From 79817aae214b6a02b8a23c90e7d5e8fb4da6b80f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Hans Hagen <pragma@wxs.nl>
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:49:00 +0100
Subject: beta 2009.11.23 11:49

---
 scripts/context/lua/luatools.lua         | 366 +++++++++++---------------
 scripts/context/lua/mtxrun.lua           | 436 +++++++++++++------------------
 scripts/context/stubs/mswin/luatools.lua | 366 +++++++++++---------------
 scripts/context/stubs/mswin/mtxrun.lua   | 436 +++++++++++++------------------
 scripts/context/stubs/unix/luatools      | 366 +++++++++++---------------
 scripts/context/stubs/unix/mtxrun        | 436 +++++++++++++------------------
 6 files changed, 1026 insertions(+), 1380 deletions(-)

(limited to 'scripts')

diff --git a/scripts/context/lua/luatools.lua b/scripts/context/lua/luatools.lua
index 70c391421..692213b09 100644
--- a/scripts/context/lua/luatools.lua
+++ b/scripts/context/lua/luatools.lua
@@ -3612,92 +3612,6 @@ function directives.disable(...)
     d(...)
 end
 
---~ -- old code:
---
---~ trackers = trackers or { }
---~ local data, done = { }, { }
---~ local function set(what,value)
---~     if type(what) == "string" then
---~         what = aux.settings_to_array(what) -- inefficient but ok
---~     end
---~     for i=1,#what do
---~         local w = what[i]
---~         for d, f in next, data do
---~             if done[d] then
---~                 -- prevent recursion due to wildcards
---~             elseif find(d,w) then
---~                 done[d] = true
---~                 for i=1,#f do
---~                     f[i](value)
---~                 end
---~             end
---~         end
---~     end
---~ end
---~ local function reset()
---~     for d, f in next, data do
---~         for i=1,#f do
---~             f[i](false)
---~         end
---~     end
---~ end
---~ local function enable(what)
---~     set(what,true)
---~ end
---~ local function disable(what)
---~     if not what or what == "" then
---~         done = { }
---~         reset()
---~     else
---~         set(what,false)
---~     end
---~ end
---~ function trackers.register(what,...)
---~     what = lower(what)
---~     local w = data[what]
---~     if not w then
---~         w = { }
---~         data[what] = w
---~     end
---~     for _, fnc in next, { ... } do
---~         local typ = type(fnc)
---~         if typ == "function" then
---~             w[#w+1] = fnc
---~         elseif typ == "string" then
---~             w[#w+1] = function(value) set(fnc,value,nesting) end
---~         end
---~     end
---~ end
---~ function trackers.enable(what)
---~     local e = trackers.enable
---~     trackers.enable, done = enable, { }
---~     enable(string.simpleesc(what))
---~     trackers.enable, done = e, { }
---~ end
---~ function trackers.disable(what)
---~     local e = trackers.disable
---~     trackers.disable, done = disable, { }
---~     disable(string.simpleesc(what))
---~     trackers.disable, done = e, { }
---~ end
---~ function trackers.reset()
---~     done = { }
---~     reset()
---~ end
---~ function trackers.list() -- pattern
---~     local list = table.sortedkeys(data)
---~     local user, system = { }, { }
---~     for l=1,#list do
---~         local what = list[l]
---~         if find(what,"^%*") then
---~             system[#system+1] = what
---~         else
---~             user[#user+1] = what
---~         end
---~     end
---~     return user, system
---~ end
-
 
 end -- of closure
 
@@ -3717,8 +3631,7 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['luat-env'] = {
 -- evolved before bytecode arrays were available and so a lot of
 -- code has disappeared already.
 
-local trace_verbose  = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",  function(v) trace_verbose  = v end)
-local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
 local format = string.format
 
@@ -3909,12 +3822,12 @@ function environment.luafilechunk(filename) -- used for loading lua bytecode in
     filename = file.replacesuffix(filename, "lua")
     local fullname = environment.luafile(filename)
     if fullname and fullname ~= "" then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","loading file %s", fullname)
         end
         return environment.loadedluacode(fullname)
     else
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","unknown file %s", filename)
         end
         return nil
@@ -3934,7 +3847,7 @@ function environment.loadluafile(filename, version)
     -- when not overloaded by explicit suffix we look for a luc file first
     local fullname = (lucname and environment.luafile(lucname)) or ""
     if fullname ~= "" then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","loading %s", fullname)
         end
         chunk = loadfile(fullname) -- this way we don't need a file exists check
@@ -3952,7 +3865,7 @@ function environment.loadluafile(filename, version)
             if v == version then
                 return true
             else
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","version mismatch for %s: lua=%s, luc=%s", filename, v, version)
                 end
                 environment.loadluafile(filename)
@@ -3963,12 +3876,12 @@ function environment.loadluafile(filename, version)
     end
     fullname = (luaname and environment.luafile(luaname)) or ""
     if fullname ~= "" then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","loading %s", fullname)
         end
         chunk = loadfile(fullname) -- this way we don't need a file exists check
         if not chunk then
-            if verbose then
+            if trace_locating then
                 logs.report("fileio","unknown file %s", filename)
             end
         else
@@ -4363,7 +4276,7 @@ end
 function logs.setprogram(_name_,_banner_,_verbose_)
     name, banner = _name_, _banner_
     if _verbose_ then
-        trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose")
+        trackers.enable("resolvers.locating")
     end
     logs.set_method("tex")
     logs.report = report -- also used in libraries
@@ -4376,9 +4289,9 @@ end
 
 function logs.setverbose(what)
     if what then
-        trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose")
+        trackers.enable("resolvers.locating")
     else
-        trackers.disable("resolvers.verbose")
+        trackers.disable("resolvers.locating")
     end
     logs.verbose = what or false
 end
@@ -4483,11 +4396,11 @@ local format, gsub, find, lower, upper, match, gmatch = string.format, string.gs
 local concat, insert, sortedkeys = table.concat, table.insert, table.sortedkeys
 local next, type = next, type
 
-local trace_locating, trace_detail, trace_verbose  = false, false, false
+local trace_locating, trace_detail, trace_expansions = false, false, false
 
-trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",  function(v) trace_verbose  = v end)
-trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
-trackers.register("resolvers.detail",   function(v) trace_detail   = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose,resolvers.detail") end)
+trackers.register("resolvers.locating",   function(v) trace_locating   = v end)
+trackers.register("resolvers.details",    function(v) trace_detail     = v end)
+trackers.register("resolvers.expansions", function(v) trace_expansions = v end) -- todo
 
 if not resolvers then
     resolvers = {
@@ -4796,37 +4709,43 @@ end
 -- work that well; the parsing is ok, but dealing with the resulting
 -- table is a pain because we need to work inside-out recursively
 
+local function do_first(a,b)
+    local t = { }
+    for s in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = a .. s end
+    return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
+end
+
+local function do_second(a,b)
+    local t = { }
+    for s in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = s .. b end
+    return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
+end
+
+local function do_both(a,b)
+    local t = { }
+    for sa in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do
+        for sb in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do
+            t[#t+1] = sa .. sb
+        end
+    end
+    return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
+end
+
+local function do_three(a,b,c)
+    return a .. b.. c
+end
+
 local function splitpathexpr(str, t, validate)
     -- no need for further optimization as it is only called a
-    -- few times, we can use lpeg for the sub; we could move
-    -- the local functions outside the body
+    -- few times, we can use lpeg for the sub
+    if trace_expansion then
+        logs.report("fileio","expanding variable '%s'",str)
+    end
     t = t or { }
     str = gsub(str,",}",",@}")
     str = gsub(str,"{,","{@,")
  -- str = "@" .. str .. "@"
     local ok, done
-    local function do_first(a,b)
-        local t = { }
-        for s in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = a .. s end
-        return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
-    end
-    local function do_second(a,b)
-        local t = { }
-        for s in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = s .. b end
-        return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
-    end
-    local function do_both(a,b)
-        local t = { }
-        for sa in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do
-            for sb in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do
-                t[#t+1] = sa .. sb
-            end
-        end
-        return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
-    end
-    local function do_three(a,b,c)
-        return a .. b.. c
-    end
     while true do
         done = false
         while true do
@@ -4857,6 +4776,11 @@ local function splitpathexpr(str, t, validate)
             t[#t+1] = s
         end
     end
+    if trace_expansions then
+        for k,v in ipairs(t) do
+            logs.report("fileio","% 4i: %s",k,v)
+        end
+    end
     return t
 end
 
@@ -4919,14 +4843,14 @@ function resolvers.getownpath()
                     local olddir = lfs.currentdir()
                     if lfs.chdir(p) then
                         local pp = lfs.currentdir()
-                        if trace_verbose and p ~= pp then
-                            logs.report("fileio","following symlink %s to %s",p,pp)
+                        if trace_locating and p ~= pp then
+                            logs.report("fileio","following symlink '%s' to '%s'",p,pp)
                         end
                         resolvers.ownpath = pp
                         lfs.chdir(olddir)
                     else
-                        if trace_verbose then
-                            logs.report("fileio","unable to check path %s",p)
+                        if trace_locating then
+                            logs.report("fileio","unable to check path '%s'",p)
                         end
                         resolvers.ownpath =  p
                     end
@@ -4955,10 +4879,10 @@ local function identify_own()
     if resolvers.env('TEXMFCNF') == "" then os.env['TEXMFCNF'] = resolvers.cnfdefault end
     if resolvers.env('TEXOS')    == "" then os.env['TEXOS']    = resolvers.env('SELFAUTODIR') end
     if resolvers.env('TEXROOT')  == "" then os.env['TEXROOT']  = resolvers.env('SELFAUTOPARENT') end
-    if trace_verbose then
+    if trace_locating then
         for i=1,#own_places do
             local v = own_places[i]
-            logs.report("fileio","variable %s set to %s",v,resolvers.env(v) or "unknown")
+            logs.report("fileio","variable '%s' set to '%s'",v,resolvers.env(v) or "unknown")
         end
     end
     identify_own = function() end
@@ -4990,10 +4914,8 @@ end
 local function load_cnf_file(fname)
     fname = resolvers.clean_path(fname)
     local lname = file.replacesuffix(fname,'lua')
-    local f = io.open(lname)
-    if f then -- this will go
-        f:close()
-        local dname = file.dirname(fname)
+    if lfs.isfile(lname) then
+        local dname = file.dirname(fname) -- fname ?
         if not instance.configuration[dname] then
             resolvers.load_data(dname,'configuration',lname and file.basename(lname))
             instance.order[#instance.order+1] = instance.configuration[dname]
@@ -5001,8 +4923,8 @@ local function load_cnf_file(fname)
     else
         f = io.open(fname)
         if f then
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","loading %s", fname)
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","loading configuration file %s", fname)
             end
             local line, data, n, k, v
             local dname = file.dirname(fname)
@@ -5036,8 +4958,8 @@ local function load_cnf_file(fname)
                 end
             end
             f:close()
-        elseif trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","skipping %s", fname)
+        elseif trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file '%s'", fname)
         end
     end
 end
@@ -5064,8 +4986,11 @@ function resolvers.load_cnf()
         end
     end
     -- instance.cnffiles contain complete names now !
+    -- we still use a funny mix of cnf and new but soon
+    -- we will switch to lua exclusively as we only use
+    -- the file to collect the tree roots
     if #instance.cnffiles == 0 then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","no cnf files found (TEXMFCNF may not be set/known)")
         end
     else
@@ -5132,14 +5057,14 @@ end
 
 function resolvers.append_hash(type,tag,name)
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio","= hash append: %s",tag)
+        logs.report("fileio","hash '%s' appended",tag)
     end
     insert(instance.hashes, { ['type']=type, ['tag']=tag, ['name']=name } )
 end
 
 function resolvers.prepend_hash(type,tag,name)
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio","= hash prepend: %s",tag)
+        logs.report("fileio","hash '%s' prepended",tag)
     end
     insert(instance.hashes, 1, { ['type']=type, ['tag']=tag, ['name']=name } )
 end
@@ -5164,8 +5089,8 @@ end
 
 function resolvers.locatelists()
     for _, path in ipairs(resolvers.clean_path_list('TEXMF')) do
-        if trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","locating list of %s",path)
+        if trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","locating list of '%s'",path)
         end
         resolvers.locatedatabase(file.collapse_path(path))
     end
@@ -5178,11 +5103,11 @@ end
 function resolvers.locators.tex(specification)
     if specification and specification ~= '' and lfs.isdir(specification) then
         if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'! tex locator found: %s',specification)
+            logs.report("fileio","tex locator '%s' found",specification)
         end
         resolvers.append_hash('file',specification,filename)
     elseif trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'? tex locator not found: %s',specification)
+        logs.report("fileio","tex locator '%s' not found",specification)
     end
 end
 
@@ -5225,8 +5150,8 @@ local weird = lpeg.P(".")^1 + lpeg.anywhere(lpeg.S("~`!#$%^&*()={}[]:;\"\'||<>,?
 
 function resolvers.generators.tex(specification)
     local tag = specification
-    if trace_verbose then
-        logs.report("fileio","scanning path %s",specification)
+    if trace_locating then
+        logs.report("fileio","scanning path '%s'",specification)
     end
     instance.files[tag] = { }
     local files = instance.files[tag]
@@ -5275,7 +5200,7 @@ function resolvers.generators.tex(specification)
         end
     end
     action()
-    if trace_verbose then
+    if trace_locating then
         logs.report("fileio","%s files found on %s directories with %s uppercase remappings",n,m,r)
     end
 end
@@ -5305,7 +5230,12 @@ local function split_kpse_path(str) -- beware, this can be either a path or a {s
         else
             found = checkedsplit(str,io.pathseparator)
         end
-    --  print(table.serialize(found))
+        if trace_expansions then
+            logs.report("fileio","splitting path specification '%s'",str)
+            for k,v in ipairs(found) do
+                logs.report("fileio","% 4i: %s",k,v)
+            end
+        end
         cache[str] = found
     end
     return found
@@ -5335,6 +5265,7 @@ function resolvers.joinconfig()
         end
     end
 end
+
 function resolvers.split_path(str)
     if type(str) == 'table' then
         return str
@@ -5342,6 +5273,7 @@ function resolvers.split_path(str)
         return split_kpse_path(str)
     end
 end
+
 function resolvers.join_path(str)
     if type(str) == 'table' then
         return file.join_path(str)
@@ -5430,12 +5362,18 @@ function resolvers.serialize(files)
     return concat(t,"\n")
 end
 
+local data_state = { }
+
+function resolvers.data_state()
+    return data_state or { }
+end
+
 function resolvers.save_data(dataname, makename) -- untested without cache overload
     for cachename, files in next, instance[dataname] do
         local name = (makename or file.join)(cachename,dataname)
         local luaname, lucname = name .. ".lua", name .. ".luc"
-        if trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","preparing %s for %s",dataname,cachename)
+        if trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","preparing '%s' for '%s'",dataname,cachename)
         end
         for k, v in next, files do
             if type(v) == "table" and #v == 1 then
@@ -5449,24 +5387,25 @@ function resolvers.save_data(dataname, makename) -- untested without cache overl
             date    = os.date("%Y-%m-%d"),
             time    = os.date("%H:%M:%S"),
             content = files,
+            uuid    = os.uuid(),
         }
         local ok = io.savedata(luaname,resolvers.serialize(data))
         if ok then
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","%s saved in %s",dataname,luaname)
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","'%s' saved in '%s'",dataname,luaname)
             end
             if utils.lua.compile(luaname,lucname,false,true) then -- no cleanup but strip
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","%s compiled to %s",dataname,lucname)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","'%s' compiled to '%s'",dataname,lucname)
                 end
             else
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","compiling failed for %s, deleting file %s",dataname,lucname)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","compiling failed for '%s', deleting file '%s'",dataname,lucname)
                 end
                 os.remove(lucname)
             end
-        elseif trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","unable to save %s in %s (access error)",dataname,luaname)
+        elseif trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","unable to save '%s' in '%s' (access error)",dataname,luaname)
         end
     end
 end
@@ -5478,19 +5417,20 @@ function resolvers.load_data(pathname,dataname,filename,makename) -- untested wi
     if blob then
         local data = blob()
         if data and data.content and data.type == dataname and data.version == resolvers.cacheversion then
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","loading %s for %s from %s",dataname,pathname,filename)
+            data_state[#data_state+1] = data.uuid
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","loading '%s' for '%s' from '%s'",dataname,pathname,filename)
             end
             instance[dataname][pathname] = data.content
         else
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","skipping %s for %s from %s",dataname,pathname,filename)
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","skipping '%s' for '%s' from '%s'",dataname,pathname,filename)
             end
             instance[dataname][pathname] = { }
             instance.loaderror = true
         end
-    elseif trace_verbose then
-        logs.report("fileio","skipping %s for %s from %s",dataname,pathname,filename)
+    elseif trace_locating then
+        logs.report("fileio","skipping '%s' for '%s' from '%s'",dataname,pathname,filename)
     end
 end
 
@@ -5516,8 +5456,8 @@ function resolvers.loadnewconfig()
         if blob then
             local data = blob()
             if data then
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","loading configuration file %s",filename)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","loading configuration file '%s'",filename)
                 end
                 if true then
                     -- flatten to variable.progname
@@ -5538,14 +5478,14 @@ function resolvers.loadnewconfig()
                     instance['setup'][pathname] = data
                 end
             else
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file %s",filename)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file '%s'",filename)
                 end
                 instance['setup'][pathname] = { }
                 instance.loaderror = true
             end
-        elseif trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file %s",filename)
+        elseif trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file '%s'",filename)
         end
         instance.order[#instance.order+1] = instance.setup[pathname]
         if instance.loaderror then break end
@@ -5811,9 +5751,9 @@ function resolvers.isreadable.file(name)
     local readable = lfs.isfile(name) -- brrr
     if trace_detail then
         if readable then
-            logs.report("fileio","+ readable: %s",name)
+            logs.report("fileio","file '%s' is readable",name)
         else
-            logs.report("fileio","- readable: %s", name)
+            logs.report("fileio","file '%s' is not readable", name)
         end
     end
     return readable
@@ -5829,7 +5769,7 @@ local function collect_files(names)
     for k=1,#names do
         local fname = names[k]
         if trace_detail then
-            logs.report("fileio","? blobpath asked: %s",fname)
+            logs.report("fileio","using blobpath '%s'",fname)
         end
         local bname = file.basename(fname)
         local dname = file.dirname(fname)
@@ -5845,7 +5785,7 @@ local function collect_files(names)
             local files = blobpath and instance.files[blobpath]
             if files then
                 if trace_detail then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'? blobpath do: %s (%s)',blobpath,bname)
+                    logs.report("fileio","processing blobpath '%s' (%s)",blobpath,bname)
                 end
                 local blobfile = files[bname]
                 if not blobfile then
@@ -5879,7 +5819,7 @@ local function collect_files(names)
                     end
                 end
             elseif trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! blobpath no: %s (%s)',blobpath,bname)
+                logs.report("fileio","no blobpath '%s' (%s)",blobpath,bname)
             end
         end
     end
@@ -5936,7 +5876,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
         stamp = filename .. "--" .. instance.engine .. "--" .. instance.progname .. "--" .. instance.format
         if instance.found[stamp] then
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! remembered: %s',filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","remembering file '%s'",filename)
             end
             return instance.found[stamp]
         end
@@ -5944,7 +5884,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
     if not dangerous[instance.format or "?"] then
         if resolvers.isreadable.file(filename) then
             if trace_detail then
-                logs.report("fileio",'= found directly: %s',filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","file '%s' found directly",filename)
             end
             instance.found[stamp] = { filename }
             return { filename }
@@ -5952,13 +5892,13 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
     end
     if find(filename,'%*') then
         if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'! wildcard: %s', filename)
+            logs.report("fileio","checking wildcard '%s'", filename)
         end
         result = resolvers.find_wildcard_files(filename)
     elseif file.is_qualified_path(filename) then
         if resolvers.isreadable.file(filename) then
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! qualified: %s', filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","qualified name '%s'", filename)
             end
             result = { filename }
         else
@@ -5968,7 +5908,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                     forcedname = filename .. ".tex"
                     if resolvers.isreadable.file(forcedname) then
                         if trace_locating then
-                            logs.report("fileio",'! no suffix, forcing standard filetype: tex')
+                            logs.report("fileio","no suffix, forcing standard filetype 'tex'")
                         end
                         result, ok = { forcedname }, true
                     end
@@ -5978,7 +5918,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                         forcedname = filename .. "." .. s
                         if resolvers.isreadable.file(forcedname) then
                             if trace_locating then
-                                logs.report("fileio",'! no suffix, forcing format filetype: %s', s)
+                                logs.report("fileio","no suffix, forcing format filetype '%s'", s)
                             end
                             result, ok = { forcedname }, true
                             break
@@ -6028,7 +5968,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                 -- end
             end
             if not ok and trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? qualified: %s', filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","qualified name '%s'", filename)
             end
         end
     else
@@ -6047,12 +5987,12 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                 wantedfiles[#wantedfiles+1] = forcedname
                 filetype = resolvers.format_of_suffix(forcedname)
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'! forcing filetype: %s',filetype)
+                    logs.report("fileio","forcing filetype '%s'",filetype)
                 end
             else
                 filetype = resolvers.format_of_suffix(filename)
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'! using suffix based filetype: %s',filetype)
+                    logs.report("fileio","using suffix based filetype '%s'",filetype)
                 end
             end
         else
@@ -6064,7 +6004,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
             end
             filetype = instance.format
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! using given filetype: %s',filetype)
+                logs.report("fileio","using given filetype '%s'",filetype)
             end
         end
         local typespec = resolvers.variable_of_format(filetype)
@@ -6072,9 +6012,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
         if not pathlist or #pathlist == 0 then
             -- no pathlist, access check only / todo == wildcard
             if trace_detail then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? filename: %s',filename)
-                logs.report("fileio",'? filetype: %s',filetype or '?')
-                logs.report("fileio",'? wanted files: %s',concat(wantedfiles," | "))
+                logs.report("fileio","checking filename '%s', filetype '%s', wanted files '%s'",filename, filetype or '?',concat(wantedfiles," | "))
             end
             for k=1,#wantedfiles do
                 local fname = wantedfiles[k]
@@ -6097,7 +6035,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
             local filelist = collect_files(wantedfiles)
             local doscan, recurse
             if trace_detail then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? filename: %s',filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","checking filename '%s'",filename)
             end
             -- a bit messy ... esp the doscan setting here
             for k=1,#pathlist do
@@ -6118,7 +6056,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                         local f = fl[2]
                         if find(f,expr) then
                             if trace_detail then
-                                logs.report("fileio",'= found in hash: %s',f)
+                                logs.report("fileio","file '%s' found in hash",f)
                             end
                             --- todo, test for readable
                             result[#result+1] = fl[3]
@@ -6140,7 +6078,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                                     local fname = file.join(ppname,w)
                                     if resolvers.isreadable.file(fname) then
                                         if trace_detail then
-                                            logs.report("fileio",'= found by scanning: %s',fname)
+                                            logs.report("fileio","found '%s' by scanning",fname)
                                         end
                                         result[#result+1] = fname
                                         done = true
@@ -6313,9 +6251,9 @@ function resolvers.load(option)
     statistics.starttiming(instance)
     resolvers.resetconfig()
     resolvers.identify_cnf()
-    resolvers.load_lua()
+    resolvers.load_lua() -- will become the new method
     resolvers.expand_variables()
-    resolvers.load_cnf()
+    resolvers.load_cnf() -- will be skipped when we have a lua file
     resolvers.expand_variables()
     if option ~= "nofiles" then
         resolvers.load_hash()
@@ -6327,14 +6265,14 @@ end
 function resolvers.for_files(command, files, filetype, mustexist)
     if files and #files > 0 then
         local function report(str)
-            if trace_verbose then
+            if trace_locating then
                 logs.report("fileio",str) -- has already verbose
             else
                 print(str)
             end
         end
-        if trace_verbose then
-            report('')
+        if trace_locating then
+            report('') -- ?
         end
         for _, file in ipairs(files) do
             local result = command(file,filetype,mustexist)
@@ -6400,7 +6338,7 @@ function resolvers.methodhandler(what, filename, filetype) -- ...
     local scheme = specification.scheme
     if resolvers[what][scheme] then
         if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'= handler: %s -> %s -> %s',specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
+            logs.report("fileio","handler '%s' -> '%s' -> '%s'",specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
         end
         return resolvers[what][scheme](filename,filetype) -- todo: specification
     else
@@ -6736,8 +6674,6 @@ local format, lower, gsub = string.format, string.lower, string.gsub
 local trace_cache      = false  trackers.register("resolvers.cache",      function(v) trace_cache      = v end)
 local trace_containers = false  trackers.register("resolvers.containers", function(v) trace_containers = v end)
 local trace_storage    = false  trackers.register("resolvers.storage",    function(v) trace_storage    = v end)
-local trace_verbose    = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",    function(v) trace_verbose    = v end)
-local trace_locating   = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating",   function(v) trace_locating   = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
 
 --[[ldx--
 <p>Once we found ourselves defining similar cache constructs
@@ -6861,8 +6797,7 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['data-use'] = {
 
 local format, lower, gsub = string.format, string.lower, string.gsub
 
-local trace_verbose    = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",    function(v) trace_verbose    = v end)
-local trace_locating   = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating",   function(v) trace_locating   = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
 -- since we want to use the cache instead of the tree, we will now
 -- reimplement the saver.
@@ -7101,47 +7036,47 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['data-aux'] = {
 
 local find = string.find
 
-local trace_verbose = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose", function(v) trace_verbose = v end)
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
 function resolvers.update_script(oldname,newname) -- oldname -> own.name, not per se a suffix
     local scriptpath = "scripts/context/lua"
     newname = file.addsuffix(newname,"lua")
     local oldscript = resolvers.clean_path(oldname)
-    if trace_verbose then
+    if trace_locating then
         logs.report("fileio","to be replaced old script %s", oldscript)
     end
     local newscripts = resolvers.find_files(newname) or { }
     if #newscripts == 0 then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","unable to locate new script")
         end
     else
         for i=1,#newscripts do
             local newscript = resolvers.clean_path(newscripts[i])
-            if trace_verbose then
+            if trace_locating then
                 logs.report("fileio","checking new script %s", newscript)
             end
             if oldscript == newscript then
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","old and new script are the same")
                 end
             elseif not find(newscript,scriptpath) then
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","new script should come from %s",scriptpath)
                 end
             elseif not (find(oldscript,file.removesuffix(newname).."$") or find(oldscript,newname.."$")) then
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","invalid new script name")
                 end
             else
                 local newdata = io.loaddata(newscript)
                 if newdata then
-                    if trace_verbose then
+                    if trace_locating then
                         logs.report("fileio","old script content replaced by new content")
                     end
                     io.savedata(oldscript,newdata)
                     break
-                elseif trace_verbose then
+                elseif trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","unable to load new script")
                 end
             end
@@ -7399,6 +7334,7 @@ messages.help = [[
 --engine=str      target engine
 --progname=str    format or backend
 --pattern=str     filter variables
+--trackers=list   enable given trackers
 ]]
 
 function runners.make_format(texname)
@@ -7543,6 +7479,12 @@ local ok = true
 
 -- private option --noluc for testing errors in the stub
 
+local trackspec = environment.argument("trackers") or environment.argument("track")
+
+if trackspec then
+    trackers.enable(trackspec)
+end
+
 if environment.arguments["find-file"] then
     resolvers.load()
     instance.format  = environment.arguments["format"] or instance.format
diff --git a/scripts/context/lua/mtxrun.lua b/scripts/context/lua/mtxrun.lua
index 580e1a46f..26f5c4c2a 100644
--- a/scripts/context/lua/mtxrun.lua
+++ b/scripts/context/lua/mtxrun.lua
@@ -3332,92 +3332,6 @@ function directives.disable(...)
     d(...)
 end
 
---~ -- old code:
---
---~ trackers = trackers or { }
---~ local data, done = { }, { }
---~ local function set(what,value)
---~     if type(what) == "string" then
---~         what = aux.settings_to_array(what) -- inefficient but ok
---~     end
---~     for i=1,#what do
---~         local w = what[i]
---~         for d, f in next, data do
---~             if done[d] then
---~                 -- prevent recursion due to wildcards
---~             elseif find(d,w) then
---~                 done[d] = true
---~                 for i=1,#f do
---~                     f[i](value)
---~                 end
---~             end
---~         end
---~     end
---~ end
---~ local function reset()
---~     for d, f in next, data do
---~         for i=1,#f do
---~             f[i](false)
---~         end
---~     end
---~ end
---~ local function enable(what)
---~     set(what,true)
---~ end
---~ local function disable(what)
---~     if not what or what == "" then
---~         done = { }
---~         reset()
---~     else
---~         set(what,false)
---~     end
---~ end
---~ function trackers.register(what,...)
---~     what = lower(what)
---~     local w = data[what]
---~     if not w then
---~         w = { }
---~         data[what] = w
---~     end
---~     for _, fnc in next, { ... } do
---~         local typ = type(fnc)
---~         if typ == "function" then
---~             w[#w+1] = fnc
---~         elseif typ == "string" then
---~             w[#w+1] = function(value) set(fnc,value,nesting) end
---~         end
---~     end
---~ end
---~ function trackers.enable(what)
---~     local e = trackers.enable
---~     trackers.enable, done = enable, { }
---~     enable(string.simpleesc(what))
---~     trackers.enable, done = e, { }
---~ end
---~ function trackers.disable(what)
---~     local e = trackers.disable
---~     trackers.disable, done = disable, { }
---~     disable(string.simpleesc(what))
---~     trackers.disable, done = e, { }
---~ end
---~ function trackers.reset()
---~     done = { }
---~     reset()
---~ end
---~ function trackers.list() -- pattern
---~     local list = table.sortedkeys(data)
---~     local user, system = { }, { }
---~     for l=1,#list do
---~         local what = list[l]
---~         if find(what,"^%*") then
---~             system[#system+1] = what
---~         else
---~             user[#user+1] = what
---~         end
---~     end
---~     return user, system
---~ end
-
 
 end -- of closure
 
@@ -6449,8 +6363,7 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['luat-env'] = {
 -- evolved before bytecode arrays were available and so a lot of
 -- code has disappeared already.
 
-local trace_verbose  = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",  function(v) trace_verbose  = v end)
-local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
 local format = string.format
 
@@ -6641,12 +6554,12 @@ function environment.luafilechunk(filename) -- used for loading lua bytecode in
     filename = file.replacesuffix(filename, "lua")
     local fullname = environment.luafile(filename)
     if fullname and fullname ~= "" then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","loading file %s", fullname)
         end
         return environment.loadedluacode(fullname)
     else
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","unknown file %s", filename)
         end
         return nil
@@ -6666,7 +6579,7 @@ function environment.loadluafile(filename, version)
     -- when not overloaded by explicit suffix we look for a luc file first
     local fullname = (lucname and environment.luafile(lucname)) or ""
     if fullname ~= "" then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","loading %s", fullname)
         end
         chunk = loadfile(fullname) -- this way we don't need a file exists check
@@ -6684,7 +6597,7 @@ function environment.loadluafile(filename, version)
             if v == version then
                 return true
             else
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","version mismatch for %s: lua=%s, luc=%s", filename, v, version)
                 end
                 environment.loadluafile(filename)
@@ -6695,12 +6608,12 @@ function environment.loadluafile(filename, version)
     end
     fullname = (luaname and environment.luafile(luaname)) or ""
     if fullname ~= "" then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","loading %s", fullname)
         end
         chunk = loadfile(fullname) -- this way we don't need a file exists check
         if not chunk then
-            if verbose then
+            if trace_locating then
                 logs.report("fileio","unknown file %s", filename)
             end
         else
@@ -7095,7 +7008,7 @@ end
 function logs.setprogram(_name_,_banner_,_verbose_)
     name, banner = _name_, _banner_
     if _verbose_ then
-        trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose")
+        trackers.enable("resolvers.locating")
     end
     logs.set_method("tex")
     logs.report = report -- also used in libraries
@@ -7108,9 +7021,9 @@ end
 
 function logs.setverbose(what)
     if what then
-        trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose")
+        trackers.enable("resolvers.locating")
     else
-        trackers.disable("resolvers.verbose")
+        trackers.disable("resolvers.locating")
     end
     logs.verbose = what or false
 end
@@ -7215,11 +7128,11 @@ local format, gsub, find, lower, upper, match, gmatch = string.format, string.gs
 local concat, insert, sortedkeys = table.concat, table.insert, table.sortedkeys
 local next, type = next, type
 
-local trace_locating, trace_detail, trace_verbose  = false, false, false
+local trace_locating, trace_detail, trace_expansions = false, false, false
 
-trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",  function(v) trace_verbose  = v end)
-trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
-trackers.register("resolvers.detail",   function(v) trace_detail   = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose,resolvers.detail") end)
+trackers.register("resolvers.locating",   function(v) trace_locating   = v end)
+trackers.register("resolvers.details",    function(v) trace_detail     = v end)
+trackers.register("resolvers.expansions", function(v) trace_expansions = v end) -- todo
 
 if not resolvers then
     resolvers = {
@@ -7528,37 +7441,43 @@ end
 -- work that well; the parsing is ok, but dealing with the resulting
 -- table is a pain because we need to work inside-out recursively
 
+local function do_first(a,b)
+    local t = { }
+    for s in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = a .. s end
+    return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
+end
+
+local function do_second(a,b)
+    local t = { }
+    for s in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = s .. b end
+    return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
+end
+
+local function do_both(a,b)
+    local t = { }
+    for sa in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do
+        for sb in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do
+            t[#t+1] = sa .. sb
+        end
+    end
+    return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
+end
+
+local function do_three(a,b,c)
+    return a .. b.. c
+end
+
 local function splitpathexpr(str, t, validate)
     -- no need for further optimization as it is only called a
-    -- few times, we can use lpeg for the sub; we could move
-    -- the local functions outside the body
+    -- few times, we can use lpeg for the sub
+    if trace_expansion then
+        logs.report("fileio","expanding variable '%s'",str)
+    end
     t = t or { }
     str = gsub(str,",}",",@}")
     str = gsub(str,"{,","{@,")
  -- str = "@" .. str .. "@"
     local ok, done
-    local function do_first(a,b)
-        local t = { }
-        for s in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = a .. s end
-        return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
-    end
-    local function do_second(a,b)
-        local t = { }
-        for s in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = s .. b end
-        return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
-    end
-    local function do_both(a,b)
-        local t = { }
-        for sa in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do
-            for sb in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do
-                t[#t+1] = sa .. sb
-            end
-        end
-        return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
-    end
-    local function do_three(a,b,c)
-        return a .. b.. c
-    end
     while true do
         done = false
         while true do
@@ -7589,6 +7508,11 @@ local function splitpathexpr(str, t, validate)
             t[#t+1] = s
         end
     end
+    if trace_expansions then
+        for k,v in ipairs(t) do
+            logs.report("fileio","% 4i: %s",k,v)
+        end
+    end
     return t
 end
 
@@ -7651,14 +7575,14 @@ function resolvers.getownpath()
                     local olddir = lfs.currentdir()
                     if lfs.chdir(p) then
                         local pp = lfs.currentdir()
-                        if trace_verbose and p ~= pp then
-                            logs.report("fileio","following symlink %s to %s",p,pp)
+                        if trace_locating and p ~= pp then
+                            logs.report("fileio","following symlink '%s' to '%s'",p,pp)
                         end
                         resolvers.ownpath = pp
                         lfs.chdir(olddir)
                     else
-                        if trace_verbose then
-                            logs.report("fileio","unable to check path %s",p)
+                        if trace_locating then
+                            logs.report("fileio","unable to check path '%s'",p)
                         end
                         resolvers.ownpath =  p
                     end
@@ -7687,10 +7611,10 @@ local function identify_own()
     if resolvers.env('TEXMFCNF') == "" then os.env['TEXMFCNF'] = resolvers.cnfdefault end
     if resolvers.env('TEXOS')    == "" then os.env['TEXOS']    = resolvers.env('SELFAUTODIR') end
     if resolvers.env('TEXROOT')  == "" then os.env['TEXROOT']  = resolvers.env('SELFAUTOPARENT') end
-    if trace_verbose then
+    if trace_locating then
         for i=1,#own_places do
             local v = own_places[i]
-            logs.report("fileio","variable %s set to %s",v,resolvers.env(v) or "unknown")
+            logs.report("fileio","variable '%s' set to '%s'",v,resolvers.env(v) or "unknown")
         end
     end
     identify_own = function() end
@@ -7722,10 +7646,8 @@ end
 local function load_cnf_file(fname)
     fname = resolvers.clean_path(fname)
     local lname = file.replacesuffix(fname,'lua')
-    local f = io.open(lname)
-    if f then -- this will go
-        f:close()
-        local dname = file.dirname(fname)
+    if lfs.isfile(lname) then
+        local dname = file.dirname(fname) -- fname ?
         if not instance.configuration[dname] then
             resolvers.load_data(dname,'configuration',lname and file.basename(lname))
             instance.order[#instance.order+1] = instance.configuration[dname]
@@ -7733,8 +7655,8 @@ local function load_cnf_file(fname)
     else
         f = io.open(fname)
         if f then
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","loading %s", fname)
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","loading configuration file %s", fname)
             end
             local line, data, n, k, v
             local dname = file.dirname(fname)
@@ -7768,8 +7690,8 @@ local function load_cnf_file(fname)
                 end
             end
             f:close()
-        elseif trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","skipping %s", fname)
+        elseif trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file '%s'", fname)
         end
     end
 end
@@ -7796,8 +7718,11 @@ function resolvers.load_cnf()
         end
     end
     -- instance.cnffiles contain complete names now !
+    -- we still use a funny mix of cnf and new but soon
+    -- we will switch to lua exclusively as we only use
+    -- the file to collect the tree roots
     if #instance.cnffiles == 0 then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","no cnf files found (TEXMFCNF may not be set/known)")
         end
     else
@@ -7864,14 +7789,14 @@ end
 
 function resolvers.append_hash(type,tag,name)
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio","= hash append: %s",tag)
+        logs.report("fileio","hash '%s' appended",tag)
     end
     insert(instance.hashes, { ['type']=type, ['tag']=tag, ['name']=name } )
 end
 
 function resolvers.prepend_hash(type,tag,name)
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio","= hash prepend: %s",tag)
+        logs.report("fileio","hash '%s' prepended",tag)
     end
     insert(instance.hashes, 1, { ['type']=type, ['tag']=tag, ['name']=name } )
 end
@@ -7896,8 +7821,8 @@ end
 
 function resolvers.locatelists()
     for _, path in ipairs(resolvers.clean_path_list('TEXMF')) do
-        if trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","locating list of %s",path)
+        if trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","locating list of '%s'",path)
         end
         resolvers.locatedatabase(file.collapse_path(path))
     end
@@ -7910,11 +7835,11 @@ end
 function resolvers.locators.tex(specification)
     if specification and specification ~= '' and lfs.isdir(specification) then
         if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'! tex locator found: %s',specification)
+            logs.report("fileio","tex locator '%s' found",specification)
         end
         resolvers.append_hash('file',specification,filename)
     elseif trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'? tex locator not found: %s',specification)
+        logs.report("fileio","tex locator '%s' not found",specification)
     end
 end
 
@@ -7957,8 +7882,8 @@ local weird = lpeg.P(".")^1 + lpeg.anywhere(lpeg.S("~`!#$%^&*()={}[]:;\"\'||<>,?
 
 function resolvers.generators.tex(specification)
     local tag = specification
-    if trace_verbose then
-        logs.report("fileio","scanning path %s",specification)
+    if trace_locating then
+        logs.report("fileio","scanning path '%s'",specification)
     end
     instance.files[tag] = { }
     local files = instance.files[tag]
@@ -8007,7 +7932,7 @@ function resolvers.generators.tex(specification)
         end
     end
     action()
-    if trace_verbose then
+    if trace_locating then
         logs.report("fileio","%s files found on %s directories with %s uppercase remappings",n,m,r)
     end
 end
@@ -8037,7 +7962,12 @@ local function split_kpse_path(str) -- beware, this can be either a path or a {s
         else
             found = checkedsplit(str,io.pathseparator)
         end
-    --  print(table.serialize(found))
+        if trace_expansions then
+            logs.report("fileio","splitting path specification '%s'",str)
+            for k,v in ipairs(found) do
+                logs.report("fileio","% 4i: %s",k,v)
+            end
+        end
         cache[str] = found
     end
     return found
@@ -8067,6 +7997,7 @@ function resolvers.joinconfig()
         end
     end
 end
+
 function resolvers.split_path(str)
     if type(str) == 'table' then
         return str
@@ -8074,6 +8005,7 @@ function resolvers.split_path(str)
         return split_kpse_path(str)
     end
 end
+
 function resolvers.join_path(str)
     if type(str) == 'table' then
         return file.join_path(str)
@@ -8162,12 +8094,18 @@ function resolvers.serialize(files)
     return concat(t,"\n")
 end
 
+local data_state = { }
+
+function resolvers.data_state()
+    return data_state or { }
+end
+
 function resolvers.save_data(dataname, makename) -- untested without cache overload
     for cachename, files in next, instance[dataname] do
         local name = (makename or file.join)(cachename,dataname)
         local luaname, lucname = name .. ".lua", name .. ".luc"
-        if trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","preparing %s for %s",dataname,cachename)
+        if trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","preparing '%s' for '%s'",dataname,cachename)
         end
         for k, v in next, files do
             if type(v) == "table" and #v == 1 then
@@ -8181,24 +8119,25 @@ function resolvers.save_data(dataname, makename) -- untested without cache overl
             date    = os.date("%Y-%m-%d"),
             time    = os.date("%H:%M:%S"),
             content = files,
+            uuid    = os.uuid(),
         }
         local ok = io.savedata(luaname,resolvers.serialize(data))
         if ok then
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","%s saved in %s",dataname,luaname)
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","'%s' saved in '%s'",dataname,luaname)
             end
             if utils.lua.compile(luaname,lucname,false,true) then -- no cleanup but strip
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","%s compiled to %s",dataname,lucname)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","'%s' compiled to '%s'",dataname,lucname)
                 end
             else
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","compiling failed for %s, deleting file %s",dataname,lucname)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","compiling failed for '%s', deleting file '%s'",dataname,lucname)
                 end
                 os.remove(lucname)
             end
-        elseif trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","unable to save %s in %s (access error)",dataname,luaname)
+        elseif trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","unable to save '%s' in '%s' (access error)",dataname,luaname)
         end
     end
 end
@@ -8210,19 +8149,20 @@ function resolvers.load_data(pathname,dataname,filename,makename) -- untested wi
     if blob then
         local data = blob()
         if data and data.content and data.type == dataname and data.version == resolvers.cacheversion then
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","loading %s for %s from %s",dataname,pathname,filename)
+            data_state[#data_state+1] = data.uuid
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","loading '%s' for '%s' from '%s'",dataname,pathname,filename)
             end
             instance[dataname][pathname] = data.content
         else
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","skipping %s for %s from %s",dataname,pathname,filename)
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","skipping '%s' for '%s' from '%s'",dataname,pathname,filename)
             end
             instance[dataname][pathname] = { }
             instance.loaderror = true
         end
-    elseif trace_verbose then
-        logs.report("fileio","skipping %s for %s from %s",dataname,pathname,filename)
+    elseif trace_locating then
+        logs.report("fileio","skipping '%s' for '%s' from '%s'",dataname,pathname,filename)
     end
 end
 
@@ -8248,8 +8188,8 @@ function resolvers.loadnewconfig()
         if blob then
             local data = blob()
             if data then
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","loading configuration file %s",filename)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","loading configuration file '%s'",filename)
                 end
                 if true then
                     -- flatten to variable.progname
@@ -8270,14 +8210,14 @@ function resolvers.loadnewconfig()
                     instance['setup'][pathname] = data
                 end
             else
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file %s",filename)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file '%s'",filename)
                 end
                 instance['setup'][pathname] = { }
                 instance.loaderror = true
             end
-        elseif trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file %s",filename)
+        elseif trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file '%s'",filename)
         end
         instance.order[#instance.order+1] = instance.setup[pathname]
         if instance.loaderror then break end
@@ -8543,9 +8483,9 @@ function resolvers.isreadable.file(name)
     local readable = lfs.isfile(name) -- brrr
     if trace_detail then
         if readable then
-            logs.report("fileio","+ readable: %s",name)
+            logs.report("fileio","file '%s' is readable",name)
         else
-            logs.report("fileio","- readable: %s", name)
+            logs.report("fileio","file '%s' is not readable", name)
         end
     end
     return readable
@@ -8561,7 +8501,7 @@ local function collect_files(names)
     for k=1,#names do
         local fname = names[k]
         if trace_detail then
-            logs.report("fileio","? blobpath asked: %s",fname)
+            logs.report("fileio","using blobpath '%s'",fname)
         end
         local bname = file.basename(fname)
         local dname = file.dirname(fname)
@@ -8577,7 +8517,7 @@ local function collect_files(names)
             local files = blobpath and instance.files[blobpath]
             if files then
                 if trace_detail then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'? blobpath do: %s (%s)',blobpath,bname)
+                    logs.report("fileio","processing blobpath '%s' (%s)",blobpath,bname)
                 end
                 local blobfile = files[bname]
                 if not blobfile then
@@ -8611,7 +8551,7 @@ local function collect_files(names)
                     end
                 end
             elseif trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! blobpath no: %s (%s)',blobpath,bname)
+                logs.report("fileio","no blobpath '%s' (%s)",blobpath,bname)
             end
         end
     end
@@ -8668,7 +8608,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
         stamp = filename .. "--" .. instance.engine .. "--" .. instance.progname .. "--" .. instance.format
         if instance.found[stamp] then
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! remembered: %s',filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","remembering file '%s'",filename)
             end
             return instance.found[stamp]
         end
@@ -8676,7 +8616,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
     if not dangerous[instance.format or "?"] then
         if resolvers.isreadable.file(filename) then
             if trace_detail then
-                logs.report("fileio",'= found directly: %s',filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","file '%s' found directly",filename)
             end
             instance.found[stamp] = { filename }
             return { filename }
@@ -8684,13 +8624,13 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
     end
     if find(filename,'%*') then
         if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'! wildcard: %s', filename)
+            logs.report("fileio","checking wildcard '%s'", filename)
         end
         result = resolvers.find_wildcard_files(filename)
     elseif file.is_qualified_path(filename) then
         if resolvers.isreadable.file(filename) then
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! qualified: %s', filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","qualified name '%s'", filename)
             end
             result = { filename }
         else
@@ -8700,7 +8640,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                     forcedname = filename .. ".tex"
                     if resolvers.isreadable.file(forcedname) then
                         if trace_locating then
-                            logs.report("fileio",'! no suffix, forcing standard filetype: tex')
+                            logs.report("fileio","no suffix, forcing standard filetype 'tex'")
                         end
                         result, ok = { forcedname }, true
                     end
@@ -8710,7 +8650,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                         forcedname = filename .. "." .. s
                         if resolvers.isreadable.file(forcedname) then
                             if trace_locating then
-                                logs.report("fileio",'! no suffix, forcing format filetype: %s', s)
+                                logs.report("fileio","no suffix, forcing format filetype '%s'", s)
                             end
                             result, ok = { forcedname }, true
                             break
@@ -8760,7 +8700,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                 -- end
             end
             if not ok and trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? qualified: %s', filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","qualified name '%s'", filename)
             end
         end
     else
@@ -8779,12 +8719,12 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                 wantedfiles[#wantedfiles+1] = forcedname
                 filetype = resolvers.format_of_suffix(forcedname)
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'! forcing filetype: %s',filetype)
+                    logs.report("fileio","forcing filetype '%s'",filetype)
                 end
             else
                 filetype = resolvers.format_of_suffix(filename)
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'! using suffix based filetype: %s',filetype)
+                    logs.report("fileio","using suffix based filetype '%s'",filetype)
                 end
             end
         else
@@ -8796,7 +8736,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
             end
             filetype = instance.format
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! using given filetype: %s',filetype)
+                logs.report("fileio","using given filetype '%s'",filetype)
             end
         end
         local typespec = resolvers.variable_of_format(filetype)
@@ -8804,9 +8744,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
         if not pathlist or #pathlist == 0 then
             -- no pathlist, access check only / todo == wildcard
             if trace_detail then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? filename: %s',filename)
-                logs.report("fileio",'? filetype: %s',filetype or '?')
-                logs.report("fileio",'? wanted files: %s',concat(wantedfiles," | "))
+                logs.report("fileio","checking filename '%s', filetype '%s', wanted files '%s'",filename, filetype or '?',concat(wantedfiles," | "))
             end
             for k=1,#wantedfiles do
                 local fname = wantedfiles[k]
@@ -8829,7 +8767,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
             local filelist = collect_files(wantedfiles)
             local doscan, recurse
             if trace_detail then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? filename: %s',filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","checking filename '%s'",filename)
             end
             -- a bit messy ... esp the doscan setting here
             for k=1,#pathlist do
@@ -8850,7 +8788,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                         local f = fl[2]
                         if find(f,expr) then
                             if trace_detail then
-                                logs.report("fileio",'= found in hash: %s',f)
+                                logs.report("fileio","file '%s' found in hash",f)
                             end
                             --- todo, test for readable
                             result[#result+1] = fl[3]
@@ -8872,7 +8810,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                                     local fname = file.join(ppname,w)
                                     if resolvers.isreadable.file(fname) then
                                         if trace_detail then
-                                            logs.report("fileio",'= found by scanning: %s',fname)
+                                            logs.report("fileio","found '%s' by scanning",fname)
                                         end
                                         result[#result+1] = fname
                                         done = true
@@ -9045,9 +8983,9 @@ function resolvers.load(option)
     statistics.starttiming(instance)
     resolvers.resetconfig()
     resolvers.identify_cnf()
-    resolvers.load_lua()
+    resolvers.load_lua() -- will become the new method
     resolvers.expand_variables()
-    resolvers.load_cnf()
+    resolvers.load_cnf() -- will be skipped when we have a lua file
     resolvers.expand_variables()
     if option ~= "nofiles" then
         resolvers.load_hash()
@@ -9059,14 +8997,14 @@ end
 function resolvers.for_files(command, files, filetype, mustexist)
     if files and #files > 0 then
         local function report(str)
-            if trace_verbose then
+            if trace_locating then
                 logs.report("fileio",str) -- has already verbose
             else
                 print(str)
             end
         end
-        if trace_verbose then
-            report('')
+        if trace_locating then
+            report('') -- ?
         end
         for _, file in ipairs(files) do
             local result = command(file,filetype,mustexist)
@@ -9132,7 +9070,7 @@ function resolvers.methodhandler(what, filename, filetype) -- ...
     local scheme = specification.scheme
     if resolvers[what][scheme] then
         if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'= handler: %s -> %s -> %s',specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
+            logs.report("fileio","handler '%s' -> '%s' -> '%s'",specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
         end
         return resolvers[what][scheme](filename,filetype) -- todo: specification
     else
@@ -9564,8 +9502,6 @@ local format, lower, gsub = string.format, string.lower, string.gsub
 local trace_cache      = false  trackers.register("resolvers.cache",      function(v) trace_cache      = v end)
 local trace_containers = false  trackers.register("resolvers.containers", function(v) trace_containers = v end)
 local trace_storage    = false  trackers.register("resolvers.storage",    function(v) trace_storage    = v end)
-local trace_verbose    = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",    function(v) trace_verbose    = v end)
-local trace_locating   = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating",   function(v) trace_locating   = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
 
 --[[ldx--
 <p>Once we found ourselves defining similar cache constructs
@@ -9689,8 +9625,7 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['data-use'] = {
 
 local format, lower, gsub = string.format, string.lower, string.gsub
 
-local trace_verbose    = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",    function(v) trace_verbose    = v end)
-local trace_locating   = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating",   function(v) trace_locating   = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
 -- since we want to use the cache instead of the tree, we will now
 -- reimplement the saver.
@@ -9822,10 +9757,13 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['data-zip'] = {
 
 local format, find = string.format, string.find
 
-local trace_locating, trace_verbose  = false, false
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
-trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",  function(v) trace_verbose  = v end)
-trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v trace_verbose = v end)
+-- zip:///oeps.zip?name=bla/bla.tex
+-- zip:///oeps.zip?tree=tex/texmf-local
+-- zip:///texmf.zip?tree=/tex/texmf
+-- zip:///texmf.zip?tree=/tex/texmf-local
+-- zip:///texmf-mine.zip?tree=/tex/texmf-projects
 
 zip                 = zip or { }
 zip.archives        = zip.archives or { }
@@ -9836,9 +9774,6 @@ local locators, hashers, concatinators = resolvers.locators, resolvers.hashers,
 
 local archives = zip.archives
 
--- zip:///oeps.zip?name=bla/bla.tex
--- zip:///oeps.zip?tree=tex/texmf-local
-
 local function validzip(str) -- todo: use url splitter
     if not find(str,"^zip://") then
         return "zip:///" .. str
@@ -9868,26 +9803,22 @@ function zip.closearchive(name)
     end
 end
 
--- zip:///texmf.zip?tree=/tex/texmf
--- zip:///texmf.zip?tree=/tex/texmf-local
--- zip:///texmf-mine.zip?tree=/tex/texmf-projects
-
 function locators.zip(specification) -- where is this used? startup zips (untested)
     specification = resolvers.splitmethod(specification)
     local zipfile = specification.path
     local zfile = zip.openarchive(name) -- tricky, could be in to be initialized tree
     if trace_locating then
         if zfile then
-            logs.report("fileio",'! zip locator, found: %s',specification.original)
+            logs.report("fileio","zip locator, archive '%s' found",specification.original)
         else
-            logs.report("fileio",'? zip locator, not found: %s',specification.original)
+            logs.report("fileio","zip locator, archive '%s' not found",specification.original)
         end
     end
 end
 
 function hashers.zip(tag,name)
-    if trace_verbose then
-        logs.report("fileio","loading zip file %s as %s",name,tag)
+    if trace_locating then
+        logs.report("fileio","loading zip file '%s' as '%s'",name,tag)
     end
     resolvers.usezipfile(format("%s?tree=%s",tag,name))
 end
@@ -9912,23 +9843,25 @@ function finders.zip(specification,filetype)
             local zfile = zip.openarchive(specification.path)
             if zfile then
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'! zip finder, path: %s',specification.path)
+                    logs.report("fileio","zip finder, archive '%s' found",specification.path)
                 end
                 local dfile = zfile:open(q.name)
                 if dfile then
                     dfile = zfile:close()
                     if trace_locating then
-                        logs.report("fileio",'+ zip finder, name: %s',q.name)
+                        logs.report("fileio","zip finder, file '%s' found",q.name)
                     end
                     return specification.original
+                elseif trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","zip finder, file '%s' not found",q.name)
                 end
             elseif trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? zip finder, path %s',specification.path)
+                logs.report("fileio","zip finder, unknown archive '%s'",specification.path)
             end
         end
     end
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'- zip finder, name: %s',filename)
+        logs.report("fileio","zip finder, '%s' not found",filename)
     end
     return unpack(finders.notfound)
 end
@@ -9941,20 +9874,25 @@ function openers.zip(specification)
             local zfile = zip.openarchive(zipspecification.path)
             if zfile then
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'+ zip starter, path: %s',zipspecification.path)
+                    logs.report("fileio","zip opener, archive '%s' opened",zipspecification.path)
                 end
                 local dfile = zfile:open(q.name)
                 if dfile then
                     logs.show_open(specification)
+                    if trace_locating then
+                        logs.report("fileio","zip opener, file '%s' found",q.name)
+                    end
                     return openers.text_opener(specification,dfile,'zip')
+                elseif trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","zip opener, file '%s' not found",q.name)
                 end
             elseif trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'- zip starter, path %s',zipspecification.path)
+                logs.report("fileio","zip opener, unknown archive '%s'",zipspecification.path)
             end
         end
     end
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'- zip opener, name: %s',filename)
+        logs.report("fileio","zip opener, '%s' not found",filename)
     end
     return unpack(openers.notfound)
 end
@@ -9967,25 +9905,27 @@ function loaders.zip(specification)
             local zfile = zip.openarchive(specification.path)
             if zfile then
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'+ zip starter, path: %s',specification.path)
+                    logs.report("fileio","zip loader, archive '%s' opened",specification.path)
                 end
                 local dfile = zfile:open(q.name)
                 if dfile then
                     logs.show_load(filename)
                     if trace_locating then
-                        logs.report("fileio",'+ zip loader, name: %s',filename)
+                        logs.report("fileio","zip loader, file '%s' loaded",filename)
                     end
                     local s = dfile:read("*all")
                     dfile:close()
                     return true, s, #s
+                elseif trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","zip loader, file '%s' not found",q.name)
                 end
             elseif trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'- zip starter, path: %s',specification.path)
+                logs.report("fileio","zip loader, unknown archive '%s'",specification.path)
             end
         end
     end
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'- zip loader, name: %s',filename)
+        logs.report("fileio","zip loader, '%s' not found",filename)
     end
     return unpack(openers.notfound)
 end
@@ -9995,21 +9935,15 @@ end
 
 function resolvers.usezipfile(zipname)
     zipname = validzip(zipname)
-    if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'! zip use, file: %s',zipname)
-    end
     local specification = resolvers.splitmethod(zipname)
     local zipfile = specification.path
     if zipfile and not zip.registeredfiles[zipname] then
         local tree = url.query(specification.query).tree or ""
-        if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'! zip register, file: %s',zipname)
-        end
         local z = zip.openarchive(zipfile)
         if z then
             local instance = resolvers.instance
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio","= zipfile, registering: %s",zipname)
+                logs.report("fileio","zip registering, registering archive '%s'",zipname)
             end
             statistics.starttiming(instance)
             resolvers.prepend_hash('zip',zipname,zipfile)
@@ -10018,10 +9952,10 @@ function resolvers.usezipfile(zipname)
             instance.files[zipname] = resolvers.register_zip_file(z,tree or "")
             statistics.stoptiming(instance)
         elseif trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio","? zipfile, unknown: %s",zipname)
+            logs.report("fileio","zip registering, unknown archive '%s'",zipname)
         end
     elseif trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'! zip register, no file: %s',zipname)
+        logs.report("fileio","zip registering, '%s' not found",zipname)
     end
 end
 
@@ -10033,7 +9967,7 @@ function resolvers.register_zip_file(z,tree)
         filter = format("^%s/(.+)/(.-)$",tree)
     end
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'= zip filter: %s',filter)
+        logs.report("fileio","zip registering, using filter '%s'",filter)
     end
     local register, n = resolvers.register_file, 0
     for i in z:files() do
@@ -10050,7 +9984,7 @@ function resolvers.register_zip_file(z,tree)
             n = n + 1
         end
     end
-    logs.report("fileio",'= zip entries: %s',n)
+    logs.report("fileio","zip registering, %s files registered",n)
     return files
 end
 
@@ -10240,47 +10174,47 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['data-aux'] = {
 
 local find = string.find
 
-local trace_verbose = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose", function(v) trace_verbose = v end)
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
 function resolvers.update_script(oldname,newname) -- oldname -> own.name, not per se a suffix
     local scriptpath = "scripts/context/lua"
     newname = file.addsuffix(newname,"lua")
     local oldscript = resolvers.clean_path(oldname)
-    if trace_verbose then
+    if trace_locating then
         logs.report("fileio","to be replaced old script %s", oldscript)
     end
     local newscripts = resolvers.find_files(newname) or { }
     if #newscripts == 0 then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","unable to locate new script")
         end
     else
         for i=1,#newscripts do
             local newscript = resolvers.clean_path(newscripts[i])
-            if trace_verbose then
+            if trace_locating then
                 logs.report("fileio","checking new script %s", newscript)
             end
             if oldscript == newscript then
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","old and new script are the same")
                 end
             elseif not find(newscript,scriptpath) then
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","new script should come from %s",scriptpath)
                 end
             elseif not (find(oldscript,file.removesuffix(newname).."$") or find(oldscript,newname.."$")) then
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","invalid new script name")
                 end
             else
                 local newdata = io.loaddata(newscript)
                 if newdata then
-                    if trace_verbose then
+                    if trace_locating then
                         logs.report("fileio","old script content replaced by new content")
                     end
                     io.savedata(oldscript,newdata)
                     break
-                elseif trace_verbose then
+                elseif trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","unable to load new script")
                 end
             end
@@ -10690,6 +10624,7 @@ messages.help = [[
 --unix                create unix (linux) stubs
 
 --verbose             give a bit more info
+--trackers=list       enable given trackers
 --engine=str          target engine
 --progname=str        format or backend
 
@@ -11246,6 +11181,11 @@ else
 
 end
 
+local trackspec = environment.argument("trackers") or environment.argument("track")
+
+if trackspec then
+    trackers.enable(trackspec)
+end
 
 if environment.argument("selfmerge") then
     -- embed used libraries
diff --git a/scripts/context/stubs/mswin/luatools.lua b/scripts/context/stubs/mswin/luatools.lua
index 70c391421..692213b09 100644
--- a/scripts/context/stubs/mswin/luatools.lua
+++ b/scripts/context/stubs/mswin/luatools.lua
@@ -3612,92 +3612,6 @@ function directives.disable(...)
     d(...)
 end
 
---~ -- old code:
---
---~ trackers = trackers or { }
---~ local data, done = { }, { }
---~ local function set(what,value)
---~     if type(what) == "string" then
---~         what = aux.settings_to_array(what) -- inefficient but ok
---~     end
---~     for i=1,#what do
---~         local w = what[i]
---~         for d, f in next, data do
---~             if done[d] then
---~                 -- prevent recursion due to wildcards
---~             elseif find(d,w) then
---~                 done[d] = true
---~                 for i=1,#f do
---~                     f[i](value)
---~                 end
---~             end
---~         end
---~     end
---~ end
---~ local function reset()
---~     for d, f in next, data do
---~         for i=1,#f do
---~             f[i](false)
---~         end
---~     end
---~ end
---~ local function enable(what)
---~     set(what,true)
---~ end
---~ local function disable(what)
---~     if not what or what == "" then
---~         done = { }
---~         reset()
---~     else
---~         set(what,false)
---~     end
---~ end
---~ function trackers.register(what,...)
---~     what = lower(what)
---~     local w = data[what]
---~     if not w then
---~         w = { }
---~         data[what] = w
---~     end
---~     for _, fnc in next, { ... } do
---~         local typ = type(fnc)
---~         if typ == "function" then
---~             w[#w+1] = fnc
---~         elseif typ == "string" then
---~             w[#w+1] = function(value) set(fnc,value,nesting) end
---~         end
---~     end
---~ end
---~ function trackers.enable(what)
---~     local e = trackers.enable
---~     trackers.enable, done = enable, { }
---~     enable(string.simpleesc(what))
---~     trackers.enable, done = e, { }
---~ end
---~ function trackers.disable(what)
---~     local e = trackers.disable
---~     trackers.disable, done = disable, { }
---~     disable(string.simpleesc(what))
---~     trackers.disable, done = e, { }
---~ end
---~ function trackers.reset()
---~     done = { }
---~     reset()
---~ end
---~ function trackers.list() -- pattern
---~     local list = table.sortedkeys(data)
---~     local user, system = { }, { }
---~     for l=1,#list do
---~         local what = list[l]
---~         if find(what,"^%*") then
---~             system[#system+1] = what
---~         else
---~             user[#user+1] = what
---~         end
---~     end
---~     return user, system
---~ end
-
 
 end -- of closure
 
@@ -3717,8 +3631,7 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['luat-env'] = {
 -- evolved before bytecode arrays were available and so a lot of
 -- code has disappeared already.
 
-local trace_verbose  = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",  function(v) trace_verbose  = v end)
-local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
 local format = string.format
 
@@ -3909,12 +3822,12 @@ function environment.luafilechunk(filename) -- used for loading lua bytecode in
     filename = file.replacesuffix(filename, "lua")
     local fullname = environment.luafile(filename)
     if fullname and fullname ~= "" then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","loading file %s", fullname)
         end
         return environment.loadedluacode(fullname)
     else
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","unknown file %s", filename)
         end
         return nil
@@ -3934,7 +3847,7 @@ function environment.loadluafile(filename, version)
     -- when not overloaded by explicit suffix we look for a luc file first
     local fullname = (lucname and environment.luafile(lucname)) or ""
     if fullname ~= "" then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","loading %s", fullname)
         end
         chunk = loadfile(fullname) -- this way we don't need a file exists check
@@ -3952,7 +3865,7 @@ function environment.loadluafile(filename, version)
             if v == version then
                 return true
             else
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","version mismatch for %s: lua=%s, luc=%s", filename, v, version)
                 end
                 environment.loadluafile(filename)
@@ -3963,12 +3876,12 @@ function environment.loadluafile(filename, version)
     end
     fullname = (luaname and environment.luafile(luaname)) or ""
     if fullname ~= "" then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","loading %s", fullname)
         end
         chunk = loadfile(fullname) -- this way we don't need a file exists check
         if not chunk then
-            if verbose then
+            if trace_locating then
                 logs.report("fileio","unknown file %s", filename)
             end
         else
@@ -4363,7 +4276,7 @@ end
 function logs.setprogram(_name_,_banner_,_verbose_)
     name, banner = _name_, _banner_
     if _verbose_ then
-        trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose")
+        trackers.enable("resolvers.locating")
     end
     logs.set_method("tex")
     logs.report = report -- also used in libraries
@@ -4376,9 +4289,9 @@ end
 
 function logs.setverbose(what)
     if what then
-        trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose")
+        trackers.enable("resolvers.locating")
     else
-        trackers.disable("resolvers.verbose")
+        trackers.disable("resolvers.locating")
     end
     logs.verbose = what or false
 end
@@ -4483,11 +4396,11 @@ local format, gsub, find, lower, upper, match, gmatch = string.format, string.gs
 local concat, insert, sortedkeys = table.concat, table.insert, table.sortedkeys
 local next, type = next, type
 
-local trace_locating, trace_detail, trace_verbose  = false, false, false
+local trace_locating, trace_detail, trace_expansions = false, false, false
 
-trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",  function(v) trace_verbose  = v end)
-trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
-trackers.register("resolvers.detail",   function(v) trace_detail   = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose,resolvers.detail") end)
+trackers.register("resolvers.locating",   function(v) trace_locating   = v end)
+trackers.register("resolvers.details",    function(v) trace_detail     = v end)
+trackers.register("resolvers.expansions", function(v) trace_expansions = v end) -- todo
 
 if not resolvers then
     resolvers = {
@@ -4796,37 +4709,43 @@ end
 -- work that well; the parsing is ok, but dealing with the resulting
 -- table is a pain because we need to work inside-out recursively
 
+local function do_first(a,b)
+    local t = { }
+    for s in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = a .. s end
+    return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
+end
+
+local function do_second(a,b)
+    local t = { }
+    for s in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = s .. b end
+    return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
+end
+
+local function do_both(a,b)
+    local t = { }
+    for sa in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do
+        for sb in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do
+            t[#t+1] = sa .. sb
+        end
+    end
+    return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
+end
+
+local function do_three(a,b,c)
+    return a .. b.. c
+end
+
 local function splitpathexpr(str, t, validate)
     -- no need for further optimization as it is only called a
-    -- few times, we can use lpeg for the sub; we could move
-    -- the local functions outside the body
+    -- few times, we can use lpeg for the sub
+    if trace_expansion then
+        logs.report("fileio","expanding variable '%s'",str)
+    end
     t = t or { }
     str = gsub(str,",}",",@}")
     str = gsub(str,"{,","{@,")
  -- str = "@" .. str .. "@"
     local ok, done
-    local function do_first(a,b)
-        local t = { }
-        for s in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = a .. s end
-        return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
-    end
-    local function do_second(a,b)
-        local t = { }
-        for s in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = s .. b end
-        return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
-    end
-    local function do_both(a,b)
-        local t = { }
-        for sa in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do
-            for sb in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do
-                t[#t+1] = sa .. sb
-            end
-        end
-        return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
-    end
-    local function do_three(a,b,c)
-        return a .. b.. c
-    end
     while true do
         done = false
         while true do
@@ -4857,6 +4776,11 @@ local function splitpathexpr(str, t, validate)
             t[#t+1] = s
         end
     end
+    if trace_expansions then
+        for k,v in ipairs(t) do
+            logs.report("fileio","% 4i: %s",k,v)
+        end
+    end
     return t
 end
 
@@ -4919,14 +4843,14 @@ function resolvers.getownpath()
                     local olddir = lfs.currentdir()
                     if lfs.chdir(p) then
                         local pp = lfs.currentdir()
-                        if trace_verbose and p ~= pp then
-                            logs.report("fileio","following symlink %s to %s",p,pp)
+                        if trace_locating and p ~= pp then
+                            logs.report("fileio","following symlink '%s' to '%s'",p,pp)
                         end
                         resolvers.ownpath = pp
                         lfs.chdir(olddir)
                     else
-                        if trace_verbose then
-                            logs.report("fileio","unable to check path %s",p)
+                        if trace_locating then
+                            logs.report("fileio","unable to check path '%s'",p)
                         end
                         resolvers.ownpath =  p
                     end
@@ -4955,10 +4879,10 @@ local function identify_own()
     if resolvers.env('TEXMFCNF') == "" then os.env['TEXMFCNF'] = resolvers.cnfdefault end
     if resolvers.env('TEXOS')    == "" then os.env['TEXOS']    = resolvers.env('SELFAUTODIR') end
     if resolvers.env('TEXROOT')  == "" then os.env['TEXROOT']  = resolvers.env('SELFAUTOPARENT') end
-    if trace_verbose then
+    if trace_locating then
         for i=1,#own_places do
             local v = own_places[i]
-            logs.report("fileio","variable %s set to %s",v,resolvers.env(v) or "unknown")
+            logs.report("fileio","variable '%s' set to '%s'",v,resolvers.env(v) or "unknown")
         end
     end
     identify_own = function() end
@@ -4990,10 +4914,8 @@ end
 local function load_cnf_file(fname)
     fname = resolvers.clean_path(fname)
     local lname = file.replacesuffix(fname,'lua')
-    local f = io.open(lname)
-    if f then -- this will go
-        f:close()
-        local dname = file.dirname(fname)
+    if lfs.isfile(lname) then
+        local dname = file.dirname(fname) -- fname ?
         if not instance.configuration[dname] then
             resolvers.load_data(dname,'configuration',lname and file.basename(lname))
             instance.order[#instance.order+1] = instance.configuration[dname]
@@ -5001,8 +4923,8 @@ local function load_cnf_file(fname)
     else
         f = io.open(fname)
         if f then
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","loading %s", fname)
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","loading configuration file %s", fname)
             end
             local line, data, n, k, v
             local dname = file.dirname(fname)
@@ -5036,8 +4958,8 @@ local function load_cnf_file(fname)
                 end
             end
             f:close()
-        elseif trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","skipping %s", fname)
+        elseif trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file '%s'", fname)
         end
     end
 end
@@ -5064,8 +4986,11 @@ function resolvers.load_cnf()
         end
     end
     -- instance.cnffiles contain complete names now !
+    -- we still use a funny mix of cnf and new but soon
+    -- we will switch to lua exclusively as we only use
+    -- the file to collect the tree roots
     if #instance.cnffiles == 0 then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","no cnf files found (TEXMFCNF may not be set/known)")
         end
     else
@@ -5132,14 +5057,14 @@ end
 
 function resolvers.append_hash(type,tag,name)
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio","= hash append: %s",tag)
+        logs.report("fileio","hash '%s' appended",tag)
     end
     insert(instance.hashes, { ['type']=type, ['tag']=tag, ['name']=name } )
 end
 
 function resolvers.prepend_hash(type,tag,name)
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio","= hash prepend: %s",tag)
+        logs.report("fileio","hash '%s' prepended",tag)
     end
     insert(instance.hashes, 1, { ['type']=type, ['tag']=tag, ['name']=name } )
 end
@@ -5164,8 +5089,8 @@ end
 
 function resolvers.locatelists()
     for _, path in ipairs(resolvers.clean_path_list('TEXMF')) do
-        if trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","locating list of %s",path)
+        if trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","locating list of '%s'",path)
         end
         resolvers.locatedatabase(file.collapse_path(path))
     end
@@ -5178,11 +5103,11 @@ end
 function resolvers.locators.tex(specification)
     if specification and specification ~= '' and lfs.isdir(specification) then
         if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'! tex locator found: %s',specification)
+            logs.report("fileio","tex locator '%s' found",specification)
         end
         resolvers.append_hash('file',specification,filename)
     elseif trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'? tex locator not found: %s',specification)
+        logs.report("fileio","tex locator '%s' not found",specification)
     end
 end
 
@@ -5225,8 +5150,8 @@ local weird = lpeg.P(".")^1 + lpeg.anywhere(lpeg.S("~`!#$%^&*()={}[]:;\"\'||<>,?
 
 function resolvers.generators.tex(specification)
     local tag = specification
-    if trace_verbose then
-        logs.report("fileio","scanning path %s",specification)
+    if trace_locating then
+        logs.report("fileio","scanning path '%s'",specification)
     end
     instance.files[tag] = { }
     local files = instance.files[tag]
@@ -5275,7 +5200,7 @@ function resolvers.generators.tex(specification)
         end
     end
     action()
-    if trace_verbose then
+    if trace_locating then
         logs.report("fileio","%s files found on %s directories with %s uppercase remappings",n,m,r)
     end
 end
@@ -5305,7 +5230,12 @@ local function split_kpse_path(str) -- beware, this can be either a path or a {s
         else
             found = checkedsplit(str,io.pathseparator)
         end
-    --  print(table.serialize(found))
+        if trace_expansions then
+            logs.report("fileio","splitting path specification '%s'",str)
+            for k,v in ipairs(found) do
+                logs.report("fileio","% 4i: %s",k,v)
+            end
+        end
         cache[str] = found
     end
     return found
@@ -5335,6 +5265,7 @@ function resolvers.joinconfig()
         end
     end
 end
+
 function resolvers.split_path(str)
     if type(str) == 'table' then
         return str
@@ -5342,6 +5273,7 @@ function resolvers.split_path(str)
         return split_kpse_path(str)
     end
 end
+
 function resolvers.join_path(str)
     if type(str) == 'table' then
         return file.join_path(str)
@@ -5430,12 +5362,18 @@ function resolvers.serialize(files)
     return concat(t,"\n")
 end
 
+local data_state = { }
+
+function resolvers.data_state()
+    return data_state or { }
+end
+
 function resolvers.save_data(dataname, makename) -- untested without cache overload
     for cachename, files in next, instance[dataname] do
         local name = (makename or file.join)(cachename,dataname)
         local luaname, lucname = name .. ".lua", name .. ".luc"
-        if trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","preparing %s for %s",dataname,cachename)
+        if trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","preparing '%s' for '%s'",dataname,cachename)
         end
         for k, v in next, files do
             if type(v) == "table" and #v == 1 then
@@ -5449,24 +5387,25 @@ function resolvers.save_data(dataname, makename) -- untested without cache overl
             date    = os.date("%Y-%m-%d"),
             time    = os.date("%H:%M:%S"),
             content = files,
+            uuid    = os.uuid(),
         }
         local ok = io.savedata(luaname,resolvers.serialize(data))
         if ok then
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","%s saved in %s",dataname,luaname)
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","'%s' saved in '%s'",dataname,luaname)
             end
             if utils.lua.compile(luaname,lucname,false,true) then -- no cleanup but strip
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","%s compiled to %s",dataname,lucname)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","'%s' compiled to '%s'",dataname,lucname)
                 end
             else
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","compiling failed for %s, deleting file %s",dataname,lucname)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","compiling failed for '%s', deleting file '%s'",dataname,lucname)
                 end
                 os.remove(lucname)
             end
-        elseif trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","unable to save %s in %s (access error)",dataname,luaname)
+        elseif trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","unable to save '%s' in '%s' (access error)",dataname,luaname)
         end
     end
 end
@@ -5478,19 +5417,20 @@ function resolvers.load_data(pathname,dataname,filename,makename) -- untested wi
     if blob then
         local data = blob()
         if data and data.content and data.type == dataname and data.version == resolvers.cacheversion then
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","loading %s for %s from %s",dataname,pathname,filename)
+            data_state[#data_state+1] = data.uuid
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","loading '%s' for '%s' from '%s'",dataname,pathname,filename)
             end
             instance[dataname][pathname] = data.content
         else
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","skipping %s for %s from %s",dataname,pathname,filename)
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","skipping '%s' for '%s' from '%s'",dataname,pathname,filename)
             end
             instance[dataname][pathname] = { }
             instance.loaderror = true
         end
-    elseif trace_verbose then
-        logs.report("fileio","skipping %s for %s from %s",dataname,pathname,filename)
+    elseif trace_locating then
+        logs.report("fileio","skipping '%s' for '%s' from '%s'",dataname,pathname,filename)
     end
 end
 
@@ -5516,8 +5456,8 @@ function resolvers.loadnewconfig()
         if blob then
             local data = blob()
             if data then
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","loading configuration file %s",filename)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","loading configuration file '%s'",filename)
                 end
                 if true then
                     -- flatten to variable.progname
@@ -5538,14 +5478,14 @@ function resolvers.loadnewconfig()
                     instance['setup'][pathname] = data
                 end
             else
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file %s",filename)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file '%s'",filename)
                 end
                 instance['setup'][pathname] = { }
                 instance.loaderror = true
             end
-        elseif trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file %s",filename)
+        elseif trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file '%s'",filename)
         end
         instance.order[#instance.order+1] = instance.setup[pathname]
         if instance.loaderror then break end
@@ -5811,9 +5751,9 @@ function resolvers.isreadable.file(name)
     local readable = lfs.isfile(name) -- brrr
     if trace_detail then
         if readable then
-            logs.report("fileio","+ readable: %s",name)
+            logs.report("fileio","file '%s' is readable",name)
         else
-            logs.report("fileio","- readable: %s", name)
+            logs.report("fileio","file '%s' is not readable", name)
         end
     end
     return readable
@@ -5829,7 +5769,7 @@ local function collect_files(names)
     for k=1,#names do
         local fname = names[k]
         if trace_detail then
-            logs.report("fileio","? blobpath asked: %s",fname)
+            logs.report("fileio","using blobpath '%s'",fname)
         end
         local bname = file.basename(fname)
         local dname = file.dirname(fname)
@@ -5845,7 +5785,7 @@ local function collect_files(names)
             local files = blobpath and instance.files[blobpath]
             if files then
                 if trace_detail then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'? blobpath do: %s (%s)',blobpath,bname)
+                    logs.report("fileio","processing blobpath '%s' (%s)",blobpath,bname)
                 end
                 local blobfile = files[bname]
                 if not blobfile then
@@ -5879,7 +5819,7 @@ local function collect_files(names)
                     end
                 end
             elseif trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! blobpath no: %s (%s)',blobpath,bname)
+                logs.report("fileio","no blobpath '%s' (%s)",blobpath,bname)
             end
         end
     end
@@ -5936,7 +5876,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
         stamp = filename .. "--" .. instance.engine .. "--" .. instance.progname .. "--" .. instance.format
         if instance.found[stamp] then
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! remembered: %s',filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","remembering file '%s'",filename)
             end
             return instance.found[stamp]
         end
@@ -5944,7 +5884,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
     if not dangerous[instance.format or "?"] then
         if resolvers.isreadable.file(filename) then
             if trace_detail then
-                logs.report("fileio",'= found directly: %s',filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","file '%s' found directly",filename)
             end
             instance.found[stamp] = { filename }
             return { filename }
@@ -5952,13 +5892,13 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
     end
     if find(filename,'%*') then
         if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'! wildcard: %s', filename)
+            logs.report("fileio","checking wildcard '%s'", filename)
         end
         result = resolvers.find_wildcard_files(filename)
     elseif file.is_qualified_path(filename) then
         if resolvers.isreadable.file(filename) then
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! qualified: %s', filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","qualified name '%s'", filename)
             end
             result = { filename }
         else
@@ -5968,7 +5908,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                     forcedname = filename .. ".tex"
                     if resolvers.isreadable.file(forcedname) then
                         if trace_locating then
-                            logs.report("fileio",'! no suffix, forcing standard filetype: tex')
+                            logs.report("fileio","no suffix, forcing standard filetype 'tex'")
                         end
                         result, ok = { forcedname }, true
                     end
@@ -5978,7 +5918,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                         forcedname = filename .. "." .. s
                         if resolvers.isreadable.file(forcedname) then
                             if trace_locating then
-                                logs.report("fileio",'! no suffix, forcing format filetype: %s', s)
+                                logs.report("fileio","no suffix, forcing format filetype '%s'", s)
                             end
                             result, ok = { forcedname }, true
                             break
@@ -6028,7 +5968,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                 -- end
             end
             if not ok and trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? qualified: %s', filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","qualified name '%s'", filename)
             end
         end
     else
@@ -6047,12 +5987,12 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                 wantedfiles[#wantedfiles+1] = forcedname
                 filetype = resolvers.format_of_suffix(forcedname)
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'! forcing filetype: %s',filetype)
+                    logs.report("fileio","forcing filetype '%s'",filetype)
                 end
             else
                 filetype = resolvers.format_of_suffix(filename)
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'! using suffix based filetype: %s',filetype)
+                    logs.report("fileio","using suffix based filetype '%s'",filetype)
                 end
             end
         else
@@ -6064,7 +6004,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
             end
             filetype = instance.format
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! using given filetype: %s',filetype)
+                logs.report("fileio","using given filetype '%s'",filetype)
             end
         end
         local typespec = resolvers.variable_of_format(filetype)
@@ -6072,9 +6012,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
         if not pathlist or #pathlist == 0 then
             -- no pathlist, access check only / todo == wildcard
             if trace_detail then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? filename: %s',filename)
-                logs.report("fileio",'? filetype: %s',filetype or '?')
-                logs.report("fileio",'? wanted files: %s',concat(wantedfiles," | "))
+                logs.report("fileio","checking filename '%s', filetype '%s', wanted files '%s'",filename, filetype or '?',concat(wantedfiles," | "))
             end
             for k=1,#wantedfiles do
                 local fname = wantedfiles[k]
@@ -6097,7 +6035,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
             local filelist = collect_files(wantedfiles)
             local doscan, recurse
             if trace_detail then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? filename: %s',filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","checking filename '%s'",filename)
             end
             -- a bit messy ... esp the doscan setting here
             for k=1,#pathlist do
@@ -6118,7 +6056,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                         local f = fl[2]
                         if find(f,expr) then
                             if trace_detail then
-                                logs.report("fileio",'= found in hash: %s',f)
+                                logs.report("fileio","file '%s' found in hash",f)
                             end
                             --- todo, test for readable
                             result[#result+1] = fl[3]
@@ -6140,7 +6078,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                                     local fname = file.join(ppname,w)
                                     if resolvers.isreadable.file(fname) then
                                         if trace_detail then
-                                            logs.report("fileio",'= found by scanning: %s',fname)
+                                            logs.report("fileio","found '%s' by scanning",fname)
                                         end
                                         result[#result+1] = fname
                                         done = true
@@ -6313,9 +6251,9 @@ function resolvers.load(option)
     statistics.starttiming(instance)
     resolvers.resetconfig()
     resolvers.identify_cnf()
-    resolvers.load_lua()
+    resolvers.load_lua() -- will become the new method
     resolvers.expand_variables()
-    resolvers.load_cnf()
+    resolvers.load_cnf() -- will be skipped when we have a lua file
     resolvers.expand_variables()
     if option ~= "nofiles" then
         resolvers.load_hash()
@@ -6327,14 +6265,14 @@ end
 function resolvers.for_files(command, files, filetype, mustexist)
     if files and #files > 0 then
         local function report(str)
-            if trace_verbose then
+            if trace_locating then
                 logs.report("fileio",str) -- has already verbose
             else
                 print(str)
             end
         end
-        if trace_verbose then
-            report('')
+        if trace_locating then
+            report('') -- ?
         end
         for _, file in ipairs(files) do
             local result = command(file,filetype,mustexist)
@@ -6400,7 +6338,7 @@ function resolvers.methodhandler(what, filename, filetype) -- ...
     local scheme = specification.scheme
     if resolvers[what][scheme] then
         if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'= handler: %s -> %s -> %s',specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
+            logs.report("fileio","handler '%s' -> '%s' -> '%s'",specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
         end
         return resolvers[what][scheme](filename,filetype) -- todo: specification
     else
@@ -6736,8 +6674,6 @@ local format, lower, gsub = string.format, string.lower, string.gsub
 local trace_cache      = false  trackers.register("resolvers.cache",      function(v) trace_cache      = v end)
 local trace_containers = false  trackers.register("resolvers.containers", function(v) trace_containers = v end)
 local trace_storage    = false  trackers.register("resolvers.storage",    function(v) trace_storage    = v end)
-local trace_verbose    = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",    function(v) trace_verbose    = v end)
-local trace_locating   = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating",   function(v) trace_locating   = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
 
 --[[ldx--
 <p>Once we found ourselves defining similar cache constructs
@@ -6861,8 +6797,7 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['data-use'] = {
 
 local format, lower, gsub = string.format, string.lower, string.gsub
 
-local trace_verbose    = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",    function(v) trace_verbose    = v end)
-local trace_locating   = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating",   function(v) trace_locating   = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
 -- since we want to use the cache instead of the tree, we will now
 -- reimplement the saver.
@@ -7101,47 +7036,47 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['data-aux'] = {
 
 local find = string.find
 
-local trace_verbose = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose", function(v) trace_verbose = v end)
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
 function resolvers.update_script(oldname,newname) -- oldname -> own.name, not per se a suffix
     local scriptpath = "scripts/context/lua"
     newname = file.addsuffix(newname,"lua")
     local oldscript = resolvers.clean_path(oldname)
-    if trace_verbose then
+    if trace_locating then
         logs.report("fileio","to be replaced old script %s", oldscript)
     end
     local newscripts = resolvers.find_files(newname) or { }
     if #newscripts == 0 then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","unable to locate new script")
         end
     else
         for i=1,#newscripts do
             local newscript = resolvers.clean_path(newscripts[i])
-            if trace_verbose then
+            if trace_locating then
                 logs.report("fileio","checking new script %s", newscript)
             end
             if oldscript == newscript then
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","old and new script are the same")
                 end
             elseif not find(newscript,scriptpath) then
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","new script should come from %s",scriptpath)
                 end
             elseif not (find(oldscript,file.removesuffix(newname).."$") or find(oldscript,newname.."$")) then
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","invalid new script name")
                 end
             else
                 local newdata = io.loaddata(newscript)
                 if newdata then
-                    if trace_verbose then
+                    if trace_locating then
                         logs.report("fileio","old script content replaced by new content")
                     end
                     io.savedata(oldscript,newdata)
                     break
-                elseif trace_verbose then
+                elseif trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","unable to load new script")
                 end
             end
@@ -7399,6 +7334,7 @@ messages.help = [[
 --engine=str      target engine
 --progname=str    format or backend
 --pattern=str     filter variables
+--trackers=list   enable given trackers
 ]]
 
 function runners.make_format(texname)
@@ -7543,6 +7479,12 @@ local ok = true
 
 -- private option --noluc for testing errors in the stub
 
+local trackspec = environment.argument("trackers") or environment.argument("track")
+
+if trackspec then
+    trackers.enable(trackspec)
+end
+
 if environment.arguments["find-file"] then
     resolvers.load()
     instance.format  = environment.arguments["format"] or instance.format
diff --git a/scripts/context/stubs/mswin/mtxrun.lua b/scripts/context/stubs/mswin/mtxrun.lua
index 580e1a46f..26f5c4c2a 100644
--- a/scripts/context/stubs/mswin/mtxrun.lua
+++ b/scripts/context/stubs/mswin/mtxrun.lua
@@ -3332,92 +3332,6 @@ function directives.disable(...)
     d(...)
 end
 
---~ -- old code:
---
---~ trackers = trackers or { }
---~ local data, done = { }, { }
---~ local function set(what,value)
---~     if type(what) == "string" then
---~         what = aux.settings_to_array(what) -- inefficient but ok
---~     end
---~     for i=1,#what do
---~         local w = what[i]
---~         for d, f in next, data do
---~             if done[d] then
---~                 -- prevent recursion due to wildcards
---~             elseif find(d,w) then
---~                 done[d] = true
---~                 for i=1,#f do
---~                     f[i](value)
---~                 end
---~             end
---~         end
---~     end
---~ end
---~ local function reset()
---~     for d, f in next, data do
---~         for i=1,#f do
---~             f[i](false)
---~         end
---~     end
---~ end
---~ local function enable(what)
---~     set(what,true)
---~ end
---~ local function disable(what)
---~     if not what or what == "" then
---~         done = { }
---~         reset()
---~     else
---~         set(what,false)
---~     end
---~ end
---~ function trackers.register(what,...)
---~     what = lower(what)
---~     local w = data[what]
---~     if not w then
---~         w = { }
---~         data[what] = w
---~     end
---~     for _, fnc in next, { ... } do
---~         local typ = type(fnc)
---~         if typ == "function" then
---~             w[#w+1] = fnc
---~         elseif typ == "string" then
---~             w[#w+1] = function(value) set(fnc,value,nesting) end
---~         end
---~     end
---~ end
---~ function trackers.enable(what)
---~     local e = trackers.enable
---~     trackers.enable, done = enable, { }
---~     enable(string.simpleesc(what))
---~     trackers.enable, done = e, { }
---~ end
---~ function trackers.disable(what)
---~     local e = trackers.disable
---~     trackers.disable, done = disable, { }
---~     disable(string.simpleesc(what))
---~     trackers.disable, done = e, { }
---~ end
---~ function trackers.reset()
---~     done = { }
---~     reset()
---~ end
---~ function trackers.list() -- pattern
---~     local list = table.sortedkeys(data)
---~     local user, system = { }, { }
---~     for l=1,#list do
---~         local what = list[l]
---~         if find(what,"^%*") then
---~             system[#system+1] = what
---~         else
---~             user[#user+1] = what
---~         end
---~     end
---~     return user, system
---~ end
-
 
 end -- of closure
 
@@ -6449,8 +6363,7 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['luat-env'] = {
 -- evolved before bytecode arrays were available and so a lot of
 -- code has disappeared already.
 
-local trace_verbose  = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",  function(v) trace_verbose  = v end)
-local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
 local format = string.format
 
@@ -6641,12 +6554,12 @@ function environment.luafilechunk(filename) -- used for loading lua bytecode in
     filename = file.replacesuffix(filename, "lua")
     local fullname = environment.luafile(filename)
     if fullname and fullname ~= "" then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","loading file %s", fullname)
         end
         return environment.loadedluacode(fullname)
     else
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","unknown file %s", filename)
         end
         return nil
@@ -6666,7 +6579,7 @@ function environment.loadluafile(filename, version)
     -- when not overloaded by explicit suffix we look for a luc file first
     local fullname = (lucname and environment.luafile(lucname)) or ""
     if fullname ~= "" then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","loading %s", fullname)
         end
         chunk = loadfile(fullname) -- this way we don't need a file exists check
@@ -6684,7 +6597,7 @@ function environment.loadluafile(filename, version)
             if v == version then
                 return true
             else
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","version mismatch for %s: lua=%s, luc=%s", filename, v, version)
                 end
                 environment.loadluafile(filename)
@@ -6695,12 +6608,12 @@ function environment.loadluafile(filename, version)
     end
     fullname = (luaname and environment.luafile(luaname)) or ""
     if fullname ~= "" then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","loading %s", fullname)
         end
         chunk = loadfile(fullname) -- this way we don't need a file exists check
         if not chunk then
-            if verbose then
+            if trace_locating then
                 logs.report("fileio","unknown file %s", filename)
             end
         else
@@ -7095,7 +7008,7 @@ end
 function logs.setprogram(_name_,_banner_,_verbose_)
     name, banner = _name_, _banner_
     if _verbose_ then
-        trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose")
+        trackers.enable("resolvers.locating")
     end
     logs.set_method("tex")
     logs.report = report -- also used in libraries
@@ -7108,9 +7021,9 @@ end
 
 function logs.setverbose(what)
     if what then
-        trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose")
+        trackers.enable("resolvers.locating")
     else
-        trackers.disable("resolvers.verbose")
+        trackers.disable("resolvers.locating")
     end
     logs.verbose = what or false
 end
@@ -7215,11 +7128,11 @@ local format, gsub, find, lower, upper, match, gmatch = string.format, string.gs
 local concat, insert, sortedkeys = table.concat, table.insert, table.sortedkeys
 local next, type = next, type
 
-local trace_locating, trace_detail, trace_verbose  = false, false, false
+local trace_locating, trace_detail, trace_expansions = false, false, false
 
-trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",  function(v) trace_verbose  = v end)
-trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
-trackers.register("resolvers.detail",   function(v) trace_detail   = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose,resolvers.detail") end)
+trackers.register("resolvers.locating",   function(v) trace_locating   = v end)
+trackers.register("resolvers.details",    function(v) trace_detail     = v end)
+trackers.register("resolvers.expansions", function(v) trace_expansions = v end) -- todo
 
 if not resolvers then
     resolvers = {
@@ -7528,37 +7441,43 @@ end
 -- work that well; the parsing is ok, but dealing with the resulting
 -- table is a pain because we need to work inside-out recursively
 
+local function do_first(a,b)
+    local t = { }
+    for s in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = a .. s end
+    return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
+end
+
+local function do_second(a,b)
+    local t = { }
+    for s in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = s .. b end
+    return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
+end
+
+local function do_both(a,b)
+    local t = { }
+    for sa in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do
+        for sb in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do
+            t[#t+1] = sa .. sb
+        end
+    end
+    return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
+end
+
+local function do_three(a,b,c)
+    return a .. b.. c
+end
+
 local function splitpathexpr(str, t, validate)
     -- no need for further optimization as it is only called a
-    -- few times, we can use lpeg for the sub; we could move
-    -- the local functions outside the body
+    -- few times, we can use lpeg for the sub
+    if trace_expansion then
+        logs.report("fileio","expanding variable '%s'",str)
+    end
     t = t or { }
     str = gsub(str,",}",",@}")
     str = gsub(str,"{,","{@,")
  -- str = "@" .. str .. "@"
     local ok, done
-    local function do_first(a,b)
-        local t = { }
-        for s in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = a .. s end
-        return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
-    end
-    local function do_second(a,b)
-        local t = { }
-        for s in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = s .. b end
-        return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
-    end
-    local function do_both(a,b)
-        local t = { }
-        for sa in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do
-            for sb in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do
-                t[#t+1] = sa .. sb
-            end
-        end
-        return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
-    end
-    local function do_three(a,b,c)
-        return a .. b.. c
-    end
     while true do
         done = false
         while true do
@@ -7589,6 +7508,11 @@ local function splitpathexpr(str, t, validate)
             t[#t+1] = s
         end
     end
+    if trace_expansions then
+        for k,v in ipairs(t) do
+            logs.report("fileio","% 4i: %s",k,v)
+        end
+    end
     return t
 end
 
@@ -7651,14 +7575,14 @@ function resolvers.getownpath()
                     local olddir = lfs.currentdir()
                     if lfs.chdir(p) then
                         local pp = lfs.currentdir()
-                        if trace_verbose and p ~= pp then
-                            logs.report("fileio","following symlink %s to %s",p,pp)
+                        if trace_locating and p ~= pp then
+                            logs.report("fileio","following symlink '%s' to '%s'",p,pp)
                         end
                         resolvers.ownpath = pp
                         lfs.chdir(olddir)
                     else
-                        if trace_verbose then
-                            logs.report("fileio","unable to check path %s",p)
+                        if trace_locating then
+                            logs.report("fileio","unable to check path '%s'",p)
                         end
                         resolvers.ownpath =  p
                     end
@@ -7687,10 +7611,10 @@ local function identify_own()
     if resolvers.env('TEXMFCNF') == "" then os.env['TEXMFCNF'] = resolvers.cnfdefault end
     if resolvers.env('TEXOS')    == "" then os.env['TEXOS']    = resolvers.env('SELFAUTODIR') end
     if resolvers.env('TEXROOT')  == "" then os.env['TEXROOT']  = resolvers.env('SELFAUTOPARENT') end
-    if trace_verbose then
+    if trace_locating then
         for i=1,#own_places do
             local v = own_places[i]
-            logs.report("fileio","variable %s set to %s",v,resolvers.env(v) or "unknown")
+            logs.report("fileio","variable '%s' set to '%s'",v,resolvers.env(v) or "unknown")
         end
     end
     identify_own = function() end
@@ -7722,10 +7646,8 @@ end
 local function load_cnf_file(fname)
     fname = resolvers.clean_path(fname)
     local lname = file.replacesuffix(fname,'lua')
-    local f = io.open(lname)
-    if f then -- this will go
-        f:close()
-        local dname = file.dirname(fname)
+    if lfs.isfile(lname) then
+        local dname = file.dirname(fname) -- fname ?
         if not instance.configuration[dname] then
             resolvers.load_data(dname,'configuration',lname and file.basename(lname))
             instance.order[#instance.order+1] = instance.configuration[dname]
@@ -7733,8 +7655,8 @@ local function load_cnf_file(fname)
     else
         f = io.open(fname)
         if f then
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","loading %s", fname)
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","loading configuration file %s", fname)
             end
             local line, data, n, k, v
             local dname = file.dirname(fname)
@@ -7768,8 +7690,8 @@ local function load_cnf_file(fname)
                 end
             end
             f:close()
-        elseif trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","skipping %s", fname)
+        elseif trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file '%s'", fname)
         end
     end
 end
@@ -7796,8 +7718,11 @@ function resolvers.load_cnf()
         end
     end
     -- instance.cnffiles contain complete names now !
+    -- we still use a funny mix of cnf and new but soon
+    -- we will switch to lua exclusively as we only use
+    -- the file to collect the tree roots
     if #instance.cnffiles == 0 then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","no cnf files found (TEXMFCNF may not be set/known)")
         end
     else
@@ -7864,14 +7789,14 @@ end
 
 function resolvers.append_hash(type,tag,name)
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio","= hash append: %s",tag)
+        logs.report("fileio","hash '%s' appended",tag)
     end
     insert(instance.hashes, { ['type']=type, ['tag']=tag, ['name']=name } )
 end
 
 function resolvers.prepend_hash(type,tag,name)
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio","= hash prepend: %s",tag)
+        logs.report("fileio","hash '%s' prepended",tag)
     end
     insert(instance.hashes, 1, { ['type']=type, ['tag']=tag, ['name']=name } )
 end
@@ -7896,8 +7821,8 @@ end
 
 function resolvers.locatelists()
     for _, path in ipairs(resolvers.clean_path_list('TEXMF')) do
-        if trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","locating list of %s",path)
+        if trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","locating list of '%s'",path)
         end
         resolvers.locatedatabase(file.collapse_path(path))
     end
@@ -7910,11 +7835,11 @@ end
 function resolvers.locators.tex(specification)
     if specification and specification ~= '' and lfs.isdir(specification) then
         if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'! tex locator found: %s',specification)
+            logs.report("fileio","tex locator '%s' found",specification)
         end
         resolvers.append_hash('file',specification,filename)
     elseif trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'? tex locator not found: %s',specification)
+        logs.report("fileio","tex locator '%s' not found",specification)
     end
 end
 
@@ -7957,8 +7882,8 @@ local weird = lpeg.P(".")^1 + lpeg.anywhere(lpeg.S("~`!#$%^&*()={}[]:;\"\'||<>,?
 
 function resolvers.generators.tex(specification)
     local tag = specification
-    if trace_verbose then
-        logs.report("fileio","scanning path %s",specification)
+    if trace_locating then
+        logs.report("fileio","scanning path '%s'",specification)
     end
     instance.files[tag] = { }
     local files = instance.files[tag]
@@ -8007,7 +7932,7 @@ function resolvers.generators.tex(specification)
         end
     end
     action()
-    if trace_verbose then
+    if trace_locating then
         logs.report("fileio","%s files found on %s directories with %s uppercase remappings",n,m,r)
     end
 end
@@ -8037,7 +7962,12 @@ local function split_kpse_path(str) -- beware, this can be either a path or a {s
         else
             found = checkedsplit(str,io.pathseparator)
         end
-    --  print(table.serialize(found))
+        if trace_expansions then
+            logs.report("fileio","splitting path specification '%s'",str)
+            for k,v in ipairs(found) do
+                logs.report("fileio","% 4i: %s",k,v)
+            end
+        end
         cache[str] = found
     end
     return found
@@ -8067,6 +7997,7 @@ function resolvers.joinconfig()
         end
     end
 end
+
 function resolvers.split_path(str)
     if type(str) == 'table' then
         return str
@@ -8074,6 +8005,7 @@ function resolvers.split_path(str)
         return split_kpse_path(str)
     end
 end
+
 function resolvers.join_path(str)
     if type(str) == 'table' then
         return file.join_path(str)
@@ -8162,12 +8094,18 @@ function resolvers.serialize(files)
     return concat(t,"\n")
 end
 
+local data_state = { }
+
+function resolvers.data_state()
+    return data_state or { }
+end
+
 function resolvers.save_data(dataname, makename) -- untested without cache overload
     for cachename, files in next, instance[dataname] do
         local name = (makename or file.join)(cachename,dataname)
         local luaname, lucname = name .. ".lua", name .. ".luc"
-        if trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","preparing %s for %s",dataname,cachename)
+        if trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","preparing '%s' for '%s'",dataname,cachename)
         end
         for k, v in next, files do
             if type(v) == "table" and #v == 1 then
@@ -8181,24 +8119,25 @@ function resolvers.save_data(dataname, makename) -- untested without cache overl
             date    = os.date("%Y-%m-%d"),
             time    = os.date("%H:%M:%S"),
             content = files,
+            uuid    = os.uuid(),
         }
         local ok = io.savedata(luaname,resolvers.serialize(data))
         if ok then
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","%s saved in %s",dataname,luaname)
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","'%s' saved in '%s'",dataname,luaname)
             end
             if utils.lua.compile(luaname,lucname,false,true) then -- no cleanup but strip
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","%s compiled to %s",dataname,lucname)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","'%s' compiled to '%s'",dataname,lucname)
                 end
             else
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","compiling failed for %s, deleting file %s",dataname,lucname)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","compiling failed for '%s', deleting file '%s'",dataname,lucname)
                 end
                 os.remove(lucname)
             end
-        elseif trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","unable to save %s in %s (access error)",dataname,luaname)
+        elseif trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","unable to save '%s' in '%s' (access error)",dataname,luaname)
         end
     end
 end
@@ -8210,19 +8149,20 @@ function resolvers.load_data(pathname,dataname,filename,makename) -- untested wi
     if blob then
         local data = blob()
         if data and data.content and data.type == dataname and data.version == resolvers.cacheversion then
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","loading %s for %s from %s",dataname,pathname,filename)
+            data_state[#data_state+1] = data.uuid
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","loading '%s' for '%s' from '%s'",dataname,pathname,filename)
             end
             instance[dataname][pathname] = data.content
         else
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","skipping %s for %s from %s",dataname,pathname,filename)
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","skipping '%s' for '%s' from '%s'",dataname,pathname,filename)
             end
             instance[dataname][pathname] = { }
             instance.loaderror = true
         end
-    elseif trace_verbose then
-        logs.report("fileio","skipping %s for %s from %s",dataname,pathname,filename)
+    elseif trace_locating then
+        logs.report("fileio","skipping '%s' for '%s' from '%s'",dataname,pathname,filename)
     end
 end
 
@@ -8248,8 +8188,8 @@ function resolvers.loadnewconfig()
         if blob then
             local data = blob()
             if data then
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","loading configuration file %s",filename)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","loading configuration file '%s'",filename)
                 end
                 if true then
                     -- flatten to variable.progname
@@ -8270,14 +8210,14 @@ function resolvers.loadnewconfig()
                     instance['setup'][pathname] = data
                 end
             else
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file %s",filename)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file '%s'",filename)
                 end
                 instance['setup'][pathname] = { }
                 instance.loaderror = true
             end
-        elseif trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file %s",filename)
+        elseif trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file '%s'",filename)
         end
         instance.order[#instance.order+1] = instance.setup[pathname]
         if instance.loaderror then break end
@@ -8543,9 +8483,9 @@ function resolvers.isreadable.file(name)
     local readable = lfs.isfile(name) -- brrr
     if trace_detail then
         if readable then
-            logs.report("fileio","+ readable: %s",name)
+            logs.report("fileio","file '%s' is readable",name)
         else
-            logs.report("fileio","- readable: %s", name)
+            logs.report("fileio","file '%s' is not readable", name)
         end
     end
     return readable
@@ -8561,7 +8501,7 @@ local function collect_files(names)
     for k=1,#names do
         local fname = names[k]
         if trace_detail then
-            logs.report("fileio","? blobpath asked: %s",fname)
+            logs.report("fileio","using blobpath '%s'",fname)
         end
         local bname = file.basename(fname)
         local dname = file.dirname(fname)
@@ -8577,7 +8517,7 @@ local function collect_files(names)
             local files = blobpath and instance.files[blobpath]
             if files then
                 if trace_detail then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'? blobpath do: %s (%s)',blobpath,bname)
+                    logs.report("fileio","processing blobpath '%s' (%s)",blobpath,bname)
                 end
                 local blobfile = files[bname]
                 if not blobfile then
@@ -8611,7 +8551,7 @@ local function collect_files(names)
                     end
                 end
             elseif trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! blobpath no: %s (%s)',blobpath,bname)
+                logs.report("fileio","no blobpath '%s' (%s)",blobpath,bname)
             end
         end
     end
@@ -8668,7 +8608,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
         stamp = filename .. "--" .. instance.engine .. "--" .. instance.progname .. "--" .. instance.format
         if instance.found[stamp] then
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! remembered: %s',filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","remembering file '%s'",filename)
             end
             return instance.found[stamp]
         end
@@ -8676,7 +8616,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
     if not dangerous[instance.format or "?"] then
         if resolvers.isreadable.file(filename) then
             if trace_detail then
-                logs.report("fileio",'= found directly: %s',filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","file '%s' found directly",filename)
             end
             instance.found[stamp] = { filename }
             return { filename }
@@ -8684,13 +8624,13 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
     end
     if find(filename,'%*') then
         if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'! wildcard: %s', filename)
+            logs.report("fileio","checking wildcard '%s'", filename)
         end
         result = resolvers.find_wildcard_files(filename)
     elseif file.is_qualified_path(filename) then
         if resolvers.isreadable.file(filename) then
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! qualified: %s', filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","qualified name '%s'", filename)
             end
             result = { filename }
         else
@@ -8700,7 +8640,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                     forcedname = filename .. ".tex"
                     if resolvers.isreadable.file(forcedname) then
                         if trace_locating then
-                            logs.report("fileio",'! no suffix, forcing standard filetype: tex')
+                            logs.report("fileio","no suffix, forcing standard filetype 'tex'")
                         end
                         result, ok = { forcedname }, true
                     end
@@ -8710,7 +8650,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                         forcedname = filename .. "." .. s
                         if resolvers.isreadable.file(forcedname) then
                             if trace_locating then
-                                logs.report("fileio",'! no suffix, forcing format filetype: %s', s)
+                                logs.report("fileio","no suffix, forcing format filetype '%s'", s)
                             end
                             result, ok = { forcedname }, true
                             break
@@ -8760,7 +8700,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                 -- end
             end
             if not ok and trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? qualified: %s', filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","qualified name '%s'", filename)
             end
         end
     else
@@ -8779,12 +8719,12 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                 wantedfiles[#wantedfiles+1] = forcedname
                 filetype = resolvers.format_of_suffix(forcedname)
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'! forcing filetype: %s',filetype)
+                    logs.report("fileio","forcing filetype '%s'",filetype)
                 end
             else
                 filetype = resolvers.format_of_suffix(filename)
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'! using suffix based filetype: %s',filetype)
+                    logs.report("fileio","using suffix based filetype '%s'",filetype)
                 end
             end
         else
@@ -8796,7 +8736,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
             end
             filetype = instance.format
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! using given filetype: %s',filetype)
+                logs.report("fileio","using given filetype '%s'",filetype)
             end
         end
         local typespec = resolvers.variable_of_format(filetype)
@@ -8804,9 +8744,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
         if not pathlist or #pathlist == 0 then
             -- no pathlist, access check only / todo == wildcard
             if trace_detail then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? filename: %s',filename)
-                logs.report("fileio",'? filetype: %s',filetype or '?')
-                logs.report("fileio",'? wanted files: %s',concat(wantedfiles," | "))
+                logs.report("fileio","checking filename '%s', filetype '%s', wanted files '%s'",filename, filetype or '?',concat(wantedfiles," | "))
             end
             for k=1,#wantedfiles do
                 local fname = wantedfiles[k]
@@ -8829,7 +8767,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
             local filelist = collect_files(wantedfiles)
             local doscan, recurse
             if trace_detail then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? filename: %s',filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","checking filename '%s'",filename)
             end
             -- a bit messy ... esp the doscan setting here
             for k=1,#pathlist do
@@ -8850,7 +8788,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                         local f = fl[2]
                         if find(f,expr) then
                             if trace_detail then
-                                logs.report("fileio",'= found in hash: %s',f)
+                                logs.report("fileio","file '%s' found in hash",f)
                             end
                             --- todo, test for readable
                             result[#result+1] = fl[3]
@@ -8872,7 +8810,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                                     local fname = file.join(ppname,w)
                                     if resolvers.isreadable.file(fname) then
                                         if trace_detail then
-                                            logs.report("fileio",'= found by scanning: %s',fname)
+                                            logs.report("fileio","found '%s' by scanning",fname)
                                         end
                                         result[#result+1] = fname
                                         done = true
@@ -9045,9 +8983,9 @@ function resolvers.load(option)
     statistics.starttiming(instance)
     resolvers.resetconfig()
     resolvers.identify_cnf()
-    resolvers.load_lua()
+    resolvers.load_lua() -- will become the new method
     resolvers.expand_variables()
-    resolvers.load_cnf()
+    resolvers.load_cnf() -- will be skipped when we have a lua file
     resolvers.expand_variables()
     if option ~= "nofiles" then
         resolvers.load_hash()
@@ -9059,14 +8997,14 @@ end
 function resolvers.for_files(command, files, filetype, mustexist)
     if files and #files > 0 then
         local function report(str)
-            if trace_verbose then
+            if trace_locating then
                 logs.report("fileio",str) -- has already verbose
             else
                 print(str)
             end
         end
-        if trace_verbose then
-            report('')
+        if trace_locating then
+            report('') -- ?
         end
         for _, file in ipairs(files) do
             local result = command(file,filetype,mustexist)
@@ -9132,7 +9070,7 @@ function resolvers.methodhandler(what, filename, filetype) -- ...
     local scheme = specification.scheme
     if resolvers[what][scheme] then
         if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'= handler: %s -> %s -> %s',specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
+            logs.report("fileio","handler '%s' -> '%s' -> '%s'",specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
         end
         return resolvers[what][scheme](filename,filetype) -- todo: specification
     else
@@ -9564,8 +9502,6 @@ local format, lower, gsub = string.format, string.lower, string.gsub
 local trace_cache      = false  trackers.register("resolvers.cache",      function(v) trace_cache      = v end)
 local trace_containers = false  trackers.register("resolvers.containers", function(v) trace_containers = v end)
 local trace_storage    = false  trackers.register("resolvers.storage",    function(v) trace_storage    = v end)
-local trace_verbose    = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",    function(v) trace_verbose    = v end)
-local trace_locating   = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating",   function(v) trace_locating   = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
 
 --[[ldx--
 <p>Once we found ourselves defining similar cache constructs
@@ -9689,8 +9625,7 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['data-use'] = {
 
 local format, lower, gsub = string.format, string.lower, string.gsub
 
-local trace_verbose    = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",    function(v) trace_verbose    = v end)
-local trace_locating   = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating",   function(v) trace_locating   = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
 -- since we want to use the cache instead of the tree, we will now
 -- reimplement the saver.
@@ -9822,10 +9757,13 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['data-zip'] = {
 
 local format, find = string.format, string.find
 
-local trace_locating, trace_verbose  = false, false
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
-trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",  function(v) trace_verbose  = v end)
-trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v trace_verbose = v end)
+-- zip:///oeps.zip?name=bla/bla.tex
+-- zip:///oeps.zip?tree=tex/texmf-local
+-- zip:///texmf.zip?tree=/tex/texmf
+-- zip:///texmf.zip?tree=/tex/texmf-local
+-- zip:///texmf-mine.zip?tree=/tex/texmf-projects
 
 zip                 = zip or { }
 zip.archives        = zip.archives or { }
@@ -9836,9 +9774,6 @@ local locators, hashers, concatinators = resolvers.locators, resolvers.hashers,
 
 local archives = zip.archives
 
--- zip:///oeps.zip?name=bla/bla.tex
--- zip:///oeps.zip?tree=tex/texmf-local
-
 local function validzip(str) -- todo: use url splitter
     if not find(str,"^zip://") then
         return "zip:///" .. str
@@ -9868,26 +9803,22 @@ function zip.closearchive(name)
     end
 end
 
--- zip:///texmf.zip?tree=/tex/texmf
--- zip:///texmf.zip?tree=/tex/texmf-local
--- zip:///texmf-mine.zip?tree=/tex/texmf-projects
-
 function locators.zip(specification) -- where is this used? startup zips (untested)
     specification = resolvers.splitmethod(specification)
     local zipfile = specification.path
     local zfile = zip.openarchive(name) -- tricky, could be in to be initialized tree
     if trace_locating then
         if zfile then
-            logs.report("fileio",'! zip locator, found: %s',specification.original)
+            logs.report("fileio","zip locator, archive '%s' found",specification.original)
         else
-            logs.report("fileio",'? zip locator, not found: %s',specification.original)
+            logs.report("fileio","zip locator, archive '%s' not found",specification.original)
         end
     end
 end
 
 function hashers.zip(tag,name)
-    if trace_verbose then
-        logs.report("fileio","loading zip file %s as %s",name,tag)
+    if trace_locating then
+        logs.report("fileio","loading zip file '%s' as '%s'",name,tag)
     end
     resolvers.usezipfile(format("%s?tree=%s",tag,name))
 end
@@ -9912,23 +9843,25 @@ function finders.zip(specification,filetype)
             local zfile = zip.openarchive(specification.path)
             if zfile then
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'! zip finder, path: %s',specification.path)
+                    logs.report("fileio","zip finder, archive '%s' found",specification.path)
                 end
                 local dfile = zfile:open(q.name)
                 if dfile then
                     dfile = zfile:close()
                     if trace_locating then
-                        logs.report("fileio",'+ zip finder, name: %s',q.name)
+                        logs.report("fileio","zip finder, file '%s' found",q.name)
                     end
                     return specification.original
+                elseif trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","zip finder, file '%s' not found",q.name)
                 end
             elseif trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? zip finder, path %s',specification.path)
+                logs.report("fileio","zip finder, unknown archive '%s'",specification.path)
             end
         end
     end
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'- zip finder, name: %s',filename)
+        logs.report("fileio","zip finder, '%s' not found",filename)
     end
     return unpack(finders.notfound)
 end
@@ -9941,20 +9874,25 @@ function openers.zip(specification)
             local zfile = zip.openarchive(zipspecification.path)
             if zfile then
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'+ zip starter, path: %s',zipspecification.path)
+                    logs.report("fileio","zip opener, archive '%s' opened",zipspecification.path)
                 end
                 local dfile = zfile:open(q.name)
                 if dfile then
                     logs.show_open(specification)
+                    if trace_locating then
+                        logs.report("fileio","zip opener, file '%s' found",q.name)
+                    end
                     return openers.text_opener(specification,dfile,'zip')
+                elseif trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","zip opener, file '%s' not found",q.name)
                 end
             elseif trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'- zip starter, path %s',zipspecification.path)
+                logs.report("fileio","zip opener, unknown archive '%s'",zipspecification.path)
             end
         end
     end
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'- zip opener, name: %s',filename)
+        logs.report("fileio","zip opener, '%s' not found",filename)
     end
     return unpack(openers.notfound)
 end
@@ -9967,25 +9905,27 @@ function loaders.zip(specification)
             local zfile = zip.openarchive(specification.path)
             if zfile then
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'+ zip starter, path: %s',specification.path)
+                    logs.report("fileio","zip loader, archive '%s' opened",specification.path)
                 end
                 local dfile = zfile:open(q.name)
                 if dfile then
                     logs.show_load(filename)
                     if trace_locating then
-                        logs.report("fileio",'+ zip loader, name: %s',filename)
+                        logs.report("fileio","zip loader, file '%s' loaded",filename)
                     end
                     local s = dfile:read("*all")
                     dfile:close()
                     return true, s, #s
+                elseif trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","zip loader, file '%s' not found",q.name)
                 end
             elseif trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'- zip starter, path: %s',specification.path)
+                logs.report("fileio","zip loader, unknown archive '%s'",specification.path)
             end
         end
     end
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'- zip loader, name: %s',filename)
+        logs.report("fileio","zip loader, '%s' not found",filename)
     end
     return unpack(openers.notfound)
 end
@@ -9995,21 +9935,15 @@ end
 
 function resolvers.usezipfile(zipname)
     zipname = validzip(zipname)
-    if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'! zip use, file: %s',zipname)
-    end
     local specification = resolvers.splitmethod(zipname)
     local zipfile = specification.path
     if zipfile and not zip.registeredfiles[zipname] then
         local tree = url.query(specification.query).tree or ""
-        if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'! zip register, file: %s',zipname)
-        end
         local z = zip.openarchive(zipfile)
         if z then
             local instance = resolvers.instance
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio","= zipfile, registering: %s",zipname)
+                logs.report("fileio","zip registering, registering archive '%s'",zipname)
             end
             statistics.starttiming(instance)
             resolvers.prepend_hash('zip',zipname,zipfile)
@@ -10018,10 +9952,10 @@ function resolvers.usezipfile(zipname)
             instance.files[zipname] = resolvers.register_zip_file(z,tree or "")
             statistics.stoptiming(instance)
         elseif trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio","? zipfile, unknown: %s",zipname)
+            logs.report("fileio","zip registering, unknown archive '%s'",zipname)
         end
     elseif trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'! zip register, no file: %s',zipname)
+        logs.report("fileio","zip registering, '%s' not found",zipname)
     end
 end
 
@@ -10033,7 +9967,7 @@ function resolvers.register_zip_file(z,tree)
         filter = format("^%s/(.+)/(.-)$",tree)
     end
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'= zip filter: %s',filter)
+        logs.report("fileio","zip registering, using filter '%s'",filter)
     end
     local register, n = resolvers.register_file, 0
     for i in z:files() do
@@ -10050,7 +9984,7 @@ function resolvers.register_zip_file(z,tree)
             n = n + 1
         end
     end
-    logs.report("fileio",'= zip entries: %s',n)
+    logs.report("fileio","zip registering, %s files registered",n)
     return files
 end
 
@@ -10240,47 +10174,47 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['data-aux'] = {
 
 local find = string.find
 
-local trace_verbose = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose", function(v) trace_verbose = v end)
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
 function resolvers.update_script(oldname,newname) -- oldname -> own.name, not per se a suffix
     local scriptpath = "scripts/context/lua"
     newname = file.addsuffix(newname,"lua")
     local oldscript = resolvers.clean_path(oldname)
-    if trace_verbose then
+    if trace_locating then
         logs.report("fileio","to be replaced old script %s", oldscript)
     end
     local newscripts = resolvers.find_files(newname) or { }
     if #newscripts == 0 then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","unable to locate new script")
         end
     else
         for i=1,#newscripts do
             local newscript = resolvers.clean_path(newscripts[i])
-            if trace_verbose then
+            if trace_locating then
                 logs.report("fileio","checking new script %s", newscript)
             end
             if oldscript == newscript then
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","old and new script are the same")
                 end
             elseif not find(newscript,scriptpath) then
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","new script should come from %s",scriptpath)
                 end
             elseif not (find(oldscript,file.removesuffix(newname).."$") or find(oldscript,newname.."$")) then
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","invalid new script name")
                 end
             else
                 local newdata = io.loaddata(newscript)
                 if newdata then
-                    if trace_verbose then
+                    if trace_locating then
                         logs.report("fileio","old script content replaced by new content")
                     end
                     io.savedata(oldscript,newdata)
                     break
-                elseif trace_verbose then
+                elseif trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","unable to load new script")
                 end
             end
@@ -10690,6 +10624,7 @@ messages.help = [[
 --unix                create unix (linux) stubs
 
 --verbose             give a bit more info
+--trackers=list       enable given trackers
 --engine=str          target engine
 --progname=str        format or backend
 
@@ -11246,6 +11181,11 @@ else
 
 end
 
+local trackspec = environment.argument("trackers") or environment.argument("track")
+
+if trackspec then
+    trackers.enable(trackspec)
+end
 
 if environment.argument("selfmerge") then
     -- embed used libraries
diff --git a/scripts/context/stubs/unix/luatools b/scripts/context/stubs/unix/luatools
index 70c391421..692213b09 100755
--- a/scripts/context/stubs/unix/luatools
+++ b/scripts/context/stubs/unix/luatools
@@ -3612,92 +3612,6 @@ function directives.disable(...)
     d(...)
 end
 
---~ -- old code:
---
---~ trackers = trackers or { }
---~ local data, done = { }, { }
---~ local function set(what,value)
---~     if type(what) == "string" then
---~         what = aux.settings_to_array(what) -- inefficient but ok
---~     end
---~     for i=1,#what do
---~         local w = what[i]
---~         for d, f in next, data do
---~             if done[d] then
---~                 -- prevent recursion due to wildcards
---~             elseif find(d,w) then
---~                 done[d] = true
---~                 for i=1,#f do
---~                     f[i](value)
---~                 end
---~             end
---~         end
---~     end
---~ end
---~ local function reset()
---~     for d, f in next, data do
---~         for i=1,#f do
---~             f[i](false)
---~         end
---~     end
---~ end
---~ local function enable(what)
---~     set(what,true)
---~ end
---~ local function disable(what)
---~     if not what or what == "" then
---~         done = { }
---~         reset()
---~     else
---~         set(what,false)
---~     end
---~ end
---~ function trackers.register(what,...)
---~     what = lower(what)
---~     local w = data[what]
---~     if not w then
---~         w = { }
---~         data[what] = w
---~     end
---~     for _, fnc in next, { ... } do
---~         local typ = type(fnc)
---~         if typ == "function" then
---~             w[#w+1] = fnc
---~         elseif typ == "string" then
---~             w[#w+1] = function(value) set(fnc,value,nesting) end
---~         end
---~     end
---~ end
---~ function trackers.enable(what)
---~     local e = trackers.enable
---~     trackers.enable, done = enable, { }
---~     enable(string.simpleesc(what))
---~     trackers.enable, done = e, { }
---~ end
---~ function trackers.disable(what)
---~     local e = trackers.disable
---~     trackers.disable, done = disable, { }
---~     disable(string.simpleesc(what))
---~     trackers.disable, done = e, { }
---~ end
---~ function trackers.reset()
---~     done = { }
---~     reset()
---~ end
---~ function trackers.list() -- pattern
---~     local list = table.sortedkeys(data)
---~     local user, system = { }, { }
---~     for l=1,#list do
---~         local what = list[l]
---~         if find(what,"^%*") then
---~             system[#system+1] = what
---~         else
---~             user[#user+1] = what
---~         end
---~     end
---~     return user, system
---~ end
-
 
 end -- of closure
 
@@ -3717,8 +3631,7 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['luat-env'] = {
 -- evolved before bytecode arrays were available and so a lot of
 -- code has disappeared already.
 
-local trace_verbose  = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",  function(v) trace_verbose  = v end)
-local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
 local format = string.format
 
@@ -3909,12 +3822,12 @@ function environment.luafilechunk(filename) -- used for loading lua bytecode in
     filename = file.replacesuffix(filename, "lua")
     local fullname = environment.luafile(filename)
     if fullname and fullname ~= "" then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","loading file %s", fullname)
         end
         return environment.loadedluacode(fullname)
     else
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","unknown file %s", filename)
         end
         return nil
@@ -3934,7 +3847,7 @@ function environment.loadluafile(filename, version)
     -- when not overloaded by explicit suffix we look for a luc file first
     local fullname = (lucname and environment.luafile(lucname)) or ""
     if fullname ~= "" then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","loading %s", fullname)
         end
         chunk = loadfile(fullname) -- this way we don't need a file exists check
@@ -3952,7 +3865,7 @@ function environment.loadluafile(filename, version)
             if v == version then
                 return true
             else
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","version mismatch for %s: lua=%s, luc=%s", filename, v, version)
                 end
                 environment.loadluafile(filename)
@@ -3963,12 +3876,12 @@ function environment.loadluafile(filename, version)
     end
     fullname = (luaname and environment.luafile(luaname)) or ""
     if fullname ~= "" then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","loading %s", fullname)
         end
         chunk = loadfile(fullname) -- this way we don't need a file exists check
         if not chunk then
-            if verbose then
+            if trace_locating then
                 logs.report("fileio","unknown file %s", filename)
             end
         else
@@ -4363,7 +4276,7 @@ end
 function logs.setprogram(_name_,_banner_,_verbose_)
     name, banner = _name_, _banner_
     if _verbose_ then
-        trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose")
+        trackers.enable("resolvers.locating")
     end
     logs.set_method("tex")
     logs.report = report -- also used in libraries
@@ -4376,9 +4289,9 @@ end
 
 function logs.setverbose(what)
     if what then
-        trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose")
+        trackers.enable("resolvers.locating")
     else
-        trackers.disable("resolvers.verbose")
+        trackers.disable("resolvers.locating")
     end
     logs.verbose = what or false
 end
@@ -4483,11 +4396,11 @@ local format, gsub, find, lower, upper, match, gmatch = string.format, string.gs
 local concat, insert, sortedkeys = table.concat, table.insert, table.sortedkeys
 local next, type = next, type
 
-local trace_locating, trace_detail, trace_verbose  = false, false, false
+local trace_locating, trace_detail, trace_expansions = false, false, false
 
-trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",  function(v) trace_verbose  = v end)
-trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
-trackers.register("resolvers.detail",   function(v) trace_detail   = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose,resolvers.detail") end)
+trackers.register("resolvers.locating",   function(v) trace_locating   = v end)
+trackers.register("resolvers.details",    function(v) trace_detail     = v end)
+trackers.register("resolvers.expansions", function(v) trace_expansions = v end) -- todo
 
 if not resolvers then
     resolvers = {
@@ -4796,37 +4709,43 @@ end
 -- work that well; the parsing is ok, but dealing with the resulting
 -- table is a pain because we need to work inside-out recursively
 
+local function do_first(a,b)
+    local t = { }
+    for s in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = a .. s end
+    return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
+end
+
+local function do_second(a,b)
+    local t = { }
+    for s in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = s .. b end
+    return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
+end
+
+local function do_both(a,b)
+    local t = { }
+    for sa in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do
+        for sb in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do
+            t[#t+1] = sa .. sb
+        end
+    end
+    return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
+end
+
+local function do_three(a,b,c)
+    return a .. b.. c
+end
+
 local function splitpathexpr(str, t, validate)
     -- no need for further optimization as it is only called a
-    -- few times, we can use lpeg for the sub; we could move
-    -- the local functions outside the body
+    -- few times, we can use lpeg for the sub
+    if trace_expansion then
+        logs.report("fileio","expanding variable '%s'",str)
+    end
     t = t or { }
     str = gsub(str,",}",",@}")
     str = gsub(str,"{,","{@,")
  -- str = "@" .. str .. "@"
     local ok, done
-    local function do_first(a,b)
-        local t = { }
-        for s in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = a .. s end
-        return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
-    end
-    local function do_second(a,b)
-        local t = { }
-        for s in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = s .. b end
-        return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
-    end
-    local function do_both(a,b)
-        local t = { }
-        for sa in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do
-            for sb in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do
-                t[#t+1] = sa .. sb
-            end
-        end
-        return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
-    end
-    local function do_three(a,b,c)
-        return a .. b.. c
-    end
     while true do
         done = false
         while true do
@@ -4857,6 +4776,11 @@ local function splitpathexpr(str, t, validate)
             t[#t+1] = s
         end
     end
+    if trace_expansions then
+        for k,v in ipairs(t) do
+            logs.report("fileio","% 4i: %s",k,v)
+        end
+    end
     return t
 end
 
@@ -4919,14 +4843,14 @@ function resolvers.getownpath()
                     local olddir = lfs.currentdir()
                     if lfs.chdir(p) then
                         local pp = lfs.currentdir()
-                        if trace_verbose and p ~= pp then
-                            logs.report("fileio","following symlink %s to %s",p,pp)
+                        if trace_locating and p ~= pp then
+                            logs.report("fileio","following symlink '%s' to '%s'",p,pp)
                         end
                         resolvers.ownpath = pp
                         lfs.chdir(olddir)
                     else
-                        if trace_verbose then
-                            logs.report("fileio","unable to check path %s",p)
+                        if trace_locating then
+                            logs.report("fileio","unable to check path '%s'",p)
                         end
                         resolvers.ownpath =  p
                     end
@@ -4955,10 +4879,10 @@ local function identify_own()
     if resolvers.env('TEXMFCNF') == "" then os.env['TEXMFCNF'] = resolvers.cnfdefault end
     if resolvers.env('TEXOS')    == "" then os.env['TEXOS']    = resolvers.env('SELFAUTODIR') end
     if resolvers.env('TEXROOT')  == "" then os.env['TEXROOT']  = resolvers.env('SELFAUTOPARENT') end
-    if trace_verbose then
+    if trace_locating then
         for i=1,#own_places do
             local v = own_places[i]
-            logs.report("fileio","variable %s set to %s",v,resolvers.env(v) or "unknown")
+            logs.report("fileio","variable '%s' set to '%s'",v,resolvers.env(v) or "unknown")
         end
     end
     identify_own = function() end
@@ -4990,10 +4914,8 @@ end
 local function load_cnf_file(fname)
     fname = resolvers.clean_path(fname)
     local lname = file.replacesuffix(fname,'lua')
-    local f = io.open(lname)
-    if f then -- this will go
-        f:close()
-        local dname = file.dirname(fname)
+    if lfs.isfile(lname) then
+        local dname = file.dirname(fname) -- fname ?
         if not instance.configuration[dname] then
             resolvers.load_data(dname,'configuration',lname and file.basename(lname))
             instance.order[#instance.order+1] = instance.configuration[dname]
@@ -5001,8 +4923,8 @@ local function load_cnf_file(fname)
     else
         f = io.open(fname)
         if f then
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","loading %s", fname)
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","loading configuration file %s", fname)
             end
             local line, data, n, k, v
             local dname = file.dirname(fname)
@@ -5036,8 +4958,8 @@ local function load_cnf_file(fname)
                 end
             end
             f:close()
-        elseif trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","skipping %s", fname)
+        elseif trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file '%s'", fname)
         end
     end
 end
@@ -5064,8 +4986,11 @@ function resolvers.load_cnf()
         end
     end
     -- instance.cnffiles contain complete names now !
+    -- we still use a funny mix of cnf and new but soon
+    -- we will switch to lua exclusively as we only use
+    -- the file to collect the tree roots
     if #instance.cnffiles == 0 then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","no cnf files found (TEXMFCNF may not be set/known)")
         end
     else
@@ -5132,14 +5057,14 @@ end
 
 function resolvers.append_hash(type,tag,name)
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio","= hash append: %s",tag)
+        logs.report("fileio","hash '%s' appended",tag)
     end
     insert(instance.hashes, { ['type']=type, ['tag']=tag, ['name']=name } )
 end
 
 function resolvers.prepend_hash(type,tag,name)
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio","= hash prepend: %s",tag)
+        logs.report("fileio","hash '%s' prepended",tag)
     end
     insert(instance.hashes, 1, { ['type']=type, ['tag']=tag, ['name']=name } )
 end
@@ -5164,8 +5089,8 @@ end
 
 function resolvers.locatelists()
     for _, path in ipairs(resolvers.clean_path_list('TEXMF')) do
-        if trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","locating list of %s",path)
+        if trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","locating list of '%s'",path)
         end
         resolvers.locatedatabase(file.collapse_path(path))
     end
@@ -5178,11 +5103,11 @@ end
 function resolvers.locators.tex(specification)
     if specification and specification ~= '' and lfs.isdir(specification) then
         if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'! tex locator found: %s',specification)
+            logs.report("fileio","tex locator '%s' found",specification)
         end
         resolvers.append_hash('file',specification,filename)
     elseif trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'? tex locator not found: %s',specification)
+        logs.report("fileio","tex locator '%s' not found",specification)
     end
 end
 
@@ -5225,8 +5150,8 @@ local weird = lpeg.P(".")^1 + lpeg.anywhere(lpeg.S("~`!#$%^&*()={}[]:;\"\'||<>,?
 
 function resolvers.generators.tex(specification)
     local tag = specification
-    if trace_verbose then
-        logs.report("fileio","scanning path %s",specification)
+    if trace_locating then
+        logs.report("fileio","scanning path '%s'",specification)
     end
     instance.files[tag] = { }
     local files = instance.files[tag]
@@ -5275,7 +5200,7 @@ function resolvers.generators.tex(specification)
         end
     end
     action()
-    if trace_verbose then
+    if trace_locating then
         logs.report("fileio","%s files found on %s directories with %s uppercase remappings",n,m,r)
     end
 end
@@ -5305,7 +5230,12 @@ local function split_kpse_path(str) -- beware, this can be either a path or a {s
         else
             found = checkedsplit(str,io.pathseparator)
         end
-    --  print(table.serialize(found))
+        if trace_expansions then
+            logs.report("fileio","splitting path specification '%s'",str)
+            for k,v in ipairs(found) do
+                logs.report("fileio","% 4i: %s",k,v)
+            end
+        end
         cache[str] = found
     end
     return found
@@ -5335,6 +5265,7 @@ function resolvers.joinconfig()
         end
     end
 end
+
 function resolvers.split_path(str)
     if type(str) == 'table' then
         return str
@@ -5342,6 +5273,7 @@ function resolvers.split_path(str)
         return split_kpse_path(str)
     end
 end
+
 function resolvers.join_path(str)
     if type(str) == 'table' then
         return file.join_path(str)
@@ -5430,12 +5362,18 @@ function resolvers.serialize(files)
     return concat(t,"\n")
 end
 
+local data_state = { }
+
+function resolvers.data_state()
+    return data_state or { }
+end
+
 function resolvers.save_data(dataname, makename) -- untested without cache overload
     for cachename, files in next, instance[dataname] do
         local name = (makename or file.join)(cachename,dataname)
         local luaname, lucname = name .. ".lua", name .. ".luc"
-        if trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","preparing %s for %s",dataname,cachename)
+        if trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","preparing '%s' for '%s'",dataname,cachename)
         end
         for k, v in next, files do
             if type(v) == "table" and #v == 1 then
@@ -5449,24 +5387,25 @@ function resolvers.save_data(dataname, makename) -- untested without cache overl
             date    = os.date("%Y-%m-%d"),
             time    = os.date("%H:%M:%S"),
             content = files,
+            uuid    = os.uuid(),
         }
         local ok = io.savedata(luaname,resolvers.serialize(data))
         if ok then
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","%s saved in %s",dataname,luaname)
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","'%s' saved in '%s'",dataname,luaname)
             end
             if utils.lua.compile(luaname,lucname,false,true) then -- no cleanup but strip
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","%s compiled to %s",dataname,lucname)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","'%s' compiled to '%s'",dataname,lucname)
                 end
             else
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","compiling failed for %s, deleting file %s",dataname,lucname)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","compiling failed for '%s', deleting file '%s'",dataname,lucname)
                 end
                 os.remove(lucname)
             end
-        elseif trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","unable to save %s in %s (access error)",dataname,luaname)
+        elseif trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","unable to save '%s' in '%s' (access error)",dataname,luaname)
         end
     end
 end
@@ -5478,19 +5417,20 @@ function resolvers.load_data(pathname,dataname,filename,makename) -- untested wi
     if blob then
         local data = blob()
         if data and data.content and data.type == dataname and data.version == resolvers.cacheversion then
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","loading %s for %s from %s",dataname,pathname,filename)
+            data_state[#data_state+1] = data.uuid
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","loading '%s' for '%s' from '%s'",dataname,pathname,filename)
             end
             instance[dataname][pathname] = data.content
         else
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","skipping %s for %s from %s",dataname,pathname,filename)
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","skipping '%s' for '%s' from '%s'",dataname,pathname,filename)
             end
             instance[dataname][pathname] = { }
             instance.loaderror = true
         end
-    elseif trace_verbose then
-        logs.report("fileio","skipping %s for %s from %s",dataname,pathname,filename)
+    elseif trace_locating then
+        logs.report("fileio","skipping '%s' for '%s' from '%s'",dataname,pathname,filename)
     end
 end
 
@@ -5516,8 +5456,8 @@ function resolvers.loadnewconfig()
         if blob then
             local data = blob()
             if data then
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","loading configuration file %s",filename)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","loading configuration file '%s'",filename)
                 end
                 if true then
                     -- flatten to variable.progname
@@ -5538,14 +5478,14 @@ function resolvers.loadnewconfig()
                     instance['setup'][pathname] = data
                 end
             else
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file %s",filename)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file '%s'",filename)
                 end
                 instance['setup'][pathname] = { }
                 instance.loaderror = true
             end
-        elseif trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file %s",filename)
+        elseif trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file '%s'",filename)
         end
         instance.order[#instance.order+1] = instance.setup[pathname]
         if instance.loaderror then break end
@@ -5811,9 +5751,9 @@ function resolvers.isreadable.file(name)
     local readable = lfs.isfile(name) -- brrr
     if trace_detail then
         if readable then
-            logs.report("fileio","+ readable: %s",name)
+            logs.report("fileio","file '%s' is readable",name)
         else
-            logs.report("fileio","- readable: %s", name)
+            logs.report("fileio","file '%s' is not readable", name)
         end
     end
     return readable
@@ -5829,7 +5769,7 @@ local function collect_files(names)
     for k=1,#names do
         local fname = names[k]
         if trace_detail then
-            logs.report("fileio","? blobpath asked: %s",fname)
+            logs.report("fileio","using blobpath '%s'",fname)
         end
         local bname = file.basename(fname)
         local dname = file.dirname(fname)
@@ -5845,7 +5785,7 @@ local function collect_files(names)
             local files = blobpath and instance.files[blobpath]
             if files then
                 if trace_detail then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'? blobpath do: %s (%s)',blobpath,bname)
+                    logs.report("fileio","processing blobpath '%s' (%s)",blobpath,bname)
                 end
                 local blobfile = files[bname]
                 if not blobfile then
@@ -5879,7 +5819,7 @@ local function collect_files(names)
                     end
                 end
             elseif trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! blobpath no: %s (%s)',blobpath,bname)
+                logs.report("fileio","no blobpath '%s' (%s)",blobpath,bname)
             end
         end
     end
@@ -5936,7 +5876,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
         stamp = filename .. "--" .. instance.engine .. "--" .. instance.progname .. "--" .. instance.format
         if instance.found[stamp] then
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! remembered: %s',filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","remembering file '%s'",filename)
             end
             return instance.found[stamp]
         end
@@ -5944,7 +5884,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
     if not dangerous[instance.format or "?"] then
         if resolvers.isreadable.file(filename) then
             if trace_detail then
-                logs.report("fileio",'= found directly: %s',filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","file '%s' found directly",filename)
             end
             instance.found[stamp] = { filename }
             return { filename }
@@ -5952,13 +5892,13 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
     end
     if find(filename,'%*') then
         if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'! wildcard: %s', filename)
+            logs.report("fileio","checking wildcard '%s'", filename)
         end
         result = resolvers.find_wildcard_files(filename)
     elseif file.is_qualified_path(filename) then
         if resolvers.isreadable.file(filename) then
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! qualified: %s', filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","qualified name '%s'", filename)
             end
             result = { filename }
         else
@@ -5968,7 +5908,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                     forcedname = filename .. ".tex"
                     if resolvers.isreadable.file(forcedname) then
                         if trace_locating then
-                            logs.report("fileio",'! no suffix, forcing standard filetype: tex')
+                            logs.report("fileio","no suffix, forcing standard filetype 'tex'")
                         end
                         result, ok = { forcedname }, true
                     end
@@ -5978,7 +5918,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                         forcedname = filename .. "." .. s
                         if resolvers.isreadable.file(forcedname) then
                             if trace_locating then
-                                logs.report("fileio",'! no suffix, forcing format filetype: %s', s)
+                                logs.report("fileio","no suffix, forcing format filetype '%s'", s)
                             end
                             result, ok = { forcedname }, true
                             break
@@ -6028,7 +5968,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                 -- end
             end
             if not ok and trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? qualified: %s', filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","qualified name '%s'", filename)
             end
         end
     else
@@ -6047,12 +5987,12 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                 wantedfiles[#wantedfiles+1] = forcedname
                 filetype = resolvers.format_of_suffix(forcedname)
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'! forcing filetype: %s',filetype)
+                    logs.report("fileio","forcing filetype '%s'",filetype)
                 end
             else
                 filetype = resolvers.format_of_suffix(filename)
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'! using suffix based filetype: %s',filetype)
+                    logs.report("fileio","using suffix based filetype '%s'",filetype)
                 end
             end
         else
@@ -6064,7 +6004,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
             end
             filetype = instance.format
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! using given filetype: %s',filetype)
+                logs.report("fileio","using given filetype '%s'",filetype)
             end
         end
         local typespec = resolvers.variable_of_format(filetype)
@@ -6072,9 +6012,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
         if not pathlist or #pathlist == 0 then
             -- no pathlist, access check only / todo == wildcard
             if trace_detail then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? filename: %s',filename)
-                logs.report("fileio",'? filetype: %s',filetype or '?')
-                logs.report("fileio",'? wanted files: %s',concat(wantedfiles," | "))
+                logs.report("fileio","checking filename '%s', filetype '%s', wanted files '%s'",filename, filetype or '?',concat(wantedfiles," | "))
             end
             for k=1,#wantedfiles do
                 local fname = wantedfiles[k]
@@ -6097,7 +6035,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
             local filelist = collect_files(wantedfiles)
             local doscan, recurse
             if trace_detail then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? filename: %s',filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","checking filename '%s'",filename)
             end
             -- a bit messy ... esp the doscan setting here
             for k=1,#pathlist do
@@ -6118,7 +6056,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                         local f = fl[2]
                         if find(f,expr) then
                             if trace_detail then
-                                logs.report("fileio",'= found in hash: %s',f)
+                                logs.report("fileio","file '%s' found in hash",f)
                             end
                             --- todo, test for readable
                             result[#result+1] = fl[3]
@@ -6140,7 +6078,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                                     local fname = file.join(ppname,w)
                                     if resolvers.isreadable.file(fname) then
                                         if trace_detail then
-                                            logs.report("fileio",'= found by scanning: %s',fname)
+                                            logs.report("fileio","found '%s' by scanning",fname)
                                         end
                                         result[#result+1] = fname
                                         done = true
@@ -6313,9 +6251,9 @@ function resolvers.load(option)
     statistics.starttiming(instance)
     resolvers.resetconfig()
     resolvers.identify_cnf()
-    resolvers.load_lua()
+    resolvers.load_lua() -- will become the new method
     resolvers.expand_variables()
-    resolvers.load_cnf()
+    resolvers.load_cnf() -- will be skipped when we have a lua file
     resolvers.expand_variables()
     if option ~= "nofiles" then
         resolvers.load_hash()
@@ -6327,14 +6265,14 @@ end
 function resolvers.for_files(command, files, filetype, mustexist)
     if files and #files > 0 then
         local function report(str)
-            if trace_verbose then
+            if trace_locating then
                 logs.report("fileio",str) -- has already verbose
             else
                 print(str)
             end
         end
-        if trace_verbose then
-            report('')
+        if trace_locating then
+            report('') -- ?
         end
         for _, file in ipairs(files) do
             local result = command(file,filetype,mustexist)
@@ -6400,7 +6338,7 @@ function resolvers.methodhandler(what, filename, filetype) -- ...
     local scheme = specification.scheme
     if resolvers[what][scheme] then
         if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'= handler: %s -> %s -> %s',specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
+            logs.report("fileio","handler '%s' -> '%s' -> '%s'",specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
         end
         return resolvers[what][scheme](filename,filetype) -- todo: specification
     else
@@ -6736,8 +6674,6 @@ local format, lower, gsub = string.format, string.lower, string.gsub
 local trace_cache      = false  trackers.register("resolvers.cache",      function(v) trace_cache      = v end)
 local trace_containers = false  trackers.register("resolvers.containers", function(v) trace_containers = v end)
 local trace_storage    = false  trackers.register("resolvers.storage",    function(v) trace_storage    = v end)
-local trace_verbose    = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",    function(v) trace_verbose    = v end)
-local trace_locating   = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating",   function(v) trace_locating   = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
 
 --[[ldx--
 <p>Once we found ourselves defining similar cache constructs
@@ -6861,8 +6797,7 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['data-use'] = {
 
 local format, lower, gsub = string.format, string.lower, string.gsub
 
-local trace_verbose    = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",    function(v) trace_verbose    = v end)
-local trace_locating   = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating",   function(v) trace_locating   = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
 -- since we want to use the cache instead of the tree, we will now
 -- reimplement the saver.
@@ -7101,47 +7036,47 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['data-aux'] = {
 
 local find = string.find
 
-local trace_verbose = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose", function(v) trace_verbose = v end)
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
 function resolvers.update_script(oldname,newname) -- oldname -> own.name, not per se a suffix
     local scriptpath = "scripts/context/lua"
     newname = file.addsuffix(newname,"lua")
     local oldscript = resolvers.clean_path(oldname)
-    if trace_verbose then
+    if trace_locating then
         logs.report("fileio","to be replaced old script %s", oldscript)
     end
     local newscripts = resolvers.find_files(newname) or { }
     if #newscripts == 0 then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","unable to locate new script")
         end
     else
         for i=1,#newscripts do
             local newscript = resolvers.clean_path(newscripts[i])
-            if trace_verbose then
+            if trace_locating then
                 logs.report("fileio","checking new script %s", newscript)
             end
             if oldscript == newscript then
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","old and new script are the same")
                 end
             elseif not find(newscript,scriptpath) then
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","new script should come from %s",scriptpath)
                 end
             elseif not (find(oldscript,file.removesuffix(newname).."$") or find(oldscript,newname.."$")) then
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","invalid new script name")
                 end
             else
                 local newdata = io.loaddata(newscript)
                 if newdata then
-                    if trace_verbose then
+                    if trace_locating then
                         logs.report("fileio","old script content replaced by new content")
                     end
                     io.savedata(oldscript,newdata)
                     break
-                elseif trace_verbose then
+                elseif trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","unable to load new script")
                 end
             end
@@ -7399,6 +7334,7 @@ messages.help = [[
 --engine=str      target engine
 --progname=str    format or backend
 --pattern=str     filter variables
+--trackers=list   enable given trackers
 ]]
 
 function runners.make_format(texname)
@@ -7543,6 +7479,12 @@ local ok = true
 
 -- private option --noluc for testing errors in the stub
 
+local trackspec = environment.argument("trackers") or environment.argument("track")
+
+if trackspec then
+    trackers.enable(trackspec)
+end
+
 if environment.arguments["find-file"] then
     resolvers.load()
     instance.format  = environment.arguments["format"] or instance.format
diff --git a/scripts/context/stubs/unix/mtxrun b/scripts/context/stubs/unix/mtxrun
index 580e1a46f..26f5c4c2a 100755
--- a/scripts/context/stubs/unix/mtxrun
+++ b/scripts/context/stubs/unix/mtxrun
@@ -3332,92 +3332,6 @@ function directives.disable(...)
     d(...)
 end
 
---~ -- old code:
---
---~ trackers = trackers or { }
---~ local data, done = { }, { }
---~ local function set(what,value)
---~     if type(what) == "string" then
---~         what = aux.settings_to_array(what) -- inefficient but ok
---~     end
---~     for i=1,#what do
---~         local w = what[i]
---~         for d, f in next, data do
---~             if done[d] then
---~                 -- prevent recursion due to wildcards
---~             elseif find(d,w) then
---~                 done[d] = true
---~                 for i=1,#f do
---~                     f[i](value)
---~                 end
---~             end
---~         end
---~     end
---~ end
---~ local function reset()
---~     for d, f in next, data do
---~         for i=1,#f do
---~             f[i](false)
---~         end
---~     end
---~ end
---~ local function enable(what)
---~     set(what,true)
---~ end
---~ local function disable(what)
---~     if not what or what == "" then
---~         done = { }
---~         reset()
---~     else
---~         set(what,false)
---~     end
---~ end
---~ function trackers.register(what,...)
---~     what = lower(what)
---~     local w = data[what]
---~     if not w then
---~         w = { }
---~         data[what] = w
---~     end
---~     for _, fnc in next, { ... } do
---~         local typ = type(fnc)
---~         if typ == "function" then
---~             w[#w+1] = fnc
---~         elseif typ == "string" then
---~             w[#w+1] = function(value) set(fnc,value,nesting) end
---~         end
---~     end
---~ end
---~ function trackers.enable(what)
---~     local e = trackers.enable
---~     trackers.enable, done = enable, { }
---~     enable(string.simpleesc(what))
---~     trackers.enable, done = e, { }
---~ end
---~ function trackers.disable(what)
---~     local e = trackers.disable
---~     trackers.disable, done = disable, { }
---~     disable(string.simpleesc(what))
---~     trackers.disable, done = e, { }
---~ end
---~ function trackers.reset()
---~     done = { }
---~     reset()
---~ end
---~ function trackers.list() -- pattern
---~     local list = table.sortedkeys(data)
---~     local user, system = { }, { }
---~     for l=1,#list do
---~         local what = list[l]
---~         if find(what,"^%*") then
---~             system[#system+1] = what
---~         else
---~             user[#user+1] = what
---~         end
---~     end
---~     return user, system
---~ end
-
 
 end -- of closure
 
@@ -6449,8 +6363,7 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['luat-env'] = {
 -- evolved before bytecode arrays were available and so a lot of
 -- code has disappeared already.
 
-local trace_verbose  = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",  function(v) trace_verbose  = v end)
-local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
 local format = string.format
 
@@ -6641,12 +6554,12 @@ function environment.luafilechunk(filename) -- used for loading lua bytecode in
     filename = file.replacesuffix(filename, "lua")
     local fullname = environment.luafile(filename)
     if fullname and fullname ~= "" then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","loading file %s", fullname)
         end
         return environment.loadedluacode(fullname)
     else
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","unknown file %s", filename)
         end
         return nil
@@ -6666,7 +6579,7 @@ function environment.loadluafile(filename, version)
     -- when not overloaded by explicit suffix we look for a luc file first
     local fullname = (lucname and environment.luafile(lucname)) or ""
     if fullname ~= "" then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","loading %s", fullname)
         end
         chunk = loadfile(fullname) -- this way we don't need a file exists check
@@ -6684,7 +6597,7 @@ function environment.loadluafile(filename, version)
             if v == version then
                 return true
             else
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","version mismatch for %s: lua=%s, luc=%s", filename, v, version)
                 end
                 environment.loadluafile(filename)
@@ -6695,12 +6608,12 @@ function environment.loadluafile(filename, version)
     end
     fullname = (luaname and environment.luafile(luaname)) or ""
     if fullname ~= "" then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","loading %s", fullname)
         end
         chunk = loadfile(fullname) -- this way we don't need a file exists check
         if not chunk then
-            if verbose then
+            if trace_locating then
                 logs.report("fileio","unknown file %s", filename)
             end
         else
@@ -7095,7 +7008,7 @@ end
 function logs.setprogram(_name_,_banner_,_verbose_)
     name, banner = _name_, _banner_
     if _verbose_ then
-        trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose")
+        trackers.enable("resolvers.locating")
     end
     logs.set_method("tex")
     logs.report = report -- also used in libraries
@@ -7108,9 +7021,9 @@ end
 
 function logs.setverbose(what)
     if what then
-        trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose")
+        trackers.enable("resolvers.locating")
     else
-        trackers.disable("resolvers.verbose")
+        trackers.disable("resolvers.locating")
     end
     logs.verbose = what or false
 end
@@ -7215,11 +7128,11 @@ local format, gsub, find, lower, upper, match, gmatch = string.format, string.gs
 local concat, insert, sortedkeys = table.concat, table.insert, table.sortedkeys
 local next, type = next, type
 
-local trace_locating, trace_detail, trace_verbose  = false, false, false
+local trace_locating, trace_detail, trace_expansions = false, false, false
 
-trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",  function(v) trace_verbose  = v end)
-trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
-trackers.register("resolvers.detail",   function(v) trace_detail   = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose,resolvers.detail") end)
+trackers.register("resolvers.locating",   function(v) trace_locating   = v end)
+trackers.register("resolvers.details",    function(v) trace_detail     = v end)
+trackers.register("resolvers.expansions", function(v) trace_expansions = v end) -- todo
 
 if not resolvers then
     resolvers = {
@@ -7528,37 +7441,43 @@ end
 -- work that well; the parsing is ok, but dealing with the resulting
 -- table is a pain because we need to work inside-out recursively
 
+local function do_first(a,b)
+    local t = { }
+    for s in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = a .. s end
+    return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
+end
+
+local function do_second(a,b)
+    local t = { }
+    for s in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = s .. b end
+    return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
+end
+
+local function do_both(a,b)
+    local t = { }
+    for sa in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do
+        for sb in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do
+            t[#t+1] = sa .. sb
+        end
+    end
+    return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
+end
+
+local function do_three(a,b,c)
+    return a .. b.. c
+end
+
 local function splitpathexpr(str, t, validate)
     -- no need for further optimization as it is only called a
-    -- few times, we can use lpeg for the sub; we could move
-    -- the local functions outside the body
+    -- few times, we can use lpeg for the sub
+    if trace_expansion then
+        logs.report("fileio","expanding variable '%s'",str)
+    end
     t = t or { }
     str = gsub(str,",}",",@}")
     str = gsub(str,"{,","{@,")
  -- str = "@" .. str .. "@"
     local ok, done
-    local function do_first(a,b)
-        local t = { }
-        for s in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = a .. s end
-        return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
-    end
-    local function do_second(a,b)
-        local t = { }
-        for s in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do t[#t+1] = s .. b end
-        return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
-    end
-    local function do_both(a,b)
-        local t = { }
-        for sa in gmatch(a,"[^,]+") do
-            for sb in gmatch(b,"[^,]+") do
-                t[#t+1] = sa .. sb
-            end
-        end
-        return "{" .. concat(t,",") .. "}"
-    end
-    local function do_three(a,b,c)
-        return a .. b.. c
-    end
     while true do
         done = false
         while true do
@@ -7589,6 +7508,11 @@ local function splitpathexpr(str, t, validate)
             t[#t+1] = s
         end
     end
+    if trace_expansions then
+        for k,v in ipairs(t) do
+            logs.report("fileio","% 4i: %s",k,v)
+        end
+    end
     return t
 end
 
@@ -7651,14 +7575,14 @@ function resolvers.getownpath()
                     local olddir = lfs.currentdir()
                     if lfs.chdir(p) then
                         local pp = lfs.currentdir()
-                        if trace_verbose and p ~= pp then
-                            logs.report("fileio","following symlink %s to %s",p,pp)
+                        if trace_locating and p ~= pp then
+                            logs.report("fileio","following symlink '%s' to '%s'",p,pp)
                         end
                         resolvers.ownpath = pp
                         lfs.chdir(olddir)
                     else
-                        if trace_verbose then
-                            logs.report("fileio","unable to check path %s",p)
+                        if trace_locating then
+                            logs.report("fileio","unable to check path '%s'",p)
                         end
                         resolvers.ownpath =  p
                     end
@@ -7687,10 +7611,10 @@ local function identify_own()
     if resolvers.env('TEXMFCNF') == "" then os.env['TEXMFCNF'] = resolvers.cnfdefault end
     if resolvers.env('TEXOS')    == "" then os.env['TEXOS']    = resolvers.env('SELFAUTODIR') end
     if resolvers.env('TEXROOT')  == "" then os.env['TEXROOT']  = resolvers.env('SELFAUTOPARENT') end
-    if trace_verbose then
+    if trace_locating then
         for i=1,#own_places do
             local v = own_places[i]
-            logs.report("fileio","variable %s set to %s",v,resolvers.env(v) or "unknown")
+            logs.report("fileio","variable '%s' set to '%s'",v,resolvers.env(v) or "unknown")
         end
     end
     identify_own = function() end
@@ -7722,10 +7646,8 @@ end
 local function load_cnf_file(fname)
     fname = resolvers.clean_path(fname)
     local lname = file.replacesuffix(fname,'lua')
-    local f = io.open(lname)
-    if f then -- this will go
-        f:close()
-        local dname = file.dirname(fname)
+    if lfs.isfile(lname) then
+        local dname = file.dirname(fname) -- fname ?
         if not instance.configuration[dname] then
             resolvers.load_data(dname,'configuration',lname and file.basename(lname))
             instance.order[#instance.order+1] = instance.configuration[dname]
@@ -7733,8 +7655,8 @@ local function load_cnf_file(fname)
     else
         f = io.open(fname)
         if f then
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","loading %s", fname)
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","loading configuration file %s", fname)
             end
             local line, data, n, k, v
             local dname = file.dirname(fname)
@@ -7768,8 +7690,8 @@ local function load_cnf_file(fname)
                 end
             end
             f:close()
-        elseif trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","skipping %s", fname)
+        elseif trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file '%s'", fname)
         end
     end
 end
@@ -7796,8 +7718,11 @@ function resolvers.load_cnf()
         end
     end
     -- instance.cnffiles contain complete names now !
+    -- we still use a funny mix of cnf and new but soon
+    -- we will switch to lua exclusively as we only use
+    -- the file to collect the tree roots
     if #instance.cnffiles == 0 then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","no cnf files found (TEXMFCNF may not be set/known)")
         end
     else
@@ -7864,14 +7789,14 @@ end
 
 function resolvers.append_hash(type,tag,name)
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio","= hash append: %s",tag)
+        logs.report("fileio","hash '%s' appended",tag)
     end
     insert(instance.hashes, { ['type']=type, ['tag']=tag, ['name']=name } )
 end
 
 function resolvers.prepend_hash(type,tag,name)
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio","= hash prepend: %s",tag)
+        logs.report("fileio","hash '%s' prepended",tag)
     end
     insert(instance.hashes, 1, { ['type']=type, ['tag']=tag, ['name']=name } )
 end
@@ -7896,8 +7821,8 @@ end
 
 function resolvers.locatelists()
     for _, path in ipairs(resolvers.clean_path_list('TEXMF')) do
-        if trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","locating list of %s",path)
+        if trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","locating list of '%s'",path)
         end
         resolvers.locatedatabase(file.collapse_path(path))
     end
@@ -7910,11 +7835,11 @@ end
 function resolvers.locators.tex(specification)
     if specification and specification ~= '' and lfs.isdir(specification) then
         if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'! tex locator found: %s',specification)
+            logs.report("fileio","tex locator '%s' found",specification)
         end
         resolvers.append_hash('file',specification,filename)
     elseif trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'? tex locator not found: %s',specification)
+        logs.report("fileio","tex locator '%s' not found",specification)
     end
 end
 
@@ -7957,8 +7882,8 @@ local weird = lpeg.P(".")^1 + lpeg.anywhere(lpeg.S("~`!#$%^&*()={}[]:;\"\'||<>,?
 
 function resolvers.generators.tex(specification)
     local tag = specification
-    if trace_verbose then
-        logs.report("fileio","scanning path %s",specification)
+    if trace_locating then
+        logs.report("fileio","scanning path '%s'",specification)
     end
     instance.files[tag] = { }
     local files = instance.files[tag]
@@ -8007,7 +7932,7 @@ function resolvers.generators.tex(specification)
         end
     end
     action()
-    if trace_verbose then
+    if trace_locating then
         logs.report("fileio","%s files found on %s directories with %s uppercase remappings",n,m,r)
     end
 end
@@ -8037,7 +7962,12 @@ local function split_kpse_path(str) -- beware, this can be either a path or a {s
         else
             found = checkedsplit(str,io.pathseparator)
         end
-    --  print(table.serialize(found))
+        if trace_expansions then
+            logs.report("fileio","splitting path specification '%s'",str)
+            for k,v in ipairs(found) do
+                logs.report("fileio","% 4i: %s",k,v)
+            end
+        end
         cache[str] = found
     end
     return found
@@ -8067,6 +7997,7 @@ function resolvers.joinconfig()
         end
     end
 end
+
 function resolvers.split_path(str)
     if type(str) == 'table' then
         return str
@@ -8074,6 +8005,7 @@ function resolvers.split_path(str)
         return split_kpse_path(str)
     end
 end
+
 function resolvers.join_path(str)
     if type(str) == 'table' then
         return file.join_path(str)
@@ -8162,12 +8094,18 @@ function resolvers.serialize(files)
     return concat(t,"\n")
 end
 
+local data_state = { }
+
+function resolvers.data_state()
+    return data_state or { }
+end
+
 function resolvers.save_data(dataname, makename) -- untested without cache overload
     for cachename, files in next, instance[dataname] do
         local name = (makename or file.join)(cachename,dataname)
         local luaname, lucname = name .. ".lua", name .. ".luc"
-        if trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","preparing %s for %s",dataname,cachename)
+        if trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","preparing '%s' for '%s'",dataname,cachename)
         end
         for k, v in next, files do
             if type(v) == "table" and #v == 1 then
@@ -8181,24 +8119,25 @@ function resolvers.save_data(dataname, makename) -- untested without cache overl
             date    = os.date("%Y-%m-%d"),
             time    = os.date("%H:%M:%S"),
             content = files,
+            uuid    = os.uuid(),
         }
         local ok = io.savedata(luaname,resolvers.serialize(data))
         if ok then
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","%s saved in %s",dataname,luaname)
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","'%s' saved in '%s'",dataname,luaname)
             end
             if utils.lua.compile(luaname,lucname,false,true) then -- no cleanup but strip
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","%s compiled to %s",dataname,lucname)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","'%s' compiled to '%s'",dataname,lucname)
                 end
             else
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","compiling failed for %s, deleting file %s",dataname,lucname)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","compiling failed for '%s', deleting file '%s'",dataname,lucname)
                 end
                 os.remove(lucname)
             end
-        elseif trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","unable to save %s in %s (access error)",dataname,luaname)
+        elseif trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","unable to save '%s' in '%s' (access error)",dataname,luaname)
         end
     end
 end
@@ -8210,19 +8149,20 @@ function resolvers.load_data(pathname,dataname,filename,makename) -- untested wi
     if blob then
         local data = blob()
         if data and data.content and data.type == dataname and data.version == resolvers.cacheversion then
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","loading %s for %s from %s",dataname,pathname,filename)
+            data_state[#data_state+1] = data.uuid
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","loading '%s' for '%s' from '%s'",dataname,pathname,filename)
             end
             instance[dataname][pathname] = data.content
         else
-            if trace_verbose then
-                logs.report("fileio","skipping %s for %s from %s",dataname,pathname,filename)
+            if trace_locating then
+                logs.report("fileio","skipping '%s' for '%s' from '%s'",dataname,pathname,filename)
             end
             instance[dataname][pathname] = { }
             instance.loaderror = true
         end
-    elseif trace_verbose then
-        logs.report("fileio","skipping %s for %s from %s",dataname,pathname,filename)
+    elseif trace_locating then
+        logs.report("fileio","skipping '%s' for '%s' from '%s'",dataname,pathname,filename)
     end
 end
 
@@ -8248,8 +8188,8 @@ function resolvers.loadnewconfig()
         if blob then
             local data = blob()
             if data then
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","loading configuration file %s",filename)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","loading configuration file '%s'",filename)
                 end
                 if true then
                     -- flatten to variable.progname
@@ -8270,14 +8210,14 @@ function resolvers.loadnewconfig()
                     instance['setup'][pathname] = data
                 end
             else
-                if trace_verbose then
-                    logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file %s",filename)
+                if trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file '%s'",filename)
                 end
                 instance['setup'][pathname] = { }
                 instance.loaderror = true
             end
-        elseif trace_verbose then
-            logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file %s",filename)
+        elseif trace_locating then
+            logs.report("fileio","skipping configuration file '%s'",filename)
         end
         instance.order[#instance.order+1] = instance.setup[pathname]
         if instance.loaderror then break end
@@ -8543,9 +8483,9 @@ function resolvers.isreadable.file(name)
     local readable = lfs.isfile(name) -- brrr
     if trace_detail then
         if readable then
-            logs.report("fileio","+ readable: %s",name)
+            logs.report("fileio","file '%s' is readable",name)
         else
-            logs.report("fileio","- readable: %s", name)
+            logs.report("fileio","file '%s' is not readable", name)
         end
     end
     return readable
@@ -8561,7 +8501,7 @@ local function collect_files(names)
     for k=1,#names do
         local fname = names[k]
         if trace_detail then
-            logs.report("fileio","? blobpath asked: %s",fname)
+            logs.report("fileio","using blobpath '%s'",fname)
         end
         local bname = file.basename(fname)
         local dname = file.dirname(fname)
@@ -8577,7 +8517,7 @@ local function collect_files(names)
             local files = blobpath and instance.files[blobpath]
             if files then
                 if trace_detail then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'? blobpath do: %s (%s)',blobpath,bname)
+                    logs.report("fileio","processing blobpath '%s' (%s)",blobpath,bname)
                 end
                 local blobfile = files[bname]
                 if not blobfile then
@@ -8611,7 +8551,7 @@ local function collect_files(names)
                     end
                 end
             elseif trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! blobpath no: %s (%s)',blobpath,bname)
+                logs.report("fileio","no blobpath '%s' (%s)",blobpath,bname)
             end
         end
     end
@@ -8668,7 +8608,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
         stamp = filename .. "--" .. instance.engine .. "--" .. instance.progname .. "--" .. instance.format
         if instance.found[stamp] then
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! remembered: %s',filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","remembering file '%s'",filename)
             end
             return instance.found[stamp]
         end
@@ -8676,7 +8616,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
     if not dangerous[instance.format or "?"] then
         if resolvers.isreadable.file(filename) then
             if trace_detail then
-                logs.report("fileio",'= found directly: %s',filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","file '%s' found directly",filename)
             end
             instance.found[stamp] = { filename }
             return { filename }
@@ -8684,13 +8624,13 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
     end
     if find(filename,'%*') then
         if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'! wildcard: %s', filename)
+            logs.report("fileio","checking wildcard '%s'", filename)
         end
         result = resolvers.find_wildcard_files(filename)
     elseif file.is_qualified_path(filename) then
         if resolvers.isreadable.file(filename) then
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! qualified: %s', filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","qualified name '%s'", filename)
             end
             result = { filename }
         else
@@ -8700,7 +8640,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                     forcedname = filename .. ".tex"
                     if resolvers.isreadable.file(forcedname) then
                         if trace_locating then
-                            logs.report("fileio",'! no suffix, forcing standard filetype: tex')
+                            logs.report("fileio","no suffix, forcing standard filetype 'tex'")
                         end
                         result, ok = { forcedname }, true
                     end
@@ -8710,7 +8650,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                         forcedname = filename .. "." .. s
                         if resolvers.isreadable.file(forcedname) then
                             if trace_locating then
-                                logs.report("fileio",'! no suffix, forcing format filetype: %s', s)
+                                logs.report("fileio","no suffix, forcing format filetype '%s'", s)
                             end
                             result, ok = { forcedname }, true
                             break
@@ -8760,7 +8700,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                 -- end
             end
             if not ok and trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? qualified: %s', filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","qualified name '%s'", filename)
             end
         end
     else
@@ -8779,12 +8719,12 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                 wantedfiles[#wantedfiles+1] = forcedname
                 filetype = resolvers.format_of_suffix(forcedname)
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'! forcing filetype: %s',filetype)
+                    logs.report("fileio","forcing filetype '%s'",filetype)
                 end
             else
                 filetype = resolvers.format_of_suffix(filename)
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'! using suffix based filetype: %s',filetype)
+                    logs.report("fileio","using suffix based filetype '%s'",filetype)
                 end
             end
         else
@@ -8796,7 +8736,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
             end
             filetype = instance.format
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'! using given filetype: %s',filetype)
+                logs.report("fileio","using given filetype '%s'",filetype)
             end
         end
         local typespec = resolvers.variable_of_format(filetype)
@@ -8804,9 +8744,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
         if not pathlist or #pathlist == 0 then
             -- no pathlist, access check only / todo == wildcard
             if trace_detail then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? filename: %s',filename)
-                logs.report("fileio",'? filetype: %s',filetype or '?')
-                logs.report("fileio",'? wanted files: %s',concat(wantedfiles," | "))
+                logs.report("fileio","checking filename '%s', filetype '%s', wanted files '%s'",filename, filetype or '?',concat(wantedfiles," | "))
             end
             for k=1,#wantedfiles do
                 local fname = wantedfiles[k]
@@ -8829,7 +8767,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
             local filelist = collect_files(wantedfiles)
             local doscan, recurse
             if trace_detail then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? filename: %s',filename)
+                logs.report("fileio","checking filename '%s'",filename)
             end
             -- a bit messy ... esp the doscan setting here
             for k=1,#pathlist do
@@ -8850,7 +8788,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                         local f = fl[2]
                         if find(f,expr) then
                             if trace_detail then
-                                logs.report("fileio",'= found in hash: %s',f)
+                                logs.report("fileio","file '%s' found in hash",f)
                             end
                             --- todo, test for readable
                             result[#result+1] = fl[3]
@@ -8872,7 +8810,7 @@ local function collect_instance_files(filename,collected) -- todo : plugin (scan
                                     local fname = file.join(ppname,w)
                                     if resolvers.isreadable.file(fname) then
                                         if trace_detail then
-                                            logs.report("fileio",'= found by scanning: %s',fname)
+                                            logs.report("fileio","found '%s' by scanning",fname)
                                         end
                                         result[#result+1] = fname
                                         done = true
@@ -9045,9 +8983,9 @@ function resolvers.load(option)
     statistics.starttiming(instance)
     resolvers.resetconfig()
     resolvers.identify_cnf()
-    resolvers.load_lua()
+    resolvers.load_lua() -- will become the new method
     resolvers.expand_variables()
-    resolvers.load_cnf()
+    resolvers.load_cnf() -- will be skipped when we have a lua file
     resolvers.expand_variables()
     if option ~= "nofiles" then
         resolvers.load_hash()
@@ -9059,14 +8997,14 @@ end
 function resolvers.for_files(command, files, filetype, mustexist)
     if files and #files > 0 then
         local function report(str)
-            if trace_verbose then
+            if trace_locating then
                 logs.report("fileio",str) -- has already verbose
             else
                 print(str)
             end
         end
-        if trace_verbose then
-            report('')
+        if trace_locating then
+            report('') -- ?
         end
         for _, file in ipairs(files) do
             local result = command(file,filetype,mustexist)
@@ -9132,7 +9070,7 @@ function resolvers.methodhandler(what, filename, filetype) -- ...
     local scheme = specification.scheme
     if resolvers[what][scheme] then
         if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'= handler: %s -> %s -> %s',specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
+            logs.report("fileio","handler '%s' -> '%s' -> '%s'",specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
         end
         return resolvers[what][scheme](filename,filetype) -- todo: specification
     else
@@ -9564,8 +9502,6 @@ local format, lower, gsub = string.format, string.lower, string.gsub
 local trace_cache      = false  trackers.register("resolvers.cache",      function(v) trace_cache      = v end)
 local trace_containers = false  trackers.register("resolvers.containers", function(v) trace_containers = v end)
 local trace_storage    = false  trackers.register("resolvers.storage",    function(v) trace_storage    = v end)
-local trace_verbose    = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",    function(v) trace_verbose    = v end)
-local trace_locating   = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating",   function(v) trace_locating   = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
 
 --[[ldx--
 <p>Once we found ourselves defining similar cache constructs
@@ -9689,8 +9625,7 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['data-use'] = {
 
 local format, lower, gsub = string.format, string.lower, string.gsub
 
-local trace_verbose    = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",    function(v) trace_verbose    = v end)
-local trace_locating   = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating",   function(v) trace_locating   = v trackers.enable("resolvers.verbose") end)
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
 -- since we want to use the cache instead of the tree, we will now
 -- reimplement the saver.
@@ -9822,10 +9757,13 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['data-zip'] = {
 
 local format, find = string.format, string.find
 
-local trace_locating, trace_verbose  = false, false
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
-trackers.register("resolvers.verbose",  function(v) trace_verbose  = v end)
-trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v trace_verbose = v end)
+-- zip:///oeps.zip?name=bla/bla.tex
+-- zip:///oeps.zip?tree=tex/texmf-local
+-- zip:///texmf.zip?tree=/tex/texmf
+-- zip:///texmf.zip?tree=/tex/texmf-local
+-- zip:///texmf-mine.zip?tree=/tex/texmf-projects
 
 zip                 = zip or { }
 zip.archives        = zip.archives or { }
@@ -9836,9 +9774,6 @@ local locators, hashers, concatinators = resolvers.locators, resolvers.hashers,
 
 local archives = zip.archives
 
--- zip:///oeps.zip?name=bla/bla.tex
--- zip:///oeps.zip?tree=tex/texmf-local
-
 local function validzip(str) -- todo: use url splitter
     if not find(str,"^zip://") then
         return "zip:///" .. str
@@ -9868,26 +9803,22 @@ function zip.closearchive(name)
     end
 end
 
--- zip:///texmf.zip?tree=/tex/texmf
--- zip:///texmf.zip?tree=/tex/texmf-local
--- zip:///texmf-mine.zip?tree=/tex/texmf-projects
-
 function locators.zip(specification) -- where is this used? startup zips (untested)
     specification = resolvers.splitmethod(specification)
     local zipfile = specification.path
     local zfile = zip.openarchive(name) -- tricky, could be in to be initialized tree
     if trace_locating then
         if zfile then
-            logs.report("fileio",'! zip locator, found: %s',specification.original)
+            logs.report("fileio","zip locator, archive '%s' found",specification.original)
         else
-            logs.report("fileio",'? zip locator, not found: %s',specification.original)
+            logs.report("fileio","zip locator, archive '%s' not found",specification.original)
         end
     end
 end
 
 function hashers.zip(tag,name)
-    if trace_verbose then
-        logs.report("fileio","loading zip file %s as %s",name,tag)
+    if trace_locating then
+        logs.report("fileio","loading zip file '%s' as '%s'",name,tag)
     end
     resolvers.usezipfile(format("%s?tree=%s",tag,name))
 end
@@ -9912,23 +9843,25 @@ function finders.zip(specification,filetype)
             local zfile = zip.openarchive(specification.path)
             if zfile then
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'! zip finder, path: %s',specification.path)
+                    logs.report("fileio","zip finder, archive '%s' found",specification.path)
                 end
                 local dfile = zfile:open(q.name)
                 if dfile then
                     dfile = zfile:close()
                     if trace_locating then
-                        logs.report("fileio",'+ zip finder, name: %s',q.name)
+                        logs.report("fileio","zip finder, file '%s' found",q.name)
                     end
                     return specification.original
+                elseif trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","zip finder, file '%s' not found",q.name)
                 end
             elseif trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'? zip finder, path %s',specification.path)
+                logs.report("fileio","zip finder, unknown archive '%s'",specification.path)
             end
         end
     end
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'- zip finder, name: %s',filename)
+        logs.report("fileio","zip finder, '%s' not found",filename)
     end
     return unpack(finders.notfound)
 end
@@ -9941,20 +9874,25 @@ function openers.zip(specification)
             local zfile = zip.openarchive(zipspecification.path)
             if zfile then
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'+ zip starter, path: %s',zipspecification.path)
+                    logs.report("fileio","zip opener, archive '%s' opened",zipspecification.path)
                 end
                 local dfile = zfile:open(q.name)
                 if dfile then
                     logs.show_open(specification)
+                    if trace_locating then
+                        logs.report("fileio","zip opener, file '%s' found",q.name)
+                    end
                     return openers.text_opener(specification,dfile,'zip')
+                elseif trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","zip opener, file '%s' not found",q.name)
                 end
             elseif trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'- zip starter, path %s',zipspecification.path)
+                logs.report("fileio","zip opener, unknown archive '%s'",zipspecification.path)
             end
         end
     end
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'- zip opener, name: %s',filename)
+        logs.report("fileio","zip opener, '%s' not found",filename)
     end
     return unpack(openers.notfound)
 end
@@ -9967,25 +9905,27 @@ function loaders.zip(specification)
             local zfile = zip.openarchive(specification.path)
             if zfile then
                 if trace_locating then
-                    logs.report("fileio",'+ zip starter, path: %s',specification.path)
+                    logs.report("fileio","zip loader, archive '%s' opened",specification.path)
                 end
                 local dfile = zfile:open(q.name)
                 if dfile then
                     logs.show_load(filename)
                     if trace_locating then
-                        logs.report("fileio",'+ zip loader, name: %s',filename)
+                        logs.report("fileio","zip loader, file '%s' loaded",filename)
                     end
                     local s = dfile:read("*all")
                     dfile:close()
                     return true, s, #s
+                elseif trace_locating then
+                    logs.report("fileio","zip loader, file '%s' not found",q.name)
                 end
             elseif trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio",'- zip starter, path: %s',specification.path)
+                logs.report("fileio","zip loader, unknown archive '%s'",specification.path)
             end
         end
     end
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'- zip loader, name: %s',filename)
+        logs.report("fileio","zip loader, '%s' not found",filename)
     end
     return unpack(openers.notfound)
 end
@@ -9995,21 +9935,15 @@ end
 
 function resolvers.usezipfile(zipname)
     zipname = validzip(zipname)
-    if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'! zip use, file: %s',zipname)
-    end
     local specification = resolvers.splitmethod(zipname)
     local zipfile = specification.path
     if zipfile and not zip.registeredfiles[zipname] then
         local tree = url.query(specification.query).tree or ""
-        if trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio",'! zip register, file: %s',zipname)
-        end
         local z = zip.openarchive(zipfile)
         if z then
             local instance = resolvers.instance
             if trace_locating then
-                logs.report("fileio","= zipfile, registering: %s",zipname)
+                logs.report("fileio","zip registering, registering archive '%s'",zipname)
             end
             statistics.starttiming(instance)
             resolvers.prepend_hash('zip',zipname,zipfile)
@@ -10018,10 +9952,10 @@ function resolvers.usezipfile(zipname)
             instance.files[zipname] = resolvers.register_zip_file(z,tree or "")
             statistics.stoptiming(instance)
         elseif trace_locating then
-            logs.report("fileio","? zipfile, unknown: %s",zipname)
+            logs.report("fileio","zip registering, unknown archive '%s'",zipname)
         end
     elseif trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'! zip register, no file: %s',zipname)
+        logs.report("fileio","zip registering, '%s' not found",zipname)
     end
 end
 
@@ -10033,7 +9967,7 @@ function resolvers.register_zip_file(z,tree)
         filter = format("^%s/(.+)/(.-)$",tree)
     end
     if trace_locating then
-        logs.report("fileio",'= zip filter: %s',filter)
+        logs.report("fileio","zip registering, using filter '%s'",filter)
     end
     local register, n = resolvers.register_file, 0
     for i in z:files() do
@@ -10050,7 +9984,7 @@ function resolvers.register_zip_file(z,tree)
             n = n + 1
         end
     end
-    logs.report("fileio",'= zip entries: %s',n)
+    logs.report("fileio","zip registering, %s files registered",n)
     return files
 end
 
@@ -10240,47 +10174,47 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['data-aux'] = {
 
 local find = string.find
 
-local trace_verbose = false  trackers.register("resolvers.verbose", function(v) trace_verbose = v end)
+local trace_locating = false  trackers.register("resolvers.locating", function(v) trace_locating = v end)
 
 function resolvers.update_script(oldname,newname) -- oldname -> own.name, not per se a suffix
     local scriptpath = "scripts/context/lua"
     newname = file.addsuffix(newname,"lua")
     local oldscript = resolvers.clean_path(oldname)
-    if trace_verbose then
+    if trace_locating then
         logs.report("fileio","to be replaced old script %s", oldscript)
     end
     local newscripts = resolvers.find_files(newname) or { }
     if #newscripts == 0 then
-        if trace_verbose then
+        if trace_locating then
             logs.report("fileio","unable to locate new script")
         end
     else
         for i=1,#newscripts do
             local newscript = resolvers.clean_path(newscripts[i])
-            if trace_verbose then
+            if trace_locating then
                 logs.report("fileio","checking new script %s", newscript)
             end
             if oldscript == newscript then
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","old and new script are the same")
                 end
             elseif not find(newscript,scriptpath) then
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","new script should come from %s",scriptpath)
                 end
             elseif not (find(oldscript,file.removesuffix(newname).."$") or find(oldscript,newname.."$")) then
-                if trace_verbose then
+                if trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","invalid new script name")
                 end
             else
                 local newdata = io.loaddata(newscript)
                 if newdata then
-                    if trace_verbose then
+                    if trace_locating then
                         logs.report("fileio","old script content replaced by new content")
                     end
                     io.savedata(oldscript,newdata)
                     break
-                elseif trace_verbose then
+                elseif trace_locating then
                     logs.report("fileio","unable to load new script")
                 end
             end
@@ -10690,6 +10624,7 @@ messages.help = [[
 --unix                create unix (linux) stubs
 
 --verbose             give a bit more info
+--trackers=list       enable given trackers
 --engine=str          target engine
 --progname=str        format or backend
 
@@ -11246,6 +11181,11 @@ else
 
 end
 
+local trackspec = environment.argument("trackers") or environment.argument("track")
+
+if trackspec then
+    trackers.enable(trackspec)
+end
 
 if environment.argument("selfmerge") then
     -- embed used libraries
-- 
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