diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 4afb8ba..e984930 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -38,4 +38,5 @@ Thumbs.db
 dist/**/*
 
 # ignore yarn.lock
-yarn.lock
\ No newline at end of file
+yarn.lock
+/release
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/datatypes/Condition.ts b/src/datatypes/Condition.ts
index 8f6298f..6007a84 100644
--- a/src/datatypes/Condition.ts
+++ b/src/datatypes/Condition.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import {schema} from "../schemata/SchemaData.js";
+import {EnumSerializer, OptionalSerializer} from "../schemata/Serialization.js";
 
 export enum Condition {
     CRITICAL = "Critical",
@@ -11,12 +11,5 @@ export enum Condition {
 }
 export const CONDITIONS = [Condition.CRITICAL, Condition.POOR, Condition.SOSO, Condition.GOOD, Condition.EXCELLENT, Condition.UNSURE, Condition.NUMB]
 
-export type ConditionJTD = typeof ConditionJTD
-export const ConditionJTD = schema({
-    schema: {
-        enum: CONDITIONS
-    },
-    key: "condition",
-    references: [],
-})
-
+export const ConditionSerializer = new EnumSerializer<Condition>(CONDITIONS)
+export const OptionalConditionSerializer = new OptionalSerializer(ConditionSerializer)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/datatypes/Entry.ts b/src/datatypes/Entry.ts
index 9f76265..4068b9f 100644
--- a/src/datatypes/Entry.ts
+++ b/src/datatypes/Entry.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
-import {Condition, ConditionJTD} from "./Condition.js";
-import {GuidedEmpathy, GuidedEmpathyJTD} from "./GuidedEmpathy.js";
-import {Suicidality, SuicidalityJTD} from "./Suicidality.js";
-import {schema} from "../schemata/SchemaData.js";
-import {SleepRecord, SleepRecordListJTD} from "./SleepRecord.js";
+import {Condition, OptionalConditionSerializer} from "./Condition.js";
+import {GuidedEmpathy} from "./GuidedEmpathy.js";
+import {OptionalSuicidalitySerializer, Suicidality} from "./Suicidality.js";
+import {SleepRecord} from "./SleepRecord.js";
+import {DateTime} from "luxon";
+import {DateTimeSerializer, ObjectSerializer, OptionalStringSerializer} from "../schemata/Serialization.js";
 
-export interface Entry {
-    readonly startedAt: Date
-    readonly finishedAt: Date
+export interface BaseEntry {
     readonly condition?: Condition
     readonly summary?: string
     readonly journalEntry?: string
@@ -20,24 +19,24 @@ export interface Entry {
     readonly suicidality?: Suicidality
     // readonly recoveries?: readonly Recovery[]
 }
-export type EntryJTD = typeof EntryJTD
-export const EntryJTD = schema({
-    schema: {
-        properties: {
-            startedAt: { type: "timestamp" },
-            finishedAt: { type: "timestamp" },
-        },
-        optionalProperties: {
-            condition: ConditionJTD.reference,
-            summary: { type: "string" },
-            journalEntry: { type: "string" },
-            guidedEmpathy: { elements: GuidedEmpathyJTD.reference },
-            suicidality: SuicidalityJTD.reference,
-            sleepRecords: SleepRecordListJTD.reference,
-        }
-    },
-    typeHint: null as Entry|null,
-    key: "entry",
-    references: [ConditionJTD, GuidedEmpathyJTD, SuicidalityJTD, SleepRecordListJTD, ...SleepRecordListJTD.requiredReferences, ...GuidedEmpathyJTD.requiredReferences]
-})
 
+export interface Entry extends BaseEntry {
+    readonly startedAt: DateTime
+    readonly finishedAt: DateTime
+}
+
+export interface SerializedEntry extends BaseEntry {
+    readonly startedAt: string
+    readonly finishedAt: string
+}
+
+export const EntrySerializer = new ObjectSerializer<Entry, SerializedEntry, keyof Entry>({
+    startedAt: DateTimeSerializer,
+    finishedAt: DateTimeSerializer,
+    condition: OptionalConditionSerializer,
+    summary: OptionalStringSerializer,
+    journalEntry: OptionalStringSerializer,
+    guidedEmpathy: OptionalArrayGuidedEmpathySerializer,
+    sleepRecords: OptionalArraySleepRecordSerializer,
+    suicidality: OptionalSuicidalitySerializer,
+}, ["startedAt", "finishedAt", "condition", "summary", "journalEntry", "guidedEmpathy", "sleepRecords", "suicidality"])
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/datatypes/GuidedEmpathy.ts b/src/datatypes/GuidedEmpathy.ts
index a8cc105..371f0e0 100644
--- a/src/datatypes/GuidedEmpathy.ts
+++ b/src/datatypes/GuidedEmpathy.ts
@@ -8,8 +8,13 @@ import {
     personaVerb
 } from "./Persona.js";
 import chalk from "chalk";
-import {schema} from "../schemata/SchemaData.js";
 import capitalize from "capitalize";
+import {
+    ArraySerializer,
+    ObjectSerializer,
+    OptionalArrayStringSerializer,
+    OptionalSerializer
+} from "../schemata/Serialization.js";
 
 export interface GuidedEmpathy {
     readonly feelings?: readonly string[]
@@ -17,20 +22,14 @@ export interface GuidedEmpathy {
     readonly events?: readonly string[]
     readonly requests?: readonly string[]
 }
-export type GuidedEmpathyJTD = typeof GuidedEmpathyJTD
-export const GuidedEmpathyJTD = schema({
-    schema: {
-        optionalProperties: {
-            feelings: { elements: { type: "string" } },
-            needs: { elements: { type: "string" } },
-            events: { elements: { type: "string" } },
-            requests: { elements: { type: "string" } },
-        }
-    },
-    typeHint: null as GuidedEmpathy|null,
-    key: "guidedEmpathy",
-    references: [],
-})
+export const GuidedEmpathySerializer = new ObjectSerializer<GuidedEmpathy, GuidedEmpathy, keyof GuidedEmpathy>({
+    feelings: OptionalArrayStringSerializer,
+    needs: OptionalArrayStringSerializer,
+    events: OptionalArrayStringSerializer,
+    requests: OptionalArrayStringSerializer,
+}, ["feelings", "needs", "events", "requests"])
+export const ArrayGuidedEmpathySerializer = new ArraySerializer(GuidedEmpathySerializer)
+export const OptionalArrayGuidedEmpathySerializer = new OptionalSerializer(ArrayGuidedEmpathySerializer)
 
 export function isPopulatedGuidedEmpathy(empathy: GuidedEmpathy | undefined): boolean {
     return !!empathy && (isPopulatedArray(empathy.feelings)
diff --git a/src/datatypes/Suicidality.ts b/src/datatypes/Suicidality.ts
index cae7505..a790bf4 100644
--- a/src/datatypes/Suicidality.ts
+++ b/src/datatypes/Suicidality.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import {schema} from "../schemata/SchemaData.js";
+import {EnumSerializer, OptionalSerializer} from "../schemata/Serialization.js";
+import {Condition, CONDITIONS} from "./Condition.js";
 
 export enum Suicidality {
     NONE = "None",
@@ -12,12 +14,5 @@ export enum Suicidality {
 }
 export const SUICIDALITIES: Suicidality[] = [Suicidality.NONE, Suicidality.PASSIVE, Suicidality.INTRUSIVE, Suicidality.ACTIVE, Suicidality.RESIGNED, Suicidality.PLANNING, Suicidality.PLANNED, Suicidality.DANGER]
 
-export type SuicidalityJTD = typeof SuicidalityJTD
-export const SuicidalityJTD = schema({
-    schema: {
-        enum: SUICIDALITIES
-    },
-    key: "suicidality",
-    references: [],
-})
-
+export const SuicidalitySerializer = new EnumSerializer<Suicidality>(SUICIDALITIES)
+export const OptionalSuicidalitySerializer = new OptionalSerializer(SuicidalitySerializer)
diff --git a/src/schemata/Serialization.ts b/src/schemata/Serialization.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..416206b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/schemata/Serialization.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,236 @@
+import {DateTime} from "luxon";
+
+export interface Serializer<DeserializedT, SerializedT> {
+    checkType(data: unknown): data is SerializedT
+    hydrate(data: SerializedT): DeserializedT
+    dehydrate(data: DeserializedT): SerializedT
+}
+
+export interface LocatedError {
+    readonly location: string
+    readonly error: Error|LocatedError
+}
+
+export function isLocatedError(object: unknown): object is LocatedError {
+    return typeof object === "object" && object !== null && object.hasOwnProperty("location") && object.hasOwnProperty("error")
+}
+
+export function wrapErrorWithLocation(location: string, object: unknown): LocatedError {
+    if (typeof object === "string") {
+        return {
+            location,
+            error: Error(object)
+        }
+    } else if (object instanceof Error || isLocatedError(object)) {
+        return {
+            location,
+            error: object
+        }
+    } else {
+        return {
+            location,
+            error: Error(`Unknown error: ${object}`)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+export class SelfSerializer<T> implements Serializer<T, T> {
+    readonly checkType: (data: unknown) => data is T;
+
+    constructor(checkType: (data: unknown) => data is T) {
+        this.checkType = checkType
+    }
+
+    dehydrate(data: T): T {
+        return data;
+    }
+
+    hydrate(data: T): T {
+        return data;
+    }
+}
+
+export const StringSerializer = new SelfSerializer((data): data is string => typeof data === "string")
+export const DateTimeSerializer: Serializer<DateTime, string> = {
+    checkType(data: unknown): data is string {
+        return typeof data === "string"
+    },
+    dehydrate(data: DateTime): string {
+        return data.toISO();
+    },
+    hydrate(data: string): DateTime {
+        return DateTime.fromISO(data);
+    }
+}
+
+export class EnumSerializer<T extends string|number> implements Serializer<T, T> {
+    readonly values: readonly T[]
+
+    constructor(values: readonly T[]) {
+        this.values = values
+    }
+
+    checkType(data: unknown): data is T {
+        if (!(this.values as unknown[]).includes(data)) {
+            throw Error("not a valid value for the enum")
+        }
+        return true
+    }
+
+    dehydrate(data: T): T {
+        return data;
+    }
+
+    hydrate(data: T): T {
+        return data;
+    }
+}
+
+export class NullableSerializer<DeserializedT, SerializedT> implements Serializer<DeserializedT | null, SerializedT | null> {
+    readonly inner: Serializer<DeserializedT, SerializedT>
+    constructor(inner: Serializer<DeserializedT, SerializedT>) {
+        this.inner = inner
+    }
+
+    checkType(data: unknown): data is SerializedT | null {
+        return data === null || this.inner.checkType(data)
+    }
+
+    dehydrate(data: DeserializedT | null): SerializedT | null {
+        if (data === null) {
+            return null
+        }
+        return this.inner.dehydrate(data);
+    }
+
+    hydrate(data: SerializedT | null): DeserializedT | null {
+        if (data === null) {
+            return null
+        }
+        return this.inner.hydrate(data);
+    }
+}
+
+export class OptionalSerializer<DeserializedT, SerializedT> implements Serializer<DeserializedT | undefined, SerializedT | undefined> {
+    readonly inner: Serializer<DeserializedT, SerializedT>
+    constructor(inner: Serializer<DeserializedT, SerializedT>) {
+        this.inner = inner
+    }
+
+    checkType(data: unknown): data is SerializedT | undefined {
+        return typeof data === "undefined" || this.inner.checkType(data)
+    }
+
+    dehydrate(data: DeserializedT | undefined): SerializedT | undefined {
+        if (typeof data === "undefined") {
+            return data
+        }
+        return this.inner.dehydrate(data);
+    }
+
+    hydrate(data: SerializedT | undefined): DeserializedT | undefined {
+        if (typeof data === "undefined") {
+            return data
+        }
+        return this.inner.hydrate(data);
+    }
+}
+export const OptionalStringSerializer = new OptionalSerializer(StringSerializer)
+export const OptionalDateTimeSerializer = new OptionalSerializer(DateTimeSerializer)
+
+export type KeySerializers<DeserializedT extends {[key in KeysT]?: unknown}, SerializedT extends {[key in KeysT]?: unknown}, KeysT extends string|number> = {
+    [key in KeysT]: Serializer<DeserializedT[key], SerializedT[key]>
+}
+
+export class ObjectSerializer<DeserializedT extends {[key in KeysT]?: unknown}, SerializedT extends {[key in KeysT]?: unknown}, KeysT extends string|number> implements Serializer<DeserializedT, SerializedT> {
+    readonly inner: KeySerializers<DeserializedT, SerializedT, KeysT>
+    readonly keys: KeysT[]
+    constructor(inner: KeySerializers<DeserializedT, SerializedT, KeysT>, keys: KeysT[]) {
+        this.inner = inner
+        this.keys = keys
+    }
+
+    checkType(data: unknown): data is SerializedT {
+        if (typeof data !== "object" || data === null) {
+            throw Error("expected an object")
+        }
+        const map: {[key in KeysT]?: unknown} = data
+        for (const key of this.keys) {
+            try {
+                if (!this.inner[key].checkType(map[key])) {
+                    // noinspection ExceptionCaughtLocallyJS
+                    throw Error("checkType returned false")
+                }
+            } catch (e) {
+                throw wrapErrorWithLocation(`at key ${key}`, e)
+            }
+        }
+        return true
+    }
+
+    dehydrate(data: DeserializedT): SerializedT {
+        const result: Partial<SerializedT> = {}
+        for (const key of this.keys) {
+            try {
+                result[key] = this.inner[key].dehydrate(data[key])
+            } catch (e) {
+                throw wrapErrorWithLocation(`at key ${key}`, e)
+            }
+        }
+        return result as SerializedT
+    }
+
+    hydrate(data: SerializedT): DeserializedT {
+        const result: Partial<DeserializedT> = {}
+        for (const key of this.keys) {
+            try {
+                result[key] = this.inner[key].hydrate(data[key])
+            } catch (e) {
+                throw wrapErrorWithLocation(`at key ${key}`, e)
+            }
+        }
+        return result as DeserializedT
+    }
+}
+
+export class ArraySerializer<DeserializedT, SerializedT> implements Serializer<DeserializedT[], SerializedT[]> {
+    readonly inner: Serializer<DeserializedT, SerializedT>
+    constructor(inner: Serializer<DeserializedT, SerializedT>) {
+        this.inner = inner
+    }
+
+    checkType(data: unknown): data is SerializedT[] {
+        return Array.isArray(data) && data.every((value, index) => {
+            try {
+                if (!this.inner.checkType(value)) {
+                    // noinspection ExceptionCaughtLocallyJS
+                    throw Error("checkType returned false")
+                }
+            } catch (e) {
+                throw wrapErrorWithLocation(`at index ${index}`, e)
+            }
+        })
+    }
+
+    dehydrate(data: DeserializedT[]): SerializedT[] {
+        return data.map((value, index) => {
+            try {
+                return this.inner.dehydrate(value)
+            } catch (e) {
+                throw wrapErrorWithLocation(`at index ${index}`, e)
+            }
+        });
+    }
+
+    hydrate(data: SerializedT[]): DeserializedT[] {
+        return data.map((value, index) => {
+            try {
+                return this.inner.hydrate(value)
+            } catch (e) {
+                throw wrapErrorWithLocation(`at index ${index}`, e)
+            }
+        });
+    }
+}
+export const ArrayStringSerializer = new ArraySerializer(StringSerializer)
+export const OptionalArrayStringSerializer = new OptionalSerializer(ArrayStringSerializer)
\ No newline at end of file