diff --git a/hyperfocal/cam.py b/hyperfocal/cam.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..da0aa62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hyperfocal/cam.py
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+import os
+from typing import List, Tuple
+import subprocess
+import json
+import numpy as np
+import cv2
+
+
+def combine_folder_paths(base_path: str, *other_paths: List[str]) -> str:
+    return os.path.normpath(
+        os.path.join(
+            base_path,
+            *other_paths
+        )
+    )
+
+
+class Backend:
+    def __init__(self, path: str):
+        self.root = path
+        self._list_all = combine_folder_paths(path, "list_all")
+        self._get_info = combine_folder_paths(path, "get_info")
+        self._setup = combine_folder_paths(path, "setup")
+        self._cleanup = combine_folder_paths(path, "cleanup")
+
+    def list_all(self) -> List[str]:
+        res = subprocess.run(self._list_all, capture_output=True)
+
+        if res.returncode:
+            raise RuntimeError(f"hyperfocal.Backend failed to list all devices, reason: {res.returncode}")  # noqa PEP8 E501
+
+        # print(res.stdout, res.returncode)
+
+        return res.stdout.decode().split()
+
+    def get_backend_info(self) -> str:
+        res = subprocess.run(self._get_info, capture_output=True)
+
+        if res.returncode:
+            raise RuntimeError(f"hyperfocal.Backend failed to get info about the backend, reason: {res.returncode}")  # noqa PEP8 E501
+
+        return json.loads(res.stdout.decode())
+
+    def get_info(self, device_id: str) -> str:
+        res = subprocess.run([self._get_info, device_id], capture_output=True)
+
+        # print(res.stdout, res.returncode)
+
+        if res.returncode:
+            raise RuntimeError(f"hyperfocal.Backend failed to get info about device '{device_id}', reason: {res.returncode}")  # noqa PEP8 E501
+
+        return res.stdout.decode()
+
+    def setup(self, device_id: str) -> str:
+        res = subprocess.run([self._setup, device_id], capture_output=True)
+
+        # print(res.stdout, res.returncode)
+
+        if res.returncode:
+            raise RuntimeError(f"hyperfocal.Backend failed to set up device '{device_id}', reason: {res.returncode}")  # noqa PEP8 E501
+
+        return res.stdout.decode().strip()
+
+    def cleanup(self, device_id: str):
+        res = subprocess.run([self._cleanup, device_id], capture_output=True)
+
+        # print(res.stdout, res.returncode)
+
+        if res.returncode:
+            raise RuntimeError(f"hyperfocal.Backend failed to clean up device '{device_id}', reason: {res.returncode}")  # noqa PEP8 E501
+
+
+# TODO: convert to using full fledged v4l2 instead of opencv
+class VideoStream:
+    def __init__(self, backend: Backend, device_id: str):
+        self.device_id = device_id
+        self._backend = backend
+
+        self.v4l2_path = self._backend.setup(device_id)
+        self.vd = cv2.VideoCapture(self.v4l2_path)
+
+        ret, frame = self.vd.read()
+
+        if not ret:
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                f'failed to start VideoStream "{self.v4l2_path}":"{device_id}"'
+            )
+
+        self.info = json.loads(self._backend.get_info(self.device_id))
+
+    def read(self) -> Tuple[bool, np.ndarray]:
+        return self.vd.read()
+
+    def stop(self):
+        self.vd.release()
+        self._backend.cleanup(self.device_id)
+
+    def is_alive(self) -> bool:
+        return self.vd.isOpened()