diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 3ca3ced..239028f 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = foreign
 CFLAGS = -Wall $(LIBLUA_CFLAGS) 
 bin_PROGRAMS = lsyncd
-lsyncd_SOURCES = lsyncd.h lsyncd.c lsyncd.lua inotify.c
+lsyncd_SOURCES = lsyncd.h lsyncd.c lsyncd.lua
+if INOTIFY
+lsyncd_SOURCES += inotify.c
+endif
+
 lsyncd_LDADD = $(LIBLUA_LIBS)
 exampledir = $(datarootdir)/doc/@PACKAGE@
 dist_example_DATA = \
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 92b1c4a..ce219b4 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 #                                               -*- Autoconf -*-
+echo XXXXXXXXX
 # Process this file with autoconf to produce a configure script.
 #AC_PREREQ(2.60)
 AC_INIT(lsyncd, 2.0beta3, axkibe@gmail.com)
-AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([lsyncd.c],[lsyncd.lua],[inotify.c])
-AC_CONFIG_HEADER([config.h],[lsyncd.h])
+AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([lsyncd.c])
+AC_CONFIG_HEADER([config.h])
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE(AC_PACKAGE_NAME, AC_PACKAGE_VERSION)
 # Checks for programs.
 AC_PROG_CC
@@ -14,14 +15,28 @@ PKG_CHECK_MODULES(LIBLUA, lua5.1)
 # Checks for header files.
 AC_CHECK_HEADERS([sys/inotify.h])
 
+###
+# --with-runner option
 AC_ARG_WITH([runner],
 [  --with-runner=<dir>    Specify directory where lsyncds part written in Lua will be placed.
-                          If missing it will be compiled into the binary)])
+                          If missing it will be compiled into the binary])
 if test "x${with_runner}" != x; then
-AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(LSYNCD_DEFAULT_RUNNER_FILE, "${with_runner}/lsyncd.lua", "descr")
-AC_SUBST(RUNNER_DIR, "${with_runner}")
+	AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(LSYNCD_DEFAULT_RUNNER_FILE, "${with_runner}/lsyncd.lua", "descr")
+	AC_SUBST(RUNNER_DIR, "${with_runner}")
 fi
-AM_CONDITIONAL([RUNNER], [test x${with_runner} != x])
+AM_CONDITIONAL([RUNNER],  [test x${with_runner} != x])
+
+###
+# --without-inotify option
+AC_ARG_WITH([inotify],
+[  --without-inotify      Do not compile Linux inotify event interface (on by default)])
+if test "x${with_inotify}" == xno; then
+	echo "compiling without inotify"
+else
+	echo "compiling with inotify"
+	AC_DEFINE(LSYNCD_WITH_INOTIFY,,"descr")
+fi
+AM_CONDITIONAL([INOTIFY], [test x${with_inotify} != xno])
 
 # Checks for typedefs, structures, and compiler characteristics.
 # Checks for library functions.
diff --git a/inotify.c b/inotify.c
index e5d119b..24b2206 100644
--- a/inotify.c
+++ b/inotify.c
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ static int
 l_addwatch(lua_State *L)
 {
 	const char *path = luaL_checkstring(L, 1);
-	int wd = inotify_add_watch(inotify_fd, path, standard_event_mask);
+	lua_Integer wd = inotify_add_watch(inotify_fd, path, standard_event_mask);
 	printlogf(L, "Inotify", "addwatch(%s)->%d", path, wd);
 	lua_pushinteger(L, wd);
 	return 1;
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ l_addwatch(lua_State *L)
 static int
 l_rmwatch(lua_State *L)
 {
-	int wd = luaL_checkinteger(L, 1);
+	lua_Integer wd = luaL_checkinteger(L, 1);
 	inotify_rm_watch(inotify_fd, wd);
 	printlogf(L, "Inotify", "rmwatch()<-%d", wd);
 	return 0;
@@ -252,13 +252,8 @@ static char * readbuf = NULL;
  * to the runner.
  */
 static void
-inotify_ready(lua_State *L, struct observance *observance)
+inotify_ready(lua_State *L, int fd, void *extra)
 {
-	if (observance->fd != inotify_fd) {
-		logstring("Error", 
-			"internal fail, inotify_ready on non-inotify file descriptor.");
-		exit(-1); // ERRNO
-	}
 	while(true) {
 		ptrdiff_t len; 
 		int err;
@@ -312,24 +307,6 @@ inotify_ready(lua_State *L, struct observance *observance)
 	}
 }
 
-/**
- * Called by function pointer when the core doesnt want the
- * inotify fd anymore (term, hup or overflow)
- */
-static void
-inotify_tidy(struct observance *observance)
-{
-	if (observance->fd != inotify_fd) {
-		logstring("Error", 
-			"internal fail, inotify_ready on non-inotify file descriptor.");
-		exit(-1); // ERRNO
-	}
-	close(inotify_fd);
-	inotify_fd = -1;
-	free(readbuf);
-	readbuf = NULL;
-}
-
 /** 
  * registers inotify functions.
  */
@@ -361,6 +338,16 @@ open_inotify(lua_State *L) {
 
 	close_exec_fd(inotify_fd);
 	non_block_fd(inotify_fd);
-	observe_fd(inotify_fd, inotify_ready, NULL, inotify_tidy, NULL);
+	observe_fd(inotify_fd, inotify_ready, NULL, NULL);
+}
+
+/** 
+ * closes inotify 
+ */
+extern void
+close_inotify() {
+	close(inotify_fd);
+	free(readbuf);
+	readbuf = NULL;
 }
 
diff --git a/lsyncd.c b/lsyncd.c
index 8822bdc..6755704 100644
--- a/lsyncd.c
+++ b/lsyncd.c
@@ -44,6 +44,16 @@ extern char _binary_luac_out_start;
 extern char _binary_luac_out_end; 
 #endif
 
+
+/**
+ * The default notification system to use.
+ */
+#ifdef LSYNCD_WITH_INOTIFY
+extern char *default_notify = "Inotify";
+#else
+#	error "need at least one notifcation system. please rerun ./configure"
+#endif
+
 /**
  * configuration parameters
  */
@@ -158,7 +168,7 @@ add_logcat(const char *name, int priority)
 		return true;
 	}
 	if (!strcmp("scarce", name)) {
-		settings.log_level = LOG_WARNING;
+		settings.log_level = LOG_ERR;
 		return true;
 	}
 
@@ -364,29 +374,24 @@ struct pipemsg {
  * writeable again 
  */
 static void 
-pipe_writey(lua_State *L, struct observance *observance) {
-	struct pipemsg *pm = (struct pipemsg *) observance->extra;
-	int len = write(observance->fd, pm->text + pm->pos, pm->tlen - pm->pos);
+pipe_writey(lua_State *L, int fd, void *extra) {
+	struct pipemsg *pm = (struct pipemsg *) extra;
+	int len = write(fd, pm->text + pm->pos, pm->tlen - pm->pos);
+	bool do_close = false;
 	pm->pos += len;
 	if (len < 0) {
 		logstring("Normal", "broken pipe.");
-		nonobserve_fd(observance->fd);
+		do_close = true;
 	} else if (pm->pos >= pm->tlen) {
 		logstring("Debug", "finished pipe.");
-		nonobserve_fd(observance->fd);
+		do_close = true;
+	}
+	if (do_close) {
+		close(fd);
+		free(pm->text);
+		free(extra);
+		unobserve_fd(fd);
 	}
-}
-
-/**
- * TODO
- */
-static void
-pipe_tidy(struct observance *observance)
-{
-	struct pipemsg *pm = (struct pipemsg *) observance->extra;
-	close(observance->fd);
-	free(pm->text);
-	free(pm);
 }
 
 
@@ -696,6 +701,7 @@ l_exec(lua_State *L)
 		len = write(pipefd[1], pipe_text, tlen);
 		if (len < 0) {
 			logstring("Normal", "immediatly broken pipe.");
+			close(pipefd[0]);
 		}
 		if (len == tlen) {
 			/* usual and best case, the pipe accepted all input -> close */
@@ -703,13 +709,14 @@ l_exec(lua_State *L)
 			logstring("Exec", "one-sweeped pipe");
 		} else {
 			struct pipemsg *pm;
-			logstring("Exec", "adding pipe observance");
+			logstring("Exec", "adding pipe observer");
 			pm = s_calloc(1, sizeof(struct pipemsg));
 			pm->text = s_strdup(pipe_text);
 			pm->tlen = tlen;
 			pm->pos  = len;
-			observe_fd(pipefd[1], NULL, pipe_writey, pipe_tidy, pm);
+			observe_fd(pipefd[1], NULL, pipe_writey, pm);
 		}
+		close(pipefd[0]);
 	}
 	free(argv);
 	lua_pushnumber(L, pid);
@@ -890,7 +897,6 @@ l_configure(lua_State *L)
 			if (!settings.log_file) {
 				settings.log_syslog = true;
 			}
-			// XXX
 			logstring("Debug", "daemonizing now.");
 			if (daemon(0, 0)) {
 				logstring("Error", "Failed to daemonize");
@@ -921,6 +927,7 @@ l_configure(lua_State *L)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+
 static const luaL_reg lsyncdlib[] = {
 		{"addtoclock",   l_addtoclock   },
 		{"clockbefore",  l_clockbefore  },
@@ -945,13 +952,13 @@ static const luaL_reg lsyncdlib[] = {
  * Dummy variable whos address is used as the cores index in the lua registry
  * to the lua runners function table in the lua registry.
  */
-static int runner = 0;
+static int runner;
 
 /**
  * Dummy variable whos address is used as the cores index n the lua registry
  * to the lua runners error handler.
  */
-static int callError = 0;
+static int callError;
 
 /**
  * Pushes a function from the runner on the stack.
@@ -976,12 +983,38 @@ load_runner_func(lua_State *L,
 }
 
 
+/**
+ * An observer to be called when a file descritor becomes
+ * read-ready or write-ready.
+ */
+struct observer {
+	/**
+	 * The file descriptor to observe.
+	 */
+	int fd;
+
+	/**
+	 * Function to call when read becomes ready.
+	 */
+	void (*ready)(lua_State *L, int fd, void *extra);
+	
+	/**
+	 * Function to call when write becomes ready.
+	 */
+	void (*writey)(lua_State *L, int fd, void *extra);
+
+	/**
+	 * Extra tokens to pass to the functions-
+	 */
+	void *extra;
+};
+
 /**
  * List of file descriptor watches.
  */
-static struct observance * observances = NULL;
-static int observances_len  = 0;
-static int observances_size = 0;
+static struct observer * observers = NULL;
+static int observers_len = 0;
+static int observers_size = 0;
 
 /**
  * List of file descriptors to unobserve.
@@ -989,14 +1022,14 @@ static int observances_size = 0;
  * not be altered, thus unobserve stores here the
  * actions that will be delayed.
  */
-static int *nonobservances      = NULL;
-static int  nonobservances_len  = 0;
-static int  nonobservances_size = 0;
+static int *unobservers = NULL;
+static int unobservers_len = 0;
+static int unobservers_size = 0;
 
 /**
- * true while the observances list is being handled.
+ * true while the observers list is being handled.
  */
-static bool observance_action = false;
+static bool observer_action = false;
 
 /**
  * Core watches a filedescriptor to become ready,
@@ -1004,88 +1037,83 @@ static bool observance_action = false;
  */
 extern void
 observe_fd(int fd, 
-           void (*ready) (lua_State *L, struct observance *observance), 
-           void (*writey)(lua_State *L, struct observance *observance),
-           void (*tidy)  (struct observance *observance),
-           void *extra)
+           void (*ready)(lua_State *L, int fd, void *extra), 
+           void (*writey)(lua_State *L, int fd, void *extra),
+		   void *extra)
 {
 	int pos;
-	if (observance_action) {
+	if (observer_action) {
 		// TODO
 		logstring("Error", 
-			"Adding observance in ready/writey handlers not yet supported");
+			"Adding observers in ready/writey handlers not yet supported");
 		exit(-1); // ERRNO
 	}
 
-	if (observances_len + 1 > observances_size) {
-		observances_size = observances_len + 1;
-		observances = s_realloc(observances, 
-			observances_size * sizeof(struct observance));
+	if (observers_len + 1 > observers_size) {
+		observers_size = observers_len + 1;
+		observers = s_realloc(observers, 
+			observers_size * sizeof(struct observer));
 	}
-	for(pos = 0; pos < observances_len; pos++) {
-		if (observances[pos].fd <= fd) {
+	for(pos = 0; pos < observers_len; pos++) {
+		if (observers[pos].fd <= fd) {
 			break;
 		}
 	}
-	if (observances[pos].fd == fd) {
+	if (observers[pos].fd == fd) {
 		logstring("Error", 
 			"Observing already an observed file descriptor.");
 		exit(-1); // ERRNO
 	}
-	memmove(observances + pos + 1, observances + pos, 
-	        (observances_len - pos) * (sizeof(struct observance)));
+	memmove(observers + pos + 1, observers + pos, 
+	        (observers_len - pos) * (sizeof(struct observer)));
 
-	observances_len++;
-	observances[pos].fd = fd;
-	observances[pos].ready  = ready;
-	observances[pos].writey = writey;
-	observances[pos].tidy   = tidy;
-	observances[pos].extra  = extra;
+	observers_len++;
+	observers[pos].fd = fd;
+	observers[pos].ready  = ready;
+	observers[pos].writey = writey;
+	observers[pos].extra = extra;
 }
 
 /**
  * Makes core no longer watch fd.
  */
 extern void
-nonobserve_fd(int fd)
+unobserve_fd(int fd)
 {
 	int pos;
 
-	if (observance_action) {
+	if (observer_action) {
 		/* this function is called through a ready/writey handler 
-		 * while the core works through the observances list, thus
+		 * while the core works through the observer list, thus
 		 * it does not alter the list, but stores this actions
 		 * on a stack 
 		 */
-		nonobservances_len++;
-		if (nonobservances_len > nonobservances_size) {
-			nonobservances_size = nonobservances_len;
-			nonobservances = s_realloc(nonobservances, 
-				nonobservances_size * sizeof(int));
+		unobservers_len++;
+		if (unobservers_len > unobservers_size) {
+			unobservers_size = unobservers_len;
+			unobservers = s_realloc(unobservers, 
+				unobservers_size * sizeof(int));
 		}
-		nonobservances[nonobservances_len - 1] = fd;
+		unobservers[unobservers_len - 1] = fd;
 		return;
 	}
 
 	/* looks for the fd */
-	for(pos = 0; pos < observances_len; pos++) {
-		if (observances[pos].fd == fd) {
+	for(pos = 0; pos < observers_len; pos++) {
+		if (observers[pos].fd == fd) {
 			break;
 		}
 	}
-	if (pos >= observances_len) {
+	if (pos >= observers_len) {
 		logstring("Error", 
-			"internal fail, not observed file descriptor in nonobserve_fd()");
+			"internal fail, not observer file descriptor in unobserve");
 		exit(-1); //ERRNO
 	}
 
-	if (observances[pos].tidy) {
-		observances[pos].tidy(observances + pos);
-	}
 	/* and moves the list down */
-	memmove(observances + pos, observances + pos + 1, 
-	        (observances_len - pos) * (sizeof(struct observance)));
-	observances_len--;
+	memmove(observers + pos, observers + pos + 1, 
+	        (observers_len - pos) * (sizeof(struct observer)));
+	observers_len--;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1146,52 +1174,52 @@ masterloop(lua_State *L)
 				FD_ZERO(&rfds);
 				FD_ZERO(&wfds);
 
-				for(pi = 0; pi < observances_len; pi++) {
-					int fd = observances[pi].fd;
-					if (observances[pi].ready) {
+				for(pi = 0; pi < observers_len; pi++) {
+					int fd = observers[pi].fd;
+					if (observers[pi].ready) {
 						FD_SET(fd, &rfds);
 					}
-					if (observances[pi].writey) {
+					if (observers[pi].writey) {
 						FD_SET(fd, &wfds);
 					}
 				}
 
 				/* the great select */
 				pr = pselect(
-					observances[observances_len - 1].fd + 1,
+					observers[observers_len - 1].fd + 1,
 					&rfds, &wfds, NULL, 
 					have_alarm ? &tv : NULL, &sigset);
 
 				if (pr >= 0) {
-					/* walks through the observances calling ready/writey fds */
-					observance_action = true;
-					for(pi = 0; pi < observances_len; pi++) {
-						struct observance *obs = observances + pi;
-						int fd = obs->fd;
+					/* walks through the observers calling ready/writey fds */
+					observer_action = true;
+					for(pi = 0; pi < observers_len; pi++) {
+						int fd = observers[pi].fd;
+						void *extra = observers[pi].extra;
 						if (hup || term) {
 							break;
 						}
-						if (obs->ready && FD_ISSET(fd, &rfds)) {
-							obs->ready(L, obs);
+						if (observers[pi].ready && FD_ISSET(fd, &rfds)) {
+							observers[pi].ready(L, fd, extra);
 						}
 						if (hup || term) {
 							break;
 						}
-						if (nonobservances_len > 0 && 
-							nonobservances[nonobservances_len - 1] == fd) {
-							/* ready() nonobserved itself */
+						if (unobservers_len > 0 && 
+							unobservers[unobservers_len - 1] == fd) {
+							/* ready() unobserved itself */
 							continue;
 						}
-						if (obs->writey && FD_ISSET(fd, &wfds)) {
-							obs->writey(L, obs);
+						if (observers[pi].writey && FD_ISSET(fd, &wfds)) {
+							observers[pi].writey(L, fd, extra);
 						}
 					}
-					observance_action = false;
+					observer_action = false;
 					/* work through delayed unobserve_fd() calls */
-					for (pi = 0; pi < nonobservances_len; pi++) {
-						nonobserve_fd(nonobservances[pi]);
+					for (pi = 0; pi < unobservers_len; pi++) {
+						unobserve_fd(unobservers[pi]);
 					}
-					nonobservances_len = 0;
+					unobservers_len = 0;
 				}
 			}
 		} 
@@ -1287,7 +1315,6 @@ main1(int argc, char *argv[])
 		/* prepares logging early */
 		int i = 1;
 		add_logcat("Normal", LOG_NOTICE);
-		add_logcat("Warn",   LOG_WARNING);
 		add_logcat("Error",  LOG_ERR);
 		while (i < argc) {
 			if (strcmp(argv[i], "-log") && strcmp(argv[i], "--log")) {
@@ -1511,19 +1538,6 @@ main1(int argc, char *argv[])
 	masterloop(L);
 
 	/* cleanup */
-	{
-		/* close/frees observances */
-		int i;
-		for(i = 0; i < observances_len; i++) {
-			struct observance *obs = observances + i;
-			if (obs->tidy) {
-				obs->tidy(obs);
-			}
-		}
-		observances_len    = 0;
-		nonobservances_len = 0;
-		observance_action  = false;
-	}
 	{
 		/* frees logging categories */
 		int ci;
@@ -1552,6 +1566,7 @@ main1(int argc, char *argv[])
 	settings.log_level = 0,
 	settings.nodaemon = false,
 
+	close_inotify();
 	lua_close(L);
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/lsyncd.h b/lsyncd.h
index 44d7d38..216e501 100644
--- a/lsyncd.h
+++ b/lsyncd.h
@@ -103,43 +103,23 @@ extern void non_block_fd(int fd);
 /* Sets the close-on-exit flag for a file descriptor. */
 extern void close_exec_fd(int fd);
 
-
-/**
- * An observance calls functions when a file descritor becomes
- * read-ready or write-ready.
- */
-struct observance {
-	/* The file descriptor observed.  */
-	int fd;
-
-	/* Function to call when read becomes ready. */
-	void (*ready)(lua_State *L, struct observance *observance);
-	
-	/* Function to call when write becomes ready.  */
-	void (*writey)(lua_State *L, struct observance *observance);
-
-	/* Function that tidies up, closes fd, frees extra data. etc. */
-	void (*tidy)(struct observance *observance);
-
-	/* Extra tokens to pass to the functions  */
-	void *extra;
-};
-
 /* makes the core to observe a file descriptor */
-extern void
-observe_fd(int fd, 
-           void (*ready) (lua_State *L, struct observance *observance), 
-           void (*writey)(lua_State *L, struct observance *observance),
-           void (*tidy)  (struct observance *observance),
-           void *extra);
+extern void observe_fd(
+	int fd, 
+	void (*ready)(lua_State *L, int fd, void *extra), 
+	void (*writey)(lua_State *L, int fd, void *extra), 
+	void *extra);
 
 /* stops the core to observe a file descriptor */
-extern void nonobserve_fd(int fd);
+extern void unobserve_fd(int fd);
 
 /*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * inotify
  */
 extern void register_inotify(lua_State *L);
 extern void open_inotify(lua_State *L);
+extern void close_inotify();
+
+
 
 #endif
diff --git a/lsyncd.lua b/lsyncd.lua
index 4448a71..85c4c6c 100644
--- a/lsyncd.lua
+++ b/lsyncd.lua
@@ -1402,8 +1402,11 @@ local Syncs = (function()
 		end
 
 		-- loads a default value for an option if not existent
+		if not settings then
+			settings = {}
+		end
 		local defaultValues = {
-			'action', 
+			'action',  
 			'collapse', 
 			'collapseTable', 
 			'collect', 
@@ -1464,7 +1467,7 @@ end
 -- So lsyncd can work with other notifications mechanisms just
 -- by changing this.
 --
-local Inotifies = (function()
+local Inotify = (function()
 
 	-----
 	-- A list indexed by inotifies watch descriptor yielding the 
@@ -1514,7 +1517,7 @@ local Inotifies = (function()
 	--
 	local function addWatch(path, recurse, raiseSync, raiseTime)
 		log("Function", 
-			"Inotifies.addWatch(",path,", ",recurse,", ",
+			"Inotify.addWatch(",path,", ",recurse,", ",
 			raiseSync,", ",raiseTime,")")
 
 		-- lets the core registers watch with the kernel
@@ -1574,8 +1577,8 @@ local Inotifies = (function()
 	--
 	local function addSync(sync, root)
 		if syncRoots[sync] then
-			error("internal fail, duplicate sync in Inotifies()")
-		end	
+			error("internal fail, duplicate sync in Inotify.addSync()")
+		end
 		syncRoots[sync] = root
 		addWatch(root, true)
 	end
@@ -1957,7 +1960,7 @@ local StatusFile = (function()
 			f:write("\n")
 		end
 		
-		Inotifies.statusReport(f)
+		Inotify.statusReport(f)
 		f:close()
 	end
 
@@ -2072,7 +2075,6 @@ USAGE:
     lsyncd [OPTIONS] -rsyncssh [SOURCE] [HOST] [TARGETDIR]
 
 OPTIONS:
-  -dryrun             Subprocesses are not actually invoked.
   -help               Shows this
   -log    all         Logs everything (debug)
   -log    scarce      Logs errors only
@@ -2109,10 +2111,6 @@ function runner.configure(args)
 	-- a list of all valid --options
 	local options = {
 		-- log is handled by core already.
-		dryrun   =
-			{0,	function()
-				clSettings.dryrun=true
-			end},
 		log      = 
 			{1, nil},
 		logfile   = 
@@ -2283,7 +2281,7 @@ function runner.initialize()
 
 	-- runs through the Syncs created by users
 	for _, s in Syncs.iwalk() do
-		Inotifies.addSync(s, s.source)
+		Inotify.addSync(s, s.source)
 		if s.config.init then
 			InletControl.setSync(s)
 			s.config.init(Inlet)
@@ -2409,42 +2407,13 @@ function spawn(agent, binary, ...)
 	if lsyncdStatus == "fade" then
 		log("Normal", "ignored spawn processs since status fading")
 	end
-	if not settings.dryrun then
-		local pid = lsyncd.exec(binary, ...)
-		if pid and pid > 0 then
-			local sync = InletControl.getSync()
-			local delay = InletControl.getDelay(agent)
-			if delay then
-				delay.status = "active"
-				sync.processes[pid] = delay
-			else 
-				local dlist = InletControl.getDelayList(agent)
-				if not dlist then
-					error("spawning with an unknown agent", 2)
-				end
-				for k, d in pairs(dlist) do
-					if type(k) == "number" then
-						d.status = "active"
-					end
-				end
-				sync.processes[pid] = dlist
-			end
-		end
-	else
-		local a1, a2 = ...
-		if a1 ~= "<" then
-			log("Normal", "would call ", binary, " ", table.concat({...}, " "))
-		else
-			local aa = {...}
-			table.remove(aa, 1)
-			table.remove(aa, 1)
-			log("Normal", "would call ", binary, " ", table.concat(aa, " "), 
-			    "\ninput pipe <\n", a2)
-		end
+	local pid = lsyncd.exec(binary, ...)
+	if pid and pid > 0 then
 		local sync = InletControl.getSync()
 		local delay = InletControl.getDelay(agent)
 		if delay then
-			sync:removeDelay(delay)
+			delay.status = "active"
+			sync.processes[pid] = delay
 		else 
 			local dlist = InletControl.getDelayList(agent)
 			if not dlist then
@@ -2452,9 +2421,10 @@ function spawn(agent, binary, ...)
 			end
 			for k, d in pairs(dlist) do
 				if type(k) == "number" then
-					sync:removeDelay(d)
+					d.status = "active"
 				end
 			end
+			sync.processes[pid] = dlist
 		end
 	end
 end
@@ -2466,6 +2436,7 @@ function spawnShell(agent, command, ...)
 	return spawn(agent, "/bin/sh", "-c", command, "/bin/sh", ...)
 end
 
+
 -----
 -- Comfort routine also for user.
 -- Returns true if 'String' starts with 'Start'
@@ -2483,27 +2454,6 @@ function string.ends(String,End)
 end
 
 
-------
--- Replaces default os.execute with a warning message,
--- doing the execute nevertheless, if not in dryrun.
---
-local os_execute = os.execute
-os.execute = function(...)
-	log("Warn", "using os.execute makes Lsyncd splutter, use spawn() instead.")
-	if not settings.dryrun then
-		os_execute(...)
-	else
-		log("Normal", "would os.execute ", table.concat({...}, " "))
-	end
-end
-
------
--- An empty settings table optionally for the config to 
--- expand instead of replace.
---
-settings = {}
-
-
 --============================================================================
 -- Lsyncd default settings
 --============================================================================
@@ -2927,11 +2877,6 @@ default = {
 		return rc
 	end,
 
-	-----
-	-- default Delay
-	--
-	delay = 5,
-
 	-----
 	-- called on (re)initalizing of Lsyncd.
 	--