diff --git a/src/constant.rs b/src/constant.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2085855
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/constant.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+pub const METADATA_SIZE: usize = 2;
+pub const MESSAGE_KIND_MOVE: u8 = 0;
+pub const MESSAGE_KIND_PLAYER_SETUP: u8 = 1;
+pub const MESSAGE_KIND_LOBBY_SETUP: u8 = 2;
+
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 88e2556..884e156 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -6,3 +6,4 @@ pub mod lobby;
 pub mod player;
 pub mod message;
 pub mod message_read;
+pub mod constant;
diff --git a/src/message.rs b/src/message.rs
index adbc9e2..17cd0d2 100644
--- a/src/message.rs
+++ b/src/message.rs
@@ -1,16 +1,28 @@
+use crate::constant::METADATA_SIZE;
+
 // everything here needs to be adjusted for the deserialized json
 //
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct Message {
+    pub message_kind: MessageKind,
     pub length: u16,
     pub content: String,
 }
 
+// idk i just want to layout something, really didn't think much
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub enum MessageKind {
+    Move(u8),
+    PlayerSetup(u8),
+    LobbySetup(u8),
+}
+
 impl Message {
     pub fn new(content: impl Into<String>) -> anyhow::Result<Self> {
         let content = content.into();
         let length = content.len() as u16;
 
+        // add message kind to constructor
         Ok(Self {
             length,
             content,
@@ -26,18 +38,14 @@ impl Message {
     }
 
     pub fn decode(buffer: &[u8]) -> anyhow::Result<Self> {
-        // this `if` compares the buffer length to the minimum
-        // message size (which is 2 because it takes to bytes
-        // to write 0), it is now hardcoded but it MUST be moved
-        // into a constant in a special constant definition file
-        // byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee luv ya
-        if buffer.len() < 2 {
+        if buffer.len() < METADATA_SIZE {
             return Err(anyhow::anyhow!("Invalid message length"));
         }
 
         let length = u16::from_be_bytes([buffer[0], buffer[1]]);
         let content = String::from_utf8(buffer[2..2 + length as usize].to_vec())?;
 
+        // add message kind to constructor
         Ok(Self {
             length,
             content,
diff --git a/src/message_read.rs b/src/message_read.rs
index 8fb8719..74535a1 100644
--- a/src/message_read.rs
+++ b/src/message_read.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
-// every hardcoded 2 will one day be a constant in a special
-// constant file but rn I AM LAZY AND ITS LATE
-//
-use crate::message::Message;
+// add message kind everywhere is needed
+use crate::{constant::METADATA_SIZE, message::Message};
 
 pub struct MessageReader {
     pub buffer: Vec<u8>,
@@ -13,17 +11,17 @@ impl MessageReader {
     }
 
     fn can_parse(&self) -> bool {
-        if self.buffer.len() < 2 {
+        if self.buffer.len() < METADATA_SIZE {
             return false;
         }
 
         let length = u16::from_be_bytes([self.buffer[0], self.buffer[1]]);
-        self.buffer.len() >= 2 + length as usize
+        self.buffer.len() >= METADATA_SIZE + length as usize
     }
 
     fn parse_first(&mut self) -> anyhow::Result<Message> {
         let length = u16::from_be_bytes([self.buffer[0], self.buffer[1]]);
-        let message_length = 2 + length as usize;
+        let message_length = METADATA_SIZE + length as usize;
         let message = self.buffer[..message_length].to_vec();
         self.buffer = self.buffer[message_length..].to_vec();