diff --git a/src/dvsim/flow/base.py b/src/dvsim/flow/base.py
index a54bed3..a84ae67 100644
--- a/src/dvsim/flow/base.py
+++ b/src/dvsim/flow/base.py
@@ -11,15 +11,14 @@
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 from collections.abc import Mapping, Sequence
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import ClassVar
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, ClassVar
 
 import hjson
 
 from dvsim.flow.hjson import set_target_attribute
-from dvsim.job.deploy import Deploy
 from dvsim.launcher.factory import get_launcher_cls
 from dvsim.logging import log
-from dvsim.scheduler import Scheduler
+from dvsim.scheduler import CompletedJobStatus, Scheduler
 from dvsim.utils import (
     find_and_substitute_wildcards,
     md_results_to_html,
@@ -28,6 +27,11 @@
     subst_wildcards,
 )
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from dvsim.job.deploy import Deploy
+
+__all__ = ("FlowCfg",)
+
 
 # Interface class for extensions.
 class FlowCfg(ABC):
@@ -399,7 +403,7 @@ def create_deploy_objects(self) -> None:
         for item in self.cfgs:
             item._create_deploy_objects()
 
-    def deploy_objects(self) -> Mapping[Deploy, str]:
+    def deploy_objects(self) -> Mapping[str, CompletedJobStatus]:
         """Public facing API for deploying all available objects.
 
         Runs each job and returns a map from item to status.
@@ -432,7 +436,7 @@ def deploy_objects(self) -> Mapping[Deploy, str]:
         ).run()
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def _gen_results(self, results: Mapping[Deploy, str]) -> str:
+    def _gen_results(self, results: Mapping[str, CompletedJobStatus]) -> str:
         """Generate flow results.
 
         The function is called after the flow has completed. It collates
@@ -441,13 +445,16 @@ def _gen_results(self, results: Mapping[Deploy, str]) -> str:
         prints the full list of failures for debug / triage to the final
         report, which is in markdown format.
 
-        results should be a dictionary mapping deployed item to result.
+        Results:
+            dictionary mapping deployed item names to job status.
+
         """
 
-    def gen_results(self, results: Mapping[Deploy, str]) -> None:
+    def gen_results(self, results: Mapping[str, CompletedJobStatus]) -> None:
         """Public facing API for _gen_results().
 
-        results should be a dictionary mapping deployed item to result.
+        Args:
+            results: dictionary mapping deployed item names to job status.
 
         """
         for item in self.cfgs:
diff --git a/src/dvsim/flow/factory.py b/src/dvsim/flow/factory.py
index 844462a..11b88a2 100644
--- a/src/dvsim/flow/factory.py
+++ b/src/dvsim/flow/factory.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import pathlib
 import sys
 
+from dvsim.flow.base import FlowCfg
 from dvsim.flow.cdc import CdcCfg
 from dvsim.flow.formal import FormalCfg
 from dvsim.flow.hjson import load_hjson
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ def _make_child_cfg(path, args, initial_values):
     return cls(path, hjson_data, args, None)
 
 
-def make_cfg(path, args, proj_root):
+def make_cfg(path, args, proj_root) -> FlowCfg:
     """Make a flow config by loading the config file at path.
 
     args is the arguments passed to the dvsim.py tool and proj_root is the top
diff --git a/src/dvsim/flow/sim.py b/src/dvsim/flow/sim.py
index 0cd2697..e492a9e 100644
--- a/src/dvsim/flow/sim.py
+++ b/src/dvsim/flow/sim.py
@@ -887,7 +887,7 @@ def create_bucket_report(buckets):
 
             # Append coverage results if coverage was enabled.
             if self.cov_report_deploy is not None:
-                report_status = results[self.cov_report_deploy.qual_name]
+                report_status = results[self.cov_report_deploy.full_name]
                 if report_status == "P":
                     results_str += "\n## Coverage Results\n"
                     # Link the dashboard page using "cov_report_page" value.
diff --git a/src/dvsim/job/deploy.py b/src/dvsim/job/deploy.py
index 5e1c509..c570b7b 100644
--- a/src/dvsim/job/deploy.py
+++ b/src/dvsim/job/deploy.py
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ def __init__(self, sim_cfg: "SimCfg") -> None:
         # Cross ref the whole cfg object for ease.
         self.sim_cfg = sim_cfg
         self.flow = sim_cfg.name
+        self._variant_suffix = f"_{self.sim_cfg.variant}" if self.sim_cfg.variant else ""
 
         # A list of jobs on which this job depends.
         self.dependencies = []
@@ -166,7 +167,7 @@ def _set_attrs(self) -> None:
 
         # Full name disambiguates across multiple cfg being run (example:
         # 'aes:default', 'uart:default' builds.
-        self.full_name = self.sim_cfg.name + ":" + self.qual_name
+        self.full_name = f"{self.sim_cfg.name}{self._variant_suffix}:{self.qual_name}"
 
         # Job name is used to group the job by cfg and target. The scratch path
         # directory name is assumed to be uniquified, in case there are more
@@ -574,7 +575,7 @@ def _set_attrs(self) -> None:
         self.test = self.name
         self.build_mode = self.test_obj.build_mode.name
         self.qual_name = self.run_dir_name + "." + str(self.seed)
-        self.full_name = self.sim_cfg.name + ":" + self.qual_name
+        self.full_name = f"{self.sim_cfg.name}{self._variant_suffix}:{self.qual_name}"
         self.job_name += f"_{self.build_mode}"
         if self.sim_cfg.cov:
             self.output_dirs += [self.cov_db_dir]
@@ -679,7 +680,7 @@ def _define_attrs(self) -> None:
     def _set_attrs(self) -> None:
         super()._set_attrs()
         self.qual_name = self.target
-        self.full_name = self.sim_cfg.name + ":" + self.qual_name
+        self.full_name = f"{self.sim_cfg.name}{self._variant_suffix}:{self.qual_name}"
         self.input_dirs += [self.cov_merge_db_dir]
 
         # Reuse the build_fail_patterns set in the HJson.
@@ -734,7 +735,7 @@ def _define_attrs(self) -> None:
     def _set_attrs(self) -> None:
         super()._set_attrs()
         self.qual_name = self.target
-        self.full_name = self.sim_cfg.name + ":" + self.qual_name
+        self.full_name = f"{self.sim_cfg.name}{self._variant_suffix}:{self.qual_name}"
 
         # For merging coverage db, the precise output dir is set in the HJson.
         self.odir = self.cov_merge_db_dir
@@ -768,7 +769,7 @@ def _define_attrs(self) -> None:
     def _set_attrs(self) -> None:
         super()._set_attrs()
         self.qual_name = self.target
-        self.full_name = self.sim_cfg.name + ":" + self.qual_name
+        self.full_name = f"{self.sim_cfg.name}{self._variant_suffix}:{self.qual_name}"
 
         # Keep track of coverage results, once the job is finished.
         self.cov_total = ""
@@ -819,5 +820,5 @@ def _define_attrs(self) -> None:
     def _set_attrs(self) -> None:
         super()._set_attrs()
         self.qual_name = self.target
-        self.full_name = self.sim_cfg.name + ":" + self.qual_name
+        self.full_name = f"{self.sim_cfg.name}{self._variant_suffix}:{self.qual_name}"
         self.input_dirs += [self.cov_merge_db_dir]
diff --git a/src/dvsim/launcher/fake.py b/src/dvsim/launcher/fake.py
index 7ad0317..8bd3844 100644
--- a/src/dvsim/launcher/fake.py
+++ b/src/dvsim/launcher/fake.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 """Fake Launcher that returns random results."""
 
+from collections.abc import Mapping
 from random import choice, random
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
@@ -12,6 +13,8 @@
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from dvsim.job.deploy import CovReport, Deploy, RunTest
 
+__all__ = ("FakeLauncher",)
+
 
 def _run_test_handler(deploy: "RunTest") -> str:
     """Handle a RunTest deploy job."""
@@ -70,3 +73,24 @@ def kill(self) -> None:
             "K",
             ErrorMessage(line_number=None, message="Job killed!", context=[]),
         )
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def prepare_workspace(project: str, repo_top: str, args: Mapping) -> None:
+        """Prepare the workspace based on the chosen launcher's needs.
+
+        This is done once for the entire duration for the flow run.
+
+        Args:
+            project: the name of the project.
+            repo_top: the path to the repository.
+            args: command line args passed to dvsim.
+
+        """
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def prepare_workspace_for_cfg(cfg: Mapping) -> None:
+        """Prepare the workspace for a cfg.
+
+        This is invoked once for each cfg.
+        'cfg' is the flow configuration object.
+        """
diff --git a/src/dvsim/scheduler.py b/src/dvsim/scheduler.py
index 85a6470..dc5bf0d 100644
--- a/src/dvsim/scheduler.py
+++ b/src/dvsim/scheduler.py
@@ -56,11 +56,16 @@ def get_next_item(arr: Sequence, index: int) -> tuple[Any, int]:
     is already the last item on the list, it loops back to the start, thus
     implementing a circular list.
 
-    arr is a subscriptable list.
-    index is the index of the last item returned.
+    Args:
+        arr: subscriptable list.
+        index: index of the last item returned.
+
+    Returns:
+        (item, index) if successful.
+
+    Raises:
+        IndexError if arr is empty.
 
-    Returns (item, index) if successful.
-    Raises IndexError if arr is empty.
     """
     index += 1
     try:
@@ -95,7 +100,7 @@ def __init__(
         # they wait until slots are available for them to be dispatched.
         # When all items (in all cfgs) of a target are done, it is removed from
         # this dictionary.
-        self._scheduled: MutableMapping[str, MutableMapping[FlowCfg, MutableSequence[Deploy]]] = {}
+        self._scheduled: MutableMapping[str, MutableMapping[str, MutableSequence[Deploy]]] = {}
         self.add_to_scheduled(items)
 
         # Print status periodically using an external status printer.
@@ -143,20 +148,15 @@ def __init__(
             msg = self.msg_fmt.format(0, 0, 0, 0, 0, self._total[target])
             self.status_printer.init_target(target=target, msg=msg)
 
-        # A map from the Deploy objects tracked by this class to their
+        # A map from the Deploy object names tracked by this class to their
         # current status. This status is 'Q', 'D', 'P', 'F' or 'K',
         # corresponding to membership in the dicts above. This is not
         # per-target.
-        self.item_to_status: MutableMapping[Deploy, str] = {}
-
-        # TODO: Why is the deployment object asked about which launcher to use when
-        # the launcher class is explicitly passed. Either each deployment can have it's
-        # own distinct Launcher class type or all deployments must have the same
-        # Launcher class? Both can't be true.
+        self.item_status: MutableMapping[str, str] = {}
 
         # Create the launcher instance for all items.
         self._launchers: Mapping[str, Launcher] = {
-            item.qual_name: launcher_cls(item) for item in self.items
+            item.full_name: launcher_cls(item) for item in self.items
         }
 
         # The chosen launcher class. This allows us to access launcher
@@ -229,11 +229,11 @@ def on_signal(signal_received: int, _: FrameType | None) -> None:
 
         # We got to the end without anything exploding. Return the results.
         return {
-            d.qual_name: CompletedJobStatus(
+            name: CompletedJobStatus(
                 status=status,
-                fail_msg=self._launchers[d.qual_name].fail_msg,
+                fail_msg=self._launchers[name].fail_msg,
             )
-            for d, status in self.item_to_status.items()
+            for name, status in self.item_status.items()
         }
 
     def add_to_scheduled(self, items: Sequence[Deploy]) -> None:
@@ -271,9 +271,9 @@ def _enqueue_successors(self, item: Deploy | None = None) -> None:
         them to _queued.
         """
         for next_item in self._get_successors(item):
-            assert next_item not in self.item_to_status
+            assert next_item.full_name not in self.item_status
             assert next_item not in self._queued[next_item.target]
-            self.item_to_status[next_item] = "Q"
+            self.item_status[next_item.full_name] = "Q"
             self._queued[next_item.target].append(next_item)
             self._unschedule_item(next_item)
 
@@ -356,11 +356,11 @@ def _ok_to_enqueue(self, item: Deploy) -> bool:
                 continue
 
             # Has the dep even been enqueued?
-            if dep not in self.item_to_status:
+            if dep.full_name not in self.item_status:
                 return False
 
             # Has the dep completed?
-            if self.item_to_status[dep] not in ["P", "F", "K"]:
+            if self.item_status[dep.full_name] not in ["P", "F", "K"]:
                 return False
 
         return True
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ def _ok_to_run(self, item: Deploy) -> bool:
             if dep not in self.items:
                 continue
 
-            dep_status = self.item_to_status[dep]
+            dep_status = self.item_status[dep.full_name]
             if dep_status not in ["P", "F", "K"]:
                 raise ValueError("Status must be one of P, F, or K")
 
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ def _poll(self, hms: str) -> bool:
                     self._running[target],
                     self.last_item_polled_idx[target],
                 )
-                status = self._launchers[item.qual_name].poll()
+                status = self._launchers[item.full_name].poll()
                 level = log.VERBOSE
 
                 if status not in ["D", "P", "F", "E", "K"]:
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ def _poll(self, hms: str) -> bool:
 
                 self._running[target].pop(self.last_item_polled_idx[target])
                 self.last_item_polled_idx[target] -= 1
-                self.item_to_status[item] = status
+                self.item_status[item.full_name] = status
 
                 log.log(
                     level,
@@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ def _dispatch(self, hms: str) -> None:
 
             for item in to_dispatch:
                 try:
-                    self._launchers[item.qual_name].launch()
+                    self._launchers[item.full_name].launch()
 
                 except LauncherError:
                     log.exception("Error launching %s", item)
@@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ def _dispatch(self, hms: str) -> None:
                     continue
 
                 self._running[target].append(item)
-                self.item_to_status[item] = "D"
+                self.item_status[item.full_name] = "D"
 
     def _kill(self) -> None:
         """Kill any running items and cancel any that are waiting."""
@@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ def _cancel_item(self, item: Deploy, *, cancel_successors: bool = True) -> None:
         Supplied item may be in _scheduled list or the _queued list. From
         either, we move it straight to _killed.
         """
-        self.item_to_status[item] = "K"
+        self.item_status[item.full_name] = "K"
         self._killed[item.target].add(item)
         if item in self._queued[item.target]:
             self._queued[item.target].remove(item)
@@ -628,8 +628,8 @@ def _cancel_item(self, item: Deploy, *, cancel_successors: bool = True) -> None:
 
     def _kill_item(self, item: Deploy) -> None:
         """Kill a running item and cancel all of its successors."""
-        self._launchers[item.qual_name].kill()
-        self.item_to_status[item] = "K"
+        self._launchers[item.full_name].kill()
+        self.item_status[item.full_name] = "K"
         self._killed[item.target].add(item)
         self._running[item.target].remove(item)
         self._cancel_successors(item)
diff --git a/src/dvsim/sim_results.py b/src/dvsim/sim_results.py
index 946a9dc..7b4765f 100644
--- a/src/dvsim/sim_results.py
+++ b/src/dvsim/sim_results.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ def __init__(self, items, results) -> None:
 
     def _add_item(self, item, results: Mapping[str, CompletedJobStatus]) -> None:
         """Recursively add a single item to the table of results."""
-        job_status = results[item.qual_name]
+        job_status = results[item.full_name]
         if job_status.status in ["F", "K"]:
             bucket = self._bucketize(job_status.fail_msg.message)
             self.buckets[bucket].append(