diff --git a/bittorrent/bittorrent.go b/bittorrent/bittorrent.go
index 24e71f0..f3ecd1f 100644
--- a/bittorrent/bittorrent.go
+++ b/bittorrent/bittorrent.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ func PeerIDFromBytes(b []byte) PeerID {
 
 	var buf [20]byte
 	copy(buf[:], b)
-	return PeerID(buf)
+	return buf
 }
 
 // String implements fmt.Stringer, returning the base16 encoded PeerID.
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func PeerIDFromString(s string) PeerID {
 
 	var buf [20]byte
 	copy(buf[:], s)
-	return PeerID(buf)
+	return buf
 }
 
 // InfoHash represents an infohash.
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func InfoHashFromBytes(b []byte) InfoHash {
 
 	var buf [20]byte
 	copy(buf[:], b)
-	return InfoHash(buf)
+	return buf
 }
 
 // InfoHashFromString creates an InfoHash from a string.
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ func InfoHashFromString(s string) InfoHash {
 
 	var buf [20]byte
 	copy(buf[:], s)
-	return InfoHash(buf)
+	return buf
 }
 
 // String implements fmt.Stringer, returning the base16 encoded InfoHash.
diff --git a/cmd/chihaya/config.go b/cmd/chihaya/config.go
index 38ee59c..939ac34 100644
--- a/cmd/chihaya/config.go
+++ b/cmd/chihaya/config.go
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ type Config struct {
 	MetricsAddr               string                  `yaml:"metrics_addr"`
 	HTTPConfig                http.Config             `yaml:"http"`
 	UDPConfig                 udp.Config              `yaml:"udp"`
-	Storage                   storageConfig           `yaml:"storage"`
-	PreHooks                  []middleware.HookConfig `yaml:"prehooks"`
-	PostHooks                 []middleware.HookConfig `yaml:"posthooks"`
+	Storage                   storageConfig       `yaml:"storage"`
+	PreHooks                  []middleware.Config `yaml:"prehooks"`
+	PostHooks                 []middleware.Config `yaml:"posthooks"`
 }
 
 // PreHookNames returns only the names of the configured middleware.
diff --git a/cmd/chihaya/main.go b/cmd/chihaya/main.go
index f797bc4..bb60c19 100644
--- a/cmd/chihaya/main.go
+++ b/cmd/chihaya/main.go
@@ -50,8 +50,12 @@ func (r *Run) Start(ps storage.PeerStore) error {
 
 	r.sg = stop.NewGroup()
 
-	log.Info("starting metrics server", log.Fields{"addr": cfg.MetricsAddr})
-	r.sg.Add(metrics.NewServer(cfg.MetricsAddr))
+	if len(cfg.MetricsAddr) > 0 {
+		log.Info("starting metrics server", log.Fields{"addr": cfg.MetricsAddr})
+		r.sg.Add(metrics.NewServer(cfg.MetricsAddr))
+	} else {
+		log.Info("metrics disabled because of empty address")
+	}
 
 	if ps == nil {
 		log.Info("starting storage", log.Fields{"name": cfg.Storage.Name})
diff --git a/frontend/http/bencode/bencode.go b/frontend/http/bencode/bencode.go
deleted file mode 100644
index e9bd05e..0000000
--- a/frontend/http/bencode/bencode.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,41 +0,0 @@
-// Package bencode implements bencoding of data as defined in BEP 3 using
-// type assertion over reflection for performance.
-package bencode
-
-import "bytes"
-
-// Enforce that Dict implements the Marshaler interface.
-var _ Marshaler = Dict{}
-
-// Dict represents a bencode dictionary.
-type Dict map[string]interface{}
-
-// NewDict allocates the memory for a Dict.
-func NewDict() Dict {
-	return make(Dict)
-}
-
-// MarshalBencode implements the Marshaler interface for Dict.
-func (d Dict) MarshalBencode() ([]byte, error) {
-	var buf bytes.Buffer
-	err := marshalMap(&buf, map[string]interface{}(d))
-	return buf.Bytes(), err
-}
-
-// Enforce that List implements the Marshaler interface.
-var _ Marshaler = List{}
-
-// List represents a bencode list.
-type List []interface{}
-
-// MarshalBencode implements the Marshaler interface for List.
-func (l List) MarshalBencode() ([]byte, error) {
-	var buf bytes.Buffer
-	err := marshalList(&buf, []interface{}(l))
-	return buf.Bytes(), err
-}
-
-// NewList allocates the memory for a List.
-func NewList() List {
-	return make(List, 0)
-}
diff --git a/frontend/http/bencode/decoder.go b/frontend/http/bencode/decoder.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 631641a..0000000
--- a/frontend/http/bencode/decoder.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,141 +0,0 @@
-package bencode
-
-import (
-	"bufio"
-	"bytes"
-	"errors"
-	"io"
-	"strconv"
-)
-
-// A Decoder reads bencoded objects from an input stream.
-type Decoder struct {
-	r *bufio.Reader
-}
-
-// NewDecoder returns a new decoder that reads from r.
-func NewDecoder(r io.Reader) *Decoder {
-	return &Decoder{r: bufio.NewReader(r)}
-}
-
-// Decode unmarshals the next bencoded value in the stream.
-func (dec *Decoder) Decode() (interface{}, error) {
-	return unmarshal(dec.r)
-}
-
-// Unmarshal deserializes and returns the bencoded value in buf.
-func Unmarshal(buf []byte) (interface{}, error) {
-	r := bufio.NewReader(bytes.NewBuffer(buf))
-	return unmarshal(r)
-}
-
-// unmarshal reads bencoded values from a bufio.Reader
-func unmarshal(r *bufio.Reader) (interface{}, error) {
-	tok, err := r.ReadByte()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	switch tok {
-	case 'i':
-		return readTerminatedInt(r, 'e')
-
-	case 'l':
-		return readList(r)
-
-	case 'd':
-		return readDict(r)
-
-	default:
-		err = r.UnreadByte()
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-
-		length, err := readTerminatedInt(r, ':')
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, errors.New("bencode: unknown input sequence")
-		}
-
-		buf := make([]byte, length)
-		n, err := r.Read(buf)
-
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		} else if int64(n) != length {
-			return nil, errors.New("bencode: short read")
-		}
-
-		return string(buf), nil
-	}
-}
-
-func readTerminator(r io.ByteScanner, term byte) (bool, error) {
-	tok, err := r.ReadByte()
-	if err != nil {
-		return false, err
-	} else if tok == term {
-		return true, nil
-	}
-	return false, r.UnreadByte()
-}
-
-func readTerminatedInt(r *bufio.Reader, term byte) (int64, error) {
-	buf, err := r.ReadSlice(term)
-	if err != nil {
-		return 0, err
-	} else if len(buf) <= 1 {
-		return 0, errors.New("bencode: empty integer field")
-	}
-
-	return strconv.ParseInt(string(buf[:len(buf)-1]), 10, 64)
-}
-
-func readList(r *bufio.Reader) (List, error) {
-	list := NewList()
-	for {
-		ok, err := readTerminator(r, 'e')
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		} else if ok {
-			break
-		}
-
-		v, err := unmarshal(r)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		list = append(list, v)
-	}
-
-	return list, nil
-}
-
-func readDict(r *bufio.Reader) (Dict, error) {
-	dict := NewDict()
-	for {
-		ok, err := readTerminator(r, 'e')
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		} else if ok {
-			break
-		}
-
-		v, err := unmarshal(r)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-
-		key, ok := v.(string)
-		if !ok {
-			return nil, errors.New("bencode: non-string map key")
-		}
-
-		dict[key], err = unmarshal(r)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-	}
-
-	return dict, nil
-}
diff --git a/frontend/http/bencode/decoder_test.go b/frontend/http/bencode/decoder_test.go
deleted file mode 100644
index ebb0378..0000000
--- a/frontend/http/bencode/decoder_test.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,84 +0,0 @@
-package bencode
-
-import (
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-)
-
-var unmarshalTests = []struct {
-	input    string
-	expected interface{}
-}{
-	{"i42e", int64(42)},
-	{"i-42e", int64(-42)},
-
-	{"7:example", "example"},
-
-	{"l3:one3:twoe", List{"one", "two"}},
-	{"le", List{}},
-
-	{"d3:one2:aa3:two2:bbe", Dict{"one": "aa", "two": "bb"}},
-	{"de", Dict{}},
-}
-
-func TestUnmarshal(t *testing.T) {
-	for _, tt := range unmarshalTests {
-		t.Run(tt.input, func(t *testing.T) {
-			got, err := Unmarshal([]byte(tt.input))
-			require.Nil(t, err, "unmarshal should not fail")
-			require.Equal(t, got, tt.expected, "unmarshalled values should match the expected results")
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-type bufferLoop struct {
-	val string
-}
-
-func (r *bufferLoop) Read(b []byte) (int, error) {
-	n := copy(b, r.val)
-	return n, nil
-}
-
-func BenchmarkUnmarshalScalar(b *testing.B) {
-	d1 := NewDecoder(&bufferLoop{"7:example"})
-	d2 := NewDecoder(&bufferLoop{"i42e"})
-
-	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		d1.Decode()
-		d2.Decode()
-	}
-}
-
-func TestUnmarshalLarge(t *testing.T) {
-	data := Dict{
-		"k1": List{"a", "b", "c"},
-		"k2": int64(42),
-		"k3": "val",
-		"k4": int64(-42),
-	}
-
-	buf, _ := Marshal(data)
-	dec := NewDecoder(&bufferLoop{string(buf)})
-
-	got, err := dec.Decode()
-	require.Nil(t, err, "decode should not fail")
-	require.Equal(t, got, data, "encoding and decoding should equal the original value")
-}
-
-func BenchmarkUnmarshalLarge(b *testing.B) {
-	data := map[string]interface{}{
-		"k1": []string{"a", "b", "c"},
-		"k2": 42,
-		"k3": "val",
-		"k4": uint(42),
-	}
-
-	buf, _ := Marshal(data)
-	dec := NewDecoder(&bufferLoop{string(buf)})
-
-	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		dec.Decode()
-	}
-}
diff --git a/frontend/http/bencode/encoder.go b/frontend/http/bencode/encoder.go
deleted file mode 100644
index ce6d4f6..0000000
--- a/frontend/http/bencode/encoder.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,196 +0,0 @@
-package bencode
-
-import (
-	"bytes"
-	"fmt"
-	"io"
-	"strconv"
-	"time"
-)
-
-// An Encoder writes bencoded objects to an output stream.
-type Encoder struct {
-	w io.Writer
-}
-
-// NewEncoder returns a new encoder that writes to w.
-func NewEncoder(w io.Writer) *Encoder {
-	return &Encoder{w: w}
-}
-
-// Encode writes the bencoding of v to the stream.
-func (enc *Encoder) Encode(v interface{}) error {
-	return marshal(enc.w, v)
-}
-
-// Marshal returns the bencoding of v.
-func Marshal(v interface{}) ([]byte, error) {
-	var buf bytes.Buffer
-	err := marshal(&buf, v)
-	return buf.Bytes(), err
-}
-
-// Marshaler is the interface implemented by objects that can marshal
-// themselves.
-type Marshaler interface {
-	MarshalBencode() ([]byte, error)
-}
-
-// marshal writes types bencoded to an io.Writer.
-func marshal(w io.Writer, data interface{}) (err error) {
-	switch v := data.(type) {
-	case Marshaler:
-		var bencoded []byte
-		bencoded, err = v.MarshalBencode()
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		_, err = w.Write(bencoded)
-
-	case []byte:
-		err = marshalBytes(w, v)
-
-	case string:
-		err = marshalString(w, v)
-
-	case []string:
-		err = marshalStringSlice(w, v)
-
-	case int:
-		err = marshalInt(w, int64(v))
-
-	case int16:
-		err = marshalInt(w, int64(v))
-
-	case int32:
-		err = marshalInt(w, int64(v))
-
-	case int64:
-		err = marshalInt(w, int64(v))
-
-	case uint:
-		err = marshalUint(w, uint64(v))
-
-	case uint16:
-		err = marshalUint(w, uint64(v))
-
-	case uint32:
-		err = marshalUint(w, uint64(v))
-
-	case uint64:
-		err = marshalUint(w, uint64(v))
-
-	case time.Duration: // Assume seconds
-		err = marshalInt(w, int64(v/time.Second))
-
-	case map[string]interface{}:
-		err = marshalMap(w, v)
-
-	case []interface{}:
-		err = marshalList(w, v)
-
-	case []Dict:
-		var interfaceSlice = make([]interface{}, len(v))
-		for i, d := range v {
-			interfaceSlice[i] = d
-		}
-		err = marshalList(w, interfaceSlice)
-
-	default:
-		return fmt.Errorf("attempted to marshal unsupported type:\n%T", v)
-	}
-
-	return err
-}
-
-func marshalInt(w io.Writer, v int64) error {
-	if _, err := w.Write([]byte{'i'}); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if _, err := w.Write([]byte(strconv.FormatInt(v, 10))); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	_, err := w.Write([]byte{'e'})
-	return err
-}
-
-func marshalUint(w io.Writer, v uint64) error {
-	if _, err := w.Write([]byte{'i'}); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if _, err := w.Write([]byte(strconv.FormatUint(v, 10))); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	_, err := w.Write([]byte{'e'})
-	return err
-}
-
-func marshalBytes(w io.Writer, v []byte) error {
-	if _, err := w.Write([]byte(strconv.Itoa(len(v)))); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if _, err := w.Write([]byte{':'}); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	_, err := w.Write(v)
-	return err
-}
-
-func marshalString(w io.Writer, v string) error {
-	return marshalBytes(w, []byte(v))
-}
-
-func marshalStringSlice(w io.Writer, v []string) error {
-	if _, err := w.Write([]byte{'l'}); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	for _, val := range v {
-		if err := marshal(w, val); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	}
-
-	_, err := w.Write([]byte{'e'})
-	return err
-}
-
-func marshalList(w io.Writer, v []interface{}) error {
-	if _, err := w.Write([]byte{'l'}); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	for _, val := range v {
-		if err := marshal(w, val); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	}
-
-	_, err := w.Write([]byte{'e'})
-	return err
-}
-
-func marshalMap(w io.Writer, v map[string]interface{}) error {
-	if _, err := w.Write([]byte{'d'}); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	for key, val := range v {
-		if err := marshalString(w, key); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		if err := marshal(w, val); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	}
-
-	_, err := w.Write([]byte{'e'})
-	return err
-}
diff --git a/frontend/http/bencode/encoder_test.go b/frontend/http/bencode/encoder_test.go
deleted file mode 100644
index b173f3c..0000000
--- a/frontend/http/bencode/encoder_test.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,72 +0,0 @@
-package bencode
-
-import (
-	"bytes"
-	"fmt"
-	"testing"
-	"time"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-)
-
-var marshalTests = []struct {
-	input    interface{}
-	expected []string
-}{
-	{int(42), []string{"i42e"}},
-	{int(-42), []string{"i-42e"}},
-	{uint(43), []string{"i43e"}},
-	{int64(44), []string{"i44e"}},
-	{uint64(45), []string{"i45e"}},
-	{int16(44), []string{"i44e"}},
-	{uint16(45), []string{"i45e"}},
-
-	{"example", []string{"7:example"}},
-	{[]byte("example"), []string{"7:example"}},
-	{30 * time.Minute, []string{"i1800e"}},
-
-	{[]string{"one", "two"}, []string{"l3:one3:twoe", "l3:two3:onee"}},
-	{[]interface{}{"one", "two"}, []string{"l3:one3:twoe", "l3:two3:onee"}},
-	{[]string{}, []string{"le"}},
-
-	{map[string]interface{}{"one": "aa", "two": "bb"}, []string{"d3:one2:aa3:two2:bbe", "d3:two2:bb3:one2:aae"}},
-	{map[string]interface{}{}, []string{"de"}},
-
-	{[]Dict{{"a": "b"}, {"c": "d"}}, []string{"ld1:a1:bed1:c1:dee", "ld1:c1:ded1:a1:bee"}},
-}
-
-func TestMarshal(t *testing.T) {
-	for _, tt := range marshalTests {
-		t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("%#v", tt.input), func(t *testing.T) {
-			got, err := Marshal(tt.input)
-			require.Nil(t, err, "marshal should not fail")
-			require.Contains(t, tt.expected, string(got), "the marshaled result should be one of the expected permutations")
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-func BenchmarkMarshalScalar(b *testing.B) {
-	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
-	encoder := NewEncoder(buf)
-
-	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		encoder.Encode("test")
-		encoder.Encode(123)
-	}
-}
-
-func BenchmarkMarshalLarge(b *testing.B) {
-	data := map[string]interface{}{
-		"k1": []string{"a", "b", "c"},
-		"k2": 42,
-		"k3": "val",
-		"k4": uint(42),
-	}
-
-	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
-	encoder := NewEncoder(buf)
-
-	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		encoder.Encode(data)
-	}
-}
diff --git a/frontend/http/writer.go b/frontend/http/writer.go
index 8854762..aed1c69 100644
--- a/frontend/http/writer.go
+++ b/frontend/http/writer.go
@@ -1,13 +1,15 @@
 package http
 
 import (
+	"github.com/zeebo/bencode"
 	"net/http"
 
 	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/bittorrent"
-	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/frontend/http/bencode"
 	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/pkg/log"
 )
 
+type strMap map[string]interface{}
+
 // WriteError communicates an error to a BitTorrent client over HTTP.
 func WriteError(w http.ResponseWriter, err error) error {
 	message := "internal server error"
@@ -18,7 +20,7 @@ func WriteError(w http.ResponseWriter, err error) error {
 	}
 
 	w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
-	return bencode.NewEncoder(w).Encode(bencode.Dict{
+	return bencode.NewEncoder(w).Encode(map[string]interface{}{
 		"failure reason": message,
 	})
 }
@@ -26,7 +28,7 @@ func WriteError(w http.ResponseWriter, err error) error {
 // WriteAnnounceResponse communicates the results of an Announce to a
 // BitTorrent client over HTTP.
 func WriteAnnounceResponse(w http.ResponseWriter, resp *bittorrent.AnnounceResponse) error {
-	bdict := bencode.Dict{
+	bdict := strMap{
 		"complete":     resp.Complete,
 		"incomplete":   resp.Incomplete,
 		"interval":     resp.Interval,
@@ -57,7 +59,7 @@ func WriteAnnounceResponse(w http.ResponseWriter, resp *bittorrent.AnnounceRespo
 	}
 
 	// Add the peers to the dictionary.
-	var peers []bencode.Dict
+	var peers []strMap
 	for _, peer := range resp.IPv4Peers {
 		peers = append(peers, dict(peer))
 	}
@@ -72,15 +74,15 @@ func WriteAnnounceResponse(w http.ResponseWriter, resp *bittorrent.AnnounceRespo
 // WriteScrapeResponse communicates the results of a Scrape to a BitTorrent
 // client over HTTP.
 func WriteScrapeResponse(w http.ResponseWriter, resp *bittorrent.ScrapeResponse) error {
-	filesDict := bencode.NewDict()
+	filesDict := make(strMap)
 	for _, scrape := range resp.Files {
-		filesDict[string(scrape.InfoHash[:])] = bencode.Dict{
+		filesDict[string(scrape.InfoHash[:])] = strMap{
 			"complete":   scrape.Complete,
 			"incomplete": scrape.Incomplete,
 		}
 	}
 
-	return bencode.NewEncoder(w).Encode(bencode.Dict{
+	return bencode.NewEncoder(w).Encode(strMap{
 		"files": filesDict,
 	})
 }
@@ -107,8 +109,8 @@ func compact6(peer bittorrent.Peer) (buf []byte) {
 	return
 }
 
-func dict(peer bittorrent.Peer) bencode.Dict {
-	return bencode.Dict{
+func dict(peer bittorrent.Peer) strMap {
+	return strMap{
 		"peer id": string(peer.ID[:]),
 		"ip":      peer.IP.String(),
 		"port":    peer.Port,
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 47485dc..e493164 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/alicebob/gopher-json v0.0.0-20180125190556-5a6b3ba71ee6 // indirect
 	github.com/alicebob/miniredis v2.5.0+incompatible
 	github.com/anacrolix/torrent v1.28.0
+	github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.4.9
 	github.com/go-redsync/redsync v1.4.2
 	github.com/gomodule/redigo v2.0.0+incompatible
 	github.com/julienschmidt/httprouter v1.3.0
@@ -18,5 +19,6 @@ require (
 	github.com/spf13/cobra v1.1.3
 	github.com/stretchr/testify v1.7.0
 	github.com/yuin/gopher-lua v0.0.0-20191220021717-ab39c6098bdb // indirect
+	github.com/zeebo/bencode v1.0.0
 	gopkg.in/yaml.v2 v2.4.0
 )
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 3c4af9b..7427679 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -223,6 +223,7 @@ github.com/franela/goreq v0.0.0-20171204163338-bcd34c9993f8/go.mod h1:ZhphrRTfi2
 github.com/frankban/quicktest v1.9.0/go.mod h1:ui7WezCLWMWxVWr1GETZY3smRy0G4KWq9vcPtJmFl7Y=
 github.com/frankban/quicktest v1.11.3/go.mod h1:wRf/ReqHper53s+kmmSZizM8NamnL3IM0I9ntUbOk+k=
 github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.4.7/go.mod h1:jwhsz4b93w/PPRr/qN1Yymfu8t87LnFCMoQvtojpjFo=
+github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.4.9 h1:hsms1Qyu0jgnwNXIxa+/V/PDsU6CfLf6CNO8H7IWoS4=
 github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.4.9/go.mod h1:znqG4EE+3YCdAaPaxE2ZRY/06pZUdp0tY4IgpuI1SZQ=
 github.com/ghodss/yaml v1.0.0/go.mod h1:4dBDuWmgqj2HViK6kFavaiC9ZROes6MMH2rRYeMEF04=
 github.com/gliderlabs/ssh v0.1.1/go.mod h1:U7qILu1NlMHj9FlMhZLlkCdDnU1DBEAqr0aevW3Awn0=
@@ -693,6 +694,8 @@ github.com/xiang90/probing v0.0.0-20190116061207-43a291ad63a2/go.mod h1:UETIi67q
 github.com/yuin/goldmark v1.2.1/go.mod h1:3hX8gzYuyVAZsxl0MRgGTJEmQBFcNTphYh9decYSb74=
 github.com/yuin/gopher-lua v0.0.0-20191220021717-ab39c6098bdb h1:ZkM6LRnq40pR1Ox0hTHlnpkcOTuFIDQpZ1IN8rKKhX0=
 github.com/yuin/gopher-lua v0.0.0-20191220021717-ab39c6098bdb/go.mod h1:gqRgreBUhTSL0GeU64rtZ3Uq3wtjOa/TB2YfrtkCbVQ=
+github.com/zeebo/bencode v1.0.0 h1:zgop0Wu1nu4IexAZeCZ5qbsjU4O1vMrfCrVgUjbHVuA=
+github.com/zeebo/bencode v1.0.0/go.mod h1:Ct7CkrWIQuLWAy9M3atFHYq4kG9Ao/SsY5cdtCXmp9Y=
 go.etcd.io/bbolt v1.3.2/go.mod h1:IbVyRI1SCnLcuJnV2u8VeU0CEYM7e686BmAb1XKL+uU=
 go.etcd.io/bbolt v1.3.3/go.mod h1:IbVyRI1SCnLcuJnV2u8VeU0CEYM7e686BmAb1XKL+uU=
 go.etcd.io/bbolt v1.3.4/go.mod h1:G5EMThwa9y8QZGBClrRx5EY+Yw9kAhnjy3bSjsnlVTQ=
diff --git a/middleware/clientapproval/clientapproval.go b/middleware/clientapproval/clientapproval.go
index 51c2a55..6e08d7f 100644
--- a/middleware/clientapproval/clientapproval.go
+++ b/middleware/clientapproval/clientapproval.go
@@ -6,8 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v2"
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v2"
 
 	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/bittorrent"
 	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/middleware"
diff --git a/middleware/hooks.go b/middleware/hooks.go
index 4649f28..8a8e9cf 100644
--- a/middleware/hooks.go
+++ b/middleware/hooks.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package middleware
 
 import (
 	"context"
-
 	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/bittorrent"
 	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/storage"
 )
diff --git a/middleware/jwt/jwt.go b/middleware/jwt/jwt.go
index a7541ac..f9f35f9 100644
--- a/middleware/jwt/jwt.go
+++ b/middleware/jwt/jwt.go
@@ -119,15 +119,13 @@ func (h *hook) updateKeys() error {
 		log.Error("failed to fetch JWK Set", log.Err(err))
 		return err
 	}
-
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
 	var parsedJWKs gojwk.Key
 	err = json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&parsedJWKs)
 	if err != nil {
-		resp.Body.Close()
 		log.Error("failed to decode JWK JSON", log.Err(err))
 		return err
 	}
-	resp.Body.Close()
 
 	keys := map[string]crypto.PublicKey{}
 	for _, parsedJWK := range parsedJWKs.Keys {
diff --git a/middleware/middleware.go b/middleware/middleware.go
index eb23fb8..90644bf 100644
--- a/middleware/middleware.go
+++ b/middleware/middleware.go
@@ -65,14 +65,14 @@ func New(name string, optionBytes []byte) (Hook, error) {
 	return d.NewHook(optionBytes)
 }
 
-// HookConfig is the generic configuration format used for all registered Hooks.
-type HookConfig struct {
+// Config is the generic configuration format used for all registered Hooks.
+type Config struct {
 	Name    string                 `yaml:"name"`
 	Options map[string]interface{} `yaml:"options"`
 }
 
 // HooksFromHookConfigs is a utility function for initializing Hooks in bulk.
-func HooksFromHookConfigs(cfgs []HookConfig) (hooks []Hook, err error) {
+func HooksFromHookConfigs(cfgs []Config) (hooks []Hook, err error) {
 	for _, cfg := range cfgs {
 		// Marshal the options back into bytes.
 		var optionBytes []byte
diff --git a/middleware/pkg/random/entropy.go b/middleware/pkg/random/entropy.go
index d62fed8..8ee44a3 100644
--- a/middleware/pkg/random/entropy.go
+++ b/middleware/pkg/random/entropy.go
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import (
 //
 // Calling DeriveEntropyFromRequest multiple times yields the same values.
 func DeriveEntropyFromRequest(req *bittorrent.AnnounceRequest) (uint64, uint64) {
-	v0 := binary.BigEndian.Uint64([]byte(req.InfoHash[:8])) + binary.BigEndian.Uint64([]byte(req.InfoHash[8:16]))
-	v1 := binary.BigEndian.Uint64([]byte(req.Peer.ID[:8])) + binary.BigEndian.Uint64([]byte(req.Peer.ID[8:16]))
+	v0 := binary.BigEndian.Uint64(req.InfoHash[:8]) + binary.BigEndian.Uint64(req.InfoHash[8:16])
+	v1 := binary.BigEndian.Uint64(req.Peer.ID[:8]) + binary.BigEndian.Uint64(req.Peer.ID[8:16])
 	return v0, v1
 }
diff --git a/middleware/pkg/random/xorshift.go b/middleware/pkg/random/xorshift.go
index e229f31..78d5f03 100644
--- a/middleware/pkg/random/xorshift.go
+++ b/middleware/pkg/random/xorshift.go
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ package random
 func GenerateAndAdvance(s0, s1 uint64) (v, newS0, newS1 uint64) {
 	v = s0 + s1
 	newS0 = s1
-	s0 ^= (s0 << 23)
+	s0 ^= s0 << 23
 	newS1 = s0 ^ s1 ^ (s0 >> 18) ^ (s1 >> 5)
 	return
 }
diff --git a/middleware/torrentapproval/container/container.go b/middleware/torrentapproval/container/container.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aa5d684
--- /dev/null
+++ b/middleware/torrentapproval/container/container.go
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+package container
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/bittorrent"
+	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/pkg/stop"
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v2"
+	"sync"
+)
+
+type Builder interface {
+	New() (Container, error)
+}
+
+var (
+	buildersMU sync.Mutex
+	builders   = make(map[string]Builder)
+
+	ErrContainerDoesNotExist = errors.New("torrent hash container with that name does not exist")
+)
+
+func Register(n string, c Builder) {
+	if len(n) == 0 {
+		panic("middleware: could not register a Container with an empty name")
+	}
+	if c == nil {
+		panic("middleware: could not register a Container with nil builder")
+	}
+
+	buildersMU.Lock()
+	defer buildersMU.Unlock()
+	builders[n] = c
+}
+
+type Container interface {
+	stop.Stopper
+	Contains(bittorrent.InfoHash) bool
+}
+
+func GetContainer(name string, confBytes []byte) (Container, error) {
+	buildersMU.Lock()
+	defer buildersMU.Unlock()
+	var err error
+	var cn Container
+	if builder, exist := builders[name]; !exist {
+		err = ErrContainerDoesNotExist
+	} else {
+		if err = yaml.Unmarshal(confBytes, &cn); err == nil {
+			cn, err = builder.New()
+		}
+	}
+	return cn, err
+}
diff --git a/middleware/torrentapproval/container/directory/directory.go b/middleware/torrentapproval/container/directory/directory.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f3dbd61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/middleware/torrentapproval/container/directory/directory.go
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+package directory
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/bittorrent"
+	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/middleware/torrentapproval/container"
+	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/middleware/torrentapproval/container/list"
+	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/pkg/log"
+	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/pkg/stop"
+	"github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sync"
+)
+
+func init() {
+	container.Register("list", builder{})
+}
+
+type builder struct {
+	WhitelistPath string `yaml:"whitelist_path"`
+	BlacklistPath string `yaml:"blacklist_path"`
+}
+
+func (b builder) New() (container.Container, error) {
+	if len(b.WhitelistPath) > 0 && len(b.BlacklistPath) > 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("using both whitelist and blacklist is invalid")
+	}
+	var err error
+	dirLister := &directory{
+		List: list.List{
+			Hashes: sync.Map{},
+			Invert: len(b.WhitelistPath) == 0,
+		},
+		files:   sync.Map{},
+		root:    b.WhitelistPath,
+		watcher: nil,
+	}
+	if dirLister.Invert {
+		dirLister.root = b.BlacklistPath
+	}
+	var w *fsnotify.Watcher
+	if w, err = fsnotify.NewWatcher(); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to initialize fsnotify mechanism")
+	}
+	if dirContent, err := os.ReadDir(dirLister.root); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	} else {
+		for _, f := range dirContent {
+			if !f.IsDir() {
+				if err = dirLister.processFile(f.Name(), false); err != nil {
+					log.Warn(err)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if err = w.Add(dirLister.root); err != nil {
+		_ = w.Close()
+		dirLister = nil
+	}
+	return dirLister, err
+}
+
+func (d *directory) watch() {
+	go func() {
+		for err := range d.watcher.Errors {
+			log.Error(err)
+		}
+	}()
+	go func() {
+		for event := range d.watcher.Events {
+			log.Debug(event.String())
+			//todo: implement event type parsing
+		}
+	}()
+}
+
+func (d *directory) processFile(name string, delete bool) error {
+	fullName := filepath.Join(d.root, name)
+	if delete {
+		if hash, found := d.files.Load(fullName); found{
+			d.Hashes.Delete(hash)
+		}
+	} else {
+		var hashBytes []byte
+		info := bittorrent.InfoHashFromBytes(hashBytes)
+		d.files.Store(fullName, info)
+		d.Hashes.Store(info, list.DUMMY)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+type directory struct {
+	list.List
+	files   sync.Map
+	root    string
+	watcher *fsnotify.Watcher
+}
+
+func (d *directory) Stop() stop.Result {
+	ch := make(stop.Channel)
+	go ch.Done(d.watcher.Close())
+	return ch.Result()
+}
diff --git a/middleware/torrentapproval/container/list/list.go b/middleware/torrentapproval/container/list/list.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6c5f022
--- /dev/null
+++ b/middleware/torrentapproval/container/list/list.go
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+package list
+
+import (
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"fmt"
+	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/bittorrent"
+	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/middleware/torrentapproval/container"
+	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/pkg/stop"
+	"sync"
+)
+
+func init() {
+	container.Register("list", Builder{})
+}
+
+type Builder struct {
+	Whitelist []string `yaml:"whitelist"`
+	Blacklist []string `yaml:"blacklist"`
+}
+
+var DUMMY struct{}
+
+func (b Builder) New() (container.Container, error) {
+	if len(b.Whitelist) > 0 && len(b.Blacklist) > 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("using both whitelist and blacklist is invalid")
+	}
+	l := &List{
+		Hashes: sync.Map{},
+		Invert: len(b.Whitelist) == 0,
+	}
+
+	hashList := b.Whitelist
+	if l.Invert {
+		l.Invert = true
+		hashList = b.Blacklist
+	}
+
+	for _, hashString := range hashList {
+		hashinfo, err := hex.DecodeString(hashString)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("whitelist : invalid hash %s", hashString)
+		}
+		if len(hashinfo) != 20 {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("whitelist : hash %s is not 20 byes", hashString)
+		}
+		l.Hashes.Store(bittorrent.InfoHashFromBytes(hashinfo), DUMMY)
+	}
+	return l, nil
+}
+
+type List struct {
+	Invert bool
+	Hashes sync.Map
+}
+
+func (l *List) Stop() stop.Result {
+	return stop.AlreadyStopped
+}
+
+func (l *List) Contains(hash bittorrent.InfoHash) bool {
+	_, result := l.Hashes.Load(hash)
+	return result != l.Invert
+}
diff --git a/middleware/torrentapproval/torrentapproval.go b/middleware/torrentapproval/torrentapproval.go
index 8842e39..7030dd9 100644
--- a/middleware/torrentapproval/torrentapproval.go
+++ b/middleware/torrentapproval/torrentapproval.go
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@ package torrentapproval
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"encoding/hex"
 	"fmt"
-
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v2"
+	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/middleware/torrentapproval/container"
+	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/pkg/stop"
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v2"
 
 	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/bittorrent"
 	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/middleware"
@@ -20,90 +20,58 @@ func init() {
 	middleware.RegisterDriver(Name, driver{})
 }
 
-var _ middleware.Driver = driver{}
-
 type driver struct{}
 
 func (d driver) NewHook(optionBytes []byte) (middleware.Hook, error) {
-	var cfg Config
+	var cfg middleware.Config
 	err := yaml.Unmarshal(optionBytes, &cfg)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid options for middleware %s: %s", Name, err)
 	}
 
-	return NewHook(cfg)
+	if len(cfg.Name) == 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid options for middleware %s: name not provided", Name)
+	}
+
+	if cfg.Options == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid options for middleware %s: options not provided", Name)
+	}
+
+	var confBytes []byte
+	if confBytes, err = yaml.Marshal(cfg.Options); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if c, err := container.GetContainer(cfg.Name, confBytes); err == nil{
+		return &hook{c}, nil
+	} else {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 }
 
 // ErrTorrentUnapproved is the error returned when a torrent hash is invalid.
 var ErrTorrentUnapproved = bittorrent.ClientError("unapproved torrent")
 
-// Config represents all the values required by this middleware to validate
-// torrents based on their hash value.
-type Config struct {
-	Whitelist []string `yaml:"whitelist"`
-	Blacklist []string `yaml:"blacklist"`
-}
-
 type hook struct {
-	approved   map[bittorrent.InfoHash]struct{}
-	unapproved map[bittorrent.InfoHash]struct{}
+	hashContainer container.Container
 }
 
-// NewHook returns an instance of the torrent approval middleware.
-func NewHook(cfg Config) (middleware.Hook, error) {
-	h := &hook{
-		approved:   make(map[bittorrent.InfoHash]struct{}),
-		unapproved: make(map[bittorrent.InfoHash]struct{}),
-	}
-
-	if len(cfg.Whitelist) > 0 && len(cfg.Blacklist) > 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("using both whitelist and blacklist is invalid")
-	}
-
-	for _, hashString := range cfg.Whitelist {
-		hashinfo, err := hex.DecodeString(hashString)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("whitelist : invalid hash %s", hashString)
-		}
-		if len(hashinfo) != 20 {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("whitelist : hash %s is not 20 byes", hashString)
-		}
-		h.approved[bittorrent.InfoHashFromBytes(hashinfo)] = struct{}{}
-	}
-
-	for _, hashString := range cfg.Blacklist {
-		hashinfo, err := hex.DecodeString(hashString)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("blacklist : invalid hash %s", hashString)
-		}
-		if len(hashinfo) != 20 {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("blacklist : hash %s is not 20 byes", hashString)
-		}
-		h.unapproved[bittorrent.InfoHashFromBytes(hashinfo)] = struct{}{}
-	}
-
-	return h, nil
-}
 
 func (h *hook) HandleAnnounce(ctx context.Context, req *bittorrent.AnnounceRequest, resp *bittorrent.AnnounceResponse) (context.Context, error) {
-	infohash := req.InfoHash
+	var err error
 
-	if len(h.approved) > 0 {
-		if _, found := h.approved[infohash]; !found {
-			return ctx, ErrTorrentUnapproved
-		}
+	if !h.hashContainer.Contains(req.InfoHash){
+		err = ErrTorrentUnapproved
 	}
 
-	if len(h.unapproved) > 0 {
-		if _, found := h.unapproved[infohash]; found {
-			return ctx, ErrTorrentUnapproved
-		}
-	}
-
-	return ctx, nil
+	return ctx, err
 }
 
 func (h *hook) HandleScrape(ctx context.Context, req *bittorrent.ScrapeRequest, resp *bittorrent.ScrapeResponse) (context.Context, error) {
 	// Scrapes don't require any protection.
 	return ctx, nil
 }
+
+func (h *hook) Stop() stop.Result {
+	return h.hashContainer.Stop()
+}
diff --git a/storage/redis/peer_store.go b/storage/redis/peer_store.go
index 59c2413..5f45458 100644
--- a/storage/redis/peer_store.go
+++ b/storage/redis/peer_store.go
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ func (cfg Config) Validate() Config {
 		})
 	}
 
-	if cfg.PrometheusReportingInterval <= 0 {
+	if cfg.PrometheusReportingInterval < 0 {
 		validcfg.PrometheusReportingInterval = defaultPrometheusReportingInterval
 		log.Warn("falling back to default configuration", log.Fields{
 			"name":     Name + ".PrometheusReportingInterval",
@@ -209,23 +209,27 @@ func New(provided Config) (storage.PeerStore, error) {
 		}
 	}()
 
-	// Start a goroutine for reporting statistics to Prometheus.
-	ps.wg.Add(1)
-	go func() {
-		defer ps.wg.Done()
-		t := time.NewTicker(cfg.PrometheusReportingInterval)
-		for {
-			select {
-			case <-ps.closed:
-				t.Stop()
-				return
-			case <-t.C:
-				before := time.Now()
-				ps.populateProm()
-				log.Debug("storage: populateProm() finished", log.Fields{"timeTaken": time.Since(before)})
+	if cfg.PrometheusReportingInterval > 0 {
+		// Start a goroutine for reporting statistics to Prometheus.
+		ps.wg.Add(1)
+		go func() {
+			defer ps.wg.Done()
+			t := time.NewTicker(cfg.PrometheusReportingInterval)
+			for {
+				select {
+				case <-ps.closed:
+					t.Stop()
+					return
+				case <-t.C:
+					before := time.Now()
+					ps.populateProm()
+					log.Debug("storage: populateProm() finished", log.Fields{"timeTaken": time.Since(before)})
+				}
 			}
-		}
-	}()
+		}()
+	} else {
+		log.Info("prometheus disabled because of zero reporting interval")
+	}
 
 	return ps, nil
 }