diff --git a/ui/lib/panels.js b/ui/lib/panels.js
index 0b70aa3a..9cd47bc3 100755
--- a/ui/lib/panels.js
+++ b/ui/lib/panels.js
@@ -15,8 +15,25 @@ var PANEL_HELPER_HIDE_DELAY = 50
 var PANEL_HELPER_HIDE_DELAY_NO_ROOT = 100
 
 
-var PANELS = {
-}
+// Panel controller registry...
+//
+// Format:
+// 	{
+// 		<title>: <controller>,
+// 		...
+// 	}
+//
+// The controller is generated by makePanelController(...) and is called
+// automatically by openPanel(...)
+var PANELS = {}
+
+
+// XXX write real doc...
+// XXX see getPanelState(...)
+// XXX we should keep track of panel state while moving, opening, closing
+// 		and resizing panels...
+// XXX move this to config???
+var PANEL_STATE = {}
 
 
 
@@ -116,74 +133,10 @@ function getPanel(title){
 }
 
 
-function openPanel(panel){
-	var title = typeof(panel) == typeof('str') ? panel : null
-	panel = typeof(panel) == typeof('str')
-		? getPanel(panel)
-		: panel
-	title = title == null ? panel.attr('id') : title
-	var open = false
-	
-	// create a new panel...
-	if(panel.length == 0){
-		if(title in PANELS){
-			var builder = PANELS[title]
-			panel = builder({ open: true })
-		}
 
-	// show/open the panel and all it's parents...
-	} else {
-		open = isPanelVisible(panel)
-		panel
-			.prop('open', true)
-			.parents('.panel')
-				.prop('open', true)
-			// XXX show side panels too...
-	}
-
-	// if the panel was not open trigger the event...
-	if(!open){
-		panel.trigger('panelOpening', panel)
-	}
-
-	return panel
-}
-
-
-// Close the panel...
-//
-// NOTE: this does not care if it's a panel or sub-panel...
-// XXX do we need a panelRemoved event???
-// 		...and a symmetrical panelCreated??
-function closePanel(panel){
-	panel = typeof(panel) == typeof('str')
-		? getPanel(panel)
-		: panel
-	panel.find('.sub-panel').each(function(){
-		var p = $(this)
-		if(p.prop('open')){
-			p.trigger('panelClosing', p)
-		}
-	})
-	return panel
-		.prop('open', false)
-		.trigger('panelClosing', panel)
-}
-
-
-// Remove the panel after firing close events on it and all sub-panels...
-//
-function removePanel(panel){
-	panel = typeof(panel) == typeof('str')
-		? getPanel(panel)
-		: panel
-	return closePanel(panel)
-		.remove()
-}
-
-
-
-/*********************************************************************/
+/**********************************************************************
+* Constructors...
+*/
 
 // XXX dragging out, into another panel and back out behaves oddly:
 // 		should:
@@ -457,6 +410,80 @@ function makeSubPanel(title, content, parent, open, content_resizable, close_but
 
 
 
+/**********************************************************************
+* Actions...
+*/
+
+// XXX this should take the state into consideration while opening panels
+// 		and open panels in specific parents and locations, maybe even with
+// 		other neighbor panels...
+function openPanel(panel){
+	var title = typeof(panel) == typeof('str') ? panel : null
+	panel = typeof(panel) == typeof('str')
+		? getPanel(panel)
+		: panel
+	title = title == null ? panel.attr('id') : title
+	var open = false
+	
+	// create a new panel...
+	if(panel.length == 0){
+		if(title in PANELS){
+			var builder = PANELS[title]
+			panel = builder({ open: true })
+		}
+
+	// show/open the panel and all it's parents...
+	} else {
+		open = isPanelVisible(panel)
+		panel
+			.prop('open', true)
+			.parents('.panel')
+				.prop('open', true)
+			// XXX show side panels too...
+	}
+
+	// if the panel was not open trigger the event...
+	if(!open){
+		panel.trigger('panelOpening', panel)
+	}
+
+	return panel
+}
+
+
+// Close the panel...
+//
+// NOTE: this does not care if it's a panel or sub-panel...
+// XXX do we need a panelRemoved event???
+// 		...and a symmetrical panelCreated??
+function closePanel(panel){
+	panel = typeof(panel) == typeof('str')
+		? getPanel(panel)
+		: panel
+	panel.find('.sub-panel').each(function(){
+		var p = $(this)
+		if(p.prop('open')){
+			p.trigger('panelClosing', p)
+		}
+	})
+	return panel
+		.prop('open', false)
+		.trigger('panelClosing', panel)
+}
+
+
+// Remove the panel after firing close events on it and all sub-panels...
+//
+function removePanel(panel){
+	panel = typeof(panel) == typeof('str')
+		? getPanel(panel)
+		: panel
+	return closePanel(panel)
+		.remove()
+}
+
+
+
 /**********************************************************************
 * High level interface...
 */