diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index fbf02d9..8559810 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 *swp
 builds
+deps
diff --git a/layer.yaml b/layer.yaml
index 102cf18..81dae31 100644
--- a/layer.yaml
+++ b/layer.yaml
@@ -1 +1,11 @@
-includes: ['layer:basic']  # if you use any interfaces, add them here
+includes:
+  - layer:basic
+  - layer:apt
+  - interface:mysql
+options:
+#  basic:
+#    packages:
+#      - python3-psycopg2
+  apt:
+    packages:
+      - git
diff --git a/metadata.yaml b/metadata.yaml
index 3323217..c76399d 100644
--- a/metadata.yaml
+++ b/metadata.yaml
@@ -9,3 +9,6 @@ tags:
   - misc
 subordinate: false
 series: ['xenial']
+requires:
+  mysqlbackend:
+    interface: mysql
diff --git a/reactive/simple_react.py b/reactive/simple_react.py
index 0da8636..9c17e64 100644
--- a/reactive/simple_react.py
+++ b/reactive/simple_react.py
@@ -1,18 +1,23 @@
 from charms.reactive import when, when_not, set_state
+from charmhelpers.core.hookenv import status_set, log
+from charms.reactive import endpoint_from_flag
 
+import charms.apt
 
-@when_not('simple-react.installed')
-def install_simple_react():
-    # Do your setup here.
-    #
-    # If your charm has other dependencies before it can install,
-    # add those as @when() clauses above., or as additional @when()
-    # decorated handlers below
-    #
-    # See the following for information about reactive charms:
-    #
-    #  * https://jujucharms.com/docs/devel/developer-getting-started
-    #  * https://github.com/juju-solutions/layer-basic#overview
-    #
-    print("I hope this is logged!")
-    set_state('simple-react.installed')
+@when_not('apt.installed.git')
+def git_not_installed_yet():
+    log("DEBUG: 1: Waiting for git to be installed")
+    status_set('waiting', 'DEBUG: 1: Waiting for git to be installed')
+
+@when('apt.installed.git')
+def git_installed():
+    log('DEBUG: 2: Git is now installed, waiting for db to be connected')
+    set_state('simple-react.wait4db')
+    status_set('blocked', 'Waiting for db to be connected')
+
+@when('mysqlbackend.available')
+@when('simple-react.wait4db')
+def announce_no_db():
+    mysql = endpoint_from_flag('mysqlbackend.available')
+    log('DEBUG: 3: The MySQL backend is not yet available at ' +  mysql.connection_string())
+    status_set('active', 'The MySQL backend is available at ' +  mysql.connection_string())