diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index b410b5be..19f747b6 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -234,6 +234,7 @@ cython_debug/
 veilid-python/demo/.demokeys
 
 .vscode/
+.idea/
 
 ## Ignore emacs backup files
 ~*
diff --git a/DEVELOPMENT.md b/DEVELOPMENT.md
index a4c029bc..422755aa 100644
--- a/DEVELOPMENT.md
+++ b/DEVELOPMENT.md
@@ -63,13 +63,12 @@ sdkmanager --install "cmake;3.22.1"
 ```
 
 Export environment variables and add the Android SDK platform-tools directory to
-your path.
+your path. See [instructions here](https://developer.android.com/tools/variables).
 
 ```shell
 cat << EOF >> ~/.profile 
-export ANDROID_SDK_ROOT=<path to sdk>
-export ANDROID_NDK_HOME=$ANDROID_SDK_ROOT/ndk/25.1.8937393
-export PATH=\$PATH:$ANDROID_SDK_ROOT/platform-tools
+export ANDROID_HOME=<path to sdk>
+export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/tools:$ANDROID_HOME/tools/bin:$ANDROID_HOME/platform-tools
 EOF
 ```
 
@@ -119,13 +118,12 @@ to maintain your Android dependencies. Use the SDK Manager in the IDE to install
 #### Setup command line environment
 
 Export environment variables and add the Android SDK platform-tools directory to
-your path.
+your path. See [instructions here](https://developer.android.com/tools/variables).
 
 ```shell
 cat << EOF >> ~/.zshenv
-export ANDROID_SDK_ROOT=$HOME/Library/Android/sdk
-export ANDROID_NDK_HOME=$HOME/Library/Android/sdk/ndk/25.1.8937393
-export PATH=\$PATH:$HOME/Library/Android/sdk/platform-tools
+export ANDROID_HOME=$HOME/Library/Android/sdk
+export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/tools:$ANDROID_HOME/tools/bin:$ANDROID_HOME/platform-tools
 EOF
 ```
 
diff --git a/dev-setup/install_linux_prerequisites.sh b/dev-setup/install_linux_prerequisites.sh
index 149470ee..6941ddf0 100755
--- a/dev-setup/install_linux_prerequisites.sh
+++ b/dev-setup/install_linux_prerequisites.sh
@@ -9,20 +9,20 @@ fi
 if [ ! -z "$(command -v apt)" ]; then
     # Install APT dependencies
     sudo apt update -y
-    sudo apt install -y openjdk-11-jdk-headless iproute2 curl build-essential cmake libssl-dev openssl file git pkg-config libdbus-1-dev libdbus-glib-1-dev libgirepository1.0-dev libcairo2-dev checkinstall unzip llvm wabt python3-pip
+    sudo apt install -y openjdk-17-jdk-headless iproute2 curl build-essential cmake libssl-dev openssl file git pkg-config libdbus-1-dev libdbus-glib-1-dev libgirepository1.0-dev libcairo2-dev checkinstall unzip llvm wabt python3-pip
 elif [ ! -z "$(command -v dnf)" ]; then
     # DNF (formerly yum)
     sudo dnf update -y
     # libgirepository -> gobject-introspection
     # iproute2 -> iproute
-    # openjdk-11-jdk-headless -> java-11-openjdk-headless
+    # openjdk-17-jdk-headless -> java-11-openjdk-headless
     # checkinstall does not appear to be a thing in Fedora 38 repos
     #
     # Seems like iproute and file might come preinstalled but I put
     # them in anyway
     #
     # Also Fedora doesn't come with pip
-    sudo dnf install -y java-11-openjdk-headless iproute curl cmake openssl-devel openssl git file pkg-config dbus-devel dbus-glib gobject-introspection-devel cairo-devel unzip llvm wabt python3-pip gcc-c++
+    sudo dnf install -y java-17-openjdk-headless iproute curl cmake openssl-devel openssl git file pkg-config dbus-devel dbus-glib gobject-introspection-devel cairo-devel unzip llvm wabt python3-pip gcc-c++
     # build-essentials
     sudo dnf groupinstall -y 'Development Tools'
 fi
@@ -50,8 +50,7 @@ rm -rf $HOME/Android/cmdline-tools $HOME/Android/cmdline-tools.zip
 cat >> $HOME/.profile <<END
 source "\$HOME/.cargo/env"
 export PATH=\$PATH:\$HOME/Android/Sdk/ndk/25.1.8937393/toolchains/llvm/prebuilt/linux-x86_64/bin:\$HOME/Android/Sdk/platform-tools:\$HOME/Android/Sdk/cmdline-tools/latest/bin
-export ANDROID_NDK_HOME=\$HOME/Android/Sdk/ndk/25.1.8937393
-export ANDROID_SDK_ROOT=\$HOME/Android/Sdk
+export ANDROID_HOME=\$HOME/Android/Sdk
 END
 break ;;
 [nN] ) echo Skipping Android SDK;
diff --git a/dev-setup/setup_linux.sh b/dev-setup/setup_linux.sh
index 107acb0b..ef869cc1 100755
--- a/dev-setup/setup_linux.sh
+++ b/dev-setup/setup_linux.sh
@@ -24,31 +24,24 @@ while true; do
     case $response in
     [yY] ) echo Checking android setup...;
 
-        # ensure ANDROID_SDK_ROOT is defined and exists
-        if [ -d "$ANDROID_SDK_ROOT" ]; then
-            echo '[X] $ANDROID_SDK_ROOT is defined and exists' 
+        # ensure ANDROID_HOME is defined and exists
+        if [ -d "$ANDROID_HOME" ]; then
+            echo '[X] $ANDROID_HOME is defined and exists'
         else
-            echo '$ANDROID_SDK_ROOT is not defined or does not exist'
+            echo '$ANDROID_HOME is not defined or does not exist'
             exit 1
         fi
 
         # ensure Android Command Line Tools exist
-        if [ -d "$ANDROID_SDK_ROOT/cmdline-tools/latest/bin" ]; then
+        if [ -d "$ANDROID_HOME/cmdline-tools/latest/bin" ]; then
             echo '[X] Android command line tools are installed' 
         else
             echo 'Android command line tools are not installed'
             exit 1
         fi
 
-        # ensure ANDROID_NDK_HOME is defined and exists
-        if [ -d "$ANDROID_NDK_HOME" ]; then
-            echo '[X] $ANDROID_NDK_HOME is defined and exists' 
-        else
-            echo '$ANDROID_NDK_HOME is not defined or does not exist'
-            exit 1
-        fi
-
         # ensure ndk is installed
+        ANDROID_NDK_HOME="$ANDROID_HOME/ndk/25.1.8937393"
         if [ -f "$ANDROID_NDK_HOME/ndk-build" ]; then
             echo '[X] Android NDK is installed at the location $ANDROID_NDK_HOME' 
         else
@@ -57,7 +50,7 @@ while true; do
         fi
 
         # ensure cmake is installed
-        if [ -d "$ANDROID_SDK_ROOT/cmake" ]; then
+        if [ -d "$ANDROID_HOME/cmake" ]; then
             echo '[X] Android SDK CMake is installed' 
         else
             echo 'Android SDK CMake is not installed'
@@ -65,7 +58,7 @@ while true; do
         fi
 
         # ensure emulator is installed
-        if [ -d "$ANDROID_SDK_ROOT/emulator" ]; then
+        if [ -d "$ANDROID_HOME/emulator" ]; then
             echo '[X] Android SDK emulator is installed' 
         else
             echo 'Android SDK emulator is not installed'
diff --git a/dev-setup/setup_macos.sh b/dev-setup/setup_macos.sh
index 34ed33fa..646adb69 100755
--- a/dev-setup/setup_macos.sh
+++ b/dev-setup/setup_macos.sh
@@ -13,16 +13,16 @@ while true; do
     read -p "Did you install Android SDK? Y/N " response
     case $response in
         [yY] ) echo Checking android setup...;
-        # ensure ANDROID_SDK_ROOT is defined and exists
-        if [ -d "$ANDROID_SDK_ROOT" ]; then
-            echo '[X] $ANDROID_SDK_ROOT is defined and exists' 
+        # ensure ANDROID_HOME is defined and exists
+        if [ -d "$ANDROID_HOME" ]; then
+            echo '[X] $ANDROID_HOME is defined and exists'
         else
-            echo '$ANDROID_SDK_ROOT is not defined or does not exist'
+            echo '$ANDROID_HOME is not defined or does not exist'
             exit 1
         fi
 
         # ensure Android Command Line Tools exist
-        if [ -d "$ANDROID_SDK_ROOT/cmdline-tools/latest/bin" ]; then
+        if [ -d "$ANDROID_HOME/cmdline-tools/latest/bin" ]; then
             echo '[X] Android command line tools are installed' 
         else
             echo 'Android command line tools are not installed'
@@ -30,13 +30,14 @@ while true; do
         fi
 
         # ensure Android SDK packages are installed
-        $ANDROID_SDK_ROOT/cmdline-tools/latest/bin/sdkmanager build-tools\;33.0.1 ndk\;25.1.8937393 cmake\;3.22.1 platform-tools platforms\;android-33
+        $ANDROID_HOME/cmdline-tools/latest/bin/sdkmanager build-tools\;33.0.1 ndk\;25.1.8937393 cmake\;3.22.1 platform-tools platforms\;android-33
 
         # ensure ANDROID_NDK_HOME is defined and exists
+        ANDROID_NDK_HOME="$ANDROID_HOME/ndk/25.1.8937393"
         if [ -d "$ANDROID_NDK_HOME" ]; then
-            echo '[X] $ANDROID_NDK_HOME is defined and exists' 
+            echo '[X] Android NDK is defined and exists'
         else
-            echo '$ANDROID_NDK_HOME is not defined or does not exist'
+            echo 'Android NDK is not defined or does not exist'
             exit 1
         fi
 
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ while true; do
         fi
 
         # ensure cmake is installed
-        if [ -d "$ANDROID_SDK_ROOT/cmake" ]; then
+        if [ -d "$ANDROID_HOME/cmake" ]; then
             echo '[X] Android SDK CMake is installed' 
         else
             echo 'Android SDK CMake is not installed'
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ while true; do
         fi
 
         # ensure emulator is installed
-        if [ -d "$ANDROID_SDK_ROOT/emulator" ]; then
+        if [ -d "$ANDROID_HOME/emulator" ]; then
             echo '[X] Android SDK emulator is installed' 
         else
             echo 'Android SDK emulator is not installed'
@@ -119,26 +120,31 @@ else
     exit 1
 fi
 
+# ensure Java 17 is the active version
+JAVA_VERSION=$(java -version 2>&1 | head -n 1 | cut -d\" -f2)
+if [ "$JAVA_VERSION" == "17" ]; then
+    echo '[X] Java 17 is available in the path'
+else
+    echo 'Java 17 is not available in the path'
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 # ensure we have command line tools
 xcode-select --install 2> /dev/null || true 
 until [ -d /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin ]; do
     sleep 5;
 done
 
-# ensure packages are installed
-if [ "$BREW_USER" == "" ]; then
-    if [ -d /opt/homebrew ]; then
-        BREW_USER=`ls -lad /opt/homebrew/. | cut -d\  -f4`
-        echo "Must sudo to homebrew user \"$BREW_USER\" to install capnp package:"
-    elif [ -d /usr/local/Homebrew ]; then
-        BREW_USER=`ls -lad /usr/local/Homebrew/. | cut -d\  -f4`
-        echo "Must sudo to homebrew user \"$BREW_USER\" to install capnp package:"
-    else
-        echo "Homebrew is not installed in the normal place. Trying as current user"
-        BREW_USER=`whoami`
-    fi
+# install packages
+# if $BREW_USER is set, run brew as that user, otherwise run it regularly
+# this allows for developers who have brew installed as a different user to run this script
+if [ -z "$BREW_USER" ]; then
+    BREW_COMMAND="brew"
+else
+    BREW_COMMAND="sudo -H -u $BREW_USER brew"
 fi
-sudo -H -u $BREW_USER brew install capnp cmake wabt llvm openjdk@17 jq
+
+$BREW_COMMAND install capnp cmake wabt llvm jq
 
 # install targets
 rustup target add aarch64-apple-darwin aarch64-apple-ios aarch64-apple-ios-sim x86_64-apple-darwin x86_64-apple-ios wasm32-unknown-unknown aarch64-linux-android armv7-linux-androideabi i686-linux-android x86_64-linux-android
@@ -149,5 +155,9 @@ cargo install wasm-bindgen-cli wasm-pack cargo-edit
 # install pip packages
 pip3 install --upgrade bumpversion
 
-echo Installing cocoapods. This may take a while.
-sudo gem install cocoapods
+if command -v pod &> /dev/null; then
+    echo '[X] CocoaPods is available in the path'
+else
+    echo 'CocoaPods is not available in the path, installing it now'
+    $BREW_COMMAND install cocoapods
+fi
diff --git a/scripts/new_android_sim.sh b/scripts/new_android_sim.sh
index db2d877a..a5478299 100755
--- a/scripts/new_android_sim.sh
+++ b/scripts/new_android_sim.sh
@@ -14,17 +14,17 @@ AVD_TAG="google_atd"
 AVD_IMAGE="system-images;android-30;$AVD_TAG;$ANDROID_ABI"
 AVD_DEVICE="Nexus 10"
 
-SDKMANAGER=$ANDROID_SDK_ROOT/tools/bin/sdkmanager
-AVDMANAGER=$ANDROID_SDK_ROOT/tools/bin/avdmanager
+SDKMANAGER=$ANDROID_HOME/tools/bin/sdkmanager
+AVDMANAGER=$ANDROID_HOME/tools/bin/avdmanager
 if ! command -v $SDKMANAGER; then
-    SDKMANAGER=$ANDROID_SDK_ROOT/cmdline-tools/latest/bin/sdkmanager
-    AVDMANAGER=$ANDROID_SDK_ROOT/cmdline-tools/latest/bin/avdmanager
+    SDKMANAGER=$ANDROID_HOME/cmdline-tools/latest/bin/sdkmanager
+    AVDMANAGER=$ANDROID_HOME/cmdline-tools/latest/bin/avdmanager
     if ! command -v $SDKMANAGER; then
         echo "Can't find 'sdkmanager' in the usual places."
         exit
     fi
 fi
-EMULATOR=$ANDROID_SDK_ROOT/emulator/emulator
+EMULATOR=$ANDROID_HOME/emulator/emulator
 if ! command -v $EMULATOR; then
     echo "Can't find 'emulator' in the usual places."
     exit
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ $SDKMANAGER --install "$AVD_IMAGE"
 # Make AVD
 echo "no" | $AVDMANAGER --verbose create avd --force --name "$AVD_NAME" --package "$AVD_IMAGE" --tag "$AVD_TAG" --abi "$ANDROID_ABI" --device "$AVD_DEVICE"
 # Run emulator
-$ANDROID_SDK_ROOT/emulator/emulator -avd testavd -no-snapshot -no-boot-anim -no-window &
+$ANDROID_HOME/emulator/emulator -avd testavd -no-snapshot -no-boot-anim -no-window &
 ( trap exit SIGINT ; read -r -d '' _ </dev/tty ) ## wait for Ctrl-C
 kill %1
 wait
diff --git a/veilid-core/build.rs b/veilid-core/build.rs
index 3324b5f8..590152b5 100644
--- a/veilid-core/build.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/build.rs
@@ -96,8 +96,8 @@ fn fix_android_emulator() {
     let target_arch = env::var("CARGO_CFG_TARGET_ARCH").unwrap();
     if target_arch == "x86_64" && target_os == "android" {
         let missing_library = "clang_rt.builtins-x86_64-android";
-        let android_ndk_home = env::var("ANDROID_NDK_HOME").expect("ANDROID_NDK_HOME not set");
-        let lib_path = glob(&format!("{android_ndk_home}/**/lib{missing_library}.a"))
+        let android_home = env::var("ANDROID_HOME").expect("ANDROID_HOME not set");
+        let lib_path = glob(&format!("{android_home}/ndk/25.1.8937393/**/lib{missing_library}.a"))
             .expect("failed to glob")
             .next()
             .expect("Need libclang_rt.builtins-x86_64-android.a")
diff --git a/veilid-flutter/setup_flutter.sh b/veilid-flutter/setup_flutter.sh
index 83145471..79a7b14e 100755
--- a/veilid-flutter/setup_flutter.sh
+++ b/veilid-flutter/setup_flutter.sh
@@ -59,26 +59,13 @@ if [ "$OS" == "linux" ]; then
     flutter config --enable-linux-desktop --enable-android
 
 elif [ "$OS" == "macos" ]; then
-
-    # # ensure x86_64 homebrew is installed
-    # if [ -f /usr/local/bin/brew ] &> /dev/null; then 
-    #     echo '[X] x86_64 homebrew is available'
-    # else
-    #     echo 'x86_64 homebrew is not available, run this:'
-    #     echo 'arch -x86_64 zsh'
-    #     echo '/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"'
-    #     exit 1
-    # fi
-
-    # ensure packages are installed
-    # if [ "$BREW_USER" == "" ]; then
-    #     BREW_USER=`ls -lad /usr/local/bin/. | cut -d\  -f4`
-    #     echo "Must sudo to homebrew user \"$BREW_USER\" to install LLVM package:"
-    # fi
-    # sudo -H -u $BREW_USER arch -x86_64 /usr/local/bin/brew install llvm
-    echo "Must sudo to root to install CocoaPods gem:"
-    # sudo arch -x86_64 gem install ffi
-    sudo arch -x86_64 gem install cocoapods
+    # check if cocoapods is installed, if its not, install it
+    if command -v pod &> /dev/null; then
+        echo '[X] CocoaPods is available in the path'
+    else
+        echo 'CocoaPods is not available in the path, installing it now'
+        brew install cocoapods
+    fi
 
     if [ "$(uname -p)" == "arm" ]; then
         sudo softwareupdate --install-rosetta --agree-to-license