diff --git a/common.go b/common.go
index d913598..2dc38ef 100644
--- a/common.go
+++ b/common.go
@@ -5,8 +5,10 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"sort"
+	"time"
 
 	"go.wit.com/gui"
+	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/shell"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/repostatus"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 )
@@ -23,6 +25,11 @@ func (r *RepoList) Hide() {
 	r.reposbox.Hide()
 }
 
+// better name: use this
+func (r *RepoList) FindRepoByName(path string) *RepoRow {
+	return r.FindRepo(path)
+}
+
 func (r *RepoList) FindRepo(path string) *RepoRow {
 	repo, _ := me.allrepos[path]
 	return repo
@@ -219,3 +226,18 @@ func (rl *RepoList) MakeGoWork() error {
 	fmt.Fprintln(f, ")")
 	return nil
 }
+
+// makes a human readable thing for standard out.
+func (r *RepoRow) StandardHeader() string {
+	lastTag := r.LastTag()
+	tag := r.Status.NewestTag()
+	gitAge, _ := tag.GetDate()
+	dur := time.Since(gitAge)
+
+	master := r.Status.GetMasterVersion()
+	devel := r.Status.GetDevelVersion()
+	user := r.Status.GetUserVersion()
+
+	header := fmt.Sprintf("%-35s %5s %-10s %-10s %-10s %-10s %-15s", r.Name(), shell.FormatDuration(dur), lastTag, master, devel, user, r.State())
+	return header
+}
diff --git a/newRepo.go b/newRepo.go
index 3b8d47e..ec68be8 100644
--- a/newRepo.go
+++ b/newRepo.go
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ func (r *RepoList) NewRepo(path string) (*RepoRow, error) {
 	}
 	newRepo := new(RepoRow)
 	newRepo.Status = status
+	newRepo.Status.InitOk = false
 
 	newRepo.pLabel = r.reposgrid.NewLabel(path).SetProgName("path")
 	newRepo.hidden = false
@@ -78,6 +79,7 @@ func (r *RepoList) NewRepo(path string) (*RepoRow, error) {
 		r.makeAutotypistView(newRepo)
 	}
 	r.reposgrid.NextRow()
+	newRepo.Status.InitOk = true
 	return newRepo, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/scanIterator.go b/scanIterator.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4214014
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scanIterator.go
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+package repolist
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+)
+
+type RepoIterator struct {
+	repos []*RepoRow
+	index int
+}
+
+// NewRepoIterator initializes a new iterator.
+func NewRepoIterator(repos []*RepoRow) *RepoIterator {
+	return &RepoIterator{repos: repos}
+}
+
+// Scan moves to the next element and returns false if there are no more repos.
+func (it *RepoIterator) Scan() bool {
+	if it.index >= len(it.repos) {
+		return false
+	}
+	it.index++
+	return true
+}
+
+// Repo returns the current repo.
+func (it *RepoIterator) Repo() *RepoRow {
+	if it.repos[it.index-1] == nil {
+		for i, d := range it.repos {
+			fmt.Println("i =", i, d)
+		}
+		fmt.Println("len =", len(it.repos))
+		fmt.Println("repo == nil", it.index, it.index-1)
+		os.Exit(-1)
+	}
+	return it.repos[it.index-1]
+}
+
+// Use Scan() in a loop, similar to a while loop
+//
+//	for iterator.Scan() {
+//		d := iterator.Repo()
+//		fmt.Println("Repo UUID:", d.Uuid)
+//	}
+
+func (r *RepoList) ReposAll() *RepoIterator {
+	repoPointers := r.selectRepoAll()
+
+	iterator := NewRepoIterator(repoPointers)
+
+	return iterator
+}
+
+// SelectRepoPointers safely returns a slice of pointers to Repo records.
+func (r *RepoList) selectRepoAll() []*RepoRow {
+	r.RLock()
+	defer r.RUnlock()
+
+	// Create a new slice to hold pointers to each Repo
+	// repoPointers := make([]*Repo, len(c.E.Repos))
+	var repoPointers []*RepoRow
+	for _, repo := range me.allrepos {
+		if repo == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		if repo.Status == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		if ! repo.Status.InitOk {
+			continue
+		}
+		repoPointers = append(repoPointers, repo) // Copy pointers for safe iteration
+	}
+
+	return repoPointers
+}
diff --git a/structs.go b/structs.go
index 6af9283..0758258 100644
--- a/structs.go
+++ b/structs.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package repolist
 
 import (
+	"sync"
+
 	"go.wit.com/gui"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/repostatus"
 )
@@ -17,6 +19,8 @@ func (b *RepoList) Enable() {
 
 // this app's variables
 type RepoList struct {
+	sync.RWMutex
+
 	onlyMe   bool
 	goSrcPwd string
 	allrepos map[string]*RepoRow