27 changed files with 806 additions and 738 deletions
--- a/6
+++ b/6
@ -6,10 +6,8 @@ BUILDTIME = $(shell date +%Y.%m.%d_%H%M)
 # make gocui     # try the ncurses gui plugin
 # make andlabs   # try the andlabs gui plugin (uses GTK)

-default: install-verbose tag
-
-tag:
-	forge tag list
+default: install-verbose
+	forge patch list

 vet:
 	@GO111MODULE=off go vet
--- a/applyPatch.go
+++ b/applyPatch.go
@ -12,6 +12,39 @@ func savePatchset(pset *forgepb.Patchset) error {
 	log.Info("savePatches() GIT_AUTHOR_EMAIL", pset.GetGitAuthorEmail())
 	log.Info("savePatches() Branch Name", pset.GetStartBranchName())
 	log.Info("savePatches() Start Hash", pset.GetStartBranchHash())
+
+	var count int
+	var bad int
+	var lasterr error
+	all := pset.Patches.SortByFilename()
+	for all.Scan() {
+		p := all.Next()
+		basedir := filepath.Join(os.Getenv("FORGE_CONFIG"), "currentpatches")
+		if fullname, err := savePatchFile(p, basedir); err != nil {
+			log.Info(fullname, "save failed", err)
+			bad += 1
+			lasterr = err
+		}
+		count += 1
+	}
+	log.Info("pset has", count, "total patches, ", bad, "bad save patches")
+	if bad == 0 {
+		return lasterr
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+*/
+
+/*
+// re-run git CheckDirty() on everything
+func IsAnythingDirty() bool {
+	doCheckDirtyAndConfigSave()
+	found := me.forge.FindDirty()
+	if found.Len() == 0 {
+		return false
+	} else {
+		return true
+	}
 }
 */

@ -29,6 +62,43 @@ func countCurrentPatches(repo *gitpb.Repo) int {
 	return len(result.Stdout)
 }

+func savePatchFile(p *forgepb.Patch, basedir string) (string, error) {
+	basepath, filename := filepath.Split(p.Filename)
+	fulldir := filepath.Join(basedir, basepath)
+	err := os.MkdirAll(fulldir, os.ModePerm)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Info("applyPathces() MkdirAll failed for", fulldir)
+		log.Info("applyPathces() MkdirAll failed err", err)
+		return "", err
+	}
+	tmpname := filepath.Join(fulldir, filename)
+	log.Info("pset filename FILENAME IS REAL?", tmpname)
+	raw, _ := os.OpenFile(tmpname, os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE|os.O_TRUNC, 0644)
+	raw.Write(p.Data)
+	raw.Close()
+	return tmpname, nil
+}
+
+func readPatchFile(pbfile string) (*forgepb.Patchset, error) {
+	bytes, err := os.ReadFile(pbfile)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Info("readfile error", pbfile, err)
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return handleBytes(bytes)
+}
+
+func handleBytes(bytes []byte) (*forgepb.Patchset, error) {
+	var pset *forgepb.Patchset
+	pset = new(forgepb.Patchset)
+	err := pset.Unmarshal(bytes)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Info("Unmarshal failed", err)
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return pset, nil
+}
+
 func doRegister(newurl string) error {
 	var url string
 	url = me.urlbase + "/register?url=" + newurl
--- a/argv.go
+++ b/argv.go
@ -6,8 +6,6 @@ package main
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
-
-	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/prep"
 )

 /*
@ -22,15 +20,14 @@ type args struct {
 	Clean      *CleanCmd    `arg:"subcommand:clean"                     help:"start over at the beginning"`
 	Commit     *CommitCmd   `arg:"subcommand:commit"                    help:"'git commit' but errors out if on wrong branch"`
 	Config     *ConfigCmd   `arg:"subcommand:config"                    help:"show your .config/forge/ settings"`
+	Debug      *EmptyCmd    `arg:"subcommand:debug"                     help:"debug forge"`
 	Dirty      *DirtyCmd    `arg:"subcommand:dirty"                     help:"show dirty git repos"`
 	GitFetch   *FindCmd     `arg:"subcommand:fetch"                     help:"run 'git fetch master'"`
-	Gui        *EmptyCmd    `arg:"subcommand:gui"                       help:"open the gui"`
 	List       *FindCmd     `arg:"subcommand:list"                      help:"print a table of the current repos"`
 	Merge      *MergeCmd    `arg:"subcommand:merge"                     help:"merge branches"`
 	Normal     *NormalCmd   `arg:"subcommand:normal"                    help:"set every repo to the default state for software development"`
 	Patch      *PatchCmd    `arg:"subcommand:patch"                     help:"make patchsets"`
 	Pull       *PullCmd     `arg:"subcommand:pull"                      help:"run 'git pull'"`
-	Tag        *TagCmd      `arg:"subcommand:tag"                       help:"manage git tags"`
 	URL        string       `arg:"--connect"                            help:"forge url"`
 	All        bool         `arg:"--all"                                help:"git commit --all"`
 	Build      string       `arg:"--build"                              help:"build a repo"`
@ -38,6 +35,8 @@ type args struct {
 	BuildForge bool         `arg:"--forge-rebuild"                      help:"download and rebuild forge"`
 	Force      bool         `arg:"--force"                              help:"try to strong arm things"`
 	Verbose    bool         `arg:"--verbose"                            help:"show more output"`
+	Bash       bool         `arg:"--bash"                               help:"generate bash completion"`
+	BashAuto   []string     `arg:"--auto-complete"                      help:"todo: move this to go-arg"`
 }

 type EmptyCmd struct {
@ -55,8 +54,13 @@ type CommitCmd struct {
 type testCmd string

 type CleanCmd struct {
-	Verify *EmptyCmd `arg:"subcommand:verify"        help:"rescan repo"`
-	Repo   string    `arg:"--repo"                   help:"which repo to look at"`
+	Delete   *EmptyCmd      `arg:"subcommand:delete"        help:"rescan repo"`
+	Devel    *CleanDevelCmd `arg:"subcommand:devel"         help:"clean and verify the devel branches"`
+	Force    *EmptyCmd      `arg:"subcommand:force"         help:"do destructive stuff"`
+	GitReset *EmptyCmd      `arg:"subcommand:git-reset"     help:"git reset --hard"`
+	Pub      *EmptyCmd      `arg:"subcommand:pub"           help:"clean target version numbers"`
+	User     *EmptyCmd      `arg:"subcommand:user"          help:"clean the user branches"`
+	Repo     string         `arg:"--repo"                   help:"which repo to look at"`
 }

 type CleanDevelCmd struct {
@ -82,12 +86,6 @@ type PullCmd struct {
 	Patches *EmptyCmd `arg:"subcommand:patches"       help:"only check repos with patches"`
 }

-type TagCmd struct {
-	List   *EmptyCmd `arg:"subcommand:list"          help:"list the tags"`
-	Clean  *EmptyCmd `arg:"subcommand:clean"         help:"clean out old and duplicate tags"`
-	Delete string    `arg:"--delete"                 help:"delete a tag"`
-}
-
 type ConfigAddCmd struct {
 	Path        string `arg:"--path"                            help:"absolute path of the git repo"`
 	GoPath      string `arg:"--gopath"                          help:"GO path of the git repo"`
@ -149,57 +147,19 @@ forge -- a tool to manage lots of git repos. forge includes a GUI and TUI.
 `
 }

-// handles shell autocomplete
-func DoAutoComplete(pb *prep.Auto) {
-	switch pb.Cmd {
-	case "checkout":
-		pb.Autocomplete2("devel master user")
-	case "clean":
-		pb.Autocomplete2("")
-	case "commit":
-		pb.Autocomplete2("--all")
-	case "config":
-		fmt.Println("add fix list")
-	case "dirty":
-		fmt.Println("")
-	case "gui":
-		fmt.Println("")
-	case "--gui":
-		pb.Autocomplete2("andlabs gocui")
-	case "list":
-		pb.Autocomplete2("--mine --favorites --dirty")
-	case "merge":
-		pb.Autocomplete2("devel master --all")
-	case "normal":
-		pb.Autocomplete2("on off")
-	case "pull":
-		pb.Autocomplete2("--force check")
-	case "patch":
-		fmt.Println("check get list repos submit show")
-	case "tag":
-		fmt.Println("list --delete clean")
-	default:
-		if pb.Cmd == "" {
-			pb.Autocomplete2("help list checkout clean commit dirty fetch gui normal merge patch pull tag --gui")
-		} else {
-			pb.Autocomplete2("list checkout clean commit dirty normal merge tag")
-		}
+func (args) doBashHelpDebug() {
+	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "")
+	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "hello world")
+	var more string
+	p0 := "0" + argv.BashAuto[0]
+	p1 := "1" + argv.BashAuto[1]
+	p2 := "2" + argv.BashAuto[2]
+	if len(argv.BashAuto[1]) >= 0 {
+		more = "more"
+	} else {
+		more = "less"
 	}
-	os.Exit(0)
-}
-
-func (args) Appname() string {
-	return ARGNAME
-}
-
-func ifBlank(arg string) bool {
-	if arg == "''" {
-		// if empty, the user has not typed something
-		return true
-	}
-	return false
-}
-
-func (a args) DoAutoComplete(autoArgv *prep.Auto) {
-	DoAutoComplete(autoArgv)
+	p1a := fmt.Sprintf("1a.%s.%+v.\n", argv.BashAuto[1], len(argv.BashAuto[1]))
+	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "pull something else", argv.BashAuto, len(argv.BashAuto), p0, p1, p2, p1a, "end", more)
+	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "")
 }
--- a/argvAutoshell.go
+++ b/argvAutoshell.go
@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+// Copyright 2017-2025 WIT.COM Inc. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by the GPL 3.0
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+)
+
+/*
+	handles shell autocomplete
+*/
+
+// used for shell auto completion
+// var ARGNAME string = "forge" // todo: get this from $0 ?
+
+func deleteMatch() {
+	// f := forgedb.InitSimple()
+	fmt.Println("go.wit.com/lib/gui/repostatus todo: need to do this")
+}
+
+func (args) doBashAuto() {
+	// argv.doBashHelp()
+	switch argv.BashAuto[0] {
+	case "checkout":
+		fmt.Println("devel master user")
+	case "clean":
+		// me.pp.WriteHelp(os.Stderr)
+		// me.pp.WriteUsageForSubcommand(os.Stderr, me.pp.SubcommandNames()...)
+		// me.pp.WriteHelpForSubcommand(os.Stderr, me.pp.SubcommandNames()...)
+		// me.pp.WriteHelpForSubcommand(os.Stderr, "clean")
+		fmt.Println("--force")
+	case "commit":
+		fmt.Println("--all")
+	case "config":
+		fmt.Println("add fix list debug")
+	case "delete":
+		deleteMatch()
+	case "dirty":
+		fmt.Println("")
+	case "list":
+		fmt.Println("--full")
+	case "merge":
+		fmt.Println("devel master")
+	case "normal":
+		fmt.Println("on off")
+	case "pull":
+		fmt.Println("dirty clean list patches --force")
+	case "patch":
+		fmt.Println("check get list repos submit show")
+	case "user":
+		fmt.Println("--force")
+	case "devel":
+		fmt.Println("--force")
+	case "master":
+		fmt.Println("")
+	case "verify":
+		fmt.Println("user devel master")
+	default:
+		if argv.BashAuto[0] == ARGNAME {
+			// list the subcommands here
+			fmt.Println("help list checkout clean commit dirty debug fetch normal merge patch pull")
+		}
+	}
+	os.Exit(0)
+}
+
+// prints help to STDERR // TODO: move everything below this to go-args
+func (args) doBashHelp() {
+	if argv.BashAuto[1] != "''" {
+		// if this is not blank, then the user has typed something
+		return
+	}
+	if argv.BashAuto[0] != ARGNAME {
+		// if this is not the name of the command, the user already started doing something
+		return
+	}
+	if argv.BashAuto[0] == ARGNAME {
+		me.pp.WriteHelp(os.Stderr)
+		return
+	}
+	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "")
+	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "hello world")
+	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "")
+}
+
+// complete -F forge --bash forge
+func (args) doBash() {
+	fmt.Println("# add this in your bashrc:")
+	fmt.Println("")
+	fmt.Println("# todo: add this to go-arg as a 'hidden' go-arg option --bash")
+	fmt.Println("#")
+	fmt.Println("# todo: can this output work/parse with:")
+	fmt.Println("# complete -C `" + ARGNAME + " --bash` " + ARGNAME)
+	fmt.Println("")
+	fmt.Println("_" + ARGNAME + "_complete()")
+	fmt.Println("{")
+	fmt.Println("	# sets local to this func vars")
+	fmt.Println("	local cur prev all")
+	fmt.Println("	cur=${COMP_WORDS[COMP_CWORD]}")
+	fmt.Println("	prev=${COMP_WORDS[COMP_CWORD-1]}")
+	fmt.Println("	all=${COMP_WORDS[@]}")
+	fmt.Println("")
+	fmt.Println("	# this is where we generate the go-arg output")
+	fmt.Println("        GOARGS=$(" + ARGNAME + " --auto-complete $prev \\'$cur\\' $all)")
+	fmt.Println("")
+	fmt.Println("	# this compares the command line input from the user")
+	fmt.Println("	# to whatever strings we output")
+	fmt.Println("        COMPREPLY=( $(compgen -W \"$GOARGS\" -- $cur) )  # THIS WORKS")
+	fmt.Println("	return 0")
+	fmt.Println("}")
+	fmt.Println("complete -F _" + ARGNAME + "_complete " + ARGNAME)
+	fmt.Println("")
+	fmt.Println("# copy and paste the above into your bash shell should work")
+	os.Exit(0)
+}
--- a/config.go
+++ b/config.go
@ -1,36 +0,0 @@
-package main
-
-// functions to import and export the protobuf
-// data to and from config files
-
-import (
-	"fmt"
-
-	"go.wit.com/lib/config"
-	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/forgepb"
-	"go.wit.com/log"
-)
-
-func forgeConfigSave() error {
-	return me.forge.Config.ConfigSave()
-}
-
-func setForgeMode(fmode forgepb.ForgeMode) {
-	if me.forge.Config.Mode == fmode {
-		return
-	}
-	log.Info("changing mode", me.forge.Config.Mode, fmode)
-	me.forge.Config.Mode = fmode
-	config.SetChanged("forge", true)
-	me.forge.Config.ConfigSave()
-}
-
-func sampleConfig(all *forgepb.ForgeConfigs) {
-	new1 := new(forgepb.ForgeConfig)
-	new1.GoPath = "go.wit.com"
-	new1.Writable = true
-	new1.Directory = true
-	all.Append(new1)
-
-	fmt.Println("first time user. adding an example config file with", len(all.ForgeConfigs), "repos")
-}
--- a/debug.go
+++ b/debug.go
@ -1,88 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2017-2025 WIT.COM Inc. All rights reserved.
-// Use of this source code is governed by the GPL 3.0
-
-package main
-
-// An app to submit patches for the 30 GO GUI repos
-
-import (
-	"fmt"
-	"time"
-
-	"go.wit.com/gui"
-	"go.wit.com/lib/debugger"
-	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/shell"
-	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/gitpb"
-	"go.wit.com/log"
-)
-
-func init() {
-	if debugger.ArgDebug() {
-		log.Info("cmd line --debugger == true")
-		go func() {
-			log.Sleep(2)
-			debugger.DebugWindow()
-		}()
-	}
-}
-
-func debug() {
-	defer func() {
-		if r := recover(); r != nil {
-			gui.Crash(r, "forge debug()")
-		}
-	}()
-	time.Sleep(2 * time.Second)
-	for {
-		now := time.Now()
-
-		if me.repoAllB != nil {
-			tmp := fmt.Sprintf("All (%d)", me.forge.Repos.Len())
-			me.repoAllB.SetLabel(tmp)
-		}
-
-		if me.repoDevelMergeB != nil {
-			found := findMergeToDevel()
-			tmp := fmt.Sprintf("needs merge to devel (%d)", found.Len())
-			me.repoDevelMergeB.SetLabel(tmp)
-		}
-
-		if me.repoWritableB != nil {
-			found := gitpb.NewRepos()
-			for repo := range me.forge.Repos.IterByFullPath() {
-				if me.forge.Config.IsReadOnly(repo.GetGoPath()) {
-					continue
-				}
-
-				found.AppendByFullPath(repo)
-
-			}
-			tmp := fmt.Sprintf("writable (%d)", found.Len())
-			me.repoWritableB.SetLabel(tmp)
-		}
-
-		dirty := me.forge.CheckDirty()
-
-		if me.repoDirtyB != nil {
-			tmp := fmt.Sprintf("dirty (%d)", dirty.Len())
-			me.repoDirtyB.SetLabel(tmp)
-		}
-
-		if me.reposWinB != nil {
-			tmp := fmt.Sprintf("Repos (%d)", me.forge.Repos.Len())
-			if dirty.Len() > 0 {
-				tmp = fmt.Sprintf("Repos (%d) (%d dirty)", me.forge.Repos.Len(), dirty.Len())
-			}
-			me.reposWinB.SetLabel(tmp)
-		}
-
-		// check for new patches
-		log.Info("should check for packages here")
-		//		if err := me.forge.ListPatches(); err != nil {
-		//			log.Info("List Patchsets Failed", err)
-		//		}
-
-		log.Printf("finished a forge scan here in (%s)\n", shell.FormatDuration(time.Since(now)))
-		time.Sleep(90 * time.Second)
-	}
-}
--- a/doCheckout.go
+++ b/doCheckout.go
@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"time"

 	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/shell"
-	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/forgepb"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 )

@ -27,7 +26,6 @@ func doCheckout() error {
 	}

 	if argv.Checkout.Devel != nil {
-		// setForgeMode(forgepb.ForgeMode_DEVEL)
 		if err := me.forge.DoAllCheckoutDevelNew(argv.Force); err != nil {
 			badExit(err)
 		}
@ -35,8 +33,6 @@ func doCheckout() error {
 	}

 	if argv.Checkout.Master != nil {
-		setForgeMode(forgepb.ForgeMode_MASTER) // disable "normal" mode if set
-
 		if err := me.forge.DoAllCheckoutMaster(); err != nil {
 			badExit(err)
 		}
--- a/doClean.go
+++ b/doClean.go
@ -6,50 +6,14 @@ package main
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"time"

-	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/shell"
-	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/forgepb"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/gitpb"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 )

-func checkRemoteBranches(repo *gitpb.Repo) error {
-	if err := repo.ReloadCheck(); err != nil {
-		log.Info("need to reload", repo.FullPath)
-	}
-	if repo.VerifyRemoteAndLocalBranches(repo.GetDevelBranchName()) {
-	} else {
-		return log.Errorf("remote devel is out of sync with local: todo: git pull or git fetch")
-	}
-	if repo.VerifyRemoteAndLocalBranches(repo.GetMasterBranchName()) {
-	} else {
-		return log.Errorf("remote master is out of sync with local: todo: git pull or git fetch")
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
 // reverts all repos back to the original master branches
 // automatically deletes local devel and user branches
 func doClean() error {
-	setForgeMode(forgepb.ForgeMode_CLEAN)
-
-	if argv.Clean.Verify != nil {
-		stats := me.forge.RillRepos(checkRemoteBranches)
-		for path, stat := range stats {
-			if stat.Err == nil {
-				continue
-			}
-			dur := stat.End.Sub(stat.Start)
-			if dur > time.Second {
-				log.Infof("%s checkRemoteBranches() took a long time (%s) (err=%v)\n", path, shell.FormatDuration(dur), stat.Err)
-			}
-		}
-		// log.Infof("%-60s, %-60s %v %s\n", stat.Start, stat.End.String(), dur, path)
-		// log.Infof("%-30v %s %v\n", dur, path, stat.Err)
-		return nil
-	}
-
 	// fix this to work, then delete all the other options for "forge clean'
 	if err := me.forge.DoAllCheckoutMaster(); err != nil {
 		// badExit(err)
@ -249,7 +213,7 @@ func justDeleteTheDevelBranchAlready(repo *gitpb.Repo) error {
 		return err
 	}
 	cmd := []string{"git", "merge something somehow"}
-	log.Info("devel local, remote and master branches are wrong", repo.GetGoPath(), cmd, b1)
+	log.Info("DEVEL LOCAL NEEDS GIT MERGE TO MASTER", repo.GetGoPath(), cmd, b1)
 	// _, err := repo.RunVerbose(cmd)
 	return nil
 }
--- a/doCommit.go
+++ b/doCommit.go
@ -6,13 +6,12 @@ package main
 import (
 	"os"

-	"go.wit.com/lib/config"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/shell"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/gitpb"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 )

-func doCommit() error {
+func doCommit() {
 	if argv.All {
 		found := me.forge.CheckDirty()
 		var newpatches bool
@ -22,16 +21,22 @@ func doCommit() error {
 				badExit(err)
 			}
 			newpatches = true
-			repo.CheckDirty()
+		}
+		if !argv.Commit.Submit {
+			okExit("")
 		}
 		if newpatches {
-			config.SetChanged("repos", true)
-			return doPatchSubmit()
+			patchSubmitAndExit()
 		}
 		okExit("")
 	}

-	repo := findCurrentPwdRepoOrDie()
+	pwd, _ := os.Getwd()
+	repo := me.forge.Repos.FindByFullPath(pwd)
+	if repo == nil {
+		log.Info("todo: forge doesn't know how to work here yet")
+		okExit("")
+	}

 	if !repo.CheckDirty() {
 		okExit(log.Sprintf("this repo %s is not dirty.\n\n--all    # commit all changes in all repos", repo.GetFullPath()))
@ -64,7 +69,23 @@ func doCommit() error {
 		badExit(err)
 	}

-	return doPatchSubmit()
+	patchSubmitAndExit()
+}
+
+func patchSubmitAndExit() {
+	_, err := me.forge.SubmitDevelPatchSet("forge auto commit")
+	if err != nil {
+		// TRY different URL
+		me.forge.SetForgeURL("https://forge.grid.wit.com/")
+		log.Info("GOING TO TRY AGAIN", me.forge.GetForgeURL())
+	}
+
+	_, err = me.forge.SubmitDevelPatchSet("forge auto commit")
+	if err != nil {
+		badExit(err)
+	}
+
+	okExit("git commit ok. forge done")
 }

 func doCommitRepo(repo *gitpb.Repo) error {
--- a/doConfig.go
+++ b/doConfig.go
@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ func doConfig() {
 	}

 	log.Info("config.PathLock =", me.forge.Config.PathLock)
+	log.Info("config.GoSrc =", me.forge.Config.GoSrc)

 	me.forge.ConfigPrintTable()
 	okExit("")
--- a/doDebug.go
+++ b/doDebug.go
@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
+// Copyright 2017-2025 WIT.COM Inc. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by the GPL 3.0
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"log"
+	"reflect"
+	"unicode/utf8"
+
+	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/bugpb"
+	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/forgepb"
+	"golang.org/x/text/encoding/charmap"
+	"google.golang.org/protobuf/proto"
+)
+
+func doDebug() {
+	me.forge = forgepb.InitPB()
+	me.forge.ScanGoSrc()
+	if err := me.forge.ConfigSave(); err != nil {
+		if err := me.forge.Repos.ConfigSave(); err != nil {
+			err := ValidateProtoUTF8(me.forge.Repos)
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Printf("Protobuf UTF-8 validation failed: %v\n", err)
+			}
+			if err := bugpb.SanitizeProtoUTF8(me.forge.Repos); err != nil {
+				log.Fatalf("Sanitization failed: %v", err)
+			}
+		}
+		// badExit(err)
+	}
+	me.forge.SetConfigSave(true)
+	me.forge.Exit()
+	okExit("this never runs")
+}
+
+// ValidateProtoUTF8 checks all string fields in a proto.Message recursively.
+func ValidateProtoUTF8(msg proto.Message) error {
+	return validateValue(reflect.ValueOf(msg), "")
+}
+
+func validateValue(val reflect.Value, path string) error {
+	if !val.IsValid() {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if val.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
+		if val.IsNil() {
+			return nil
+		}
+		return validateValue(val.Elem(), path)
+	}
+
+	switch val.Kind() {
+	case reflect.Struct:
+		for i := 0; i < val.NumField(); i++ {
+			field := val.Field(i)
+			fieldType := val.Type().Field(i)
+			fieldPath := fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", path, fieldType.Name)
+			if err := validateValue(field, fieldPath); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+
+	case reflect.String:
+		s := val.String()
+		if !utf8.ValidString(s) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid UTF-8 string at %s: %q", path, s)
+		}
+
+	case reflect.Slice:
+		if val.Type().Elem().Kind() == reflect.Uint8 {
+			return nil // skip []byte
+		}
+		for i := 0; i < val.Len(); i++ {
+			if err := validateValue(val.Index(i), fmt.Sprintf("%s[%d]", path, i)); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+
+	case reflect.Map:
+		for _, key := range val.MapKeys() {
+			valItem := val.MapIndex(key)
+			if err := validateValue(valItem, fmt.Sprintf("%s[%v]", path, key)); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// SanitizeProtoUTF8 fixes all invalid UTF-8 strings in a proto.Message recursively.
+func SanitizeProtoUTF8(msg proto.Message) error {
+	return sanitizeValue(reflect.ValueOf(msg), "")
+}
+
+func sanitizeValue(val reflect.Value, path string) error {
+	if !val.IsValid() {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if val.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
+		if val.IsNil() {
+			return nil
+		}
+		return sanitizeValue(val.Elem(), path)
+	}
+
+	switch val.Kind() {
+	case reflect.Struct:
+		for i := 0; i < val.NumField(); i++ {
+			field := val.Field(i)
+			fieldType := val.Type().Field(i)
+			if !field.CanSet() {
+				continue
+			}
+			if err := sanitizeValue(field, fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", path, fieldType.Name)); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+
+	case reflect.String:
+		s := val.String()
+		if !utf8.ValidString(s) {
+			utf8Str, err := latin1ToUTF8(s)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("failed to convert %s to UTF-8: %v", path, err)
+			}
+			val.SetString(utf8Str)
+		}
+
+	case reflect.Slice:
+		if val.Type().Elem().Kind() == reflect.Uint8 {
+			return nil // skip []byte
+		}
+		for i := 0; i < val.Len(); i++ {
+			if err := sanitizeValue(val.Index(i), fmt.Sprintf("%s[%d]", path, i)); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+
+	case reflect.Map:
+		for _, key := range val.MapKeys() {
+			valItem := val.MapIndex(key)
+			newItem := reflect.New(valItem.Type()).Elem()
+			newItem.Set(valItem)
+			if err := sanitizeValue(newItem, fmt.Sprintf("%s[%v]", path, key)); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			val.SetMapIndex(key, newItem)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func latin1ToUTF8(input string) (string, error) {
+	reader := charmap.ISO8859_1.NewDecoder().Reader(bytes.NewReader([]byte(input)))
+	result, err := io.ReadAll(reader)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return string(result), nil
+}
--- a/doGui.go
+++ b/doGui.go
@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"time"

 	"go.wit.com/gui"
+	"go.wit.com/lib/fhelp"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/gadgets"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/shell"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/forgepb"
@ -18,20 +19,114 @@ import (
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 )

+func debug() {
+	defer func() {
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			gui.Crash(r, "forge debug()")
+		}
+	}()
+	time.Sleep(2 * time.Second)
+	for {
+		now := time.Now()
+
+		if me.repoAllB != nil {
+			tmp := fmt.Sprintf("All (%d)", me.forge.Repos.Len())
+			me.repoAllB.SetLabel(tmp)
+		}
+
+		if me.repoDevelMergeB != nil {
+			found := findMergeToDevel()
+			tmp := fmt.Sprintf("needs merge to devel (%d)", found.Len())
+			me.repoDevelMergeB.SetLabel(tmp)
+		}
+
+		if me.repoWritableB != nil {
+			found := gitpb.NewRepos()
+			for repo := range me.forge.Repos.IterByFullPath() {
+				if me.forge.Config.IsReadOnly(repo.GetGoPath()) {
+					continue
+				}
+
+				found.AppendByFullPath(repo)
+
+			}
+			tmp := fmt.Sprintf("writable (%d)", found.Len())
+			me.repoWritableB.SetLabel(tmp)
+		}
+
+		dirty := me.forge.CheckDirty()
+
+		if me.repoDirtyB != nil {
+			tmp := fmt.Sprintf("dirty (%d)", dirty.Len())
+			me.repoDirtyB.SetLabel(tmp)
+		}
+
+		if me.reposWinB != nil {
+			tmp := fmt.Sprintf("Repos (%d)", me.forge.Repos.Len())
+			if dirty.Len() > 0 {
+				tmp = fmt.Sprintf("Repos (%d) (%d dirty)", me.forge.Repos.Len(), dirty.Len())
+			}
+			me.reposWinB.SetLabel(tmp)
+		}
+
+		// check for new patches
+		log.Info("should check for packages here")
+		//		if err := me.forge.ListPatches(); err != nil {
+		//			log.Info("List Patchsets Failed", err)
+		//		}
+
+		log.Printf("finished a forge scan here in (%s)\n", shell.FormatDuration(time.Since(now)))
+		time.Sleep(90 * time.Second)
+	}
+}
+
 func doGui() {
-	win := gadgets.NewGenericWindow("Forge: A federated git development tool by WIT.COM", "Current Settings")
-	win.Custom = func() {
-		log.Warn("MAIN WINDOW CLOSE")
-		okExit("")
+	if me.forge.Config.GetDefaultGui() == "" {
+		me.forge.Config.DefaultGui = "gocui"
+		me.forge.ConfigSave()
+	}
+	me.myGui = gui.New()
+	me.myGui.InitEmbed(resources)
+	me.myGui.SetAppDefaultPlugin(me.forge.Config.DefaultGui) // sets the default GUI plugin to use
+	if pname, err := me.myGui.Default(); err != nil {
+		if !fhelp.BuildPlugin("gocui") {
+			log.Info("You can't run the forge GUI since the plugins did not build", pname)
+			okExit("")
+		} else {
+			if err := me.myGui.LoadToolkitNew("gocui"); err != nil {
+				log.Info("The plugins built, but still failed to load", pname)
+				badExit(err)
+			}
+			log.Info("The plugins built and loaded!", pname)
+		}
 	}

+	mainWindow := gadgets.NewGenericWindow("Forge: A federated git development tool by WIT.COM", "Current Settings")
+	mainWindow.Custom = func() {
+		log.Warn("MAIN WINDOW CLOSE")
+		now := time.Now()
+		count := me.forge.RillReload()
+		log.Info("Repo Reload count =", count)
+		if count != 0 {
+			me.forge.ConfigSave()
+		}
+		log.Printf("rill repos.Reload() took (%s)\n", shell.FormatDuration(time.Since(now)))
+		okExit("")
+	}
+	drawWindow(mainWindow)
+
+	// sits here forever
+	debug()
+}
+
+func drawWindow(win *gadgets.GenericWindow) {
 	grid := win.Group.RawGrid()
 	if me.forge.Config.GetPathLock() {
 		me.goSrcPwd = gadgets.NewOneLiner(grid, "Working Directory")
-		me.goSrcPwd.SetText(me.forge.Config.ReposDir)
+		me.goSrcPwd.SetText(me.forge.GetGoSrc())
 	} else {
 		me.goSrcEdit = gadgets.NewBasicEntry(grid, "Working Directory")
-		me.goSrcEdit.SetText(me.forge.Config.ReposDir)
+		me.goSrcEdit.SetText(me.forge.GetGoSrc())
 		me.goSrcEdit.Custom = func() {
 			log.Info("updating text to", me.goSrcEdit.String())
 		}
@ -132,13 +227,13 @@ func makeStandardReposGrid(pb *gitpb.Repos) *gitpb.ReposTable {
 	t := pb.NewTable("testDirty")
 	t.NewUuid()
 	sf := t.AddStringFunc("repo", func(r *gitpb.Repo) string {
-		return r.GetNamespace()
+		return r.GetGoPath()
 	})
 	// t.Custom = func() {
 	// 	log.Info("close grid?")
 	// }
 	sf.Custom = func(r *gitpb.Repo) {
-		log.Info("do button click on", r.GetNamespace())
+		log.Info("do button click on", r.GetGoPath())
 	}
 	t.AddTimeFunc("age", func(repo *gitpb.Repo) time.Time {
 		return repo.NewestTime()
@ -197,7 +292,7 @@ func findMergeToMaster() *gitpb.Repos {
 	for all.Scan() {
 		repo := all.Next()

-		if me.forge.Config.IsReadOnly(repo.GetNamespace()) {
+		if me.forge.Config.IsReadOnly(repo.GetGoPath()) {
 			continue
 		}
 		/*
@ -215,7 +310,7 @@ func findMergeToMaster() *gitpb.Repos {
 			// everything is normal
 		} else {
 			repo.State = "DEVEL < MASTER"
-			log.Info("SERIOUS ERROR. DEVEL BRANCH IS BEHIND MASTER", repo.GetNamespace())
+			log.Info("SERIOUS ERROR. DEVEL BRANCH IS BEHIND MASTER", repo.GetGoPath())
 		}

 		// this sees if devel has patches for master. If it does, add it to me.found
@ -247,7 +342,7 @@ func mergeDevelToMaster(doit bool) {
 	all := found.SortByFullPath()
 	for all.Scan() {
 		repo := all.Next()
-		log.Info("repo:", repo.GetNamespace())
+		log.Info("repo:", repo.GetGoPath())
 		if result, err := repo.MergeToMaster(); err == nil {
 			log.Warn("THINGS SEEM OK", repo.GetFullPath())
 			for _, line := range result.Stdout {
@ -298,10 +393,10 @@ func mergeUserToDevel(doit bool) {

 		b1 := repo.CountDiffObjects(bruser, brdevel) // should be zero
 		if b1 == 0 {
-			// log.Info("User is already merged into Devel", repo.GetNamespace(), cmd)
+			// log.Info("User is already merged into Devel", repo.GetGoPath(), cmd)
 			return
 		}
-		log.Info("merging user into devel repo:", repo.GetNamespace())
+		log.Info("merging user into devel repo:", repo.GetGoPath())
 		if result, err := repo.MergeToDevel(); err == nil {
 			log.Warn("THINGS SEEM OK", repo.GetFullPath())
 			for _, line := range result.Stdout {
--- a/doMerge.go
+++ b/doMerge.go
@ -4,61 +4,11 @@
 package main

 import (
-	"time"
-
-	"go.wit.com/lib/config"
-	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/shell"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/forgepb"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/gitpb"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 )

-func doMerge() error {
-	if argv.All == true {
-		start := time.Now()
-		repos, err := doMergeDevel()
-		dur := time.Since(start)
-		if err != nil {
-			badExit(err)
-		}
-		log.Printf("Merged %d devel branches in %s\n", repos.Len(), shell.FormatDuration(dur))
-
-		start = time.Now()
-		repos, err = doMergeMaster()
-		dur = time.Since(start)
-		if err != nil {
-			badExit(err)
-		}
-		log.Printf("Merged %d master branches in %s\n", repos.Len(), shell.FormatDuration(dur))
-		okExit("")
-	}
-	if argv.Merge.Devel != nil {
-		start := time.Now()
-		repos, err := doMergeDevel()
-		dur := time.Since(start)
-		if err != nil {
-			badExit(err)
-		}
-		log.Printf("Merged %d devel branches in %s\n", repos.Len(), shell.FormatDuration(dur))
-		okExit("")
-	}
-	if argv.Merge.Master != nil {
-		start := time.Now()
-		repos, err := doMergeMaster()
-		dur := time.Since(start)
-		if err != nil {
-			badExit(err)
-		}
-		log.Printf("Merged %d master branches in %s\n", repos.Len(), shell.FormatDuration(dur))
-		okExit("")
-	}
-	repo := findCurrentPwdRepoOrDie()
-	if err := repoMergeToDevel(repo); err != nil {
-		badRepoExit(repo, err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
 func doMergeReport() *forgepb.Patches {
 	found := forgepb.NewPatches()
 	for repo := range me.forge.Repos.IterAll() {
@ -81,14 +31,14 @@ func doMergeDevel() (*gitpb.Repos, error) {
 	found := findMergeToDevel()
 	for repo := range found.IterAll() {
 		if repo.CheckDirty() {
-			log.Info("repo is dirty", repo.GetFullPath())
+			log.Info("repo is dirty", repo.GetGoPath())
 			continue
 		}
 		log.Infof("%s starting git merge\n", repo.FullPath)
 		if repo.CheckoutDevel() {
 			log.Info("checkout devel failed", repo.GetGoPath())
 			err = log.Errorf("checkout devel failed")
-			badExit(err)
+			break
 		}
 		// hash differences when merging user into devel branch
 		out := repo.GetBranchDifferences(repo.GetDevelBranchName(), repo.GetUserBranchName())
@ -100,44 +50,17 @@ func doMergeDevel() (*gitpb.Repos, error) {
 			err = log.Errorf("merge from user failed")
 			// log.Info(strings.Join(r.Stdout, "\n"))
 			// log.Info(strings.Join(r.Stderr, "\n"))
-			badExit(err)
+			break
 		}
 		done.Append(repo)
-		config.SetChanged("repos", true)
 	}
 	return done, err
 }

-func repoMergeToDevel(repo *gitpb.Repo) error {
-	if repo.CheckDirty() {
-		return log.Errorf("can not merge. repo is dirty")
-	}
-	log.Infof("%s starting git merge\n", repo.FullPath)
-	if repo.CheckoutDevel() {
-		log.Info("checkout devel failed", repo.GetGoPath())
-		err := log.Errorf("checkout devel failed")
-		badExit(err)
-	}
-	// hash differences when merging user into devel branch
-	out := repo.GetBranchDifferences(repo.GetDevelBranchName(), repo.GetUserBranchName())
-	for i, hash := range out {
-		log.Info("MERGE HASH FROM USER TO DEVEL", i, hash)
-	}
-	if _, err := repo.MergeToDevel(); err != nil {
-		log.Info("merge from user failed", repo.GetGoPath(), err)
-		// err := log.Errorf("merge from user failed")
-		// log.Info(strings.Join(r.Stdout, "\n"))
-		// log.Info(strings.Join(r.Stderr, "\n"))
-		badExit(err)
-	}
-	config.SetChanged("repos", true)
-	return nil
-}
-
 func doMergeMaster() (*gitpb.Repos, error) {
 	var err error
-	setForgeMode(forgepb.ForgeMode_MASTER)
-
+	me.forge.Config.Mode = forgepb.ForgeMode_MASTER // disable "normal" mode if set
+	configSave = true
 	done := gitpb.NewRepos()
 	found := findMergeToMaster()
 	for repo := range found.IterAll() {
@ -150,7 +73,7 @@ func doMergeMaster() (*gitpb.Repos, error) {
 		if repo.CheckoutMaster() {
 			log.Info("checkout devel failed", repo.GetGoPath())
 			err = log.Errorf("checkout devel failed")
-			badExit(err)
+			break
 		}

 		if _, err := repo.MergeToMaster(); err != nil {
@ -158,11 +81,10 @@ func doMergeMaster() (*gitpb.Repos, error) {
 			err = log.Errorf("merge from user failed")
 			// log.Info(strings.Join(r.Stdout, "\n"))
 			// log.Info(strings.Join(r.Stderr, "\n"))
-			badExit(err)
+			break
 		}

 		done.Append(repo)
-		config.SetChanged("repos", true)
 	}
 	return done, err
 }
--- a/doNormal.go
+++ b/doNormal.go
@ -6,11 +6,8 @@ package main
 // checks that repos are in a "normal" state

 import (
-	"path/filepath"
-	"strings"
 	"time"

-	"go.wit.com/lib/config"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/shell"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/gitpb"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
@ -37,8 +34,9 @@ func doNormal() bool {
 	if count > 0 {
 		log.Info("Some repos are not in a 'normal' state. error count =", count)
 		log.Info("TODO: list the repos here. forge patch repos?")
-		dumpWorkRepos()
-		config.SetChanged("repos", true)
+		configSave = false
+		me.forge.SetConfigSave(false)
+		dumpDirtyRepos()
 		return false
 	}
 	return true
@ -50,63 +48,28 @@ func doNormal() bool {
 // this needs to run each time in case repos were added manually by the user
 // this also verifies that
 func checkNormalRepoState(repo *gitpb.Repo) error {
-	var err error
-	tmp := filepath.Join(me.forge.Config.ReposDir, repo.GetNamespace())
-	if tmp != repo.FullPath {
-		log.Infof("%s != %s\n", repo.FullPath, tmp)
-		if strings.HasPrefix(repo.FullPath, me.forge.Config.ReposDir) {
-			tmp = strings.TrimPrefix(repo.FullPath, me.forge.Config.ReposDir)
-			tmp = strings.Trim(tmp, "/")
-			repo.Namespace = tmp
-			err = log.Errorf("namespace set to filepath")
-		}
-	} else {
-		// log.Infof("%s == %s\n", repo.FullPath, tmp)
-	}
-
-	tmp = strings.Trim(repo.Namespace, "/")
-	if tmp != repo.Namespace {
-		err = log.Errorf("junk in ns %s", repo.Namespace)
-		repo.Namespace = tmp
-	}
-
 	if repo.GetMasterBranchName() == "" {
 		me.forge.VerifyBranchNames(repo)
+		configSave = true
 		log.Info("ABNORMAL: master branch name was blank in", repo.GetFullPath())
 	}
 	if repo.GetMasterBranchName() == "" {
-		me.forge.VerifyBranchNames(repo)
-		err = log.Errorf("master branch name blank")
+		return log.Errorf("master branch name blank")
 	}
 	if repo.GetDevelBranchName() == "" {
-		me.forge.VerifyBranchNames(repo)
-		err = log.Errorf("devel branch name blank")
+		return log.Errorf("devel branch name blank")
 	}
 	if repo.GetUserBranchName() == "" {
-		me.forge.VerifyBranchNames(repo)
-		err = log.Errorf("user branch name blank")
-	}
-	if repo.GetGoPath() == repo.GetNamespace() {
-		// log.Info(repo.FullPath, "gopath == namespace", repo.GetGoPath(), repo.GetNamespace())
-	} else {
-		log.Info(repo.FullPath, "gopath != namespace", repo.GetGoPath(), repo.GetNamespace())
+		return log.Errorf("user branch name blank")
 	}
 	repo.MakeLocalDevelBranch()

-	repo.VerifyRemoteAndLocalBranches(repo.GetDevelBranchName())
-	repo.VerifyRemoteAndLocalBranches(repo.GetMasterBranchName())
-
 	if repo.GetCurrentBranchName() != repo.GetUserBranchName() {
-		log.Infof("changing to user(%s) branch: %s\n", repo.GetUserBranchName(), repo.FullPath)
+		configSave = true
+		log.Info("changing to user branch", repo.FullPath)
 		repo.CheckoutUser()
-		repo.ReloadCheck()
-		err = log.Errorf("now on user branch")
+		repo.Reload()
+		return log.Errorf("now on user branch")
 	}
-
-	if me.forge.Config.IsReadOnly(repo.GetGoPath()) != repo.GetReadOnly() {
-		repo.ReadOnly = me.forge.Config.IsReadOnly(repo.GetGoPath())
-		log.Info("damnit", repo.FullPath)
-		err = log.Errorf("readonly bit wrong")
-	}
-	return err
+	return nil
 }
--- a/doPatch.go
+++ b/doPatch.go
@ -31,49 +31,35 @@ func isPatchingSafe() bool {
 	if me.forge.Config.Mode == forgepb.ForgeMode_NORMAL {
 		return true
 	}
-	log.Info("This patch command is not safe to run now")
-	log.Info("you must reset the state of your git repositories. Run:")
+	log.Info("forge requres a 'normal' state to work with patches")
+	log.Info("you must run:")
 	log.Info("")
 	log.Info("forge normal")
 	log.Info("")
 	return false
 }

-// submit's current working patches
-func doPatchSubmit() error {
-	pset, err := me.forge.MakeDevelPatchSet("testing")
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if pset.Patches == nil {
-		log.Info("pset.Patches == nil")
-		return err
-	}
-	if pset.Patches.Len() == 0 {
-		log.Info("did not find any patches")
-		return nil
-	}
-	pset.PrintTable()
-	_, _, err = pset.HttpPost(myServer(), "new")
-	return err
-}
-
 func doPatch() error {
 	if argv.Patch.Repos != nil {
-		dumpWorkRepos()
+		dumpDirtyRepos()
 		return nil
 	}

-	if argv.Patch.Submit != nil {
-		return doPatchSubmit()
-	}
-
 	if !isPatchingSafe() {
 		return log.Errorf("not safe to work on patches")
 	}

+	if argv.Patch.Submit != nil {
+		pset, err := me.forge.MakeDevelPatchSet("testing")
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		pset.Patches.HttpPostVerbose(myServer(), "new")
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	if argv.Patch.Get != nil {
-		psets := forgepb.NewSets()
+		psets := forgepb.NewPatchsets()
 		newpb, _, _ := psets.HttpPostVerbose(myServer(), "get")
 		newpb.PrintTable()
 		me.forge.Patchsets = newpb
@ -101,95 +87,75 @@ func doPatch() error {

 	if argv.Patch.List != nil {
 		var changed bool
-		newpatches := new(forgepb.Set)
-		newpatches.Patches = forgepb.NewPatches()
+		newpatches := forgepb.NewPatches()
 		for pset := range me.forge.Patchsets.IterAll() {
-			pset.PrintTable()
+			log.Info(pset.Uuid)
 			for patch := range pset.Patches.IterAll() {
-				changed = true
-				if patch.NewHash == "" || patch.NewHash == "na" {
-					if newpatches.Patches.AppendByPatchId(patch) {
-						log.Info("patchId added here", patch.PatchId)
-					} else {
-						log.Info("patchId already here", patch.PatchId)
-					}
-				} else {
-					if err := setNewCommitHash(patch); err != nil {
-						log.Infof("%s bad check on patch failure %v\n", patch.Filename, err)
-						return err
-					}
-					log.Info("newhash set already here", patch.PatchId, patch.NewHash)
+				if setNewCommitHash(patch) {
+					changed = true
+				}
+				if patch.NewHash == "na" {
+					newpatches.Append(patch)
+					log.Info("apply this patch?")
 				}
 			}
+
+			/*
+				for patch := range pset.Patches.IterAll() {
+					if repo, ok := me.forge.IsPatchApplied(patch); ok {
+						log.Info("\tfound patch in repo", repo.Namespace, patch.Filename)
+					} else {
+						log.Info("\tdid not find patch", patch.CommitHash, patch.NewHash, patch.Filename)
+					}
+				}
+			*/
 		}
 		if changed {
 			if err := me.forge.SavePatchsets(); err != nil {
 				log.Warn("savePatchsets() failed", err)
 			}
 		}
-		log.Info("NEW PATCHES TABLE")
-		newpatches.PrintTable()
-		for patch := range newpatches.Patches.IterAll() {
-			if err := setNewCommitHash(patch); err == nil {
-				log.Info("newhash set already here", patch.PatchId, patch.NewHash)
-				continue
-			}
-			log.Infof("%s is new\n", patch.Filename)
-			repo := me.forge.FindByGoPath(patch.Namespace)
-			if repo == nil {
-				log.Info("\tCould not find namespace:", patch.Namespace)
-				continue
-			}
-			if fhelp.QuestionUser("apply this patch?") {
-				newhash, err := applyAndTrackPatch(repo, patch)
-				log.Info("apply results:", newhash, err)
-			}
-		}
-		return nil
-		/*
-			if newpatches.Len() != 0 {
-				for patch := range newpatches.IterAll() {
-					log.Info("new patch:", patch.CommitHash, patch.NewHash, patch.Filename)
-					repo := me.forge.FindByGoPath(patch.Namespace)
-					if repo == nil {
-						log.Info("\tCould not find namespace:", patch.Namespace)
-						continue
-					}
+		me.forge.Patchsets.PrintTable()
+		if newpatches.Len() != 0 {
+			for patch := range newpatches.IterAll() {
+				log.Info("new patch:", patch.CommitHash, patch.NewHash, patch.Filename)
+				repo := me.forge.FindByGoPath(patch.Namespace)
+				if repo == nil {
+					log.Info("\tCould not find namespace:", patch.Namespace)
+					continue
+				}
+				if fhelp.QuestionUser("apply this patch?") {
+					newhash, err := applyAndTrackPatch(repo, patch)
+					log.Info("apply results:", newhash, err)
 				}
-				return log.Errorf("patches need to be applied")
 			}
+			return log.Errorf("patches need to be applied")
+		}

-			// return doPatchList()
-			applied := findApplied()
-			if applied == nil || applied.Len() == 0 {
-				log.Info("no patches have been appled to the devel branch yet")
-				return nil
-			}
-			// for patch := range applied.IterAll() {
-			// 	log.Info("SEND APPLIED: newhash:", patch.NewHash, "commithash:", patch.CommitHash, "patch", patch.Namespace)
-			// }
-			newpb, _, err := applied.HttpPostVerbose(myServer(), "applied")
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-			newpb.PrintTable()
+		// return doPatchList()
+		applied := findApplied()
+		if applied.Len() == 0 {
+			log.Info("no patches have been appled to the devel branch yet")
 			return nil
-		*/
+		}
+		// for patch := range applied.IterAll() {
+		// 	log.Info("SEND APPLIED: newhash:", patch.NewHash, "commithash:", patch.CommitHash, "patch", patch.Namespace)
+		// }
+		newpb, _, err := applied.HttpPostVerbose(myServer(), "applied")
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		newpb.PrintTable()
+		return nil
 	}

 	// if nothing, show patches & dirty repos
 	me.forge.Patchsets.PrintTable()
-	dumpWorkRepos()
+	dumpDirtyRepos()
 	return nil
 }

-// Shows repos that are:
-//   - git dirty repos
-//   - repos with 'user' branch patches not in 'devel' branch
-//   - repos with awaiting master branch verions
-//
-// return true if any are found
-func dumpWorkRepos() bool {
+func dumpDirtyRepos() {
 	// always run dirty first
 	me.forge.CheckDirtyQuiet()

@ -198,16 +164,14 @@ func dumpWorkRepos() bool {
 	found := findReposWithPatches()
 	if found.Len() == 0 {
 		log.Info("you currently have no repos with patches")
-		return false
 	} else {
 		me.forge.PrintHumanTable(found)
 	}
-	return true
 }

 // returns bad if patches can not be applied
 // logic is not great here but it was a first pass
-func dumpPatchset(pset *forgepb.Set) bool {
+func dumpPatchset(pset *forgepb.Patchset) bool {
 	// don't even bother to continue if we already know it's broken
 	if pset.State == "BROKEN" {
 		log.Printf("Patchset Name: %-24s Author: %s <%s> IS BAD\n", pset.Name, pset.GetGitAuthorName(), pset.GetGitAuthorEmail())
--- a/doPull.go
+++ b/doPull.go
@ -14,28 +14,6 @@ import (

 // is every repo on the devel branch?
 func doPull() error {
-	if argv.Pull.Check != nil {
-		// stats := me.forge.RillFuncError(rillPull)
-		log.Info("TODO: actually git pull here? this is a bad idea. stopping.")
-		submit := gitpb.NewRepos()
-		for repo := range me.forge.Repos.IterByFullPath() {
-			newrepo := new(gitpb.Repo)
-			newrepo.MasterHash = repo.MasterHash
-			newrepo.DevelHash = repo.DevelHash
-			newrepo.Namespace = repo.Namespace
-			newrepo.URL = repo.URL
-			submit.Append(newrepo)
-		}
-		updatepb, regPB, err := submit.HttpPost(myServer(), "check")
-		if regPB == nil || err != nil {
-			log.Info("regPB==nil or err:", err)
-			return nil
-		}
-		log.Infof("pull check %s pb.Len()=%d client.Len()=%d server.Len()=%d err=%v\n", regPB.URL, updatepb.Len(), regPB.ClientDataLen, regPB.ServerDataLen, err)
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	// below this, you must not be in 'normal' mode
 	if me.forge.Config.Mode == forgepb.ForgeMode_NORMAL {
 		log.Info("you must check out the devel or master branches")
 		return nil
@ -54,7 +32,18 @@ func doPull() error {
 		return nil
 	}

-	log.Info("do a pull check here?")
+	// stats := me.forge.RillFuncError(rillPull)
+	log.Info("TODO: actually git pull here? this is a bad idea. stopping.")
+	submit := gitpb.NewRepos()
+	for repo := range me.forge.Repos.IterByFullPath() {
+		newrepo := new(gitpb.Repo)
+		newrepo.MasterHash = repo.MasterHash
+		newrepo.DevelHash = repo.DevelHash
+		newrepo.Namespace = repo.Namespace
+		newrepo.URL = repo.URL
+		submit.Append(newrepo)
+	}
+	submit.HttpPost(myServer(), "check")
 	return nil

 }
--- a/doTag.go
+++ b/doTag.go
@ -1,125 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2017-2025 WIT.COM Inc. All rights reserved.
-// Use of this source code is governed by the GPL 3.0
-
-package main
-
-// checks that repos are in a "normal" state
-
-import (
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"time"
-
-	"go.wit.com/lib/fhelp"
-	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/gitpb"
-	"go.wit.com/log"
-)
-
-func FindRepoByFullPath(wd string) *gitpb.Repo {
-	for repo := range me.forge.Repos.IterAll() {
-		if repo.FullPath == wd {
-			return repo
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func findCurrentPwdRepoOrDie() *gitpb.Repo {
-	wd, err := os.Getwd()
-	repo := FindRepoByFullPath(wd)
-	if repo == nil {
-		log.Info("Could not find repo:", wd)
-		badExit(err)
-	}
-	return repo
-}
-
-func doTag() error {
-	wd, _ := os.Getwd()
-	if argv.Tag.List != nil {
-		repo := findCurrentPwdRepoOrDie()
-
-		tagTablePB := makeTagTablePB(repo, repo.Tags)
-		// tbox := win.Bottom.Box().SetProgName("TBOX")
-		// t.SetParent(tbox)
-		tagTablePB.MakeTable()
-		tagTablePB.PrintTable()
-		log.Info("list tags here", repo.Namespace)
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	if argv.Tag.Delete != "" {
-		repo := FindRepoByFullPath(wd)
-		if repo == nil {
-			log.Info("Could not find repo:", wd)
-			return nil
-		}
-
-		// check if the git tag already exists somehow
-		/*
-			if !repo.LocalTagExists(testtag) {
-				log.Info("Tag", testtag, "does not exist")
-				return log.Errorf("%s TAG DOES NOT EXIST %s", repo.FullPath, testtag)
-			}
-		*/
-		testtag := argv.Tag.Delete
-		if !argv.Force {
-			if !fhelp.QuestionUser(log.Sprintf("delete tag '%s'?", testtag)) {
-				return nil
-			}
-		}
-		log.Info("Delete tag here", testtag)
-
-		// delete local and remote tag
-		repo.RunVerbose([]string{"git", "tag", "--delete", testtag})
-		repo.RunVerbose([]string{"git", "push", "--delete", "origin", testtag})
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	log.Info("do other tag stuff here")
-	return nil
-}
-
-func makeTagTablePB(repo *gitpb.Repo, pb *gitpb.GitTags) *gitpb.GitTagsTable {
-	t := pb.NewTable("tagList")
-	t.NewUuid()
-
-	col := t.AddHash()
-	col.Width = 12
-
-	col = t.AddStringFunc("bashash", func(tag *gitpb.GitTag) string {
-		_, base := filepath.Split(tag.Refname)
-		cmd, err := repo.RunStrict([]string{"git", "log", "-1", base, "--format=%H"})
-		if err != nil {
-			return "err"
-		}
-		if len(cmd.Stdout) == 0 {
-			return ""
-		}
-		return cmd.Stdout[0]
-	})
-	col.Width = 12
-
-	col = t.AddTimeFunc("ctime", func(tag *gitpb.GitTag) time.Time {
-		// todo
-		return tag.Creatordate.AsTime()
-	})
-	col.Width = 4
-
-	col = t.AddTimeFunc("age", func(repo *gitpb.GitTag) time.Time {
-		// todo
-		return time.Now()
-	})
-	col.Width = 4
-
-	col = t.AddStringFunc("Ref Name", func(r *gitpb.GitTag) string {
-		_, ref := filepath.Split(r.GetRefname())
-		return ref
-	})
-	col.Width = 16
-
-	col = t.AddSubject()
-	col.Width = -1
-
-	return t
-}
--- a/doc.go
+++ b/doc.go
@ -3,14 +3,20 @@ forge -- a tool to manage lots of git repos. forge includes a GUI and TUI.

 	forge only executes the 'git' command. Everything it does, you can run by hand with 'git'.

+forge v0.22.138-6-gaea7f16    Built on 2025.09.03_1935
+Usage: forge [--debugger] [--logger] [--no-gui] [--gui GUI] [--gui-file GUI-FILE] [--gui-build] [--gui-verbose] [--gui-check-plugin GUI-CHECK-PLUGIN] [--connect CONNECT] [--all] [--build BUILD] [--install INSTALL] [--forge-rebuild] [--force] [--verbose] [--bash] [--auto-complete AUTO-COMPLETE] <command> [<args>]
+
 Options:

 	--debugger             open the debugger window
 	--logger               open the log.* control window
-	--gui GUI              select the plugin (andlabs,gocui,etc)
+	--no-gui               ignore all these gui problems
+	--gui GUI              Use this gui toolkit [andlabs,gocui,nocui,stdin]
+	--gui-file GUI-FILE    Use a specific plugin.so file
+	--gui-build            attempt to build the GUI plugins
 	--gui-verbose          enable all logging
-	--bash                 generate bash completion
-	--bash                 generate bash completion
+	--gui-check-plugin GUI-CHECK-PLUGIN
+	                       hack to verify GO plugins load
 	--connect CONNECT      forge url
 	--all                  git commit --all
 	--build BUILD          build a repo
@ -18,24 +24,25 @@ Options:
 	--forge-rebuild        download and rebuild forge
 	--force                try to strong arm things
 	--verbose              show more output
+	--bash                 generate bash completion
+	--auto-complete AUTO-COMPLETE
+	                       todo: move this to go-arg
 	--help, -h             display this help and exit
 	--version              display version and exit

 Commands:

-	help                   New to forge? This is for you.'
 	checkout               switch branches using 'git checkout'
 	clean                  start over at the beginning
 	commit                 'git commit' but errors out if on wrong branch
 	config                 show your .config/forge/ settings
+	debug                  debug forge
 	dirty                  show dirty git repos
 	fetch                  run 'git fetch master'
-	gui                    open the gui
 	list                   print a table of the current repos
 	merge                  merge branches
 	normal                 set every repo to the default state for software development
 	patch                  make patchsets
 	pull                   run 'git pull'
-	tag                    manage git tags
 */
 package main
--- a/exit.go
+++ b/exit.go
@ -23,11 +23,11 @@ func okExit(thing string) {
 }

 func badExit(err error) {
-	log.Info("forge failed: ", err, me.forge.Config.ReposDir)
+	log.Info("forge failed: ", err, me.forge.GetGoSrc())
 	os.Exit(-1)
 }

 func badRepoExit(repo *gitpb.Repo, err error) {
-	log.Printf("%s FAILED: %v\n", repo.GetNamespace(), err)
+	log.Printf("forge failed on %s with %v\n", repo.GetGoPath(), err)
 	os.Exit(-1)
 }
--- a/helperPatches.go
+++ b/helperPatches.go
@ -12,33 +12,15 @@ import (
 	"strings"

 	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/forgepb"
-	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/gitpb"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 )

-func makeReposTablePB(pb *gitpb.Repos) *gitpb.ReposTable {
-	t := pb.NewTable("quickListRepos")
-	t.NewUuid()
-
-	sf := t.AddStringFunc("Namespace", func(r *gitpb.Repo) string {
-		return r.GetNamespace()
-	})
-	sf.Width = 16
-
-	userVer := t.AddStringFunc("user", func(repo *gitpb.Repo) string {
-		ver := repo.GetUserVersion()
-		return ver
-	})
-	userVer.Width = 4
-	return t
-}
-
 /*
 type stdPatchsetTableWin struct {
 	sync.Mutex
 	win    *gadgets.GenericWindow  // the machines gui window
 	box    *gui.Node               // the machines gui parent box widget
-	TB     *forgepb.SetsTable // the gui table buffer
+	TB     *forgepb.PatchsetsTable // the gui table buffer
 	update bool                    // if the window should be updated
 }

@ -54,7 +36,7 @@ func (w *stdPatchsetTableWin) Toggle() {
 */

 /*
-	etimef := func(e *forgepb.Set) string {
+	etimef := func(e *forgepb.Patchset) string {
 		etime := e.Etime.AsTime()
 		s := etime.Format("2006/01/02 15:04")
 		if strings.HasPrefix(s, "1970/") {
@ -67,14 +49,14 @@ func (w *stdPatchsetTableWin) Toggle() {
 */

 /*
-	ctimef := func(p *forgepb.Set) string {
+	ctimef := func(p *forgepb.Patchset) string {
 		ctime := p.Ctime.AsTime()
 		return ctime.Format("2006/01/02 15:04")
 	}
 }
 */

-func setPatchsetState(p *forgepb.Set) {
+func setPatchsetState(p *forgepb.Patchset) {
 	var bad bool
 	var good bool
 	var done bool = true
@ -173,33 +155,53 @@ func findCommitBySubject(subject string) (string, error) {
 }

 // returns true if PB changed
-func setNewCommitHash(patch *forgepb.Patch) error {
+func setNewCommitHash(patch *forgepb.Patch) bool {
+	// parts := strings.Fields(patch.Comment)
+
 	repo := me.forge.FindByGoPath(patch.Namespace)
 	if repo == nil {
-		return log.Errorf("could not find repo %s", patch.Namespace)
+		log.Info("could not find repo", patch.Namespace)
+		return false
 	}

 	comment := cleanSubject(patch.Comment)

+	if patch.NewHash == "" {
+		log.Info("init() new patch to 'na' ", patch.NewHash, "commithash:", patch.CommitHash, patch.Namespace, comment)
+		patch.NewHash = "na"
+		return true
+	}
 	os.Chdir(repo.GetFullPath())
 	newhash, err := findCommitBySubject(comment)
 	if err != nil {
-		return log.Errorf("patch: not found hash: %s %s %s %s %v", patch.CommitHash, patch.Namespace, comment, newhash, err)
+		log.Info("patch: not found hash:", patch.CommitHash, patch.Namespace, comment, newhash, err)
+		return false
 	}
-
-	patchId, err := repo.FindPatchId(newhash)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	if patch.NewHash == newhash {
+		// patch was already set
+		return false
+	}
+	if patch.NewHash != "na" {
+		log.Infof("patch: hash MISMATCH %s old=%s new=%s name=%s\n", patch.Namespace, patch.NewHash, newhash, comment)
+		return false
 	}
-
-	patch.PatchId = patchId
 	patch.NewHash = newhash
-
 	log.Info("patch: found hash:", patch.CommitHash, newhash, patch.Namespace, comment)
-	return nil
+	return true
 }

-func AddAllPatches(notdone *forgepb.Patches, pset *forgepb.Set, full bool) {
+/*
+func setNewCommitHashLoop(p *forgepb.Patchset) bool {
+	var done bool = true
+	for patch := range p.Patches.IterAll() {
+		setNewCommitHashLoop(patch)
+	}
+
+	return done
+}
+*/
+
+func AddAllPatches(notdone *forgepb.Patches, pset *forgepb.Patchset, full bool) {
 	for patch := range pset.Patches.IterAll() {
 		comment := cleanSubject(patch.Comment)

@ -213,7 +215,7 @@ func AddAllPatches(notdone *forgepb.Patches, pset *forgepb.Set, full bool) {
 	}
 }

-func AddNotDonePatches(notdone *forgepb.Patches, pset *forgepb.Set, full bool) {
+func AddNotDonePatches(notdone *forgepb.Patches, pset *forgepb.Patchset, full bool) {
 	for patch := range pset.Patches.IterAll() {
 		comment := cleanSubject(patch.Comment)

@ -231,7 +233,7 @@ func AddNotDonePatches(notdone *forgepb.Patches, pset *forgepb.Set, full bool) {
 			continue
 		}

-		if patch.NewHash != "" {
+		if patch.NewHash != "na" {
 			log.Info("already applied patch", patch.Namespace, ": newhash:", patch.NewHash, "commithash:", patch.CommitHash, comment)
 			continue
 		}
@ -281,7 +283,7 @@ func findExpired() *forgepb.Patches {
 			continue
 		}

-		if patch.NewHash != "" {
+		if patch.NewHash != "na" {
 			log.Info("already applied patch", patch.Namespace, ": newhash:", patch.NewHash, "commithash:", patch.CommitHash, comment)
 			found.AppendByCommitHash(patch) // double check to ensure the commit hash isn't added twice
 			continue
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@ -7,9 +7,14 @@ package main

 import (
 	"embed"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"strings"
+	"time"

-	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/prep"
+	"go.wit.com/dev/alexflint/arg"
+	"go.wit.com/gui"
+	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/shell"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/forgepb"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/gitpb"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
@ -41,15 +46,38 @@ func getVersion(repo *gitpb.Repo, name string) string {

 func main() {
 	me = new(mainType)
-	me.myGui = prep.Gui()       // prepares the GUI package for go-args
-	me.auto = prep.Bash3(&argv) // this line should be:  prep.Bash(&argv)
+	gui.InitArg()
+	me.pp = arg.MustParse(&argv)

-	// me.auto = prep.Bash3(argv.DoAutoComplete, &argv) // this line should be:  prep.Bash(&argv)
-	// arg.MustParse(&argv)                                      // these three lines are becoming terrible syntax
-	// me.auto = prep.MustParse(&argv)          // try to make this work?
+	if argv.Bash {
+		argv.doBash()
+		os.Exit(0)
+	}
+	if len(argv.BashAuto) != 0 {
+		argv.doBashAuto()
+		os.Exit(0)
+	}
+	me.urlbase = argv.URL
+	if me.urlbase == "" {
+		me.urlbase = "https://go.wit.com/"
+	}
+	if os.Getenv("FORGE_URL") != "" {
+		me.urlbase = os.Getenv("FORGE_URL")
+		log.Info("got forge url", me.urlbase)
+	}
+	me.urlbase = strings.Trim(me.urlbase, "/") // track down why trailing '/' makes http POST not work

-	me.forge = forgepb.Init() // init forge.pb
-	me.forge.ScanRepoDir()    // looks for new dirs, checks existing repos for changes
+	// internally debugging can be triggered here before Init()
+	if argv.Debug != nil {
+		doDebug()
+		okExit("")
+	}
+
+	if forgepb.FirstTimeUser() {
+		log.Info("You are running forge for the first time here")
+	}
+	// load the ~/.config/forge/ config
+	me.forge = forgepb.Init()

 	// initialize patches
 	doPatchInit()
@ -71,6 +99,7 @@ func main() {
 	}

 	if argv.Checkout != nil {
+		me.forge.Config.Mode = forgepb.ForgeMode_MASTER
 		if err := doCheckout(); err != nil {
 			badExit(err)
 		}
@ -92,6 +121,17 @@ func main() {
 	}

 	if argv.Clean != nil {
+		me.forge.Config.Mode = forgepb.ForgeMode_CLEAN
+		if argv.Clean.Repo != "" {
+			log.Info("only looking at repo:", argv.Clean.Repo)
+			okExit("")
+		}
+
+		if argv.Clean.GitReset != nil {
+			doGitReset()
+			okExit("reset")
+		}
+
 		if err := doClean(); err != nil {
 			badExit(err)
 		}
@ -99,38 +139,24 @@ func main() {
 		okExit("")
 	}

-	if argv.Help != nil {
-		doHelp()
-		okExit("")
-	}
-
-	if argv.Dirty != nil {
-		doDirty()
-		okExit("")
-	}
-
-	if argv.Tag != nil {
-		doTag()
-		okExit("")
-	}
-
 	if argv.Normal != nil {
 		if argv.Normal.On != nil {
 			if me.forge.Config.Mode == forgepb.ForgeMode_NORMAL {
 				log.Info("you are already in the normal state")
 				okExit("")
 			}
-			setForgeMode(forgepb.ForgeMode_NORMAL)
+			me.forge.Config.Mode = forgepb.ForgeMode_NORMAL
+			me.forge.Config.ConfigSave()
 			log.Info("normal mode on")
 			okExit("")
 		}
-
 		if argv.Normal.Off != nil {
 			if me.forge.Config.Mode != forgepb.ForgeMode_NORMAL {
 				log.Info("you were aleady not in the normal state")
 				okExit("")
 			}
-			setForgeMode(forgepb.ForgeMode_DEVEL)
+			me.forge.Config.Mode = forgepb.ForgeMode_MASTER
+			me.forge.Config.ConfigSave()
 			log.Info("normal mode off")
 			okExit("")
 		}
@ -139,7 +165,8 @@ func main() {
 			log.Infof("all %d repos are on your user branch. It is safe to write code now.\n", me.forge.Repos.Len())
 			if me.forge.Config.Mode != forgepb.ForgeMode_NORMAL {
 				log.Infof("Forge has set the mode to 'Normal'\n")
-				setForgeMode(forgepb.ForgeMode_NORMAL)
+				me.forge.Config.Mode = forgepb.ForgeMode_NORMAL
+				me.forge.ConfigSave()
 			}
 			okExit("")
 		}
@ -150,17 +177,40 @@ func main() {
 	// for example, if you accidentally changed branches from your user branch
 	if me.forge.Config.Mode == forgepb.ForgeMode_NORMAL {
 		if doNormal() {
-			log.Infof("all your %d repos are in a normal stete for development\n", me.forge.Repos.Len())
+			log.Infof("all %d repos are still normal\n", me.forge.Repos.Len())
 		}
 	}

-	if argv.Merge != nil {
-		if err := doMerge(); err != nil {
-			badExit(err)
-		}
+	if argv.Dirty != nil {
+		doDirty()
 		okExit("")
 	}

+	if argv.Merge != nil {
+		if argv.Merge.Devel != nil {
+			start := time.Now()
+			repos, err := doMergeDevel()
+			dur := time.Since(start)
+			if err != nil {
+				badExit(err)
+			}
+			log.Printf("Merged %d devel branches in %s\n", repos.Len(), shell.FormatDuration(dur))
+			okExit("")
+		}
+
+		if argv.Merge.Master != nil {
+			start := time.Now()
+			repos, err := doMergeMaster()
+			dur := time.Since(start)
+			if err != nil {
+				badExit(err)
+			}
+			log.Printf("Merged %d master branches in %s\n", repos.Len(), shell.FormatDuration(dur))
+			okExit("")
+		}
+		badExit(fmt.Errorf("You must choose which branch to merge to (devel or master)"))
+	}
+
 	if argv.Pull != nil {
 		doPull()
 		okExit("")
@ -184,26 +234,32 @@ func main() {
 		okExit("")
 	}

+	if argv.Help != nil {
+		doHelp()
+		okExit("")
+	}
+
+	// todo: redo this logic using forgepb
+	if configSave {
+		me.forge.ConfigSave()
+		configSave = false
+	}
+
+	// if the user doesn't want to open the GUI and
+	// nothing else was specified to be done,
+	// then just list the table to stdout
+	if gui.NoGui() {
+		found := doFind()
+		me.forge.PrintHumanTable(found)
+		okExit("")
+	}
+
 	// open the gui unless the user performed some other
 	// basically, if you run just 'forge' it should open the GUI

-	if argv.Gui != nil {
-		// if opening the GUI, always check git for dirty repos
-		me.forge.CheckDirty()
-
-		me.myGui.Start() // loads the GUI toolkit
-		doGui()          // start making our forge GUI
-		debug()          // sits here forever
-	}
-	// got to the end with nothing to do (?)
-	if dumpWorkRepos() {
-		// found some repos at least
-	} else {
-		// every repo is in a really clean state. no extra files anywhere
-		// no dirty repos, no repos that need to be published
-		// nothing different between user and master branch version. not common
-		log.Info("All of your git repositories appear to be in perfect shape")
-	}
+	// if opening the GUI, always check git for dirty repos
+	me.forge.CheckDirty()
+	doGui()
 	okExit("")
 }

--- a/structs.go
+++ b/structs.go
@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
 package main

 import (
+	"go.wit.com/dev/alexflint/arg"
 	"go.wit.com/gui"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/gadgets"
-	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/prep"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/forgepb"
 )

@ -27,10 +27,9 @@ func myServer() string {

 // this app's variables
 type mainType struct {
-	// pp         *arg.Parser    // for parsing the command line args.  Yay to alexflint!
-	auto       *prep.Auto     // more experiments for bash handling
+	pp         *arg.Parser    // for parsing the command line args.  Yay to alexf lint!
 	forge      *forgepb.Forge // for holding the forge protobuf files
-	myGui      *prep.GuiPrep  // for initializing the GUI toolkits
+	myGui      *gui.Node      // the gui toolkit handle
 	foundPaths []string       // stores gopaths to act on (when doing go-clone)
 	configSave bool           // if the config file should be saved after finishing
 	urlbase    string         // base URL
--- a/0
+++ b/0
--- a/windowHowto.go
+++ b/windowHowto.go
@ -41,10 +41,10 @@ func makeHowtoWin() *gadgets.GenericWindow {
 	grid.NewLabel("") // a stupid way to add padding
 	grid.NextRow()

-	// howtoWin.Group.NewLabel("Working dir: " + me.forge.Config.ReposDir)
+	// howtoWin.Group.NewLabel("Working dir: " + me.forge.GetGoSrc())

 	grid = howtoWin.Group.RawGrid()
-	grid.NewButton("Download into "+me.forge.Config.ReposDir, func() {
+	grid.NewButton("Download into "+me.forge.GetGoSrc(), func() {
 		howtoWin.Disable()
 		defer howtoWin.Enable()
 		downloadForge()
--- a/windowPatches.go
+++ b/windowPatches.go
@ -58,12 +58,34 @@ func makePatchesWin(patches *forgepb.Patches) *stdPatchTableWin {
 	grid.NewLabel(fmt.Sprintf("total repos"))
 	grid.NextRow()

+	grid.NewButton("Update", func() {
+		log.Info("TODO: doesn't update this window")
+		me.forge.GetPatches()
+		dwin.win.Custom()
+		// loadUpstreamPatchsets()
+	})
+
 	grid.NewButton("Apply All", func() {
 		var count int
 		all := patches.SortByFilename()
 		for all.Scan() {
 			p := all.Next()
 			applyPatchNew(p)
+			/*
+				rn := p.Namespace
+				repo := me.forge.FindByGoPath(rn)
+				if repo == nil {
+					log.Info("Could not figure out repo path", rn)
+					return
+				}
+				count += 1
+				if _, err := applyAndTrackPatch(repo, p); err != nil {
+					cmd := []string{"git", "am", "--abort"}
+					err := repo.RunVerbose(cmd)
+					log.Info("warn user of git am error", err)
+					return
+				}
+			*/
 		}
 		log.Info("ALL PATCHES WORKED! count =", count)
 	})
@ -117,9 +139,12 @@ func applyPatchLabel(p *forgepb.Patch) string {
 		// log.Info("Could not figure out repo path", rn)
 		return ""
 	}
-	if p.NewHash == "" {
+	if p.NewHash == "na" {
 		return "git am"
 	}
+	if p.NewHash == "" {
+		return "new"
+	}
 	return "done"
 }

--- a/windowReposFix.go
+++ b/windowReposFix.go
@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ func makeReposWin() *stdReposTableWin {
 				cmd = []string{"git", "branch", "--delete", "--remote", "origin/" + brname}
 				log.Info(repo.GetGoPath(), cmd)
 				repo.RunVerbose(cmd)
-				repo.ReloadCheck()
+				repo.Reload()
 			}
 			me.forge.SetConfigSave(true)
 			me.forge.ConfigSave()
--- a/windowViewRepoPatches.go
+++ b/windowViewRepoPatches.go
@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ type repoPatchWindow struct {
 	shelf *gui.Node            // the first box in the stack, set as horizontal
 	grid  *gui.Node            // the list of available patches
 	// summary *patchSummary        // summary of current patches
-	setgrid *gui.Node    // the list of each patchset
-	pset    *forgepb.Set // the patchset in question
+	setgrid *gui.Node         // the list of each patchset
+	pset    *forgepb.Patchset // the patchset in question
 }

 // todo: autogenerate these or make them standared 'gui' package functions
@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ func makeRepoPatchWindow(repo *gitpb.Repo, fset []*forgepb.Patch) *repoPatchWind
 	return pw
 }

-func (r *repoPatchWindow) addPatchset(grid *gui.Node, pset *forgepb.Set) {
+func (r *repoPatchWindow) addPatchset(grid *gui.Node, pset *forgepb.Patchset) {
 	repomap := make(map[*gitpb.Repo][]*forgepb.Patch)
 	repohash := make(map[*gitpb.Repo]string)