Index: launch.scm
==================================================================
--- launch.scm
+++ launch.scm
@@ -667,24 +667,29 @@
 					  (list "MT_ITEM_INFO" (conc itemdat)) 
 					  (list "MT_RUNNAME"   runname)
 					  (list "MT_TARGET"    mt_target)
 					  )
 				    itemdat)))
-	   (launch-results (apply (if (equal? (configf:lookup *configdat* "setup" "launchwait") "yes")
+	   ;; Launchwait defaults to true, must override it to turn off wait
+	   (launchwait     (if (equal? (configf:lookup *configdat* "setup" "launchwait") "no") #f #t))
+	   (launch-results (apply (if launchwait
 				      cmd-run-with-stderr->list
 				      process-run)
 				  (if useshell
 				      (string-intersperse fullcmd " ")
 				      (car fullcmd))
 				  (if useshell
 				      '()
 				      (cdr fullcmd)))))
-      (if (list? launch-results)
-	  (with-output-to-file "mt_launch.log"
-	    (lambda ()
-	      (apply print launch-results))
-	    #:append))
+      (if (not launchwait) ;; give the OS a little time to allow the process to start
+	  (thread-sleep! 0.01))
+      (with-output-to-file "mt_launch.log"
+	(lambda ()
+	  (if (list? launch-results)
+	      (apply print launch-results)
+	      (print "NOTE: launched \"" fullcmd "\"\n  but did not wait for it to proceed. Add the following to megatest.config \n[setup]\nlaunchwait yes\n  if you have problems with this"))
+	  #:append))
       (debug:print 2 "Launching completed, updating db")
       (debug:print 2 "Launch results: " launch-results)
       (if (not launch-results)
           (begin
             (print "ERROR: Failed to run " (string-intersperse fullcmd " ") ", exiting now")

Index: runs.scm
==================================================================
--- runs.scm
+++ runs.scm
@@ -309,26 +309,35 @@
 ;;   loop with (car reg) tal (cdr reg) reruns
 ;; If tal is empty
 ;;   but have items in reg; loop with (car reg)(cdr reg) '() reruns
 ;;   If reg is empty => all done
 
-(define (runs:queue-next-hed tal reg n regful)
-  (if regful
+(define (runs:queue-next-hed tal reg n regfull)
+  (if regfull
       (car reg)
       (if (null? tal) ;; tal is used up, pop from reg
 	  (car reg)
 	  (car tal))))
 
-(define (runs:queue-next-tal tal reg n regful)
-  (if regful
+;;   (cond
+;;    ((and regfull (null? reg)(not (null? tal)))      (car tal))
+;;    ((and regfull (not (null? reg)))                 (car reg))
+;;    ((and (not regfull)(null? tal)(not (null? reg))) (car reg))
+;;    ((and (not regfull)(not (null? tal)))            (car tal))
+;;    (else
+;;     (debug:print 0 "ERROR: runs:queue-next-hed, tal=" tal ", reg=" reg ", n=" n ", regfull=" regfull)
+;;     #f)))
+
+(define (runs:queue-next-tal tal reg n regfull)
+  (if regfull
       tal
       (if (null? tal) ;; must transfer from reg
 	  (cdr reg)
 	  (cdr tal))))
 
-(define (runs:queue-next-reg tal reg n regful)
-  (if regful
+(define (runs:queue-next-reg tal reg n regfull)
+  (if regfull
       (cdr reg)
       (if (null? tal) ;; if tal is null and reg not full then '() as reg contents moved to tal
 	  '()
 	  reg)))
 
@@ -353,11 +362,11 @@
      ;; all prereqs met, fire off the test
      ;; or, if it is a 'toplevel test and all prereqs not met are COMPLETED then launch
      ((or (null? prereqs-not-met)
 	  (and (eq? testmode 'toplevel)
 	       (null? non-completed)))
-      (debug:print-info 4 "INNER COND #2: (or (null? prereqs-not-met) (and (eq? testmode 'toplevel)(null? non-completed)))")
+      (debug:print-info 4 "runs:expand-items: (or (null? prereqs-not-met) (and (eq? testmode 'toplevel)(null? non-completed)))")
       (let ((test-name (tests:testqueue-get-testname test-record)))
 	(setenv "MT_TEST_NAME" test-name) ;; 
 	(setenv "MT_RUNNAME"   runname)
 	(set-megatest-env-vars run-id inrunname: runname) ;; these may be needed by the launching process
 	(let ((items-list (items:get-items-from-config tconfig)))
@@ -370,11 +379,13 @@
 		(exit 1))))))
 
      ((null? fails)
       (debug:print-info 4 "fails is null, moving on in the queue but keeping " hed " for now")
       ;; num-retries code was here
-      (list (car newtal)(cdr newtal) reg reruns)) ;; an issue with prereqs not yet met?
+      ;; we use this opportunity to move contents of reg to tal
+      (list (car newtal)(append (cdr newtal) reg) '() reruns)) ;; an issue with prereqs not yet met?
+
      ((and (not (null? fails))(eq? testmode 'normal))
       (debug:print-info 1 "test "  hed " (mode=" testmode ") has failed prerequisite(s); "
 			(string-intersperse (map (lambda (t)(conc (db:test-get-testname t) ":" (db:test-get-state t)"/"(db:test-get-status t))) fails) ", ")
 			", removing it from to-do list")
       (if (or (not (null? reg))(not (null? tal)))
@@ -381,10 +392,11 @@
 	  (list (runs:queue-next-hed tal reg reglen regfull)
 		(runs:queue-next-tal tal reg reglen regfull)
 		(runs:queue-next-reg tal reg reglen regfull)
 		(cons hed reruns))
 	  #f)) ;; #f flags do not loop
+
      (else
       (debug:print 4 "ERROR: No handler for this condition.")
       (list (car newtal)(cdr newtal) reg reruns)))))
 
 (define (runs:process-expanded-tests hed tal reg reruns reglen regfull test-record runname test-name item-path jobgroup max-concurrent-jobs run-id waitons item-path testmode test-patts required-tests test-registry registry-mutex flags keyvals run-info)
@@ -442,19 +454,19 @@
 			       (mutex-unlock! registry-mutex))
 			     (conc test-name "/" item-path))))
 	(thread-start! th))
       (runs:shrink-can-run-more-tests-count)   ;; DELAY TWEAKER (still needed?)
       (if (and (null? tal)(null? reg))
-	  (list hed tal (append reg (list hed)) reruns))
+	  (list hed tal (append reg (list hed)) reruns)
 	  (list (runs:queue-next-hed tal reg reglen regfull)
 		(runs:queue-next-tal tal reg reglen regfull)
 		;; NB// Here we are building reg as we register tests
 		;; if regfull we must pop the front item off reg
 		(if regfull
 		    (append (cdr reg) (list hed))
 		    (append reg (list hed)))
-		reruns))
+		reruns)))
      
      ;; At this point hed test registration must be completed.
      ;;
      ((eq? (hash-table-ref/default test-registry (runs:make-full-test-name test-name item-path) #f)
 	   'start)
@@ -608,11 +620,11 @@
 	(if (member test-name waitons)
 	    (begin
 	      (debug:print 0 "ERROR: test " test-name " has listed itself as a waiton, please correct this!")
 	      (set! waiton (filter (lambda (x)(not (equal? x hed))) waitons))))
 
-	(cond ;; OUTER COND
+	(cond 
 
 	 ;; items is #f then the test is ok to be handed off to launch (but not before)
 	 ;; 
 	 ((not items)
 	  (debug:print-info 4 "OUTER COND: (not items)")
@@ -620,14 +632,15 @@
 		   (not (null? tal)))
 	      (loop (car tal)(cdr tal) reg reruns))
 	  (let ((loop-list (runs:process-expanded-tests hed tal reg reruns reglen regfull test-record runname test-name item-path jobgroup max-concurrent-jobs run-id waitons item-path testmode test-patts required-tests test-registry registry-mutex flags keyvals run-info)))
 	    (if loop-list (apply loop loop-list))))
 
-	 ;; case where an items came in as a list been processed
+	 ;; items processed into a list but not came in as a list been processed
+	 ;;
 	 ((and (list? items)     ;; thus we know our items are already calculated
 	       (not   itemdat))  ;; and not yet expanded into the list of things to be done
-	  (debug:print-info 4 "INNER COND: (and (list? items)(not itemdat))")
+	  (debug:print-info 4 "OUTER COND: (and (list? items)(not itemdat))")
 	  (if (and (debug:debug-mode 1) ;; (>= *verbosity* 1)
 		   (> (length items) 0)
 		   (> (length (car items)) 0))
 	      (pp items))
 	  (for-each
@@ -645,12 +658,12 @@
 		     (set! tal (append tal (list newtestname))))))) ;; since these are itemized create new test names testname/itempath
 	   items)
 	  ;; At this point we have possibly added items to tal but all must be handed off to 
 	  ;; INNER COND logic. I think loop without rotating the queue 
 	  ;; (loop hed tal reg reruns))
-	  ;; (let ((newtal (append tal (list hed))))  ;; We should discard hed as it has been expanded into it's items?
-	  ;;   (loop (car newtal)(cdr newtal) reg reruns)) ;; )
+	  ;; (let ((newtal (append tal (list hed))))  ;; We should discard hed as it has been expanded into it's items? Yes, but only if this *is* an itemized test
+	  ;; (loop (car newtal)(cdr newtal) reg reruns)
 	  (loop (car tal)(cdr tal) reg reruns))
 	    
 	 ;; if items is a proc then need to run items:get-items-from-config, get the list and loop 
 	 ;;    - but only do that if resources exist to kick off the job
 	 ;; EXPAND ITEMS

Index: tests/Makefile
==================================================================
--- tests/Makefile
+++ tests/Makefile
@@ -90,10 +90,35 @@
 
 test8 : test8a
 	cd fullrun;$(MEGATEST) -runtests lineitem_fail 1 -target ubuntu/nfs/none :runname $(RUNNAME)_singletest
 	cd fullrun;$(MEGATEST) -runtests runfirst/fall 1 -target ubuntu/nfs/none :runname $(RUNNAME)_singleitem
 	cd fullrun;$(MEGATEST) -runtests test_mt_vars/2 -target ubuntu/nfs/none :runname $(RUNNAME)_singleitem_waiton
+
+# Some simple checks for bootstrapping and run loop logic 
+
+test9 : minsetup test9a test9b test9c
+
+test9a :
+	@echo Run super-simple mintest e, no waitons.
+	cd mintest;megatest -runtests e -target $(VER) :runname `date +%H.%M.%S` -debug $(DEBUG)
+
+test9b :
+	@echo Run simple mintest d with one waiton c
+	cd mintest;megatest -runtests d -target $(VER) :runname `date +%H.%M.%S` -debug $(DEBUG)
+
+test9c :
+	@echo Run mintest a with full waiton chain a -> b -> c -> d -> e
+	cd mintest;megatest -runtests a -target $(VER) :runname `date +%H.%M.%S` -debug $(DEBUG)
+
+
+minsetup : 
+	cd ..;make && make install
+	mkdir -p mintest/{runs,links}
+	cd mintest;megatest -stop-server 0
+	cd mintest;megatest -server - -debug $(DEBUG) > server.log 2> server.log & 
+	sleep 3
+	cd mintest;dashboard -rows 20 &
 
 cleanprep : ../*.scm Makefile */*.config
 	mkdir -p fullrun/tmp/mt_runs fullrun/tmp/mt_links
 	cd ..;make;make install
 	rm -f */logging.db

ADDED   tests/mintest/megatest.config
Index: tests/mintest/megatest.config
==================================================================
--- /dev/null
+++ tests/mintest/megatest.config
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+[fields]
+X TEXT
+
+[setup]
+max_concurrent_jobs 50
+linktree #{getenv PWD}/linktree
+
+[server]
+port 8090
+
+[jobtools]
+useshell yes
+launcher nbfind
+
+[disks]
+disk0 #{getenv PWD}/runs

ADDED   tests/mintest/runconfigs.config
Index: tests/mintest/runconfigs.config
==================================================================
--- /dev/null
+++ tests/mintest/runconfigs.config
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[default]
+ALLTESTS see this variable
+
+# Your variables here are grouped by targets [SYSTEM/RELEASE]
+[a]
+ANOTHERVAR only defined if target is "a"

ADDED   tests/mintest/tests/a/testconfig
Index: tests/mintest/tests/a/testconfig
==================================================================
--- /dev/null
+++ tests/mintest/tests/a/testconfig
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Add steps here. Format is "stepname script"
+[ezsteps]
+step1 echo SUCCESS
+
+[requirements]
+waiton b

ADDED   tests/mintest/tests/b/testconfig
Index: tests/mintest/tests/b/testconfig
==================================================================
--- /dev/null
+++ tests/mintest/tests/b/testconfig
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Add steps here. Format is "stepname script"
+[ezsteps]
+step1 echo SUCCESS
+
+[requirements]
+waiton c

ADDED   tests/mintest/tests/c/testconfig
Index: tests/mintest/tests/c/testconfig
==================================================================
--- /dev/null
+++ tests/mintest/tests/c/testconfig
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Add steps here. Format is "stepname script"
+[ezsteps]
+step1 echo SUCCESS
+
+[requirements]
+waiton d

ADDED   tests/mintest/tests/d/testconfig
Index: tests/mintest/tests/d/testconfig
==================================================================
--- /dev/null
+++ tests/mintest/tests/d/testconfig
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Add steps here. Format is "stepname script"
+[ezsteps]
+step1 echo SUCCESS
+
+[requirements]
+waiton e

ADDED   tests/mintest/tests/e/testconfig
Index: tests/mintest/tests/e/testconfig
==================================================================
--- /dev/null
+++ tests/mintest/tests/e/testconfig
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# Add steps here. Format is "stepname script"
+[ezsteps]
+step1 echo SUCCESS
+

ADDED   tests/mintest/tests/f/testconfig
Index: tests/mintest/tests/f/testconfig
==================================================================
--- /dev/null
+++ tests/mintest/tests/f/testconfig
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Add steps here. Format is "stepname script"
+[ezsteps]
+step1 echo SUCCESS
+
+[requirements]
+waiton b

ADDED   tests/mintest/tests/g/testconfig
Index: tests/mintest/tests/g/testconfig
==================================================================
--- /dev/null
+++ tests/mintest/tests/g/testconfig
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Add steps here. Format is "stepname script"
+[ezsteps]
+step1 echo SUCCESS
+
+[requirements]
+waiton b

ADDED   tests/mintest/tests/h/testconfig
Index: tests/mintest/tests/h/testconfig
==================================================================
--- /dev/null
+++ tests/mintest/tests/h/testconfig
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Add steps here. Format is "stepname script"
+[ezsteps]
+step1 echo SUCCESS
+
+[requirements]
+waiton b

ADDED   tests/mintest/tests/i/testconfig
Index: tests/mintest/tests/i/testconfig
==================================================================
--- /dev/null
+++ tests/mintest/tests/i/testconfig
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Add steps here. Format is "stepname script"
+[ezsteps]
+step1 echo SUCCESS
+
+[requirements]
+waiton b

ADDED   tests/mintest/tests/j/testconfig
Index: tests/mintest/tests/j/testconfig
==================================================================
--- /dev/null
+++ tests/mintest/tests/j/testconfig
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Add steps here. Format is "stepname script"
+[ezsteps]
+step1 echo SUCCESS
+
+[requirements]
+waiton b

ADDED   tests/mintest/tests/k/testconfig
Index: tests/mintest/tests/k/testconfig
==================================================================
--- /dev/null
+++ tests/mintest/tests/k/testconfig
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Add steps here. Format is "stepname script"
+[ezsteps]
+step1 echo SUCCESS
+
+[requirements]
+waiton b

ADDED   tests/mintest/tests/l/testconfig
Index: tests/mintest/tests/l/testconfig
==================================================================
--- /dev/null
+++ tests/mintest/tests/l/testconfig
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Add steps here. Format is "stepname script"
+[ezsteps]
+step1 echo SUCCESS
+
+[requirements]
+waiton b