diff --git a/doc/specs/debugging_protocol.md b/doc/specs/debugging_protocol.md
index a66753a9b..fbf206f28 100644
--- a/doc/specs/debugging_protocol.md
+++ b/doc/specs/debugging_protocol.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# VC-DBG protocol v1
+# VC-DBG protocol v1.1
 
 ## Notes
 
@@ -116,6 +116,15 @@ Then `value` is:
 }
 ```
 
+### File hot-reload signal
+
+```json
+{
+    "type": "hot-reload",
+    "file": "string"
+}
+```
+
 ## Server-to-client
 
 ### Response signals
diff --git a/src/animation/rigging.cpp b/src/animation/rigging.cpp
index ceaed3365..d5e36a82c 100644
--- a/src/animation/rigging.cpp
+++ b/src/animation/rigging.cpp
@@ -208,7 +208,9 @@ void SkeletonConfig::render(
                 model,
                 &skeleton.textures
             );
-        }
+        } else if (!node->model.name.empty()) {
+            node->model.updateFlag = true;
+        } 
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/assets/Assets.cpp b/src/assets/Assets.cpp
index 3e0776747..5b306a375 100644
--- a/src/assets/Assets.cpp
+++ b/src/assets/Assets.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #include "Assets.hpp"
+#include "AssetsLoader.hpp"
+#include "io/path.hpp"
 
-Assets::Assets(util::ObjectsKeeper* vault) : vault(vault) {
+Assets::Assets(util::ObjectsKeeper* vault) : vault(vault), assetsLoadInfo(std::make_unique<AssetsLoadInfo>()) {
 }
 
 Assets::~Assets() {
diff --git a/src/assets/Assets.hpp b/src/assets/Assets.hpp
index 768ab0b17..5858e17c5 100644
--- a/src/assets/Assets.hpp
+++ b/src/assets/Assets.hpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "util/stringutil.hpp"
 #include "util/ObjectsKeeper.hpp"
 #include "graphics/core/TextureAnimation.hpp"
+#include "io/fwd.hpp"
 
 #include <functional>
 #include <memory>
@@ -16,6 +17,8 @@
 #include <vector>
 
 class Assets;
+struct AssetsLoadInfo;
+class AssetsLoader;
 
 enum class AssetType {
     ANIMATION,
@@ -34,8 +37,6 @@ namespace assetload {
     /// @brief final work to do in the main thread
     using postfunc = std::function<void(Assets&)>;
 
-    using setupfunc = std::function<void(const Assets&)>;
-
     template <class T>
     void assets_setup(const Assets&);
 
@@ -63,16 +64,13 @@ namespace assetload {
             return reason;
         }
     };
+
 }
 
 class Assets {
-    util::ObjectsKeeper* vault;
-    std::vector<TextureAnimation> animations;
-
-    using assets_map = std::unordered_map<std::string, std::shared_ptr<void>>;
-    std::unordered_map<std::type_index, assets_map> assets;
-    std::vector<assetload::setupfunc> setupFuncs;
 public:
+    using assets_map = std::unordered_map<std::string, std::shared_ptr<void>>;
+
     Assets(util::ObjectsKeeper* vault);
     Assets(const Assets&) = delete;
     ~Assets();
@@ -144,15 +142,15 @@ public:
         return &mapIter->second;
     }
 
-    void setup() {
-        for (auto& setupFunc : setupFuncs) {
-            setupFunc(*this);
-        }
+    AssetsLoadInfo& getLoadInfo() const {
+        return *assetsLoadInfo;
     }
+private:
+    util::ObjectsKeeper* vault;
+    std::vector<TextureAnimation> animations;
 
-    void addSetupFunc(assetload::setupfunc setupfunc) {
-        setupFuncs.push_back(setupfunc);
-    }
+    std::unordered_map<std::type_index, assets_map> assets;
+    std::unique_ptr<AssetsLoadInfo> assetsLoadInfo;
 };
 
 template <class T>
diff --git a/src/assets/AssetsLoader.cpp b/src/assets/AssetsLoader.cpp
index eb23385fe..04bde9a6f 100644
--- a/src/assets/AssetsLoader.cpp
+++ b/src/assets/AssetsLoader.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,10 @@ static debug::Logger logger("assets-loader");
 AssetsLoader::AssetsLoader(
     Engine& engine, Assets& assets, const ResPaths& paths
 )
-    : engine(engine), assets(assets), paths(paths) {
+    : engine(engine),
+      assets(assets),
+      paths(paths),
+      assetsLoadInfo(assets.getLoadInfo()) {
     addLoader(AssetType::ANIMATION, assetload::animation);
     addLoader(AssetType::ATLAS, assetload::atlas);
     addLoader(AssetType::FONT, assetload::font);
@@ -53,11 +56,11 @@ void AssetsLoader::add(
     std::shared_ptr<AssetCfg> settings,
     bool overwrite
 ) {
-    if (!overwrite && enqueued.find({tag, alias}) != enqueued.end()){
+    if (!overwrite && enqueued.find({alias, tag}) != enqueued.end()){
         return;
     }
     entries.push(aloader_entry {tag, filename, alias, std::move(settings)});
-    enqueued.insert({tag, alias});
+    enqueued.insert({alias, tag});
 }
 
 bool AssetsLoader::hasNext() const {
@@ -75,7 +78,7 @@ aloader_func AssetsLoader::getLoader(AssetType tag) {
 }
 
 void AssetsLoader::loadNext() {
-    const aloader_entry& entry = entries.front();
+    aloader_entry& entry = entries.front();
     logger.info() << "loading " << entry.filename << " as " << entry.alias;
 
     std::string error {};
@@ -96,6 +99,8 @@ void AssetsLoader::loadNext() {
         entries.pop();
         throw assetload::error(tag, std::move(filename), std::move(error));
     }
+    assetsLoadInfo.processedEntries[{entry.alias, entry.tag}] =
+        std::move(entry);
     entries.pop();
 }
 
@@ -120,14 +125,6 @@ static void add_layouts(
     }
 }
 
-void AssetsLoader::tryAddSound(const std::string& name) {
-    if (name.empty()) {
-        return;
-    }
-    std::string file = SOUNDS_FOLDER + "/" + name;
-    add(AssetType::SOUND, file, name);
-}
-
 static std::string assets_def_folder(AssetType tag) {
     switch (tag) {
         case AssetType::ANIMATION:
@@ -165,7 +162,8 @@ void AssetsLoader::processPreload(
     }
     std::shared_ptr<AssetCfg> config = nullptr;
     map.at("path").get(path);
-    logger.debug() << "processing preload " << util::quote(name) << " path: " << util::quote(path);
+    logger.debug() << "processing preload " << util::quote(name)
+                   << " path: " << util::quote(path);
     switch (tag) {
         case AssetType::SOUND: {
             bool keepPCM = false;
@@ -269,65 +267,73 @@ static void add_variant(AssetsLoader& loader, const Variant& variant) {
     }
 }
 
-void AssetsLoader::addDefaults(AssetsLoader& loader, const Content* content) {
-    loader.processPreloadConfigs(content);
-    if (content) {
-        for (auto& entry : content->getBlockMaterials()) {
-            auto& material = *entry.second;
-            loader.tryAddSound(material.stepsSound);
-            loader.tryAddSound(material.placeSound);
-            loader.tryAddSound(material.breakSound);
-            loader.tryAddSound(material.hitSound);
+void AssetsLoader::addDefaults(const Content* content) {
+    processPreloadConfigs(content);
+    if (content == nullptr) {
+        return;
+    }
+    auto tryAddSound = [this](const std::string& name){
+        if (name.empty()) {
+            return;
         }
+        std::string file = SOUNDS_FOLDER + "/" + name;
+        add(AssetType::SOUND, file, name);
+    };
+    for (auto& entry : content->getBlockMaterials()) {
+        auto& material = *entry.second;
+        tryAddSound(material.stepsSound);
+        tryAddSound(material.placeSound);
+        tryAddSound(material.breakSound);
+        tryAddSound(material.hitSound);
+    }
 
-        for (auto& entry : content->getPacks()) {
-            auto pack = entry.second.get();
-            auto& info = pack->getInfo();
-            io::path folder = info.folder / "layouts";
-            add_layouts(pack->getEnvironment(), info.id, folder, loader);
-        }
+    for (auto& entry : content->getPacks()) {
+        auto pack = entry.second.get();
+        auto& info = pack->getInfo();
+        io::path folder = info.folder / "layouts";
+        add_layouts(pack->getEnvironment(), info.id, folder, *this);
+    }
 
-        for (const auto& entry : content->getPacks()) {
-            io::path skeletonsDir = entry.first + ":skeletons";
-            if (!io::is_directory(skeletonsDir)) {
-                continue;
-            }
-            for (const auto& file : io::directory_iterator(skeletonsDir)) {
-                loader.add(
-                    AssetType::SKELETON,
-                    (file.parent() / file.stem()).string(),
-                    entry.first + ":" + file.stem()
-                );
-            }
+    for (const auto& entry : content->getPacks()) {
+        io::path skeletonsDir = entry.first + ":skeletons";
+        if (!io::is_directory(skeletonsDir)) {
+            continue;
         }
+        for (const auto& file : io::directory_iterator(skeletonsDir)) {
+            add(
+                AssetType::SKELETON,
+                (file.parent() / file.stem()).string(),
+                entry.first + ":" + file.stem()
+            );
+        }
+    }
 
-        for (const auto& [_, def] : content->blocks.getDefs()) {
-            if (def->variants) {
-                for (const auto& variant : def->variants->variants) {
-                    add_variant(loader, variant);
-                }
-            } else {
-                add_variant(loader, def->defaults);
+    for (const auto& [_, def] : content->blocks.getDefs()) {
+        if (def->variants) {
+            for (const auto& variant : def->variants->variants) {
+                add_variant(*this, variant);
             }
+        } else {
+            add_variant(*this, def->defaults);
         }
-        for (const auto& [_, def] : content->items.getDefs()) {
-            if (def->modelName.find(':') == std::string::npos) {
-                loader.add(
-                    AssetType::MODEL,
-                    MODELS_FOLDER + "/" + def->modelName,
-                    def->modelName
-                );
-            }
+    }
+    for (const auto& [_, def] : content->items.getDefs()) {
+        if (def->modelName.find(':') == std::string::npos) {
+            add(
+                AssetType::MODEL,
+                MODELS_FOLDER + "/" + def->modelName,
+                def->modelName
+            );
         }
-        for (const auto& [_, def] : content->entities.getDefs()) {
-            if (def->skeletonName.find(':') == std::string::npos) {
-                // expecting a VCM with skeleton
-                loader.add(
-                    AssetType::MODEL,
-                    MODELS_FOLDER + "/" + def->skeletonName,
-                    def->skeletonName
-                );
-            }
+    }
+    for (const auto& [_, def] : content->entities.getDefs()) {
+        if (def->skeletonName.find(':') == std::string::npos) {
+            // expecting a VCM with skeleton
+            add(
+                AssetType::MODEL,
+                MODELS_FOLDER + "/" + def->skeletonName,
+                def->skeletonName
+            );
         }
     }
 }
@@ -410,3 +416,22 @@ std::shared_ptr<Task> AssetsLoader::startTask(runnable onDone, int maxWorkers) {
     }
     return pool;
 }
+
+void AssetsLoader::attachToFile(const io::path& file, AssetFullId assetId) {
+    assetsLoadInfo.referencedAssets.insert({file, std::move(assetId)});
+}
+
+int AssetsLoader::addReload(const io::path& path) {
+    int added = 0;
+
+    auto range = assetsLoadInfo.referencedAssets.equal_range(path);
+    for (auto it = range.first; it != range.second; ++it) {
+        const auto& recipe = assetsLoadInfo.processedEntries.find(it->second);
+        if (recipe != assetsLoadInfo.processedEntries.end()) {
+            entries.push(recipe->second);
+            added++;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return added;
+}
diff --git a/src/assets/AssetsLoader.hpp b/src/assets/AssetsLoader.hpp
index 7d495a3fb..a61c3b59e 100644
--- a/src/assets/AssetsLoader.hpp
+++ b/src/assets/AssetsLoader.hpp
@@ -86,22 +86,14 @@ struct aloader_entry {
     std::shared_ptr<AssetCfg> config;
 };
 
+using AssetFullId = std::pair<std::string, AssetType>;
+
+struct AssetsLoadInfo {
+    std::map<AssetFullId, aloader_entry> processedEntries;
+    std::multimap<io::path, AssetFullId> referencedAssets;
+};
+
 class AssetsLoader {
-    Engine& engine;
-    Assets& assets;
-    std::map<AssetType, aloader_func> loaders;
-    std::queue<aloader_entry> entries;
-    std::set<std::pair<AssetType, std::string>> enqueued;
-    const ResPaths& paths;
-
-    void tryAddSound(const std::string& name);
-
-    void processPreload(
-        AssetType tag, const std::string& name, const dv::value& map
-    );
-    void processPreloadList(AssetType tag, const dv::value& list);
-    void processPreloadConfig(const io::path& file);
-    void processPreloadConfigs(const Content* content);
 public:
     AssetsLoader(Engine& engine, Assets& assets, const ResPaths& paths);
     AssetsLoader(const AssetsLoader&) = delete;
@@ -132,9 +124,8 @@ public:
     aloader_func getLoader(AssetType tag);
 
     /// @brief Enqueue core and content assets
-    /// @param loader target loader
     /// @param content engine content
-    static void addDefaults(AssetsLoader& loader, const Content* content);
+    void addDefaults(const Content* content);
 
     static bool loadExternalTexture(
         AssetsLoader& loader,
@@ -142,6 +133,25 @@ public:
         const std::vector<io::path>& alternatives
     );
 
+    int addReload(const io::path& path);
+    void attachToFile(const io::path& file, AssetFullId assetId);
+
     Assets& getAssets();
     Engine& getEngine();
+private:
+    Engine& engine;
+    Assets& assets;
+    std::map<AssetType, aloader_func> loaders;
+    std::queue<aloader_entry> entries;
+    std::set<AssetFullId> enqueued;
+
+    const ResPaths& paths;
+    AssetsLoadInfo& assetsLoadInfo;
+
+    void processPreload(
+        AssetType tag, const std::string& name, const dv::value& map
+    );
+    void processPreloadList(AssetType tag, const dv::value& list);
+    void processPreloadConfig(const io::path& file);
+    void processPreloadConfigs(const Content* content);
 };
diff --git a/src/assets/assetload_funcs.cpp b/src/assets/assetload_funcs.cpp
index f406cef45..ea444fb5a 100644
--- a/src/assets/assetload_funcs.cpp
+++ b/src/assets/assetload_funcs.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@
 
 #include <array>
 #include <filesystem>
-#include <iostream>
 #include <stdexcept>
 
 static debug::Logger logger("assetload-funcs");
@@ -46,13 +45,15 @@ static bool load_animated_texture(
 );
 
 assetload::postfunc assetload::animation(
-    AssetsLoader&,
+    AssetsLoader& loader,
     const ResPaths& paths,
     const std::string& filename,
     const std::string& name,
     const std::shared_ptr<AssetCfg>&
 ) {
     auto path = paths.find(filename + ".vca");
+    loader.attachToFile(path, {name, AssetType::ANIMATION});
+
     if (io::is_regular_file(path)) {
         scripting::load_vca_animation(path, name);
     }
@@ -60,20 +61,21 @@ assetload::postfunc assetload::animation(
 }
 
 assetload::postfunc assetload::texture(
-    AssetsLoader&,
+    AssetsLoader& loader,
     const ResPaths& paths,
     const std::string& filename,
     const std::string& name,
     const std::shared_ptr<AssetCfg>&
 ) {
-    auto actualFile = paths.find(filename + ".png");
+    auto file = paths.find(filename + ".png");
+    loader.attachToFile(file, {name, AssetType::TEXTURE});
     try {
-        std::shared_ptr<ImageData> image(imageio::read(actualFile));
-        return [name, image, actualFile](auto& assets) {
+        std::shared_ptr<ImageData> image(imageio::read(file));
+        return [name, image, file](auto& assets) {
             assets.store(Texture::from(image.get()), name);
         };
     } catch (const std::runtime_error& err) {
-        logger.error() << actualFile.string() << ": " << err.what();
+        logger.error() << file.string() << ": " << err.what();
         return [](auto&) {};
     }
 }
@@ -126,13 +128,15 @@ assetload::postfunc assetload::shader(
 }
 
 assetload::postfunc assetload::posteffect(
-    AssetsLoader&,
+    AssetsLoader& loader,
     const ResPaths& paths,
     const std::string& file,
     const std::string& name,
     const std::shared_ptr<AssetCfg>& settings
 ) {
     io::path effectFile = paths.find(file + ".glsl");
+    loader.attachToFile(effectFile, {name, AssetType::POST_EFFECT});
+
     std::string effectSource = io::read_string(effectFile);
 
     auto& preprocessor = *Shader::preprocessor;
@@ -219,7 +223,7 @@ assetload::postfunc assetload::font(
 ) {
     auto cfg = std::dynamic_pointer_cast<FontCfg>(config);
     auto ext = fs::path(filename).extension().string();
-    if (ext == ".ttf" || ext == ".otf") {
+    if (!ext.empty()) {
         logger.info() << "loading vector font " << util::quote(filename);
         return [=](Assets& assets) {
             using FontFile = vector_fonts::FontFile;
@@ -339,6 +343,128 @@ static void request_textures(AssetsLoader& loader, const model::Model& model) {
     }
 }
 
+static assetload::postfunc load_vec3_model(
+    const io::path& file,
+    AssetsLoader& loader,
+    const std::string& name,
+    const std::shared_ptr<ModelCfg>& config
+) {
+    loader.attachToFile(file, {name, AssetType::MODEL});
+    auto bytes = io::read_bytes_buffer(file);
+    auto modelVEC3 = std::make_shared<vec3::File>(vec3::load(file.string(), bytes));
+    return [&loader, name, file, config, modelVEC3 = std::move(modelVEC3)](
+                Assets& assets
+            ) {
+        loader.attachToFile(file, {name, AssetType::MODEL});
+        if (config && config->squashed) {
+            model::Model fullModel;
+            for (auto& entry : modelVEC3->models) {
+                auto& vec3model = entry.second;
+                auto& model = vec3model.model;
+                model.translate(vec3model.origin);
+                fullModel.merge(std::move(model));
+            }
+            request_textures(loader, fullModel);
+            assets.store(
+                std::make_unique<model::Model>(fullModel),
+                name
+            );
+            logger.info() << "store model " << util::quote(name);
+            return;
+        }
+        for (auto& [modelName, model] : modelVEC3->models) {
+            request_textures(loader, model.model);
+            std::string fullName = name;
+            if (name != modelName) {
+                fullName += "." + modelName;
+            }
+            assets.store(
+                std::make_unique<model::Model>(model.model),
+                fullName
+            );
+            logger.info() << "store model " << util::quote(modelName)
+                            << " as " << util::quote(fullName);
+        }
+    };
+}
+
+static assetload::postfunc load_obj_model(
+    const io::path& file,
+    AssetsLoader& loader,
+    const std::string& name,
+    const std::shared_ptr<ModelCfg>&
+) {
+    loader.attachToFile(file, {name, AssetType::MODEL});
+    auto text = io::read_string(file);
+    try {
+        auto model = obj::parse(file.string(), text).release();
+        return [=, &loader](Assets& assets) {
+            request_textures(loader, *model);
+            assets.store(std::unique_ptr<model::Model>(model), name);
+        };
+    } catch (const parsing_error& err) {
+        logger.error() << "error on loading model " << name << ": "
+                       << err.errorLog();
+        throw;
+    }
+}
+
+static assetload::postfunc load_vcm_model(
+    const io::path& file,
+    AssetsLoader& loader,
+    const std::string& name,
+    const std::shared_ptr<ModelCfg>& cfg
+) {
+    loader.attachToFile(file, {name, AssetType::MODEL});
+    auto text = io::read_string(file);
+    try {
+        auto vcmModel = vcm::parse(file.string(), text, file.extension() == ".xml");
+
+        assert(vcmModel.parts.size() > 0);
+
+        if (vcmModel.parts.size() == 1 || (cfg && cfg->squashed)) {
+            auto modelPtr =
+                std::make_unique<model::Model>(std::move(vcmModel.squash()))
+                    .release();
+            return [=, &loader](Assets& assets) {
+                auto model = std::unique_ptr<model::Model>(modelPtr);
+                request_textures(loader, *model);
+                assets.store(std::move(model), name);
+                logger.info() << "store model " << util::quote(name);
+            };
+        }
+        auto vcmModelPtr =
+            std::make_unique<vcm::VcmModel>(std::move(vcmModel)).release();
+        return [=](Assets& assets) {
+            auto vcmModel = std::unique_ptr<vcm::VcmModel>(vcmModelPtr);
+            for (auto& [partName, model] : vcmModel->parts) {
+                auto fullName = name + "." + partName;
+                logger.info()
+                    << "store model part " << util::quote(partName)
+                    << " as " << util::quote(fullName);
+                assets.store(
+                    std::make_unique<model::Model>(std::move(model)),
+                    fullName
+                );
+            }
+            for (auto& bone : vcmModel->skeleton->getBones()) {
+                bone->setModel(name + "." + bone->model.name);
+            }
+            logger.info() << "store skeleton " << util::quote(name);
+            assets.store<rigging::SkeletonConfig>(
+                std::make_unique<rigging::SkeletonConfig>(
+                    std::move(*vcmModel->skeleton)
+                ),
+                name
+            );
+        };
+    } catch (const parsing_error& err) {
+        logger.error() << "error on loading model " << name << ": "
+                       << err.errorLog();
+        throw;
+    }
+}
+
 assetload::postfunc assetload::model(
     AssetsLoader& loader,
     const ResPaths& paths,
@@ -346,59 +472,15 @@ assetload::postfunc assetload::model(
     const std::string& name,
     const std::shared_ptr<AssetCfg>& config
 ) {
-    auto cfg = std::dynamic_pointer_cast<ModelCfg>(config);
+    auto modelConfig = std::dynamic_pointer_cast<ModelCfg>(config);
 
     auto path = paths.find(file + ".vec3");
     if (io::exists(path)) {
-        auto bytes = io::read_bytes_buffer(path);
-        auto modelVEC3 = std::make_shared<vec3::File>(vec3::load(path.string(), bytes));
-        return [&loader, name, cfg, modelVEC3 = std::move(modelVEC3)](
-                   Assets& assets
-               ) {
-            if (cfg && cfg->squashed) {
-                model::Model fullModel;
-                for (auto& entry : modelVEC3->models) {
-                    auto& vec3model = entry.second;
-                    auto& model = vec3model.model;
-                    model.translate(vec3model.origin);
-                    fullModel.merge(std::move(model));
-                }
-                request_textures(loader, fullModel);
-                assets.store(
-                    std::make_unique<model::Model>(fullModel),
-                    name
-                );
-                logger.info() << "store model " << util::quote(name);
-                return;
-            }
-            for (auto& [modelName, model] : modelVEC3->models) {
-                request_textures(loader, model.model);
-                std::string fullName = name;
-                if (name != modelName) {
-                    fullName += "." + modelName;
-                }
-                assets.store(
-                    std::make_unique<model::Model>(model.model),
-                    fullName
-                );
-                logger.info() << "store model " << util::quote(modelName)
-                              << " as " << util::quote(fullName);
-            }
-        };
+        return load_vec3_model(path, loader, name, modelConfig);
     }
     path = paths.find(file + ".obj");
     if (io::exists(path)) {
-        auto text = io::read_string(path);
-        try {
-            auto model = obj::parse(path.string(), text).release();
-            return [=, &loader](Assets& assets) {
-                request_textures(loader, *model);
-                assets.store(std::unique_ptr<model::Model>(model), name);
-            };
-        } catch (const parsing_error& err) {
-            std::cerr << err.errorLog() << std::endl;
-            throw;
-        }
+        return load_obj_model(path, loader, name, modelConfig);
     }
 
     std::array<std::string, 2> extensions {
@@ -418,50 +500,7 @@ assetload::postfunc assetload::model(
         throw std::runtime_error("could not to find model " + util::quote(file));
     }
 
-    auto text = io::read_string(path);
-    try {
-        auto vcmModel = vcm::parse(path.string(), text, path.extension() == ".xml");
-
-        assert(vcmModel.parts.size() > 0);
-
-        if (vcmModel.parts.size() == 1 || (cfg && cfg->squashed)) {
-            auto modelPtr = std::make_unique<model::Model>(std::move(vcmModel.squash())).release();
-            return [=, &loader](Assets& assets) {
-                auto model = std::unique_ptr<model::Model>(modelPtr);
-                request_textures(loader, *model);
-                assets.store(std::move(model), name);
-                logger.info() << "store model " << util::quote(name);
-            };
-        } else {
-            auto vcmModelPtr = std::make_unique<vcm::VcmModel>(std::move(vcmModel)).release();
-            return [=](Assets& assets) {
-                auto vcmModel = std::unique_ptr<vcm::VcmModel>(vcmModelPtr);
-                for (auto& [partName, model] : vcmModel->parts) {
-                    auto fullName = name + "." + partName;
-                    logger.info()
-                        << "store model part " << util::quote(partName)
-                        << " as " << util::quote(fullName);
-                    assets.store(
-                        std::make_unique<model::Model>(std::move(model)),
-                        fullName
-                    );
-                }
-                for (auto& bone : vcmModel->skeleton->getBones()) {
-                    bone->setModel(name + "." + bone->model.name);
-                }
-                logger.info() << "store skeleton " << util::quote(name);
-                assets.store<rigging::SkeletonConfig>(
-                    std::make_unique<rigging::SkeletonConfig>(
-                        std::move(*vcmModel->skeleton)
-                    ),
-                    name
-                );
-            };
-        }
-    } catch (const parsing_error& err) {
-        std::cerr << err.errorLog() << std::endl;
-        throw;
-    }
+    return load_vcm_model(path, loader, name, modelConfig);
 }
 
 assetload::postfunc assetload::skeleton(
@@ -593,8 +632,7 @@ static bool load_animated_texture(
             read_anim_file(animFile, frameList);
         }
         for (const auto& file : paths.listdir(animsDir + "/" + name)) {
-            if (!frameList.empty() &&
-                !contains(frameList, file.stem())) {
+            if (!frameList.empty() && !contains(frameList, file.stem())) {
                 continue;
             }
             if (!append_atlas(builder, file)) continue;
diff --git a/src/devtools/DebuggingServer.cpp b/src/devtools/DebuggingServer.cpp
index cb50c87a8..ecb85bead 100644
--- a/src/devtools/DebuggingServer.cpp
+++ b/src/devtools/DebuggingServer.cpp
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 #include "DebuggingServer.hpp"
 
-#include "engine/Engine.hpp"
-#include "network/Network.hpp"
-#include "debug/Logger.hpp"
+#include "assets/AssetsLoader.hpp"
 #include "coders/json.hpp"
+#include "data/dv.hpp"
+#include "debug/Logger.hpp"
+#include "engine/AssetsManagement.hpp"
+#include "engine/Engine.hpp"
+#include "io/path.hpp"
+#include "network/Network.hpp"
 
 using namespace devtools;
 
@@ -260,6 +264,16 @@ bool DebuggingServer::performCommand(
             }
         });
         return true;
+    } else if (type == "hot-reload") {
+        if (!map.has("file")) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        logger.info() << "hot-reload: " << map["file"].asString();
+        int count = engine.getAssetsManagement().acquireBackgroundLoader().addReload(
+            map["file"].asString()
+        );
+        logger.info() << "enqueued to reload: " << count;
+        return false;
     } else {
         logger.error() << "unsupported command '" << type << "'";
     }
diff --git a/src/engine/AssetsManagement.cpp b/src/engine/AssetsManagement.cpp
index 13df11220..a71382835 100644
--- a/src/engine/AssetsManagement.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/AssetsManagement.cpp
@@ -53,11 +53,11 @@ void AssetsManagement::loadAssets(Content* content) {
     logger.info() << "loading assets";
     Shader::preprocessor->setPaths(&paths.resPaths);
 
-    auto new_assets = std::make_unique<Assets>(
+    auto newAssets = std::make_unique<Assets>(
         settings.system.preserveAssetsDuringFrame.get() ? &assetsVault : nullptr 
     );
-    AssetsLoader loader(engine, *new_assets, paths.resPaths);
-    AssetsLoader::addDefaults(loader, content);
+    AssetsLoader loader(engine, *newAssets, paths.resPaths);
+    loader.addDefaults(content);
 
     // no need
     // correct log messages order is more useful
@@ -73,11 +73,10 @@ void AssetsManagement::loadAssets(Content* content) {
             loader.loadNext();
         }
     }
-    assets = std::move(new_assets);
+    assets = std::move(newAssets);
     if (content) {
         ModelsGenerator::prepare(*content, *assets);
     }
-    assets->setup();
     engine.getGUI().onAssetsLoad(assets.get());
 }
 
diff --git a/src/engine/Engine.hpp b/src/engine/Engine.hpp
index 153acf4df..668ce360b 100644
--- a/src/engine/Engine.hpp
+++ b/src/engine/Engine.hpp
@@ -190,5 +190,9 @@ public:
         return *appScripts;
     }
 
+    AssetsManagement& getAssetsManagement() const {
+        return *assets;
+    }
+
     void detachDebugger();
 };