diff --git a/piker/data/types.py b/piker/data/types.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b7d21680
--- /dev/null
+++ b/piker/data/types.py
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+# piker: trading gear for hackers
+# Copyright (C) Guillermo Rodriguez (in stewardship for piker0)
+
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+"""
+Built-in (extension) types.
+
+"""
+from pprint import pformat
+
+import msgspec
+
+
+class Struct(
+    msgspec.Struct,
+
+    # https://jcristharif.com/msgspec/structs.html#tagged-unions
+    # tag='pikerstruct',
+    # tag=True,
+):
+    '''
+    A "human friendlier" (aka repl buddy) struct subtype.
+
+    '''
+    def to_dict(self) -> dict:
+        return {
+            f: getattr(self, f)
+            for f in self.__struct_fields__
+        }
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return f'Struct({pformat(self.to_dict())})'
+
+