Index: Makefile
==================================================================
--- Makefile
+++ Makefile
@@ -62,10 +62,11 @@
 tests.o tasks.o dashboard-tasks.o : task_records.scm
 runs.o : test_records.scm
 megatest.o : megatest-fossil-hash.scm
 client.scm common.scm configf.scm dashboard-guimonitor.scm dashboard-tests.scm dashboard.scm db.scm dcommon.scm ezsteps.scm fs-transport.scm http-transport.scm index-tree.scm items.scm keys.scm launch.scm megatest.scm monitor.scm mt.scm newdashboard.scm runconfig.scm runs.scm server.scm tdb.scm tests.scm tree.scm : common_records.scm rpc-transport.scm
 common_records.scm : altdb.scm
+vg.o dashboard.o : vg_records.scm
 
 # Temporary while transitioning to new routine
 # runs.o : run-tests-queue-classic.scm  run-tests-queue-new.scm
 
 megatest-fossil-hash.scm : $(SRCFILES) megatest.scm *_records.scm
@@ -167,12 +168,21 @@
 	fossil clone https://www.kiatoa.com/fossils/megatest_qa $(MTQA_FOSSIL)
 
 clean : 
 	rm -f $(OFILES) $(GOFILES) megatest dboard dboard.o megatest.o dashboard.o megatest-fossil-hash.* altdb.scm
 
+#======================================================================
+# Make the records files
+#======================================================================
+
+vg_records.scm : records.sh
+	./records.sh
+
+#======================================================================
 # Deploy section (not complete yet)
-#
+#======================================================================
+
 $(DEPLOYHELPERS) : utils/mt_*
 	$(INSTALL) $< $@
 	chmod a+X $@
 
 deploytarg/apropos.so : Makefile

Index: dashboard.scm
==================================================================
--- dashboard.scm
+++ dashboard.scm
@@ -41,10 +41,11 @@
 (include "common_records.scm")
 (include "db_records.scm")
 (include "run_records.scm")
 (include "task_records.scm")
 (include "megatest-fossil-hash.scm")
+(include "vg_records.scm")
 
 (define help (conc 
 	      "Megatest Dashboard, documentation at http://www.kiatoa.com/fossils/megatest
   version " megatest-version "
   license GPL, Copyright (C) Matt Welland 2012-2016
@@ -1137,11 +1138,12 @@
 						      (dboard:tabdat-last-data-update-set! tabdat now-time)
 						      (thread-start! (make-thread
 								      (lambda ()
 									(dboard:tabdat-running-layout-set! tabdat #t)
 									(dashboard:run-times-tab-layout-updater commondat tabdat tab-num)
-									(dboard:tabdat-running-layout-set! tabdat #f)))))
+									(dboard:tabdat-running-layout-set! tabdat #f))
+								      "run-times-tab-layout-updater")))
 						  ))))))
 				  "dashboard:run-times-tab-updater"))))
     (dboard:tabdat-drawing-set! tabdat drawing)
     (dboard:commondat-add-updater commondat run-times-tab-updater tab-num: tab-num)
     (iup:split
@@ -2350,28 +2352,30 @@
 
 ;; can a bar be placed in row "rownum" covering x1 to x2 without overlapping with existing 
 ;; bars? Use num-rows to check that a block will fit from rownum to (+ rownum num-rows)
 ;;
 (define (dashboard:row-collision rowhash rownum x1 x2 #!key (num-rows #f))
-  (let ((collision #f)
-	(lastrow   (if num-rows (+ rownum num-rows) rownum)))
+  (let ((lastrow   (if num-rows (+ rownum num-rows) rownum)))
     (let loop ((i      0)
 	       (rowdat (hash-table-ref/default rowhash rownum '())))
-      (for-each
-       (lambda (bar)
-	 (let ((bx1 (car bar))
-	       (bx2 (cdr bar)))
-	   (cond
-	    ;; newbar x1 inside bar
-	    ((dashboard:px-between x1 bx1 bx2)(set! collision #t))
-	    ((dashboard:px-between x2 bx1 bx2)(set! collision #t))
-	    ((and (<= x1 bx1)(>= x2 bx2))(set! collision #t)))))
-       rowdat)
-      (if (< i lastrow)
-	  (loop (+ i 1)
-		(hash-table-ref/default rowhash (+ rownum i) '()))))
-    collision))
+      (if (null? rowdat)
+	  #f
+	  (let rowloop ((bar (car rowdat))
+			(tal (cdr rowdat)))
+	    (let ((bx1 (car bar))
+		  (bx2 (cdr bar)))
+	      (cond
+	       ;; newbar x1 inside bar
+	       ((dashboard:px-between x1 bx1 bx2) #t)
+	       ((dashboard:px-between x2 bx1 bx2) #t)
+	       ((and (<= x1 bx1)(>= x2 bx2))      #t)
+	       (else (if (null? tal)
+			 (if (< i lastrow)
+			     (loop (+ i 1)
+				   (hash-table-ref/default rowhash (+ rownum i) '()))
+			     #f)
+			 (rowloop (car tal)(cdr tal)))))))))))
 
 (define (dashboard:add-bar rowhash rownum x1 x2 #!key (num-rows 0))
   (let loop ((i 0))
     (hash-table-set! rowhash 
 		     (+ i rownum)

ADDED   records-vs-vectors-vs-coops.scm
Index: records-vs-vectors-vs-coops.scm
==================================================================
--- /dev/null
+++ records-vs-vectors-vs-coops.scm
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+;; (include "vg.scm")
+
+;; (declare (uses vg))
+
+(use foof-loop defstruct coops)
+
+(defstruct obj     type fill-color angle)
+
+(define (make-vg:obj)(make-vector 3))
+(define-inline (vg:obj-get-type         vec)    (vector-ref  vec 0))
+(define-inline (vg:obj-get-fill-color   vec)    (vector-ref  vec 1))
+(define-inline (vg:obj-get-angle        vec)    (vector-ref  vec 2))
+(define-inline (vg:obj-set-type!        vec val)(vector-set! vec 0 val))
+(define-inline (vg:obj-set-fill-color!  vec val)(vector-set! vec 1 val))
+(define-inline (vg:obj-set-angle!       vec val)(vector-set! vec 2 val))
+
+(use simple-exceptions)
+(define vgs:obj-exn (make-exception "wrong record type, expected vgs:obj." 'assert))
+(define (make-vgs:obj)(let ((v (make-vector 4)))(vector-set! v 0 'vgs:obj) v))
+(define-inline (vgs:obj-type             vec)(if (eq? (vector-ref vec 0) 'vgs:obj)(vector-ref  vec 1)(raise (vgs:obj-exn 'vgs:obj-type 'xpr))))
+(define-inline (vgs:obj-fill-color       vec)(if (eq? (vector-ref vec 0) 'vgs:obj)(vector-ref  vec 2)(raise (vgs:obj-exn 'vgs:obj-fill-color 'xpr))))
+(define-inline (vgs:obj-angle            vec)(if (eq? (vector-ref vec 0) 'vgs:obj)(vector-ref  vec 3)(raise (vgs:obj-exn 'vgs:obj-angle 'xpr))))
+(define-inline (vgs:obj-type-set!        vec val)(if (eq? (vector-ref vec 0) 'vgs:obj)(vector-set! vec 1 val)(raise (vgs:obj-exn 'type))))
+(define-inline (vgs:obj-fill-color-set!  vec val)(if (eq? (vector-ref vec 0) 'vgs:obj)(vector-set! vec 2 val)(raise (vgs:obj-exn 'fill-color))))
+(define-inline (vgs:obj-angle-set!       vec val)(if (eq? (vector-ref vec 0) 'vgs:obj)(vector-set! vec 3 val)(raise (vgs:obj-exn 'angle))))
+
+(define-class <vgc> ()
+  ((type)
+   (fill-color)
+   (angle)))
+
+
+;; first use raw vectors
+(print "Using vectors")
+(time
+ (loop ((for r (up-from 0 (to 255))))
+       (loop ((for g (up-from 0 (to 255))))
+	     (loop ((for b (up-from 0 (to 255))))
+		   (let ((obj (make-vg:obj)))
+		     (vg:obj-set-type! obj 'abc)
+		     (vg:obj-set-fill-color! obj "green")
+		     (vg:obj-set-angle! obj 135)
+		     (let ((a (vg:obj-get-type obj))
+			   (b (vg:obj-get-fill-color obj))
+			   (c (vg:obj-get-angle obj)))
+		       obj))))))
+
+;; first use raw vectors with safe mode
+(print "Using vectors (safe mode)")
+(time
+ (loop ((for r (up-from 0 (to 255))))
+       (loop ((for g (up-from 0 (to 255))))
+	     (loop ((for b (up-from 0 (to 255))))
+		   (let ((obj (make-vgs:obj)))
+		     ;; (badobj (make-vector 20)))
+		     (vgs:obj-type-set! obj 'abc)
+		     (vgs:obj-fill-color-set! obj "green")
+		     (vgs:obj-angle-set! obj 135)
+		     (let ((a (vgs:obj-type obj))
+			   (b (vgs:obj-fill-color obj))
+			   (c (vgs:obj-angle obj)))
+		       obj))))))
+
+;; first use defstruct
+(print "Using defstruct")
+(time
+ (loop ((for r (up-from 0 (to 255))))
+       (loop ((for g (up-from 0 (to 255))))
+	     (loop ((for b (up-from 0 (to 255))))
+		   (let ((obj (make-obj)))
+		     (obj-type-set! obj 'abc)
+		     (obj-fill-color-set! obj "green")
+		     (obj-angle-set! obj 135)
+		     (let ((a (obj-type obj))
+			   (b (obj-fill-color obj))
+			   (c (obj-angle obj)))
+		       obj))))))
+		   
+
+;; first use defstruct
+(print "Using coops")
+(time
+ (loop ((for r (up-from 0 (to 255))))
+       (loop ((for g (up-from 0 (to 255))))
+	     (loop ((for b (up-from 0 (to 255))))
+		   (let ((obj (make <vgc>)))
+		     (set! (slot-value obj 'type) 'abc)
+		     (set! (slot-value obj 'fill-color) "green")
+		     (set! (slot-value obj 'angle) 135)
+		     (let ((a (slot-value obj 'type))
+			   (b (slot-value obj 'fill-color))
+			   (c (slot-value obj 'angle)))
+		       obj))))))

Index: vg-test.scm
==================================================================
--- vg-test.scm
+++ vg-test.scm
@@ -6,16 +6,18 @@
 (define numtorun 1000)
 ;; (if (> (length (argv)) 1)
 ;; 		     (string->number (cadr (argv)))
 ;; 		     1000))
 
-;; (use trace)
-;; (trace 
-;;  vg:draw-rect
-;;  vg:grow-rect
-;;  vg:components-get-extents
-;;  vg:instances-get-extents)
+ (use trace)
+ (trace 
+  ;; vg:draw-rect
+  ;; vg:grow-rect
+  vg:get-extents-for-objs
+  vg:components-get-extents
+  vg:instances-get-extents
+  vg:get-extents-for-two-rects)
 
 (define d1 (vg:drawing-new))
 (define l1 (vg:lib-new))
 (define c1 (vg:comp-new))
 (define c2 (vg:comp-new))

Index: vg.scm
==================================================================
--- vg.scm
+++ vg.scm
@@ -13,20 +13,23 @@
 (use defstruct srfi-1)
 
 (declare (unit vg))
 (use canvas-draw iup)
 (import canvas-draw-iup)
-;; structs
-;;
-(defstruct vg:lib     comps)
-(defstruct vg:comp    objs name file)
-;; extents caches extents calculated on draw
-;; proc is called on draw and takes the obj itself as a parameter
-;; attrib is an alist of parameters
-(defstruct vg:obj     type pts fill-color text line-color call-back angle font attrib extents proc)
-(defstruct vg:inst    libname compname theta xoff yoff scalex scaley mirrx mirry call-back cache)
-(defstruct vg:drawing libs insts scalex scaley xoff yoff cnv cache) ;; libs: hash of name->lib, insts: hash of instname->inst
+
+(include "vg_records.scm")
+
+;; ;; structs
+;; ;;
+;; (defstruct vg:lib     comps)
+;; (defstruct vg:comp    objs name file)
+;; ;; extents caches extents calculated on draw
+;; ;; proc is called on draw and takes the obj itself as a parameter
+;; ;; attrib is an alist of parameters
+;; (defstruct vg:obj     type pts fill-color text line-color call-back angle font attrib extents proc)
+;; (defstruct vg:inst    libname compname theta xoff yoff scalex scaley mirrx mirry call-back cache)
+;; (defstruct vg:drawing libs insts scalex scaley xoff yoff cnv cache) ;; libs: hash of name->lib, insts: hash of instname->inst
 
 ;; inits
 ;;
 (define (vg:comp-new)
   (make-vg:comp objs: '() name: #f file: #f))
@@ -191,19 +194,33 @@
   (let* ((lib  (hash-table-ref (vg:drawing-libs drawing) libname))
 	 (inst (hash-table-ref (vg:lib-comps lib) compname)))
     inst))
 
 (define (vg:get-extents-for-objs drawing objs)
-  (let ((extents #f))
-    (for-each
-     (lambda (obj)
-       (set! extents
-	 (vg:get-extents-for-two-rects
-	  extents
-	  (vg:obj-get-extents drawing obj))))
-     objs)
-    extents))
+  (if (or (not objs)
+	  (null? objs))
+      #f
+      (let loop ((hed     (car objs))
+		 (tal     (cdr objs))
+		 (extents (vg:obj-get-extents drawing (car objs))))
+	(let ((newextents
+	       (vg:get-extents-for-two-rects
+		extents
+		(vg:obj-get-extents drawing hed))))
+	  (if (null? tal)
+	      extents
+	      (loop (car tal)(cdr tal) newextents))))))
+
+;;   (let ((extents #f))
+;;     (for-each
+;;      (lambda (obj)
+;;        (set! extents
+;; 	 (vg:get-extents-for-two-rects
+;; 	  extents
+;; 	  (vg:obj-get-extents drawing obj))))
+;;      objs)
+;;     extents))
 
 ;; given rectangles r1 and r2, return the box that bounds both
 ;;
 (define (vg:get-extents-for-two-rects r1 r2)
   (if (not r1)
@@ -214,20 +231,24 @@
 		(min (cadr r1)(cadr r2))         ;; lly
 		(max (caddr r1)(caddr r2))       ;; ulx
 		(max (cadddr r1)(cadddr r2)))))) ;; uly
 
 (define (vg:components-get-extents drawing . comps)
-  (let ((extents #f))
-    (for-each
-     (lambda (comp)
-       (let* ((objs  (vg:comp-objs comp)))
-	 (set! extents 
-	   (vg:get-extents-for-two-rects
-	    extents
-	    (vg:get-extents-for-objs drawing objs)))))
-     comps)
-    extents))
+  (if (null? comps)
+      #f
+      (let loop ((hed  (car comps))
+		 (tal  (cdr comps))
+		 (extents #f))
+	(let* ((objs  (vg:comp-objs hed))
+	       (newextents (if extents
+			       (vg:get-extents-for-two-rects
+				extents
+				(vg:get-extents-for-objs drawing objs))
+			       (vg:get-extents-for-objs drawing objs))))
+	  (if (null? tal)
+	      newextents
+	      (loop (car tal)(cdr tal) newextents))))))
 
 ;;======================================================================
 ;; libraries
 ;;======================================================================