diff --git a/generate.go b/generate.go
index 43a86d4..3bc74f1 100644
--- a/generate.go
+++ b/generate.go
@@ -64,12 +64,13 @@ func (pf *File) specialBases(wFind io.Writer) {
 // FRUIT == the string name of the message in the protobuf file
 // APPLE == the type of the repeated variable
 // APPLES == the variable name of the repeated struct
-func (pf *File) processMessage(msg *MsgName, wSort, wFind io.Writer) error {
-	var FRUIT string = cases.Title(language.English, cases.NoLower).String(msg.Name)
+func (pf *File) processMessage(parent *MsgName, wSort, wFind io.Writer) error {
+	var FRUIT string = cases.Title(language.English, cases.NoLower).String(parent.Name)
+	var LOCK string = parent.Lockname
 
 	log.Printf("Generating functions for %s\n", FRUIT)
 
-	for _, v := range msg.Vars {
+	for _, v := range parent.Vars {
 		if !v.IsRepeated {
 			log.Printf("\tSKIP %s %s\n", v.VarName, v.VarType)
 			continue
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ func (pf *File) processMessage(msg *MsgName, wSort, wFind io.Writer) error {
 
 		log.Printf("FOUND: %s %s for %s\n", APPLES, APPLE, FRUIT)
 
-		found.addFindByMsg(wFind, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE)
+		found.addFindByMsg(wFind, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE, LOCK)
 		found.addAppendByMsg(wFind, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE)
 		found.addDeleteByMsg(wFind, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE)
 		found.addInsertByMsg(wFind, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE) // new idea
@@ -106,13 +107,13 @@ func (pf *File) processMessage(msg *MsgName, wSort, wFind io.Writer) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (parent *MsgName) addFindByMsg(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE string) {
+func (parent *MsgName) addFindByMsg(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE, LOCK string) {
 	log.Printf("\tINSERT: %s %s for %s\n", APPLES, APPLE, FRUIT)
 	for _, v := range parent.Vars {
 		if v.HasUnique {
 			var COLOR string = cases.Title(language.English, cases.NoLower).String(v.VarName)
 			log.Printf("\t\t(x %s) InsertBy%s(string) *%s\n", FRUIT, COLOR, APPLE)
-			parent.findBy(w, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE, COLOR)
+			parent.findBy(w, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE, COLOR, LOCK)
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -157,7 +158,7 @@ func (parent *MsgName) addAppendByMsg(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE string)
 			COLORS = append(COLORS, COLOR)
 
 			log.Printf("\t\t(x %s) AppendUniqueBy%s(%s)\n", FRUIT, COLOR, APPLE)
-			parent.appendUniqueBy(w, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE, COLOR)
+			parent.appendUniqueCOLOR(w, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE, COLOR)
 		}
 	}
 	if len(COLORS) > 0 {
diff --git a/generateAppend.go b/generateAppend.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5c70316
--- /dev/null
+++ b/generateAppend.go
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+
+	"go.wit.com/log"
+)
+
+// generates Append()
+
+// I like these functions the best.
+func (msg *MsgName) simpleAppend(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE string) {
+	LOCK := msg.getLockname("x")
+
+	log.Printf("\t\t(x %s) APPEND(%s)\n", FRUIT, APPLE)
+	// append -- no check at all
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// just a simple Append() shortcut (but still uses the mutex lock)")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "func (x *"+FRUIT+") Append(y *"+APPLE+") {")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	"+LOCK+".Lock()")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	defer "+LOCK+".Unlock()")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	x."+APPLES+" = append(x."+APPLES+", y)")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "}")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
+}
+
+func (msg *MsgName) appendUnique(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE string, COLORS []string) {
+	LOCK := msg.getLockname("x")
+
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// enforces "+APPLE+" is unique in "+FRUIT+"."+APPLES)
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "func (x *"+FRUIT+") AppendUnique(newP *"+APPLE+") bool {")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	"+LOCK+".Lock()")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	defer "+LOCK+".Unlock()")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	for _, p := range x."+APPLES+" {")
+	for _, COLOR := range COLORS {
+		fmt.Fprintln(w, "		if p."+COLOR+" == newP."+COLOR+" {")
+		fmt.Fprintln(w, "			return false")
+		fmt.Fprintln(w, "		}")
+	}
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	}")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	x."+APPLES+" = append(x."+APPLES+", newP)")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	return true")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "}")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
+}
+
+func (msg *MsgName) appendUniqueCOLOR(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE, COLOR string) {
+	LOCK := msg.getLockname("x")
+
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// enforces "+APPLE+"."+COLOR+" is unique in "+FRUIT+"."+APPLES)
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "func (x *"+FRUIT+") AppendUnique"+COLOR+"(newP *"+APPLE+") bool {")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	"+LOCK+".Lock()")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	defer "+LOCK+".Unlock()")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	for _, p := range x."+APPLES+" {")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "		if p."+COLOR+" == newP."+COLOR+" {")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "			return false")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "		}")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	}")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	x."+APPLES+" = append(x."+APPLES+", newP)")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	return true")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "}")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
+}
diff --git a/generateFind.go b/generateFind.go
index c731fec..f2ecff1 100644
--- a/generateFind.go
+++ b/generateFind.go
@@ -3,13 +3,9 @@ package main
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
-
-	"go.wit.com/log"
 )
 
-// generates Find()
-
-// but really it has Append(), Delete() and some other stuff
+// generates Find() and some other stuff
 
 func (msg *MsgName) getLockname(s string) string {
 	// leave this function stubbed in for development of autogenpb
@@ -22,10 +18,8 @@ func (msg *MsgName) getLockname(s string) string {
 	return msg.Lockname
 }
 
-func (msg *MsgName) findBy(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE, COLOR string) {
-	LOCK := msg.getLockname("x")
-
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// find a dependancy by the go path")
+func (msg *MsgName) findBy(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE, COLOR, LOCK string) {
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// lookup a", FRUIT, "by the ", COLOR, msg.Lockname, msg.Name)
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "func (x *"+FRUIT+") FindBy"+COLOR+"(s string) *"+APPLE+" {")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	if x == nil {")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "		return nil")
@@ -44,64 +38,6 @@ func (msg *MsgName) findBy(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE, COLOR string) {
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
 }
 
-// I like these functions the best.
-func (msg *MsgName) simpleAppend(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE string) {
-	LOCK := msg.getLockname("x")
-
-	log.Printf("\t\t(x %s) APPEND(%s)\n", FRUIT, APPLE)
-	// append -- no check at all
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// just a simple Append() shortcut (but still uses the mutex lock)")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "func (x *"+FRUIT+") Append(y *"+APPLE+") {")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	"+LOCK+".Lock()")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	defer "+LOCK+".Unlock()")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	x."+APPLES+" = append(x."+APPLES+", y)")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "}")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
-}
-
-func (msg *MsgName) appendUnique(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE string, COLORS []string) {
-	LOCK := msg.getLockname("x")
-
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// enforces "+APPLE+" is unique in "+FRUIT+"."+APPLES)
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "func (x *"+FRUIT+") AppendUnique(newP *"+APPLE+") bool {")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	"+LOCK+".Lock()")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	defer "+LOCK+".Unlock()")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	for _, p := range x."+APPLES+" {")
-	for _, COLOR := range COLORS {
-		fmt.Fprintln(w, "		if p."+COLOR+" == newP."+COLOR+" {")
-		fmt.Fprintln(w, "			return false")
-		fmt.Fprintln(w, "		}")
-	}
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	}")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	x."+APPLES+" = append(x."+APPLES+", newP)")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	return true")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "}")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
-}
-
-func (msg *MsgName) appendUniqueBy(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE, COLOR string) {
-	LOCK := msg.getLockname("x")
-
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// enforces "+APPLE+"."+COLOR+" is unique in "+FRUIT+"."+APPLES)
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "func (x *"+FRUIT+") AppendUniqueBy"+COLOR+"(newP *"+APPLE+") bool {")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	"+LOCK+".Lock()")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	defer "+LOCK+".Unlock()")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	for _, p := range x."+APPLES+" {")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "		if p."+COLOR+" == newP."+COLOR+" {")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "			return false")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "		}")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	}")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	x."+APPLES+" = append(x."+APPLES+", newP)")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	return true")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "}")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
-}
-
 func (msg *MsgName) deleteBy(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE, COLOR string) {
 	LOCK := msg.getLockname("x")
 
@@ -145,10 +81,10 @@ func (msg *MsgName) deleteByWithCopy(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE, COLOR st
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
 }
 
+// new 2025 idea. useful? TODO: look at this again in 1y
 func (msg *MsgName) insertBy(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLES, APPLE string, COLOR string) {
 	LOCK := msg.getLockname("x")
 
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// useful? remindme:1y")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// returns an "+APPLE+" if "+COLOR+" matches, otherwise create")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "func (x *"+FRUIT+") InsertBy"+COLOR+" (y string) *"+APPLE+" {")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	"+LOCK+".Lock()")
diff --git a/generateMutex.go b/generateMutex.go
index f9e143e..aaa68a5 100644
--- a/generateMutex.go
+++ b/generateMutex.go
@@ -17,16 +17,17 @@ func (pf *File) syncLock(w io.Writer) {
 	var LOCK string = pf.Base.Lockname // if the Marshall code changes, this will have to change
 
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// a simple global lock")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// this is needed because it seems Marshal() fails if locks are in the structs (?)")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// this might just be a syntactical runtime error. notsure.")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// maybe this autogen tool will help someone that actually knows what is going on inside")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// go/src/google.golang.org/protobuf/proto/proto_methods.go")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// go/src/google.golang.org/protobuf/proto/encode.go")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// my guess is that Marshal() needs to be told to ignore sync.RWMutex as it ephemeral and can't be stored")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "var "+LOCK+" sync.RWMutex")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
+	/*
+		fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
+		fmt.Fprintln(w, "// this is needed because it seems Marshal() fails if locks are in the structs (?)")
+		fmt.Fprintln(w, "// this might just be a syntactical runtime error. notsure.")
+		fmt.Fprintln(w, "// maybe this autogen tool will help someone that actually knows what is going on inside")
+		fmt.Fprintln(w, "// go/src/google.golang.org/protobuf/proto/proto_methods.go")
+		fmt.Fprintln(w, "// go/src/google.golang.org/protobuf/proto/encode.go")
+		fmt.Fprintln(w, "// my guess is that Marshal() needs to be told to ignore sync.RWMutex as it ephemeral and can't be stored")
+	*/
 }
 
 func (pb *Files) addMutex(f *File) error {