diff --git a/common.go b/common.go
index c70356e..bde96ba 100644
--- a/common.go
+++ b/common.go
@@ -7,79 +7,79 @@ import 	(
 
 // reports externally if something has changed
 // since the last time it was asked about it
-func (ls *RepoStatus) Changed() bool {
-	if ! ls.Ready() {return false}
-	if ls.changed {
-		ls.changed = false
+func (rs *RepoStatus) Changed() bool {
+	if ! rs.Ready() {return false}
+	if rs.changed {
+		rs.changed = false
 		return true
 	}
 	return false
 }
 
-func (ls *RepoStatus) Make() {
-	if ! ls.Ready() {return}
-	log.Log(CHANGE, "Make() window ready =", ls.ready)
-	ls.window.Make()
-	ls.ready = true
+func (rs *RepoStatus) Make() {
+	if ! rs.Ready() {return}
+	log.Log(CHANGE, "Make() window ready =", rs.ready)
+	rs.window.Make()
+	rs.ready = true
 }
-func (ls *RepoStatus) Draw() {
-	if ! ls.Ready() {return}
-	log.Log(CHANGE, "Draw() window ready =", ls.ready)
-	ls.window.Draw()
-	ls.ready = true
+func (rs *RepoStatus) Draw() {
+	if ! rs.Ready() {return}
+	log.Log(CHANGE, "Draw() window ready =", rs.ready)
+	rs.window.Draw()
+	rs.ready = true
 }
-func (ls *RepoStatus) Draw2() {
-	if ! ls.Ready() {return}
-	log.Log(CHANGE, "draw(ls) ready =", ls.ready)
-	draw(ls)
+func (rs *RepoStatus) Draw2() {
+	if ! rs.Ready() {return}
+	log.Log(CHANGE, "draw(rs) ready =", rs.ready)
+	draw(rs)
 }
 
-func (ls *RepoStatus) Show() {
-	if ! ls.Ready() {return}
-	log.Log(CHANGE, "Show() window ready =", ls.ready)
-	ls.window.Show()
-	ls.hidden = false
+func (rs *RepoStatus) Show() {
+	if ! rs.Ready() {return}
+	log.Log(CHANGE, "Show() window ready =", rs.ready)
+	rs.window.Show()
+	rs.hidden = false
 }
 
-func (ls *RepoStatus) Hide() {
-	if ! ls.Ready() {return}
-	log.Log(CHANGE, "Hide() window ready =", ls.ready)
-	ls.window.Hide()
-	ls.hidden = true
+func (rs *RepoStatus) Hide() {
+	if ! rs.Ready() {return}
+	log.Log(CHANGE, "Hide() window ready =", rs.ready)
+	rs.window.Hide()
+	rs.hidden = true
 }
 
-func (ls *RepoStatus) Toggle() {
-	if ! ls.Ready() {return}
-	log.Log(CHANGE, "Toggle() window ready =", ls.ready)
-	if ls.hidden {
-		ls.Show()
+func (rs *RepoStatus) Toggle() {
+	if ! rs.Ready() {return}
+	log.Log(CHANGE, "Toggle() window ready =", rs.ready)
+	if rs.hidden {
+		rs.Show()
 	} else {
-		ls.Hide()
+		rs.Hide()
 	}
 }
 
-func (ls *RepoStatus) Ready() bool {
-	log.Log(SPEW, "Ready() maybe not ready? ls =", ls)
-	if ls == nil {return false}
-	if ls.window == nil {return false}
-	return ls.ready
+func (rs *RepoStatus) Ready() bool {
+	log.Log(SPEW, "Ready() maybe not ready? rs =", rs)
+	if rs == nil {return false}
+	if rs.window == nil {return false}
+	return rs.ready
 }
 
-func (ls *RepoStatus) Initialized() bool {
+func (rs *RepoStatus) Initialized() bool {
 	log.Log(CHANGE, "checking Initialized()")
-	if ls == nil {return false}
-	if ls.parent == nil {return false}
+	if rs == nil {return false}
+	if rs.parent == nil {return false}
 	return true
 }
 
-func (ls *RepoStatus) SetParent(p *gui.Node) {
+func (rs *RepoStatus) SetParent(p *gui.Node) {
 	log.Log(CHANGE, "Attempting SetParent")
-	if ls == nil {return}
-	if ls.parent == nil {
+	if rs == nil {return}
+	if rs.parent == nil {
 		log.Log(CHANGE, "SetParent =", p)
-		ls.parent = p
+		rs.parent = p
 		return
 	} else {
-		log.Log(CHANGE, "SetParent was already set to =", ls.parent)
+		log.Log(CHANGE, "SetParent was already set to =", rs.parent)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/draw.go b/draw.go
index 35e8d4c..fa0edc3 100644
--- a/draw.go
+++ b/draw.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package repostatus
 
 import 	(
 	"strconv"
+	"strings"
 
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 	"go.wit.com/gui/gadgets"
@@ -12,18 +13,16 @@ import 	(
 func draw(rs *RepoStatus) {
 	if ! rs.Ready() {return}
 	rs.group = rs.window.Box().NewGroup("What GO Knows It Has")
-
 	rs.grid = rs.group.NewGrid("gridnuts", 2, 2)
-
 	rs.grid.SetNext(1,1)
+	rs.grid.Margin()
+	rs.grid.Pad()
 
 	rs.path			= gadgets.NewOneLiner(rs.grid, "path")
 	rs.currentBranch	= gadgets.NewOneLiner(rs.grid, "branch")
 	rs.lasttag		= gadgets.NewOneLiner(rs.grid, "last tag")
 	rs.currentVersion	= gadgets.NewOneLiner(rs.grid, "Version")
-
-	rs.grid.NewLabel("tags")
-	rs.tagsDrop		= rs.grid.NewDropdown("tags")
+	rs.tagsDrop		= gadgets.NewBasicDropdown(rs.grid, "existing tags")
 	rs.masterBranch		= gadgets.NewOneLiner(rs.grid, "master")
 	rs.develBranch		= gadgets.NewOneLiner(rs.grid, "devel")
 	rs.jcarrBranch		= gadgets.NewOneLiner(rs.grid, "jcarr")
@@ -33,38 +32,14 @@ func draw(rs *RepoStatus) {
 	rs.speed	= gadgets.NewOneLiner(rs.grid, "refresh speed =")
 	rs.speedActual	= gadgets.NewOneLiner(rs.grid, "speed actual =")
 
-	rs.grid.NewButton("update", func() {
+	rs.vgroup = rs.window.Box().NewGroup("git commands")
+	newgrid := rs.vgroup.NewGrid("gridnuts", 2, 2)
+
+	newgrid.NewButton("update", func() {
 		rs.Update()
 	})
-	rs.grid.NewButton("recommend", func() {
-		log.Warn("Is repo dirty?", rs.dirtyLabel.Get())
-		log.Warn("list the known tags")
-		rs.develMerge.Disable()
-		rs.releaseVersion.Disable()
-		rs.populateTags()
-		log.Warn("Does devel == jcarr?", rs.develBranch.Get(), rs.jcarrBranch.Get())
-		if rs.develBranch.Get() != rs.jcarrBranch.Get() {
-			log.Warn("devel does not equal jcarr")
-			log.Warn("merge or squash?")
-			return
-		}
-		log.Warn("Does master == devel? ", rs.masterBranch.Get(), rs.develBranch.Get())
-		if rs.masterBranch.Get() != rs.develBranch.Get() {
-			log.Warn("master does not equal devel. merge devel into master")
-			rs.develMerge.Enable()
-			return
-		}
-		rs.getLastTagVersion()
-		if rs.lasttag.Get() != rs.masterBranch.Get() {
-			log.Warn("master does not equal last tag")
-			rs.incrementVersion()
-			rs.releaseVersion.Enable()
-			return
-		}
-		log.Warn("Is repo pushed upstream? git.wit.org or github?")
-	})
 
-	rs.develMerge = rs.grid.NewButton("merge devel to master", func() {
+	rs.develMerge = newgrid.NewButton("merge devel to master", func() {
 		rs.checkoutBranch("master")
 		if rs.getCurrentBranchName() != "master" {
 			log.Warn("something went wrong switching to the master branch. full stop!")
@@ -75,24 +50,100 @@ func draw(rs *RepoStatus) {
 		log.Warn("devel is merged? merginess is complete. perhaps", out)
 		rs.develMerge.Disable() // don't let this run twice for now
 	})
-	rs.develMerge.Disable()
 
-	rs.releaseVersion = rs.grid.NewButton("tag and release version", func() {
-		a := rs.major.Get()
-		b := rs.minor.Get()
-		c := rs.revision.Get()
-		newver := a + "." + b + "." + c
-		log.Warn("Should tag version:", newver)
+	rs.major = gadgets.NewBasicCombobox(newgrid, "master")
+	rs.major.Custom = func () {
+		rs.setTag()
+		rs.generateCmd()
+	}
+	rs.minor = gadgets.NewBasicCombobox(newgrid, "minor")
+	rs.minor.Custom = func () {
+		rs.setTag()
+		rs.generateCmd()
+	}
+	rs.revision = gadgets.NewBasicCombobox(newgrid, "revision")
+	rs.revision.Custom = func () {
+		rs.setTag()
+		rs.generateCmd()
+	}
+	newgrid.NewLabel("new tag version")
+	rs.newversion = newgrid.NewLabel("3.1.4")
+
+	rs.versionMessage = gadgets.NewBasicEntry(newgrid, "tag message")
+	rs.versionMessage.Custom = func () {
+		rs.generateCmd()
+	}
+	rs.versionCmdOutput = gadgets.NewOneLiner(newgrid, "tag cmd")
+
+	rs.releaseVersion = newgrid.NewButton("tag and release new version", func() {
+		if ! rs.generateCmd() {
+			log.Warn("something is wrong. fix the errors first")
+			return
+		}
+		log.Warn("COMMIT IT HERE")
+		rs.runGitCommands()
 	})
-	rs.releaseVersion.Disable()
 
-	rs.vgroup = rs.window.Box().NewGroup("Version")
-	rs.major = gadgets.NewBasicCombobox(rs.grid, "master")
-	rs.minor = gadgets.NewBasicCombobox(rs.grid, "minor")
-	rs.revision = gadgets.NewBasicCombobox(rs.grid, "revision")
+	newgrid.Margin()
+	newgrid.Pad()
 
-	rs.grid.Margin()
-	rs.grid.Pad()
+	// figure out what the state of the git repository is
+	rs.Update()
+}
+
+func (rs *RepoStatus) setTag() bool {
+	lasttag := rs.lasttag.Get()
+	var major, minor, revision string
+	major, minor, revision = splitVersion(lasttag)
+
+	olda, _ := strconv.Atoi(major)
+	oldb, _ := strconv.Atoi(minor)
+	oldc, _ := strconv.Atoi(revision)
+
+	log.Warn("current version here", lasttag)
+	log.Warn("current release a,b,c =", major, minor, revision)
+
+	newa, _ := strconv.Atoi(rs.major.Get())
+	newb, _ := strconv.Atoi(rs.minor.Get())
+	newc, _ := strconv.Atoi(rs.revision.Get())
+
+	newver := strconv.Itoa(newa)
+	if newa < olda {
+		log.Warn("new version bad", newver, "vs old version", lasttag)
+		rs.newversion.Set("bad")
+		return false
+	}
+	if newa > olda {
+		log.Warn("new version ok", newver, "vs old version", lasttag)
+		rs.newversion.Set(newver)
+		rs.minor.Set("")
+		rs.revision.Set("")
+		return true
+	}
+
+	newver = strconv.Itoa(newa) + "." + strconv.Itoa(newb)
+	if newb < oldb {
+		log.Warn("new version bad", newver, "vs old version", lasttag)
+		rs.newversion.Set("bad")
+		return false
+	}
+
+	if newb > oldb {
+		log.Warn("new version ok", newver, "vs old version", lasttag)
+		rs.newversion.Set(newver)
+		rs.revision.Set("")
+		return true
+	}
+
+	newver = strconv.Itoa(newa) + "." + strconv.Itoa(newb) + "." + strconv.Itoa(newc)
+	if newc <= oldc {
+		log.Warn("new version bad", newver, "vs old version", lasttag)
+		rs.newversion.Set("bad")
+		return false
+	}
+	log.Warn("new version ok", newver, "vs old version", lasttag)
+	rs.newversion.Set(newver)
+	return true
 }
 
 func (rs *RepoStatus) incrementVersion() {
@@ -102,20 +153,113 @@ func (rs *RepoStatus) incrementVersion() {
 	log.Warn("Should release version here", lasttag)
 	log.Warn("Should release a,b,c", major, minor, revision)
 
-	rs.a, _ = strconv.Atoi(major)
-	rs.b, _ = strconv.Atoi(minor)
-	rs.c, _ = strconv.Atoi(revision)
+	a, _ := strconv.Atoi(major)
+	b, _ := strconv.Atoi(minor)
+	c, _ := strconv.Atoi(revision)
 
-	rs.major.Add(rs.a)
-	rs.major.Add(rs.a + 1)
-	rs.major.Set(rs.a)
+	rs.major.Add(a)
+	rs.major.Add(a + 1)
+	rs.major.Set(a)
 
-	rs.minor.Add(rs.b)
-	rs.minor.Add(rs.b + 1)
-	rs.minor.Set(rs.b)
+	rs.minor.Add(b)
+	rs.minor.Add(b + 1)
+	rs.minor.Set(b)
 
 	// rs.c := strconv.Atoi(revision)
-	rs.revision.Add(rs.c + 1)
-	rs.revision.Add(rs.c + 2)
-	rs.revision.Set(rs.c + 1)
+	rs.revision.Add(c + 1)
+	rs.revision.Add(c + 2)
+	rs.revision.Set(c + 1)
+}
+
+func (rs *RepoStatus) recommend() {
+	log.Warn("Is repo dirty?", rs.dirtyLabel.Get())
+	log.Warn("list the known tags")
+	rs.DisableEverything()
+	rs.populateTags()
+	log.Warn("Does devel == jcarr?", rs.develBranch.Get(), rs.jcarrBranch.Get())
+	if rs.develBranch.Get() != rs.jcarrBranch.Get() {
+		log.Warn("devel does not equal jcarr")
+		log.Warn("merge or squash?")
+		return
+	}
+	log.Warn("Does master == devel? ", rs.masterBranch.Get(), rs.develBranch.Get())
+	if rs.masterBranch.Get() != rs.develBranch.Get() {
+		log.Warn("master does not equal devel. merge devel into master")
+		rs.EnableMergeDevel()
+		return
+	}
+	rs.getLastTagVersion()
+	if rs.lasttag.Get() != rs.masterBranch.Get() {
+		log.Warn("master does not equal last tag")
+		rs.incrementVersion()
+		rs.EnableSelectTag()
+		rs.setTag()
+		return
+	}
+	log.Warn("Is repo pushed upstream? git.wit.org or github?")
+}
+
+func (rs *RepoStatus) generateCmd() bool {
+	// the length of 24 is arbitrary, but should be short
+	// they should be things like perhaps, major release names
+	// or something the users might see.
+	// aka: "Topsy", "Picasso", "Buzz", etc
+
+	if ! rs.setTag() {
+		log.Warn("tag sucked. fix your tag version")
+		rs.versionMessage.SetLabel("tag message (bad version)")
+		rs.releaseVersion.Disable()
+		return false
+	}
+
+	log.Warn("tag is valid!!!!")
+	rs.setGitCommands()
+
+	if rs.versionMessage.Get() == "" {
+		log.Warn("tag message is empty!!!!")
+		rs.releaseVersion.Disable()
+		return false
+	}
+	if len(rs.versionMessage.Get()) > 24 {
+		rs.versionMessage.SetLabel("tag message (too long)")
+	} else {
+		rs.versionMessage.SetLabel("tag message")
+	}
+	rs.releaseVersion.Enable()
+	return true
+}
+
+func (rs *RepoStatus) setGitCommands() {
+	var line1, line2, line3 []string
+	var all [][]string
+
+	newTag := rs.newversion.GetText()
+	line1 = append(line1, "git", "tag", "v" + newTag, "-m", rs.versionMessage.Get())
+	all = append(all, line1)
+	line2 = append(line2, "git", "push", "--tags")
+	all = append(all, line2)
+	line3 = append(line3, "git", "push", "--prune", "--tags")
+	all = append(all, line3)
+
+	rs.versionCmds = all
+
+	var tmp []string
+	// convert to displayable to the user text
+	for _, line := range all {
+		s := strings.Join(line, " ")
+		log.Warn("s =", s)
+		tmp = append(tmp, s)
+	}
+
+	rs.versionCmdOutput.Set(strings.Join(tmp, "\n"))
+}
+func (rs *RepoStatus) runGitCommands() {
+	for _, line := range rs.versionCmds {
+		s := strings.Join(line, " ")
+		log.Warn("NEED TO RUN:", s)
+		b, output := runCmd(rs.repopath, line)
+		log.Warn("Returned with b =", b)
+		log.Warn("output was =", output)
+		log.Warn("RUN DONE")
+	}
 }
diff --git a/git.go b/git.go
index 477e956..ad549e0 100644
--- a/git.go
+++ b/git.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ func (rs *RepoStatus) getLastTagVersion() string {
 	// out = run(r.path, "git", "describe --tags c871d5ecf051a7dc4e3a77157cdbc0a457eb9ae1")
 	out = run(rs.repopath, "git", lastreal)
 	rs.lasttag.Set(out)
+	rs.tagsDrop.Set(out)
 	// rs.lastLabel.Set(out)
 	return out
 }
@@ -37,11 +38,11 @@ func (rs *RepoStatus) populateTags() {
 	for _, tag := range listFiles(tmp) {
 		if rs.tags[tag] == "" {
 			log.Warn("populateTags() Adding new tag", tag)
-			rs.tagsDrop.AddText(tag)
+			rs.tagsDrop.Add(tag)
 			rs.tags[tag] = "origin"
 		}
 	}
-	rs.tagsDrop.SetText(rs.lasttagrev)
+	// rs.tagsDrop.Set(rs.lasttagrev)
 }
 
 func (rs *RepoStatus) checkDirty() bool {
diff --git a/structs.go b/structs.go
index 22915e8..844e2b3 100644
--- a/structs.go
+++ b/structs.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ type RepoStatus struct {
 
 	currentBranch	*gadgets.OneLiner
 	currentVersion	*gadgets.OneLiner
-	tagsDrop	*gui.Node
+	tagsDrop	*gadgets.BasicDropdown
 
 	lasttag		*gadgets.OneLiner
 	masterBranch	*gadgets.OneLiner
@@ -36,14 +36,15 @@ type RepoStatus struct {
 	develMerge	*gui.Node
 	releaseVersion	*gui.Node
 
-	vgroup	*gui.Node
-	minor *gadgets.BasicCombobox
-	major *gadgets.BasicCombobox
-	revision *gadgets.BasicCombobox
+	vgroup		*gui.Node
+	minor		*gadgets.BasicCombobox
+	major		*gadgets.BasicCombobox
+	revision	*gadgets.BasicCombobox
+	versionMessage	*gadgets.BasicEntry
+	versionCmds	[][]string
+	versionCmdOutput	*gadgets.OneLiner
 
-	a int
-	b int
-	c int
+	newversion	*gui.Node
 
 	speed		*gadgets.OneLiner
 	speedActual	*gadgets.OneLiner
diff --git a/unix.go b/unix.go
index e34aef6..cc49efc 100644
--- a/unix.go
+++ b/unix.go
@@ -102,3 +102,38 @@ func splitVersion(version string) (a, b, c string) {
 		return parts[0], parts[1], parts[2]
 	}
 }
+
+func runCmd(path string, parts []string) (bool, string) {
+	if len(parts) == 0 {
+		log.Warn("command line was empty")
+		return false, ""
+	}
+	if parts[0] == "" {
+		log.Warn("command line was empty")
+		return false, ""
+	}
+	thing := parts[0]
+	parts = parts[1:]
+
+	log.Warn("path =", path, "thing =", thing, "cmdline =", parts)
+	// Create the command
+	cmd := exec.Command(thing, parts...)
+
+	// Set the working directory
+	cmd.Dir = fullpath(path)
+
+	// Execute the command
+	output, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Error(err)
+		log.Warn("output was", output)
+		log.Warn("cmd exited with error", err)
+		return false, string(output)
+	}
+
+	tmp := string(output)
+	tmp = strings.TrimSpace(tmp)
+
+	// Print the output
+	return true, tmp
+}
diff --git a/update.go b/update.go
index e7544d6..0ab1709 100644
--- a/update.go
+++ b/update.go
@@ -16,24 +16,33 @@ func (rs *RepoStatus) Update() {
 	}
 	log.Log(WARN, "Update() START")
 	duration := timeFunction(func () {
+		// do things that are safe even if the git tree is dirty
 		rs.path.Set(rs.repopath)
 		rs.getCurrentBranchName()
 		rs.window.Title(rs.repopath + " GO repo Details")
 		rs.getCurrentBranchVersion()
-
 		rs.getLastTagVersion()
 		rs.populateTags()
 
-		// rs.checkDirty() this runs 
-		log.Log(WARN, "")
-		log.Log(WARN, "checkoutBranch master")
-		rs.checkoutBranch("master")
-		log.Log(WARN, "")
-		log.Log(WARN, "checkoutBranch devel")
-		rs.checkoutBranch("devel")
-		log.Log(WARN, "")
-		log.Log(WARN, "checkoutBranch jcarr")
-		rs.checkoutBranch("jcarr")
+		if rs.checkDirty() {
+			if rs.dirtyLabel.Get() != "no" {
+				rs.DisableEverything()
+				return
+			}
+
+			// rs.checkDirty() this runs
+			log.Log(WARN, "")
+			log.Log(WARN, "checkoutBranch master")
+			rs.checkoutBranch("master")
+			log.Log(WARN, "")
+			log.Log(WARN, "checkoutBranch devel")
+			rs.checkoutBranch("devel")
+			log.Log(WARN, "")
+			log.Log(WARN, "checkoutBranch jcarr")
+			rs.checkoutBranch("jcarr")
+
+			rs.recommend()
+		}
 	})
 	rs.setSpeed(duration)
 	log.Log(WARN, "Update() END")
@@ -55,3 +64,44 @@ func (rs *RepoStatus) setSpeed(duration time.Duration) {
 		rs.speed.Set("FAST")
 	}
 }
+
+// disable all things besides Update() button
+func (rs *RepoStatus) DisableEverything() {
+
+	// choosing a major, minor or revision
+	rs.major.Disable()
+	rs.minor.Disable()
+	rs.revision.Disable()
+
+	// disable adding a tag message
+	rs.versionMessage.Disable()
+
+	// disable the merge devel to master button
+	rs.develMerge.Disable()
+
+	// disable the tag a new version button
+	rs.releaseVersion.Disable()
+}
+
+// this means devel needs to be merged to master
+func (rs *RepoStatus) EnableMergeDevel() {
+	rs.DisableEverything()
+
+	rs.develMerge.Enable()
+}
+
+// this means you need to release a new version of the master repository
+func (rs *RepoStatus) EnableSelectTag() {
+	rs.DisableEverything()
+
+	// choosing a major, minor or revision
+	rs.major.Enable()
+	rs.minor.Enable()
+	rs.revision.Enable()
+
+	// disable adding a tag message
+	rs.versionMessage.Enable()
+
+	// force there to be a commit message
+	rs.releaseVersion.Disable()
+}