diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 380d435..916cd52 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -207,12 +207,14 @@ On the other hand, profiles are simply objects that contain data used to populat
 type Profile struct {
 	ID          string         `json:"id"`                    // profile ID
 	Description string         `json:"description,omitempty"` // profile description
-	Tags        []string       `json:"tags,omitempty"`        // tags used for filtering (not implemented yet)
+	Tags        []string       `json:"tags,omitempty"`        // tags used for ...
+	Paths       []string       `json:"paths,omitempty"`       // paths to download
+	Plugins     []string       `json:"plugins,omitempty"`     // plugins to run
 	Data        map[string]any `json:"data,omitempty"`        // include render data
 }
 ```
 
-Profiles can be created using JSON and only require an `id` with optional `data`. See the example in `$MAKESHIFT_ROOT/profiles/default.json`.
+Profiles can be created using JSON. See the example in `$MAKESHIFT_ROOT/profiles/default.json`.
 
 ```json
 {
@@ -233,9 +235,12 @@ Profiles can be created using JSON and only require an `id` with optional `data`
 
 There are some features still missing that will be added later.
 
-1. Running `makeshift` locally with profiles and plugins
-2. Plugin to add user data for one-time use without creating a profile
-3. Optionally build plugins directly into the main driver
-4. Protected routes that require authentication
-5. Configuration file for persistent runs
-6. `Dockerfile` and `docker-compose.yml` files to build containers
\ No newline at end of file
+1. Uploading files and directories
+2. Uploading new profiles and plugins
+3. Running `makeshift` locally with profiles and plugins
+4. Plugin to add user data for one-time use without creating a profile
+5. Optionally build plugins directly into the main driver
+6. Protected routes that require authentication
+7. Configuration file for persistent runs
+8. `Dockerfile` and `docker-compose.yml` files to build containers
+9. Including certs with requests
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/bin/compile-plugins.sh b/bin/compile-plugins.sh
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
diff --git a/cmd/delete.go b/cmd/delete.go
index 4bdb767..85dbd71 100644
--- a/cmd/delete.go
+++ b/cmd/delete.go
@@ -24,29 +24,17 @@ var deleteCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	PersistentPreRun: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		setenv(cmd, "host", "MAKESHIFT_HOST")
 		setenv(cmd, "path", "MAKESHIFT_PATH")
-		setenv(cmd, "cacert", "MAKESHIFT_CACERT")
 	},
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		var (
-			host, _       = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
-			paths, _      = cmd.Flags().GetStringSlice("path")
-			cacertPath, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("cacert")
+			host, _  = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
+			paths, _ = cmd.Flags().GetStringSlice("path")
 
 			c     = client.New(host)
 			res   *http.Response
 			query string
 			err   error
 		)
-
-		log.Debug().
-			Str("host", host).
-			Str("cacert", cacertPath).
-			Send()
-
-		if cacertPath != "" {
-			c.LoadCertificateFromPath(cacertPath)
-		}
-
 		for _, path := range paths {
 			if path == "" {
 				log.Warn().Msg("skipping empty path")
@@ -73,8 +61,7 @@ var deleteProfilesCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Short: "Delete profile(s)",
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		var (
-			host, _       = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
-			cacertPath, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("cacert")
+			host, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
 
 			c     = client.New(host)
 			res   *http.Response
@@ -82,14 +69,6 @@ var deleteProfilesCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			err   error
 		)
 
-		log.Debug().
-			Str("host", host).
-			Str("cacert", cacertPath).
-			Send()
-
-		if cacertPath != "" {
-			c.LoadCertificateFromPath(cacertPath)
-		}
 		for _, profileID := range args {
 			if profileID == "default" {
 				log.Warn().Msg("cannot delete the default profile")
@@ -116,8 +95,7 @@ var deletePluginsCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Short: "Delete plugin(s)",
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		var (
-			host, _       = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
-			cacertPath, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("cacert")
+			host, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
 
 			c     = client.New(host)
 			res   *http.Response
@@ -125,15 +103,6 @@ var deletePluginsCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			err   error
 		)
 
-		log.Debug().
-			Str("host", host).
-			Str("cacert", cacertPath).
-			Send()
-
-		if cacertPath != "" {
-			c.LoadCertificateFromPath(cacertPath)
-		}
-
 		for _, pluginName := range args {
 			query = fmt.Sprintf("/plugins/%s", pluginName)
 			res, _, err = c.MakeRequest(client.HTTPEnvelope{
@@ -147,7 +116,6 @@ var deletePluginsCmd = &cobra.Command{
 
 func init() {
 	deleteCmd.PersistentFlags().String("host", "http://localhost:5050", "Set the makeshift server host (can be set with MAKESHIFT_HOST)")
-	deleteCmd.PersistentFlags().String("cacert", "", "Set the CA certificate path to load")
 	deleteCmd.Flags().StringSliceP("path", "p", []string{}, "Set the paths to delete files and directories")
 	deleteCmd.AddCommand(deleteProfilesCmd, deletePluginsCmd)
 
diff --git a/cmd/download.go b/cmd/download.go
index 03bf061..25e87aa 100644
--- a/cmd/download.go
+++ b/cmd/download.go
@@ -37,14 +37,12 @@ var downloadCmd = cobra.Command{
 	PersistentPreRun: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		setenv(cmd, "host", "MAKESHIFT_HOST")
 		setenv(cmd, "path", "MAKESHIFT_PATH")
-		setenv(cmd, "cacert", "MAKESHIFT_CACERT")
 	},
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		var (
 			host, _          = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
 			path, _          = cmd.Flags().GetString("path")
 			outputPath, _    = cmd.Flags().GetString("output")
-			cacertPath, _    = cmd.Flags().GetString("cacert")
 			pluginNames, _   = cmd.Flags().GetStringSlice("plugins")
 			profileIDs, _    = cmd.Flags().GetStringSlice("profiles")
 			extract, _       = cmd.Flags().GetBool("extract")
@@ -74,10 +72,6 @@ var downloadCmd = cobra.Command{
 			Strs("plugins", pluginNames).
 			Send()
 
-		if cacertPath != "" {
-			c.LoadCertificateFromPath(cacertPath)
-		}
-
 		res, body, err = c.MakeRequest(client.HTTPEnvelope{
 			Path:   query,
 			Method: http.MethodGet,
@@ -169,7 +163,6 @@ var downloadProfileCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		var (
 			host, _       = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
 			outputPath, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("output")
-			cacertPath, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("cacert")
 
 			c     = client.New(host)
 			res   *http.Response
@@ -183,10 +176,6 @@ var downloadProfileCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			Str("output", outputPath).
 			Send()
 
-		if cacertPath != "" {
-			c.LoadCertificateFromPath(cacertPath)
-		}
-
 		for _, profileID := range args {
 			query = fmt.Sprintf("/profiles/%s", profileID)
 			res, body, err = c.MakeRequest(client.HTTPEnvelope{
@@ -230,7 +219,6 @@ var downloadPluginCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		var (
 			host, _       = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
 			outputPath, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("output")
-			cacertPath, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("cacert")
 
 			c     = client.New(host)
 			res   *http.Response
@@ -244,10 +232,6 @@ var downloadPluginCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			Str("output", outputPath).
 			Send()
 
-		if cacertPath != "" {
-			c.LoadCertificateFromPath(cacertPath)
-		}
-
 		for _, pluginName := range args {
 			query = fmt.Sprintf("/plugins/%s/raw", pluginName)
 			res, body, err = c.MakeRequest(client.HTTPEnvelope{
@@ -283,7 +267,6 @@ var downloadPluginCmd = &cobra.Command{
 func init() {
 	downloadCmd.PersistentFlags().String("host", "http://localhost:5050", "Set the makeshift remote host (can be set with MAKESHIFT_HOST)")
 	downloadCmd.PersistentFlags().StringP("output", "o", "", "Set the output path to write files")
-	downloadCmd.PersistentFlags().String("cacert", "", "Set the CA certificate path to load")
 	downloadCmd.Flags().StringP("path", "p", ".", "Set the path to list files (can be set with MAKESHIFT_PATH)")
 	downloadCmd.Flags().StringSlice("profiles", []string{}, "Set the profile(s) to use to populate data store")
 	downloadCmd.Flags().StringSlice("plugins", []string{}, "Set the plugin(s) to run before downloading files")
diff --git a/cmd/list.go b/cmd/list.go
index 4c5898c..1fa3fe6 100644
--- a/cmd/list.go
+++ b/cmd/list.go
@@ -24,16 +24,14 @@ var listCmd = &cobra.Command{
 `,
 	Args:  cobra.NoArgs,
 	Short: "List all files in a remote data directory",
-	PersistentPreRun: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	PreRun: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		setenv(cmd, "host", "MAKESHIFT_HOST")
 		setenv(cmd, "path", "MAKESHIFT_PATH")
-		setenv(cmd, "cacert", "MAKESHIFT_CACERT")
 	},
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		var (
-			host, _       = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
-			path, _       = cmd.Flags().GetString("path")
-			cacertPath, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("cacert")
+			host, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
+			path, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("path")
 
 			c      = client.New(host)
 			body   []byte
@@ -44,13 +42,8 @@ var listCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		log.Debug().
 			Str("host", host).
 			Str("path", path).
-			Str("cacert", cacertPath).
 			Send()
 
-		if cacertPath != "" {
-			c.LoadCertificateFromPath(cacertPath)
-		}
-
 		// make request to /list endpoint
 		_, body, err = c.MakeRequest(client.HTTPEnvelope{
 			Path:   fmt.Sprintf("/list/%s", path),
@@ -87,8 +80,7 @@ var listPluginsCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Short: "Show plugins information",
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		var (
-			host, _       = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
-			cacertPath, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("cacert")
+			host, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
 
 			c       = client.New(host)
 			res     *http.Response
@@ -98,15 +90,6 @@ var listPluginsCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			err     error
 		)
 
-		log.Debug().
-			Str("host", host).
-			Str("cacert", cacertPath).
-			Send()
-
-		if cacertPath != "" {
-			c.LoadCertificateFromPath(cacertPath)
-		}
-
 		if len(args) == 0 {
 			// make request to /list endpoint
 			res, body, err = c.MakeRequest(client.HTTPEnvelope{
@@ -138,19 +121,11 @@ var listPluginsCmd = &cobra.Command{
 }
 
 var listProfilesCmd = &cobra.Command{
-	Use: "profiles",
-	Example: `
-  # list all profiles
-  makeshift list profiles
-
-  # live individual profiles
-  makeshift list profiles default custom
-`,
+	Use:   "profiles",
 	Short: "Show all available profiles",
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		var (
-			host, _       = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
-			cacertPath, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("cacert")
+			host, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
 
 			c        = client.New(host)
 			res      *http.Response
@@ -160,15 +135,6 @@ var listProfilesCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			err      error
 		)
 
-		log.Debug().
-			Str("host", host).
-			Str("cacert", cacertPath).
-			Send()
-
-		if cacertPath != "" {
-			c.LoadCertificateFromPath(cacertPath)
-		}
-
 		if len(args) == 0 {
 			// make request to /list endpoint
 			res, body, err = c.MakeRequest(client.HTTPEnvelope{
@@ -188,7 +154,7 @@ var listProfilesCmd = &cobra.Command{
 				// make request to /list endpoint
 				query = fmt.Sprintf("/profiles/%s", profileID)
 				res, body, err = c.MakeRequest(client.HTTPEnvelope{
-					Path:   query,
+					Path:   fmt.Sprintf(query),
 					Method: http.MethodGet,
 				})
 				handleResponseError(res, host, query, err)
@@ -208,7 +174,6 @@ var listProfilesCmd = &cobra.Command{
 
 func init() {
 	listCmd.PersistentFlags().String("host", "http://localhost:5050", "Set the configurator remote host (can be set with MAKESHIFT_HOST)")
-	listCmd.PersistentFlags().String("cacert", "", "Set the CA certificate path to load")
 	listCmd.Flags().StringP("path", "p", ".", "Set the path to list files (can be set with MAKESHIFT_PATH)")
 
 	listCmd.AddCommand(listPluginsCmd, listProfilesCmd)
diff --git a/cmd/serve.go b/cmd/serve.go
index 9c8c046..22c793c 100644
--- a/cmd/serve.go
+++ b/cmd/serve.go
@@ -23,16 +23,12 @@ var serveCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		setenv(cmd, "host", "MAKESHIFT_HOST")
 		setenv(cmd, "root", "MAKESHIFT_ROOT")
 		setenv(cmd, "timeout", "MAKESHIFT_TIMEOUT")
-		setenv(cmd, "cacert", "MAKESHIFT_CACERT")
-		setenv(cmd, "keyfile", "MAKESHIFT_KEYFILE")
 	},
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		var (
-			host, _       = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
-			rootPath, _   = cmd.Flags().GetString("root")
-			cacertPath, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("cacert")
-			keyfile, _    = cmd.Flags().GetString("keyfile")
-			timeout, _    = cmd.Flags().GetInt("timeout")
+			host, _     = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
+			rootPath, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("root")
+			timeout, _  = cmd.Flags().GetInt("timeout")
 
 			parsed *url.URL
 			server *service.Service
@@ -51,8 +47,6 @@ var serveCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		server = service.New()
 		server.Addr = parsed.Host
 		server.RootPath = rootPath
-		server.CACertFile = cacertPath
-		server.CACertKeyfile = keyfile
 		server.Timeout = time.Duration(timeout) * time.Second
 
 		// show some debugging information
@@ -60,8 +54,6 @@ var serveCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			Str("host", parsed.Host).
 			Any("paths", map[string]string{
 				"root":     rootPath,
-				"cacert":   cacertPath,
-				"keyfile":  keyfile,
 				"data":     server.PathForData(),
 				"profiles": server.PathForProfiles(),
 				"plugins":  server.PathForPlugins(),
@@ -92,10 +84,6 @@ func init() {
 	serveCmd.Flags().String("host", "localhost:5050", "Set the configurator server host (can be set with MAKESHIFT_HOST)")
 	serveCmd.Flags().String("root", "./", "Set the root path to serve files (can be set with MAKESHIFT_ROOT)")
 	serveCmd.Flags().IntP("timeout", "t", 60, "Set the timeout in seconds for requests (can be set with MAKESHIFT_TIMEOUT)")
-	serveCmd.Flags().String("cacert", "", "Set the CA certificate path to load (can be set with MAKESHIFT_CACERT)")
-	serveCmd.Flags().String("keyfile", "", "Set the CA key file to use (can be set with MAKESHIFT_KEYFILE)")
-
-	serveCmd.MarkFlagsRequiredTogether("cacert", "keyfile")
 
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(serveCmd)
 }
diff --git a/cmd/upload.go b/cmd/upload.go
index b4d09cb..4472a18 100644
--- a/cmd/upload.go
+++ b/cmd/upload.go
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"bufio"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
-	"io/fs"
-	"maps"
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -43,14 +41,12 @@ var uploadCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	PersistentPreRun: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		setenv(cmd, "host", "MAKESHIFT_HOST")
 		setenv(cmd, "path", "MAKESHIFT_PATH")
-		setenv(cmd, "cacert", "MAKESHIFT_CACERT")
 	},
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		var (
-			host, _       = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
-			path, _       = cmd.Flags().GetString("path")
-			cacertPath, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("cacert")
-			dataArgs, _   = cmd.Flags().GetStringArray("data")
+			host, _     = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
+			path, _     = cmd.Flags().GetString("path")
+			dataArgs, _ = cmd.Flags().GetStringArray("data")
 
 			inputData        = processFiles(dataArgs)
 			useDirectoryPath = len(inputData) > 1
@@ -59,21 +55,8 @@ var uploadCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			query            string
 			err              error
 		)
-
-		log.Debug().
-			Str("host", host).
-			Str("path", path).
-			Str("query", query).
-			Str("cacert", cacertPath).
-			Any("input", inputData).
-			Send()
-
-		if cacertPath != "" {
-			c.LoadCertificateFromPath(cacertPath)
-		}
-
 		for inputPath, contents := range inputData {
-			log.Debug().Str("path", path).Int("size", len(contents)).Send()
+			log.Info().Str("path", path).Int("size", len(contents)).Send()
 			if useDirectoryPath {
 				query = path + "/" + filepath.Clean(inputPath)
 			} else {
@@ -109,10 +92,9 @@ var uploadProfilesCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Short: "Upload a new profile",
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		var (
-			host, _       = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
-			dataArgs, _   = cmd.Flags().GetStringArray("data")
-			cacertPath, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("cacert")
-			profiles      = processProfiles(dataArgs)
+			host, _     = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
+			dataArgs, _ = cmd.Flags().GetStringArray("data")
+			profiles    = processProfiles(dataArgs)
 
 			c     = client.New(host)
 			res   *http.Response
@@ -121,16 +103,6 @@ var uploadProfilesCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			err   error
 		)
 
-		log.Debug().
-			Str("host", host).
-			Str("query", query).
-			Str("cacert", cacertPath).
-			Send()
-
-		if cacertPath != "" {
-			c.LoadCertificateFromPath(cacertPath)
-		}
-
 		// load files from args
 		for i, path := range args {
 			body, err = os.ReadFile(path)
@@ -188,9 +160,8 @@ var uploadPluginsCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		// make one request be host positional argument (restricted to 1 for now)
 		// temp := append(handleArgs(args), processDataArgs(dataArgs)...)
 		var (
-			host, _       = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
-			dataArgs, _   = cmd.Flags().GetStringArray("data")
-			cacertPath, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("cacert")
+			host, _     = cmd.Flags().GetString("host")
+			dataArgs, _ = cmd.Flags().GetStringArray("data")
 
 			plugins = processFiles(dataArgs)
 			c       = client.New(host)
@@ -201,16 +172,6 @@ var uploadPluginsCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			err     error
 		)
 
-		log.Debug().
-			Str("host", host).
-			Str("query", query).
-			Str("cacert", cacertPath).
-			Send()
-
-		if cacertPath != "" {
-			c.LoadCertificateFromPath(cacertPath)
-		}
-
 		// load files from args
 		for i, path := range args {
 			body, err = os.ReadFile(path)
@@ -247,8 +208,6 @@ var uploadPluginsCmd = &cobra.Command{
 func init() {
 	uploadCmd.PersistentFlags().String("host", "http://localhost:5050", "Set the makeshift remote host (can be set with MAKESHIFT_HOST)")
 	uploadCmd.PersistentFlags().StringArrayP("data", "d", []string{}, "Set the data to send to specified host (prepend @ for files)")
-	uploadCmd.PersistentFlags().String("cacert", "", "Set the CA certificate path to load")
-
 	uploadCmd.Flags().StringP("path", "p", ".", "Set the path to list files (can be set with MAKESHIFT_PATH)")
 
 	uploadProfilesCmd.Flags().VarP(&inputFormat, "format", "F", "Set the input format for profile")
@@ -261,27 +220,31 @@ func processFiles(args []string) map[string][]byte {
 	// load data either from file or directly from args
 	var collection = make(map[string][]byte, len(args))
 	for _, arg := range args {
-		// skip empty string args
+		// if arg is empty string, then skip and continue
 		if len(arg) > 0 {
 			// determine if we're reading from file to load contents
 			if strings.HasPrefix(arg, "@") {
-				var path string = strings.TrimLeft(arg, "@")
-
-				// process sub-directories recursively
-				newCollection, err := processDir(path)
+				var (
+					path     string = strings.TrimLeft(arg, "@")
+					contents []byte
+					err      error
+				)
+				contents, err = os.ReadFile(path)
 				if err != nil {
-					log.Warn().
-						Err(err).
-						Str("path", path).
-						Msg("failed to process directory at path")
+					log.Error().Err(err).Str("path", path).Msg("failed to read file")
+					continue
 				}
-				log.Trace().
-					Str("path", path).
-					Msg("new collection added at path")
-				maps.Copy(collection, newCollection)
 
+				// skip empty files
+				if len(contents) == 0 {
+					log.Warn().Str("path", path).Msg("file is empty")
+					continue
+				}
+
+				// add loaded data to collection of all data
+				collection[path] = contents
 			} else {
-				log.Warn().Msg("only files can be uploaded (add @ before the path with '--data' flag)")
+				log.Warn().Msg("only files can be uploaded (add @ before the path)")
 
 				continue
 			}
@@ -312,28 +275,20 @@ func processProfiles(args []string) []*makeshift.Profile {
 				)
 				contents, err = os.ReadFile(path)
 				if err != nil {
-					log.Error().
-						Err(err).
-						Str("path", path).
-						Msg("failed to read file")
+					log.Error().Err(err).Str("path", path).Msg("failed to read file")
 					continue
 				}
 
 				// skip empty files
 				if len(contents) == 0 {
-					log.Warn().
-						Str("path", path).
-						Msg("file is empty")
+					log.Warn().Str("path", path).Msg("file is empty")
 					continue
 				}
 
 				// convert/validate input data
 				data, err = parseProfile(contents, format.DataFormatFromFileExt(path, inputFormat))
 				if err != nil {
-					log.Error().
-						Err(err).
-						Str("path", path).
-						Msg("failed to validate input from file")
+					log.Error().Err(err).Str("path", path).Msg("failed to validate input from file")
 				}
 
 				// add loaded data to collection of all data
@@ -351,9 +306,7 @@ func processProfiles(args []string) []*makeshift.Profile {
 				}
 				err = json.Unmarshal(input, &data)
 				if err != nil {
-					log.Error().
-						Err(err).
-						Msgf("failed to unmarshal input for argument %d", i)
+					log.Error().Err(err).Msgf("failed to unmarshal input for argument %d", i)
 				}
 				return []*makeshift.Profile{data}
 			}
@@ -362,73 +315,6 @@ func processProfiles(args []string) []*makeshift.Profile {
 	return collection
 }
 
-func processDir(path string) (map[string][]byte, error) {
-	var (
-		collection = map[string][]byte{}
-		fileInfo   os.FileInfo
-		contents   []byte
-		err        error
-	)
-	// determine if path is directory
-	if fileInfo, err = os.Stat(path); err == nil {
-		if fileInfo.IsDir() {
-			filepath.WalkDir(path, func(path string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
-				if !d.IsDir() {
-					contents, err = os.ReadFile(path)
-					if err != nil {
-						log.Error().Err(err).Str("path", path).Msg("failed to read file")
-						return nil
-					}
-
-					// skip empty files
-					if len(contents) == 0 {
-						log.Warn().Str("path", path).Msg("file is empty")
-						return nil
-					}
-
-					log.Debug().
-						Str("path", path).
-						Msg("file added to collection")
-
-					// add loaded data to collection of all data
-					collection[path] = contents
-				} else {
-					// process sub-directories recursively
-					newCollection, err := processDir(path)
-					if err != nil {
-						return fmt.Errorf("failed to process directory at path '%s': %v", path, err)
-					}
-					log.Trace().
-						Str("path", path).
-						Msg("new collection added from nested directory")
-					maps.Copy(collection, newCollection)
-				}
-				return nil
-			})
-		} else {
-			contents, err = os.ReadFile(path)
-			if err != nil {
-				return collection, fmt.Errorf("failed to read file at path '%s': %v", path, err)
-			}
-
-			// skip empty files
-			if len(contents) == 0 {
-				return collection, fmt.Errorf("file is empty")
-			}
-
-			log.Debug().
-				Str("path", path).
-				Msg("file added to collection")
-
-			// add loaded data to collection of all data
-			collection[path] = contents
-		}
-	} else {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to stat file: %v", err)
-	}
-	return collection, nil
-}
-
 func parseProfile(contents []byte, dataFormat format.DataFormat) (*makeshift.Profile, error) {
 	var (
 		data *makeshift.Profile
diff --git a/internal/archive/archive.go b/internal/archive/archive.go
index 4fadf22..eaf6412 100644
--- a/internal/archive/archive.go
+++ b/internal/archive/archive.go
@@ -133,18 +133,10 @@ func addToArchive(tw *tar.Writer, filename string, hooks []makeshift.Hook) error
 		}
 		hook.Data.Set("file", contents)
 
-		err = hook.Init()
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
 		err = hook.Run()
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		err = hook.Cleanup()
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
 
 		// create temporary file to use to add to archive
 		hook = hooks[len(hooks)-1]
diff --git a/pkg/models.go b/pkg/models.go
index ff2e823..1b45444 100644
--- a/pkg/models.go
+++ b/pkg/models.go
@@ -29,18 +29,10 @@ type Hook struct {
 	Plugin Plugin
 }
 
-func (h *Hook) Init() error {
-	return h.Plugin.Init()
-}
-
 func (h *Hook) Run() error {
 	return h.Plugin.Run(h.Data, h.Args)
 }
 
-func (h *Hook) Cleanup() error {
-	return h.Plugin.Cleanup()
-}
-
 func PluginToMap(p Plugin) map[string]any {
 	return map[string]any{
 		"name":        p.Name(),
diff --git a/pkg/service/routes.go b/pkg/service/routes.go
index 7d371c9..b5dd890 100644
--- a/pkg/service/routes.go
+++ b/pkg/service/routes.go
@@ -142,14 +142,6 @@ func (s *Service) Download() http.HandlerFunc {
 								"version":     hook.Plugin.Version(),
 							},
 						}).Send()
-						err = hook.Init()
-						if err != nil {
-							log.Error().
-								Err(err).
-								Str("plugin", hook.Plugin.Name()).
-								Msg("failed to initialize plugin")
-							continue
-						}
 						err = hook.Run()
 						if err != nil {
 							log.Error().
@@ -158,14 +150,6 @@ func (s *Service) Download() http.HandlerFunc {
 								Msg("failed to run plugin")
 							continue
 						}
-						err = hook.Cleanup()
-						if err != nil {
-							log.Error().
-								Err(err).
-								Str("plugin", hook.Plugin.Name()).
-								Msg("failed to cleanup plugin")
-							continue
-						}
 					}
 
 					// take the contents from the last hook and update files
@@ -206,9 +190,7 @@ func (s *Service) Upload() http.HandlerFunc {
 		)
 
 		// show what we're uploading
-		log.Debug().
-			Str("path", path).
-			Msg("Service.Upload()")
+		log.Debug().Str("path", path).Msg("Service.Upload()")
 
 		// take the provided path and store the file contents
 		dirpath = filepath.Dir(path)
@@ -314,7 +296,7 @@ func (s *Service) loadProfiles(profileIDs []string, store storage.KVStore, errs
 			profile     *makeshift.Profile
 			err         error
 		)
-		if i > s.ProfilesMaxCount {
+		if i > DEFAULT_PROFILES_MAX_COUNT {
 			log.Warn().Msg("max profiles count reached...stopping")
 			return errs
 		}
@@ -347,7 +329,7 @@ func (s *Service) loadPlugins(pluginNames []string, store storage.KVStore, args
 			plugin     makeshift.Plugin
 			err        error
 		)
-		if i > s.PluginsMaxCount {
+		if i > DEFAULT_PLUGINS_MAX_COUNT {
 			log.Warn().Msg("max plugins count reached or exceeded...stopping")
 			return hooks, errs
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/service/service.go b/pkg/service/service.go
index 7197876..362a08c 100644
--- a/pkg/service/service.go
+++ b/pkg/service/service.go
@@ -19,10 +19,9 @@ import (
 )
 
 type Service struct {
-	Addr          string
-	RootPath      string `yaml:"root,omitempty"`
-	CACertFile    string `yaml:"cacert,omitempty"`
-	CACertKeyfile string `yaml:"keyfile,omitempty"`
+	Addr        string
+	RootPath    string `yaml:"root,omitempty"`
+	Environment map[string]string
 
 	// max counts
 	PluginsMaxCount  int
@@ -33,8 +32,13 @@ type Service struct {
 // New creates a new Service instance with default values
 func New() *Service {
 	return &Service{
-		Addr:             ":5050",
-		RootPath:         "./",
+		Addr:     ":5050",
+		RootPath: "./",
+		Environment: map[string]string{
+			"MAKESHIFT_HOST": "",
+			"MAKESHIFT_ROOT": "",
+			"ACCESS_TOKEN":   "",
+		},
 		PluginsMaxCount:  DEFAULT_PLUGINS_MAX_COUNT,
 		ProfilesMaxCount: DEFAULT_PROFILES_MAX_COUNT,
 		Timeout:          DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_IN_SECS,
@@ -117,11 +121,7 @@ func (s *Service) Serve() error {
 
 	// always available public routes go here
 	router.HandleFunc("/status", s.GetStatus)
-	if s.CACertFile != "" && s.CACertKeyfile != "" {
-		return http.ListenAndServeTLS(s.Addr, s.CACertFile, s.CACertKeyfile, router)
-	} else {
-		return http.ListenAndServe(s.Addr, router)
-	}
+	return http.ListenAndServe(s.Addr, router)
 }
 
 func (s *Service) requireAuth() bool {