diff --git a/assets/package-lock.json b/assets/package-lock.json
index 5e817ba..8ed0c9b 100644
--- a/assets/package-lock.json
+++ b/assets/package-lock.json
@@ -1641,11 +1641,6 @@
         "resolve-dir": "0.1.1"
       }
     },
-    "font-awesome": {
-      "version": "4.7.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/font-awesome/-/font-awesome-4.7.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-j6jPBBGhoxr9B7BtKQK7n8gVoTM="
-    },
     "for-in": {
       "version": "1.0.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/for-in/-/for-in-1.0.2.tgz",
diff --git a/assets/package.json b/assets/package.json
index a028f26..93d35e1 100644
--- a/assets/package.json
+++ b/assets/package.json
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "bootstrap": "^3.3.7",
-    "font-awesome": "^4.7.0",
     "jquery": "^3.3.1",
     "phoenix": "file:../deps/phoenix",
     "phoenix_html": "file:../deps/phoenix_html"
diff --git a/config/prod.exs b/config/prod.exs
index 109d3aa..3fe2d5b 100644
--- a/config/prod.exs
+++ b/config/prod.exs
@@ -15,12 +15,15 @@ use Mix.Config
 # which you typically run after static files are built.
 config :forum, ForumWeb.Endpoint,
   load_from_system_env: true,
-  url: [host: "forum.tilde.team", port: 4002],
+  # url: [host: "forum.tilde.team", port: 4002],
+  http: [port: {:system, "PORT"}],
   cache_static_manifest: "priv/static/cache_manifest.json"
 
 # Do not print debug messages in production
 config :logger, level: :info
 
+config :phoenix, :serve_endpoints, true
+
 # ## SSL Support
 #
 # To get SSL working, you will need to add the `https` key
diff --git a/domains b/domains
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..06f890e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/domains
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+forum.tilde.team
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/forum/forum.ex b/lib/forum/forum.ex
index 7211b49..199de11 100644
--- a/lib/forum/forum.ex
+++ b/lib/forum/forum.ex
@@ -39,6 +39,15 @@ defmodule Forum do
     Repo.get_by!(User, name: name)
   end
 
+  @doc """
+  Gets user id by name
+  """
+  def get_user_id_by_name(name) do
+    from(u in User, where: u.name == ^name, select: [u.id])
+    |> Repo.one()
+    |> hd
+  end
+
   @doc """
   Creates a user.
 
diff --git a/lib/forum/thread.ex b/lib/forum/thread.ex
index e95e31b..7041523 100644
--- a/lib/forum/thread.ex
+++ b/lib/forum/thread.ex
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ defmodule Forum.Thread do
 
   schema "threads" do
     field(:name, :string)
+    field(:sticky, :boolean)
 
     has_many(:posts, Forum.Post)
     belongs_to(:user, Forum.User)
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@ defmodule Forum.Thread do
   @doc false
   def changeset(%Thread{} = thread, attrs) do
     thread
-    |> cast(attrs, [:name, :user_id])
+    |> cast(attrs, [:name, :user_id, :sticky])
     |> validate_required([:name, :user_id])
     |> foreign_key_constraint(:user_id)
   end
diff --git a/lib/forum/user.ex b/lib/forum/user.ex
index cfb251f..590d0b8 100644
--- a/lib/forum/user.ex
+++ b/lib/forum/user.ex
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ defmodule Forum.User do
     |> unique_constraint(:name)
   end
 
+  @doc """
+  Gets contents of tagline.txt for user
+  """
   def tagline(user) do
     resp = get("~#{user.name}/tagline.txt")
 
@@ -36,4 +39,18 @@ defmodule Forum.User do
         "something went wrong..."
     end
   end
+
+  @doc """
+  Gets tilde url for user
+  """
+  def profile_url(user) do
+    "https://tilde.team/~#{user.name}/"
+  end
+
+  @doc """
+  Gets path to avatar for user
+  """
+  def pfp(user) do
+    profile_url(user) <> "avatar.png"
+  end
 end
diff --git a/lib/forum/util.ex b/lib/forum/util.ex
index e906319..e0a6f06 100644
--- a/lib/forum/util.ex
+++ b/lib/forum/util.ex
@@ -1,31 +1,43 @@
 defmodule Forum.Util do
+  @moduledoc """
+  General utilities for the Forum
+  """
+
   import Plug.Conn
 
-  alias Forum.Repo
-  alias Forum.User
-
+  @doc """
+  Converts Markdown to HTML
+  """
   def md(text) do
     text
     |> Earmark.as_html!()
     |> Phoenix.HTML.raw()
   end
 
-  def get_session_user(conn) do
-    Repo.get_by(User, name: current_username(conn))
-  end
-
+  @doc """
+  Gets the logged-in username for a conn
+  """
   def current_username(conn) do
     get_session(conn, :current_user)
   end
 
+  @doc """
+  Can current user sudo?
+  """
   def is_sudoer?(conn) do
     get_session(conn, :sudoer)
   end
 
+  @doc """
+
+  """
   def can_edit?(conn, user) do
     user.name == current_username(conn) or is_sudoer?(conn)
   end
 
+  @doc """
+
+  """
   def pp_time(time) do
     time
     |> Timex.local()
@@ -33,17 +45,19 @@ defmodule Forum.Util do
     |> String.downcase()
   end
 
-  def pfp(user) do
-    profile_url(user) <> "avatar.png"
-  end
-
-  def profile_url(user) do
-    "https://tilde.team/~#{user.name}/"
-  end
+  @doc """
 
+  """
   def paginate(conn, kerosene) do
     if kerosene.total_pages > 1 do
-      Kerosene.HTML.paginate(conn, kerosene, next_label: ">>", previous_label: "<<")
+      Kerosene.HTML.paginate(
+        conn,
+        kerosene,
+        next_label: ">>",
+        previous_label: "<<",
+        first_label: "first",
+        last_label: "last"
+      )
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/forum_web.ex b/lib/forum_web.ex
index 274551c..d900288 100644
--- a/lib/forum_web.ex
+++ b/lib/forum_web.ex
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ defmodule ForumWeb do
       import ForumWeb.ErrorHelpers
       import ForumWeb.Gettext
 
+      alias Forum.User
       alias Forum.Util
     end
   end
diff --git a/lib/forum_web/controllers/post_controller.ex b/lib/forum_web/controllers/post_controller.ex
index f953bd9..a4c0720 100644
--- a/lib/forum_web/controllers/post_controller.ex
+++ b/lib/forum_web/controllers/post_controller.ex
@@ -4,20 +4,16 @@ defmodule ForumWeb.PostController do
   def create(conn, %{"post" => post_params}) do
     case Forum.create_post(post_params) do
       {:ok, post} ->
-        post = Forum.Repo.preload(post, :thread)
-
         conn
         |> put_flash(:info, "reply created successfully.")
-        |> redirect(to: thread_path(conn, :show, post.thread.id))
+        |> redirect(to: thread_path(conn, :show, post.thread_id))
 
       {:error, %Ecto.Changeset{} = changeset} ->
-        user = Util.get_session_user(conn)
-
         render(
           conn,
           "new.html",
           changeset: changeset,
-          user_id: user.id,
+          user_id: Forum.get_user_id_by_name(Util.current_username(conn)),
           thread_id: post_params["thread_id"]
         )
     end
diff --git a/lib/forum_web/controllers/thread_controller.ex b/lib/forum_web/controllers/thread_controller.ex
index 664af0b..5f778ce 100644
--- a/lib/forum_web/controllers/thread_controller.ex
+++ b/lib/forum_web/controllers/thread_controller.ex
@@ -9,20 +9,39 @@ defmodule ForumWeb.ThreadController do
   alias Forum.User
 
   def index(conn, params) do
+    stickies =
+      Thread
+      |> order_by(desc: :updated_at)
+      |> where(sticky: true)
+      |> preload(:user)
+      |> Repo.all()
+
     {threads, kerosene} =
       Thread
       |> order_by(desc: :id)
+      |> where(sticky: false)
       |> preload(:user)
       |> Repo.paginate(params)
 
     tagline = Tesla.get("https://tilde.team/~ben/api/").body
-    render(conn, "index.html", threads: threads, kerosene: kerosene, tagline: tagline)
+
+    render(
+      conn,
+      "index.html",
+      stickies: stickies,
+      threads: threads,
+      kerosene: kerosene,
+      tagline: tagline
+    )
   end
 
   def new(conn, _params) do
-    changeset = Forum.change_thread(%Thread{})
-    user = Util.get_session_user(conn)
-    render(conn, "new.html", changeset: changeset, user_id: user.id)
+    changeset =
+      Forum.change_thread(%Thread{
+        user_id: conn |> Util.current_username() |> Forum.get_user_id_by_name()
+      })
+
+    render(conn, "new.html", changeset: changeset)
   end
 
   def create(conn, %{"thread" => thread_params}) do
diff --git a/lib/forum_web/templates/post/show.html.eex b/lib/forum_web/templates/post/show.html.eex
index 9be58d1..7551044 100644
--- a/lib/forum_web/templates/post/show.html.eex
+++ b/lib/forum_web/templates/post/show.html.eex
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   <div class="panel-body">
     <div class="pull-right">
       <a href="<%= user_path(@conn, :show, @post.user.name) %>">
-        <img src="<%= Util.pfp(@post.user) %>" alt="<%= @post.user.name %> avatar" width="96px" height="96px">
+        <img src="<%= User.pfp(@post.user) %>" alt="<%= @post.user.name %> avatar" width="96px" height="96px">
       </a>
     </div>
 
diff --git a/lib/forum_web/templates/thread/form.html.eex b/lib/forum_web/templates/thread/form.html.eex
index f12fd5e..3ff7359 100644
--- a/lib/forum_web/templates/thread/form.html.eex
+++ b/lib/forum_web/templates/thread/form.html.eex
@@ -6,16 +6,22 @@
     <% IO.inspect @changeset %>
   <% end %>
 
-  <%= if assigns[:user_id] do
-    hidden_input f, :user_id, value: assigns[:user_id]
-  end %>
+  <%= hidden_input f, :user_id %>
 
   <div class="form-group">
-    <%= text_input f, :name, placeholder: "my cool new thread", class: "form-control" %>
+    <%= label f, :name, "thread title" %>
+    <%= text_input f, :name, placeholder: "my cool new thread", class: "form-control", autofocus: true %>
     <%= error_tag f, :name %>
   </div>
 
+  <%= if Util.is_sudoer?(@conn) do %>
+    <div class="form-group">
+      <%= label f, :sticky, "sticky thread?" %>
+      <%= checkbox f, :sticky %>
+    </div>
+  <% end %>
+
   <div class="form-group">
-    <%= submit "create", class: "btn btn-primary" %>
+    <%= submit "save", class: "btn btn-primary" %>
   </div>
 <% end %>
diff --git a/lib/forum_web/templates/thread/index.html.eex b/lib/forum_web/templates/thread/index.html.eex
index db174ed..6d294ca 100644
--- a/lib/forum_web/templates/thread/index.html.eex
+++ b/lib/forum_web/templates/thread/index.html.eex
@@ -1,23 +1,19 @@
 <h1>tilde~forum</h1>
 <small><em><%= @tagline %></em></small>
+
+<%= if Enum.any?(@stickies) do %>
+  <hr>
+  <h4>sticky threads</h4>
+<% end %>
+
+<%= for sticky <- @stickies do %>
+  <%= render "thread.html", conn: @conn, thread: sticky %>
+<% end %>
+
 <hr>
 
 <%= for thread <- @threads do %>
-  <div class="panel panel-default">
-    <div class="panel-body">
-      <h4><a href="<%= thread_path(@conn, :show, thread) %>"><%= thread.name %></a></h4>
-    </div>
-    <div class="panel-footer">
-      <%= if Util.can_edit?(@conn, thread.user) do %>
-        <div class="pull-right">
-          <%= link "edit", to: thread_path(@conn, :edit, thread), class: "btn btn-info btn-xs" %>
-          <%= link "delete", to: thread_path(@conn, :delete, thread), method: :delete, data: [confirm: "are you sure?"], class: "btn btn-danger btn-xs" %>
-        </div>
-      <% end %>
-
-      by: <a href="<%= user_path(@conn, :show, thread.user.name) %>"><em>~<%= thread.user.name %></em></a> // <small>created <%= thread.inserted_at |> Util.pp_time %></small>
-    </div>
-  </div>
+  <%= render "thread.html", conn: @conn, thread: thread %>
 <% end %>
 
 
diff --git a/lib/forum_web/templates/thread/new.html.eex b/lib/forum_web/templates/thread/new.html.eex
index 8dc0e3b..6851fb1 100644
--- a/lib/forum_web/templates/thread/new.html.eex
+++ b/lib/forum_web/templates/thread/new.html.eex
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-<h2>start new thread</h2>
+<div class="page-header">
+    <h1>start new thread</h1>
+</div>
 
 <%= render "form.html", Map.put(assigns, :action, thread_path(@conn, :create)) %>
 
diff --git a/lib/forum_web/templates/thread/show.html.eex b/lib/forum_web/templates/thread/show.html.eex
index 2c69441..07893a3 100644
--- a/lib/forum_web/templates/thread/show.html.eex
+++ b/lib/forum_web/templates/thread/show.html.eex
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <%= if Util.can_edit?(@conn, @thread.user) do %>
   <div class="pull-right">
-    <span><%= link "edit thread title", to: thread_path(@conn, :edit, @thread), class: "btn btn-info btn-xs" %></span>
+    <span><%= link "edit thread", to: thread_path(@conn, :edit, @thread), class: "btn btn-info btn-xs" %></span>
   </div>
 <% end %>
 
diff --git a/lib/forum_web/templates/thread/thread.html.eex b/lib/forum_web/templates/thread/thread.html.eex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7bf88bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/forum_web/templates/thread/thread.html.eex
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+<div class="panel panel-default">
+  <div class="panel-body">
+    <h4><a href="<%= thread_path(@conn, :show, @thread) %>"><%= @thread.name %></a></h4>
+  </div>
+  <div class="panel-footer">
+    <%= if Util.can_edit?(@conn, @thread.user) do %>
+      <div class="pull-right">
+        <%= link "edit", to: thread_path(@conn, :edit, @thread), class: "btn btn-info btn-xs" %>
+        <%= link "delete", to: thread_path(@conn, :delete, @thread), method: :delete, data: [confirm: "are you sure?"], class: "btn btn-danger btn-xs" %>
+      </div>
+    <% end %>
+
+    by: <a href="<%= user_path(@conn, :show, @thread.user.name) %>"><em>~<%= @thread.user.name %></em></a> // <small>created <%= @thread.inserted_at |> Util.pp_time %></small>
+  </div>
+</div>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/forum_web/templates/user/show.html.eex b/lib/forum_web/templates/user/show.html.eex
index d139288..b57d8ab 100644
--- a/lib/forum_web/templates/user/show.html.eex
+++ b/lib/forum_web/templates/user/show.html.eex
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 <div class="page-header clearfix">
     <div class="pull-right">
-        <img src="<%= Util.pfp(@user) %>" alt="<%= @user.name %> avatar" width="128px" height="128px">
+        <img src="<%= @user |> User.pfp %>" alt="<%= @user.name %> avatar" width="128px" height="128px">
     </div>
     <h1>
-        <a href="<%= Util.profile_url(@user) %>">~<%= @user.name %></a>
+        <a href="<%= @user |> User.profile_url %>">~<%= @user.name %></a>
     </h1>
     <%= if @user.sudoer do %>
         <span class="label label-info">sudoer</span>
diff --git a/mix.exs b/mix.exs
index 622c1ae..7cd7579 100644
--- a/mix.exs
+++ b/mix.exs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ defmodule Forum.Mixfile do
   def project do
     [
       app: :forum,
-      version: "0.0.1",
+      version: "0.0.#{committed_at()}",
       elixir: "~> 1.4",
       elixirc_paths: elixirc_paths(Mix.env()),
       compilers: [:phoenix, :gettext] ++ Mix.compilers(),
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@ defmodule Forum.Mixfile do
     ]
   end
 
+  @doc "unix timestamp of last commit"
+  def committed_at() do
+    System.cmd("git", ~w[log -1 --date=short --pretty=format:%ct]) |> elem(0)
+  end
+
   # Configuration for the OTP application.
   #
   # Type `mix help compile.app` for more information.
@@ -34,6 +39,7 @@ defmodule Forum.Mixfile do
   defp deps do
     [
       {:cowboy, "~> 1.0"},
+      {:distillery, "~> 1.5", runtime: false},
       {:earmark, ">= 1.2.4"},
       {:gettext, "~> 0.11"},
       {:kerosene, "~> 0.7.0"},
diff --git a/mix.lock b/mix.lock
index 23c637a..79a95b2 100644
--- a/mix.lock
+++ b/mix.lock
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
   "cowlib": {:hex, :cowlib, "1.0.2", "9d769a1d062c9c3ac753096f868ca121e2730b9a377de23dec0f7e08b1df84ee", [:make], [], "hexpm"},
   "db_connection": {:hex, :db_connection, "1.1.3", "89b30ca1ef0a3b469b1c779579590688561d586694a3ce8792985d4d7e575a61", [:mix], [{:connection, "~> 1.0.2", [hex: :connection, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:poolboy, "~> 1.5", [hex: :poolboy, repo: "hexpm", optional: true]}, {:sbroker, "~> 1.0", [hex: :sbroker, repo: "hexpm", optional: true]}], "hexpm"},
   "decimal": {:hex, :decimal, "1.4.1", "ad9e501edf7322f122f7fc151cce7c2a0c9ada96f2b0155b8a09a795c2029770", [:mix], [], "hexpm"},
+  "distillery": {:hex, :distillery, "1.5.2", "eec18b2d37b55b0bcb670cf2bcf64228ed38ce8b046bb30a9b636a6f5a4c0080", [:mix], [], "hexpm"},
   "earmark": {:hex, :earmark, "1.2.4", "99b637c62a4d65a20a9fb674b8cffb8baa771c04605a80c911c4418c69b75439", [:mix], [], "hexpm"},
   "ecto": {:hex, :ecto, "2.2.8", "a4463c0928b970f2cee722cd29aaac154e866a15882c5737e0038bbfcf03ec2c", [:mix], [{:db_connection, "~> 1.1", [hex: :db_connection, repo: "hexpm", optional: true]}, {:decimal, "~> 1.2", [hex: :decimal, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:mariaex, "~> 0.8.0", [hex: :mariaex, repo: "hexpm", optional: true]}, {:poison, "~> 2.2 or ~> 3.0", [hex: :poison, repo: "hexpm", optional: true]}, {:poolboy, "~> 1.5", [hex: :poolboy, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:postgrex, "~> 0.13.0", [hex: :postgrex, repo: "hexpm", optional: true]}, {:sbroker, "~> 1.0", [hex: :sbroker, repo: "hexpm", optional: true]}], "hexpm"},
   "file_system": {:hex, :file_system, "0.2.4", "f0bdda195c0e46e987333e986452ec523aed21d784189144f647c43eaf307064", [:mix], [], "hexpm"},
diff --git a/priv/repo/migrations/20180219223836_create_threads.exs b/priv/repo/migrations/20180219223836_create_threads.exs
index f5681a9..e257e47 100644
--- a/priv/repo/migrations/20180219223836_create_threads.exs
+++ b/priv/repo/migrations/20180219223836_create_threads.exs
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@ defmodule Forum.Repo.Migrations.CreateThreads do
 
   def change do
     create table(:threads) do
-      add :name, :string
+      add(:name, :string)
+      add(:sticky, :boolean, default: false)
 
       timestamps()
     end
-
   end
 end
diff --git a/priv/repo/seeds.exs b/priv/repo/seeds.exs
index b212717..8be296f 100644
--- a/priv/repo/seeds.exs
+++ b/priv/repo/seeds.exs
@@ -9,3 +9,24 @@
 #
 # We recommend using the bang functions (`insert!`, `update!`
 # and so on) as they will fail if something goes wrong.
+
+Forum.Repo.insert!(%Forum.User{name: "ben", sudoer: true, bio: "dev/sysadmin"})
+
+Forum.Repo.insert!(%Forum.Thread{name: "forum faq", sticky: true, user_id: 1})
+
+for i <- 1..100 do
+  Forum.Repo.insert!(%Forum.Post{
+    content: "welcome! lots of posts #{i}",
+    thread_id: 1,
+    user_id: 1
+  })
+end
+
+Forum.Repo.insert!(%Forum.Thread{name: "what are you working on?", user_id: 1})
+
+Forum.Repo.insert!(%Forum.Post{
+  content:
+    "learning elixir by making this site! check it out on [github](https://github.com/tilde-team/forum/tree/elixir)",
+  thread_id: 2,
+  user_id: 1
+})
diff --git a/rel/config.exs b/rel/config.exs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..99810be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rel/config.exs
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+# Import all plugins from `rel/plugins`
+# They can then be used by adding `plugin MyPlugin` to
+# either an environment, or release definition, where
+# `MyPlugin` is the name of the plugin module.
+Path.join(["rel", "plugins", "*.exs"])
+|> Path.wildcard()
+|> Enum.map(&Code.eval_file(&1))
+
+use Mix.Releases.Config,
+    # This sets the default release built by `mix release`
+    default_release: :default,
+    # This sets the default environment used by `mix release`
+    default_environment: Mix.env()
+
+# For a full list of config options for both releases
+# and environments, visit https://hexdocs.pm/distillery/configuration.html
+
+
+# You may define one or more environments in this file,
+# an environment's settings will override those of a release
+# when building in that environment, this combination of release
+# and environment configuration is called a profile
+
+environment :dev do
+  # If you are running Phoenix, you should make sure that
+  # server: true is set and the code reloader is disabled,
+  # even in dev mode.
+  # It is recommended that you build with MIX_ENV=prod and pass
+  # the --env flag to Distillery explicitly if you want to use
+  # dev mode.
+  set dev_mode: true
+  set include_erts: false
+  set cookie: :"syId2a?^I4@,}pMpVTb&YJvp~mfgl3oW3MN(3qVVz[m>u3tz^@$4kv*41XmY.6,0"
+end
+
+environment :prod do
+  set include_erts: true
+  set include_src: false
+  set cookie: :"`SKJ$KS/7GL&d.O||qanMD=R&:MZx:Fwd8Fq]qB0pT3Nqy!nG]</(2Xoz!z]sL>7"
+end
+
+# You may define one or more releases in this file.
+# If you have not set a default release, or selected one
+# when running `mix release`, the first release in the file
+# will be used by default
+
+release :forum do
+  set version: current_version(:forum)
+  set applications: [
+    :runtime_tools
+  ]
+end
+