diff --git a/planning/src/RS/rsDeal.cpp b/planning/src/RS/rsDeal.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ac911575
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planning/src/RS/rsDeal.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,481 @@
+#include "RS/rsDeal.h"
+#include "util/cmd_line.h"
+#include "file_io/pln_Fio.h"
+#include "pin_loc/pinc_main.h"
+
+#include "globals.h"
+#include "read_options.h"
+
+#include "RS/rsVPR.h"
+#include "RS/rsCheck.h"
+#include "RS/sta_file_writer.h"
+
+#ifdef PLN_UNIT_TEST_ON
+#include "tes/tes_list.h"
+#endif
+
+namespace pln {
+
+using std::cout;
+using std::cerr;
+using std::endl;
+using std::string;
+
+bool deal_check(const rsOpts& opts) {
+  bool status = false;
+  uint16_t tr = ltrace();
+
+  CStr checkWhat = "BLIF";
+  if (not opts.hasInputFile() and opts.hasCsvFile())
+    checkWhat = "CSV";
+
+  if (tr >= 4)
+    lprintf("[PLANNER %s-CHECKER] deal_check()\n", checkWhat);
+
+  if (checkWhat[0] == 'B') {
+    if (not opts.hasInputFile()) {
+      err_puts("\n[PLANNER BLIF-CHECKER] : something wrong with input file\n");
+      if (!opts.input_) {
+        lputs("[PLANNER BLIF-CHECKER] : input file is not specified");
+      } else {
+        lprintf("[PLANNER BLIF-CHECKER] : input file '%s'\n", opts.input_);
+        lprintf("                  : does not exist or not readable\n");
+      }
+      flush_out(true);
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  status = do_check(opts, checkWhat[0] == 'B');
+
+  if (tr >= 3)
+    lprintf("(deal_check status) %s\n", status ? "TRUE" : "FALSE");
+
+  flush_out(true);
+  return status;
+}
+
+bool deal_cleanup(const rsOpts& opts) {
+  bool status = false;
+  uint16_t tr = ltrace();
+
+  if (tr >= 4) {
+    flush_out(true);
+    lprintf("[PLANNER BLIF-CLEANER] deal_cleanup()\n");
+  }
+
+  if (not opts.hasInputFile()) {
+    err_puts("\n[PLANNER BLIF-CLEANER] : something wrong with input file\n");
+    if (!opts.input_) {
+      lputs("[PLANNER BLIF-CLEANER] : input file is not specified");
+    } else {
+      lprintf("[PLANNER BLIF-CLEANER] : input file '%s'\n", opts.input_);
+      lprintf("                  : does not exist or not readable\n");
+    }
+    flush_out(true);
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  std::vector<uspair> corrected;
+  status = do_cleanup_blif(opts.input_, corrected);
+
+  if (tr >= 3) {
+    flush_out(true);
+    lprintf("    deal_cleanup: status= %s\n", status ? "TRUE" : "FALSE");
+    if (corrected.empty()) {
+      if (status)
+        lprintf("    deal_cleanup: BLIF was not modified (NOP)\n");
+    } else {
+      lprintf("    deal_cleanup: modified BLIF, #changes= %zu\n",
+              corrected.size());
+    }
+  }
+
+  flush_out(true);
+  return status;
+}
+
+bool deal_stars(const rsOpts& opts, bool orig_args) {
+  bool status = false;
+
+  uint16_t tr = ltrace();
+  auto& ls = lout();
+  int argc;
+  const char** argv;
+  if (orig_args) {
+    argc = opts.argc_;
+    argv = opts.argv_;
+  } else {
+    argc = opts.vprArgc_;
+    argv = (const char**)opts.vprArgv_;
+  }
+
+  if (argc <= 0 || !argv) {
+    lputs("\n [Error] no args");
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  if (tr >= 10 || getenv("pln_trace_env")) {
+    string cmd_fn = str::concat("02_deal_stars.", str_PID(), ".stars.sh");
+    std::ofstream cmd_os(cmd_fn);
+    if (cmd_os.is_open()) {
+      rsEnv::inst().print(cmd_os, "# deal_stars\n#----env----\n");
+      cmd_os << "#-----------" << endl;
+      ls << "WRITTEN COMMAND FILE: " << cmd_fn << endl;
+    }
+  }
+
+  // call vpr to build design context
+  ls << "\nPLN-stars: Preparing design data ... " << endl;
+
+  // add --analysis if it's missing, and remove --function
+  char** vprArgv = (char**)calloc(argc + 4, sizeof(char*));
+  int vprArgc = 0;
+  bool found_analysis = false;
+  string analysis = "--analysis";
+  for (int i = 0; i < argc; i++) {
+    const char* a = argv[i];
+    if (analysis == a) found_analysis = true;
+    vprArgv[vprArgc++] = ::strdup(a);
+  }
+  if (not found_analysis) {
+    ls << "PLN: added --analysis to vpr options" << endl;
+    vprArgv[argc] = ::strdup("--analysis");
+    vprArgc++;
+  }
+
+  status = true;
+  ls << "PLN-stars: Initializing VPR data ... " << endl;
+
+  int vpr_code = vpr4pln(vprArgc, vprArgv);
+  if (tr >= 3)
+    lprintf("vpr4pln returned: %i\n", vpr_code);
+  if (vpr_code != 0) {
+    lputs("\n[Error] PLN: VPR init failed.");
+    cerr << "[Error] PLN: VPR init failed." << endl;
+    status = false;
+  }
+
+  if (status) {
+    ls << "PLN-stars: Creating sta files ... " << endl;
+    if (!FileWriter::create_files(argc, argv)) {
+      lputs("\n[Error] PLN: Creating sta files failed.");
+      cerr << "[Error] PLN: Creating sta files failed." << endl;
+      status = false;
+    } else {
+      lputs("PLN-stars: Creating sta files succeeded.");
+      status = true;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return status;
+}
+
+bool deal_vpr(const rsOpts& opts, bool orig_args) {
+  bool status = false;
+  uint16_t tr = ltrace();
+  auto& ls = lout();
+
+  int argc;
+  const char** argv;
+  if (orig_args) {
+    argc = opts.argc_;
+    argv = opts.argv_;
+  } else {
+    argc = opts.vprArgc_;
+    argv = (const char**)opts.vprArgv_;
+  }
+
+  if (argc <= 0 || !argv) {
+    lputs("\n [Error] no args");
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  if (tr >= 10 || getenv("pln_trace_env")) {
+    string cmd_fn = str::concat("03_deal_vpr.", str_PID(), ".vpr.sh");
+    std::ofstream cmd_os(cmd_fn);
+    if (cmd_os.is_open()) {
+      rsEnv::inst().print(cmd_os, "# deal_vpr\n#----env----\n");
+      cmd_os << "#-----------" << endl;
+      ls << "WRITTEN COMMAND FILE: " << cmd_fn << endl;
+    }
+  }
+  if (tr >= 8 || getenv("pln_trace_env")) {
+    lputs("-------- traceEnv from deal_vpr");
+    traceEnv(argc, argv);
+    lputs("--------");
+  }
+
+  // call vpr to build design context
+  ls << "\nPLN-VPR: Preparing design data ... " << endl;
+
+  status = true;
+  ls << "PLN-VPR: Initializing VPR data ... " << endl;
+
+  int vpr_code = vpr4pln(argc, (char**)argv);
+  if (tr >= 3)
+    lprintf("vpr4pln returned: %i\n", vpr_code);
+  if (vpr_code != 0) {
+    lputs("\n[Error] PLN-VPR: VPR failed.");
+    cerr << "[Error] PLN-VPR: VPR failed." << endl;
+    status = false;
+  }
+
+  return status;
+}
+
+bool deal_cmd(rsOpts& opts) {
+  bool status = false;
+
+  uint16_t tr = ltrace();
+  auto& ls = lout();
+  if (tr >= 5)
+    lputs("deal_cmd()");
+
+  if (not opts.isCmdInput()) {
+    lputs("\n    deal_cmd() : not opts.isCmdInput()\n");
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  opts.vprArgc_ = 0;
+  opts.vprArgv_ = nullptr;
+  string arg0;
+
+  if (tr >= 5)
+    ls << "\n\t  opts.isCmdInput()" << endl;
+  fio::LineReader lr(opts.input_);
+  bool rd_ok = lr.read(true, true);
+  if (tr >= 6)
+    lprintf("\t  rd_ok : %i\n", rd_ok);
+  if (rd_ok) {
+    if (tr >= 2)
+      lprintf("  setting argv from cmd-input: %s\n", opts.input_);
+    vector<string> W = lr.getWords();
+    if (W.empty()) {
+      ls << "\n [Error] no args - W.empty()" << endl;
+      err_puts(" [Error] no args - W.empty()");
+      return false;
+    }
+    arg0 = W[0];
+    if (tr >= 7) {
+      lprintf("  W.size()= %zu  W[0]= %s\n", W.size(), arg0.c_str());
+      lputs();
+    }
+    if (W.size() > 1 && W.size() < 4000) {
+      char** cmdArgv = (char**)calloc(W.size() + 4, sizeof(char*));
+      int cmdArgc = 0;
+      cmdArgv[cmdArgc++] = ::strdup("cmd_pln");
+      for (uint j = 1; j < W.size(); j++) {
+        cmdArgv[cmdArgc++] = ::strdup(W[j].c_str());
+      }
+      if (tr >= 4)
+        lprintf("  created cmdArgv: cmdArgc= %i\n", cmdArgc);
+      opts.vprArgc_ = cmdArgc;
+      opts.vprArgv_ = cmdArgv;
+    }
+  }
+  lputs();
+
+  if (opts.vprArgc_ <= 0 || !opts.vprArgv_) {
+    ls << "\n [Error] no args" << endl;
+    err_puts(" [Error] no args");
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  if (arg0 == "pin_c" or rsOpts::ends_with_pin_c(arg0.c_str())) {
+
+    status = deal_pinc(opts, false);
+    if (status) {
+      if (tr >= 3)
+        lputs("  (from deal_cmd)  deal_pinc() succeeded.");
+    } else {
+      if (tr >= 3)
+        lputs("  (from deal_cmd)  deal_pinc() failed.");
+    }
+
+    return status;
+  }
+
+  status = deal_vpr(opts, false);
+  if (status) {
+    if (tr >= 3)
+      lputs("  (from deal_cmd)  deal_vpr() succeeded.");
+  } else {
+    if (tr >= 3)
+      lputs("  (from deal_cmd)  deal_vpr() failed.");
+  }
+
+  return status;
+}
+
+bool deal_pinc(const rsOpts& opts, bool orig_args) {
+  bool status = false;
+
+  uint16_t tr = ltrace();
+  auto& ls = lout();
+  if (tr >= 5)
+    lputs("deal_pinc()");
+  int argc;
+  const char** argv;
+  if (orig_args) {
+    argc = opts.argc_;
+    argv = opts.argv_;
+  } else {
+    argc = opts.vprArgc_;
+    argv = (const char**)opts.vprArgv_;
+  }
+
+  if (argc <= 0 || !argv) {
+    ls << "\n [Error] no args" << endl;
+    err_puts(" [Error] no args");
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  if (tr >= 11 || getenv("pln_trace_env")) {
+    string cmd_fn = str::concat("01_deal_pinc.", str_PID(), ".pinc.sh");
+    std::ofstream cmd_os(cmd_fn);
+    if (cmd_os.is_open()) {
+      rsEnv::inst().print(cmd_os, "# deal_pinc\n#----env----\n");
+      cmd_os << "#-----------" << endl;
+      ls << "WRITTEN COMMAND FILE: " << cmd_fn << endl;
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (opts.isCmdInput()) {
+    ls << "\n\t  opts.isCmdInput()" << endl;
+    fio::LineReader lr(opts.input_);
+    bool rd_ok = lr.read(true, true);
+    lprintf("\t  rd_ok : %i\n", rd_ok);
+    if (rd_ok) {
+      lprintf("  setting argv from cmd-input: %s\n", opts.input_);
+      vector<string> W = lr.getWords();
+      lprintf("  W.size()= %zu\n", W.size());
+      lputs();
+      if (W.size() > 1 && W.size() < 4000) {
+        char** pcArgv = (char**)calloc(W.size() + 4, sizeof(char*));
+        int pcArgc = 0;
+        pcArgv[pcArgc++] = ::strdup("cmd_pin_c");
+        for (uint j = 1; j < W.size(); j++) {
+          pcArgv[pcArgc++] = ::strdup(W[j].c_str());
+        }
+        lprintf("  created pin_loc.cmd argv: pcArgc= %i\n", pcArgc);
+        argc = pcArgc;
+        argv = (const char**) pcArgv;
+      }
+    }
+    lputs();
+  }
+
+  // ======= pin_c/src/main.cpp: =====
+  const char* trace = getenv("pinc_trace");
+  if (trace) {
+    int t = atoi(trace);
+    if (t > 0 and t > int(tr))
+      set_ltrace(t);
+  }
+
+  if (! rsOpts::validate_pinc_args(argc, argv)) {
+    ls << "\n [Error] bad pin_c args" << endl;
+    err_puts(" [Error] bad pin_c args\n");
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  cmd_line cmd(argc, argv);
+
+  if (ltrace() >= 3) {
+    lputs("\n    pin_c");
+    if (ltrace() >= 7)
+      traceEnv(argc, argv);
+    cmd.print_options();
+  }
+
+  int pc_main_ret = pinc_main(cmd);
+  // ======= pin_c/src/main.cpp^ =====
+
+  status = (pc_main_ret == 0);
+
+  return status;
+}
+
+void deal_help(const rsOpts& opts) {
+  printf("PLANNER ver. %s\n", rsEnv::inst().shortVerCS());
+
+  if (opts.det_ver_) {
+    rsEnv::inst().listDevEnv();
+    return;
+  }
+  if (opts.version_) {
+    cout << endl;
+    return;
+  }
+  if (opts.help_) {
+    opts.printHelp();
+  }
+}
+
+void deal_units(const rsOpts& opts) {
+#ifdef PLN_UNIT_TEST_ON
+  using namespace tes;
+  if (opts.units_[1]) tes::run_U1();
+  if (opts.units_[2]) tes::run_U2();
+  if (opts.units_[3]) tes::run_U3();
+  if (opts.units_[4]) tes::run_U4();
+  if (opts.units_[5]) tes::run_U5();
+  if (opts.units_[6]) tes::run_U6();
+  if (opts.units_[7]) tes::run_U7();
+#endif
+}
+
+bool deal_shell(const rsOpts& opts) {
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool validate_partition_opts(const rsOpts& opts) {
+  using namespace fio;
+  uint16_t tr = ltrace();
+  int argc = opts.argc_;
+  const char** argv = opts.argv_;
+
+  if (argc <= 0 || !argv) {
+    lputs("\n [Error] no args");
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  if (tr >= 9 || getenv("pln_trace_env")) {
+    lputs("-------- traceEnv from validate_partition_opts");
+    traceEnv(argc, argv);
+    lputs("--------");
+  }
+  else if (tr >= 3) {
+    lputs("-------- Argv");
+    lprintf("    argc= %i\n", argc);
+    for (int i = 0; i < argc; i++)
+      lprintf("    |%i| %s\n", i, argv[i]);
+    lputs("--------");
+  }
+
+  if (argc < 4) {
+    lputs();
+    lputs("[Error] too few arguments for function 'partition'");
+    cerr << "[Error] too few arguments for function 'partition'" << endl;
+    lprintf("    Number of arguments = %i\n", argc - 1);
+    lprintf("    Function 'partition' expects at least 3\n\n");
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  CStr arg3 = argv[3];
+  assert(arg3);
+
+  bool ok = Fio::regularFileExists(arg3);
+  if (not ok) {
+    lprintf("\n[Error] XML arch file  %s  does not exist\n", arg3);
+    cerr << "\n[Error] no such file: " << arg3 << endl;
+    lputs();
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  return true;
+}
+
+}
+
diff --git a/planning/src/RS/rsDeal.h b/planning/src/RS/rsDeal.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1cbce93c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planning/src/RS/rsDeal.h
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+//
+//  'planning' exec modes - entry points to various operations.
+//  'planning' main() calls one of these deal_ functions.
+//
+
+#include "RS/rsEnv.h"
+
+namespace pln {
+
+bool deal_check(const rsOpts& opts);
+
+bool deal_cleanup(const rsOpts& opts);
+
+bool deal_stars(const rsOpts& opts, bool orig_args);
+
+bool deal_vpr(const rsOpts& opts, bool orig_args);
+
+bool deal_cmd(rsOpts& opts);
+
+bool deal_pinc(const rsOpts& opts, bool orig_args);
+
+void deal_help(const rsOpts& opts);
+
+void deal_units(const rsOpts& opts);
+
+bool deal_shell(const rsOpts& opts);
+
+bool validate_partition_opts(const rsOpts& opts);
+
+}
+
diff --git a/planning/src/RS/rsEnv.h b/planning/src/RS/rsEnv.h
index de4643c6..da8a643d 100644
--- a/planning/src/RS/rsEnv.h
+++ b/planning/src/RS/rsEnv.h
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ struct rsEnv {
   rsEnv(int argc, char** argv) noexcept { parse(argc, argv); }
   ~rsEnv() { opts_.reset(); }
 
+  static const rsEnv& inst() noexcept;
+
   int argCount(bool orig = true) const noexcept { return orig ? orig_argV_.size() : filtered_argV_.size(); }
 
   void parse(int argc, char** argv) noexcept;
diff --git a/planning/src/main.cpp b/planning/src/main.cpp
index ee18dcd4..7026721a 100644
--- a/planning/src/main.cpp
+++ b/planning/src/main.cpp
@@ -1,15 +1,11 @@
-static const char* _pln_VERSION_STR = "pln0364";
+static const char* _pln_VERSION_STR = "pln0365";
 
 #include "RS/rsEnv.h"
-#include "util/pln_log.h"
+#include "RS/rsDeal.h"
 #include "util/cmd_line.h"
 #include "file_io/pln_Fio.h"
 #include "pin_loc/pinc_main.h"
 
-#ifdef PLN_UNIT_TEST_ON
-#include "tes/tes_list.h"
-#endif
-
 #include "globals.h"
 #include "read_options.h"
 
@@ -18,474 +14,10 @@ static const char* _pln_VERSION_STR = "pln0364";
 #include "RS/sta_file_writer.h"
 
 namespace pln {
-
-using std::cout;
-using std::cerr;
-using std::endl;
-using std::string;
-
-static rsEnv s_env;
-
-static bool deal_pinc(const rsOpts& opts, bool orig_args);
-
-static bool deal_check(const rsOpts& opts) {
-  bool status = false;
-  uint16_t tr = ltrace();
-
-  CStr checkWhat = "BLIF";
-  if (not opts.hasInputFile() and opts.hasCsvFile())
-    checkWhat = "CSV";
-
-  if (tr >= 4)
-    lprintf("[PLANNER %s-CHECKER] deal_check()\n", checkWhat);
-
-  if (checkWhat[0] == 'B') {
-    if (not opts.hasInputFile()) {
-      err_puts("\n[PLANNER BLIF-CHECKER] : something wrong with input file\n");
-      if (!opts.input_) {
-        lputs("[PLANNER BLIF-CHECKER] : input file is not specified");
-      } else {
-        lprintf("[PLANNER BLIF-CHECKER] : input file '%s'\n", opts.input_);
-        lprintf("                  : does not exist or not readable\n");
-      }
-      flush_out(true);
-      return false;
-    }
-  }
-
-  status = do_check(opts, checkWhat[0] == 'B');
-
-  if (tr >= 3)
-    lprintf("(deal_check status) %s\n", status ? "TRUE" : "FALSE");
-
-  flush_out(true);
-  return status;
-}
-
-static bool deal_cleanup(const rsOpts& opts) {
-  bool status = false;
-  uint16_t tr = ltrace();
-
-  if (tr >= 4) {
-    flush_out(true);
-    lprintf("[PLANNER BLIF-CLEANER] deal_cleanup()\n");
-  }
-
-  if (not opts.hasInputFile()) {
-    err_puts("\n[PLANNER BLIF-CLEANER] : something wrong with input file\n");
-    if (!opts.input_) {
-      lputs("[PLANNER BLIF-CLEANER] : input file is not specified");
-    } else {
-      lprintf("[PLANNER BLIF-CLEANER] : input file '%s'\n", opts.input_);
-      lprintf("                  : does not exist or not readable\n");
-    }
-    flush_out(true);
-    return false;
-  }
-
-  std::vector<uspair> corrected;
-  status = do_cleanup_blif(opts.input_, corrected);
-
-  if (tr >= 3) {
-    flush_out(true);
-    lprintf("    deal_cleanup: status= %s\n", status ? "TRUE" : "FALSE");
-    if (corrected.empty()) {
-      if (status)
-        lprintf("    deal_cleanup: BLIF was not modified (NOP)\n");
-    } else {
-      lprintf("    deal_cleanup: modified BLIF, #changes= %zu\n",
-              corrected.size());
-    }
-  }
-
-  flush_out(true);
-  return status;
-}
-
-static bool deal_stars(const rsOpts& opts, bool orig_args) {
-  bool status = false;
-
-  uint16_t tr = ltrace();
-  auto& ls = lout();
-  int argc;
-  const char** argv;
-  if (orig_args) {
-    argc = opts.argc_;
-    argv = opts.argv_;
-  } else {
-    argc = opts.vprArgc_;
-    argv = (const char**)opts.vprArgv_;
-  }
-
-  if (argc <= 0 || !argv) {
-    lputs("\n [Error] no args");
-    return false;
-  }
-
-  if (tr >= 10 || getenv("pln_trace_env")) {
-    string cmd_fn = str::concat("02_deal_stars.", std::to_string(s_env.pid_), ".stars.sh");
-    std::ofstream cmd_os(cmd_fn);
-    if (cmd_os.is_open()) {
-      s_env.print(cmd_os, "# deal_stars\n#----env----\n");
-      cmd_os << "#-----------" << endl;
-      ls << "WRITTEN COMMAND FILE: " << cmd_fn << endl;
-    }
-  }
-
-  // call vpr to build design context
-  ls << "\nPLN-stars: Preparing design data ... " << endl;
-
-  // add --analysis if it's missing, and remove --function
-  char** vprArgv = (char**)calloc(argc + 4, sizeof(char*));
-  int vprArgc = 0;
-  bool found_analysis = false;
-  string analysis = "--analysis";
-  for (int i = 0; i < argc; i++) {
-    const char* a = argv[i];
-    if (analysis == a) found_analysis = true;
-    vprArgv[vprArgc++] = ::strdup(a);
-  }
-  if (not found_analysis) {
-    ls << "PLN: added --analysis to vpr options" << endl;
-    vprArgv[argc] = ::strdup("--analysis");
-    vprArgc++;
-  }
-
-  status = true;
-  ls << "PLN-stars: Initializing VPR data ... " << endl;
-
-  int vpr_code = vpr4pln(vprArgc, vprArgv);
-  if (tr >= 3)
-    lprintf("vpr4pln returned: %i\n", vpr_code);
-  if (vpr_code != 0) {
-    lputs("\n[Error] PLN: VPR init failed.");
-    cerr << "[Error] PLN: VPR init failed." << endl;
-    status = false;
-  }
-
-  if (status) {
-    ls << "PLN-stars: Creating sta files ... " << endl;
-    if (!FileWriter::create_files(argc, argv)) {
-      lputs("\n[Error] PLN: Creating sta files failed.");
-      cerr << "[Error] PLN: Creating sta files failed." << endl;
-      status = false;
-    } else {
-      lputs("PLN-stars: Creating sta files succeeded.");
-      status = true;
-    }
-  }
-
-  return status;
-}
-
-static bool validate_partition_opts(const rsOpts& opts) {
-  using namespace fio;
-  uint16_t tr = ltrace();
-  int argc = opts.argc_;
-  const char** argv = opts.argv_;
-
-  if (argc <= 0 || !argv) {
-    lputs("\n [Error] no args");
-    return false;
-  }
-
-  if (tr >= 9 || getenv("pln_trace_env")) {
-    lputs("-------- traceEnv from validate_partition_opts");
-    traceEnv(argc, argv);
-    lputs("--------");
-  }
-  else if (tr >= 3) {
-    lputs("-------- Argv");
-    lprintf("    argc= %i\n", argc);
-    for (int i = 0; i < argc; i++)
-      lprintf("    |%i| %s\n", i, argv[i]);
-    lputs("--------");
-  }
-
-  if (argc < 4) {
-    lputs();
-    lputs("[Error] too few arguments for function 'partition'");
-    cerr << "[Error] too few arguments for function 'partition'" << endl;
-    lprintf("    Number of arguments = %i\n", argc - 1);
-    lprintf("    Function 'partition' expects at least 3\n\n");
-    return false;
-  }
-
-  CStr arg3 = argv[3];
-  assert(arg3);
-
-  bool ok = Fio::regularFileExists(arg3);
-  if (not ok) {
-    lprintf("\n[Error] XML arch file  %s  does not exist\n", arg3);
-    cerr << "\n[Error] no such file: " << arg3 << endl;
-    lputs();
-    return false;
-  }
-
-  return true;
-}
-
-static bool deal_vpr(const rsOpts& opts, bool orig_args) {
-  bool status = false;
-  uint16_t tr = ltrace();
-  auto& ls = lout();
-
-  int argc;
-  const char** argv;
-  if (orig_args) {
-    argc = opts.argc_;
-    argv = opts.argv_;
-  } else {
-    argc = opts.vprArgc_;
-    argv = (const char**)opts.vprArgv_;
-  }
-
-  if (argc <= 0 || !argv) {
-    lputs("\n [Error] no args");
-    return false;
-  }
-
-  if (tr >= 10 || getenv("pln_trace_env")) {
-    string cmd_fn = str::concat("03_deal_vpr.", std::to_string(s_env.pid_), ".vpr.sh");
-    std::ofstream cmd_os(cmd_fn);
-    if (cmd_os.is_open()) {
-      s_env.print(cmd_os, "# deal_vpr\n#----env----\n");
-      cmd_os << "#-----------" << endl;
-      ls << "WRITTEN COMMAND FILE: " << cmd_fn << endl;
-    }
-  }
-  if (tr >= 8 || getenv("pln_trace_env")) {
-    lputs("-------- traceEnv from deal_vpr");
-    traceEnv(argc, argv);
-    lputs("--------");
-  }
-
-  // call vpr to build design context
-  ls << "\nPLN-VPR: Preparing design data ... " << endl;
-
-  status = true;
-  ls << "PLN-VPR: Initializing VPR data ... " << endl;
-
-  int vpr_code = vpr4pln(argc, (char**)argv);
-  if (tr >= 3)
-    lprintf("vpr4pln returned: %i\n", vpr_code);
-  if (vpr_code != 0) {
-    lputs("\n[Error] PLN-VPR: VPR failed.");
-    cerr << "[Error] PLN-VPR: VPR failed." << endl;
-    status = false;
-  }
-
-  return status;
+  static rsEnv s_env;
+  const rsEnv& rsEnv::inst() noexcept { return s_env; }
 }
 
-static bool deal_cmd(rsOpts& opts) {
-  bool status = false;
-
-  uint16_t tr = ltrace();
-  auto& ls = lout();
-  if (tr >= 5)
-    lputs("deal_cmd()");
-
-  if (not opts.isCmdInput()) {
-    lputs("\n    deal_cmd() : not opts.isCmdInput()\n");
-    return false;
-  }
-
-  opts.vprArgc_ = 0;
-  opts.vprArgv_ = nullptr;
-  string arg0;
-
-  if (tr >= 5)
-    ls << "\n\t  opts.isCmdInput()" << endl;
-  fio::LineReader lr(opts.input_);
-  bool rd_ok = lr.read(true, true);
-  if (tr >= 6)
-    lprintf("\t  rd_ok : %i\n", rd_ok);
-  if (rd_ok) {
-    if (tr >= 2)
-      lprintf("  setting argv from cmd-input: %s\n", opts.input_);
-    vector<string> W = lr.getWords();
-    if (W.empty()) {
-      ls << "\n [Error] no args - W.empty()" << endl;
-      err_puts(" [Error] no args - W.empty()");
-      return false;
-    }
-    arg0 = W[0];
-    if (tr >= 7) {
-      lprintf("  W.size()= %zu  W[0]= %s\n", W.size(), arg0.c_str());
-      lputs();
-    }
-    if (W.size() > 1 && W.size() < 4000) {
-      char** cmdArgv = (char**)calloc(W.size() + 4, sizeof(char*));
-      int cmdArgc = 0;
-      cmdArgv[cmdArgc++] = ::strdup("cmd_pln");
-      for (uint j = 1; j < W.size(); j++) {
-        cmdArgv[cmdArgc++] = ::strdup(W[j].c_str());
-      }
-      if (tr >= 4)
-        lprintf("  created cmdArgv: cmdArgc= %i\n", cmdArgc);
-      opts.vprArgc_ = cmdArgc;
-      opts.vprArgv_ = cmdArgv;
-    }
-  }
-  lputs();
-
-  if (opts.vprArgc_ <= 0 || !opts.vprArgv_) {
-    ls << "\n [Error] no args" << endl;
-    err_puts(" [Error] no args");
-    return false;
-  }
-
-  if (arg0 == "pin_c" or rsOpts::ends_with_pin_c(arg0.c_str())) {
-
-    status = deal_pinc(opts, false);
-    if (status) {
-      if (tr >= 3)
-        lputs("  (from deal_cmd)  deal_pinc() succeeded.");
-    } else {
-      if (tr >= 3)
-        lputs("  (from deal_cmd)  deal_pinc() failed.");
-    }
-
-    return status;
-  }
-
-  status = deal_vpr(opts, false);
-  if (status) {
-    if (tr >= 3)
-      lputs("  (from deal_cmd)  deal_vpr() succeeded.");
-  } else {
-    if (tr >= 3)
-      lputs("  (from deal_cmd)  deal_vpr() failed.");
-  }
-
-  return status;
-}
-
-static bool deal_pinc(const rsOpts& opts, bool orig_args) {
-  bool status = false;
-
-  uint16_t tr = ltrace();
-  auto& ls = lout();
-  if (tr >= 5)
-    lputs("deal_pinc()");
-  int argc;
-  const char** argv;
-  if (orig_args) {
-    argc = opts.argc_;
-    argv = opts.argv_;
-  } else {
-    argc = opts.vprArgc_;
-    argv = (const char**)opts.vprArgv_;
-  }
-
-  if (argc <= 0 || !argv) {
-    ls << "\n [Error] no args" << endl;
-    err_puts(" [Error] no args");
-    return false;
-  }
-
-  if (tr >= 11 || getenv("pln_trace_env")) {
-    string cmd_fn = str::concat("01_deal_pinc.", std::to_string(s_env.pid_), ".pinc.sh");
-    std::ofstream cmd_os(cmd_fn);
-    if (cmd_os.is_open()) {
-      s_env.print(cmd_os, "# deal_pinc\n#----env----\n");
-      cmd_os << "#-----------" << endl;
-      ls << "WRITTEN COMMAND FILE: " << cmd_fn << endl;
-    }
-  }
-
-  if (opts.isCmdInput()) {
-    ls << "\n\t  opts.isCmdInput()" << endl;
-    fio::LineReader lr(opts.input_);
-    bool rd_ok = lr.read(true, true);
-    lprintf("\t  rd_ok : %i\n", rd_ok);
-    if (rd_ok) {
-      lprintf("  setting argv from cmd-input: %s\n", opts.input_);
-      vector<string> W = lr.getWords();
-      lprintf("  W.size()= %zu\n", W.size());
-      lputs();
-      if (W.size() > 1 && W.size() < 4000) {
-        char** pcArgv = (char**)calloc(W.size() + 4, sizeof(char*));
-        int pcArgc = 0;
-        pcArgv[pcArgc++] = ::strdup("cmd_pin_c");
-        for (uint j = 1; j < W.size(); j++) {
-          pcArgv[pcArgc++] = ::strdup(W[j].c_str());
-        }
-        lprintf("  created pin_loc.cmd argv: pcArgc= %i\n", pcArgc);
-        argc = pcArgc;
-        argv = (const char**) pcArgv;
-      }
-    }
-    lputs();
-  }
-
-  // ======= pin_c/src/main.cpp: =====
-  const char* trace = getenv("pinc_trace");
-  if (trace) {
-    int t = atoi(trace);
-    if (t > 0 and t > int(tr))
-      set_ltrace(t);
-  }
-
-  if (! rsOpts::validate_pinc_args(argc, argv)) {
-    ls << "\n [Error] bad pin_c args" << endl;
-    err_puts(" [Error] bad pin_c args\n");
-    return false;
-  }
-
-  cmd_line cmd(argc, argv);
-
-  if (ltrace() >= 3) {
-    lputs("\n    pin_c");
-    if (ltrace() >= 7)
-      traceEnv(argc, argv);
-    cmd.print_options();
-  }
-
-  int pc_main_ret = pinc_main(cmd);
-  // ======= pin_c/src/main.cpp^ =====
-
-  status = (pc_main_ret == 0);
-
-  return status;
-}
-
-static void deal_help(const rsOpts& opts) {
-  printf("PLANNER ver. %s\n", _pln_VERSION_STR);
-
-  if (opts.det_ver_) {
-    s_env.listDevEnv();
-    return;
-  }
-  if (opts.version_) {
-    cout << endl;
-    return;
-  }
-  if (opts.help_) {
-    opts.printHelp();
-  }
-}
-
-static void deal_units(const rsOpts& opts) {
-#ifdef PLN_UNIT_TEST_ON
-  using namespace tes;
-  if (opts.units_[1]) tes::run_U1();
-  if (opts.units_[2]) tes::run_U2();
-  if (opts.units_[3]) tes::run_U3();
-  if (opts.units_[4]) tes::run_U4();
-  if (opts.units_[5]) tes::run_U5();
-  if (opts.units_[6]) tes::run_U6();
-  if (opts.units_[7]) tes::run_U7();
-#endif
-}
-
-static bool deal_shell(const rsOpts& opts) {
-  return true;
-}
-
-}  // NS pln
-
 int main(int argc, char** argv) {
   using namespace pln;
   using std::cout;
diff --git a/planning/src/util/pln_log.h b/planning/src/util/pln_log.h
index 7a6fb2f1..87be5110 100644
--- a/planning/src/util/pln_log.h
+++ b/planning/src/util/pln_log.h
@@ -111,6 +111,8 @@ inline void p_free(void* p) noexcept {
 }
 
 int get_PID() noexcept;
+inline std::string str_PID() noexcept { return std::to_string(get_PID()); }
+
 std::string get_CWD() noexcept;
 void traceEnv(int argc = 0, CStr* argv = nullptr) noexcept;
 
@@ -266,6 +268,14 @@ inline string concat(const string& a, const string& b, const string& c,
   return z;
 }
 
+inline string concat(CStr a) noexcept {
+  // workaround bug in C++ standard.
+  // string construction from null should produce 'empty', not 'throw'
+  if (!a or !a[0])
+    return {};
+  return a;
+}
+
 inline CStr trimFront(CStr z) noexcept {
   if (z && *z) {
     while (std::isspace(*z)) z++;