diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index e6cf000..0b3eafa 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@
             impermanence.nixosModules.impermanence
             agenix.nixosModules.default
             nixos-mailserver.nixosModule
+            noshell.nixosModules.default
             phoenix.nixosModules.default
             nix-zulip'.nixosModules.zulip
             {
@@ -76,18 +77,8 @@
                 nix-zulip'.overlays.default
               ];
             }
-            (
-              if machine.hostname != "109-199-104-83"
-              then
-                {config, ...}: {
-                  imports = [
-                    ./machines/${machine.hostname}/configuration.nix
-                  ];
-                  networking.domain = config.networking.hostName; # temporary fix
-                }
-              else {imports = machine.modules;}
-            )
-          ];
+          ]
+          ++ machine.modules;
       };
     configurationWithHomeManager = machine: (configuration machine
       [
@@ -113,7 +104,6 @@
               )
             );
         }
-        noshell.nixosModules.default
       ]);
   in {
     nixosConfigurations =
diff --git a/machines.nix b/machines.nix
index d79d693..be8023e 100644
--- a/machines.nix
+++ b/machines.nix
@@ -2,11 +2,33 @@
   lenovo = {
     hostname = "lenovo";
     system = "x86_64-linux";
-    users = [
-      "andromeda"
-      "mtgmonkey"
-    ];
+    users = ["andromeda"];
     modules = [
+      # impermanence
+      ./modules/nixos/impermanence.nix
+
+      # hardware configuration
+      # includes `system.stateVersion`
+      ./machines/lenovo.nix
+
+      # boot process
+      # systemd-boot
+      ./modules/nixos/boot/lenovo.nix
+
+      # networking
+      ./modules/nixos/laptop.nix
+
+      # boilerplate settings
+      ./modules/nixos/common.nix
+
+      # ly display manager
+      ./modules/nixos/ly.nix
+
+      # sway window manager
+      ./modules/nixos/sway.nix
+
+      # apps
+      ./modules/nixos/steam.nix
     ];
   };
   "109-199-104-83" = {
@@ -14,6 +36,9 @@
     system = "x86_64-linux";
     users = [];
     modules = [
+      # impermanence
+      ./modules/nixos/impermanence.nix
+
       # hardware configuration
       # verbatim as `nixos-generate-config` AND `system.stateVersion`
       ./machines/109-199-104-83.nix
diff --git a/machines/lenovo/configuration.nix b/machines/lenovo.nix
similarity index 55%
rename from machines/lenovo/configuration.nix
rename to machines/lenovo.nix
index 152d136..15f0ab3 100644
--- a/machines/lenovo/configuration.nix
+++ b/machines/lenovo.nix
@@ -1,66 +1,17 @@
 {
   config,
   lib,
+  pkgs,
   modulesPath,
-  machine,
   ...
 }: {
-  imports = [
-    ./impermanence.nix
-    (modulesPath + "/installer/scan/not-detected.nix")
-  ];
-  boot.loader = {
-    efi.canTouchEfiVariables = true;
-    systemd-boot.enable = true;
-  };
-  hardware.bluetooth = {
-    enable = true;
-    powerOnBoot = true;
-  };
-  i18n.defaultLocale = "de_DE.UTF-8";
-  networking = {
-    dhcpcd.enable = true;
-    firewall.enable = true;
-    hostName = machine.hostname;
-    networkmanager.enable = true;
-  };
-  nix.settings.experimental-features = [
-    "nix-command"
-    "flakes"
-  ];
-  nixpkgs.config.allowUnfreePredicate = pkg:
-    builtins.elem (lib.getName pkg) [
-      "steam"
-      "steam-original"
-      "steam-unwrapped"
-      "steam-run"
-    ];
-  programs = {
-    noshell.enable = true;
-    steam.enable = true;
-    sway.enable = true;
-  };
-  services = {
-    blueman.enable = true;
-    displayManager = {
-      enable = true;
-      ly.enable = true;
-    };
-    libinput.enable = true;
-    openssh.enable = true;
-    printing.enable = true;
-  };
-  system.stateVersion = "26.05";
-  time.timeZone = "Europe/Berlin";
+  imports = [(modulesPath + "/installer/scan/not-detected.nix")];
   boot.initrd.availableKernelModules = ["xhci_pci" "nvme" "sdhci_pci"];
   boot.initrd.kernelModules = [];
   boot.kernelModules = ["kvm-intel"];
   boot.extraModulePackages = [];
 
   fileSystems."/" = {
-    #device = "none";
-    #fsType = "tmpfs";
-    #options = ["defaults" "size=60%" "mode=755"];
     device = "/dev/disk/by-uuid/5455cfb4-0efd-4f55-b496-d2cab3f419b7";
     fsType = "btrfs";
     options = ["subvol=root"];
@@ -88,12 +39,12 @@
     done
 
     btrfs subvolume create /btrfs_tmp/root
-    mkdir /btrfs_tmp/root/nix
+    mkdir /btrfs_tmp/root/persist
     mkdir /btrfs_tmp/root/etc
-    mount ${config.fileSystems."/nix".device} /btrfs_tmp/root/nix
-    cp /btrfs_tmp/root/nix/persist/etc/ssh /btrfs_tmp/root/etc/ssh -r
-    umount /btrfs_tmp/root/nix
-    rm -r /btrfs_tmp/root/nix
+    mount ${config.fileSystems."/persist".device} /btrfs_tmp/root/persist
+    cp /btrfs_tmp/root/persist/etc/ssh /btrfs_tmp/root/etc/ssh -r
+    umount /btrfs_tmp/root/persist
+    rm -r /btrfs_tmp/root/persist
     umount /btrfs_tmp
   '';
 
@@ -102,6 +53,12 @@
     fsType = "btrfs";
   };
 
+  fileSystems."/persist" = {
+    device = "/dev/disk/by-uuid/5455cfb4-0efd-4f55-b496-d2cab3f419b7";
+    fsType = "btrfs";
+    options = ["subvol=persist"];
+  };
+
   fileSystems."/boot" = {
     device = "/dev/disk/by-uuid/F425-55BA";
     fsType = "vfat";
@@ -112,4 +69,5 @@
 
   nixpkgs.hostPlatform = lib.mkDefault "x86_64-linux";
   hardware.cpu.intel.updateMicrocode = lib.mkDefault config.hardware.enableRedistributableFirmware;
+  system.stateVersion = "26.05";
 }
diff --git a/modules/nixos/boot/lenovo.nix b/modules/nixos/boot/lenovo.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fdd5e14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/nixos/boot/lenovo.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+  boot.loader = {
+    efi.canTouchEfiVariables = true;
+    systemd-boot.enable = true;
+  };
+}
diff --git a/machines/lenovo/impermanence.nix b/modules/nixos/impermanence.nix
similarity index 50%
rename from machines/lenovo/impermanence.nix
rename to modules/nixos/impermanence.nix
index 2867ed5..7f0062b 100644
--- a/machines/lenovo/impermanence.nix
+++ b/modules/nixos/impermanence.nix
@@ -1,19 +1,15 @@
 {
-  environment.persistence."/nix/persist" = {
+  fileSystems."/persist".neededForBoot = true;
+  environment.persistence."/persist" = {
     enable = true;
     hideMounts = true;
     directories = [
       "/var/log"
-      "/var/lib/bluetooth"
       "/var/lib/nixos"
       "/var/lib/systemd/coredump"
-      "/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections"
-      "/etc/ssh"
-      "/etc/ly/custom-sessions"
     ];
     files = [
       "/etc/machine-id"
-      "/etc/ly/save.txt"
     ];
   };
 }
diff --git a/modules/nixos/laptop.nix b/modules/nixos/laptop.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9002c49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/nixos/laptop.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+{
+  # bluetooth
+  hardware.bluetooth = {
+    enable = true;
+    powerOnBoot = true;
+  };
+  services.blueman.enable = true;
+
+  # locale
+  i18n.defaultLocale = "de_DE.UTF-8";
+  time.timeZone = "Europe/Berlin";
+
+  # networking
+  networking = {
+    firewall.enable = true;
+    networkmanager.enable = true;
+  };
+
+  # misc
+  services = {
+    printing.enable = true;
+
+    # trackpad
+    libinput.enable = true;
+
+    # ssh
+    openssh.enable = true;
+  };
+
+  # impermanence
+  environment.persistence."/persist".directories = [
+    # bluetooth
+    "/var/lib/bluetooth"
+    # wifi connections
+    "/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections"
+    # machine ssh keys
+    "/etc/ssh"
+  ];
+}
diff --git a/modules/nixos/ly.nix b/modules/nixos/ly.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..34cbb49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/nixos/ly.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  services.displayManager = {
+    enable = true;
+    ly.enable = true;
+  };
+  # TODO needs to be manually updated when new users added
+  environment.persistence."/persist".files = ["/etc/ly/save.txt"];
+}
diff --git a/modules/nixos/steam.nix b/modules/nixos/steam.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5056ea9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/nixos/steam.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{lib, ...}: {
+  nixpkgs.config.allowUnfreePredicate = pkg:
+    builtins.elem (lib.getName pkg) [
+      "steam"
+      "steam-original"
+      "steam-unwrapped"
+      "steam-run"
+    ];
+  programs.steam.enable = true;
+}
diff --git a/modules/nixos/sway.nix b/modules/nixos/sway.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..30be2e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/nixos/sway.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  programs.sway.enable = true;
+}
diff --git a/users.nix b/users.nix
index 1d78a87..8654bc1 100644
--- a/users.nix
+++ b/users.nix
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ in {
         ];
       };
     };
-  environment.persistence."/nix/persist".users = lib.mkIf config.environment.persistence."/nix/persist".enable (
+  environment.persistence."/persist".users = lib.mkIf config.environment.persistence."/persist".enable (
     builtins.mapAttrs
     (name: value: lib.mkIf (builtins.elem name machine.users) value)
     {
@@ -56,16 +56,6 @@ in {
           ".brush_history"
         ];
       };
-      "mtgmonkey" = {
-        directories = [
-          ".local/share/zoxide"
-          ".ssh"
-        ];
-        files = [
-          ".bash_history"
-          ".brush_history"
-        ];
-      };
     }
   );
 }
diff --git a/users/andromeda/home.nix b/users/andromeda/home.nix
index ce2c0f5..3fd9b05 100644
--- a/users/andromeda/home.nix
+++ b/users/andromeda/home.nix
@@ -16,82 +16,6 @@
         "${config.home.homeDirectory}/${background-path}"
       ];
     };
-  sway_config' = builtins.toFile "sway_config" ''
-    set $mod Mod4
-    set $left h
-    set $down j
-    set $up k
-    set $right l
-    set $term alacritty
-    set $menu wmenu-run
-    set $screenshot grim -g "$(slurp)"
-    floating_modifier $mod normal
-
-    workspace_layout stacking
-    output * bg ${config.home.homeDirectory}/${background-path} fill
-
-    # launch programs
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+Return exec $term
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+d exec $menu
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+a exec anki
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+q exec librewolf
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+s exec $screenshot
-
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+c kill
-
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+r reload
-
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+Alt+q exit
-
-    bindsym $mod+$left focus left
-    bindsym $mod+$down focus down
-    bindsym $mod+$up focus up
-    bindsym $mod+$right focus right
-
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+$left move left
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+$down move down
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+$up move up
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+$right move right
-
-    bindsym $mod+1 workspace number 1
-    bindsym $mod+2 workspace number 2
-    bindsym $mod+3 workspace number 3
-    bindsym $mod+4 workspace number 4
-    bindsym $mod+5 workspace number 5
-    bindsym $mod+6 workspace number 6
-    bindsym $mod+7 workspace number 7
-    bindsym $mod+8 workspace number 8
-    bindsym $mod+9 workspace number 9
-    bindsym $mod+0 workspace number 0
-
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+1 move container to workspace number 1
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+2 move container to workspace number 2
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+3 move container to workspace number 3
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+4 move container to workspace number 4
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+5 move container to workspace number 5
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+6 move container to workspace number 6
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+7 move container to workspace number 7
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+8 move container to workspace number 8
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+9 move container to workspace number 9
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+0 move container to workspace number 0
-
-    bindsym $mod+f fullscreen
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+space floating toggle
-    bindsym $mod+Shift+minus move scratchpad
-    bindsym $mod+minus scratchpad show
-
-    bindsym --locked XF86AudioMute exec pactl set-sink-mute \@DEFAULT_SINK@ toggle
-    bindsym --locked XF86AudioLowerVolume exec pactl set-sink-volume \@DEFAULT_SINK@ -5%
-    bindsym --locked XF86AudioRaiseVolume exec pactl set-sink-volume \@DEFAULT_SINK@ +5%
-    bindsym --locked XF86AudioMicMute exec pact set-source-mute \@DEFAULT_SOURCE@ toggle
-    bindsym --locked XF86MonBrightnessDown exec brightnessctl set 5%-
-    bindsym --locked XF86MonbrightnessUp exec brightnessctl set 5%+
-
-    default_border none
-    font pango:monospace 0.001
-    titlebar_border_thickness 0
-    titlebar_padding 0
-  '';
 in {
   imports = [./stylix.nix];
   xdg.configFile."shell".source = lib.getExe pkgs.brush;
@@ -103,6 +27,7 @@ in {
     stateVersion = "26.05";
     packages = [
       pkgs.acpi
+      pkgs.anki
       pkgs.agenix
       pkgs.alacritty
       pkgs.anki
diff --git a/users/mtgmonkey/home.nix b/users/mtgmonkey/home.nix
deleted file mode 100644
index 173a547..0000000
--- a/users/mtgmonkey/home.nix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,172 +0,0 @@
-{
-  config,
-  lib,
-  machine,
-  pkgs,
-  ...
-}: {
-  imports = [./stylix.nix];
-  xdg.configFile."shell".source = lib.getExe pkgs.brush;
-  home = {
-    username = "mtgmonkey";
-    homeDirectory = "/home/${config.home.username}";
-    stateVersion = "26.05";
-    packages = [
-      pkgs.acpi
-      pkgs.brightnessctl
-      pkgs.brush
-      pkgs.dust
-      pkgs.fzf
-      pkgs.glow
-      pkgs.jmtpfs
-      pkgs.nix-output-monitor
-      pkgs.ranger
-      pkgs.rip2
-      pkgs.ripgrep
-      pkgs.tree
-      pkgs.zoxide
-    ];
-  };
-  programs = {
-    bash = {
-      enable = true;
-      shellAliases = {
-        neofetch = "fastfetch";
-        ls = lib.mkForce "lsd";
-        ll = lib.mkForce "lsd -l";
-        l = "lsd -la";
-        cd = "z";
-        gg = "git log --oneline --abbrev-commit --all --graph --decorate --color";
-        md = "glow";
-      };
-      bashrcExtra = ''
-        PS1="\u@\h:\w$"
-        eval "$(zoxide init bash)"
-      '';
-    };
-    btop = {
-      enable = true;
-      settings = {
-        theme_background = false;
-        vim_keys = true;
-        rounded_corners = false;
-        graph_symbol = "braille";
-        update_ms = 150;
-        proc_sorting = "cpu lazy";
-        proc_gradient = false;
-        proc_left = true;
-        cpu_single_graph = true;
-        cpu_bottom = true;
-        clock_format = "/user@/host:/uptime@%H:%M";
-        background_update = true;
-        mem_graphs = false;
-        mem_below_net = true;
-        show_swap = false;
-        only_physical = true;
-        show_io_stat = true;
-        io_mode = false;
-        io_graph_combined = false;
-      };
-    };
-    fastfetch.enable = true;
-    git = {
-      enable = true;
-      settings = {
-        user = {
-          name = config.home.username;
-          email = "${config.home.username}@${machine.hostname}";
-        };
-        init.defaultBranch = "master";
-      };
-    };
-    gh.enable = true;
-    home-manager.enable = true;
-    lsd.enable = true;
-    nvf = {
-      enable = true;
-      settings.vim = {
-        autocomplete.nvim-cmp.enable = false;
-        formatter.conform-nvim = {
-          enable = true;
-          setupOpts.format_on_save = {
-            lsp_format = "fallback";
-            timeout_ms = 5000;
-          };
-        };
-        lsp.otter-nvim.enable = true;
-        git.enable = true;
-        keymaps = [
-          {
-            key = "<Down>";
-            mode = ["i" "n" "v" "c"];
-            action = "<NOP>";
-          }
-          {
-            key = "<Up>";
-            mode = ["i" "n" "v" "c"];
-            action = "<NOP>";
-          }
-          {
-            key = "<Left>";
-            mode = ["i" "n" "v" "c"];
-            action = "<NOP>";
-          }
-          {
-            key = "<Right>";
-            mode = ["i" "n" "v" "c"];
-            action = "<NOP>";
-          }
-          {
-            key = "jj";
-            mode = ["i"];
-            action = "<Esc>";
-          }
-          {
-            key = "kk";
-            mode = ["i"];
-            action = "<Esc>";
-          }
-          {
-            key = "jk";
-            mode = ["i"];
-            action = "<Esc>";
-          }
-          {
-            key = "kj";
-            mode = ["i"];
-            action = "<Esc>";
-          }
-          {
-            key = "<Esc>";
-            mode = ["i"];
-            action = "<Nop>";
-          }
-        ];
-        languages = {
-          nix = {
-            enable = true;
-            format.enable = true;
-            lsp.enable = true;
-          };
-          haskell = {
-            enable = true;
-            lsp.enable = true;
-          };
-        };
-        lineNumberMode = "relative";
-        options = {
-          tabstop = 2;
-          shiftwidth = 2;
-          expandtab = true;
-          smarttab = true;
-          foldmethod = "indent";
-          number = true;
-          colorcolumn = "80";
-        };
-        statusline.lualine.enable = true;
-        syntaxHighlighting = true;
-      };
-    };
-    ssh.enable = true;
-  };
-}
diff --git a/users/mtgmonkey/stylix.nix b/users/mtgmonkey/stylix.nix
deleted file mode 100644
index f2538b0..0000000
--- a/users/mtgmonkey/stylix.nix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
-{
-  pkgs,
-  config,
-  ...
-}: {
-  stylix = {
-    enable = true;
-    # rebecca has lavener bkg
-    # tube has dark gray bkg
-    # silk-light is light theme
-    base16Scheme = "${pkgs.base16-schemes}/share/themes/gruvbox-material-dark-hard.yaml";
-    polarity = "dark";
-    fonts = {
-      monospace = {
-        package = pkgs.miracode;
-        name = "Miracode";
-      };
-      serif = config.stylix.fonts.sansSerif;
-      emoji = {
-        package = pkgs.noto-fonts-color-emoji;
-        name = "Noto Color Emoji";
-      };
-      sizes = {
-        applications = 12;
-        terminal = 10;
-      };
-    };
-  };
-}