diff --git a/redo/osxaltest/box.swift b/redo/osxaltest/box.swift
index 537fe91e..62295a14 100644
--- a/redo/osxaltest/box.swift
+++ b/redo/osxaltest/box.swift
@@ -5,8 +5,11 @@ import Cocoa
 // TODO fine tune this
 // TODO de-duplicate this from spinbox.m
 class tBoxContainer : NSView {
-	override func alignmentRectInsets() -> NSEdgeInsets {
-		return NSEdgeInsetsMake(50, 50, 50, 50)
+	override var alignmentRectInsets: NSEdgeInsets {
+		get {
+debugPrint("in tBoxContainer.alignmentRectInsets")
+			return NSEdgeInsetsMake(50, 50, 50, 50)
+		}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -15,11 +18,21 @@ struct tBoxChild {
 	var stretchy: Bool
 }
 
+// the swift bridge isn't perfect; it won't recognize these properly
+// thanks to Eridius in freenode/#swift-lang
+let myNSLayoutPriorityRequired: NSLayoutPriority = 1000
+let myNSLayoutPriorityDefaultHigh: NSLayoutPriority = 750
+let myNSLayoutPriorityDragThatCanResizeWindow: NSLayoutPriority = 510
+let myNSLayoutPriorityWindowSizeStayPut: NSLayoutPriority = 500
+let myNSLayoutPriorityDragThatCannotResizeWindow: NSLayoutPriority = 490
+let myNSLayoutPriorityDefaultLow: NSLayoutPriority = 250
+let myNSLayoutPriorityFittingSizeCompression: NSLayoutPriority = 50
+
 class tBox : tControl {
 	private var v: NSView
 	private var children: [tBoxChild]
 	private var vertical: Bool
-	private var parent: tControl
+	private var parent: tControl?
 	private var spaced: Bool
 
 	// TODO rename to padded
@@ -46,15 +59,29 @@ class tBox : tControl {
 	}
 
 	// TODO make the other dimension not hug (as an experiment)
-	func tFillAutoLayout(p: tAutoLayoutParams) {
-		var orientation: NSLayoutConstraintOrientation
-		var i, n: UIntMax
-		var pp: tAutoLayoutParams
-		var nStretchy: UIntMax
-
+	func tFillAutoLayout(inout p: tAutoLayoutParams) {
+		var hasStretchy = false
 		if self.children.count == 0 {
-			goto selfOnly
+			hasStretchy = self.actualLayoutWork()
 		}
+		p.view = self.v
+		p.attachLeft = true
+		p.attachTop = true
+		// don't attach to the end if there weren't any stretchy controls
+		if self.vertical {
+			p.attachRight = true
+			p.attachBottom = hasStretchy
+		} else {
+			p.attachRight = hasStretchy
+			p.attachBottom = true
+		}
+	}
+
+	func actualLayoutWork() -> Bool {
+		var orientation: NSLayoutConstraintOrientation
+		// TODO don't use UIntMax
+		var i, n: UIntMax
+		var nStretchy: UIntMax
 
 		self.v.removeConstraints(self.v.constraints)
 
@@ -66,6 +93,7 @@ class tBox : tControl {
 		var views = [String: NSView]()
 		n = 0
 		var predicates = [String]()
+		var pp = tAutoLayoutParams()
 		for child in self.children {
 			var priority: NSLayoutPriority
 
@@ -73,17 +101,17 @@ class tBox : tControl {
 			pp.nonStretchyHeightPredicate = ""
 			// this also resets the hugging priority
 			// TODO do this when adding and removing controls instead
-			child.c.tFillAutoLayout(pp)
-			priority = NSLayoutPriorityDefaultHigh			// forcibly hug; avoid stretching out
+			child.c.tFillAutoLayout(&pp)
+			priority = myNSLayoutPriorityDefaultHigh			// forcibly hug; avoid stretching out
 			if child.stretchy {
-				priority = NSLayoutPriorityDefaultLow		// do not forcibly hug; freely stretch out
+				priority = myNSLayoutPriorityDefaultLow		// do not forcibly hug; freely stretch out
 			}
 			if self.vertical {
 				predicates.append(pp.nonStretchyHeightPredicate)
 			} else {
 				predicates.append(pp.nonStretchyWidthPredicate)
 			}
-			pp.view.setContentHuggingPriority(priority, forOrientation:orientation)
+			pp.view?.setContentHuggingPriority(priority, forOrientation:orientation)
 			views[tAutoLayoutKey(n)] = pp.view
 			n++
 		}
@@ -94,12 +122,16 @@ class tBox : tControl {
 			constraint = "V:"
 		}
 		var firstStretchy = true
-		for i = 0; i < n; i++ {
+		// swift can't tell that nStretchy isn't used until firstStretchy becomes false
+		nStretchy = 0
+		for i in 0..<n {
 			if self.spaced && i != 0 {
 				constraint += "-"
 			}
 			constraint += "[" + tAutoLayoutKey(i)
-			if self.children[i].stretchy {
+			// swift currently can't do self.children[i].stretchy
+			var child = self.children[Int(i)]
+			if child.stretchy {
 				if firstStretchy {
 					firstStretchy = false
 					nStretchy = i
@@ -107,53 +139,42 @@ class tBox : tControl {
 					constraint += "(==" + tAutoLayoutKey(nStretchy) + ")"
 				}
 			} else {
-				constraint += predicates[i]
+				constraint += predicates[Int(i)]
 			}
 			constraint += "]"
 		}
 		constraint += "|"
 		self.v.addConstraints(NSLayoutConstraint.constraintsWithVisualFormat(
-			visualFormat: constraint,
-			options: 0,
+			constraint,
+			options: NSLayoutFormatOptions(0),
 			metrics: nil,
 			views: views))
 		// TODO do not release constraint; it's autoreleased?
 
 		// next make the views span the full other dimension
 		// TODO make all of these the same width/height
-		for i = 0; i < n; i++ {
+		for i in 0..<n {
 			constraint = "V:|["
 			if self.vertical {
 				constraint = "H:|["
 			}
 			constraint += tAutoLayoutKey(i) + "]|"
 			self.v.addConstraints(NSLayoutConstraint.constraintsWithVisualFormat(
-				visualFormat: constraint,
-				options: 0,
+				constraint,
+				options: NSLayoutFormatOptions(0),
 				metrics: nil,
 				views: views))
 			// TODO do not release constraint; it's autoreleased?
 		}
 
-		// and now populate for self
-	selfOnly:
-		p.view = self.v
-		p.attachLeft = true
-		p.attachTop = true
-		// don't attach to the end if there weren't any stretchy controls
-		// firstStretchy is false if there was at least one stretchy control
-		if self.vertical {
-			p.attachRight = true
-			p.attachBottom = !firstStretchy
-		} else {
-			p.attachRight = !firstStretchy
-			p.attachBottom = true
-		}
+		// the caller needs to know if a control was stretchy
+		// firstStretchy is false if there was one
+		return !firstStretchy
 	}
 
 	func tRelayout() {
 		if self.parent != nil {
-			self.parent.tRelayout()
+			self.parent?.tRelayout()
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/redo/osxaltest/button.swift b/redo/osxaltest/button.swift
index 8d835bd8..4770bdb6 100644
--- a/redo/osxaltest/button.swift
+++ b/redo/osxaltest/button.swift
@@ -3,16 +3,16 @@ import Cocoa
 
 class tButton : tControl {
 	private var b: NSButton
-	private var parent: tControl
+	private var parent: tControl?
 	private var horzpri, vertpri: NSLayoutPriority
 
-	init(text: String) {
+	init(_ text: String) {
 		self.b = NSButton(frame: NSZeroRect)
 		self.b.title = text
-		self.b.buttonType = NSMomentaryPushInButton
+		self.b.setButtonType(NSButtonType.MomentaryPushInButton)
 		self.b.bordered = true
-		self.b.bezelStyle = NSRoundedBezelStyle
-		self.b.font = NSFont.systemFontOfSize(NSFont.systemFontSizeForControlSize(NSRegularControlSize))
+		self.b.bezelStyle = NSBezelStyle.RoundedBezelStyle
+		self.b.font = NSFont.systemFontOfSize(NSFont.systemFontSizeForControlSize(NSControlSize.RegularControlSize))
 		self.b.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
 
 		self.parent = nil
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class tButton : tControl {
 		v.addSubview(self.b)
 	}
 
-	func tFillAutoLayout(p: tAutoLayoutParams) {
+	func tFillAutoLayout(inout p: tAutoLayoutParams) {
 		// reset the hugging priority
 		self.b.setContentHuggingPriority(self.horzpri, forOrientation:NSLayoutConstraintOrientation.Horizontal)
 		self.b.setContentHuggingPriority(self.vertpri, forOrientation:NSLayoutConstraintOrientation.Vertical)
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class tButton : tControl {
 
 	func tRelayout() {
 		if self.parent != nil {
-			self.parent.tRelayout()
+			self.parent?.tRelayout()
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/redo/osxaltest/control.swift b/redo/osxaltest/control.swift
index 42a3766f..25d8e739 100644
--- a/redo/osxaltest/control.swift
+++ b/redo/osxaltest/control.swift
@@ -3,22 +3,22 @@ import Cocoa
 
 // TODO stretchy across both dimensions
 // for a vertical box, the horizontal width should be variable
-class tAutoLayoutParams {
-	var view: NSView
-	var attachLeft: Bool
-	var attachTop: Bool
-	var attachRight: Bool
-	var attachBottom: Bool
-	var nonStretchyWidthPredicate: String
-	var nonStretchyHeightPredicate: String
+struct tAutoLayoutParams {
+	var view: NSView? = nil
+	var attachLeft: Bool = false
+	var attachTop: Bool = false
+	var attachRight: Bool = false
+	var attachBottom: Bool = false
+	var nonStretchyWidthPredicate: String = ""
+	var nonStretchyHeightPredicate: String = ""
 }
 
-protocol tControl {
-	mutating func tSetParent(p: tControl, addToView: NSView)
-	mutating func tFillAutoLayout(p: tAutoLayoutParams)
-	mutating func tRelayout()
+protocol tControl : class {
+	func tSetParent(p: tControl, addToView: NSView)
+	func tFillAutoLayout(inout p: tAutoLayoutParams)
+	func tRelayout()
 }
 
 func tAutoLayoutKey(n: UIntMax) -> String {
-	return NSString(format: "view%d", n)
+	return NSString(format: "view%d", n) as String
 }
diff --git a/redo/osxaltest/entry.swift b/redo/osxaltest/entry.swift
index c88c3dc0..de5b84ca 100644
--- a/redo/osxaltest/entry.swift
+++ b/redo/osxaltest/entry.swift
@@ -2,19 +2,22 @@
 import Cocoa
 
 class tEntry : tControl {
-	private var b: NSButton
-	private var parent: tControl
+	private var t: NSTextField
+	private var parent: tControl?
 	private var horzpri, vertpri: NSLayoutPriority
 
 	init() {
+		var cell: NSTextFieldCell
+
 		self.t = NSTextField(frame: NSZeroRect)
 		self.t.selectable = true
-		self.t.font = NSFont.systemFontOfSize(NSFont.systemFontSizeForControlSize(NSRegularControlSize))
+		self.t.font = NSFont.systemFontOfSize(NSFont.systemFontSizeForControlSize(NSControlSize.RegularControlSize))
 		self.t.bordered = false
-		self.t.bezelStyle = NSTextFieldSquareBezel
+		self.t.bezelStyle = NSTextFieldBezelStyle.SquareBezel
 		self.t.bezeled = true
-		self.t.cell.lineBreakMode = NSLineBreakByClipping
-		self.t.cell.scrollable = true
+		cell = self.t.cell() as! NSTextFieldCell
+		cell.lineBreakMode = NSLineBreakMode.ByClipping
+		cell.scrollable = true
 		self.t.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
 
 		self.parent = nil
@@ -28,7 +31,7 @@ class tEntry : tControl {
 		v.addSubview(self.t)
 	}
 
-	func tFillAutoLayout(p: tAutoLayoutParams) {
+	func tFillAutoLayout(inout p: tAutoLayoutParams) {
 		// reset the hugging priority
 		self.t.setContentHuggingPriority(self.horzpri, forOrientation:NSLayoutConstraintOrientation.Horizontal)
 		self.t.setContentHuggingPriority(self.vertpri, forOrientation:NSLayoutConstraintOrientation.Vertical)
@@ -43,7 +46,7 @@ class tEntry : tControl {
 
 	func tRelayout() {
 		if self.parent != nil {
-			self.parent.tRelayout()
+			self.parent?.tRelayout()
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/redo/osxaltest/label.swift b/redo/osxaltest/label.swift
index 001374e9..88422eb2 100644
--- a/redo/osxaltest/label.swift
+++ b/redo/osxaltest/label.swift
@@ -1,23 +1,26 @@
 // 31 july 2015
 import Cocoa
 
-class tEntry : tControl {
-	private var b: NSButton
-	private var parent: tControl
+class tLabel : tControl {
+	private var t: NSTextField
+	private var parent: tControl?
 	private var horzpri, vertpri: NSLayoutPriority
 
 	init() {
+		var cell: NSTextFieldCell
+
 		self.t = NSTextField(frame: NSZeroRect)
 		self.t.stringValue = "Label"
-		self.t.setEditable = false
+		self.t.editable = false
 		self.t.selectable = false
 		self.t.drawsBackground = false
-		self.t.font = NSFont.systemFontOfSize(NSFont.systemFontSizeForControlSize(NSRegularControlSize))
+		self.t.font = NSFont.systemFontOfSize(NSFont.systemFontSizeForControlSize(NSControlSize.RegularControlSize))
 		self.t.bordered = false
-		self.t.bezelStyle = NSTextFieldSquareBezel
+		self.t.bezelStyle = NSTextFieldBezelStyle.SquareBezel
 		self.t.bezeled = false
-		self.t.cell.lineBreakMode = NSLineBreakByClipping
-		self.t.cell.scrollable = true
+		cell = self.t.cell() as! NSTextFieldCell
+		cell.lineBreakMode = NSLineBreakMode.ByClipping
+		cell.scrollable = true
 		self.t.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
 
 		self.parent = nil
@@ -31,7 +34,7 @@ class tEntry : tControl {
 		v.addSubview(self.t)
 	}
 
-	func tFillAutoLayout(p: tAutoLayoutParams) {
+	func tFillAutoLayout(inout p: tAutoLayoutParams) {
 		// reset the hugging priority
 		self.t.setContentHuggingPriority(self.horzpri, forOrientation:NSLayoutConstraintOrientation.Horizontal)
 		self.t.setContentHuggingPriority(self.vertpri, forOrientation:NSLayoutConstraintOrientation.Vertical)
@@ -45,7 +48,7 @@ class tEntry : tControl {
 
 	func tRelayout() {
 		if self.parent != nil {
-			self.parent.tRelayout()
+			self.parent?.tRelayout()
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/redo/osxaltest/main.swift b/redo/osxaltest/main.swift
index 31741c94..8fa07dbc 100644
--- a/redo/osxaltest/main.swift
+++ b/redo/osxaltest/main.swift
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ func appLaunched() {
 	mainwin.tShow()
 }
 
-class appDelegate : NSApplicationDelegate {
+class appDelegate : NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate {
 	func applicationDidFinishLaunching(note: NSNotification) {
 		appLaunched()
 	}
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ func main() {
 	spaced = Process.arguments.count > 1
 
 	var app = NSApplication.sharedApplication()
-	app.setActivationPolicy(NSApplicationActivationPolicyRegular)
-	app.setDelegate(appDelegate())
+	app.setActivationPolicy(NSApplicationActivationPolicy.Regular)
+	app.delegate = appDelegate()
 	app.run()
 }
 
diff --git a/redo/osxaltest/spinbox.swift b/redo/osxaltest/spinbox.swift
index 2b5fcea2..325d4691 100644
--- a/redo/osxaltest/spinbox.swift
+++ b/redo/osxaltest/spinbox.swift
@@ -3,8 +3,11 @@ import Cocoa
 
 // leave a whole lot of space around the alignment rect, just to be safe
 class tSpinboxContainer : NSView {
-	override func alignmentRectInsets() -> NSEdgeInsets {
-		return NSEdgeInsetsMake(50, 50, 50, 50)
+	override var alignmentRectInsets: NSEdgeInsets {
+		get {
+debugPrint("in tSpinboxContainer.alignmentRectInsets")
+			return NSEdgeInsetsMake(50, 50, 50, 50)
+		}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -14,10 +17,12 @@ class tSpinbox : tControl {
 	private var c: tSpinboxContainer
 	private var t: NSTextField
 	private var s: NSStepper
-	private var parent: tControl
+	private var parent: tControl?
 	private var horzpri, vertpri: NSLayoutPriority
 
 	init() {
+		var cell: NSTextFieldCell
+
 		self.c = tSpinboxContainer(frame: NSZeroRect)
 		self.c.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
 
@@ -25,16 +30,17 @@ class tSpinbox : tControl {
 self.t.stringValue = "\(nspinbox)"
 nspinbox++
 		self.t.selectable = true
-		self.t.font = NSFont.systemFontOfSize(NSFont.systemFontSizeForControlSize(NSRegularControlSize))
+		self.t.font = NSFont.systemFontOfSize(NSFont.systemFontSizeForControlSize(NSControlSize.RegularControlSize))
 		self.t.bordered = false
-		self.t.bezelStyle = NSTextFieldSquareBezel
+		self.t.bezelStyle = NSTextFieldBezelStyle.SquareBezel
 		self.t.bezeled = true
-		self.t.cell.lineBreakMode = NSLineBreakByClipping
-		self.t.cell.scrollable = true
+		cell = self.t.cell() as! NSTextFieldCell
+		cell.lineBreakMode = NSLineBreakMode.ByClipping
+		cell.scrollable = true
 		self.t.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
 		self.c.addSubview(self.t)
 
-		self.s = NSStepper(NSZeroFrame)
+		self.s = NSStepper(frame: NSZeroRect)
 		self.s.increment = 1
 		self.s.valueWraps = false
 		self.s.autorepeat = true
@@ -46,20 +52,20 @@ nspinbox++
 			"s":	self.s,
 		]
 		var constraints = NSLayoutConstraint.constraintsWithVisualFormat(
-			visualFormat: "H:|[t]-[s]|",
-			options: 0,
+			"H:|[t]-[s]|",
+			options: NSLayoutFormatOptions(0),
 			metrics: nil,
 			views: views)
 		self.c.addConstraints(constraints)
 		constraints = NSLayoutConstraint.constraintsWithVisualFormat(
-			visualFormat: "V:|[t]|",
-			options: 0,
+			"V:|[t]|",
+			options: NSLayoutFormatOptions(0),
 			metrics: nil,
 			views: views)
 		self.c.addConstraints(constraints)
 		constraints = NSLayoutConstraint.constraintsWithVisualFormat(
-			visualFormat: "V:|[s]|",
-			options: 0,
+			"V:|[s]|",
+			options: NSLayoutFormatOptions(0),
 			metrics: nil,
 			views: views)
 		self.c.addConstraints(constraints)
@@ -75,7 +81,7 @@ nspinbox++
 		v.addSubview(self.c)
 	}
 
-	func tFillAutoLayout(p: tAutoLayoutParams) {
+	func tFillAutoLayout(inout p: tAutoLayoutParams) {
 		// reset the hugging priority
 		self.c.setContentHuggingPriority(self.horzpri, forOrientation:NSLayoutConstraintOrientation.Horizontal)
 		self.c.setContentHuggingPriority(self.vertpri, forOrientation:NSLayoutConstraintOrientation.Vertical)
@@ -90,7 +96,7 @@ nspinbox++
 
 	func tRelayout() {
 		if self.parent != nil {
-			self.parent.tRelayout()
+			self.parent?.tRelayout()
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/redo/osxaltest/window.swift b/redo/osxaltest/window.swift
index f72cd7af..81f18f71 100644
--- a/redo/osxaltest/window.swift
+++ b/redo/osxaltest/window.swift
@@ -3,71 +3,73 @@ import Cocoa
 
 // auto layout helpers
 func tIsAmbiguous(view: NSView, indent: Int) {
-	var s = string(indent, ' ')
+	var s = String(count: indent, repeatedValue: " " as Character)
 	debugPrint("\(s) \(view.className) \(view.hasAmbiguousLayout)")
 	if view.hasAmbiguousLayout {
-		view.window.visualizeConstraints(view.superview.constraints)
+		view.window?.visualizeConstraints(view.superview!.constraints)
 	}
 	for subview in view.subviews {
-		tIsAmbiguous(subview, indent + 1)
+		tIsAmbiguous(subview as! NSView, indent + 1)
 	}
 }
 
 class tWindow : tControl {
 	private var w: NSWindow
-	private var c: tControl
+	private var c: tControl?
 	private var margined: Bool
 
 	init() {
 		self.w = NSWindow(
 			contentRect: NSMakeRect(0, 0, 320, 240),
 			styleMask: (NSTitledWindowMask | NSClosableWindowMask | NSMiniaturizableWindowMask | NSResizableWindowMask),
-			backing: NSBackingStoreBuffered,
+			backing: NSBackingStoreType.Buffered,
 			defer: true)
 		self.w.title = "Auto Layout Test"
 		self.c = nil
 		self.margined = false
 	}
 
-	public func tSetControl(c: tControl) {
+	func tSetControl(c: tControl) {
 		self.c = c
-		self.c.tSetParent(self, addToView: self.w.contentView)
+		// TODO use self.c here
+		c.tSetParent(self, addToView: self.w.contentView as! NSView)
 		self.tRelayout()
 	}
 
-	public func tSetMargined(m: Bool) {
+	func tSetMargined(m: Bool) {
 		self.margined = m
 		self.tRelayout()
 	}
 
-	public func tShow() {
+	func tShow() {
 		self.w.cascadeTopLeftFromPoint(NSMakePoint(20, 20))
 		self.w.makeKeyAndOrderFront(self)
-		tIsAmbiguous(self.w.contentView, 0)
+		tIsAmbiguous(self.w.contentView as! NSView, 0)
 	}
 
 	func tSetParent(p: tControl, addToView: NSView) {
 		fatalError("cannot call tWindow.tSetParent()")
 	}
 
-	func tFillAutoLayout(p: tAutoLayoutParams) {
+	func tFillAutoLayout(inout p: tAutoLayoutParams) {
 		fatalError("cannot call tWindow.tFillAutoLayout()")
 	}
 
-	public func tRelayout() {
+	func tRelayout() {
 		if self.c == nil {
 			return
 		}
 
-		var contentView = self.w.contentView
+		var contentView = self.w.contentView as! NSView
 		contentView.removeConstraints(contentView.constraints)
 
 		var p = tAutoLayoutParams()
-		self.c.tFillAutoLayout(p)
+		c?.tFillAutoLayout(&p)
 
-		var views = [
-			"view": p.view,
-		]
+		// TODO why can't I just say var views = [ "view": p.view ]?
+		// I think the parser is getting confused
+		var views = [String: NSView]()
+		views["view"] = p.view
 		var margin = ""
 		if self.margined {
 			margin = "-"
@@ -84,10 +86,10 @@ class tWindow : tControl {
 			constraint += margin + "|"
 		}
 		var constraints = NSLayoutConstraint.constraintsWithVisualFormat(
-			visualFormat:constraint,
-			options:0,
-			metrics:nil,
-			views:views)
+			constraint,
+			options: NSLayoutFormatOptions(0),
+			metrics: nil,
+			views: views)
 		contentView.addConstraints(constraints)
 
 		constraint = "V:"
@@ -99,10 +101,10 @@ class tWindow : tControl {
 			constraint += margin + "|"
 		}
 		constraints = NSLayoutConstraint.constraintsWithVisualFormat(
-			visualFormat:constraint,
-			options:0,
-			metrics:nil,
-			views:views)
+			constraint,
+			options: NSLayoutFormatOptions(0),
+			metrics: nil,
+			views: views)
 		contentView.addConstraints(constraints)
 	}
 }