diff --git a/argv.go b/argv.go
index d032aea..f9b7862 100644
--- a/argv.go
+++ b/argv.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ type args struct {
 	Droplet  *DropletCmd `arg:"subcommand:droplet"                   help:"send events to a droplet"`
 	Config   string      `arg:"env:VIRTIGO_HOME"                     help:"defaults to ~/.config/virtigo/"`
 	Server   string      `arg:"env:VIRTIGO_SERVER"                   help:"what virtigo cluster to connect to"`
+	Daemon   bool        `arg:"--daemon"                             help:"run as a daemon"`
 	Verbose  bool        `arg:"--verbose"                            help:"talk more"`
 	Port     int         `arg:"--port"     default:"8080"            help:"allow droplet events via http"`
 	Xml      []string    `arg:"--libvirt"                            help:"import qemu xml files: --libvirt /etc/libvirt/qemu/*.xml"`
diff --git a/doDaemon.go b/doDaemon.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2a82b48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doDaemon.go
@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+// Copyright 2024 WIT.COM Inc Licensed GPL 3.0
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+
+	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/virtpb"
+	"go.wit.com/lib/virtigolib"
+	"go.wit.com/log"
+)
+
+func doDaemon() error {
+	// set defaults
+	me.unstable = time.Now() // initialize the grid as unstable
+	me.changed = false
+	me.hmap = make(map[*virtpb.Hypervisor]*HyperT)
+
+	// how long a droplet can be missing until it's declared dead
+	me.unstableTimeout = 17 * time.Second
+	me.missingDropletTimeout = time.Minute // not sure the difference between these values
+
+	// how often to poll the hypervisors
+	me.hyperPollDelay = 5 * time.Second
+
+	// how long the cluster must be stable before new droplets can be started
+	me.clusterStableDuration = 37 * time.Second
+
+	me.cluster = virtpb.InitCluster()
+	if err := me.cluster.ConfigLoad(); err != nil {
+		log.Info("config load error", err)
+		log.Info("")
+		log.Info("You have never run this before")
+		log.Info("init example cloud here")
+		log.Sleep(2)
+		return err
+	}
+
+	loop := me.cluster.DropletsAll() // get the list of droplets
+	for loop.Scan() {
+		d := loop.Next()
+		if d == nil {
+			fmt.Println("d == nil")
+			return fmt.Errorf("d == nil")
+		}
+		fmt.Println("Droplet UUID:", d.Uuid)
+		if d.Current == nil {
+			d.Current = new(virtpb.Current)
+		}
+		d.SetState(virtpb.DropletState_OFF)
+		log.Info("droplet", d.Hostname)
+	}
+	hmm := "pihole.wit.com"
+	d := me.cluster.FindDropletByName(hmm)
+	if d == nil {
+		log.Info("did not find found droplet", hmm)
+	} else {
+		log.Info("found droplet", d.Hostname, d)
+	}
+
+	var newEvents []*virtpb.Event
+
+	// sanity check the cluster & droplets
+	if _, _, err := ValidateDroplets(); err != nil {
+		log.Info("todo: add flag to ignore. for now, fix problems in the config file.")
+		return err
+	}
+	newe, err := ValidateDiskFilenames()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Info(err)
+		return err
+	}
+	// this is a new droplet. add it to the cluster
+	for _, e := range newe {
+		newEvents = append(newEvents, e)
+	}
+	ValidateUniqueFilenames()
+
+	for _, filename := range argv.Xml {
+		domcfg, err := virtigolib.ReadXml(filename)
+		if err != nil {
+			// parsing the libvirt xml file failed
+			log.Info("error:", filename, err)
+			log.Info("readXml() error", filename)
+			log.Info("readXml() error", err)
+			log.Info("libvirt XML will have to be fixed by hand")
+			return err
+		}
+		// this is a new droplet. add it to the cluster
+		log.Info("Add XML Droplet here", domcfg.Name)
+		_, newe, err := virtigolib.AddDomainDroplet(me.cluster, domcfg)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Info("addDomainDroplet() error", filename)
+			log.Info("addDomainDroplet() error", err)
+			log.Info("libvirt XML will have to be fixed by hand")
+			return err
+		}
+		for _, e := range newe {
+			newEvents = append(newEvents, e)
+		}
+	}
+	for i, e := range newEvents {
+		log.Info(i, "Event:", e.Droplet, e.FieldName, "orig:", e.OrigVal, "new:", e.NewVal)
+		me.changed = true
+	}
+
+	if me.changed {
+		if err := me.cluster.ConfigSave(); err != nil {
+			log.Info("configsave error", err)
+			return err
+		}
+		log.Info("XML changes saved in protobuf config")
+		return nil
+	}
+	if len(argv.Xml) != 0 {
+		log.Info("No XML changes found")
+		return fmt.Errorf("No XML changes found")
+	}
+
+	// initialize each hypervisor
+	for _, pbh := range me.cluster.H.Hypervisors {
+		// this is a new unknown droplet (not in the config file)
+		var h *HyperT
+		h = new(HyperT)
+		h.pb = pbh
+		h.lastDroplets = make(map[string]time.Time)
+		h.lastpoll = time.Now()
+
+		me.hmap[pbh] = h
+		me.hypers = append(me.hypers, h)
+		log.Log(EVENT, "config new hypervisors", h.pb.Hostname)
+	}
+
+	// start the watchdog polling for each hypervisor
+	for _, h := range me.hypers {
+		log.Info("starting polling on", h.pb.Hostname)
+
+		// start a watchdog on each hypervisor
+		go h.NewWatchdog()
+	}
+
+	var cloud *virtigolib.CloudManager
+	cloud = virtigolib.NewCloud()
+	found, _ := cloud.FindDropletByName("www.wit.com")
+	if found == nil {
+		log.Info("d == nil")
+	} else {
+		log.Info("d == ", found)
+	}
+
+	startHTTP()
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/doGui.go b/doGui.go
index 13bba73..8a552b3 100644
--- a/doGui.go
+++ b/doGui.go
@@ -130,6 +130,10 @@ func drawWindow(win *gadgets.GenericWindow) {
 }
 
 func updateUptimeGui(uptime string) {
+	if me.status == nil {
+		// gui is not initialized
+		return
+	}
 	me.status.SetLabel(uptime)
 
 	datestamp := time.Now().Format("2006-01-02 15:04:03")
diff --git a/http.go b/http.go
index 861949b..452ff74 100644
--- a/http.go
+++ b/http.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func okHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 	if route == "/uptime" {
 		ok, s := uptimeCheck()
-		fmt.Fprint(w, s)
+		fmt.Fprintln(w, s)
 		// log.Info(s)
 		updateUptimeGui(s)
 		if ok {
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 0dc18f5..94242d8 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -4,17 +4,14 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"embed"
-	"fmt"
 	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
 	"go.wit.com/dev/alexflint/arg"
 	"go.wit.com/gui"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/virtpb"
-	"go.wit.com/lib/virtigolib"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 )
 
@@ -101,143 +98,151 @@ func main() {
 		me.admin.doAdminGui()
 		okExit("admin close")
 	}
-	os.Exit(-1)
 
-	// set defaults
-	me.unstable = time.Now() // initialize the grid as unstable
-	me.changed = false
-	me.hmap = make(map[*virtpb.Hypervisor]*HyperT)
+	/*
+		// set defaults
+		me.unstable = time.Now() // initialize the grid as unstable
+		me.changed = false
+		me.hmap = make(map[*virtpb.Hypervisor]*HyperT)
 
-	// how long a droplet can be missing until it's declared dead
-	me.unstableTimeout = 17 * time.Second
-	me.missingDropletTimeout = time.Minute // not sure the difference between these values
+		// how long a droplet can be missing until it's declared dead
+		me.unstableTimeout = 17 * time.Second
+		me.missingDropletTimeout = time.Minute // not sure the difference between these values
 
-	// how often to poll the hypervisors
-	me.hyperPollDelay = 5 * time.Second
+		// how often to poll the hypervisors
+		me.hyperPollDelay = 5 * time.Second
 
-	// how long the cluster must be stable before new droplets can be started
-	me.clusterStableDuration = 37 * time.Second
+		// how long the cluster must be stable before new droplets can be started
+		me.clusterStableDuration = 37 * time.Second
 
-	me.cluster = virtpb.InitCluster()
-	if err := me.cluster.ConfigLoad(); err != nil {
-		log.Info("config load error", err)
-		log.Info("")
-		log.Info("You have never run this before")
-		log.Info("init example cloud here")
-		log.Sleep(2)
-		os.Exit(-1)
-	}
-
-	loop := me.cluster.DropletsAll() // get the list of droplets
-	for loop.Scan() {
-		d := loop.Next()
-		if d == nil {
-			fmt.Println("d == nil")
+		me.cluster = virtpb.InitCluster()
+		if err := me.cluster.ConfigLoad(); err != nil {
+			log.Info("config load error", err)
+			log.Info("")
+			log.Info("You have never run this before")
+			log.Info("init example cloud here")
+			log.Sleep(2)
 			os.Exit(-1)
 		}
-		fmt.Println("Droplet UUID:", d.Uuid)
-		if d.Current == nil {
-			d.Current = new(virtpb.Current)
+
+		loop := me.cluster.DropletsAll() // get the list of droplets
+		for loop.Scan() {
+			d := loop.Next()
+			if d == nil {
+				fmt.Println("d == nil")
+				os.Exit(-1)
+			}
+			fmt.Println("Droplet UUID:", d.Uuid)
+			if d.Current == nil {
+				d.Current = new(virtpb.Current)
+			}
+			d.SetState(virtpb.DropletState_OFF)
+			log.Info("droplet", d.Hostname)
+		}
+		hmm := "pihole.wit.com"
+		d := me.cluster.FindDropletByName(hmm)
+		if d == nil {
+			log.Info("did not find found droplet", hmm)
+		} else {
+			log.Info("found droplet", d.Hostname, d)
 		}
-		d.SetState(virtpb.DropletState_OFF)
-		log.Info("droplet", d.Hostname)
-	}
-	hmm := "pihole.wit.com"
-	d := me.cluster.FindDropletByName(hmm)
-	if d == nil {
-		log.Info("did not find found droplet", hmm)
-	} else {
-		log.Info("found droplet", d.Hostname, d)
-	}
 
-	var newEvents []*virtpb.Event
+		var newEvents []*virtpb.Event
 
-	// sanity check the cluster & droplets
-	if _, _, err := ValidateDroplets(); err != nil {
-		log.Info("todo: add flag to ignore. for now, fix problems in the config file.")
-		os.Exit(0)
-	}
-	newe, err := ValidateDiskFilenames()
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Info(err)
-		os.Exit(-1)
-	}
-	// this is a new droplet. add it to the cluster
-	for _, e := range newe {
-		newEvents = append(newEvents, e)
-	}
-	ValidateUniqueFilenames()
-
-	for _, filename := range argv.Xml {
-		domcfg, err := virtigolib.ReadXml(filename)
+		// sanity check the cluster & droplets
+		if _, _, err := ValidateDroplets(); err != nil {
+			log.Info("todo: add flag to ignore. for now, fix problems in the config file.")
+			os.Exit(0)
+		}
+		newe, err := ValidateDiskFilenames()
 		if err != nil {
-			// parsing the libvirt xml file failed
-			log.Info("error:", filename, err)
-			log.Info("readXml() error", filename)
-			log.Info("readXml() error", err)
-			log.Info("libvirt XML will have to be fixed by hand")
+			log.Info(err)
 			os.Exit(-1)
 		}
 		// this is a new droplet. add it to the cluster
-		log.Info("Add XML Droplet here", domcfg.Name)
-		_, newe, err := virtigolib.AddDomainDroplet(me.cluster, domcfg)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Info("addDomainDroplet() error", filename)
-			log.Info("addDomainDroplet() error", err)
-			log.Info("libvirt XML will have to be fixed by hand")
-			os.Exit(-1)
-		}
 		for _, e := range newe {
 			newEvents = append(newEvents, e)
 		}
-	}
-	for i, e := range newEvents {
-		log.Info(i, "Event:", e.Droplet, e.FieldName, "orig:", e.OrigVal, "new:", e.NewVal)
-		me.changed = true
-	}
+		ValidateUniqueFilenames()
 
-	if me.changed {
-		if err := me.cluster.ConfigSave(); err != nil {
-			log.Info("configsave error", err)
-			os.Exit(-1)
+		for _, filename := range argv.Xml {
+			domcfg, err := virtigolib.ReadXml(filename)
+			if err != nil {
+				// parsing the libvirt xml file failed
+				log.Info("error:", filename, err)
+				log.Info("readXml() error", filename)
+				log.Info("readXml() error", err)
+				log.Info("libvirt XML will have to be fixed by hand")
+				os.Exit(-1)
+			}
+			// this is a new droplet. add it to the cluster
+			log.Info("Add XML Droplet here", domcfg.Name)
+			_, newe, err := virtigolib.AddDomainDroplet(me.cluster, domcfg)
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Info("addDomainDroplet() error", filename)
+				log.Info("addDomainDroplet() error", err)
+				log.Info("libvirt XML will have to be fixed by hand")
+				os.Exit(-1)
+			}
+			for _, e := range newe {
+				newEvents = append(newEvents, e)
+			}
+		}
+		for i, e := range newEvents {
+			log.Info(i, "Event:", e.Droplet, e.FieldName, "orig:", e.OrigVal, "new:", e.NewVal)
+			me.changed = true
 		}
-		log.Info("XML changes saved in protobuf config")
-		os.Exit(0)
-	}
-	if len(argv.Xml) != 0 {
-		log.Info("No XML changes found")
-		os.Exit(0)
-	}
 
-	// initialize each hypervisor
-	for _, pbh := range me.cluster.H.Hypervisors {
-		// this is a new unknown droplet (not in the config file)
-		var h *HyperT
-		h = new(HyperT)
-		h.pb = pbh
-		h.lastDroplets = make(map[string]time.Time)
-		h.lastpoll = time.Now()
+		if me.changed {
+			if err := me.cluster.ConfigSave(); err != nil {
+				log.Info("configsave error", err)
+				os.Exit(-1)
+			}
+			log.Info("XML changes saved in protobuf config")
+			os.Exit(0)
+		}
+		if len(argv.Xml) != 0 {
+			log.Info("No XML changes found")
+			os.Exit(0)
+		}
 
-		me.hmap[pbh] = h
-		me.hypers = append(me.hypers, h)
-		log.Log(EVENT, "config new hypervisors", h.pb.Hostname)
-	}
+		// initialize each hypervisor
+		for _, pbh := range me.cluster.H.Hypervisors {
+			// this is a new unknown droplet (not in the config file)
+			var h *HyperT
+			h = new(HyperT)
+			h.pb = pbh
+			h.lastDroplets = make(map[string]time.Time)
+			h.lastpoll = time.Now()
 
-	// start the watchdog polling for each hypervisor
-	for _, h := range me.hypers {
-		log.Info("starting polling on", h.pb.Hostname)
+			me.hmap[pbh] = h
+			me.hypers = append(me.hypers, h)
+			log.Log(EVENT, "config new hypervisors", h.pb.Hostname)
+		}
 
-		// start a watchdog on each hypervisor
-		go h.NewWatchdog()
-	}
+		// start the watchdog polling for each hypervisor
+		for _, h := range me.hypers {
+			log.Info("starting polling on", h.pb.Hostname)
 
-	var cloud *virtigolib.CloudManager
-	cloud = virtigolib.NewCloud()
-	found, _ := cloud.FindDropletByName("www.wit.com")
-	if found == nil {
-		log.Info("d == nil")
-	} else {
-		log.Info("d == ", found)
+			// start a watchdog on each hypervisor
+			go h.NewWatchdog()
+		}
+
+		var cloud *virtigolib.CloudManager
+		cloud = virtigolib.NewCloud()
+		found, _ := cloud.FindDropletByName("www.wit.com")
+		if found == nil {
+			log.Info("d == nil")
+		} else {
+			log.Info("d == ", found)
+		}
+	*/
+
+	if argv.Daemon {
+		if err := doDaemon(); err != nil {
+			badExit(err)
+		}
+		okExit("")
 	}
 
 	// sit here