diff --git a/helperbot b/helperbot
index 5aea975..ed0c42b 100755
--- a/helperbot
+++ b/helperbot
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ if [ -n "$1" ]; then
     synth_args_exist=1
 fi
 
-# check that everything we need is installed
+# check that all required utils are installed
 function check_applications {
-    local all_required_applications=("bash" "docker" "backblaze-b2")
+    local all_required_applications=("bash" "wget" "tar" "zstd" "backblaze-b2")
 
     for application in "${all_required_applications[@]}"; do
         if [ ! -x "$(command -v $application)" ]; then
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ if [[ -t 1 ]]; then
     gray=$(tput setaf 8);
     bold=$(tput bold)
     underline=$(tput smul)
-    normal=$( tput sgr 0);
+    normal=$(tput sgr 0);
 fi
 
 # =============================================================================
@@ -306,6 +306,7 @@ function b2_upload {
 # ╭─────────────╮
 # │ backup step │
 # ╰─────────────╯
+# TODO: it's probably possible to throw some of these steps into an array in loop or something, if that's even a good idea
 function system_backup {
     echo "${blue}backup:${normal} Running full system backup for ${green}${synth_current_system}${normal}."
     if [ "$synth_current_system" = "phosphorus" ]; then # phosphorus
@@ -518,14 +519,6 @@ function system_backup {
     echo "${green}System backup finished! beep!~${normal}"
 }
 
-# backup - create folder and copy
-# step that combines the process of making folders and copying files for backup 
-# backup_create_copy ["source files"] [subpath/to/folder] [$backup_working_directory]
-function backup_create_copy {
-    mkdir -p $3/$2
-    cp -r $1 $3/$2
-}
-
 # ╭─────────────╮
 # │ vacuum step │
 # ╰─────────────╯
@@ -602,6 +595,99 @@ function update_certificates {
     fi
 }
 
+# ╭───────────────────╮
+# │ fediverse related │
+# ╰───────────────────╯
+
+# sync blocklists from sharkey to iceshrimp
+function fedi_sync_blocklists {
+    local sharkey_instance=localhost:60628
+    local iceshrimp_instance=localhost:24042
+
+    # this command will only work on phosphorus, where the instances are directly being run from
+    # (it doesn't *have* to, but it's much faster to do it over localhost than domain)
+    if [[ "$synth_current_system" != "phosphorus" ]]; then
+        echo "${red}sync-blocklists:${normal} Sorry, this command will only work on phosphorus."
+        return 1
+    fi
+
+    echo "${blue}sync-blocklists:${normal} Syncing blocks from Sharkey to Iceshrimp..."
+    if [[ ${UID} == 0 ]]; then
+        echo
+        echo "${yellow}${bold}Notice:${normal} This command has been ran as root! For the sake of safety and Security™ reasons, please run this command as your standard user."
+        echo "If not already configured for yourself, please put a file under ${bold}\$XDG_DATA_HOME/fedi-tokens.env${normal} (directly) which should include the following, replacing the information as needed:"
+        echo "${gray}──────────────────────────────────────────────${normal}"
+        echo "MK_TOKEN=your_admin_misskey_token_here"
+        echo "SHRIMP_TOKEN=your_admin_iceshrimp_token_here"
+        return 1
+    else
+        if [ -f "$XDG_DATA_HOME/fedi-tokens.env" ]; then
+            # load keys
+            export $(grep -v '^#' $XDG_DATA_HOME/fedi-tokens.env | xargs)
+            # grab the instance data from sharkey
+            json_data=$(curl -s "http://"$sharkey_instance"/api/admin/meta" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST -d "{\"i\": \"$MK_TOKEN\"}")
+            # throw into a loop to block all instances on iceshrimp
+            echo "$json_data" | jq -r -c '.blockedHosts[]' | while read -r host; do
+                curl -w "HTTP %{response_code} " "http://"$iceshrimp_instance"/api/iceshrimp/admin/instances/$host/block?imported=true&reason=Synced%20from%20booping.synth.download" -H "Host: beeping.synth.download" -H "Authorization: Bearer $SHRIMP_TOKEN" -X POST
+                echo Blocked host: $host
+            done
+            # unset keys
+            unset $(grep -v '^#' /etc/secrets/fedi-tokens.env | sed -E 's/(.*)=.*/\1/' | xargs)
+            # done
+            echo "${green}Done syncing blocks.${normal}"
+        else
+            echo "${red}sync-blocklists:${normal} $XDG_DATA_HOME/fedi-tokens.env doesn't exist."
+            return 1
+        fi
+    fi
+}
+
+# update standalone frontends
+function fedi_update_frontends {
+    local mastodon_fe_url=https://github.com/sneexy-boi/synth.download/releases/latest/download/masto-fe.zip
+    local akkoma_fe_url=https://github.com/sneexy-boi/synth.download/releases/latest/download/akkoma-fe.zip
+    local phanpy_url=https://github.com/cheeaun/phanpy/releases/latest/download/phanpy-dist.zip
+    local pl_fe_url=https://pl.mkljczk.pl/pl-fe.zip
+    local frontend_folder=/var/www/fedi-frontends
+
+    # frontends are on neptunium so it's less hassle to forward with caddy
+    if [[ "$synth_current_system" != "neptunium" ]]; then
+        echo "${red}sync-blocklists:${normal} Sorry, this command will only work on neptunium."
+        return 1
+    fi
+
+    # _repeat_process [$frontend_fe_url] [file_name] [folder_name]
+    function _repeat_process {
+        wget "$1" -O /tmp/"$2".zip
+        unzip -o /tmp/"$2" -d $frontend_folder/"$3"
+        rm /tmp/"$2"
+    }
+
+    # TODO: it's probably possible to turn this into an array loop of some sort
+    echo "${blue}update-frontends:${normal} Updating standalone frontends..."
+    if [ -f "$frontend_folder" ]; then
+        # update mastodon
+        echo "${blue}Updating Mastodon...${normal}"
+        _repeat_process $mastodon_fe_url masto-fe chuckya-fe
+        echo "${green}Okay.${normal}"
+        # update akkoma
+        echo "${blue}Updating Akkoma...${normal}"
+        _repeat_process $akkoma_fe_url akkoma-fe akkoma-fe
+        echo "${green}Okay.${normal}"
+        # update phanpy
+        echo "${blue}Updating Phanpy...${normal}"
+        _repeat_process $phanpy_url phanpy phanpy
+        echo "${green}Okay.${normal}"
+        # update pl-fe
+        echo "${blue}Updating pl-fe...${normal}"
+        _repeat_process $pl_fe_url pl-fe pl-fe
+        echo "${green}Okay.${normal}"
+    else
+        echo "${red}update-frontends:${normal} $frontend_folder doesn't exist."
+        return 1
+    fi
+}
+
 # ╭────────────────────────────────────╮
 # │ functions and variables - end here │
 # ╰────────────────────────────────────╯
@@ -654,6 +740,17 @@ while [ -n "$1" ]; do
                 detect_system
             fi            
             update_certificates;;
+        --sync-blocklists) # fediverse: sync sharkey -> iceshrimp blocklists
+            if [ ! -v synth_current_system ]; then
+                detect_system
+            fi
+            fedi_sync_blocklists;;
+        --update-frontends) # fediverse: update standalone frontends
+            root_check
+            if [ ! -v synth_current_system ]; then
+                detect_system
+            fi
+            fedi_update_frontends;;
         *) # invalid option was given
             invalid_command $1
             exit 1;;