diff --git a/spacedust/src/lib.rs b/spacedust/src/lib.rs
index c081ab6..e2c92b3 100644
--- a/spacedust/src/lib.rs
+++ b/spacedust/src/lib.rs
@@ -12,20 +12,25 @@ pub struct LinkEvent {
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
-struct ClientEvent {
+struct ClientLinkEvent {
+    operation: String,
     source: String,
-    origin: String,
-    target: String,
+    source_record: String,
+    subject: String,
     // TODO: include the record too? would save clients a level of hydration
 }
 
-impl From<LinkEvent> for ClientEvent {
+impl From<LinkEvent> for ClientLinkEvent {
     fn from(link: LinkEvent) -> Self {
-        let undotted = link.path.get(1..).unwrap_or("");
+        let undotted = link.path.strip_prefix('.').unwrap_or_else(|| {
+            eprintln!("link path did not have expected '.' prefix: {}", link.path);
+            ""
+        });
         Self {
+            operation: "create".to_string(),
             source: format!("{}:{undotted}", link.collection),
-            origin: link.origin,
-            target: link.target,
+            source_record: link.origin,
+            subject: link.target,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/spacedust/src/server.rs b/spacedust/src/server.rs
index 5f13632..1403f6a 100644
--- a/spacedust/src/server.rs
+++ b/spacedust/src/server.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
-use crate::{ClientEvent, LinkEvent};
+use crate::{ClientLinkEvent, LinkEvent};
 use dropshot::{
     ApiDescription, ConfigDropshot, ConfigLogging, ConfigLoggingLevel, Query, RequestContext,
     ServerBuilder, WebsocketConnection, channel,
 };
 use futures::SinkExt;
 use schemars::JsonSchema;
-use serde::Deserialize;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use tokio::sync::broadcast;
 use tokio_tungstenite::tungstenite::Message;
 use tokio_tungstenite::tungstenite::protocol::Role;
@@ -33,6 +33,13 @@ pub async fn serve(b: broadcast::Sender<LinkEvent>) -> Result<(), String> {
     server.await
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all="snake_case")]
+struct ClientEvent {
+    r#type: String,
+    link: ClientLinkEvent,
+}
+
 #[derive(Deserialize, JsonSchema)]
 struct QueryParams {
     _hello: Option<String>,
@@ -61,7 +68,11 @@ async fn subscribe(
     loop {
         match sub.recv().await {
             Ok(link) => {
-                let json = serde_json::to_string::<ClientEvent>(&link.into())?;
+                let ev = ClientEvent {
+                    r#type: "link".to_string(),
+                    link: link.into(),
+                };
+                let json = serde_json::to_string(&ev)?;
                 if let Err(e) = ws.send(Message::Text(json.into())).await {
                     eprintln!("client: failed to send event: {e:?}");
                     ws.close(None).await?; // TODO: do we need this one??