diff --git a/common/control.c b/common/control.c
index 83254ef2..a0d3d852 100644
--- a/common/control.c
+++ b/common/control.c
@@ -62,6 +62,13 @@ void uiControlSetFocus(uiControl *c)
 	(*(c->SetFocus))(c);
 }
 
+void uiControlSetMinSize(uiControl *c, int w, int h)
+{
+    c->MinWidth = w;
+    c->MinHeight = h;
+    (*(c->SetMinSize))(c, w, h);
+}
+
 #define uiprivControlSignature 0x7569436F
 
 uiControl *uiAllocControl(size_t size, uint32_t OSsig, uint32_t typesig, const char *typenamestr)
@@ -72,6 +79,10 @@ uiControl *uiAllocControl(size_t size, uint32_t OSsig, uint32_t typesig, const c
 	c->Signature = uiprivControlSignature;
 	c->OSSignature = OSsig;
 	c->TypeSignature = typesig;
+
+	c->MinWidth = -1;
+	c->MinHeight = -1;
+
 	return c;
 }
 
diff --git a/ui.h b/ui.h
index f5965648..303caf35 100644
--- a/ui.h
+++ b/ui.h
@@ -92,6 +92,9 @@ struct uiControl {
 	void (*Enable)(uiControl *);
 	void (*Disable)(uiControl *);
 	void (*SetFocus)(uiControl *);
+	void (*SetMinSize)(uiControl*, int, int);
+
+	int MinWidth, MinHeight;
 };
 // TOOD add argument names to all arguments
 #define uiControl(this) ((uiControl *) (this))
@@ -107,6 +110,7 @@ _UI_EXTERN int uiControlEnabled(uiControl *);
 _UI_EXTERN void uiControlEnable(uiControl *);
 _UI_EXTERN void uiControlDisable(uiControl *);
 _UI_EXTERN void uiControlSetFocus(uiControl *);
+_UI_EXTERN void uiControlSetMinSize(uiControl *, int w, int h); // -1 = no minimum
 
 _UI_EXTERN uiControl *uiAllocControl(size_t n, uint32_t OSsig, uint32_t typesig, const char *typenamestr);
 _UI_EXTERN void uiFreeControl(uiControl *);
diff --git a/ui_unix.h b/ui_unix.h
index 44ba9ef5..79c9d25c 100644
--- a/ui_unix.h
+++ b/ui_unix.h
@@ -88,6 +88,11 @@ _UI_EXTERN void uiUnixControlSetContainer(uiUnixControl *, GtkContainer *, gbool
 	{ \
 		gtk_widget_grab_focus(type(c)->widget); \
 	}
+#define uiUnixControlDefaultSetMinSize(type) \
+	static void type ## SetMinSize(uiControl *c, int w, int h) \
+	{ \
+		gtk_widget_set_size_request(type(c)->widget, w, h); \
+	}
 // TODO this whole addedBefore stuff is a MASSIVE HACK.
 #define uiUnixControlDefaultSetContainer(type) \
 	static void type ## SetContainer(uiUnixControl *c, GtkContainer *container, gboolean remove) \
@@ -116,6 +121,7 @@ _UI_EXTERN void uiUnixControlSetContainer(uiUnixControl *, GtkContainer *, gbool
 	uiUnixControlDefaultEnable(type) \
 	uiUnixControlDefaultDisable(type) \
 	uiUnixControlDefaultSetFocus(type) \
+	uiUnixControlDefaultSetMinSize(type) \
 	uiUnixControlDefaultSetContainer(type)
 
 #define uiUnixControlAllDefaults(type) \
@@ -137,6 +143,7 @@ _UI_EXTERN void uiUnixControlSetContainer(uiUnixControl *, GtkContainer *, gbool
 	uiControl(var)->Enable = type ## Enable; \
 	uiControl(var)->Disable = type ## Disable; \
 	uiControl(var)->SetFocus = type ## SetFocus; \
+	uiControl(var)->SetMinSize = type ## SetMinSize; \
 	uiUnixControl(var)->SetContainer = type ## SetContainer;
 // TODO document
 _UI_EXTERN uiUnixControl *uiUnixAllocControl(size_t n, uint32_t typesig, const char *typenamestr);
diff --git a/ui_windows.h b/ui_windows.h
index 3917c970..85c3137b 100644
--- a/ui_windows.h
+++ b/ui_windows.h
@@ -107,6 +107,10 @@ _UI_EXTERN void uiWindowsControlChildVisibilityChanged(uiWindowsControl *);
 	{ \
 		SetFocus(type(c)->hwnd); \
 	}
+#define uiWindowsControlDefaultSetMinSize(type) \
+	static void type ## SetMinSize(uiControl *c, int w, int h) \
+	{ \
+	}
 #define uiWindowsControlDefaultSyncEnableState(type) \
 	static void type ## SyncEnableState(uiWindowsControl *c, int enabled) \
 	{ \
@@ -158,6 +162,7 @@ _UI_EXTERN void uiWindowsControlChildVisibilityChanged(uiWindowsControl *);
 	uiWindowsControlDefaultEnable(type) \
 	uiWindowsControlDefaultDisable(type) \
 	uiWindowsControlDefaultSetFocus(type) \
+	uiWindowsControlDefaultSetMinSize(type) \
 	uiWindowsControlDefaultSyncEnableState(type) \
 	uiWindowsControlDefaultSetParentHWND(type) \
 	uiWindowsControlDefaultMinimumSizeChanged(type) \
@@ -184,6 +189,7 @@ _UI_EXTERN void uiWindowsControlChildVisibilityChanged(uiWindowsControl *);
 	uiControl(var)->Enable = type ## Enable; \
 	uiControl(var)->Disable = type ## Disable; \
 	uiControl(var)->SetFocus = type ## SetFocus; \
+	uiControl(var)->SetMinSize = type ## SetMinSize; \
 	uiWindowsControl(var)->SyncEnableState = type ## SyncEnableState; \
 	uiWindowsControl(var)->SetParentHWND = type ## SetParentHWND; \
 	uiWindowsControl(var)->MinimumSize = type ## MinimumSize; \
diff --git a/unix/button.c b/unix/button.c
index 00a87f49..82577d54 100644
--- a/unix/button.c
+++ b/unix/button.c
@@ -51,5 +51,7 @@ uiButton *uiNewButton(const char *text)
 	g_signal_connect(b->widget, "clicked", G_CALLBACK(onClicked), b);
 	uiButtonOnClicked(b, defaultOnClicked, NULL);
 
+	gtk_widget_set_size_request(b->widget, 64, 1);
+
 	return b;
 }
diff --git a/unix/window.c b/unix/window.c
index a4b469d4..786db63a 100644
--- a/unix/window.c
+++ b/unix/window.c
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ struct uiWindow {
 	uiControl *child;
 	int margined;
 
+	int width;
+	int height;
+
 	int (*onClosing)(uiWindow *, void *);
 	void *onClosingData;
 	void (*onContentSizeChanged)(uiWindow *, void *);
@@ -101,11 +104,28 @@ uiUnixControlDefaultVisible(uiWindow)
 static void uiWindowShow(uiControl *c)
 {
 	uiWindow *w = uiWindow(c);
+	int width;
+	int height;
 
 	// don't use gtk_widget_show_all() as that will show all children, regardless of user settings
 	// don't use gtk_widget_show(); that doesn't bring to front or give keyboard focus
 	// (gtk_window_present() does call gtk_widget_show() though)
 	gtk_window_present(w->window);
+
+	// set the size properly
+	width = w->width;
+	height = w->height;
+	if (w->menubar)	{
+		GtkRequisition min, nat;
+		int menuheight;
+
+		gtk_widget_get_preferred_size(w->menubar, &min, &nat);
+		menuheight = min.height;
+		if (nat.height > menuheight)
+			menuheight = nat.height;
+	    height += menuheight;
+	}
+	gtk_window_resize(w->window, width, height);
 }
 
 uiUnixControlDefaultHide(uiWindow)
@@ -113,6 +133,7 @@ uiUnixControlDefaultEnabled(uiWindow)
 uiUnixControlDefaultEnable(uiWindow)
 uiUnixControlDefaultDisable(uiWindow)
 uiUnixControlDefaultSetFocus(uiWindow)
+uiUnixControlDefaultSetMinSize(uiWindow)
 // TODO?
 uiUnixControlDefaultSetContainer(uiWindow)
 
@@ -253,6 +274,8 @@ uiWindow *uiNewWindow(const char *title, int width, int height, int hasMenubar)
 	if (hasMenubar) {
 		w->menubar = uiprivMakeMenubar(uiWindow(w));
 		gtk_container_add(w->vboxContainer, w->menubar);
+	} else {
+		w->menubar = NULL;
 	}
 
 	w->childHolderWidget = gtk_box_new(GTK_ORIENTATION_HORIZONTAL, 0);
diff --git a/windows/area.cpp b/windows/area.cpp
index 0042fccc..aa486e03 100644
--- a/windows/area.cpp
+++ b/windows/area.cpp
@@ -55,9 +55,11 @@ uiWindowsControlAllDefaults(uiArea)
 
 static void uiAreaMinimumSize(uiWindowsControl *c, int *width, int *height)
 {
-	// TODO
-	*width = 0;
-	*height = 0;
+	*width = c->c.MinWidth;
+	if (*width < 1) *width = 1;
+
+	*height = c->c.MinHeight;
+	if (*height < 1) *height = 1;
 }
 
 ATOM registerAreaClass(HICON hDefaultIcon, HCURSOR hDefaultCursor)
diff --git a/windows/box.cpp b/windows/box.cpp
index c3069895..5ed84476 100644
--- a/windows/box.cpp
+++ b/windows/box.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ static void boxRelayout(uiBox *b)
 	int i;
 	int minimumWidth, minimumHeight;
 	int nVisible;
-	uiWindowsSizing *d;
 
 	if (b->controls->size() == 0)
 		return;
@@ -165,10 +164,8 @@ static void uiBoxMinimumSize(uiWindowsControl *c, int *width, int *height)
 	// these two contain the largest minimum width and height of all stretchy controls in the box
 	// all stretchy controls will use this value to determine the final minimum size
 	int maxStretchyWidth, maxStretchyHeight;
-	int i;
 	int minimumWidth, minimumHeight;
 	int nVisible;
-	uiWindowsSizing sizing;
 
 	*width = 0;
 	*height = 0;
@@ -235,6 +232,12 @@ static void uiBoxMinimumSizeChanged(uiWindowsControl *c)
 	boxRelayout(b);
 }
 
+static void uiBoxSetMinSize(uiControl *c, int w, int h)
+{
+    // checkme
+    uiBoxMinimumSizeChanged(uiWindowsControl(c));
+}
+
 uiWindowsControlDefaultLayoutRect(uiBox)
 uiWindowsControlDefaultAssignControlIDZOrder(uiBox)
 
diff --git a/windows/button.cpp b/windows/button.cpp
index d8913ec7..fc326b25 100644
--- a/windows/button.cpp
+++ b/windows/button.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ uiWindowsControlAllDefaultsExceptDestroy(uiButton)
 
 // from http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dn742486.aspx#sizingandspacing
 #define buttonHeight 14
+#define buttonMinWidth 64
 
 static void uiButtonMinimumSize(uiWindowsControl *c, int *width, int *height)
 {
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ static void uiButtonMinimumSize(uiWindowsControl *c, int *width, int *height)
 	size.cy = 0;
 	if (SendMessageW(b->hwnd, BCM_GETIDEALSIZE, 0, (LPARAM) (&size)) != FALSE) {
 		*width = size.cx;
+		if (*width < buttonMinWidth) *width = buttonMinWidth;
 		*height = size.cy;
 		return;
 	}
@@ -53,6 +55,7 @@ static void uiButtonMinimumSize(uiWindowsControl *c, int *width, int *height)
 	// Microsoft says to use a fixed width for all buttons; this isn't good enough
 	// use the text width instead, with some edge padding
 	*width = uiWindowsWindowTextWidth(b->hwnd) + (2 * GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXEDGE));
+	if (*width < buttonMinWidth) *width = buttonMinWidth;
 	y = buttonHeight;
 	uiWindowsGetSizing(b->hwnd, &sizing);
 	uiWindowsSizingDlgUnitsToPixels(&sizing, NULL, &y);
diff --git a/windows/colordialog.cpp b/windows/colordialog.cpp
index d7030a4f..fef9b3d6 100644
--- a/windows/colordialog.cpp
+++ b/windows/colordialog.cpp
@@ -87,7 +87,6 @@ static void hsv2RGB(double h, double s, double v, double *r, double *g, double *
 	int h60;
 	double x;
 	double m;
-	double c1, c2;
 
 	c = v * s;
 	hPrime = h * 6;
diff --git a/windows/form.cpp b/windows/form.cpp
index 6cd2923b..6def8a04 100644
--- a/windows/form.cpp
+++ b/windows/form.cpp
@@ -232,6 +232,12 @@ static void uiFormMinimumSizeChanged(uiWindowsControl *c)
 	formRelayout(f);
 }
 
+static void uiFormSetMinSize(uiControl *c, int w, int h)
+{
+    // checkme
+    uiFormMinimumSizeChanged(uiWindowsControl(c));
+}
+
 uiWindowsControlDefaultLayoutRect(uiForm)
 uiWindowsControlDefaultAssignControlIDZOrder(uiForm)
 
diff --git a/windows/grid.cpp b/windows/grid.cpp
index a412a950..a41e8060 100644
--- a/windows/grid.cpp
+++ b/windows/grid.cpp
@@ -516,6 +516,12 @@ static void uiGridMinimumSizeChanged(uiWindowsControl *c)
 	gridRelayout(g);
 }
 
+static void uiGridSetMinSize(uiControl *c, int w, int h)
+{
+    // checkme
+    uiGridMinimumSizeChanged(uiWindowsControl(c));
+}
+
 uiWindowsControlDefaultLayoutRect(uiGrid)
 uiWindowsControlDefaultAssignControlIDZOrder(uiGrid)
 
diff --git a/windows/group.cpp b/windows/group.cpp
index d40c78bc..60947a24 100644
--- a/windows/group.cpp
+++ b/windows/group.cpp
@@ -119,6 +119,12 @@ static void uiGroupMinimumSizeChanged(uiWindowsControl *c)
 	groupRelayout(g);
 }
 
+static void uiGroupSetMinSize(uiControl *c, int w, int h)
+{
+    // checkme
+    uiGroupMinimumSizeChanged(uiWindowsControl(c));
+}
+
 uiWindowsControlDefaultLayoutRect(uiGroup)
 uiWindowsControlDefaultAssignControlIDZOrder(uiGroup)
 
diff --git a/windows/tab.cpp b/windows/tab.cpp
index 03017a2c..3cc9e08c 100644
--- a/windows/tab.cpp
+++ b/windows/tab.cpp
@@ -164,6 +164,12 @@ static void uiTabMinimumSizeChanged(uiWindowsControl *c)
 	tabRelayout(t);
 }
 
+static void uiTabSetMinSize(uiControl *c, int w, int h)
+{
+    // checkme
+    uiTabMinimumSizeChanged(uiWindowsControl(c));
+}
+
 uiWindowsControlDefaultLayoutRect(uiTab)
 uiWindowsControlDefaultAssignControlIDZOrder(uiTab)
 
diff --git a/windows/window.cpp b/windows/window.cpp
index ebbc6511..23c64a29 100644
--- a/windows/window.cpp
+++ b/windows/window.cpp
@@ -274,6 +274,11 @@ static void uiWindowLayoutRect(uiWindowsControl *c, RECT *r)
 	uiWindowsEnsureGetClientRect(w->hwnd, r);
 }
 
+static void uiWindowSetMinSize(uiControl *c, int w, int h)
+{
+    // TODO: relayout, eventually
+}
+
 uiWindowsControlDefaultAssignControlIDZOrder(uiWindow)
 
 static void uiWindowChildVisibilityChanged(uiWindowsControl *c)