diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index a630ed4..fcd0d73 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 *.swp
 go.mod
 go.sum
+
+testGui/testGui
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 25cb0db..1abeb4f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 all:
 	@GO111MODULE=off go vet
 	@echo go vet: this go library package builds okay
+	make -C testGui
 
 goimports:
 	goimports -w *.go
diff --git a/configfile.go b/configfile.go
index c6391a6..2cab8fa 100644
--- a/configfile.go
+++ b/configfile.go
@@ -2,15 +2,12 @@ package repolist
 
 import (
 	"errors"
-	"io/ioutil"
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"strings"
 
 	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/repostatus"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 )
 
+/*
 func (v *RepoList) InitRepoList(cfgfile string) {
 	v.cfgfile = cfgfile
 	lines := parsecfg(cfgfile)
@@ -109,6 +106,7 @@ func parsecfg(f string) []string {
 	lines := strings.Split(out, "\n")
 	return lines
 }
+*/
 
 func (rl *RepoList) ArgGitPull() bool {
 	var localonly int
diff --git a/init.go b/init.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..da30a53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/init.go
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+package repolist
+
+import (
+	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/forgepb"
+	"go.wit.com/gui"
+	"go.wit.com/log"
+)
+
+func (rl *RepoList) Init(f *forgepb.Forge) {
+	if rl == nil {
+		rl = new(RepoList)
+	}
+	me = rl
+	// todo: this code sucks. fix it soon
+	me.mainWindow = gui.NewWindow("builds and uploads all the packages")
+	me.mainbox = me.mainWindow.NewBox("bw hbox", true)
+
+	// make a window with a table of all the repos
+	me = AutotypistView(me.mainbox)
+
+	me.Enable()
+	me.forge = f
+
+	repos := me.forge.Repos.SortByPath()
+	for repos.Scan() {
+		repo := repos.Next()
+		log.Info("repo scan directory:", repo.FullPath)
+		me.AddRepo(repo)
+	}
+
+	me.Enable()
+}
diff --git a/newRepo.go b/newRepo.go
index e821dc0..56002fc 100644
--- a/newRepo.go
+++ b/newRepo.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/repostatus"
+	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/gitpb"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 )
 
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ func (r *RepoRow) Show2() {
 	r.hidden = false
 }
 
+/*
 func (r *RepoList) NewRepo(path string) (*RepoRow, error) {
 	test, ok := r.allrepos[path]
 	if ok {
@@ -93,6 +95,43 @@ func (r *RepoList) NewRepo(path string) (*RepoRow, error) {
 	newRepo.Hide()
 	return newRepo, nil
 }
+*/
+
+// adds a gui row to the table based off the repo protobuf
+func (r *RepoList) AddRepo(repo *gitpb.Repo) (*RepoRow, error) {
+	test, ok := r.allrepos[repo.GetGoPath()]
+	if ok {
+		// this repo already exists
+		return test, nil
+	}
+
+	status, err := repostatus.NewRepoStatusWindow(repo)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	newRepo := new(RepoRow)
+	newRepo.Status = status
+	newRepo.Status.InitOk = false
+
+	newRepo.pLabel = r.reposgrid.NewLabel(repo.GoPath).SetProgName("path")
+	newRepo.hidden = false
+
+	r.allrepos[repo.GoPath] = newRepo
+	newRepo.NewScan()
+
+	switch r.viewName {
+	case "autotypist":
+		r.makeAutotypistView(newRepo)
+	case "guireleaser":
+		r.makeGuireleaserView(newRepo)
+	default:
+		r.makeAutotypistView(newRepo)
+	}
+	r.reposgrid.NextRow()
+	newRepo.Status.InitOk = true
+	newRepo.Hide()
+	return newRepo, nil
+}
 
 func (r *RepoList) makeAutotypistView(newRepo *RepoRow) {
 	grid := r.reposgrid
diff --git a/structs.go b/structs.go
index 2531e96..4817831 100644
--- a/structs.go
+++ b/structs.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 
 	"go.wit.com/gui"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/repostatus"
+	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/forgepb"
 )
 
 var me *RepoList
@@ -21,12 +22,18 @@ func (b *RepoList) Enable() {
 type RepoList struct {
 	sync.RWMutex
 
+	// the main window and box
+	mainWindow *gui.Node
+	mainbox *gui.Node
+
 	onlyMe   bool
 	goSrcPwd string
 	allrepos map[string]*RepoRow
 	viewName string
 	cfgfile  string
 
+	forge *forgepb.Forge
+
 	reposbox   *gui.Node
 	reposgrid  *gui.Node
 	reposgroup *gui.Node
diff --git a/testGui/LICENSE b/testGui/LICENSE
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f288702
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testGui/LICENSE
@@ -0,0 +1,674 @@
+                    GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
+                       Version 3, 29 June 2007
+
+ Copyright (C) 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc. <https://fsf.org/>
+ Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies
+ of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.
+
+                            Preamble
+
+  The GNU General Public License is a free, copyleft license for
+software and other kinds of works.
+
+  The licenses for most software and other practical works are designed
+to take away your freedom to share and change the works.  By contrast,
+the GNU General Public License is intended to guarantee your freedom to
+share and change all versions of a program--to make sure it remains free
+software for all its users.  We, the Free Software Foundation, use the
+GNU General Public License for most of our software; it applies also to
+any other work released this way by its authors.  You can apply it to
+your programs, too.
+
+  When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not
+price.  Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you
+have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for
+them if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it if you
+want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it in new
+free programs, and that you know you can do these things.
+
+  To protect your rights, we need to prevent others from denying you
+these rights or asking you to surrender the rights.  Therefore, you have
+certain responsibilities if you distribute copies of the software, or if
+you modify it: responsibilities to respect the freedom of others.
+
+  For example, if you distribute copies of such a program, whether
+gratis or for a fee, you must pass on to the recipients the same
+freedoms that you received.  You must make sure that they, too, receive
+or can get the source code.  And you must show them these terms so they
+know their rights.
+
+  Developers that use the GNU GPL protect your rights with two steps:
+(1) assert copyright on the software, and (2) offer you this License
+giving you legal permission to copy, distribute and/or modify it.
+
+  For the developers' and authors' protection, the GPL clearly explains
+that there is no warranty for this free software.  For both users' and
+authors' sake, the GPL requires that modified versions be marked as
+changed, so that their problems will not be attributed erroneously to
+authors of previous versions.
+
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+modified versions of the software inside them, although the manufacturer
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+pattern of such abuse occurs in the area of products for individuals to
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+stand ready to extend this provision to those domains in future versions
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+States should not allow patents to restrict development and use of
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+modification follow.
+
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+
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+
+  "This License" refers to version 3 of the GNU General Public License.
+
+  "Copyright" also means copyright-like laws that apply to other kinds of
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+parties to make or receive copies.  Mere interaction with a user through
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+feature that (1) displays an appropriate copyright notice, and (2)
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+extent that warranties are provided), that licensees may convey the
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+(including a cross-claim or counterclaim in a lawsuit) alleging that
+any patent claim is infringed by making, using, selling, offering for
+sale, or importing the Program or any portion of it.
+
+  11. Patents.
+
+  A "contributor" is a copyright holder who authorizes use under this
+License of the Program or a work on which the Program is based.  The
+work thus licensed is called the contributor's "contributor version".
+
+  A contributor's "essential patent claims" are all patent claims
+owned or controlled by the contributor, whether already acquired or
+hereafter acquired, that would be infringed by some manner, permitted
+by this License, of making, using, or selling its contributor version,
+but do not include claims that would be infringed only as a
+consequence of further modification of the contributor version.  For
+purposes of this definition, "control" includes the right to grant
+patent sublicenses in a manner consistent with the requirements of
+this License.
+
+  Each contributor grants you a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free
+patent license under the contributor's essential patent claims, to
+make, use, sell, offer for sale, import and otherwise run, modify and
+propagate the contents of its contributor version.
+
+  In the following three paragraphs, a "patent license" is any express
+agreement or commitment, however denominated, not to enforce a patent
+(such as an express permission to practice a patent or covenant not to
+sue for patent infringement).  To "grant" such a patent license to a
+party means to make such an agreement or commitment not to enforce a
+patent against the party.
+
+  If you convey a covered work, knowingly relying on a patent license,
+and the Corresponding Source of the work is not available for anyone
+to copy, free of charge and under the terms of this License, through a
+publicly available network server or other readily accessible means,
+then you must either (1) cause the Corresponding Source to be so
+available, or (2) arrange to deprive yourself of the benefit of the
+patent license for this particular work, or (3) arrange, in a manner
+consistent with the requirements of this License, to extend the patent
+license to downstream recipients.  "Knowingly relying" means you have
+actual knowledge that, but for the patent license, your conveying the
+covered work in a country, or your recipient's use of the covered work
+in a country, would infringe one or more identifiable patents in that
+country that you have reason to believe are valid.
+
+  If, pursuant to or in connection with a single transaction or
+arrangement, you convey, or propagate by procuring conveyance of, a
+covered work, and grant a patent license to some of the parties
+receiving the covered work authorizing them to use, propagate, modify
+or convey a specific copy of the covered work, then the patent license
+you grant is automatically extended to all recipients of the covered
+work and works based on it.
+
+  A patent license is "discriminatory" if it does not include within
+the scope of its coverage, prohibits the exercise of, or is
+conditioned on the non-exercise of one or more of the rights that are
+specifically granted under this License.  You may not convey a covered
+work if you are a party to an arrangement with a third party that is
+in the business of distributing software, under which you make payment
+to the third party based on the extent of your activity of conveying
+the work, and under which the third party grants, to any of the
+parties who would receive the covered work from you, a discriminatory
+patent license (a) in connection with copies of the covered work
+conveyed by you (or copies made from those copies), or (b) primarily
+for and in connection with specific products or compilations that
+contain the covered work, unless you entered into that arrangement,
+or that patent license was granted, prior to 28 March 2007.
+
+  Nothing in this License shall be construed as excluding or limiting
+any implied license or other defenses to infringement that may
+otherwise be available to you under applicable patent law.
+
+  12. No Surrender of Others' Freedom.
+
+  If conditions are imposed on you (whether by court order, agreement or
+otherwise) that contradict the conditions of this License, they do not
+excuse you from the conditions of this License.  If you cannot convey a
+covered work so as to satisfy simultaneously your obligations under this
+License and any other pertinent obligations, then as a consequence you may
+not convey it at all.  For example, if you agree to terms that obligate you
+to collect a royalty for further conveying from those to whom you convey
+the Program, the only way you could satisfy both those terms and this
+License would be to refrain entirely from conveying the Program.
+
+  13. Use with the GNU Affero General Public License.
+
+  Notwithstanding any other provision of this License, you have
+permission to link or combine any covered work with a work licensed
+under version 3 of the GNU Affero General Public License into a single
+combined work, and to convey the resulting work.  The terms of this
+License will continue to apply to the part which is the covered work,
+but the special requirements of the GNU Affero General Public License,
+section 13, concerning interaction through a network will apply to the
+combination as such.
+
+  14. Revised Versions of this License.
+
+  The Free Software Foundation may publish revised and/or new versions of
+the GNU General Public License from time to time.  Such new versions will
+be similar in spirit to the present version, but may differ in detail to
+address new problems or concerns.
+
+  Each version is given a distinguishing version number.  If the
+Program specifies that a certain numbered version of the GNU General
+Public License "or any later version" applies to it, you have the
+option of following the terms and conditions either of that numbered
+version or of any later version published by the Free Software
+Foundation.  If the Program does not specify a version number of the
+GNU General Public License, you may choose any version ever published
+by the Free Software Foundation.
+
+  If the Program specifies that a proxy can decide which future
+versions of the GNU General Public License can be used, that proxy's
+public statement of acceptance of a version permanently authorizes you
+to choose that version for the Program.
+
+  Later license versions may give you additional or different
+permissions.  However, no additional obligations are imposed on any
+author or copyright holder as a result of your choosing to follow a
+later version.
+
+  15. Disclaimer of Warranty.
+
+  THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY
+APPLICABLE LAW.  EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT
+HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE PROGRAM "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY
+OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
+THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+PURPOSE.  THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM
+IS WITH YOU.  SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF
+ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.
+
+  16. Limitation of Liability.
+
+  IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING
+WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MODIFIES AND/OR CONVEYS
+THE PROGRAM AS PERMITTED ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY
+GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE
+USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF
+DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD
+PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER PROGRAMS),
+EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
+SUCH DAMAGES.
+
+  17. Interpretation of Sections 15 and 16.
+
+  If the disclaimer of warranty and limitation of liability provided
+above cannot be given local legal effect according to their terms,
+reviewing courts shall apply local law that most closely approximates
+an absolute waiver of all civil liability in connection with the
+Program, unless a warranty or assumption of liability accompanies a
+copy of the Program in return for a fee.
+
+                     END OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS
+
+            How to Apply These Terms to Your New Programs
+
+  If you develop a new program, and you want it to be of the greatest
+possible use to the public, the best way to achieve this is to make it
+free software which everyone can redistribute and change under these terms.
+
+  To do so, attach the following notices to the program.  It is safest
+to attach them to the start of each source file to most effectively
+state the exclusion of warranty; and each file should have at least
+the "copyright" line and a pointer to where the full notice is found.
+
+    <one line to give the program's name and a brief idea of what it does.>
+    Copyright (C) <year>  <name of author>
+
+    This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+    it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+    the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+    (at your option) any later version.
+
+    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+    GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+    along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+Also add information on how to contact you by electronic and paper mail.
+
+  If the program does terminal interaction, make it output a short
+notice like this when it starts in an interactive mode:
+
+    <program>  Copyright (C) <year>  <name of author>
+    This program comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; for details type `show w'.
+    This is free software, and you are welcome to redistribute it
+    under certain conditions; type `show c' for details.
+
+The hypothetical commands `show w' and `show c' should show the appropriate
+parts of the General Public License.  Of course, your program's commands
+might be different; for a GUI interface, you would use an "about box".
+
+  You should also get your employer (if you work as a programmer) or school,
+if any, to sign a "copyright disclaimer" for the program, if necessary.
+For more information on this, and how to apply and follow the GNU GPL, see
+<https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+  The GNU General Public License does not permit incorporating your program
+into proprietary programs.  If your program is a subroutine library, you
+may consider it more useful to permit linking proprietary applications with
+the library.  If this is what you want to do, use the GNU Lesser General
+Public License instead of this License.  But first, please read
+<https://www.gnu.org/licenses/why-not-lgpl.html>.
diff --git a/testGui/Makefile b/testGui/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..24fc00d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testGui/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+VERSION = $(shell git describe --tags)
+GUIVERSION = $(shell git describe --tags)
+BUILDTIME = $(shell date +%Y.%m.%d)
+
+all: build list
+
+build:
+	reset
+	GO111MODULE=off go build \
+		-ldflags "-X main.VERSION=${VERSION} -X main.BUILDTIME=${BUILDTIME} -X gui.GUIVERSION=${VERSION}"
+	./testGui --no-gui --list
+
+vet:
+	GO111MODULE=off go vet
+
+goimports:
+	goimports -w *.go
+	# // to globally reset paths:
+	# // gofmt -w -r '"go.wit.com/gui/gadgets" -> "go.wit.com/lib/gadgets"' *.go
+
+gocui: build
+	reset
+	./testGui --gui gocui
+
+install:
+	GO111MODULE=off go install \
+		-ldflags "-X main.VERSION=${VERSION} -X main.BUILDTIME=${BUILDTIME} -X gui.GUIVERSION=${VERSION}"
+
+check-git-clean:
+	@git diff-index --quiet HEAD -- || (echo "Git repository is dirty, please commit your changes first"; exit 1)
+
+redomod:
+	rm -f go.*
+	GO111MODULE= go mod init
+	GO111MODULE= go mod tidy
+
+list-packages:
+	./testGui --no-gui --list
+
+pull: build
+	./testGui --git-pull
+
+update: build
+	./testGui --apt-update --dry-run
+
+make-install: build
+	./testGui --no-gui --make-install
diff --git a/testGui/argv.go b/testGui/argv.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7060366
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testGui/argv.go
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+package main
+
+/*
+	this parses the command line arguements
+	this enables command line options from other packages like 'gui' and 'log'
+*/
+
+import (
+	"go.wit.com/dev/alexflint/arg"
+	"go.wit.com/lib/debugger"
+	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/logsettings"
+	"go.wit.com/log"
+)
+
+var argv args
+
+type args struct {
+	DryRun   bool `arg:"--dry-run"          help:"only show what might be done"`
+	ListPkgs bool `arg:"--list"             help:"list all the repos found in go src & forge config"`
+	Force    bool `arg:"--force"            help:"build each repo"`
+}
+
+func init() {
+	arg.MustParse(&argv)
+
+	if debugger.ArgDebug() {
+		log.Info("cmd line --debugger == true")
+		go func() {
+			log.Sleep(2)
+			debugger.DebugWindow()
+		}()
+	}
+	if debugger.ArgLogger() {
+		log.Info("cmd line --loggger == true")
+		go func() {
+			log.Sleep(4)
+			logsettings.LogWindow()
+			logsettings.LogWindow()
+		}()
+	}
+}
+
+func (args) Version() string {
+	return "testGui " + VERSION + "    Built on " + BUILDTIME
+}
diff --git a/testGui/dpkg.go b/testGui/dpkg.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1d26c13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testGui/dpkg.go
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"bytes"
+	"os/exec"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+func listInstalledPackages() ([]string, error) {
+	// Execute dpkg -l command
+	cmd := exec.Command("dpkg", "-l")
+	var out bytes.Buffer
+	cmd.Stdout = &out
+
+	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// Initialize slice to hold package names
+	var packages []string
+	scanner := bufio.NewScanner(&out)
+
+	// Skip the first five lines as they are headers in dpkg -l output
+	for i := 0; i < 5 && scanner.Scan(); i++ {
+		// Ignore header lines
+	}
+
+	// Process each remaining line
+	for scanner.Scan() {
+		line := scanner.Text()
+		fields := strings.Fields(line)
+
+		// Ensure the line has enough fields for parsing
+		if len(fields) >= 2 {
+			status := fields[0]
+			packageName := fields[1]
+
+			// Only add packages with "ii" status (installed)
+			if status == "ii" {
+				packages = append(packages, packageName)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if err := scanner.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return packages, nil
+}
diff --git a/testGui/main.go b/testGui/main.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f372bc1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testGui/main.go
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+
+	"go.wit.com/log"
+
+	"go.wit.com/gui"
+	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/repolist"
+)
+
+// sent via -ldflags
+var VERSION string
+var BUILDTIME string
+
+func main() {
+	me = new(autoType)
+
+	// load the ~/.config/forge/ config
+	me.forge.Init()
+	me.forge.ConfigPrintTable()
+
+	// setup the GUI
+	me.myGui = gui.New()
+	me.myGui.Default()
+
+	// todo: this code sucks. fix it soon
+	me.mainWindow = me.myGui.NewWindow("builds and uploads all the packages")
+	me.mainbox = me.mainWindow.NewBox("bw hbox", true)
+
+	// make a window with a table of all the repos
+	me.repoList = repolist.AutotypistView(me.mainbox)
+	me.repoList.Init(me.forge)
+
+	me.Enable()
+
+	failed := make(map[*repolist.RepoRow]string)
+	versions := make(map[*repolist.RepoRow]string)
+
+	rloop := me.repoList.ReposSortByName()
+	for rloop.Scan() {
+		repo := rloop.Repo()
+		// var cmd []string
+		var start string
+		var end string
+		var alreadyBuilt bool
+		ver := repo.Status.DebianReleaseVersion()
+		name := me.forge.DebName(repo.GoPath())
+		if me.machine.IsInstalled(name) {
+			end += "(installed) "
+		}
+		if actualp := me.machine.FindVersion(name, ver); actualp != nil {
+			end += " (version match) " + actualp.Version + " " + ver + " "
+			alreadyBuilt = true
+		} else {
+			end += " (need to build) " + ver + " "
+		}
+
+		if alreadyBuilt {
+			start = fmt.Sprintf("already built %-30s %-8s %-50s", name, ver, repo.GoPath())
+		} else {
+			start = fmt.Sprintf("need to build %-30s %-8s %-50s", name, ver, repo.GoPath())
+		}
+		log.Info(start, "("+versions[repo]+")", end)
+		if name == "" {
+			// err := fmt.Sprintf("name is blank error %+v", repo)
+			log.Warn("name is blank error", repo.GoPath())
+		}
+
+		if argv.DryRun {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// skip if already built. (unless --force)
+		if alreadyBuilt {
+			// don't rebuild things
+			if argv.Force {
+				// well, okay, force me to rebuild them then
+			} else {
+				continue
+			}
+		}
+
+		if repo.Status.IsPrivate() {
+			// cmd = []string{"go-deb", "--auto", "--repo", repo.GoPath()}
+		} else {
+
+		}
+	}
+	log.Info("")
+	log.Info("something failed on:")
+	var fail bool = true
+	for repo, cmd := range failed {
+		log.Info("failed cmd  :", cmd, repo.Status.Path())
+		fail = false
+	}
+	if fail {
+		os.Exit(0)
+	}
+	os.Exit(-1)
+}
diff --git a/testGui/structs.go b/testGui/structs.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2d223bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testGui/structs.go
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+package main
+
+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
+
+func (b *autoType) Disable() {
+	b.mainbox.Disable()
+}
+
+func (b *autoType) Enable() {
+	b.mainbox.Enable()
+}
+
+// this app's variables
+type autoType struct {
+	// allrepos map[string]*repo
+	myGui *gui.Node
+
+	mainWindow *gui.Node
+
+	// the main box. enable/disable this
+	mainbox *gui.Node
+
+	// the window from the /lib/gui/gowit package
+	lw *gadgets.BasicWindow
+
+	// our view of the repositories
+	// repos *repoWindow
+	repoList *repolist.RepoList
+
+	// your customized repo preferences and settings
+	forge *forgepb.Forge
+
+	// where your ~/go/src is
+	goSrcPath string
+
+	// use zookeeper to get the list of installed packages
+	machine zoopb.Machine
+
+	// #### autotypist Global Display Options
+	autoHidePerfect  *gui.Node
+	autoHideReadOnly *gui.Node
+
+	// #### autotypist Global Build Options
+	// what to change all the branches to
+	// so, as a developer, you can move all the repos
+	// to the 'devel' branch and then test a devel branch build
+	// then switch back to your 'username' branch and do a build there
+	toMoveToBranch string
+
+	// this button will regenerate everyones go.mod & go.sum
+	rerunGoMod *gui.Node
+
+	// if checked, will stop trying to os.Exec() things after failure
+	stopOnErrors *gui.Node
+
+	// button to attempt to autorebuild
+	autoRebuildButton *gui.Node
+
+	// checkbox for --dry-run
+	autoDryRun *gui.Node
+
+	// checkbox to enable intermittent scanning
+	// if checked, it will check all your repos for changes
+	autoScanReposCB *gui.Node
+
+	// what is being used as your home dir
+	userHomePwd *gadgets.OneLiner
+
+	// what is being used as ~/go/src
+	goSrcPwd *gadgets.OneLiner
+
+	downloadEverythingButton *gui.Node
+
+	// delete ~/go/src & ~/go/pkg buttons
+	deleteGoSrcPkgB *gui.Node
+
+	// displays a summary of all the repos
+	// has total dirty, total read-only
+	// total patches, etc
+	// summary *patchSummary
+
+	// when switch to user or devel branches, autocreate them
+	autoCreateBranches *gui.Node
+
+	// make a concept called a 'mode' that means which branches
+	// are you working from: "master"? "devel"? <username>?
+	newMode *gui.Node
+}