diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 156fc15..88b00f3 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-.env
+rundev
 *.db
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 96a6203..49d1197 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,18 +1,17 @@
 {
   "name": "soyuz-web",
-  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "version": "0.1.0",
   "lockfileVersion": 2,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "soyuz-web",
-      "version": "1.0.0",
+      "version": "0.1.0",
       "license": "AGPL-3.0-or-later",
       "dependencies": {
         "better-sqlite3": "^8.0.1",
         "better-sqlite3-session-store": "^0.1.0",
         "body-parser": "^1.20.1",
-        "dotenv": "^16.0.3",
         "express": "^4.18.2",
         "express-session": "^1.17.3",
         "sprightly": "^1.0.3"
@@ -260,14 +259,6 @@
         "node": ">=8"
       }
     },
-    "node_modules/dotenv": {
-      "version": "16.0.3",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dotenv/-/dotenv-16.0.3.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-7GO6HghkA5fYG9TYnNxi14/7K9f5occMlp3zXAuSxn7CKCxt9xbNWG7yF8hTCSUchlfWSe3uLmlPfigevRItzQ==",
-      "engines": {
-        "node": ">=12"
-      }
-    },
     "node_modules/ee-first": {
       "version": "1.1.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ee-first/-/ee-first-1.1.1.tgz",
@@ -1255,11 +1246,6 @@
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/detect-libc/-/detect-libc-2.0.1.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-463v3ZeIrcWtdgIg6vI6XUncguvr2TnGl4SzDXinkt9mSLpBJKXT3mW6xT3VQdDN11+WVs29pgvivTc4Lp8v+w=="
     },
-    "dotenv": {
-      "version": "16.0.3",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dotenv/-/dotenv-16.0.3.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-7GO6HghkA5fYG9TYnNxi14/7K9f5occMlp3zXAuSxn7CKCxt9xbNWG7yF8hTCSUchlfWSe3uLmlPfigevRItzQ=="
-    },
     "ee-first": {
       "version": "1.1.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ee-first/-/ee-first-1.1.1.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 300c364..ff47769 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -4,12 +4,15 @@
   "description": "Web app for publishing Gemini posts",
   "main": "server.js",
   "scripts": {
+    "dev": "./rundev",
     "password-reset": "node cli.js password-reset",
     "user-create": "node cli.js user-create"
   },
   "author": "Hugh Rundle <hugh@hughrundle.net> (https://www.hughrundle.net/)",
   "license": "AGPL-3.0-or-later",
-  "keywords": ["gemini"],
+  "keywords": [
+    "gemini"
+  ],
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
     "url": "https://github.com/hughrun/soyuz-web.git"
@@ -18,7 +21,6 @@
     "better-sqlite3": "^8.0.1",
     "better-sqlite3-session-store": "^0.1.0",
     "body-parser": "^1.20.1",
-    "dotenv": "^16.0.3",
     "express": "^4.18.2",
     "express-session": "^1.17.3",
     "sprightly": "^1.0.3"
diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index d33ef70..4ec9f6b 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-require('dotenv').config()
 const express = require('express')
 
 const { getLatestPost, getNow, publishNewPost, requireLoggedIn, resetPassword, saveFile, updatePost, verifyUser, getSavedFile } = require('./utilities')
@@ -6,8 +5,8 @@ const { getLatestPost, getNow, publishNewPost, requireLoggedIn, resetPassword, s
 const bodyParser = require('body-parser')
 const Database = require('better-sqlite3');
 const session = require('express-session')
-const sprightly = require('sprightly');
 const SqliteStore = require("better-sqlite3-session-store")(session)
+const sprightly = require('sprightly');
 
 // configure Express
 const app = express()
@@ -108,7 +107,8 @@ app.post('/publish', requireLoggedIn, (req, res) => {
 })
 
 app.post('/save', requireLoggedIn, (req, res) => {
-    saveFile(req.session.user, req.body.textarea, () => {
+    saveFile(req.session.user.username, req.body.textarea,)
+    .then( () => {
         res.redirect('/')
     })
 })
diff --git a/utilities.js b/utilities.js
index 4b86205..ff665f4 100644
--- a/utilities.js
+++ b/utilities.js
@@ -75,13 +75,13 @@ const updateLatestPostDate = function(username, callback) {
 }
 
 // AUTHORISATION MIDDLEWARE
-const verifyUser = function (req, res, next) {
+const verifyUser = async function (req, res, next) {
     let username = req.body.username
     let password = req.body.password
     let stmt = db.prepare(
         'SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = ?'
         )
-     user = stmt.get(username)
+     user = await stmt.get(username)
 
     if (!user) {
         return next()
@@ -147,11 +147,10 @@ const publishNewPost = function(req, cb) {
             })
         })
         // clear any saved post now that it is published
-        saveFile(req.session.user.username, '# Title of my note', () => {
-            // delete active page on db and in session
-            updateLatestPostDate(req.session.user.username, datestring => {
-                req.session.user.latest_post = datestring
-                return cb()
+        saveFile(req.session.user.username, '# Title of my note').then( () => {
+                return updateLatestPostDate(req.session.user.username, datestring => {
+                    req.session.user.latest_post = datestring
+                    return cb()
             })
         })
     }
@@ -280,25 +279,25 @@ let updatePost = function(req, callback) {
     })
 }
 
-let saveFile = function(user, text, callback) {
+let saveFile = async function(user, text) {
     let stmt = db.prepare(
         'UPDATE users SET saved_post = ? WHERE username = ?'
         );
-    stmt.run(text, user.username);
-    callback()
+    saved = await stmt.run(text, user);
+    return saved
 }
 
-let getSavedFile = function(user) {
+let getSavedFile = async function(user) {
     let stmt = db.prepare(
         'SELECT saved_post FROM users WHERE username = ?'
         )
     stmt.pluck(true)
-    let post = stmt.get(user)
+    let post = await stmt.get(user)
     return post
 }
 
 // TODO:
-let savePictures = function(text) {
+let savePictures = async function(text) {
     // we will need to save pictures to the server 
     // separately when publishing
 }