diff --git a/clite/bios.js b/clite/bios.js
index 6986789..346a612 100644
--- a/clite/bios.js
+++ b/clite/bios.js
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ var bios = {
 			},
 			file:function(name,callback) {
 				if (window.location.protocol == 'file:') { // this is a dirty hack and I hate it, just let me open a file: path!
-					clite.term.setCustom({type:'file',callback:callback});
-					clite.term.writeLine('open file: '+name);
+					//clite.term.setCustom({type:'file',callback:callback});
+					//clite.term.writeLine('open file: '+name);
 					return;
 				}
 
diff --git a/clite/commands.js b/clite/commands.js
index 3927f00..ae9ed17 100644
--- a/clite/commands.js
+++ b/clite/commands.js
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ clite.commands.load('ls',function(args,env,io) {
 	var long = false;
 	var all = false;
 	var access = false;
+	var one = false;
 	var stdlib = io.include('stdlib');
 	var stdio = io.include('stdio');
 	var time = io.include('time');
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ Options:
 -l	Display data in long format
 -u	Display access time in long format
 -a	Do not ignore entries starting with .
+-1	Display one entry per line
 		`);
 	}
 
@@ -83,12 +85,14 @@ Options:
 				var lp = stdio.readAll(fd);
 				if (!lp)
 					lp = '?';
-				stdio.printf('%s%16s%16s%14s%16s -> %s\n',st.perms,uname,gname,d,st.name,lp);
+				stdio.printf('%s%12s%12s%14s%12s -> %s\n',st.perms,uname,gname,d,st.name,lp);
 			}else{
-				stdio.printf('%s%16s%16s%14s%16s\n',st.perms,uname,gname,d,st.name);
+				stdio.printf('%s%12s%12s%14s%12s\n',st.perms,uname,gname,d,st.name);
 			}
+		}else if (one) {
+			stdio.printf('%s\n',st.name);
 		}else{
-			stdio.printf(st.name);
+			stdio.printf('%s ',st.name);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -109,6 +113,9 @@ Options:
 				case 'a':
 					all = true;
 					break;
+				case '1':
+					one = true;
+					break;
 				default:
 					stdio.write(io.stderr,'unknown argument: -'+args[i][j]);
 				}
@@ -159,6 +166,8 @@ Options:
 			stdio.close(efd);
 		}
 		stdio.close(fd);
+		if (!one && !long)
+			stdio.write(io.stdout,'\n');
 	});
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/clite/core.js b/clite/core.js
index 395d707..e9a5756 100644
--- a/clite/core.js
+++ b/clite/core.js
@@ -41,31 +41,6 @@ var clite = {
 			}
 			return true;
 		},
-		load:{
-			script:function(name,callback) {
-				var head = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0];
-				var script = document.createElement('script');
-				script.type = 'text/javascript';
-				script.src = name+'?d='+(new Date).getTime();
-				script.onload = callback;
-				head.appendChild(script);
-			},
-			file:function(name,callback) {
-				if (window.location.protocol == 'file:') { // this is a dirty hack and I hate it, just let me open a file: path!
-					//clite.term.setCustom({type:'file',callback:callback});
-					//clite.term.writeLine('open file: '+name);
-					return;
-				}
-
-				fetch(name+'?d='+(new Date).getTime())
-					.then(function(response) {
-						return response.text();
-					})
-					.then(function(data) {
-						callback(data);
-					});
-			}
-		},
 		download:function(name,data) {
 			var link = document.createElement("a");
 			link.target = '_blank';
@@ -79,22 +54,24 @@ var clite = {
 		},
 		reboot:function() {
 			clite.log.write('The system is rebooting');
-			setTimeout(function() {
-				clite.term.ttyctrl('hide');
-				clite.log.write('Bringing down the system');
-				var l = clite.core.load.script;
-				var s = Array.from(document.getElementsByTagName('src'));
-				s.forEach(function(el,i) {
-					el.parentNode.removeChild(el);
-				});
-				clite.log.write('Resetting system core');
-				delete clite;
-				clite = null;
-				l('clite/core.js',function() {setTimeout('clite.init();',500)});
-			},10);
+			// TODO: this all needs redoing with bios calls
+			//setTimeout(function() {
+				//clite.term.ttyctrl('hide');
+				//clite.log.write('Bringing down the system');
+				//var l = clite.core.load.script;
+				//var s = Array.from(document.getElementsByTagName('src'));
+				//s.forEach(function(el,i) {
+					//el.parentNode.removeChild(el);
+				//});
+				//clite.log.write('Resetting system core');
+				//delete clite;
+				//clite = null;
+				//l('clite/core.js',function() {setTimeout('clite.init();',500)});
+			//},10);
 		},
 		shutdown:function() {
 			clite.log.write('The system is shutting down');
+			// TODO: this all needs redoing with bios calls
 			setTimeout(function() {
 				var s = Array.from(document.getElementsByTagName('src'));
 				s.forEach(function(el) {
@@ -251,8 +228,8 @@ var clite = {
 					return false;
 				}
 				n.data.content = {
-					read:null,
-					write:null
+					read:clite.tty.read,
+					write:clite.tty.write
 				};
 				n.perms = 'crw-rw-rw-';
 				n.data.isdev = true;
@@ -329,7 +306,8 @@ guest:x:1:
  | |    | |      | | | |_ ___
  | |    | |      | | | __/ _ \\
  | |____| |____ _| |_| ||  __/
-  \\_____|______|_____|\\__\\___|`;
+  \\_____|______|_____|\\__\\___|
+`;
 				n.perms = '-rw-r--r--';
 				// /etc/shrc shell startup file
 				vfsapi.mkFile(0,'/etc/shrc');
@@ -379,7 +357,7 @@ cat /etc/greeting
 
 					var f = clite.includes.prog[index];
 					index++;
-					clite.core.load.script('clite/'+f,cb);
+					clite.state.bios.core.load.script('clite/'+f,cb);
 				}
 				cb();
 			}
@@ -420,7 +398,7 @@ cat /etc/greeting
 
 					var f = clite.includes.libs[index];
 					index++;
-					clite.core.load.script('clite/'+f,cb);
+					clite.state.bios.core.load.script('clite/'+f,cb);
 				}
 				cb();
 			}
@@ -448,7 +426,7 @@ license.txt:/etc/license:0:0:-rw-r--r--`;
 					init2(d);
 					return;
 				}
-				clite.core.load.file('data/filesys.txt',init2);
+				clite.state.bios.core.load.file('data/filesys.txt',init2);
 			}
 			function init2(data) {
 				if (data == null) {
@@ -1069,7 +1047,7 @@ clite.io = {
 			if (typeof cb === 'function') {
 				fd.remote.callback = cb;
 				if (fd.remote.ispending) {
-					clite.core.load.file(fd.node.data.remote,function(d) {
+					clite.state.bios.core.load.file(fd.node.data.remote,function(d) {
 						fd.node.data.content = d;
 						fd.remote.ispending = false;
 						try{
@@ -1307,11 +1285,10 @@ clite.io = {
 					try{
 						if (fd.node.data.content.write.length == 2) {
 							var ctty = clite.proc.getTTY(pid);
-							fd.node.data.content.write(ctty,cb);
+							return fd.node.data.content.write(ctty,data);
 						}else{
-							fd.node.data.content.write(cb);
+							return fd.node.data.content.write(data);
 						}
-						return fd.node.data.content.write(data);
 					} catch(err) {
 						return false;
 					}
@@ -2227,6 +2204,11 @@ clite.tty = {
 					off = i+1;
 					break;
 				}
+				// special case, returns any non-character key found
+				if (t.buff[i].code <32 || t.buff[i].code > 126) {
+					k = t.buff.splice(i,1);
+					return t.code;
+				}
 				l += t.buff[i].char;
 			}
 			if (off < 0)
@@ -2286,24 +2268,32 @@ clite.tty = {
 		return true;
 	},
 	input:function(key) {
+		// TODO: check for control for special conversions
+		if (key.down)
+			return;
 		if (!clite.tty.data.active)
 			return;
 		var t = clite.tty.data.active;
-		if (t.echo)
+		// TODO: this hides control characters from echoing... do we want that?
+		if (t.echo && ((key.code > 31 && key.code < 127) || key.code == 10))
 			clite.tty.write(t.id,key.char);
 		if (t.raw) {
 			if (typeof t.rcb === 'function') {
-				t.rcb(key.char);
+				if ((key.code > 31 && key.code < 127) || key.code == 10) {
+					t.rcb(key.char);
+				}else{
+					t.rcb(key.code);
+				}
 			}else{
 				t.buff.push(key);
 			}
 			return;
 		}
 		t.buff.push(key);
-		if (key.code != 10)
-			return;
 		if (typeof t.rcb !== 'function')
 			return;
+		if (key.code != 10)
+			return;
 		var l = clite.tty.internal.popLine(t);
 		if (!l)
 			return;
@@ -2517,83 +2507,83 @@ clite.term = {
 	//},
 	ttyctrl:function(fn,v) {
 		switch (fn) {
-		case 'iget': // returns the current input string - bypassing tty read
-			try{
-				return clite.term.data.buff;
-			} catch(err) {
-				return '';
-			}
-			break;
-		case 'iset': // sets the current input string
-			try{
-				if (typeof v !== 'string')
-					v = '';
-				clite.term.data.field.value = v;
-				clite.term.data.buff = v;
-				return true;
-			} catch(err) {
-				return false;
-			}
-			break;
-		case 'prompt': // sets the prompt for input
-			if (typeof v !== 'string')
-				v = '';
-			clite.term.data.prompt = v;
-			return true;
-			break;
-		case 'hide': // turns off input
-			clite.term.data.show = false;
-			var f = document.getElementById('form');
-			if (!f)
-				return;
-			f.parentNode.removeChild(f);
-			break;
-		case 'show': // turns on input
-			clite.term.data.show = true;
-			//clite.term.genForm();
-			break;
-		case 'alt': // switch to the alternate frame buffer
-			if (typeof v === 'boolean') {
-				clite.term.data.isalt = v;
-			}
-			if (!clite.term.data.isalt) {
-				var t = document.getElementById('termalt');
-				if (t)
-					t.parentNode.removeChild(t);
-			}else{
-				//clite.term.genAlt();
-			}
-			//clite.term.genForm();
-			return clite.term.data.isalt;
-			break;
-		case 'rawout':
-			if (!clite.term.data.isalt)
-				return false;
-			if (typeof v === 'boolean') {
-				clite.term.data.alt.israwOut = v;
-			}
-			return clite.term.data.alt.israwOut;
-			break;
-		case 'rawin':
-			if (!clite.term.data.isalt)
-				return false;
-			if (typeof v === 'boolean') {
-				clite.term.data.alt.israwIn = v;
-			}
-			return clite.term.data.alt.israwIn;
-			break;
-		case 'atton':
-			break;
-		case 'attoff':
-			break;
-		case 'echo':
-			if (!clite.term.data.isalt)
-				return false;
-			if (typeof v === 'boolean') {
-				clite.term.data.alt.echo = v;
-			}
-			return clite.term.data.alt.echo;
-			break;
+		//case 'iget': // returns the current input string - bypassing tty read
+			//try{
+				//return clite.term.data.buff;
+			//} catch(err) {
+				//return '';
+			//}
+			//break;
+		//case 'iset': // sets the current input string
+			//try{
+				//if (typeof v !== 'string')
+					//v = '';
+				//clite.term.data.field.value = v;
+				//clite.term.data.buff = v;
+				//return true;
+			//} catch(err) {
+				//return false;
+			//}
+			//break;
+		//case 'prompt': // sets the prompt for input
+			//if (typeof v !== 'string')
+				//v = '';
+			//clite.term.data.prompt = v;
+			//return true;
+			//break;
+		//case 'hide': // turns off input
+			//clite.term.data.show = false;
+			//var f = document.getElementById('form');
+			//if (!f)
+				//return;
+			//f.parentNode.removeChild(f);
+			//break;
+		//case 'show': // turns on input
+			//clite.term.data.show = true;
+			////clite.term.genForm();
+			//break;
+		//case 'alt': // switch to the alternate frame buffer
+			//if (typeof v === 'boolean') {
+				//clite.term.data.isalt = v;
+			//}
+			//if (!clite.term.data.isalt) {
+				//var t = document.getElementById('termalt');
+				//if (t)
+					//t.parentNode.removeChild(t);
+			//}else{
+				////clite.term.genAlt();
+			//}
+			////clite.term.genForm();
+			//return clite.term.data.isalt;
+			//break;
+		//case 'rawout':
+			//if (!clite.term.data.isalt)
+				//return false;
+			//if (typeof v === 'boolean') {
+				//clite.term.data.alt.israwOut = v;
+			//}
+			//return clite.term.data.alt.israwOut;
+			//break;
+		//case 'rawin':
+			//if (!clite.term.data.isalt)
+				//return false;
+			//if (typeof v === 'boolean') {
+				//clite.term.data.alt.israwIn = v;
+			//}
+			//return clite.term.data.alt.israwIn;
+			//break;
+		//case 'atton':
+			//break;
+		//case 'attoff':
+			//break;
+		//case 'echo':
+			//if (!clite.term.data.isalt)
+				//return false;
+			//if (typeof v === 'boolean') {
+				//clite.term.data.alt.echo = v;
+			//}
+			//return clite.term.data.alt.echo;
+			//break;
 		default:
 			return false;
 		}
diff --git a/clite/shell.js b/clite/shell.js
index f258f98..1cfab6f 100644
--- a/clite/shell.js
+++ b/clite/shell.js
@@ -260,10 +260,6 @@ clite.commands.load('sh',function(args,env,io) {
 		}
 		history.add(txt);
 		history.resetCurrent();
-		// clear the tty prompt
-		term.ttyctrl('prompt','');
-		if (interactive)
-			stdio.write(io.stdout,prompt+txt);
 		// split command line into arguments
 		var args = clite.strToArgs(txt);
 		args.forEach(function(val,i) {
@@ -324,7 +320,25 @@ clite.commands.load('sh',function(args,env,io) {
 				inputRead();
 			return;
 		}
-		stdlib.waitpid(pid,inputRead);
+		// TODO: if we're not interactive, we still want to waitpid
+		if (interactive)
+			stdlib.waitpid(pid,inputRead);
+	}
+
+	function writePrompt() {
+		// generate the prompt
+		var p = env.PS1;
+		if (typeof p === 'undefined')
+			p = '${USER}:${PWD}'
+
+		prompt = preprocess(p);
+		if (stdlib.getuid() == 0) {
+			prompt += '# ';
+		}else{
+			prompt += '$ ';
+		}
+
+		stdio.write(io.stdout,prompt);
 	}
 
 	function inputControl(key) {
@@ -355,19 +369,7 @@ clite.commands.load('sh',function(args,env,io) {
 	function inputRead() {
 		if (has_exited)
 			return;
-		// generate the prompt
-		var p = env.PS1;
-		if (typeof p === 'undefined')
-			p = '${USER}:${PWD}'
-
-		prompt = preprocess(p);
-		if (stdlib.getuid() == 0) {
-			prompt += '# ';
-		}else{
-			prompt += '$ ';
-		}
-		// set the prompt
-		term.ttyctrl('prompt',prompt);
+		writePrompt();
 		// ensure input is enabled
 		term.ttyctrl('show');
 		// and that we're on the main framebuffer
@@ -395,6 +397,8 @@ clite.commands.load('sh',function(args,env,io) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	//alert('shell');
+
 	stdlib.waitall(function() {
 		history.clear();
 		inputRead();