diff --git a/src/private_api/extract_decorated_marks.py b/src/private_api/extract_decorated_marks.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..230e5d18c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/private_api/extract_decorated_marks.py
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+from typing import Any
+
+from ..actions.bring_move import BringMoveTargets
+from ..actions.swap import SwapTargets
+from ..targets.target_types import (
+    ImplicitDestination,
+    ImplicitTarget,
+    ListDestination,
+    ListTarget,
+    PrimitiveDestination,
+    PrimitiveTarget,
+    RangeTarget,
+)
+
+
+def extract_decorated_marks(capture: Any) -> list[Any]:
+    match capture:
+        case PrimitiveTarget(mark=mark):
+            if mark is None or mark["type"] != "decoratedSymbol":
+                return []
+            return [mark]
+        case ImplicitTarget():
+            return []
+        case RangeTarget(anchor=anchor, active=active):
+            return extract_decorated_marks(anchor) + extract_decorated_marks(active)
+        case ListTarget(elements=elements):
+            return [
+                mark for target in elements for mark in extract_decorated_marks(target)
+            ]
+        case PrimitiveDestination(target=target):
+            return extract_decorated_marks(target)
+        case ImplicitDestination():
+            return []
+        case ListDestination(destinations=destinations):
+            return [
+                mark
+                for destination in destinations
+                for mark in extract_decorated_marks(destination)
+            ]
+        case BringMoveTargets(source=source, destination=destination):
+            return extract_decorated_marks(source) + extract_decorated_marks(
+                destination
+            )
+        case SwapTargets(target1=target1, target2=target2):
+            return extract_decorated_marks(target1) + extract_decorated_marks(target2)
+        case _:
+            raise TypeError(f"Unknown capture type: {type(capture)}")
diff --git a/src/private_api/private_api.py b/src/private_api/private_api.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d6fd88e779
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/private_api/private_api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+from typing import Any, Optional, Union
+
+from talon import Module, actions
+
+from ..targets.target_types import (
+    CursorlessTarget,
+    ListTarget,
+    PrimitiveTarget,
+    RangeTarget,
+)
+from .extract_decorated_marks import extract_decorated_marks
+
+mod = Module()
+
+
+@mod.action_class
+class MiscActions:
+    def cursorless_private_extract_decorated_marks(capture: Any) -> list[dict]:
+        """Cursorless private api: Extract all decorated marks from a Talon capture"""
+        return extract_decorated_marks(capture)
+
+
+@mod.action_class
+class TargetBuilderActions:
+    """Cursorless private api low-level target builder actions"""
+
+    def cursorless_private_build_primitive_target(
+        modifiers: list[dict], mark: Optional[dict]
+    ) -> PrimitiveTarget:
+        """Cursorless private api low-level target builder: Create a primitive target"""
+        return PrimitiveTarget(mark, modifiers)
+
+    def cursorless_private_build_list_target(
+        elements: list[Union[PrimitiveTarget, RangeTarget]]
+    ) -> Union[PrimitiveTarget, ListTarget]:
+        """Cursorless private api low-level target builder: Create a list target"""
+        if len(elements) == 1:
+            return elements[0]
+
+        return ListTarget(elements)
+
+
+@mod.action_class
+class TargetActions:
+    def cursorless_private_target_nothing() -> PrimitiveTarget:
+        """Cursorless private api: Creates the "nothing" target"""
+        return PrimitiveTarget({"type": "nothing"}, [])
+
+
+@mod.action_class
+class ActionActions:
+    def cursorless_private_action_highlight(
+        target: CursorlessTarget, highlightId: Optional[str] = None
+    ) -> None:
+        """Cursorless private api: Highlights a target"""
+        payload = {
+            "name": "highlight",
+            "target": target,
+        }
+
+        if highlightId is not None:
+            payload["highlightId"] = highlightId
+
+        actions.user.private_cursorless_command_and_wait(
+            payload,
+        )