diff --git a/corgie/argparsers.py b/corgie/argparsers.py
index 9fcf93b..33c5187 100644
--- a/corgie/argparsers.py
+++ b/corgie/argparsers.py
@@ -71,13 +71,18 @@ def create_layer_from_dict(param_dict, reference=None, caller_name=None,
                 f'must be of type in {allowed_types}')
 
     backend = str_to_backend(data_backend)
-    layer = backend.create_layer(path=layer_path, layer_type=layer_type,
-            reference=reference, layer_args=layer_args,
-            **kwargs)
-
     name = params["name"]
     if name is None:
-        name = layer.get_layer_type()
+        name = params['type']
+
+    layer = backend.create_layer(
+        path=layer_path,
+        layer_type=layer_type,
+        reference=reference,
+        name=name,
+        layer_args=layer_args,
+        **kwargs)
+
     layer.name = name
 
     return layer
diff --git a/corgie/boundingcube.py b/corgie/boundingcube.py
index 840ed7c..b45613b 100644
--- a/corgie/boundingcube.py
+++ b/corgie/boundingcube.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 from math import floor, ceil
 import numpy as np
 
+from corgie import scheduling
 from corgie.helpers import crop
 
 
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ def get_bcube_from_vertices(vertices, resolution, mip, cant_be_empty=True):
 
     return bcube
 
-
+@scheduling.serializable
 class BoundingCube:
     def __init__(self, xs, xe, ys, ye, zs, ze, mip):
         self.m0_x = (None, None)
diff --git a/corgie/cli/downsample.py b/corgie/cli/downsample.py
index a30b262..4c638eb 100644
--- a/corgie/cli/downsample.py
+++ b/corgie/cli/downsample.py
@@ -144,17 +144,20 @@ def downsample(
     scheduler = ctx.obj["scheduler"]
     corgie_logger.debug("Setting up Source and Destination layers...")
 
-    src_layer = create_layer_from_spec(
-        src_layer_spec, caller_name="src layer", readonly=True
-    )
+
 
     if dst_layer_spec is None:
         corgie_logger.info(
             "Destination layer not specified. Using Source layer " "as Destination."
         )
+        src_layer = create_layer_from_spec(
+            src_layer_spec, caller_name="src layer", readonly=False
+        )
         dst_layer = src_layer
-        dst_layer.readonly = False
     else:
+        src_layer = create_layer_from_spec(
+            src_layer_spec, caller_name="src layer", readonly=True
+        )
         dst_layer = create_layer_from_spec(
             dst_layer_spec,
             caller_name="dst_layer layer",
@@ -162,6 +165,7 @@ def downsample(
             reference=src_layer,
             overwrite=True,
         )
+
     bcube = get_bcube_from_coords(start_coord, end_coord, coord_mip)
     downsample_job = DownsampleJob(
         src_layer=src_layer,
diff --git a/corgie/cli/downsample_by_spec.py b/corgie/cli/downsample_by_spec.py
index c871240..e4994a3 100644
--- a/corgie/cli/downsample_by_spec.py
+++ b/corgie/cli/downsample_by_spec.py
@@ -71,10 +71,6 @@ def downsample_by_spec(
     scheduler = ctx.obj["scheduler"]
     corgie_logger.debug("Setting up Source and Destination layers...")
 
-    src_layer = create_layer_from_spec(
-        src_layer_spec, caller_name="src layer", readonly=True
-    )
-
     with open(spec_path, "r") as f:
         spec = set(json.load(f))
 
@@ -82,9 +78,15 @@ def downsample_by_spec(
         corgie_logger.info(
             "Destination layer not specified. Using Source layer " "as Destination."
         )
+        src_layer = create_layer_from_spec(
+            src_layer_spec, caller_name="src layer", readonly=False
+        )
+
         dst_layer = src_layer
-        dst_layer.readonly = False
     else:
+        src_layer = create_layer_from_spec(
+            src_layer_spec, caller_name="src layer", readonly=True
+        )
         dst_layer = create_layer_from_spec(
             dst_layer_spec,
             caller_name="dst_layer layer",
@@ -93,6 +95,7 @@ def downsample_by_spec(
             chunk_z=chunk_z,
             overwrite=True,
         )
+
     bcube = get_bcube_from_coords(start_coord, end_coord, coord_mip)
     for z in range(*bcube.z_range()):
         if z in spec:
diff --git a/corgie/cli/upsample.py b/corgie/cli/upsample.py
index bed0f44..6a8f4ab 100644
--- a/corgie/cli/upsample.py
+++ b/corgie/cli/upsample.py
@@ -144,17 +144,20 @@ def upsample(
     scheduler = ctx.obj["scheduler"]
     corgie_logger.debug("Setting up Source and Destination layers...")
 
-    src_layer = create_layer_from_spec(
-        src_layer_spec, caller_name="src layer", readonly=True
-    )
 
     if dst_layer_spec is None:
         corgie_logger.info(
             "Destination layer not specified. Using Source layer " "as Destination."
         )
+        src_layer = create_layer_from_spec(
+            src_layer_spec, caller_name="src layer", readonly=False
+        )
         dst_layer = src_layer
         dst_layer.readonly = False
     else:
+        src_layer = create_layer_from_spec(
+            src_layer_spec, caller_name="src layer", readonly=True
+        )
         dst_layer = create_layer_from_spec(
             dst_layer_spec,
             caller_name="dst_layer layer",
diff --git a/corgie/data_backends/base.py b/corgie/data_backends/base.py
index 2e6fa3b..b60392a 100644
--- a/corgie/data_backends/base.py
+++ b/corgie/data_backends/base.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import torch
 
-from corgie import exceptions
+from corgie import exceptions, scheduling
 
 from corgie.log import logger as corgie_logger
 from corgie.layers import get_layer_types, str_to_layer_type
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ def register_backend_fn(cls):
     return register_backend_fn
 
 
+@scheduling.serializable
 class DataBackendBase:
     default_device = None
 
diff --git a/corgie/layers/base.py b/corgie/layers/base.py
index e944ff0..1145f2d 100644
--- a/corgie/layers/base.py
+++ b/corgie/layers/base.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 from corgie import constants, exceptions
 from corgie import helpers
-
+from corgie import scheduling
 
 STR_TO_LTYPE_DICT  = dict()
 
@@ -27,10 +27,9 @@ def str_to_layer_type(s):
 def get_layer_types():
     return list(STR_TO_LTYPE_DICT.keys())
 
-
+@scheduling.serializable
 class BaseLayerType:
     def __init__(self, name=None, device='cpu', readonly=False, **kwargs):
-        super().__init__(**kwargs)
         self.device = device
         self.readonly = readonly
         self.name = name
diff --git a/corgie/layers/volumetric_layers.py b/corgie/layers/volumetric_layers.py
index b757476..ce3a262 100644
--- a/corgie/layers/volumetric_layers.py
+++ b/corgie/layers/volumetric_layers.py
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ def get_extra_interpolate_parameters():
     return {"recompute_scale_factor": False}
 
 class VolumetricLayer(BaseLayerType):
-    def __init__(self, data_mip=None, **kwargs):
-        super().__init__(**kwargs)
+    def __init__(self, data_mip=None, *kargs, **kwargs):
+        super().__init__(*kargs, **kwargs)
         self.data_mip = data_mip
 
     def read(self, bcube, mip, **kwargs):
@@ -286,12 +286,12 @@ def get_default_data_type(self):
 @register_layer_type("fixed_field")
 class FixedFieldLayer(FieldLayer):
     """Residuals are specified at a fixed resolution, regardless of MIP.
-    For example, a field at MIP2 may have residuals specified in MIP0 
+    For example, a field at MIP2 may have residuals specified in MIP0
     pixels.
 
     NOTE: It is not recommended to create new fields based on this
     class. This class was intended to support existing fields created
-    by legacy code. 
+    by legacy code.
     """
     def __init__(self, *args, fixed_mip=0, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ def read(self, bcube, mip, **kwargs):
         return super().read(bcube, mip, **kwargs) / (2**(mip-self.fixed_mip))
 
     # def write(self, data_tens, bcube, mip, **kwargs):
-    #     super().write(data_tens=data_tens*(2**self.fixed_mip), 
-    #                   bcube=indexed_bcube, 
-    #                   mip=mip, 
+    #     super().write(data_tens=data_tens*(2**self.fixed_mip),
+    #                   bcube=indexed_bcube,
+    #                   mip=mip,
     #                   **kwargs)
diff --git a/corgie/mipless_cloudvolume.py b/corgie/mipless_cloudvolume.py
index 7d980c1..95af0f6 100644
--- a/corgie/mipless_cloudvolume.py
+++ b/corgie/mipless_cloudvolume.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 from cloudvolume import CloudVolume, Storage
 
 from corgie.log import logger as corgie_logger
+from corgie import settings
 
 def jsonize_key(*kargs, **kwargs):
     result = ''
@@ -119,6 +120,9 @@ def get_info(self):
         return tmp_cv.info
 
     def store_info(self, info=None):
+        if settings.IS_WORKER:
+            return
+
         if not self.allow_info_writes:
             raise Exception("Attempting to store info to {}, but "
                     "'allow_info_writes' flag is set to False".format(self.path))
diff --git a/corgie/scheduling.py b/corgie/scheduling.py
index 9df9351..83946e1 100644
--- a/corgie/scheduling.py
+++ b/corgie/scheduling.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import mazepa
+import objectscriber as scriber
 
 wait_until_done = mazepa.Barrier
 Task = mazepa.Task
@@ -25,3 +26,5 @@ def __init__(self, *kargs, **kwargs):
 def create_scheduler(*kargs, **kwargs):
     return Scheduler(*kargs, **kwargs)
 
+def serializable(cls):
+    return scriber.register_class(cls)
diff --git a/corgie/settings.py b/corgie/settings.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..95dd482
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corgie/settings.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+IS_WORKER = False
diff --git a/corgie/stack.py b/corgie/stack.py
index eb9dfb5..913b517 100644
--- a/corgie/stack.py
+++ b/corgie/stack.py
@@ -10,11 +10,12 @@
 
 import six
 
-from corgie import exceptions, helpers
+from corgie import exceptions, helpers, scheduling
 from corgie.layers import str_to_layer_type
 from corgie.log import logger as corgie_logger
 
 
+@scheduling.serializable
 class StackBase:
     def __init__(self, name=None):
         self.name = name
@@ -79,6 +80,23 @@ def get_layer_types(self):
 
         return list(layer_types)
 
+    def serialize(self, serializer):
+        spec = {}
+        spec['name'] = self.name
+        #spec['folder'] = self.folder
+        spec['layers'] = serializer.serialize(self.layers)
+        spec['reference_layer'] = serializer.serialize(self.reference_layer)
+        return spec
+
+
+    @classmethod
+    def deserialize(cls, spec, serializer):
+        obj = cls()
+        obj.name = spec['name']
+        obj.layers = serializer.deserialize(spec['layers'])
+        obj.reference_layer = serializer.deserialize(spec['reference_layer'])
+        return obj
+
 
 class Stack(StackBase):
     def __init__(self, name=None, layer_list=[], folder=None, **kwargs):
@@ -195,7 +213,6 @@ def read_data_dict(
             translation.y += src_field_trans.y
 
         # if translation.x != 0 or translation.y != 0:
-        # import pdb; pdb.set_trace()
         final_bcube = copy.deepcopy(bcube)
         final_bcube = final_bcube.translate(
             x_offset=translation.y, y_offset=translation.x, mip=mip
@@ -206,9 +223,6 @@ def read_data_dict(
             data_dict[global_name] = l.read(bcube=final_bcube, mip=mip)
         return translation, data_dict
 
-    def z_range(self):
-        return self.bcube.z_range()
-
     def cutout(self):
         raise NotImplementedError
 
diff --git a/corgie/worker.py b/corgie/worker.py
index 4b603b7..79ef443 100644
--- a/corgie/worker.py
+++ b/corgie/worker.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 from corgie import scheduling
 from corgie.log import logger as corgie_logger
 from corgie.log import configure_logger
-
+from corgie import settings
 
 @click.command()
 @click.option('--lease_seconds', '-l', nargs=1, type=int, required=True)
@@ -11,5 +11,6 @@
 @click.option('-v', '--verbose', count=True, help='Turn on debug logging')
 def worker(lease_seconds, verbose, **kwargs):
     configure_logger(verbose)
+    settings.IS_WORKER = True
     executor = scheduling.parse_executor_from_kwargs(kwargs)
     executor.execute(lease_seconds=lease_seconds)
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index dc34b63..1737106 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
       'click-option-group',
       'click>=7,<8',
       'procspec',
+      'objectscriber',
       'idna>=2.5',
       'google-auth>=1.11.0',
       'cloud-volume',