diff --git a/lsyncd-conf.lua b/lsyncd-conf.lua
index ca0614b..fe1a560 100644
--- a/lsyncd-conf.lua
+++ b/lsyncd-conf.lua
@@ -51,5 +51,5 @@ slowbash = {
 }
 
 
-sync{source="s", target="d/", config=slowbash}
+sync{slowbash, source="s", target="d/"}
 
diff --git a/lsyncd.c b/lsyncd.c
index db51393..b4341bc 100644
--- a/lsyncd.c
+++ b/lsyncd.c
@@ -189,11 +189,12 @@ logstring0(enum loglevel level,
 #define logstring(loglevel, message) logstring0(loglevel | CORE, message)
 
 static void
-printlogf(lua_State *L, 
+printlogf0(lua_State *L, 
           enum loglevel level, 
 		  const char *fmt, ...)
 	__attribute__((format(printf, 3, 4)));
-
+#define printlogf(L, level, ...) \
+	printlogf0(L, level | CORE, __VA_ARGS__)
 
 /**
  * "secured" calloc.
@@ -205,7 +206,7 @@ s_calloc(size_t nmemb, size_t size)
 	if (r == NULL) {
 		logstring(ERROR, "Out of memory!");
 		exit(-1); // ERRNO 
-	}
+	}	
 	return r;
 }
 
@@ -763,6 +764,7 @@ l_wait_pids(lua_State *L)
 			lua_getglobal(L, collector);
 			lua_pushinteger(L, wp);
 			lua_pushinteger(L, exitcode);
+			printlogf(L, DEBUG, "calling startup collector");
 			lua_call(L, 2, 1);
 			newp = luaL_checkinteger(L, -1);
 			lua_pop(L, 1);
@@ -847,7 +849,7 @@ static const luaL_reg lsyncdlib[] = {
  * Let the core print logmessage comfortably.
  */
 static void
-printlogf(lua_State *L, 
+printlogf0(lua_State *L, 
 	enum loglevel level, 
 	const char *fmt, ...)
 {
@@ -860,8 +862,8 @@ printlogf(lua_State *L,
 	va_start(ap, fmt);
 	lua_pushvfstring(L, fmt, ap);
 	va_end(ap);
-	logstring(level, luaL_checkstring(L, -1));
-	lua_pop(L, -1);
+	logstring0(level, luaL_checkstring(L, -1));
+	lua_pop(L, 1);
 	return;
 }
 
@@ -898,6 +900,7 @@ void handle_event(lua_State *L, struct inotify_event *event) {
 	if (event && (IN_Q_OVERFLOW & event->mask)) {
 		/* and overflow happened, lets runner/user decide what to do. */
 		lua_getglobal(L, "overflow");
+		printlogf(L, DEBUG, "calling overflow()");
 		lua_call(L, 0, 0);
 		return;
 	}
@@ -984,6 +987,7 @@ void handle_event(lua_State *L, struct inotify_event *event) {
 		lua_pushstring(L, event->name);
 		lua_pushnil(L);
 	}
+	printlogf(L, DEBUG, "calling lysncd_inotify_event()");
 	lua_call(L, 6, 0);
 
 	/* if there is a buffered event executes it */
@@ -1009,6 +1013,7 @@ masterloop(lua_State *L)
 
 		/* query runner about soonest alarm  */
 		lua_getglobal(L, "lsyncd_get_alarm");
+		printlogf(L, DEBUG, "calling lsycnd_get_alarm()");
 		lua_call(L, 0, 2);
 		have_alarm = lua_toboolean(L, -2);
 		alarm_time = (clock_t) luaL_checkinteger(L, -1);
@@ -1099,6 +1104,7 @@ masterloop(lua_State *L)
 			lua_getglobal(L, "lsyncd_collect_process");
 			lua_pushinteger(L, pid);
 			lua_pushinteger(L, WEXITSTATUS(status));
+			printlogf(L, DEBUG, "calling lsyncd_collect_process().");
 			lua_call(L, 2, 0);
 		} 
 
@@ -1115,9 +1121,12 @@ masterloop(lua_State *L)
 				break;
 			}
 			/* calls the lua runner to write the status. */
+			lua_getglobal(L, "lsyncd_call_error");
 			lua_getglobal(L, "lsyncd_status_report");
 			lua_pushinteger(L, fd);
-			lua_call(L, 1, 0);
+			printlogf(L, DEBUG, "calling lysncd_status_report()");
+			lua_pcall(L, 1, 0, -3);
+			printlogf(L, DEBUG, "returnd()");
 
 			/* TODO */
 			fsync(fd);
@@ -1128,6 +1137,7 @@ masterloop(lua_State *L)
 		/* lets the runner spawn new processes */
 		lua_getglobal(L, "lsyncd_alarm");
 		lua_pushinteger(L, times(NULL));
+		printlogf(L, DEBUG, "calling lsyncd_alarm().");
 		lua_call(L, 1, 0);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/lsyncd.lua b/lsyncd.lua
index 35be70e..f359321 100644
--- a/lsyncd.lua
+++ b/lsyncd.lua
@@ -78,9 +78,11 @@ local CountArray = (function()
 	-- Metatable
 	local mt = {}
 
+	-----
 	-- key to native table
 	local k_nt = {}
 	
+	-----
 	-- on accessing a nil index.
 	mt.__index = function(t, k) 
 		if type(k) ~= "number" then
@@ -89,6 +91,7 @@ local CountArray = (function()
 		return t[k_nt][k]
 	end
 
+	-----
 	-- on assigning a new index.
 	mt.__newindex = function(t, k, v)
 		if type(k) ~= "number" then
@@ -97,9 +100,9 @@ local CountArray = (function()
 		-- value before
 		local vb = t[k_nt][k]
 		if v and not vb then
-			t.size = t.size + 1
+			t._size = t._size + 1
 		elseif not v and vb then
-			t.size = t.size - 1
+			t._size = t._size - 1
 		end
 		t[k_nt][k] = v
 	end
@@ -108,11 +111,18 @@ local CountArray = (function()
 	local function iwalk(self)
 		return ipairs(self[k_nt])
 	end
-	
+
+	------
+	-- returns the count
+	local function size(self)
+		return self._size
+	end
+
+	----
 	-- creates a new count array
 	local function new()
 		-- k_nt is native table, private for this object.
-		local o = {size = 0, iwalk = iwalk, [k_nt] = {} }
+		local o = {_size = 0, iwalk = iwalk, size = size, [k_nt] = {} }
 		setmetatable(o, mt)
 		return o
 	end
@@ -199,7 +209,7 @@ local Delay = (function()
 end)()
 
 -----
--- TODO
+-- Holds information about one observed directory inclusively subdirs.
 --
 local Origin = (function()
 	----
@@ -224,7 +234,7 @@ end)()
 -----
 -- Puts an action on the delay stack.
 --
-function Origin.delay(origin, ename, time, pathname, pathname2)
+function Origin:delay(origin, ename, time, pathname, pathname2)
 	log("Debug", "delay ", ename, " ", pathname)
 	local o = origin
 	local delays = o.delays
@@ -295,27 +305,36 @@ local Origins = (function()
 	local list = Array.new()
 	
 	-----
-	-- inheritly copies all from a configs 'config' key 
+	-- inheritly copies all non integer keys from
 	-- @cd copy destination
+	-- to
 	-- @cs copy source
+	-- all integer keys are treated as new copy sources
+	--
 	local function inherit(cd, cs)
-		if cs.config then
-			-- recurse into source
-			inherit(cd, cs.config)
+		-- first recurses into all integer keyed tables
+		for i, v in ipairs(cs) do
+			if type(v) == "table" then
+				inherit(cd, v)
+			end
 		end
+		-- does nothing further if source == destination (first step)
+		if (cd == cs) then
+			return
+		end
+		-- then copies from the source all non integer keyed values 
 		for k, v in pairs(cs) do
-			if k ~= "config" and not cd[k] then
+			if type(k) ~= "number" and not cd[k] then
 				cd[k] = v
 			end
 		end
 	end
 	
 	-----
-	-- adds a configuration
-	local add = function(config)
-		if config.config then
-			inherit(config, config.config)
-		end
+	-- Adds a new directory to observe.
+	--
+	local function add(config)
+		inherit(config, config)
 
 		-- raises an error if 'name' isnt in opts
 		local function require_opt(name)
@@ -358,7 +377,6 @@ local Origins = (function()
 		optional("action")
 		optional("max_processes")
 		optional("collapse_table")
-
 		local o = Origin.new(config.source, config.target, config)
 		table.insert(list, o)
 	end
@@ -378,79 +396,151 @@ local Origins = (function()
 end)()
 
 -----
--- inotifies
+-- Interface to inotify, watches recursively subdirs and 
+-- sends events.
 --
--- contains all inotify watches.
+-- All inotify specific implementation should be enclosed here.
+-- So lsyncd can work with other notifications mechanisms just
+-- by changing this.
 --
--- structure:
---    a list indexed by watch descriptor
--- [wd] 
---    of a numeric list of all origins watching this dir.
--- [#]
---    of inotify {
---         .origin .. link to origin
---         .path   .. relative path of dir
---     }
--- }
---
-local inotifies = CountArray.new()
-local proto_inotify = {origin=true, path=true}
+local Inotifies = (function()
+	-----
+	-- A list indexed by inotifies watch descriptor.
+	-- Contains a list of all origins observing this directory
+	-- (directly or by recurse)
+	local wdlist = CountArray.new()
+
+	-----
+	-- Adds watches for a directory including all subdirectories.
+	--
+	-- @param path      relative path of this dir to origin
+	-- @param origin    link to the observer to be notified.
+	--                  Note: Inotifies should handle this opaquely
+	-- @param recurse   true if recursing into subdirs
+	--
+	local function add(path, origin, recurse)
+		-- register watch and receive watch descriptor
+		local wd = lsyncd.add_watch(path);
+		if wd < 0 then
+			-- failed adding the watch
+			log("Error", "Failure adding watch ", path, " -> ignored ")
+			return
+		end
+
+		local ilist = wdlist[wd]
+		if not ilist then
+			ilist = Array.new()
+			wdlist[wd] = ilist
+		end
+		local inotify = { path = path, origin = origin, recurse = recurse} 
+		table.insert(ilist, inotify)
+
+		-- registers and adds watches for all subdirectories 
+		if recurse then
+			local subdirs = lsyncd.sub_dirs(path)
+			for _, dirname in ipairs(subdirs) do
+				add(path..dirname.."/", origin, true)
+			end
+		end
+	end
+
+	-----
+	-- Called when an event has occured.
+	--
+	-- @param ename     "Attrib", "Mofify", "Create", "Delete", "Move")
+	-- @param wd        watch descriptor (matches lsyncd.add_watch())
+	-- @param isdir     true if filename is a directory
+	-- @param time      time of event
+	-- @param filename  string filename without path
+	-- @param filename2 
+	--
+	function event(ename, wd, isdir, time, filename, filename2)
+		local ftype;
+		if isdir then
+			ftype = "directory"
+		else
+			ftype = "file"
+		end
+		if filename2 then
+			log("Debug", "got event ", ename, " of ", ftype, " ", filename, 
+				" to ", filename2) 
+		else 
+			log("Debug", "got event ", ename, " of ", ftype, " ", filename) 
+		end
+
+		local ilist = wdlist[wd]
+		-- looks up the watch descriptor id
+		if not ilist then
+			-- this is normal in case of deleted subdirs
+			log("Normal", "event belongs to unknown/deleted watch descriptor.")
+			return
+		end
+	
+		-- works through all observers interested in this directory
+		for _, inotify in ipairs(ilist) do
+			local pathname = inotify.path .. filename
+			local pathname2 
+			if filename2 then
+				pathname2 = inotify.path..filename2
+			end
+			Origin.delay(inotify.origin, ename, time, pathname, pathname2)
+			-- add subdirs for new directories
+			if inotify.recurse and isdir then
+				if ename == "Create" then
+					add(pathname.."/", inotify.origin, true)
+					-- TODO remove /
+				end
+			end
+		end
+	end
+
+	-----
+	-- Writes a status report about inotifies to a filedescriptor
+	--
+	local function status_report(fd)
+		local w = lsyncd.writefd
+		w(fd, "Watching ", wdlist:size(), " directories\n")
+		for wd, v in wdlist:iwalk() do
+			w(fd, "  ", wd, ": ")
+			for _, v in ipairs(v) do
+print(v.origin)
+print(v.path)
+print(v.origin.source)
+				w(fd, "(", v.origin.source, "/", (v.path) or ")")
+			end
+			w(fd, "\n")
+		end
+	end
+
+	-----
+	-- Returns the number of directories watched in total.
+	local function size()
+		return wdlist:size()
+	end
+
+	-- public interface
+	return { add = add, size = size, status_report = status_report }
+end)()
+
+--============================================================================
+-- lsyncd runner plugs. These functions will be called from core. 
+--============================================================================
 
 -----
--- A list of names of the event types the core sends.
--- (Also makes sure the strings are not collected)
+-- Called from core whenever a lua failed.
 --
-local valid_events = {
-	Attrib = true,
-	Modify = true,
-	Create = true,
-	Delete = true,
-	Move = true,
-	MoveFrom = true,
-	MoveTo = true,
-}
-
---============================================================================
--- The lsyncd runner 
---============================================================================
-
-
-----
--- Adds watches for a directory including all subdirectories.
---
--- @param origin    link to origins[] entry
--- @param path      relative path of this dir to origin
--- @param parent    link to parent directory in watches[]
---
-local function inotify_watch_dir(origin, path)
-	local op = origin.source .. path
-	-- register watch and receive watch descriptor
-	local wd = lsyncd.add_watch(op);
-	if wd < 0 then
-		-- failed adding the watch
-		log("Error", "Failure adding watch ", op, " -> ignored ")
-		return
-	end
-
-	local ilist = inotifies[wd]
-	if not ilist then
-		ilist = Array.new()
-		inotifies[wd] = ilist
-	end
-	local inotify = { origin = origin, path = path } 
-	set_prototype(inotify, proto_inotify)
-	table.insert(ilist, inotify)
-
-	-- on a warmstart add a Create for the directory
-	if not origin.config.startup then
-		-- TODO BROKEN
-		origin:delay("Create", sync, nil, nil, nil)
-	end
-
-	-- registers and adds watches for all subdirectories 
-	local subdirs = lsyncd.sub_dirs(op)
-	for _, dirname in ipairs(subdirs) do
-		inotify_watch_dir(origin, path..dirname.."/")
+function lsyncd_call_error(message)
+	log("Error", "IN LUA: ", message)
+	-- prints backtrace
+	local level = 2
+	while true do
+		local info = debug.getinfo(level, "Sl")
+		if not info then
+			terminate(-1) -- ERRNO
+		end
+		log("Error", "Backtrace ", level - 1, " :", 
+			info.short_src, ":", info.currentline)
+		level = level + 1
 	end
 end
 
@@ -533,14 +623,7 @@ end
 function lsyncd_status_report(fd)
 	local w = lsyncd.writefd
 	w(fd, "Lsyncd status report at ", os.date(), "\n\n")
-	w(fd, "Watching ", inotifies.size, " directories\n")
-	for wd, v in inotifies:iwalk() do
-		w(fd, "  ", wd, ": ")
-		for _, inotify in ipairs(v) do 
-			w(fd, "(", inotify.origin.source, "/", (inotify.path) or ")")
-		end
-		w(fd, "\n")
-	end
+	Inotifies.status_report(fd)
 end
 
 ----
@@ -553,7 +636,7 @@ function lsyncd_alarm(now)
 	-- goes through all targets and spawns more actions
 	-- if possible
 	for _, o in Origins.iwalk() do
-		if o.processes.size < o.config.max_processes then
+		if o.processes:size() < o.config.max_processes then
 			local delays = o.delays
 			local d = delays[1]
 			if d and lsyncd.before_eq(d.alarm, now) then
@@ -651,10 +734,10 @@ function lsyncd_initialize(args)
 			have_startup = true
 		end
 		-- adds the dir watch inclusively all subdirs
-		inotify_watch_dir(o, "")
+		Inotifies.add(o.source, "", true)
 	end
 
-	-- from this point on use logging facilities as configured.
+	-- from now on use logging as configured instead of stdout/err.
 	lsyncd.configure("running");
 	
 	if have_startup then
@@ -669,10 +752,10 @@ function lsyncd_initialize(args)
 		end
 		lsyncd.wait_pids(pids, "startup_collector")
 		log("Normal", "- Entering normal operation with ",
-			inotifies.size, " monitored directories -")
+			Inotifies.size(), " monitored directories -")
 	else
 		log("Normal", "- Warmstart into normal operation with ",
-			inotifies.size, " monitored directories -")
+			Inotifies.size(), " monitored directories -")
 	end
 end
 
@@ -688,7 +771,7 @@ function lsyncd_get_alarm()
 	local alarm = 0
 	for _, o in Origins.iwalk() do
 		if o.delays[1] and 
-		   o.processes.size < o.config.max_processes then
+		   o.processes:size() < o.config.max_processes then
 			if have_alarm then
 				alarm = lsyncd.earlier(alarm, o.delays[1].alarm)
 			else
@@ -700,53 +783,7 @@ function lsyncd_get_alarm()
 	return have_alarm, alarm
 end
 
------
--- Called by core on inotify event
---
--- @param ename     "Attrib", "Mofify", "Create", "Delete", "Move")
--- @param wd        watch descriptor (matches lsyncd.add_watch())
--- @param time      time of event
--- @param filename  string filename without path
--- @param filename2 
---
-function lsyncd_inotify_event(ename, wd, isdir, time, filename, filename2)
-	local ftype;
-	if isdir then
-		ftype = "directory"
-	else
-		ftype = "file"
-	end
-	if filename2 then
-		log("Debug", "got event ", ename, " of ", ftype, " ", filename, 
-			" to ", filename2) 
-	else 
-		log("Debug", "got event ", ename, " of ", ftype, " ", filename) 
-	end
-
-	-- looks up the watch descriptor id
-	local ilist = inotifies[wd]
-	if not ilist then
-		log("Normal", "event belongs to unknown or deleted watch descriptor.")
-		return
-	end
-	
-	-- works through all possible source->target pairs
-	for _, inotify in ipairs(ilist) do
-		local pathname2 
-		if filename2 then
-			pathname2 = inotify.path..filename2
-		end
-		Origin.delay(inotify.origin, ename, time, 
-			inotify.path..filename, pathname2)
-		-- add subdirs for new directories
-		if isdir then
-			if ename == "Create" then
-				inotify_watch_dir(inotify.origin, 
-					inotify.path .. filename .. "/")
-			end
-		end
-	end
-end
+lsyncd_inotify_event = Inotifies.event
 
 -----
 -- Collector for every child process that finished in startup phase