diff --git a/LINKS.md b/LINKS.md
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 # Useful Design Notes
 
-[How to Make Almost Anything: Mechanical Design](http://academy.cba.mit.edu/classes/mechanical_design/index.html)
-[How to Make Almost Anything: Machine Design](http://academy.cba.mit.edu/classes/machine_design/index.html)
-[How to Make Something that Makes Almost Anything](https://fab.cba.mit.edu/classes/865.21/index.html)
+[How to Make Almost Anything: Mechanical Design](http://academy.cba.mit.edu/classes/mechanical_design/index.html)  
+[How to Make Almost Anything: Machine Design](http://academy.cba.mit.edu/classes/machine_design/index.html)  
+[How to Make Something that Makes Almost Anything](https://fab.cba.mit.edu/classes/865.21/index.html)  
 
 ## MechE
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 59bdf0b99e2cf1e5e0d28bbebf3e6f60465c27a6..b563d0a293995cb5a74b92fa21312bb599856be2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,24 +1,39 @@
-# Machine Week 2023
+# Machine Week 2024
 
 ```
 everything's connected but nothing's working !
 ```
 
+> [Controls Repository: machineweek-2024-control](https://gitlab.cba.mit.edu/jakeread/machineweek-2024-control)
+
 # 1. Your (Group) Task
 
-Each section will design and build a "machine" - this means anything that includes **mechanism, actuation, automation and application**, that just means:
+Each section will design and build a "machine" - this means anything that includes **mechanism, actuation, automation and application.** 
+
+You'll get a [**kit of parts**](KIT.md) to do this, and we have [**an example linear axis**](TODO) and [**an example rotary axis**](TODO) that you can use as building blocks. We also have two example projects: [**a xylophone that plays itself**](TODO) and a [**small, very fast drawing machine**](TODO). We also provide a [**set of modular hardware and software for motion control**](https://gitlab.cba.mit.edu/jakeread/machineweek-2024-control) (requires a gitlab login) to help get things moving. 
+
+You should also **document your machine** and **use git to collaborate** a-la last year's examples:
+
+- CBA Section 2023: [repo](https://gitlab.cba.mit.edu/classes/863.23/CBA/machine) and [website](https://fab.cba.mit.edu/classes/863.23/CBA/machine/index.html)
+- Harvard Section 2023: [repo](https://gitlab.cba.mit.edu/classes/863.23/Harvard/machine) and [website](https://fab.cba.mit.edu/classes/863.23/Harvard/machine/index.html) 
 
 ### **Mechanism:** mechanical degrees-of-freedom (DOF)
 
-Stuff shuld move around.
+Stuff should move around!
+
+- [Kinematics, Constraint](https://fab.cba.mit.edu/classes/865.21/topics/mechanical_design//kinematics/)
+- [Mechanical Principles](https://fab.cba.mit.edu/classes/865.21/topics/mechanical_design//principles/)  
 
 ### **Actuation:** computer-controllable motion of the above DOFs
 
 The motion should be computer controlled.
 
-### **Automation / Application** software-coordinated computer-control of the above, and i.e. sequences therein
+- [Stepper Controllers](https://gitlab.cba.mit.edu/jakeread/machineweek-2024-control/-/tree/main/circuits/simple-stepper?ref_type=heads) (TODO: improve doc) 
+- [Transmissions](https://fab.cba.mit.edu/classes/865.21/topics/mechanical_design//transmissions/)  
+
+### **Automation / Application** software-coordinated computer-control of the above, to accomplish a task. 
 
-The motion should result in some desired outcome... maybe make something, draw something, change something, assemble something, sort something, cast a spell, etc.
+The motion should result in some desired outcome... maybe make something, draw something, change something, assemble something, sort something, cast a spell, etc. 
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index 62ff281fe4ee51e681bc42003ad6f027eed35110..8e9f8c786f8a6b4a345bc68a5f873ce9c66134a2 100644
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+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -3,23 +3,56 @@
 ## Prepatory Hardware Actions 
 
 - hardware kit... aligning with demo parts ? 
+	- i.e. improve that belt axis a little ? 
 - router circuits reflow, assembly ? 
 - circuits on motors, fertha kids ? 
 	- 16 motors... either we reflow the known codes or we deploy-test the new lads 
+	- we have enough of each, but need to PNP by hand 
+	- tbd if this is worth it over the cost of the new boards:
+		- spend the few-hours bringing up firmware instead... at the cost of 1/2 circuit stash, 
+		- re-ups possible, but maybe time consuming... but testing is also worthwhile 
 - limit switch boards, or some other way to Reduce Limit Switch Suffering (or fk it, focus on code) 
 - backpack-to-whatever circuit ?
 	- jlcpcb rush assy ? 
 
 ## Prepatory SI Actions 
 
-
+- important: *NOT SURE ABOUT FIRMWARE UPDATES YET* 
+- minimum:
+	- non-blocking queue planner / segments transmitter 
+	- (!) forwards and reverse transforms, for homing cycles ? 
 - the handbook ? 
 - ... graphs, or what ? 
 - deadbugger, hbridge, stepper firmwares ? 
 - docs for circuits, python, etc ? 
 - consider: more productive to do nuts-and-bolts perf for the segment solver (etc), than full-on graphs - though the latter is more fun 
+- how to rename devices, besides just uploading new firmwares ? 
 
 ## Demo Desires
 
 - make the xylophone into a standalone example project 
-- samesies for the little guy 
+- samesies for the little guy, vvelocity 
+
+## When is it Over 
+
+- prep is done when:
+	- kits are ready 
+		- and pic acquired 
+  - routers are ready 
+  - ... other circuits are ready:
+    - either firmware-and-test for the new drivers *or* build and test the og's 
+    - one deadbugger, one hbridge each, with firmwares and APIs for those ? 
+	- limit switch switchuation ? 
+  - demos are ready:
+    - piano-or-midi xylo
+    - little guy 
+    - this includes unfking maxl (and it might just be that one bad await-all call)
+    - and i.e. a rasbpi setup w/ power situation, etc - the little guy should be finish, bottled ! 
+		- the mega / multi plotter ? 
+	- docs: 
+		- cable building ? 
+		- cad, interfaces for circuits (mount holes...) 
+		- firmware loading / reloading ? 
+		- what happens when multiples of the same name connected ? 
+		- how to connect servo-z-axes, etc ? 
+  - handbook OK ? 
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