diff --git a/src/raddbg/raddbg_core.c b/src/raddbg/raddbg_core.c
index 3e7a970e..a778ed67 100644
--- a/src/raddbg/raddbg_core.c
+++ b/src/raddbg/raddbg_core.c
@@ -12326,10 +12326,17 @@ rd_frame(void)
           case RD_CmdKind_OpenUser:
           case RD_CmdKind_OpenProject:
           {
+            // TODO(rjf): dear lord this is so overcomplicated, this needs to be collapsed down & simplified ASAP
+            
             B32 load_cfg[RD_CfgSrc_COUNT] = {0};
+            RD_CfgSrc cfg_src = (RD_CfgSrc)0;
             for(RD_CfgSrc src = (RD_CfgSrc)0; src < RD_CfgSrc_COUNT; src = (RD_CfgSrc)(src+1))
             {
               load_cfg[src] = (kind == rd_cfg_src_load_cmd_kind_table[src]);
+              if(load_cfg[src])
+              {
+                cfg_src = src;
+              }
             }
             
             //- rjf: normalize path
@@ -12347,7 +12354,7 @@ rd_frame(void)
             
             //- rjf: investigate file path/data
             B32 file_is_okay = 1;
-            if(props.modified != 0 && data.size != 0 && !str8_match(str8_prefix(data, 9), str8_lit("// raddbg"), 0))
+            if(props.modified != 0 && data.size != 0 && !str8_match(str8_prefix(data, 9), str8_lit("// raddbg"), 0) && rd_state->cfg_cached_timestamp[cfg_src] != 0)
             {
               file_is_okay = 0;
             }
@@ -12387,7 +12394,7 @@ rd_frame(void)
                 OS_Handle file = os_file_open(OS_AccessFlag_ShareRead|OS_AccessFlag_Read, path);
                 FileProperties props = os_properties_from_file(file);
                 String8 data = os_string_from_file_range(scratch.arena, file, r1u64(0, props.size));
-                if(data.size != 0)
+                if(props.modified != 0)
                 {
                   cfg_data[src] = data;
                   cfg_timestamps[src] = props.modified;
diff --git a/src/raddbg/raddbg_main.c b/src/raddbg/raddbg_main.c
index 9393ca34..5bb7e221 100644
--- a/src/raddbg/raddbg_main.c
+++ b/src/raddbg/raddbg_main.c
@@ -3,19 +3,15 @@
 
 ////////////////////////////////
 //~ rjf: 0.9.12 TODO notes
-//
-// [ ] remainder of @msgs pass:
-//  [ ] new `restart processes` path
-//  [ ] remainder of @msgs
 // 
 // [ ] post-@msgs TODOs:
 // [ ] ensure the following issues are resolved with this new pass:
-//  [ ] empty user file causing failure to launch
 //  [ ] debugger readme pass
 
 ////////////////////////////////
 //~ rjf: post-0.9.12 TODO notes
 //
+//  [ ] linked list view rule
 //  [ ] investigate false exceptions, being reported while stepping through init code
 //  [ ] output: add option for scroll-to-bottom - ensure this shows up in universal ctx menu
 //  [ ] universal ctx menu address/watch options; e.g. watch -> memory; watch -> add watch
@@ -521,6 +517,10 @@
 //  [x] `switch` replacement (recent files history)
 //   [x] resolving name as file or #include
 //  [x] entity listers - kill-specific-process, etc.
+// [x] remainder of @msgs pass:
+//  [x] new `restart processes` path
+//  [x] remainder of @msgs
+//  [x] empty user file causing failure to launch
 
 ////////////////////////////////
 //~ rjf: Build Options
diff --git a/src/raddbg/raddbg_views.c b/src/raddbg/raddbg_views.c
index edb3ec4f..0a186c41 100644
--- a/src/raddbg/raddbg_views.c
+++ b/src/raddbg/raddbg_views.c
@@ -2376,9 +2376,11 @@ rd_watch_view_build(RD_WatchViewState *ewv, RD_WatchViewFlags flags, String8 roo
                         RD_Font(RD_FontSlot_Code) ui_labelf("only:(member_1 ... member_n)");
                         UI_FlagsAdd(UI_BoxFlag_DrawTextWeak) ui_label_multiline(max_width, str8_lit("Specifies that only the specified members should appear in struct, union, or class evaluations."));
                         ui_spacer(ui_em(1.5f, 1));
+#if 0 // TODO(rjf): disabling until post-0.9.12
                         RD_Font(RD_FontSlot_Code) ui_labelf("list:(next_link_member_name)");
                         UI_FlagsAdd(UI_BoxFlag_DrawTextWeak) ui_label_multiline(max_width, str8_lit("Specifies that some struct, union, or class forms the top of a linked list, with next_link_member_name being the member which points at the next element in the list."));
                         ui_spacer(ui_em(1.5f, 1));
+#endif
                         RD_Font(RD_FontSlot_Code) ui_labelf("dec");
                         UI_FlagsAdd(UI_BoxFlag_DrawTextWeak) ui_label_multiline(max_width, str8_lit("Specifies that all integral evaluations should appear in base-10 form."));
                         ui_spacer(ui_em(1.5f, 1));
@@ -3513,9 +3515,10 @@ RD_VIEW_RULE_UI_FUNCTION_DEF(getting_started)
       UI_PrefWidth(ui_text_dim(10, 1))
       UI_TextAlignment(UI_TextAlign_Center)
       UI_Padding(ui_pct(1, 0))
+      RD_Palette(RD_PaletteCode_Floating)
     {
       ui_labelf("use");
-      UI_Flags(UI_BoxFlag_DrawBorder) UI_TextAlignment(UI_TextAlign_Center) rd_cmd_binding_buttons(rd_cmd_kind_info_table[RD_CmdKind_RunCommand].string);
+      UI_TextAlignment(UI_TextAlign_Center) rd_cmd_binding_buttons(rd_cmd_kind_info_table[RD_CmdKind_RunCommand].string);
       ui_labelf("to open command menu");
     }
   }