diff --git a/main/app/shell/core.hook b/main/app/shell/core.hook
index d712bcf90f..0e75da762e 100644
--- a/main/app/shell/core.hook
+++ b/main/app/shell/core.hook
@@ -9,6 +9,14 @@
 ::::  structures
   ::
 |%                                                      ::
+++  axle                                                ::
+  $:  pid=@u                                            ::
+      pax=_`path`/=try=                                 ::
+      act=(unit span)                                   ::
+      pip=(map span span)                               ::
+      pop=(map span span)                               ::
+      var=(map term vase)                               ::
+  ==                                                    ::
 ++  gift                                                ::
   $%  [%rush p=gilt]                                    ::
       [%mean p=ares]                                    ::
@@ -23,6 +31,7 @@
   $%  [%term-line p=term-line]                          ::
       [%txt p=cord]                                     ::
   ==                                                    ::
+++  glas  $|(%out [%in p=cord])                         ::
 ++  hapt  ,[p=ship q=path]                              ::
 ++  move  ,[p=bone q=(mold note gift)]                  ::
 ++  note                                                ::
@@ -119,184 +128,315 @@
   --
 --
 !:
-::::  program
+::::  per event
   ::
-|_  $:  hid=hide
-        pid=@u
-        pax=_`path`/=try=
-        act=(unit span)
-        pip=(map span span)
-        pop=(map span span)
-        var=(map term vase)
-    ==
-::
-++  peer                                                ::  handle subscription
-  |=  [ost=bone you=ship pax=path]
-  ^-  [(list move) _+>]
-  ?~  pax  `+>.$
-  ?+    i.pax  `+>.$
-      %in                                               ::  to app
-    ?~  t.pax  `+>.$
-    ?.  (~(has by cub.hid) i.t.pax)  `+>.$
-    ?:  (~(has by pop) i.t.pax)  `+>.$
-    :_  +>.$(act `i.t.pax)
-    (print ost you ~)
-      %out                                              ::  to terminal
-    ?>  ?=(~ t.pax)
-    :_  +>.$
-    [ost %give %rush %term-line `term-line`[prompt ~ ~]]~
-  ==
-::
-++  cubs                                                ::  tasks with open /in
-  %-  sort  :_  |=([a=span b=span] (lth (slav %ud a) (slav %ud b)))
-  ^-  (list span)
-  %+  murn  (~(tap by sup.hid))
-  |=  [@ @ a=path] 
-  ?.  ?&  ?=([%in cord ~] a)
-          (~(has by cub.hid) i.t.a)
-          !(~(has by pop) i.t.a)
-      ==
-    ~
-  (some i.t.a)
-::
-++  next-act                                            ::  rotate active task
-  =+  opt=[i=`(unit span)`~ t=(turn cubs |=(a=span `(unit span)`[~ a]))]
-  |-
-  ?~  t.opt  ~
-  ?:  =(act i.opt)
-    i.t.opt
-  $(opt t.opt)
-::
-++  poke-kyev                                           ::  handle key event
-  |=  [ost=bone you=ship key=kyev]
-  ^-  [(list move) _+>]
-  ?:  ?=([~ @] key)  (poke-txt ost you q.key)           ::  simple keypress
-  ?>  ?=([[%ctrl ~ ~] @t] key)
-  ?+    q.key
-      :_  +>.$
-      :-  [ost %give %nice ~]
-      (print ost you leaf/"no command \\{(trip q.key)}" ~)
-    %x  =.  act  next-act
-        :_  +>.$
-        :-  [ost %give %nice ~]
-        (print ost you ~)
-    %l  =+  =-  tak=rose/[" " "[" "]"]^(turn cubs -)
-            |=  a=span
-            leaf/(trip (rap 3 (~(got by cub.hid) a) '(' a ')' ~))
-        [[[ost give/nice/~] (print ost you tak ~)] +>.$]
-  ==
-::
-++  poke-txt                                            ::  handle command
-  |=  [ost=bone you=ship txt=cord]
-  ^-  [(list move) _+>]
-  ?:  =('\\' (end 3 1 txt))                             ::  escaped ctrl-key
-    (poke-kyev ost you [%ctrl ~ ~] (rsh 3 1 txt))
-  ?^  act                                               ::  pipe to child
-    :_  +>.$
-    :-  [ost %give %nice ~]
-    (spam /in/[u.act] %rush %txt txt)
+|%
+++  ve
+  |=  [hid=hide ost=bone axle]
+  =*  vat  +<+>
+  =|  mow=(list move)
+  |%
+  ++  abet
+    ^-  [(list move) axle]
+    [(flop mow) vat]
   ::
-  =-  :_  con
-      %+  welp  (stash:con ost you txt)
-      ?~  tak
-        mof
-      %+  welp
-        (print:con ost you tak ~)
-      [[ost %give %nice ~] mof]
-  ^-  [con=_+>.$ tak=$|(~ tank) mof=(list move)]
-  =+  pas=((full ~(parse from pax lat.hid)) [1 1] (trip txt))
-  ?~  q.pas
-    [+>.$ leaf/"<syntax error at {<`[@ @]`p.pas>}>" ~]
-  =+  com=(wonk pas)
-  ^-  [con=_+>.$ tak=$|(~ tank) mof=(list move)]
-  ?-    -.com
-      %path
-    =.  pax  p.com
-    [+>.$ leaf/"=% {(spud p.com)}" ~]
+  ++  blab
+    |=  mof=(list move)
+    +>.$(mow (welp mof mow))
   ::
-      ?(%ins %mut %del)
-    :-  +>.$
-    =+  paf=[.(&3 '=')]:?+(-.com p.com %del p.com)
-    =-  :-  palm/[" " ~ ~ ~]^~[leaf/msg (dank:ut paf)]
-        (turn (drop tor) |=(a=toro [ost %pass writ/paf %c %info our.hid a]))
-    ^-  [msg=tape tor=(unit toro)]
-    |-
-    ?-    -.com
-        %ins
-      ?^  (file p.com)  ["! exists" ~]
-      ["written" `(foal p.com q:(exec (fall q.com [%bczp atom/%t])))]
-        %mut 
-      ?~  (file p.com)  $(com [%del p.com])
-      ["changed" `(foal p.com q:(exec q.com))]
-        %del
-      ?~  (file p.com)  ["! none" ~]
-      ["written" `(fray p.com)]
+  ++  chew-file
+    |=  [paf=path msg=tape tor=(unit toro)]
+    ^-  (list move)
+    %+  welp
+      (print palm/[" " ~ ~ ~]^~[leaf/msg (dank:ut paf)])
+    %+  turn  (drop tor)
+    |=(a=toro [ost %pass writ/paf %c %info our.hid a])
+  ::
+  ++  cubs                                              ::  tasks with open /in
+    %-  sort  :_  |=([a=span b=span] (lth (slav %ud a) (slav %ud b)))
+    ^-  (list span)
+    %+  murn  (~(tap by sup.hid))
+    |=  [@ @ a=path] 
+    ?.  ?&  ?=([%in cord ~] a)
+            (~(has by cub.hid) i.t.a)
+            !(~(has by pop) i.t.a)
+        ==
+      ~
+    (some i.t.a)
+  ::
+  ++  eat
+    |=  [you=ship com=coma]
+    ?-  -.com
+      %path  (eat-path +.com)
+      %ins   (eat-ins +.com)
+      %mut   (eat-mut +.com)
+      %del   (eat-del +.com)
+      %run   (eat-run you +.com)
+      %end   (eat-end +.com)
+      %var   (eat-var +.com)
+      %rvar  (eat-rvar +.com)
+      %hoon  (eat-hoon +.com)
     ==
   ::
-      %run
-    =+  mof=(print ost you leaf/"+ :{(trip p.q.com)}" ~)
+  ++  eat-del
+    |=  paf=path
+    ^+  +>
+    =.  &3.paf  '='
+    %-  blab
+    %+  chew-file  paf
+    ?^  (file paf)  ["! none" ~]
+    ["deleted" `(fray paf)]
+  ::
+  ++  eat-end
+    |=  poc=(each ,@u cord)
+    ^+  +>
+    ?-    -.poc
+        %&
+      =+  cil=(scot %ud p.poc)
+      =+  cin=(trip (~(got by cub.hid) cil))
+      %+  blab
+        [ost %pass /child/[cil]/fork %g %cide cil]
+      (print leaf/"- :{cin}({(trip cil)})")
+    ::
+        %|
+      =+  ^-  moz=(list move)
+          %+  murn  (~(tap by cub.hid))
+          |=  [a=span b=term]
+          ?.  =(b p.poc)  ~
+          %-  some
+          [ost %pass /child/[a]/fork %g %cide a]
+      %-  blab  %+  welp  moz
+      (print leaf/"-{<(lent moz)>} :{(trip p.poc)}")
+    ==
+  ::
+  ++  eat-hoon
+    |=  gen=twig
+    ^+  +>
+    (blab (print (sell (exec gen))))
+  ::
+  ++  eat-ins
+    |=  [paf=path gen=(unit twig)]
+    ^+  +>
+    =.  &3.paf  '='
+    %-  blab
+    %+  chew-file  paf
+    ?^  (file paf)  ["! exists" ~]
+    :-  "written"
+    `(foal paf q:(exec (fall gen [%bczp atom/%t])))
+  ::
+  ++  eat-mut
+    |=  [paf=path gen=twig]
+    ^+  +>
+    =.  &3.paf  '='
+    %-  blab
+    %+  chew-file  paf
+    ?^  (file paf)  ["! none" ~]
+    ["changed" `(foal paf q:(exec gen))]
+  ::
+  ++  eat-path
+    |=  paf=path
+    ^+  +>
+    =.  pax  paf
+    (blab (print leaf/"=% {(spud paf)}"))
+  ::
+  ++  eat-run
+    |=  [you=ship mud=(list mand) mad=mand]
+    ^+  +>
+    =.  +>.$  (blab (print leaf/"+ :{(trip p.mad)}"))
     =|  inp=(unit span) 
-    =<  [+>.$ ~ mof]
+    =<  +>.$
     %+  reel
-      `(list mand)`(welp p.com q.com ~) 
+      `(list mand)`(welp mud mad ~)
     =+  a=[app=*mand .]
     |.
     =>  a
     =+  cil=(scot %ud pid)
-    ::~&  [%pipsqueak <inp> <app>]
-    %_  +>  
+    %_    +>  
         pid  +(pid)
         pip  ?~  inp  pip  (~(put by pip) cil u.inp)
         pop  ?~  inp  pop  (~(put by pop) u.inp cil)
         inp  `cil
-        mof
+        mow
       =+  yon=[our.hid cil imp.hid]
       =+  mez=[(cat 3 p.app '-args') (exec [%clsg q.app])]
-      =-  (weld (flop -) mof)                           ::  XX  strange order
+      %-  welp  :_  mow
       ^-  (list move)
-      :~  [ost %pass /child/[cil] %g %sire p.app cil]
+      :~  [ost %pass /child/[cil]/fork %g %sire p.app cil]
           [ost %pass /child/[cil]/out %g %show yon you /out]
           [ost %pass /child/[cil]/main %g %meta !>([%mess yon you mez])]
       ==
     ==
   ::
-      %end
-    ?:  ?=(%& -.p.com)
-      =+  cil=(scot %ud p.p.com)
-      =+  cin=(trip (~(got by cub.hid) cil))
-      :-  +>.$  :-  ~
-      :_  (print ost you leaf/"- :{cin}({(trip cil)})" ~)
-      [ost %pass /child/[cil] %g %cide cil]
-    =*  cil  p.p.com
-    =-  [+>.$ leaf/"-{<(lent moz)>} :{(trip cil)}" moz]
-    ^=  moz
-    %+  murn  (~(tap by cub.hid))  |=  [a=span b=term]
-    ?.  =(b cil)  ~
-    %-  some
-    [ost %pass /child/[a] %g %cide a]
+  ++  eat-rvar
+    |=  vor=term
+    ^+  +>
+    =+  mod=(~(has by var) vor)
+    =.  var  (~(del by var) vor)
+    (blab (print leaf/"{?:(mod "var gone" "no var")} {<vor>}"))
   ::
-      %var
-    =+  old=(~(get by var) p.com)
-    =+  new=(exec q.com)
+  ++  eat-var
+    |=  [vor=term gen=twig]
+    ^+  +>
+    =+  old=(~(get by var) vor)
+    =+  new=(exec gen)
     =+  mod=?~(old "new var" ?:(=(new u.old) "same var" "changed"))
-    =.  var  (~(put by var) p.com new)
-    [+>.$ leaf/"{mod} {<p.com>}" ~]
+    =.  var  (~(put by var) vor new)
+    (blab (print leaf/"{mod} {<vor>}"))
   ::
-      %rvar
-    =+  mod=(~(has by var) p.com)
-    =.  var  (~(del by var) p.com)
-    [+>.$ leaf/"{?:(mod "var gone" "no var")} {<p.com>}" ~]
+  ++  exec
+    |=  gen=twig
+    %-  slap  :_  gen
+    %+  roll  (~(tap by var))
+    =<  .(q pit)
+    |=  [[n=term v=vase] q=vase]
+    (slop [[%face n p.v] q.v] q)
   ::
-      %hoon
-    [+>.$ (sell (exec p.com)) ~]
-  ==
+  ++  next-act                                          ::  rotate active task
+    =+  opt=[i=`(unit span)`~ t=(turn cubs |=(a=span `(unit span)`[~ a]))]
+    |-
+    ?~  t.opt  ~
+    ?:  =(act i.opt)
+      i.t.opt
+    $(opt t.opt)
+  ::
+  ++  peer
+    |=  [you=ship gal=glas]
+    ^+  +>
+    ?@  gal
+      %_  +>.$
+        mow  :_(mow [ost %give %rush %term-line prompt ~ ~])
+      ==
+    ?.  (~(has by cub.hid) p.gal)  +>.$
+    ?:  (~(has by pop) p.gal)  +>.$
+    =.  act  `p.gal
+    (blab ping)
+  ::
+  ++  ping  (print-vase !>(*(list tank)))
+  ++  poke-kyev
+    |=  [you=ship key=kyev]
+    ^+  +>
+    ?:  ?=([~ @] key)  (poke-txt you q.key)             ::  simple keypress ?
+    ?>  ?=([[%ctrl ~ ~] @t] key)
+    ?+    q.key
+        %+  blab
+          [ost %give %nice ~]
+        (print leaf/"no command \\{(trip q.key)}")
+      %x  =.  act  next-act
+          (blab [ost %give %nice ~] ping)
+      %l  =+  =-  tak=rose/[" " "[" "]"]^(turn cubs -)
+              |=  a=span
+              leaf/(trip (rap 3 (~(got by cub.hid) a) '(' a ')' ~))
+          (blab [ost give/nice/~] (print tak))
+    ==
+  ::
+  ++  poke-txt                                            ::  handle command
+    |=  [you=ship txt=cord]
+    ^+  +>
+    ?:  =('\\' (end 3 1 txt))                             ::  escaped ctrl-key
+      (poke-kyev you [%ctrl ~ ~] (rsh 3 1 txt))
+    ?^  act                                               ::  pipe to child
+      %+  blab
+        [ost %give %nice ~]
+      (spam /in/[u.act] %rush %txt txt)
+    =+  pas=((full ~(parse from pax lat.hid)) [1 1] (trip txt))
+    ?~  q.pas
+      (blab (print leaf/"<syntax error at {<`[@ @]`p.pas>}>"))
+    =+  com=(wonk pas)
+    =>  .(+>.$ (eat you com))
+    =.  +>.$  (blab (stash txt))
+    +>.$(mow :_(mow [ost %give %nice ~]))
+  ::
+  ++  print  |=(a=tank (print-vase !>(`(list tank)`[a ~])))
+  ++  print-vase
+    |=  tan=vase ::  [p=p:!>(*(list tank)) q=*]
+    ^-  (list move)
+    %^  spam  /out  %meta
+    :(slop !>(%rush) !>(%term-line) !>(prompt) !>(~) tan)
+  ::
+  ++  prompt
+    ^-  @t
+    ?^  act
+      (rap 3 (~(got by cub.hid) u.act) '(' u.act ') ' ~)
+    ?.  &(?=([@ @ @ *] pax) =('0' &3.pax))
+      (rsh 3 1 (spat pax))
+    (rap 3 &1.pax '/' &2.pax '=' ?~(|3.pax ~ [(spat |3.pax)]~))
+  ::
+  ++  purr
+    |=  [cil=span fom=?(%fork %out %main) typ=type sih=sign]
+    ^+  +>
+    ?<  ?=(?(%sage %verb %veer %vega) +<.sih)
+    ?-    fom
+        %fork
+      ?>  ?=(%gone +<.sih)
+      %_  +>.$
+        mow  :_(mow [ost %give %nice ~])
+        act  ?:(=(act [~ cil]) ~ act)
+      ==
+    ::
+        %main
+      ?>  ?=(?(%nice %mean) +<.sih)
+      (blab [ost %give +.sih] ping)
+    ::
+        %out
+      ?.  ?=(?(%rust %rush) +<.sih)  +>.$
+      %-  blab
+      ?:  (~(has by pip) cil)
+          (spam /in/(~(got by pip) cil) %meta (slot 3 typ sih))
+      %-  print-vase
+      ?+  p.sih 
+        !>([(sell (slot 15 [typ sih]))]~)
+          %tang
+        (slot 15 [typ sih])
+          %txt
+        ?^  q.sih  !!                                   ::  move to vase space?
+        !>([leaf/(trip q.sih)]~)
+      ==
+    ==
+  ::
+  ++  spam
+    |=  [pax=path gip=gift]
+    ^-  (list move)
+    %+  turn
+      (~(tap in (~(get ju pus.hid) pax)))
+    |=(a=bone [a %give gip])
+  ::
+  ++  stash
+    |=  a=cord
+    %^  spam  /out  %meta
+    !>([%rush %term-line `term-line`[prompt [a]~ ~]])
+  --
+--
+!:
+::::  formal interface
+  ::
+|_  [hid=hide vat=axle]
+::
+++  peer                                                ::  handle subscription
+  |=  [ost=bone you=ship pax=path]
+  ^-  [(list move) _+>]
+  ?~  pax  `+>.$
+  ?.  ?=(?(%in %out) i.pax)  `+>.$
+  =+  ^=  gal
+      ?:  ?=(%out i.pax)  %out
+      [%in ?<(?=(~ t.pax) i.pax)]
+  =+  abet:(peer:(ve hid ost vat) you gal)
+  [-< +>.$(vat ->)]
+::
+++  poke-kyev                                           ::  handle key event
+  |=  [ost=bone you=ship key=kyev]
+  ^-  [(list move) _+>]
+  =+  abet:(poke-kyev:(ve hid ost vat) you key)
+  [-< +>.$(vat ->)]
+::
+++  poke-txt                                            ::  handle command
+  |=  [ost=bone you=ship txt=cord]
+  ^-  [(list move) _+>]
+  =+  abet:(poke-txt:(ve hid ost vat) you txt)
+  [-< +>.$(vat ->)]
 ::
 ++  purr
   |=  [ost=bone pax=path typ=type sih=sign]
   ^-  [(list move) _+>]
-  ::~&  shel-purr/pax
-  ::  ~&  [%shell-pour -.sih (,@ta +<.sih)]
-  ::=+  sih=((hard sign) sih)
   ?:  ?=(%sage +<.sih)                                  ::  vomit
     [[ost %give +.sih]~ +>.$]
   ?:  ?=(%verb +<.sih)                                  ::  vomit
@@ -306,74 +446,7 @@
   ?:  ?=(%vega +<.sih)                                  ::  vomit
     [[ost %give +.sih]~ +>.$]
   ?~  pax  ~&  %no-path  !!
-  ?+    &1.pax  ~&  %strange-path  !!
-      %print
-    `+>.$
-  ::
-      %child
-    ?~  |1.pax  ~&  %no-child  !!
-    ?~  |2.pax
-      ?>  ?=(%gone +<.sih)
-      :-  [ost %give %nice ~]~
-      +>.$(act ?:(=(act [~ &2.pax]) ~ act))
-    :_  +>.$
-    ?+    &3.pax  ~&  %strange-child-path  !!
-        %main
-      ?>  ?=(?(%nice %mean) +<.sih)
-      :-  [ost %give +.sih]
-      ::~&  act
-      (print ost our.hid ~)
-        %out
-      ?.  ?=(?(%rust %rush) +<.sih)  ~
-      ?:  (~(has by pip) &2.pax)
-        ::  ~&  [%yay &2.pax <pip> <pop>]
-        ::  ~&  [%spamming-to /in/(~(got by pip) &2.pax) (~(get ju pus.hid) /in/(~(got by pip) &2.pax))]
-        (spam /in/(~(got by pip) &2.pax) %meta (slot 3 typ sih))
-      ::  ~&  [%nay &2.pax <pip> <pop>]
-      %^  print-vase  ost  our.hid
-      ?+  p.sih 
-        !>([(sell (slot 15 [typ sih]))]~)
-          %tang
-        (slot 15 [typ sih])
-          %txt
-        ?^  q.sih  !!                                   ::  move to vase space?
-        !>([leaf/(trip q.sih)]~)
-    ==
-  ==  ==
-::
-++  stash
-  |=  [a=bone b=ship c=cord]
-  ::~&  shel-stash/[prompt c]
-  %^  spam  /out  %meta
-  !>([%rush %term-line `term-line`[prompt [c]~ ~]])
-::
-++  print  |=([a=bone b=ship c=(list tank)] (print-vase a b !>(c)))
-++  print-vase
-  |=  [ost=bone you=ship tan=vase] ::  [p=p:!>(*(list tank)) q=*]
-  ^-  (list move)
-  ::~&  shel-print/prompt
-  %^  spam  /out  %meta
-  :(slop !>(%rush) !>(%term-line) !>(prompt) !>(~) tan)
-::
-++  prompt
-  ^-  @t
-  ?^  act
-    (rap 3 (~(got by cub.hid) u.act) '(' u.act ') ' ~)
-  ?.  &(?=([@ @ @ *] pax) =('0' &3.pax))
-    (rsh 3 1 (spat pax))
-  (rap 3 &1.pax '/' &2.pax '=' ?~(|3.pax ~ [(spat |3.pax)]~))
-++  exec
-  |=  gen=twig
-  %-  slap  :_  gen
-  %+  roll  (~(tap by var))
-  =<  .(q pit)
-  |=  [[n=term v=vase] q=vase]
-  (slop [[%face n p.v] q.v] q)
-::
-++  spam
-  |=  [pax=path gip=gift]
-  ^-  (list move)
-  %+  turn
-    (~(tap in (~(get ju pus.hid) pax)))
-  |=(a=bone [a %give gip])
+  ?>  ?=([%child span ?(%fork %out %main) ~] pax)
+  =+  abet:(purr:(ve hid ost vat) i.t.pax i.t.t.pax typ sih)
+  [-< +>.$(vat ->)]
 --
diff --git a/main/app/terminal/core.hook b/main/app/terminal/core.hook
index 8e5d5c27d3..679311fedd 100644
--- a/main/app/terminal/core.hook
+++ b/main/app/terminal/core.hook
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
   [ost %pass [%resp pax] %g %show [our [auc imp]] you /out]~
 --
 !:
-::::  per-shell
+::::  per shell
   ::
 |%
 ++  se
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@
   --
 --
 !:
-::::  public interface
+::::  formal interface
   ::
 |_  [hid=hide axle]
 ++  peer