diff --git a/.efrocachemap b/.efrocachemap
index e12917ca..e68c85b2 100644
--- a/.efrocachemap
+++ b/.efrocachemap
@@ -3940,18 +3940,18 @@
   "build/prefab/full/linux_x86_64/release/ballisticacore": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/11/c5/e0bf2d2b8f49ca5f37251c92b27d",
   "build/prefab/full/linux_x86_64_server/debug/dist/ballisticacore_headless": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/e0/14/b977cd5aeebf9911060c7a5e89b4",
   "build/prefab/full/linux_x86_64_server/release/dist/ballisticacore_headless": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/e9/fc/7bd6a5e9415a29eb5c05f5ef9330",
-  "build/prefab/full/mac_arm64/debug/ballisticacore": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/9c/aa/48c51a02a45debc7dba4e08497e4",
+  "build/prefab/full/mac_arm64/debug/ballisticacore": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/71/ef/8c9ab9836acf77c761e59e82e0e4",
   "build/prefab/full/mac_arm64/release/ballisticacore": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/83/db/c41d3815f8218bc07de270a89976",
-  "build/prefab/full/mac_arm64_server/debug/dist/ballisticacore_headless": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/2c/a4/427e8fdf20a81d46b0fdb1de8f76",
+  "build/prefab/full/mac_arm64_server/debug/dist/ballisticacore_headless": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/6c/e5/e3285ac07d2181af33c995181333",
   "build/prefab/full/mac_arm64_server/release/dist/ballisticacore_headless": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/5b/9a/97ecfd01f46e5d60110fce5154e5",
-  "build/prefab/full/mac_x86_64/debug/ballisticacore": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/a7/9b/22091a33113871fe9178d4745a2a",
+  "build/prefab/full/mac_x86_64/debug/ballisticacore": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/b4/44/3431d4bee306522090f4b3df32c1",
   "build/prefab/full/mac_x86_64/release/ballisticacore": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/e1/33/4a76b4caf23ccc7e052f8dbc9319",
-  "build/prefab/full/mac_x86_64_server/debug/dist/ballisticacore_headless": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/f6/d0/7b87d34b13f5cb7950a0ffa45fe9",
+  "build/prefab/full/mac_x86_64_server/debug/dist/ballisticacore_headless": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/8e/ea/7fea64f41eaf54901beae5d35e52",
   "build/prefab/full/mac_x86_64_server/release/dist/ballisticacore_headless": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/8d/10/bc0420b13a490468a9b0c17c7bd6",
-  "build/prefab/full/windows_x86/debug/BallisticaCore.exe": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/34/5f/31c444bae9e4addaf62868e6d544",
-  "build/prefab/full/windows_x86/release/BallisticaCore.exe": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/76/61/ac6b5aacb3b4ba410a5730bef602",
-  "build/prefab/full/windows_x86_server/debug/dist/ballisticacore_headless.exe": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/37/a0/396efd9512c58e15776258a6dbaa",
-  "build/prefab/full/windows_x86_server/release/dist/ballisticacore_headless.exe": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/c1/29/61eaddf05361c973917645544193",
+  "build/prefab/full/windows_x86/debug/BallisticaCore.exe": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/9c/f4/0841191f3813141c159dda3d11a8",
+  "build/prefab/full/windows_x86/release/BallisticaCore.exe": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/47/44/a70f6fbd98ca6f36332182d7617b",
+  "build/prefab/full/windows_x86_server/debug/dist/ballisticacore_headless.exe": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/98/5f/ba5b9b9c7ea867ed5dcbe8e8a0ba",
+  "build/prefab/full/windows_x86_server/release/dist/ballisticacore_headless.exe": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/27/e2/61a5a5ab4aaa0877412610298de8",
   "build/prefab/lib/linux_arm64/debug/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/05/1d/03a2b2487e67010afff2a855fa2e",
   "build/prefab/lib/linux_arm64/release/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/7c/8e/4be856155b5485c6a2ed8a605253",
   "build/prefab/lib/linux_arm64_server/debug/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/a6/7d/a267f67eb9c9eecc0c6c5d4381c4",
@@ -3960,12 +3960,12 @@
   "build/prefab/lib/linux_x86_64/release/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/98/24/86dfc03d0985b358527f1abbaca5",
   "build/prefab/lib/linux_x86_64_server/debug/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/20/82/4544f70ada88097fba6c34c23b77",
   "build/prefab/lib/linux_x86_64_server/release/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/be/05/4767c22c4e4821de606a12a9b2a6",
-  "build/prefab/lib/mac_arm64/debug/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/d7/e1/1dae62eb42fd7b66325278b84dba",
-  "build/prefab/lib/mac_arm64/release/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/22/e2/769d0b3e06b73edc6ad712f9a821",
-  "build/prefab/lib/mac_arm64_server/debug/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/b5/61/43b9fe96846c0ff72598a6f9ab9c",
-  "build/prefab/lib/mac_arm64_server/release/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/a4/9d/f30a305efea862cc1b483efc79d3",
-  "build/prefab/lib/mac_x86_64/debug/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/ee/bf/ebc6b503082cb03575d2927c0fc6",
-  "build/prefab/lib/mac_x86_64/release/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/85/d6/6664a0ce02bc4e513ed86ac1d61b",
-  "build/prefab/lib/mac_x86_64_server/debug/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/38/67/b85a805950491a0bb322be8497b5",
-  "build/prefab/lib/mac_x86_64_server/release/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/2e/9f/c537ed38c978b7fe030d3f06f421"
+  "build/prefab/lib/mac_arm64/debug/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/97/e7/74bd85c8f1977f50f50c0efd4f5f",
+  "build/prefab/lib/mac_arm64/release/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/13/5c/f439548a629b1b2c8beff79f4802",
+  "build/prefab/lib/mac_arm64_server/debug/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/85/94/f58e01484c1ccc9938d0bd30da2c",
+  "build/prefab/lib/mac_arm64_server/release/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/74/da/af32501dee7ae4425a296bbc8227",
+  "build/prefab/lib/mac_x86_64/debug/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/e5/b5/afd606774f75262abfdcb8fdcef7",
+  "build/prefab/lib/mac_x86_64/release/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/b7/c9/e3bf9b169734f8e264a47f497044",
+  "build/prefab/lib/mac_x86_64_server/debug/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/4a/bf/34a5673bf1322e4fe5f86db35e1d",
+  "build/prefab/lib/mac_x86_64_server/release/libballisticacore_internal.a": "https://files.ballistica.net/cache/ba1/6b/e7/1e0a6a7ff3131835ae3df2ed4f0d"
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b3a9b22c..a13f3155 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-### 1.6.0 (20333)
+### 1.6.0 (20353)
 - Revamped netcode significantly. We still don't have client-prediction, but things should (hopefully) feel much lower latency now.
 - Added network debug graphs accessible by hitting F8.
 - Added private parties functionality (cloud hosted parties with associated codes making it easier to play with friends)
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 - Better randomization for player free-for-all starting locations
 - Plugins can now register to be called for pause, resume, and shutdown events in addition to launch
 - Added ba.app.state holding the overall state of the app (running, paused, etc)
+- renamed the efro.dataclasses module to efro.dataclassio and added significant functionality
 
 ### 1.5.29 (20246)
 - Exposed ba method/class initing in public C++ layer.
diff --git a/docs/ba_module.md b/docs/ba_module.md
index 33899d08..86248abc 100644
--- a/docs/ba_module.md
+++ b/docs/ba_module.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- THIS FILE IS AUTO GENERATED; DO NOT EDIT BY HAND -->
-<h4><em>last updated on 2021-04-30 for Ballistica version 1.6.0 build 20352</em></h4>
+<h4><em>last updated on 2021-04-30 for Ballistica version 1.6.0 build 20353</em></h4>
 <p>This page documents the Python classes and functions in the 'ba' module,
  which are the ones most relevant to modding in Ballistica. If you come across something you feel should be included here or could be better explained, please <a href="mailto:support@froemling.net">let me know</a>. Happy modding!</p>
 <hr>
diff --git a/tools/bacommon/net.py b/tools/bacommon/net.py
index d123cd88..dd60e270 100644
--- a/tools/bacommon/net.py
+++ b/tools/bacommon/net.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 
 from efro import entity
+from efro.dataclassio import prepped
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from typing import Optional, Any, List, Dict
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ class ServerNodeQueryResponse(entity.Entity):
                                        store_default=False)
 
 
+@prepped
 @dataclass
 class PrivateHostingState:
     """Combined state of whether we're hosting, whether we can, etc."""
@@ -43,6 +45,7 @@ class PrivateHostingState:
     free_host_minutes_remaining: Optional[float] = None
 
 
+@prepped
 @dataclass
 class PrivateHostingConfig:
     """Config provided when hosting a private party."""
@@ -55,6 +58,7 @@ class PrivateHostingConfig:
     playlist: Optional[List[Dict[str, Any]]] = None
 
 
+@prepped
 @dataclass
 class PrivatePartyConnectResult:
     """Info about a server we get back when connecting."""
diff --git a/tools/efro/dataclassio.py b/tools/efro/dataclassio.py
index ce768b29..b76e641a 100644
--- a/tools/efro/dataclassio.py
+++ b/tools/efro/dataclassio.py
@@ -64,6 +64,18 @@ def dataclass_to_dict(obj: Any, coerce_to_float: bool = True) -> dict:
     return out
 
 
+def dataclass_to_json(obj: Any, coerce_to_float: bool = True) -> str:
+    """Utility function; return a json string from a dataclass instance.
+
+    Basically json.dumps(dataclass_to_dict(...)).
+    """
+    import json
+    return json.dumps(
+        dataclass_to_dict(obj=obj, coerce_to_float=coerce_to_float),
+        separators=(',', ':'),
+    )
+
+
 def dataclass_from_dict(cls: Type[T],
                         values: dict,
                         coerce_to_float: bool = True,
@@ -98,6 +110,23 @@ def dataclass_from_dict(cls: Type[T],
                      discard_unknown_attrs=discard_unknown_attrs).run(values)
 
 
+def dataclass_from_json(cls: Type[T],
+                        json_str: str,
+                        coerce_to_float: bool = True,
+                        allow_unknown_attrs: bool = True,
+                        discard_unknown_attrs: bool = False) -> T:
+    """Utility function; return a dataclass instance given a json string.
+
+    Basically dataclass_from_dict(json.loads(...))
+    """
+    import json
+    return dataclass_from_dict(cls=cls,
+                               values=json.loads(json_str),
+                               coerce_to_float=coerce_to_float,
+                               allow_unknown_attrs=allow_unknown_attrs,
+                               discard_unknown_attrs=discard_unknown_attrs)
+
+
 def dataclass_validate(obj: Any, coerce_to_float: bool = True) -> None:
     """Ensure that values in a dataclass instance are the correct types."""