diff --git a/common.go b/common.go
index c90b9af..cff90a9 100644
--- a/common.go
+++ b/common.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"sort"
 
 	"github.com/go-cmd/cmd"
+	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/gitpb"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 )
 
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ func (r *RepoRow) State() string {
 }
 
 func (r *RepoRow) Scan() int {
-	return r.NewScan()
+	return r.Update()
 }
 
 // returns a name for human consuption only
@@ -75,6 +76,10 @@ func (r *RepoRow) GetGoPath() string {
 	return r.pb.GetGoPath()
 }
 
+func (r *RepoRow) GetPb() *gitpb.Repo {
+	return r.pb
+}
+
 func (r *RepoRow) CheckDirty() bool {
 	return r.pb.CheckDirty()
 }
diff --git a/newRepo.go b/newRepo.go
index b9aabb9..fc5e191 100644
--- a/newRepo.go
+++ b/newRepo.go
@@ -111,11 +111,11 @@ func (r *RepoList) AddRepo(pb *gitpb.Repo) (*RepoRow, error) {
 		newRepo.Xterm("git diff; bash")
 		pb := newRepo.pb
 		pb.Reload()
-		newRepo.NewScan()
+		newRepo.Update()
 		r.reposbox.Enable()
 	})
 
-	newRepo.endBox.NewButton("commit all", func() {
+	newRepo.commitB = newRepo.endBox.NewButton("commit all", func() {
 		pb := newRepo.pb
 		if pb == nil {
 			log.Info("the protobuf is nil. something went wrong in the forge/gitpb mappings")
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ func (r *RepoList) AddRepo(pb *gitpb.Repo) (*RepoRow, error) {
 			pb.RunRealtimeVerbose([]string{"git", "restore", "--staged", "."})
 		}
 		pb.Reload()
-		newRepo.NewScan()
+		newRepo.Update()
 		r.reposbox.Enable()
 	})
 
diff --git a/scan.go b/scan.go
index 9249076..27b2e8c 100644
--- a/scan.go
+++ b/scan.go
@@ -12,14 +12,14 @@ func (r *RepoList) RegisterHideFunction(f func(*RepoRow)) {
 	me.hideFunction = f
 }
 
-func (r *RepoList) ScanRepositories() (int, string) {
+func (r *RepoList) ScanRepositoriesOld() (int, string) {
 	var i int
 	var shown int
 	var total int
 	t := TimeFunction(func() {
 		for _, repo := range me.allrepos {
 			i += 1
-			changed := repo.NewScan()
+			changed := repo.Update()
 			total += changed
 		}
 		var hidden int
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func (r *RepoRow) UpdatePb(newpb *gitpb.Repo) {
 	r.pb = newpb
 }
 
-func (r *RepoRow) NewScan() int {
+func (r *RepoRow) Update() int {
 	var changed int = 0
 	if r.Status == nil {
 		log.Log(WARN, "repo.Status = nil. not initialized for some reason")
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func (r *RepoRow) NewScan() int {
 	}
 
 	// run the repostatus update
-	r.Status.Update()
+	// r.Status.Update()
 
 	r.masterVersion.SetLabel(pb.GetMasterVersion())
 	r.develVersion.SetLabel(pb.GetDevelVersion())
@@ -70,6 +70,14 @@ func (r *RepoRow) NewScan() int {
 	r.currentName.SetLabel(pb.GetCurrentBranchName())
 	r.currentVersion.SetLabel(pb.GetCurrentBranchVersion())
 
+	// disable the commit button if the repo is not on the user branch
+	if pb.GetCurrentBranchName() == pb.GetUserBranchName() {
+		r.commitB.Enable()
+	} else {
+		r.commitB.Disable()
+	}
+
+	// TODO: finally make this alot smarter
 	if r.State() == "merge to main" {
 		r.Hide()
 	}
diff --git a/structs.go b/structs.go
index 1acac33..3a4360d 100644
--- a/structs.go
+++ b/structs.go
@@ -39,39 +39,28 @@ type RepoList struct {
 	reposgrid  *gui.Node
 	reposgroup *gui.Node
 
-	// put things here that can't be seen
-	blind *gui.Node
-
+	blind        *gui.Node // put things here that can't be seen
 	shownCount   *gui.Node
 	hideFunction func(*RepoRow)
 	duration     *gui.Node
-
-	rows []*RepoRow
+	rows         []*RepoRow
 }
 
 type RepoRow struct {
-	hidden     bool
-	lasttagrev string
-	// lasttag    string
-	giturl string
-	pb     *gitpb.Repo
-
-	pLabel *gui.Node // path label
-
-	targetV        *gui.Node // the target version
-	lastTag        *gui.Node // last tagged version label
-	currentName    *gui.Node // current branch name
-	currentVersion *gui.Node // current branch version
-	// gitState       *gui.Node // git state (dirty or not?)
-	pbState *gui.Node // the state of the protobuf
-
-	masterVersion *gui.Node // the master branch version
-	develVersion  *gui.Node // the devel branch version
-	userVersion   *gui.Node // the user branch version
-
-	endBox       *gui.Node // a general box at the end of the row
-	statusButton *gui.Node // opens up the status window
-	diffButton   *gui.Node // opens up the status window
-
-	Status *repostatus.RepoStatus
+	hidden         bool                   // is it currently hidden from view?
+	pb             *gitpb.Repo            // the underlying protobuf
+	pLabel         *gui.Node              // path label
+	targetV        *gui.Node              // the target version
+	lastTag        *gui.Node              // last tagged version label
+	currentName    *gui.Node              // current branch name
+	currentVersion *gui.Node              // current branch version
+	pbState        *gui.Node              // the state of the protobuf
+	masterVersion  *gui.Node              // the master branch version
+	develVersion   *gui.Node              // the devel branch version
+	userVersion    *gui.Node              // the user branch version
+	endBox         *gui.Node              // a general box at the end of the row
+	statusButton   *gui.Node              // opens up the status window
+	diffButton     *gui.Node              // opens up the status window
+	Status         *repostatus.RepoStatus // todo: move that code here?
+	commitB        *gui.Node              // the git commit button
 }
diff --git a/watchdog.go b/watchdog.go
index 87a2141..572f046 100644
--- a/watchdog.go
+++ b/watchdog.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func (r *RepoList) Watchdog(f func()) {
 			return
 		}
 		i = 0
-		r.ScanRepositories()
+		r.ScanRepositoriesOld()
 		f()
 	})
 }