diff --git a/examples/cloudflare/Makefile b/examples/cloudflare/Makefile
index fd82fdc..32f3f55 100644
--- a/examples/cloudflare/Makefile
+++ b/examples/cloudflare/Makefile
@@ -19,3 +19,6 @@ log:
 
 gocui: build
 	./cloudflare -gui gocui >/tmp/witgui.log.stderr 2>&1
+
+quiet:
+	./cloudflare >/tmp/witgui.log.stderr 2>&1
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/action.go b/toolkit/andlabs/action.go
index 16a895b..2088917 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/action.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/action.go
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ func rawAction(a toolkit.Action) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	n := rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId)
+	n := me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId)
 
 	if (a.ActionType == toolkit.Add) {
 		ui.QueueMain(func() {
@@ -208,12 +208,12 @@ func rawAction(a toolkit.Action) {
 
 	if (a.ActionType == toolkit.Dump) {
 		log(debugNow, "rawAction() Dump =", a.ActionType, a.WidgetType, n.Name)
-		rootNode.listChildren(true)
+		me.rootNode.listChildren(true)
 		return
 	}
 
 	if (n == nil) {
-		rootNode.listChildren(true)
+		me.rootNode.listChildren(true)
 		log(true, "rawAction() ERROR findWidgetId found nil", a.ActionType, a.WidgetType)
 		log(true, "rawAction() ERROR findWidgetId found nil for id =", a.WidgetId)
 		log(true, "rawAction() ERROR findWidgetId found nil", a.ActionType, a.WidgetType)
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ func rawAction(a toolkit.Action) {
 		n.Delete()
 	case toolkit.Move:
 		log(debugNow, "rawAction() attempt to move() =", a.ActionType, a.WidgetType)
-		newParent := rootNode.findWidgetId(a.ParentId)
+		newParent := me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.ParentId)
 		n.move(newParent)
 	default:
 		log(debugError, "rawAction() Unknown =", a.ActionType, a.WidgetType)
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/add.go b/toolkit/andlabs/add.go
index b01dd20..0d1ac32 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/add.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/add.go
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@ func actionDump(b bool, a *toolkit.Action) {
 
 func add(a toolkit.Action) {
 	if (a.WidgetType == toolkit.Root) {
-		rootNode = addWidget(&a, nil)
+		me.rootNode = addWidget(&a)
 		return
 	}
-	n := addWidget(&a, nil)
+	n := addWidget(&a)
 
 	p := n.parent
 	switch n.WidgetType {
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/box.go b/toolkit/andlabs/box.go
index 8698a74..e33b7a1 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/box.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/box.go
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import (
 func (p *node) newBox(n *node) {
 	log(debugToolkit, "newBox()", n.Name)
 
-	newt := new(andlabsT)
+	newt := new(guiWidget)
 	var box *ui.Box
 
 	log(debugToolkit, "rawBox() create", n.Name)
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/button.go b/toolkit/andlabs/button.go
index d61c0ea..1dbad5c 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/button.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/button.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ func (p *node) newButton(n *node) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	newt := new(andlabsT)
+	newt := new(guiWidget)
 
 	b := ui.NewButton(n.Text)
 	newt.uiButton = b
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/checkbox.go b/toolkit/andlabs/checkbox.go
index 4c690c1..4c37fd6 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/checkbox.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/checkbox.go
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func (p *node) newCheckbox(n *node) {
-	newt := new(andlabsT)
+	newt := new(guiWidget)
 	log(debugToolkit, "newCheckbox()", n.Name, n.WidgetType)
 
 	newt.uiCheckbox = ui.NewCheckbox(n.Text)
@@ -22,6 +22,6 @@ func (p *node) newCheckbox(n *node) {
 	p.place(n)
 }
 
-func (t *andlabsT) checked() bool {
+func (t *guiWidget) checked() bool {
 	return t.uiCheckbox.Checked()
 }
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/combobox.go b/toolkit/andlabs/combobox.go
index 564ff23..283a29d 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/combobox.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/combobox.go
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func (p *node) newCombobox(n *node) {
-	newt := new(andlabsT)
+	newt := new(guiWidget)
 	log(debugToolkit, "newCombobox() START", n.Name)
 
 	cb := ui.NewEditableCombobox()
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ func (p *node) newCombobox(n *node) {
 	p.place(n)
 }
 
-func (t *andlabsT) AddComboboxName(title string) {
+func (t *guiWidget) AddComboboxName(title string) {
 	t.uiEditableCombobox.Append(title)
 	if (t.val == nil) {
 		log(debugToolkit, "make map didn't work")
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/common.go b/toolkit/andlabs/common.go
deleted file mode 100644
index ff157ab..0000000
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/common.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,84 +0,0 @@
-package main
-
-import (
-	"git.wit.org/wit/gui/toolkit"
-)
-
-// searches the binary tree for a WidgetId
-func (n *node) findWidgetId(id int) *node {
-	if (n == nil) {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	if n.WidgetId == id {
-		return n
-	}
-
-	for _, child := range n.children {
-		newN := child.findWidgetId(id)
-		if (newN != nil) {
-			return newN
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func addWidget(a *toolkit.Action, tk *andlabsT) *node {
-	n := new(node)
-	n.WidgetType = a.WidgetType
-	n.WidgetId = a.WidgetId
-	n.ParentId = a.ParentId
-
-	// copy the data from the action message
-	n.Name = a.Name
-	n.Text = a.Text
-	n.I = a.I
-	n.S = a.S
-	n.B = a.B
-	n.X = a.X
-	n.Y = a.Y
-
-	n.W = a.W
-	n.H = a.H
-	n.AtW = a.AtW
-	n.AtH = a.AtH
-
-	// store the internal toolkit information
-	n.tk = tk
-
-	if (a.WidgetType == toolkit.Root) {
-		log(logInfo, "addWidget() Root")
-		return n
-	}
-
-	if (rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId) != nil) {
-		log(logError, "addWidget() WidgetId already exists", a.WidgetId)
-		return rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId)
-	}
-
-	// add this new widget on the binary tree
-	n.parent = rootNode.findWidgetId(a.ParentId)
-	if n.parent != nil {
-		n.parent.children = append(n.parent.children, n)
-	}
-	return n
-}
-
-func (n *node) doUserEvent() {
-	if (callback == nil) {
-		log(debugError, "doUserEvent() callback == nil", n.WidgetId)
-		return
-	}
-	var a toolkit.Action
-	a.WidgetId = n.WidgetId
-	a.Name = n.Name
-	a.Text = n.Text
-	a.S = n.S
-	a.I = n.I
-	a.B = n.B
-	a.ActionType = toolkit.User
-	log(logInfo, "doUserEvent() START: send a user event to the callback channel")
-	callback <- a
-	log(logInfo, "doUserEvent() END:   sent a user event to the callback channel")
-	return
-}
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/common.go b/toolkit/andlabs/common.go
new file mode 120000
index 0000000..35417a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/common.go
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../nocui/common.go
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/debug.go b/toolkit/andlabs/debug.go
index 87e875d..33f8c44 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/debug.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/debug.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func ShowDebug () {
 	log(true, "debugError   =", debugError)
 }
 
-func (t *andlabsT) Dump(b bool) {
+func (t *guiWidget) Dump(b bool) {
 	if ! b {
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/demo.go b/toolkit/andlabs/demo.go
index 1b9a2b1..c3cd418 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/demo.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/demo.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ func BlankWindow(w *ui.Window) *ui.Box {
 	return hbox
 }
 
-func (t *andlabsT) DemoNumbersPage() {
+func (t *guiWidget) DemoNumbersPage() {
 	var w *ui.Window
 
 	log(debugToolkit, "Starting wit/gui toolkit andlabs/ui DemoNumbersPage()")
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/dropdown.go b/toolkit/andlabs/dropdown.go
index d98526a..e811a71 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/dropdown.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/dropdown.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func (p *node) newDropdown(n *node) {
-	newt := new(andlabsT)
+	newt := new(guiWidget)
 	log(debugToolkit, "gui.Toolbox.newDropdown() START", n.Name)
 
 	cb := ui.NewCombobox()
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ func (p *node) newDropdown(n *node) {
 	p.place(n)
 }
 
-func (t *andlabsT) addDropdownName(title string) {
+func (t *guiWidget) addDropdownName(title string) {
 	t.uiCombobox.Append(title)
 	if (t.val == nil) {
 		log(debugToolkit, "make map didn't work")
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ func (t *andlabsT) addDropdownName(title string) {
 	t.c = t.c + 1
 }
 
-func (t *andlabsT) SetDropdown(i int) {
+func (t *guiWidget) SetDropdown(i int) {
 	t.uiCombobox.SetSelected(i)
 }
 
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/grid.go b/toolkit/andlabs/grid.go
index 8764962..6c47d1b 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/grid.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/grid.go
@@ -11,10 +11,10 @@ import (
 // -- (1,2) -- (2,1) -- (3,1) --
 // -----------------------------
 func (p *node) newGrid(n *node) {
-	var newt *andlabsT
+	var newt *guiWidget
 	log(debugToolkit, "newGrid()", n.WidgetId, "to", n.ParentId)
 
-	newt = new(andlabsT)
+	newt = new(guiWidget)
 
 	c := ui.NewGrid()
 	newt.uiGrid = c
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/group.go b/toolkit/andlabs/group.go
index 077aea0..b7c450e 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/group.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/group.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 func (p *node) newGroup(n *node) {
 	log(debugToolkit, "NewGroup()", n.Name)
 
-	newt := new(andlabsT)
+	newt := new(guiWidget)
 
 	log(debugToolkit, "NewGroup() create", n.Name)
 
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/image.go b/toolkit/andlabs/image.go
index a565376..bab1a9e 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/image.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/image.go
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import (
 
 // make new Image using andlabs/ui
 func (p *node) newImage(n *node) {
-	newt := new(andlabsT)
+	newt := new(guiWidget)
 	var img *ui.Image
 
 	log(debugToolkit, "rawImage() create", n.Name)
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/label.go b/toolkit/andlabs/label.go
index 0fa075e..3f06546 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/label.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/label.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 func (p *node) newLabel(n *node) {
 	log(logInfo, "NewLabel()", n.Name)
 
-	newt := new(andlabsT)
+	newt := new(guiWidget)
 	c := ui.NewLabel(n.Name)
 	newt.uiLabel = c
 	newt.uiControl = c
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/main.go b/toolkit/andlabs/main.go
index 3ba3079..4737337 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/main.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/main.go
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import (
 var pluginChan chan toolkit.Action
 
 // the starting point of the binary tree
-var rootNode *node
+// var rootNode *node
 
 var uiMainUndef bool = true
 var uiMain sync.Once
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/slider.go b/toolkit/andlabs/slider.go
index f1b4676..5098943 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/slider.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/slider.go
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func (p *node) newSlider(n *node) {
-	newt := new(andlabsT)
+	newt := new(guiWidget)
 
 	s := ui.NewSlider(n.X, n.Y)
 	newt.uiSlider = s
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/spinner.go b/toolkit/andlabs/spinner.go
index b7d5947..bab7a29 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/spinner.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/spinner.go
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func (p *node) newSpinner(n *node) {
-	newt := new(andlabsT)
+	newt := new(guiWidget)
 
 	s := ui.NewSpinbox(n.X, n.Y)
 	newt.uiSpinbox = s
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/structs.go b/toolkit/andlabs/structs.go
index 507a50c..c5f94ee 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/structs.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/structs.go
@@ -1,14 +1,22 @@
 package main
 
-import "git.wit.org/wit/gui/toolkit"
+// import "git.wit.org/wit/gui/toolkit"
 
 import "github.com/andlabs/ui"
 import _ "github.com/andlabs/ui/winmanifest"
 
 // var andlabs map[int]*andlabsT
 // var callback func(int) bool
-var callback chan toolkit.Action
+// var callback chan toolkit.Action
 
+// It's probably a terrible idea to call this 'me'
+var me config
+
+type config struct {
+	rootNode *node // the base of the binary tree. it should have id == 0
+}
+
+/*
 type node struct {
 	parent	*node
 	children []*node
@@ -41,15 +49,16 @@ type node struct {
 	// the internal plugin toolkit structure
 	tk *andlabsT
 }
+*/
 
 // stores the raw toolkit internals
-type andlabsT struct {
+type guiWidget struct {
 	Width  int
 	Height int
 
 	// tw	*toolkit.Widget
-	parent	*andlabsT
-	children []*andlabsT
+	parent	*guiWidget
+	children []*guiWidget
 
 	// used to track if a tab has a child widget yet
 	child bool
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/tab.go b/toolkit/andlabs/tab.go
index 2f44b03..aa851d1 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/tab.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/tab.go
@@ -20,8 +20,11 @@ import (
 	any existing tabs rather than adding a new one
 */
 func (p *node) newTab(n *node) {
-	var newt *andlabsT
+	var newt *guiWidget
 
+	if (p == nil) {
+		log(debugError, "newTab() p == nil. how the fuck does this happen?", n.WidgetId, n.ParentId)
+	}
 	if (p.WidgetType != toolkit.Window) {
 		log(debugError, "newTab() uiWindow == nil. I can't add a toolbar without window", n.WidgetId, n.ParentId)
 		return
@@ -40,8 +43,8 @@ func (p *node) newTab(n *node) {
 		log(debugToolkit, "newTab() GOOD. This should be an additional tab:", n.WidgetId, n.ParentId)
 		if (n.WidgetType == toolkit.Tab) {
 			// andlabs doesn't have multiple tab widgets so make a fake one?
-			// this makes a andlabsT internal structure with the parent values
-			newt = new(andlabsT)
+			// this makes a guiWidget internal structure with the parent values
+			newt = new(guiWidget)
 			newt.uiWindow = t.uiWindow
 			newt.uiTab = t.uiTab
 		} else {
@@ -63,8 +66,8 @@ func tabSetMargined(tab *ui.Tab, b bool) {
 	}
 }
 
-func rawTab(w *ui.Window, name string) *andlabsT {
-	var newt andlabsT
+func rawTab(w *ui.Window, name string) *guiWidget {
+	var newt guiWidget
 	log(debugToolkit, "rawTab() START", name)
 
 	if (w == nil) {
@@ -83,8 +86,8 @@ func rawTab(w *ui.Window, name string) *andlabsT {
 	return &newt
 }
 
-func (t *andlabsT) appendTab(name string) *andlabsT {
-	var newT andlabsT
+func (t *guiWidget) appendTab(name string) *guiWidget {
+	var newT guiWidget
 	log(debugToolkit, "appendTab() ADD", name)
 
 	if (t.uiTab == nil) {
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/textbox.go b/toolkit/andlabs/textbox.go
index 1745d11..7cb5d63 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/textbox.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/textbox.go
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func (p *node) newTextbox(n *node) {
-	newt := new(andlabsT)
+	newt := new(guiWidget)
 
 	if (n.X == 1) {
 		e := ui.NewEntry()
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/widget.go b/toolkit/andlabs/widget.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9155530
--- /dev/null
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/widget.go
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"git.wit.org/wit/gui/toolkit"
+)
+
+// this is specific to the nocui toolkit
+func initWidget(n *node) *guiWidget {
+	var w *guiWidget
+	w = new(guiWidget)
+	// Set(w, "default")
+
+	if n.WidgetType == toolkit.Root {
+		log(logInfo, "setupWidget() FOUND ROOT w.id =", n.WidgetId)
+		n.WidgetId = 0
+		me.rootNode = n
+		return w
+	}
+
+	if (n.WidgetType == toolkit.Box) {
+		if (n.B) {
+			n.horizontal = true
+		} else {
+			n.horizontal = false
+		}
+	}
+
+	return w
+}
diff --git a/toolkit/andlabs/window.go b/toolkit/andlabs/window.go
index ccc523a..f51536b 100644
--- a/toolkit/andlabs/window.go
+++ b/toolkit/andlabs/window.go
@@ -5,18 +5,18 @@ import (
 	_ "github.com/andlabs/ui/winmanifest"
 )
 
-func (t *andlabsT) MessageWindow(msg1 string, msg2 string) {
+func (t *guiWidget) MessageWindow(msg1 string, msg2 string) {
 	ui.MsgBox(t.uiWindow, msg1, msg2)
 }
 
-func (t *andlabsT) ErrorWindow(msg1 string, msg2 string) {
+func (t *guiWidget) ErrorWindow(msg1 string, msg2 string) {
 	ui.MsgBoxError(t.uiWindow, msg1, msg2)
 }
 
 func newWindow(n *node) {
-	var newt *andlabsT
+	var newt *guiWidget
 
-	newt = new(andlabsT)
+	newt = new(guiWidget)
 
 	// menubar bool is if the OS defined border on the window should be used
 	win := ui.NewWindow(n.Name, n.X, n.Y, menubar)
diff --git a/toolkit/gocui/common.go b/toolkit/gocui/common.go
deleted file mode 100644
index d3de34c..0000000
--- a/toolkit/gocui/common.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,211 +0,0 @@
-package main
-
-import (
-	"strconv"
-	"git.wit.org/wit/gui/toolkit"
-)
-
-func makeWidget(n *node) *cuiWidget {
-	var w *cuiWidget
-	w = new(cuiWidget)
-	// Set(w, "default")
-
-	w.frame = true
-
-	// set the name used by gocui to the id
-	w.cuiName = strconv.Itoa(n.WidgetId)
-
-	if n.WidgetType == toolkit.Root {
-		log(logInfo, "setupWidget() FOUND ROOT w.id =", n.WidgetId)
-		n.WidgetId = 0
-		me.rootNode = n
-		return w
-	}
-
-	if (n.WidgetType == toolkit.Box) {
-		if (n.B) {
-			n.horizontal = true
-		} else {
-			n.horizontal = false
-		}
-	}
-
-	if (n.WidgetType == toolkit.Grid) {
-		w.widths = make(map[int]int) // how tall each row in the grid is
-		w.heights = make(map[int]int) // how wide each column in the grid is
-	}
-
-	return w
-}
-
-func setupCtrlDownWidget() {
-	a := new(toolkit.Action)
-	a.Name = "ctrlDown"
-	a.WidgetType = toolkit.Dialog
-	a.WidgetId = -1
-	a.ParentId = 0
-	n := addNode(a)
-
-	me.ctrlDown = n
-}
-
-func (n *node) deleteView() {
-	w := n.tk
-	if (w.v != nil) {
-		w.v.Visible = false
-		return
-	}
-	// make sure the view isn't really there
-	me.baseGui.DeleteView(w.cuiName)
-	w.v = nil
-}
-
-// searches the binary tree for a WidgetId
-func (n *node) findWidgetId(id int) *node {
-	if (n == nil) {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	if n.WidgetId == id {
-		return n
-	}
-
-	for _, child := range n.children {
-		newN := child.findWidgetId(id)
-		if (newN != nil) {
-			return newN
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// searches the binary tree for a WidgetId
-func (n *node) findWidgetName(name string) *node {
-	if (n == nil) {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	if n.tk.cuiName == name {
-		return n
-	}
-
-	for _, child := range n.children {
-		newN := child.findWidgetName(name)
-		if (newN != nil) {
-			return newN
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (n *node) IsCurrent() bool {
-	w := n.tk
-	if (n.WidgetType == toolkit.Tab) {
-		return w.isCurrent
-	}
-	if (n.WidgetType == toolkit.Window) {
-		return w.isCurrent
-	}
-	if (n.WidgetType == toolkit.Root) {
-		return false
-	}
-	return n.parent.IsCurrent()
-}
-
-func (n *node) Visible() bool {
-	if (n == nil) {
-		return false
-	}
-	if (n.tk == nil) {
-		return false
-	}
-	if (n.tk.v == nil) {
-		return false
-	}
-	return n.tk.v.Visible
-}
-
-func (n *node) SetVisible(b bool) {
-	if (n == nil) {
-		return
-	}
-	if (n.tk == nil) {
-		return
-	}
-	if (n.tk.v == nil) {
-		return
-	}
-	n.tk.v.Visible = b
-}
-
-func addNode(a *toolkit.Action) *node {
-	n := new(node)
-	n.WidgetType = a.WidgetType
-	n.WidgetId = a.WidgetId
-	n.ParentId = a.ParentId
-
-	// copy the data from the action message
-	n.Name = a.Name
-	n.Text = a.Text
-	n.I = a.I
-	n.S = a.S
-	n.B = a.B
-
-	n.X = a.X
-	n.Y = a.Y
-
-	n.W = a.W
-	n.H = a.H
-	n.AtW = a.AtW
-	n.AtH = a.AtH
-
-	// store the internal toolkit information
-	n.tk = makeWidget(n)
-
-	if (a.WidgetType == toolkit.Root) {
-		log(logInfo, "addNode() Root")
-		return n
-	}
-
-	if (me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId) != nil) {
-		log(logError, "addNode() WidgetId already exists", a.WidgetId)
-		return me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId)
-	}
-
-	// add this new widget on the binary tree
-	n.parent = me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.ParentId)
-	if n.parent != nil {
-		n.parent.children = append(n.parent.children, n)
-		//w := n.tk
-		//w.parent = n.parent.tk
-		//w.parent.children = append(w.parent.children, w)
-	}
-	return n
-}
-
-func addDropdown() *node {
-	n := new(node)
-	n.WidgetType = toolkit.Flag
-	n.WidgetId = -2
-	n.ParentId = 0
-
-	// copy the data from the action message
-	n.Name = "DropBox"
-	n.Text = "DropBox text"
-
-	// store the internal toolkit information
-	n.tk = new(cuiWidget)
-	n.tk.frame = true
-
-	// set the name used by gocui to the id
-	n.tk.cuiName = "-1 dropbox"
-
-	n.tk.color = &colorFlag
-
-	// add this new widget on the binary tree
-	n.parent = me.rootNode
-	if n.parent != nil {
-		n.parent.children = append(n.parent.children, n)
-	}
-	return n
-}
diff --git a/toolkit/gocui/common.go b/toolkit/gocui/common.go
new file mode 120000
index 0000000..35417a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/toolkit/gocui/common.go
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../nocui/common.go
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/toolkit/gocui/mouse.go b/toolkit/gocui/mouse.go
index 64786ab..50c2834 100644
--- a/toolkit/gocui/mouse.go
+++ b/toolkit/gocui/mouse.go
@@ -63,9 +63,11 @@ func mouseUp(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
 	w, h := g.MousePosition()
 	log(true, "mouseUp() view msgMouseDown (check here for dropdown menu click) (w,h) =", w, h)
 	if (me.ddClicked) {
+		me.ddClicked = false
 		log(true, "mouseUp() ddview is the thing that was clicked", w, h)
 		log(true, "mouseUp() find out what the string is here", w, h, me.ddview.tk.gocuiSize.h1)
 
+		var newZone string = ""
 		if (me.ddNode != nil) {
 			value := h - me.ddview.tk.gocuiSize.h0 - 1
 			log(true, "mouseUp() me.ddview.tk.gocuiSize.h1 =", me.ddview.tk.gocuiSize.h1)
@@ -74,10 +76,19 @@ func mouseUp(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
 			log(true, "mouseUp() value =", value, "valsLen =", valsLen)
 			log(true, "mouseUp() me.ddNode.vals =", me.ddNode.vals)
 			if ((value >= 0) && (value < valsLen)) {
-				str := me.ddNode.vals[value]
-				log(true, "mouseUp() value =", value, "str =", str)
+				newZone = me.ddNode.vals[value]
+				log(true, "mouseUp() value =", value, "newZone =", newZone)
 			}
 		}
+		hideDDview()
+		if (newZone != "") {
+			if (me.ddNode != nil) {
+				me.ddNode.SetText(newZone)
+				me.ddNode.S = newZone
+				me.ddNode.doUserEvent()
+			}
+		}
+		return nil
 	}
 	/*
 	// if there is a drop down view active, treat it like a dialog box and close it
diff --git a/toolkit/gocui/plugin.go b/toolkit/gocui/plugin.go
index 6d597b4..eae811d 100644
--- a/toolkit/gocui/plugin.go
+++ b/toolkit/gocui/plugin.go
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import (
 func action(a *toolkit.Action) {
 	log(logInfo, "action() START", a.WidgetId, a.ActionType, a.WidgetType, a.Name)
 	n := me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId)
-	var w *cuiWidget
+	var w *guiWidget
 	if (n != nil) {
 		w = n.tk
 	}
@@ -98,20 +98,3 @@ func (n *node) Set(val any) {
 		log(logError, "Set() unknown type =", val, v)
 	}
 }
-
-// this passes the user event back from the plugin
-func (n *node) doUserEvent() {
-	if (me.callback == nil) {
-		log(logError, "doUserEvent() no callback channel was configured")
-		return
-	}
-	var a toolkit.Action
-	a.WidgetId = n.WidgetId
-	a.Name = n.Name
-	a.Text = n.Text
-	a.B = n.B
-	a.ActionType = toolkit.User
-	log(logInfo, "doUserEvent() START:   send a button click callback()", a.WidgetId, a.Name)
-	me.callback <- a
-	log(logInfo, "doUserEvent() END:     sent a button click callback()", a.WidgetId, a.Name)
-}
diff --git a/toolkit/gocui/structs.go b/toolkit/gocui/structs.go
index 05df963..c61e7ad 100644
--- a/toolkit/gocui/structs.go
+++ b/toolkit/gocui/structs.go
@@ -96,49 +96,6 @@ var (
 	globalMouseDown, msgMouseDown, movingMsg bool
 )
 
-// this is the standard binary tree structure for toolkits
-type node struct {
-	parent *node
-	children []*node
-
-	WidgetId	int	// widget ID
-	WidgetType	toolkit.WidgetType
-	ParentId	int	// parent ID
-
-	Name   string
-	Text   string
-
-	// This is how the values are passed back and forth
-	// values from things like checkboxes & dropdown's
-	B	bool
-	I	int
-	S	string
-
-	A	any // switch to this or deprecate this? pros/cons?
-
-	// This is used for things like a slider(0,100)
-	X      int
-	Y      int
-
-	// This is for the grid size & widget position
-	W      int
-	H      int
-	AtW    int
-	AtH    int
-
-	vals []string // dropdown menu items
-
-	// horizontal=true  means layout widgets like books on a bookshelf
-	// horizontal=false means layout widgets like books in a stack
-	horizontal bool `default:false`
-
-	hasTabs bool // does the window have tabs?
-	currentTab bool // the visible tab
-
-	// the internal plugin toolkit structure
-	tk *cuiWidget
-}
-
 // this is the gocui way
 // corner starts at in the upper left corner
 type rectType struct {
@@ -153,7 +110,7 @@ func (r *rectType) Height() int {
 	return r.h1 - r.h0
 }
 
-type cuiWidget struct {
+type guiWidget struct {
 	// the gocui package variables
 	v *gocui.View // this is nil if the widget is not displayed
 	cuiName string // what gocui uses to reference the widget
@@ -189,7 +146,7 @@ type cuiWidget struct {
 // of functions like fmt.Fprintf, fmt.Fprintln, io.Copy, etc. Clear must
 // be called to clear the view's buffer.
 
-func (w *cuiWidget) Write(p []byte) (n int, err error) {
+func (w *guiWidget) Write(p []byte) (n int, err error) {
 	w.tainted = true
 	me.writeMutex.Lock()
 	defer me.writeMutex.Unlock()
diff --git a/toolkit/gocui/tab.go b/toolkit/gocui/tab.go
index d910552..3451e5c 100644
--- a/toolkit/gocui/tab.go
+++ b/toolkit/gocui/tab.go
@@ -7,14 +7,14 @@ import (
 	"git.wit.org/wit/gui/toolkit"
 )
 
-func (w *cuiWidget) Width() int {
+func (w *guiWidget) Width() int {
 	if w.frame {
 		return w.gocuiSize.w1 - w.gocuiSize.w0
 	}
 	return w.gocuiSize.w1 - w.gocuiSize.w0 - 1
 }
 
-func (w *cuiWidget) Height() int {
+func (w *guiWidget) Height() int {
 	if w.frame {
 		return w.gocuiSize.h1 - w.gocuiSize.h0
 	}
diff --git a/toolkit/gocui/widget.go b/toolkit/gocui/widget.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4afe08b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/toolkit/gocui/widget.go
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"strconv"
+	"git.wit.org/wit/gui/toolkit"
+)
+
+func initWidget(n *node) *guiWidget {
+	var w *guiWidget
+	w = new(guiWidget)
+	// Set(w, "default")
+
+	w.frame = true
+
+	// set the name used by gocui to the id
+	w.cuiName = strconv.Itoa(n.WidgetId)
+
+	if n.WidgetType == toolkit.Root {
+		log(logInfo, "setupWidget() FOUND ROOT w.id =", n.WidgetId)
+		n.WidgetId = 0
+		me.rootNode = n
+		return w
+	}
+
+	if (n.WidgetType == toolkit.Box) {
+		if (n.B) {
+			n.horizontal = true
+		} else {
+			n.horizontal = false
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (n.WidgetType == toolkit.Grid) {
+		w.widths = make(map[int]int) // how tall each row in the grid is
+		w.heights = make(map[int]int) // how wide each column in the grid is
+	}
+
+	return w
+}
+
+func setupCtrlDownWidget() {
+	a := new(toolkit.Action)
+	a.Name = "ctrlDown"
+	a.WidgetType = toolkit.Dialog
+	a.WidgetId = -1
+	a.ParentId = 0
+	n := addNode(a)
+
+	me.ctrlDown = n
+}
+
+func (n *node) deleteView() {
+	w := n.tk
+	if (w.v != nil) {
+		w.v.Visible = false
+		return
+	}
+	// make sure the view isn't really there
+	me.baseGui.DeleteView(w.cuiName)
+	w.v = nil
+}
+
+// searches the binary tree for a WidgetId
+func (n *node) findWidgetName(name string) *node {
+	if (n == nil) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if n.tk.cuiName == name {
+		return n
+	}
+
+	for _, child := range n.children {
+		newN := child.findWidgetName(name)
+		if (newN != nil) {
+			return newN
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (n *node) IsCurrent() bool {
+	w := n.tk
+	if (n.WidgetType == toolkit.Tab) {
+		return w.isCurrent
+	}
+	if (n.WidgetType == toolkit.Window) {
+		return w.isCurrent
+	}
+	if (n.WidgetType == toolkit.Root) {
+		return false
+	}
+	return n.parent.IsCurrent()
+}
+
+func (n *node) Visible() bool {
+	if (n == nil) {
+		return false
+	}
+	if (n.tk == nil) {
+		return false
+	}
+	if (n.tk.v == nil) {
+		return false
+	}
+	return n.tk.v.Visible
+}
+
+func (n *node) SetVisible(b bool) {
+	if (n == nil) {
+		return
+	}
+	if (n.tk == nil) {
+		return
+	}
+	if (n.tk.v == nil) {
+		return
+	}
+	n.tk.v.Visible = b
+}
+
+func addDropdown() *node {
+	n := new(node)
+	n.WidgetType = toolkit.Flag
+	n.WidgetId = -2
+	n.ParentId = 0
+
+	// copy the data from the action message
+	n.Name = "DropBox"
+	n.Text = "DropBox text"
+
+	// store the internal toolkit information
+	n.tk = new(guiWidget)
+	n.tk.frame = true
+
+	// set the name used by gocui to the id
+	n.tk.cuiName = "-1 dropbox"
+
+	n.tk.color = &colorFlag
+
+	// add this new widget on the binary tree
+	n.parent = me.rootNode
+	if n.parent != nil {
+		n.parent.children = append(n.parent.children, n)
+	}
+	return n
+}
diff --git a/toolkit/nocui/common.go b/toolkit/nocui/common.go
index a012138..797f86a 100644
--- a/toolkit/nocui/common.go
+++ b/toolkit/nocui/common.go
@@ -1,9 +1,68 @@
 package main
 
+/*
+	These code should be common to all gui plugins
+
+	There are some helper functions that are probably going to be
+	the same everywhere. Mostly due to handling the binary tree structure
+	and the channel communication
+
+	For now, it's just a symlink to the 'master' version in
+	./toolkit/nocui/common.go
+*/
+
 import (
 	"git.wit.org/wit/gui/toolkit"
 )
 
+// this is the channel that sends the events from the user clicking or typing
+// back to the program using this golang package
+var callback chan toolkit.Action
+
+type node struct {
+	parent	*node
+	children []*node
+
+	WidgetId	int	// widget ID
+	WidgetType	toolkit.WidgetType
+	ParentId	int	// parent ID
+
+	Name   string
+	Text   string
+
+	// This is how the values are passed back and forth
+	// values from things like checkboxes & dropdown's
+	B	bool
+	I	int
+	S	string
+
+	A	any // switch to this or deprecate this? pros/cons?
+
+	// This is used for things like a slider(0,100)
+	X      int
+	Y      int
+
+	// This is for the grid size & widget position
+	W      int
+	H      int
+	AtW    int
+	AtH    int
+
+	vals []string // dropdown menu items
+
+	// horizontal=true  means layout widgets like books on a bookshelf
+	// horizontal=false means layout widgets like books in a stack
+	horizontal bool `default:false`
+
+	hasTabs bool // does the window have tabs?
+	currentTab bool // the visible tab
+
+	// the internal plugin toolkit structure
+	// in the gtk plugin, it has gtk things like margin & border settings
+	// in the text console one, it has text console things like colors for menus & buttons
+	tk *guiWidget
+}
+
 // searches the binary tree for a WidgetId
 func (n *node) findWidgetId(id int) *node {
 	if (n == nil) {
@@ -45,22 +104,87 @@ func addWidget(a *toolkit.Action) *node {
 	n.AtH = a.AtH
 
 	// store the internal toolkit information
-	n.tk = new(nocuiT)
+	n.tk = new(guiWidget)
 
 	if (a.WidgetType == toolkit.Root) {
 		log(logInfo, "addWidget() Root")
 		return n
 	}
 
-	if (rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId) != nil) {
+	if (me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId) != nil) {
 		log(logError, "addWidget() WidgetId already exists", a.WidgetId)
-		return rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId)
+		return me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId)
 	}
 
 	// add this new widget on the binary tree
-	n.parent = rootNode.findWidgetId(a.ParentId)
+	n.parent = me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.ParentId)
 	if n.parent != nil {
 		n.parent.children = append(n.parent.children, n)
 	}
 	return n
 }
+
+func (n *node) doUserEvent() {
+	if (callback == nil) {
+		log(logError, "doUserEvent() callback == nil", n.WidgetId)
+		return
+	}
+	var a toolkit.Action
+	a.WidgetId = n.WidgetId
+	a.Name = n.Name
+	a.Text = n.Text
+	a.S = n.S
+	a.I = n.I
+	a.B = n.B
+	a.ActionType = toolkit.User
+	log(logInfo, "doUserEvent() START: send a user event to the callback channel")
+	callback <- a
+	log(logInfo, "doUserEvent() END:   sent a user event to the callback channel")
+	return
+}
+
+func addNode(a *toolkit.Action) *node {
+	n := new(node)
+	n.WidgetType = a.WidgetType
+	n.WidgetId = a.WidgetId
+	n.ParentId = a.ParentId
+
+	// copy the data from the action message
+	n.Name = a.Name
+	n.Text = a.Text
+	n.I = a.I
+	n.S = a.S
+	n.B = a.B
+
+	n.X = a.X
+	n.Y = a.Y
+
+	n.W = a.W
+	n.H = a.H
+	n.AtW = a.AtW
+	n.AtH = a.AtH
+
+	// store the internal toolkit information
+	n.tk = initWidget(n)
+	// n.tk = new(guiWidget)
+
+	if (a.WidgetType == toolkit.Root) {
+		log(logInfo, "addNode() Root")
+		return n
+	}
+
+	if (me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId) != nil) {
+		log(logError, "addNode() WidgetId already exists", a.WidgetId)
+		return me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId)
+	}
+
+	// add this new widget on the binary tree
+	n.parent = me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.ParentId)
+	if n.parent != nil {
+		n.parent.children = append(n.parent.children, n)
+		//w := n.tk
+		//w.parent = n.parent.tk
+		//w.parent.children = append(w.parent.children, w)
+	}
+	return n
+}
diff --git a/toolkit/nocui/event.go b/toolkit/nocui/event.go
index 73b7ff2..1075266 100644
--- a/toolkit/nocui/event.go
+++ b/toolkit/nocui/event.go
@@ -45,22 +45,3 @@ func (n *node) doWidgetClick() {
 	default:
 	}
 }
-
-func (n *node) doUserEvent() {
-	if (callback == nil) {
-		log(logError, "doUserEvent() callback == nil", n.WidgetId)
-		return
-	}
-	var a toolkit.Action
-	a.WidgetId = n.WidgetId
-	a.Name = n.Name
-	a.Text = n.Text
-	a.S = n.S
-	a.I = n.I
-	a.B = n.B
-	a.ActionType = toolkit.User
-	log(logInfo, "doUserEvent() START: send a user event to the callback channel")
-	callback <- a
-	log(logInfo, "doUserEvent() END:   sent a user event to the callback channel")
-	return
-}
diff --git a/toolkit/nocui/structs.go b/toolkit/nocui/structs.go
index c3ece3b..90c2c1e 100644
--- a/toolkit/nocui/structs.go
+++ b/toolkit/nocui/structs.go
@@ -1,47 +1,19 @@
 package main
 
-import "git.wit.org/wit/gui/toolkit"
-
-var callback chan toolkit.Action
-
-type node struct {
-	parent	*node
-	children []*node
-
-	WidgetId	int	// widget ID
-	WidgetType	toolkit.WidgetType
-	ParentId	int	// parent ID
-
-	Name   string
-	Text   string
-
-	// This is how the values are passed back and forth
-	// values from things like checkboxes & dropdown's
-	B	bool
-	I	int
-	S	string
-
-	A	any // switch to this or deprecate this? pros/cons?
-
-	// This is used for things like a slider(0,100)
-	X      int
-	Y      int
-
-	// This is for the grid size & widget position
-	W      int
-	H      int
-	AtW    int
-	AtH    int
-
-	// the internal plugin toolkit structure
-	tk *nocuiT
-}
+// import "git.wit.org/wit/gui/toolkit"
 
 // stores the raw toolkit internals
-type nocuiT struct {
+type guiWidget struct {
 	Width  int
 	Height int
 
 	c int
 	val map[int]string
 }
+
+// It's probably a terrible idea to call this 'me'
+var me config
+
+type config struct {
+	rootNode *node // the base of the binary tree. it should have id == 0
+}
diff --git a/toolkit/nocui/widget.go b/toolkit/nocui/widget.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9155530
--- /dev/null
+++ b/toolkit/nocui/widget.go
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"git.wit.org/wit/gui/toolkit"
+)
+
+// this is specific to the nocui toolkit
+func initWidget(n *node) *guiWidget {
+	var w *guiWidget
+	w = new(guiWidget)
+	// Set(w, "default")
+
+	if n.WidgetType == toolkit.Root {
+		log(logInfo, "setupWidget() FOUND ROOT w.id =", n.WidgetId)
+		n.WidgetId = 0
+		me.rootNode = n
+		return w
+	}
+
+	if (n.WidgetType == toolkit.Box) {
+		if (n.B) {
+			n.horizontal = true
+		} else {
+			n.horizontal = false
+		}
+	}
+
+	return w
+}