diff --git a/appview/db/db.go b/appview/db/db.go
index ec352114..97a8427d 100644
--- a/appview/db/db.go
+++ b/appview/db/db.go
@@ -669,7 +669,6 @@ func Make(dbPath string) (*DB, error) {
 	})
 	conn.ExecContext(ctx, "pragma foreign_keys = on;")
 
-	// run migrations
 	runMigration(conn, "add-spindle-to-repos", func(tx *sql.Tx) error {
 		tx.Exec(`
 			alter table repos add column spindle text;
diff --git a/appview/db/label.go b/appview/db/label.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9ceb5cc4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/appview/db/label.go
@@ -0,0 +1,721 @@
+package db
+
+import (
+	"crypto/sha1"
+	"database/sql"
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"log"
+	"maps"
+	"slices"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/bluesky-social/indigo/atproto/syntax"
+	"tangled.sh/tangled.sh/core/api/tangled"
+)
+
+type ConcreteType string
+
+const (
+	ConcreteTypeNull   ConcreteType = "null"
+	ConcreteTypeString ConcreteType = "string"
+	ConcreteTypeInt    ConcreteType = "integer"
+	ConcreteTypeBool   ConcreteType = "boolean"
+)
+
+type ValueTypeFormat string
+
+const (
+	ValueTypeFormatAny ValueTypeFormat = "any"
+	ValueTypeFormatDid ValueTypeFormat = "did"
+)
+
+// ValueType represents an atproto lexicon type definition with constraints
+type ValueType struct {
+	Type   ConcreteType    `json:"type"`
+	Format ValueTypeFormat `json:"format,omitempty"`
+	Enum   []string        `json:"enum,omitempty"`
+}
+
+func (vt *ValueType) AsRecord() tangled.LabelDefinition_ValueType {
+	return tangled.LabelDefinition_ValueType{
+		Type:   string(vt.Type),
+		Format: string(vt.Format),
+		Enum:   vt.Enum,
+	}
+}
+
+func ValueTypeFromRecord(record tangled.LabelDefinition_ValueType) ValueType {
+	return ValueType{
+		Type:   ConcreteType(record.Type),
+		Format: ValueTypeFormat(record.Format),
+		Enum:   record.Enum,
+	}
+}
+
+func (vt ValueType) IsConcreteType() bool {
+	return vt.Type == ConcreteTypeNull ||
+		vt.Type == ConcreteTypeString ||
+		vt.Type == ConcreteTypeInt ||
+		vt.Type == ConcreteTypeBool
+}
+
+func (vt ValueType) IsNull() bool {
+	return vt.Type == ConcreteTypeNull
+}
+
+func (vt ValueType) IsString() bool {
+	return vt.Type == ConcreteTypeString
+}
+
+func (vt ValueType) IsInt() bool {
+	return vt.Type == ConcreteTypeInt
+}
+
+func (vt ValueType) IsBool() bool {
+	return vt.Type == ConcreteTypeBool
+}
+
+func (vt ValueType) IsEnumType() bool {
+	return len(vt.Enum) > 0
+}
+
+type LabelDefinition struct {
+	Id   int64
+	Did  string
+	Rkey string
+
+	Name      string
+	ValueType ValueType
+	Scope     syntax.NSID
+	Color     *string
+	Multiple  bool
+	Created   time.Time
+}
+
+func (l *LabelDefinition) AtUri() syntax.ATURI {
+	return syntax.ATURI(fmt.Sprintf("at://%s/%s/%s", l.Did, tangled.LabelDefinitionNSID, l.Rkey))
+}
+
+func (l *LabelDefinition) AsRecord() tangled.LabelDefinition {
+	vt := l.ValueType.AsRecord()
+	return tangled.LabelDefinition{
+		Name:      l.Name,
+		Color:     l.Color,
+		CreatedAt: l.Created.Format(time.RFC3339),
+		Multiple:  &l.Multiple,
+		Scope:     l.Scope.String(),
+		ValueType: &vt,
+	}
+}
+
+// random color for a given seed
+func randomColor(seed string) string {
+	hash := sha1.Sum([]byte(seed))
+	hexStr := hex.EncodeToString(hash[:])
+	r := hexStr[0:2]
+	g := hexStr[2:4]
+	b := hexStr[4:6]
+
+	return fmt.Sprintf("#%s%s%s", r, g, b)
+}
+
+func (ld LabelDefinition) GetColor() string {
+	if ld.Color == nil {
+		seed := fmt.Sprintf("%d:%s:%s", ld.Id, ld.Did, ld.Rkey)
+		color := randomColor(seed)
+		return color
+	}
+
+	return *ld.Color
+}
+
+func LabelDefinitionFromRecord(did, rkey string, record tangled.LabelDefinition) LabelDefinition {
+	created, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, record.CreatedAt)
+	if err != nil {
+		created = time.Now()
+	}
+
+	multiple := false
+	if record.Multiple != nil {
+		multiple = *record.Multiple
+	}
+
+	var vt ValueType
+	if record.ValueType != nil {
+		vt = ValueTypeFromRecord(*record.ValueType)
+	}
+
+	return LabelDefinition{
+		Did:  did,
+		Rkey: rkey,
+
+		Name:      record.Name,
+		ValueType: vt,
+		Scope:     syntax.NSID(record.Scope),
+		Color:     record.Color,
+		Multiple:  multiple,
+		Created:   created,
+	}
+}
+
+func DeleteLabelDefinition(e Execer, filters ...filter) error {
+	var conditions []string
+	var args []any
+	for _, filter := range filters {
+		conditions = append(conditions, filter.Condition())
+		args = append(args, filter.Arg()...)
+	}
+	whereClause := ""
+	if conditions != nil {
+		whereClause = " where " + strings.Join(conditions, " and ")
+	}
+	query := fmt.Sprintf(`delete from label_definitions %s`, whereClause)
+	_, err := e.Exec(query, args...)
+	return err
+}
+
+func AddLabelDefinition(e Execer, l *LabelDefinition) (int64, error) {
+	result, err := e.Exec(
+		`insert into label_definitions (
+			did,
+			rkey,
+			name,
+			value_type,
+			value_format,
+			value_enum,
+			scope,
+			color,
+			multiple,
+			created
+		)
+		values (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+		on conflict(did, rkey) do update set
+			name = excluded.name,
+			scope = excluded.scope,
+			color = excluded.color,
+			multiple = excluded.multiple`,
+		l.Did,
+		l.Rkey,
+		l.Name,
+		l.ValueType.Type,
+		l.ValueType.Format,
+		strings.Join(l.ValueType.Enum, ","),
+		l.Scope.String(),
+		l.Color,
+		l.Multiple,
+		l.Created.Format(time.RFC3339),
+		time.Now().Format(time.RFC3339),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+
+	id, err := result.LastInsertId()
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+
+	l.Id = id
+
+	return id, nil
+}
+
+func GetLabelDefinitions(e Execer, filters ...filter) ([]LabelDefinition, error) {
+	var labelDefinitions []LabelDefinition
+	var conditions []string
+	var args []any
+
+	for _, filter := range filters {
+		conditions = append(conditions, filter.Condition())
+		args = append(args, filter.Arg()...)
+	}
+
+	whereClause := ""
+	if conditions != nil {
+		whereClause = " where " + strings.Join(conditions, " and ")
+	}
+
+	query := fmt.Sprintf(
+		`
+		select 
+			id,
+			did,
+			rkey,
+			name,
+			value_type,
+			value_format,
+			value_enum,
+			scope,
+			color,
+			multiple,
+			created
+		from label_definitions
+		%s
+		order by created
+		`,
+		whereClause,
+	)
+
+	rows, err := e.Query(query, args...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var labelDefinition LabelDefinition
+		var createdAt, enumVariants string
+		var color sql.Null[string]
+		var multiple int
+
+		if err := rows.Scan(
+			&labelDefinition.Id,
+			&labelDefinition.Did,
+			&labelDefinition.Rkey,
+			&labelDefinition.Name,
+			&labelDefinition.ValueType.Type,
+			&labelDefinition.ValueType.Format,
+			&enumVariants,
+			&labelDefinition.Scope,
+			&color,
+			&multiple,
+			&createdAt,
+		); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+
+		labelDefinition.Created, err = time.Parse(time.RFC3339, createdAt)
+		if err != nil {
+			labelDefinition.Created = time.Now()
+		}
+
+		if color.Valid {
+			labelDefinition.Color = &color.V
+		}
+
+		if multiple != 0 {
+			labelDefinition.Multiple = true
+		}
+
+		if enumVariants != "" {
+			labelDefinition.ValueType.Enum = strings.Split(enumVariants, ",")
+		}
+
+		labelDefinitions = append(labelDefinitions, labelDefinition)
+	}
+
+	return labelDefinitions, nil
+}
+
+// helper to get exactly one label def
+func GetLabelDefinition(e Execer, filters ...filter) (*LabelDefinition, error) {
+	labels, err := GetLabelDefinitions(e, filters...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if labels == nil {
+		return nil, sql.ErrNoRows
+	}
+
+	if len(labels) != 1 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("too many rows returned")
+	}
+
+	return &labels[0], nil
+}
+
+type LabelOp struct {
+	Id           int64
+	Did          string
+	Rkey         string
+	Subject      syntax.ATURI
+	Operation    LabelOperation
+	OperandKey   string
+	OperandValue string
+	PerformedAt  time.Time
+	IndexedAt    time.Time
+}
+
+func (l LabelOp) SortAt() time.Time {
+	createdAt := l.PerformedAt
+	indexedAt := l.IndexedAt
+
+	// if we don't have an indexedat, fall back to now
+	if indexedAt.IsZero() {
+		indexedAt = time.Now()
+	}
+
+	// if createdat is invalid (before epoch), treat as null -> return zero time
+	if createdAt.Before(time.UnixMicro(0)) {
+		return time.Time{}
+	}
+
+	// if createdat is <= indexedat, use createdat
+	if createdAt.Before(indexedAt) || createdAt.Equal(indexedAt) {
+		return createdAt
+	}
+
+	// otherwise, createdat is in the future relative to indexedat -> use indexedat
+	return indexedAt
+}
+
+type LabelOperation string
+
+const (
+	LabelOperationAdd LabelOperation = "add"
+	LabelOperationDel LabelOperation = "del"
+)
+
+// a record can create multiple label ops
+func LabelOpsFromRecord(did, rkey string, record tangled.LabelOp) []LabelOp {
+	performed, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, record.PerformedAt)
+	if err != nil {
+		performed = time.Now()
+	}
+
+	mkOp := func(operand *tangled.LabelOp_Operand) LabelOp {
+		return LabelOp{
+			Did:          did,
+			Rkey:         rkey,
+			Subject:      syntax.ATURI(record.Subject),
+			OperandKey:   operand.Key,
+			OperandValue: operand.Value,
+			PerformedAt:  performed,
+		}
+	}
+
+	var ops []LabelOp
+	for _, o := range record.Add {
+		if o != nil {
+			op := mkOp(o)
+			op.Operation = LabelOperationAdd
+			ops = append(ops, op)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, o := range record.Delete {
+		if o != nil {
+			op := mkOp(o)
+			op.Operation = LabelOperationDel
+			ops = append(ops, op)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return ops
+}
+
+func LabelOpsAsRecord(ops []LabelOp) tangled.LabelOp {
+	if len(ops) == 0 {
+		return tangled.LabelOp{}
+	}
+
+	// use the first operation to establish common fields
+	first := ops[0]
+	record := tangled.LabelOp{
+		Subject:     string(first.Subject),
+		PerformedAt: first.PerformedAt.Format(time.RFC3339),
+	}
+
+	var addOperands []*tangled.LabelOp_Operand
+	var deleteOperands []*tangled.LabelOp_Operand
+
+	for _, op := range ops {
+		operand := &tangled.LabelOp_Operand{
+			Key:   op.OperandKey,
+			Value: op.OperandValue,
+		}
+
+		switch op.Operation {
+		case LabelOperationAdd:
+			addOperands = append(addOperands, operand)
+		case LabelOperationDel:
+			deleteOperands = append(deleteOperands, operand)
+		default:
+			return tangled.LabelOp{}
+		}
+	}
+
+	record.Add = addOperands
+	record.Delete = deleteOperands
+
+	return record
+}
+
+func AddLabelOp(e Execer, l *LabelOp) (int64, error) {
+	now := time.Now()
+	result, err := e.Exec(
+		`insert into label_ops (
+			did,
+			rkey,
+			subject,
+			operation,
+			operand_key,
+			operand_value,
+			performed,
+			indexed
+		)
+		values (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+		on conflict(did, rkey, subject, operand_key, operand_value) do update set
+			operation = excluded.operation,
+			operand_value = excluded.operand_value,
+			performed = excluded.performed,
+			indexed = excluded.indexed`,
+		l.Did,
+		l.Rkey,
+		l.Subject.String(),
+		string(l.Operation),
+		l.OperandKey,
+		l.OperandValue,
+		l.PerformedAt.Format(time.RFC3339),
+		now.Format(time.RFC3339),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+
+	id, err := result.LastInsertId()
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+
+	l.Id = id
+	l.IndexedAt = now
+
+	return id, nil
+}
+
+func GetLabelOps(e Execer, filters ...filter) ([]LabelOp, error) {
+	var labelOps []LabelOp
+	var conditions []string
+	var args []any
+
+	for _, filter := range filters {
+		conditions = append(conditions, filter.Condition())
+		args = append(args, filter.Arg()...)
+	}
+
+	whereClause := ""
+	if conditions != nil {
+		whereClause = " where " + strings.Join(conditions, " and ")
+	}
+
+	query := fmt.Sprintf(
+		`
+		select
+			id,
+			did,
+			rkey,
+			subject,
+			operation,
+			operand_key,
+			operand_value,
+			performed,
+			indexed
+		from label_ops
+		%s
+		order by indexed
+		`,
+		whereClause,
+	)
+
+	rows, err := e.Query(query, args...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var labelOp LabelOp
+		var performedAt, indexedAt string
+
+		if err := rows.Scan(
+			&labelOp.Id,
+			&labelOp.Did,
+			&labelOp.Rkey,
+			&labelOp.Subject,
+			&labelOp.Operation,
+			&labelOp.OperandKey,
+			&labelOp.OperandValue,
+			&performedAt,
+			&indexedAt,
+		); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+
+		labelOp.PerformedAt, err = time.Parse(time.RFC3339, performedAt)
+		if err != nil {
+			labelOp.PerformedAt = time.Now()
+		}
+
+		labelOp.IndexedAt, err = time.Parse(time.RFC3339, indexedAt)
+		if err != nil {
+			labelOp.IndexedAt = time.Now()
+		}
+
+		labelOps = append(labelOps, labelOp)
+	}
+
+	return labelOps, nil
+}
+
+// get labels for a given list of subject URIs
+func GetLabels(e Execer, filters ...filter) (map[syntax.ATURI]LabelState, error) {
+	ops, err := GetLabelOps(e, filters...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// group ops by subject
+	opsBySubject := make(map[syntax.ATURI][]LabelOp)
+	for _, op := range ops {
+		subject := syntax.ATURI(op.Subject)
+		opsBySubject[subject] = append(opsBySubject[subject], op)
+	}
+
+	// get all unique labelats for creating the context
+	labelAtSet := make(map[string]bool)
+	for _, op := range ops {
+		labelAtSet[op.OperandKey] = true
+	}
+	labelAts := slices.Collect(maps.Keys(labelAtSet))
+
+	actx, err := NewLabelApplicationCtx(e, FilterIn("at_uri", labelAts))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// apply label ops for each subject and collect results
+	results := make(map[syntax.ATURI]LabelState)
+	for subject, subjectOps := range opsBySubject {
+		state := NewLabelState()
+		actx.ApplyLabelOps(state, subjectOps)
+		results[subject] = state
+	}
+
+	log.Println("results for get labels", "s", results)
+
+	return results, nil
+}
+
+type set = map[string]struct{}
+
+type LabelState struct {
+	inner map[string]set
+}
+
+func NewLabelState() LabelState {
+	return LabelState{
+		inner: make(map[string]set),
+	}
+}
+
+func (s LabelState) Inner() map[string]set {
+	return s.inner
+}
+
+func (s LabelState) ContainsLabel(l string) bool {
+	if valset, exists := s.inner[l]; exists {
+		if valset != nil {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
+
+func (s *LabelState) GetValSet(l string) set {
+	return s.inner[l]
+}
+
+type LabelApplicationCtx struct {
+	defs map[string]*LabelDefinition // labelAt -> labelDef
+}
+
+var (
+	LabelNoOpError = errors.New("no-op")
+)
+
+func NewLabelApplicationCtx(e Execer, filters ...filter) (*LabelApplicationCtx, error) {
+	labels, err := GetLabelDefinitions(e, filters...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	defs := make(map[string]*LabelDefinition)
+	for _, l := range labels {
+		defs[l.AtUri().String()] = &l
+	}
+
+	return &LabelApplicationCtx{defs}, nil
+}
+
+func (c *LabelApplicationCtx) ApplyLabelOp(state LabelState, op LabelOp) error {
+	def := c.defs[op.OperandKey]
+
+	switch op.Operation {
+	case LabelOperationAdd:
+		// if valueset is empty, init it
+		if state.inner[op.OperandKey] == nil {
+			state.inner[op.OperandKey] = make(set)
+		}
+
+		// if valueset is populated & this val alr exists, this labelop is a noop
+		if valueSet, exists := state.inner[op.OperandKey]; exists {
+			if _, exists = valueSet[op.OperandValue]; exists {
+				return LabelNoOpError
+			}
+		}
+
+		if def.Multiple {
+			// append to set
+			state.inner[op.OperandKey][op.OperandValue] = struct{}{}
+		} else {
+			// reset to just this value
+			state.inner[op.OperandKey] = set{op.OperandValue: struct{}{}}
+		}
+
+	case LabelOperationDel:
+		// if label DNE, then deletion is a no-op
+		if valueSet, exists := state.inner[op.OperandKey]; !exists {
+			return LabelNoOpError
+		} else if _, exists = valueSet[op.OperandValue]; !exists { // if value DNE, then deletion is no-op
+			return LabelNoOpError
+		}
+
+		if def.Multiple {
+			// remove from set
+			delete(state.inner[op.OperandKey], op.OperandValue)
+		} else {
+			// reset the entire label
+			delete(state.inner, op.OperandKey)
+		}
+
+		// if the map becomes empty, then set it to nil, this is just the inverse of add
+		if len(state.inner[op.OperandKey]) == 0 {
+			state.inner[op.OperandKey] = nil
+		}
+
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (c *LabelApplicationCtx) ApplyLabelOps(state LabelState, ops []LabelOp) {
+	// sort label ops in sort order first
+	slices.SortFunc(ops, func(a, b LabelOp) int {
+		return a.SortAt().Compare(b.SortAt())
+	})
+
+	// apply ops in sequence
+	for _, o := range ops {
+		_ = c.ApplyLabelOp(state, o)
+	}
+}
+
+type Label struct {
+	def *LabelDefinition
+	val set
+}
diff --git a/appview/db/repos.go b/appview/db/repos.go
index cee0e1ab..9590ab92 100644
--- a/appview/db/repos.go
+++ b/appview/db/repos.go
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ type Repo struct {
 	Source string
 }
 
+func (r *Repo) AsRecord() tangled.Repo {
+	return tangled.Repo{}
+}
+
 func (r Repo) RepoAt() syntax.ATURI {
 	return syntax.ATURI(fmt.Sprintf("at://%s/%s/%s", r.Did, tangled.RepoNSID, r.Rkey))
 }
@@ -494,3 +498,74 @@ type RepoStats struct {
 	IssueCount IssueCount
 	PullCount  PullCount
 }
+
+type RepoLabel struct {
+	Id      int64
+	RepoAt  syntax.ATURI
+	LabelAt syntax.ATURI
+}
+
+func SubscribeLabel(e Execer, rl *RepoLabel) error {
+	query := `insert or ignore into repo_labels (repo_at, label_at) values (?, ?)`
+
+	_, err := e.Exec(query, rl.RepoAt.String(), rl.LabelAt.String())
+	return err
+}
+
+func UnsubscribeLabel(e Execer, filters ...filter) error {
+	var conditions []string
+	var args []any
+	for _, filter := range filters {
+		conditions = append(conditions, filter.Condition())
+		args = append(args, filter.Arg()...)
+	}
+
+	whereClause := ""
+	if conditions != nil {
+		whereClause = " where " + strings.Join(conditions, " and ")
+	}
+
+	query := fmt.Sprintf(`delete from repo_labels %s`, whereClause)
+	_, err := e.Exec(query, args...)
+	return err
+}
+
+func GetRepoLabels(e Execer, filters ...filter) ([]RepoLabel, error) {
+	var conditions []string
+	var args []any
+	for _, filter := range filters {
+		conditions = append(conditions, filter.Condition())
+		args = append(args, filter.Arg()...)
+	}
+
+	whereClause := ""
+	if conditions != nil {
+		whereClause = " where " + strings.Join(conditions, " and ")
+	}
+
+	query := fmt.Sprintf(`select id, repo_at, label_at from repo_labels %s`, whereClause)
+
+	rows, err := e.Query(query, args...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+
+	var labels []RepoLabel
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var label RepoLabel
+
+		err := rows.Scan(&label.Id, &label.RepoAt, &label.LabelAt)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+
+		labels = append(labels, label)
+	}
+
+	if err = rows.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return labels, nil
+}
diff --git a/appview/pages/repoinfo/repoinfo.go b/appview/pages/repoinfo/repoinfo.go
index 223bf72b..d0511c6f 100644
--- a/appview/pages/repoinfo/repoinfo.go
+++ b/appview/pages/repoinfo/repoinfo.go
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ func (r RepoInfo) FullName() string {
 }
 
 func (r RepoInfo) OwnerWithoutAt() string {
-	if strings.HasPrefix(r.OwnerWithAt(), "@") {
-		return strings.TrimPrefix(r.OwnerWithAt(), "@")
+	if after, ok := strings.CutPrefix(r.OwnerWithAt(), "@"); ok {
+		return after
 	} else {
 		return userutil.FlattenDid(r.OwnerDid)
 	}