diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index e69de29..791d244 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#![doc = include_str!("../README.md")]
+
+pub use protocol::*;
+
+mod source_impls;
+mod protocol;
diff --git a/src/protocol.rs b/src/protocol.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..94d6b81
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/protocol.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+use std::fmt::Display;
+use std::io::{self, Read};
+
+/**
+Adds rich metadata to your Error that can be used by [DiagnosticReporter] to print
+really nice and human-friendly error messages.
+*/
+pub trait Diagnostic: std::error::Error + Send + Sync + 'static {
+    /// Unique diagnostic code that can be used to look up more information
+    /// about this Diagnostic. Ideally also globally unique, and documented in
+    /// the toplevel crate's documentation for easy searching. Rust path
+    /// format (`foo::bar::baz`) is recommended, but more classic codes like
+    /// `E0123` or Enums will work just fine.
+    fn code(&self) -> Box<dyn Display>;
+
+    /// Diagnostic severity. This may be used by [Reporter]s to change the
+    /// display format of this diagnostic.
+    fn severity(&self) -> Severity;
+
+    /// Additional help text related to this Diagnostic. Do you have any
+    /// advice for the poor soul who's just run into this issue?
+    fn help(&self) -> Option<Vec<Box<dyn Display>>> {
+        None
+    }
+
+    /// Additional contextual details. This is typically used for adding
+    /// marked-up source file output the way compilers often do.
+    fn details(&self) -> Option<&[DiagnosticDetail]> {
+        None
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+Protocol for [Diagnostic] handlers, which are responsible for actually printing out Diagnostics.
+
+Blatantly based on [EyreHandler](https://docs.rs/eyre/0.6.5/eyre/trait.EyreHandler.html) (thanks, Jane!)
+*/
+pub trait DiagnosticReporter: core::any::Any + Send + Sync {
+    /// Define the report format.
+    fn debug(
+        &self,
+        diagnostic: &(dyn Diagnostic),
+        f: &mut core::fmt::Formatter<'_>,
+    ) -> core::fmt::Result;
+
+    /// Override for the `Display` format.
+    fn display(
+        &self,
+        diagnostic: &(dyn Diagnostic),
+        f: &mut core::fmt::Formatter<'_>,
+    ) -> core::fmt::Result {
+        write!(f, "{}", diagnostic)?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+[Diagnostic] severity. Intended to be used by [DiagnosticReporter] to change the
+way different Diagnostics are displayed.
+*/
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
+pub enum Severity {
+    /// Critical failure. The program cannot continue.
+    Error,
+    /// Warning. Please take note.
+    Warning,
+    /// Just some help. Here's how you could be doing it better.
+    Advice,
+}
+
+/**
+Represents a readable source of some sort: a source file, a String, etc.
+*/
+pub trait Source {
+    /// Get a `Read`er from a given [Source].
+    fn open(&self) -> io::Result<Box<dyn Read>>;
+}
+
+/**
+Details and additional context to be displayed.
+ */
+pub struct DiagnosticDetail {
+    /// Explanation of this specific diagnostic detail.
+    pub message: Option<String>,
+    /// The "filename" for this diagnostic.
+    pub source_name: String,
+    /// A [Source] that can be used to read the actual text of a source.
+    pub source: Box<dyn Source>,
+    /// The primary [SourceSpan] where this diagnostic is located.
+    pub span: SourceSpan,
+    /// Additional [SourceSpan]s that can add secondary context.
+    pub other_spans: Option<Vec<SourceSpan>>,
+}
+
+/**
+Span within a [Source] with an associated message.
+*/
+pub struct SourceSpan {
+    /// A name for the thing this SourceSpan is actually pointing to.
+    pub label: String,
+    /// The start of the span.
+    pub start: SourceLocation,
+    /// The end of the span.
+    pub end: SourceLocation,
+}
+
+/**
+Specific location in a [SourceSpan]
+*/
+pub struct SourceLocation {
+    /// 0-indexed column of location.
+    pub column: usize,
+    /// 0-indexed line of location.
+    pub line: usize,
+    /// 0-indexed _character_ offset of location.
+    pub offset: usize,
+}
diff --git a/src/source_impls.rs b/src/source_impls.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..963374b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/source_impls.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+/*!
+Default trait implementations for [Source].
+*/
+use std::fs::File;
+use std::io::{Cursor, Read, Result};
+use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
+
+use crate::{Source};
+
+impl Source for String {
+    fn open(&self) -> Result<Box<dyn Read>> {
+        Ok(Box::new(Cursor::new(self.clone())))
+    }
+}
+
+impl Source for Path {
+    fn open(&self) -> Result<Box<dyn Read>> {
+        Ok(Box::new(File::open(self)?))
+    }
+}
+
+impl Source for PathBuf {
+    fn open(&self) -> Result<Box<dyn Read>> {
+        Ok(Box::new(File::open(self)?))
+    }
+}