diff --git a/doRelease.go b/doRelease.go
index 68af367..6713259 100644
--- a/doRelease.go
+++ b/doRelease.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -227,18 +226,12 @@ func doPublishVersion() bool {
 	docmd := []string{"go", "get", "-v", gopath + "@" + me.release.version.String()}
 	log.Info("SHOULD RUN cmd HERE:", docmd)
 
-	testf := filepath.Join(me.forge.GetGoSrc(), "go.wit.com/apps/guireleaser", "go.sum")
-	if !shell.Exists(testf) {
-		pb := me.forge.Repos.FindByGoPath("go.wit.com/apps/guireleaser")
-		if pb != nil {
-			if err := pb.RunStrict([]string{"go-mod-clean"}); err != nil {
-				log.Info("go-mod-clean failed", err)
-			}
-		}
-		if !shell.Exists(testf) {
-			log.Info("go.sum missing", testf)
-			panic("redo go.sum")
-		}
+	if !me.startRepo.Exists("go.mod") {
+		log.Info("go.sum missing in", me.startRepo.GoPath)
+		log.Info("pick a different repo here")
+		log.Info("todo: error out earlier knowing this will upgrade")
+		log.Info("versions", me.startRepo.GetTargetVersion(), me.startRepo.GetMasterVersion())
+		panic("redo go.sum")
 	}
 	if me.current.Status.IsPrivate() {
 		// do not self update private repos
@@ -248,23 +241,17 @@ func doPublishVersion() bool {
 
 	// try to pull from google
 	var result cmd.Status
-	if gopath == "go.wit.com/apps/guireleaser" {
+	if gopath == me.startRepo.GoPath {
 		log.Info("CAN NOT SELF UPDATE. cmd =", docmd)
 		log.Info("go get must be run from somewhere else other than guireleaser")
 		log.Info("chdir to autotypist if it exists")
-		if shell.Exists("/home/jcarr/go/src/go.wit.com/apps/autotypist") {
-			os.Chdir("/home/jcarr/go/src/go.wit.com/apps/autotypist")
-		} else {
-			log.Info("need to chdir somewhere with go.sum & go.mod")
-			return false
-		}
-		// result = shell.PathRun("/home/jcarr/go/src/go.wit.com/apps/autotypist", docmd)
-	} else {
-		// publish go.mod & go.sum for use with go
-		os.Unsetenv("GO111MODULE")
-		log.Info("TRYING TO SELF UPDATE HERE. cmd =", docmd)
-		result = me.release.guireleaser.Status.Run(docmd)
+		os.Exit(-1)
 	}
+	// publish go.mod & go.sum for use with go
+	os.Unsetenv("GO111MODULE")
+	log.Info("TRYING TO SELF UPDATE HERE. cmd =", docmd)
+	result = me.startRepo.Run(docmd)
+
 	if result.Error != nil {
 		log.Info("SELF UPDATE FAILED. error =", result.Error)
 		log.Info("SELF UPDATE FAILED. exit =", result.Exit)
@@ -279,7 +266,7 @@ func doPublishVersion() bool {
 		log.Info("SELF UPDATE FAILED")
 		return false
 	}
-	log.Info("SELF UPDATE OK. out =", result.Stdout)
+	log.Info("SELF UPDATE OK. out =", strings.Join(result.Stdout, "\n"))
 	log.Info("SELF UPDATE WORKED")
 	return true
 }
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 126f5f6..6b6a74e 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -65,17 +65,6 @@ func main() {
 		os.Exit(0)
 	}
 
-	/*
-		// sanity check of things that might be around that mess
-		// up things later
-		// check to make sure we have a go.sum here
-		gosum := filepath.Join(homeDir, "go/src/go.wit.com/apps/guireleaser/go.sum")
-		if !shell.Exists(gosum) {
-			log.Info("go.sum must exist here")
-			os.Exit(0)
-		}
-	*/
-
 	log.Info("Creating the Release Window")
 
 	// initialize the repo list window
@@ -122,28 +111,9 @@ func main() {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// the repo from the command line
-	// var myrepo *repolist.RepoRow
+	me.startRepo = me.forge.Repos.FindByGoPath("go.wit.com/apps/helloworld")
 
-	// 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()
-	for loop.Scan() {
-		repo := loop.Repo()
-		if repo.GoPath() == "go.wit.com/apps/guireleaser" {
-			if me.release.guireleaser == nil {
-				me.release.guireleaser = repo
-			}
-		}
-		log.Info("repolist.ReposSortByName() found", repo.GoPath())
-		/*
-			if repo.GoPath() == myargs.Repo {
-				myrepo = repo
-			}
-		*/
-	}
-
-	if me.release.guireleaser == nil {
+	if me.startRepo == nil {
 		log.Info("Can not release if guireleaser was not found")
 		os.Exit(0)
 	}
diff --git a/releaseBox.go b/releaseBox.go
index cfde8ec..cfef2a2 100644
--- a/releaseBox.go
+++ b/releaseBox.go
@@ -34,10 +34,6 @@ type releaseStruct struct {
 	sendVersionB *gui.Node
 	checkSafeB   *gui.Node
 	whitelist    map[string]*repolist.RepoRow
-
-	// store myself here. use myself to
-	// do garbage go get tests and other potential junk
-	guireleaser *repolist.RepoRow
 }
 
 func (w *autoType) Disable() {
diff --git a/structs.go b/structs.go
index 6cc8b4e..54ae116 100644
--- a/structs.go
+++ b/structs.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"go.wit.com/lib/gadgets"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/repolist"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/forgepb"
+	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/gitpb"
 )
 
 var me *autoType
@@ -20,6 +21,11 @@ type autoType struct {
 	reposgroup     *gui.Node
 	current        *repolist.RepoRow
 
+	// this is the repo we are starting in
+	// make sure it never changes so go.mod and go.sum are always there
+	// 'go get' is called from here
+	startRepo *gitpb.Repo
+
 	// guireleaser window
 	mainWindow *gui.Node
 	mainBox    *gui.Node