diff --git a/api/datastore/internal/datastoreutil/shared.go b/api/datastore/internal/datastoreutil/shared.go
index f1c57747a..5f6c0b71e 100644
--- a/api/datastore/internal/datastoreutil/shared.go
+++ b/api/datastore/internal/datastoreutil/shared.go
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"database/sql"
 	"encoding/json"
-	"github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
 	"fmt"
+	"github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
 	"strings"
 
 	"gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/models"
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ type RowScanner interface {
 	Scan(dest ...interface{}) error
 }
 
-
 func ScanRoute(scanner RowScanner, route *models.Route) error {
 	var headerStr string
 	var configStr string
@@ -25,7 +24,6 @@ func ScanRoute(scanner RowScanner, route *models.Route) error {
 		&route.Path,
 		&route.Image,
 		&route.Format,
-		&route.MaxConcurrency,
 		&route.Memory,
 		&route.Type,
 		&route.Timeout,
@@ -107,7 +105,6 @@ func BuildFilterRouteQuery(filter *models.RouteFilter, whereStm, andStm string)
 	return b.String(), args
 }
 
-
 func BuildFilterAppQuery(filter *models.AppFilter, whereStm string) (string, []interface{}) {
 	if filter == nil {
 		return "", nil
@@ -120,7 +117,6 @@ func BuildFilterAppQuery(filter *models.AppFilter, whereStm string) (string, []i
 	return "", nil
 }
 
-
 func BuildFilterCallQuery(filter *models.CallFilter, whereStm, andStm string) (string, []interface{}) {
 	if filter == nil {
 		return "", nil
@@ -269,7 +265,6 @@ func NewDatastore(dataSourceName, dialect string, tables []string) (*sql.DB, err
 	logrus.WithFields(logrus.Fields{"max_idle_connections": maxIdleConns}).Info(
 		fmt.Sprintf("%v datastore dialed", dialect))
 
-
 	for _, v := range tables {
 		_, err = db.Exec(v)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -372,4 +367,4 @@ func SQLRemoveRoute(db *sql.DB, appName, routePath, deleteStm string) error {
 
 	return nil
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/api/datastore/mysql/mysql.go b/api/datastore/mysql/mysql.go
index e6f50e565..60bab963f 100644
--- a/api/datastore/mysql/mysql.go
+++ b/api/datastore/mysql/mysql.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ const routesTableCreate = `CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS routes (
 	path varchar(256) NOT NULL,
 	image varchar(256) NOT NULL,
 	format varchar(16) NOT NULL,
-	maxc int NOT NULL,
 	memory int NOT NULL,
 	timeout int NOT NULL,
 	idle_timeout int NOT NULL,
@@ -38,7 +37,7 @@ const extrasTableCreate = `CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS extras (
 	value varchar(256) NOT NULL
 );`
 
-const routeSelector = `SELECT app_name, path, image, format, maxc, memory, type, timeout, idle_timeout, headers, config FROM routes`
+const routeSelector = `SELECT app_name, path, image, format, memory, type, timeout, idle_timeout, headers, config FROM routes`
 
 const callTableCreate = `CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS calls (
 	created_at varchar(256) NOT NULL,
@@ -53,7 +52,6 @@ const callTableCreate = `CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS calls (
 
 const callSelector = `SELECT id, created_at, started_at, completed_at, status, app_name, path FROM calls`
 
-
 /*
 MySQLDatastore defines a basic MySQL Datastore struct.
 */
@@ -237,7 +235,6 @@ func (ds *MySQLDatastore) InsertRoute(ctx context.Context, route *models.Route)
 			path,
 			image,
 			format,
-			maxc,
 			memory,
 			type,
 			timeout,
@@ -250,7 +247,6 @@ func (ds *MySQLDatastore) InsertRoute(ctx context.Context, route *models.Route)
 			route.Path,
 			route.Image,
 			route.Format,
-			route.MaxConcurrency,
 			route.Memory,
 			route.Type,
 			route.Timeout,
@@ -296,7 +292,6 @@ func (ds *MySQLDatastore) UpdateRoute(ctx context.Context, newroute *models.Rout
 		UPDATE routes SET
 			image = ?,
 			format = ?,
-			maxc = ?,
 			memory = ?,
 			type = ?,
 			timeout = ?,
@@ -306,7 +301,6 @@ func (ds *MySQLDatastore) UpdateRoute(ctx context.Context, newroute *models.Rout
 		WHERE app_name = ? AND path = ?;`,
 			route.Image,
 			route.Format,
-			route.MaxConcurrency,
 			route.Memory,
 			route.Type,
 			route.Timeout,
@@ -341,7 +335,6 @@ RemoveRoute removes an existing route on MySQL.
 */
 func (ds *MySQLDatastore) RemoveRoute(ctx context.Context, appName, routePath string) error {
 	deleteStm := `DELETE FROM routes WHERE path = ? AND app_name = ?`
-
 	return datastoreutil.SQLRemoveRoute(ds.db, appName, routePath, deleteStm)
 }
 
@@ -429,7 +422,7 @@ func (ds *MySQLDatastore) Tx(f func(*sql.Tx) error) error {
 	return tx.Commit()
 }
 
-func (ds * MySQLDatastore) InsertTask(ctx context.Context, task *models.Task) error {
+func (ds *MySQLDatastore) InsertTask(ctx context.Context, task *models.Task) error {
 	stmt, err := ds.db.Prepare("INSERT calls SET id=?,created_at=?,started_at=?,completed_at=?,status=?,app_name=?,path=?")
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -445,13 +438,13 @@ func (ds * MySQLDatastore) InsertTask(ctx context.Context, task *models.Task) er
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (ds * MySQLDatastore) GetTask(ctx context.Context, callID string) (*models.FnCall, error) {
+func (ds *MySQLDatastore) GetTask(ctx context.Context, callID string) (*models.FnCall, error) {
 	whereStm := "%s WHERE id=?"
 
 	return datastoreutil.SQLGetCall(ds.db, callSelector, callID, whereStm)
 }
 
-func (ds * MySQLDatastore) GetTasks(ctx context.Context, filter *models.CallFilter) (models.FnCalls, error) {
+func (ds *MySQLDatastore) GetTasks(ctx context.Context, filter *models.CallFilter) (models.FnCalls, error) {
 	whereStm := "WHERE %s ?"
 	andStm := " AND %s ?"
 
diff --git a/api/datastore/postgres/postgres.go b/api/datastore/postgres/postgres.go
index f598ea4d7..cf2193eed 100644
--- a/api/datastore/postgres/postgres.go
+++ b/api/datastore/postgres/postgres.go
@@ -1,17 +1,16 @@
 package postgres
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"database/sql"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/url"
 
-	"context"
-
-	"gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/datastore/internal/datastoreutil"
-	"gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/models"
 	"github.com/lib/pq"
 	_ "github.com/lib/pq"
+	"gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/datastore/internal/datastoreutil"
+	"gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/models"
 )
 
 const routesTableCreate = `
@@ -20,7 +19,6 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS routes (
 	path text NOT NULL,
 	image character varying(256) NOT NULL,
 	format character varying(16) NOT NULL,
-	maxc integer NOT NULL,
 	memory integer NOT NULL,
 	timeout integer NOT NULL,
 	idle_timeout integer NOT NULL,
@@ -40,7 +38,7 @@ const extrasTableCreate = `CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS extras (
 	value character varying(256) NOT NULL
 );`
 
-const routeSelector = `SELECT app_name, path, image, format, maxc, memory, type, timeout, idle_timeout, headers, config FROM routes`
+const routeSelector = `SELECT app_name, path, image, format, memory, type, timeout, idle_timeout, headers, config FROM routes`
 
 const callsTableCreate = `CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS calls (
 	created_at character varying(256) NOT NULL,
@@ -203,7 +201,6 @@ func (ds *PostgresDatastore) InsertRoute(ctx context.Context, route *models.Rout
 			path,
 			image,
 			format,
-			maxc,
 			memory,
 			type,
 			timeout,
@@ -211,12 +208,11 @@ func (ds *PostgresDatastore) InsertRoute(ctx context.Context, route *models.Rout
 			headers,
 			config
 		)
-		VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, $9, $10, $11);`,
+		VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, $9, $10);`,
 			route.AppName,
 			route.Path,
 			route.Image,
 			route.Format,
-			route.MaxConcurrency,
 			route.Memory,
 			route.Type,
 			route.Timeout,
@@ -259,19 +255,17 @@ func (ds *PostgresDatastore) UpdateRoute(ctx context.Context, newroute *models.R
 		UPDATE routes SET
 			image = $3,
 			format = $4,
-			maxc = $5,
-			memory = $6,
-			type = $7,
-			timeout = $8,
-			idle_timeout = $9,
-			headers = $10,
-			config = $11
+			memory = $5,
+			type = $6,
+			timeout = $7,
+			idle_timeout = $8,
+			headers = $9,
+			config = $10
 		WHERE app_name = $1 AND path = $2;`,
 			route.AppName,
 			route.Path,
 			route.Image,
 			route.Format,
-			route.MaxConcurrency,
 			route.Memory,
 			route.Type,
 			route.Timeout,
@@ -301,7 +295,6 @@ func (ds *PostgresDatastore) UpdateRoute(ctx context.Context, newroute *models.R
 
 func (ds *PostgresDatastore) RemoveRoute(ctx context.Context, appName, routePath string) error {
 	deleteStm := `DELETE FROM routes WHERE path = $1 AND app_name = $2`
-
 	return datastoreutil.SQLRemoveRoute(ds.db, appName, routePath, deleteStm)
 }
 
diff --git a/api/models/route.go b/api/models/route.go
index b8c560bd8..61b2a5428 100644
--- a/api/models/route.go
+++ b/api/models/route.go
@@ -31,33 +31,31 @@ var (
 type Routes []*Route
 
 type Route struct {
-	AppName        string      `json:"app_name"`
-	Path           string      `json:"path"`
-	Image          string      `json:"image"`
-	Memory         uint64      `json:"memory"`
-	Headers        http.Header `json:"headers"`
-	Type           string      `json:"type"`
-	Format         string      `json:"format"`
-	MaxConcurrency int         `json:"max_concurrency"`
-	Timeout        int32       `json:"timeout"`
-	IdleTimeout    int32       `json:"idle_timeout"`
-	Config         `json:"config"`
+	AppName     string      `json:"app_name"`
+	Path        string      `json:"path"`
+	Image       string      `json:"image"`
+	Memory      uint64      `json:"memory"`
+	Headers     http.Header `json:"headers"`
+	Type        string      `json:"type"`
+	Format      string      `json:"format"`
+	Timeout     int32       `json:"timeout"`
+	IdleTimeout int32       `json:"idle_timeout"`
+	Config      `json:"config"`
 }
 
 var (
-	ErrRoutesValidationFoundDynamicURL        = errors.New("Dynamic URL is not allowed")
-	ErrRoutesValidationInvalidPath            = errors.New("Invalid Path format")
-	ErrRoutesValidationInvalidType            = errors.New("Invalid route Type")
-	ErrRoutesValidationInvalidFormat          = errors.New("Invalid route Format")
-	ErrRoutesValidationMissingAppName         = errors.New("Missing route AppName")
-	ErrRoutesValidationMissingImage           = errors.New("Missing route Image")
-	ErrRoutesValidationMissingName            = errors.New("Missing route Name")
-	ErrRoutesValidationMissingPath            = errors.New("Missing route Path")
-	ErrRoutesValidationMissingType            = errors.New("Missing route Type")
-	ErrRoutesValidationPathMalformed          = errors.New("Path malformed")
-	ErrRoutesValidationNegativeTimeout        = errors.New("Negative timeout")
-	ErrRoutesValidationNegativeIdleTimeout    = errors.New("Negative idle timeout")
-	ErrRoutesValidationNegativeMaxConcurrency = errors.New("Negative MaxConcurrency")
+	ErrRoutesValidationFoundDynamicURL     = errors.New("Dynamic URL is not allowed")
+	ErrRoutesValidationInvalidPath         = errors.New("Invalid Path format")
+	ErrRoutesValidationInvalidType         = errors.New("Invalid route Type")
+	ErrRoutesValidationInvalidFormat       = errors.New("Invalid route Format")
+	ErrRoutesValidationMissingAppName      = errors.New("Missing route AppName")
+	ErrRoutesValidationMissingImage        = errors.New("Missing route Image")
+	ErrRoutesValidationMissingName         = errors.New("Missing route Name")
+	ErrRoutesValidationMissingPath         = errors.New("Missing route Path")
+	ErrRoutesValidationMissingType         = errors.New("Missing route Type")
+	ErrRoutesValidationPathMalformed       = errors.New("Path malformed")
+	ErrRoutesValidationNegativeTimeout     = errors.New("Negative timeout")
+	ErrRoutesValidationNegativeIdleTimeout = errors.New("Negative idle timeout")
 )
 
 // SetDefaults sets zeroed field to defaults.
@@ -74,10 +72,6 @@ func (r *Route) SetDefaults() {
 		r.Format = FormatDefault
 	}
 
-	if r.MaxConcurrency == 0 {
-		r.MaxConcurrency = 1
-	}
-
 	if r.Headers == nil {
 		r.Headers = http.Header{}
 	}
@@ -140,10 +134,6 @@ func (r *Route) Validate(skipZero bool) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if r.MaxConcurrency < 0 {
-		res = append(res, ErrRoutesValidationNegativeMaxConcurrency)
-	}
-
 	if r.Timeout < 0 {
 		res = append(res, ErrRoutesValidationNegativeTimeout)
 	}
@@ -188,9 +178,6 @@ func (r *Route) Update(new *Route) {
 	if new.Format != "" {
 		r.Format = new.Format
 	}
-	if new.MaxConcurrency != 0 {
-		r.MaxConcurrency = new.MaxConcurrency
-	}
 	if new.Headers != nil {
 		if r.Headers == nil {
 			r.Headers = make(http.Header)
diff --git a/api/runner/async_runner.go b/api/runner/async_runner.go
index 80aeb2cb5..bf45652aa 100644
--- a/api/runner/async_runner.go
+++ b/api/runner/async_runner.go
@@ -88,14 +88,14 @@ func deleteTask(url string, task *models.Task) error {
 }
 
 // RunAsyncRunner pulls tasks off a queue and processes them
-func RunAsyncRunner(ctx context.Context, tasksrv string, tasks chan task.Request, rnr *Runner, ds models.Datastore) {
+func RunAsyncRunner(ctx context.Context, tasksrv string, rnr *Runner, ds models.Datastore) {
 	u := tasksrvURL(tasksrv)
 
-	startAsyncRunners(ctx, u, tasks, rnr, ds)
+	startAsyncRunners(ctx, u, rnr, ds)
 	<-ctx.Done()
 }
 
-func startAsyncRunners(ctx context.Context, url string, tasks chan task.Request, rnr *Runner, ds models.Datastore) {
+func startAsyncRunners(ctx context.Context, url string, rnr *Runner, ds models.Datastore) {
 	var wg sync.WaitGroup
 	ctx, log := common.LoggerWithFields(ctx, logrus.Fields{"runner": "async"})
 	for {
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ func startAsyncRunners(ctx context.Context, url string, tasks chan task.Request,
 			go func() {
 				defer wg.Done()
 				// Process Task
-				_, err := RunTrackedTask(task, tasks, ctx, getCfg(task), ds)
+				_, err := rnr.RunTrackedTask(task, ctx, getCfg(task), ds)
 				if err != nil {
 					log.WithError(err).Error("Cannot run task")
 				}
diff --git a/api/runner/protocol/factory.go b/api/runner/protocol/factory.go
index 4b2ae9892..6f3078741 100644
--- a/api/runner/protocol/factory.go
+++ b/api/runner/protocol/factory.go
@@ -29,25 +29,49 @@ const (
 	Empty   Protocol = ""
 )
 
+func (p *Protocol) UnmarshalJSON(b []byte) error {
+	switch Protocol(b) {
+	case Empty, Default:
+		*p = Default
+	case HTTP:
+		*p = HTTP
+	default:
+		return errInvalidProtocol
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (p Protocol) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
+	switch p {
+	case Empty, Default:
+		return []byte(Default), nil
+	case HTTP:
+		return []byte(HTTP), nil
+	}
+	return nil, errInvalidProtocol
+}
+
+// implements ContainerIO
+type errorProto struct{}
+
+func (e *errorProto) IsStreamable() bool                                 { return false }
+func (e *errorProto) Dispatch(ctx context.Context, t task.Request) error { return errInvalidProtocol }
+
 // New creates a valid protocol handler from a I/O pipe representing containers
 // stdin/stdout.
-func New(p Protocol, in io.Writer, out io.Reader) (ContainerIO, error) {
+func New(p Protocol, in io.Writer, out io.Reader) ContainerIO {
 	switch p {
 	case HTTP:
-		return &HTTPProtocol{in, out}, nil
+		return &HTTPProtocol{in, out}
 	case Default, Empty:
-		return &DefaultProtocol{}, nil
-	default:
-		return nil, errInvalidProtocol
+		return &DefaultProtocol{}
 	}
+	return &errorProto{} // shouldn't make it past testing...
 }
 
 // IsStreamable says whether the given protocol can be used for streaming into
 // hot functions.
-func IsStreamable(p string) (bool, error) {
-	proto, err := New(Protocol(p), nil, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		return false, err
-	}
-	return proto.IsStreamable(), nil
+// TODO get rid of ContainerIO and just use Protocol
+func IsStreamable(p Protocol) bool {
+	return New(p, nil, nil).IsStreamable()
 }
diff --git a/api/runner/runner.go b/api/runner/runner.go
index 440670f17..598b33022 100644
--- a/api/runner/runner.go
+++ b/api/runner/runner.go
@@ -16,12 +16,14 @@ import (
 	"github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
 	"gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/runner/common"
 	"gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/runner/drivers"
-	driverscommon "gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/runner/drivers"
 	"gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/runner/drivers/docker"
 	"gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/runner/drivers/mock"
 	"gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/runner/task"
 )
 
+// TODO clean all of this up, the exposed API is huge and incohesive,
+// we need 1 thing that runs 1 thing and 1 thing that runs those things;
+// right now this is all the things.
 type Runner struct {
 	driver       drivers.Driver
 	taskQueue    chan *containerTask
@@ -30,6 +32,7 @@ type Runner struct {
 	availableMem int64
 	usedMem      int64
 	usedMemMutex sync.RWMutex
+	hcmgr        htfnmgr
 
 	stats
 }
@@ -50,7 +53,7 @@ func New(ctx context.Context, flog FuncLogger, mlog MetricLogger) (*Runner, erro
 	env := common.NewEnvironment(func(e *common.Environment) {})
 
 	// TODO: Create a drivers.New(runnerConfig) in Titan
-	driver, err := selectDriver("docker", env, &driverscommon.Config{})
+	driver, err := selectDriver("docker", env, &drivers.Config{})
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -158,7 +161,8 @@ func (r *Runner) checkMemAndUse(req uint64) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-func (r *Runner) Run(ctx context.Context, cfg *task.Config) (drivers.RunResult, error) {
+// run is responsible for running 1 instance of a docker container
+func (r *Runner) run(ctx context.Context, cfg *task.Config) (drivers.RunResult, error) {
 	var err error
 
 	if cfg.Memory == 0 {
@@ -241,7 +245,7 @@ func (r Runner) EnsureImageExists(ctx context.Context, cfg *task.Config) error {
 	return err
 }
 
-func selectDriver(driver string, env *common.Environment, conf *driverscommon.Config) (drivers.Driver, error) {
+func selectDriver(driver string, env *common.Environment, conf *drivers.Config) (drivers.Driver, error) {
 	switch driver {
 	case "docker":
 		docker := docker.NewDocker(env, *conf)
diff --git a/api/runner/stats.go b/api/runner/stats.go
index 5c9a4351f..8ebc86725 100644
--- a/api/runner/stats.go
+++ b/api/runner/stats.go
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ type stats struct {
 	queue    uint64
 	running  uint64
 	complete uint64
+
+	wait sync.WaitGroup
 }
 
 type Stats struct {
@@ -22,6 +24,7 @@ func (s *stats) Enqueue() {
 }
 
 func (s *stats) Start() {
+	s.wait.Add(1)
 	s.mu.Lock()
 	s.queue--
 	s.running++
@@ -29,6 +32,7 @@ func (s *stats) Start() {
 }
 
 func (s *stats) Complete() {
+	s.wait.Done()
 	s.mu.Lock()
 	s.running--
 	s.complete++
@@ -44,3 +48,5 @@ func (s *stats) Stats() Stats {
 	s.mu.Unlock()
 	return stats
 }
+
+func (s *stats) Wait() { s.wait.Wait() }
diff --git a/api/runner/task/task.go b/api/runner/task/task.go
index f3bfa2fb5..4cb8bbbcb 100644
--- a/api/runner/task/task.go
+++ b/api/runner/task/task.go
@@ -9,25 +9,23 @@ import (
 )
 
 type Config struct {
-	ID                  string
-	Path                string
-	Image               string
-	Timeout             time.Duration
-	IdleTimeout         time.Duration
-	AppName             string
-	Memory              uint64
-	Env                 map[string]string
-	Format              string
-	MaxConcurrency      int
+	ID          string
+	Path        string
+	Image       string
+	Timeout     time.Duration
+	IdleTimeout time.Duration
+	AppName     string
+	Memory      uint64
+	Env         map[string]string
+	Format      string
 
 	Stdin  io.Reader
 	Stdout io.Writer
 	Stderr io.Writer
 }
 
-// Request stores the task to be executed by the common concurrency stream,
-// whatever type the ask actually is, either sync or async. It holds in itself
-// the channel to return its response to its caller.
+// Request stores the task to be executed, It holds in itself the channel to
+// return its response to its caller.
 type Request struct {
 	Ctx      context.Context
 	Config   *Config
diff --git a/api/runner/worker.go b/api/runner/worker.go
index c8ace58e0..fa139d693 100644
--- a/api/runner/worker.go
+++ b/api/runner/worker.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package runner
 
 import (
-	"bufio"
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
@@ -9,12 +8,12 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
+	"github.com/go-openapi/strfmt"
 	uuid "github.com/satori/go.uuid"
 	"gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/models"
 	"gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/runner/drivers"
 	"gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/runner/protocol"
 	"gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/runner/task"
-	"github.com/go-openapi/strfmt"
 )
 
 // hot functions - theory of operation
@@ -42,12 +41,6 @@ import (
 //                         Incoming
 //                           Task
 //                             │
-//                             ▼
-//                     ┌───────────────┐
-//                     │ Task Request  │
-//                     │   Main Loop   │
-//                     └───────────────┘
-//                             │
 //                      ┌──────▼────────┐
 //                     ┌┴──────────────┐│
 //                     │  Per Function ││             non-streamable f()
@@ -64,13 +57,12 @@ import (
 //                                           Terminate
 //                                           (internal clock)
 
-
 // RunTrackedTask is just a wrapper for shared logic for async/sync runners
-func RunTrackedTask(newTask *models.Task, tasks chan task.Request, ctx context.Context, cfg *task.Config, ds models.Datastore) (drivers.RunResult, error) {
+func (rnr *Runner) RunTrackedTask(newTask *models.Task, ctx context.Context, cfg *task.Config, ds models.Datastore) (drivers.RunResult, error) {
 	startedAt := strfmt.DateTime(time.Now())
 	newTask.StartedAt = startedAt
 
-	result, err := RunTask(tasks, ctx, cfg)
+	result, err := rnr.RunTask(ctx, cfg)
 
 	completedAt := strfmt.DateTime(time.Now())
 	status := result.Status()
@@ -78,89 +70,72 @@ func RunTrackedTask(newTask *models.Task, tasks chan task.Request, ctx context.C
 	newTask.Status = status
 
 	err = ds.InsertTask(ctx, newTask)
+	// TODO we should just log this error not return it to user? just issue storing task status but task is run
 
 	return result, err
 }
 
+// RunTask will dispatch a task specified by cfg to a hot container, if possible,
+// that already exists or will create a new container to run a task and then run it.
+// TODO XXX (reed): merge this and RunTrackedTask to reduce surface area...
+func (rnr *Runner) RunTask(ctx context.Context, cfg *task.Config) (drivers.RunResult, error) {
+	rnr.Start() // TODO layering issue ???
+	defer rnr.Complete()
 
-// RunTask helps sending a task.Request into the common concurrency stream.
-// Refer to StartWorkers() to understand what this is about.
-func RunTask(tasks chan task.Request, ctx context.Context, cfg *task.Config) (drivers.RunResult, error) {
 	tresp := make(chan task.Response)
 	treq := task.Request{Ctx: ctx, Config: cfg, Response: tresp}
-	tasks <- treq
+	tasks := rnr.hcmgr.getPipe(ctx, rnr, cfg)
+	if tasks == nil {
+		// TODO get rid of this to use herd stuff
+		go runTaskReq(rnr, treq)
+	} else {
+		tasks <- treq
+	}
 	resp := <-treq.Response
 	return resp.Result, resp.Err
 }
 
-// StartWorkers operates the common concurrency stream, ie, it will process all
-// functions tasks, either sync or async. In the process, it also dispatches
-// the workload to either regular or hot functions.
-func StartWorkers(ctx context.Context, rnr *Runner, tasks <-chan task.Request) {
-	var wg sync.WaitGroup
-	defer wg.Wait()
-	var hcmgr htfnmgr
-
-	for {
-		select {
-		case <-ctx.Done():
-			return
-		case task := <-tasks:
-			p := hcmgr.getPipe(ctx, rnr, task.Config)
-			if p == nil {
-				wg.Add(1)
-				go runTaskReq(rnr, &wg, task)
-				continue
-			}
-
-			rnr.Start()
-			select {
-			case <-ctx.Done():
-				return
-			case p <- task:
-				rnr.Complete()
-			}
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-// htfnmgr is the intermediate between the common concurrency stream and
-// hot functions. All hot functions share a single task.Request stream per
-// function (chn), but each function may have more than one hot function (hc).
+// htfnmgr tracks all hot functions, used to funnel kittens into existing tubes
+// XXX (reed): this map grows unbounded, need to add LRU but need to make
+// sure that no functions are running when we evict
 type htfnmgr struct {
-	chn map[string]chan task.Request
-	hc  map[string]*htfnsvr
+	sync.RWMutex
+	hc map[string]*htfnsvr
 }
 
-func (h *htfnmgr) getPipe(ctx context.Context, rnr *Runner, cfg *task.Config) chan task.Request {
-	isStream, err := protocol.IsStreamable(cfg.Format)
-	if err != nil {
-		logrus.WithError(err).Info("could not detect container IO protocol")
-		return nil
-	} else if !isStream {
+func (h *htfnmgr) getPipe(ctx context.Context, rnr *Runner, cfg *task.Config) chan<- task.Request {
+	isStream := protocol.IsStreamable(protocol.Protocol(cfg.Format))
+	if !isStream {
+		// TODO stop doing this, to prevent herds
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	if h.chn == nil {
-		h.chn = make(map[string]chan task.Request)
-		h.hc = make(map[string]*htfnsvr)
+	h.RLock()
+	if h.hc == nil {
+		h.RUnlock()
+		h.Lock()
+		if h.hc == nil {
+			h.hc = make(map[string]*htfnsvr)
+		}
+		h.Unlock()
+		h.RLock()
 	}
 
 	// TODO(ccirello): re-implement this without memory allocation (fmt.Sprint)
-	fn := fmt.Sprint(cfg.AppName, ",", cfg.Path, cfg.Image, cfg.Timeout, cfg.Memory, cfg.Format, cfg.MaxConcurrency)
-	tasks, ok := h.chn[fn]
+	fn := fmt.Sprint(cfg.AppName, ",", cfg.Path, cfg.Image, cfg.Timeout, cfg.Memory, cfg.Format)
+	svr, ok := h.hc[fn]
+	h.RUnlock()
 	if !ok {
-		h.chn[fn] = make(chan task.Request)
-		tasks = h.chn[fn]
-		svr := newhtfnsvr(ctx, cfg, rnr, tasks)
-		if err := svr.launch(ctx); err != nil {
-			logrus.WithError(err).Error("cannot start hot function supervisor")
-			return nil
+		h.Lock()
+		svr, ok = h.hc[fn]
+		if !ok {
+			svr = newhtfnsvr(ctx, cfg, rnr)
+			h.hc[fn] = svr
 		}
-		h.hc[fn] = svr
+		h.Unlock()
 	}
 
-	return tasks
+	return svr.tasksin
 }
 
 // htfnsvr is part of htfnmgr, abstracted apart for simplicity, its only
@@ -168,21 +143,28 @@ func (h *htfnmgr) getPipe(ctx context.Context, rnr *Runner, cfg *task.Config) ch
 // needed. In case of absence of workload, it will stop trying to start new hot
 // containers.
 type htfnsvr struct {
-	cfg      *task.Config
-	rnr      *Runner
-	tasksin  <-chan task.Request
+	cfg *task.Config
+	rnr *Runner
+	// TODO sharing with only a channel among hot containers will result in
+	// inefficient recycling of containers, we need a stack not a queue, so that
+	// when a lot of hot containers are up and throughput drops they don't all
+	// find a task every few seconds and stay up for a lot longer than we really
+	// need them.
+	tasksin  chan task.Request
 	tasksout chan task.Request
-	maxc     chan struct{}
+	first    chan struct{}
+	once     sync.Once // TODO this really needs to happen any time runner count goes to 0
 }
 
-func newhtfnsvr(ctx context.Context, cfg *task.Config, rnr *Runner, tasks <-chan task.Request) *htfnsvr {
+func newhtfnsvr(ctx context.Context, cfg *task.Config, rnr *Runner) *htfnsvr {
 	svr := &htfnsvr{
 		cfg:      cfg,
 		rnr:      rnr,
-		tasksin:  tasks,
+		tasksin:  make(chan task.Request),
 		tasksout: make(chan task.Request, 1),
-		maxc:     make(chan struct{}, cfg.MaxConcurrency),
+		first:    make(chan struct{}, 1),
 	}
+	svr.first <- struct{}{} // prime so that 1 thread will start the first container, others will wait
 
 	// This pipe will take all incoming tasks and just forward them to the
 	// started hot functions. The catch here is that it feeds a buffered
@@ -190,7 +172,7 @@ func newhtfnsvr(ctx context.Context, cfg *task.Config, rnr *Runner, tasks <-chan
 	// then used to determine the presence of running hot functions.
 	// If no hot function is available, tasksout will fill up to its
 	// capacity and pipe() will start them.
-	go svr.pipe(ctx)
+	go svr.pipe(context.Background()) // XXX (reed): real context for adding consuela
 	return svr
 }
 
@@ -199,10 +181,18 @@ func (svr *htfnsvr) pipe(ctx context.Context) {
 		select {
 		case t := <-svr.tasksin:
 			svr.tasksout <- t
-			if len(svr.tasksout) > 0 {
-				if err := svr.launch(ctx); err != nil {
-					logrus.WithError(err).Error("cannot start more hot functions")
+
+			// TODO move checking for ram up here? then we can wait for hot functions to open up instead of always
+			// trying to make new ones if all hot functions are busy (and if machine is full and all functions are
+			// hot then most new hot functions are going to time out waiting to get available ram)
+			// TODO need to add some kind of metering here, we could track average run time and # of runners
+			select {
+			case _, ok := <-svr.first: // wait for >= 1 to be up to avoid herd
+				if ok || len(svr.tasksout) > 0 {
+					svr.launch(ctx)
 				}
+			case <-ctx.Done(): // TODO we should prob watch the task timeout not just the pipe...
+				return
 			}
 		case <-ctx.Done():
 			return
@@ -210,41 +200,25 @@ func (svr *htfnsvr) pipe(ctx context.Context) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (svr *htfnsvr) launch(ctx context.Context) error {
-	select {
-	case svr.maxc <- struct{}{}:
-		hc, err := newhtfn(
-			svr.cfg,
-			protocol.Protocol(svr.cfg.Format),
-			svr.tasksout,
-			svr.rnr,
-		)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		go func() {
-			hc.serve(ctx)
-			<-svr.maxc
-		}()
-	default:
-	}
-
-	return nil
+func (svr *htfnsvr) launch(ctx context.Context) {
+	hc := newhtfn(
+		svr.cfg,
+		svr.tasksout,
+		svr.rnr,
+		func() { svr.once.Do(func() { close(svr.first) }) },
+	)
+	go hc.serve(ctx)
 }
 
-// htfn actually interfaces an incoming task from the common concurrency
-// stream into a long lived container. If idle long enough, it will stop. It
-// uses route configuration to determine which protocol to use.
+// htfn is one instance of a hot container, which may or may not be running a
+// task. If idle long enough, it will stop. It uses route configuration to
+// determine which protocol to use.
 type htfn struct {
 	id    string
 	cfg   *task.Config
 	proto protocol.ContainerIO
 	tasks <-chan task.Request
-
-	// Side of the pipe that takes information from outer world
-	// and injects into the container.
-	in  io.Writer
-	out io.Reader
+	once  func()
 
 	// Receiving side of the container.
 	containerIn  io.Reader
@@ -253,76 +227,50 @@ type htfn struct {
 	rnr *Runner
 }
 
-func newhtfn(cfg *task.Config, proto protocol.Protocol, tasks <-chan task.Request, rnr *Runner) (*htfn, error) {
+func newhtfn(cfg *task.Config, tasks <-chan task.Request, rnr *Runner, once func()) *htfn {
 	stdinr, stdinw := io.Pipe()
 	stdoutr, stdoutw := io.Pipe()
 
-	p, err := protocol.New(proto, stdinw, stdoutr)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	hc := &htfn{
+	return &htfn{
 		id:    uuid.NewV5(uuid.Nil, fmt.Sprintf("%s%s%d", cfg.AppName, cfg.Path, time.Now().Unix())).String(),
 		cfg:   cfg,
-		proto: p,
+		proto: protocol.New(protocol.Protocol(cfg.Format), stdinw, stdoutr),
 		tasks: tasks,
-
-		in:  stdinw,
-		out: stdoutr,
+		once:  once,
 
 		containerIn:  stdinr,
 		containerOut: stdoutw,
 
 		rnr: rnr,
 	}
-
-	return hc, nil
 }
 
 func (hc *htfn) serve(ctx context.Context) {
 	lctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
-	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	defer cancel()
 	cfg := *hc.cfg
-	logFields := logrus.Fields{
-		"hot_id":        hc.id,
-		"app":             cfg.AppName,
-		"route":           cfg.Path,
-		"image":           cfg.Image,
-		"memory":          cfg.Memory,
-		"format":          cfg.Format,
-		"max_concurrency": cfg.MaxConcurrency,
-		"idle_timeout":    cfg.IdleTimeout,
-	}
-	logger := logrus.WithFields(logFields)
+	logger := logrus.WithFields(logrus.Fields{"hot_id": hc.id, "app": cfg.AppName, "route": cfg.Path, "image": cfg.Image, "memory": cfg.Memory, "format": cfg.Format, "idle_timeout": cfg.IdleTimeout})
 
-	wg.Add(1)
 	go func() {
-		defer wg.Done()
 		for {
-			inactivity := time.After(cfg.IdleTimeout)
-
 			select {
 			case <-lctx.Done():
 				return
-
-			case <-inactivity:
+			case <-time.After(cfg.IdleTimeout):
 				logger.Info("Canceling inactive hot function")
 				cancel()
-
 			case t := <-hc.tasks:
-				if err := hc.proto.Dispatch(lctx, t); err != nil {
+				err := hc.proto.Dispatch(lctx, t)
+				status := "success"
+				if err != nil {
+					status = "error"
 					logrus.WithField("ctx", lctx).Info("task failed")
-					t.Response <- task.Response{
-						&runResult{StatusValue: "error", error: err},
-						err,
-					}
-					continue
 				}
+				hc.once()
 
 				t.Response <- task.Response{
-					&runResult{StatusValue: "success"},
-					nil,
+					&runResult{StatusValue: status, error: err},
+					err,
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -332,48 +280,18 @@ func (hc *htfn) serve(ctx context.Context) {
 	cfg.Timeout = 0 // add a timeout to simulate ab.end. failure.
 	cfg.Stdin = hc.containerIn
 	cfg.Stdout = hc.containerOut
+	// NOTE: cfg.Stderr is overwritten in rnr.Run()
 
-	// Why can we not attach stderr to the task like we do for stdin and
-	// stdout?
-	//
-	// Stdin/Stdout are completely known to the scope of the task. You must
-	// have a task stdin to feed containers stdin, and also the other way
-	// around when reading from stdout. So both are directly related to the
-	// life cycle of the request.
-	//
-	// Stderr, on the other hand, can be written by anything any time:
-	// failure between requests, failures inside requests and messages send
-	// right after stdout has been finished being transmitted. Thus, with
-	// hot functions, there is not a 1:1 relation between stderr and tasks.
-	//
-	// Still, we do pass - at protocol level - a Task-ID header, from which
-	// the application running inside the hot function can use to identify
-	// its own stderr output.
-	errr, errw := io.Pipe()
-	cfg.Stderr = errw
-	wg.Add(1)
-	go func() {
-		defer wg.Done()
-		scanner := bufio.NewScanner(errr)
-		for scanner.Scan() {
-			logger.Info(scanner.Text())
-		}
-	}()
-
-	result, err := hc.rnr.Run(lctx, &cfg)
+	result, err := hc.rnr.run(lctx, &cfg)
 	if err != nil {
 		logger.WithError(err).Error("hot function failure detected")
 	}
-	errw.Close()
-	wg.Wait()
 	logger.WithField("result", result).Info("hot function terminated")
 }
 
-func runTaskReq(rnr *Runner, wg *sync.WaitGroup, t task.Request) {
-	defer wg.Done()
-	rnr.Start()
-	defer rnr.Complete()
-	result, err := rnr.Run(t.Ctx, t.Config)
+// TODO make Default protocol a real thing and get rid of this in favor of Dispatch
+func runTaskReq(rnr *Runner, t task.Request) {
+	result, err := rnr.run(t.Ctx, t.Config)
 	select {
 	case t.Response <- task.Response{result, err}:
 		close(t.Response)
diff --git a/api/server/runner.go b/api/server/runner.go
index fbfe0f321..a305cb2f5 100644
--- a/api/server/runner.go
+++ b/api/server/runner.go
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ func (s *Server) loadroutes(ctx context.Context, filter models.RouteFilter) ([]*
 }
 
 // TODO: Should remove *gin.Context from these functions, should use only context.Context
-func (s *Server) serve(ctx context.Context, c *gin.Context, appName string, found *models.Route, app *models.App, route, reqID string, payload io.Reader, enqueue models.Enqueue, ) (ok bool) {
+func (s *Server) serve(ctx context.Context, c *gin.Context, appName string, found *models.Route, app *models.App, route, reqID string, payload io.Reader, enqueue models.Enqueue) (ok bool) {
 	ctx, log := common.LoggerWithFields(ctx, logrus.Fields{"app": appName, "route": found.Path, "image": found.Image})
 
 	params, match := matchRoute(found.Path, route)
@@ -193,18 +193,17 @@ func (s *Server) serve(ctx context.Context, c *gin.Context, appName string, foun
 	}
 
 	cfg := &task.Config{
-		AppName:        appName,
-		Path:           found.Path,
-		Env:            envVars,
-		Format:         found.Format,
-		ID:             reqID,
-		Image:          found.Image,
-		MaxConcurrency: found.MaxConcurrency,
-		Memory:         found.Memory,
-		Stdin:          payload,
-		Stdout:         &stdout,
-		Timeout:        time.Duration(found.Timeout) * time.Second,
-		IdleTimeout:    time.Duration(found.IdleTimeout) * time.Second,
+		AppName:     appName,
+		Path:        found.Path,
+		Env:         envVars,
+		Format:      found.Format,
+		ID:          reqID,
+		Image:       found.Image,
+		Memory:      found.Memory,
+		Stdin:       payload,
+		Stdout:      &stdout,
+		Timeout:     time.Duration(found.Timeout) * time.Second,
+		IdleTimeout: time.Duration(found.IdleTimeout) * time.Second,
 	}
 
 	// ensure valid values
@@ -244,8 +243,7 @@ func (s *Server) serve(ctx context.Context, c *gin.Context, appName string, foun
 		c.JSON(http.StatusAccepted, map[string]string{"call_id": newTask.ID})
 
 	default:
-		result, err := runner.RunTrackedTask(newTask, s.tasks, ctx, cfg, s.Datastore)
-
+		result, err := s.Runner.RunTrackedTask(newTask, ctx, cfg, s.Datastore)
 		if err != nil {
 			c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, runnerResponse{
 				RequestID: cfg.ID,
diff --git a/api/server/runner_test.go b/api/server/runner_test.go
index 37f4409a1..3bb923c30 100644
--- a/api/server/runner_test.go
+++ b/api/server/runner_test.go
@@ -121,8 +121,6 @@ func TestRouteRunnerExecution(t *testing.T) {
 	rnr, cancelrnr := testRunner(t)
 	defer cancelrnr()
 
-	go runner.StartWorkers(ctx, rnr, tasks)
-
 	srv := testServer(datastore.NewMockInit(
 		[]*models.App{
 			{Name: "myapp", Config: models.Config{}},
@@ -179,7 +177,6 @@ func TestRouteRunnerTimeout(t *testing.T) {
 
 	rnr, cancelrnr := testRunner(t)
 	defer cancelrnr()
-	go runner.StartWorkers(ctx, rnr, tasks)
 
 	srv := testServer(datastore.NewMockInit(
 		[]*models.App{
diff --git a/api/server/server.go b/api/server/server.go
index bf1de836e..0ce248442 100644
--- a/api/server/server.go
+++ b/api/server/server.go
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import (
 	"gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/mqs"
 	"gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/runner"
 	"gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/runner/common"
-	"gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/runner/task"
 	"gitlab-odx.oracle.com/odx/functions/api/server/internal/routecache"
 )
 
@@ -49,7 +48,6 @@ type Server struct {
 
 	mu           sync.Mutex // protects hotroutes
 	hotroutes    *routecache.Cache
-	tasks        chan task.Request
 	singleflight singleflight // singleflight assists Datastore
 }
 
@@ -83,14 +81,12 @@ func New(ctx context.Context, ds models.Datastore, mq models.MessageQueue, apiUR
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	tasks := make(chan task.Request)
 	s := &Server{
 		Runner:    rnr,
 		Router:    gin.New(),
 		Datastore: ds,
 		MQ:        mq,
 		hotroutes: routecache.New(cacheSize),
-		tasks:     tasks,
 		Enqueue:   DefaultEnqueue,
 		apiURL:    apiURL,
 	}
@@ -200,7 +196,6 @@ func extractFields(c *gin.Context) logrus.Fields {
 func (s *Server) Start(ctx context.Context) {
 	ctx = contextWithSignal(ctx, os.Interrupt)
 	s.startGears(ctx)
-	close(s.tasks)
 }
 
 func (s *Server) startGears(ctx context.Context) {
@@ -245,14 +240,11 @@ func (s *Server) startGears(ctx context.Context) {
 	})
 
 	svr.AddFunc(func(ctx context.Context) {
-		runner.RunAsyncRunner(ctx, s.apiURL, s.tasks, s.Runner, s.Datastore)
-	})
-
-	svr.AddFunc(func(ctx context.Context) {
-		runner.StartWorkers(ctx, s.Runner, s.tasks)
+		runner.RunAsyncRunner(ctx, s.apiURL, s.Runner, s.Datastore)
 	})
 
 	svr.Serve(ctx)
+	s.Runner.Wait() // wait for tasks to finish (safe shutdown)
 }
 
 func (s *Server) bindHandlers(ctx context.Context) {
@@ -321,11 +313,11 @@ type tasksResponse struct {
 }
 
 type fnCallResponse struct {
-	Message string      `json:"message"`
+	Message string         `json:"message"`
 	Call    *models.FnCall `json:"call"`
 }
 
 type fnCallsResponse struct {
-	Message string      `json:"message"`
-	Calls    models.FnCalls `json:"calls"`
+	Message string         `json:"message"`
+	Calls   models.FnCalls `json:"calls"`
 }
diff --git a/api/server/server_test.go b/api/server/server_test.go
index b4746a50a..9260e8b69 100644
--- a/api/server/server_test.go
+++ b/api/server/server_test.go
@@ -104,8 +104,6 @@ func TestFullStack(t *testing.T) {
 	rnr, rnrcancel := testRunner(t)
 	defer rnrcancel()
 
-	go runner.StartWorkers(ctx, rnr, tasks)
-
 	srv := testServer(ds, &mqs.Mock{}, rnr, tasks)
 	srv.hotroutes = routecache.New(2)
 
diff --git a/api/server/special_handler_test.go b/api/server/special_handler_test.go
index c424b4b43..85ddf23f8 100644
--- a/api/server/special_handler_test.go
+++ b/api/server/special_handler_test.go
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@ func TestSpecialHandlerSet(t *testing.T) {
 	// rnr, cancelrnr := testRunner(t)
 	// defer cancelrnr()
 
-	// go runner.StartWorkers(ctx, rnr, tasks)
-
 	// s := &Server{
 	// 	Runner: rnr,
 	// 	Router: gin.New(),
diff --git a/docs/function-file.md b/docs/function-file.md
index 6ae65cc31..7a53e9a54 100644
--- a/docs/function-file.md
+++ b/docs/function-file.md
@@ -66,12 +66,6 @@ hot functions support also adds two extra options to this configuration file.
 `idle_timeout` (optional) is the time in seconds a container will remain alive without receiving any new requests; 
 hot functions will stay alive as long as they receive a request in this interval. Default: `30`. 
 
-`max_concurrency` (optional) is the maximum of hot functions per node to be
-started for a certain function. It defaults to one per function. If you
-understand you need more processing power, make sure to raise this number.
-Keep in mind that if there is not available memory to execute the configured
-workload, it will fail to start new hot functions.
-
 ## Testing functions
 
 `tests` (optional) is an array of tests that can be used to valid functions both
diff --git a/docs/hot-functions.md b/docs/hot-functions.md
index 01842f1eb..5300c6184 100644
--- a/docs/hot-functions.md
+++ b/docs/hot-functions.md
@@ -97,7 +97,6 @@ requests:
 		"type": "sync",
 		"config": null,
 		"format": "http",
-		"max_concurrency": "1",
 		"idle_timeout": 30
 	}
 }
@@ -108,8 +107,5 @@ requests:
 `format` (mandatory) either "default" or "http". If "http", then it is a hot
 container.
 
-`max_concurrency` (optional) - the number of simultaneous hot functions for
-this functions. This is a per-node configuration option. Default: 1
-
 `idle_timeout` (optional) - idle timeout (in seconds) before function termination.
 
diff --git a/docs/swagger.yml b/docs/swagger.yml
index f61c629ce..4b0926621 100644
--- a/docs/swagger.yml
+++ b/docs/swagger.yml
@@ -416,10 +416,6 @@ definitions:
           - http
           - json
         description: Payload format sent into function.
-      max_concurrency:
-        type: integer
-        format: int32
-        description: Maximum number of hot functions concurrency
       config:
         type: object
         description: Route configuration - overrides application configuration
@@ -653,4 +649,4 @@ definitions:
       - task
     properties:
       task:
-        $ref: '#/definitions/Task'
\ No newline at end of file
+        $ref: '#/definitions/Task'
diff --git a/examples/tutorial/hotfunctions/http/hotroute.json b/examples/tutorial/hotfunctions/http/hotroute.json
index af7e65172..58438a235 100644
--- a/examples/tutorial/hotfunctions/http/hotroute.json
+++ b/examples/tutorial/hotfunctions/http/hotroute.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {"route":{
-  "app_name": "myapp",
-  "path": "/hot",
-  "image": "USERNAME/hchttp",
   "memory": 64,
   "type": "sync",
   "config": null,
diff --git a/examples/tutorial/params/func.yaml b/examples/tutorial/params/func.yaml
index f26e7a126..2f147a155 100644
--- a/examples/tutorial/params/func.yaml
+++ b/examples/tutorial/params/func.yaml
@@ -3,4 +3,3 @@ version: 0.0.6
 runtime: go
 entrypoint: ./func
 path: /fn3
-max_concurrency: 1
diff --git a/fn/funcfile.go b/fn/funcfile.go
index 1545eb1f2..a5a8204de 100644
--- a/fn/funcfile.go
+++ b/fn/funcfile.go
@@ -32,21 +32,20 @@ type fftest struct {
 }
 
 type funcfile struct {
-	Name           string            `yaml:"name,omitempty" json:"name,omitempty"`
-	Version        string            `yaml:"version,omitempty" json:"version,omitempty"`
-	Runtime        *string           `yaml:"runtime,omitempty" json:"runtime,omitempty"`
-	Entrypoint     string            `yaml:"entrypoint,omitempty" json:"entrypoint,omitempty"`
-	Cmd            string            `yaml:"cmd,omitempty" json:"cmd,omitempty"`
-	Type           *string           `yaml:"type,omitempty" json:"type,omitempty"`
-	Memory         *int64            `yaml:"memory,omitempty" json:"memory,omitempty"`
-	Format         *string           `yaml:"format,omitempty" json:"format,omitempty"`
-	Timeout        *time.Duration    `yaml:"timeout,omitempty" json:"timeout,omitempty"`
-	Headers        map[string]string `yaml:"headers,omitempty" json:"headers,omitempty"`
-	Config         map[string]string `yaml:"config,omitempty" json:"config,omitempty"`
-	Build          []string          `yaml:"build,omitempty" json:"build,omitempty"`
-	Tests          []fftest          `yaml:"tests,omitempty" json:"tests,omitempty"`
-	Path           *string           `yaml:"path,omitempty" json:"path,omitempty"`
-	MaxConcurrency *int              `yaml:"max_concurrency,omitempty" json:"max_concurrency,omitempty"`
+	Name       string            `yaml:"name,omitempty" json:"name,omitempty"`
+	Version    string            `yaml:"version,omitempty" json:"version,omitempty"`
+	Runtime    *string           `yaml:"runtime,omitempty" json:"runtime,omitempty"`
+	Entrypoint string            `yaml:"entrypoint,omitempty" json:"entrypoint,omitempty"`
+	Cmd        string            `yaml:"cmd,omitempty" json:"cmd,omitempty"`
+	Type       *string           `yaml:"type,omitempty" json:"type,omitempty"`
+	Memory     *int64            `yaml:"memory,omitempty" json:"memory,omitempty"`
+	Format     *string           `yaml:"format,omitempty" json:"format,omitempty"`
+	Timeout    *time.Duration    `yaml:"timeout,omitempty" json:"timeout,omitempty"`
+	Headers    map[string]string `yaml:"headers,omitempty" json:"headers,omitempty"`
+	Config     map[string]string `yaml:"config,omitempty" json:"config,omitempty"`
+	Build      []string          `yaml:"build,omitempty" json:"build,omitempty"`
+	Tests      []fftest          `yaml:"tests,omitempty" json:"tests,omitempty"`
+	Path       *string           `yaml:"path,omitempty" json:"path,omitempty"`
 }
 
 func (ff *funcfile) FullName() string {
diff --git a/fn/init.go b/fn/init.go
index 06ac61e01..903b71bde 100644
--- a/fn/init.go
+++ b/fn/init.go
@@ -44,13 +44,12 @@ func init() {
 }
 
 type initFnCmd struct {
-	name           string
-	force          bool
-	runtime        string
-	entrypoint     string
-	cmd            string
-	format         string
-	maxConcurrency int
+	name       string
+	force      bool
+	runtime    string
+	entrypoint string
+	cmd        string
+	format     string
 }
 
 func initFn() cli.Command {
@@ -84,12 +83,6 @@ func initFn() cli.Command {
 				Destination: &a.format,
 				Value:       "",
 			},
-			cli.IntFlag{
-				Name:        "max-concurrency",
-				Usage:       "maximum concurrency for hot function",
-				Destination: &a.maxConcurrency,
-				Value:       1,
-			},
 		},
 	}
 }
@@ -125,13 +118,12 @@ func (a *initFnCmd) init(c *cli.Context) error {
 	}
 
 	ff := &funcfile{
-		Name:           a.name,
-		Runtime:        &a.runtime,
-		Version:        initialVersion,
-		Entrypoint:     a.entrypoint,
-		Cmd:            a.cmd,
-		Format:         ffmt,
-		MaxConcurrency: &a.maxConcurrency,
+		Name:       a.name,
+		Runtime:    &a.runtime,
+		Version:    initialVersion,
+		Entrypoint: a.entrypoint,
+		Cmd:        a.cmd,
+		Format:     ffmt,
 	}
 
 	_, path := appNamePath(ff.FullName())
diff --git a/fn/routes.go b/fn/routes.go
index 6662b7feb..7c18af29e 100644
--- a/fn/routes.go
+++ b/fn/routes.go
@@ -49,10 +49,6 @@ var routeFlags = []cli.Flag{
 		Name:  "format,f",
 		Usage: "hot container IO format - json or http",
 	},
-	cli.IntFlag{
-		Name:  "max-concurrency,mc",
-		Usage: "maximum concurrency for hot container",
-	},
 	cli.DurationFlag{
 		Name:  "timeout",
 		Usage: "route timeout (eg. 30s)",
@@ -259,10 +255,6 @@ func routeWithFlags(c *cli.Context, rt *fnmodels.Route) {
 		rt.Type = t
 	}
 
-	if m := c.Int("max-concurrency"); m > 0 {
-		rt.MaxConcurrency = int32(m)
-	}
-
 	if m := c.Int64("memory"); m > 0 {
 		rt.Memory = m
 	}
@@ -300,9 +292,6 @@ func routeWithFuncFile(c *cli.Context, ff *funcfile, rt *fnmodels.Route) error {
 	if ff.Format != nil {
 		rt.Format = *ff.Format
 	}
-	if ff.MaxConcurrency != nil {
-		rt.MaxConcurrency = int32(*ff.MaxConcurrency)
-	}
 	if ff.Timeout != nil {
 		to := int64(ff.Timeout.Seconds())
 		rt.Timeout = &to
@@ -422,9 +411,6 @@ func (a *routesCmd) patchRoute(c *cli.Context, appName, routePath string, r *fnm
 		if r.Type != "" {
 			resp.Payload.Route.Type = r.Type
 		}
-		if r.MaxConcurrency > 0 {
-			resp.Payload.Route.MaxConcurrency = r.MaxConcurrency
-		}
 		if r.Memory > 0 {
 			resp.Payload.Route.Memory = r.Memory
 		}
diff --git a/test/fnlb-test-harness/primes-func/func.yaml b/test/fnlb-test-harness/primes-func/func.yaml
index 71aa5f03f..32b3ff10d 100644
--- a/test/fnlb-test-harness/primes-func/func.yaml
+++ b/test/fnlb-test-harness/primes-func/func.yaml
@@ -3,4 +3,3 @@ version: 0.0.1
 runtime: go
 entrypoint: ./func
 path: /primes
-max_concurrency: 1