diff --git a/reload.go b/reload.go
index 24c92d7..0f15698 100644
--- a/reload.go
+++ b/reload.go
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ func (repo *Repo) Reload() error {
 	repo.ParseGoSum() // also sets GoPrimitive
 	repo.reloadVersions()
 	repo.setRepoType()
+	repo.CheckDirty()
+	repo.setRepoState()
 
 	// everything has been checked, now save the mtime's
 	repo.updateMtimes()
diff --git a/reloadRepoState.go b/reloadRepoState.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..322c5b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/reloadRepoState.go
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+package gitpb
+
+// does processing on the go.mod and go.sum files
+
+import (
+	"go.wit.com/log"
+)
+
+func (repo *Repo) setRepoState() {
+	if repo == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if repo.IsDirty() {
+		repo.State = "dirty"
+		return
+	}
+	if repo.GetUserVersion() != repo.GetDevelVersion() {
+		repo.State = "merge to devel"
+		return
+	}
+	if repo.GetDevelVersion() != repo.GetMasterVersion() {
+		repo.State = "merge to main"
+		return
+	}
+	if repo.GetLastTag() != repo.GetMasterVersion() {
+		repo.State = "unchanged"
+		return
+	}
+
+	if repo.CheckBranches() {
+		repo.State = "PERFECT"
+		return
+	}
+	log.Info("Branches are not Perfect", repo.GetFullPath())
+	log.Info("Branches are not Perfect", repo.GetFullPath())
+	log.Info("Branches are not Perfect", repo.GetFullPath())
+	repo.State = "unknown branches"
+}
diff --git a/repo.proto b/repo.proto
index fab47cb..19f62e1 100644
--- a/repo.proto
+++ b/repo.proto
@@ -28,12 +28,12 @@ message Repo {						// `autogenpb:marshal`
 	string	targetVersion			= 15; 		// useful during the package release process
 	bool	readOnly			= 16; 		// tracks access to 'git push'
 	string	desc				= 17; 		// what is this repo?
-	string	state           		= 18; 		// status or state. useful for building tooling
+	string	stateChange           		= 18; 		// used for debugging tool logic
 	string 	masterVersion   		= 19; 		// just store this for now
 	string 	develVersion			= 20; 		//
 	string 	userVersion			= 21; 		//
 	repeated string	dirtyList		= 22;		// store the list from git status --porcelain
-	string	stateChange           		= 23; 		// used for debugging tool logic
+	string	state           		= 23; 		// status or state. useful for building tooling
 }
 
 message Repos {				// `autogenpb:marshal`