diff --git a/custom/4coder_project_commands.cpp b/custom/4coder_project_commands.cpp
index d1aa363b..1ef1ed48 100644
--- a/custom/4coder_project_commands.cpp
+++ b/custom/4coder_project_commands.cpp
@@ -577,6 +577,7 @@ prj_version_1_to_version_2(Application_Links *app, Config *parsed, Project *proj
     String_ID relative_id = vars_save_string(str8_lit("relative"));
     String_ID true_id = vars_save_string(str8_lit("true"));
     String_ID false_id = vars_save_string(str8_lit("false"));
+    String_ID commands_id = vars_save_string(str8_lit("commands"));
     
     String_ID out_id = vars_save_string(str8_lit("out"));
     String_ID footer_panel_id = vars_save_string(str8_lit("footer_panel"));
@@ -596,7 +597,7 @@ prj_version_1_to_version_2(Application_Links *app, Config *parsed, Project *proj
     
     vars_new_variable(proj_var, project_name_id, vars_save_string(project->name));
     
-    // load paterns
+    // NOTE(allen): Load Pattern
     struct PatternVars{
         String_ID id;
         Match_Pattern_List list;
@@ -622,7 +623,7 @@ prj_version_1_to_version_2(Application_Links *app, Config *parsed, Project *proj
         }
     }
     
-    // load paths
+    // NOTE(allen): Load Paths
     {
         Variable_Handle load_paths = vars_new_variable(proj_var, load_paths_id);
         Variable_Handle os_var = vars_new_variable(load_paths, os_id);
@@ -637,13 +638,14 @@ prj_version_1_to_version_2(Application_Links *app, Config *parsed, Project *proj
         }
     }
     
-    // commands
+    // NOTE(allen): Commands
     {
+        Variable_Handle cmd_list_var = vars_new_variable(proj_var, commands_id);
         i32 count = project->command_array.count;
         Project_Command *cmd = project->command_array.commands;
         for (i32 i = 0; i < count; i += 1, cmd += 1){
             String_Const_u8 cmd_name = prj_sanitize_string(scratch, cmd->name);
-            Variable_Handle cmd_var = vars_new_variable(proj_var, vars_save_string(cmd_name));
+            Variable_Handle cmd_var = vars_new_variable(cmd_list_var, vars_save_string(cmd_name));
             vars_new_variable(cmd_var, os_id, vars_save_string(cmd->cmd));
             vars_new_variable(cmd_var, out_id, vars_save_string(cmd->out));
             vars_new_variable(cmd_var, footer_panel_id, cmd->footer_panel?true_id:false_id);
@@ -652,7 +654,7 @@ prj_version_1_to_version_2(Application_Links *app, Config *parsed, Project *proj
         }
     }
     
-    // fkey_commands
+    // NOTE(allen): FKey Commands
     {
         Variable_Handle fkeys_var = vars_new_variable(proj_var, fkey_command_id);
         for (i32 i = 0; i < 16; i += 1){
@@ -669,7 +671,7 @@ prj_version_1_to_version_2(Application_Links *app, Config *parsed, Project *proj
         }
     }
     
-	return(proj_var);
+    return(proj_var);
 }
 
 function String_Const_u8
@@ -733,9 +735,10 @@ prj_exec_command(Application_Links *app, Variable_Handle cmd_var){
             buffer_id = buffer_identifier(string_u8_litexpr("*dump*"));
         }
         
-        Variable_Handle parent = vars_parent(cmd_var);
-        String_Const_u8 project_dir = prj_path_from_project(scratch, parent);
-        exec_system_command(app, view, buffer_id, project_dir, cmd, flags);
+        Variable_Handle command_list_var = vars_parent(cmd_var);
+        Variable_Handle prj_var = vars_parent(command_list_var);
+        String_Const_u8 prj_dir = prj_path_from_project(scratch, prj_var);
+        exec_system_command(app, view, buffer_id, prj_dir, cmd, flags);
         if (set_fancy_font){
             set_fancy_compilation_buffer_font(app);
         }
@@ -745,8 +748,9 @@ prj_exec_command(Application_Links *app, Variable_Handle cmd_var){
 function Variable_Handle
 prj_command_from_name(Application_Links *app, String_Const_u8 cmd_name){
     Scratch_Block scratch(app);
-    String_ID cmd_name_id = vars_save_string(cmd_name);
-    Variable_Handle cmd = def_get_config_var(cmd_name_id);
+    // TODO(allen): fallback for multiple stages of reading
+    Variable_Handle cmd_list = def_get_config_var(vars_save_string_lit("commands"));
+    Variable_Handle cmd = vars_read_key(cmd_list, vars_save_string(cmd_name));
     return(cmd);
 }
 
@@ -961,7 +965,9 @@ CUSTOM_DOC("Changes 4coder's hot directory to the root directory of the currentl
     Scratch_Block scratch(app);
     Variable_Handle prj_var = vars_read_key(vars_get_root(), vars_save_string_lit("prj_config"));
     String_Const_u8 prj_dir = prj_path_from_project(scratch, prj_var);
-    set_hot_directory(app, prj_dir);
+    if (prj_dir.size > 0){
+        set_hot_directory(app, prj_dir);
+    }
 }
 
 ///////////////////////////////
@@ -1318,6 +1324,38 @@ CUSTOM_DOC("Queries the user for several configuration options and initializes a
 
 ///////////////////////////////
 
+function Variable_Handle
+prj_cmd_from_user(Application_Links *app, Variable_Handle prj_var, String_Const_u8 query){
+    Scratch_Block scratch(app);
+    Lister_Block lister(app, scratch);
+    lister_set_query(lister, query);
+    lister_set_default_handlers(lister);
+    
+    Variable_Handle cmd_list_var = vars_read_key(prj_var, vars_save_string_lit("commands"));
+    String_ID os_id = vars_save_string_lit(OS_NAME);
+    
+    for (Variable_Handle cmd = vars_first_child(cmd_list_var);
+         !vars_is_nil(cmd);
+         cmd = vars_next_sibling(cmd)){
+        Variable_Handle os_cmd = vars_read_key(cmd, os_id);
+        if (!vars_is_nil(os_cmd)){
+            String_Const_u8 cmd_name = vars_key_from_var(scratch, cmd);
+            String_Const_u8 os_cmd_str = vars_string_from_var(scratch, os_cmd);
+            lister_add_item(lister, cmd_name, os_cmd_str, cmd.ptr, 0);
+        }
+    }
+    
+    Variable_Handle result = vars_get_nil();
+    Lister_Result l_result = run_lister(app, lister);
+    if (!l_result.canceled){
+        if (l_result.user_data != 0){
+            result.ptr = (Variable*)l_result.user_data;
+        }
+    }
+    
+    return(result);
+}
+
 function Variable_Handle
 get_project_command_from_user(Application_Links *app, Project *project, String_Const_u8 query){
     Variable_Handle result = vars_get_nil();
@@ -1349,13 +1387,12 @@ get_project_command_from_user(Application_Links *app, Project *project, String_C
 CUSTOM_COMMAND_SIG(project_command_lister)
 CUSTOM_DOC("Open a lister of all commands in the currently loaded project.")
 {
-    if (current_project.loaded){
-        Variable_Handle proj_cmd =
-            get_project_command_from_user(app, &current_project, string_u8_litexpr("Command:"));
-        if (!vars_is_nil(proj_cmd)){
-            prj_exec_command(app, proj_cmd);
-        }
+    Variable_Handle prj_var = vars_read_key(vars_get_root(), vars_save_string_lit("prj_config"));
+    Variable_Handle prj_cmd = prj_cmd_from_user(app, prj_var, string_u8_litexpr("Command:"));
+    if (!vars_is_nil(prj_cmd)){
+        prj_exec_command(app, prj_cmd);
     }
+    
 }
 
 // BOTTOM
diff --git a/custom/generated/command_metadata.h b/custom/generated/command_metadata.h
index b95f876d..bd0736d1 100644
--- a/custom/generated/command_metadata.h
+++ b/custom/generated/command_metadata.h
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ static Command_Metadata fcoder_metacmd_table[250] = {
 { PROC_LINKS(click_set_cursor_if_lbutton, 0), false, "click_set_cursor_if_lbutton", 27, "If the mouse left button is pressed, sets the cursor position to the mouse position.", 84, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_base_commands.cpp", 43, 243 },
 { PROC_LINKS(click_set_mark, 0), false, "click_set_mark", 14, "Sets the mark position to the mouse position.", 45, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_base_commands.cpp", 43, 256 },
 { PROC_LINKS(clipboard_record_clip, 0), false, "clipboard_record_clip", 21, "In response to a new clipboard contents events, saves the new clip onto the clipboard history", 93, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_clipboard.cpp", 39, 7 },
-{ PROC_LINKS(close_all_code, 0), false, "close_all_code", 14, "Closes any buffer with a filename ending with an extension configured to be recognized as a code file type.", 107, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 778 },
+{ PROC_LINKS(close_all_code, 0), false, "close_all_code", 14, "Closes any buffer with a filename ending with an extension configured to be recognized as a code file type.", 107, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 782 },
 { PROC_LINKS(close_build_panel, 0), false, "close_build_panel", 17, "If the special build panel is open, closes it.", 46, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_build_commands.cpp", 44, 175 },
 { PROC_LINKS(close_panel, 0), false, "close_panel", 11, "Closes the currently active panel if it is not the only panel open.", 67, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_base_commands.cpp", 43, 674 },
 { PROC_LINKS(command_documentation, 0), true, "command_documentation", 21, "Prompts the user to select a command then loads a doc buffer for that item", 74, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_docs.cpp", 34, 190 },
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ static Command_Metadata fcoder_metacmd_table[250] = {
 { PROC_LINKS(list_all_locations_of_type_definition_of_identifier, 0), false, "list_all_locations_of_type_definition_of_identifier", 51, "Reads a token or word under the cursor and lists all locations of strings that appear to define a type whose name matches it.", 125, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_search.cpp", 36, 224 },
 { PROC_LINKS(list_all_substring_locations, 0), false, "list_all_substring_locations", 28, "Queries the user for a string and lists all case-sensitive substring matches found in all open buffers.", 103, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_search.cpp", 36, 174 },
 { PROC_LINKS(list_all_substring_locations_case_insensitive, 0), false, "list_all_substring_locations_case_insensitive", 45, "Queries the user for a string and lists all case-insensitive substring matches found in all open buffers.", 105, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_search.cpp", 36, 186 },
-{ PROC_LINKS(load_project, 0), false, "load_project", 12, "Looks for a project.4coder file in the current directory and tries to load it.  Looks in parent directories until a project file is found or there are no more parents.", 167, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 807 },
+{ PROC_LINKS(load_project, 0), false, "load_project", 12, "Looks for a project.4coder file in the current directory and tries to load it.  Looks in parent directories until a project file is found or there are no more parents.", 167, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 811 },
 { PROC_LINKS(load_theme_current_buffer, 0), false, "load_theme_current_buffer", 25, "Parse the current buffer as a theme file and add the theme to the theme list. If the buffer has a .4coder postfix in it's name, it is removed when the name is saved.", 165, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_config.cpp", 36, 1561 },
 { PROC_LINKS(load_themes_default_folder, 0), false, "load_themes_default_folder", 26, "Loads all the theme files in the default theme folder.", 54, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_default_framework.cpp", 47, 535 },
 { PROC_LINKS(load_themes_hot_directory, 0), false, "load_themes_hot_directory", 25, "Loads all the theme files in the current hot directory.", 55, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_default_framework.cpp", 47, 547 },
@@ -414,8 +414,8 @@ static Command_Metadata fcoder_metacmd_table[250] = {
 { PROC_LINKS(multi_paste_interactive_quick, 0), false, "multi_paste_interactive_quick", 29, "Paste multiple lines from the clipboard history, controlled by inputing the number of lines to paste", 100, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_clipboard.cpp", 39, 380 },
 { PROC_LINKS(music_start, 0), false, "music_start", 11, "Starts the music.", 17, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_examples.cpp", 38, 213 },
 { PROC_LINKS(music_stop, 0), false, "music_stop", 10, "Stops the music.", 16, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_examples.cpp", 38, 232 },
-{ PROC_LINKS(open_all_code, 0), false, "open_all_code", 13, "Open all code in the current directory. File types are determined by extensions. An extension is considered code based on the extensions specified in 4coder.config.", 164, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 787 },
-{ PROC_LINKS(open_all_code_recursive, 0), false, "open_all_code_recursive", 23, "Works as open_all_code but also runs in all subdirectories.", 59, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 796 },
+{ PROC_LINKS(open_all_code, 0), false, "open_all_code", 13, "Open all code in the current directory. File types are determined by extensions. An extension is considered code based on the extensions specified in 4coder.config.", 164, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 791 },
+{ PROC_LINKS(open_all_code_recursive, 0), false, "open_all_code_recursive", 23, "Works as open_all_code but also runs in all subdirectories.", 59, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 800 },
 { PROC_LINKS(open_file_in_quotes, 0), false, "open_file_in_quotes", 19, "Reads a filename from surrounding '\"' characters and attempts to open the corresponding file.", 94, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_base_commands.cpp", 43, 1576 },
 { PROC_LINKS(open_in_other, 0), false, "open_in_other", 13, "Interactively opens a file in the other panel.", 46, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_base_commands.cpp", 43, 2059 },
 { PROC_LINKS(open_long_braces, 0), false, "open_long_braces", 16, "At the cursor, insert a '{' and '}' separated by a blank line.", 62, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_combined_write_commands.cpp", 53, 46 },
@@ -436,9 +436,9 @@ static Command_Metadata fcoder_metacmd_table[250] = {
 { PROC_LINKS(profile_disable, 0), false, "profile_disable", 15, "Prevent 4coder's self profiler from gathering new profiling information.", 72, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_profile.cpp", 37, 219 },
 { PROC_LINKS(profile_enable, 0), false, "profile_enable", 14, "Allow 4coder's self profiler to gather new profiling information.", 65, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_profile.cpp", 37, 212 },
 { PROC_LINKS(profile_inspect, 0), true, "profile_inspect", 15, "Inspect all currently collected profiling information in 4coder's self profiler.", 80, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_profile_inspect.cpp", 45, 886 },
-{ PROC_LINKS(project_command_lister, 0), false, "project_command_lister", 22, "Open a lister of all commands in the currently loaded project.", 62, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 1349 },
-{ PROC_LINKS(project_fkey_command, 0), false, "project_fkey_command", 20, "Run an 'fkey command' configured in a project.4coder file.  Determines the index of the 'fkey command' by which function key or numeric key was pressed to trigger the command.", 175, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 932 },
-{ PROC_LINKS(project_go_to_root_directory, 0), false, "project_go_to_root_directory", 28, "Changes 4coder's hot directory to the root directory of the currently loaded project. With no loaded project nothing hapepns.", 125, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 958 },
+{ PROC_LINKS(project_command_lister, 0), false, "project_command_lister", 22, "Open a lister of all commands in the currently loaded project.", 62, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 1387 },
+{ PROC_LINKS(project_fkey_command, 0), false, "project_fkey_command", 20, "Run an 'fkey command' configured in a project.4coder file.  Determines the index of the 'fkey command' by which function key or numeric key was pressed to trigger the command.", 175, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 936 },
+{ PROC_LINKS(project_go_to_root_directory, 0), false, "project_go_to_root_directory", 28, "Changes 4coder's hot directory to the root directory of the currently loaded project. With no loaded project nothing hapepns.", 125, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 962 },
 { PROC_LINKS(query_replace, 0), false, "query_replace", 13, "Queries the user for two strings, and incrementally replaces every occurence of the first string with the second string.", 120, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_base_commands.cpp", 43, 1282 },
 { PROC_LINKS(query_replace_identifier, 0), false, "query_replace_identifier", 24, "Queries the user for a string, and incrementally replace every occurence of the word or token found at the cursor with the specified string.", 140, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_base_commands.cpp", 43, 1303 },
 { PROC_LINKS(query_replace_selection, 0), false, "query_replace_selection", 23, "Queries the user for a string, and incrementally replace every occurence of the string found in the selected range with the specified string.", 141, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_base_commands.cpp", 43, 1319 },
@@ -477,10 +477,10 @@ static Command_Metadata fcoder_metacmd_table[250] = {
 { PROC_LINKS(set_mark, 0), false, "set_mark", 8, "Sets the mark to the current position of the cursor.", 52, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_base_commands.cpp", 43, 115 },
 { PROC_LINKS(set_mode_to_notepad_like, 0), false, "set_mode_to_notepad_like", 24, "Sets the edit mode to Notepad like.", 35, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_default_framework.cpp", 47, 499 },
 { PROC_LINKS(set_mode_to_original, 0), false, "set_mode_to_original", 20, "Sets the edit mode to 4coder original.", 38, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_default_framework.cpp", 47, 493 },
-{ PROC_LINKS(setup_build_bat, 0), false, "setup_build_bat", 15, "Queries the user for several configuration options and initializes a new build batch script.", 92, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 1301 },
-{ PROC_LINKS(setup_build_bat_and_sh, 0), false, "setup_build_bat_and_sh", 22, "Queries the user for several configuration options and initializes a new build batch script.", 92, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 1313 },
-{ PROC_LINKS(setup_build_sh, 0), false, "setup_build_sh", 14, "Queries the user for several configuration options and initializes a new build shell script.", 92, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 1307 },
-{ PROC_LINKS(setup_new_project, 0), false, "setup_new_project", 17, "Queries the user for several configuration options and initializes a new 4coder project with build scripts for every OS.", 120, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 1294 },
+{ PROC_LINKS(setup_build_bat, 0), false, "setup_build_bat", 15, "Queries the user for several configuration options and initializes a new build batch script.", 92, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 1307 },
+{ PROC_LINKS(setup_build_bat_and_sh, 0), false, "setup_build_bat_and_sh", 22, "Queries the user for several configuration options and initializes a new build batch script.", 92, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 1319 },
+{ PROC_LINKS(setup_build_sh, 0), false, "setup_build_sh", 14, "Queries the user for several configuration options and initializes a new build shell script.", 92, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 1313 },
+{ PROC_LINKS(setup_new_project, 0), false, "setup_new_project", 17, "Queries the user for several configuration options and initializes a new 4coder project with build scripts for every OS.", 120, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_project_commands.cpp", 46, 1300 },
 { PROC_LINKS(show_filebar, 0), false, "show_filebar", 12, "Sets the current view to show it's filebar.", 43, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_base_commands.cpp", 43, 697 },
 { PROC_LINKS(show_scrollbar, 0), false, "show_scrollbar", 14, "Sets the current view to show it's scrollbar.", 45, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_base_commands.cpp", 43, 683 },
 { PROC_LINKS(show_the_log_graph, 0), true, "show_the_log_graph", 18, "Parses *log* and displays the 'log graph' UI", 44, "W:\\4ed\\code\\custom\\4coder_log_parser.cpp", 40, 991 },