diff --git a/gooey/gui/application.py b/gooey/gui/application.py
index 47f9b85..ca654ea 100644
--- a/gooey/gui/application.py
+++ b/gooey/gui/application.py
@@ -3,21 +3,35 @@ Main runner entry point for Gooey.
 '''
 
 import wx
-
+import wx.lib.inspection
 from gooey.gui.lang import i18n
-from gooey.gui.controller import Controller
 
 from gooey.gui import image_repository
-
+from gooey.gui.containers.application import GooeyApplication
+from gooey.util.functional import merge
 
 
 def run(build_spec):
   app = wx.App(False)
 
   i18n.load(build_spec['language_dir'], build_spec['language'])
-  image_repository.patch_images(build_spec['image_dir'])
-  controller = Controller(build_spec)
-  controller.run()
+  imagesPaths = image_repository.loadImages(build_spec['image_dir'])
+  gapp = GooeyApplication(merge(build_spec, imagesPaths))
+  # wx.lib.inspection.InspectionTool().Show()
+  gapp.Show()
   app.MainLoop()
 
 
+def build_app(build_spec):
+  app = wx.App(False)
+
+  i18n.load(build_spec['language_dir'], build_spec['language'])
+  imagesPaths = image_repository.loadImages(build_spec['image_dir'])
+  gapp = GooeyApplication(merge(build_spec, imagesPaths))
+  # wx.lib.inspection.InspectionTool().Show()
+  gapp.Show()
+  return app
+
+
+
+
diff --git a/gooey/gui/cli.py b/gooey/gui/cli.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7234936
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gooey/gui/cli.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+from itertools import chain
+
+from copy import deepcopy
+
+from gooey.util.functional import compact
+
+
+def buildCliString(target, cmd, positional, optional):
+    positionals = deepcopy(positional)
+    if positionals:
+        positionals.insert(0, "--")
+
+    cmd_string = ' '.join(compact(chain(optional, positional)))
+
+    if cmd != '::gooey/default':
+        cmd_string = u'{} {}'.format(cmd, cmd_string)
+
+    return u'{} --ignore-gooey {}'.format(target, cmd_string)
diff --git a/gooey/gui/events.py b/gooey/gui/events.py
index 5015c1c..beabc8c 100644
--- a/gooey/gui/events.py
+++ b/gooey/gui/events.py
@@ -1,20 +1,26 @@
 """
 App wide event registry
 
-Everything in the application is communitcated via pubsub. These are the events that
-tie everythign together.
+Everything in the application is communicated via pubsub. These are the events
+that tie everything together.
 """
+
 import wx
 
-new_id = lambda: str(wx.NewId())
+WINDOW_STOP     = wx.NewId()
+WINDOW_CANCEL   = wx.NewId()
+WINDOW_CLOSE    = wx.NewId()
+WINDOW_START    = wx.NewId()
+WINDOW_RESTART  = wx.NewId()
+WINDOW_EDIT     = wx.NewId()
+
+WINDOW_CHANGE   = wx.NewId()
+PANEL_CHANGE    = wx.NewId()
+LIST_BOX        = wx.NewId()
+
+CONSOLE_UPDATE  = wx.NewId()
+EXECUTION_COMPLETE = wx.NewId()
+PROGRESS_UPDATE = wx.NewId()
 
-WINDOW_STOP     = new_id()
-WINDOW_CANCEL   = new_id()
-WINDOW_CLOSE    = new_id()
-WINDOW_START    = new_id()
-WINDOW_RESTART  = new_id()
-WINDOW_EDIT     = new_id()
+USER_INPUT = wx.NewId()
 
-WINDOW_CHANGE   = new_id()
-PANEL_CHANGE    = new_id()
-LIST_BOX        = new_id()
diff --git a/gooey/gui/processor.py b/gooey/gui/processor.py
index d2bcdb6..85ebfdf 100644
--- a/gooey/gui/processor.py
+++ b/gooey/gui/processor.py
@@ -1,98 +1,102 @@
 import os
 import re
 import subprocess
-
+import sys
 from functools import partial
 from multiprocessing.dummy import Pool
 
-import sys
-
+from gooey.gui import events
 from gooey.gui.pubsub import pub
 from gooey.gui.util.casting import safe_float
-from gooey.gui.util.functional import unit, bind
 from gooey.gui.util.taskkill import taskkill
+from gooey.util.functional import unit, bind
 
 
 class ProcessController(object):
-  def __init__(self, progress_regex, progress_expr):
-    self._process = None
-    self.progress_regex = progress_regex
-    self.progress_expr = progress_expr
-
-  def was_success(self):
-    self._process.communicate()
-    return self._process.returncode == 0
+    def __init__(self, progress_regex, progress_expr, encoding):
+        self._process = None
+        self.progress_regex = progress_regex
+        self.progress_expr = progress_expr
+        self.encoding = encoding
+        self.wasForcefullyStopped = False
 
-  def poll(self):
-    if not self._process:
-      raise Exception('Not started!')
-    self._process.poll()
+    def was_success(self):
+        self._process.communicate()
+        return self._process.returncode == 0
 
-  def stop(self):
-    if self.running():
-      taskkill(self._process.pid)
+    def poll(self):
+        if not self._process:
+            raise Exception('Not started!')
+        self._process.poll()
 
-  def running(self):
-    return self._process and self.poll() is None
+    def stop(self):
+        if self.running():
+            self.wasForcefullyStopped = True
+            taskkill(self._process.pid)
 
-  def run(self, command):
-    env = os.environ.copy()
-    env["GOOEY"] = "1"
-    try:
-      self._process = subprocess.Popen(
-        command.encode(sys.getfilesystemencoding()),
-        bufsize=1, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
-        stderr=subprocess.STDOUT, shell=True, env=env)
-    except:
-      self._process = subprocess.Popen(
-        command,
-        bufsize=1, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
-        stderr=subprocess.STDOUT, shell=True, env=env)
-    Pool(1).apply_async(self._forward_stdout, (self._process,))
+    def running(self):
+        return self._process and self.poll() is None
 
-  def _forward_stdout(self, process):
-    '''
-    Reads the stdout of `process` and forwards lines and progress
-    to any interested subscribers
-    '''
-    while True:
-      line = process.stdout.readline()
-      if not line:
-        break
-      pub.send_message('console_update', msg=line)
-      pub.send_message('progress_update', progress=self._extract_progress(line))
-    pub.send_message('execution_complete')
+    def run(self, command):
+        self.wasForcefullyStopped = False
+        env = os.environ.copy()
+        env["GOOEY"] = "1"
+        env["PYTHONIOENCODING"] = self.encoding
+        try:
+            self._process = subprocess.Popen(
+                command.encode(sys.getfilesystemencoding()),
+                bufsize=1, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
+                stderr=subprocess.STDOUT, shell=True, env=env)
+        except:
+            self._process = subprocess.Popen(
+                command,
+                bufsize=1, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
+                stderr=subprocess.STDOUT, shell=True, env=env)
+        Pool(1).apply_async(self._forward_stdout, (self._process,))
 
-  def _extract_progress(self, text):
-    '''
-    Finds progress information in the text using the
-    user-supplied regex and calculation instructions
-    '''
-    # monad-ish dispatch to avoid the if/else soup
-    find = partial(re.search, string=text.strip())
-    regex = unit(self.progress_regex)
-    match = bind(regex, find)
-    result = bind(match, self._calculate_progress)
-    return result
+    def _forward_stdout(self, process):
+        '''
+        Reads the stdout of `process` and forwards lines and progress
+        to any interested subscribers
+        '''
+        while True:
+            line = process.stdout.readline()
+            if not line:
+                break
+            pub.send_message(events.CONSOLE_UPDATE, msg=line.decode(self.encoding))
+            pub.send_message(events.PROGRESS_UPDATE,
+                             progress=self._extract_progress(line))
+        pub.send_message(events.EXECUTION_COMPLETE)
 
-  def _calculate_progress(self, match):
-    '''
-    Calculates the final progress value found by the regex
-    '''
-    if not self.progress_expr:
-      return safe_float(match.group(1))
-    else:
-      return self._eval_progress(match)
+    def _extract_progress(self, text):
+        '''
+        Finds progress information in the text using the
+        user-supplied regex and calculation instructions
+        '''
+        # monad-ish dispatch to avoid the if/else soup
+        find = partial(re.search, string=text.strip().decode(self.encoding))
+        regex = unit(self.progress_regex)
+        match = bind(regex, find)
+        result = bind(match, self._calculate_progress)
+        return result
 
-  def _eval_progress(self, match):
-    '''
-    Runs the user-supplied progress calculation rule
-    '''
-    _locals = {k: safe_float(v) for k, v in match.groupdict().items()}
-    if "x" not in _locals:
-      _locals["x"] = [safe_float(x) for x in match.groups()]
-    try:
-      return int(eval(self.progress_expr, {}, _locals))
-    except:
-      return None
+    def _calculate_progress(self, match):
+        '''
+        Calculates the final progress value found by the regex
+        '''
+        if not self.progress_expr:
+            return safe_float(match.group(1))
+        else:
+            return self._eval_progress(match)
 
+    def _eval_progress(self, match):
+        '''
+        Runs the user-supplied progress calculation rule
+        '''
+        _locals = {k: safe_float(v) for k, v in match.groupdict().items()}
+        if "x" not in _locals:
+            _locals["x"] = [safe_float(x) for x in match.groups()]
+        try:
+            return int(eval(self.progress_expr, {}, _locals))
+        except:
+            return None
diff --git a/gooey/gui/pubsub.py b/gooey/gui/pubsub.py
index 15c4a43..983ce9c 100644
--- a/gooey/gui/pubsub.py
+++ b/gooey/gui/pubsub.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import wx
 from collections import defaultdict
 
 __ALL__ = ['pub']
@@ -5,21 +6,19 @@ __ALL__ = ['pub']
 class PubSub(object):
   '''
   A super simplified clone of Wx.lib.pubsub since it doesn't exist on linux
-
-  *grumble grumble* Stupid abandoned wx project... >:(  *grumble*
   '''
 
   def __init__(self):
     self.registry = defaultdict(list)
 
 
-  def subscribe(self, handler, event):
+  def subscribe(self, event, handler):
     self.registry[event].append(handler)
 
 
   def send_message(self, event, **kwargs):
     for event_handler in self.registry.get(event, []):
-      event_handler(**kwargs)
+      wx.CallAfter(event_handler, **kwargs)
 
 pub = PubSub()
 
diff --git a/gooey/gui/seeder.py b/gooey/gui/seeder.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..81d10a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gooey/gui/seeder.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+"""
+Util for talking to the client program in order to retrieve
+dynamic defaults for the UI
+"""
+import json
+import subprocess
+
+
+def fetchDynamicProperties(target, encoding):
+    """
+    Sends a gooey-seed-ui request to the client program it retrieve
+    dynamically generated defaults with which to seed the UI
+    """
+    cmd = '{} {}'.format(target, 'gooey-seed-ui --ignore-gooey')
+    proc = subprocess.Popen(cmd, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+    if proc.returncode != 0:
+        out, _ = proc.communicate()
+        return json.loads(out.decode(encoding))
+    else:
+        # TODO: useful feedback
+        return {}
+
diff --git a/gooey/gui/util/freeze.py b/gooey/gui/util/freeze.py
index 8625240..a755aa3 100644
--- a/gooey/gui/util/freeze.py
+++ b/gooey/gui/util/freeze.py
@@ -1,26 +1,28 @@
-import sys
 import os
+import sys
 
 
 def is_frozen():
-  return getattr(sys, 'frozen', False)
+    return getattr(sys, 'frozen', False)
 
 
-def get_resource_path(*args):
-  if is_frozen():
-    # MEIPASS explanation:
-    # https://pythonhosted.org/PyInstaller/#run-time-operation
-    basedir = getattr(sys, '_MEIPASS', None)
-    if not basedir:
-      basedir = os.path.dirname(sys.executable)
-    resource_dir = os.path.join(basedir, 'gooey')
-    if not os.path.isdir(resource_dir):
-      raise IOError(
-        ("Cannot locate Gooey resources. It seems that the program was frozen, "
-         "but resource files were not copied into directory of the executable "
-         "file. Please copy `languages` and `images` folders from gooey module "
-         "directory into `{}{}` directory. Using PyInstaller, a.datas in .spec "
-         "file must be specified.".format(resource_dir, os.sep)))
-  else:
-    resource_dir = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), '..', '..'))
-  return os.path.join(resource_dir, *args)
+def getResourcePath(*args):
+    if is_frozen():
+        # MEIPASS explanation:
+        # https://pythonhosted.org/PyInstaller/#run-time-operation
+        basedir = getattr(sys, '_MEIPASS', None)
+        if not basedir:
+            basedir = os.path.dirname(sys.executable)
+        resource_dir = os.path.join(basedir, 'gooey')
+        if not os.path.isdir(resource_dir):
+            raise IOError(
+                (
+                "Cannot locate Gooey resources. It seems that the program was frozen, "
+                "but resource files were not copied into directory of the executable "
+                "file. Please copy `languages` and `images` folders from gooey module "
+                "directory into `{}{}` directory. Using PyInstaller, a.datas in .spec "
+                "file must be specified.".format(resource_dir, os.sep)))
+    else:
+        resource_dir = os.path.normpath(
+            os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), '..', '..'))
+    return os.path.join(resource_dir, *args)
diff --git a/gooey/gui/util/functional.py b/gooey/gui/util/functional.py
index 8d0c8d4..e6212fa 100644
--- a/gooey/gui/util/functional.py
+++ b/gooey/gui/util/functional.py
@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
-'''
-Simple monad-ish bindings
-'''
 
 
-def unit(val):
-  return val
 
-def bind(val, f):
-  return f(val) if val else None
+
+
+
diff --git a/gooey/gui/util/wx_util.py b/gooey/gui/util/wx_util.py
index 1b8184b..1f2f6fc 100644
--- a/gooey/gui/util/wx_util.py
+++ b/gooey/gui/util/wx_util.py
@@ -3,10 +3,26 @@ Collection of Utility methods for creating often used, pre-styled wx Widgets
 """
 
 import wx
+from contextlib import contextmanager
 
 from gooey.gui.three_to_four import Constants
 
 
+@contextmanager
+def transactUI(obj):
+    """
+    Coarse grain UI locking to avoid glitchy UI updates
+    """
+    obj.Freeze()
+    try:
+        yield
+    finally:
+        obj.Layout()
+        obj.Thaw()
+
+
+
+
 styles = {
     'h0': (wx.FONTFAMILY_DEFAULT, Constants.WX_FONTSTYLE_NORMAL, wx.FONTWEIGHT_BOLD, False),
     'h1': (wx.FONTFAMILY_DEFAULT, Constants.WX_FONTSTYLE_NORMAL, wx.FONTWEIGHT_BOLD, False),
@@ -15,6 +31,8 @@ styles = {
 }
 
 
+
+
 def make_bold(statictext):
     pointsize = statictext.GetFont().GetPointSize()
     font = wx.Font(pointsize, *styles['bold'])
@@ -22,8 +40,12 @@ def make_bold(statictext):
 
 
 def dark_grey(statictext):
-    darkgray = (54, 54, 54)
-    statictext.SetForegroundColour(darkgray)
+    return withColor(statictext, (54, 54, 54))
+
+
+def withColor(statictext, hex):
+    statictext.SetForegroundColour(hex)
+    return statictext
 
 
 def h0(parent, label):
diff --git a/gooey/gui/validators.py b/gooey/gui/validators.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c26c2d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gooey/gui/validators.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+
+
+def runValidator(f, value):
+    """
+    Attempt to run the user supplied validation function
+
+    Fall back to False in the even of any errors
+    """
+    try:
+        return f(value)
+    except:
+        return False
+
+
+
diff --git a/gooey/util/__init__.py b/gooey/util/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/gooey/util/functional.py b/gooey/util/functional.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5120dfd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gooey/util/functional.py
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+"""
+A collection of functional utilities/helpers
+"""
+from functools import reduce
+from copy import deepcopy
+from itertools import chain, dropwhile
+
+
+def getin(m, path, default=None):
+    """returns the value in a nested dict"""
+    keynotfound = ':com.gooey-project/not-found'
+    result = reduce(lambda acc, val: acc.get(val, {keynotfound: None}), path, m)
+    # falsey values like 0 would incorrectly trigger the default to be returned
+    # so the keynotfound val is used to signify a miss vs just a falesy val
+    if isinstance(result, dict) and keynotfound in result:
+        return default
+    return result
+
+
+def assoc(m, key, val):
+    """Copy-on-write associates a value in a dict"""
+    cpy = deepcopy(m)
+    cpy[key] = val
+    return cpy
+
+
+def associn(m, path, value):
+    """ Copy-on-write associates a value in a nested dict """
+    def assoc_recursively(m, path, value):
+        if not path:
+            return value
+        p = path[0]
+        return assoc(m, p, assoc_recursively(m.get(p,{}), path[1:], value))
+    return assoc_recursively(m, path, value)
+
+
+def merge(*maps):
+    """Merge all maps left to right"""
+    copies = map(deepcopy, maps)
+    return reduce(lambda acc, val: acc.update(val) or acc, copies)
+
+
+def flatmap(f, coll):
+    """Applies concat to the result of applying f to colls"""
+    return list(chain(*map(f, coll)))
+
+
+def indexunique(f, coll):
+    """Build a map from the collection keyed off of f
+    e.g.
+        [{id:1,..}, {id:2, ...}] => {1: {id:1,...}, 2: {id:2,...}}
+
+    Note: duplicates, if present, are overwritten
+    """
+    return zipmap(map(f, coll), coll)
+
+
+def findfirst(f, coll):
+    """Return first occurrence matching f, otherwise None"""
+    result = list(dropwhile(f, coll))
+    return result[0] if result else None
+
+
+def zipmap(keys, vals):
+    """Return a map from keys to values"""
+    return dict(zip(keys, vals))
+
+
+def compact(coll):
+    """Returns a new list with all falsy values removed"""
+    return list(filter(None, coll))
+
+
+def ifPresent(f):
+    """Execute f only if value is present and not None"""
+    def inner(value):
+        if value:
+            return f(value)
+        else:
+            return True
+    return inner
+
+
+def identity(x):
+    """Identity function always returns the supplied argument"""
+    return x
+
+
+def unit(val):
+    return val
+
+
+def bind(val, f):
+    return f(val) if val else None