diff --git a/spike.cabal b/spike.cabal
--- a/spike.cabal
+++ b/spike.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 Name:                spike
-Version:             0.1
+Version:             0.2
 Synopsis:            Experimental web browser
 Description:         Experimental web browser based on WebKit-Gtk+
 License:             BSD3
@@ -18,9 +18,13 @@
 
 Executable spike
   Main-is:           spike.hs
-  Other-modules:     Utils, VisualBrowseTree, Datatypes, Graphs, CFunctions, NotebookSimple
+  Other-modules:     Utils, VisualBrowseTree, Datatypes, Graphs, 
+                     CFunctions, NotebookSimple, GlobalVariables, 
+                     Commands, BrowseTreeOperations
   Hs-source-dirs:    src
-  Build-depends:     webkit == 0.12.*, containers, gtk, base == 4.*, stm, mtl > 2, rosezipper, process, directory, filepath
+  Build-depends:     webkit == 0.12.*, containers, gtk, base == 4.*, 
+                     stm, mtl > 2, rosezipper, process, directory, 
+                     filepath, glib, random, global-variables
   Ghc-options:       -rtsopts
   C-sources:         cbits/cbits.c
   pkgconfig-depends: libsoup-gnome-2.4
diff --git a/src/BrowseTreeOperations.hs b/src/BrowseTreeOperations.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/BrowseTreeOperations.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,322 @@
+module BrowseTreeOperations where
+
+import Graphics.UI.Gtk
+
+import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebFrame
+import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebView
+import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.Download
+import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebSettings
+import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.NetworkRequest
+import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebNavigationAction
+
+import Control.Applicative
+import Control.Concurrent
+import Control.Concurrent.STM
+import Control.Monad
+
+import Data.IORef
+import Data.Maybe
+import Data.Tree as Tree
+import Data.Tree.Zipper
+
+-- import System.Directory
+-- import System.Exit
+-- import System.FilePath
+-- import System.IO.Unsafe
+-- import System.Process
+-- import System.Random
+
+import Text.Printf
+
+import qualified Data.Foldable as F
+import qualified Data.List
+import qualified Data.Traversable as T
+
+import CFunctions
+import Commands
+import Datatypes
+import GlobalVariables
+import NotebookSimple
+import Utils
+import VisualBrowseTree
+
+--------------------- web view stuff
+
+-- operations on single page
+-- | install listeners for various signals
+hookupWebView :: WebViewClass object => object -> IO WebView -> IO ()
+hookupWebView web createSubPage = do
+  on web downloadRequested $ \ down -> do
+         uri <- downloadGetUri down
+         print ("Download uri",uri)
+         return True
+
+  let foo str webFr netReq webNavAct _webPolDec = do
+                      t0 <- return str
+                      t1 <- webFrameGetName webFr
+                      t2 <- webFrameGetUri webFr
+                      t3 <- networkRequestGetUri netReq
+                      t4 <- webNavigationActionGetReason webNavAct
+                      print (t0,t1,t2,t3,MyShow t4)
+                      return False
+
+  on web newWindowPolicyDecisionRequested $ foo "newWindowPolicyDecisionRequested"
+
+  on web createWebView $ \ frame -> do
+    print "createWebView"
+    newWebView <- createSubPage
+    newUri <- webFrameGetUri frame
+    case newUri of
+      Just uri -> webViewLoadUri newWebView uri
+      Nothing  -> return ()
+    return newWebView
+
+  -- on web downloadRequested $ \ _ -> print "downloadRequested" >> return False
+
+ -- JavaScript stuff: TODO
+ -- scriptAlert
+ -- scriptConfirm
+ -- scriptPrompt
+ -- printRequested
+ -- statusBarTextChanged
+  on web consoleMessage $ \ s1 s2 i s3 -> print ("[JavaScript/Console message]: ",s1,s2,i,s3) >> return False
+
+  hoveredLink <- newTVarIO Nothing
+
+  on web hoveringOverLink $ \ title uri -> do
+    -- print ("[hoveringOverLink]: ",title,uri)
+    atomically $ writeTVar hoveredLink uri
+
+  -- navigation
+  on web navigationPolicyDecisionRequested $ \ webframe networkReq webNavAct webPolDec -> do
+    print "[navigationPolicyDecisionRequested]"
+    navReason <- webNavigationActionGetReason webNavAct
+    case navReason of
+      WebNavigationReasonLinkClicked -> do
+        print (MyShow navReason)
+        muri <- networkRequestGetUri networkReq
+        kmod <- webNavigationActionGetModifierState webNavAct
+        mbut <- webNavigationActionGetButton webNavAct
+        print (muri,kmod,mbut)
+        -- midle click and ctrl+click will spawn child
+        -- shift+click spawn toplevel window
+        case (mbut,kmod,muri) of
+          -- middle click
+          (2,_,Just uri) -> do
+                     print ("loading uri in sub [1]",uri)
+                     wv <- createSubPage
+                     webViewLoadRequest wv networkReq
+                     return True
+          -- ctrl+click
+          (_,4,Just uri) -> do
+                     print ("loading uri in sub [2]",uri)
+                     wv <- createSubPage
+                     webViewLoadRequest wv networkReq
+                     return True
+          -- shift+click
+          (_,1,Just uri) -> do
+                     print ("loading uri in sub [3]",uri)
+                     wv <- createSubPage
+                     webViewLoadRequest wv networkReq
+                     return True
+          -- otherwise
+          _ -> return False
+
+      _ -> do
+        print (MyShow navReason)
+        return False
+
+  -- new window via JavaScript
+  on web newWindowPolicyDecisionRequested $ \ webframe networkReq webNavAct webPolDec -> do
+    return False
+
+  -- statusBarTextChanged
+
+  return ()
+
+addressBarNew :: WebViewClass self => self -> IO Entry
+addressBarNew web = do
+  ec <- entryNew
+  entrySetActivatesDefault ec True
+  on ec entryActivate $ do
+     text <- entryGetText ec
+     webViewLoadUri web text
+  on web loadCommitted $ \ frame -> do
+     uri <- webFrameGetUri frame
+     uri2 <- webViewGetUri web
+     when (uri /= uri2) (print $ "INFO: addressBar: uri/uri2 mismatch: " ++ show (uri,uri2))
+     case catMaybes [uri,uri2] of
+       (x:_) -> entrySetText ec x
+       _ -> print ("INFO: addressBar: no text to set")
+     return ()
+  return ec
+
+newWeb :: BrowseTreeState -> IO () -> String -> IO (Widget, WebView)
+newWeb btreeSt refreshLayout url = do
+  page <- vPanedNew
+  let thisWidget = toWidget page
+
+  -- webkit widget
+  web <- webViewNew
+  webViewSetTransparent web False
+  let loadHome = webViewLoadUri web url
+  loadHome
+  -- webViewSetMaintainsBackForwardList web False -- TODO: or maybe True?
+  on web titleChanged $ \ _ _ -> refreshLayout
+
+  -- plugins are causing trouble. disable them.
+  settings <- webViewGetWebSettings web
+  set settings [webSettingsEnablePlugins := False]
+
+  -- scrolled window to enclose the webkit
+  scrollWeb <- scrolledWindowNew Nothing Nothing
+  containerAdd scrollWeb web
+
+  -- menu
+  addressBar <- addressBarNew web
+  menu <- hBoxNew False 1
+
+  quit <- buttonNewWithLabel "Quit"
+  on quit buttonActivated $ do
+    p <- findPageByView pgWidget thisWidget
+    case p of
+      Nothing -> return ()
+      Just pg -> sendCommand (ClosePageCommand (pgIdent pg))
+
+  reload <- buttonNewWithLabel "Reload"
+  on reload buttonActivated $ webViewReload web
+
+  goHome <- buttonNewWithLabel "Home"
+  on goHome buttonActivated $ loadHome
+
+  boxPackEnd menu quit PackNatural 1
+  boxPackStart menu reload PackNatural 1
+  boxPackStart menu goHome PackNatural 1
+  boxPackStart menu addressBar PackGrow 1
+
+  -- fill the page
+  containerAdd page menu
+  containerAdd page scrollWeb
+
+  widgetShowAll page
+
+  let ww = (thisWidget,web)
+      newChildPage = do
+        print "[newChildPage called]"
+        btree <- readTVarIO btreeSt
+        debugBTree btree
+        case findPageWidget btree thisWidget of
+          Just p -> do
+            ww' <- newWeb btreeSt refreshLayout "about:blank"
+            p' <- newPage ww' "about:blank" -- TODO: win the battle over the power to navigate the web view.
+            let btree' = addChild btree p p'
+            atomically $ writeTVar btreeSt btree'
+            refreshLayout
+            return (pgWeb p')
+          Nothing -> do
+            error "findPageWidget returned Nothing, can't provide a new window"
+
+  hookupWebView web newChildPage
+
+  return ww
+
+----------------------
+
+debugBTree :: [Tree Page] -> IO ()
+debugBTree btree = do
+  btree' <- mapM (T.mapM (\p -> fmap show $ getPageTitle p)) btree
+  putStrLn (drawForest btree')
+
+-- operations on tree
+newTopPage :: BrowseTreeState -> IO () -> String -> IO Page
+newTopPage btvar refreshLayout url = do
+  ww <- newWeb btvar refreshLayout url
+  tp <- newLeafURL ww url
+  atomically $ do
+    bt <- readTVar btvar
+    writeTVar btvar (bt ++ [tp])
+  return (rootLabel tp)
+
+newLeafURL :: (Widget, WebView) -> String -> IO (Tree Page)
+newLeafURL ww url = do
+  page <- (newPage ww url)
+  return (newLeaf page)
+
+newPage :: (Widget, WebView) -> String -> IO Page
+newPage (widget,webv) url = do
+  ident <- atomically $ do
+             i <- readTVar pageIdentVar
+             writeTVar pageIdentVar $! (i+1)
+             return i
+
+  return (Page { pgWidget = widget
+               , pgWeb = webv
+               , pgIdent = ident
+               , pgStartURI = url
+               })
+
+newLeaf :: Page -> Tree Page
+newLeaf page = Node page []
+
+addChild :: BrowseTree -> Page -> Page -> BrowseTree
+addChild btree parent child = let
+    aux (Node page sub) | isSamePage page parent = Node page (sub ++ [newLeaf child])
+                        | otherwise              = Node page (map aux sub)
+    in map aux btree
+
+-- query functions
+
+getPageSurrounds :: Eq a => [Tree a] -> a -> ([a], [a], [a])
+getPageSurrounds btree p | not (any (F.elem p) btree) = ([],[p],[])
+                         | otherwise =
+                             let parent = getPageParent btree p
+                                 parents = case parent of
+                                             Nothing -> []
+                                             Just x -> map rootLabel (getPageSiblings btree (rootLabel x))
+                                 siblings = map rootLabel (getPageSiblings btree p)
+                                 children = map rootLabel (getPageChildren btree p)
+                             in (parents,siblings,children)
+
+-- returns node's siblings
+getPageSiblings :: Eq b => [Tree b] -> b -> [Tree b]
+getPageSiblings btree p = case getPageParent btree p of
+                            Nothing -> btree
+                            Just x -> subForest x
+
+getPageChildren :: Eq b => [Tree b] -> b -> Forest b
+getPageChildren btree p = case filter ((==p) . rootLabel) (concatMap subtrees btree) of
+                            [] -> error "Element (page) not found in Forest"
+                            (Node _ sub:_) -> sub
+
+getPageParent :: Eq b => [Tree b] -> b -> Maybe (Tree b)
+getPageParent btree p = case (filter (any ((==p) . rootLabel) . subForest) (subtrees' btree)) of
+                            [] -> Nothing
+                            (x:_xs) -> Just x
+
+subtrees :: Tree t -> [Tree t]
+subtrees t@(Node _ sub) = t : subtrees' sub
+
+subtrees' :: [Tree t] -> [Tree t]
+subtrees' = concatMap subtrees
+
+
+findPageByView :: (Eq a) => (Page -> a) -> a -> IO (Maybe Page)
+findPageByView view el = do
+  pages <- readTVarIO browseTreeVar
+  return (listToMaybe $ catMaybes (map (F.find (\p -> view p == el)) pages))
+
+findPageByID :: PageID -> IO (Maybe Page)
+findPageByID = findPageByView pgIdent
+
+--findPageByID pid = do
+--  pages <- readTVarIO browseTreeVar
+--  return (listToMaybe $ catMaybes (map (F.find (\p -> pgIdent p == pid)) pages))
+
+findPageWidget :: BrowseTree -> Widget -> Maybe Page
+findPageWidget btree w = let fun p = pgWidget p == w
+                             flat = concatMap flatten btree
+                             filt = filter fun flat
+                         in
+                           case filt of
+                             [] -> Nothing
+                             (x:_) -> Just x
diff --git a/src/Commands.hs b/src/Commands.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Commands.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+{-# LANGUAGE DeriveDataTypeable, ExistentialQuantification #-}
+
+module Commands where
+
+import Datatypes
+
+import Control.Concurrent
+import Control.Concurrent.STM
+import Control.Exception
+import Data.Global
+import Data.IORef
+import Data.Typeable
+
+-- | commands channel. base implementations only do some logging, they need to be replaced with proper implementations when appropriate.
+commandChannelVar :: IORef CommandControl
+commandChannelVar = declareIORef "spike::global::commandChannel" emptyCommandControl
+
+data CommandControl = CommandControl { sendCommand_ :: SomeCommand -> IO ()
+                                     , registerListener_ :: (SomeCommand -> IO ()) -> IO () 
+                                     } deriving Typeable
+
+data SomeCommand = forall e . Command e => SomeCommand e deriving Typeable
+
+instance Show SomeCommand where
+    showsPrec p (SomeCommand e) = showsPrec p e
+
+-- | Command class. Design copied after System.Exception.Exception class
+class (Typeable c, Show c) => Command c where
+    toCommand :: c -> SomeCommand
+    fromCommand :: SomeCommand -> Maybe c
+
+    toCommand = SomeCommand
+    fromCommand (SomeCommand c) = Data.Typeable.cast c
+
+sendCommand :: Command c => c -> IO ()
+sendCommand c = do
+  cc <- readIORef commandChannelVar
+  sendCommand_ cc (toCommand c)
+
+registerListener :: (Command c) => (c -> IO ()) -> IO ()
+registerListener l = do
+  cc <- readIORef commandChannelVar
+  registerListener_ cc (\ c -> case fromCommand c of
+                                 Nothing -> return ()
+                                 Just x -> l x)
+
+emptyCommandControl = CommandControl
+                       (\ _ -> print "(default) sendCommand: command ignored")
+                       (\ _ -> print "(default) registerListener: listener ignored")
+
+setupCommandControl :: IO ()
+setupCommandControl = do
+  commandChan <- newChan
+  listeners <- newTVarIO []
+
+  let send c = writeChan commandChan c      
+      register l = atomically $ do
+                     ls <- readTVar listeners
+                     writeTVar listeners (l:ls)
+
+      handleCommand c = do
+        ls <- readTVarIO listeners
+        let logException c e = putStrLn $ "Exception while handling command: " ++ show c ++ " " ++ show (e :: SomeException)
+        mapM_ (\ handler -> forkIO (Control.Exception.catch (handler c) (logException c))) ls
+
+  forkIO $ do
+    commands <- getChanContents commandChan
+    mapM_ handleCommand commands
+
+  let cc = CommandControl send register
+  writeIORef commandChannelVar cc
+  return ()
+
+-- commands
+data ViewPageCommand = ViewPageCommand PageID deriving (Typeable, Show) -- which page
+data NewTopLevelPageCommand = NewTopLevelPageCommand URL deriving (Typeable, Show) -- url
+data NewChildPageCommand = NewChildPageCommand PageID URL deriving (Typeable, Show) -- parent, url
+data ClosePageCommand = ClosePageCommand PageID deriving (Typeable, Show) -- which page
+
+instance Command ViewPageCommand where
+instance Command NewChildPageCommand where
+instance Command NewTopLevelPageCommand where
+instance Command ClosePageCommand where
diff --git a/src/Datatypes.hs b/src/Datatypes.hs
--- a/src/Datatypes.hs
+++ b/src/Datatypes.hs
@@ -1,19 +1,25 @@
-{-# LANGUAGE PackageImports, FlexibleInstances, DoRec, ForeignFunctionInterface #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE FlexibleInstances, DeriveDataTypeable #-}
+
 module Datatypes where
 
-import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebView
-import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebNavigationAction
-import System.IO.Unsafe
-import Graphics.UI.Gtk
 import Control.Concurrent.STM
 import Data.Tree
+import Data.Typeable
+import Graphics.UI.Gtk
+import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebNavigationAction
+import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebView
 
-data History = Hist { hiNow :: String, hiPrev :: [String], hiNext :: [String] } deriving Show
+data Page = Page { pgWeb :: WebView
+                 , pgWidget :: Widget
+                 , pgIdent :: Int
+                 , pgStartURI :: String }
+          deriving Typeable
+          
 
-data Page = Page { pgWeb :: WebView, pgWidget :: Widget, pgHistory :: TVar History }
+type PageID = Int
+type PageLink = String
 
-instance Show Page where
-    show pg = "Page { pgWeb=?, pgWidget=?, pgHistory=" ++ show (unsafeDupablePerformIO (readTVarIO (pgHistory pg))) ++ "}"
+type URL = String
 
 instance Eq Page where
     p1 == p2 = pgWidget p1 == pgWidget p2
@@ -21,12 +27,17 @@
 type BrowseTree = Forest Page
 type BrowseTreeState = TVar BrowseTree
 
--- wrapper newtype to avoid orphan instances
+-- | wrapper newtype to avoid orphan instances
 newtype MyShow a = MyShow a
 instance Show (MyShow NavigationReason) where
-    show (MyShow WebNavigationReasonLinkClicked    )  = "WebNavigationReasonLinkClicked"
-    show (MyShow WebNavigationReasonFormSubmitted  )  = "WebNavigationReasonFormSubmitted"
-    show (MyShow WebNavigationReasonBackForward    )  = "WebNavigationReasonBackForward"
-    show (MyShow WebNavigationReasonReload         )  = "WebNavigationReasonReload"
-    show (MyShow WebNavigationReasonFormResubmitted)  = "WebNavigationReasonFormResubmitted"
-    show (MyShow WebNavigationReasonOther          )  = "WebNavigationReasonOther"
+    show (MyShow WebNavigationReasonLinkClicked    ) = "WebNavigationReasonLinkClicked"
+    show (MyShow WebNavigationReasonFormSubmitted  ) = "WebNavigationReasonFormSubmitted"
+    show (MyShow WebNavigationReasonBackForward    ) = "WebNavigationReasonBackForward"
+    show (MyShow WebNavigationReasonReload         ) = "WebNavigationReasonReload"
+    show (MyShow WebNavigationReasonFormResubmitted) = "WebNavigationReasonFormResubmitted"
+    show (MyShow WebNavigationReasonOther          ) = "WebNavigationReasonOther"
+
+-- | wrapper type for things that doesn't really have Show instance defined, like functions
+data DontShow a = DontShow { fromDontShow :: a } deriving Typeable
+instance Show (DontShow a) where
+    showsPrec p _ = showsPrec p "DontShow {contents are hidden}"
diff --git a/src/GlobalVariables.hs b/src/GlobalVariables.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/GlobalVariables.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+module GlobalVariables where
+
+import Data.Global
+import Datatypes
+
+import Data.IORef
+import Control.Concurrent.STM
+import Control.Concurrent
+
+-- | stores the whole browse tree state
+browseTreeVar :: BrowseTreeState
+browseTreeVar = declareTVar "spike::global::browseTree" []
+
+-- | current page
+currentPageVar :: TVar Page
+currentPageVar = declareTVar "spike::global::currentPage" (error "current page not yet set")
+
+-- | page counter -- for pgIdent
+pageIdentVar :: TVar Int
+pageIdentVar = declareTVar "spike::global::pageIdentCounter" 0
diff --git a/src/NotebookSimple.hs b/src/NotebookSimple.hs
--- a/src/NotebookSimple.hs
+++ b/src/NotebookSimple.hs
@@ -20,6 +20,11 @@
                                      , ns_refresh :: IO ()
                                      }
 
+viewPagesSimpleNotebook :: [Page] -> NotebookSimple -> IO ()
+viewPagesSimpleNotebook pages nb = do
+  atomically $ writeTVar (ns_pages nb) pages
+  ns_refresh nb
+
 newScrolledWindowWithViewPort :: WidgetClass child => child -> IO ScrolledWindow
 newScrolledWindowWithViewPort child = do
   sw <- scrolledWindowNew Nothing Nothing
diff --git a/src/Utils.hs b/src/Utils.hs
--- a/src/Utils.hs
+++ b/src/Utils.hs
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 import Control.Concurrent.STM
 import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebView
+import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebHistoryItem
+import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebBackForwardList
 import Graphics.UI.Gtk
 import Data.Tree
 import Data.Maybe
@@ -70,11 +72,14 @@
 
 getPageTitle :: Page -> IO String
 getPageTitle p = do
-  mtit <- webViewGetTitle (pgWeb p)
-  h <- readTVarIO (pgHistory p)
-  case mtit of
-    Nothing -> return (hiNow h)
-    Just t -> return t
+  let web = pgWeb p
+  mtit <- webViewGetTitle web
+  muri <- webViewGetUri web
+  bflst <- webViewGetBackForwardList web
+
+  let titles = catMaybes [mtit, muri] ++ [pgStartURI p]
+
+  return $ head titles
 
 flattenToZipper :: Tree a -> [TreePos Full a]
 flattenToZipper n@(Node _ sub) = fromTree n : concatMap flattenToZipper sub
diff --git a/src/VisualBrowseTree.hs b/src/VisualBrowseTree.hs
--- a/src/VisualBrowseTree.hs
+++ b/src/VisualBrowseTree.hs
@@ -1,36 +1,32 @@
 module VisualBrowseTree where
 
+import Control.Concurrent
+import Control.Concurrent.STM
+import Control.Monad
 
+import Data.Maybe
+import Data.Tree
+import Data.Tree.Zipper
+import qualified Data.Foldable as Foldable
+import qualified Data.Traversable as T
 
-import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebFrame
-import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebView
+import Graphics.UI.Gtk
 import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.Download
-import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebSettings
 import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.NetworkRequest
+import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebFrame
 import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebNavigationAction
--- import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebWindowFeatures
+import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebSettings
+import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebView
+import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebWindowFeatures
 
-import System.IO.Unsafe
-import System.Process
 import System.Exit
-
-import Graphics.UI.Gtk
+import System.Process
 import Text.Printf
-import Control.Monad
-import Control.Concurrent.STM
-import Control.Concurrent
 
-import qualified Data.Foldable as F
-import qualified Data.Traversable as T
-import Data.Tree.Zipper
-import Data.Maybe
-import qualified Data.List
-
 import Utils
 import NotebookSimple
 import Datatypes
-
-import Data.Tree as Tree
+import Commands
 
 
 browseTreeToSVG :: [Tree Page] -> IO String
@@ -45,7 +41,7 @@
                    writeTVar nodeID (iden+1)
                    return iden
             t <- getPageTitle p
-            return (i,t))) btree
+            return (i,(t,mkStablePageLink p)))) btree
 
   let prelude = unlines ["digraph \"Browse tree\" {",
                          "graph [",
@@ -57,8 +53,8 @@
       footer = "}"
 
       btreeZip = concatMap flattenToZipper' btree' -- ellipsis t 15
-      labels = unlines [ printf "d%d [URL=\"http://google.com\", shape=polygon, fixedsize=true, fontsize=8, width=1.25, height=0.25, tooltip=\"%s\", label=\"%s\"];"
-                                i t (ellipsis t 10) | (i,t) <- map label btreeZip ]
+      labels = unlines [ printf "d%d [URL=\"%s\", shape=polygon, fixedsize=true, fontsize=8, width=1.25, height=0.25, tooltip=\"%s\", label=\"%s\"];"
+                                i link t (ellipsis t 10) | (i,(t,link)) <- map label btreeZip ]
       edges = unlines [ printf "d%d -> d%d;" (fst . label . fromJust . parent $ z ) (fst . label $ z)
                             | z <- btreeZip,
                               parent z /= Nothing]
@@ -80,10 +76,18 @@
     ExitSuccess -> return svg
     ExitFailure c -> return $ printf "<text>Error running 'dot' command. Exit code: %s\n%s</text>" (show c) dotErr
 
+-- mkStablePageLink page = let (GObject foreignPtr) = toGObject (pgWidget page) in PageLink foreignPtr
 
+lookupStablePageLink :: [Tree Page] -> PageLink -> Maybe Page
+lookupStablePageLink pages link = listToMaybe $ catMaybes (map (Foldable.find (\p -> mkStablePageLink p == link)) pages)
+mkStablePageLink page = "page://" ++ (show $ pgIdent page)
+
+mkLinks :: [Page] -> [PageLink]
+mkLinks = map mkStablePageLink
+
 -- visualBrowseTreeWidget :: t -> IO Widget
-visualBrowseTreeWidget :: TVar [Tree Page] -> IO Widget
-visualBrowseTreeWidget btreeVar = do
+visualBrowseTreeWidget :: (Page -> IO ()) -> TVar [Tree Page] -> IO Widget
+visualBrowseTreeWidget viewPage btreeVar = do
   -- webkit widget
   web <- webViewNew
   webViewSetTransparent web True
@@ -105,7 +109,13 @@
     muri <- networkRequestGetUri networkReq
     case muri of
       Nothing -> return ()
-      Just uri -> print ("visualBrowseTreeWidget",uri)
+      Just uri -> do
+                print ("visualBrowseTreeWidget",uri)
+                t <- readTVarIO btreeVar
+                case lookupStablePageLink t uri of
+                  Nothing -> print ("Page no longer exist: " ++ show uri)
+--                  Just p -> viewPage p
+                  Just p -> sendCommand (ViewPageCommand (pgIdent p)) -- viewPage p
 
     return True
 
@@ -122,9 +132,9 @@
   refreshSVG
   return (toWidget scrollWeb)
 
-visualBrowseTreeWindow btreeVar = do
+visualBrowseTreeWindow viewPage btreeVar = do
   window <- windowNew
-  visualBT <- visualBrowseTreeWidget btreeVar
+  visualBT <- visualBrowseTreeWidget viewPage btreeVar
   set window [ containerBorderWidth := 10,
               windowTitle := "Spike browser - visual browse tree",
               containerChild := visualBT,
diff --git a/src/spike.hs b/src/spike.hs
--- a/src/spike.hs
+++ b/src/spike.hs
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 {-# LANGUAGE PackageImports, FlexibleInstances, DoRec, ForeignFunctionInterface #-}
 module Main where
 
+import Graphics.UI.Gtk
+
 import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebFrame
 import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebView
 import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.Download
@@ -8,313 +10,39 @@
 import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.NetworkRequest
 import Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebNavigationAction
 
-import System.IO.Unsafe
-import System.Process
+import Control.Applicative
+import Control.Concurrent
+import Control.Concurrent.STM
+import Control.Monad
+
+import Data.IORef
+import Data.Maybe
+import Data.Tree as Tree
+import Data.Tree.Zipper
+
 import System.Directory
-import System.FilePath
 import System.Exit
+import System.FilePath
+import System.IO.Unsafe
+import System.Process
+import System.Random
 
-import Graphics.UI.Gtk
 import Text.Printf
-import Control.Monad
-import Control.Concurrent.STM
-import Control.Concurrent
-import Control.Applicative
-import Data.IORef
 
 import qualified Data.Foldable as F
-import qualified Data.Traversable as T
-import Data.Tree.Zipper
-import Data.Maybe
 import qualified Data.List
+import qualified Data.Traversable as T
 
-import Utils
-import NotebookSimple
+import CFunctions
+import Commands
 import Datatypes
+import GlobalVariables
+import NotebookSimple
+import Utils
 import VisualBrowseTree
-import CFunctions
-
-import Data.Tree as Tree
-
-debugBTree :: [Tree Page] -> IO ()
-debugBTree btree = do
-  btree' <- mapM (T.mapM (\p -> fmap show $ getPageTitle p)) btree
-  putStrLn (drawForest btree')
-
-
--- operations on single page
--- | install listeners for various signals
-hookupWebView :: WebViewClass object => object -> IO WebView -> IO ()
-hookupWebView web createSubPage = do
-  on web downloadRequested $ \ down -> do
-         uri <- downloadGetUri down
-         print ("Download uri",uri)
-         return True
-
-  let foo str webFr netReq webNavAct _webPolDec = do
-                      t0 <- return str
-                      t1 <- webFrameGetName webFr
-                      t2 <- webFrameGetUri webFr
-                      t3 <- networkRequestGetUri netReq
-                      t4 <- webNavigationActionGetReason webNavAct
-                      print (t0,t1,t2,t3,MyShow t4)
-                      return False
-
-  on web newWindowPolicyDecisionRequested $ foo "newWindowPolicyDecisionRequested"
--- on web navigationPolicyDecisionRequested ...
-
-  on web createWebView $ \ frame -> do
-    print "createWebView"
-    newWebView <- createSubPage
-    newUri <- webFrameGetUri frame
-    case newUri of
-      Just uri -> webViewLoadUri newWebView uri
-      Nothing  -> return ()
-    return newWebView
-
-  -- on web downloadRequested $ \ _ -> print "downloadRequested" >> return False
-
- -- JavaScript stuff: TODO
- -- scriptAlert
- -- scriptConfirm
- -- scriptPrompt
- -- printRequested
- -- statusBarTextChanged
-  on web consoleMessage $ \ s1 s2 i s3 -> print ("[JavaScript/Console message]: ",s1,s2,i,s3) >> return False
- -- closeWebView
- -- titleChanged
-
-  hoveredLink <- newTVarIO Nothing
-
-  on web hoveringOverLink $ \ title uri -> do
-    -- print ("[hoveringOverLink]: ",title,uri)
-    atomically $ writeTVar hoveredLink uri
-
-  -- navigation
-  on web navigationPolicyDecisionRequested $ \ webframe networkReq webNavAct webPolDec -> do
-    print "[navigationPolicyDecisionRequested]"
-    navReason <- webNavigationActionGetReason webNavAct
-    case navReason of
-      WebNavigationReasonLinkClicked -> do
-        print (MyShow navReason)
-        muri <- networkRequestGetUri networkReq
-        kmod <- webNavigationActionGetModifierState webNavAct
-        mbut <- webNavigationActionGetButton webNavAct
-        print (muri,kmod,mbut)
-        -- midle click and ctrl+click will spawn child
-        -- shift+click spawn toplevel window
-        case (mbut,kmod,muri) of
-          -- middle click
-          (2,_,Just uri) -> do
-                     print ("loading uri in sub [1]",uri)
-                     wv <- createSubPage
-                     webViewLoadRequest wv networkReq
-                     return True
-          -- ctrl+click
-          (_,4,Just uri) -> do
-                     print ("loading uri in sub [2]",uri)
-                     wv <- createSubPage
-                     webViewLoadRequest wv networkReq
-                     return True
-          -- shift+click
-          (_,1,Just uri) -> do
-                     print ("loading uri in sub [3]",uri)
-                     wv <- createSubPage
-                     webViewLoadRequest wv networkReq
-                     return True
-          -- otherwise
-          _ -> return False
-
---        print =<< webNavigationActionGetTargetFrame webNavAct
---        return False
-      _ -> do
-        print (MyShow navReason)
-        return False
-
-  -- new window via JavaScript
-  on web newWindowPolicyDecisionRequested $ \ webframe networkReq webNavAct webPolDec -> do
-    return False
-
---  on web Graphics.UI.Gtk.WebKit.WebView.populatePopup $ \ menu -> do
---    print ("[populate popup]")
---    hovered <- readTVarIO hoveredLink
---    case hovered of
---      Nothing -> return ()
---      Just uri -> do
---                   menuShellAppend menu =<< menuItemNewWithLabel ("1: " ++ uri)
---                   menuShellAppend menu =<< menuItemNewWithLabel ("2: " ++ uri)
---                   widgetShowAll menu
-
-  -- statusBarTextChanged
-
-  return ()
-
-addressBarNew :: WebViewClass self => self -> IO Entry
-addressBarNew web = do
-  ec <- entryNew
-  entrySetActivatesDefault ec True
-  on ec entryActivate $ do
-     text <- entryGetText ec
-     webViewLoadUri web text
-  on web loadCommitted $ \ frame -> do
-     uri <- webFrameGetUri frame
-     uri2 <- webViewGetUri web
-     when (uri /= uri2) (print $ "INFO: addressBar: uri/uri2 mismatch: " ++ show (uri,uri2))
-     case catMaybes [uri,uri2] of
-       (x:_) -> entrySetText ec x
-       _ -> print ("INFO: addressBar: no text to set")
-     return ()
-  return ec
-
-newWeb :: BrowseTreeState -> IO () -> String -> IO (Widget, WebView)
-newWeb btreeSt refreshLayout url = do
-  -- webkit widget
-  web <- webViewNew
-  webViewSetTransparent web False
-  let loadHome = webViewLoadUri web url
-  loadHome
-  -- webViewSetMaintainsBackForwardList web False -- TODO: or maybe True?
-  on web titleChanged $ \ _ _ -> refreshLayout
-
-  -- plugins are causing trouble. disable them.
-  settings <- webViewGetWebSettings web
-  set settings [webSettingsEnablePlugins := False]
-
-  -- scrolled window to enclose the webkit
-  scrollWeb <- scrolledWindowNew Nothing Nothing
-  containerAdd scrollWeb web
-
-  -- menu
-  addressBar <- addressBarNew web
-  menu <- hBoxNew False 1
-  quit <- buttonNewWithLabel "Quit"
-  reload <- buttonNewWithLabel "Reload"
-  on reload buttonActivated $ webViewReload web
-  goHome <- buttonNewWithLabel "Home"
-  on goHome buttonActivated $ loadHome
-  boxPackEnd menu quit PackNatural 1
-  boxPackStart menu reload PackNatural 1
-  boxPackStart menu goHome PackNatural 1
-  boxPackStart menu addressBar PackGrow 1
-
-  -- fill the page
-  page <- vPanedNew
-  containerAdd page menu
-  containerAdd page scrollWeb
-
-  widgetShowAll page
-
-  let widget = toWidget page
-      ww = (widget,web)
-      newChildPage = do
-        print "[newChildPage called]"
-        btree <- readTVarIO btreeSt
-        debugBTree btree
-        case findPageWidget btree widget of
-          Just p -> do
-            ww' <- newWeb btreeSt refreshLayout "about:blank"
-            p' <- newPage ww' "about:blank" -- TODO: win the battle over the power to navigate the web view.
-            let btree' = addChild btree p p'
-            atomically $ writeTVar btreeSt btree'
-            refreshLayout
-            return (pgWeb p')
-          Nothing -> do
-            error "findPageWidget returned Nothing, can't provide a new window"
-
-  hookupWebView web newChildPage
-
-  return ww
-
--- move to new page, discard any hiNext out there
-navigateToPage :: Page -> String -> IO ()
-navigateToPage page url = do
-  atomically $ do
-    hist <- readTVar (pgHistory page)
-    let h' = Hist url (hiNow hist : hiPrev hist) []
-    writeTVar (pgHistory page) h'
-
-  webViewLoadUri (pgWeb page) url
-
--- operations on tree
-newTopPage :: BrowseTreeState -> IO () -> String -> IO Page
-newTopPage btvar refreshLayout url = do
-  ww <- newWeb btvar refreshLayout url
-  tp <- newLeafURL ww url
-  atomically $ do
-    bt <- readTVar btvar
-    writeTVar btvar (bt ++ [tp])
-  return (rootLabel tp)
-
-newLeafURL :: (Widget, WebView) -> String -> IO (Tree Page)
-newLeafURL ww url = do
-  page <- (newPage ww url)
-  return (newLeaf page)
-
-newPage :: (Widget, WebView) -> String -> IO Page
-newPage (widget,webv) url = do
-  hist <- newTVarIO (Hist url [] [])
-  return (Page { pgWidget=widget, pgWeb=webv, pgHistory=hist})
-
-newLeaf :: Page -> Tree Page
-newLeaf page = Node page []
-
-addChild :: BrowseTree -> Page -> Page -> BrowseTree
-addChild btree parent child = let
-    aux (Node page sub) | isSamePage page parent = Node page (sub ++ [newLeaf child])
-                        | otherwise              = Node page (map aux sub)
-    in map aux btree
-
--- query functions
-
-findPageWidget :: BrowseTree -> Widget -> Maybe Page
-findPageWidget btree w = let fun p = pgWidget p == w
-                             flat = concatMap flatten btree
-                             filt = filter fun flat
-                         in
-                           case filt of
-                             [] -> Nothing
-                             (x:_) -> Just x
-
-getPageSurrounds :: Eq a => [Tree a] -> a -> ([a], [a], [a])
-getPageSurrounds btree p | not (any (F.elem p) btree) = ([],[p],[])
-                         | otherwise =
-                             let parent = getPageParent btree p
-                                 parents = case parent of
-                                             Nothing -> []
-                                             Just x -> map rootLabel (getPageSiblings btree (rootLabel x))
-                                 siblings = map rootLabel (getPageSiblings btree p)
-                                 children = map rootLabel (getPageChildren btree p)
-                             in (parents,siblings,children)
-
--- returns node's siblings
-getPageSiblings :: Eq b => [Tree b] -> b -> [Tree b]
-getPageSiblings btree p = case getPageParent btree p of
-                            Nothing -> btree
-                            Just x -> subForest x
-
-getPageChildren :: Eq b => [Tree b] -> b -> Forest b
-getPageChildren btree p = case filter ((==p) . rootLabel) (concatMap subtrees btree) of
-                            [] -> error "Element (page) not found in Forest"
-                            (Node _ sub:_) -> sub
-
-getPageParent :: Eq b => [Tree b] -> b -> Maybe (Tree b)
-getPageParent btree p = case (filter (any ((==p) . rootLabel) . subForest) (subtrees' btree)) of
-                            [] -> Nothing
-                            (x:_xs) -> Just x
-
-subtrees :: Tree t -> [Tree t]
-subtrees t@(Node _ sub) = t : subtrees' sub
-
-subtrees' :: [Tree t] -> [Tree t]
-subtrees' = concatMap subtrees
+import BrowseTreeOperations
 
 -- notebook synchronization
-
-viewPagesSimpleNotebook :: [Page] -> NotebookSimple -> IO ()
-viewPagesSimpleNotebook pages nb = do
-  atomically $ writeTVar (ns_pages nb) pages
-  ns_refresh nb
-
 noEntriesInBox :: ContainerClass self => self -> IO ()
 noEntriesInBox box = do
   containerForeach box (containerRemove box)
@@ -324,7 +52,6 @@
   widgetShowAll box
 
 --------------
-
 setupGlobals = do
   appDir <- getAppUserDataDirectory "Spike"
   createDirectoryIfMissing False appDir
@@ -333,8 +60,11 @@
 
 main :: IO ()
 main = do
- initGUI
+ -- experimental
+ setupCommandControl
 
+ -- init gui & webkit
+ initGUI
  setupGlobals
  
  -- glue together gui. yuck.
@@ -352,11 +82,11 @@
  boxPackStart inside (ns_widget siblingsNotebookSimple) PackGrow 1
  (\sw -> boxPackStart inside sw PackNatural 1) =<< newScrolledWindowWithViewPort childrenBox
 
-
  -- global state
-
- currentPage <- newTVarIO (error "current page is undefined for now...")
- btreeVar <- newTVarIO []
+ -- currentPage <- newTVarIO (error "current page is undefined for now...")
+ -- btreeVar <- newTVarIO []
+ let currentPage = GlobalVariables.currentPageVar
+     btreeVar = GlobalVariables.browseTreeVar
 
  -- define refresh layout and others
 
@@ -392,10 +122,19 @@
          viewPage page
          return ()
 
+ -- experimental: command listeners
+ registerListener (\ (ViewPageCommand pid) -> 
+                       do
+                         p <- findPageByID pid
+                         case p of
+                           Nothing -> return ()
+                           Just pg -> viewPage pg)
+
+ registerListener (\ (NewTopLevelPageCommand url) -> newTopPage btreeVar refreshLayout url >> return ())
+
  writeIORef viewPageRef viewPage
 
  -- create root page
-
  spawnHomepage
  newTopPage btreeVar refreshLayout "http://news.google.com"
 
@@ -409,7 +148,7 @@
  widgetShowAll window
 
  -- tree view window
- visualBrowseTreeWindow btreeVar
+ visualBrowseTreeWindow viewPage btreeVar
 
  -- refresh layout once and run GTK loop
  refreshLayout