diff --git a/.vscode/launch.json b/.vscode/launch.json
index 57440f73..e51e057b 100644
--- a/.vscode/launch.json
+++ b/.vscode/launch.json
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     "version": "0.2.0",
     "configurations": [
         {
-            "name": "Launch via NPM",
+            "name": "Node Server",
             "request": "launch",
             "runtimeArgs": [
                 "run-script",
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
             "type": "node"
         },
         {
-            "name": "Test",
+            "name": "Full Test",
             "request": "launch",
             "runtimeArgs": [
                 "run-script",
@@ -29,6 +29,6 @@
                 "<node_internals>/**"
             ],
             "type": "node"
-        },
+        }
     ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/appEndpoints.js b/app/appEndpoints.js
index 2b215726..1bd87e4b 100644
--- a/app/appEndpoints.js
+++ b/app/appEndpoints.js
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@ const express = require('express');
 const config = require("./config");
 const errors = require("./util/errors");
 const nunjucks = require("./nunjucks");
-const { initMail } = require("./emailer");
-const knex = require("./db");  // initialize on startup
 const app = express();
 
 // shift.conf for nginx sets the x-forward header
@@ -70,5 +68,5 @@ app.use(function(err, req, res, next) {
   console.error(err.stack);
 });
 
-// for testing
+// for starting a server or running tests
 module.exports = app;
diff --git a/app/config.js b/app/config.js
index 12e2b92d..384e3d02 100644
--- a/app/config.js
+++ b/app/config.js
@@ -1,10 +1,34 @@
+// global configuration for the backend
+// holds all environment, commandline options, paths, etc.
+//
+// const config = require('./config');
+//
 const path = require('path');
 const fs = require("fs");
+const { CommandLine } = require('./util/cmdLine.js');
 
+// helper to read environment variables
 function env_default(field, def) {
   return process.env[field] ?? def;
 }
 
+// helper to turn lines of quoted text into a single string
+function lines(...lines) {
+  return lines.join("\n");
+}
+
+const cmdLine = new CommandLine({
+  db: lines(
+    `an optional string. can be 'sqlite' or 'mysql'.`,
+    `the behavior depends on context. for tests, defaults to sqlite. for prod and dev defaults to mysql.`,
+    `- 'mysql': requires docker. for prod and dev pulls its full configuration from the environment; tests have a hardcoded configuration.`,
+    `- 'sqlite': can followed by the path to its file. For example: '-db=sqlite:../bin/events.db'. That example path is its default.`,
+  ),
+  db_debug: lines(
+    `an optional flag. adds extra debugging info for queries.`,
+  ),
+});
+
 // node server listen for its http requests
 // fix? there is no such environment variable right now.
 const listen = env_default('NODE_PORT', 3080);
@@ -15,23 +39,26 @@ const siteHost = siteUrl(listen);
 // location of app.js ( same as config.js )
 const appPath = path.resolve(__dirname);
 
-// for max file size
+// for max image size
 const bytesPerMeg = 1024*1024;
 
 const staticFiles = env_default('SHIFT_STATIC_FILES');
 
-const isTesting = !!(process.env.npm_lifecycle_event || "").match(/test$/);
-// read the command line parameter for db configuration
-const dbType = env_default('npm_config_db');
-const dbDebug = !!env_default('npm_config_db_debug');
+// running node --test with a glob ( ex.  node --test **/*_test.js )
+// injects all of those files onto the command line as separate arguments.
+const isTesting = process.env.npm_lifecycle_event && process.env.npm_lifecycle_event.startsWith('test');
+// ^ FIX: check for --test if running node directly?
+
+const dbConfig = getDatabaseConfig(cmdLine.options.db, cmdLine.bool('db_debug'), isTesting);
 
+// The config object exported
 const config = {
   appPath,
   api: {
     header: 'Api-Version',
     version: "3.60.0",
   },
-  db: getDatabaseConfig(dbType, isTesting),
+  db: dbConfig,
   // maybe bad, but some code likes to know:
   isTesting,
   // a nodemailer friendly config, or false if smtp is not configured.
@@ -195,17 +222,27 @@ function getSmtpSettings() {
   }
 }
 
-// our semi-agnostic database configuration
-function getDatabaseConfig(dbType, isTesting) {
-  // dbType comes from the command-line
-  // if nothing was specfied, use the MYSQL_DATABASE environment variable
-  const env = env_default('MYSQL_DATABASE')
-  if (!dbType && env) {
-    dbType = env.startsWith("sqlite") ? env : null;
-  }
+// nothing specified in the env fails
+// sqlite specified in the env uses.... sqlite.
+// anything other than sqlite in the env is assumed to be a mysql spec.
+function readDbEnv(env = 'MYSQL_DATABASE') {
+  const dbType = env_default(env);
   if (!dbType) {
-    dbType =  isTesting ? 'sqlite' : 'mysql'
+    throw new Error(`expected db type on command line or '${env}' env variable`);
   }
+  return dbType.startsWith("sqlite") ? dbType : 'mysql';
+}
+
+// returns our semi-agnostic database configuration.
+// read the command line and environment for the desired db.
+//
+// dbType can be 'sqlite' or 'mysql' or none.
+// 'mysql' pulls its full configuration from the environment.
+// 'sqlite' can optionally followed by the path to its file.
+// testing defaults to sqlite; dev and prod fallback to the environment.
+//
+function getDatabaseConfig(dbType, dbDebug, isTesting) {
+  dbType = dbType || (isTesting ? 'sqlite' : readDbEnv());
   const [name, parts] = dbType.split(':');
   const config = {
     mysql: !isTesting ? getMysqlDefault : getMysqlTesting,
diff --git a/app/db.js b/app/db.js
index 991cbb89..b0d4912e 100644
--- a/app/db.js
+++ b/app/db.js
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ const dt = require("./util/dateTime");
 const dbConfig = unpackConfig(config.db);
 const useSqlite = config.db.type === 'sqlite';
 const dropOnCreate = config.db.connect?.name === 'shift_test';
+let prevSetup;
 
 const db = {
   config: config.db,
@@ -19,10 +20,11 @@ const db = {
   // waits to open a connection.
   async initialize(name) {
     if (db.query) {
-      throw new Error("db already initialized");
+      throw new Error(`db being initialized by ${name} when already initialized by ${this.initialized}.`);
     }
     const connection = knex(dbConfig);
     db.query = connection;
+    db.initialized = name;
     await connection;
   },
 
@@ -33,6 +35,7 @@ const db = {
       throw new Error("db already destroyed");
     }
     db.query = false;
+    db.initialized = false;
     return connection.destroy();
   },
 
diff --git a/app/package.json b/app/package.json
index 2bad03e3..8f70c937 100644
--- a/app/package.json
+++ b/app/package.json
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   },
   "scripts": {
     "start": "node app.js",
-    "test": "node --test --trace-warnings --test-global-setup=test/db_setup.js --test-concurrency=1 **/*_test.js --"
+    "test": "node ./test/testRunner.js"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "shelljs": "^0.10.0",
diff --git a/app/test/db_setup.js b/app/test/db_setup.js
index bbeff445..97089953 100644
--- a/app/test/db_setup.js
+++ b/app/test/db_setup.js
@@ -1,25 +1,21 @@
+// Configures mysql while testing.
 //
 // > npm test -db=mysql -db_debug=true
 //
-const shell = require( 'shelljs');  // cross-platform shell interaction
-const { setTimeout } = require('node:timers/promises');
-const db  = require('../db');
+const shell = require('shelljs');  // talks to docker in a cross-platform way.
+const { setTimeout } = require('node:timers/promises'); // mysql takes time to start.
+const db = require('../db');
 
-// re: Unknown cli config "--db". This will stop working in the next major version of npm.
-// the alternative is ugly; tbd but would rather wait till it breaks.
-// const custom = process.argv.indexOf("--");
-// if (custom >= 0) {
-//   console.log(process.argv.slice(custom+1));
-// }
+const dockerImage = `mysql:8.4.7`;  // fix? pull from env somewhere.
 
 function shutdownMysql() {
-  console.log(`shutting down up docker mysql...`);
+  console.log(`shutting down up docker...`);
   const code = shell.exec("docker stop test_shift", {silent: true}).code;
-  console.log(`docker shutdown ${code}.`);
+  console.log(`docker shutdown ${code === 0 ? 'successfully' : code}.`);
 }
 
 async function startupMysql(connect) {
-  console.log(`setting up docker mysql...`);
+  console.log(`setting up docker image ${dockerImage}...`);
   // ex. if a test failed and the earlier run didn't exit well.
   const alreadyExists = shell.exec("docker start test_shift", {silent: true}).code === 0;
   if (alreadyExists) {
@@ -27,21 +23,21 @@ async function startupMysql(connect) {
     console.log("docker test_shift already running. reusing the container.");
   }
 
-  // setup docker mysql
+  // setup docker mysql for testing
   // https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/8.4/en/docker-mysql-more-topics.html
   // https://docs.docker.com/reference/cli/docker/container/run/
   // https://hub.docker.com/_/mysql/
-  if (!alreadyExists && shell.exec(lines(
+  if (!alreadyExists && shell.exec(join(
     `docker run`,
     `--name test_shift`,                  // container name
     `--detach`,                           // keep running the container in the background
     `--rm` ,                              // cleanup the container after exit
-    `-p ${connect.port}:3306`,         // expose mysql's internal 3306 port as our custom port
+    `-p ${connect.port}:3306`,            // expose mysql's internal 3306 port as our custom port
     `-e MYSQL_RANDOM_ROOT_PASSWORD=true`, // alt:  MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD
     `-e MYSQL_DATABASE=${connect.name}`,
     `-e MYSQL_USER=${connect.user}`,
     `-e MYSQL_PASSWORD=${connect.pass}`,
-    `mysql:8.4.7`,                       // fix? pull from env somewhere.
+    dockerImage,
     `--disable-log-bin=true`,
   `--character-set-server=utf8mb4`,
     `--collation-server=utf8mb4_unicode_ci`)).code !== 0) {
@@ -51,7 +47,7 @@ async function startupMysql(connect) {
 }
 
 async function initConnection() {
-  // configure the connection
+  // configure a connection
   await db.initialize("test setup");
 
   // wait for an empty query to succeed.
@@ -70,25 +66,31 @@ async function initConnection() {
     console.log(`waiting ${i} seconds....`);
     await setTimeout(i * 1000);
   }
+
+  await db.destroy();
 }
 
-// helpers
+// helper to read environment variables
 function env_default(field, def) {
   return process.env[field] ?? def;
 }
-function lines(...lines) {
+
+// helper to turn lines of quoted text into a single string
+function join(...lines) {
   return lines.join(" ");
 }
 
+// when testing, called once before any tests start
 async function globalSetup() {
+  console.log("global setup using: ", JSON.stringify(db.config, null, " "));
   if (db.config.type === 'mysql') {
     await startupMysql(db.config.connect);
   }
   await initConnection();
 }
 
+// when testing, called once after all tests have completed
 async function globalTeardown() {
-  await db.destroy();
   if (db.config.type === 'mysql') {
     shutdownMysql();
   }
diff --git a/app/test/fakeData.js b/app/test/fakeData.js
index e1988a81..0f8b648d 100644
--- a/app/test/fakeData.js
+++ b/app/test/fakeData.js
@@ -9,23 +9,21 @@ const password = "supersecret";
 // number of days within which to create fake events
 const fakeRange = 7;
 
-// promise an array of events
-//  - firstDay is a dt day
-//  - numEvents: a number of events to create
-//  - seed: an optional random seed
-function makeFakeData(firstDay, lastDay, numEvents) {
-  const fakeData = generateFakeData(firstDay, lastDay, numEvents);
+// writes an array of the fake data format into the db.
+// separating generation from insertion prevents race conditions from influencing the generated data.
+function insertFakeData(fakeData) {
+  return db.query.transaction(tx => _insertData(tx, fakeData));
+}
+
+function _insertData(tx, fakeData) {
   const promisedEvents = fakeData.map(data => {
-    return db.query('calevent')
+    return tx('calevent')
       .insert(data.event).then(row => {
-        const id = row[0]; // the magic to get the event id.
-        // when passing a seed (ex. for tests); silence the output.
-        if (!config.isTesting) {
-          logData(id, data);
-        }
+        const id = row[0];  // the magic to get the event id.
+        data.event.id = id; // update the data so we can return it.
         const promisedDays = data.days.map(at => {
           at.id = id; // assign the id before adding to the db
-          return db.query('caldaily').insert(at);
+          return tx('caldaily').insert(at);
          });
         return Promise.all(promisedDays);
       });
@@ -34,29 +32,40 @@ function makeFakeData(firstDay, lastDay, numEvents) {
   return Promise.all(promisedEvents);
 }
 
-//
-function logData(id, data) {
-  const url = config.site.url("addevent", `edit-${id}-${password}`);
-  const start = dt.friendlyDate(data.days[0].eventdate);
-  console.log(`created "${data.event.title}" with ${data.days.length} days starting on ${start}\n ${url}`);
+// prints an array of fake data format to console.
+function logFakeData(data) {
+  data.forEach(({event, days}) => {
+    const url = config.site.url("addevent", `edit-${event.id}-${event.password}`);
+    const start = dt.friendlyDate(days[0].eventdate);
+    console.log(`created ${url}\n  "${event.title}" with ${days.length} days starting on ${start}`);
+  });
 }
 
-// build the data before inserting into the db
-// this avoids race conditions influencing the data generated.
-function generateFakeData(firstDay, lastDay, numEvents) {
+// promise an array of {event: {}, days: [{}]}
+//  - firstDay is a dt day
+//  - numEvents: a number of events to create
+//  - seed: an optional random seed
+// nextEventId can be a number, in which case it creates events starting with that id.
+function generateFakeData(firstDay, lastDay, numEvents, seed, nextEventId = undefined) {
+  faker.seed(seed);
   const out = [];
+  let nextDayId = nextEventId ? 1 : undefined;
   for (let i = 0; i< numEvents; i++) {
     // always have one event on the day specified;
     // on subsequent events, pick from a range of days.
-    const start = !i ? firstDay:
+    const start = !i ? firstDay :
        dt.convert(faker.date.between({
           from: firstDay.toDate(),
           to: lastDay.toDate(),
         }));
     const title = faker.music.songName();
-    const event = makeCalEvent(title);
+    const event = makeCalEvent(title, nextEventId);
     const numDays = randomDayCount();
-    const days = makeCalDailies(start, numDays);
+    const days = makeCalDailies(start, numDays, nextDayId);
+    if (nextEventId !== undefined) {
+      nextEventId += 1;
+      nextDayId += numDays;
+    }
     out.push({
       event,
       days,
@@ -66,7 +75,7 @@ function generateFakeData(firstDay, lastDay, numEvents) {
 }
 
 // export!
-module.exports = { makeFakeData };
+module.exports = { insertFakeData, generateFakeData, logFakeData };
 
 function randomDayCount() {
   // some dumb weighted random
@@ -88,7 +97,7 @@ function nextDay(days, refDate) {
   });
 }
 
-function makeCalDailies(start, numDays) {
+function makeCalDailies(start, numDays, nextPkid = undefined) {
   const out = [];
   const active = faker.datatype.boolean(0.8);
   const flash = faker.datatype.boolean(!active? 0.8: 0.3);
@@ -103,6 +112,7 @@ function makeCalDailies(start, numDays) {
       eventdate   : db.toDate(start),
       eventstatus : active? EventStatus.Active : EventStatus.Cancelled,
       newsflash   : msg,
+      pkid : (nextPkid !== undefined) ? (nextPkid++) : undefined,
     });
   }
   return out;
@@ -113,7 +123,7 @@ function capitalize(str, yes= true) {
   return (yes? first.toUpperCase() : first.toLowerCase() ) + str.slice(1);
 }
 
-function makeCalEvent(title) {
+function makeCalEvent(title, predefinedId = undefined) {
   const firstName = faker.person.firstName();
   const lastName = faker.person.lastName();
   const organizer = faker.person.fullName({firstName, lastName});
@@ -165,7 +175,7 @@ function makeCalEvent(title) {
     // created,
     // modified,
     changes,
-    // id: eventId,
+    id: predefinedId,
     name: organizer,
     email,
     hideemail,
diff --git a/app/test/manage_test.js b/app/test/manage_test.js
index 6d1b8865..dfeb72ce 100644
--- a/app/test/manage_test.js
+++ b/app/test/manage_test.js
@@ -94,10 +94,7 @@ describe("managing events", () => {
         return request(app)
         .post(manage_api)
         .send(post)
-        .expect(400)
-        .then(res => {
-          assert.ok(res.body.error.fields[key]);
-        });
+        .then(res => testData.expectError(res, key));
       })
     }
     return seq;
@@ -126,10 +123,7 @@ describe("managing events", () => {
         return request(app)
         .post(manage_api)
         .send(post)
-        .expect(400)
-        .then(res => {
-          assert.ok(res.body.error.fields[key]);
-        });
+        .then(res => testData.expectError(res, key));
       })
     }
     return seq;
diff --git a/app/test/ride_count_test.js b/app/test/ride_count_test.js
index 41b66df4..bbc1dc12 100644
--- a/app/test/ride_count_test.js
+++ b/app/test/ride_count_test.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 const app = require("../appEndpoints");
 const testdb = require("./testdb");
+const testData = require("./testData");
 //
 const { describe, it, before, after } = require("node:test");
 const assert = require("node:assert/strict");
@@ -14,6 +15,12 @@ describe("ride count testing", () => {
   after(() => {
     return testdb.destroy();
   });
+  // FIX! it would be good to support an unspecified range
+  it("handles an unspecified range", () => {
+    return request(app)
+      .get('/api/ride_count.php')
+      .expect(testData.expectError);
+  });
   it("handles an all encompassing range", () => {
     return request(app)
       .get('/api/ride_count.php')
@@ -42,14 +49,12 @@ describe("ride count testing", () => {
   it("errors on a missing time", () => {
     return request(app)
       .get('/api/ride_count.php')
-      .expect(400)
-      .expect('Content-Type', /json/);
+      .expect(testData.expectError);
   });
   it("errors on an invalid time", () => {
     return request(app)
       .get('/api/ride_count.php')
       .query({s: "yesterday", e: "tomorrow"})
-      .expect(400)
-      .expect('Content-Type', /json/);
+      .expect(testData.expectError);
   });
 });
diff --git a/app/test/search_test.js b/app/test/search_test.js
index c78fcdfc..5dde4986 100644
--- a/app/test/search_test.js
+++ b/app/test/search_test.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 const app = require("../appEndpoints");
 const testdb = require("./testdb");
+const testData = require("./testData");
 const { EventSearch } = require("../models/calConst");
 //
 const { describe, it, before, after } = require("node:test");
@@ -19,12 +20,7 @@ describe("searching for events", () => {
   it("errors on an empty search term", () => {
     return request(app)
       .get('/api/search.php')
-      // .query({q: "events"})
-      .expect(400)
-      .expect('Content-Type', /json/)
-      .then(res => {
-        assert.ok(res.body?.error, "expects an error string");
-      });
+      .expect(testData.expectError);
   });
   it("handles a search", () => {
     return request(app)
@@ -66,6 +62,7 @@ describe("searching for events", () => {
       .expect(200)
       .expect('Content-Type', /json/)
       .then(res => {
+        // pagination: still 14 events available; but we've asked for two at a time.
         assert.equal(res.body?.pagination.fullcount, 14);
         assert.equal(res.body?.pagination.offset, 0);
         assert.equal(res.body?.pagination.limit, 2);
@@ -87,6 +84,7 @@ describe("searching for events", () => {
       .expect(200)
       .expect('Content-Type', /json/)
       .then(res => {
+        // pagination: still 14 events available; but we've asked for two at a time.
         assert.equal(res.body?.pagination?.fullcount, 14);
         assert.equal(res.body?.pagination?.offset, 2);
         assert.equal(res.body?.pagination?.limit, 2);
diff --git a/app/test/testRunner.js b/app/test/testRunner.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..24a92e21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/test/testRunner.js
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+//
+// A custom wrapper for running multiple tests.
+//
+// Rationale: node's test runner ignores multiple files when using its only and pattern filters.
+// https://github.com/nodejs/node/issues/51384
+//
+const fs = require('fs');         // search for test files
+const path = require('path');     // building paths to run those files
+const shell = require('shelljs'); // runs node from node; what could be simpler :sob:.
+const { CommandLine } = require('../util/cmdLine.js');
+const { globalSetup, globalTeardown } = require('./db_setup.js');
+
+const cmdLine = new CommandLine({
+  only: `flag to invoke --test-only`,
+  pattern: `regex for --test-name-pattern`,
+});
+
+// arguments to pass to node for each test
+const testArgs = [
+  `--trace-warnings`,
+  `--test-concurrency=1`,
+  // normally we'd let node handle the global setup ( ex. starting docker )
+  // however, when running multiple tests, the setup should only happen once.
+  //`--test-global-setup=test/db_setup.js`
+];
+
+// the custom test runner
+async function runTests() {
+  const startingDir = process.cwd(); // ex. /Users/ionous/dev/shift/real-shift/app
+  const originalCmdLine = process.argv.slice(2); // skip 0 (bin/node) and 1 (testRunner.js)
+  await globalSetup();
+  _runTests(startingDir, testArgs, originalCmdLine, cmdLine.options);
+  await globalTeardown();
+}
+runTests();
+
+// helpers:
+function _runTests(dir, args, orig, { only, pattern }) {
+  if (only && pattern) {
+    throw new Error(`The test runner expects at most one option. Both only and pattern were specified.`);
+  }
+  const files = findTestFiles(dir);
+  if (!only && !pattern) {
+    // the regular test command can handle processing multiple files
+    test([`--test`].concat(args, files, '--', orig));
+
+  } else if (only) {
+    // find will stop running tests when something returns a non-zero error code.
+    files.find(f => test([`--test-only`].concat(args, f,'--', orig)) !== 0 );
+
+  } else if (pattern) {
+    // find will stop running tests when something returns a non-zero error code.
+    files.find(f => test(args.concat(`--test-name-pattern="${pattern}"`, f)) !== 0 );
+  }
+}
+
+// return an array of filenames to test
+// (returned paths are relative to dir)
+function findTestFiles(dir) {
+   const entries = fs.readdirSync(dir, {
+    withFileTypes: true,
+    recursive: true,
+  });
+  return entries.filter(f => f.name.endsWith("_test.js"))
+    .map(f => path.relative(dir, path.resolve(f.parentPath, f.name)));
+}
+
+function test(parts) {
+  const cmdLine = `node ${parts.join(' ')}`;
+  shell.echo(cmdLine);
+  // note: shell.cmd is safer, but i can't get it to work with quoted text options. :shrug:
+  // ex. --test-name-pattern="date time" looks correct when echo'd but doesn't pass the pattern to node.
+  return shell.exec(cmdLine).code;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/test/testdb.js b/app/test/testdb.js
index c9b318c2..89899197 100644
--- a/app/test/testdb.js
+++ b/app/test/testdb.js
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@ const dt = require("../util/dateTime");
 const { faker } = require('@faker-js/faker');
 const testData = require("./testData");
 const db = require("../db");
-const { makeFakeData } = require("./fakeData");
+const { generateFakeData, insertFakeData } = require("./fakeData");
 
 module.exports = {
   // generates a hand rolled set of data
   setupTestData: async (name) => {
-    await db.initialize();
+    await db.initialize('setupTestData');
     await tables.dropTables();
     await tables.createTables();
     faker.seed(23204); // uses lorem generator
@@ -17,14 +17,15 @@ module.exports = {
   },
   // uses faker to generate a good amount of fake data
   setupFakeData: async (name) => {
-    await db.initialize();
+    await db.initialize('setupFakeData');
     await tables.dropTables();
     await tables.createTables();
     const firstDay = dt.fromYMDString("2002-08-01");
     const lastDay  = dt.fromYMDString("2002-08-31");
     const numEvents = 46;
-    faker.seed(23204); // keeps the generated data stable.
-    await makeFakeData(firstDay, lastDay, numEvents);
+    const seed = 23204; // keeps the generated data stable.
+    const fakeData = generateFakeData(firstDay, lastDay, numEvents, seed, seed);
+    return insertFakeData(fakeData);
   },
   destroy() {
     // leaves the tables in place; lets create drop them when needed.
diff --git a/app/test/testing.md b/app/test/testing.md
index 4d3313bb..9f52484c 100644
--- a/app/test/testing.md
+++ b/app/test/testing.md
@@ -2,110 +2,111 @@
 
 To test the backend, at the root of repo run: `npm test`.
 
-
 All tests use the [Node Test runner](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest/api/test.html#test-runner), with [supertest](https://github.com/forwardemail/supertest) for making (local) http requests.
 
 ## Isolating tests:
 
-Tests can be identified by name: ex. `npm test -- --test-name-pattern="ical feed"`
+Tests can be singled out by name: ex. `npm test -- -pattern="ical"`
+
+Or, in the test code, they can be temporarily marked with 'only'. For example: `describe.only("ical feed")`, and then isolated with: `npm test -- -only`
 
-Or, temporarily can be marked with 'only' in the code. For example: `describe.only()`, and then selected with: `npm test -- --test-only```
+# Mysql tests:
 
-By default tests use sqlite, you can test against mysql as well:  `npm test -db=mysql`. It launches a standalone docker container for the tests. Additionally, `npm test -db_debug` will log queries to the db.
+By default tests use sqlite, you can test against mysql as well:  `npm test -- -db=mysql`. It launches a standalone docker container for the tests. Additionally, `npm test -- -db_debug` will log queries to the db.
 
 # Test Data
 
 fakeData.js generates the following events:
 
-* "The Tracks of My Tears" with 1 days starting on 2002-08-01
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-1-supersecret
-* "Knock On Wood" with 1 days starting on 2002-08-20
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-2-supersecret
-* "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" with 2 days starting on 2002-08-02
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-3-supersecret
-* "One" with 2 days starting on 2002-08-02
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-4-supersecret
-* "Whip It" with 4 days starting on 2002-08-16
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-5-supersecret
-* "Losing My Religion" with 5 days starting on 2002-08-22
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-6-supersecret
-* "I'm a Believer" with 1 days starting on 2002-08-20
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-7-supersecret
-* "Hips don't lie" with 1 days starting on 2002-08-28
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-8-supersecret
-* "Living For the City" with 1 days starting on 2002-08-01
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-9-supersecret
-* "Shake Down" with 1 days starting on 2002-08-08
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-10-supersecret
-* "Wicked Game" with 3 days starting on 2002-08-19
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-11-supersecret
-* "Jive Talkin'" with 2 days starting on 2002-08-28
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-12-supersecret
-* "Wheel of Fortune" with 3 days starting on 2002-08-17
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-13-supersecret
-* "Travellin' Band" with 1 days starting on 2002-08-09
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-14-supersecret
-* "Bye" with 1 days starting on 2002-08-07
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-15-supersecret
-* "The Girl From Ipanema" with 2 days starting on 2002-08-26
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-16-supersecret
-* "If (They Made Me a King)" with 2 days starting on 2002-08-15
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-17-supersecret
-* "This Used to Be My Playground" with 2 days starting on 2002-08-16
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-18-supersecret
-* "Crying" with 5 days starting on 2002-08-27
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-19-supersecret
-* "Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)" with 2 days starting on 2002-08-13
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-20-supersecret
-* "Upside Down" with 1 days starting on 2002-08-28
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-21-supersecret
-* "Love Me Do" with 4 days starting on 2002-08-20
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-22-supersecret
-* "Breathe" with 5 days starting on 2002-08-09
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23-supersecret
-* "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)" with 2 days starting on 2002-08-23
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-24-supersecret
-* "Swanee" with 2 days starting on 2002-08-16
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-25-supersecret
-* "Earth Angel" with 1 days starting on 2002-08-16
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-26-supersecret
-* "Let's Get it On" with 1 days starting on 2002-08-25
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-27-supersecret
-* "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" with 1 days starting on 2002-08-08
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-28-supersecret
-* "Sunday" with 1 days starting on 2002-08-25
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-29-supersecret
-* "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" with 2 days starting on 2002-08-25
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-30-supersecret
-* "Change the World" with 4 days starting on 2002-08-01
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-31-supersecret
-* "Tammy" with 2 days starting on 2002-08-10
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-32-supersecret
-* "Come Together" with 2 days starting on 2002-08-10
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-33-supersecret
-* "Take On Me" with 2 days starting on 2002-08-03
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-34-supersecret
-* "Fantasy" with 1 days starting on 2002-08-10
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-35-supersecret
-* "Centerfold" with 5 days starting on 2002-08-02
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-36-supersecret
-* "I Gotta Feeling" with 2 days starting on 2002-08-18
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-37-supersecret
-* "I Can't Get Started" with 2 days starting on 2002-08-19
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-38-supersecret
-* "Only The Lonely (Know The Way I Feel)" with 2 days starting on 2002-08-27
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-39-supersecret
-* "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" with 1 days starting on 2002-08-07
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-40-supersecret
-* "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" with 2 days starting on 2002-08-04
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-41-supersecret
-* "When a Man Loves a Woman" with 3 days starting on 2002-08-24
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-42-supersecret
-* "Dreamlover" with 1 days starting on 2002-08-27
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-43-supersecret
-* "Brown Eyed Girl" with 3 days starting on 2002-08-20
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-44-supersecret
-* "(They Long to Be) Close to You" with 1 days starting on 2002-08-17
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-45-supersecret
-* "Rock With You" with 1 days starting on 2002-08-24
- http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-46-supersecret
\ No newline at end of file
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23204-supersecret
+   "The Tracks of My Tears" with 1 days starting on Thu, Aug 1st
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23205-supersecret
+   "Knock On Wood" with 1 days starting on Tue, Aug 20th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23206-supersecret
+   "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" with 2 days starting on Fri, Aug 2nd
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23207-supersecret
+   "One" with 2 days starting on Fri, Aug 2nd
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23208-supersecret
+   "Whip It" with 4 days starting on Fri, Aug 16th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23209-supersecret
+   "Losing My Religion" with 5 days starting on Thu, Aug 22nd
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23210-supersecret
+   "I'm a Believer" with 1 days starting on Tue, Aug 20th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23211-supersecret
+   "Hips don't lie" with 1 days starting on Wed, Aug 28th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23212-supersecret
+   "Living For the City" with 1 days starting on Thu, Aug 1st
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23213-supersecret
+   "Shake Down" with 1 days starting on Thu, Aug 8th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23214-supersecret
+   "Wicked Game" with 3 days starting on Mon, Aug 19th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23215-supersecret
+   "Jive Talkin'" with 2 days starting on Wed, Aug 28th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23216-supersecret
+   "Wheel of Fortune" with 3 days starting on Sat, Aug 17th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23217-supersecret
+   "Travellin' Band" with 1 days starting on Fri, Aug 9th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23218-supersecret
+   "Bye" with 1 days starting on Wed, Aug 7th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23219-supersecret
+   "The Girl From Ipanema" with 2 days starting on Mon, Aug 26th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23220-supersecret
+   "If (They Made Me a King)" with 2 days starting on Thu, Aug 15th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23221-supersecret
+   "This Used to Be My Playground" with 2 days starting on Fri, Aug 16th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23222-supersecret
+   "Crying" with 5 days starting on Tue, Aug 27th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23223-supersecret
+   "Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)" with 2 days starting on Tue, Aug 13th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23224-supersecret
+   "Upside Down" with 1 days starting on Wed, Aug 28th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23225-supersecret
+   "Love Me Do" with 4 days starting on Tue, Aug 20th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23226-supersecret
+   "Breathe" with 5 days starting on Fri, Aug 9th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23227-supersecret
+   "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)" with 2 days starting on Fri, Aug 23rd
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23228-supersecret
+   "Swanee" with 2 days starting on Fri, Aug 16th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23229-supersecret
+   "Earth Angel" with 1 days starting on Fri, Aug 16th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23230-supersecret
+   "Let's Get it On" with 1 days starting on Sun, Aug 25th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23231-supersecret
+   "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" with 1 days starting on Thu, Aug 8th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23232-supersecret
+   "Sunday" with 1 days starting on Sun, Aug 25th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23233-supersecret
+   "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" with 2 days starting on Sun, Aug 25th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23234-supersecret
+   "Change the World" with 4 days starting on Thu, Aug 1st
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23235-supersecret
+   "Tammy" with 2 days starting on Sat, Aug 10th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23236-supersecret
+   "Come Together" with 2 days starting on Sat, Aug 10th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23237-supersecret
+   "Take On Me" with 2 days starting on Sat, Aug 3rd
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23238-supersecret
+   "Fantasy" with 1 days starting on Sat, Aug 10th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23239-supersecret
+   "Centerfold" with 5 days starting on Fri, Aug 2nd
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23240-supersecret
+   "I Gotta Feeling" with 2 days starting on Sun, Aug 18th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23241-supersecret
+   "I Can't Get Started" with 2 days starting on Mon, Aug 19th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23242-supersecret
+   "Only The Lonely (Know The Way I Feel)" with 2 days starting on Tue, Aug 27th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23243-supersecret
+   "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" with 1 days starting on Wed, Aug 7th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23244-supersecret
+   "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" with 2 days starting on Sun, Aug 4th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23245-supersecret
+   "When a Man Loves a Woman" with 3 days starting on Sat, Aug 24th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23246-supersecret
+   "Dreamlover" with 1 days starting on Tue, Aug 27th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23247-supersecret
+   "Brown Eyed Girl" with 3 days starting on Tue, Aug 20th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23248-supersecret
+   "(They Long to Be) Close to You" with 1 days starting on Sat, Aug 17th
+* http://localhost:3080/addevent/edit-23249-supersecret
+   "Rock With You" with 1 days starting on Sat, Aug 24th
diff --git a/app/util/cmdLine.js b/app/util/cmdLine.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c833ef64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/util/cmdLine.js
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+
+// a simple helper to parse key=value parameters passed via the command line.
+// adds the user specified values to a '.options' member
+// ex. `-hello=world` becomes `.options.hello === 'world`
+class CommandLine {
+  // pass valid command line options as a map of name to documentation.
+  // will throw if the user has specified an option that isn't part of the known set
+  constructor(known) {
+    const pairs = process.argv
+      .filter(arg => arg.startsWith('-') && !arg.startsWith('--'))
+      .map(arg => {
+        const match = arg.slice(1).match(/^(\w+)=(.+)|(\w+)$/);
+        // an argument '-a=b' gets split into key, value
+        // an argument '-c' gets assigned to flag
+        const [str, key, value, flag] = (match || [arg]);
+        // return them both as pairs to generate the options
+        return (key !== undefined) ? [key, value] :
+               (flag !== undefined) ? [flag, 'true'] :
+               [str];
+    });
+    // note: allows unknown options
+    // ( ex. so test runner and tests can have overlapping command lines )
+    this.known = known;
+    this.options = Object.fromEntries(pairs);
+  }
+  // read a true/false style option.
+  // or undefined if no such option was specified.
+  bool(key) {
+    if (!(key in this.known)) {
+      console.error(`unknown key ${key}.`);
+      this.listKnown(this.known, console.error);
+      throw new Error("unexpected boolean key");
+    }
+    const value = this.options[key];
+    if (value) {
+      const map = {
+        '0': false, 'false': false,
+        '1': true, 'true': true,
+      };
+      const res = map[value];
+      if (res === undefined) {
+        console.error(`CommandLine had '${value}' when a boolean value for '${key}' was expected`);
+        throw new Error("unexpected boolean value");
+      }
+      return res;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function listKnown(known, out) {
+  out(`CommandLine options:`);
+  Object.keys(known).forEach(key => {
+    const value = known[key];
+    out(`* ${key} = ${value}`);
+  });
+}
+
+function quote(list) {
+  return list.map(quote => `'${quote}'`).join(", ")
+}
+
+module.exports = {
+  CommandLine
+};
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 2e33008e..9df17ce8 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
     "postdeploy": "cp site/public/404/index.html site/public/404.html",
     
     "postinstall": "hugo-installer --version 0.144.2",
-    "test": "npm -w app test --",
+    "test": "npm run -w app test --",
 
     "preview": "concurrently --kill-others-on-fail \"npm:preview-*\"",
     "preview-hugo": "npm run dev-hugo",
diff --git a/tools/makeFakeEvents.js b/tools/makeFakeEvents.js
index 99fd0d91..f8d2e5dc 100644
--- a/tools/makeFakeEvents.js
+++ b/tools/makeFakeEvents.js
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
  * create one or more fake events.
  * ex. npm run -w tools make-fake-events
  */
-const knex = require("shift-docs/db");
+const db = require("shift-docs/db");
 const dt = require("shift-docs/util/dateTime");
-const { makeFakeData } = require("shift-docs/test/fakeData");
+const { generateFakeData, insertFakeData, logFakeData } = require("shift-docs/test/fakeData");
 
 // todo: improve commandline parsing
 // this uses npm's command vars ( probably a bad idea )
@@ -31,10 +31,12 @@ async function makeFakeEvents() {
   const firstDay = dt.getNow().add(args.start, 'days');
   const lastDay = firstDay.add(args.range, 'days');
   const numEvents = args.make;
-  return knex.initialize().then(_ => {
-    return makeFakeData(firstDay, lastDay, numEvents);
+  const fakeData = generateFakeData(firstDay, lastDay, numEvents);
+  return db.initialize('makeFakeEvents').then(_ => {
+    return insertFakeData(fakeData);
   })
   .then(_ => {
+    logFakeData(fakeData);
     console.log("done");
     // can't use top-level "await" with commonjs modules
     // ( ie. await makeFakeEvents() )