diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index cd995a3..e8ffce0 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ qt_add_executable(${AppExec}
 
     src/Engine/Operator/Attribute.cpp
     src/Engine/Operator/Geometry.cpp
+    src/Engine/Operator/GeometryOperator.cpp
+    src/Engine/Network/NetworkManager.cpp
 )
 
 target_link_libraries(${AppExec} PRIVATE Qt6::Core Qt6::Widgets Qt6::SvgWidgets Qt6::OpenGLWidgets glm::glm Eigen3::Eigen)
diff --git a/src/Engine/Network/NetworkManager.cpp b/src/Engine/Network/NetworkManager.cpp
index d61400d..015228f 100644
--- a/src/Engine/Network/NetworkManager.cpp
+++ b/src/Engine/Network/NetworkManager.cpp
@@ -1,14 +1,27 @@
 #include "Engine/Network/NetworkManager.h"
 #include "Engine/Operator/GeometryOperator.h"
+#include "Engine/Types.h"
 #include <iostream>
 #include <memory>
 
-bool enzo::nt::NetworkManager::addOperator()
+enzo::nt::OpId enzo::nt::NetworkManager::addOperator()
 {
 
     gopStore_.emplace(++maxOpId_, std::make_unique<GeometryOperator>());
-    std::cout << "adding operator\n";
+    std::cout << "adding operator " << maxOpId_ << "\n";
 
-    return true;
+    return maxOpId_;
 }
 
+
+enzo::nt::NetworkManager* enzo::nt::NetworkManager::getInstance()
+{
+    if(instancePtr_==nullptr)
+    {
+        instancePtr_ = new enzo::nt::NetworkManager();
+    }
+    return instancePtr_;
+}
+
+enzo::nt::NetworkManager* enzo::nt::NetworkManager::instancePtr_ = nullptr;
+
diff --git a/src/Engine/Network/NetworkManager.h b/src/Engine/Network/NetworkManager.h
index 902c9a9..3f9ed77 100644
--- a/src/Engine/Network/NetworkManager.h
+++ b/src/Engine/Network/NetworkManager.h
@@ -8,8 +8,16 @@ namespace enzo::nt {
 class NetworkManager
 {
 public:
-    bool addOperator();
+    OpId addOperator();
+    // delete copy constructor
+    NetworkManager(const NetworkManager& obj) = delete;
+
+    static NetworkManager* getInstance();
+
 private:
+    static NetworkManager* instancePtr_;
+    NetworkManager() {};
+
     std::unordered_map<enzo::nt::OpId, std::unique_ptr<enzo::nt::GeometryOperator>> gopStore_;
     enzo::nt::OpId maxOpId_=0;
 
diff --git a/src/gui/network/Network.cpp b/src/gui/network/Network.cpp
index 8d65169..9ae835b 100644
--- a/src/gui/network/Network.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/network/Network.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "gui/network/Network.h"
+#include "Engine/Types.h"
 #include "gui/network/DisplayFlagButton.h"
 #include "gui/network/NodeEdgeGraphic.h"
 #include "gui/network/NetworkGraphicsView.h"
@@ -6,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "gui/network/NodeGraphic.h"
 #include "gui/network/FloatingEdgeGraphic.h"
 #include "gui/network/SocketGraphic.h"
+#include "Engine/Network/NetworkManager.h"
 #include <qboxlayout.h>
 #include <QPushButton>
 #include <QGraphicsItem>
@@ -13,6 +15,8 @@
 #include <qgraphicsitem.h>
 #include <qnamespace.h>
 
+using namespace enzo;
+
 Network::Network(QWidget* parent)
 : QWidget(parent)
 {
@@ -29,42 +33,6 @@ Network::Network(QWidget* parent)
     scene_ = new NetworkGraphicsScene();
     view_ = new NetworkGraphicsView(this, this, scene_);
 
-    // QPen greenPen = QPen(Qt::green);
-    // greenPen.setWidth(6);
-
-    // auto* rect1 = scene_->addRect(50, 50, 100, 100, greenPen);
-    // rect1->setFlag(QGraphicsItem::ItemIsMovable);
-
-    // auto* rect2 = scene_->addRect(80, 120, 100, 100, greenPen);
-    // rect2->setFlag(QGraphicsItem::ItemIsMovable);
-
-    // auto* rect3 = scene_->addRect(80, -120, 100, 100, greenPen);
-    // rect3->setFlag(QGraphicsItem::ItemIsMovable);
-
-    NodeGraphic* node1 = new NodeGraphic();
-    node1->setPos(-50, -50);
-    scene_->addItem(node1);
-    
-    NodeGraphic* node2 = new NodeGraphic();
-    node2->setPos(50, 50);
-    scene_->addItem(node2);
-
-    NodeGraphic* node3 = new NodeGraphic();
-    node3->setPos(50, 200);
-    scene_->addItem(node3);
-
-    NodeGraphic* node4 = new NodeGraphic();
-    node4->setPos(50, -200);
-    scene_->addItem(node4);
-
-
-
-    // scene_->addItem(new NodeEdgeGraphic(node1->getOutput(0), node2->getInput(0)));
-
-    // node1->addEdge(edge1);
-    // node2->addEdge(edge1);
-
-
 
     mainLayout_->addWidget(view_);
 
@@ -247,25 +215,41 @@ void Network::keyPressEvent(QKeyEvent *event)
     // get pos
     QPoint globalPos = QCursor::pos();
     QPoint widgetPos = mapFromGlobal(globalPos);
+    QPointF viewPos = view_->mapToScene(widgetPos);
+    
 
     QList<QGraphicsItem*> hoverItems = view_->items(widgetPos);
 
     // edge detection
-    if(
-        event->key() == Qt::Key_Control
-    )
+    switch(event->key())
     {
-        QGraphicsItem* hoverItem = itemOfType<NodeEdgeGraphic>(hoverItems);
-        if(hoverItem!=nullptr)
+
+        case( Qt::Key_Control):
         {
-            highlightEdge(hoverItem, true);
+            QGraphicsItem* hoverItem = itemOfType<NodeEdgeGraphic>(hoverItems);
+            if(hoverItem!=nullptr)
+            {
+                highlightEdge(hoverItem, true);
+            }
+            break;
         }
+        case(Qt::Key_Escape):
+        {
+            destroyFloatingEdge();
+            break;
+        }
+        case(Qt::Key_Tab):
+        {
+            nt::NetworkManager* nm = nt::NetworkManager::getInstance();
+            if(nt::OpId id = nm->addOperator())
+            {
+                NodeGraphic* newNode = new NodeGraphic(id);
+                newNode->setPos(viewPos);
+                scene_->addItem(newNode);
+            }
 
-    }
-
-    if(event->key() == Qt::Key_Escape)
-    {
-        destroyFloatingEdge();
+            break;
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/gui/network/NodeGraphic.cpp b/src/gui/network/NodeGraphic.cpp
index a7ab2fc..75851d9 100644
--- a/src/gui/network/NodeGraphic.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/network/NodeGraphic.cpp
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@
 #include <QGraphicsSvgItem>
 #include "gui/network/NodeIconGraphic.h"
 
-NodeGraphic::NodeGraphic(QGraphicsItem *parent)
-: QGraphicsItem(parent)
+NodeGraphic::NodeGraphic(enzo::nt::OpId id, QGraphicsItem *parent)
+: QGraphicsItem(parent), opId_{id}
 {
     socketSize_ = 3;
     titlePadding_=1;
diff --git a/src/gui/network/NodeGraphic.h b/src/gui/network/NodeGraphic.h
index ad03e61..f48b0d2 100644
--- a/src/gui/network/NodeGraphic.h
+++ b/src/gui/network/NodeGraphic.h
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 #include <QGraphicsItem>
 #include <QPainter>
+#include "Engine/Types.h"
 #include "gui/network/DisplayFlagButton.h"
 #include "gui/network/SocketGraphic.h"
 #include "gui/network/NodeIconGraphic.h"
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@ class NodeGraphic
 : public QGraphicsItem
 {
 public:
-    NodeGraphic(QGraphicsItem *parent = nullptr);
+    NodeGraphic(enzo::nt::OpId id, QGraphicsItem *parent = nullptr);
     QRectF boundingRect() const override;
     
     SocketGraphic* getInput(int indx) const;
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ private:
     void initIcon();
     void initFonts();
 
+    enzo::nt::OpId opId_;
     std::vector<SocketGraphic*> inputs_;
     std::vector<SocketGraphic*> outputs_;
 
diff --git a/tests/NetworkTests.cpp b/tests/NetworkTests.cpp
index 60f3aa4..bff0ab2 100644
--- a/tests/NetworkTests.cpp
+++ b/tests/NetworkTests.cpp
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
 
 TEST_CASE("network")
 {
-    enzo::nt::NetworkManager networkManager;
-    networkManager.addOperator();
+    using namespace enzo;
+    nt::NetworkManager* nm = nt::NetworkManager::getInstance();
+    nm->addOperator();
 }