diff --git a/.idea/codeStyles/Project.xml b/.idea/codeStyles/Project.xml
index 5ff5750..fcb6bdd 100644
--- a/.idea/codeStyles/Project.xml
+++ b/.idea/codeStyles/Project.xml
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 <component name="ProjectCodeStyleConfiguration">
   <code_scheme name="Project" version="173">
     <Objective-C>
+      <option name="INDENT_NAMESPACE_MEMBERS" value="0" />
+      <option name="INDENT_C_STRUCT_MEMBERS" value="8" />
+      <option name="INDENT_CLASS_MEMBERS" value="8" />
       <option name="FUNCTION_BRACE_PLACEMENT" value="2" />
+      <option name="FUNCTION_TOP_AFTER_RETURN_TYPE_WRAP" value="2" />
     </Objective-C>
     <files>
       <extensions>
@@ -17,7 +21,16 @@
       </extensions>
     </files>
     <codeStyleSettings language="ObjectiveC">
+      <option name="BLANK_LINES_BEFORE_IMPORTS" value="2" />
+      <option name="BLANK_LINES_AFTER_IMPORTS" value="2" />
+      <option name="BLANK_LINES_AROUND_METHOD" value="0" />
+      <option name="BLANK_LINES_AROUND_METHOD_IN_INTERFACE" value="0" />
+      <option name="INDENT_CASE_FROM_SWITCH" value="false" />
       <option name="ALIGN_GROUP_FIELD_DECLARATIONS" value="true" />
+      <option name="IF_BRACE_FORCE" value="3" />
+      <option name="DOWHILE_BRACE_FORCE" value="3" />
+      <option name="WHILE_BRACE_FORCE" value="3" />
+      <option name="FOR_BRACE_FORCE" value="3" />
       <indentOptions>
         <option name="INDENT_SIZE" value="8" />
         <option name="CONTINUATION_INDENT_SIZE" value="4" />
diff --git a/.idea/fileTemplates/includes/C File Header.h b/.idea/fileTemplates/includes/C File Header.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd5ba03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.idea/fileTemplates/includes/C File Header.h	
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+#if ($HEADER_COMMENTS)
+///
+/// \file $FILE_NAME
+/// \author $USER_NAME 
+/// \created $DATE
+/// \brief ${NAME} ...
+///
+#if ($ORGANIZATION_NAME && $ORGANIZATION_NAME != "")
+/// Copyright (c) $YEAR ${ORGANIZATION_NAME}#if (!$ORGANIZATION_NAME.endsWith(".")).#end All rights reserved.
+#else
+/// \section COPYRIGHT
+/// Copyright $YEAR K. Isom <kyle@imap.cc>
+///
+/// Permission to use, copy, modify, and/or distribute this software for
+/// any purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the
+/// above copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
+///
+/// THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL
+/// WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED
+/// WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR
+/// BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
+/// OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS,
+/// WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION,
+/// ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS
+/// SOFTWARE.
+#end
+///
+#end
+
diff --git a/.idea/fileTemplates/internal/C++ Class Header.h b/.idea/fileTemplates/internal/C++ Class Header.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..029bea0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.idea/fileTemplates/internal/C++ Class Header.h	
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#parse("C File Header.h")
+#[[#ifndef]]# ${INCLUDE_GUARD}
+#[[#define]]# ${INCLUDE_GUARD}
+
+${NAMESPACES_OPEN}
+
+class ${NAME} {
+
+};
+
+${NAMESPACES_CLOSE}
+
+#[[#endif]]# // ${INCLUDE_GUARD}
diff --git a/Buffer.cc b/Buffer.cc
index a9a97b0..1a8b6df 100644
--- a/Buffer.cc
+++ b/Buffer.cc
@@ -20,12 +20,12 @@
 /// ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS
 /// SOFTWARE.
 ///
-/// @\section DESCRIPTION
 
 
 #include <optional>
 #include <random>
 #include <sstream>
+#include <iterator>
 
 #include "Buffer.h"
 
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ static std::string
 anonymousName()
 {
 	std::uniform_int_distribution<> dist(1000, 9999);
-	std::random_device randomDevice;
-	std::mt19937 rng(randomDevice());
-	std::stringstream ss;
+	std::random_device              randomDevice;
+	std::mt19937                    rng(randomDevice());
+	std::stringstream               ss;
 
 	ss << "Buffer<" << dist(rng) << ">";
 	return ss.str();
@@ -44,35 +44,137 @@ anonymousName()
 
 
 Buffer::Buffer()
-    : name(anonymousName())
+    : dirty(false), name(anonymousName())
 {
 }
 
 
 Buffer::Buffer(std::string fName)
-    : name(std::move(fName))
+    : dirty(false), name(std::move(fName))
 {
 
 }
 
 
 Buffer::Buffer(std::string fName, std::string fPath)
-: name(std::move(fName)), path(std::move(fPath))
+    : dirty(false), name(std::move(fName)), path(fPath)
 {
 	if (this->path) {
-		this->file = OptFile(File(this->path.value()));
+		this->file = OptFile (File(fPath));
 	}
 
 }
 
 
-int Buffer::Flush(OptString altPath)
+Buffer::FileStatus
+Buffer::Flush(OptString altPath)
 {
-	return altPath ? 0 : 1;
+	OptOutFileStream handle = std::nullopt;
+
+	if (altPath) {
+		auto altFile = File(altPath.value());
+		handle = altFile.Flush();
+	} else if (this->file) {
+		handle = this->file.value().Flush();
+	} else {
+		// At this point, we have no alternate path to write out
+		// and this Buffer isn't file-backed. From this point
+		// forward, we can operate under the assumption that
+		// `this->file` is a valid file.
+		return Buffer::FileStatus::FileStatusVirtual;
+	}
+
+	auto realFile = this->file.value();
+	if (!handle) {
+		if (realFile.IsReadOnly()) {
+			return Buffer::FileStatus::FileStatusReadOnly;
+		}
+
+		if (!realFile.IsWriteable()) {
+			return Buffer::FileStatus::FileStatusInvalidPermissions;
+		}
+
+		return Buffer::FileStatus::FileStatusIOFailed;
+	}
+
+	/// At this point, we know we're working with a valid file handle.
+	auto realHandle = handle.value();
+	if (!realHandle->good()) {
+		return Buffer::FileStatus::FileStatusIOFailed;
+	}
+
+	for (auto line : this->contents) {
+		std::copy(line.begin(), line.end(),
+			  std::ostream_iterator<uint8_t>(*realHandle, ""));
+	}
+
+	realHandle->flush();
+	realHandle->close();
+	delete realHandle;
+	this->dirty = false;
+	return Buffer::FileStatus::FileStatusOK;
 }
 
 
-void Buffer::ChangePath(std::string newPath)
+Buffer::FileStatus
+Buffer::Refresh()
+{
+	if (this->IsVirtual()) {
+		return Buffer::FileStatus::FileStatusVirtual;
+	}
+
+	auto realFile = this->file.value();
+	auto handle = realFile.Refresh();
+	if (!handle) {
+		return FileStatus::FileStatusNonExistent;
+	}
+
+	auto realHandle = handle.value();
+	this->clearContents();
+	this->dirty = false; // clean slate, kiddo
+
+	/// \todo Moral quandary: if the file disappears from disk, we
+	///       probably want to know that, but maybe clearing the
+	///       contents first isn't the right move.
+	if (!realHandle->good()) {
+		delete realHandle;
+		return FileStatus::FileStatusIOFailed;
+	}
+
+	size_t currentLine = 0;
+
+	while (realHandle->good()) {
+	}
+}
+
+
+
+void
+Buffer::ChangePath(std::string newPath)
 {
 	this->path = OptString(std::move(newPath));
 }
+
+
+void
+Buffer::clearContents()
+{
+	for (auto & line : this->contents) {
+		line.clear();
+	}
+
+	this->contents.clear();
+}
+
+
+void
+Buffer::MarkDirty()
+{
+	if (this->dirty) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	this->dirty = true;
+}
+
+
diff --git a/Buffer.h b/Buffer.h
index 4f5f02b..c9763ac 100644
--- a/Buffer.h
+++ b/Buffer.h
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #include "Cursor.h"
 
 
-typedef std::vector<std::vector<uint8_t>>   BufferContents;
+typedef std::vector<std::vector<uint8_t>> BufferContents;
 
 
 /// A Buffer is the atom of text editing. It represents a single document,
@@ -32,6 +32,38 @@ typedef std::vector<std::vector<uint8_t>>   BufferContents;
 /// cannot be demoted to a virtual buffer.
 class Buffer {
 public:
+	enum class FileStatus : uint8_t {
+		/// The file operation succeeded correctly.
+		FileStatusOK = 0,
+
+		/// The file can't be written to because it is marked
+		/// read-only. This refers to a buffer being marked as
+		/// read-only, not to whether the underlying file is
+		/// actually read-only.
+		FileStatusReadOnly = 1,
+
+		/// There was an I/O error trying to write to the file.
+		FileStatusIOFailed = 2,
+
+		/// The Buffer couldn't be flushed because it is a virtual
+		/// buffer. If the user explicitly tried to save the buffer,
+		/// they should be prompted for a path.
+		FileStatusVirtual = 3,
+
+		/// The underlying file doesn't have the right permissions;
+		/// for example, it's not writeable if the user is trying to
+		/// write the file.
+		FileStatusInvalidPermissions = 4,
+
+		/// The underlying file doesn't exist.
+		FileStatusNonExistent = 5,
+	};
+
+
+	static bool StatusOK(FileStatus status)
+	{ return status == FileStatus::FileStatusOK; }
+
+
 	/// The constructor with no arguments generates a new anonymous
 	/// buffer.
 	Buffer();
@@ -42,18 +74,42 @@ public:
 	/// Instantiate a Buffer pointing to fPath.
 	Buffer(std::string fName, std::string fPath);
 
-	std::string Name() const { return this->name; }
+	std::string Name() const
+	{ return this->name; }
 
-	int	Flush(OptString altPath);
-	void	ChangePath(std::string newPath);
+	bool IsVirtual()
+	{ return this->file.has_value(); }
 
+	Buffer::FileStatus Flush(OptString altPath);
+
+	/// Refresh reads the contents of the file back into the
+	/// buffer.
+	///
+	/// \warning This does not care if the file is dirty or not -
+	/// it WILL overwrite the contents of the buffer.
+	///
+	/// \return A FileStatus indicating whether the read was successful.
+	Buffer::FileStatus Refresh();
+
+	void ChangePath(std::string newPath);
+
+	Cursor Cursor()
+	{ return this->cursor; }
+
+	void MarkDirty();
+	bool IsDirty()
+	{ return this->dirty; }
 
 private:
-	std::string	name;
-	OptString	path;
-	OptFile		file;
-	Cursor		cursor;
-	BufferContents  contents;
+	void clearContents();
+
+	class Cursor cursor;
+
+	bool           dirty;
+	std::string    name;
+	OptString      path;
+	OptFile        file;
+	BufferContents contents;
 };
 
 
diff --git a/Defs.h b/Defs.h
index db063b7..5884306 100644
--- a/Defs.h
+++ b/Defs.h
@@ -28,8 +28,13 @@
 #include <string>
 
 
+#define STRINGIFY(x) #x
+#define TOSTRING(x) STRINGIFY(x)
+
+
 typedef std::optional<std::string>	OptString;
 
+
 template<typename T>
 T Min(T a, T b) { return a > b ? b : a; }
 template size_t Min<size_t>(size_t a, size_t b);
@@ -39,4 +44,11 @@ T Max(T a, T b) { return a > b ? a : b; }
 template size_t Max(size_t a, size_t b);
 
 
+/// \todo Consider abstracting platforms to a separate subsystem.
+static const std::string PlatformLinux("Linux");
+static const std::string PlatformApple("Darwin");
+static const std::string PlatformWindows("Windows");
+static const std::string PlatformCurrent(TOSTRING(KGE_PLATFORM));
+
+
 #endif // KEPP__DEFS_H_
diff --git a/File.cc b/File.cc
index 3a8c4a7..13f4acc 100644
--- a/File.cc
+++ b/File.cc
@@ -21,12 +21,13 @@
 /// SOFTWARE.
 ///
 
+#include <filesystem>
 #include "File.h"
 
 
-const std::string &File::Path() const
+const std::string File::Path()
 {
-	return path;
+	return this->path.string();
 }
 
 
@@ -41,3 +42,83 @@ File::File(std::string fPath)
 {
 
 }
+
+OptOutFileStream File::Flush()
+{
+	// Exit early if we shouldn't be writing to the file.
+	if (this->IsReadOnly()) {
+		return std::nullopt;
+	}
+
+	if (!this->Exists()) {
+		if (!this->IsWriteable()) {
+			return std::nullopt;
+		}
+
+		return {new std::ofstream(this->path, this->mode|std::ios::trunc)};
+	}
+
+	return {new std::ofstream(this->path, this->mode)};
+}
+
+
+OptInFileStream
+File::Refresh()
+{
+	if (!this->Exists()) {
+		return std::nullopt;
+	}
+
+	return {new std::ifstream(this->path, this->mode)};
+}
+
+
+size_t
+File::Size()
+{
+	return std::filesystem::file_size(this->path);
+}
+
+
+bool
+File::Exists()
+{
+	return std::filesystem::exists(this->path);
+}
+
+
+static bool
+checkAccess(std::filesystem::path path, std::filesystem::perms mode, bool checkParent)
+{
+	if (!std::filesystem::exists(path) && checkParent) {
+		auto fullPath = std::filesystem::absolute(path);
+		auto parent = fullPath.parent_path();
+		auto dirEnt = std::filesystem::directory_entry(parent);
+		auto perms = dirEnt.status().permissions();
+		return (perms & mode) != std::filesystem::perms::none;
+	}
+
+	return (status(path).permissions() & mode) != std::filesystem::perms::none;
+}
+
+
+bool
+File::IsWriteable()
+{
+	return checkAccess(this->path, std::filesystem::perms::owner_write, true);
+}
+
+
+bool
+File::IsReadable()
+{
+	return checkAccess(this->path, std::filesystem::perms::owner_read, false);
+}
+
+
+bool
+File::IsReadWriteable()
+{
+	auto checkMode = std::filesystem::perms::owner_read | std::filesystem::perms::owner_write;
+	return checkAccess(this->path, checkMode, true);
+}
diff --git a/File.h b/File.h
index ceb9a52..2f8e0c6 100644
--- a/File.h
+++ b/File.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #define KEPP__FILE_H_
 
 
+#include <filesystem>
 #include <fstream>
 #include <ios>
 #include <string>
@@ -32,6 +33,12 @@
 #include "Defs.h"
 
 
+typedef std::optional<std::ofstream *> OptOutFileStream;
+typedef std::optional<std::ifstream *> OptInFileStream;
+
+
+
+/// Files default to being read/write.
 static constexpr std::ios::openmode	DefaultMode =
     std::ios::in|std::ios::out;
 
@@ -41,18 +48,41 @@ class File {
 public:
 	File(std::string fPath);
 
-	const std::string &Path() const;
+	const std::string Path();
 	void SetPath(const std::string &fPath);
 
-	// int Refresh(std::);
 
+	OptOutFileStream Flush();
+	OptInFileStream Refresh();
 
+	/// The readonly attribute on a File is a virtual write
+	/// protection, and does not reflect the permissions on
+	/// the file itself. For that, see IsWriteable.
 	[[nodiscard]] bool IsReadOnly() const { return this->readOnly; };
 	void MarkReadOnly() { this->readOnly = true; }
 	void ClearReadOnly() { this->readOnly = false; }
 
+	/// Size returns the size of the file on disk.
+	size_t			Size();
+
+	/// Exists checks whether the file exists on disk.
+	bool			Exists();
+
+	/// IsWriteable checks whether the current user has write
+	/// permissions for the file.
+	bool			IsWriteable();
+
+	/// IsReadable checks whether the current user has read
+	/// permissions on the file.
+	bool			IsReadable();
+
+	/// IsReadWriteable checks whether the current user has both
+	/// read and write permissions on the file.
+	bool			IsReadWriteable();
+
 private:
-	std::string		path;
+
+	std::filesystem::path	path;
 	bool			readOnly;
 	std::ios::openmode	mode;
 };
diff --git a/main.cc b/main.cc
index 709aa7a..eca0e0d 100644
--- a/main.cc
+++ b/main.cc
@@ -26,12 +26,14 @@
 
 #include "Buffer.h"
 #include "Cursor.h"
+#include "LineEnding.h"
 
 
 static void
 usage(std::ostream &os, int exitCode)
 {
-	os << "ke - kyle's editor ++\n";
+	os << "ke - kyle's editor version " << TOSTRING(KGE_VERSION)
+	   << "/" << PlatformCurrent << "\n";
 	os << "\nUsage:\n";
 	os << "\tke [files]\n";
 	exit(exitCode);
@@ -46,18 +48,16 @@ ShowDist(Cursor a, Cursor b)
 
 
 int
-main(int argc, char **argv)
+main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
 	if ((argc == 2) && (std::string(argv[1]) == "-h")) {
+		std::cout << "help?\n";
 		usage(std::cout, 0);
 	}
 
 	Buffer	frame;
 	std::cout << frame.Name() << "\n";
 
-	ShowDist(Cursor(0, 0), Cursor(5, 5));
-	ShowDist(Cursor(2, 2), Cursor(4, 4));
-	ShowDist(Cursor(32, 12), Cursor(14, 71));
 
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/sketches/CMakeLists.txt b/sketches/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dee7067
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sketches/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.25)
+
+project(ke_sketches
+        DESCRIPTION "sketches and small test programs for kyle's editor"
+        LANGUAGES CXX
+        VERSION 0.0.1)
+set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17)
+set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED ON)
+set(CMAKE_VERBOSE_MAKEFILES TRUE)
+set(VERBOSE YES)
+
+if (MSVC)
+    add_compile_options("/W4" "$<$<CONFIG:RELEASE>:/O2>")
+else ()
+    add_compile_options(
+            "-Wall"
+            "-Wextra"
+            "-Werror"
+            "-static"
+            "$<$<CONFIG:DEBUG>:-g>"
+            "$<$<CONFIG:RELEASE>:-O2>")
+    if ("${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID}" STREQUAL "Clang")
+        add_compile_options(
+                "-stdlib=libc++"
+                "-fsanitize=address"
+                "-fno-omit-frame-pointer"
+                "-fsanitize-address-use-after-scope"
+        )
+    else ()
+        # nothing special for gcc at the moment
+    endif ()
+endif ()
+
+add_executable(readFile ReadFile.cc)
+add_executable(enoent enoent.cc)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/sketches/ReadFile.cc b/sketches/ReadFile.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1268560
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sketches/ReadFile.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+///
+/// \file ReadFile.cc
+/// \author kyle 
+/// \created 2023-10-11
+/// \brief ReadFile tests reading a file.
+///
+/// \section COPYRIGHT
+/// Copyright 2023 K. Isom <kyle@imap.cc>
+///
+/// Permission to use, copy, modify, and/or distribute this software for
+/// any purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the
+/// above copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
+///
+/// THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL
+/// WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED
+/// WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR
+/// BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
+/// OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS,
+/// WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION,
+/// ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS
+/// SOFTWARE.
+///
+
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <iomanip>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <iterator>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+
+
+int
+readFile(const std::string path)
+{
+	std::cout << "[+] opening " << path << "\n";
+	std::ifstream input(path, std::ios::in);
+
+	if (!input.good()) {
+		std::cerr << "[!] failed to open " << path << "\n";
+		input.close();
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	std::cout << "[+] reading from " << path << "\n";
+	std::vector<std::vector<uint8_t>> doc;
+	while (input.good()) {
+		std::string temp;
+		while (std::getline(input, temp)) {
+			std::cout << "[+] line: " << temp << "\n";
+			std::vector<uint8_t> row(temp.begin(), temp.end());
+			doc.push_back(row);
+		}
+	}
+
+	std::cout << "[+] finished reading document\n";
+	std::cout << "\tgood: " << input.good() << "\n";
+	std::cout << "\tfail: " << input.fail() << "\n";
+	std::cout << "\t bad: " << input.bad() << "\n";
+	std::cout << "\t eof: " << input.eof() << "\n";
+
+	input.close();
+
+	std::cout << "[+] dumping document of " << doc.size() << " lines.\n";
+	for (size_t i = 0; i < doc.size(); i++) {
+		std::cout << "line " << std::setw(3) << i << ": ";
+		std::copy(doc[i].begin(), doc[i].end(),
+			  std::ostream_iterator<uint8_t>(std::cout, ""));
+		std::cout << "\n";
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+
+int
+main(int argc, char *argv[])
+{
+	for (int i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
+		std::cout << "[+] input file: " << argv[i] << "\n";
+		if (readFile(std::string(argv[i])) != 0) {
+			std::cerr << "[!] failed\n";
+		} else {
+			std::cout << "[+] OK\n";
+		}
+	}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/sketches/enoent.cc b/sketches/enoent.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..291b3e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sketches/enoent.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+///
+/// \file enoent.cc
+/// \author kyle 
+/// \created 2023-10-11
+/// \brief basic file system checks
+///
+/// \section COPYRIGHT
+/// Copyright 2023 K. Isom <kyle@imap.cc>
+///
+/// Permission to use, copy, modify, and/or distribute this software for
+/// any purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the
+/// above copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
+///
+/// THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL
+/// WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED
+/// WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR
+/// BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
+/// OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS,
+/// WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION,
+/// ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS
+/// SOFTWARE.
+///
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <iterator>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <vector>
+
+
+using namespace std;
+
+
+int
+main()
+{
+	namespace fs = std::filesystem;
+
+	std::string          input = "ohai\n";
+	std::vector<uint8_t> buffer(input.begin(), input.end());
+	auto                 f     = fs::path("ENOENT2");
+
+	if (fs::exists(f)) {
+		std::cout << "[+] the file exists\n";
+		std::cout << "\tfile size: " << fs::file_size(f) << "\n";
+	} else {
+		std::cout << "the file does not exist\n";
+	}
+	cout << "[+] attempting to open the file.\n";
+	ofstream handle(f, std::ios::in | std::ios::out | std::ios::trunc);
+
+	if (!handle.good()) {
+		cerr << "[!] file operation failed\n";
+		cerr << "\tfile fail: " << handle.fail() << "\n";
+		cerr << "\t file eof: " << handle.eof() << "\n";
+		cerr << "\t file bad: " << handle.bad() << "\n";
+		return 1;
+	}
+
+	if (fs::exists(f)) {
+		std::cout << "[+] the file exists\n";
+		std::cout << "\tfile size: " << fs::file_size(f) << "\n";
+	} else {
+		std::cout << "the file does not exist\n";
+	}
+	handle.flush();
+	if (fs::exists(f)) {
+		std::cout << "[+] the file exists\n";
+		std::cout << "\tfile size: " << fs::file_size(f) << "\n";
+	} else {
+		std::cout << "the file does not exist\n";
+	}
+	cout << "[+] file open successfully. attempting to write.\n";
+	handle << "Hello, world.\r\n";
+
+	if (fs::exists(f)) {
+		std::cout << "\tfile size: " << fs::file_size(f) << "\n";
+	}
+
+	cout << "[+] attempting to write the vector to file.\n";
+
+	std::copy(buffer.begin(), buffer.end(), std::ostream_iterator<uint8_t>(handle, ""));
+
+	cout << "[+] closing the file.\n";
+	handle.close();
+
+	if (fs::exists(f)) {
+		std::cout << "\tfile size: " << fs::file_size(f) << "\n";
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/sketches/testShort.txt b/sketches/testShort.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9cbb05c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sketches/testShort.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+this is a short text file.
+
+just wanted to see what it looks like.
+
+    of course
+
+of course. This is more of a paragraph that should end |
+at the pipes, which should be a border. It's one way to|
+test it's being read correctly.
\ No newline at end of file