diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 6095d275..347d8713 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ jobs:
       - name: Run tests
         run: nix develop -c $SHELL -c "npm t"
 
+      - name: Build trycp-server package
+        run: nix build .#trycp-server
+
       - name: Setup tmate session if build or test run failed
         if: ${{ failure() }}
         uses: mxschmitt/action-tmate@v3
diff --git a/flake.lock b/flake.lock
index 706ec98a..8a1834c4 100644
--- a/flake.lock
+++ b/flake.lock
@@ -35,6 +35,26 @@
       }
     },
     "crane": {
+      "inputs": {
+        "nixpkgs": [
+          "nixpkgs"
+        ]
+      },
+      "locked": {
+        "lastModified": 1717025063,
+        "narHash": "sha256-dIubLa56W9sNNz0e8jGxrX3CAkPXsq7snuFA/Ie6dn8=",
+        "owner": "ipetkov",
+        "repo": "crane",
+        "rev": "480dff0be03dac0e51a8dfc26e882b0d123a450e",
+        "type": "github"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "owner": "ipetkov",
+        "repo": "crane",
+        "type": "github"
+      }
+    },
+    "crane_2": {
       "inputs": {
         "nixpkgs": [
           "holonix",
@@ -138,6 +158,24 @@
         "type": "github"
       }
     },
+    "flake-utils_2": {
+      "inputs": {
+        "systems": "systems_2"
+      },
+      "locked": {
+        "lastModified": 1705309234,
+        "narHash": "sha256-uNRRNRKmJyCRC/8y1RqBkqWBLM034y4qN7EprSdmgyA=",
+        "owner": "numtide",
+        "repo": "flake-utils",
+        "rev": "1ef2e671c3b0c19053962c07dbda38332dcebf26",
+        "type": "github"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "owner": "numtide",
+        "repo": "flake-utils",
+        "type": "github"
+      }
+    },
     "holochain": {
       "flake": false,
       "locked": {
@@ -159,7 +197,7 @@
       "inputs": {
         "cargo-chef": "cargo-chef",
         "cargo-rdme": "cargo-rdme",
-        "crane": "crane",
+        "crane": "crane_2",
         "crate2nix": "crate2nix",
         "empty": "empty",
         "flake-compat": "flake-compat",
@@ -315,11 +353,13 @@
     },
     "root": {
       "inputs": {
+        "crane": "crane",
         "holonix": "holonix",
         "nixpkgs": [
           "holonix",
           "nixpkgs"
         ],
+        "rust-overlay": "rust-overlay_2",
         "versions": "versions"
       }
     },
@@ -345,6 +385,27 @@
         "type": "github"
       }
     },
+    "rust-overlay_2": {
+      "inputs": {
+        "flake-utils": "flake-utils_2",
+        "nixpkgs": [
+          "nixpkgs"
+        ]
+      },
+      "locked": {
+        "lastModified": 1717035469,
+        "narHash": "sha256-MzH+yjKULH3HCRj9QCTwBvqq4LZkR0ZqRE/QfGOGC2E=",
+        "owner": "oxalica",
+        "repo": "rust-overlay",
+        "rev": "095702e63a40e86f339d11864da9dc965b70a01e",
+        "type": "github"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "owner": "oxalica",
+        "repo": "rust-overlay",
+        "type": "github"
+      }
+    },
     "scaffolding": {
       "flake": false,
       "locked": {
@@ -377,6 +438,21 @@
         "type": "github"
       }
     },
+    "systems_2": {
+      "locked": {
+        "lastModified": 1681028828,
+        "narHash": "sha256-Vy1rq5AaRuLzOxct8nz4T6wlgyUR7zLU309k9mBC768=",
+        "owner": "nix-systems",
+        "repo": "default",
+        "rev": "da67096a3b9bf56a91d16901293e51ba5b49a27e",
+        "type": "github"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "owner": "nix-systems",
+        "repo": "default",
+        "type": "github"
+      }
+    },
     "versions": {
       "inputs": {
         "holochain": "holochain",
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index da817626..c7411d01 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -5,15 +5,29 @@
     versions.url = "github:holochain/holochain?dir=versions/0_3_rc";
     holonix.url = "github:holochain/holochain";
     holonix.inputs.versions.follows = "versions";
+
+    # lib to build a nix package from a rust crate
+    crane = {
+      url = "github:ipetkov/crane";
+      inputs.nixpkgs.follows = "nixpkgs";
+    };
+
+    # Rust toolchain
+    rust-overlay = {
+      url = "github:oxalica/rust-overlay";
+      inputs.nixpkgs.follows = "nixpkgs";
+    };
   };
 
-  outputs = inputs@{ holonix, ... }:
+  outputs = inputs@{ nixpkgs, holonix, crane, rust-overlay, ... }:
     holonix.inputs.flake-parts.lib.mkFlake { inherit inputs; } {
       # provide a dev shell for all systems that the holonix flake supports
       systems = builtins.attrNames holonix.devShells;
 
-      perSystem = { config, system, pkgs, ... }:
+      perSystem = { config, system, pkgs, lib, ... }:
         {
+          formatter = pkgs.nixpkgs-fmt;
+
           devShells.default = pkgs.mkShell {
             inputsFrom = [ holonix.devShells.${system}.holochainBinaries ];
             packages = with pkgs; [
@@ -21,6 +35,33 @@
               nodejs
             ];
           };
+
+          packages.trycp-server =
+            let
+              pkgs = import nixpkgs {
+                inherit system;
+                overlays = [ (import rust-overlay) ];
+              };
+
+              rustToolchain = pkgs.rust-bin.stable."1.78.0".minimal;
+
+              craneLib = (crane.mkLib pkgs).overrideToolchain rustToolchain;
+
+              crateInfo = craneLib.crateNameFromCargoToml { cargoToml = ./crates/trycp_server/Cargo.toml; };
+            in
+            craneLib.buildPackage {
+              pname = "trycp-server";
+              version = crateInfo.version;
+              src = craneLib.cleanCargoSource (craneLib.path ./.);
+              doCheck = false;
+
+              buildInputs = [ ]
+                ++ (lib.optionals pkgs.stdenv.isDarwin
+                (with pkgs.darwin.apple_sdk_11_0.frameworks; [
+                  CoreFoundation
+                  Security
+                ]));
+            };
         };
     };
 }