diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 9d275bc..24726cb 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ REDOMOD = $(shell if [ -e go.sum ]; then  echo go.sum exists; else GO111MODULE=
 
 all:
 	GO111MODULE=off go build -v -x -ldflags "-X main.VERSION=${VERSION} -X gui.GUIVERSION=${VERSION}"
-	#./zood
+	./zood
 	./zood --version
 
 # this is for release builds using the go.mod files
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 7c17d5e..ab7717c 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import (
 	"embed"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
+	"time"
 
 	"go.wit.com/dev/alexflint/arg"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
@@ -37,6 +38,13 @@ func main() {
 		os.Exit(0)
 	}
 
+	me = new(stuff)
+	me.Zookeeper = "zookeeper.wit.com"
+	me.Hostname, _ = os.Hostname()
+	me.pollDelay = 3 * time.Second
+
+	log.DaemonMode(true)
+
 	installedPackages, err := getInstalledPackages()
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("Error:", err)
@@ -47,14 +55,7 @@ func main() {
 	for pkg, version := range installedPackages {
 		fmt.Printf("%s: %s\n", pkg, version)
 	}
-	os.Exit(0)
-
-	me = new(stuff)
-	me.Hostname, _ = os.Hostname()
-
-	log.DaemonMode(true)
-
-	// reportOS()
+	go NewWatchdog()
 
 	startHTTP()
 }
diff --git a/structs.go b/structs.go
index 67ca6c1..a8d7492 100644
--- a/structs.go
+++ b/structs.go
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 package main
 
+import "time"
+
 var me *stuff
 
 // this app's variables
 type stuff struct {
-	Hostname string
-	dirs     []string
+	Hostname  string        // my hostname to send to zookeeper
+	Zookeeper string        // the dns name for the zookeeper
+	pollDelay time.Duration // how often to report our status
+	dog       *time.Ticker  // the watchdog timer
+	dirs      []string
 }
diff --git a/watchdog.go b/watchdog.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..38b1959
--- /dev/null
+++ b/watchdog.go
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+
+	"go.wit.com/log"
+)
+
+// timeFunction takes a function as an argument and returns the execution time.
+func TimeFunction(f func()) time.Duration {
+	startTime := time.Now()      // Record the start time
+	f()                          // Execute the function
+	return time.Since(startTime) // Calculate the elapsed time
+}
+
+func NewWatchdog() {
+	me.dog = time.NewTicker(me.pollDelay)
+	defer me.dog.Stop()
+	done := make(chan bool)
+	/*
+		// this example would exit/destroy the ticker in 10 seconds
+		go func() {
+			time.Sleep(10 * time.Second)
+			done <- true
+		}()
+	*/
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-done:
+			fmt.Println("Done!")
+			return
+		case t := <-me.dog.C:
+			log.Info("Watchdog() ticked", me.Zookeeper, "Current time: ", t)
+			// h.pollHypervisor()
+			// h.Scan()
+		}
+	}
+}