @@ edition = "2024"
 embedded-sdmmc = { version = "0.9.0", default-features = false }
 embedded-graphics = "0.8.1"
 abi_sys = { path = "../abi_sys" }
-talc = "4.4.3"
-spin = "0.10.0"
 rand_core = "0.9.3"
diff --git a/abi/src/lib.rs b/abi/src/lib.rs
index 7fadd43..9805a2c 100644
--- a/abi/src/lib.rs
+++ b/abi/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,18 +1,26 @@
 #![no_std]
 
-pub use abi_sys::keyboard;
-use abi_sys::{RngRequest, keyboard::KeyEvent};
-use rand_core::RngCore;
-use talc::*;
-
 extern crate alloc;
 
-static mut ARENA: [u8; 10000] = [0; 10000];
+pub use abi_sys::keyboard;
+use abi_sys::{RngRequest, alloc, dealloc, keyboard::KeyEvent};
+use core::alloc::{GlobalAlloc, Layout};
+use rand_core::RngCore;
 
 #[global_allocator]
-static ALLOCATOR: Talck<spin::Mutex<()>, ClaimOnOom> =
-    Talc::new(unsafe { ClaimOnOom::new(Span::from_array(core::ptr::addr_of!(ARENA).cast_mut())) })
-        .lock();
+static ALLOC: Alloc = Alloc;
+
+struct Alloc;
+
+unsafe impl GlobalAlloc for Alloc {
+    unsafe fn alloc(&self, layout: Layout) -> *mut u8 {
+        alloc(layout.into())
+    }
+
+    unsafe fn dealloc(&self, ptr: *mut u8, layout: Layout) {
+        dealloc(ptr, layout.into());
+    }
+}
 
 pub fn print(msg: &str) {
     abi_sys::print(msg.as_ptr(), msg.len());
diff --git a/abi_sys/Cargo.toml b/abi_sys/Cargo.toml
index a64b5e5..e30198a 100644
--- a/abi_sys/Cargo.toml
+++ b/abi_sys/Cargo.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ version = "0.1.0"
 edition = "2024"
 
 [features]
-default = []
+default = ["alloc"]
+alloc = []
 defmt = ["dep:defmt"]
 
 [dependencies]
diff --git a/abi_sys/src/lib.rs b/abi_sys/src/lib.rs
index b7ac704..db81b70 100644
--- a/abi_sys/src/lib.rs
+++ b/abi_sys/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,42 +1,89 @@
 #![no_std]
 
+#[cfg(feature = "alloc")]
+use core::alloc::Layout;
+
 use embedded_graphics::{
     Pixel,
     pixelcolor::{Rgb565, raw::RawU16},
     prelude::{IntoStorage, Point},
 };
 use embedded_sdmmc::DirEntry;
-use strum::EnumIter;
-
-pub const ABI_CALL_TABLE_COUNT: usize = 10;
-
-#[derive(Clone, Copy, EnumIter)]
-#[repr(u8)]
-pub enum CallAbiTable {
-    PrintString = 0,
-    SleepMs = 1,
-    GetMs = 2,
-    LockDisplay = 3,
-    DrawIter = 4,
-    GetKey = 5,
-    GenRand = 6,
-    ListDir = 7,
-    ReadFile = 8,
-    FileLen = 9,
-}
+use strum::{EnumCount, EnumIter};
 
 pub type EntryFn = fn();
 
+pub const ABI_CALL_TABLE_COUNT: usize = 12;
+const _: () = assert!(ABI_CALL_TABLE_COUNT == CallTable::COUNT);
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, EnumIter, EnumCount)]
+#[repr(u8)]
+pub enum CallTable {
+    Alloc = 0,
+    Dealloc = 1,
+    PrintString = 2,
+    SleepMs = 3,
+    GetMs = 4,
+    LockDisplay = 5,
+    DrawIter = 6,
+    GetKey = 7,
+    GenRand = 8,
+    ListDir = 9,
+    ReadFile = 10,
+    FileLen = 11,
+}
+
 #[unsafe(no_mangle)]
 #[unsafe(link_section = ".syscall_table")]
 pub static mut CALL_ABI_TABLE: [usize; ABI_CALL_TABLE_COUNT] = [0; ABI_CALL_TABLE_COUNT];
 
+#[cfg(feature = "alloc")]
+#[repr(C)]
+pub struct CLayout {
+    size: usize,
+    alignment: usize,
+}
+
+#[cfg(feature = "alloc")]
+impl Into<Layout> for CLayout {
+    fn into(self) -> Layout {
+        unsafe { Layout::from_size_align_unchecked(self.size, self.alignment) }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(feature = "alloc")]
+impl From<Layout> for CLayout {
+    fn from(value: Layout) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            size: value.size(),
+            alignment: value.align(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+pub type AllocAbi = extern "C" fn(layout: CLayout) -> *mut u8;
+
+#[unsafe(no_mangle)]
+pub extern "C" fn alloc(layout: CLayout) -> *mut u8 {
+    let f: AllocAbi = unsafe { core::mem::transmute(CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallTable::Alloc as usize]) };
+    f(layout)
+}
+
+pub type DeallocAbi = extern "C" fn(ptr: *mut u8, layout: CLayout);
+
+#[unsafe(no_mangle)]
+pub extern "C" fn dealloc(ptr: *mut u8, layout: CLayout) {
+    let f: DeallocAbi =
+        unsafe { core::mem::transmute(CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallTable::Dealloc as usize]) };
+    f(ptr, layout)
+}
+
 pub type PrintAbi = extern "C" fn(ptr: *const u8, len: usize);
 
 #[unsafe(no_mangle)]
 pub extern "C" fn print(ptr: *const u8, len: usize) {
     let f: PrintAbi =
-        unsafe { core::mem::transmute(CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallAbiTable::PrintString as usize]) };
+        unsafe { core::mem::transmute(CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallTable::PrintString as usize]) };
     f(ptr, len);
 }
 
@@ -45,7 +92,7 @@ pub type SleepMsAbi = extern "C" fn(ms: u64);
 #[unsafe(no_mangle)]
 pub extern "C" fn sleep(ms: u64) {
     let f: SleepMsAbi =
-        unsafe { core::mem::transmute(CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallAbiTable::SleepMs as usize]) };
+        unsafe { core::mem::transmute(CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallTable::SleepMs as usize]) };
     f(ms);
 }
 
@@ -53,7 +100,7 @@ pub type GetMsAbi = extern "C" fn() -> u64;
 
 #[unsafe(no_mangle)]
 pub extern "C" fn get_ms() -> u64 {
-    let f: GetMsAbi = unsafe { core::mem::transmute(CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallAbiTable::GetMs as usize]) };
+    let f: GetMsAbi = unsafe { core::mem::transmute(CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallTable::GetMs as usize]) };
     f()
 }
 
@@ -62,7 +109,7 @@ pub type LockDisplay = extern "C" fn(lock: bool);
 #[unsafe(no_mangle)]
 pub extern "C" fn lock_display(lock: bool) {
     let f: LockDisplay =
-        unsafe { core::mem::transmute(CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallAbiTable::LockDisplay as usize]) };
+        unsafe { core::mem::transmute(CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallTable::LockDisplay as usize]) };
     f(lock);
 }
 
@@ -105,12 +152,12 @@ pub type DrawIterAbi = extern "C" fn(ptr: *const CPixel, len: usize);
 #[unsafe(no_mangle)]
 pub extern "C" fn draw_iter(ptr: *const CPixel, len: usize) {
     let f: DrawIterAbi =
-        unsafe { core::mem::transmute(CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallAbiTable::DrawIter as usize]) };
+        unsafe { core::mem::transmute(CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallTable::DrawIter as usize]) };
     f(ptr, len);
 }
 
 pub mod keyboard {
-    use crate::{CALL_ABI_TABLE, CallAbiTable};
+    use crate::{CALL_ABI_TABLE, CallTable};
 
     bitflags::bitflags! {
         #[derive(Default, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Clone, Copy)]
@@ -333,7 +380,7 @@ pub mod keyboard {
     #[unsafe(no_mangle)]
     pub extern "C" fn get_key() -> KeyEventC {
         let f: GetKeyAbi =
-            unsafe { core::mem::transmute(CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallAbiTable::GetKey as usize]) };
+            unsafe { core::mem::transmute(CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallTable::GetKey as usize]) };
         f()
     }
 }
@@ -350,7 +397,7 @@ pub type GenRand = extern "C" fn(req: &mut RngRequest);
 #[unsafe(no_mangle)]
 pub extern "C" fn gen_rand(req: &mut RngRequest) {
     unsafe {
-        let ptr = CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallAbiTable::GenRand as usize];
+        let ptr = CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallTable::GenRand as usize];
         let f: GenRand = core::mem::transmute(ptr);
         f(req)
     }
@@ -371,7 +418,7 @@ pub extern "C" fn list_dir(
     file_len: usize,
 ) -> usize {
     unsafe {
-        let ptr = CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallAbiTable::ListDir as usize];
+        let ptr = CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallTable::ListDir as usize];
         let f: ListDir = core::mem::transmute(ptr);
         f(str, len, files, file_len)
     }
@@ -394,7 +441,7 @@ pub extern "C" fn read_file(
     buf_len: usize,
 ) -> usize {
     unsafe {
-        let ptr = CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallAbiTable::ReadFile as usize];
+        let ptr = CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallTable::ReadFile as usize];
         let f: ReadFile = core::mem::transmute(ptr);
         f(str, len, read_from, buf, buf_len)
     }
@@ -405,7 +452,7 @@ pub type FileLen = extern "C" fn(str: *const u8, len: usize) -> usize;
 #[unsafe(no_mangle)]
 pub extern "C" fn file_len(str: *const u8, len: usize) -> usize {
     unsafe {
-        let ptr = CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallAbiTable::FileLen as usize];
+        let ptr = CALL_ABI_TABLE[CallTable::FileLen as usize];
         let f: FileLen = core::mem::transmute(ptr);
         f(str, len)
     }
diff --git a/kernel/src/abi.rs b/kernel/src/abi.rs
index 027b021..7a8a843 100644
--- a/kernel/src/abi.rs
+++ b/kernel/src/abi.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use abi_sys::{
-    CPixel, DrawIterAbi, FileLen, GenRand, GetMsAbi, ListDir, LockDisplay, PrintAbi, ReadFile,
-    RngRequest, SleepMsAbi, keyboard::*,
+    AllocAbi, CLayout, CPixel, DeallocAbi, DrawIterAbi, FileLen, GenRand, GetMsAbi, ListDir,
+    LockDisplay, PrintAbi, ReadFile, RngRequest, SleepMsAbi, keyboard::*,
 };
 use alloc::{string::ToString, vec::Vec};
 use core::sync::atomic::Ordering;
@@ -15,6 +15,18 @@ use crate::{
     storage::{Dir, File, SDCARD},
 };
 
+const _: AllocAbi = alloc;
+pub extern "C" fn alloc(layout: CLayout) -> *mut u8 {
+    // SAFETY: caller guarantees layout is valid
+    unsafe { alloc::alloc::alloc(layout.into()) }
+}
+
+const _: DeallocAbi = dealloc;
+pub extern "C" fn dealloc(ptr: *mut u8, layout: CLayout) {
+    // SAFETY: caller guarantees ptr and layout are valid
+    unsafe { alloc::alloc::dealloc(ptr, layout.into()) };
+}
+
 const _: PrintAbi = print;
 pub extern "C" fn print(ptr: *const u8, len: usize) {
     // SAFETY: caller guarantees `ptr` is valid for `len` bytes
diff --git a/kernel/src/display.rs b/kernel/src/display.rs
index ee7996b..8269e85 100644
--- a/kernel/src/display.rs
+++ b/kernel/src/display.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ type DISPLAY = ST7365P<
 pub const SCREEN_WIDTH: usize = 320;
 pub const SCREEN_HEIGHT: usize = 320;
 
-pub static mut FRAMEBUFFER: AtomicFrameBuffer = AtomicFrameBuffer::new();
+pub static mut FRAMEBUFFER: AtomicFrameBuffer = AtomicFrameBuffer;
 pub static FB_PAUSED: AtomicBool = AtomicBool::new(false);
 
 pub async fn init_display(
diff --git a/kernel/src/elf.rs b/kernel/src/elf.rs
index 2fcec1b..334e3ab 100644
--- a/kernel/src/elf.rs
+++ b/kernel/src/elf.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use crate::{
     abi,
     storage::{File, SDCARD},
 };
-use abi_sys::CallAbiTable;
+use abi_sys::CallTable;
 use abi_sys::EntryFn;
 use alloc::{vec, vec::Vec};
 use bumpalo::Bump;
@@ -194,18 +194,20 @@ fn patch_abi(
                         unsafe { base.add((sym.st_value as usize) - min_vaddr as usize) }
                             as *mut usize;
 
-                    for (idx, call) in CallAbiTable::iter().enumerate() {
+                    for (idx, call) in CallTable::iter().enumerate() {
                         let ptr = match call {
-                            CallAbiTable::PrintString => abi::print as usize,
-                            CallAbiTable::SleepMs => abi::sleep as usize,
-                            CallAbiTable::GetMs => abi::get_ms as usize,
-                            CallAbiTable::LockDisplay => abi::lock_display as usize,
-                            CallAbiTable::DrawIter => abi::draw_iter as usize,
-                            CallAbiTable::GetKey => abi::get_key as usize,
-                            CallAbiTable::GenRand => abi::gen_rand as usize,
-                            CallAbiTable::ListDir => abi::list_dir as usize,
-                            CallAbiTable::ReadFile => abi::read_file as usize,
-                            CallAbiTable::FileLen => abi::file_len as usize,
+                            CallTable::Alloc => abi::alloc as usize,
+                            CallTable::Dealloc => abi::dealloc as usize,
+                            CallTable::PrintString => abi::print as usize,
+                            CallTable::SleepMs => abi::sleep as usize,
+                            CallTable::GetMs => abi::get_ms as usize,
+                            CallTable::LockDisplay => abi::lock_display as usize,
+                            CallTable::DrawIter => abi::draw_iter as usize,
+                            CallTable::GetKey => abi::get_key as usize,
+                            CallTable::GenRand => abi::gen_rand as usize,
+                            CallTable::ListDir => abi::list_dir as usize,
+                            CallTable::ReadFile => abi::read_file as usize,
+                            CallTable::FileLen => abi::file_len as usize,
                         };
                         unsafe {
                             table_base.add(idx as usize).write(ptr);
diff --git a/kernel/src/main.rs b/kernel/src/main.rs
index 887b65d..8b0e247 100644
--- a/kernel/src/main.rs
+++ b/kernel/src/main.rs
@@ -241,19 +241,21 @@ async fn setup_display(display: Display, spawner: Spawner) {
     spawner.spawn(display_handler(display)).unwrap();
 }
 
+// psram is kind of useless on the pico calc
+// ive opted to use the pimoroni with on onboard xip psram instead
 async fn setup_psram(psram: Psram) {
-    let psram = init_psram(
-        psram.pio, psram.sclk, psram.mosi, psram.miso, psram.cs, psram.dma1, psram.dma2,
-    )
-    .await;
+    // let psram = init_psram(
+    //     psram.pio, psram.sclk, psram.mosi, psram.miso, psram.cs, psram.dma1, psram.dma2,
+    // )
+    // .await;
 
-    #[cfg(feature = "defmt")]
-    defmt::info!("psram size: {}", psram.size);
+    // #[cfg(feature = "defmt")]
+    // defmt::info!("psram size: {}", psram.size);
 
-    if psram.size == 0 {
-        #[cfg(feature = "defmt")]
-        defmt::info!("\u{1b}[1mExternal PSRAM was NOT found!\u{1b}[0m");
-    }
+    // if psram.size == 0 {
+    //     #[cfg(feature = "defmt")]
+    //     defmt::info!("\u{1b}[1mExternal PSRAM was NOT found!\u{1b}[0m");
+    // }
 
     #[cfg(feature = "pimoroni2w")]
     {
@@ -291,6 +293,7 @@ async fn kernel_task(
     setup_mcu(mcu).await;
     Timer::after_millis(250).await;
     setup_display(display, spawner).await;
+    #[cfg(feature = "pimoroni2w")]
     setup_psram(psram).await;
     setup_sd(sd).await;
 
diff --git a/user-apps/gif/src/main.rs b/user-apps/gif/src/main.rs
index 3407a83..c749bf2 100644
--- a/user-apps/gif/src/main.rs
+++ b/user-apps/gif/src/main.rs
@@ -4,15 +4,15 @@
 extern crate alloc;
 use abi::{
     display::{Display, lock_display},
-    fs::read_file,
+    fs::{file_len, read_file},
     get_key, get_ms,
     keyboard::{KeyCode, KeyState},
     print, sleep,
 };
-use alloc::format;
+use alloc::{format, vec::Vec};
 use core::panic::PanicInfo;
 use embedded_graphics::{image::ImageDrawable, pixelcolor::Rgb565};
-use tinygif::{Gif, Header};
+use tinygif::Gif;
 
 #[panic_handler]
 fn panic(info: &PanicInfo) -> ! {
@@ -33,19 +33,20 @@ pub fn main() {
     print("Starting Gif app");
     let mut display = Display;
 
-    static mut BUF: [u8; 256] = [0_u8; 256];
+    let size = file_len("/gifs/bad_apple.gif");
+    let mut buf = Vec::with_capacity(size);
+    let read = read_file("/gifs/bad_apple.gif", 0, &mut buf);
+    assert!(read == size);
 
-    read_file("/gif/bad_apple.gif", 0, unsafe { &mut BUF[0..6] });
-
-    let gif_header = Header::parse(unsafe { &BUF[0..6] });
-
-    let image = Gif::<Rgb565>::from_slice().unwrap();
+    let gif = Gif::<Rgb565>::from_slice(&buf).unwrap();
 
     loop {
-        for frame in image.frames() {
+        for frame in gif.frames() {
             let start = get_ms();
 
+            lock_display(true);
             frame.draw(&mut display).unwrap();
+            lock_display(false);
 
             sleep(((frame.delay_centis as u64) * 10).saturating_sub(start));
 
@@ -56,9 +57,6 @@ pub fn main() {
                     _ => (),
                 };
             };
-
-            lock_display(true);
-            lock_display(false);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/user-apps/snake/Cargo.toml b/user-apps/snake/Cargo.toml
index 5ce4e74..7eb0d67 100644
--- a/user-apps/snake/Cargo.toml
+++ b/user-apps/snake/Cargo.toml
@@ -6,5 +6,5 @@ edition = "2024"
 [dependencies]
 abi = { path = "../../abi" }
 embedded-graphics = "0.8.1"
-embedded-snake = { path = "../../../embedded-snake-rs" }
+embedded-snake = { git = "https://github.com/LegitCamper/embedded-snake-rs" }
 rand = { version = "0.9.0", default-features = false }