diff --git a/src/syndicate.nim b/src/syndicate.nim
index 4f774af..a88317e 100644
--- a/src/syndicate.nim
+++ b/src/syndicate.nim
@@ -188,16 +188,7 @@ macro during*(turn: untyped; ds: Cap; pattern: Pattern; publishBody: untyped) =
     `callbackProc`
     discard observe(`turn`, `ds`, `pattern`, during(`callbackSym`))
 
-type BootProc = proc (turn: var Turn; ds: Cap) {.closure.}
-type DeprecatedBootProc = proc (ds: Cap; turn: var Turn) {.closure.}
-
-proc runActor*(name: string; bootProc: BootProc) =
-  ## Run an `Actor` to completion.
-  let actor = bootDataspace(name, bootProc)
-  while actor.running:
-    ioqueue.run()
-
-proc runActor*(name: string; bootProc: DeprecatedBootProc) {.deprecated.} =
-  ## Run an `Actor` to completion.
-  runActor(name) do (turn: var Turn, ds: Cap):
-    bootProc(ds, turn)
+proc runActor*(name: string; bootProc: TurnAction) =
+  ## Boot an actor `Actor` and churn ioqueue once.
+  let actor = bootActor(name, bootProc)
+  ioqueue.run()
diff --git a/src/syndicate/actors.nim b/src/syndicate/actors.nim
index 4936974..1de6c45 100644
--- a/src/syndicate/actors.nim
+++ b/src/syndicate/actors.nim
@@ -472,6 +472,9 @@ proc spawnActor*(name: string; turn: var Turn; bootProc: TurnAction; initialAsse
     run(actor, bootProc, newOutBound)
   actor
 
+proc spawn*(name: string; turn: var Turn; bootProc: TurnAction; initialAssertions = initHashSet[Handle]()): Actor {.discardable.} =
+  spawnActor(name, turn, bootProc, initialAssertions)
+
 proc newInertCap*(): Cap =
   let a = bootActor("inert") do (turn: var Turn): turn.stop()
   Cap(relay: a.root)
@@ -590,6 +593,9 @@ proc stopActor*(facet: Facet) =
 proc stopActor*(turn: var Turn) =
   stopActor(turn.facet)
 
+proc stop*(actor: Actor) =
+  stopActor(actor.root)
+
 proc freshen*(turn: var Turn, act: TurnAction) =
   assert(turn.queues.len == 0, "Attempt to freshen a non-stale Turn")
   run(turn.facet, act)
diff --git a/src/syndicate/relays.nim b/src/syndicate/relays.nim
index a91d728..2d7ae94 100644
--- a/src/syndicate/relays.nim
+++ b/src/syndicate/relays.nim
@@ -548,8 +548,14 @@ proc spawnRelays*(turn: var Turn; ds: Cap) =
 
 type BootProc* = proc (turn: var Turn; ds: Cap) {.closure.}
 
+const defaultRoute* = "<route [<stdio>]>"
+
 proc envRoute*: Route =
-  var text = getEnv("SYNDICATE_ROUTE")
+  ## Get an route to a Syndicate capability from the calling environment.
+  ## On UNIX this is the SYNDICATE_ROUTE environmental variable with a
+  ## fallack to a defaultRoute_.
+  ## See https://git.syndicate-lang.org/syndicate-lang/syndicate-protocols/raw/branch/main/schemas/gatekeeper.prs.
+  var text = getEnv("SYNDICATE_ROUTE", defaultRoute)
   if text == "":
     var tx = (getEnv("XDG_RUNTIME_DIR", "/run/user/1000") / "dataspace").toPreserves
     result.transports = @[initRecord("unix", tx)]
@@ -560,7 +566,18 @@ proc envRoute*: Route =
       raise newException(ValueError, "failed to parse $SYNDICATE_ROUTE " & $pr)
 
 proc resolve*(turn: var Turn; ds: Cap; route: Route; bootProc: BootProc) =
+  ## Resolve `route` within `ds` and call `bootProc` with resolved capabilities.
   during(turn, ds, ResolvePath ?: {0: ?route, 3: ?:ResolvedAccepted}) do (dst: Cap):
     bootProc(turn, dst)
 
+proc resolveEnvironment*(turn: var Turn; bootProc: BootProc) =
+  ## Resolve a capability from the calling environment
+  ## and call `bootProc`. See envRoute_.
+  let
+    ds = newDataspace(turn)
+    pat = ResolvePath ?: {0: ?envRoute(), 3: ?:ResolvedAccepted}
+  during(turn, ds, pat) do (dst: Cap):
+    bootProc(turn, dst)
+  spawnRelays(turn, ds)
+
 # TODO: define a runActor that comes preloaded with relaying