diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/AssetUtils.h b/libraries/networking/src/AssetUtils.h
index 58e7aa6146..f13c9ac729 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/AssetUtils.h
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/AssetUtils.h
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@
 using MessageID = uint32_t;
 using DataOffset = int64_t;
 
+using AssetPath = QString;
+using AssetHash = QString;
+
 const size_t SHA256_HASH_LENGTH = 32;
 const size_t SHA256_HASH_HEX_LENGTH = 64;
 const uint64_t MAX_UPLOAD_SIZE = 1000 * 1000 * 1000; // 1GB
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/ReceivedMessage.cpp b/libraries/networking/src/ReceivedMessage.cpp
index eed275dc1a..6ef2b7c7d4 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/ReceivedMessage.cpp
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/ReceivedMessage.cpp
@@ -110,8 +110,8 @@ QByteArray ReceivedMessage::readAll() {
 QString ReceivedMessage::readString() {
     uint32_t size;
     readPrimitive(&size);
-    Q_ASSERT(size <= _size - _position);
-    auto string = QString::fromUtf8(_data.constData(), size);
+    //Q_ASSERT(size <= _size - _position);
+    auto string = QString::fromUtf8(_data.constData() + _position, size);
     _position += size;
     return string;
 }
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/ReceivedMessage.h b/libraries/networking/src/ReceivedMessage.h
index b813149bed..e9131c074f 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/ReceivedMessage.h
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/ReceivedMessage.h
@@ -88,7 +88,6 @@ private:
     QByteArray _data;
     QByteArray _headData;
 
-    std::atomic<qint64> _size { true };  
     std::atomic<qint64> _position { 0 };
     std::atomic<qint64> _numPackets { 0 };
 
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/udt/BasePacket.cpp b/libraries/networking/src/udt/BasePacket.cpp
index 000573d241..e0b2a8ba3a 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/udt/BasePacket.cpp
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/udt/BasePacket.cpp
@@ -150,6 +150,20 @@ QByteArray BasePacket::readWithoutCopy(qint64 maxSize) {
     return data;
 }
 
+qint64 BasePacket::writeString(const QString& string) {
+    QByteArray data = string.toUtf8();
+    writePrimitive(static_cast<uint32_t>(data.length()));
+    return writeData(data.constData(), data.length());
+}
+
+QString BasePacket::readString() {
+    uint32_t size {};
+    readPrimitive(&size);
+    auto string = QString::fromUtf8(getPayload() + pos(), size);
+    seek(pos() + size);
+    return string;
+}
+
 bool BasePacket::reset() {
     if (isWritable()) {
         _payloadSize = 0;
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/udt/BasePacket.h b/libraries/networking/src/udt/BasePacket.h
index 392a7c4384..846c05ecbf 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/udt/BasePacket.h
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/udt/BasePacket.h
@@ -77,7 +77,10 @@ public:
     using QIODevice::read; // Bring QIODevice::read methods to scope, otherwise they are hidden by folling method
     QByteArray read(qint64 maxSize);
     QByteArray readWithoutCopy(qint64 maxSize); // this can only be used if packet will stay in scope
-    
+
+    qint64 writeString(const QString& string);
+    QString readString();
+   
     template<typename T> qint64 peekPrimitive(T* data);
     template<typename T> qint64 readPrimitive(T* data);
     template<typename T> qint64 writePrimitive(const T& data);
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketList.cpp b/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketList.cpp
index 978df9b9bb..b12b7e6938 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketList.cpp
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketList.cpp
@@ -158,6 +158,12 @@ void PacketList::preparePackets(MessageNumber messageNumber) {
 
 const qint64 PACKET_LIST_WRITE_ERROR = -1;
 
+qint64 PacketList::writeString(const QString& string) {
+    QByteArray data = string.toUtf8();
+    writePrimitive(static_cast<uint32_t>(data.length()));
+    return writeData(data.constData(), data.length());
+}
+
 qint64 PacketList::writeData(const char* data, qint64 maxSize) {
     auto sizeRemaining = maxSize;
 
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketList.h b/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketList.h
index 4f1e46e616..875eb70e45 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketList.h
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketList.h
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ public:
     
     template<typename T> qint64 readPrimitive(T* data);
     template<typename T> qint64 writePrimitive(const T& data);
+
+    qint64 writeString(const QString& string);
     
 protected:
     PacketList(PacketType packetType, QByteArray extendedHeader = QByteArray(), bool isReliable = false, bool isOrdered = false);