diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index c491233..c165b33 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -3,13 +3,14 @@ L :=	"$(shell hostname -s)"
 C :=	-c local
 K :=	-K
 P :=	site.yml
+V :=	-vvv
 
 all: deploy
 
 check:
-	ansible-playbook -i $I -l $L $C $K --syntax-check $P
+	ansible-playbook -i $I -l $L $C $K --syntax-check $V $P
 
 deploy:
-	ansible-playbook -i $I -l $L $C $K $P
+	ansible-playbook -i $I -l $L $C $K $V $P
 
 .PHONY: all check deploy
diff --git a/inventory b/inventory
index 69ee32e..e7285ed 100644
--- a/inventory
+++ b/inventory
@@ -2,4 +2,8 @@
 petrichor
 
 [worklaptop]
-kisom-x1
\ No newline at end of file
+kisom-x1
+
+[build]
+orion
+
diff --git a/roles/base/tasks/main.yml b/roles/base/tasks/main.yml
index b96212e..964ac56 100644
--- a/roles/base/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/base/tasks/main.yml
@@ -25,3 +25,12 @@
     - tree
     - unzip
     - zsh
+
+- name: set up tools specifically for headless systems
+  when: headless
+  become: true
+  ansible.builtin.apt: name={{ item }} state=present
+  with_items:
+    - emacs-nox
+    - vim-nox
+
diff --git a/roles/development/defaults/main.yml b/roles/development/defaults/main.yml
index d0bbfd8..e34f93c 100644
--- a/roles/development/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/development/defaults/main.yml
@@ -1,2 +1,6 @@
 go_version: 1.20.3
 bazelisk_version: 1.16.0
+dev_embedded: False
+dev_full: False
+dev_rust: False
+dev_virt: False
diff --git a/roles/development/tasks/main.yml b/roles/development/tasks/main.yml
index 44c9aa6..82b4f19 100644
--- a/roles/development/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/development/tasks/main.yml
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
     - cloc
     - cmake
     - devscripts
-    - erlang
     - gcc
     - golang-google-genproto-dev
     - golang-goprotobuf-dev
@@ -28,6 +27,20 @@
     - zlib1g
     - zlib1g-dev
 
+- name: install dev tools with guis
+  when: not headless
+  become: true
+  ansible.builtin.apt: name={{ item }} state=present
+  with_items:
+    - erlang
+
+- name: install headless dev tools
+  when: headless
+  become: true
+  ansible.builtin.apt: name={{ item }} state=present
+  with_items:
+    - erlang-nox
+
 ## golang
 - name: install godeb
   become: true
@@ -108,15 +121,21 @@
     - qemu-system-arm
     - qemu-system
     - qemu-system-x86
-    - qemu-system-gui
     - qemu-user-static
     - sbuild-qemu
     - seabios
     - u-boot-qemu
-    - virt-manager
     - virt-top
   notify: "restart docker service"
 
+- name: install container and virtualisation GUIs
+  when: (dev_virt or dev_full) and not headless
+  become: true
+  ansible.builtin.apt: name={{ item }} state=present
+  with_items:
+    - qemu-system-gui
+    - virt-manager
+
 - name: Ensure kvm group exists
   when: dev_virt or dev_full
   become: true
@@ -158,10 +177,15 @@
     - gcc-avr
     - libstdc++-arm-none-eabi-newlib
     - picocom
+
+- name: install embedded dev guis
+  when: (dev_virt or dev_full) and not headless
+  become: true
+  ansible.builtin.apt: name={{ item }} state=present
+  with_items:
     - pulseview
     - sigrok
 
-
 ## documentation stuff
 - name: install documentation tooling
   become: true
@@ -176,7 +200,7 @@
 
 ## vscode
 - name: add VS Code repo key
-  when: dev_full
+  when: dev_full and not headless
   become: true
   ansible.builtin.apt_key:
     url: https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc
@@ -184,7 +208,7 @@
     validate_certs: yes
 
 - name: add VS Code repo
-  when: dev_full
+  when: dev_full and not headless
   become: true
   ansible.builtin.apt_repository:
     repo: deb [arch=amd64] https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/vscode stable main
@@ -192,20 +216,20 @@
     validate_certs: yes
 
 - name: install VS Code
-  when: dev_full
+  when: dev_full and not headless
   become: true
   ansible.builtin.apt: name=code state=present
 
 ## rust
 
 - name: check if cargo is installed
-  when: dev_full
+  when: dev_rust or dev_full
   shell: command -v cargo
   register: cargo_exists
   ignore_errors: yes
 
 - name: Download Installer
-  when: dev_full and cargo_exists is failed
+  when: (dev_rust or dev_full) and (cargo_exists is failed)
   get_url:
     url: https://sh.rustup.rs
     dest: /tmp/sh.rustup.rs
@@ -213,7 +237,7 @@
     force: 'yes'
 
 - name: install rust/cargo
-  when: dev_full and cargo_exists is failed
+  when: (dev_rust or dev_full) and (cargo_exists is failed)
   shell: /tmp/sh.rustup.rs -y
 
 
diff --git a/site.yml b/site.yml
index 6b334df..48b8142 100644
--- a/site.yml
+++ b/site.yml
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@
     - heavy
   vars:
     laptop_user: kyle
-    dev_full: true
+    headless: False
+    dev_full: True
 
 - hosts: worklaptop
   roles:
@@ -21,4 +22,19 @@
     - heavy
   vars:
     laptop_user: k.isom
-    dev_virt: true
+    headless: False
+    dev_virt: True
+
+- hosts: build
+  roles:
+    - base
+    - dotfiles
+    - development
+    - server
+    - tailscale
+  vars:
+    laptop_user: kyle
+    headless: True
+    dev_virt: True
+    dev_embedded: True
+    dev_rust: True