diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4930ed01..53b4caf7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+This Readme applies to Embark 1.0.0 Beta which is currently under development. For the old version please check the old [readme](https://github.com/iurimatias/embark-framework/blob/0.9.3/README.md)
+
 What is embark
 ======
 
@@ -11,18 +13,18 @@ With Embark you can:
 * Do Test Driven Development with Contracts using Javascript.
 * Easily deploy to & use decentralized systems such as IPFS.
 * Keep track of deployed contracts, deploy only when truly needed.
+* Manage different chains (e.g testnet, private net, livenet)
 * Quickly create advanced DApps using multiple contracts.
 
 See the [Wiki](https://github.com/iurimatias/embark-framework/wiki) for more details.
 
 Installation
 ======
-Requirements: geth (1.0.0), solc (0.1.0) or serpent (develop), node (0.12.2) and npm
-
-For specs: pyethereum, ethertdd.py
+Requirements: geth (1.1.3 or higher), node (0.12.2) and npm
+Optional: serpent (develop) if using contracts with Serpent
 
 ```Bash
-$ npm install -g embark-framework grunt-cli
+$ npm -g install embark-framework
 ```
 
 See [Complete Installation Instructions](https://github.com/iurimatias/embark-framework/wiki/Installation).
@@ -35,11 +37,19 @@ You can easily create a sample working DApp with the following:
 $ embark demo
 $ cd embark_demo
 ```
-To run the ethereum node for development purposes simply run:
+
+To run a ethereum rpc simulator simply run:
+
+```Bash
+$ embark simulator
+```
+
+Or Alternatively, you can run a REAL ethereum node for development purposes:
 
 ```Bash
 $ embark blockchain
 ```
+
 By default embark blockchain will mine a minimum amount of ether and will only mine when new transactions come in. This is quite usefull to keep a low CPU. The option can be configured at config/blockchain.yml
 
 Then, in another command line:
@@ -199,42 +209,41 @@ You can also define contract interfaces (Stubs) and actions to do on deployment
 Tests
 ======
 
-You can run specs with ```embark spec```, it will run any files ending *_spec.js under ```spec/```.
+You can run specs with ```embark spec```, it will run any test files under ```test/```.
 
 Embark includes a testing lib to fastly run & test your contracts in a EVM.
 
 ```Javascript
-# spec/contracts/simple_storage_spec.js
-Embark = require('embark-framework');
-Embark.init();
-Embark.blockchainConfig.loadConfigFile('config/blockchain.yml');
-Embark.contractsConfig.loadConfigFile('config/contracts.yml');
+# test/simple_storage_spec.js
+var assert = require('assert');
+var Embark = require('embark-framework');
+var EmbarkSpec = Embark.initTests();
 
-var files = ['app/contracts/simpleStorage.sol'];
-Embark.contractsConfig.init(files, 'development');
-
-var EmbarkSpec = Embark.tests(files);
-
-describe("SimpleStorage", function() {
-  beforeAll(function() {
-    // equivalent to initializing SimpleStorage with param 150
-    SimpleStorage = EmbarkSpec.request("SimpleStorage", [150]);
+describe("SimpleStorage", function(done) {
+  before(function(done) {
+    EmbarkSpec.deployAll(done);
   });
 
-  it("should set constructor value", function() {
-    expect(SimpleStorage.storedData()).toEqual('150');
+  it("should set constructor value", function(done) {
+    SimpleStorage.storedData(function(err, result) {
+      assert.equal(result.toNumber(), 100);
+      done();
+    });
   });
 
-  it("set storage value", function() {
-    SimpleStorage.set(100);
-    expect(SimpleStorage.get()).toEqual('100');
+  it("set storage value", function(done) {
+    SimpleStorage.set(150, function() {
+      SimpleStorage.get(function(err, result) {
+        assert.equal(result.toNumber(), 150);
+        done();
+      });
+    });
   });
 
 })
 ```
 
-Embark uses [Jasmine](https://jasmine.github.io/2.3/introduction.html) by default, but you can use any testing framework you want.
-
+Embark uses [Mocha](http://mochajs.org/) by default, but you can use any testing framework you want.
 
 Working with different chains
 ======
@@ -258,6 +267,7 @@ The environment is a specific blockchain configuration that can be managed at co
     chains: chains_staging.json
     network_id: 0
     console: true
+    geth_extra_opts: --vmdebug
     account:
       init: false
       address: 0x123
diff --git a/bin/embark b/bin/embark
index 8a3b7ae7..5cf6f390 100755
--- a/bin/embark
+++ b/bin/embark
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ var wrench = require('wrench');
 var grunt = require('grunt');
 require('shelljs/global');
 var readYaml = require('read-yaml');
+var EtherSim = require('ethersim');
 var Embark = require('..');
 
 var run = function(cmd) {
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ var run = function(cmd) {
   }
 }
 
-var deploy = function(env, embarkConfig) {
+var deploy = function(env, embarkConfig, cb) {
   var contractFiles = grunt.file.expand(embarkConfig.contracts);
   var destFile = embarkConfig.output;
 
@@ -24,12 +25,14 @@ var deploy = function(env, embarkConfig) {
 
   var chainFile = Embark.blockchainConfig.blockchainConfig[env].chains || embarkConfig.chains || './chains.json';
 
-  abi = Embark.deployContracts(env, contractFiles, destFile, chainFile);
-  grunt.file.write(destFile, abi);
+  abi = Embark.deployContracts(env, contractFiles, destFile, chainFile, true, true, function(abi) {
+    grunt.file.write(destFile, abi);
+    cb();
+  });
 }
 
 program
-  .version('0.9.2')
+  .version('1.0.2');
 
 program.command('new [name]').description('New application').action(function(name) {
   if (name === undefined) {
@@ -53,7 +56,7 @@ program.command('deploy [env]').description('deploy contracts').action(function(
     run("grunt deploy_contracts:" + env);
   }
   else {
-    deploy(env, embarkConfig);
+    deploy(env, embarkConfig, function() { exit(); });
   }
 });
 
@@ -105,15 +108,16 @@ program.command('run [env]').description('run dapp').action(function(env_) {
   }
 });
 
-program.command('spec').description('run specs').action(function() {
+program.command('spec').description('run tests').action(function() {
   var embarkConfig = readYaml.sync("./embark.yml");
 
   if (embarkConfig.type === "grunt") {
-    run('jasmine');
+    run('mocha test/ --no-timeouts');
   }
   else {
     console.log("command not available in meteor or manual mode yet");
     console.log("note: you can use embark tests with any framework");
+    console.log("try running mocha test/");
   }
 });
 
@@ -155,7 +159,7 @@ program.command('demo').description('create a working dapp with a SimpleStorage
   wrench.copyDirSyncRecursive(boilerPath, targetDir);
   wrench.copyDirSyncRecursive(demoPath + "/app",    targetDir + "/app",    {forceDelete: true});
   wrench.copyDirSyncRecursive(demoPath + "/config", targetDir + "/config", {forceDelete: true});
-  wrench.copyDirSyncRecursive(demoPath + "/spec",   targetDir + "/spec",   {forceDelete: true});
+  wrench.copyDirSyncRecursive(demoPath + "/test",   targetDir + "/test",   {forceDelete: true});
 
   cd(targetDir);
   run('npm install');
@@ -170,10 +174,14 @@ program.command('meteor_demo').description('create a working meteor dapp with a
   console.log('\n\ninit complete');
 });
 
+program.command('simulator').description('run a fast ethereum rpc simulator').action(function() {
+  EtherSim.startServer();
+});
+
 program.parse(process.argv)
 
 if (!process.argv.slice(2).length) {
   program.outputHelp();
 }
 
-exit();
+//exit();
diff --git a/boilerplate/Gruntfile.coffee b/boilerplate/Gruntfile.coffee
index 150ff372..279c1816 100644
--- a/boilerplate/Gruntfile.coffee
+++ b/boilerplate/Gruntfile.coffee
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 module.exports = (grunt) ->
 
+  grunt.option 'stack', true
   grunt.loadNpmTasks "grunt-embark"
   grunt.loadTasks "tasks"
 
@@ -111,4 +112,3 @@ module.exports = (grunt) ->
 
   grunt.registerTask "deploy", ["coffee", "deploy_contracts", "concat", "copy", "server", "watch"]
   grunt.registerTask "build", ["clean", "deploy_contracts", "coffee", "concat", "uglify", "copy"]
-
diff --git a/boilerplate/config/blockchain.yml b/boilerplate/config/blockchain.yml
index 49fb0add..af516800 100644
--- a/boilerplate/config/blockchain.yml
+++ b/boilerplate/config/blockchain.yml
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ development:
   account:
     init: true
     password: config/password
+    num: 1
 staging:
   rpc_host: localhost
   rpc_port: 8101
@@ -22,6 +23,9 @@ staging:
   network_id: 0
   max_peers: 4
   console: true
+  bootnodes: 
+    boot: false
+    enodes: [] #insert enode urls here. 
   account:
     init: false
     address:
@@ -33,6 +37,9 @@ production:
   network_id: 1
   max_peers: 4
   console: true
+  bootnodes: 
+    boot: false
+    enodes: []
   account:
     init: false
     address:
diff --git a/boilerplate/package.json b/boilerplate/package.json
index 458c8ec2..addeb674 100644
--- a/boilerplate/package.json
+++ b/boilerplate/package.json
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@
   "license": "ISC",
   "homepage": "",
   "devDependencies": {
-    "embark-framework": "^0.9.2",
-    "grunt-embark": "^0.4.3",
+    "embark-framework": "^1.0.2",
+    "grunt-embark": "^0.5.1",
     "grunt-contrib-clean": "^0.6.0",
     "grunt-contrib-coffee": "^0.13.0",
     "grunt-contrib-concat": "^0.5.1",
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
     "grunt": "^0.4.5",
     "grunt-cli": "^0.1.13",
     "matchdep": "^0.3.0",
+    "mocha": "^2.2.5",
     "express": "^4.12.3",
     "read-yaml": "^1.0.0",
     "compression": "^1.4.3"
diff --git a/boilerplate/spec/support/jasmine.json b/boilerplate/spec/support/jasmine.json
deleted file mode 100644
index a5f29329..00000000
--- a/boilerplate/spec/support/jasmine.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "spec_dir": "spec",
-  "spec_files": [
-    "**/*[sS]pec.js"
-  ],
-  "helpers": [
-    "helpers/**/*.js"
-  ]
-}
diff --git a/demo/spec/contracts/simple_storage_spec.js b/demo/spec/contracts/simple_storage_spec.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 359d9d15..00000000
--- a/demo/spec/contracts/simple_storage_spec.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-var Embark = require('embark-framework');
-Embark.init();
-Embark.blockchainConfig.loadConfigFile('config/blockchain.yml');
-Embark.contractsConfig.loadConfigFile('config/contracts.yml');
-
-var files = ["app/contracts/simple_storage.sol"];
-
-Embark.contractsConfig.init(files, 'development');
-var EmbarkSpec = Embark.tests(files);
-
-describe("SimpleStorage", function() {
-  beforeAll(function() {
-    SimpleStorage = EmbarkSpec.request("SimpleStorage", [150]);
-  });
-
-  it("should set constructor value", function() {
-    expect(SimpleStorage.storedData()).toEqual('150');
-  });
-
-  it("set storage value", function() {
-    SimpleStorage.set(100);
-    expect(SimpleStorage.get()).toEqual('100');
-  });
-
-})
diff --git a/demo/spec/support/jasmine.json b/demo/spec/support/jasmine.json
deleted file mode 100644
index a5f29329..00000000
--- a/demo/spec/support/jasmine.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "spec_dir": "spec",
-  "spec_files": [
-    "**/*[sS]pec.js"
-  ],
-  "helpers": [
-    "helpers/**/*.js"
-  ]
-}
diff --git a/demo/test/simple_storage_spec.js b/demo/test/simple_storage_spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..916c4c5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/demo/test/simple_storage_spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+var assert = require('assert');
+var Embark = require('embark-framework');
+var EmbarkSpec = Embark.initTests();
+
+describe("SimpleStorage", function(done) {
+  before(function(done) {
+    EmbarkSpec.deployAll(done);
+  });
+
+  it("should set constructor value", function(done) {
+    SimpleStorage.storedData(function(err, result) {
+      assert.equal(result.toNumber(), 100);
+      done();
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("set storage value", function(done) {
+    SimpleStorage.set(150, function() {
+      SimpleStorage.get(function(err, result) {
+        assert.equal(result.toNumber(), 150);
+        done();
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+})
diff --git a/lib/blockchain.js b/lib/blockchain.js
index 9ab37a5c..9ab5deaf 100644
--- a/lib/blockchain.js
+++ b/lib/blockchain.js
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ Blockchain.prototype.generate_basic_command = function() {
     cmd += "--logfile=\"" + config.datadir + ".log\" ";
   }
 
+  if (config.geth_extra_opts) {
+    cmd += config.geth_extra_opts + " ";
+  }
+
   cmd += "--port " + config.port + " ";
   cmd += "--rpc ";
   cmd += "--rpcport " + config.rpcPort + " ";
@@ -27,7 +31,9 @@ Blockchain.prototype.generate_basic_command = function() {
     cmd += "--minerthreads \"" + config.minerthreads + "\" ";
   }
 
-  cmd += "--mine ";
+  if(config.mine)
+    cmd += "--mine ";
+  
   if (config.genesisBlock !== void 0) {
     cmd += "--genesis=\"" + config.genesisBlock + "\" ";
   }
@@ -69,6 +75,13 @@ Blockchain.prototype.run_command = function(address, use_tmp) {
     cmd += "--unlock " + address + " ";
   }
 
+  if (config.bootNodes !== undefined && config.bootNodes.boot == true){
+    cmd += "--bootnodes ";
+    for (var i = 0; i < config.bootNodes.enodes.length; i++){
+      cmd += config.bootNodes.enodes[i] + " ";
+    }
+  }
+
   if (config.console_toggle) {
     cmd += "console";
   }
@@ -87,6 +100,10 @@ Blockchain.prototype.run_command = function(address, use_tmp) {
 
 Blockchain.prototype.get_address = function() {
   var config = this.config;
+
+  if(config.account.address)
+    return config.account.address;
+
   var address = null;
 
   if (config.account.init) {
diff --git a/lib/chain_manager.js b/lib/chain_manager.js
index edc48bbd..1e909a7c 100644
--- a/lib/chain_manager.js
+++ b/lib/chain_manager.js
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 var fs = require('fs');
-var web3 = require('web3');
 var sha3_256 = require('js-sha3').sha3_256;
 
 ChainManager = function() {
   this.chainManagerConfig = {};
   this.currentChain = {};
   this.file = "";
-  this.web3 = null;
 }
 
 ChainManager.prototype.loadConfigFile = function(filename) {
@@ -25,17 +23,18 @@ ChainManager.prototype.loadConfig = function(config) {
   return this;
 };
 
-ChainManager.prototype.init = function(env, config) {
-  web3.setProvider(new web3.providers.HttpProvider("http://" + config.rpcHost + ":" + config.rpcPort));
-
-  var chainId = web3.eth.getBlock(0).hash;
+ChainManager.prototype.init = function(env, config, web3) {
+  var block = web3.eth.getBlock(0);
+  if(!block){
+    throw new Error("Cannot get the genesis block, is embark blockchain running ?");
+  }
+  var chainId = block.hash;
 
   if (this.chainManagerConfig[chainId] === undefined) {
     this.chainManagerConfig[chainId] = {contracts: {}};
   }
 
   this.currentChain = this.chainManagerConfig[chainId];
-  this.web3 = web3;
 }
 
 ChainManager.prototype.addContract = function(contractName, code, args, address) {
diff --git a/lib/compiler.js b/lib/compiler.js
index 31b45e72..253bbc13 100644
--- a/lib/compiler.js
+++ b/lib/compiler.js
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 var shelljs = require('shelljs');
 var shelljs_global = require('shelljs/global');
 var web3 = require('web3');
+var fs = require('fs');
+var solc = require('solc');
 
 Compiler = function(blockchainConfig) {
   this.blockchainConfig = blockchainConfig;
@@ -8,55 +10,28 @@ Compiler = function(blockchainConfig) {
 
 Compiler.prototype.init = function(env) {
   var config = this.blockchainConfig.config(env);
-
-  try {
-    web3.setProvider(new web3.providers.HttpProvider("http://" + config.rpcHost + ":" + config.rpcPort));
-    primaryAddress = web3.eth.coinbase;
-    web3.eth.defaultAccount = primaryAddress;
-  } catch (e) {
-    throw new Error("can't connect to " + config.rpcHost + ":" + config.rpcPort + " check if an ethereum node is running");
-  }
-
   console.log("address is : " + primaryAddress);
 };
 
 Compiler.prototype.compile_solidity = function(contractFile) {
-  var cmd, result, output, version, json, compiled_object;
+  var source = fs.readFileSync(contractFile).toString();
+  var output = solc.compile(source, 1);
 
-  cmd = "solc --version";
+  var json = output.contracts;
 
-  result = exec(cmd, {silent: true});
-  output = result.output;
-  version = output.split('\n')[1].split(' ')[1].slice(0,5);
-
-  if (version == '0.1.1') {
-    cmd = "solc --input-file " + contractFile + " --combined-json binary,json-abi";
-  }
-  else {
-    cmd = "solc --input-file " + contractFile + " --combined-json bin,abi";
-  }
-
-  result = exec(cmd, {silent: true});
-  output = result.output;
-
-  if (result.code === 1) {
-    throw new Error(result.output);
-  }
-
-  json = JSON.parse(output).contracts;
   compiled_object = {}
 
   for (var className in json) {
     var contract = json[className];
 
     compiled_object[className] = {};
-    compiled_object[className].code = contract.binary || contact.bin;
+    compiled_object[className].code = contract.bytecode;
     compiled_object[className].info = {};
-    compiled_object[className].info.abiDefinition = JSON.parse(contract["abi"] || contract["json-abi"]);
+    compiled_object[className].info.abiDefinition = JSON.parse(contract.interface);
   }
 
   return compiled_object;
-}
+};
 
 Compiler.prototype.compile_serpent = function(contractFile) {
   var cmd, result, output, json, compiled_object;
diff --git a/lib/config/blockchain.js b/lib/config/blockchain.js
index d0dcdd50..99f861c3 100644
--- a/lib/config/blockchain.js
+++ b/lib/config/blockchain.js
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ BlockchainConfig.prototype.config = function(env) {
   else {
     networkId = config.network_id;
   }
+  
 
   config = {
     rpcHost: config.rpc_host,
@@ -41,14 +42,16 @@ BlockchainConfig.prototype.config = function(env) {
     genesisBlock: config.genesis_block,
     datadir: config.datadir,
     chains: config.chains,
+    bootNodes: config.bootnodes,
     deployTimeout: config.deploy_timeout || 20,
     networkId: networkId,
-    maxPeers: 4,
+    maxPeers: config.max_peers || 4,
     port: config.port || "30303",
     console_toggle: config.console || false,
     mine_when_needed: config.mine_when_needed || false,
     whisper: config.whisper || false,
-    account: config.account
+    account: config.account,
+    geth_extra_opts: config.geth_extra_opts
   }
 
   return config;
diff --git a/lib/deploy.js b/lib/deploy.js
index d75f7e31..0c6087e2 100644
--- a/lib/deploy.js
+++ b/lib/deploy.js
@@ -4,63 +4,78 @@ var grunt = require('grunt');
 var readYaml = require('read-yaml');
 var Config = require('./config/config.js');
 
-// Ugly, but sleep lib has issues on osx
-sleep = function sleep(ms) {
-  var start = new Date().getTime();
-  while (new Date().getTime() < start + ms);
-}
-
-Deploy = function(env, contractFiles, blockchainConfig, contractsConfig, chainManager) {
-  //this.blockchainConfig = (new Config.Blockchain()).loadConfigFile('config/blockchain.yml').config(env);
-  this.blockchainConfig = blockchainConfig;
-  this.chainManager = chainManager;
-  this.chainManager.init(env, this.blockchainConfig);
-
-  //this.contractsManager = (new Config.Contracts(contractFiles,  blockchainConfig)).loadConfigFile('config/contracts.yml');
+Deploy = function(env, contractFiles, blockchainConfig, contractsConfig, chainManager, withProvider, withChain, _web3) {
+  if (_web3 !== undefined) {
+    web3 = _web3;
+  }
   this.contractsManager = contractsConfig;
   this.contractsConfig = this.contractsManager.config(env);
   this.deployedContracts = {};
+  this.blockchainConfig = blockchainConfig;
 
   try {
-    web3.setProvider(new web3.providers.HttpProvider("http://" + this.blockchainConfig.rpcHost + ":" + this.blockchainConfig.rpcPort));
+    if (withProvider) {
+      web3.setProvider(new web3.providers.HttpProvider("http://" + this.blockchainConfig.rpcHost + ":" + this.blockchainConfig.rpcPort));
+    }
     primaryAddress = web3.eth.coinbase;
     web3.eth.defaultAccount = primaryAddress;
   } catch (e) {
     throw new Error("==== can't connect to " + this.blockchainConfig.rpcHost + ":" + this.blockchainConfig.rpcPort + " check if an ethereum node is running");
   }
 
+  this.chainManager = chainManager;
+  this.chainManager.init(env, this.blockchainConfig, web3);
+  this.withChain = withChain;
+
   console.log("primary account address is : " + primaryAddress);
 };
 
-Deploy.prototype.deploy_contract = function(contractObject, contractParams) {
-  var transactionHash = contractObject["new"].apply(contractObject, contractParams).transactionHash;
-  var receipt = null;
-  var time = 0;
-  while ((receipt = web3.eth.getTransactionReceipt(transactionHash)) === null || receipt.contractAddress === null) {
-    sleep(1000);
-    time += 1;
-    if (time >= this.blockchainConfig.deployTimeout) {
-      return false;
+Deploy.prototype.deploy_contract = function(contractObject, contractParams, cb) {
+  var callback = function(e, contract) {
+    if(!e && contract.address !== undefined) {
+      cb(contract.address);
     }
-  }
-  return receipt;
+    else {
+      console.log("error deploying");
+      exit();
+    }
+  };
+
+  contractParams.push(callback);
+
+  contractObject["new"].apply(contractObject, contractParams);
 }
 
-Deploy.prototype.deploy_contracts = function(env) {
+Deploy.prototype.deploy_contracts = function(env, cb) {
   this.contractsManager.compileContracts(env);
-  all_contracts = this.contractsManager.all_contracts;
+  var all_contracts = this.contractsManager.all_contracts;
   this.contractDB = this.contractsManager.contractDB;
-  contractDependencies = this.contractsManager.contractDependencies;
-
   this.deployedContracts = {};
 
-  for (k = 0; k < all_contracts.length; k++) {
-    className = all_contracts[k];
-    contract = this.contractDB[className];
+  this.deploy_contract_list(all_contracts.length, env, all_contracts, cb);
+}
+
+Deploy.prototype.deploy_contract_list = function(index, env, all_contracts, cb) {
+  if(index === 0) {
+    cb();
+  }
+  else {
+    var _this = this;
+    this.deploy_contract_list(index - 1, env, all_contracts, function() {
+      var className = all_contracts[index - 1];
+      _this.deploy_a_contract(env, className, cb);
+    });
+  }
+}
+
+Deploy.prototype.deploy_a_contract = function(env, className, cb) {
+    var contractDependencies = this.contractsManager.contractDependencies;
+    var contract = this.contractDB[className];
 
     if (contract.deploy === false) {
       console.log("skipping " + className);
-      continue;
+      cb();
+      return;
     }
 
     var realArgs = [];
@@ -76,8 +91,8 @@ Deploy.prototype.deploy_contracts = function(env) {
     if (contract.address !== undefined) {
       this.deployedContracts[className] = contract.address;
 
-      //console.log("contract " + className + " at " + contractAddress);
       console.log("contract " + className + " at " + contract.address);
+      cb();
     }
     else {
       var chainContract = this.chainManager.getContract(className, contract.compiled.code, realArgs);
@@ -86,6 +101,7 @@ Deploy.prototype.deploy_contracts = function(env) {
         console.log("contract " + className + " is unchanged and already deployed at " + chainContract.address);
         this.deployedContracts[className] = chainContract.address;
         this.execute_cmds(contract.onDeploy);
+        cb();
       }
       else {
 
@@ -101,31 +117,31 @@ Deploy.prototype.deploy_contracts = function(env) {
 
         console.log('trying to obtain ' + className + ' address...');
 
-        while((receipt = this.deploy_contract(contractObject, contractParams)) === false) {
-          console.log("timeout... failed to deploy contract.. retrying...");
-        }
+        var _this = this;
+        this.deploy_contract(contractObject, contractParams, function(contractAddress) {
+          if (web3.eth.getCode(contractAddress) === "0x") {
+            console.log("=========");
+            console.log("contract was deployed at " + contractAddress + " but doesn't seem to be working");
+            console.log("try adjusting your gas values");
+            console.log("=========");
+          }
+          else {
+            console.log("deployed " + className + " at " + contractAddress);
+            _this.chainManager.addContract(className, contract.compiled.code, realArgs, contractAddress);
+            if (_this.withChain) {
+              _this.chainManager.save();
+            }
+          }
 
-        var contractAddress = receipt.contractAddress;
+          _this.deployedContracts[className] = contractAddress;
 
-        if (web3.eth.getCode(contractAddress) === "0x") {
-          console.log("=========");
-          console.log("contract was deployed at " + contractAddress + " but doesn't seem to be working");
-          console.log("try adjusting your gas values");
-          console.log("=========");
-        }
-        else {
-          console.log("deployed " + className + " at " + contractAddress);
-          this.chainManager.addContract(className, contract.compiled.code, realArgs, contractAddress);
-          this.chainManager.save();
-        }
+          _this.execute_cmds(contract.onDeploy);
 
-        this.deployedContracts[className] = contractAddress;
+          cb();
+        });
 
-        this.execute_cmds(contract.onDeploy);
       }
     }
-  }
-
 };
 
 Deploy.prototype.execute_cmds = function(cmds) {
@@ -147,12 +163,17 @@ Deploy.prototype.execute_cmds = function(cmds) {
   }
 }
 
-Deploy.prototype.generate_abi_file = function() {
-  var result;
-
+Deploy.prototype.generate_provider_file = function() {
+  var result = "";
   result = "web3.setProvider(new web3.providers.HttpProvider('http://" + this.blockchainConfig.rpcHost + ":" + this.blockchainConfig.rpcPort + "'));";
   result += "web3.eth.defaultAccount = web3.eth.accounts[0];";
 
+  return result;
+}
+
+Deploy.prototype.generate_abi_file = function() {
+  var result = "";
+
   for(className in this.deployedContracts) {
     var deployedContract = this.deployedContracts[className];
     var contract = this.contractDB[className];
diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index fcc82d3b..5f02c392 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -1,35 +1,34 @@
-var hashmerge = require('hashmerge');
 var readYaml = require('read-yaml');
 var shelljs = require('shelljs');
 var shelljs_global = require('shelljs/global');
 var web3 = require('web3');
 var commander = require('commander');
 var wrench = require('wrench');
-var python = require('python');
-var syncMe = require('sync-me');
-var methodmissing = require('methodmissing');
-var jasmine = require('jasmine');
+var grunt = require('grunt');
 
-var Tests = require('./test.js');
+//var Tests = require('./test.js');
 var Blockchain = require('./blockchain.js');
 var Deploy = require('./deploy.js');
 var Release = require('./ipfs.js');
 var Config = require('./config/config.js');
 var Compiler = require('./compiler.js');
 var ChainManager = require('./chain_manager.js');
+var Test = require('./test.js');
 
 Embark = {
-  init: function() {
+  init: function(_web3) {
     this.blockchainConfig = (new Config.Blockchain());
     this.compiler         = (new Compiler(this.blockchainConfig));
     this.contractsConfig  = (new Config.Contracts(this.blockchainConfig, this.compiler));
+    if (_web3 !== undefined) {
+      this.web3 = _web3;
+    }
+    else {
+      this.web3 = web3;
+    }
     this.chainManager     = (new ChainManager());
   },
 
-  tests: function(contractFiles) {
-    return new Tests(this.contractsConfig, contractFiles);
-  },
-
   startBlockchain: function(env, use_tmp) {
     var chain = new Blockchain(this.blockchainConfig.config(env));
     chain.startChain(use_tmp);
@@ -45,13 +44,20 @@ Embark = {
     return chain.getStartChainCommand(use_tmp);
   },
 
-  deployContracts: function(env, contractFiles, destFile, chainFile) {
+  deployContracts: function(env, contractFiles, destFile, chainFile, withProvider, withChain, cb) {
     this.contractsConfig.init(contractFiles, env);
 
     this.chainManager.loadConfigFile(chainFile)
-    var deploy = new Deploy(env, contractFiles, this.blockchainConfig.config(env), this.contractsConfig, this.chainManager);
-    deploy.deploy_contracts(env);
-    return deploy.generate_abi_file(destFile);
+    var deploy = new Deploy(env, contractFiles, this.blockchainConfig.config(env), this.contractsConfig, this.chainManager, withProvider, withChain, this.web3);
+    deploy.deploy_contracts(env, function() {
+      console.log("contracts deployed; generating abi file");
+      var result = ""
+      if (withProvider) {
+        result += deploy.generate_provider_file();
+      }
+      result += deploy.generate_abi_file();
+      cb(result);
+    });
   },
 
   geth: function(env, args) {
@@ -59,7 +65,19 @@ Embark = {
     chain.execGeth(args);
   },
 
-  release: Release
+  release: Release,
+
+  initTests: function() {
+    var embarkConfig = readYaml.sync("./embark.yml");
+    var fileExpression = embarkConfig.contracts || ["app/contracts/**/*.sol", "app/contracts/**/*.se"];
+    var contractFiles = grunt.file.expand(fileExpression);
+    var blockchainFile = embarkConfig.blockchainConfig || 'config/blockchain.yml';
+    var contractFile   = embarkConfig.contractsConfig  || 'config/contracts.yml';
+
+    var tests = new Test(contractFiles, blockchainFile, contractFile, 'development');
+
+    return tests;
+  }
 }
 
 module.exports = Embark;
diff --git a/lib/test.js b/lib/test.js
index 6c957256..bb7e8362 100644
--- a/lib/test.js
+++ b/lib/test.js
@@ -1,73 +1,24 @@
-var python = require('python').shell;
-var mm = require('methodmissing');
-var sync = require('sync-me');
+var ethersim = require('ethersim');
+var web3 = require('web3');
 
-py_exec = function(cmd) {
-  return sync(python, cmd)[1].trim();
-};
+Test = function(contractFiles, blockchainFile, contractFile, _env) {
+  this.env = _env || 'development';
+  this.web3 = web3;
+  this.web3.setProvider(ethersim.web3Provider());
+  this.contractFiles = contractFiles;
 
-TestContractWrapper = (function() {
-  function TestContractWrapper(contract, className, args) {
-    this.contract = contract.compiled;
-    this.className = className;
-    this.args = args;
-    this.initializeContract();
-  }
+  Embark.init(this.web3);
+  Embark.blockchainConfig.loadConfigFile(blockchainFile);
+  Embark.contractsConfig.loadConfigFile(contractFile);
 
-  TestContractWrapper.prototype.initializeContract = function() {
-    example_abi = JSON.stringify(this.contract.info.abiDefinition);
-    example_binary = this.contract.code.slice(2);
+  Embark.contractsConfig.init(this.contractFiles, this.env);
+}
 
-    py_exec("example_abi = '" + example_abi + "'");
-    py_exec("example_abi");
-    py_exec("example_binary = '" + example_binary + "'.decode('hex')");
-    py_exec("example_binary");
-
-    if (this.args === undefined) {
-      py_exec(this.className + "_contract = EvmContract(example_abi, example_binary, '" + this.className + "')");
-    }
-    else {
-      py_exec(this.className + "_contract = EvmContract(example_abi, example_binary, '" + this.className + "', [" + this.args.join(",") + "])");
-    }
-
-    this.contractVariable = this.className + "_contract";
-  };
-
-  TestContractWrapper.prototype.execCmd = function(method, args) {
-    var arg_list = [];
-    for (var key in args) {
-      var value = args[key];
-      arg_list.push(value);
-    }
-
-    data = py_exec(this.className + "_contract." + method + "(" + arg_list.join(",") + ")");
-    return data;
-  };
-
-  return TestContractWrapper;
-
-})();
-
-TestContract = function(contract, className, args) {
-  var wrapper = new TestContractWrapper(contract, className, args);
-  var Obj = mm(wrapper, function (key, args) {
-    return wrapper.execCmd(key, args);
+Test.prototype.deployAll = function(cb) {
+  Embark.deployContracts('development', this.contractFiles, "/tmp/abi.js", "chains.json", false, false, function(abi) {
+    eval(abi);
+    cb();
   });
-  return Obj;
 }
 
-test = function(contractsConfig, contractFiles) {
-  contractsConfig.init(contractFiles, 'development');
-
-  contractsConfig.compileContracts();
-  this.contractDB = contractsConfig.contractDB;
-}
-
-test.prototype.request = function(className, args) {
-  var contract = this.contractDB[className];
-  py_exec("from ethertdd import EvmContract");
-  return TestContract(contract, className, args);
-}
-
-module.exports = test;
-
+module.exports = Test;
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 0f15b435..adfbde25 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "embark-framework",
-  "version": "0.9.2",
+  "version": "1.0.2",
   "description": "",
   "scripts": {
     "test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1"
@@ -15,19 +15,16 @@
   "dependencies": {
     "commander": "^2.8.1",
     "grunt": "^0.4.5",
-    "hashmerge": "^1.0.2",
-    "jasmine": "^2.3.1",
     "js-sha3": "^0.3.1",
     "meteor-build-client": "^0.1.6",
-    "methodmissing": "^0.0.3",
     "mkdirp": "^0.5.1",
-    "python": "^0.0.4",
     "read-yaml": "^1.0.0",
     "shelljs": "^0.5.0",
-    "sync-me": "^0.1.1",
+    "solc": "^0.1.3-2",
     "toposort": "^0.2.10",
     "web3": "^0.8.1",
-    "wrench": "^1.5.8"
+    "wrench": "^1.5.8",
+    "ethersim": "^0.1.1"
   },
   "author": "Iuri Matias <iuri.matias@gmail.com>",
   "contributors": [],