diff --git a/Diamond/Buffer.cs b/Diamond/Buffer.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d484c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Diamond/Buffer.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,257 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using System.Linq;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+using NLog;
+using OpenTK.Graphics.OpenGL4;
+
+namespace Diamond
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Wrap an OpenGL buffer object
+    /// </summary>
+    public class Buffer : GLObject
+    {
+        private static readonly Logger Logger = LogManager.GetCurrentClassLogger();
+
+        #region Static
+
+        private static readonly Dictionary<BufferTarget, Buffer> BoundBuffers;
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        static Buffer()
+        {
+            BoundBuffers = new Dictionary<BufferTarget, Buffer>();
+            foreach (var value in Enum.GetValues(typeof(BufferTarget)).Cast<BufferTarget>())
+                BoundBuffers[value] = null;
+        }
+
+        #region ArrayBuffer
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The buffer will be used as a source for vertex data, but the connection is only made when
+        /// glVertexAttribPointer is called. The pointer field of this function is taken as a byte 
+        /// offset from the beginning of whatever buffer is currently bound to this target.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static Buffer ArrayBuffer
+        {
+            get => BoundBuffers[BufferTarget.ArrayBuffer];
+            set => Bind(BufferTarget.ArrayBuffer, value);
+        }
+
+        #endregion
+
+        #region ElementArrayBuffer
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// All rendering functions of the form gl*Draw*Elements* will use the pointer field as a byte
+        /// offset from the beginning of the buffer object bound to this target. The indices used for
+        /// indexed rendering will be taken from the buffer object. Note that this binding target is
+        /// part of a Vertex Array Objects state, so a VAO must be bound before binding a buffer here.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static Buffer ElementArrayBuffer
+        {
+            get => BoundBuffers[BufferTarget.ArrayBuffer];
+            set => Bind(BufferTarget.ElementArrayBuffer, value);
+        }
+
+        #endregion
+
+        #region DrawIndirectBuffer
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The buffer bound to this target will be used as the source for the indirect data when performing
+        ///  indirect rendering. This is only available in core OpenGL 4.0 or with ARB_draw_indirect.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static Buffer DrawIndirectBuffer
+        {
+            get => BoundBuffers[BufferTarget.DrawIndirectBuffer];
+            set => Bind(BufferTarget.DrawIndirectBuffer, value);
+        }
+
+        #endregion
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Bind a buffer to a target. If buffer is null, unbinds the target.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="target">The binding target</param>
+        /// <param name="buffer">The buffer to bind, or 0 if null</param>
+        public static void Bind(BufferTarget target, Buffer buffer)
+        {
+            GL.BindBuffer(target, buffer?.Id ?? 0);
+            Logger.Debug("Bound {0} to {1}", (object) buffer ?? "default buffer", target);
+
+            BoundBuffers[target] = buffer;
+        }
+
+        #endregion
+
+        #region ctor, Delete()
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Create a buffer object wrapper
+        /// </summary>
+        internal Buffer()
+            : base(GL.GenBuffer())
+        {
+            Logger.Debug("Created {0}", this);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        protected override void Delete()
+        {
+            Logger.Debug("Disposing {0}", this);
+            GL.DeleteBuffer(Id);
+        }
+
+        #endregion
+
+        #region Properties
+
+        #region Queries
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The usage hint for the current data store
+        /// </summary>
+        public BufferUsageHint Usage => (BufferUsageHint) Get(BufferParameterName.BufferUsage);
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The size of the current data store in bytes
+        /// </summary>
+        public int Size => Get(BufferParameterName.BufferSize);
+
+        #endregion
+
+        #region Stored
+
+        #endregion
+
+        #endregion
+
+        #region Methods
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Get a property of this buffer
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="param">The property to get</param>
+        /// <returns>The int value of the property</returns>
+        public int Get(BufferParameterName param)
+        {
+            ArrayBuffer = this;
+            GL.GetBufferParameter(BufferTarget.ArrayBuffer, param, out int res);
+            return res;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Bind this buffer to a target
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="target">The binding target</param>
+        public void Bind(BufferTarget target) => Bind(target, this);
+
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        public override string ToString() =>
+            $"'Buffer {Id}'";
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Upload data to this buffer. Deletes the existing data store and creates a new one
+        /// from the marshalled size of T.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <typeparam name="T">Data element type, used with Marshal.SizeOf to calculate size of data store</typeparam>
+        /// <param name="data">Values to upload</param>
+        /// <param name="usage">Usage hint for for this data.</param>
+        // todo: add usage hint documentation
+        public void Upload<T>(T[] data, BufferUsageHint usage = BufferUsageHint.StaticDraw) where T : struct
+        {
+            Logger.Debug("Updating {0} data (replacing store)", this);
+            ArrayBuffer = this;
+            GL.BufferData(BufferTarget.ArrayBuffer, data.SizeInBytes(), data, usage);
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Upload the data to this buffer within a range. Does not delete the existing data store.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="data">The data to upload. The range is also applied to this array.</param>
+        /// <param name="offset">The offset index of data to begin uploading</param>
+        /// <param name="count">The number of T elements to upload</param>
+        /// <typeparam name="T">Data element type. Offsets are applied according to the size of this in bytes.</typeparam>
+        public void Upload<T>(T[] data, int offset, int count) where T : struct
+        {
+            Logger.Debug("Updating {0} data range ({1} for {2}] from type {3}",
+                this, offset, count, typeof(T).Name);
+            ArrayBuffer = this;
+            GL.BufferSubData(BufferTarget.ArrayBuffer, (IntPtr) offset, count, data);
+        }
+
+        #endregion
+
+        #region Factory Methods
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Creates a buffer, initialized with an array
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <typeparam name="T">Data element type.</typeparam>
+        /// <param name="data">Data used to initialize the buffer</param>
+        /// <param name="usage">The usage hint for this buffer</param>
+        /// <returns>The initialized buffer, or null if initialization failed</returns>
+        // todo: add usage hint documentation
+        public static Buffer<T> FromData<T>(T[] data, BufferUsageHint usage = BufferUsageHint.StaticDraw)
+            where T : struct
+        {
+            var buffer = new Buffer<T>();
+
+            buffer.Upload(data, usage);
+
+            return buffer;
+        }
+
+        #endregion
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Generic overload for Buffer. Caches properties like data, usage, and size.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <typeparam name="T">Data type used for all operations</typeparam>
+    // todo this needs to be made as complete as the non-generic version
+    public sealed class Buffer<T> : Buffer where T : struct
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Cached usage hint for the buffer's storage
+        /// </summary>
+        public new BufferUsageHint Usage { get; private set; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Size of the buffer data storage in T units.
+        /// </summary>
+        public new int Size { get; private set; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The data in this buffer. Not copied to the buffer until Upload() is called.
+        /// </summary>
+        public T[] Data { get; private set; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Upload data to this buffer. Deletes the existing data store and creates a new one.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="data">Values to upload</param>
+        /// <param name="usage">Usage hint for for this data.</param>
+        // todo: add usage hint documentation
+        public void Upload(T[] data, BufferUsageHint usage = BufferUsageHint.StaticDraw)
+        {
+            base.Upload<T>(data, usage);
+            Data = data;
+            Usage = usage;
+            Size = data.Length;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Upload the data to this buffer within a range. Does not delete the existing data store.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="offset">The offset index of data to begin uploading</param>
+        /// <param name="count">The number of T elements to upload</param>
+        public void Upload(int offset, int count)
+        {
+            base.Upload<T>(Data, offset, count);
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Diamond/Diamond.csproj b/Diamond/Diamond.csproj
index 0d25f7c..0e47752 100644
--- a/Diamond/Diamond.csproj
+++ b/Diamond/Diamond.csproj
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
     <DefineConstants>DEBUG;TRACE</DefineConstants>
     <ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
     <WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
+    <DocumentationFile>bin\Debug\Diamond.xml</DocumentationFile>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU' ">
     <DebugType>pdbonly</DebugType>
@@ -51,6 +52,8 @@
     <Reference Include="System.Xml" />
   </ItemGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
+    <Compile Include="Buffer.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Extensions.cs" />
     <Compile Include="GLObject.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Util\SubArray.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Shaders\Program.cs" />
diff --git a/Diamond/Extensions.cs b/Diamond/Extensions.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..85346fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Diamond/Extensions.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Linq;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+using System.Text;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+
+namespace Diamond
+{
+    internal static class Extensions
+    {
+        private static readonly Dictionary<Type, int> ByteSizes = new Dictionary<Type, int>();
+
+        public static int SizeInBytes(this Type type)
+        {
+            if (!ByteSizes.ContainsKey(type))
+                ByteSizes[type] = Marshal.SizeOf(type);
+            return ByteSizes[type];
+        }
+
+        public static int SizeInBytes<T>(this T[] arr) where T : struct
+        {
+            return typeof(T).SizeInBytes() * arr.Length;
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Diamond/GLObject.cs b/Diamond/GLObject.cs
index b7b434f..63373bb 100644
--- a/Diamond/GLObject.cs
+++ b/Diamond/GLObject.cs
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ using OpenTK.Graphics;
 
 namespace Diamond
 {
+    /// <summary>
+    /// A wrapper class for any OpenGL object
+    /// </summary>
     public abstract class GLObject : IDisposable
     {
         private static readonly Logger Logger = LogManager.GetCurrentClassLogger();
diff --git a/Diamond/Shaders/Program.cs b/Diamond/Shaders/Program.cs
index a1be8e7..a6c3be6 100644
--- a/Diamond/Shaders/Program.cs
+++ b/Diamond/Shaders/Program.cs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ namespace Diamond.Shaders
     /// <summary>
     /// Wrap and OpenGL program object
     /// </summary>
-    public class Program : GLObject
+    public sealed class Program : GLObject
     {
         private static readonly Logger Logger = LogManager.GetCurrentClassLogger();
 
@@ -19,31 +19,36 @@ namespace Diamond.Shaders
         private static Program _current;
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// The currently active program
+        /// The currently active program, or null if the default program is active.
         /// </summary>
         public static Program Current
         {
             get => _current;
-            set
-            {
-                if (value != null && !value.Linked)
-                {
-                    Logger.Error("Cannot use {0} because it is not linked", value);
-                    value = null;
-                }
+            set => Use(value);
+        }
 
-                Logger.Debug("Using {0}", (object) value ?? "default program");
-                GL.UseProgram((_current = value)?.Id ?? 0);
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Use this program. If program is null, use the default program.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static void Use(Program program)
+        {
+            if (program != null && !program.Linked)
+            {
+                Logger.Error("Cannot use {0} because it is not linked", program);
+                program = null;
             }
+
+            GL.UseProgram(program?.Id ?? 0);
+            Logger.Debug("Using {0}", (object) program ?? "default program");
+
+            _current = program;
         }
 
         #endregion
 
-        #region Constructor, Delete()
+        #region ctor, Delete()
 
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Create a program object wrapper
-        /// </summary>
+        /// <inheritdoc />
         private Program()
             : base(GL.CreateProgram())
         {
@@ -64,12 +69,12 @@ namespace Diamond.Shaders
         #region Queries
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// The number of active uniforms
+        /// Gets the number of active uniforms
         /// </summary>
         public int ActiveUniforms => Get(GetProgramParameterName.ActiveUniforms);
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// The number of active attributes
+        /// Gets the number of active attributes
         /// </summary>
         public int ActiveAttributes => Get(GetProgramParameterName.ActiveAttributes);
 
@@ -78,7 +83,7 @@ namespace Diamond.Shaders
         #region Stored
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// The InfoLog for this program
+        /// The InfoLog for this program since it was last linked
         /// </summary>
         public string InfoLog { get; private set; }
 
@@ -94,7 +99,7 @@ namespace Diamond.Shaders
         #region Methods
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// Get a property of this program
+        /// Get a property of this program. invokes glGetProgram and returns an int result.
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="param">The program property to get</param>
         /// <returns>The int value of the program property</returns>
@@ -105,7 +110,8 @@ namespace Diamond.Shaders
         }
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// Try to link this program
+        /// Try to link this program. If linking fails, the InfoLog is updated, and attribute and uniform caches are reset.
+        /// If linking is successful, attribute and uniform caches are generated
         /// </summary>
         public void Link()
         {
@@ -148,11 +154,9 @@ namespace Diamond.Shaders
         }
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// Use this program
-        /// <para></para>
-        /// Equivalent to <code>Program.Current = value</code>
+        /// Use this program. Equivalent to Program.Use(this);
         /// </summary>
-        public void Use() => Current = this;
+        public void Use() => Use(this);
 
         #region Attribute Locations
 
@@ -163,18 +167,19 @@ namespace Diamond.Shaders
         /// Check if this program has an active attribute
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="name">The attribute name</param>
-        /// <returns>Whether the progrma has an active attribute</returns>
+        /// <returns>Whether the program has an active attribute</returns>
         public bool HasAttribute(string name) => _attributes.ContainsKey(name);
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Check if this program has an active uniform
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="name">The uniform name</param>
-        /// <returns>Whether the progrma has an active uniform</returns>
+        /// <returns>Whether the program has an active uniform</returns>
         public bool HasUniform(string name) => _uniforms.ContainsKey(name);
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// Get the location of an attribute by name
+        /// Get the location of an attribute by name. Throws InvalidOperationException if the attribute
+        /// is not found. This can be checked with HasAttribute
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="name">The attribute name</param>
         /// <returns>The location of the attribute</returns>
@@ -186,7 +191,8 @@ namespace Diamond.Shaders
         }
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// Get the location of an uniform by name
+        /// Get the location of an uniform by name. Throws InvalidOperationException if the uniform
+        /// is not found. This can be checked with HasUniform
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="name">The uniform name</param>
         /// <returns>The location of the uniform</returns>
@@ -199,11 +205,21 @@ namespace Diamond.Shaders
         #endregion
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// Attach a shader to this program
+        /// Attach a shader to this program. If shader is null, does nothing. If shader is not compiled
+        /// it is still attached but program link will likely fail.
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="shader">The shader to attach</param>
         public void Attach(Shader shader)
         {
+            if (shader == null)
+            {
+                Logger.Error("Cannot attach null shader to {0}", this);
+                return;
+            }
+
+            if (!shader.Compiled)
+                Logger.Warn("{0} is not compiled. Program link will likely fail.", shader);
+
             Logger.Debug("Attaching {0} to {1}", shader, this);
             GL.AttachShader(Id, shader.Id);
         }
@@ -217,14 +233,16 @@ namespace Diamond.Shaders
         #region Factory Methods
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// Create and link a program from precompiled shaders
+        /// Create and link a program from precompiled shaders. If any shader is null or uncompiled it is still
+        /// attached, although program link will likely fail. 
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="shaders">The shaders used in this program</param>
         /// <returns>A linked program, or null if initialization failed</returns>
         public static Program FromShaders(params Shader[] shaders) => FromShaders((IEnumerable<Shader>) shaders);
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// Create and link a program from precompiled shaders
+        /// Create and link a program from precompiled shaders. If any shader is null or uncompiled it is still
+        /// attached, although program link will likely fail. 
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="shaders">The shaders used in this program</param>
         /// <returns>A linked program, or null if initialization failed</returns>
@@ -239,15 +257,7 @@ namespace Diamond.Shaders
             var program = new Program();
 
             foreach (var shader in shaders)
-            {
-                if (shader == null)
-                {
-                    Logger.Error("One or more shaders is null - cannot create program");
-                    program.Dispose();
-                    return null;
-                }
                 program.Attach(shader);
-            }
 
             program.Link();
 
diff --git a/Diamond/Shaders/Shader.cs b/Diamond/Shaders/Shader.cs
index b5eb4e4..21735a1 100644
--- a/Diamond/Shaders/Shader.cs
+++ b/Diamond/Shaders/Shader.cs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ namespace Diamond.Shaders
     {
         private static readonly Logger Logger = LogManager.GetCurrentClassLogger();
 
-        #region Constructor, Delete()
+        #region ctor, Delete()
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Create a shader object wrapper
diff --git a/Diamond/Util/SubArray.cs b/Diamond/Util/SubArray.cs
index 6f3cb79..39eef25 100644
--- a/Diamond/Util/SubArray.cs
+++ b/Diamond/Util/SubArray.cs
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ namespace Diamond.Util
             return arr;
         }
 
+        /// <inheritdoc />
         public override string ToString()
         {
             if (Length == 0)
diff --git a/hexworld/HexRender.cs b/hexworld/HexRender.cs
index 0de084c..fdd4354 100644
--- a/hexworld/HexRender.cs
+++ b/hexworld/HexRender.cs
@@ -1,14 +1,11 @@
 using System;
-using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Diagnostics;
-using System.IO;
-using System.Linq;
 using Diamond.Shaders;
-using Diamond.Util;
-using Newtonsoft.Json.Linq;
 using OpenTK;
 using OpenTK.Graphics;
 using OpenTK.Graphics.OpenGL4;
+using Diamond;
+using Buffer = Diamond.Buffer;
 
 namespace hexworld
 {
@@ -24,6 +21,7 @@ namespace hexworld
         }
 
         private Program _pgm;
+        private Buffer<float> _buf;
 
         /// <inheritdoc />
         protected override void OnUnload(EventArgs e)
@@ -41,7 +39,25 @@ namespace hexworld
             _pgm = Program.FromFiles("res/obj.fs.glsl", "res/obj.vs.glsl");
 
             Program.Current = _pgm;
-            Program.Current = null;
+
+            _buf = Buffer.FromData(new float[]
+            {
+                -.8f, -.8f,
+                +.8f, -.8f,
+                +.0f, +.8f
+            });
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        protected override void OnRenderFrame(FrameEventArgs e)
+        {
+            base.OnRenderFrame(e);
+
+            GL.Viewport(ClientRectangle);
+
+            GL.Clear(ClearBufferMask.ColorBufferBit);
+
+            SwapBuffers();
         }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/hexworld/hexworld.csproj b/hexworld/hexworld.csproj
index 1ed6a79..805bca4 100644
--- a/hexworld/hexworld.csproj
+++ b/hexworld/hexworld.csproj
@@ -19,10 +19,12 @@
     <DebugType>full</DebugType>
     <Optimize>false</Optimize>
     <OutputPath>bin\Debug\</OutputPath>
-    <DefineConstants>DEBUG;TRACE</DefineConstants>
+    <DefineConstants>TRACE;DEBUG</DefineConstants>
     <ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
     <WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
     <AllowUnsafeBlocks>false</AllowUnsafeBlocks>
+    <DocumentationFile>
+    </DocumentationFile>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU' ">
     <PlatformTarget>AnyCPU</PlatformTarget>