diff --git a/bower.json b/bower.json
index bdb976482..2f1277bc5 100644
--- a/bower.json
+++ b/bower.json
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
     "ckeditor": "~4.5.6",
     "requirejs": "~2.1.15",
     "modalBox": "~1.0.2",
-    "reconnectingWebsocket": ""
+    "reconnectingWebsocket": "",
+    "diff-dom": "~2.0.0"
   }
 }
diff --git a/storage/lvl.js b/storage/lvl.js
index 179d1fc73..84ff57862 100644
--- a/storage/lvl.js
+++ b/storage/lvl.js
@@ -3,7 +3,14 @@ var nThen = require('nthen');
 
 var getIndex = function(db, cName, cb) {
     db.get(cName+'=>index', function(e, out){
-        if (e) { throw e; }
+        if (e) {
+            if (e.notFound) {
+                cb(-1);
+            } else {
+                throw e;
+            }
+            return;
+        }
         cb(parseInt(out));
     });
 };
@@ -11,11 +18,11 @@ var getIndex = function(db, cName, cb) {
 var insert = function (db, channelName, content, cb) {
     var index;
     nThen(function (waitFor) {
-        getIndex(db, channelName, waitFor(function (i) { index = i; }));
-    }).nThen(function (waitFor) {
-        db.put(channelName+'=>index', ''+index, waitFor(function (e) { if (e) { throw e; } }));
+        getIndex(db, channelName, waitFor(function (i) { index = i+1; }));
     }).nThen(function (waitFor) {
         db.put(channelName+'=>'+index, content, waitFor(function (e) { if (e) { throw e; } }));
+    }).nThen(function (waitFor) {
+        db.put(channelName+'=>index', ''+index, waitFor(function (e) { if (e) { throw e; } }));
     }).nThen(cb);
 };
 
diff --git a/www/common/realtime-input.js b/www/common/realtime-input.js
index 3a0788401..146206dd1 100644
--- a/www/common/realtime-input.js
+++ b/www/common/realtime-input.js
@@ -230,8 +230,8 @@ define([
                             //verbose("Received own message");
                         } else {
                             //verbose("Received remote message");
-                            // obviously this is only going to get called if 
-                            onRemote && onRemote(realtime.getAuthDoc());
+                            // obviously this is only going to get called if
+                            onRemote && onRemote(realtime.getUserDoc());
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ define([
         });
         return {
             onEvent: function () {
-                onEvent(); 
+                onEvent();
             },
             bumpSharejs: function () { bump(); }
         };
diff --git a/www/vdom/main.js b/www/vdom/main.js
index b734039b1..1f18f4f6f 100644
--- a/www/vdom/main.js
+++ b/www/vdom/main.js
@@ -6,12 +6,15 @@ define([
     '/common/convert.js',
     '/common/toolbar.js',
     '/common/cursor.js',
+    '/bower_components/diff-dom/diffDOM.js',
+
     '/bower_components/jquery/dist/jquery.min.js',
     '/customize/pad.js'
 ], function (Config, Messages, Crypto, realtimeInput, Convert, Toolbar, Cursor) {
     var $ = window.jQuery;
     var ifrw = $('#pad-iframe')[0].contentWindow;
     window.Ckeditor = ifrw.CKEDITOR;
+    var DiffDom = window.diffDOM;
 
     var userName = Crypto.rand64(8),
         toolbar;
@@ -59,28 +62,22 @@ define([
 
             var applyHjson = function (shjson) {
                 console.log("Applying HJSON");
-                // before integrating external changes, check in your own
-                vdom1 = Convert.dom.to.vdom(inner);
-                // the authoritative document is hyperjson, parse it
-                var authDoc = JSON.parse(shjson);
-                // use the authdoc to construct a second vdom
-                var vdom2 = Convert.hjson.to.vdom(authDoc);
-                // diff it against your version
-                var patches = Vdom.diff(vdom1, vdom2);
-                // apply the resulting patches               
-                Vdom.patch(inner, patches);
+                var userDocStateDom = Vdom.create(Convert.hjson.to.vdom(JSON.parse(shjson)));
+                userDocStateDom.setAttribute("contentEditable", "true"); // lol wtf
+                var patch = (new DiffDom()).diff(inner, userDocStateDom);
+                (new DiffDom()).apply(inner, patch);
             };
 
             var onRemote = function (shjson) {
                 // remember where the cursor is
-                cursor.update()
+                //cursor.update()
 
                 applyHjson(shjson);
 
-                cursor.find();
+                //cursor.find();
 
                 // put the cursor back where you left it
-                cursor.replace();
+                //cursor.replace();
             };
 
             var onInit = function (info) {
@@ -104,7 +101,7 @@ define([
                                         onInit: onInit,
 
                                         transformFunction : function (text, toTransform, transformBy) {
-                                            /* FIXME 
+                                            /* FIXME
                                                 operational transform on json shouldn't be in all editors
                                                 just those transmitting/expecting JSON
                                             */
@@ -141,14 +138,14 @@ define([
 
                 $textarea.val(JSON.stringify(hjson));
                 rti.bumpSharejs();
-                cursor.update()
+                //cursor.update()
             });
 
-            ['mouseup', 'keyup'].forEach(function (type) {
+            /*['mouseup', 'keyup'].forEach(function (type) {
                 editor.document.on(type, function (e) {
                     cursor.update();
                 });
-            });
+            });*/
 
         });
     };