diff --git a/bindings-wlc.cabal b/bindings-wlc.cabal
--- a/bindings-wlc.cabal
+++ b/bindings-wlc.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:                bindings-wlc
-version:             0.1.0.2
+version:             0.1.0.3
 synopsis:            Bindings against the wlc library
 description:         Please see Readme.md
 homepage:            http://github.com/aktowns/bindings-wlc#readme
@@ -23,8 +23,11 @@
                        Bindings.WLC.Render
                        Bindings.WLC.Wayland
                        System.WLC
-                       System.WLC.Geometry
+                       System.WLC.Internal.Types
                        System.WLC.Core
+                       System.WLC.Geometry
+                       System.WLC.Types
+                       System.WLC.Utilities
   build-depends:       base >= 4.7 && < 5,
                        bindings-DSL >= 1.0.23 && < 1.1,
                        convertible >= 1.1.1.0 && < 1.1.2.0
diff --git a/src/System/WLC/Internal/Types.hs b/src/System/WLC/Internal/Types.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/System/WLC/Internal/Types.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+{-# OPTIONS_HADDOCK hide #-}
+module System.WLC.Internal.Types where
+
+import Bindings.WLC.Core
+
+-- Wrappers around the type synonyms so we can add the Primitive instances.
+newtype WlcLogType       = WlcLogType { getRawLogType :: C'wlc_log_type } deriving (Show)
+newtype WlcBackendType   = WlcBackendType { getRawBackendType :: C'wlc_backend_type } deriving (Show)
+newtype WlcEventBit      = WlcEventBit { getEventBit :: C'wlc_event_bit } deriving (Show)
+newtype WlcViewStateBit  = WlcViewStateBit { getViewStateBit :: C'wlc_view_state_bit } deriving (Show)
+newtype WlcViewTypeBit   = WlcViewTypeBit { getViewTypeBit :: C'wlc_view_type_bit } deriving (Show)
+newtype WlcResizeEdge    = WlcResizeEdge { getResizeEdge :: C'wlc_resize_edge } deriving (Show)
+newtype WlcModifierBit   = WlcModifierBit { getModifierBit :: C'wlc_modifier_bit } deriving (Show)
+newtype WlcLedBit        = WlcLedBit { getLedBit :: C'wlc_led_bit } deriving (Show)
+newtype WlcKeyState      = WlcKeyState { getRawKeyState :: C'wlc_key_state } deriving (Show)
+newtype WlcButtonState   = WlcButtonState { getRawButtonState :: C'wlc_button_state } deriving (Show)
+newtype WlcScrollAxisBit = WlcScrollAxisBit { getScrollAxisBit :: C'wlc_scroll_axis_bit } deriving (Show)
+newtype WlcTouchType     = WlcTouchType { getRawTouchType :: C'wlc_touch_type } deriving (Show)
diff --git a/src/System/WLC/Types.hs b/src/System/WLC/Types.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/System/WLC/Types.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,266 @@
+{-# LANGUAGE MultiParamTypeClasses #-}
+{-|
+Module      : System.WLC.Types
+Description : Types used throughout System.WLC
+Copyright   : (c) Ashley Towns 2016
+License     : BSD3
+Maintainer  : mail@ashleytowns.id.au
+Stability   : experimental
+Portability : POSIX
+
+Provides a basic set of types used through out the library, also provides toPrimitive and fromPrimitive to
+convert them back and forth from the underlying C representations.
+-}
+module System.WLC.Types where
+
+import Bindings.WLC.Defines
+import Bindings.WLC.Core
+import System.WLC.Utilities
+import System.WLC.Internal.Types
+
+data LogType = LogInfo
+             | LogWarn
+             | LogError
+             | LogWayland deriving (Eq, Show)
+
+data BackendType = BackendNone
+                 | BackendDRM
+                 | BackendX11 deriving (Eq, Show)
+
+data EventBit = EventReadable
+              | EventWritable
+              | EventHangup
+              | EventError deriving (Eq, Show)
+
+data ViewState = ViewMaximized
+               | ViewFullscreen
+               | ViewResizing
+               | ViewMoving
+               | ViewActivated deriving (Eq, Show)
+
+
+data ViewType = ViewOverrideRedirect -- ^ Override redirect (x11)
+              | ViewUnmanaged        -- ^ Tooltips, DnD's, menus (x11)
+              | ViewSplash           -- ^ Splash screens (x11)
+              | ViewModal            -- ^ Modal windows (x11)
+              | ViewPopup            -- ^ xdg-shell, wl-shell popups
+              deriving (Eq, Show)
+
+data ResizeEdge = EdgeNone
+                | EdgeTop
+                | EdgeBottom
+                | EdgeLeft
+                | EdgeTopLeft
+                | EdgeBottomLeft
+                | EdgeRight
+                | EdgeTopRight
+                | EdgeBottomRight deriving (Eq, Show)
+
+data Modifier = Shift
+              | Caps
+              | CTRL
+              | Alt
+              | Mod2
+              | Mod3
+              | ModLogo
+              | Mod5 deriving (Eq, Show)
+
+
+data Led = LedNum
+         | LedCaps
+         | LedScroll deriving (Eq, Show)
+
+
+data KeyState = KeyReleased | KeyPressed deriving (Eq, Show)
+
+data ButtonState = ButtonReleased | ButtonPressed deriving (Eq, Show)
+
+data ScrollAxis = AxisVertical | AxisHorizontal deriving (Eq, Show)
+
+data TouchType = TouchDown
+               | TouchUp
+               | TouchMotion
+               | TouchFrame
+               | TouchCancel deriving (Eq, Show)
+
+data Modifiers = Modifiers { leds :: Led, mods :: Modifier }
+
+newtype Output = Output { getOutputHandle :: C'wlc_handle }
+
+newtype View = View { getViewHandle :: C'wlc_handle }
+
+tryGetView :: C'wlc_handle -> Maybe View
+tryGetView 0 = Nothing
+tryGetView x = Just $ View x
+
+tryGetOutput :: C'wlc_handle -> Maybe Output
+tryGetOutput 0 = Nothing
+tryGetOutput x = Just $ Output x
+
+instance Primitive WlcLogType LogType where
+    fromPrimitive (WlcLogType x)
+        | x == c'WLC_LOG_INFO = LogInfo
+        | x == c'WLC_LOG_WARN = LogWarn
+        | x == c'WLC_LOG_ERROR = LogError
+        | x == c'WLC_LOG_WAYLAND = LogWayland
+        | otherwise = error $ "unexpected logger given: " ++ show x
+
+    toPrimitive LogInfo = WlcLogType c'WLC_LOG_INFO
+    toPrimitive LogWarn = WlcLogType c'WLC_LOG_WARN
+    toPrimitive LogError = WlcLogType c'WLC_LOG_ERROR
+    toPrimitive LogWayland = WlcLogType c'WLC_LOG_WAYLAND
+
+instance Primitive WlcBackendType BackendType where
+    fromPrimitive (WlcBackendType x)
+        | x == c'WLC_BACKEND_NONE = BackendNone
+        | x == c'WLC_BACKEND_DRM = BackendDRM
+        | x == c'WLC_BACKEND_X11 = BackendX11
+        | otherwise = error $ "unexpected backend given: " ++ show x
+
+    toPrimitive BackendNone = WlcBackendType c'WLC_BACKEND_NONE
+    toPrimitive BackendDRM = WlcBackendType c'WLC_BACKEND_DRM
+    toPrimitive BackendX11 = WlcBackendType c'WLC_BACKEND_X11
+
+instance Primitive WlcEventBit EventBit where
+    fromPrimitive (WlcEventBit x)
+        | x == c'WLC_EVENT_READABLE = EventReadable
+        | x == c'WLC_EVENT_WRITABLE = EventWritable
+        | x == c'WLC_EVENT_HANGUP = EventHangup
+        | x == c'WLC_EVENT_ERROR = EventError
+        | otherwise = error $ "unexpected event bit given: " ++ show x
+
+    toPrimitive EventReadable = WlcEventBit c'WLC_EVENT_READABLE
+    toPrimitive EventWritable = WlcEventBit c'WLC_EVENT_WRITABLE
+    toPrimitive EventHangup = WlcEventBit c'WLC_EVENT_HANGUP
+    toPrimitive EventError = WlcEventBit c'WLC_EVENT_ERROR
+
+instance Primitive WlcViewStateBit ViewState where
+    fromPrimitive (WlcViewStateBit x)
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_MAXIMIZED = ViewMaximized
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_FULLSCREEN = ViewFullscreen
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_RESIZING = ViewResizing
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_MOVING = ViewMoving
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_ACTIVATED = ViewActivated
+        | otherwise = error $ "unexpected view state bit given: " ++ show x
+
+    toPrimitive ViewMaximized = WlcViewStateBit c'WLC_BIT_MAXIMIZED
+    toPrimitive ViewFullscreen = WlcViewStateBit c'WLC_BIT_FULLSCREEN
+    toPrimitive ViewResizing = WlcViewStateBit c'WLC_BIT_RESIZING
+    toPrimitive ViewMoving = WlcViewStateBit c'WLC_BIT_MOVING
+    toPrimitive ViewActivated = WlcViewStateBit c'WLC_BIT_ACTIVATED
+
+instance Primitive WlcViewTypeBit ViewType where
+    fromPrimitive (WlcViewTypeBit x)
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_OVERRIDE_REDIRECT = ViewOverrideRedirect
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_UNMANAGED = ViewUnmanaged
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_SPLASH = ViewSplash
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_MODAL = ViewModal
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_POPUP = ViewPopup
+        | otherwise = error $ "unexpected view type bit given: " ++ show x
+
+    toPrimitive ViewOverrideRedirect = WlcViewTypeBit c'WLC_BIT_OVERRIDE_REDIRECT
+    toPrimitive ViewUnmanaged = WlcViewTypeBit c'WLC_BIT_UNMANAGED
+    toPrimitive ViewSplash = WlcViewTypeBit c'WLC_BIT_SPLASH
+    toPrimitive ViewModal = WlcViewTypeBit c'WLC_BIT_MODAL
+    toPrimitive ViewPopup = WlcViewTypeBit c'WLC_BIT_POPUP
+
+instance Primitive WlcResizeEdge ResizeEdge where
+    fromPrimitive (WlcResizeEdge x)
+        | x == c'WLC_RESIZE_EDGE_NONE = EdgeNone
+        | x == c'WLC_RESIZE_EDGE_TOP = EdgeTop
+        | x == c'WLC_RESIZE_EDGE_BOTTOM = EdgeBottom
+        | x == c'WLC_RESIZE_EDGE_LEFT = EdgeLeft
+        | x == c'WLC_RESIZE_EDGE_TOP_LEFT = EdgeTopLeft
+        | x == c'WLC_RESIZE_EDGE_BOTTOM_LEFT = EdgeBottomLeft
+        | x == c'WLC_RESIZE_EDGE_RIGHT = EdgeRight
+        | x == c'WLC_RESIZE_EDGE_TOP_RIGHT = EdgeTopRight
+        | x == c'WLC_RESIZE_EDGE_BOTTOM_RIGHT = EdgeBottomRight
+        | otherwise = error $ "unexpected resize edge bit given: " ++ show x
+
+    toPrimitive EdgeNone = WlcResizeEdge c'WLC_RESIZE_EDGE_NONE
+    toPrimitive EdgeTop = WlcResizeEdge c'WLC_RESIZE_EDGE_TOP
+    toPrimitive EdgeBottom = WlcResizeEdge c'WLC_RESIZE_EDGE_BOTTOM
+    toPrimitive EdgeLeft = WlcResizeEdge c'WLC_RESIZE_EDGE_LEFT
+    toPrimitive EdgeTopLeft = WlcResizeEdge c'WLC_RESIZE_EDGE_TOP_LEFT
+    toPrimitive EdgeBottomLeft = WlcResizeEdge c'WLC_RESIZE_EDGE_BOTTOM_LEFT
+    toPrimitive EdgeRight = WlcResizeEdge c'WLC_RESIZE_EDGE_RIGHT
+    toPrimitive EdgeTopRight = WlcResizeEdge c'WLC_RESIZE_EDGE_TOP_RIGHT
+    toPrimitive EdgeBottomRight = WlcResizeEdge c'WLC_RESIZE_EDGE_BOTTOM_RIGHT
+
+instance Primitive WlcModifierBit Modifier where
+    fromPrimitive (WlcModifierBit x)
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_MOD_SHIFT = Shift
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_MOD_CAPS = Caps
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_MOD_CTRL = CTRL
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_MOD_ALT = Alt
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_MOD_MOD2 = Mod2
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_MOD_MOD3 = Mod3
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_MOD_LOGO = ModLogo
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_MOD_MOD5 = Mod5
+        | otherwise = error $ "unexpected modifier bit given: " ++ show x
+
+    toPrimitive Shift = WlcModifierBit c'WLC_BIT_MOD_SHIFT
+    toPrimitive Caps = WlcModifierBit c'WLC_BIT_MOD_CAPS
+    toPrimitive CTRL = WlcModifierBit c'WLC_BIT_MOD_CTRL
+    toPrimitive Alt = WlcModifierBit c'WLC_BIT_MOD_ALT
+    toPrimitive Mod2 = WlcModifierBit c'WLC_BIT_MOD_MOD2
+    toPrimitive Mod3 = WlcModifierBit c'WLC_BIT_MOD_MOD3
+    toPrimitive ModLogo = WlcModifierBit c'WLC_BIT_MOD_LOGO
+    toPrimitive Mod5 = WlcModifierBit c'WLC_BIT_MOD_MOD5
+
+instance Primitive WlcLedBit Led where
+    fromPrimitive (WlcLedBit x)
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_LED_NUM = LedNum
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_LED_CAPS = LedCaps
+        | x == c'WLC_BIT_LED_SCROLL = LedScroll
+        | otherwise = error $ "unexpected led bit given: " ++ show x
+
+    toPrimitive LedNum = WlcLedBit c'WLC_BIT_LED_NUM
+    toPrimitive LedCaps = WlcLedBit c'WLC_BIT_LED_CAPS
+    toPrimitive LedScroll = WlcLedBit c'WLC_BIT_LED_SCROLL
+
+instance Primitive WlcKeyState KeyState where
+    fromPrimitive (WlcKeyState x)
+        | x == c'WLC_KEY_STATE_RELEASED = KeyReleased
+        | x == c'WLC_KEY_STATE_PRESSED = KeyPressed
+
+    toPrimitive KeyReleased = WlcKeyState c'WLC_KEY_STATE_RELEASED
+    toPrimitive KeyPressed = WlcKeyState c'WLC_KEY_STATE_PRESSED
+
+instance Primitive WlcButtonState ButtonState where
+    fromPrimitive (WlcButtonState x)
+        | x == c'WLC_BUTTON_STATE_RELEASED = ButtonReleased
+        | x == c'WLC_BUTTON_STATE_PRESSED = ButtonPressed
+
+    toPrimitive ButtonReleased = WlcButtonState c'WLC_BUTTON_STATE_RELEASED
+    toPrimitive ButtonPressed = WlcButtonState c'WLC_BUTTON_STATE_PRESSED
+
+instance Primitive WlcScrollAxisBit ScrollAxis where
+    fromPrimitive (WlcScrollAxisBit x)
+        | x == c'WLC_SCROLL_AXIS_VERTICAL = AxisVertical
+        | x == c'WLC_SCROLL_AXIS_HORIZONTAL = AxisHorizontal
+
+    toPrimitive AxisVertical = WlcScrollAxisBit c'WLC_SCROLL_AXIS_VERTICAL
+    toPrimitive AxisHorizontal = WlcScrollAxisBit c'WLC_SCROLL_AXIS_HORIZONTAL
+
+instance Primitive WlcTouchType TouchType where
+    fromPrimitive (WlcTouchType x)
+        | x == c'WLC_TOUCH_DOWN = TouchDown
+        | x == c'WLC_TOUCH_UP = TouchUp
+        | x == c'WLC_TOUCH_MOTION = TouchMotion
+        | x == c'WLC_TOUCH_FRAME = TouchFrame
+        | x == c'WLC_TOUCH_CANCEL = TouchCancel
+
+    toPrimitive TouchDown = WlcTouchType c'WLC_TOUCH_DOWN
+    toPrimitive TouchUp = WlcTouchType c'WLC_TOUCH_UP
+    toPrimitive TouchMotion = WlcTouchType c'WLC_TOUCH_MOTION
+    toPrimitive TouchFrame = WlcTouchType c'WLC_TOUCH_FRAME
+    toPrimitive TouchCancel = WlcTouchType c'WLC_TOUCH_CANCEL
+
+instance Primitive C'wlc_modifiers Modifiers where
+    fromPrimitive C'wlc_modifiers { c'wlc_modifiers'leds = leds, c'wlc_modifiers'mods = mods } =
+        Modifiers { leds = fromPrimitive $ WlcLedBit leds, mods = fromPrimitive $ WlcModifierBit mods }
+    toPrimitive Modifiers { leds = leds, mods = mods } =
+        C'wlc_modifiers {
+          c'wlc_modifiers'leds = getLedBit $ toPrimitive leds,
+          c'wlc_modifiers'mods = getModifierBit $ toPrimitive mods }
diff --git a/src/System/WLC/Utilities.hs b/src/System/WLC/Utilities.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/System/WLC/Utilities.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+{-# LANGUAGE MultiParamTypeClasses #-}
+
+module System.WLC.Utilities(checkPtr, getPtrValue, apply3, Primitive(..)) where
+
+import Foreign.Ptr(Ptr, nullPtr)
+import Foreign.Storable(Storable, peek)
+
+class Primitive a b where
+  fromPrimitive :: a -> b
+  fromPrimitivePtr :: (Storable a) => Ptr a -> IO (Maybe b)
+  fromPrimitivePtr ptr = fmap fromPrimitive <$> getPtrValue ptr
+  toPrimitive :: b -> a
+
+checkPtr :: Ptr a -> Maybe (Ptr a)
+checkPtr ptr = if ptr /= nullPtr then Just ptr else Nothing
+
+getPtrValue :: (Storable a) => Ptr a -> IO (Maybe a)
+getPtrValue ptr = sequence $ fmap peek (checkPtr ptr)
+
+apply3 :: (e -> a) -> (f -> b) -> (g -> c) -> (a -> b -> c -> d) -> (e -> f -> g -> d)
+apply3 a1 a2 a3 fn e f g = fn (a1 e) (a2 f) (a3 g)