diff --git a/examples/Ur5WithSystems.cpp b/examples/Ur5WithSystems.cpp
index 9e29b96..f161b8d 100644
--- a/examples/Ur5WithSystems.cpp
+++ b/examples/Ur5WithSystems.cpp
@@ -273,17 +273,30 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 
   GuiSystem gui_system{
       renderer, [&](const Renderer &r) {
+        IMGUI_CHECKVERSION();
+
         static bool demo_window_open = true;
         static bool show_about_window = false;
         static bool show_plane_vis = true;
 
-        ImGui::Begin("Renderer info & controls", nullptr,
-                     ImGuiWindowFlags_AlwaysAutoResize);
+        if (show_about_window)
+          showCandlewickAboutWindow(&show_about_window);
+
+        ImGuiWindowFlags window_flags = 0;
+        window_flags |= ImGuiWindowFlags_AlwaysAutoResize;
+        window_flags |= ImGuiWindowFlags_MenuBar;
+        ImGui::Begin("Renderer info & controls", nullptr, window_flags);
+
+        if (ImGui::BeginMenuBar()) {
+          ImGui::MenuItem("About Candlewick", NULL, &show_about_window);
+          ImGui::EndMenuBar();
+        }
 
         ImGui::Text("Video driver: %s", SDL_GetCurrentVideoDriver());
+        ImGui::SameLine();
+        ImGui::Text("Device driver: %s", r.device.driverName());
         ImGui::Text("Display pixel density: %.2f / scale: %.2f",
                     r.window.pixelDensity(), r.window.displayScale());
-        ImGui::Text("Device driver: %s", r.device.driverName());
         ImGui::SeparatorText("Camera");
         bool ortho_change, persp_change;
         ortho_change = ImGui::RadioButton("Orthographic", (int *)&g_cameraType,
@@ -348,9 +361,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
         ImGui::ColorEdit4("plane color",
                           plane_obj.materials[0].baseColor.data());
 
-        if (ImGui::Button("About candlewick"))
-          show_about_window = true;
-
         ImGui::End();
 
         ImGui::SetNextWindowCollapsed(true, ImGuiCond_Once);
diff --git a/examples/Visualizer.cpp b/examples/Visualizer.cpp
index 04ddfd9..436dc27 100644
--- a/examples/Visualizer.cpp
+++ b/examples/Visualizer.cpp
@@ -10,24 +10,32 @@
 #include <CLI/Formatter.hpp>
 #include <CLI/Config.hpp>
 
+namespace cdw = candlewick;
 using namespace candlewick::multibody;
 using std::chrono::steady_clock;
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv) {
   CLI::App app{"Visualizer example"};
   argv = app.ensure_utf8(argv);
-  double fps;
+  std::vector<Uint32> window_dims{1920u, 1080u};
+  double fps = 50.0;
+  app.add_option("--dims", window_dims, "Window dimensions.")
+      ->capture_default_str();
   app.add_option<double, unsigned int>("--fps", fps, "Framerate")
-      ->default_val(50);
+      ->default_str("50.0");
 
   CLI11_PARSE(app, argc, argv);
 
+  if (window_dims.size() != 2) {
+    cdw::terminate_with_message("Expected only two values for argument --dims");
+  }
+
   pin::Model model;
   pin::GeometryModel geom_model;
   robot_descriptions::loadModelsFromToml("ur.toml", "ur5_gripper", model,
                                          &geom_model, NULL);
 
-  Visualizer visualizer{{1920, 1280}, model, geom_model};
+  Visualizer visualizer{{window_dims[0], window_dims[1]}, model, geom_model};
   assert(!visualizer.hasExternalData());
 
   Eigen::VectorXd q0 = pin::neutral(model);
diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 7ade014..196f755 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ ADD_PROJECT_DEPENDENCY(
   avcodec
   swscale
 )
+find_package(ZeroMQ REQUIRED)
 
 add_library(
   candlewick_core
@@ -129,6 +130,13 @@ if(BUILD_PINOCCHIO_VISUALIZER)
     INCLUDES DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}
     LIBRARY DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}
   )
+
+  find_package(cppzmq)
+  add_executable(candlewick_visualizer candlewick/runtime/main.cpp)
+  target_link_libraries(
+    candlewick_visualizer
+    PRIVATE cppzmq candlewick_multibody
+  )
 endif()
 
 # install headers
diff --git a/src/candlewick/core/errors.cpp b/src/candlewick/core/errors.cpp
index 9bb086d..c28b158 100644
--- a/src/candlewick/core/errors.cpp
+++ b/src/candlewick/core/errors.cpp
@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@ RAIIException::RAIIException(std::string_view msg,
                       location.file_name(), location.line(), msg.data())) {}
 
 namespace detail {
-  std::string _error_message_impl(const char *fname, std::string_view _fmtstr,
+  std::string _error_message_impl(std::string_view fname,
+                                  std::string_view fmtstr,
                                   std::format_args args) {
-    return std::format("{:s} :: {:s}", fname, std::vformat(_fmtstr, args));
+    return std::format("{:s} :: {:s}", fname, std::vformat(fmtstr, args));
   }
 } // namespace detail
 } // namespace candlewick
diff --git a/src/candlewick/core/errors.h b/src/candlewick/core/errors.h
index 4257b30..531a81e 100644
--- a/src/candlewick/core/errors.h
+++ b/src/candlewick/core/errors.h
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ struct RAIIException : std::runtime_error {
 
 namespace detail {
 
-  std::string _error_message_impl(const char *fname, std::string_view fmtstr,
+  std::string _error_message_impl(std::string_view fname,
+                                  std::string_view fmtstr,
                                   std::format_args args);
 
   template <typename... Ts>
@@ -38,11 +39,9 @@ namespace detail {
 inline void terminate_with_message(
     std::string_view msg,
     std::source_location location = std::source_location::current()) {
-  SDL_LogError(
-      SDL_LOG_CATEGORY_APPLICATION, "%s",
+  throw std::runtime_error(
       detail::error_message_format(location.function_name(), "{:s}", msg)
           .c_str());
-  ::std::terminate();
 }
 
 [[noreturn]]
diff --git a/src/candlewick/multibody/RobotScene.cpp b/src/candlewick/multibody/RobotScene.cpp
index 30d6dab..afc0338 100644
--- a/src/candlewick/multibody/RobotScene.cpp
+++ b/src/candlewick/multibody/RobotScene.cpp
@@ -2,12 +2,10 @@
 #include "Components.h"
 #include "LoadPinocchioGeometry.h"
 #include "../core/Components.h"
-#include "../core/errors.h"
 #include "../core/Shader.h"
 #include "../core/Components.h"
 #include "../core/TransformUniforms.h"
 #include "../core/Camera.h"
-#include "../core/errors.h"
 
 #include <entt/entity/registry.hpp>
 #include <coal/BVH/BVH_model.h>
@@ -26,15 +24,6 @@ struct alignas(16) light_ubo_t {
   alignas(16) GpuMat4 projMat;
 };
 
-template <typename T>
-  requires std::is_enum_v<T>
-[[noreturn]] void
-invalid_enum(const char *msg, T type,
-             std::source_location location = std::source_location::current()) {
-  terminate_with_message(
-      std::format("{:s} - {:s}", msg, magic_enum::enum_name(type)), location);
-}
-
 void updateRobotTransforms(entt::registry &registry,
                            const pin::GeometryData &geom_data) {
   auto robot_view =
@@ -77,9 +66,7 @@ auto RobotScene::pinGeomToPipeline(const coal::CollisionGeometry &geom)
 void add_pipeline_tag_component(entt::registry &reg, entt::entity ent,
                                 RobotScene::PipelineType type) {
   magic_enum::enum_switch(
-      [&reg, ent](auto pt) {
-        reg.emplace<RobotScene::pipeline_tag_component<pt>>(ent);
-      },
+      [&reg, ent](auto pt) { reg.emplace<RobotScene::pipeline_tag<pt>>(ent); },
       type);
 }
 
@@ -165,11 +152,18 @@ void RobotScene::loadModels(const pin::GeometryModel &geom_model,
     const auto &geom_obj = geom_model.geometryObjects[geom_id];
     auto meshDatas = loadGeometryObject(geom_obj);
     PipelineType pipeline_type = pinGeomToPipeline(*geom_obj.geometry);
-    auto mesh = createMeshFromBatch(device(), meshDatas, true);
+    Mesh mesh = createMeshFromBatch(device(), meshDatas, true);
     SDL_assert(validateMesh(mesh));
 
-    // local copy for use
     const auto layout = mesh.layout();
+    if (!renderPipelines[pipeline_type]) {
+      SDL_Log("Building pipeline for type %s",
+              magic_enum::enum_name(pipeline_type).data());
+      renderPipelines[pipeline_type] =
+          createPipeline(layout, m_renderer.getSwapchainTextureFormat(),
+                         m_renderer.depthFormat(), pipeline_type);
+      SDL_assert(renderPipelines[pipeline_type]);
+    }
 
     // add entity for this geometry
     entt::entity entity = m_registry.create();
@@ -191,16 +185,6 @@ void RobotScene::loadModels(const pin::GeometryModel &geom_model,
             ShadowPassInfo::create(m_renderer, layout, m_config.shadow_config);
       }
     }
-
-    if (!renderPipelines[pipeline_type]) {
-      SDL_Log("Building pipeline for type %s",
-              magic_enum::enum_name(pipeline_type).data());
-      SDL_GPUGraphicsPipeline *pipeline =
-          createPipeline(layout, m_renderer.getSwapchainTextureFormat(),
-                         m_renderer.depthFormat(), pipeline_type);
-      SDL_assert(pipeline);
-      renderPipelines[pipeline_type] = pipeline;
-    }
   }
   m_initialized = true;
 }
@@ -210,11 +194,10 @@ void RobotScene::updateTransforms() {
 }
 
 void RobotScene::collectOpaqueCastables() {
-  auto all_view =
-      m_registry.view<const Opaque, const TransformComponent,
-                      const MeshMaterialComponent,
-                      pipeline_tag_component<PIPELINE_TRIANGLEMESH>>(
-          entt::exclude<Disable>);
+  auto all_view = m_registry.view<const Opaque, const TransformComponent,
+                                  const MeshMaterialComponent,
+                                  pipeline_tag<PIPELINE_TRIANGLEMESH>>(
+      entt::exclude<Disable>);
 
   m_castables.clear();
 
@@ -331,7 +314,7 @@ void RobotScene::renderPBRTriangleGeometry(CommandBuffer &command_buffer,
 
   auto all_view =
       m_registry.view<const TransformComponent, const MeshMaterialComponent,
-                      pipeline_tag_component<PIPELINE_TRIANGLEMESH>>(
+                      pipeline_tag<PIPELINE_TRIANGLEMESH>>(
           entt::exclude<Disable>);
   for (auto [ent, tr, obj] : all_view.each()) {
     const Mat4f modelView = camera.view * tr;
@@ -378,12 +361,11 @@ void RobotScene::renderOtherGeometry(CommandBuffer &command_buffer,
 
     auto env_view =
         m_registry.view<const TransformComponent, const MeshMaterialComponent,
-                        pipeline_tag_component<current_pipeline_type>>(
+                        pipeline_tag<current_pipeline_type>>(
             entt::exclude<Disable>);
-    for (auto [entity, tr, obj] : env_view.each()) {
-      auto &modelMat = tr;
+    for (auto &&[entity, tr, obj] : env_view.each()) {
       const Mesh &mesh = obj.mesh;
-      const Mat4f mvp = viewProj * modelMat;
+      const Mat4f mvp = viewProj * tr;
       const auto &color = obj.materials[0].baseColor;
       command_buffer
           .pushVertexUniform(VertexUniformSlots::TRANSFORM, &mvp, sizeof(mvp))
@@ -400,9 +382,10 @@ void RobotScene::release() {
   if (!device())
     return;
 
-  m_registry.clear<MeshMaterialComponent>();
+  clearEnvironment();
+  clearRobotGeometries();
 
-  for (auto &pipeline : renderPipelines) {
+  for (auto *pipeline : renderPipelines) {
     SDL_ReleaseGPUGraphicsPipeline(device(), pipeline);
     pipeline = nullptr;
   }
diff --git a/src/candlewick/multibody/RobotScene.h b/src/candlewick/multibody/RobotScene.h
index 25ca14d..38605ca 100644
--- a/src/candlewick/multibody/RobotScene.h
+++ b/src/candlewick/multibody/RobotScene.h
@@ -16,6 +16,19 @@
 #include <pinocchio/multibody/fwd.hpp>
 
 namespace candlewick {
+
+/// \brief Terminate the application after encountering an invalid enum value.
+template <typename T>
+  requires std::is_enum_v<T>
+[[noreturn]] void
+invalid_enum(const char *msg, T type,
+             std::source_location location = std::source_location::current()) {
+  char out[64];
+  SDL_snprintf(out, 64ul, "Invalid enum: %s - %s", msg,
+               magic_enum::enum_name(type).data());
+  terminate_with_message(out, location);
+}
+
 namespace multibody {
 
   void updateRobotTransforms(entt::registry &registry,
@@ -63,7 +76,7 @@ namespace multibody {
       }
     }
 
-    template <PipelineType t> using pipeline_tag_component = entt::tag<t>;
+    template <PipelineType t> using pipeline_tag = entt::tag<t>;
 
     struct PipelineConfig {
       // shader set
diff --git a/src/candlewick/multibody/VisualizerClient.h b/src/candlewick/multibody/VisualizerClient.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4b07e87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/candlewick/multibody/VisualizerClient.h
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "Multibody.h"
+#include <pinocchio/visualizers/base-visualizer.hpp>
+#include <zmq.h>
+
+namespace candlewick {
+namespace multibody {
+  class VisualizerClient final : public pin::visualizers::BaseVisualizer {
+  public:
+  };
+} // namespace multibody
+} // namespace candlewick
diff --git a/src/candlewick/runtime/main.cpp b/src/candlewick/runtime/main.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..100d6c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/candlewick/runtime/main.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+#include <zmq.hpp>
+#include <zmq_addon.hpp>
+#include "candlewick/multibody/Multibody.h"
+#include "candlewick/multibody/Visualizer.h"
+
+#include <pinocchio/serialization/model.hpp>
+#include <pinocchio/serialization/geometry.hpp>
+
+#include <CLI/App.hpp>
+#include <CLI/Formatter.hpp>
+#include <CLI/Config.hpp>
+
+namespace cdw = candlewick;
+namespace pin = pinocchio;
+using cdw::multibody::Visualizer;
+
+int main(int argc, char **argv) {
+  CLI::App app{"Candlewick visualizer runtime"};
+  argv = app.ensure_utf8(argv);
+
+  std::vector<Uint32> window_dims{1920u, 1080u};
+  app.add_option("--dims", window_dims, "Window dimensions.")
+      ->capture_default_str();
+
+  CLI11_PARSE(app, argc, argv);
+
+  if (window_dims.size() != 2) {
+    cdw::terminate_with_message("Expected only two values for argument --dims");
+  }
+
+  zmq::context_t ctx;
+  zmq::socket_t sock{ctx, zmq::socket_type::pull};
+  sock.bind("tcp://127.0.0.1:12000");
+  const std::string endpoint = sock.get(zmq::sockopt::last_endpoint);
+  printf("ZMQ endpoint: %s\n", endpoint.c_str());
+
+  pin::Model model;
+  pin::GeometryModel geom_model;
+
+  std::vector<zmq::message_t> recv_models;
+
+  printf("Receiving Model and GeometryModel...\n");
+
+  const auto ret = zmq::recv_multipart(sock, std::back_inserter(recv_models));
+  assert(*ret == 2);
+  printf("Received %zu messages\n", ret.value());
+
+  model.loadFromString(recv_models[0].to_string());
+  geom_model.loadFromString(recv_models[1].to_string());
+
+  Visualizer::Config config;
+  config.width = window_dims[0];
+  config.height = window_dims[1];
+  Visualizer viz{config, model, geom_model};
+
+  Eigen::VectorXd q0 = pin::neutral(model);
+
+  while (!viz.shouldExit()) {
+    viz.display(q0);
+  }
+
+  return 0;
+}
diff --git a/tests/test_client.py b/tests/test_client.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3280621
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_client.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import pinocchio as pin
+import example_robot_data as erd
+import zmq
+
+
+PORT = 12000
+
+ctx = zmq.Context.instance()
+sock: zmq.Socket = ctx.socket(zmq.SocketType.PUSH)
+sock.connect(f"tcp://127.0.0.1:{PORT}")
+
+robot: pin.RobotWrapper = erd.load("solo12")
+model = robot.model
+geom_model = robot.visual_model
+
+model_str = model.saveToString()
+geom_str = geom_model.saveToString()
+sock.send_multipart([model_str.encode(), geom_str.encode()])
+print("Sent")