diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.JIT.js b/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.JIT.js
index 3c5b79c9..98b8ba7b 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.JIT.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.JIT.js
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 Metamaps.JIT = {
     events: {
         mouseMove: 'Metamaps:JIT:events:mouseMove',
+        topicDrag: 'Metamaps:JIT:events:topicDrag', 
+        newTopic: 'Metamaps:JIT:events:newTopic', 
+        removeTopic: 'Metamaps:JIT:events:removeTopic', 
+        newSynapse: 'Metamaps:JIT:events:newSynapse', 
+        removeSynapse: 'Metamaps:JIT:events:removeSynapse', 
         pan: 'Metamaps:JIT:events:pan',
         zoom: 'Metamaps:JIT:events:zoom'
     },
@@ -703,6 +708,11 @@ Metamaps.JIT = {
 
         var self = Metamaps.JIT;
 
+        // this is used to send nodes that are moving to 
+        // other realtime collaborators on the same map
+        var positionsToSend = {};
+        var topic;
+
         if (node && !node.nodeFrom) {
             var pos = eventInfo.getPos();
             // if it's a left click, or a touch, move the node
@@ -710,13 +720,23 @@ Metamaps.JIT = {
                 //if the node dragged isn't already selected, select it
                 var whatToDo = self.handleSelectionBeforeDragging(node, e);
                 if (node.pos.rho || node.pos.rho === 0) {
+                    // this means we're in topic view
                     var rho = Math.sqrt(pos.x * pos.x + pos.y * pos.y);
                     var theta = Math.atan2(pos.y, pos.x);
                     node.pos.setp(theta, rho);
                 } else if (whatToDo == 'only-drag-this-one') {
                     node.pos.setc(pos.x, pos.y);
-                    node.setData('xloc', pos.x);
-                    node.setData('yloc', pos.y);
+
+                    if (Metamaps.Active.Map) {
+                        topic = node.getData('topic');
+                        // we use the topic ID not the node id
+                        // because we can't depend on the node id
+                        // to be the same as on other collaborators
+                        // maps
+                        positionsToSend[topic.id] = pos;
+                        $(document).trigger(Metamaps.JIT.events.topicDrag, [positionsToSend]);
+                        $(document).trigger(Metamaps.JIT.events.mouseMove, [pos]);
+                    }
                 } else {
                     var len = Metamaps.Selected.Nodes.length;
 
@@ -734,9 +754,21 @@ Metamaps.JIT = {
                         var x = pos.x + xOffset[i];
                         var y = pos.y + yOffset[i];
                         n.pos.setc(x, y);
-                        n.setData('xloc', x);
-                        n.setData('yloc', y);
+
+                        if (Metamaps.Active.Map) {
+                            topic = n.getData('topic');
+                            // we use the topic ID not the node id
+                            // because we can't depend on the node id
+                            // to be the same as on other collaborators
+                            // maps
+                            positionsToSend[topic.id] = n.pos;
+                        }
                     } //for
+
+                    if (Metamaps.Active.Map) {
+                        $(document).trigger(Metamaps.JIT.events.topicDrag, [positionsToSend]);
+                        $(document).trigger(Metamaps.JIT.events.mouseMove, [pos]);
+                    }
                 } //if
 
                 if (whatToDo == 'deselect') {
@@ -807,6 +839,7 @@ Metamaps.JIT = {
                         x: pos.x,
                         y: pos.y
                     };
+                    $(document).trigger(Metamaps.JIT.events.mouseMove, [pos]);
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.js b/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.js
index 83ece7d7..30243247 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.js
@@ -1506,7 +1506,7 @@ Metamaps.Realtime = {
         });
         $('body').click(self.close);
 
-        self.socket = io.connect('http://gentle-savannah-1303.herokuapp.com');  
+        self.socket = io.connect('http://localhost:5001');  
         self.startActiveMap();
     },
     toggleBox: function (event) {
@@ -1619,14 +1619,30 @@ Metamaps.Realtime = {
         // receive word that there's a mapper turned on realtime
         socket.on('maps-' + Metamaps.Active.Map.id + '-lostrealtime', self.lostCollaborator);
 
-        socket.on('maps-' + Metamaps.Active.Map.id, self.contentUpdate);
+        //
+        socket.on('maps-' + Metamaps.Active.Map.id + '-topicDrag', self.topicDrag);
+
+        //
+        socket.on('maps-' + Metamaps.Active.Map.id + '-newTopic', self.newTopic);
+
+        //
+        socket.on('maps-' + Metamaps.Active.Map.id + '-removeTopic', self.removeTopic);
+
+        //
+        socket.on('maps-' + Metamaps.Active.Map.id + '-newSynapse', self.newSynapse);
+
+        //
+        socket.on('maps-' + Metamaps.Active.Map.id + '-removeSynapse', self.removeSynapse);
 
         // update mapper compass position
         socket.on('maps-' + Metamaps.Active.Map.id + '-updatePeerCoords', self.updatePeerCoords);
     
+        // local event listeners that trigger events
         var sendCoords = function (event, coords) {
             self.sendCoords(coords);
         };
+        $(document).on(Metamaps.JIT.events.mouseMove, sendCoords);
+
         var zoom = function (event, e) {
             if (e) {
                 var pixels = {
@@ -1638,9 +1654,35 @@ Metamaps.Realtime = {
             }
             self.positionPeerIcons();
         };
-        $(document).on(Metamaps.JIT.events.mouseMove, sendCoords);
         $(document).on(Metamaps.JIT.events.zoom, zoom);
+
         $(document).on(Metamaps.JIT.events.pan, self.positionPeerIcons);
+
+        var sendTopicDrag = function (event, positions) {
+            self.sendTopicDrag(positions);
+        };
+        $(document).on(Metamaps.JIT.events.topicDrag, sendTopicDrag);
+
+        var sendNewTopic = function (event, data) {
+            self.sendNewTopic(data);
+        };
+        $(document).on(Metamaps.JIT.events.newTopic, sendNewTopic);
+
+        var sendRemoveTopic = function (event, data) {
+            self.sendRemoveTopic(data);
+        };
+        $(document).on(Metamaps.JIT.events.removeTopic, sendRemoveTopic);
+
+        var sendNewSynapse = function (event, data) {
+            self.sendNewSynapse(data);
+        };
+        $(document).on(Metamaps.JIT.events.newSynapse, sendNewSynapse);
+
+        var sendRemoveSynapse = function (event, data) {
+            self.sendRemoveSynapse(data);
+        };
+        $(document).on(Metamaps.JIT.events.removeSynapse, sendRemoveSynapse);
+
     },
     sendRealtimeOn: function () {
         var self = Metamaps.Realtime;
@@ -1899,120 +1941,150 @@ Metamaps.Realtime = {
             socket.emit('updateMapperCoords', update);
         }
     },
-    contentUpdate: function (data) {
+    sendTopicDrag: function (positions) {
         var self = Metamaps.Realtime;
-        var socket = Metamaps.Realtime.socket;
-        var graph = Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.graph;
+        var socket = self.socket;
 
-        //as long as you weren't the origin of the changes, update your map
-        if (data.origin != Metamaps.Active.Mapper.id && self.status) {
-            if (data.resource == 'Topic') {
-                topic = $.parseJSON(data.obj);
+        if (Metamaps.Active.Map && self.status) {
+            positions.mapid = Metamaps.Active.Map.id;
+            socket.emit('topicDrag', positions);
+        }
+    },
+    topicDrag: function (positions) {
+        var self = Metamaps.Realtime;
+        var socket = self.socket;
 
-                if (data.action == 'create') {
-                    self.addTopicToMap(topic);
-                } else if (data.action == 'update' && graph.getNode(topic.id) != 'undefined') {
-                    self.updateTopicOnMap(topic);
-                } else if (data.action == 'destroy' && graph.getNode(topic.id) != 'undefined') {
-                    Metamaps.Control.hideNode(topic.id)
-                }
+        var topic;
+        var node;
 
-                return;
-            } else if (data.resource == 'Synapse') {
-                synapse = $.parseJSON(data.obj);
+        if (Metamaps.Active.Map && self.status) {
+            for (var key in positions) {
+                topic = Metamaps.Topics.get(key);
+                if (topic) node = topic.get('node');
+                if (node) node.pos.setc(positions[key].x, positions[key].y);
+            } //for
+            Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.plot();
+        }
+    },
+    // newTopic
+    sendNewTopic: function (data) {
+        var self = Metamaps.Realtime;
+        var socket = self.socket;
 
-                if (data.action == 'create') {
-                    self.addSynapseToMap(synapse);
-                } else if (data.action == 'update' &&
-                    graph.getAdjacence(synapse.data.$direction['0'], synapse.data.$direction['1']) != 'undefined') {
-                    self.updateSynapseOnMap(synapse);
-                } else if (data.action == 'destroy' &&
-                    graph.getAdjacence(synapse.data.$direction['0'], synapse.data.$direction['1']) != 'undefined') {
-                    var edge = graph.getAdjacence(synapse.data.$direction['0'], synapse.data.$direction['1']);
-                    Metamaps.Control.hideEdge(edge);
-                }
+        if (Metamaps.Active.Map && self.status) {
+            data.mapid = Metamaps.Active.Map.id;
+            socket.emit('newTopic', data);
+        }
+    },
+    newTopic: function (data) {
+        var topic, mapping, cancel;
 
-                return;
+        function test() {
+            if (topic && mapping) {
+                Metamaps.Topic.renderTopic(mapping, topic, false, false);
+            }
+            else if (!cancel) {
+                setTimeout(test, 10);
             }
         }
-    },
-    addTopicToMap: function (topic) {
+        test();
 
-        // TODO
-        var newPos, tempForT;
-        Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.graph.addNode(topic);
-        tempForT = Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.graph.getNode(topic.id);
-        tempForT.setData('dim', 1, 'start');
-        tempForT.setData('dim', 25, 'end');
-        newPos = new $jit.Complex();
-        newPos.x = tempForT.data.$xloc;
-        newPos.y = tempForT.data.$yloc;
-        tempForT.setPos(newPos, 'start');
-        tempForT.setPos(newPos, 'current');
-        tempForT.setPos(newPos, 'end');
-        Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.fx.plotNode(tempForT, Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.canvas);
+        $.ajax({
+            url: "/topics/" + data.topicid + ".json",
+            success: function (response) {
+                Metamaps.Topics.add(response);
+                topic = Metamaps.Topics.get(response.id);
+            },
+            error: function () {
+                cancel = true;
+            }
+        });
+        $.ajax({
+            url: "/mappings/" + data.mappingid + ".json",
+            success: function (response) {
+                Metamaps.Mappings.add(response);
+                mapping = Metamaps.Mappings.get(response.id);
+            },
+            error: function () {
+                cancel = true;
+            }
+        });
     },
-    updateTopicOnMap: function (topic) {
+    // removeTopic
+    sendRemoveTopic: function (data) {
+        var self = Metamaps.Realtime;
+        var socket = self.socket;
 
-        // TODO
-        var newPos, tempForT;
-        tempForT = Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.graph.getNode(topic.id);
-        tempForT.data = topic.data;
-        tempForT.name = topic.name;
-        if (MetamapsModel.showcardInUse === topic.id) {
-            populateShowCard(tempForT);
+        if (Metamaps.Active.Map && self.status) {
+            data.mapid = Metamaps.Active.Map.id;
+            socket.emit('removeTopic', data);
         }
-        newPos = new $jit.Complex();
-        newPos.x = tempForT.data.$xloc;
-        newPos.y = tempForT.data.$yloc;
-        tempForT.setPos(newPos, 'start');
-        tempForT.setPos(newPos, 'current');
-        tempForT.setPos(newPos, 'end');
-        return Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.fx.animate({
-            modes: ['linear', 'node-property:dim', 'edge-property:lineWidth'],
-            transition: $jit.Trans.Quad.easeInOut,
-            duration: 500
+    },
+    removeTopic: function (data) {
+        
+    },
+    // newSynapse
+    sendNewSynapse: function (data) {
+        var self = Metamaps.Realtime;
+        var socket = self.socket;
+
+        if (Metamaps.Active.Map && self.status) {
+            data.mapid = Metamaps.Active.Map.id;
+            socket.emit('newSynapse', data);
+        }
+    },
+    newSynapse: function (data) {
+        var topic1, topic2, node1, node2, synapse, mapping, cancel;
+
+        function test() {
+            if (synapse && mapping) {
+                topic1 = synapse.getTopic1();
+                node1 = topic1.get('node');
+                topic2 = synapse.getTopic2();
+                node2 = topic2.get('node');
+
+                Metamaps.Synapse.renderSynapse(mapping, synapse, node1, node2, false);
+            }
+            else if (!cancel) {
+                setTimeout(test, 10);
+            }
+        }
+        test();
+
+        $.ajax({
+            url: "/synapses/" + data.synapseid + ".json",
+            success: function (response) {
+                Metamaps.Synapses.add(response);
+                synapse = Metamaps.Synapses.get(response.id);
+            },
+            error: function () {
+                cancel = true;
+            }
+        });
+        $.ajax({
+            url: "/mappings/" + data.mappingid + ".json",
+            success: function (response) {
+                Metamaps.Mappings.add(response);
+                mapping = Metamaps.Mappings.get(response.id);
+            },
+            error: function () {
+                cancel = true;
+            }
         });
     },
-    addSynapseToMap: function (synapse) {
+    // removeSynapse
+    sendRemoveSynapse: function (data) {
+        var self = Metamaps.Realtime;
+        var socket = self.socket;
 
-        // TODO
-        var Node1, Node2, tempForS;
-        Node1 = Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.graph.getNode(synapse.data.$direction[0]);
-        Node2 = Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.graph.getNode(synapse.data.$direction[1]);
-        Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.graph.addAdjacence(Node1, Node2, {});
-        tempForS = Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.graph.getAdjacence(Node1.id, Node2.id);
-        tempForS.setDataset('start', {
-            lineWidth: 0.4
-        });
-        tempForS.setDataset('end', {
-            lineWidth: 2
-        });
-        tempForS.data = synapse.data;
-        Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.fx.plotLine(tempForS, Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.canvas);
-        return Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.fx.animate({
-            modes: ['linear', 'node-property:dim', 'edge-property:lineWidth'],
-            transition: $jit.Trans.Quad.easeInOut,
-            duration: 500
-        });
+        if (Metamaps.Active.Map && self.status) {
+            data.mapid = Metamaps.Active.Map.id;
+            socket.emit('removeSynapse', data);
+        }
+    },
+    removeSynapse: function (data) {
+        
     },
-    updateSynapseOnMap: function (synapse) {
-
-        // TODO
-        var k, tempForS, v, wasShowDesc, _ref;
-        tempForS = Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.graph.getAdjacence(synapse.data.$direction[0], synapse.data.$direction[1]);
-        wasShowDesc = tempForS.data.$showDesc;
-        _ref = synapse.data;
-        for (k in _ref) {
-            v = _ref[k];
-            tempForS.data[k] = v;
-        }
-        tempForS.data.$showDesc = wasShowDesc;
-        if (MetamapsModel.edgecardInUse === synapse.data.$id) { // TODO
-            editEdge(tempForS, false);
-        }
-        return Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.plot();
-    }
 }; // end Metamaps.Realtime
 
 
@@ -2902,7 +2974,7 @@ Metamaps.Topic = {
      *
      *
      */
-    renderTopic: function (mapping, topic, createNewInDB) {
+    renderTopic: function (mapping, topic, createNewInDB, permitCreateSynapseAfter) {
         var self = Metamaps.Topic;
 
         var nodeOnViz, tempPos;
@@ -2935,7 +3007,7 @@ Metamaps.Topic = {
                 nodeOnViz.setPos(new $jit.Complex(mapping.get('xloc'), mapping.get('yloc')), "start");
                 nodeOnViz.setPos(new $jit.Complex(mapping.get('xloc'), mapping.get('yloc')), "end");
             }
-            if (Metamaps.Create.newTopic.addSynapse) {
+            if (Metamaps.Create.newTopic.addSynapse && permitCreateSynapseAfter) {
                 Metamaps.Create.newSynapse.topic1id = tempNode.getData('topic').id;
                 
                 // position the form
@@ -2986,10 +3058,22 @@ Metamaps.Topic = {
             });
         }
 
+        var mappingSuccessCallback = function (mappingModel, response) {
+            var newTopicData = {
+                mappingid: mappingModel.id,
+                topicid: mappingModel.get('topic_id')
+            };
 
-        var successCallback = function (topicModel, response) {
+            $(document).trigger(Metamaps.JIT.events.newTopic, [newTopicData]);
+        };  
+        var topicSuccessCallback = function (topicModel, response) {
             if (Metamaps.Active.Map) {
-                mapping.save({ topic_id: topicModel.id });
+                mapping.save({ topic_id: topicModel.id }, {
+                    success: mappingSuccessCallback,
+                    error: function (model, response) {
+                        console.log('error saving mapping to database');
+                    }
+                });
             }
 
             if (Metamaps.Create.newTopic.addSynapse) {
@@ -3000,13 +3084,15 @@ Metamaps.Topic = {
         if (!Metamaps.Settings.sandbox && createNewInDB) {
             if (topic.isNew()) {
                 topic.save(null, {
-                    success: successCallback,
+                    success: topicSuccessCallback,
                     error: function (model, response) {
                         console.log('error saving topic to database');
                     }
                 });
             } else if (!topic.isNew() && Metamaps.Active.Map) {
-                mapping.save();
+                mapping.save(null, {
+                    success: mappingSuccessCallback
+                });
             }
         }
     },
@@ -3034,7 +3120,7 @@ Metamaps.Topic = {
         //these can't happen until the value is retrieved, which happens in the line above
         Metamaps.Create.newTopic.hide();
 
-        self.renderTopic(mapping, topic, true); // this function also includes the creation of the topic in the database
+        self.renderTopic(mapping, topic, true, true); // this function also includes the creation of the topic in the database
     },
     getTopicFromAutocomplete: function (id) {
         var self = Metamaps.Topic;
@@ -3051,7 +3137,7 @@ Metamaps.Topic = {
         });
         Metamaps.Mappings.add(mapping);
 
-        self.renderTopic(mapping, topic, true);
+        self.renderTopic(mapping, topic, true, true);
     }
 }; // end Metamaps.Topic
 
@@ -3110,20 +3196,34 @@ Metamaps.Synapse = {
         Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.fx.plotLine(edgeOnViz, Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.canvas);
         Metamaps.Control.selectEdge(edgeOnViz);
 
+        var mappingSuccessCallback = function (mappingModel, response) {
+            var newSynapseData = {
+                mappingid: mappingModel.id,
+                synapseid: mappingModel.get('synapse_id')
+            };
+
+            $(document).trigger(Metamaps.JIT.events.newSynapse, [newSynapseData]);
+        };
+        var synapseSuccessCallback = function (synapseModel, response) {
+            if (Metamaps.Active.Map) {
+                mapping.save({ synapse_id: synapseModel.id }, {
+                    success: mappingSuccessCallback
+                });
+            }
+        };
+
         if (!Metamaps.Settings.sandbox && createNewInDB) {
             if (synapse.isNew()) {
                 synapse.save(null, {
-                    success: function (synapseModel, response) {
-                        if (Metamaps.Active.Map) {
-                            mapping.save({ synapse_id: synapseModel.id });
-                        }
-                    },
+                    success: synapseSuccessCallback,
                     error: function (model, response) {
                         console.log('error saving synapse to database');
                     }
                 });
             } else if (!synapse.isNew() && Metamaps.Active.Map) {
-                mapping.save();
+                mapping.save(null, {
+                    success: mappingSuccessCallback
+                });
             }
         }
     },
diff --git a/realtime/realtime-server.js b/realtime/realtime-server.js
index fe6524cc..28db52cf 100644
--- a/realtime/realtime-server.js
+++ b/realtime/realtime-server.js
@@ -113,6 +113,41 @@ function start() {
             socket.broadcast.emit('maps-' + data.mapid + '-updatePeerCoords', peer);
         });
 
+        socket.on('topicDrag', function (data) {
+            var mapId = data.mapid;
+            delete data.mapid;
+
+            socket.broadcast.emit('maps-' + mapId + '-topicDrag', data);
+        });
+
+        socket.on('newTopic', function (data) {
+            var mapId = data.mapid;
+            delete data.mapid;
+
+            socket.broadcast.emit('maps-' + mapId + '-newTopic', data);
+        });
+
+        socket.on('removeTopic', function (data) {
+            var mapId = data.mapid;
+            delete data.mapid;
+
+            socket.broadcast.emit('maps-' + mapId + '-removeTopic', data);
+        });
+
+        socket.on('newSynapse', function (data) {
+            var mapId = data.mapid;
+            delete data.mapid;
+
+            socket.broadcast.emit('maps-' + mapId + '-newSynapse', data);
+        });
+
+        socket.on('removeSynapse', function (data) {
+            var mapId = data.mapid;
+            delete data.mapid;
+
+            socket.broadcast.emit('maps-' + mapId + '-removeSynapse', data);
+        });
+
     });
 }