diff --git a/branches_panel.go b/branches_panel.go
index bb96947aa..576bc01ec 100644
--- a/branches_panel.go
+++ b/branches_panel.go
@@ -19,13 +19,20 @@ import (
 
 func handleBranchPress(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
   branch := getSelectedBranch(v)
-  if err := gitCheckout(branch.Name, false); err != nil {
-    panic(err)
+  if output, err := gitCheckout(branch.Name, false); err != nil {
+    createSimpleConfirmationPanel(g, v, "Error", output)
   }
-  refreshBranches(v)
-  refreshFiles(g)
-  refreshLogs(g)
-  return nil
+  return refreshSidePanels(g, v)
+}
+
+func handleForceCheckout(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
+  branch := getSelectedBranch(v)
+  return createConfirmationPanel(g, v, "Force Checkout Branch", "Are you sure you want force checkout? You will lose all local changes (y/n)", func(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
+    if output, err := gitCheckout(branch.Name, true); err != nil {
+      createSimpleConfirmationPanel(g, v, "Error", output)
+    }
+    return refreshSidePanels(g, v)
+  }, nil)
 }
 
 func getSelectedBranch(v *gocui.View) Branch {
@@ -34,7 +41,7 @@ func getSelectedBranch(v *gocui.View) Branch {
 }
 
 func handleBranchSelect(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
-  renderString(g, "options", "space: checkout")
+  renderString(g, "options", "space: checkout, s: squash down")
   lineNumber := getItemPosition(v)
   branch := state.Branches[lineNumber]
   diff, _ := getBranchDiff(branch.Name, branch.BaseBranch)
@@ -44,7 +51,11 @@ func handleBranchSelect(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
   return nil
 }
 
-func refreshBranches(v *gocui.View) error {
+func refreshBranches(g *gocui.Gui) error {
+  v, err := g.View("branches")
+  if err != nil {
+    panic(err)
+  }
   state.Branches = getGitBranches()
   yellow := color.New(color.FgYellow)
   red := color.New(color.FgRed)
diff --git a/commit_panel.go b/commit_panel.go
index f53f93408..79a09f17b 100644
--- a/commit_panel.go
+++ b/commit_panel.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import (
 func handleCommitPress(g *gocui.Gui, currentView *gocui.View) error {
   devLog(stagedFiles(state.GitFiles))
   if len(stagedFiles(state.GitFiles)) == 0 {
-    return createConfirmationPanel(g, currentView, "Nothing to Commit", "There are no staged files to commit (enter)", nil, nil)
+    return createSimpleConfirmationPanel(g, currentView, "Nothing to Commit", "There are no staged files to commit (esc)")
   }
   maxX, maxY := g.Size()
   if v, err := g.SetView("commit", maxX/2-30, maxY/2-1, maxX/2+30, maxY/2+1); err != nil {
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func handleCommitSubmit(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
     panic(err)
   }
   refreshFiles(g)
-  refreshLogs(g)
+  refreshCommits(g)
   return closeCommitPrompt(g, v)
 }
 
diff --git a/commits_panel.go b/commits_panel.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2d355a625
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commits_panel.go
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+// lots of this has been directly ported from one of the example files, will brush up later
+
+// Copyright 2014 The gocui Authors. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+package main
+
+import (
+  "github.com/fatih/color"
+  "github.com/jroimartin/gocui"
+)
+
+func refreshCommits(g *gocui.Gui) error {
+  state.Commits = getCommits()
+  g.Update(func(*gocui.Gui) error {
+    v, err := g.View("commits")
+    if err != nil {
+      panic(err)
+    }
+    v.Clear()
+    yellow := color.New(color.FgYellow)
+    white := color.New(color.FgWhite)
+    for _, commit := range state.Commits {
+      yellow.Fprint(v, commit.Sha+" ")
+      white.Fprintln(v, commit.Name)
+    }
+    return nil
+  })
+  return nil
+}
+
+func handleCommitSelect(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
+  commit := getSelectedCommit(v)
+  commitText := gitShow(commit.Sha)
+  devLog("commitText:", commitText)
+  return renderString(g, "main", commitText)
+}
+
+func handleCommitSquashDown(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
+  if getItemPosition(v) != 0 {
+    return createSimpleConfirmationPanel(g, v, "Error", "Can only squash topmost commit")
+  }
+  commit := getSelectedCommit(v)
+  if output, err := gitSquashPreviousTwoCommits(commit.Name); err != nil {
+    return createSimpleConfirmationPanel(g, v, "Error", output)
+  }
+  if err := refreshCommits(g); err != nil {
+    panic(err)
+  }
+  return handleCommitSelect(g, v)
+}
+
+func handleRenameCommit(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
+  if getItemPosition(v) != 0 {
+    return createSimpleConfirmationPanel(g, v, "Error", "Can only rename topmost commit")
+  }
+  createPromptPanel(g, v, "Rename Commit", func(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
+    if output, err := gitRenameCommit(v.Buffer()); err != nil {
+      return createSimpleConfirmationPanel(g, v, "Error", output)
+    }
+    if err := refreshCommits(g); err != nil {
+      panic(err)
+    }
+    return handleCommitSelect(g, v)
+  })
+  return nil
+}
+
+func getSelectedCommit(v *gocui.View) Commit {
+  lineNumber := getItemPosition(v)
+  if len(state.Commits) == 0 {
+    return Commit{
+      Sha:           "noCommit",
+      DisplayString: "none",
+    }
+  }
+  return state.Commits[lineNumber]
+}
diff --git a/confirmation_panel.go b/confirmation_panel.go
index b63534987..08c7e04ab 100644
--- a/confirmation_panel.go
+++ b/confirmation_panel.go
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import (
   // "io"
   // "io/ioutil"
 
-  "math"
+  "strings"
   // "strings"
 
   "github.com/jroimartin/gocui"
@@ -24,39 +24,94 @@ func wrappedConfirmationFunction(function func(*gocui.Gui, *gocui.View) error) f
         panic(err)
       }
     }
-    if err := returnFocus(g, v); err != nil {
-      panic(err)
-    }
-    g.DeleteKeybindings("confirmation")
-    return g.DeleteView("confirmation")
+    return closeConfirmationPrompt(g)
   }
 }
 
+func closeConfirmationPrompt(g *gocui.Gui) error {
+  view, err := g.View("confirmation")
+  if err != nil {
+    panic(err)
+  }
+  if err := returnFocus(g, view); err != nil {
+    panic(err)
+  }
+  g.DeleteKeybindings("confirmation")
+  return g.DeleteView("confirmation")
+}
+
+func getMessageHeight(message string, width int) int {
+  lines := strings.Split(message, "\n")
+  lineCount := 0
+  for _, line := range lines {
+    lineCount += len(line)/width + 1
+  }
+  return lineCount
+}
+
 func getConfirmationPanelDimensions(g *gocui.Gui, prompt string) (int, int, int, int) {
   width, height := g.Size()
   panelWidth := 60
-  panelHeight := int(math.Ceil(float64(len(prompt)) / float64(panelWidth)))
+  // panelHeight := int(math.Ceil(float64(len(prompt)) / float64(panelWidth)))
+  panelHeight := getMessageHeight(prompt, panelWidth)
   return width/2 - panelWidth/2,
     height/2 - panelHeight/2 - panelHeight%2 - 1,
     width/2 + panelWidth/2,
     height/2 + panelHeight/2
 }
 
-func createConfirmationPanel(g *gocui.Gui, sourceView *gocui.View, title, prompt string, handleYes, handleNo func(*gocui.Gui, *gocui.View) error) error {
-  x0, y0, x1, y1 := getConfirmationPanelDimensions(g, prompt)
-  if v, err := g.SetView("confirmation", x0, y0, x1, y1); err != nil {
+func createPromptPanel(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View, title string, handleSubmit func(*gocui.Gui, *gocui.View) error) error {
+  // only need to fit one line
+  x0, y0, x1, y1 := getConfirmationPanelDimensions(g, "")
+  if confirmationView, err := g.SetView("confirmation", x0, y0, x1, y1); err != nil {
     if err != gocui.ErrUnknownView {
       return err
     }
-    v.Title = title
-    renderString(g, "confirmation", prompt+" (y/n)")
-    switchFocus(g, sourceView, v)
-    if err := g.SetKeybinding("confirmation", 'n', gocui.ModNone, wrappedConfirmationFunction(handleNo)); err != nil {
+    confirmationView.Editable = true
+    g.Cursor = true
+    confirmationView.Title = title
+    switchFocus(g, v, confirmationView)
+    if err := g.SetKeybinding("confirmation", gocui.KeyEnter, gocui.ModNone, wrappedConfirmationFunction(handleSubmit)); err != nil {
       return err
     }
-    if err := g.SetKeybinding("confirmation", 'y', gocui.ModNone, wrappedConfirmationFunction(handleYes)); err != nil {
+    if err := g.SetKeybinding("confirmation", gocui.KeyEsc, gocui.ModNone, wrappedConfirmationFunction(nil)); err != nil {
       return err
     }
   }
   return nil
 }
+
+func createConfirmationPanel(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View, title, prompt string, handleYes, handleNo func(*gocui.Gui, *gocui.View) error) error {
+  // delete the existing confirmation panel if it exists
+  if view, _ := g.View("confirmation"); view != nil {
+    if err := closeConfirmationPrompt(g); err != nil {
+      panic(err)
+    }
+  }
+  x0, y0, x1, y1 := getConfirmationPanelDimensions(g, prompt)
+  if confirmationView, err := g.SetView("confirmation", x0, y0, x1, y1); err != nil {
+    if err != gocui.ErrUnknownView {
+      return err
+    }
+    confirmationView.Title = title
+    renderString(g, "confirmation", prompt)
+    switchFocus(g, v, confirmationView)
+    if err := g.SetKeybinding("confirmation", 'n', gocui.ModNone, wrappedConfirmationFunction(handleNo)); err != nil {
+      return err
+    }
+    if err := g.SetKeybinding("confirmation", gocui.KeyEsc, gocui.ModNone, wrappedConfirmationFunction(handleNo)); err != nil {
+      return err
+    }
+    if err := g.SetKeybinding("confirmation", 'y', gocui.ModNone, wrappedConfirmationFunction(handleYes)); err != nil {
+      return err
+    }
+    if err := g.SetKeybinding("confirmation", gocui.KeyEnter, gocui.ModNone, wrappedConfirmationFunction(handleYes)); err != nil {
+      return err
+    }
+  }
+  return nil
+}
+
+func createSimpleConfirmationPanel(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View, title, prompt string) error {
+  return createConfirmationPanel(g, v, title, prompt, nil, nil)
+}
diff --git a/files_panel.go b/files_panel.go
index 8820ee145..7e55dfbc3 100644
--- a/files_panel.go
+++ b/files_panel.go
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ func handleFilePress(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
 func getSelectedFile(v *gocui.View) GitFile {
   lineNumber := getItemPosition(v)
   if len(state.GitFiles) == 0 {
+    // find a way to not have to do this
     return GitFile{
       Name:               "noFile",
       DisplayString:      "none",
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ func handleFileRemove(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
   } else {
     deleteVerb = "delete"
   }
-  return createConfirmationPanel(g, v, strings.Title(deleteVerb)+" file", "Are you sure you want to "+deleteVerb+" "+file.Name+" (you will lose your changes)?", func(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
+  return createConfirmationPanel(g, v, strings.Title(deleteVerb)+" file", "Are you sure you want to "+deleteVerb+" "+file.Name+" (you will lose your changes)? (y/n)", func(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
     if err := removeFile(file); err != nil {
       panic(err)
     }
@@ -135,10 +136,30 @@ func refreshFiles(g *gocui.Gui) error {
   return nil
 }
 
-func pullFiles(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.Gui) error {
-  if err := gitPull(); err != nil {
-    // should show error
-    panic(err)
-  }
+func pullFiles(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
+  devLog("pulling...")
+  createSimpleConfirmationPanel(g, v, "", "Pulling...")
+  go func() {
+    if output, err := gitPull(); err != nil {
+      createSimpleConfirmationPanel(g, v, "Error", output)
+    } else {
+      closeConfirmationPrompt(g)
+    }
+  }()
+  devLog("pulled.")
   return refreshFiles(g)
 }
+
+func pushFiles(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
+  devLog("pushing...")
+  createSimpleConfirmationPanel(g, v, "", "Pushing...")
+  go func() {
+    if output, err := gitPush(); err != nil {
+      createSimpleConfirmationPanel(g, v, "Error", output)
+    } else {
+      closeConfirmationPrompt(g)
+    }
+  }()
+  devLog("pushed.")
+  return nil
+}
diff --git a/gitcommands.go b/gitcommands.go
index b4fca3835..b78da318b 100644
--- a/gitcommands.go
+++ b/gitcommands.go
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import (
   "os"
   "os/exec"
   "strings"
+
+  "github.com/fatih/color"
 )
 
 // GitFile : A staged/unstaged file
@@ -31,20 +33,32 @@ type Branch struct {
   BaseBranch    string
 }
 
+// Commit : A git commit
+type Commit struct {
+  Sha           string
+  Name          string
+  DisplayString string
+}
+
 func devLog(objects ...interface{}) {
-  localLog("/Users/jesseduffieldduffield/go/src/github.com/jesseduffield/gitgot/development.log", objects...)
+  localLog(color.FgWhite, "/Users/jesseduffieldduffield/go/src/github.com/jesseduffield/gitgot/development.log", objects...)
+}
+
+func colorLog(colour color.Attribute, objects ...interface{}) {
+  localLog(colour, "/Users/jesseduffieldduffield/go/src/github.com/jesseduffield/gitgot/development.log", objects...)
 }
 
 func commandLog(objects ...interface{}) {
-  localLog("/Users/jesseduffieldduffield/go/src/github.com/jesseduffield/gitgot/commands.log", objects...)
-  localLog("/Users/jesseduffieldduffield/go/src/github.com/jesseduffield/gitgot/development.log", objects...)
+  localLog(color.FgWhite, "/Users/jesseduffieldduffield/go/src/github.com/jesseduffield/gitgot/commands.log", objects...)
+  localLog(color.FgWhite, "/Users/jesseduffieldduffield/go/src/github.com/jesseduffield/gitgot/development.log", objects...)
 }
 
-func localLog(path string, objects ...interface{}) {
+func localLog(colour color.Attribute, path string, objects ...interface{}) {
   f, _ := os.OpenFile(path, os.O_APPEND|os.O_WRONLY, 0644)
   defer f.Close()
   for _, object := range objects {
-    f.WriteString(fmt.Sprint(object) + "\n")
+    colorFunction := color.New(colour).SprintFunc()
+    f.WriteString(colorFunction(fmt.Sprint(object)) + "\n")
   }
 }
 
@@ -85,7 +99,7 @@ func mergeGitStatusFiles(oldGitFiles, newGitFiles []GitFile) []GitFile {
 
 func runDirectCommand(command string) (string, error) {
   commandLog(command)
-  cmdOut, err := exec.Command("bash", "-c", command).Output()
+  cmdOut, err := exec.Command("bash", "-c", command).CombinedOutput()
   devLog(string(cmdOut))
   devLog(err)
   return string(cmdOut), err
@@ -120,7 +134,7 @@ func getGitBranches() []Branch {
       baseBranch = name
     }
     if i == 0 {
-      line = line[:2] + "\t*" + line[2:]
+      line = "* " + line
     }
     branches = append(branches, Branch{name, line, branchType, baseBranch})
   }
@@ -156,19 +170,18 @@ func getGitStatusFiles() []GitFile {
   return gitFiles
 }
 
-func gitCheckout(branch string, force bool) error {
+func gitCheckout(branch string, force bool) (string, error) {
   forceArg := ""
   if force {
     forceArg = "--force "
   }
-  _, err := runCommand("git checkout " + forceArg + branch)
-  return err
+  return runCommand("git checkout " + forceArg + branch)
 }
 
-func runCommand(cmd string) (string, error) {
-  commandLog(cmd)
-  splitCmd := strings.Split(cmd, " ")
-  cmdOut, err := exec.Command(splitCmd[0], splitCmd[1:]...).Output()
+func runCommand(command string) (string, error) {
+  commandLog(command)
+  splitCmd := strings.Split(command, " ")
+  cmdOut, err := exec.Command(splitCmd[0], splitCmd[1:]...).CombinedOutput()
   devLog(string(cmdOut[:]))
   return string(cmdOut), err
 }
@@ -185,8 +198,30 @@ func getBranchDiff(branch string, baseBranch string) (string, error) {
   return runCommand("git diff --color " + baseBranch + "..." + branch)
 }
 
+func getCommits() []Commit {
+  log := getLog()
+  commits := make([]Commit, 0)
+  // now we can split it up and turn it into commits
+  lines := splitLines(log)
+  for _, line := range lines {
+    splitLine := strings.Split(line, " ")
+    commits = append(commits, Commit{splitLine[0], strings.Join(splitLine[1:], " "), strings.Join(splitLine, " ")})
+  }
+  devLog(commits)
+  return commits
+}
+
 func getLog() string {
-  result, err := runDirectCommand("git log --color --oneline")
+  result, err := runDirectCommand("git log --oneline")
+  if err != nil {
+    panic(err)
+  }
+  return result
+}
+
+func gitShow(sha string) string {
+  result, err := runDirectCommand("git show --color " + sha)
+  // result, err := runDirectCommand("git show --color 10fd353")
   if err != nil {
     panic(err)
   }
@@ -245,9 +280,34 @@ func gitCommit(message string) error {
   return err
 }
 
-func gitPull() error {
-  _, err := runDirectCommand("git pull --no-edit")
-  return err
+func gitPull() (string, error) {
+  return runDirectCommand("git pull --no-edit")
+}
+
+func gitPush() (string, error) {
+  return runDirectCommand("git push -u")
+}
+
+func gitSquashPreviousTwoCommits(message string) (string, error) {
+  return runDirectCommand("git reset --soft head^ && git commit --amend -m \"" + message + "\"")
+}
+
+func gitRenameCommit(message string) (string, error) {
+  return runDirectCommand("git commit --allow-empty --amend -m \"" + message + "\"")
+}
+
+func betterHaveWorked(err error) {
+  if err != nil {
+    panic(err)
+  }
+}
+
+func gitUpstreamDifferenceCount() (string, string) {
+  pushableCount, err := runDirectCommand("git rev-list @{u}..head --count")
+  betterHaveWorked(err)
+  pullableCount, err := runDirectCommand("git rev-list head..@{u} --count")
+  betterHaveWorked(err)
+  return pullableCount, pushableCount
 }
 
 const getBranchesCommand = `set -e
@@ -263,7 +323,7 @@ git reflog -n100 --pretty='%cr|%gs' --grep-reflog='checkout: moving' HEAD | {
         printf "%s\t%s\n" "$date" "$branch"
       fi
     fi
-  done | sed 's/ days /d /g' | sed 's/ weeks /w /g' | sed 's/ hours /h /g' | sed 's/ minutes /m /g' | sed 's/ago//g' | tr -d ' '
+  done | sed 's/ days /d /g' | sed 's/ weeks /w /g' | sed 's/ hours /h /g' | sed 's/ minutes /m /g' | sed 's/ seconds /m /g' | sed 's/ago//g' | tr -d ' '
 }
 `
 
diff --git a/gui.go b/gui.go
index 08bbe8fbe..442433981 100644
--- a/gui.go
+++ b/gui.go
@@ -20,15 +20,24 @@ import (
 type stateType struct {
   GitFiles     []GitFile
   Branches     []Branch
+  Commits      []Commit
   PreviousView string
 }
 
 var state = stateType{
   GitFiles:     make([]GitFile, 0),
   PreviousView: "files",
+  Commits:      make([]Commit, 0),
 }
 
-var cyclableViews = []string{"files", "branches"}
+var cyclableViews = []string{"files", "branches", "commits"}
+
+func refreshSidePanels(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
+  refreshBranches(g)
+  refreshFiles(g)
+  refreshCommits(g)
+  return nil
+}
 
 func nextView(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
   var focusedViewName string
@@ -41,7 +50,8 @@ func nextView(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
         break
       }
       if i == len(cyclableViews)-1 {
-        panic(v.Name() + " is not in the list of views")
+        devLog(v.Name() + " is not in the list of views")
+        return nil
       }
     }
   }
@@ -68,6 +78,8 @@ func newLineFocused(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
     return nil
   case "main":
     return nil
+  case "commits":
+    return handleCommitSelect(g, v)
   default:
     panic("No view matching newLineFocused switch statement")
   }
@@ -113,19 +125,25 @@ func keybindings(g *gocui.Gui) error {
   if err := g.SetKeybinding("", gocui.KeyPgdn, gocui.ModNone, scrollDownMain); err != nil {
     return err
   }
-  if err := g.SetKeybinding("", 'ç', gocui.ModNone, handleCommitPress); err != nil {
+  if err := g.SetKeybinding("files", 'c', gocui.ModNone, handleCommitPress); err != nil {
     return err
   }
   if err := g.SetKeybinding("files", gocui.KeySpace, gocui.ModNone, handleFilePress); err != nil {
     return err
   }
-  if err := g.SetKeybinding("files", '®', gocui.ModNone, handleFileRemove); err != nil {
+  if err := g.SetKeybinding("files", 'r', gocui.ModNone, handleFileRemove); err != nil {
     return err
   }
-  if err := g.SetKeybinding("files", 'ø', gocui.ModNone, handleFileOpen); err != nil {
+  if err := g.SetKeybinding("files", 'o', gocui.ModNone, handleFileOpen); err != nil {
     return err
   }
-  if err := g.SetKeybinding("files", 'ß', gocui.ModNone, handleSublimeFileOpen); err != nil {
+  if err := g.SetKeybinding("files", 's', gocui.ModNone, handleSublimeFileOpen); err != nil {
+    return err
+  }
+  if err := g.SetKeybinding("files", 'p', gocui.ModNone, pullFiles); err != nil {
+    return err
+  }
+  if err := g.SetKeybinding("files", 'P', gocui.ModNone, pushFiles); err != nil {
     return err
   }
   if err := g.SetKeybinding("commit", gocui.KeyEsc, gocui.ModNone, closeCommitPrompt); err != nil {
@@ -137,6 +155,15 @@ func keybindings(g *gocui.Gui) error {
   if err := g.SetKeybinding("branches", gocui.KeySpace, gocui.ModNone, handleBranchPress); err != nil {
     return err
   }
+  if err := g.SetKeybinding("branches", 'F', gocui.ModNone, handleForceCheckout); err != nil {
+    return err
+  }
+  if err := g.SetKeybinding("commits", 's', gocui.ModNone, handleCommitSquashDown); err != nil {
+    return err
+  }
+  if err := g.SetKeybinding("commits", 'r', gocui.ModNone, handleRenameCommit); err != nil {
+    return err
+  }
   if err := g.SetKeybinding("", '∑', gocui.ModNone, handleLogState); err != nil {
     return err
   }
@@ -146,6 +173,7 @@ func keybindings(g *gocui.Gui) error {
 func handleLogState(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
   devLog("state is:", state)
   devLog("previous view:", state.PreviousView)
+  refreshBranches(g)
   return nil
 }
 
@@ -171,7 +199,7 @@ func layout(g *gocui.Gui) error {
     refreshFiles(g)
   }
 
-  if v, err := g.SetView("main", leftSideWidth+2, 0, width-1, optionsTop-1); err != nil {
+  if v, err := g.SetView("main", leftSideWidth+1, 0, width-1, optionsTop-1); err != nil {
     if err != gocui.ErrUnknownView {
       return err
     }
@@ -181,14 +209,14 @@ func layout(g *gocui.Gui) error {
     handleFileSelect(g, sideView)
   }
 
-  if v, err := g.SetView("logs", 0, logsBranchesBoundary, leftSideWidth, optionsTop-1); err != nil {
+  if v, err := g.SetView("commits", 0, logsBranchesBoundary, leftSideWidth, optionsTop-1); err != nil {
     if err != gocui.ErrUnknownView {
       return err
     }
-    v.Title = "Log"
+    v.Title = "Commits"
 
     // these are only called once
-    refreshLogs(g)
+    refreshCommits(g)
   }
 
   if v, err := g.SetView("branches", 0, filesBranchesBoundary, leftSideWidth, logsBranchesBoundary-1); err != nil {
@@ -198,7 +226,7 @@ func layout(g *gocui.Gui) error {
     v.Title = "Branches"
 
     // these are only called once
-    refreshBranches(v)
+    refreshBranches(g)
     nextView(g, nil)
   }
 
diff --git a/logs_panel.go b/logs_panel.go
deleted file mode 100644
index aa6f1ce48..000000000
--- a/logs_panel.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-// lots of this has been directly ported from one of the example files, will brush up later
-
-// Copyright 2014 The gocui Authors. All rights reserved.
-// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
-// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
-
-package main
-
-import (
-  "fmt"
-
-  "github.com/jroimartin/gocui"
-)
-
-func refreshLogs(g *gocui.Gui) error {
-  // here is where you want to pickup from
-  // state.Logs = getGitLogs(nil)
-  s := getLog()
-  g.Update(func(*gocui.Gui) error {
-    v, err := g.View("logs")
-    v.Clear()
-    if err != nil {
-      panic(err)
-    }
-    v.Clear()
-    fmt.Fprint(v, s)
-    return nil
-  })
-  return nil
-}
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 15848b980..36d35ff68 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 package main
 
+import "github.com/fatih/color"
+
 func main() {
+  a, b := gitUpstreamDifferenceCount()
+  colorLog(color.FgRed, a, b)
   devLog("\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n")
   run()
 }
diff --git a/view_helpers.go b/view_helpers.go
index fe643c5a7..b8acb524b 100644
--- a/view_helpers.go
+++ b/view_helpers.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func switchFocus(g *gocui.Gui, oldView, newView *gocui.View) error {
   if _, err := g.SetCurrentView(newView.Name()); err != nil {
     return err
   }
-  g.Cursor = newView.Name() == "commit"
+  g.Cursor = newView.Editable
   return newLineFocused(g, newView)
 }