diff --git a/.npmignore b/.npmignore
index f16fc41..1b437e8 100644
--- a/.npmignore
+++ b/.npmignore
@@ -2,3 +2,5 @@ tests/
 test/
 *.test.js
 testing/
+example/
+nodeman.json
diff --git a/example/example.js b/example/example.js
index f761f90..2b1b600 100644
--- a/example/example.js
+++ b/example/example.js
@@ -1,23 +1,57 @@
 import Watcher from '../src/watcher'
 import onDeath from  'ondeath'
 
+const USE_CUSTOM_HANDLER=true
+const DEBOUNCE=0
+const READY_TIMEOUT=null
+
+;
 (async () => {
   let options = {
     source:'./example/repo/**', 
     ignored:['**/dontwatch.js'],
     ignoreList:['./example/repo/.gitignore'],
-    readyTimeout:null}
-  // let options = {source:'./readme.md'}
-  // let options = {source:'./example/*'}
+    debounce: DEBOUNCE,
+    readyTimeout:READY_TIMEOUT
+  }
 
   let watcher = new Watcher(options)
-  await watcher.start()
 
-  watcher.on('changed',
-    (change) => {
-      console.log(`======= file ${change.file} was ${change.type} ==========`)
+  watcher.on('ready', (state,opts) =>{
+    console.log('watched files indexed and ready??',state)
+    if (opts) console.dir(opts)
+  })
+
+  watcher.on('watching', (state, opts) =>{
+    console.log('watcher is active and listening for changes?',state)
+    if (opts) console.dir(opts)
+  })
+
+
+  await watcher.start(
+    // {ignored:'**/another'}
+  )
+  
+  if (USE_CUSTOM_HANDLER) {
+    watcher.registerHandler(
+      function handler (type, f) {
+        this.emit('custom', f, type)
+      } // end handler
+    )
+    watcher.on('custom',
+      (file, type) => {
+        console.log(`custom handler ======= file ${file} was ${type} ==========`)
+      })
+  }
+ 
+  // default handler event is `changed`
+  else watcher.on('changed',
+    (file,type) => {
+      console.log(`======= file ${file} was ${type} ==========`)
     })
 
+
+
   onDeath( () => {
     console.log('\nHe\'s dead Jim')
     watcher.remove()
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c0f0468..c81f380 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 {
   "name": "@uci-utils/watcher",
-  "version": "0.4.1",
+  "version": "0.5.4",
   "description": "File System Watcher Class that emits events",
   "main": "src/watcher.js",
   "scripts": {
-    "example": "node -r esm ./example/example.js",
     "exampled": "UCI_ENV=dev UCI_LOG_LEVEL=debug ./node_modules/.bin/nodemon -r esm ./example/example.js",
     "test": "./node_modules/.bin/mocha -r esm --timeout 30000",
     "testd": "UCI_ENV=dev ./node_modules/.bin/nodemon --exec './node_modules/.bin/mocha -r esm --timeout 30000' || exit 0",
@@ -32,7 +31,8 @@
   "dependencies": {
     "@uci-utils/logger": "0.0.18",
     "@uci-utils/read-lines": "^0.2.2",
-    "chokidar": "^3.5.1"
+    "chokidar": "^3.5.1",
+    "debounce-fn": "^4.0.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "chai": "^4.3.3",
diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index 0440a66..6228699 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -1,4 +1,80 @@
-### File System Watcher Class
-#### a uCOMmandIt Utiltiy Function
+# A File System Watcher Class
+**a uCOMmandIt Utility Package**
 
-Extends Choikar
+## Descripton
+
+An extended emitter class that includes a fileystem watcher (choikar).  
+
+## Use
+
+import and call the create function with your options or import the Watcher class extend if desired and instantiate with your options
+
+call the async start method and you are up and running
+
+### options
+
+```javascript
+opts = {
+    source:'./example/repo/**', // what to watch - required!, can be string or array of strings
+    ignored:['**/dontwatch.js'], // individual globs
+    ignoreList:['./example/repo/.gitignore'], // files containing newline lists of globs
+    excludeFrom: ['./example/repo/.gitignore'],  // optional alternative ignore list property compatible with rsync
+    debounce: 0,  // default is no debounce
+    readyTimeout:10000, // default is 10 seconds to index the files to be watched,
+    delDir: false, // default: ignore directory deletion events 
+    addDir: false, // default: ignore directory addition events
+    unlinkDir:true //  make chokidar emit on deleted directory as well.
+}
+```
+**plus any options supported by chokidar**
+[chokidar options](https://github.com/paulmillr/chokidar#persistence)
+
+## API
+
+### methods
+```
+registerHandler (func,opts)  // can be called at any time but unexpected problems may arise if called when watcher is already async start(opts)  // starts the watcher which will initializes the files indexing and set the handler function 
+stop()  // stops 
+remove() completly removes the current watcher.
+async restart(opts,force) // first stops the watcher then calls start, if force is true it will reintialize the watcher as well
+getWatcher  // returns handle to choikar watcher for choikar methods access
+```
+### getters
+
+watching
+ready
+
+### events
+
+changed: filepath, type   // when a watched file has a change (type will be added,removed,or modified)
+error: message,error
+watching: state,options  // listening for changes
+ready: state, options   // done indexing files to be watched
+
+### handler
+
+#### default
+the built in default handler is probably sufficient for most use cases.  It emits a 'changed' event with the file or directory name changed and with a type, that being modified, deleted, added.  The default handler also emits a 'install' event if the file is package.json in the root of the source is modified (used for restarting), or a warning if it is deleted or added
+
+```javascript
+function _handler (type, f) {
+  log.debug(`file ${f} was ${type}`)
+  const fname = path.basename(f)
+  if ( fname.toLowerCase() === 'package.json' && path.dirname(f)=== this.opts.source.replace(/\/$/, ''))
+    if (type !=='modified') {
+      const msg = `a package.json in root of ${this.opts.source} was added or removed`
+      log.warning(msg)
+      this.emit('warning',f,msg)
+      return
+    } else{
+      this.emit('install', f)
+    }
+  // user might want to run debounce on the listener for this event
+  log.debug({file:f, type:type, msg:'file system changed, emitting'})
+  this.emit('changed', f,type)
+} // end handler
+```
+
+#### custom
+
+one can use a custom handler by passing such a function in options or using registerHandler.  The handler is passed two arguments the type of the change and the file changed.  
diff --git a/src/watcher.js b/src/watcher.js
index 7b668d8..0bff0bf 100644
--- a/src/watcher.js
+++ b/src/watcher.js
@@ -3,39 +3,141 @@ import { EventEmitter as Emitter } from 'events'
 import path from 'path'
 // third party imports
 import { watch } from 'chokidar'
+import debounce from 'debounce-fn'
 // UCI imports
-import ignores from '@uci-utils/read-lines'
+import readIgnoreLists from '@uci-utils/read-lines'
 import logger from '@uci-utils/logger'
 
 let log = {}
 
 const READY_TIMEOUT = 10000 //default 
 
-
 class Watcher extends Emitter {
   constructor(opts={}) {
     super()
     log = logger({ package:'@uci-utils/watcher', class:'Watcher', file:'src/watcher.js'})
-    opts.unlinkDir = Object.hasOwnProperty(opts.unlinkDir) ? opts.unlinkDir : true
+    opts.unlinkDir = 'unlinkDir' in opts ? opts.unlinkDir : true  // delete file even on by default
     this.opts = opts
     this.timeout = process.env.READY_TIMEOUT || opts.readyTimeout || READY_TIMEOUT
-    this._ignored = []
+    this._ignored = opts.ignored ? (Array.isArray(opts.ignored) ? opts.ignored : opts.ignored.split(',')) : []
+    this.handler = opts.handler || _handler
     this._ready=false
-    this.watching=false
+    this._watching=false
     return this
   }
 
-  async init(opts) {
+  get watching () {
+    return this._watching
+  }
+
+  get ready () {
+    return this._ready
+  }
+
+  registerHandler(func,opts) {
+    opts = Object.assign({},this.opts,opts) 
+    if (!this._watcher) return 'failed: watcher not initialized' 
+    if (typeof func ==='function') this.handler = func
+    else if (func) opts = func
+    opts = Object.assign({},this.opts,opts)
+    let handler
+    if (opts.debounce)
+      handler = debounce((type, file) => { 
+        log.debug(`waited : ${opts.debounce}ms before calling handler`)
+        log.info('debounced handler, only last event is emitted')
+        this.handler.call(this,type,file)
+      },{wait:opts.debounce})
+    else
+      handler= (type,file) => {this.handler.call(this,type,file)}
+
+    this._watcher.removeAllListeners()
+
+    if (opts.delDir) this._watcher.on('unlinkDir', handler.bind(this, 'dir-deleted'))
+    if (opts.addDir) this._watcher.on('addDir', handler.bind(this, 'dir-added'))
+
+    this._watcher
+      .on('add', handler.bind(this, 'added'))
+      .on('change', handler.bind(this, 'modified'))
+      .on('unlink', handler.bind(this, 'removed'))
+
+    // reset the error event since it got scrubbed 
+    this._watcher.on('error', error => {
+      const msg ='chokidar watcher error'
+      log.error({error:error, msg:msg})
+      this.emit('error',msg,error)
+    })
+  }
+
+  async start(opts={}) {
+    if(this._watching) {
+      log.warn(`watching aleady running for ${opts.source || this.opts.source}`)
+      return false
+    }
+    if (!this._watcher) opts = await this._init(opts)
+    if (this._ready) {
+      this.emit('ready', true, opts)
+      log.trace({watching:this._watcher.getWatched(),msg:'initial files watched'})
+      log.info(`now watching ${opts.source || this.opts.source}`)
+      if (this.registerHandler(opts)) {
+        log.fatal('watcher was not initialzed so could not register handler')
+        return new Error('watcher was not initialzed so could not register handler')
+      }
+      this._watching = true
+      this.emit('watching',true,opts)
+    } else {
+      const msg ='watcher is not ready to start, check options and try again'
+      log.fatal(msg)
+      this.emit('error',msg)
+      return new Error('not ready to start check configuration options')
+    }
+  }
+
+  stop() {
+    if(this._watching) {
+      this._watching = false
+      this._watcher.close()
+      this.emit('watching',false)
+    }
+    else log.warn('not watching, nothing to stop')
+  }
+
+  remove() {
+    this.stop()
+    this._watcher.removeAllListeners()
+    delete(this._watcher)
+    this._ready=false
+    this.emit('ready',false)
+  }
+
+  async restart(opts,force) {
+    if (typeof opts ==='boolean') {force=opts,opts={}}
+    this.stop()
+    await this.start(opts)
+  }
+
+  getWatcher() {
+    return this._watcher
+  }
+
+  // private methods
+
+  async _init(opts={}) {
+    if (!opts.overwrite) {
+      await this._fetchIgnoreLists(this.opts.excludeFrom)
+      await this._fetchIgnoreLists(this.opts.ignoreList)
+    }
+    await this._fetchIgnoreLists(opts.excludeFrom,opts.overwrite)
+    await this._fetchIgnoreLists(opts.ignoreList,opts.overwrite)
+    if (!opts.ignored) opts.ignored = []
+    opts.ignored = Array.isArray(opts.ignored) ? opts.ignored : opts.ignored.split(',')
+    opts.ignored = opts.overwrite ? opts.ignored : [...this._ignored,...opts.ignored]
+    opts = Object.assign({},this.opts,opts) // now that ingnore arrays are dealt with merge options
     return new Promise(async (resolve, reject) => {
-      opts = opts || this.opts
       log.debug({options:opts, msg:'intializing watch with options'})
-      if (opts.excludeFrom) await this.getIgnoreLists(opts.excludeFrom)
-      if (opts.ignoreList)  await this.getIgnoreLists(opts.ignoreList)
       if (opts.source) {
-        opts.ignored = opts.ignored ? [...this._ignored,...opts.ignored] : this._ignored
-        log.debug({ignored:opts.ignored, msg:'all ignores'})
+        // create chokidar watcher
         this._watcher = watch(opts.source,opts)
-        this._watcher.on('error', error => {
+        this._watcher.once('error', error => {
           log.error({error:error, msg:'Watcher error'})
           reject({error:error, msg:'Watcher error'})
         })
@@ -43,13 +145,12 @@ class Watcher extends Emitter {
           clearTimeout(readyTimeout)
           log.info('initial scan sucessful, ready to start')
           this._ready=true
-          this.opts = opts // save options
-          resolve()
+          resolve(opts)
         })
         log.debug(`initial scanning, timeout in ${this.timeout}ms`)
         let readyTimeout = setTimeout(() =>{
           log.fatal({options:opts, timeout:this.timeout, msg:'Timeout: unable to complete initial scan'})
-          reject('timeout during initial scan')
+          reject('timeout during initial scan, maybe increase ready timeout')
         },this.timeout)
       }
       else {
@@ -59,78 +160,34 @@ class Watcher extends Emitter {
     })
   }
 
-  async start(opts) {
-    if(this.watching) {
-      log.warn(`watching aleady running for ${this.opts.source}`)
-      return false
-    }
-    if (!this._watcher) await this.init(opts)
-    if (this._ready) {
-      log.trace({watching:this._watcher.getWatched(),msg:'initial files watched'})
-      log.info(`now watching ${this.opts.source}`)
-      this._watcher.removeAllListeners() // just in case
-      this.watching = true
-      // define command listen handler
-      const handler =
-        (type, f) => {
-          log.debug(`file ${f} was ${type}`)
-          // convert this to a plugin/hook so it's not specific
-          const fname = path.basename(f)
-          if ( fname.toLowerCase() === 'package.json')
-            if (type !=='modified') {
-              this.emit('error',new Error('package.json was added or removed, ignoring sync and reinstall'))
-              return
-            } else{
-              this.emit('install', f)
-            }
-          // user might want to run debounce on the listener for this event
-          log.debug({file:f, type:type, msg:'file system changed, emitting'})
-          this.emit('changed', {file:f, type:type})
-        } // end handler
-
-      this._watcher
-        .on('add', handler.bind(this, 'added'))
-        .on('change', handler.bind(this, 'modified'))
-        .on('unlink', handler.bind(this, 'removed'))
-      if(this.opts.unlinkDir) this._watcher.on('unlinkDir', handler.bind(this, 'dir-deleted'))
-      if(this.opts.addDir) this._watcher.on('addDir', handler.bind(this, 'dir-added'))
-    } else {
-      log.warn('watcher is not ready to start, check options and try again')
-      return new Error('not ready to start check configuration')
-    }
-  }
-
-  stop() {
-    if(this.watching) {
-      this.watching = false
-      this._watcher.close()
-    }
-    else log.warn('not watching, nothing to close')
-  }
-
-  remove() {
-    this.stop()
-    delete(this._watcher)
-    this._ready=false
-  }
-
-  async restart(opts) {
-    this.remove()
-    await this.start(opts)
-  }
-
-  async getIgnoreLists(lists) {
+  async _fetchIgnoreLists(lists,overwrite) {
     if (typeof lists === 'string') lists=[lists]
-    let ignored = await ignores(lists)
-    this._ignored = [...this._ignored,...ignored]
+    if (!Array.isArray(lists)) return  // no lists
+    let ignored = await readIgnoreLists(lists)
+    this._ignored = overwrite ? ignored :  [...this._ignored,...ignored]
   }
 
-  addIgnore(ignore) {
-    Array.isArray(ignore) ? this._ignored.push(...ignore) : this._ignored.push(ignore)
-  }
-  clearAllIgnore() { this._ignored = []  }
 
-}
+
+} //end class
+
+// default handler
+function _handler (type, f) {
+  log.debug(`file ${f} was ${type}`)
+  const fname = path.basename(f)
+  if ( fname.toLowerCase() === 'package.json' && path.dirname(f)=== this.opts.source.replace(/\/$/, ''))
+    if (type !=='modified') {
+      const msg = `a package.json in root of ${this.opts.source} was added or removed`
+      log.warning(msg)
+      this.emit('warning',f,msg)
+      return
+    } else{
+      this.emit('install', f)
+    }
+  // user might want to run debounce on the listener for this event
+  log.debug({file:f, type:type, msg:'file system changed, emitting'})
+  this.emit('changed', f,type)
+} // end handler
 
 export default Watcher
 export { Watcher }