diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index d4548b5..ff0e7a8 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -22,6 +22,18 @@ var myargs argv
 func main() {
 	me = new(autoType)
 
+	// load the ~/.config/forge/ config
+	if err := me.forge.ConfigLoad(); err != nil {
+		log.Warn("forgepb.ConfigLoad() failed", err)
+		os.Exit(-1)
+	}
+
+	// load the ~/.config/forge/ machine file from zoopb
+	if err := me.machine.ConfigLoad(); err != nil {
+		log.Warn("zoopb.ConfigLoad() failed", err)
+		os.Exit(-1)
+	}
+
 	// parse the command line
 	arg.MustParse(&myargs)
 
@@ -110,12 +122,28 @@ func main() {
 	// TODO: should not really be necessary directly after init()
 	me.repos.View.ScanRepositories()
 
+
+	loop := me.repos.View.ReposSortByName()
+	for loop.Scan() {
+		repo := loop.Repo()
+		if me.forge.IsReadOnly(repo.GoPath()) {
+			repo.Status.SetReadOnly(true)
+		} else {
+			repo.Status.SetReadOnly(false)
+		}
+		if me.forge.IsPrivate(repo.GoPath()) {
+			repo.Status.SetPrivate(true)
+		} else {
+			repo.Status.SetPrivate(false)
+		}
+	}
+
 	// the repo from the command line
 	// var myrepo *repolist.RepoRow
 
 	// find myself. the guireleaser directory is used as a working scratchpad
 	// for running go commands that can mess up the go.* files
-	loop := me.repos.View.ReposSortByName()
+	loop = me.repos.View.ReposSortByName()
 	for loop.Scan() {
 		repo := loop.Repo()
 		if repo.GoPath() == "go.wit.com/apps/guireleaser" {
diff --git a/structs.go b/structs.go
index c77c73a..b3c1d79 100644
--- a/structs.go
+++ b/structs.go
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import (
 	"go.wit.com/gui"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/gadgets"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/repolist"
+	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/forgepb"
+	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/zoopb"
 )
 
 var me *autoType
@@ -26,6 +28,12 @@ type autoType struct {
 	// our view of the repositories
 	repos *repoWindow
 
+	// your customized repo preferences and settings
+	forge forgepb.Repos
+
+	// use zookeeper to get the list of installed packages
+	machine zoopb.Machine
+
 	// #### autotypist Global Build Options
 	// what to change all the branches to
 	// so, as a developer, you can move all the repos