diff --git a/src/bootsupport/include_modules.config b/src/bootsupport/include_modules.config
index cadc55e..51b8bdd 100644
--- a/src/bootsupport/include_modules.config
+++ b/src/bootsupport/include_modules.config
@@ -8,14 +8,19 @@ set bootsupport_modules [list\
     src/vendormodules http\
     src/vendormodules dictutils\
     src/vendormodules fileutil\
-    src/vendormodules textutil::tabify\
+    src/vendormodules textutil::adjust\
+    src/vendormodules textutil::repeat\
     src/vendormodules textutil::split\
+    src/vendormodules textutil::string\
+    src/vendormodules textutil::tabify\
+    src/vendormodules textutil::trim\
     src/vendormodules textutil::wcswidth\
     src/vendormodules uuid\
     src/vendormodules md5\
     src/vendormodules sha1\
     modules punkcheck\
     modules punk::ansi\
+    modules punk::assertion\
     modules punk::args\
     modules punk::cap\
     modules punk::cap::handlers::caphandler\
diff --git a/src/bootsupport/modules/punk/assertion-0.1.0.tm b/src/bootsupport/modules/punk/assertion-0.1.0.tm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1304bef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/bootsupport/modules/punk/assertion-0.1.0.tm
@@ -0,0 +1,412 @@
+# -*- tcl -*-
+# Maintenance Instruction: leave the 999999.xxx.x as is and use punkshell 'pmix make' or bin/punkmake  to update from <pkg>-buildversion.txt
+# module template: shellspy/src/decktemplates/vendor/punk/modules/template_module-0.0.2.tm
+#
+# Please consider using a BSD or MIT style license for greatest compatibility with the Tcl ecosystem.
+# Code using preferred Tcl licenses can be eligible for inclusion in Tcllib, Tklib and the punk package repository.
+# ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
+# (C) 2024
+#
+# @@ Meta Begin
+# Application punk::assertion 0.1.0
+# Meta platform     tcl
+# Meta license      <unspecified>
+# @@ Meta End
+
+
+# ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
+# doctools header
+# ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
+#*** !doctools
+#[manpage_begin shellspy_module_punk::assertion 0 0.1.0]
+#[copyright "2024"]
+#[titledesc {assertion alternative to control::assert}]  [comment {-- Name section and table of contents description --}]
+#[moddesc {per-namespace assertions with }]             [comment {-- Description at end of page heading --}] 
+#[require punk::assertion]
+#[keywords module assertion assert debug]
+#[description]
+#[para] The punk::assertion library has the same semantics as Tcllib's control::assert library for the assert command itself.
+#[para] The main difference is the way in which assert is enabled/disabled in namespaces.
+#[para] Due to commands such as 'namespace path' - the assert command could be available in arbitrary namespaces unrelated by tree structure to namespaces where assert has been directly imported.
+#[para] punk::assertion::active 0|1  allows activating and deactivating assertions in any namespace where the assert command is available - but only affecting the activations state of the namespace in which it is called.
+#[para] If such a non-primary assertion namespace never had active set to 0 or 1 - then it will activate/deactivate when the namespace corresponding to the found assert command (primary) is activated/deactivated.
+#[para] Once marked active or inactive - such a non-primary namespace will no longer follow the primary
+
+# ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
+
+#*** !doctools
+#[section Overview]
+#[para] overview of punk::assertion
+#[subsection Concepts]
+#[para] -
+
+
+# ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
+##  Requirements
+# ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
+
+#*** !doctools
+#[subsection dependencies]
+#[para] packages used by punk::assertion
+#[list_begin itemized]
+
+package require Tcl 8.6
+#*** !doctools
+#[item] [package {Tcl 8.6}]
+
+# #package require frobz
+# #*** !doctools
+# #[item] [package {frobz}]
+
+#*** !doctools
+#[list_end]
+
+# ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
+
+#*** !doctools
+#[section API]
+
+# ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
+# oo::class namespace
+# ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
+namespace eval punk::assertion::class {
+    #*** !doctools
+    #[subsection {Namespace punk::assertion::class}]
+    #[para] class definitions
+    if {[info commands [namespace current]::interface_sample1] eq ""} {
+        #*** !doctools
+        #[list_begin enumerated]
+
+        # oo::class create interface_sample1 {
+        #     #*** !doctools
+        #     #[enum] CLASS [class interface_sample1]
+        #     #[list_begin definitions]
+
+        #     method test {arg1} {
+        #         #*** !doctools
+        #         #[call class::interface_sample1    [method test] [arg arg1]]
+        #         #[para] test method
+        #         puts "test: $arg1"
+        #     }
+
+        #     #*** !doctools
+        #     #[list_end] [comment {-- end definitions interface_sample1}]
+        # }
+
+        #*** !doctools
+        #[list_end] [comment {--- end class enumeration ---}]
+    }
+}
+# ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
+
+#keep 2 namespaces for assertActive and assertInactive so there is introspection available via namespace origin 
+namespace eval punk::assertion::primary {
+
+    namespace export *
+    proc assertActive {expr args} {
+
+        set code [catch {uplevel 1 [list expr $expr]} res]
+        if {$code} {
+            return -code $code $res
+        }
+        if {![string is boolean -strict $res]} {
+            return -code error "invalid boolean expression: $expr"
+        }
+        
+        if {$res} {return}
+
+        if {[llength $args]} {
+            #set msg "[join $args]"
+            set msg "$args punk::assertion failed expr $expr"
+        } else {
+            set msg "punk::assertion failed expr $expr" ;#give a clue in the default msg about which assert lib is in use
+        }
+
+        upvar ::punk::assertion::CallbackCmd CallbackCmd
+        # Might want to catch this
+        namespace eval :: $CallbackCmd [list $msg]
+    }
+    proc assertInactive args {}
+
+}
+namespace eval punk::assertion::secondary {
+    namespace export * 
+    #we need to actually define these procs here, (not import then re-export) - or namespace origin will report the original source namespace - which isn't what we want.
+    proc assertActive {expr args} [info body ::punk::assertion::primary::assertActive] 
+    proc assertInactive args {}
+}
+
+
+# ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
+# Base namespace
+# ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
+namespace eval punk::assertion {
+    variable CallbackCmd [list return -code error]
+    namespace import ::punk::assertion::primary::assertActive
+    rename assertActive assert 
+
+    namespace export *
+    #variable xyz
+
+    #*** !doctools
+    #[subsection {Namespace punk::assertion}]
+    #[para] Core API functions for punk::assertion 
+    #[list_begin definitions]
+
+
+    #proc sample1 {p1 n args} {
+    #    #*** !doctools
+    #    #[call [fun sample1] [arg p1] [arg n] [opt {option value...}]]
+    #    #[para]Description of sample1 
+    #    #[para] Arguments:
+    #    #   [list_begin arguments]
+    #    #   [arg_def tring p1]       A description of string argument p1.
+    #    #   [arg_def integer n]      A description of integer argument n.
+    #    #   [list_end]
+    #    return "ok" 
+    #}
+
+    #like tcllib's control::assert - we are limited to the same callback for all namespaces.
+    #review - a per namespace - or per assert command callback may be tricky to do performantly.
+    #Would probably involve rewriting the proc body - otherwise we have a runtime penalty in the assert of looking it up.
+    proc callback {args} {
+        #set nscaller [uplevel 1 [list namespace current]]
+        #set which_assert [namespace eval $nscaller {namespace which assert}]
+
+        upvar ::punk::assertion::CallbackCmd cb
+	    set n [llength $args]
+	    if {$n > 1} {
+		return -code error "wrong # args: should be\
+			\"[lindex [info level 0] 0] ?command?\""
+	    }
+	    if {$n} {
+            set  cb [lindex $args 0]
+            return
+	    }
+	    return $cb
+	}
+
+    proc active {{on_off ""}} {
+        set nscaller [uplevel 1 [list namespace current]]
+        set which_assert [namespace eval $nscaller {namespace which assert}]
+        #puts "nscaller:'$nscaller'"
+        #puts "which_assert: $which_assert"
+
+        if {$on_off eq ""} {
+            if {$which_assert eq ""} {return 0}
+            set assertorigin [namespace origin $which_assert]
+            #puts "ns which assert:        $which_assert"
+            #puts "ns origin assert:       $assertorigin"
+            return [expr {"assertActive" eq [namespace tail $assertorigin]}]
+        }
+        if {![string is boolean -strict $on_off]} {
+            error "invalid boolean value : $on_off"
+        } else {
+            set info_command [namespace eval $nscaller {info commands assert}]
+            if {$on_off} {
+                #Enable it in calling namespace
+                if {"assert" eq $info_command} {
+                    #There is an assert command reachable - due to namespace path etc, it could be in another namespace entirely - (not necessarily in an ancestor namespace of the namespace's tree structure) 
+                    if {$which_assert eq [punk::assertion::system::nsjoin ${nscaller} assert]} {
+                        namespace eval $nscaller {
+                            set assertorigin [namespace origin assert]
+                            set assertorigin_ns [punk::assertion::system::nsprefix $assertorigin]
+                            switch -- $assertorigin_ns {
+                                ::punk::assertion {
+                                    #original import - switch to primary origin
+                                    rename assert {}
+                                    namespace import ::punk::assertion::primary::assertActive
+                                    rename assertActive assert
+                                }
+                                ::punk::assertion::primary - ::punk::assertion::secondary {
+                                    #keep using from same origin ns
+                                    rename assert {}
+                                    namespace import ${assertorigin_ns}::assertActive
+                                    rename assertActive assert
+                                }
+                                default {
+                                    error "The assert command in this namespace is not from punk::assertion package. Use the enable mechanism from the package associated with $assertorigin or remove the existing assert command and namespace import punk::assertion::assert"
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                        return 1
+                    } else {
+                        #assert is available, but isn't in the calling namespace - we should enable it in a way that is distinguishable from case where assert was explicitly imported to this namespace 
+                        namespace eval $nscaller {
+                            set assertorigin [namespace origin assert]
+                            if {[string match ::punk::assertion::* $assertorigin]} {
+                                namespace import ::punk::assertion::secondary::assertActive
+                                rename assertActive assert
+                            } else {
+                                error "The reachable assert command at '$which_assert' is not from punk::assertion package. Import punk::assertion::assert - or use the enable mechanism from the package associated with $assertorigin"
+                            }
+                        }
+                        return 1
+                    }
+
+                } else {
+                    #no assert command reachable
+                    puts stderr "no assert command visible from namespace '$nscaller' - use: namespace import ::punk::assertion::assert"
+                    return 0
+                }
+            } else {
+                #Disable
+                if {"assert" eq $info_command} {
+                    if {$which_assert eq [punk::assertion::system::nsjoin ${nscaller} assert]} {
+                        #assert is present in callers NS
+                        namespace eval $nscaller {
+                            set assertorigin [namespace origin assert]
+                            set assertorigin_ns [punk::assertion::system::nsprefix $assertorigin]
+                            switch -glob -- $assertorigin_ns {
+                                ::punk::assertion {
+                                    #original import
+                                    rename assert {}
+                                    namespace import punk::assertion::primary::assertInactive
+                                    rename assertInactive assert
+                                }
+                                ::punk::assertion::primary - ::punk::assertion::secondary {
+                                    #keep using from same origin ns
+                                    rename assert {}
+                                    namespace import ${assertorigin_ns}::assertInactive
+                                    rename assertInactive assert
+                                }
+                                default {
+                                    error "The assert command in this namespace is not from punk::assertion package. Use the disable mechanism from the package associated with $assertorigin or remove the existing assert command and namespace import punk::assertion::assert"
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                        return 0
+                    } else {
+                        #assert not present in callers NS - first install of secondary (if assert is from punk::assertion::*)
+                        namespace eval $nscaller {
+                            set assertorigin [namespace origin assert]
+                            set assertorigin_ns [punk::assertion::system::nsprefix $assertorigin]
+                            if {[string match ::punk::assertion::* $assertorigin]} {
+                                namespace import ::punk::assertion::secondary::assertInactive
+                                rename assertInactive assert
+                            } else {
+                                error "The reachable assert command at '$which_assert' is not from punk::assertion package. Import punk::assertion::assert - or use the enable mechanism from the package associated with $assertorigin"
+                            }
+                        }
+                        return 0
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    #no assert command reachable 
+                    #If caller is using assert in this namespace - they should have imported it, or ensured it was reachable via namespace path  
+                    puts stderr "no assert command visible from namespace '$nscaller' - use: namespace import ::punk::assertion::assert"
+                    return 0
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+
+    #*** !doctools
+    #[list_end] [comment {--- end definitions namespace punk::assertion ---}]
+}
+# ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
+
+
+# ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
+# Secondary API namespace
+# ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
+namespace eval punk::assertion::lib {
+    namespace export *
+    namespace path [namespace parent]
+    #*** !doctools
+    #[subsection {Namespace punk::assertion::lib}]
+    #[para] Secondary functions that are part of the API 
+    #[list_begin definitions]
+
+    #proc utility1 {p1 args} {
+    #    #*** !doctools
+    #    #[call lib::[fun utility1] [arg p1] [opt {?option value...?}]]
+    #    #[para]Description of utility1 
+    #    return 1 
+    #}
+
+
+
+    #*** !doctools
+    #[list_end] [comment {--- end definitions namespace punk::assertion::lib ---}]
+}
+# ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
+
+
+
+# ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
+#*** !doctools
+#[section Internal]
+namespace eval punk::assertion::system {
+    #*** !doctools
+    #[subsection {Namespace punk::assertion::system}]
+    #[para] Internal functions that are not part of the API 
+
+    #Maintenance - snarfed from punk::ns to reduce dependencies - punk::ns::nsprefix is the master version
+    #nsprefix/nstail are string functions - they do not concern themselves with what namespaces are present in the system
+    proc nsprefix {{nspath {}}} {
+        #normalize the common case of ::::
+        set nspath [string map [list :::: ::] $nspath]
+        set rawprefix [string range $nspath 0 end-[string length [nstail $nspath]]]
+        if {$rawprefix eq "::"} {
+            return $rawprefix
+        } else {
+            if {[string match *:: $rawprefix]} {
+                return  [string range $rawprefix 0 end-2]
+            } else {
+                return $rawprefix
+            }
+            #return [string trimright $rawprefix :]
+        }
+    }
+    #see also punk::ns - keep in sync
+    proc nstail {nspath args} {
+        #normalize the common case of ::::
+        set nspath [string map [list :::: ::] $nspath]
+        set mapped [string map [list :: \u0FFF] $nspath] 
+        set parts [split $mapped \u0FFF]
+
+        set defaults [list -strict 0]
+        set opts [dict merge $defaults $args]
+        set strict [dict get $opts -strict]
+
+        if {$strict} {
+            foreach p $parts {
+                if {[string match :* $p]} {
+                    error "nstail unpaired colon ':' in $nspath"
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        #e.g  ::x::y:::z  should return ":z" despite it being a bad idea for a command name.
+        return [lindex $parts end]
+    }
+    proc nsjoin {prefix name} {
+        if {[string match ::* $name]} {
+            if {"$prefix" ne ""} {
+                error "nsjoin: won't join non-empty prefix to absolute namespace path '$name'"
+            }
+            return $name
+        }
+        if {"$prefix" eq "::"} {
+            return ::$name
+        }
+        #if {"$name" eq ""} {
+        #    return $prefix
+        #}
+        #nsjoin ::x::y ""  should return ::x::y::   - this is the correct fully qualified form used to call a command that is the empty string
+        return ${prefix}::$name
+    }
+
+}
+# ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
+##  Ready   
+package provide punk::assertion [namespace eval punk::assertion {
+    variable pkg punk::assertion
+    variable version
+    set version 0.1.0 
+}]
+return
+
+#*** !doctools
+#[manpage_end]
+
diff --git a/src/bootsupport/modules/punk/lib-0.1.1.tm b/src/bootsupport/modules/punk/lib-0.1.1.tm
index 08632b1..56e05da 100644
--- a/src/bootsupport/modules/punk/lib-0.1.1.tm
+++ b/src/bootsupport/modules/punk/lib-0.1.1.tm
@@ -856,7 +856,8 @@ namespace eval punk::lib {
         #Each resulting line should have a reset of some type at start and a pure-reset at end to stop 
         #see if we can find an ST sequence that most terminals will not display for marking sections?
         if {$opt_ansiresets} {
-            set RST [a]
+            package require punk::ansi
+            set RST [punk::ansi::a]
             set replaycodes $RST ;#todo - default?
             set transformed [list]
             #shortcircuit common case of no ansi
diff --git a/src/modules/punk/lib-999999.0a1.0.tm b/src/modules/punk/lib-999999.0a1.0.tm
index 9549d16..548666f 100644
--- a/src/modules/punk/lib-999999.0a1.0.tm
+++ b/src/modules/punk/lib-999999.0a1.0.tm
@@ -856,7 +856,8 @@ namespace eval punk::lib {
         #Each resulting line should have a reset of some type at start and a pure-reset at end to stop 
         #see if we can find an ST sequence that most terminals will not display for marking sections?
         if {$opt_ansiresets} {
-            set RST [a]
+            package require punk::ansi
+            set RST [punk::ansi::a]
             set replaycodes $RST ;#todo - default?
             set transformed [list]
             #shortcircuit common case of no ansi