diff --git a/daemon/core/gui/app.py b/daemon/core/gui/app.py
index de0a5260..5ca95ab5 100644
--- a/daemon/core/gui/app.py
+++ b/daemon/core/gui/app.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class Application(ttk.Frame):
 
         # setup
         self.guiconfig = appconfig.read()
-        self.app_scale = self.guiconfig["scale"]
+        self.app_scale = self.guiconfig.scale
         self.setup_scaling()
         self.style = ttk.Style()
         self.setup_theme()
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class Application(ttk.Frame):
         themes.load(self.style)
         self.master.bind_class("Menu", "<<ThemeChanged>>", themes.theme_change_menu)
         self.master.bind("<<ThemeChanged>>", themes.theme_change)
-        self.style.theme_use(self.guiconfig["preferences"]["theme"])
+        self.style.theme_use(self.guiconfig.preferences.theme)
 
     def setup_app(self):
         self.master.title("CORE")
@@ -103,8 +103,8 @@ class Application(ttk.Frame):
         self.menubar = Menubar(self.master, self)
 
     def draw_canvas(self):
-        width = self.guiconfig["preferences"]["width"]
-        height = self.guiconfig["preferences"]["height"]
+        width = self.guiconfig.preferences.width
+        height = self.guiconfig.preferences.height
         canvas_frame = ttk.Frame(self.right_frame)
         canvas_frame.rowconfigure(0, weight=1)
         canvas_frame.columnconfigure(0, weight=1)
diff --git a/daemon/core/gui/appconfig.py b/daemon/core/gui/appconfig.py
index c19fb029..d1d9bcc2 100644
--- a/daemon/core/gui/appconfig.py
+++ b/daemon/core/gui/appconfig.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import os
 import shutil
 from pathlib import Path
+from typing import List, Optional
 
 import yaml
 
@@ -37,11 +38,6 @@ TERMINALS = {
     "gnome-terminal": "gnome-terminal --window --",
 }
 EDITORS = ["$EDITOR", "vim", "emacs", "gedit", "nano", "vi"]
-DEFAULT_IP4S = ["10.0.0.0", "192.168.0.0", "172.16.0.0"]
-DEFAULT_IP4 = DEFAULT_IP4S[0]
-DEFAULT_IP6S = ["2001::", "2002::", "a::"]
-DEFAULT_IP6 = DEFAULT_IP6S[0]
-DEFAULT_MAC = "00:00:00:aa:00:00"
 
 
 class IndentDumper(yaml.Dumper):
@@ -49,13 +45,151 @@ class IndentDumper(yaml.Dumper):
         return super().increase_indent(flow, False)
 
 
-def copy_files(current_path, new_path):
+class CustomNode(yaml.YAMLObject):
+    yaml_tag = "!CustomNode"
+    yaml_loader = yaml.SafeLoader
+
+    def __init__(self, name: str, image: str, services: List[str]) -> None:
+        self.name = name
+        self.image = image
+        self.services = services
+
+
+class CoreServer(yaml.YAMLObject):
+    yaml_tag = "!CoreServer"
+    yaml_loader = yaml.SafeLoader
+
+    def __init__(self, name: str, address: str) -> None:
+        self.name = name
+        self.address = address
+
+
+class Observer(yaml.YAMLObject):
+    yaml_tag = "!Observer"
+    yaml_loader = yaml.SafeLoader
+
+    def __init__(self, name: str, cmd: str) -> None:
+        self.name = name
+        self.cmd = cmd
+
+
+class PreferencesConfig(yaml.YAMLObject):
+    yaml_tag = "!PreferencesConfig"
+    yaml_loader = yaml.SafeLoader
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        editor: str = EDITORS[1],
+        terminal: str = None,
+        theme: str = themes.THEME_DARK,
+        gui3d: str = "/usr/local/bin/std3d.sh",
+        width: int = 1000,
+        height: int = 750,
+    ) -> None:
+        self.theme = theme
+        self.editor = editor
+        self.terminal = terminal
+        self.gui3d = gui3d
+        self.width = width
+        self.height = height
+
+
+class LocationConfig(yaml.YAMLObject):
+    yaml_tag = "!LocationConfig"
+    yaml_loader = yaml.SafeLoader
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        x: float = 0.0,
+        y: float = 0.0,
+        z: float = 0.0,
+        lat: float = 47.5791667,
+        lon: float = -122.132322,
+        alt: float = 2.0,
+        scale: float = 150.0,
+    ) -> None:
+        self.x = x
+        self.y = y
+        self.z = z
+        self.lat = lat
+        self.lon = lon
+        self.alt = alt
+        self.scale = scale
+
+
+class IpConfigs(yaml.YAMLObject):
+    yaml_tag = "!IpConfigs"
+    yaml_loader = yaml.SafeLoader
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        ip4: str = None,
+        ip6: str = None,
+        ip4s: List[str] = None,
+        ip6s: List[str] = None,
+    ) -> None:
+        if ip4s is None:
+            ip4s = ["10.0.0.0", "192.168.0.0", "172.16.0.0"]
+        self.ip4s = ip4s
+        if ip6s is None:
+            ip6s = ["2001::", "2002::", "a::"]
+        self.ip6s = ip6s
+        if ip4 is None:
+            ip4 = self.ip4s[0]
+        self.ip4 = ip4
+        if ip6 is None:
+            ip6 = self.ip6s[0]
+        self.ip6 = ip6
+
+
+class GuiConfig(yaml.YAMLObject):
+    yaml_tag = "!GuiConfig"
+    yaml_loader = yaml.SafeLoader
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        preferences: PreferencesConfig = None,
+        location: LocationConfig = None,
+        servers: List[CoreServer] = None,
+        nodes: List[CustomNode] = None,
+        recentfiles: List[str] = None,
+        observers: List[Observer] = None,
+        scale: float = 1.0,
+        ips: IpConfigs = None,
+        mac: str = "00:00:00:aa:00:00",
+    ) -> None:
+        if preferences is None:
+            preferences = PreferencesConfig()
+        self.preferences = preferences
+        if location is None:
+            location = LocationConfig()
+        self.location = location
+        if servers is None:
+            servers = []
+        self.servers = servers
+        if nodes is None:
+            nodes = []
+        self.nodes = nodes
+        if recentfiles is None:
+            recentfiles = []
+        self.recentfiles = recentfiles
+        if observers is None:
+            observers = []
+        self.observers = observers
+        self.scale = scale
+        if ips is None:
+            ips = IpConfigs()
+        self.ips = ips
+        self.mac = mac
+
+
+def copy_files(current_path, new_path) -> None:
     for current_file in current_path.glob("*"):
         new_file = new_path.joinpath(current_file.name)
         shutil.copy(current_file, new_file)
 
 
-def find_terminal():
+def find_terminal() -> Optional[str]:
     for term in sorted(TERMINALS):
         cmd = TERMINALS[term]
         if shutil.which(term):
@@ -63,7 +197,7 @@ def find_terminal():
     return None
 
 
-def check_directory():
+def check_directory() -> None:
     if HOME_PATH.exists():
         return
     HOME_PATH.mkdir()
@@ -85,45 +219,16 @@ def check_directory():
         editor = EDITORS[0]
     else:
         editor = EDITORS[1]
-    config = {
-        "preferences": {
-            "theme": themes.THEME_DARK,
-            "editor": editor,
-            "terminal": terminal,
-            "gui3d": "/usr/local/bin/std3d.sh",
-            "width": 1000,
-            "height": 750,
-        },
-        "location": {
-            "x": 0.0,
-            "y": 0.0,
-            "z": 0.0,
-            "lat": 47.5791667,
-            "lon": -122.132322,
-            "alt": 2.0,
-            "scale": 150.0,
-        },
-        "servers": [],
-        "nodes": [],
-        "recentfiles": [],
-        "observers": [],
-        "scale": 1.0,
-        "ips": {
-            "ip4": DEFAULT_IP4,
-            "ip6": DEFAULT_IP6,
-            "ip4s": DEFAULT_IP4S,
-            "ip6s": DEFAULT_IP6S,
-        },
-        "mac": DEFAULT_MAC,
-    }
+    preferences = PreferencesConfig(editor, terminal)
+    config = GuiConfig(preferences=preferences)
     save(config)
 
 
-def read():
+def read() -> GuiConfig:
     with CONFIG_PATH.open("r") as f:
         return yaml.load(f, Loader=yaml.SafeLoader)
 
 
-def save(config):
+def save(config: GuiConfig) -> None:
     with CONFIG_PATH.open("w") as f:
         yaml.dump(config, f, Dumper=IndentDumper, default_flow_style=False)
diff --git a/daemon/core/gui/coreclient.py b/daemon/core/gui/coreclient.py
index 950d7013..bc9cdc37 100644
--- a/daemon/core/gui/coreclient.py
+++ b/daemon/core/gui/coreclient.py
@@ -34,19 +34,6 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
 GUI_SOURCE = "gui"
 
 
-class CoreServer:
-    def __init__(self, name: str, address: str, port: int):
-        self.name = name
-        self.address = address
-        self.port = port
-
-
-class Observer:
-    def __init__(self, name: str, cmd: str):
-        self.name = name
-        self.cmd = cmd
-
-
 class CoreClient:
     def __init__(self, app: "Application", proxy: bool):
         """
@@ -126,22 +113,17 @@ class CoreClient:
         self.observer = value
 
     def read_config(self):
-        # read distributed server
-        for config in self.app.guiconfig.get("servers", []):
-            server = CoreServer(config["name"], config["address"], config["port"])
+        # read distributed servers
+        for server in self.app.guiconfig.servers:
             self.servers[server.name] = server
 
         # read custom nodes
-        for config in self.app.guiconfig.get("nodes", []):
-            name = config["name"]
-            image_file = config["image"]
-            services = set(config["services"])
-            node_draw = NodeDraw.from_custom(name, image_file, services)
-            self.custom_nodes[name] = node_draw
+        for custom_node in self.app.guiconfig.nodes:
+            node_draw = NodeDraw.from_custom(custom_node)
+            self.custom_nodes[custom_node.name] = node_draw
 
         # read observers
-        for config in self.app.guiconfig.get("observers", []):
-            observer = Observer(config["name"], config["cmd"])
+        for observer in self.app.guiconfig.observers:
             self.custom_observers[observer.name] = observer
 
     def handle_events(self, event: core_pb2.Event):
@@ -367,8 +349,8 @@ class CoreClient:
             self.app.canvas.adjust_to_dim.set(fit_image)
             wallpaper_style = canvas_config.get("wallpaper-style", 1)
             self.app.canvas.scale_option.set(wallpaper_style)
-            width = self.app.guiconfig["preferences"]["width"]
-            height = self.app.guiconfig["preferences"]["height"]
+            width = self.app.guiconfig.preferences.width
+            height = self.app.guiconfig.preferences.height
             dimensions = canvas_config.get("dimensions", [width, height])
             self.app.canvas.redraw_canvas(dimensions)
             wallpaper = canvas_config.get("wallpaper")
@@ -418,15 +400,15 @@ class CoreClient:
         try:
             response = self.client.create_session()
             logging.info("created session: %s", response)
-            location_config = self.app.guiconfig["location"]
+            location_config = self.app.guiconfig.location
             self.location = core_pb2.SessionLocation(
-                x=location_config["x"],
-                y=location_config["y"],
-                z=location_config["z"],
-                lat=location_config["lat"],
-                lon=location_config["lon"],
-                alt=location_config["alt"],
-                scale=location_config["scale"],
+                x=location_config.x,
+                y=location_config.y,
+                z=location_config.z,
+                lat=location_config.lat,
+                lon=location_config.lon,
+                alt=location_config.alt,
+                scale=location_config.scale,
             )
             self.join_session(response.session_id, query_location=False)
         except grpc.RpcError as e:
@@ -585,7 +567,7 @@ class CoreClient:
 
     def launch_terminal(self, node_id: int):
         try:
-            terminal = self.app.guiconfig["preferences"]["terminal"]
+            terminal = self.app.guiconfig.preferences.terminal
             if not terminal:
                 messagebox.showerror(
                     "Terminal Error",
diff --git a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/canvassizeandscale.py b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/canvassizeandscale.py
index 3c3b8540..5a042468 100644
--- a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/canvassizeandscale.py
+++ b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/canvassizeandscale.py
@@ -241,16 +241,16 @@ class SizeAndScaleDialog(Dialog):
         location.alt = self.alt.get()
         location.scale = self.scale.get()
         if self.save_default.get():
-            location_config = self.app.guiconfig["location"]
-            location_config["x"] = location.x
-            location_config["y"] = location.y
-            location_config["z"] = location.z
-            location_config["lat"] = location.lat
-            location_config["lon"] = location.lon
-            location_config["alt"] = location.alt
-            location_config["scale"] = location.scale
-            preferences = self.app.guiconfig["preferences"]
-            preferences["width"] = width
-            preferences["height"] = height
+            location_config = self.app.guiconfig.location
+            location_config.x = location.x
+            location_config.y = location.y
+            location_config.z = location.z
+            location_config.lat = location.lat
+            location_config.lon = location.lon
+            location_config.alt = location.alt
+            location_config.scale = location.scale
+            preferences = self.app.guiconfig.preferences
+            preferences.width = width
+            preferences.height = height
             self.app.save_config()
         self.destroy()
diff --git a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/customnodes.py b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/customnodes.py
index 28f33ffe..56012780 100644
--- a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/customnodes.py
+++ b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/customnodes.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ from tkinter import ttk
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Set
 
 from core.gui import nodeutils
-from core.gui.appconfig import ICONS_PATH
+from core.gui.appconfig import ICONS_PATH, CustomNode
 from core.gui.dialogs.dialog import Dialog
 from core.gui.images import Images
 from core.gui.nodeutils import NodeDraw
@@ -201,17 +201,12 @@ class CustomNodesDialog(Dialog):
             self.services.update(dialog.current_services)
 
     def click_save(self):
-        self.app.guiconfig["nodes"].clear()
-        for name in sorted(self.app.core.custom_nodes):
+        self.app.guiconfig.nodes.clear()
+        for name in self.app.core.custom_nodes:
             node_draw = self.app.core.custom_nodes[name]
-            self.app.guiconfig["nodes"].append(
-                {
-                    "name": name,
-                    "image": node_draw.image_file,
-                    "services": list(node_draw.services),
-                }
-            )
-        logging.info("saving custom nodes: %s", self.app.guiconfig["nodes"])
+            custom_node = CustomNode(name, node_draw.image_file, node_draw.services)
+            self.app.guiconfig.nodes.append(custom_node)
+        logging.info("saving custom nodes: %s", self.app.guiconfig.nodes)
         self.app.save_config()
         self.destroy()
 
@@ -219,7 +214,8 @@ class CustomNodesDialog(Dialog):
         name = self.name.get()
         if name not in self.app.core.custom_nodes:
             image_file = Path(self.image_file).stem
-            node_draw = NodeDraw.from_custom(name, image_file, set(self.services))
+            custom_node = CustomNode(name, image_file, list(self.services))
+            node_draw = NodeDraw.from_custom(custom_node)
             logging.info(
                 "created new custom node (%s), image file (%s), services: (%s)",
                 name,
diff --git a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/find.py b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/find.py
index 8f0094d4..25da4b19 100644
--- a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/find.py
+++ b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/find.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class FindDialog(Dialog):
         )
         self.tree.grid(sticky="nsew", pady=PADY)
         style = ttk.Style()
-        heading_size = int(self.app.guiconfig["scale"] * 10)
+        heading_size = int(self.app.guiconfig.scale * 10)
         style.configure("Treeview.Heading", font=(None, heading_size, "bold"))
         self.tree.column("nodeid", stretch=tk.YES, anchor="center")
         self.tree.heading("nodeid", text="Node ID")
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ class FindDialog(Dialog):
             canvas_node = self.app.core.canvas_nodes[node_id]
 
             x0, y0, x1, y1 = self.app.canvas.bbox(canvas_node.id)
-            dist = 5 * self.app.guiconfig["scale"]
+            dist = 5 * self.app.guiconfig.scale
             self.app.canvas.create_oval(
                 x0 - dist,
                 y0 - dist,
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ class FindDialog(Dialog):
                 y1 + dist,
                 tags="find",
                 outline="red",
-                width=3.0 * self.app.guiconfig["scale"],
+                width=3.0 * self.app.guiconfig.scale,
             )
 
             _x, _y, _, _ = self.app.canvas.bbox(canvas_node.id)
diff --git a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/ipdialog.py b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/ipdialog.py
index 3c6944ab..62f5d0ba 100644
--- a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/ipdialog.py
+++ b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/ipdialog.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 import netaddr
 
-from core.gui import appconfig
 from core.gui.dialogs.dialog import Dialog
 from core.gui.themes import FRAME_PAD, PADX, PADY
 from core.gui.widgets import ListboxScroll
@@ -16,11 +15,10 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
 class IpConfigDialog(Dialog):
     def __init__(self, app: "Application") -> None:
         super().__init__(app, "IP Configuration")
-        ip_config = self.app.guiconfig.setdefault("ips")
-        self.ip4 = ip_config.setdefault("ip4", appconfig.DEFAULT_IP4)
-        self.ip6 = ip_config.setdefault("ip6", appconfig.DEFAULT_IP6)
-        self.ip4s = ip_config.setdefault("ip4s", appconfig.DEFAULT_IP4S)
-        self.ip6s = ip_config.setdefault("ip6s", appconfig.DEFAULT_IP6S)
+        self.ip4 = self.app.guiconfig.ips.ip4
+        self.ip6 = self.app.guiconfig.ips.ip6
+        self.ip4s = self.app.guiconfig.ips.ip4s
+        self.ip6s = self.app.guiconfig.ips.ip6s
         self.ip4_entry = None
         self.ip4_listbox = None
         self.ip6_entry = None
@@ -143,11 +141,11 @@ class IpConfigDialog(Dialog):
         for index in range(self.ip6_listbox.listbox.size()):
             ip6 = self.ip6_listbox.listbox.get(index)
             ip6s.append(ip6)
-        ip_config = self.app.guiconfig["ips"]
-        ip_config["ip4"] = self.ip4
-        ip_config["ip6"] = self.ip6
-        ip_config["ip4s"] = ip4s
-        ip_config["ip6s"] = ip6s
+        ip_config = self.app.guiconfig.ips
+        ip_config.ip4 = self.ip4
+        ip_config.ip6 = self.ip6
+        ip_config.ip4s = ip4s
+        ip_config.ip6s = ip6s
         self.app.core.interfaces_manager.update_ips(self.ip4, self.ip6)
         self.app.save_config()
         self.destroy()
diff --git a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/macdialog.py b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/macdialog.py
index 18a330ba..caca9fd0 100644
--- a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/macdialog.py
+++ b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/macdialog.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 import netaddr
 
-from core.gui import appconfig
 from core.gui.dialogs.dialog import Dialog
 from core.gui.themes import PADX, PADY
 
@@ -15,7 +14,7 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
 class MacConfigDialog(Dialog):
     def __init__(self, app: "Application") -> None:
         super().__init__(app, "MAC Configuration")
-        mac = self.app.guiconfig.get("mac", appconfig.DEFAULT_MAC)
+        mac = self.app.guiconfig.mac
         self.mac_var = tk.StringVar(value=mac)
         self.draw()
 
@@ -57,6 +56,6 @@ class MacConfigDialog(Dialog):
             messagebox.showerror("MAC Error", f"{mac} is an invalid mac")
         else:
             self.app.core.interfaces_manager.mac = netaddr.EUI(mac)
-            self.app.guiconfig["mac"] = mac
+            self.app.guiconfig.mac = mac
             self.app.save_config()
             self.destroy()
diff --git a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/observers.py b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/observers.py
index 4ec03185..6911e1b8 100644
--- a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/observers.py
+++ b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/observers.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import tkinter as tk
 from tkinter import messagebox, ttk
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
-from core.gui.coreclient import Observer
+from core.gui.appconfig import Observer
 from core.gui.dialogs.dialog import Dialog
 from core.gui.themes import PADX, PADY
 from core.gui.widgets import ListboxScroll
@@ -89,11 +89,9 @@ class ObserverDialog(Dialog):
         button.grid(row=0, column=1, sticky="ew")
 
     def click_save_config(self):
-        observers = []
-        for name in sorted(self.app.core.custom_observers):
-            observer = self.app.core.custom_observers[name]
-            observers.append({"name": observer.name, "cmd": observer.cmd})
-        self.app.guiconfig["observers"] = observers
+        self.app.guiconfig.observers.clear()
+        for observer in self.app.core.custom_observers.values():
+            self.app.guiconfig.observers.append(observer)
         self.app.save_config()
         self.destroy()
 
diff --git a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/preferences.py b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/preferences.py
index c650f42a..9c9ba16f 100644
--- a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/preferences.py
+++ b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/preferences.py
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@ class PreferencesDialog(Dialog):
     def __init__(self, app: "Application"):
         super().__init__(app, "Preferences")
         self.gui_scale = tk.DoubleVar(value=self.app.app_scale)
-        preferences = self.app.guiconfig["preferences"]
-        self.editor = tk.StringVar(value=preferences["editor"])
-        self.theme = tk.StringVar(value=preferences["theme"])
-        self.terminal = tk.StringVar(value=preferences["terminal"])
-        self.gui3d = tk.StringVar(value=preferences["gui3d"])
+        preferences = self.app.guiconfig.preferences
+        self.editor = tk.StringVar(value=preferences.editor)
+        self.theme = tk.StringVar(value=preferences.theme)
+        self.terminal = tk.StringVar(value=preferences.terminal)
+        self.gui3d = tk.StringVar(value=preferences.gui3d)
         self.draw()
 
     def draw(self):
@@ -110,15 +110,14 @@ class PreferencesDialog(Dialog):
         self.app.style.theme_use(theme)
 
     def click_save(self):
-        preferences = self.app.guiconfig["preferences"]
-        preferences["terminal"] = self.terminal.get()
-        preferences["editor"] = self.editor.get()
-        preferences["gui3d"] = self.gui3d.get()
-        preferences["theme"] = self.theme.get()
+        preferences = self.app.guiconfig.preferences
+        preferences.terminal = self.terminal.get()
+        preferences.editor = self.editor.get()
+        preferences.gui3d = self.gui3d.get()
+        preferences.theme = self.theme.get()
         self.gui_scale.set(round(self.gui_scale.get(), 2))
         app_scale = self.gui_scale.get()
-        self.app.guiconfig["scale"] = app_scale
-
+        self.app.guiconfig.scale = app_scale
         self.app.save_config()
         self.scale_adjust()
         self.destroy()
diff --git a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/servers.py b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/servers.py
index 62bcc675..7ca96e9f 100644
--- a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/servers.py
+++ b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/servers.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import tkinter as tk
 from tkinter import ttk
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
-from core.gui.coreclient import CoreServer
+from core.gui.appconfig import CoreServer
 from core.gui.dialogs.dialog import Dialog
 from core.gui.themes import FRAME_PAD, PADX, PADY
 from core.gui.widgets import ListboxScroll
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ class ServersDialog(Dialog):
         super().__init__(app, "CORE Servers")
         self.name = tk.StringVar(value=DEFAULT_NAME)
         self.address = tk.StringVar(value=DEFAULT_ADDRESS)
-        self.port = tk.IntVar(value=DEFAULT_PORT)
         self.servers = None
         self.selected_index = None
         self.selected = None
@@ -54,31 +53,17 @@ class ServersDialog(Dialog):
         frame.grid(pady=PADY, sticky="ew")
         frame.columnconfigure(1, weight=1)
         frame.columnconfigure(3, weight=1)
-        frame.columnconfigure(5, weight=1)
 
         label = ttk.Label(frame, text="Name")
-        label.grid(row=0, column=0, sticky="w", padx=PADX, pady=PADY)
+        label.grid(row=0, column=0, sticky="w", padx=PADX)
         entry = ttk.Entry(frame, textvariable=self.name)
         entry.grid(row=0, column=1, sticky="ew")
 
         label = ttk.Label(frame, text="Address")
-        label.grid(row=0, column=2, sticky="w", padx=PADX, pady=PADY)
+        label.grid(row=0, column=2, sticky="w", padx=PADX)
         entry = ttk.Entry(frame, textvariable=self.address)
         entry.grid(row=0, column=3, sticky="ew")
 
-        label = ttk.Label(frame, text="Port")
-        label.grid(row=0, column=4, sticky="w", padx=PADX, pady=PADY)
-        entry = ttk.Entry(
-            frame,
-            textvariable=self.port,
-            validate="key",
-            validatecommand=(self.app.validation.positive_int, "%P"),
-        )
-        entry.bind(
-            "<FocusOut>", lambda event: self.app.validation.focus_out(event, "50051")
-        )
-        entry.grid(row=0, column=5, sticky="ew")
-
     def draw_servers_buttons(self):
         frame = ttk.Frame(self.top)
         frame.grid(pady=PADY, sticky="ew")
@@ -113,13 +98,9 @@ class ServersDialog(Dialog):
         button.grid(row=0, column=1, sticky="ew")
 
     def click_save_configuration(self):
-        servers = []
-        for name in sorted(self.app.core.servers):
-            server = self.app.core.servers[name]
-            servers.append(
-                {"name": server.name, "address": server.address, "port": server.port}
-            )
-        self.app.guiconfig["servers"] = servers
+        self.app.guiconfig.servers.clear()
+        for server in self.app.core.servers.values():
+            self.app.guiconfig.servers.append(server)
         self.app.save_config()
         self.destroy()
 
@@ -127,8 +108,7 @@ class ServersDialog(Dialog):
         name = self.name.get()
         if name not in self.app.core.servers:
             address = self.address.get()
-            port = self.port.get()
-            server = CoreServer(name, address, port)
+            server = CoreServer(name, address)
             self.app.core.servers[name] = server
             self.servers.insert(tk.END, name)
 
@@ -140,7 +120,6 @@ class ServersDialog(Dialog):
             server = self.app.core.servers.pop(previous_name)
             server.name = name
             server.address = self.address.get()
-            server.port = self.port.get()
             self.app.core.servers[name] = server
             self.servers.delete(self.selected_index)
             self.servers.insert(self.selected_index, name)
@@ -154,7 +133,6 @@ class ServersDialog(Dialog):
             self.selected_index = None
             self.name.set(DEFAULT_NAME)
             self.address.set(DEFAULT_ADDRESS)
-            self.port.set(DEFAULT_PORT)
             self.servers.selection_clear(0, tk.END)
             self.save_button.config(state=tk.DISABLED)
             self.delete_button.config(state=tk.DISABLED)
@@ -167,7 +145,6 @@ class ServersDialog(Dialog):
             server = self.app.core.servers[self.selected]
             self.name.set(server.name)
             self.address.set(server.address)
-            self.port.set(server.port)
             self.save_button.config(state=tk.NORMAL)
             self.delete_button.config(state=tk.NORMAL)
         else:
diff --git a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/sessions.py b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/sessions.py
index 160854a6..9aa71a13 100644
--- a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/sessions.py
+++ b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/sessions.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class SessionsDialog(Dialog):
             selectmode=tk.BROWSE,
         )
         style = ttk.Style()
-        heading_size = int(self.app.guiconfig["scale"] * 10)
+        heading_size = int(self.app.guiconfig.scale * 10)
         style.configure("Treeview.Heading", font=(None, heading_size, "bold"))
         self.tree.grid(sticky="nsew")
         self.tree.column("id", stretch=tk.YES, anchor="center")
diff --git a/daemon/core/gui/graph/graph.py b/daemon/core/gui/graph/graph.py
index 6913dd58..220e122f 100644
--- a/daemon/core/gui/graph/graph.py
+++ b/daemon/core/gui/graph/graph.py
@@ -1002,10 +1002,10 @@ class CanvasGraph(tk.Canvas):
             if NodeUtils.is_custom(
                 canvas_node.core_node.type, canvas_node.core_node.model
             ):
-                for custom_node in self.app.guiconfig["nodes"]:
-                    if custom_node["name"] == canvas_node.core_node.model:
+                for custom_node in self.app.guiconfig.nodes:
+                    if custom_node.name == canvas_node.core_node.model:
                         img = Images.get_custom(
-                            custom_node["image"], int(ICON_SIZE * self.app.app_scale)
+                            custom_node.image, int(ICON_SIZE * self.app.app_scale)
                         )
             else:
                 image_enum = TypeToImage.get(
diff --git a/daemon/core/gui/interface.py b/daemon/core/gui/interface.py
index 6f5f5fff..0ff018c7 100644
--- a/daemon/core/gui/interface.py
+++ b/daemon/core/gui/interface.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, List, Optional, Set, Tuple
 import netaddr
 from netaddr import EUI, IPNetwork
 
-from core.gui import appconfig
 from core.gui.nodeutils import NodeUtils
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -44,14 +43,13 @@ class Subnets:
 class InterfaceManager:
     def __init__(self, app: "Application") -> None:
         self.app = app
-        ip_config = self.app.guiconfig.get("ips", {})
-        ip4 = ip_config.get("ip4", appconfig.DEFAULT_IP4)
-        ip6 = ip_config.get("ip6", appconfig.DEFAULT_IP6)
+        ip4 = self.app.guiconfig.ips.ip4
+        ip6 = self.app.guiconfig.ips.ip6
         self.ip4_mask = 24
         self.ip6_mask = 64
         self.ip4_subnets = IPNetwork(f"{ip4}/{self.ip4_mask}")
         self.ip6_subnets = IPNetwork(f"{ip6}/{self.ip6_mask}")
-        mac = self.app.guiconfig.get("mac", appconfig.DEFAULT_MAC)
+        mac = self.app.guiconfig.mac
         self.mac = EUI(mac, dialect=netaddr.mac_unix_expanded)
         self.current_mac = None
         self.current_subnets = None
diff --git a/daemon/core/gui/menubar.py b/daemon/core/gui/menubar.py
index c3ed071a..2e07ed0a 100644
--- a/daemon/core/gui/menubar.py
+++ b/daemon/core/gui/menubar.py
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ class Menubar(tk.Menu):
         )
         self.app.bind_all("<Control-o>", self.click_open_xml)
         self.recent_menu = tk.Menu(menu)
-        for i in self.app.guiconfig["recentfiles"]:
+        for i in self.app.guiconfig.recentfiles:
             self.recent_menu.add_command(
                 label=i, command=partial(self.open_recent_files, i)
             )
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ class Menubar(tk.Menu):
 
     def update_recent_files(self) -> None:
         self.recent_menu.delete(0, tk.END)
-        for i in self.app.guiconfig["recentfiles"]:
+        for i in self.app.guiconfig.recentfiles:
             self.recent_menu.add_command(
                 label=i, command=partial(self.open_recent_files, i)
             )
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ class Menubar(tk.Menu):
         dialog.show()
 
     def add_recent_file_to_gui_config(self, file_path) -> None:
-        recent_files = self.app.guiconfig["recentfiles"]
+        recent_files = self.app.guiconfig.recentfiles
         num_files = len(recent_files)
         if num_files == 0:
             recent_files.insert(0, file_path)
diff --git a/daemon/core/gui/nodeutils.py b/daemon/core/gui/nodeutils.py
index 24c01f06..4c2cec07 100644
--- a/daemon/core/gui/nodeutils.py
+++ b/daemon/core/gui/nodeutils.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import logging
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Dict, List, Optional, Set, Union
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, List, Optional, Set
 
 from core.api.grpc.core_pb2 import Node, NodeType
+from core.gui.appconfig import CustomNode, GuiConfig
 from core.gui.images import ImageEnum, Images, TypeToImage
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -41,16 +42,16 @@ class NodeDraw:
         return node_draw
 
     @classmethod
-    def from_custom(cls, name: str, image_file: str, services: Set[str]):
+    def from_custom(cls, custom_node: CustomNode):
         node_draw = NodeDraw()
         node_draw.custom = True
-        node_draw.image_file = image_file
-        node_draw.image = Images.get_custom(image_file, ICON_SIZE)
+        node_draw.image_file = custom_node.image
+        node_draw.image = Images.get_custom(custom_node.image, ICON_SIZE)
         node_draw.node_type = NodeType.DEFAULT
-        node_draw.services = services
-        node_draw.label = name
-        node_draw.model = name
-        node_draw.tooltip = name
+        node_draw.services = custom_node.services
+        node_draw.label = custom_node.name
+        node_draw.model = custom_node.name
+        node_draw.tooltip = custom_node.name
         return node_draw
 
 
@@ -97,11 +98,7 @@ class NodeUtils:
 
     @classmethod
     def node_icon(
-        cls,
-        node_type: NodeType,
-        model: str,
-        gui_config: Dict[str, List[Dict[str, str]]],
-        scale=1.0,
+        cls, node_type: NodeType, model: str, gui_config: GuiConfig, scale=1.0
     ) -> "ImageTk.PhotoImage":
 
         image_enum = TypeToImage.get(node_type, model)
@@ -114,10 +111,7 @@ class NodeUtils:
 
     @classmethod
     def node_image(
-        cls,
-        core_node: "core_pb2.Node",
-        gui_config: Dict[str, List[Dict[str, str]]],
-        scale=1.0,
+        cls, core_node: "core_pb2.Node", gui_config: GuiConfig, scale=1.0
     ) -> "ImageTk.PhotoImage":
         image = cls.node_icon(core_node.type, core_node.model, gui_config, scale)
         if core_node.icon:
@@ -132,20 +126,17 @@ class NodeUtils:
         return node_type == NodeType.DEFAULT and model not in cls.NODE_MODELS
 
     @classmethod
-    def get_custom_node_services(
-        cls, gui_config: Dict[str, List[Dict[str, str]]], name: str
-    ) -> List[str]:
-        for m in gui_config["nodes"]:
-            if m["name"] == name:
-                return m["services"]
+    def get_custom_node_services(cls, gui_config: GuiConfig, name: str) -> List[str]:
+        for custom_node in gui_config.nodes:
+            if custom_node.name == name:
+                return custom_node.services
         return []
 
     @classmethod
-    def get_image_file(cls, gui_config, name: str) -> Union[str, None]:
-        if "nodes" in gui_config:
-            for m in gui_config["nodes"]:
-                if m["name"] == name:
-                    return m["image"]
+    def get_image_file(cls, gui_config: GuiConfig, name: str) -> Optional[str]:
+        for custom_node in gui_config.nodes:
+            if custom_node.name == name:
+                return custom_node.image
         return None
 
     @classmethod