diff --git a/lib/syndicate.sh b/lib/syndicate.sh
index 9ba4dc7..27e057d 100755
--- a/lib/syndicate.sh
+++ b/lib/syndicate.sh
@@ -2,13 +2,37 @@
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
+# Set to an incoming TurnEvent by `ds_dispatch`.
+#
+ds_event=
+
+# Counter for allocating handle IDs and OIDs. (We could have separate
+# counters for each of these, but why bother?)
+#
 ds_handle=0
+
+# Buffer of pending TurnEvents to be sent out. `ds_action` augments
+# the buffer; `ds_flush` sends and resets it.
+#
 ds_buf=""
+
+# These two map user-supplied names to previously-asserted handle IDs
+# and previously-asserted target OIDs, respectively, for later use in
+# `ds_retract`.
+#
 declare -A ds_handles
 declare -A ds_handle_oids
-declare -A ds_object_map
-declare -A ds_retraction_handlers
 
+# Maps local OIDs to callback code to execute when events arrive for
+# that OID.
+#
+declare -A ds_object_map
+
+# ds_project <term> <preserves-path>
+#
+# Applies the Preserves-Path expression to the given term, writing the
+# result(s) to stdout, one per line.
+#
 ds_project() {
     # cargo install preserves-tools
     local input="$1"
@@ -17,13 +41,27 @@ ds_project() {
     echo "$input" | preserves-tool convert --indent=no --select "$selector" "$@"
 }
 
+# ds_connect_stdio <code>
+#
+# Uses stdin for input from our peer, and stdout to send output to our
+# peer, connecting them to fds 5 and 6 respectively before evalutating
+# `code` and entering a mainloop.
+#
 ds_connect_stdio() {
-    eval "$1"
     exec 5<&0 6>&1
+    eval "$1"
     ds_flush
     ds_mainloop
 }
 
+# ds_connect <addr> <code>
+#
+# `addr` should match schema transportAddress.Tcp,
+# transportAddress.Unix, or transportAddress.Stdio. Uses `nc` for the
+# first two and `ds_connect_stdio` for the last. Causes `code` to be
+# evaluated in a context where fds 5 and 6 are for input from and
+# output to the peer, respectively, before entering a mainloop.
+#
 ds_connect() {
     local addr=$1
     case $(ds_project "$addr" ".^") in
@@ -44,11 +82,20 @@ ds_connect() {
     } 5< <(nc $nc_args <$f) 6>$f
 }
 
+# ds_send <data>
+#
+# Transmits `data` immediately to the peer via fd 6.
+#
 ds_send() {
     echo "$@" >&6
     # echo "SENDING: $@"
 }
 
+# ds_mainloop
+#
+# Repeatedly reads a line from the peer (fd 5) and dispatches it to a
+# local object.
+#
 ds_mainloop() {
     while read ds_packet
     do
@@ -61,11 +108,22 @@ ds_mainloop() {
     done <&5
 }
 
+# ds_dispatch <localoid> <event>
+#
+# Sets `ds_event` to `event`. Then, looks up and executes local object
+# code using `localoid`.
+#
 ds_dispatch() {
     ds_event="$2"
     eval "${ds_object_map[$1]}"
 }
 
+# ds_action <wireref> <event>
+#
+# `wireref` should be a sturdy.WireRef. If it's a `mine`, dispatches
+# `event` locally via `ds_dispatch`; if it's a `yours`, adds `event`
+# to `ds_buf` (for a subsequent `ds_flush` to actually transmit).
+#
 ds_action() {
     case $(ds_project "$1" '.embedded . 0') in
         0) ds_dispatch "$(ds_project "$1" '.embedded . 1')" "$2" ;;
@@ -73,6 +131,10 @@ ds_action() {
     esac
 }
 
+# ds_flush
+#
+# Transmits (and resets) `ds_buf` if it's non-empty.
+#
 ds_flush() {
     if [ -n "$ds_buf" ]
     then
@@ -81,6 +143,12 @@ ds_flush() {
     fi
 }
 
+# ds_assert <wireref> <term> [<localname>]
+#
+# Asserts `term` to `wireref`. If `localname` is supplied, records
+# enough information to allow `localname` to be used with `ds_retract`
+# later to retract the assertion.
+#
 ds_assert() {
     local h="$ds_handle"
     ds_handle=$(($ds_handle + 1))
@@ -92,14 +160,29 @@ ds_assert() {
     fi
 }
 
+# ds_retract <localname>
+#
+# Retracts a previously-asserted term using a `localname` supplied to
+# `ds_assert`.
+#
 ds_retract() {
     ds_action "${ds_handle_oids[$1]}" "<retract ${ds_handles[$1]}>"
 }
 
+# ds_message <wireref> <term>
+#
+# Sends `term` to `wireref`.
+#
 ds_message() {
     ds_action "$1" "<message $2>"
 }
 
+# ds_object <varname> <code>
+#
+# Allocates a fresh local OID, and registers `code` to be called when
+# an event arrives for it. Stores a `wireref` for the new OID in the
+# local variable named `varname`.
+#
 ds_object() {
     local oid="$ds_handle"
     ds_handle=$(($ds_handle + 1))