diff --git a/conf.py b/conf.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6bdda47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/conf.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+import yaml
+
+with open("config.yml", 'r') as f:
+    global conf
+    conf = yaml.load(f)
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 4b18df8..db94430 100755
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -1,20 +1,17 @@
 #!/usr/bin/python3
 
-import yaml
 import imp
 import os
 import socket
 import time
 import sys
 
+from conf import conf
 import proto
-print('PyLink starting...')
 
-with open("config.yml", 'r') as f:
-    conf = yaml.load(f)
-
-# if conf['login']['password'] == 'changeme':
-#     print("You have not set the login details correctly! Exiting...")
+if conf['login']['password'] == 'changeme':
+     print("You have not set the login details correctly! Exiting...")
+     sys.exit(2)
 
 class Irc():
     def __init__(self):
@@ -74,5 +71,6 @@ class Irc():
             self.loaded.append(imp.load_source(plugin, moduleinfo[1]))
         print("loaded plugins: %s" % self.loaded)
 
-
-irc_obj = Irc()
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    print('PyLink starting...')
+    irc_obj = Irc()
diff --git a/plugins/commands.py b/plugins/commands.py
index 59c31ed..ec22a81 100644
--- a/plugins/commands.py
+++ b/plugins/commands.py
@@ -3,22 +3,54 @@ import sys, os
 sys.path.append(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))))
 import proto
 import utils
+from conf import conf
 
-@proto.add_cmd
+@utils.add_cmd
 def tell(irc, source, args):
     try:
         target, text = args[0], ' '.join(args[1:])
     except IndexError:
-        utils._msg(irc, source, 'Error: not enough arguments.', notice=False)
+        utils.msg(irc, source, 'Error: not enough arguments.')
         return
     targetuid = proto._nicktoUid(irc, target)
     if targetuid is None:
-        utils._msg(irc, source, 'Error: unknown user %r' % target, notice=False)
+        utils.msg(irc, source, 'Error: unknown user %r' % target)
         return
-    utils._msg(irc, target, text)
+    if not text:
+        utils.msg(irc, source, "Error: can't send an empty message!")
+        return
+    utils.msg(irc, target, text, notice=True)
 
-@proto.add_cmd
+@utils.add_cmd
 def debug(irc, source, args):
-    utils._msg(irc, source, 'Debug info printed to console.')
+    utils.msg(irc, source, 'Debug info printed to console.')
     print(irc.users)
     print(irc.servers)
+
+@utils.add_cmd
+def status(irc, source, args):
+    identified = irc.users[source].identified
+    if identified:
+        utils.msg(irc, source, 'You are identified as %s.' % identified)
+    else:
+        utils.msg(irc, source, 'You are not identified as anyone.')
+
+@utils.add_cmd
+def identify(irc, source, args):
+    try:
+        username, password = args[0], args[1]
+    except IndexError:
+        utils.msg(irc, source, 'Error: not enough arguments.')
+        return
+    if username.lower() == conf['login']['user'].lower() and password == conf['login']['password']:
+        realuser = conf['login']['user']
+        irc.users[source].identified = realuser
+        utils.msg(irc, source, 'Successfully logged in as %s.' % realuser)
+    else:
+        utils.msg(irc, source, 'Incorrect credentials.')
+
+def listcommands(irc, source, args):
+    cmds = list(utils.bot_commands.keys())
+    cmds.sort()
+    utils.msg(irc, source, 'Available commands include: %s' % ', '.join(cmds))
+utils.add_cmd(listcommands, 'list')
diff --git a/plugins/hello.py b/plugins/hello.py
index 1dec4e3..411ef10 100644
--- a/plugins/hello.py
+++ b/plugins/hello.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import sys, os
 sys.path.append(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))))
-import proto
+import utils
 
-@proto.add_cmd
+@utils.add_cmd
 def hello(irc, source, args):
-    proto._sendFromUser(irc, 'PRIVMSG %s :hello!' % source)
+   utils.msg(irc, source, 'hello!')
diff --git a/proto.py b/proto.py
index 98d6234..a3ffc56 100644
--- a/proto.py
+++ b/proto.py
@@ -3,10 +3,7 @@ import time
 import sys
 from utils import *
 from copy import copy
-
-global bot_commands
-# This should be a mapping of command names to functions
-bot_commands = {}
+import traceback
 
 class IrcUser():
     def __init__(self, nick, ts, uid, ident='null', host='null',
@@ -21,6 +18,8 @@ class IrcUser():
         self.ip = ip
         self.realname = realname
 
+        self.identified = False
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return repr(self.__dict__)
 
@@ -48,12 +47,12 @@ def _nicktoUid(irc, nick):
         if v.nick == nick:
             return k
 
-def introduceUser(irc, nick, user, host):
+def spawnClient(irc, nick, user, host, *args):
     uid = next_uid(irc.sid)
     _sendFromServer(irc, "UID {uid} {ts} {nick} {host} {host} {user} 0.0.0.0 {ts} +o +"
                     " :PyLink Client".format(ts=int(time.time()), host=host,
                                              nick=nick, user=user, uid=uid))
-    irc.users[uid] = IrcUser(nick, ts, uid, ident, host, realname, realhost, ip)
+    irc.users[uid] = IrcUser(nick, ts, uid, ident, host, *args)
     irc.servers[irc.sid].users.append(uid)
 
 def connect(irc):
@@ -96,15 +95,22 @@ def handle_privmsg(irc, source, command, args):
     prefix = irc.conf['bot']['prefix']
     if args[0] == irc.pseudoclient.uid:
         cmd_args = args[1].split(' ')
-        cmd = cmd_args[0]
+        cmd = cmd_args[0].lower()
         try:
             cmd_args = cmd_args[1:]
         except IndexError:
             cmd_args = []
         try:
-            bot_commands[cmd](irc, source, cmd_args)
+            func = bot_commands[cmd]
         except KeyError:
-            _sendFromUser(irc, 'PRIVMSG %s :unknown command %r' % (source, cmd))
+            msg(irc, source, 'Unknown command %r.' % cmd)
+            return
+        try:
+            func(irc, source, cmd_args)
+        except Exception as e:
+            traceback.print_exc()
+            msg(irc, source, 'Uncaught exception in command %r: %s: %s' % (cmd, type(e).__name__, str(e)))
+            return
 
 def handle_error(irc, numeric, command, args):
     print('Received an ERROR, killing!')
@@ -214,6 +220,3 @@ def handle_events(irc, data):
         func(irc, numeric, command, args)
     except KeyError:  # unhandled event
         pass
-
-def add_cmd(func):
-    bot_commands[func.__name__.lower()] = func
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index c8e7eaf..8fdcd59 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 import string
 import proto
 
+global bot_commands
+# This should be a mapping of command names to functions
+bot_commands = {}
+
 # From http://www.inspircd.org/wiki/Modules/spanningtree/UUIDs.html
 chars = string.digits + string.ascii_uppercase
 iters = [iter(chars) for _ in range(6)]
@@ -13,6 +17,12 @@ def next_uid(sid, level=-1):
     except StopIteration:
         return UID(level-1)
 
-def _msg(irc, target, text, notice=True):
+def msg(irc, target, text, notice=False):
     command = 'NOTICE' if notice else 'PRIVMSG'
     proto._sendFromUser(irc, '%s %s :%s' % (command, target, text))
+
+def add_cmd(func, name=None):
+    if name is None:
+        name = func.__name__
+    name = name.lower()
+    bot_commands[name] = func