diff --git a/Godeps/Godeps.json b/Godeps/Godeps.json
index 90bb36739..629af22fd 100644
--- a/Godeps/Godeps.json
+++ b/Godeps/Godeps.json
@@ -71,6 +71,10 @@
 		{
 			"ImportPath": "github.com/syndtr/goleveldb/leveldb",
 			"Rev": "99056d50e56252fbe0021d5c893defca5a76baf8"
+		},
+		{
+			"ImportPath": "github.com/tuxychandru/pubsub",
+			"Rev": "02de8aa2db3d570c5ab1be5ba67b456fd0fb7c4e"
 		}
 	]
 }
diff --git a/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/tuxychandru/pubsub/README.md b/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/tuxychandru/pubsub/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c1aab80b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/tuxychandru/pubsub/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+Install pubsub with,
+
+    go get github.com/tuxychandru/pubsub
+
+View the [API Documentation](http://godoc.org/github.com/tuxychandru/pubsub).
+
+## License
+
+Copyright (c) 2013, Chandra Sekar S  
+All rights reserved.
+
+Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+
+1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
+   list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+   this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
+   and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+
+THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND
+ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR
+ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
+(INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
+LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
+ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
+SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
diff --git a/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/tuxychandru/pubsub/pubsub.go b/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/tuxychandru/pubsub/pubsub.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9cbf9cffa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/tuxychandru/pubsub/pubsub.go
@@ -0,0 +1,208 @@
+// Copyright 2013, Chandra Sekar S.  All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+// license that can be found in the README.md file.
+
+// Package pubsub implements a simple multi-topic pub-sub
+// library.
+//
+// Topics must be strings and messages of any type can be
+// published. A topic can have any number of subcribers and
+// all of them receive messages published on the topic.
+package pubsub
+
+type operation int
+
+const (
+	sub operation = iota
+	subOnce
+	pub
+	unsub
+	unsubAll
+	closeTopic
+	shutdown
+)
+
+// PubSub is a collection of topics.
+type PubSub struct {
+	cmdChan  chan cmd
+	capacity int
+}
+
+type cmd struct {
+	op     operation
+	topics []string
+	ch     chan interface{}
+	msg    interface{}
+}
+
+// New creates a new PubSub and starts a goroutine for handling operations.
+// The capacity of the channels created by Sub and SubOnce will be as specified.
+func New(capacity int) *PubSub {
+	ps := &PubSub{make(chan cmd), capacity}
+	go ps.start()
+	return ps
+}
+
+// Sub returns a channel on which messages published on any of
+// the specified topics can be received.
+func (ps *PubSub) Sub(topics ...string) chan interface{} {
+	return ps.sub(sub, topics...)
+}
+
+// SubOnce is similar to Sub, but only the first message published, after subscription,
+// on any of the specified topics can be received.
+func (ps *PubSub) SubOnce(topics ...string) chan interface{} {
+	return ps.sub(subOnce, topics...)
+}
+
+func (ps *PubSub) sub(op operation, topics ...string) chan interface{} {
+	ch := make(chan interface{}, ps.capacity)
+	ps.cmdChan <- cmd{op: op, topics: topics, ch: ch}
+	return ch
+}
+
+// AddSub adds subscriptions to an existing channel.
+func (ps *PubSub) AddSub(ch chan interface{}, topics ...string) {
+	ps.cmdChan <- cmd{op: sub, topics: topics, ch: ch}
+}
+
+// Pub publishes the given message to all subscribers of
+// the specified topics.
+func (ps *PubSub) Pub(msg interface{}, topics ...string) {
+	ps.cmdChan <- cmd{op: pub, topics: topics, msg: msg}
+}
+
+// Unsub unsubscribes the given channel from the specified
+// topics. If no topic is specified, it is unsubscribed
+// from all topics.
+func (ps *PubSub) Unsub(ch chan interface{}, topics ...string) {
+	if len(topics) == 0 {
+		ps.cmdChan <- cmd{op: unsubAll, ch: ch}
+		return
+	}
+
+	ps.cmdChan <- cmd{op: unsub, topics: topics, ch: ch}
+}
+
+// Close closes all channels currently subscribed to the specified topics.
+// If a channel is subscribed to multiple topics, some of which is
+// not specified, it is not closed.
+func (ps *PubSub) Close(topics ...string) {
+	ps.cmdChan <- cmd{op: closeTopic, topics: topics}
+}
+
+// Shutdown closes all subscribed channels and terminates the goroutine.
+func (ps *PubSub) Shutdown() {
+	ps.cmdChan <- cmd{op: shutdown}
+}
+
+func (ps *PubSub) start() {
+	reg := registry{
+		topics:    make(map[string]map[chan interface{}]bool),
+		revTopics: make(map[chan interface{}]map[string]bool),
+	}
+
+loop:
+	for cmd := range ps.cmdChan {
+		if cmd.topics == nil {
+			switch cmd.op {
+			case unsubAll:
+				reg.removeChannel(cmd.ch)
+
+			case shutdown:
+				break loop
+			}
+
+			continue loop
+		}
+
+		for _, topic := range cmd.topics {
+			switch cmd.op {
+			case sub:
+				reg.add(topic, cmd.ch, false)
+
+			case subOnce:
+				reg.add(topic, cmd.ch, true)
+
+			case pub:
+				reg.send(topic, cmd.msg)
+
+			case unsub:
+				reg.remove(topic, cmd.ch)
+
+			case closeTopic:
+				reg.removeTopic(topic)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	for topic, chans := range reg.topics {
+		for ch, _ := range chans {
+			reg.remove(topic, ch)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// registry maintains the current subscription state. It's not
+// safe to access a registry from multiple goroutines simultaneously.
+type registry struct {
+	topics    map[string]map[chan interface{}]bool
+	revTopics map[chan interface{}]map[string]bool
+}
+
+func (reg *registry) add(topic string, ch chan interface{}, once bool) {
+	if reg.topics[topic] == nil {
+		reg.topics[topic] = make(map[chan interface{}]bool)
+	}
+	reg.topics[topic][ch] = once
+
+	if reg.revTopics[ch] == nil {
+		reg.revTopics[ch] = make(map[string]bool)
+	}
+	reg.revTopics[ch][topic] = true
+}
+
+func (reg *registry) send(topic string, msg interface{}) {
+	for ch, once := range reg.topics[topic] {
+		ch <- msg
+		if once {
+			for topic := range reg.revTopics[ch] {
+				reg.remove(topic, ch)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (reg *registry) removeTopic(topic string) {
+	for ch := range reg.topics[topic] {
+		reg.remove(topic, ch)
+	}
+}
+
+func (reg *registry) removeChannel(ch chan interface{}) {
+	for topic := range reg.revTopics[ch] {
+		reg.remove(topic, ch)
+	}
+}
+
+func (reg *registry) remove(topic string, ch chan interface{}) {
+	if _, ok := reg.topics[topic]; !ok {
+		return
+	}
+
+	if _, ok := reg.topics[topic][ch]; !ok {
+		return
+	}
+
+	delete(reg.topics[topic], ch)
+	delete(reg.revTopics[ch], topic)
+
+	if len(reg.topics[topic]) == 0 {
+		delete(reg.topics, topic)
+	}
+
+	if len(reg.revTopics[ch]) == 0 {
+		close(ch)
+		delete(reg.revTopics, ch)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/tuxychandru/pubsub/pubsub_test.go b/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/tuxychandru/pubsub/pubsub_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..16392d33b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/tuxychandru/pubsub/pubsub_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,230 @@
+// Copyright 2013, Chandra Sekar S.  All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+// license that can be found in the README.md file.
+
+package pubsub
+
+import (
+	check "launchpad.net/gocheck"
+	"runtime"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+var _ = check.Suite(new(Suite))
+
+func Test(t *testing.T) {
+	check.TestingT(t)
+}
+
+type Suite struct{}
+
+func (s *Suite) TestSub(c *check.C) {
+	ps := New(1)
+	ch1 := ps.Sub("t1")
+	ch2 := ps.Sub("t1")
+	ch3 := ps.Sub("t2")
+
+	ps.Pub("hi", "t1")
+	c.Check(<-ch1, check.Equals, "hi")
+	c.Check(<-ch2, check.Equals, "hi")
+
+	ps.Pub("hello", "t2")
+	c.Check(<-ch3, check.Equals, "hello")
+
+	ps.Shutdown()
+	_, ok := <-ch1
+	c.Check(ok, check.Equals, false)
+	_, ok = <-ch2
+	c.Check(ok, check.Equals, false)
+	_, ok = <-ch3
+	c.Check(ok, check.Equals, false)
+}
+
+func (s *Suite) TestSubOnce(c *check.C) {
+	ps := New(1)
+	ch := ps.SubOnce("t1")
+
+	ps.Pub("hi", "t1")
+	c.Check(<-ch, check.Equals, "hi")
+
+	_, ok := <-ch
+	c.Check(ok, check.Equals, false)
+	ps.Shutdown()
+}
+
+func (s *Suite) TestAddSub(c *check.C) {
+	ps := New(1)
+	ch1 := ps.Sub("t1")
+	ch2 := ps.Sub("t2")
+
+	ps.Pub("hi1", "t1")
+	c.Check(<-ch1, check.Equals, "hi1")
+
+	ps.Pub("hi2", "t2")
+	c.Check(<-ch2, check.Equals, "hi2")
+
+	ps.AddSub(ch1, "t2", "t3")
+	ps.Pub("hi3", "t2")
+	c.Check(<-ch1, check.Equals, "hi3")
+	c.Check(<-ch2, check.Equals, "hi3")
+
+	ps.Pub("hi4", "t3")
+	c.Check(<-ch1, check.Equals, "hi4")
+
+	ps.Shutdown()
+}
+
+func (s *Suite) TestUnsub(c *check.C) {
+	ps := New(1)
+	ch := ps.Sub("t1")
+
+	ps.Pub("hi", "t1")
+	c.Check(<-ch, check.Equals, "hi")
+
+	ps.Unsub(ch, "t1")
+	_, ok := <-ch
+	c.Check(ok, check.Equals, false)
+	ps.Shutdown()
+}
+
+func (s *Suite) TestUnsubAll(c *check.C) {
+	ps := New(1)
+	ch1 := ps.Sub("t1", "t2", "t3")
+	ch2 := ps.Sub("t1", "t3")
+
+	ps.Unsub(ch1)
+
+	m, ok := <-ch1
+	c.Check(ok, check.Equals, false)
+
+	ps.Pub("hi", "t1")
+	m, ok = <-ch2
+	c.Check(m, check.Equals, "hi")
+
+	ps.Shutdown()
+}
+
+func (s *Suite) TestClose(c *check.C) {
+	ps := New(1)
+	ch1 := ps.Sub("t1")
+	ch2 := ps.Sub("t1")
+	ch3 := ps.Sub("t2")
+	ch4 := ps.Sub("t3")
+
+	ps.Pub("hi", "t1")
+	ps.Pub("hello", "t2")
+	c.Check(<-ch1, check.Equals, "hi")
+	c.Check(<-ch2, check.Equals, "hi")
+	c.Check(<-ch3, check.Equals, "hello")
+
+	ps.Close("t1", "t2")
+	_, ok := <-ch1
+	c.Check(ok, check.Equals, false)
+	_, ok = <-ch2
+	c.Check(ok, check.Equals, false)
+	_, ok = <-ch3
+	c.Check(ok, check.Equals, false)
+
+	ps.Pub("welcome", "t3")
+	c.Check(<-ch4, check.Equals, "welcome")
+
+	ps.Shutdown()
+}
+
+func (s *Suite) TestUnsubAfterClose(c *check.C) {
+	ps := New(1)
+	ch := ps.Sub("t1")
+	defer func() {
+		ps.Unsub(ch, "t1")
+		ps.Shutdown()
+	}()
+
+	ps.Close("t1")
+	_, ok := <-ch
+	c.Check(ok, check.Equals, false)
+}
+
+func (s *Suite) TestShutdown(c *check.C) {
+	start := runtime.NumGoroutine()
+	New(10).Shutdown()
+	time.Sleep(1)
+	c.Check(runtime.NumGoroutine()-start, check.Equals, 1)
+}
+
+func (s *Suite) TestMultiSub(c *check.C) {
+	ps := New(1)
+	ch := ps.Sub("t1", "t2")
+
+	ps.Pub("hi", "t1")
+	c.Check(<-ch, check.Equals, "hi")
+
+	ps.Pub("hello", "t2")
+	c.Check(<-ch, check.Equals, "hello")
+
+	ps.Shutdown()
+	_, ok := <-ch
+	c.Check(ok, check.Equals, false)
+}
+
+func (s *Suite) TestMultiSubOnce(c *check.C) {
+	ps := New(1)
+	ch := ps.SubOnce("t1", "t2")
+
+	ps.Pub("hi", "t1")
+	c.Check(<-ch, check.Equals, "hi")
+
+	ps.Pub("hello", "t2")
+
+	_, ok := <-ch
+	c.Check(ok, check.Equals, false)
+	ps.Shutdown()
+}
+
+func (s *Suite) TestMultiPub(c *check.C) {
+	ps := New(1)
+	ch1 := ps.Sub("t1")
+	ch2 := ps.Sub("t2")
+
+	ps.Pub("hi", "t1", "t2")
+	c.Check(<-ch1, check.Equals, "hi")
+	c.Check(<-ch2, check.Equals, "hi")
+
+	ps.Shutdown()
+}
+
+func (s *Suite) TestMultiUnsub(c *check.C) {
+	ps := New(1)
+	ch := ps.Sub("t1", "t2", "t3")
+
+	ps.Unsub(ch, "t1")
+
+	ps.Pub("hi", "t1")
+
+	ps.Pub("hello", "t2")
+	c.Check(<-ch, check.Equals, "hello")
+
+	ps.Unsub(ch, "t2", "t3")
+	_, ok := <-ch
+	c.Check(ok, check.Equals, false)
+
+	ps.Shutdown()
+}
+
+func (s *Suite) TestMultiClose(c *check.C) {
+	ps := New(1)
+	ch := ps.Sub("t1", "t2")
+
+	ps.Pub("hi", "t1")
+	c.Check(<-ch, check.Equals, "hi")
+
+	ps.Close("t1")
+	ps.Pub("hello", "t2")
+	c.Check(<-ch, check.Equals, "hello")
+
+	ps.Close("t2")
+	_, ok := <-ch
+	c.Check(ok, check.Equals, false)
+
+	ps.Shutdown()
+}
diff --git a/bitswap/notifications.go b/bitswap/notifications.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..49cdb982e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bitswap/notifications.go
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+package bitswap
+
+import (
+	context "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/Godeps/_workspace/src/code.google.com/p/go.net/context"
+	pubsub "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/tuxychandru/pubsub"
+
+	blocks "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/blocks"
+	u "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/util"
+)
+
+type notifications struct {
+	wrapped *pubsub.PubSub
+}
+
+func newNotifications() *notifications {
+	const bufferSize = 16
+	return &notifications{pubsub.New(bufferSize)}
+}
+
+func (ps *notifications) Publish(block *blocks.Block) {
+	topic := string(block.Key())
+	ps.wrapped.Pub(block, topic)
+}
+
+// Sub returns a one-time use |blockChannel|. |blockChannel| returns nil if the
+// |ctx| times out or is cancelled
+func (ps *notifications) Subscribe(ctx context.Context, k u.Key) <-chan *blocks.Block {
+	topic := string(k)
+	subChan := ps.wrapped.Sub(topic)
+	blockChannel := make(chan *blocks.Block)
+	go func() {
+		defer close(blockChannel)
+		select {
+		case val := <-subChan:
+			block, ok := val.(*blocks.Block)
+			if !ok {
+				return
+			}
+			blockChannel <- block
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			ps.wrapped.Unsub(subChan, topic)
+			return
+		}
+	}()
+	return blockChannel
+}
+
+func (ps *notifications) Shutdown() {
+	ps.wrapped.Shutdown()
+}
diff --git a/bitswap/notifications_test.go b/bitswap/notifications_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..07006fb36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bitswap/notifications_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+package bitswap
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	context "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/Godeps/_workspace/src/code.google.com/p/go.net/context"
+
+	blocks "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/blocks"
+)
+
+func TestPublishSubscribe(t *testing.T) {
+	blockSent := getBlockOrFail(t, "Greetings from The Interval")
+
+	n := newNotifications()
+	defer n.Shutdown()
+	ch := n.Subscribe(context.Background(), blockSent.Key())
+
+	n.Publish(blockSent)
+	blockRecvd := <-ch
+
+	assertBlocksEqual(t, blockRecvd, blockSent)
+}
+
+func TestCarryOnWhenDeadlineExpires(t *testing.T) {
+
+	impossibleDeadline := time.Nanosecond
+	fastExpiringCtx, _ := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), impossibleDeadline)
+
+	n := newNotifications()
+	defer n.Shutdown()
+	blockChannel := n.Subscribe(fastExpiringCtx, getBlockOrFail(t, "A Missed Connection").Key())
+
+	assertBlockChannelNil(t, blockChannel)
+}
+
+func assertBlockChannelNil(t *testing.T, blockChannel <-chan *blocks.Block) {
+	blockReceived := <-blockChannel
+	if blockReceived != nil {
+		t.Fail()
+	}
+}
+
+func assertBlocksEqual(t *testing.T, a, b *blocks.Block) {
+	if !bytes.Equal(a.Data, b.Data) {
+		t.Fail()
+	}
+	if a.Key() != b.Key() {
+		t.Fail()
+	}
+}
+
+func getBlockOrFail(t *testing.T, msg string) *blocks.Block {
+	block, blockCreationErr := blocks.NewBlock([]byte(msg))
+	if blockCreationErr != nil {
+		t.Fail()
+	}
+	return block
+}