diff --git a/src/frontend.rs b/src/frontend.rs
index b9aeb0ac..fe0b62a4 100644
--- a/src/frontend.rs
+++ b/src/frontend.rs
@@ -84,34 +84,39 @@ pub fn wait_for_service() -> Result<std::net::TcpStream> {
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Eq, PartialEq, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
-pub enum FrontendEvent {
+pub enum FrontendRequest {
     /// add a new client
-    AddClient(Option<String>, u16, Position),
+    Create(Option<String>, u16, Position),
     /// activate/deactivate client
-    ActivateClient(ClientHandle, bool),
+    Activate(ClientHandle, bool),
     /// change the listen port (recreate udp listener)
     ChangePort(u16),
     /// remove a client
-    DelClient(ClientHandle),
-    /// request an enumertaion of all clients
+    Delete(ClientHandle),
+    /// request an enumeration of all clients
     Enumerate(),
     /// service shutdown
-    Shutdown(),
+    Terminate(),
     /// update a client (hostname, port, position)
-    UpdateClient(ClientHandle, Option<String>, u16, Position),
+    Update(ClientHandle, Option<String>, u16, Position),
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
-pub enum FrontendNotify {
-    NotifyClientActivate(ClientHandle, bool),
-    NotifyClientCreate(Client),
-    NotifyClientUpdate(Client),
-    NotifyClientDelete(ClientHandle),
+pub enum FrontendEvent {
+    /// the given client was activated
+    Activated(ClientHandle, bool),
+    /// a client was created
+    Created(Client),
+    /// a client was updated
+    Updated(Client),
+    /// the client was deleted
+    Deleted(ClientHandle),
     /// new port, reason of failure (if failed)
-    NotifyPortChange(u16, Option<String>),
-    /// Client State, active
+    PortChanged(u16, Option<String>),
+    /// list of all clients, used for initial state synchronization
     Enumerate(Vec<(Client, bool)>),
-    NotifyError(String),
+    /// an error occured
+    Error(String),
 }
 
 pub struct FrontendListener {
@@ -217,7 +222,7 @@ impl FrontendListener {
         Ok(rx)
     }
 
-    pub(crate) async fn notify_all(&mut self, notify: FrontendNotify) -> Result<()> {
+    pub(crate) async fn broadcast_event(&mut self, notify: FrontendEvent) -> Result<()> {
         // encode event
         let json = serde_json::to_string(&notify).unwrap();
         let payload = json.as_bytes();
@@ -255,7 +260,7 @@ impl Drop for FrontendListener {
 }
 
 #[cfg(unix)]
-pub async fn read_event(stream: &mut ReadHalf<UnixStream>) -> Result<FrontendEvent> {
+pub async fn wait_for_request(stream: &mut ReadHalf<UnixStream>) -> Result<FrontendRequest> {
     let len = stream.read_u64().await?;
     assert!(len <= 256);
     let mut buf = [0u8; 256];
@@ -264,7 +269,7 @@ pub async fn read_event(stream: &mut ReadHalf<UnixStream>) -> Result<FrontendEve
 }
 
 #[cfg(windows)]
-pub async fn read_event(stream: &mut ReadHalf<TcpStream>) -> Result<FrontendEvent> {
+pub async fn wait_for_request(stream: &mut ReadHalf<TcpStream>) -> Result<FrontendRequest> {
     let len = stream.read_u64().await?;
     let mut buf = [0u8; 256];
     stream.read_exact(&mut buf[..len as usize]).await?;
diff --git a/src/frontend/cli.rs b/src/frontend/cli.rs
index a7666d2a..b3b537b0 100644
--- a/src/frontend/cli.rs
+++ b/src/frontend/cli.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use std::{
 
 use crate::{client::Position, config::DEFAULT_PORT};
 
-use super::{FrontendEvent, FrontendNotify};
+use super::{FrontendEvent, FrontendRequest};
 
 pub fn run() -> Result<()> {
     let Ok(mut tx) = super::wait_for_service() else {
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ pub fn run() -> Result<()> {
                                 if let Err(e) = tx.write(bytes) {
                                     log::error!("error sending message: {e}");
                                 };
-                                if *event == FrontendEvent::Shutdown() {
+                                if *event == FrontendRequest::Terminate() {
                                     return;
                                 }
                             }
@@ -78,39 +78,39 @@ pub fn run() -> Result<()> {
                     Err(e) => break log::error!("{e}"),
                 };
 
-                let notify: FrontendNotify = match serde_json::from_slice(&buf) {
+                let notify: FrontendEvent = match serde_json::from_slice(&buf) {
                     Ok(n) => n,
                     Err(e) => break log::error!("{e}"),
                 };
                 match notify {
-                    FrontendNotify::NotifyClientActivate(handle, active) => {
+                    FrontendEvent::Activated(handle, active) => {
                         if active {
                             log::info!("client {handle} activated");
                         } else {
                             log::info!("client {handle} deactivated");
                         }
                     }
-                    FrontendNotify::NotifyClientCreate(client) => {
+                    FrontendEvent::Created(client) => {
                         let handle = client.handle;
                         let port = client.port;
                         let pos = client.pos;
                         let hostname = client.hostname.as_deref().unwrap_or("");
                         log::info!("new client ({handle}): {hostname}:{port} - {pos}");
                     }
-                    FrontendNotify::NotifyClientUpdate(client) => {
+                    FrontendEvent::Updated(client) => {
                         let handle = client.handle;
                         let port = client.port;
                         let pos = client.pos;
                         let hostname = client.hostname.as_deref().unwrap_or("");
                         log::info!("client ({handle}) updated: {hostname}:{port} - {pos}");
                     }
-                    FrontendNotify::NotifyClientDelete(client) => {
+                    FrontendEvent::Deleted(client) => {
                         log::info!("client ({client}) deleted.");
                     }
-                    FrontendNotify::NotifyError(e) => {
+                    FrontendEvent::Error(e) => {
                         log::warn!("{e}");
                     }
-                    FrontendNotify::Enumerate(clients) => {
+                    FrontendEvent::Enumerate(clients) => {
                         for (client, active) in clients.into_iter() {
                             log::info!(
                                 "client ({}) [{}]: active: {}, associated addresses: [{}]",
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ pub fn run() -> Result<()> {
                             );
                         }
                     }
-                    FrontendNotify::NotifyPortChange(port, msg) => match msg {
+                    FrontendEvent::PortChanged(port, msg) => match msg {
                         Some(msg) => log::info!("could not change port: {msg}"),
                         None => log::info!("port changed: {port}"),
                     },
@@ -153,9 +153,9 @@ fn prompt() {
     std::io::stderr().flush().unwrap();
 }
 
-fn parse_cmd(s: String, len: usize) -> Option<Vec<FrontendEvent>> {
+fn parse_cmd(s: String, len: usize) -> Option<Vec<FrontendRequest>> {
     if len == 0 {
-        return Some(vec![FrontendEvent::Shutdown()]);
+        return Some(vec![FrontendRequest::Terminate()]);
     }
     let mut l = s.split_whitespace();
     let cmd = l.next()?;
@@ -170,8 +170,8 @@ fn parse_cmd(s: String, len: usize) -> Option<Vec<FrontendEvent>> {
             log::info!("setport <port>                                       change port");
             None
         }
-        "exit" => return Some(vec![FrontendEvent::Shutdown()]),
-        "list" => return Some(vec![FrontendEvent::Enumerate()]),
+        "exit" => return Some(vec![FrontendRequest::Terminate()]),
+        "list" => return Some(vec![FrontendRequest::Enumerate()]),
         "connect" => Some(parse_connect(l)),
         "disconnect" => Some(parse_disconnect(l)),
         "activate" => Some(parse_activate(l)),
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ fn parse_cmd(s: String, len: usize) -> Option<Vec<FrontendEvent>> {
     }
 }
 
-fn parse_connect(mut l: SplitWhitespace) -> Result<Vec<FrontendEvent>> {
+fn parse_connect(mut l: SplitWhitespace) -> Result<Vec<FrontendRequest>> {
     let usage = "usage: connect <host> left|right|top|bottom [port]";
     let host = l.next().context(usage)?.to_owned();
     let pos = match l.next().context(usage)? {
@@ -207,36 +207,36 @@ fn parse_connect(mut l: SplitWhitespace) -> Result<Vec<FrontendEvent>> {
         DEFAULT_PORT
     };
     Ok(vec![
-        FrontendEvent::AddClient(Some(host), port, pos),
-        FrontendEvent::Enumerate(),
+        FrontendRequest::Create(Some(host), port, pos),
+        FrontendRequest::Enumerate(),
     ])
 }
 
-fn parse_disconnect(mut l: SplitWhitespace) -> Result<Vec<FrontendEvent>> {
+fn parse_disconnect(mut l: SplitWhitespace) -> Result<Vec<FrontendRequest>> {
     let client = l.next().context("usage: disconnect <client_id>")?.parse()?;
     Ok(vec![
-        FrontendEvent::DelClient(client),
-        FrontendEvent::Enumerate(),
+        FrontendRequest::Delete(client),
+        FrontendRequest::Enumerate(),
     ])
 }
 
-fn parse_activate(mut l: SplitWhitespace) -> Result<Vec<FrontendEvent>> {
+fn parse_activate(mut l: SplitWhitespace) -> Result<Vec<FrontendRequest>> {
     let client = l.next().context("usage: activate <client_id>")?.parse()?;
     Ok(vec![
-        FrontendEvent::ActivateClient(client, true),
-        FrontendEvent::Enumerate(),
+        FrontendRequest::Activate(client, true),
+        FrontendRequest::Enumerate(),
     ])
 }
 
-fn parse_deactivate(mut l: SplitWhitespace) -> Result<Vec<FrontendEvent>> {
+fn parse_deactivate(mut l: SplitWhitespace) -> Result<Vec<FrontendRequest>> {
     let client = l.next().context("usage: deactivate <client_id>")?.parse()?;
     Ok(vec![
-        FrontendEvent::ActivateClient(client, false),
-        FrontendEvent::Enumerate(),
+        FrontendRequest::Activate(client, false),
+        FrontendRequest::Enumerate(),
     ])
 }
 
-fn parse_port(mut l: SplitWhitespace) -> Result<Vec<FrontendEvent>> {
+fn parse_port(mut l: SplitWhitespace) -> Result<Vec<FrontendRequest>> {
     let port = l.next().context("usage: setport <port>")?.parse()?;
-    Ok(vec![FrontendEvent::ChangePort(port)])
+    Ok(vec![FrontendRequest::ChangePort(port)])
 }
diff --git a/src/frontend/gtk.rs b/src/frontend/gtk.rs
index a074aa4c..0ccada3e 100644
--- a/src/frontend/gtk.rs
+++ b/src/frontend/gtk.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ use gtk::{gio, glib, prelude::ApplicationExt};
 
 use self::client_object::ClientObject;
 
-use super::FrontendNotify;
+use super::FrontendEvent;
 
 pub fn run() -> glib::ExitCode {
     log::debug!("running gtk frontend");
@@ -119,22 +119,22 @@ fn build_ui(app: &Application) {
         loop {
             let notify = receiver.recv().await.unwrap_or_else(|_| process::exit(1));
             match notify {
-                FrontendNotify::NotifyClientActivate(handle, active) => {
+                FrontendEvent::Activated(handle, active) => {
                     window.activate_client(handle, active);
                 }
-                FrontendNotify::NotifyClientCreate(client) => {
+                FrontendEvent::Created(client) => {
                     window.new_client(client, false);
                 },
-                FrontendNotify::NotifyClientUpdate(client) => {
+                FrontendEvent::Updated(client) => {
                     window.update_client(client);
                 }
-                FrontendNotify::NotifyError(e) => {
+                FrontendEvent::Error(e) => {
                     window.show_toast(e.as_str());
                 },
-                FrontendNotify::NotifyClientDelete(client) => {
+                FrontendEvent::Deleted(client) => {
                     window.delete_client(client);
                 }
-                FrontendNotify::Enumerate(clients) => {
+                FrontendEvent::Enumerate(clients) => {
                     for (client, active) in clients {
                         if window.client_idx(client.handle).is_some() {
                             window.activate_client(client.handle, active);
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ fn build_ui(app: &Application) {
                         }
                     }
                 },
-                FrontendNotify::NotifyPortChange(port, msg) => {
+                FrontendEvent::PortChanged(port, msg) => {
                     match msg {
                         None => window.show_toast(format!("port changed: {port}").as_str()),
                         Some(msg) => window.show_toast(msg.as_str()),
diff --git a/src/frontend/gtk/window.rs b/src/frontend/gtk/window.rs
index 72a89db7..f0aa0f6d 100644
--- a/src/frontend/gtk/window.rs
+++ b/src/frontend/gtk/window.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use gtk::{
 use crate::{
     client::{Client, ClientHandle, Position},
     config::DEFAULT_PORT,
-    frontend::{gtk::client_object::ClientObject, FrontendEvent},
+    frontend::{gtk::client_object::ClientObject, FrontendRequest},
 };
 
 use super::client_row::ClientRow;
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ impl Window {
     }
 
     pub fn request_client_create(&self) {
-        let event = FrontendEvent::AddClient(None, DEFAULT_PORT, Position::default());
+        let event = FrontendRequest::Create(None, DEFAULT_PORT, Position::default());
         self.imp().set_port(DEFAULT_PORT);
         self.request(event);
     }
@@ -160,9 +160,9 @@ impl Window {
     pub fn request_port_change(&self) {
         let port = self.imp().port_entry.get().text().to_string();
         if let Ok(port) = port.as_str().parse::<u16>() {
-            self.request(FrontendEvent::ChangePort(port));
+            self.request(FrontendRequest::ChangePort(port));
         } else {
-            self.request(FrontendEvent::ChangePort(DEFAULT_PORT));
+            self.request(FrontendRequest::ChangePort(DEFAULT_PORT));
         }
     }
 
@@ -178,11 +178,11 @@ impl Window {
         let hostname = data.hostname;
         let port = data.port as u16;
 
-        let event = FrontendEvent::UpdateClient(client.handle(), hostname, port, position);
+        let event = FrontendRequest::Update(client.handle(), hostname, port, position);
         log::debug!("requesting update: {event:?}");
         self.request(event);
 
-        let event = FrontendEvent::ActivateClient(client.handle(), active);
+        let event = FrontendRequest::Activate(client.handle(), active);
         log::debug!("requesting activate: {event:?}");
         self.request(event);
     }
@@ -193,12 +193,12 @@ impl Window {
                 .downcast_ref()
                 .expect("Expected object of type `ClientObject`.");
             let handle = client_object.handle();
-            let event = FrontendEvent::DelClient(handle);
+            let event = FrontendRequest::Delete(handle);
             self.request(event);
         }
     }
 
-    fn request(&self, event: FrontendEvent) {
+    fn request(&self, event: FrontendRequest) {
         let json = serde_json::to_string(&event).unwrap();
         log::debug!("requesting {json}");
         let mut stream = self.imp().stream.borrow_mut();
diff --git a/src/server.rs b/src/server.rs
index 454556e9..4b2f28c1 100644
--- a/src/server.rs
+++ b/src/server.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use crate::{
     client::{ClientHandle, ClientManager},
     config::Config,
     dns,
-    frontend::{FrontendEvent, FrontendListener},
+    frontend::{FrontendListener, FrontendRequest},
     server::capture_task::CaptureEvent,
 };
 
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ impl Server {
             .collect::<Vec<_>>();
         for (handle, hostname) in active {
             frontend_tx
-                .send(FrontendEvent::ActivateClient(handle, true))
+                .send(FrontendRequest::Activate(handle, true))
                 .await?;
             if let Some(hostname) = hostname {
                 let _ = resolve_tx.send(DnsRequest { hostname, handle }).await;
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ impl Server {
 
         let _ = emulate_channel.send(EmulationEvent::Terminate).await;
         let _ = capture_channel.send(CaptureEvent::Terminate).await;
-        let _ = frontend_tx.send(FrontendEvent::Shutdown()).await;
+        let _ = frontend_tx.send(FrontendRequest::Terminate()).await;
 
         if !capture_task.is_finished() {
             if let Err(e) = capture_task.await {
diff --git a/src/server/frontend_task.rs b/src/server/frontend_task.rs
index 21b606d5..3179a695 100644
--- a/src/server/frontend_task.rs
+++ b/src/server/frontend_task.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ use tokio::{
 
 use crate::{
     client::{ClientEvent, ClientHandle, Position},
-    frontend::{self, FrontendEvent, FrontendListener, FrontendNotify},
+    frontend::{self, FrontendEvent, FrontendListener, FrontendRequest},
 };
 
 use super::{
@@ -27,13 +27,13 @@ use super::{
 
 pub(crate) fn new(
     mut frontend: FrontendListener,
-    mut notify_rx: Receiver<FrontendNotify>,
+    mut notify_rx: Receiver<FrontendEvent>,
     server: Server,
     capture: Sender<CaptureEvent>,
     emulate: Sender<EmulationEvent>,
     resolve_ch: Sender<DnsRequest>,
     port_tx: Sender<u16>,
-) -> (JoinHandle<Result<()>>, Sender<FrontendEvent>) {
+) -> (JoinHandle<Result<()>>, Sender<FrontendRequest>) {
     let (event_tx, mut event_rx) = tokio::sync::mpsc::channel(32);
     let event_tx_clone = event_tx.clone();
     let frontend_task = tokio::task::spawn_local(async move {
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ pub(crate) fn new(
                 }
                 notify = notify_rx.recv() => {
                     let notify = notify.ok_or(anyhow!("frontend notify closed"))?;
-                    let _ = frontend.notify_all(notify).await;
+                    let _ = frontend.broadcast_event(notify).await;
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ pub(crate) fn new(
 }
 
 async fn handle_frontend_stream(
-    frontend_tx: &Sender<FrontendEvent>,
+    frontend_tx: &Sender<FrontendRequest>,
     #[cfg(unix)] mut stream: ReadHalf<UnixStream>,
     #[cfg(windows)] mut stream: ReadHalf<TcpStream>,
 ) {
@@ -75,9 +75,9 @@ async fn handle_frontend_stream(
 
     let tx = frontend_tx.clone();
     tokio::task::spawn_local(async move {
-        let _ = tx.send(FrontendEvent::Enumerate()).await;
+        let _ = tx.send(FrontendRequest::Enumerate()).await;
         loop {
-            let event = frontend::read_event(&mut stream).await;
+            let event = frontend::wait_for_request(&mut stream).await;
             match event {
                 Ok(event) => {
                     let _ = tx.send(event).await;
@@ -103,11 +103,11 @@ async fn handle_frontend_event(
     resolve_tx: &Sender<DnsRequest>,
     frontend: &mut FrontendListener,
     port_tx: &Sender<u16>,
-    event: FrontendEvent,
+    event: FrontendRequest,
 ) -> bool {
     log::debug!("frontend: {event:?}");
     match event {
-        FrontendEvent::AddClient(hostname, port, pos) => {
+        FrontendRequest::Create(hostname, port, pos) => {
             add_client(
                 server,
                 frontend,
@@ -119,33 +119,33 @@ async fn handle_frontend_event(
             )
             .await;
         }
-        FrontendEvent::ActivateClient(handle, active) => {
+        FrontendRequest::Activate(handle, active) => {
             if active {
                 activate_client(server, frontend, capture_tx, emulate_tx, handle).await;
             } else {
                 deactivate_client(server, frontend, capture_tx, emulate_tx, handle).await;
             }
         }
-        FrontendEvent::ChangePort(port) => {
+        FrontendRequest::ChangePort(port) => {
             let _ = port_tx.send(port).await;
         }
-        FrontendEvent::DelClient(handle) => {
+        FrontendRequest::Delete(handle) => {
             remove_client(server, frontend, capture_tx, emulate_tx, handle).await;
         }
-        FrontendEvent::Enumerate() => {
+        FrontendRequest::Enumerate() => {
             let clients = server
                 .client_manager
                 .borrow()
                 .get_client_states()
                 .map(|s| (s.client.clone(), s.active))
                 .collect();
-            notify_all(frontend, FrontendNotify::Enumerate(clients)).await;
+            notify_all(frontend, FrontendEvent::Enumerate(clients)).await;
         }
-        FrontendEvent::Shutdown() => {
+        FrontendRequest::Terminate() => {
             log::info!("terminating gracefully...");
             return true;
         }
-        FrontendEvent::UpdateClient(handle, hostname, port, pos) => {
+        FrontendRequest::Update(handle, hostname, port, pos) => {
             update_client(
                 server,
                 frontend,
@@ -160,8 +160,8 @@ async fn handle_frontend_event(
     false
 }
 
-async fn notify_all(frontend: &mut FrontendListener, event: FrontendNotify) {
-    if let Err(e) = frontend.notify_all(event).await {
+async fn notify_all(frontend: &mut FrontendListener, event: FrontendEvent) {
+    if let Err(e) = frontend.broadcast_event(event).await {
         log::error!("error notifying frontend: {e}");
     }
 }
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ pub async fn add_client(
         .unwrap()
         .client
         .clone();
-    notify_all(frontend, FrontendNotify::NotifyClientCreate(client)).await;
+    notify_all(frontend, FrontendEvent::Created(client)).await;
 }
 
 pub async fn deactivate_client(
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ pub async fn deactivate_client(
     let event = ClientEvent::Destroy(client);
     let _ = capture.send(CaptureEvent::ClientEvent(event)).await;
     let _ = emulate.send(EmulationEvent::ClientEvent(event)).await;
-    let event = FrontendNotify::NotifyClientActivate(client, false);
+    let event = FrontendEvent::Activated(client, false);
     notify_all(frontend, event).await;
 }
 
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ pub async fn activate_client(
     let event = ClientEvent::Create(handle, pos);
     let _ = capture.send(CaptureEvent::ClientEvent(event)).await;
     let _ = emulate.send(EmulationEvent::ClientEvent(event)).await;
-    let event = FrontendNotify::NotifyClientActivate(handle, true);
+    let event = FrontendEvent::Activated(handle, true);
     notify_all(frontend, event).await;
 }
 
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ pub async fn remove_client(
         let _ = emulate.send(EmulationEvent::ClientEvent(destroy)).await;
     }
 
-    let event = FrontendNotify::NotifyClientDelete(client);
+    let event = FrontendEvent::Deleted(client);
     notify_all(frontend, event).await;
 }
 
@@ -358,5 +358,5 @@ async fn update_client(
         .unwrap()
         .client
         .clone();
-    notify_all(frontend, FrontendNotify::NotifyClientUpdate(client)).await;
+    notify_all(frontend, FrontendEvent::Updated(client)).await;
 }
diff --git a/src/server/network_task.rs b/src/server/network_task.rs
index f2413ba9..1b85ee66 100644
--- a/src/server/network_task.rs
+++ b/src/server/network_task.rs
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@ use tokio::{
     task::JoinHandle,
 };
 
-use crate::{event::Event, frontend::FrontendNotify};
+use crate::{event::Event, frontend::FrontendEvent};
 
 use super::Server;
 
 pub async fn new(
     server: Server,
-    frontend_notify_tx: Sender<FrontendNotify>,
+    frontend_notify_tx: Sender<FrontendEvent>,
 ) -> Result<(
     JoinHandle<()>,
     Sender<(Event, SocketAddr)>,
@@ -55,12 +55,12 @@ pub async fn new(
                         Ok(new_socket) => {
                             socket = new_socket;
                             server.port.replace(port);
-                            let _ = frontend_notify_tx.send(FrontendNotify::NotifyPortChange(port, None)).await;
+                            let _ = frontend_notify_tx.send(FrontendEvent::PortChanged(port, None)).await;
                         }
                         Err(e) => {
                             log::warn!("could not change port: {e}");
                             let port = socket.local_addr().unwrap().port();
-                            let _ = frontend_notify_tx.send(FrontendNotify::NotifyPortChange(
+                            let _ = frontend_notify_tx.send(FrontendEvent::PortChanged(
                                     port,
                                     Some(format!("could not change port: {e}")),
                                 )).await;