diff --git a/client/src/lib/api.ts b/client/src/lib/api.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6b3012c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/lib/api.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+// client/src/lib/api.ts
+import type { MachineView, UpdateSnapshot, ActionType } from "@shared/types.js";
+
+async function req<T>(path: string, init?: RequestInit): Promise<T> {
+  const res = await fetch(`/api${path}`, {
+    headers: { "content-type": "application/json" },
+    ...init,
+  });
+  if (!res.ok) throw new Error((await res.json().catch(() => ({}))).error ?? res.statusText);
+  return res.json() as Promise<T>;
+}
+
+export const api = {
+  listMachines: () => req<MachineView[]>("/machines"),
+  createMachine: (body: unknown) => req<MachineView>("/machines", { method: "POST", body: JSON.stringify(body) }),
+  refresh: (id: string) => req<UpdateSnapshot>(`/machines/${id}/refresh`, { method: "POST" }),
+  snapshot: (id: string) => req<UpdateSnapshot>(`/machines/${id}/snapshot`),
+  runAction: (id: string, action: ActionType) =>
+    req<{ ok: boolean }>(`/machines/${id}/actions`, { method: "POST", body: JSON.stringify({ action }) }),
+  deleteMachine: (id: string) => req<{ ok: boolean }>(`/machines/${id}`, { method: "DELETE" }),
+};
diff --git a/client/src/lib/ws.ts b/client/src/lib/ws.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e0f7da3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/lib/ws.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+// client/src/lib/ws.ts
+export function connectOutput(machineId: string, onChunk: (s: string) => void): () => void {
+  const proto = location.protocol === "https:" ? "wss" : "ws";
+  const ws = new WebSocket(`${proto}://${location.host}/api/ws/machines/${machineId}/output`);
+  ws.onmessage = (ev) => onChunk(typeof ev.data === "string" ? ev.data : "");
+  return () => ws.close();
+}