diff --git a/package.proto b/package.proto
index 500db12..644b722 100644
--- a/package.proto
+++ b/package.proto
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ message Package {
 	string	version 			= 2;	// version: 0.0.3
 	google.protobuf.Timestamp laststamp	= 3;	// the last time this package was seen (used to timeout entries)
 	string	srcPath 			= 4;	// path to the sources (go.wit.com/apps/zookeeper)
-	bool	installed			= 5;	// installed: true
+	bool	installed			= 5;	// if installed on your machine, this should be set to true
+	string	pkgName 			= 6;	// the apt filename pool/main/f/foo/foo_2.2.2_riscv64.deb
 }
 
 message Packages {
diff --git a/wit.go b/wit.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d5f4e7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wit.go
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+package zoopb
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// sent via -ldflags
+var VERSION string
+var BUILDTIME string
+
+// read the package list file from mirrors.wit.com
+func (m *Machine) initWit() error {
+	err := m.scanPackageListFile("/var/lib/apt/lists/mirrors.wit.com_wit_dists_sid_main_binary-amd64_Packages")
+	return err
+	/*
+		for _, p := range allpackages {
+			var all []string
+			for _, ver := range p.versions {
+				all = append(all, ver.v)
+			}
+			// log.Info(name, strings.Join(all, ", "))
+		}
+	*/
+}
+
+// breaks up the apt list file into sections
+// then sends each section to be processed
+// and added to zoopb.Machine.Wit
+func (m *Machine) scanPackageListFile(filename string) error {
+	file, err := os.Open(filename)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer file.Close()
+	scanner := bufio.NewScanner(file)
+	var debInfo string
+	for scanner.Scan() {
+		line := scanner.Text()
+		if line == "" {
+			p := parsePackageInfo(debInfo)
+			m.Wit.Append(p)
+			debInfo = ""
+		}
+		debInfo += line + "\n"
+	}
+	p := parsePackageInfo(debInfo)
+	m.Wit.Append(p)
+	return nil
+}
+
+/*
+func (m *Machine) addPackage(name string, version string, filename string) {
+	if name == "" {
+		return
+	}
+	// log.Info("addPackage:", name, version, filename)
+	var deb *DebPackage
+	var ok bool
+	deb, ok = allp[name]
+	if !ok {
+		deb = NewPackage()
+		deb.name.SetLabel(name)
+		allp[name] = deb
+	}
+	newversion := new(Version)
+	newversion.v = version
+	newversion.file = filename
+	deb.versions = append(deb.versions, newversion)
+}
+*/
+
+// parses dpkg -s foo.deb
+func parsePackageInfo(lines string) *Package {
+	var name string
+	var version string
+	var filename string
+	var gopath string
+
+	for _, line := range strings.Split(lines, "\n") {
+		if line == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		if strings.HasPrefix(line, " ") {
+			// these are usually Description: lines
+			continue
+		}
+		if strings.HasPrefix(line, "#") {
+			// skip comment lines. (probably doesn't happen in debian list files
+			continue
+		}
+		line = strings.TrimSpace(line)
+		parts := strings.Split(line, " ")
+		if len(parts) < 2 {
+			continue
+		}
+		if parts[0] == "Package:" {
+			name = parts[1]
+		}
+		if parts[0] == "Version:" {
+			version = parts[1]
+		}
+		if parts[0] == "Filename:" {
+			filename = parts[1]
+		}
+		if parts[0] == "GoPath:" {
+			gopath = parts[1]
+		}
+	}
+
+	p := Package{
+		Name:     name,
+		Version:  version,
+		PkgName: filename,
+		SrcPath:   gopath,
+	}
+
+	return &p
+}