reverse in STDOUT is no longer the default

.gitignore

@@ -5,3 +5,4 @@
 go.mod
 go.sum
 gocui
+resources/*.so

Makefile

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 VERSION = $(shell git describe --tags)
 BUILDTIME = $(shell date +%Y.%m.%d)
 
-all: goimports vet gocui
+all: clean goimports vet gocui
 	@ldd gocui.so
 
 vet:
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ vet:
 	@echo this go plugin builds okay
 
 gocui:
-	GO111MODULE=off go build -v -buildmode=plugin -o gocui.so \
+	GO111MODULE=off go build -v -x -buildmode=plugin -o gocui.so \
 		-ldflags "-X main.VERSION=${VERSION} -X main.BUILDTIME=${BUILDTIME} -X gui.GUIVERSION=${VERSION}"
 
 install:
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ custom:
 	GO111MODULE=off go build -v -work -buildmode=blah
 
 clean:
-	rm -f gocui gocui.so
+	rm -f gocui *.so go.*
 	rm -f *.pb.go *.patch
-	go-mod-clean --purge
+	go-mod-clean purge
 
 # Test the README.md & doc.go file
 # this runs pkgsite, the binary that does dev.go.dev

checkbox.go

@@ -23,16 +23,16 @@ func setChecked(n *tree.Node, b bool) {
 
 // redraw the checkbox
 func (tk *guiWidget) setCheckbox() {
-	if tk.node.WidgetType != widget.Checkbox {
-		log.Log(WARN, "setCheckbox() being run on widget:", tk.node.WidgetType)
+	if tk.WidgetType() != widget.Checkbox {
+		log.Log(WARN, "setCheckbox() being run on widget:", tk.WidgetType())
 		return
 	}
-	if tk.node.State.Checked {
-		log.Log(WARN, "setCheckbox() got true", tk.node.State.Checked)
-		tk.labelN = "X " + tk.node.State.Label
+	if tk.Checked() {
+		log.Log(WARN, "setCheckbox() got true", tk.Checked())
+		tk.labelN = "X " + tk.GetLabel()
 	} else {
-		log.Log(WARN, "setCheckbox() got false", tk.node.State.Checked)
-		tk.labelN = "_ " + tk.node.State.Label
+		log.Log(WARN, "setCheckbox() got false", tk.Checked())
+		tk.labelN = "_ " + tk.GetLabel()
 	}
 
 	tk.Hide()

color.go

@@ -68,12 +68,13 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) updateColor() {
 	if tk.v == nil {
 		return
 	}
+	if tk.color != nil {
 		tk.colorLast.frame = tk.color.frame
 		tk.colorLast.fg = tk.color.fg
 		tk.colorLast.bg = tk.color.bg
 		tk.colorLast.selFg = tk.color.selFg
 		tk.colorLast.selBg = tk.color.selBg
-
+	}
 	tk.activateColor()
 }
 
@@ -185,6 +186,27 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) setColorLabel() {
 	tk.updateColor()
 }
 
+func (tk *guiWidget) setColorLabelTable() {
+	if tk.color == nil {
+		tk.color = new(colorT)
+	}
+	if me.dark {
+		tk.color.frame = gocui.AttrNone
+		tk.color.fg = gocui.ColorWhite
+		tk.color.bg = gocui.ColorBlack
+		tk.color.selFg = gocui.ColorWhite
+		tk.color.selBg = gocui.AttrNone
+	} else {
+		tk.color.frame = gocui.AttrNone
+		tk.color.fg = gocui.ColorBlack
+		tk.color.bg = gocui.AttrNone
+		tk.color.selFg = gocui.AttrNone
+		tk.color.selBg = gocui.ColorGreen
+	}
+
+	tk.updateColor()
+}
+
 func (tk *guiWidget) setColorButtonDense() {
 	if tk.color == nil {
 		tk.color = new(colorT)
@@ -206,6 +228,19 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) setColorButtonDense() {
 	tk.updateColor()
 }
 
+func (tk *guiWidget) setColorNotifyIcon() {
+	if tk.color == nil {
+		tk.color = new(colorT)
+	}
+	tk.color.frame = gocui.AttrNone
+	tk.color.fg = gocui.ColorWhite
+	tk.color.bg = gocui.ColorBlue
+	tk.color.selFg = gocui.ColorBlue
+	tk.color.selBg = gocui.AttrNone
+
+	tk.updateColor()
+}
+
 func (tk *guiWidget) setColorButton() {
 	if tk.color == nil {
 		tk.color = new(colorT)

debug.go

@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ import (
 )
 
 func (w *guiWidget) dumpTree(s string) {
-	// log.Log(ERROR, "dump w", w.node.WidgetId, w.WidgetType, w.String())
+	// log.Log(ERROR, "dump w", w.WidgetId(), w.WidgetType, w.String())
 	if w == nil {
-		log.Log(ERROR, "dump w.TK == nil", w.node.WidgetId, w.node.WidgetType, w.String())
+		log.Log(ERROR, "dump w.TK == nil", w.WidgetId(), w.WidgetType(), w.String())
 		return
 	}
 	w.dumpWidget("dumpTree() " + s)
@@ -25,12 +25,12 @@ func (w *guiWidget) dumpTree(s string) {
 }
 
 func (w *guiWidget) dumpWindows(s string) {
-	// log.Log(ERROR, "dump w", w.node.WidgetId, w.WidgetType, w.String())
+	// log.Log(ERROR, "dump w", w.WidgetId(), w.WidgetType, w.String())
 	if w == nil {
-		log.Log(ERROR, "dump w.TK == nil", w.node.WidgetId, w.node.WidgetType, w.String())
+		log.Log(ERROR, "dump w.TK == nil", w.WidgetId(), w.WidgetType(), w.String())
 		return
 	}
-	if w.node.WidgetType == widget.Window {
+	if w.WidgetType() == widget.Window {
 		s += fmt.Sprintf(" F(%d,%d)", w.force.w0, w.force.h0)
 		// can't set this here. doesn't work
 		// w.full.w0 = w.force.w0
@@ -49,13 +49,13 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) dumpWidget(s string) {
 	var s1 string
 	var pId int
 	// tk.verifyRect()
-	if tk.node.Parent == nil {
-		log.Logf(WARN, "showWidgetPlacement() parent == nil wId=%d cuiName=%s", tk.node.WidgetId, tk.cuiName)
+	if tk.parent == nil {
+		log.Logf(WARN, "showWidgetPlacement() parent == nil wId=%d cuiName=%s", tk.WidgetId(), tk.cuiName)
 		pId = 0
 	} else {
-		pId = tk.node.Parent.WidgetId
+		pId = tk.parent.WidgetId()
 	}
-	s1 = fmt.Sprintf("(wId,pId)=(%4d,%4d) ", tk.node.WidgetId, pId)
+	s1 = fmt.Sprintf("(wId,pId)=(%4d,%4d) ", tk.WidgetId(), pId)
 	sizeW, sizeH := tk.Size()
 	hide := "S"
 	if tk.Hidden() {
@@ -69,10 +69,10 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) dumpWidget(s string) {
 		s1 += fmt.Sprintf("       %3s %3s %3s %3s ", "", "", "", "")
 	}
 	s1 += fmt.Sprintf(" full=(%3d,%3d,%3d,%3d)", tk.full.w0, tk.full.h0, tk.full.w1, tk.full.h1)
-	if tk.node.Parent != nil {
-		if tk.node.Parent.WidgetType == widget.Grid {
-			s1 += fmt.Sprintf("At(%3d,%3d)", tk.node.State.AtW, tk.node.State.AtH)
-			s1 += fmt.Sprintf("(%3d,%3d) ", tk.parent.widths[tk.node.State.AtW], tk.parent.heights[tk.node.State.AtH])
+	if tk.parent != nil {
+		if tk.parent.WidgetType() == widget.Grid {
+			s1 += fmt.Sprintf("At(%3d,%3d)", tk.GridW(), tk.GridH())
+			s1 += fmt.Sprintf("(%3d,%3d) ", tk.parent.widths[tk.GridW()], tk.parent.heights[tk.GridH()])
 		} else {
 			s1 += fmt.Sprintf("   %3s %3s ", "", "")
 			s1 += fmt.Sprintf(" %3s %3s  ", "", "")
@@ -81,10 +81,14 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) dumpWidget(s string) {
 		s1 += fmt.Sprintf("   %3s %3s  ", "", "")
 	}
 	var end string
-	if tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Box {
-		end = fmt.Sprintf("%-8s %-8s %s %s", tk.node.WidgetType, tk.cuiName, tk.node.State.Direction.String(), tk.String())
+	if tk.WidgetType() == widget.Box {
+		end = fmt.Sprintf("%-8s %-8s %s %s", tk.WidgetType(), tk.cuiName, tk.Direction().String(), tk.String())
 	} else {
-		end = fmt.Sprintf("%-8s %-8s %s", tk.node.WidgetType, tk.cuiName, tk.String())
+		end = fmt.Sprintf("%-8s %-8s %s", tk.WidgetType(), tk.cuiName, tk.String())
+	}
+	if tk.node.InTable() {
+		// log.Log(GOCUI, "findParentTAble()", tk.labelN, tk.cuiName, tk.node.WidgetId)
+		end += " (table)"
 	}
 	log.Log(GOCUI, s1, s, end)
 }

eventBindings.go

@@ -15,6 +15,12 @@ import (
 
 // tells 'gocui' where to send events
 func registerHandlers(g *gocui.Gui) {
+	defer func() {
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			log.Info("EVENT BINDINGS recovered in r", r)
+			return
+		}
+	}()
 
 	// mouse handlers
 	g.SetKeybinding("", gocui.MouseLeft, gocui.ModNone, mouseDown)       // normal left mouse down
@@ -52,6 +58,7 @@ func registerHandlers(g *gocui.Gui) {
 	g.SetKeybinding("", 'L', gocui.ModNone, printWidgetTree)       // 'L' list all widgets in tree view
 	g.SetKeybinding("", 'f', gocui.ModNone, theFind)               // 'f' shows what is under your mouse
 	g.SetKeybinding("", 'd', gocui.ModNone, theLetterD)            // 'd' toggles on and off debugging buttons
+	g.SetKeybinding("", 'r', gocui.ModNone, reverseStdout)         // 'r' turns scrolling of STDOUT upside down
 	g.SetKeybinding("", 'q', gocui.ModNone, quit)                  // 'q' only exits gocui. plugin stays alive (?)
 }
 
@@ -71,6 +78,10 @@ func theSuperMouse(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
 // use this to test code ideas // put whatever you want here and hit '2' to activate it
 func theNotsure(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
 	log.Info("got to theNotsure(). now what? dark =", me.dark)
+	me.refresh = true
+	log.Info("running VerifyParentId()")
+	me.treeRoot.VerifyParentId()
+	/*
 		if me.debug {
 			log.Info("debugging off")
 			me.debug = false
@@ -83,7 +94,7 @@ func theNotsure(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
 			win.dumpWidget("found() win. redrawing window:")
 			win.makeWindowActive()
 		}
-
+	*/
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -93,18 +104,20 @@ func theDarkness(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
 		log.Info("you have seen the light")
 	} else {
 		me.dark = true
-		log.Info("you have entered into darkness")
+		log.Info("you have entered into darkness (you may need to trigger SIGWINCH)")
+		log.Info("or maybe open a new window. notsure. This obviously isn't finished.")
+		log.Info("submit patches to this and you will definitely get free cloud credits at WIT")
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
 func wheelsUp(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
-	log.Info("private wheels up")
+	stdoutWheelsUp()
 	return nil
 }
 
 func wheelsDown(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
-	log.Info("you've landed")
+	stdoutWheelsDown()
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -128,11 +141,13 @@ func doEsc(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
 		me.dropdown.tk.Hide()
 		me.dropdown.active = false
 		log.Info("escaped from dropdown")
+		me.baseGui.SetCurrentView(me.notify.clock.tk.cuiName)
 	}
 	if me.textbox.active {
 		me.textbox.tk.Hide()
 		me.textbox.active = false
 		log.Info("escaped from textbox")
+		me.baseGui.SetCurrentView(me.notify.clock.tk.cuiName)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -170,6 +185,19 @@ func theFind(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func reverseStdout(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
+	if me.stdout.reverse {
+		me.stdout.reverse = false
+		log.Info("stdout scrolling normal")
+	} else {
+		me.stdout.reverse = true
+		log.Info("stdout scrolling is reversed. this is sometimes useful when you")
+		log.Info("only need to see a few most recent lines and have the STDOUT window")
+		log.Info("take up minimal realestate at the bottom of your window")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // is run whenever anyone hits 'd' (in an open space)
 func theLetterD(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
 	// widgets that don't have physical existance in

eventBindingsStdout.go

@@ -8,12 +8,14 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/awesome-gocui/gocui"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
+	"go.wit.com/toolkits/tree"
 )
 
 func theStdout(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
 	// me.stdout.pager = 0
 	infos := fmt.Sprintf("pager=%d len(%d) ", me.stdout.pager, len(me.stdout.outputS))
 	infos += fmt.Sprintf("last(%d,%d)", me.stdout.lastW, me.stdout.lastH)
+	me.stdout.changed = true
 
 	if me.stdout.outputOnTop {
 		if me.stdout.outputOffscreen {
@@ -22,18 +24,38 @@ func theStdout(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
 			me.stdout.lastW = me.stdout.tk.gocuiSize.w0
 			me.stdout.lastH = me.stdout.tk.gocuiSize.h0
 			relocateStdoutOffscreen()
+			new1 := new(tree.ToolkitConfig)
+			new1.Plugin = "gocui"
+			new1.Name = "stdoutoffscreen"
+			new1.Value = "true"
+			me.myTree.ConfigSave(new1)
 			return nil
 		} else {
 			me.stdout.outputOffscreen = true
 			log.Info("stdout moved on  screen", infos)
+			new1 := new(tree.ToolkitConfig)
+			new1.Plugin = "gocui"
+			new1.Name = "stdoutoffscreen"
+			new1.Value = "false"
+			me.myTree.ConfigSave(new1)
 		}
 		// move the stdout window back onscreen
 		me.stdout.tk.relocateStdout(me.stdout.lastW, me.stdout.lastH)
 		me.stdout.outputOnTop = false
 		setThingsOnTop()
+		new1 := new(tree.ToolkitConfig)
+		new1.Plugin = "gocui"
+		new1.Name = "stdoutlevel"
+		new1.Value = "bottom"
+		me.myTree.ConfigSave(new1)
 	} else {
 		me.stdout.outputOnTop = true
 		setThingsOnTop()
+		new1 := new(tree.ToolkitConfig)
+		new1.Plugin = "gocui"
+		new1.Name = "stdoutlevel"
+		new1.Value = "top"
+		me.myTree.ConfigSave(new1)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -55,14 +77,20 @@ func stdoutHome(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
 }
 
 func stdoutArrowUp(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
-	me.stdout.pager += 1
-	me.stdout.tk.refreshStdout()
+	if me.stdout.reverse {
+		stdoutWheelsDown()
+	} else {
+		stdoutWheelsUp()
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
 func stdoutArrowDown(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
-	me.stdout.pager -= 1
-	me.stdout.tk.refreshStdout()
+	if me.stdout.reverse {
+		stdoutWheelsUp()
+	} else {
+		stdoutWheelsDown()
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -81,3 +109,23 @@ func stdoutPgdn(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
 	tk.refreshStdout()
 	return nil
 }
+
+// scrolling up with the mouse wheel (or trackpad)
+func stdoutWheelsUp() {
+	// log.Info("private wheels up")
+	me.stdout.pager -= 2
+	if me.stdout.pager < 0 {
+		me.stdout.pager = 0
+	}
+	me.stdout.tk.refreshStdout()
+}
+
+// scrolling down with the mouse wheel (or trackpad)
+func stdoutWheelsDown() {
+	// log.Info("you've landed")
+	me.stdout.pager += 2
+	if me.stdout.pager > len(me.stdout.outputS) {
+		me.stdout.pager = len(me.stdout.outputS)
+	}
+	me.stdout.tk.refreshStdout()
+}

eventGocui.go

@@ -1,17 +1,13 @@
 // Copyright 2017-2025 WIT.COM Inc. All rights reserved.
 // Use of this source code is governed by the GPL 3.0
 
-// Copyright 2014 The gocui Authors. All rights reserved.
-// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
-// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
-
 package main
 
 import (
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/awesome-gocui/gocui"
-
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 )
 
@@ -44,6 +40,36 @@ func quit(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
 	return gocui.ErrQuit
 }
 
+func (tk *guiWidget) SetView() error {
+	if me.baseGui == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("me.baseGui == nil")
+	}
+
+	r := new(rectType)
+	r.w0 = tk.gocuiSize.w0
+	r.h0 = tk.gocuiSize.h0
+	r.w1 = tk.gocuiSize.w1
+	r.h1 = tk.gocuiSize.h1
+
+	return tk.SetViewRect(r)
+}
+
+func (tk *guiWidget) SetViewRect(r *rectType) error {
+	if me.baseGui == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("me.baseGui == nil")
+	}
+
+	var err error
+	tk.v, err = me.baseGui.SetView(tk.cuiName, r.w0, r.h0, r.w1, r.h1, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		if !errors.Is(err, gocui.ErrUnknownView) {
+			log.Log(ERROR, "SetView() global failed on name =", tk.cuiName)
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func SetView(name string, x0, y0, x1, y1 int, overlaps byte) *gocui.View {
 	if me.baseGui == nil {
 		log.Log(ERROR, "SetView() ERROR: me.baseGui == nil")

eventMouseClick.go

@@ -4,12 +4,13 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"github.com/awesome-gocui/gocui"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 	"go.wit.com/widget"
 )
 
 func (tk *guiWidget) doButtonClick() {
-	if tk.node.IsEnabled() {
+	if tk.IsEnabled() {
 		tk.dumpWidget("click()") // enable this to debug widget clicks
 		me.myTree.SendFromUser(tk.node)
 	} else {
@@ -25,12 +26,12 @@ func doMouseClick(w int, h int) {
 	if me.dropdown.active || me.textbox.active {
 		// can't drag or do anything when dropdown or textbox are visible
 		for _, tk := range findByXY(w, h) {
-			if tk.node.WidgetId == me.dropdown.wId {
-				log.Info("got dropdwon click", w, h, tk.cuiName)
+			if tk.WidgetId() == me.dropdown.wId {
+				log.Info("got dropdown click", w, h, tk.cuiName)
 				tk.dropdownClicked(w, h)
 				return
 			}
-			if tk.node.WidgetId == me.textbox.wId {
+			if tk.WidgetId() == me.textbox.wId {
 				log.Info("got textbox click", w, h, tk.cuiName)
 				textboxClosed()
 				return
@@ -42,7 +43,32 @@ func doMouseClick(w int, h int) {
 
 	win := findWindowUnderMouse()
 	if win == nil {
-		log.Log(GOCUI, "click() nothing was at:", w, h)
+		log.Log(INFO, "click() nothing was at:", w, h)
+		log.Log(INFO, "click() check if", w, h, "is the libnotify icon")
+		if me.notify.icon.tk != nil && me.notify.icon.tk.gocuiSize.inRect(w, h) {
+			log.Log(GOCUI, "click() is libnotify.icon!")
+			if me.notify.icon.active {
+				log.Info("show notify.icon here")
+				setNotifyIconText("[X]")
+				me.notify.icon.active = false
+			} else {
+				log.Info("hide notify.icon here")
+				setNotifyIconText("[ ]")
+				me.notify.icon.active = true
+			}
+			return
+		}
+		if me.notify.clock.tk != nil && me.notify.clock.tk.gocuiSize.inRect(w, h) {
+			log.Log(GOCUI, "click() is the clock!")
+			if me.showHelp {
+				log.Info("show help")
+				showHelp()
+			} else {
+				log.Info("hide help")
+				hideHelp()
+			}
+			return
+		}
 		return
 	}
 	if !win.isWindowActive() {
@@ -58,15 +84,15 @@ func doMouseClick(w int, h int) {
 	// look in this window for widgets
 	// widgets have priority. send the click here first
 	for _, tk := range win.findByXYreal(w, h) {
-		switch tk.node.WidgetType {
+		switch tk.WidgetType() {
 		case widget.Checkbox:
-			if tk.node.State.Checked {
+			if tk.Checked() {
 				log.Log(WARN, "checkbox is being set to false")
-				tk.node.State.Checked = false
+				tk.SetChecked(false)
 				tk.setCheckbox()
 			} else {
 				log.Log(WARN, "checkbox is being set to true")
-				tk.node.State.Checked = true
+				tk.SetChecked(true)
 				tk.setCheckbox()
 			}
 			me.myTree.SendUserEvent(tk.node)
@@ -81,7 +107,16 @@ func doMouseClick(w int, h int) {
 			tk.showDropdown()
 			return
 		case widget.Textbox:
-			tk.showTextbox()
+			log.Log(WARN, "TODO: textbox click")
+			tk.prepTextbox()
+			return
+		case widget.Label:
+			if tk.node.InTable() {
+				if tk.node.State.AtH == 0 {
+					log.Log(NOW, "todo: sort by column here")
+					tk.dumpWidget("sort")
+				}
+			}
 			return
 		default:
 			// TODO: enable the GUI debugger in gocui
@@ -90,6 +125,12 @@ func doMouseClick(w int, h int) {
 	}
 }
 
+// todo: use this?
+func ctrlDown(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
+	log.Info("todo: clicked with ctrlDown")
+	return nil
+}
+
 func doMouseDoubleClick(w int, h int) {
 	me.mouse.double = false
 	// log.Printf("actually a double click (%d,%d)", w, h)
@@ -101,12 +142,12 @@ func doMouseDoubleClick(w int, h int) {
 	}
 
 	for _, tk := range findByXY(w, h) {
-		if tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Window {
+		if tk.WidgetType() == widget.Window {
 			tk.makeWindowActive()
 			return
 		}
 
-		if tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Stdout {
+		if tk.WidgetType() == widget.Stdout {
 			if me.stdout.outputOnTop {
 				me.stdout.outputOnTop = false
 				setThingsOnTop()

eventMouseDrag.go

@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@ import (
 // this function uses the mouse position to highlight & unhighlight things
 // this is run every time the user moves the mouse over the terminal window
 func mouseMove(g *gocui.Gui) {
-	me.ok = true // this tells init() it's okay to work with gocui
-
 	// this runs while the user moves the mouse. this highlights text
 	// toggle off all highlight views except for whatever is under the mouse
 	// START HIGHLIGHTING
@@ -50,6 +48,7 @@ func mouseMove(g *gocui.Gui) {
 	// old hack. create the 'msg' view if it does not yet exist
 	// TODO: put this somewhere more correct
 	if widgetView, _ := g.View("msg"); widgetView == nil {
+		me.stdout.changed = true
 		if createStdout(g) {
 			return
 		}
@@ -102,7 +101,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) setAsDragging() {
 // this is how the window gets dragged around
 func (tk *guiWidget) moveNew() {
 	w, h := me.baseGui.MousePosition()
-	if tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Window {
+	if tk.WidgetType() == widget.Window {
 		tk.window.wasDragged = true
 
 		// compute the new location based off how far the mouse has moved
@@ -112,16 +111,8 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) moveNew() {
 		tk.makeWindowActive()
 		return
 	}
-	/*
-		if tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Flag {
-			me.baseGui.SetView(tk.cuiName, w-3, h-3, w+20, h+20, 0)
-			// tk.verifyRect()
-			s := fmt.Sprintf("move(%dx%d) %s ###", w, h, tk.cuiName)
-			tk.dumpWidget(s)
-			return
-		}
-	*/
-	if tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Stdout {
+
+	if tk.WidgetType() == widget.Stdout {
 		if me.mouse.resize {
 			newW := w - me.stdout.lastW
 			newH := h - me.stdout.lastH
@@ -140,5 +131,6 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) moveNew() {
 			// log.Info("Resize false", w, h, newW, newH)
 		}
 		setThingsOnTop() // sets help, Stdout, etc on the top after windows have been redrawn
+		me.stdout.changed = true
 	}
 }

find.go

@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) findByXYreal(w int, h int) []*guiWidget {
 	if tk.full.inRect(w, h) {
 		widgets = append(widgets, tk)
 	}
-	// log.Log(GOCUI, "findByXY() found", widget.node.WidgetType, w, h)
+	// log.Log(GOCUI, "findByXY() found", widget.WidgetType(), w, h)
 	//		}
 	//	}
 	// tk.verifyRect()
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ func findWindows() []*guiWidget {
 func (tk *guiWidget) findWindows() []*guiWidget {
 	var found []*guiWidget
 
-	if tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Window {
+	if tk.WidgetType() == widget.Window {
 		found = append(found, tk)
 	}
 
@@ -94,25 +94,6 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) findWindows() []*guiWidget {
 	return found
 }
 
-// find the BG widget.
-// This widget is always in the background and covers the whole screen.
-// gocui seems to not return mouse events unless there is something there
-func (tk *guiWidget) findBG() *guiWidget {
-	if tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Stdout {
-		if tk.node.WidgetId != me.stdout.wId {
-			tk.isBG = true
-			return tk
-		}
-	}
-
-	for _, child := range tk.children {
-		if found := child.findBG(); found != nil {
-			return found
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
 // used by gocui.TabKey to rotate through the windows
 func findNextWindow() *guiWidget {
 	var found bool
@@ -148,13 +129,6 @@ func findWindowUnderMouse() *guiWidget {
 		}
 	}
 
-	/*
-		// print out the window list
-		for _, tk := range me.allwin {
-			log.Info("findWindowUnderMouse() print:", tk.labelN, tk.window.active, tk.window.order)
-		}
-	*/
-
 	// now check if the active window is below the mouse
 	for _, tk := range me.allwin {
 		if tk.window.active {
@@ -171,12 +145,6 @@ func findWindowUnderMouse() *guiWidget {
 		return a.window.order - b.window.order
 	})
 
-	/*
-		// print out the window list
-		for _, tk := range me.allwin {
-			log.Info("findWindowUnderMouse() print:", tk.labelN, tk.window.active, tk.window.order)
-		}
-	*/
 	for _, win := range me.allwin {
 		if win.full.inRect(w, h) {
 			// log.Info(fmt.Sprintf("findWindowUnderMouse() found %s window (%dx%d)", win.cuiName, w, h))
@@ -195,14 +163,8 @@ func findWindowUnderMouse() *guiWidget {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// todo: use this?
-func ctrlDown(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
-	log.Info("todo: clicked with ctrlDown")
-	return nil
-}
-
 func (tk *guiWidget) findParentWindow() *guiWidget {
-	if tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Window {
+	if tk.WidgetType() == widget.Window {
 		return tk
 	}
 	if tk.parent == nil {
@@ -210,3 +172,47 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) findParentWindow() *guiWidget {
 	}
 	return tk.parent.findParentWindow()
 }
+
+func (tk *guiWidget) findWidgetByName(name string) *guiWidget {
+	if tk.cuiName == name {
+		return tk
+	}
+	for _, child := range tk.children {
+		found := child.findWidgetByName(name)
+		if found != nil {
+			return found
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (tk *guiWidget) findWidgetByView(v *gocui.View) *guiWidget {
+	if tk.v == v {
+		return tk
+	}
+	if tk.cuiName == v.Name() {
+		log.Log(NOW, "findWidget() error. names are mismatched or out of sync", tk.cuiName)
+		log.Log(NOW, "findWidget() or maybe the view has been deleted")
+		// return tk
+	}
+	for _, child := range tk.children {
+		found := child.findWidgetByView(v)
+		if found != nil {
+			return found
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (tk *guiWidget) findWidgetById(id int) *guiWidget {
+	if tk.WidgetId() == id {
+		return tk
+	}
+	for _, child := range tk.children {
+		found := child.findWidgetById(id)
+		if found != nil {
+			return found
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}

help.go

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-// Copyright 2014 The gocui Authors. All rights reserved.
 // Copyright 2017-2025 WIT.COM Inc. All rights reserved.
 // Use of this source code is governed by the GPL 3.0
 
+// Prior Copyright 2014 The gocui Authors. All rights reserved.
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
 // license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
 
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/awesome-gocui/gocui"
 	log "go.wit.com/log"
@@ -26,16 +25,20 @@ import (
 
 var helpText []string = []string{"Help Menu",
 	"",
-	"H: toggle (H)elp",
-	"D: toggle light/dark mode",
-	"Tab: toggle through windows",
-	"q: quit()",
+	"Tab     toggle through windows",
+	"'O'     toggle STDOUT",
+	"'H'     toggle this gocui menu",
+	"'D'     toggle light/dark mode",
+	"CTRL-z  background to shell",
+	"CTRL-c  quit()",
 	"",
 	"Debugging:",
-	"O: toggle (O)output (os.STDOUT)",
-	"S: super mouse",
-	"M: list all widgets positions",
-	"L: list all widgets in tree",
+	"'S'     Supermouse mode",
+	"'M'     list all widget positions",
+	"'L'     list all widgets in tree",
+	"<Pgup>  scroll up the STDOUT window",
+	"<Pgdn>  scroll down the STDOUT window",
+	"'r'     reverse STDOUT scrolling",
 }
 
 func hideHelp() {
@@ -66,17 +69,18 @@ func showHelp() error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	help, err := g.SetView("help", maxX-(newW+me.FramePadW), 0, maxX-1, len(helpText)+me.FramePadH, 0)
+	a := maxX - (newW + me.FramePadW)
+	b := me.notify.help.offsetH
+	c := maxX - 1
+	d := me.notify.help.offsetH + len(helpText) + me.FramePadH
+
+	help, err := g.SetView("help", a, b, c, d, 0)
 	if err != nil {
 		if !errors.Is(err, gocui.ErrUnknownView) {
 			return err
 		}
 		help.SelBgColor = gocui.ColorGreen
 		help.SelFgColor = gocui.ColorBlack
-		// fmt.Fprintln(help, "Enter: Click Button")
-		// fmt.Fprintln(help, "Tab/Space: Switch Buttons")
-		// fmt.Fprintln(help, "Backspace: Delete Button")
-		// fmt.Fprintln(help, "Arrow keys: Move Button")
 
 		fmt.Fprintln(help, strings.Join(helpText, "\n"))
 
@@ -86,85 +90,19 @@ func showHelp() error {
 	}
 	g.SetViewOnTop("help")
 	me.helpLabel = help
-	if me.clock.tk == nil {
-		makeClock()
-		me.clock.tk.MoveToOffset(maxX-10, 1)
-		me.clock.tk.Hide()
-		me.clock.tk.Show()
-	}
-	if me.clock.tk != nil {
-		me.clock.tk.MoveToOffset(maxX-10, 1)
-		me.clock.tk.Hide()
-		me.clock.tk.Show()
-	}
+
+	/*
+		if me.treeRoot == nil {
+			log.Info("gogui makeClock() error. treeRoot == nil")
+			return nil
+		} else {
 			if me.stdout.tk == nil {
 				makeOutputWidget(me.baseGui, "made this in showHelp()")
 				msg := fmt.Sprintf("test to stdout from in showHelp() %d\n", me.ecount)
 				me.stdout.Write([]byte(msg))
 				log.Log(NOW, "log.log(NOW) test")
 			}
+		}
+	*/
 	return nil
 }
-
-func makeClock() {
-	me.clock.tk = makeNewFlagWidget(me.clock.wId)
-	me.clock.tk.dumpWidget("init() clock")
-	w, h := me.baseGui.MousePosition()
-	me.clock.tk.MoveToOffset(w, h)
-	me.clock.tk.labelN = time.Now().Format("15:04:05")
-	me.clock.tk.frame = false
-	me.clock.tk.setColorLabel()
-	me.clock.tk.Show()
-	me.clock.active = true
-	me.clock.tk.dumpWidget("showClock()")
-}
-
-// in the very end of redrawing things, this will place the help and stdout on the top or botton
-// depending on the state the user has chosen
-func setThingsOnTop() {
-	if me.showHelp { // terrible variable name. FIXME
-		// log.Info("help does not exist")
-	} else {
-		me.baseGui.SetViewOnTop("help")
-	}
-	if me.clock.tk != nil {
-		me.baseGui.SetViewOnTop(me.clock.tk.v.Name())
-	}
-
-	if me.dark {
-		me.stdout.tk.v.FgColor = gocui.ColorWhite
-		me.stdout.tk.v.BgColor = gocui.ColorBlack
-	} else {
-		me.stdout.tk.v.FgColor = gocui.ColorBlack
-		me.stdout.tk.v.BgColor = gocui.AttrNone
-	}
-
-	if me.stdout.outputOnTop {
-		me.baseGui.SetViewOnTop("msg")
-	} else {
-		me.baseGui.SetViewOnBottom("msg")
-	}
-	if me.stdout.startOnscreen {
-		log.Info("attempting to locate stdout on screen for the first time")
-		me.stdout.tk.relocateStdout(me.stdout.lastW, me.stdout.lastH)
-		me.stdout.startOnscreen = false
-	}
-	setBottomBG()
-}
-
-func setBottomBG() {
-	// this attempts to find the "BG" widget and set it to the background on the very very bottom
-	rootTK := me.treeRoot.TK.(*guiWidget)
-	if tk := rootTK.findBG(); tk != nil {
-		// log.Info("found BG. setting to bottom", tk.cuiName)
-		if me.dark {
-			tk.v.BgColor = gocui.ColorBlack
-		} else {
-			tk.v.BgColor = gocui.ColorWhite
-		}
-		tk.v.Clear()
-		me.baseGui.SetViewOnBottom(tk.cuiName)
-		w, h := me.baseGui.Size()
-		me.baseGui.SetView(tk.cuiName, -1, -1, w+1, h+1, 0)
-	}
-}

init.go

@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"runtime"
 	"runtime/debug"
+	"runtime/pprof"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/awesome-gocui/gocui"
@@ -24,56 +27,130 @@ import (
 var VERSION string
 var BUILDTIME string
 
-func queueToolkitClose() {
+var PLUGIN string = "gocui"
+
+// this is called at the very initial connection
+// between the app and this gocui plugin
+// this is a good place to initialize gocui's default behavior
+func toolkitInit() {
+	log.Log(INFO, "gocui toolkitInit() me.ok =", me.ok)
+	if me.baseGui == nil {
+		log.Info("gocui baseGui is still nil")
+		standardExit()
+	}
+	if me.treeRoot == nil {
+		log.Info("gocui treeRoot is still nil")
+		standardExit()
+	}
+	// w := me.treeRoot.TK.(*guiWidget)
+	// w.dumpTree("MM")
+	// w.dumpWindows("WW")
+
+	// SETUP HELP START
+	me.baseGui.Update(testRefresh)
+	log.Log(INFO, "gocui toolkitInit() trying showHelp() me.ok =", me.ok)
+	showHelp()
+	hideHelp()
+	// SETUP HELP END
+
+	// SETUP STDOUT START
+	if me.stdout.tk == nil {
+		makeOutputWidget(me.baseGui, "from setThingsOnTop()")
+	}
+
+	// time.Sleep(300 * time.Millisecond)
+	log.Log(INFO, "gocui toolkitInit() me.ok =", me.ok)
+	me.baseGui.Update(testRefresh)
+	if !me.stdout.init {
+		log.Log(INFO, "gocui toolkitInit() stdout.Init me.ok =", me.ok)
+		me.stdout.init = true
+		relocateStdoutOffscreen()
+	}
+	// time.Sleep(1 * time.Second)
+	me.stdout.outputOnTop = false
+	setThingsOnTop()
+	// SETUP STDOUT END
+
+	// SETUP BG
+	if me.BG.tk == nil {
+		me.BG.tk = makeNewInternalWidget(me.BG.wId)
+	}
+
+	// SETUP libnotify clock and menu
+	me.notify.clock.once.Do(makeNotifyClock)
+	me.notify.icon.once.Do(makeNotifyIcon)
+
+	// TODO: for some reason, this makes the background doesn't display
+	// PUT INIT DEBUG COOE HERE
+	var toggle bool
+	for i := 0; i < 4; i++ {
+		// enable this to show early debugging
+		// w := me.treeRoot.TK.(*guiWidget)
+		// w.dumpTree("MM")
+		// w.dumpWindows("WW")
+
+		time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+		if toggle {
+			toggle = false
+			// log.Info("gocui toolkitInit() put testing true stuff here")
+		} else {
+			toggle = true
+			// log.Info("gocui toolkitInit() put testing false stuff here")
+		}
+		setBottomBG()
+	}
+	// PUT INIT DEBUG COOE HERE END
+
+	// TEST TEXTBOX START
+	// time.Sleep(1 * time.Second)
+	log.Log(INFO, "gocui toolkitInit() me.ok =", me.ok)
+	me.baseGui.Update(testRefresh)
+	if me.textbox.tk == nil {
+		log.Log(INFO, "gocui toolkitInit() initTextbox me.ok =", me.ok)
+		initTextbox()
+	}
+	// TEST TEXTBOX END
+}
+
+func toolkitClose() {
 	me.baseGui.Close()
 }
 
-func queueSetChecked(n *tree.Node, b bool) {
-	setChecked(n, b)
+// a GO GUI plugin should initTree in init()
+// this should be done before the application
+// starts trying to open up a channel
+func init() {
+	me.myTree = initTree()
+
 }
 
 // sets defaults and establishes communication
 // to this toolkit from the wit/gui golang package
-func init() {
-	log.Log(INFO, "Init() of awesome-gocui")
+func initPlugin() {
+	defer func() {
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(me.outf, "PANIC: initPlugin() recovered %v\n", r)
+			return
+		}
+	}()
 
-	// init the config struct default values
-	Set(&me, "default")
-	// todo: some early output still goes to the /tmp/ file
-	//time.Sleep(200 * time.Millisecond)
-	log.CaptureMode(me.stdout)
-
-	// initial stdout window settings
-	me.stdout.w = 180
-	me.stdout.h = 40
-	me.stdout.lastW = 4
-	me.stdout.lastH = 20
-
-	// just make up unique values for these
-	me.dropdown.wId = -77
-	me.textbox.wId = -55
-	me.stdout.wId = -4
-	me.clock.wId = -5
-
-	Set(&me.dropdown, "default")
-	s := fmt.Sprintln("fake default check =", me.FakeW, "dropdown.Id", me.dropdown.Id)
-	me.stdout.Write([]byte(s))
-
-	me.mouse.mouseUp = true
-	me.mouse.clicktime = time.Millisecond * 200
-	me.mouse.doubletime = time.Millisecond * 400
-
-	me.myTree = tree.New()
-	me.myTree.PluginName = "gocui"
-	go refreshGocui()
+	var err error
 
 	// read in defaults from config protobuf
 	if val, err := me.myTree.ConfigFind("stdout"); err == nil {
 		if val == "true" {
 			me.stdout.startOnscreen = true
-			me.stdout.Write([]byte("starting with stdout onscreen\n"))
-		} else {
-			me.stdout.Write([]byte("starting with stdout offscreen\n"))
+			// me.stdout.Write([]byte("starting with stdout onscreen\n"))
+		}
+		if val == "disable" {
+			log.Log(INFO, "gocui: attempt to COMPLETELY DISABLE STDOUT LOG")
+			me.stdout.disable = true
+		}
+	}
+	if val, err := me.myTree.ConfigFind("stdoutoffscreen"); err == nil {
+		if val == "false" {
+			// log.Log(NOW, "gocui: START ON SCREEN TRUE")
+			me.stdout.startOnscreen = true
 		}
 	}
 	if val, err := me.myTree.ConfigFind("dark"); err == nil {
@@ -86,30 +163,159 @@ func init() {
 			me.dark = true
 		}
 	}
+	// todo: make this a tmp file that goes away
+	if !me.stdout.disable {
+		tmpFile, err := os.CreateTemp("", "gocui-*.log")
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Println("Error creating temp file:", err)
+			standardExit()
+		}
+		// defer os.Remove(tmpFile.Name())
 
-	me.myTree.NodeAction = newaction
-	me.myTree.Add = newAdd
-	me.myTree.SetTitle = newSetTitle
-	me.myTree.SetLabel = newSetLabel
-	me.myTree.SetText = newSetText
-	me.myTree.AddText = newAddText
-	me.myTree.SetChecked = queueSetChecked
-	me.myTree.ToolkitClose = queueToolkitClose
+		log.Log(INFO, "stdout.disable == true. writing to", tmpFile.Name())
+		me.outf = tmpFile
+		// todo: some early output still goes to the /tmp/ file
+		//time.Sleep(200 * time.Millisecond)
+		log.CaptureMode(me.stdout)
+	}
+	me.starttime = time.Now()
+	log.Log(INFO, "Init() of awesome-gocui")
+
+	// init the config struct default values
+	Set(&me, "default")
+
+	// initial app window settings
+
+	// initial stdout window settings
+	me.stdout.w = 180
+	me.stdout.h = 40
+	me.stdout.lastW = 4
+	me.stdout.lastH = 20
+
+	if val, err := me.myTree.ConfigFind("stdoutsize"); err == nil {
+		parts := strings.Fields(val)
+		if len(parts) == 4 {
+			log.Info("initial stdout settings:", parts, "setting startOnscreen = true")
+			me.stdout.w, _ = strconv.Atoi(parts[0])
+			me.stdout.h, _ = strconv.Atoi(parts[1])
+			me.stdout.lastW, _ = strconv.Atoi(parts[2])
+			me.stdout.lastH, _ = strconv.Atoi(parts[3])
+			me.stdout.startOnscreen = true
+		} else {
+			log.Info("initial stdout settings parse error:", parts)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// just make up unique values for these
+	me.dropdown.wId = -77
+	me.textbox.wId = -55
+	me.stdout.wId = -4
+	me.BG.wId = -22
+
+	// the clock widget id and offset
+	me.notify.clock.wId = -5
+	me.notify.clock.offsetW = 13
+	me.notify.clock.offsetH = 1
+
+	me.notify.icon.wId = -6
+	me.notify.icon.offsetW = 4
+	me.notify.icon.offsetH = 1
+
+	me.notify.help.wId = -7
+	me.notify.help.offsetH = 3
+
+	Set(&me.dropdown, "default")
+	// s := fmt.Sprintln("fake default check =", me.FakeW, "dropdown.Id", me.dropdown.Id)
+	// me.stdout.Write([]byte(s))
+
+	me.mouse.mouseUp = true
+	me.mouse.clicktime = time.Millisecond * 200
+	me.mouse.doubletime = time.Millisecond * 400
 
 	me.newWindowTrigger = make(chan *guiWidget, 1)
 	go newWindowTrigger()
+	go refreshGocui()
 
 	log.Log(NOW, "Init() start pluginChan")
-	// log.Sleep(.1) // probably not needed, but in here for now under development
-	go mainGogui()
-	// log.Sleep(.1) // probably not needed, but in here for now under development
+	if me.stdout.disable {
+		log.Info("Using STDOUT")
+	} else {
+		log.Info("Using gocui STDOUT")
+		os.Stdout = me.outf
+		log.CaptureMode(me.outf)
+	}
+
+	// init gocui
+	g, err := gocui.NewGui(gocui.OutputNormal, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		os.Exit(-1)
+		return
+	}
+	me.baseGui = g
+	g.Cursor = true
+	g.Mouse = true
+
+	// this sets the function that is run on every event. For example:
+	// When you click the mouse, move the mouse, or press a key on the keyboard
+	// This is equivalent to xev or similar to cat /dev/input on linux
+	g.SetManagerFunc(gocuiEvent)
+
+	// register how the 'gocui' will work as a GO toolkit plugin
+	// all applications will use these keys. they are universal.
+	// registered event handlers still have the events sent to gocuiEvent() above
+	registerHandlers(g)
+
+	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+
+	if me.outf != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintln(me.outf, "hello world", time.Since(me.starttime))
+	}
+
+	// coreStdout()
+	// createStdout(g)
+	// tell 'tree' that we are okay to start talking to
+	me.myTree.InitOK()
+	me.ok = true // this tells init() it's okay to work with gocui
+
+	go gocuiMain()
+}
+
+// This goroutine sits in gocui's MainLoop()
+func gocuiMain() {
+	defer func() {
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			log.Warn("PANIC ecovered in gocuiMain()", r)
+			if me.outf == nil {
+				debug.PrintStack()
+				pprof.Lookup("goroutine").WriteTo(os.Stdout, 1)
+				panic(os.Stdout)
+			} else {
+				fmt.Fprintf(me.outf, "PANIC recovered in r = %v", r)
+				os.Stderr = me.outf
+				os.Stdout = me.outf
+				debug.PrintStack()
+				pprof.Lookup("goroutine").WriteTo(me.outf, 1)
+				panic(me.outf)
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+
+	// me.stdout.Write([]byte("begin gogui.MainLoop()\n"))
+	if err := me.baseGui.MainLoop(); err != nil && !errors.Is(err, gocui.ErrQuit) {
+		log.Log(NOW, "g.MainLoop() panic err =", err)
+		// normally panic here
+		panic("gocuiTKmainloop OOPS")
+	}
 }
 
 func standardExit() {
 	log.Log(NOW, "standardExit() doing baseGui.Close()")
 	me.baseGui.Close()
+	if me.outf != nil {
 		log.Log(NOW, "standardExit() doing outf.Close()")
 		me.outf.Close()
+		os.Remove(me.outf.Name())
+	}
 	// log(true, "standardExit() setOutput(os.Stdout)")
 	// setOutput(os.Stdout)
 	log.Log(NOW, "standardExit() send back Quit()")
@@ -125,6 +331,7 @@ func standardClose() {
 	me.baseGui.Close()
 	log.Log(NOW, "standardExit() doing outf.Close()")
 	me.outf.Close()
+	os.Remove(me.outf.Name())
 	// os.Stdin = os.Stdin
 	// os.Stdout = os.Stdout
 	// os.Stderr = os.Stderr
@@ -134,98 +341,6 @@ func standardClose() {
 func main() {
 }
 
-var origStdout *os.File
-var origStderr *os.File
-
-func mainGogui() {
-	defer func() {
-		if r := recover(); r != nil {
-			log.Warn("YAHOOOO Recovered in guiMain application:", r)
-			log.Warn("Recovered from panic:", r)
-			me.baseGui.Close()
-			log.CaptureMode(nil)
-			log.Warn("YAHOOOO Recovered in guiMain application:", r)
-			log.Warn("Recovered from panic:", r)
-			me.myTree.SendToolkitPanic()
-
-			return
-		}
-	}()
-
-	var err error
-
-	// todo: make this a tmp file that goes away
-	me.outf, err = os.OpenFile("/tmp/captureMode.log", os.O_RDWR|os.O_CREATE|os.O_APPEND, 0666)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Info("error opening file:", err)
-		os.Exit(0)
-	}
-	origStdout = os.Stdout
-	os.Stdout = me.outf
-	defer me.outf.Close()
-
-	log.CaptureMode(me.outf)
-
-	gocuiMain()
-}
-
-// This initializes the gocui package
-// it runs SetManagerFunc which passes every input
-// event (keyboard, mouse, etc) to the function "gocuiEvent()"
-func gocuiMain() {
-	defer func() {
-		if r := recover(); r != nil {
-			log.Warn("YAHOOOO Recovered in gocuiMain()", r)
-			log.Warn("Recovered from panic:", r)
-			me.baseGui.Close()
-
-			// allow gocui to close if possible, then print stack
-			log.Sleep(1)
-			os.Stdout = origStdout
-			os.Stderr = origStderr
-			me.myTree.SendToolkitPanic()
-			log.Warn("Stack trace:")
-			debug.PrintStack()
-			// panic("BUMMER 2")
-
-			// attempt to switch to the nocui toolkit
-			log.Sleep(1)
-			me.myTree.SendToolkitLoad("nocui")
-			log.Sleep(3)
-			me.myTree.SendToolkitLoad("nocui")
-			// panic("BUMMER")
-			return
-		}
-	}()
-	g, err := gocui.NewGui(gocui.OutputNormal, true)
-	if err != nil {
-		return
-	}
-	defer g.Close()
-
-	me.baseGui = g
-
-	g.Cursor = true
-	g.Mouse = true
-
-	// this sets the function that is run on every event. For example:
-	// When you click the mouse, move the mouse, or press a key on the keyboard
-	// This is equivalent to xev or similar to cat /dev/input on linux
-	g.SetManagerFunc(gocuiEvent)
-
-	// register how the 'gocui' will work as a GO toolkit plugin
-	// all applications will use these keys. they are universal.
-	// registered event handlers still have the events sent to gocuiEvent() above
-	registerHandlers(g)
-
-	me.stdout.Write([]byte("begin gogui.MainLoop()\n"))
-	if err := g.MainLoop(); err != nil && !errors.Is(err, gocui.ErrQuit) {
-		log.Log(NOW, "g.MainLoop() panic err =", err)
-		// normally panic here
-		panic("gocuiTKmainloop OOPS")
-	}
-}
-
 // this hack is to wait for the application to send something
 // before trying to do anything. todo: rethink this someday
 func waitOK() {
@@ -237,6 +352,17 @@ func waitOK() {
 	}
 }
 
+// this hack is to wait for the application to send something
+// before trying to do anything. todo: rethink this someday
+func waitFirstWindow() {
+	for {
+		if me.firstWindowOk {
+			return
+		}
+		time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
+	}
+}
+
 // empty function. this triggers gocui to refresh the screen
 func testRefresh(*gocui.Gui) error {
 	// log.Info("in testRefresh")
@@ -245,46 +371,66 @@ func testRefresh(*gocui.Gui) error {
 
 // refresh the screen 10 times a second
 func refreshGocui() {
+	defer func() {
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			if me.outf == nil {
+				log.Info("INIT PLUGIN recovered in r", r)
+			} else {
+				fmt.Fprintln(me.outf, "INIT PLUGIN recovered in r", r)
+			}
+			return
+		}
+	}()
 	var lastRefresh time.Time
 	lastRefresh = time.Now()
+	me.refresh = false
 	for {
 		time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
 		// log.Info("refresh checking ok")
 		if !me.ok {
 			continue
 		}
+
+		// redraw the windows if something has changed
+		if time.Since(lastRefresh) > 1000*time.Millisecond {
+			if me.refresh {
+				log.Log(NOW, "newWindowTrigger() sending refresh to channel")
+				me.newWindowTrigger <- me.treeRoot.TK.(*guiWidget)
+				me.refresh = false
+			}
+			if me.stdout.changed {
+				me.stdout.changed = false
+				lastRefresh = time.Now()
+				new1 := new(tree.ToolkitConfig)
+				new1.Plugin = "gocui"
+				new1.Name = "stdoutsize"
+				width := me.stdout.tk.gocuiSize.w1 - me.stdout.tk.gocuiSize.w0
+				height := me.stdout.tk.gocuiSize.h1 - me.stdout.tk.gocuiSize.h0
+				new1.Value = fmt.Sprintf("%d %d %d %d", width, height, me.stdout.tk.gocuiSize.w0, me.stdout.tk.gocuiSize.h0)
+				me.myTree.ConfigSave(new1)
+				// log.Log(NOW, "newWindowTrigger() gocui setting stdout size =", new1.Value)
+				// me.stdout.tk.dumpWidget("save")
+			}
+		}
+
+		// this code updates the clock
 		if time.Since(lastRefresh) > 1000*time.Millisecond {
 			// artificially pause clock while dragging.
 			// this is a reminder to make this refresh code smarter
 			// after the switch to protocol buffers
+			me.myTree.Lock()
 			if me.mouse.mouseUp {
 				// log.Info("refresh now on mouseUp")
 				// todo: add logic here to see if the application has changed anything
-				// me.baseGui.UpdateAsync(testRefresh) // probably don't need this
-				me.baseGui.Update(testRefresh)
-				if me.clock.tk != nil && !me.showHelp {
-					// also double check the gocui view exists
-					if me.clock.tk.v != nil {
-						me.clock.tk.v.Clear()
-						me.clock.tk.labelN = time.Now().Format("15:04:05")
-						me.clock.tk.v.WriteString(me.clock.tk.labelN)
-					}
-				}
+				libNotifyUpdate()
 				lastRefresh = time.Now()
 			} else {
-				me.baseGui.Update(testRefresh)
 				if time.Since(lastRefresh) > 3*time.Second {
-					if me.clock.tk != nil && !me.showHelp {
-						// also double check the gocui view exists
-						if me.clock.tk.v != nil {
-							me.clock.tk.v.Clear()
-							me.clock.tk.labelN = time.Now().Format("15:04:05")
-							me.clock.tk.v.WriteString(me.clock.tk.labelN)
-						}
-					}
+					libNotifyUpdate()
 					lastRefresh = time.Now()
 				}
 			}
+			me.myTree.Unlock()
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -292,20 +438,27 @@ func refreshGocui() {
 // set the widget start width & height
 
 func newWindowTrigger() {
-	log.Log(NOW, "newWindowTriggerl() START")
+	// log.Log(NOW, "newWindowTriggerl() START")
 	for {
 		// log.Log(NOW, "GO plugin toolkit made a new window")
 		select {
 		case tk := <-me.newWindowTrigger:
 			// log.Log(NOW, "newWindowTrigger() got new window", tk.cuiName)
-			time.Sleep(200 * time.Millisecond)
+			// time.Sleep(200 * time.Millisecond)
 			waitOK()
-			redoWindows(3, 3)
+			me.myTree.Lock()
+			// time.Sleep(200 * time.Millisecond)
+			redoWindows(me.FirstWindowW, me.FirstWindowH)
+			me.firstWindowOk = true
 			if !me.stdout.init {
 				me.stdout.init = true
 				relocateStdoutOffscreen()
 			}
+			if me.textbox.tk == nil {
+				initTextbox()
+			}
 			tk.makeWindowActive()
+			me.myTree.Unlock()
 		}
 	}
 }

libnotify.go

@@ -0,0 +1,295 @@
+// Copyright 2017-2025 WIT.COM Inc. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by the GPL 3.0
+
+// this file implements a libnotify-like menu
+// also there is SIGWINCH resizing
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/awesome-gocui/gocui"
+	log "go.wit.com/log"
+	"go.wit.com/toolkits/tree"
+	"go.wit.com/widget"
+)
+
+// create a new widget in the binary tree
+func makeNewInternalWidget(wId int) *guiWidget {
+	if me.treeRoot == nil {
+		log.Info("GOGUI Init ERROR. treeRoot == nil")
+		return nil
+	}
+	n := new(tree.Node)
+	n.WidgetType = widget.Flag
+	n.WidgetId = wId
+	n.ParentId = 0
+
+	// store the internal toolkit information
+	tk := new(guiWidget)
+	tk.frame = true
+
+	tk.node = n
+	tk.node.Parent = me.treeRoot
+
+	// set the name used by gocui to the id
+	tk.cuiName = fmt.Sprintf("%d DR", wId)
+
+	tk.setColorInput()
+
+	// add this new widget on the binary tree
+	tk.parent = me.treeRoot.TK.(*guiWidget)
+	if tk.parent == nil {
+		panic("makeNewFlagWidget() didn't get treeRoot guiWidget")
+	} else {
+		tk.parent.children = append(tk.parent.children, tk)
+	}
+
+	n.TK = tk
+	return tk
+}
+
+func makeNotifyClock() {
+	if me.treeRoot == nil {
+		log.Info("gogui makeClock() error. treeRoot == nil")
+		return
+	}
+	me.notify.clock.tk = makeNewInternalWidget(me.notify.clock.wId)
+	// me.notify.clock.tk.dumpWidget("init() clock")
+	me.notify.clock.tk.MoveToOffset(0, 0)
+	me.notify.clock.tk.labelN = time.Now().Format("15:04:05")
+	me.notify.clock.tk.frame = false
+	me.notify.clock.tk.setColorLabel()
+	me.notify.clock.tk.Show()
+	me.notify.clock.active = true
+	// me.notify.clock.tk.dumpWidget("notifyClock()")
+
+}
+
+func makeNotifyIcon() {
+	if me.treeRoot == nil {
+		log.Info("gogui makeClock() error. treeRoot == nil")
+		return
+	}
+	me.notify.icon.tk = makeNewInternalWidget(me.notify.icon.wId)
+	// me.notify.icon.tk.dumpWidget("init() menu")
+	w, _ := me.baseGui.Size()
+	me.notify.icon.tk.MoveToOffset(w-5, me.notify.icon.offsetH)
+	me.notify.icon.tk.labelN = "[ ]"
+	me.notify.icon.tk.frame = false
+	me.notify.icon.tk.setColorNotifyIcon()
+	me.notify.icon.tk.Show()
+	me.notify.icon.active = true
+	// me.notify.icon.tk.dumpWidget("notifyIcon()")
+
+}
+
+func libNotifyUpdate() {
+	if me.baseGui == nil {
+		log.Info("libNotifyUpdate error baseGui == nil")
+		return
+	}
+
+	// refresh GOCUI
+	me.baseGui.Update(testRefresh)
+	// me.baseGui.UpdateAsync(testRefresh) // Async option. probably don't need this?
+
+	if me.notify.clock.tk == nil {
+		log.Info("libNotifyUpdate error clock.tk == nil")
+		return
+	}
+
+	// check for SIGWINCH. If so, move the libnotify clock
+	w, h := me.baseGui.Size()
+	if me.winchW != w || me.winchH != h {
+		if me.winchW == 0 && me.winchH == 0 {
+			// this isn't really SIGWINCH. This is the app starting
+		} else {
+			log.Printf("gocui: long live SIGWINCH! (w,h) is now (%d,%d)\n", w, h)
+		}
+		me.winchW = w
+		me.winchH = h
+		me.notify.clock.tk.MoveToOffset(w-me.notify.clock.offsetW, me.notify.clock.offsetH)
+		me.notify.clock.tk.Hide()
+		me.notify.clock.tk.Show()
+
+		sigWinchBG()
+		sigWinchIcon()
+	}
+
+	// update the time
+	me.notify.clock.tk.v.Clear()
+	me.notify.clock.tk.labelN = time.Now().Format("15:04:05")
+	me.notify.clock.tk.v.WriteString(me.notify.clock.tk.labelN)
+	hardDrawAtgocuiSize(me.notify.clock.tk)
+	// hardDrawUnderMouse(me.notify.clock.tk, "clock")
+	// log.Info("libNotifyUpdate updated clock", me.notify.clock.tk.labelN)
+
+	if me.notify.icon.tk == nil {
+		log.Info("libNotifyUpdate error menu.tk == nil")
+		return
+	}
+	if me.notify.icon.tk.v == nil {
+		log.Info("libNotifyUpdate error menu.tk.v == nil")
+		return
+	}
+
+	// update the menu
+	hardDrawAtgocuiSize(me.notify.icon.tk)
+	me.notify.icon.tk.setColorNotifyIcon()
+	me.baseGui.SetViewOnTop(me.notify.icon.tk.v.Name())
+	me.baseGui.SetViewOnTop(me.notify.clock.tk.v.Name())
+}
+
+func setNotifyIconText(s string) {
+	me.notify.icon.tk.v.Clear()
+	me.notify.icon.tk.labelN = s
+	me.notify.icon.tk.v.WriteString(me.notify.icon.tk.labelN)
+	hardDrawAtgocuiSize(me.notify.icon.tk)
+	me.notify.icon.tk.setColorNotifyIcon()
+	me.baseGui.SetViewOnTop(me.notify.icon.tk.v.Name())
+	log.Info("setNotifyIconText() updated menu to:", me.notify.icon.tk.labelN)
+	// print out the window list // TODO: put this in libnotify
+	for _, tk := range me.allwin {
+		log.Info("known window Window", tk.labelN, tk.window.active, tk.window.order)
+	}
+	if s == "[X]" {
+		log.Warn("should turn on help window here")
+		showHelp()
+	} else {
+		log.Warn("should turn off help window here")
+		hideHelp()
+	}
+}
+
+// in the very end of redrawing things, this will place the help and stdout on the top or botton
+// depending on the state the user has chosen
+func setThingsOnTop() {
+	if me.showHelp { // terrible variable name. FIXME
+		// log.Info("help does not exist")
+	} else {
+		me.baseGui.SetViewOnTop("help")
+	}
+
+	if me.notify.clock.tk != nil {
+		me.baseGui.SetViewOnTop(me.notify.clock.tk.v.Name())
+	}
+
+	if me.notify.icon.tk != nil {
+		if me.notify.icon.tk.v != nil {
+			me.baseGui.SetViewOnTop(me.notify.icon.tk.v.Name())
+		}
+	}
+
+	if me.stdout.tk == nil {
+		makeOutputWidget(me.baseGui, "from setThingsOnTop()")
+	}
+	if me.stdout.tk == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if me.stdout.tk.v == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if me.dark {
+		me.stdout.tk.v.FgColor = gocui.ColorWhite
+		me.stdout.tk.v.BgColor = gocui.ColorBlack
+	} else {
+		me.stdout.tk.v.FgColor = gocui.ColorBlack
+		me.stdout.tk.v.BgColor = gocui.AttrNone
+	}
+
+	if me.stdout.outputOnTop {
+		me.baseGui.SetViewOnTop("msg")
+	} else {
+		me.baseGui.SetViewOnBottom("msg")
+	}
+	if me.stdout.startOnscreen {
+		// log.Info("THIS TRIGGERS STDOUT") // todo: make a proper init() & move this there
+		me.stdout.tk.relocateStdout(me.stdout.lastW, me.stdout.lastH)
+		me.stdout.startOnscreen = false
+	}
+	setBottomBG()
+}
+
+// useful for debuggging
+func hardDrawUnderMouse(tk *guiWidget, name string) {
+	if tk.v != nil {
+		tk.Hide()
+	}
+	w, h := me.baseGui.MousePosition()
+	r := new(rectType)
+	r.w0 = w
+	r.h0 = h
+	r.w1 = w + 8
+	r.h1 = h + 4
+	if err := tk.SetViewRect(r); err != nil {
+		log.Info("hardDrawUnderMouse() err", tk.cuiName, err)
+		tk.dumpWidget("hardDrawERR")
+	}
+	tk.v.Frame = false
+	tk.v.Clear()
+	tk.v.WriteString(tk.labelN + "\n" + name)
+}
+
+func hardDrawAtgocuiSize(tk *guiWidget) {
+	if tk.v != nil {
+		tk.Hide()
+	}
+	if err := tk.SetView(); err != nil {
+		log.Info("hardDrawAtgocuiSize() err ok widget", tk.cuiName)
+		tk.dumpWidget("hardDrawERR")
+	}
+	tk.v.Frame = false
+	tk.v.Clear()
+	tk.v.WriteString(tk.labelN)
+	// log.Verbose("hardDrawAtgocuiSize() err ok widget", tk.cuiName, a, b, c, d, tk.v.Name())
+}
+
+func sigWinchIcon() {
+	w, _ := me.baseGui.Size()
+	me.notify.icon.tk.MoveToOffset(w-me.notify.icon.offsetW, me.notify.icon.offsetH)
+	me.notify.icon.tk.Hide()
+	me.notify.icon.tk.Show()
+}
+
+func sigWinchBG() {
+	tk := me.BG.tk
+	w, h := me.baseGui.Size()
+	tk.gocuiSize.w0 = -1
+	tk.gocuiSize.h0 = -1
+	tk.gocuiSize.w1 = w + 1
+	tk.gocuiSize.h1 = h + 1
+	if err := tk.SetView(); err != nil {
+		tk.dumpWidget("sigWinchBGerr()")
+		log.Log(ERROR, "sigWinchBG()", err)
+	}
+	log.Log(INFO, "background resized to", tk.gocuiSize)
+}
+
+// find the "BG" widget and set it to the background on the very very bottom
+func setBottomBG() {
+	if me.BG.tk == nil {
+		log.Info("background tk widget not initialized")
+		return
+	}
+	tk := me.BG.tk
+	// log.Info("found BG. setting to bottom", tk.cuiName)
+	if tk.v == nil {
+		sigWinchBG()
+		return
+	}
+	if me.dark {
+		tk.v.BgColor = gocui.ColorBlack
+	} else {
+		tk.v.BgColor = gocui.ColorWhite
+	}
+	tk.v.Clear()
+	me.baseGui.SetViewOnBottom(tk.cuiName)
+	w, h := me.baseGui.Size()
+	tk.gocuiSize.w0 = -1
+	tk.gocuiSize.h0 = -1
+	tk.gocuiSize.w1 = w + 1
+	tk.gocuiSize.h1 = h + 1
+	tk.SetView()
+}

node.go

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+// Copyright 2017-2025 WIT.COM Inc. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by the GPL 3.0
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"go.wit.com/widget"
+)
+
+func (tk *guiWidget) WidgetType() widget.WidgetType {
+	if tk.node == nil {
+		return widget.Label
+	}
+	return tk.node.WidgetType
+}
+
+func (tk *guiWidget) WidgetId() int {
+	return tk.node.WidgetId
+}
+
+func (tk *guiWidget) GetLabel() string {
+	return tk.node.GetLabel()
+}
+
+func (tk *guiWidget) IsEnabled() bool {
+	return tk.node.IsEnabled()
+}
+
+func (tk *guiWidget) Checked() bool {
+	return tk.node.State.Checked
+}
+
+func (tk *guiWidget) Hidden() bool {
+	if tk.node == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	if tk.parent == nil {
+		return tk.node.Hidden()
+	}
+	if tk.parent.WidgetId() == 0 {
+		return tk.node.Hidden()
+	}
+	if tk.parent.Hidden() {
+		return true
+	}
+	return tk.node.Hidden()
+}
+
+func (tk *guiWidget) Direction() widget.Orientation {
+	return tk.node.State.Direction
+}
+
+func (tk *guiWidget) GridW() int {
+	return tk.node.State.AtW
+}
+
+func (tk *guiWidget) GridH() int {
+	return tk.node.State.AtH
+}
+
+func (tk *guiWidget) SetChecked(b bool) {
+	tk.node.State.Checked = b
+}

place.go

@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) Position() (int, int) {
 }
 
 func (w *guiWidget) placeBox(startW int, startH int) {
-	if w.node.WidgetType != widget.Box {
+	if w.WidgetType() != widget.Box {
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ func (w *guiWidget) placeBox(startW int, startH int) {
 		// re-get the Size (they should not have changed, but maybe they can?)
 		// TODO: figure this out or report that they did
 		sizeW, sizeH = child.Size()
-		if w.node.State.Direction == widget.Vertical {
+		if w.Direction() == widget.Vertical {
 			log.Log(INFO, "BOX IS VERTICAL  ", w.String(), "newWH()", newW, newH, "child()", sizeW, sizeH, child.String())
 			// expand based on the child height
 			newH += sizeH
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) placeWidgets(startW int, startH int) (int, int) {
 	tk.startW = startW
 	tk.startH = startH
 
-	switch tk.node.WidgetType {
+	switch tk.WidgetType() {
 	case widget.Window:
 		tk.full.w0 = startW
 		tk.full.h0 = startH
@@ -143,11 +143,17 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) placeWidgets(startW int, startH int) (int, int) {
 		// tk.dumpWidget(fmt.Sprintf("PlaceGroup(%d,%d)", maxW, newH))
 		return maxW, newH
 	case widget.Button:
-		if tk.isWindowDense() && tk.isInGrid() {
+		if tk.isDense() && tk.isInGrid() {
 			tk.frame = false
-			tk.color = nil
-			tk.defaultColor = nil
+			// tk.color = nil
+			// tk.defaultColor = nil
+			/*
+				if tk.IsEnabled() {
 					tk.setColorButtonDense()
+				} else {
+					tk.setColorDisable()
+				}
+			*/
 			// if tk.full.Height() > 0 {
 			tk.full.h1 = tk.full.h0
 			// }
@@ -161,8 +167,16 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) placeWidgets(startW int, startH int) (int, int) {
 	return 0, 0
 }
 
+func (tk *guiWidget) isDense() bool {
+	if tk.node.InTable() {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	return tk.isWindowDense()
+}
+
 func (tk *guiWidget) isWindowDense() bool {
-	if tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Window {
+	if tk.WidgetType() == widget.Window {
 		return tk.window.dense
 	}
 	if tk.parent == nil {
@@ -172,7 +186,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) isWindowDense() bool {
 }
 
 func (tk *guiWidget) isInGrid() bool {
-	if tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Grid {
+	if tk.WidgetType() == widget.Grid {
 		return true
 	}
 	if tk.parent == nil {
@@ -183,12 +197,10 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) isInGrid() bool {
 
 func (w *guiWidget) placeGrid(startW int, startH int) (int, int) {
 	// w.showWidgetPlacement("grid0:")
-	if w.node.WidgetType != widget.Grid {
+	if w.WidgetType() != widget.Grid {
 		return 0, 0
 	}
 
-	dense := w.isWindowDense()
-
 	w.full.w0 = startW
 	w.full.h0 = startH
 
@@ -197,22 +209,22 @@ func (w *guiWidget) placeGrid(startW int, startH int) (int, int) {
 		childW, childH := child.placeWidgets(child.startW, child.startH)
 
 		// set the child's realWidth, and grid offset
-		if w.widths[child.node.State.AtW] < childW {
-			w.widths[child.node.State.AtW] = childW
+		if w.widths[child.GridW()] < childW {
+			w.widths[child.GridW()] = childW
 		}
-		if w.heights[child.node.State.AtH] < childH {
-			w.heights[child.node.State.AtH] = childH
+		if w.heights[child.GridH()] < childH {
+			w.heights[child.GridH()] = childH
 		}
-		if dense {
-			if w.heights[child.node.State.AtH] > 0 {
-				w.heights[child.node.State.AtH] = 1
+		if child.isDense() {
+			if w.heights[child.GridH()] > 0 {
+				w.heights[child.GridH()] = 1
 			} else {
-				w.heights[child.node.State.AtH] = 0
+				w.heights[child.GridH()] = 0
 			}
 		}
 
 		// child.showWidgetPlacement("grid: ")
-		log.Log(INFO, "placeGrid:", child.String(), "child()", childW, childH, "At()", child.node.State.AtW, child.node.State.AtH)
+		log.Log(INFO, "placeGrid:", child.String(), "child()", childW, childH, "At()", child.GridW(), child.GridH())
 	}
 
 	var maxW int = 0
@@ -224,12 +236,12 @@ func (w *guiWidget) placeGrid(startW int, startH int) (int, int) {
 
 		var totalW, totalH int
 		for i, w := range w.widths {
-			if i < child.node.State.AtW {
+			if i < child.GridW() {
 				totalW += w
 			}
 		}
 		for i, h := range w.heights {
-			if i < child.node.State.AtH {
+			if i < child.GridH() {
 				totalH += h
 			}
 		}
@@ -245,7 +257,7 @@ func (w *guiWidget) placeGrid(startW int, startH int) (int, int) {
 			maxH = totalH
 		}
 
-		log.Log(INFO, "placeGrid:", child.String(), "new()", newW, newH, "At()", child.node.State.AtW, child.node.State.AtH)
+		log.Log(INFO, "placeGrid:", child.String(), "new()", newW, newH, "At()", child.GridW(), child.GridH())
 		child.placeWidgets(newW, newH)
 		// child.showWidgetPlacement("grid2:")
 	}
@@ -314,8 +326,8 @@ func textSize(n *tree.Node) (int, int) {
 */
 
 func (tk *guiWidget) gocuiSetWH(sizeW, sizeH int) {
-	w := len(tk.node.GetLabel())
-	lines := strings.Split(tk.node.GetLabel(), "\n")
+	w := len(tk.GetLabel())
+	lines := strings.Split(tk.GetLabel(), "\n")
 	h := len(lines)
 
 	if tk.Hidden() {

plugin.go

@@ -4,9 +4,7 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	// if you include more than just this import
-	// then your plugin might be doing something un-ideal (just a guess from 2023/02/27)
-
+	"github.com/awesome-gocui/gocui"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 	"go.wit.com/toolkits/tree"
 	"go.wit.com/widget"
@@ -18,7 +16,7 @@ func newAdd(n *tree.Node) {
 		return
 	}
 	if n.TK != nil {
-		log.Warn("Tree Add() sent a widget we aleady seem to have")
+		log.Log(INFO, "Tree Add() sent a widget we aleady seem to have")
 		// this is done to protect the plugin being 'refreshed' with the
 		// widget binary tree. TODO: find a way to keep them in sync
 		return
@@ -38,21 +36,24 @@ func newAdd(n *tree.Node) {
 	*/
 	w := n.TK.(*guiWidget)
 	w.Show()
+	me.refresh = true // testing code to see if refresh can work
 }
 
 // for gocui as a GUI plugin, SetTitle & SetLabel are identical to SetText
-func newSetTitle(n *tree.Node, s string) {
-	newSetText(n, s)
+func setTitle(n *tree.Node, s string) {
+	setText(n, s)
+	me.refresh = true // testing code to see if refresh can work
 }
 
-func newSetLabel(n *tree.Node, s string) {
-	newSetText(n, s)
+func setLabel(n *tree.Node, s string) {
+	setText(n, s)
+	me.refresh = true // testing code to see if refresh can work
 }
 
-// newSetText() and newAddText() are simple. They take the event sent
+// setText() and addText() are simple. They take the event sent
 // to the GO plugin from the application and lookup the plugin structure
 // then pass that event to gocui. This is the transfer point
-func newSetText(n *tree.Node, s string) {
+func setText(n *tree.Node, s string) {
 	if n == nil {
 		log.Warn("Tree Error: Add() sent n == nil")
 		return
@@ -63,9 +64,10 @@ func newSetText(n *tree.Node, s string) {
 	}
 	w := n.TK.(*guiWidget)
 	w.SetText(s)
+	me.refresh = true // testing code to see if refresh can work
 }
 
-func newAddText(n *tree.Node, s string) {
+func addText(n *tree.Node, s string) {
 	if n == nil {
 		log.Warn("Tree Error: Add() sent n == nil")
 		return
@@ -76,66 +78,7 @@ func newAddText(n *tree.Node, s string) {
 	}
 	w := n.TK.(*guiWidget)
 	w.AddText(s)
-}
-
-func newaction(n *tree.Node, atype widget.ActionType) {
-	log.Log(INFO, "newaction() START", atype)
-	if !me.ok {
-		log.Log(INFO, "newaction() START NOT OKAY", atype)
-		log.Log(INFO, "newaction() START NOT OKAY", atype)
-		log.Log(INFO, "newaction() START NOT OKAY", atype)
-		waitOK()
-	}
-	if n == nil {
-		log.Warn("Tree Error: Add() sent n == nil")
-		return
-	}
-	if n.TK == nil {
-		log.Warn("Tree sent an action on a widget we didn't seem to have.")
-		// do this init here again? Probably something
-		// went wrong and we should reset the our while gocui.View tree
-		n.TK = initWidget(n)
-	}
-	w := n.TK.(*guiWidget)
-	switch atype {
-	case widget.Show:
-		if me.debug {
-			w.dumpWidget("Show()")
-		}
-		w.node.State.Hidden = false
-		w.Show()
-	case widget.Hide:
-		if me.debug {
-			w.dumpWidget("Hide()")
-		}
-		if n.Hidden() {
-			// already hidden
-		} else {
-			// log.Log(NOW, "attempt to hide() =", atype, n.WidgetId, n.WidgetType, n.ProgName())
-			w.node.State.Hidden = true
-			w.Hide()
-		}
-	case widget.Move:
-		log.Log(NOW, "attempt to move() =", atype, n.WidgetType, n.ProgName())
-	case widget.ToolkitClose:
-		log.Log(NOW, "attempting to close the plugin and release stdout and stderr")
-		standardClose()
-	case widget.Enable:
-		w.Enable()
-	case widget.Disable:
-		w.Disable()
-	case widget.Delete:
-		if w == nil {
-			return
-		} else {
-			w.hideWidgets()
-			w.deleteNode()
-		}
-		n.DeleteNode()
-	default:
-		log.Log(ERROR, "newaction() UNHANDLED Action Type =", atype, "WidgetType =", n.WidgetType, "Name =", n.ProgName())
-	}
-	log.Log(INFO, "newaction() END", atype, n.String())
+	me.refresh = true // testing code to see if refresh can work
 }
 
 func (w *guiWidget) deleteGocuiViews() {
@@ -173,7 +116,7 @@ func (w *guiWidget) AddText(text string) {
 	}
 	w.vals = append(w.vals, text)
 	for i, s := range w.vals {
-		log.Log(NOW, "AddText()", w.String(), i, s)
+		log.Log(INFO, "AddText()", w.String(), i, s)
 	}
 	w.SetText(text)
 }
@@ -213,25 +156,69 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) GetText() string {
 		// return gocui.view name?
 		return tk.cuiName
 	}
-	if tk.node.State.Label != "" {
-		return tk.node.State.Label
+	if tk.GetLabel() != "" {
+		return tk.GetLabel()
 	}
 	return ""
 }
 
+// hack. use "textbox widget" to "disable" user events
+func hideDisable() {
+	if me.textbox.tk == nil {
+		initTextbox()
+	}
+
+	me.textbox.tk.Hide()
+	me.textbox.tk.enable = false
+	me.textbox.tk.node.State.Enable = false
+	me.textbox.active = false
+	me.baseGui.SetCurrentView("help")
+	// me.baseGui.DeleteView(me.textbox.tk.cuiName)
+	// me.baseGui.DeleteView(me.textbox.tk.v.Name())
+}
+
+// hack. use "textbox widget" to "disable" user events
+func showDisable() {
+	if me.textbox.tk == nil {
+		initTextbox()
+		me.textbox.tk.prepTextbox()
+	}
+	r := new(rectType)
+	r.w0 = 2
+	r.h0 = 1
+	r.w1 = r.w0 + 24
+	r.h1 = r.h0 + 2
+	me.textbox.tk.forceSizes(r)
+	me.textbox.tk.Show() // actually makes the gocui view. TODO: redo this
+	// log.Info("textbox should be shown")
+	// showTextbox("Running...")
+	// me.textbox.tk.dumpWidget("shown?")
+
+	me.textbox.tk.setColorModal()
+	me.textbox.tk.v.Clear()
+	me.textbox.tk.v.WriteString("Running...")
+
+	me.textbox.tk.v.Editable = true
+	me.textbox.tk.v.Wrap = true
+
+	me.textbox.tk.SetViewRect(r)
+	me.baseGui.SetCurrentView(me.textbox.tk.v.Name())
+
+	// bind the enter key to a function so we can close the textbox
+	me.baseGui.SetKeybinding(me.textbox.tk.v.Name(), gocui.KeyEnter, gocui.ModNone, theCloseTheTextbox)
+
+	me.textbox.active = true
+}
+
 func (tk *guiWidget) Disable() {
 	if tk == nil {
 		log.Log(NOW, "widget is nil")
 		return
 	}
-	tk.enable = false
-	tk.node.State.Enable = false
-	// log.Info("disable widget in gocui", tk.node.WidgetType, tk.node.ProgName())
-	switch tk.node.WidgetType {
+
+	switch tk.WidgetType() {
 	case widget.Box:
-		tk.labelN = "Running..."
-		// log.Info("todo: blank out the window here", tk.String())
-		tk.showTextbox()
+		showDisable()
 		return
 	case widget.Button:
 		tk.setColorDisable()
@@ -246,15 +233,10 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) Enable() {
 		log.Log(NOW, "widget is nil")
 		return
 	}
-	tk.enable = true
-	tk.node.State.Enable = true
-	// log.Info("enable widget in gocui", tk.node.WidgetType, tk.node.ProgName())
-	switch tk.node.WidgetType {
+
+	switch tk.WidgetType() {
 	case widget.Box:
-		// log.Info("todo: un blank the window here")
-		me.textbox.tk.Hide()
-		me.textbox.active = false
-		// log.Info("escaped from textbox")
+		hideDisable()
 		return
 	case widget.Button:
 		tk.restoreEnableColor()

size.go

@@ -9,19 +9,6 @@ import (
 	"go.wit.com/widget"
 )
 
-func (tk *guiWidget) Hidden() bool {
-	if tk.parent == nil {
-		return tk.node.Hidden()
-	}
-	if tk.parent.node.WidgetId == 0 {
-		return tk.node.Hidden()
-	}
-	if tk.parent.Hidden() {
-		return true
-	}
-	return tk.node.Hidden()
-}
-
 func (tk *guiWidget) Size() (int, int) {
 	if tk == nil {
 		return 0, 0
@@ -35,7 +22,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) Size() (int, int) {
 		return 0, 0
 	}
 
-	switch tk.node.WidgetType {
+	switch tk.WidgetType() {
 	case widget.Window:
 		var maxH int = 0
 		var maxW int = 0
@@ -80,7 +67,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) Size() (int, int) {
 	case widget.Checkbox:
 		return len(tk.String()) + 2, 3 // TODO: compute this based on 'window dense'
 	case widget.Button:
-		if tk.isWindowDense() {
+		if tk.isDense() {
 			return len(tk.String()) + 2, 0
 		}
 		return len(tk.String()) + 2, 3 // TODO: compute this based on 'window dense'
@@ -104,11 +91,11 @@ func (w *guiWidget) sizeGrid() (int, int) {
 		sizeW, sizeH := child.Size()
 
 		// set the child's realWidth, and grid offset
-		if w.widths[child.node.State.AtW] < sizeW {
-			w.widths[child.node.State.AtW] = sizeW
+		if w.widths[child.GridW()] < sizeW {
+			w.widths[child.GridW()] = sizeW
 		}
-		if w.heights[child.node.State.AtH] < sizeH {
-			w.heights[child.node.State.AtH] = sizeH
+		if w.heights[child.GridH()] < sizeH {
+			w.heights[child.GridH()] = sizeH
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -125,7 +112,7 @@ func (w *guiWidget) sizeGrid() (int, int) {
 }
 
 func (w *guiWidget) sizeBox() (int, int) {
-	if w.node.WidgetType != widget.Box {
+	if w.WidgetType() != widget.Box {
 		return 0, 0
 	}
 	if w.Hidden() {
@@ -139,7 +126,7 @@ func (w *guiWidget) sizeBox() (int, int) {
 			continue
 		}
 		sizeW, sizeH := child.Size()
-		if child.node.State.Direction == widget.Vertical {
+		if child.Direction() == widget.Vertical {
 			maxW += sizeW
 			if sizeH > maxH {
 				maxH = sizeH
@@ -254,10 +241,10 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) setFullSize() bool {
 		tk.full.h1 = r.h1
 		changed = true
 	}
-	if tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Button {
+	if tk.WidgetType() == widget.Button {
 		tk.full.h1 = tk.full.h0 + 1
 	}
-	if tk.isWindowDense() && tk.isInGrid() {
+	if tk.isDense() && tk.isInGrid() {
 		tk.full.h1 = tk.full.h0
 	}
 	if changed {
@@ -322,7 +309,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) buttonFullSize() rectType {
 	tk.full.h1 = r.h1
 
 	// total hack. fix this somewhere eventually correctly
-	if tk.isWindowDense() { // total hack. fix this somewhere eventually correctly
+	if tk.isDense() { // total hack. fix this somewhere eventually correctly
 		tk.full.h0 += 1         // total hack. fix this somewhere eventually correctly
 		tk.full.h1 = tk.full.h0 // total hack. fix this somewhere eventually correctly
 	}
@@ -350,13 +337,13 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) getFullSize() rectType {
 		return r
 	}
 
-	if tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Grid {
+	if tk.WidgetType() == widget.Grid {
 		return tk.gridFullSize()
 	}
 
 	// these are 'simple' widgets
 	// the full size is exactly what gocui uses
-	switch tk.node.WidgetType {
+	switch tk.WidgetType() {
 	case widget.Label:
 		r := tk.buttonFullSize()
 		r.w1 += 5
@@ -368,7 +355,9 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) getFullSize() rectType {
 	case widget.Checkbox:
 		return tk.buttonFullSize()
 	case widget.Dropdown:
-		return tk.buttonFullSize()
+		r := tk.buttonFullSize()
+		r.w1 += 7 // TODO: fix this to be real
+		return r
 	default:
 	}
 

stdoutShow.go

@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"slices"
 	"strings"
@@ -18,21 +17,24 @@ import (
 func createStdout(g *gocui.Gui) bool {
 	if me.stdout.tk == nil {
 		makeOutputWidget(g, "this is a create before a mouse click")
-		msg := fmt.Sprintf("test out gocuiEvent() %d\n", me.ecount)
 		// me.logStdout.v.Write([]byte(msg))
+
+		// this will show very early debugging output
+		// keep this code commented out but do not remove it. when it doubt, this will be the Light of Elendil
+		// NEVER REMOVE THIS CODE
+
+		msg := fmt.Sprintf("test out gocuiEvent() %d\n", me.ecount)
 		me.stdout.tk.Write([]byte(msg))
+
 		log.Log(NOW, "logStdout test out")
 	}
 	return true
 }
 
-func makeOutputWidget(g *gocui.Gui, stringFromMouseClick string) *gocui.View {
-	if me.treeRoot == nil {
-		// keep skipping this until the binary tree is initialized
-		return nil
+func coreStdout() {
+	if me.stdout.tk != nil {
+		return
 	}
-
-	if me.stdout.tk == nil {
 	a := new(widget.Action)
 	a.ProgName = "2stdout2"
 	a.WidgetType = widget.Stdout
@@ -43,38 +45,37 @@ func makeOutputWidget(g *gocui.Gui, stringFromMouseClick string) *gocui.View {
 	me.stdout.tk = initWidget(n)
 
 	tk := me.stdout.tk
+	tk.cuiName = "msg"
 	tk.gocuiSize.w0 = me.stdout.lastW
 	tk.gocuiSize.h0 = me.stdout.lastH
 	tk.gocuiSize.w1 = tk.gocuiSize.w0 + me.stdout.w
 	tk.gocuiSize.h1 = tk.gocuiSize.h0 + me.stdout.h
+}
 
+func makeOutputWidget(g *gocui.Gui, stringFromMouseClick string) *gocui.View {
+	if me.treeRoot == nil {
+		// keep skipping this until the binary tree is initialized
+		return nil
 	}
 
+	coreStdout()
+
+	if me.stdout.tk == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	me.stdout.tk.cuiName = "msg"
+	me.stdout.tk.SetView()
+
 	v, err := g.View("msg")
 	if v == nil {
-		log.Log(NOW, "makeoutputwindow() this is supposed to happen. v == nil", err)
+		// log.Log(NOW, "makeoutputwindow() this is supposed to happen. v == nil", err)
 	} else {
 		log.Log(NOW, "makeoutputwindow() msg != nil. WTF now? err =", err)
+		return v
 	}
 
-	rect := me.stdout.tk.gocuiSize
-	v, err = g.SetView("msg", rect.w0, rect.h0, rect.w1, rect.h1, 0)
-
-	if errors.Is(err, gocui.ErrUnknownView) {
-		log.Log(NOW, "makeoutputwindow() this is supposed to happen?", err)
-	}
-
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Log(NOW, "makeoutputwindow() create output window failed", err)
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	if v == nil {
-		log.Log(NOW, "makeoutputwindow() msg == nil. WTF now? err =", err)
-		return nil
-	} else {
-		me.stdout.tk.v = v
-	}
+	v = me.stdout.tk.v
 
 	v.Clear()
 	v.SelBgColor = gocui.ColorCyan
@@ -83,16 +84,8 @@ func makeOutputWidget(g *gocui.Gui, stringFromMouseClick string) *gocui.View {
 	// g.SetViewOnBottom("msg")
 	// setBottomBG()
 
-	me.stdout.tk.v = v
 	me.stdout.tk.DrawAt(me.stdout.lastW, me.stdout.lastH)
 	relocateStdoutOffscreen()
-	/*
-		if me.stdout.outputOffscreen {
-			me.stdout.tk.relocateStdout(me.stdout.lastW, me.stdout.lastH)
-		} else {
-			relocateStdoutOffscreen()
-		}
-	*/
 	return v
 }
 
@@ -100,14 +93,32 @@ func relocateStdoutOffscreen() {
 	if me.stdout.tk == nil {
 		return
 	}
+	if !me.stdout.disable {
+		log.Info("Using gocui STDOUT")
 		log.CaptureMode(me.stdout.tk)
-	// log.Log(ERROR, "setting log.CaptureMode(tk.v) in relocateStdoutOffscreen()")
+	}
 	newW := 10
 	newH := 0 - me.stdout.h - 4
 	me.stdout.tk.relocateStdout(newW, newH)
 }
 
 func (tk *guiWidget) relocateStdout(w int, h int) {
+	if me.stdout.w < 8 {
+		me.stdout.w = 8
+	}
+
+	if me.stdout.h < 4 {
+		me.stdout.h = 4
+	}
+
+	if w+me.stdout.w < 2 {
+		w = 2
+	}
+
+	if h+me.stdout.h < 2 {
+		h = 2
+	}
+
 	w0 := w
 	h0 := h
 	w1 := w + me.stdout.w
@@ -123,8 +134,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) relocateStdout(w int, h int) {
 	tk.full.h0 = h0
 	tk.full.h1 = h1
 
-	me.baseGui.SetView("msg", w0, h0, w1, h1, 0)
-	// me.baseGui.SetViewOnBottom("msg")
+	tk.SetView()
 }
 
 // from the gocui devs:
@@ -146,16 +156,27 @@ func (w stdout) Write(p []byte) (n int, err error) {
 
 	lines := strings.Split(strings.TrimSpace(string(p)), "\n")
 	me.stdout.outputS = append(me.stdout.outputS, lines...)
+	if me.outf != nil {
+		fmt.Fprint(me.outf, string(p))
+	}
 
 	return len(p), nil
 }
 
 func (w *guiWidget) Write(p []byte) (n int, err error) {
+	lines := strings.Split(strings.TrimSpace(string(p)), "\n")
+	if me.outf != nil {
+		fmt.Fprint(me.outf, string(p))
+	}
+
+	if w == nil {
+		me.stdout.outputS = append(me.stdout.outputS, lines...)
+		return len(p), nil
+	}
 	w.tainted = true
 	me.writeMutex.Lock()
 	defer me.writeMutex.Unlock()
 
-	lines := strings.Split(strings.TrimSpace(string(p)), "\n")
 	me.stdout.outputS = append(me.stdout.outputS, lines...)
 
 	tk := me.stdout.tk
@@ -166,7 +187,6 @@ func (w *guiWidget) Write(p []byte) (n int, err error) {
 		// redo this old code
 		v, _ := me.baseGui.View("msg")
 		if v != nil {
-			// fmt.Fprintln(outf, "found msg")
 			tk.v = v
 		}
 		return len(p), nil
@@ -191,7 +211,9 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) refreshStdout() {
 	// chop off the last lines in the buffer
 	chop := len(me.stdout.outputS) - (me.stdout.pager + me.stdout.h)
 	cur = append(cur, me.stdout.outputS[chop:chop+me.stdout.h]...)
+	if me.stdout.reverse {
 		slices.Reverse(cur)
+	}
 	tk.v.Clear()
 	fmt.Fprintln(tk.v, strings.Join(cur, "\n"))
 }

structs.go

@@ -18,10 +18,14 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/awesome-gocui/gocui"
 
+	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/guipb"
 	log "go.wit.com/log"
 	"go.wit.com/toolkits/tree"
+	"go.wit.com/widget"
 )
 
+var initOnce sync.Once // run initPlugin() only once
+
 // It's probably a terrible idea to call this 'me'
 // 2025 note: doesn't seem terrible to call this 'me' anymore. notsure.
 var me config
@@ -35,9 +39,13 @@ type config struct {
 	myTree           *tree.TreeInfo  // ?
 	currentWindow    *guiWidget      // this is the current tab or window to show
 	ok               bool            // if the user doesn't hit a key or move the mouse, gocui doesn't really start
+	firstWindowOk    bool            // allows the init to wait for the first window from the application
+	refresh          bool            // redraw everything?
 	ctrlDown         *tree.Node      // shown if you click the mouse when the ctrl key is pressed
 	helpLabel        *gocui.View     // ?
 	showHelp         bool            // toggle boolean for the help menu (deprecate?)
+	FirstWindowW     int             `default:"2"`           // how far over to start window #1
+	FirstWindowH     int             `default:"0"`           // how far down to start window #1
 	FramePadW        int             `default:"1" dense:"0"` // When the widget has a frame, like a button, it adds 2 lines runes on each side
 	FramePadH        int             `default:"1" dense:"0"` // When the widget has a frame, like a button, it adds 2 lines runes on each side
 	PadW             int             `default:"1" dense:"0"` // pad spacing
@@ -69,14 +77,17 @@ type config struct {
 	stdout           stdout          // information for the STDOUT window
 	dropdown         dropdown        // the dropdown menu
 	textbox          dropdown        // the textbox popup window
-	clock            dropdown        // the textbox popup window
+	BG               dropdown        // the background widget
+	notify           libnotify       // emulates the desktop libnotify menu
 	allwin           []*guiWidget    // for tracking which window is next
 	dark             bool            // use a 'dark' color palette
 	mouse            mouse           // mouse settings
 	showDebug        bool            // todo: move this into config struct
 	debug            bool            // todo: move this into config struct
+	starttime        time.Time       // checks how long it takes on startup
+	winchW           int             // used to detect SIGWINCH
+	winchH           int             // used to detect SIGWINCH
 	outf             *os.File        // hacks for capturing stdout
-
 }
 
 // stuff controlling how the mouse works
@@ -102,13 +113,14 @@ type stdout struct {
 	outputOnTop     bool       // is the STDOUT window on top?
 	outputOffscreen bool       // is the STDOUT window offscreen?
 	startOnscreen   bool       // start the output window onscreen?
+	disable         bool       // disable the stdout window. do not change os.Stdout & os.Stderr
 	lastW           int        // the last 'w' location (used to move from offscreen to onscreen)
 	lastH           int        // the last 'h' location (used to move from offscreen to onscreen)
-	// mouseOffsetW    int        // the current 'w' offset
-	// mouseOffsetH    int        // the current 'h' offset
 	init            bool       // moves the window offscreen on startup
 	outputS         []string   // the buffer of all the output
 	pager           int        // allows the user to page through the buffer
+	changed         bool       // indicates the user has changed stdout. gocui should remember the state here
+	reverse         bool       // flip the STDOUT upside down so new STDOUT lines are at the top
 }
 
 // settings for the dropdown window
@@ -120,10 +132,29 @@ type dropdown struct {
 	h        int        // the height
 	active   bool       // is the dropdown menu currently in use?
 	init     bool       // moves the window offscreen on startup
-	Id       int        `default:"-78"` // the widget id to use
+	// Id       int        `default:"-78"` // the widget id to use
 	wId int `default:"-78"` // the widget id to use
 }
 
+// settings for the dropdown window
+type internalTK struct {
+	once     sync.Once  // for init
+	tk       *guiWidget // where to show STDOUT
+	callerTK *guiWidget // which widget called the dropdown menu
+	wId      int        // the widget id to use
+	active   bool       // is the internal widget currently in use?
+	offsetW  int        // width offset
+	offsetH  int        // height offset
+}
+
+// the desktop libnotify menu
+type libnotify struct {
+	clock  internalTK // widget for the clock
+	icon   internalTK // libnotify menu icon
+	window internalTK // the libnotify menu
+	help   internalTK // the help menu
+}
+
 // this is the gocui way
 // corner starts at in the upper left corner
 type rectType struct {
@@ -159,7 +190,6 @@ type window struct {
 	currentTab  bool       // the visible tab
 	selectedTab *tree.Node // for a window, this is currently selected tab
 	active      bool       // means this window is the active one
-	isBG        bool       // means this is the background widget. There is only one of these
 	order       int        // what level the window is on
 	// resize      bool       // only set the title once
 	collapsed bool // only show the window title bar
@@ -183,6 +213,8 @@ type guiWidget struct {
 	parent       *guiWidget        // mirrors the binary node tree
 	children     []*guiWidget      // mirrors the binary node tree
 	node         *tree.Node        // the pointer back to the tree
+	pb           *guipb.Widget     // the guipb Widget
+	wtype        widget.WidgetType // used for Tables for now. todo: fix this correctly
 	windowFrame  *guiWidget        // this is the frame for a window widget
 	internal     bool              // indicates the widget is internal to gocui and should be treated differently
 	hasTabs      bool              // does the window have tabs?
@@ -209,7 +241,7 @@ type guiWidget struct {
 	color        *colorT           // what color to use
 	colorLast    colorT            // the last color the widget had
 	defaultColor *colorT           // the default colors // TODO: make a function for this instead
-	isBG         bool         // means this is the background widget. There is only one of these
+	isTable      bool              // is this a table?
 }
 
 // THIS IS GO COMPILER MAGIC
@@ -234,12 +266,11 @@ func Set(ptr interface{}, tag string) error {
 }
 
 func setField(field reflect.Value, defaultVal string, name string) error {
-
 	if !field.CanSet() {
 		// log("setField() Can't set value", field, defaultVal)
 		return fmt.Errorf("Can't set value\n")
 	} else {
-		log.Log(NOW, "setField() Can set value", name, defaultVal)
+		// log.Log(NOW, "setField() Can set value", name, defaultVal)
 	}
 
 	switch field.Kind() {

table.go

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+// Copyright 2017-2025 WIT.COM Inc. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by the GPL 3.0
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"slices"
+
+	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/guipb"
+	"go.wit.com/log"
+	"go.wit.com/toolkits/tree"
+	"go.wit.com/widget"
+)
+
+func initGridPB(pb *guipb.Widget) *guiWidget {
+	var w *guiWidget
+	w = new(guiWidget)
+
+	w.pb = pb
+	w.wtype = widget.Grid
+	w.cuiName = fmt.Sprintf("%d %s", pb.Id, "TK")
+	w.labelN = pb.Name
+	w.isTable = true
+	return w
+}
+
+func showTable(t *guipb.Table) {
+	log.Info("gocui: should show table here")
+	if t == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	log.Info("gocui: table.Title", t.Title)
+	// log.Info("gocui: need to add window here id =", t.Window.Id, t.Window.Name)
+	if t.Grid == nil {
+		log.Info("gocui: missing grid widget. tree plugin error")
+		return
+	}
+	root := me.treeRoot.TK.(*guiWidget)
+	parent := root.findWidgetById(int(t.Parent.Id))
+	if parent == nil {
+		log.Info("gocui: show table error. parent.Id not found", t.Parent.Id)
+		return
+	}
+
+	log.Info("gocui: need to add grid here id =", t.Grid.Id)
+	grid := initGridPB(t.Grid)
+	grid.parent = parent
+}
+
+func enableWidget(n *tree.Node) {
+	tk := n.TK.(*guiWidget)
+	tk.Enable()
+}
+
+func disableWidget(n *tree.Node) {
+	tk := n.TK.(*guiWidget)
+	tk.Disable()
+}
+
+func showWidget(n *tree.Node) {
+	tk := n.TK.(*guiWidget)
+	tk.Show()
+}
+
+func hideWidget(n *tree.Node) {
+	tk := n.TK.(*guiWidget)
+	if n.WidgetType == widget.Window {
+		tk.windowFrame.Hide()
+		tk.hideWidgets()
+	}
+	tk.Hide()
+	tk.deleteWidget()
+}
+
+func (tk *guiWidget) deleteWidget() {
+	log.Log(INFO, "gocui deleteWidget() looking for child to delete:", tk.cuiName)
+	p := tk.parent
+	for i, child := range p.children {
+		if tk == child {
+			log.Log(INFO, "deleteWidget() found parent with child to delete:", i, child.cuiName, child.WidgetId())
+			p.children = slices.Delete(p.children, i, i+1)
+		}
+	}
+	tk.deleteTree()
+}
+
+func (tk *guiWidget) deleteTree() {
+	for _, child := range tk.children {
+		child.deleteTree()
+	}
+	tk.Hide()
+}

textbox.go

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/awesome-gocui/gocui"
 	log "go.wit.com/log"
@@ -29,18 +30,21 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) forceSizes(r *rectType) {
 	tk.force.h1 = r.h1
 }
 
-func (callertk *guiWidget) showTextbox() {
+func initTextbox() {
 	if me.textbox.tk == nil {
 		// should only happen once
 		me.textbox.tk = makeNewFlagWidget(me.textbox.wId)
 		// me.textbox.tk.dumpWidget("init() textbox")
 	}
+}
+
+func (callertk *guiWidget) prepTextbox() {
+	initTextbox()
 	if me.textbox.tk == nil {
-		log.Log(GOCUI, "showTextbox() Is Broken")
+		log.Log(WARN, "prepTextbox() Is Broken")
 		return
 	}
 
-	// tk := me.textbox.tk
 	r := new(rectType)
 	// startW, startH := tk.Position()
 	r.w0 = callertk.gocuiSize.w0 + 4
@@ -48,34 +52,58 @@ func (callertk *guiWidget) showTextbox() {
 	r.w1 = r.w0 + 24
 	r.h1 = r.h0 + 2
 	me.textbox.tk.forceSizes(r)
-	// me.textbox.tk.dumpWidget("after sizes")
+	me.textbox.tk.dumpWidget("after sizes")
 
-	me.textbox.tk.Show() // actually makes the gocui view. TODO: redo this
+	me.textbox.callerTK = callertk
+
+	if me.textbox.tk.v != nil {
+		log.Log(WARN, "WARNING textbox DeleteView()")
+		log.Log(WARN, "WARNING textbox DeleteView()")
+		log.Log(WARN, "WARNING textbox DeleteView()")
+		me.baseGui.DeleteView(me.textbox.tk.cuiName)
+		time.Sleep(time.Second)
+	}
+
+	if err := me.textbox.tk.SetViewRect(r); err != nil {
+		log.Log(WARN, "textbox SetViewRect() failed", err, "view name =", me.textbox.tk.cuiName)
+		return
+	}
+	// me.textbox.tk.Show() // actually makes the gocui view. TODO: redo this?
+	showTextbox(callertk.String())
+}
+
+func showTextbox(callers string) {
+	// tk := me.textbox.tk
+	// me.textbox.tk.dumpWidget("after sizes")
+	log.Log(WARN, "showTextbox() caller string =", callers)
+
+	//	me.textbox.tk.Show() // actually makes the gocui view. TODO: redo this
 
 	if me.textbox.tk.v == nil {
-		log.Info("wtf went wrong")
+		log.Log(WARN, "textbox.tk.v == nil showTextbox() is broken")
 		return
 	}
 
 	me.textbox.tk.setColorModal()
 	me.textbox.tk.v.Clear()
-	cur := strings.TrimSpace(callertk.String())
+	cur := strings.TrimSpace(callers)
 	// log.Info("setting textbox string to:", cur)
 	me.textbox.tk.v.WriteString(cur)
 
 	me.textbox.tk.v.Editable = true
 	me.textbox.tk.v.Wrap = true
 
-	me.baseGui.SetView(me.textbox.tk.cuiName, r.w0, r.h0, r.w1, r.h1, 0)
+	me.textbox.tk.SetView()
+
 	me.baseGui.SetCurrentView(me.textbox.tk.v.Name())
 
 	// bind the enter key to a function so we can close the textbox
 	me.baseGui.SetKeybinding(me.textbox.tk.v.Name(), gocui.KeyEnter, gocui.ModNone, theCloseTheTextbox)
 
 	me.textbox.active = true
-	me.textbox.callerTK = callertk
 
-	// tk.dumpWidget("showTextbox()")
+	me.baseGui.SetViewOnTop(me.textbox.tk.v.Name())
+	me.textbox.tk.dumpWidget("showTextbox()")
 }
 
 func theCloseTheTextbox(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
@@ -97,7 +125,7 @@ func textboxClosed() {
 	me.textbox.tk.Hide()
 	// log.Info("textbox closed with text:", newtext, me.textbox.callerTK.cuiName)
 
-	if me.clock.tk.v != nil {
+	if me.notify.clock.tk.v != nil {
 		me.baseGui.SetCurrentView("help")
 	} else {
 		me.baseGui.SetCurrentView("msg")

treeCallback.go

@@ -1,32 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2017-2025 WIT.COM Inc. All rights reserved.
-// Use of this source code is governed by the GPL 3.0
-
-package main
-
-/*
-	This is reference code for toolkit developers
-
-	This is how information is passed in GO back to the application
-	via the GO 'plugin' concept
-
-	TODO: switch this to protocol buffers
-*/
-
-import (
-	"go.wit.com/widget"
-)
-
-// Other goroutines must use this to access the GUI
-//
-// You can not acess / process the GUI thread directly from
-// other goroutines. This is due to the nature of how
-// Linux, MacOS and Windows work (they all work differently. suprise. surprise.)
-//
-// this sets the channel to send user events back from the plugin
-func Callback(guiCallback chan widget.Action) {
-	me.myTree.Callback(guiCallback)
-}
-
-func PluginChannel() chan widget.Action {
-	return me.myTree.PluginChannel()
-}

treeInit.go

@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+// Copyright 2017-2025 WIT.COM Inc. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by the GPL 3.0
+
+/*
+	DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
+
+	this file is the same for every GUI toolkit plugin
+	when you are making a new GUI toolkit plugin for
+	a specific toolkit, you just need to define these
+	functions.
+
+	for example, in the "gocui" toolkit, the functions
+	below are what triggers the "gocui" GO package
+	to draw labels, buttons, windows, etc
+
+	If you are starting out trying to make a new GUI toolkit,
+	all you have to do is copy this file over. Then
+	work on making these functions. addWidget(), setText(), etc.
+
+	That's it!
+*/
+
+package main
+
+/*
+	This is reference code for toolkit developers
+
+	This is how information is passed in GO back to the application
+	via the GO 'plugin' concept
+
+	TODO: switch this to protocol buffers
+*/
+
+import (
+	"time"
+
+	log "go.wit.com/log"
+	"go.wit.com/toolkits/tree"
+	"go.wit.com/widget"
+)
+
+// Other goroutines must use this to access the GUI
+//
+// You can not acess / process the GUI thread directly from
+// other goroutines. This is due to the nature of how
+// Linux, MacOS and Windows work (they all work differently. suprise. surprise.)
+//
+// this sets the channel to send user events back from the plugin
+func Callback(guiCallback chan widget.Action) {
+	me.myTree.Callback(guiCallback)
+}
+
+func PluginChannel() chan widget.Action {
+	initOnce.Do(initPlugin)
+	for {
+		if me.myTree != nil {
+			break
+		}
+		log.Info("me.myTree == nil")
+		time.Sleep(300 * time.Millisecond)
+	}
+	return me.myTree.PluginChannel()
+}
+
+func FrozenChannel() chan widget.Action {
+	return me.myTree.FrozenChannel()
+}
+
+func initTree() *tree.TreeInfo {
+	t := tree.New()
+	t.PluginName = PLUGIN
+	t.Add = newAdd
+	t.SetTitle = setTitle
+	t.SetLabel = setLabel
+	t.SetText = setText
+	t.AddText = addText
+
+	t.Enable = enableWidget
+	t.Disable = disableWidget
+
+	t.Show = showWidget
+	t.Hide = hideWidget
+
+	t.SetChecked = setChecked
+	t.ToolkitInit = toolkitInit
+	t.ToolkitClose = toolkitClose
+	t.ShowTable = showTable
+
+	return t
+}

view.go

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) textResize() {
 	}
 
 	// todo: fix all this old code
-	if tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Textbox {
+	if tk.WidgetType() == widget.Textbox {
 		if w < 5 {
 			w = 5
 		}
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ func (w *guiWidget) hideWidgets() {
 	if w == nil {
 		return
 	}
-	switch w.node.WidgetType {
+	switch w.WidgetType() {
 	case widget.Root:
 	case widget.Flag:
 	case widget.Window:

widgetAdd.go

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func setFake(n *tree.Node) {
 	}
 }
 
-// func (n *node) addWidget(n *tree.Node) {
+// mostly just sets the colors of things
 func addWidget(n *tree.Node) {
 	if !me.ok {
 		log.Log(INFO, "addWidget() START NOT OKAY")
@@ -36,41 +36,34 @@ func addWidget(n *tree.Node) {
 		log.Log(INFO, "addWidget() START NOT OKAY")
 		waitOK()
 	}
-	var tk *guiWidget
-	tk = n.TK.(*guiWidget)
+	tk := n.TK.(*guiWidget)
 	log.Log(INFO, "setStartWH() w.id =", n.WidgetId, "n.name", n.String())
 	switch n.WidgetType {
 	case widget.Root:
 		log.Log(INFO, "setStartWH() rootNode w.id =", n.WidgetId, "w.name", n.String())
-		// tk.color = &colorRoot
 		setFake(n)
 		return
 	case widget.Flag:
-		// tk.color = &colorFlag
 		setFake(n)
 		return
 	case widget.Window:
 		tk.frame = false
 		tk.labelN = tk.GetText() + "  X"
-		// tk.setColor(&colorWindow)
 		me.newWindowTrigger <- tk
 		redoWindows(0, 0)
-		hideHelp()
-		showHelp()
 		return
 	case widget.Stdout:
 		tk.labelN = "moreSTDOUT"
 		n.State.ProgName = "moreSTDOUT"
 		n.State.Label = "moreSTDOUT"
+		tk.isFake = true
 		return
 	case widget.Tab:
-		// tk.color = &colorTab
 		return
 	case widget.Button:
-		if tk.node.IsEnabled() {
 		tk.setColorButton()
+		if tk.IsEnabled() {
 		} else {
-			tk.setColorButton()
 			tk.setColorDisable()
 		}
 		return
@@ -84,20 +77,16 @@ func addWidget(n *tree.Node) {
 	case widget.Textbox:
 		n.State.Label = ""
 		tk.labelN = "    "
-		// tk.color = &colorDropdown
 		tk.setColorInput()
 		return
 	case widget.Combobox:
-		// tk.color = &colorCombobox
 		tk.setColorInput()
 		return
 	case widget.Box:
-		// tk.color = &colorBox
 		tk.isFake = true
 		setFake(n)
 		return
 	case widget.Grid:
-		// tk.color = &colorGrid
 		tk.isFake = true
 		setFake(n)
 		return
@@ -106,7 +95,17 @@ func addWidget(n *tree.Node) {
 		tk.frame = false
 		return
 	case widget.Label:
+		if tk.node.InTable() {
+			if tk.node.State.AtH == 0 {
+				// this is the table header
+				tk.setColorLabelTable()
+			} else {
+				// todo: highlight the whole table row
 				tk.setColorLabel()
+			}
+		} else {
+			tk.setColorLabel()
+		}
 		tk.frame = false
 		return
 	default:

widgetCommon.go

@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
-	"github.com/awesome-gocui/gocui"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 	"go.wit.com/toolkits/tree"
 	"go.wit.com/widget"
@@ -18,8 +17,8 @@ func initWidget(n *tree.Node) *guiWidget {
 	w = new(guiWidget)
 
 	w.node = n
-	w.cuiName = strconv.Itoa(w.node.WidgetId) + " TK"
-	// w.node.WidgetType = n.WidgetType
+	w.cuiName = strconv.Itoa(w.WidgetId()) + " TK"
+	// w.WidgetType() = n.WidgetType
 	w.labelN = n.State.Label
 	if w.labelN == "" {
 		// remove this debugging hack once things are stable and fixed
@@ -39,11 +38,15 @@ func initWidget(n *tree.Node) *guiWidget {
 
 	p := n.Parent
 	if p == nil {
-		log.Log(ERROR, "parent == nil", w.String(), n.WidgetId, w.node.WidgetType)
+		log.Log(ERROR, "parent == nil", w.String(), n.WidgetId, w.WidgetType())
 		return w
 	}
 	if p.TK == nil {
-		log.Log(ERROR, "parent.TK == nil", w.String(), n.WidgetId, w.node.WidgetType)
+		if n.WidgetId == 0 {
+			// this is a normal init condition
+		} else {
+			log.Log(ERROR, "parent.TK == nil", w.String(), n.WidgetId, w.WidgetType())
+		}
 		return w
 	}
 
@@ -69,7 +72,7 @@ func setupCtrlDownWidget() {
 
 func (w *guiWidget) deleteView() {
 	// make sure the view isn't really there
-	// log.Log(GOCUI, "deleteView()", w.cuiName, w.node.WidgetType, w.node.WidgetId)
+	// log.Log(GOCUI, "deleteView()", w.cuiName, w.WidgetType(), w.WidgetId())
 	me.baseGui.DeleteView(w.cuiName)
 	w.v = nil
 }
@@ -80,7 +83,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) String() string {
 	if curval != "" {
 		return curval
 	}
-	curval = strings.TrimSpace(tk.node.GetLabel())
+	curval = strings.TrimSpace(tk.GetLabel())
 	if curval != "" {
 		return curval
 	}
@@ -121,34 +124,3 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) SetVisible(b bool) {
 		tk.Hide()
 	}
 }
-
-func (tk *guiWidget) findWidgetByName(name string) *guiWidget {
-	if tk.cuiName == name {
-		return tk
-	}
-	for _, child := range tk.children {
-		found := child.findWidgetByName(name)
-		if found != nil {
-			return found
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (tk *guiWidget) findWidgetByView(v *gocui.View) *guiWidget {
-	if tk.v == v {
-		return tk
-	}
-	if tk.cuiName == v.Name() {
-		log.Log(NOW, "findWidget() error. names are mismatched or out of sync", tk.cuiName)
-		log.Log(NOW, "findWidget() or maybe the view has been deleted")
-		// return tk
-	}
-	for _, child := range tk.children {
-		found := child.findWidgetByView(v)
-		if found != nil {
-			return found
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}

widgetDraw.go

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import (
 // don't draw widgets that are too far down the window
 func (tk *guiWidget) doNotDraw() bool {
 	var check bool
-	switch tk.node.WidgetType {
+	switch tk.WidgetType() {
 	case widget.Button:
 		check = true
 	case widget.Label:
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) pageWidget() *rectType {
 	r := new(rectType)
 
 	var check bool
-	switch tk.node.WidgetType {
+	switch tk.WidgetType() {
 	case widget.Button:
 		check = true
 	case widget.Label:
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) pageWidget() *rectType {
 // deletes the old view if it exists and recreates it
 func (tk *guiWidget) drawView() {
 	var err error
-	log.Log(INFO, "drawView() START", tk.node.WidgetType, tk.String())
+	log.Log(INFO, "drawView() START", tk.WidgetType(), tk.String())
 	if me.baseGui == nil {
 		log.Log(ERROR, "drawView() ERROR: me.baseGui == nil", tk)
 		return
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) drawView() {
 
 	if tk.cuiName == "" {
 		log.Log(ERROR, "drawView() tk.cuiName was not set for widget", tk)
-		tk.cuiName = strconv.Itoa(tk.node.WidgetId) + " TK"
+		tk.cuiName = strconv.Itoa(tk.WidgetId()) + " TK"
 	}
 	log.Log(INFO, "drawView() labelN =", tk.labelN)
 
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) drawView() {
 				}
 			}
 
-			if tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Window || tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Flag {
+			if tk.WidgetType() == widget.Window || tk.WidgetType() == widget.Flag {
 				if tk.window.pager != 0 {
 					if tk.gocuiSize.Height() > 40 {
 						tk.window.large = true
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) drawView() {
 	*/
 
 	// this is all terrible. This sets the title. kinda
-	if tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Window {
+	if tk.WidgetType() == widget.Window {
 		tk.textResize()
 		tk.full.w0 = tk.force.w0
 		tk.full.h0 = tk.force.h0
@@ -162,12 +162,20 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) drawView() {
 		log.Log(ERROR, "drawView() internal plugin error err = nil")
 		return
 	}
+
 	if !errors.Is(err, gocui.ErrUnknownView) {
 		tk.dumpWidget("drawView() err")
 		log.Log(ERROR, "drawView() internal plugin error error.IS()", err)
 		return
 	}
 
+	if tk.v == nil {
+		log.Info("MUTEX FAIL. tk.v == nil here in drawView()")
+		log.Info("MUTEX FAIL. tk.v == nil here in drawView()")
+		log.Info("MUTEX FAIL. tk.v == nil here in drawView()")
+		return
+	}
+
 	// this actually sends the text to display to gocui
 	tk.v.Wrap = true
 	tk.v.Frame = tk.frame
@@ -175,13 +183,34 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) drawView() {
 	fmt.Fprint(tk.v, tk.labelN)
 
 	// tmp hack to disable buttons on window open
-	if tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Button {
-		if tk.node.IsEnabled() {
+	if tk.WidgetType() == widget.Button {
+		if tk.IsEnabled() {
 		} else {
 			tk.setColorDisable()
 		}
 	}
 
+	switch tk.WidgetType() {
+	case widget.Button:
+		if tk.IsEnabled() {
+			if tk.isDense() && tk.isInGrid() {
+				tk.setColorButtonDense()
+			} else {
+				tk.setColorButton()
+			}
+		} else {
+			tk.setColorDisable()
+		}
+	default:
+	}
+
+	if tk.v == nil {
+		log.Info("MUTEX FAIL 2. tk.v was deleted somehow tk.v == nil here in drawView()")
+		log.Info("MUTEX FAIL 2. tk.v == nil here in drawView()")
+		log.Info("MUTEX FAIL 2. tk.v == nil here in drawView()")
+		return
+	}
+
 	// if you don't do this here, it will be black & white only
 	if tk.color != nil {
 		tk.v.FrameColor = tk.color.frame
@@ -190,20 +219,16 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) drawView() {
 		tk.v.SelFgColor = tk.color.selFg
 		tk.v.SelBgColor = tk.color.selBg
 	}
+
 	log.Log(INFO, "drawView() END")
 }
 
+// redraw the widget tree starting at this location
 func (w *guiWidget) DrawAt(offsetW, offsetH int) {
-	// w.setColor(&colorActiveW)
 	w.placeWidgets(offsetW, offsetH) // compute the sizes & places for each widget
 	// w.dumpWidget(fmt.Sprintf("DrawAt(%d,%d)", offsetW, offsetH))
 }
 
-func (w *guiWidget) simpleDrawAt(offsetW, offsetH int) {
-	// w.setColor(&colorActiveW)
-	w.dumpWidget("simpleDrawAt()")
-}
-
 // display the widgets in the binary tree
 func (w *guiWidget) drawTree(draw bool) {
 	if w == nil {

window.go

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func (tk *guiWidget) setTitle(s string) {
-	if tk.node.WidgetType != widget.Window {
+	if tk.WidgetType() != widget.Window {
 		return
 	}
 	if tk.v == nil {
@@ -26,14 +26,13 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) setTitle(s string) {
 	me.baseGui.SetView(tk.v.Name(), rect.w0-1, rect.h0, rect.w1+1, rect.h1, 0)
 	tk.v.Clear()
 	f := "  %-" + fmt.Sprintf("%d", tk.full.Width()-3) + "s %s"
-	// tmp := tk.node.GetLabel() + " " + tk.v.Name() + " " + f
-	tmp := tk.node.GetLabel()
+	tmp := tk.GetLabel()
 	labelN := fmt.Sprintf(f, tmp, "X")
 	tk.v.WriteString(labelN)
 }
 
 func (tk *guiWidget) redrawWindow(w int, h int) {
-	if tk.node.WidgetType != widget.Window {
+	if tk.WidgetType() != widget.Window {
 		return
 	}
 	// tk.dumpWidget(fmt.Sprintf("redrawWindow(%d,%d)", w, h))
@@ -43,8 +42,8 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) redrawWindow(w int, h int) {
 	// pin the window to (w,h)
 	tk.gocuiSize.w0 = w
 	tk.gocuiSize.h0 = h
-	tk.gocuiSize.w1 = w + len(tk.node.GetLabel())
-	tk.labelN = tk.node.GetLabel() // could set XX here also but don't have final size of window yet
+	tk.gocuiSize.w1 = w + len(tk.GetLabel())
+	tk.labelN = tk.GetLabel() // could set XX here also but don't have final size of window yet
 	tk.force.w0 = w
 	tk.force.w1 = w
 	tk.force.h0 = h
@@ -72,13 +71,16 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) redrawWindow(w int, h int) {
 
 	tk.setFullSize()
 	tk.Show()
+	if tk.v == nil {
+		log.Info("redrawWindow on tk.v == nil")
+		standardExit()
+	}
 	tk.v.Clear()
 	fmt.Fprint(tk.v, "ZZZ"+tk.GetText())
 	tk.showWidgets()
 
 	if tk.windowFrame == nil {
-		tk.addWindowFrameTK(0 - tk.node.WidgetId)
-		tk.windowFrame.node.State.Label = "" // temporary name. blank out when ready for release
+		tk.addWindowFrameTK(0 - tk.WidgetId())
 		tk.windowFrame.makeTK([]string{""})
 	}
 
@@ -98,6 +100,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) redrawWindow(w int, h int) {
 
 	// set the window frame below the window widget, but this resizes the window widget it seems
 	me.baseGui.SetViewBeneath(tk.windowFrame.cuiName, tk.cuiName, 1)
+
 	// so now we have to resize the window frame, but this moves it to the top?
 	me.baseGui.SetView(tk.windowFrame.cuiName, tk.windowFrame.full.w0, tk.windowFrame.full.h0, tk.windowFrame.full.w1, tk.windowFrame.full.h1, 0)
 
@@ -106,7 +109,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) redrawWindow(w int, h int) {
 	tk.showWidgets()
 
 	// draw the window title
-	tk.setTitle(tk.node.GetLabel())
+	tk.setTitle(tk.GetLabel())
 }
 
 // re-draws the buttons for each of the windows
@@ -154,8 +157,6 @@ func (win *guiWidget) addWindowFrame(wId int) *tree.Node {
 	if tk.node.Parent == nil {
 		tk.node.Parent = me.treeRoot
 	}
-	// copy the data from the action message
-	tk.node.State.Label = "windowFrame"
 
 	// set the name used by gocui to the id
 	tk.cuiName = fmt.Sprintf("%d DR", wId)
@@ -175,7 +176,7 @@ func (win *guiWidget) addWindowFrame(wId int) *tree.Node {
 }
 
 func (tk *guiWidget) isWindowActive() bool {
-	if !(tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Window || tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Stdout) {
+	if !(tk.WidgetType() == widget.Window || tk.WidgetType() == widget.Stdout) {
 		// only allow Window or the Stdout widgets to be made active
 		return false
 	}
@@ -184,12 +185,12 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) isWindowActive() bool {
 
 // always redraws at the corner of the gocuiSize box
 func (tk *guiWidget) makeWindowActive() {
-	if !(tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Window || tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Stdout) {
+	if !(tk.WidgetType() == widget.Window || tk.WidgetType() == widget.Stdout) {
 		// only allow Window or the Stdout widgets to be made active
 		return
 	}
 
-	if tk.node.WidgetType == widget.Stdout {
+	if tk.WidgetType() == widget.Stdout {
 		me.stdout.outputOnTop = true
 	} else {
 		// me.stdout.outputOnTop = false // ?
@@ -209,13 +210,6 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) makeWindowActive() {
 
 	tk.redrawWindow(tk.gocuiSize.w0, tk.gocuiSize.h0)
 	setThingsOnTop() // sets help, Stdout, etc on the top after windows have been redrawn
-
-	/*
-		// print out the window list
-		for _, tk := range me.allwin {
-			log.Info("makeWindowActive() Window", tk.labelN, tk.window.active, tk.window.order)
-		}
-	*/
 }
 
 func (tk *guiWidget) makeTK(ddItems []string) {
@@ -226,25 +220,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) makeTK(ddItems []string) {
 	tk.gocuiSize.w1 = 120
 	tk.gocuiSize.h0 = 15
 	tk.gocuiSize.h1 = 18
-	/*
-		var err error
-			tk.v, err = me.baseGui.SetView(tk.cuiName,
-				tk.gocuiSize.w0,
-				tk.gocuiSize.h0,
-				tk.gocuiSize.w1,
-				tk.gocuiSize.h1, 0)
-			if err != nil {
-				log.Info("makeTK() err", err)
-				return
-			}
-			if tk.v == nil {
-				return
-			}
-			tk.v.Wrap = true
-			tk.v.Frame = true
-			tk.v.Clear()
-			fmt.Fprint(tk.v, items)
-	*/
+
 	tk.Show()
 }