diff --git a/proto/Makefile b/proto/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..94842fe6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proto/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+
+DESTDIR     ?= .
+PROTO_FILES := $(wildcard *.proto)
+GO_DIR      := $(DESTDIR)/go
+GO_FILES    := $(patsubst %.proto,$(GO_DIR)/%.pb.go,$(PROTO_FILES))
+PY_DIR      := $(DESTDIR)/py
+PY_FILES    := $(patsubst %.proto,$(PY_DIR)/%_pb2.py,$(PROTO_FILES))
+C_DIR       := $(DESTDIR)/c
+C_SOURCE    := $(patsubst %.proto,$(C_DIR)/%.pb-c.c,$(PROTO_FILES))
+C_HDR       := $(patsubst %.proto,$(C_DIR)/%.pb-c.h,$(PROTO_FILES))
+C_FILES     := $(C_SOURCE) $(C_HDR)
+CPP_DIR     := $(DESTDIR)/cpp
+CPP_SOURCE  := $(patsubst %.proto,$(CPP_DIR)/%.pb.cc,$(PROTO_FILES))
+CPP_HDR     := $(patsubst %.proto,$(CPP_DIR)/%.pb.h,$(PROTO_FILES))
+CPP_FILES   := $(CPP_SOURCE) $(CPP_HDR)
+
+default: example
+
+all: go py c cpp
+
+go: $(GO_FILES)
+
+$(GO_DIR)/%.pb.go: %.proto
+	@mkdir -p $(GO_DIR)
+	protoc --go_out=$(GO_DIR) $^
+
+example: go
+	go run ./example.go
+
+c: $(C_FILES)
+
+$(C_DIR)/%.pb-c.c: %.proto
+	@mkdir -p $(C_DIR)
+	protoc-c --c_out=$(C_DIR) $^
+
+cpp: $(CPP_FILES)
+
+$(CPP_DIR)/%.pb.cc: %.proto
+	@mkdir -p $(CPP_DIR)
+	protoc --cpp_out=$(CPP_DIR)/ $^
+
+py: $(PY_FILES)
+
+$(PY_DIR)/%_pb2.py: %.proto
+	@mkdir -p $(PY_DIR)
+	protoc --python_out=$(PY_DIR) $^
+
+clean:
+	rm -rf *~ $(GO_FILES) $(C_FILES) $(PY_FILES) $(CPP_FILES)
+
diff --git a/proto/config.proto b/proto/config.proto
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1b1ad8018
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proto/config.proto
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+package oci;
+
+// Spec is the base configuration for the container. It specifies platform
+// independent configuration.
+message Spec {
+	// Version is the version of the specification that is supported.
+	optional string version = 1;
+	// Platform is the host information for OS and Arch.
+	optional Platform platform = 2;
+	// Process is the container's main process.
+	optional Process process = 3;
+	// Root is the root information for the container's filesystem.
+	optional Root root = 4;
+	// Hostname is the container's host name.
+	optional string hostname = 5;
+	// Mounts profile configuration for adding mounts to the container's
+	// filesystem.
+	repeated MountPoint mounts = 6;
+}
+
+
+// LinuxSpec is the full specification for linux containers.
+message LinuxSpec {
+	optional Spec spec = 1;
+	// LinuxConfig is platform specific configuration for linux based
+	// containers.
+	optional LinuxConfig linux_config = 2;
+}
+
+// LinuxConfig contains platform specific configuration for linux based
+// containers.
+message LinuxConfig {
+	// Capabilities are linux capabilities that are kept for the container.
+	repeated string capabilities = 1;
+}
+
+// Platform specifies OS and arch information for the host system that the
+// container is created for.
+message Platform {
+	// OS is the operating system.
+	optional string os = 1;
+	// Arch is the architecture
+	optional string arch = 2;
+}
+
+// Process contains information to start a specific application inside the
+// container.
+message Process {
+	// Terminal creates an interactive terminal for the container.
+	optional bool terminal = 1;
+	// User specifies user information for the process.
+	optional User user = 2;
+	// Args specifies the binary and arguments for the application to
+	// execute.
+	repeated string args = 3;
+	// Env populates the process environment for the process.
+	repeated string env = 4;
+	// Cwd is the current working directory for the process and must be
+	// relative to the container's root.
+	optional string cwd = 5;
+}
+
+enum PlatformType {
+	UNKNOWN = 0;
+	LINUX = 1;
+}
+
+// User specifies user information for the process.
+message User {
+	// Type so that receivers of this message can `switch` for the fields
+	// expected
+	optional PlatformType type = 1;
+
+	//optional LinuxUser linux_type = 2;
+	extensions 100 to 499;
+}
+
+// LinuxUser specifies linux specific user and group information for the
+// container's main process.
+extend User {
+	// Uid is the user id.
+	optional int32 uid = 101;
+	// Gid is the group id.
+	optional int32 gid = 102;
+	repeated int32 additional_gids = 103;
+}
+
+// Root contains information about the container's root filesystem on the host.
+message Root {
+	// Path is the absolute path to the container's root filesystem.
+	optional string path = 1;
+	// Readonly makes the root filesystem for the container readonly before
+	// the process is executed.
+	optional bool readonly = 2;
+}
+
+// MountPoint describes a directory that may be fullfilled by a mount in the
+// runtime.json.
+message MountPoint {
+	// Name is a unique descriptive identifier for this mount point.
+	optional string name = 1;
+	// Path specifies the path of the mount. The path and child directories
+	// MUST exist, a runtime MUST NOT create directories automatically to a
+	// mount point.
+	optional string path = 2;
+}
diff --git a/proto/example.go b/proto/example.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..10ae604a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proto/example.go
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+// +build ignore
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"log"
+
+	oci "./go/"
+	"github.com/golang/protobuf/jsonpb"
+	"github.com/golang/protobuf/proto"
+)
+
+func main() {
+	s := &oci.LinuxSpec{
+		Spec: &oci.Spec{
+			Version:  proto.String("0.3.0"),
+			Hostname: proto.String("darkstar"),
+			Platform: &oci.Platform{Os: proto.String("linux"), Arch: proto.String("x86_64")},
+			Process: &oci.Process{
+				Terminal: proto.Bool(true),
+				User:     &oci.User{},
+				Cwd:      proto.String("/"),
+				Args:     []string{"/bin/sh"},
+				Env:      []string{"TERM=linux"},
+			},
+			Root: &oci.Root{
+				Path:     proto.String("/"),
+				Readonly: proto.Bool(false),
+			},
+			Mounts: []*oci.MountPoint{
+				&oci.MountPoint{
+					Name: proto.String("proc"),
+					Path: proto.String("/proc"),
+				},
+				&oci.MountPoint{
+					Name: proto.String("dev"),
+					Path: proto.String("/dev"),
+				},
+				&oci.MountPoint{
+					Name: proto.String("devpts"),
+					Path: proto.String("/dev/pts"),
+				},
+				&oci.MountPoint{
+					Name: proto.String("shm"),
+					Path: proto.String("/dev/shm"),
+				},
+				&oci.MountPoint{
+					Name: proto.String("mqueue"),
+					Path: proto.String("/dev/mqueue"),
+				},
+				&oci.MountPoint{
+					Name: proto.String("sysfs"),
+					Path: proto.String("/sys"),
+				},
+				&oci.MountPoint{
+					Name: proto.String("cgroup"),
+					Path: proto.String("/sys/fs/cgroup"),
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		LinuxConfig: &oci.LinuxConfig{
+			Capabilities: []string{
+				"CAP_AUDIT_WRITE",
+				"CAP_KILL",
+				"CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE",
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	//proto.SetExtension(s.Spec, oci.E_Uid, 0)
+
+	println("## Using github.com/golang/protobuf/jsonpb to marshal")
+	m := jsonpb.Marshaler{}
+	jsonStr, err := m.MarshalToString(s)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	println(jsonStr)
+	print("## len: ")
+	println(len(jsonStr))
+	println("")
+
+	println("## Using encoding/json to marshal")
+	buf, err := json.MarshalIndent(s, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	println(string(buf))
+	print("## len: ")
+	println(len(buf))
+	println("")
+
+	println("## Marshaling to protobuf binary message")
+	data, err := proto.Marshal(s)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	println(hex.Dump(data))
+	print("## len: ")
+	println(len(data))
+}
diff --git a/proto/runtime_config.proto b/proto/runtime_config.proto
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4f1db2eae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proto/runtime_config.proto
@@ -0,0 +1,271 @@
+package oci;
+
+// RuntimeSpec is the generic runtime state information on a running container
+message RuntimeSpec {
+	// Mounts is a mapping of names to mount configurations.
+	// Which mounts will be mounted and where should be chosen with MountPoints
+	// in Spec.
+	repeated MountFieldEntry mounts = 1;
+	// Hooks are the commands run at various lifecycle events of the container.
+	optional Hooks hooks = 2;
+}
+
+// MountFieldEntry is more backwards compatible protobuf associative map (than map<string, Mount>)
+message MountFieldEntry {
+	required string key = 1;
+	required Mount value = 2;
+}
+
+// Mount specifies a mount for a container
+message Mount {
+	// Type specifies the mount kind.
+	optional string type = 1;
+	// Source specifies the source path of the mount. In the case of bind mounts on
+	// linux based systems this would be the file on the host.
+	optional string source = 2;
+	// Options are fstab style mount options.
+	repeated string options = 3;
+}
+
+// Hook specifies a command that is run at a particular event in the lifecycle of a container
+message Hook {
+	optional string path = 1;
+	repeated string args = 2;
+	repeated string env = 3;
+}
+
+// Hooks for container setup and teardown
+message Hooks {
+	// Prestart is a list of hooks to be run before the container process is executed.
+	// On Linux, they are run after the container namespaces are created.
+	repeated Hook prestart = 1;
+	// Poststop is a list of hooks to be run after the container process exits.
+	repeated Hook poststop = 2;
+}
+
+// LinuxStateDirectory holds the container's state information
+message DefaultState {
+	// TODO(vbatts) not as elegant in some ways, but there is not a concept of const here
+	optional string directory = 1 [default = "/run/opencontainer/containers"];
+}
+
+/*
+BEGIN Linux specific runtime
+*/
+
+// LinuxRuntimeSpec is the full specification for linux containers.
+message LinuxRuntimeSpec {
+	optional RuntimeSpec runtime_spec = 1;
+	// LinuxRuntime is platform specific configuration for linux based containers.
+	optional LinuxRuntime linux = 2;
+}
+
+// LinuxRuntime hosts the Linux-only runtime information
+message LinuxRuntime {
+	// UidMapping specifies user mappings for supporting user namespaces on linux.
+	repeated IDMapping uid_mapping = 1;
+	// GidMapping specifies group mappings for supporting user namespaces on linux.
+	repeated IDMapping gid_mapping = 2;
+	// Rlimits specifies rlimit options to apply to the container's process.
+	repeated Rlimit rlimits = 3;
+	// Sysctl are a set of key value pairs that are set for the container on start
+	repeated StringStringEntry sysctl = 4;
+	// Resources contain cgroup information for handling resource constraints
+	// for the container
+	optional Resources resources = 5;
+	// CgroupsPath specifies the path to cgroups that are created and/or joined by the container.
+	// The path is expected to be relative to the cgroups mountpoint.
+	// If resources are specified, the cgroups at CgroupsPath will be updated based on resources.
+	optional string cgroups_path = 6;
+	// Namespaces contains the namespaces that are created and/or joined by the container
+	repeated Namespace namespaces = 7;
+	// Devices are a list of device nodes that are created and enabled for the container
+	repeated Device devices = 8;
+	// ApparmorProfile specified the apparmor profile for the container.
+	optional string apparmor_profile = 9;
+	// SelinuxProcessLabel specifies the selinux context that the container process is run as.
+	optional string selinux_process_label = 10;
+	// Seccomp specifies the seccomp security settings for the container.
+	optional Seccomp seccomp = 11;
+	// RootfsPropagation is the rootfs mount propagation mode for the container
+	optional string rootfs_propagation = 12;
+}
+
+// IDMapping specifies UID/GID mappings
+message IDMapping {
+	// HostID is the UID/GID of the host user or group
+	optional int32 host_id = 1;
+	// ContainerID is the UID/GID of the container's user or group
+	optional int32 container_id = 2;
+	// Size is the length of the range of IDs mapped between the two namespaces
+	optional int32 size = 3;
+}
+
+// Rlimit type and restrictions
+message Rlimit {
+	// Type of the rlimit to set
+	optional string type = 1;
+	// Hard is the hard limit for the specified type
+	optional uint64 hard = 2;
+	// Soft is the soft limit for the specified type
+	optional uint64 soft = 3;
+}
+
+// StringStringEntry is more backwards compatible protobuf associative map (than map<string, Mount>)
+message StringStringEntry {
+	required string key = 1;
+	required string value = 2;
+}
+
+// Resources has container runtime resource constraints
+message Resources {
+	// DisableOOMKiller disables the OOM killer for out of memory conditions
+	optional bool disable_oom_killer = 1;
+	// Memory restriction configuration
+	optional Memory memory = 2;
+	// CPU resource restriction configuration
+	optional CPU cpu = 3;
+	// Task resource restriction configuration.
+	optional Pids pids = 4;
+	// BlockIO restriction configuration
+	optional BlockIO block_io = 5;
+	// Hugetlb limit (in bytes)
+	repeated HugepageLimit hugepage_limits = 6;
+	// Network restriction configuration
+	optional Network network = 7;
+}
+
+// Memory for Linux cgroup 'memory' resource management
+message Memory {
+	// Memory limit (in bytes)
+	optional int64 limit = 1;
+	// Memory reservation or soft_limit (in bytes)
+	optional int64 reservation = 2;
+	// Total memory usage (memory + swap); set `-1' to disable swap
+	optional int64 swap = 3;
+	// Kernel memory limit (in bytes)
+	optional int64 kernel = 4;
+	// How aggressive the kernel will swap memory pages. Range from 0 to 100. Set -1 to use system default
+	optional int64 Swappiness = 5;
+}
+
+// CPU for Linux cgroup 'cpu' resource management
+message CPU {
+	// CPU shares (relative weight vs. other cgroups with cpu shares)
+	optional int64 shares = 1;
+	// CPU hardcap limit (in usecs). Allowed cpu time in a given period
+	optional int64 quota = 2;
+	// CPU period to be used for hardcapping (in usecs). 0 to use system default
+	optional int64 period = 3;
+	// How many time CPU will use in realtime scheduling (in usecs)
+	optional int64 realtime_runtime = 4;
+	// CPU period to be used for realtime scheduling (in usecs)
+	optional int64 realtime_period = 5;
+	// CPU to use within the cpuset
+	optional string cpus = 6;
+	// MEM to use within the cpuset
+	optional string mems = 7;
+}
+
+// Pids for Linux cgroup 'pids' resource management (Linux 4.3)
+message Pids {
+	// Maximum number of PIDs. A value < 0 implies "no limit".
+	optional int64 limit = 1;
+}
+
+// BlockIO for Linux cgroup 'blockio' resource management
+message BlockIO {
+	// Specifies per cgroup weight, range is from 10 to 1000
+	optional int64 weight = 1;
+	// Weight per cgroup per device, can override BlkioWeight
+	optional string weight_device = 2;
+	// IO read rate limit per cgroup per device, bytes per second
+	optional string throttle_read_bps_device = 3;
+	// IO write rate limit per cgroup per divice, bytes per second
+	optional string throttle_write_bps_device = 4;
+	// IO read rate limit per cgroup per device, IO per second
+	optional string throttle_read_iops_device = 5;
+	// IO write rate limit per cgroup per device, IO per second
+	optional string throttle_write_iops_device = 6;
+}
+
+// HugepageLimit structure corresponds to limiting kernel hugepages
+message HugepageLimit {
+	optional string pagesize = 1;
+	optional int32 limit = 2;
+}
+
+// Network identification and priority configuration
+message Network {
+	// Set class identifier for container's network packets
+	optional string class_id = 1;
+	// Set priority of network traffic for container
+	repeated InterfacePriority priorities = 2;
+}
+
+// InterfacePriority for network interfaces
+message InterfacePriority {
+	// Name is the name of the network interface
+	optional string name = 1;
+	// Priority for the interface
+	optional int64 priority = 2;
+}
+
+// Namespace is the configuration for a linux namespace
+message Namespace {
+	// Type is the type of Linux namespace
+	optional string type = 1;
+	// Path is a path to an existing namespace persisted on disk that can be joined
+	// and is of the same type
+	optional string path = 2;
+}
+
+// Device represents the information on a Linux special device file
+message Device {
+	// Path to the device.
+	optional string path = 1;
+	// Device type, block, char, etc.
+	// TODO(vbatts) ensure int32 is fine here, instead of golang's rune
+	optional int32 type = 2;
+	// Major is the device's major number.
+	optional int64 major = 3;
+	// Minor is the device's minor number.
+	optional int64 minor = 4;
+	// Cgroup permissions format, rwm.
+	optional string permissions = 5;
+	// FileMode permission bits for the device.
+	// TODO(vbatts) os.FileMode is an octal uint32
+	optional uint32 file_mode = 6;
+	// Uid of the device.
+	optional uint32 uid = 7;
+	// Gid of the device.
+	optional uint32 gid = 8;
+}
+
+// Seccomp represents syscall restrictions
+message Seccomp {
+	// TODO(vbatts) string instead of "Action" type
+	optional string default_action = 1;
+	repeated Syscall syscalls = 2;
+}
+
+// Syscall is used to match a syscall in Seccomp
+message Syscall {
+	optional string name = 1;
+	optional string action = 2;
+	repeated Arg args = 3;
+}
+
+// Arg used for matching specific syscall arguments in Seccomp
+message Arg {
+	optional uint32 index = 1;
+	optional uint64 value = 2;
+	optional uint64 value_two = 3;
+	// Op is the operator string
+	optional string op = 4;
+}
+
+/*
+END Linux specific runtime
+*/
+