diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index 9c4347c1..cd184c85 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -152,11 +152,24 @@
     - allow custom error formats
     - allow go-routine id to be logged
     - allow int64 to switch to string encoding when >2**50
+    - do something useful with Boring
+
+  - write to xop server
+
+    - keep dictionary of static strings
+
+      - Line.Static()
+      - Enum descriptions and types
+
+  - xopbytes.BytesWriter
+
+    - write to writing rotating files based time or size
 
 - xopotel
 
   - add wrapper to use otel exporter directly as xopbase
   - add wrapper to use xopbase as otel exporter
+  - do something useful with Boring
 
 - Performmance
 
diff --git a/xopat/attributes.go b/xopat/attributes.go
index e1659acb..aadc95bb 100644
--- a/xopat/attributes.go
+++ b/xopat/attributes.go
@@ -156,26 +156,31 @@ func (s Make) make(exampleValue interface{}, subType AttributeType) (Attribute,
 	if s.Namespace == "" {
 		s.Namespace = DefaultNamespace
 	}
+	jsonKey, err := json.Marshal(s.Key)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Attribute{}, fmt.Errorf("cannot marshal attribute name '%s': %w", s.Key, err)
+	}
 	ra := Attribute{
 		properties:   s,
 		exampleValue: exampleValue,
 		reflectType:  reflect.TypeOf(exampleValue),
 		typeName:     fmt.Sprintf("%T", exampleValue),
 		subType:      subType,
+		jsonKey:      string(jsonKey) + ":",
 	}
-	jsonKey, err := json.Marshal(s.Key)
-	if err != nil {
-		return ra, fmt.Errorf("cannot marshal attribute name '%s': %w", s.Key, err)
-	}
-	ra.jsonKey = string(jsonKey)
 	registeredNames[s.Key] = &ra
 	allAttributes = append(allAttributes, &ra)
 	return ra, nil
 }
 
+type JSONKey string
+
+func (jk JSONKey) String() string { return string(jk) }
+
 // JSONKey returns a JSON-quoted string that can be used as the key to the
-// name of the attribute.  It is a string because []byte is mutable
-func (r Attribute) JSONKey() string { return r.jsonKey }
+// name of the attribute.  It is a string because []byte is mutable.  JSONKey
+// includes a colon at the end since it's uses is as a key.
+func (r Attribute) JSONKey() JSONKey { return JSONKey(r.jsonKey) }
 
 // ReflectType can be nil if the example value was nil
 func (r Attribute) ReflectType() reflect.Type { return r.reflectType }
diff --git a/xopat/attributes.zzzgo b/xopat/attributes.zzzgo
index 10b79b60..1c5ed593 100644
--- a/xopat/attributes.zzzgo
+++ b/xopat/attributes.zzzgo
@@ -45,17 +45,17 @@ var DefaultNamespace = os.Args[0]
 
 // Make is used to construct attributes.
 // Some keys are reserved.  See https://github.com/muir/xop-go/blob/main/xopconst/reserved.go
-// for the list of reserved keys.  Some keys are already registered. 
+// for the list of reserved keys.  Some keys are already registered.
 type Make struct {
-	Key          string // the attribute name
-	Description  string // the attribute description
-	Namespace    string // the namespace for this attribute (otherwise DefaultNamespace is used)
-	Indexed      bool   // hint: this attribute should be indexed
-	Prominence   int    // hint: how important is this attribute (lower is more important)
-	Multiple     bool   // keep all values if the attribute is given multiple times
-	Distinct     bool   // when keeping all values, only keep distinct values (not supported for interface{})
-	Ranged       bool   // hint: comparisons between values are meaningful (eg: time, integers)
-	Locked       bool   // only keep the first value
+	Key         string // the attribute name
+	Description string // the attribute description
+	Namespace   string // the namespace for this attribute (otherwise DefaultNamespace is used)
+	Indexed     bool   // hint: this attribute should be indexed
+	Prominence  int    // hint: how important is this attribute (lower is more important)
+	Multiple    bool   // keep all values if the attribute is given multiple times
+	Distinct    bool   // when keeping all values, only keep distinct values (not supported for interface{})
+	Ranged      bool   // hint: comparisons between values are meaningful (eg: time, integers)
+	Locked      bool   // only keep the first value
 }
 
 var lock sync.RWMutex
@@ -140,30 +140,35 @@ func (s Make) make(exampleValue interface{}, subType AttributeType) (Attribute,
 	if _, ok := reservedKeys[s.Key]; ok {
 		return Attribute{}, fmt.Errorf("key is reserved for internal use '%s'", s.Key)
 	}
-		
+
 	if s.Namespace == "" {
 		s.Namespace = DefaultNamespace
 	}
+	jsonKey, err := json.Marshal(s.Key)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Attribute{}, fmt.Errorf("cannot marshal attribute name '%s': %w", s.Key, err)
+	}
 	ra := Attribute{
 		properties:   s,
 		exampleValue: exampleValue,
 		reflectType:  reflect.TypeOf(exampleValue),
 		typeName:     fmt.Sprintf("%T", exampleValue),
 		subType:      subType,
+		jsonKey:      string(jsonKey) + ":",
 	}
-	jsonKey, err := json.Marshal(s.Key)
-	if err != nil {
-		return ra, fmt.Errorf("cannot marshal attribute name '%s': %w", s.Key, err)
-	}
-	ra.jsonKey = string(jsonKey)
 	registeredNames[s.Key] = &ra
 	allAttributes = append(allAttributes, &ra)
 	return ra, nil
 }
 
+type JSONKey string
+
+func (jk JSONKey) String() string { return string(jk) }
+
 // JSONKey returns a JSON-quoted string that can be used as the key to the
-// name of the attribute.  It is a string because []byte is mutable
-func (r Attribute) JSONKey() string { return r.jsonKey }
+// name of the attribute.  It is a string because []byte is mutable.  JSONKey
+// includes a colon at the end since it's uses is as a key.
+func (r Attribute) JSONKey() JSONKey { return JSONKey(r.jsonKey) }
 
 // ReflectType can be nil if the example value was nil
 func (r Attribute) ReflectType() reflect.Type { return r.reflectType }
@@ -210,10 +215,9 @@ const (
 // ZZZAttribute is a just an Int64Attribute that with
 // SubType() == AttributeTypeDuration.  A base logger may
 // look at SubType() to provide specialized behavior.
-type ZZZAttribute struct{Int64Attribute}
+type ZZZAttribute struct{ Int64Attribute }
 
 //MACRO ZZZAttribute SKIP:Enum,Duration,Int,Int8,Int16,Int32
 // ZZZAttribute represents an attribute key that can be used
 // with zzz values.
 type ZZZAttribute struct{ Attribute }
-
diff --git a/xopjson/attributes.go b/xopjson/attributes.go
index 3692164c..03f9cef3 100644
--- a/xopjson/attributes.go
+++ b/xopjson/attributes.go
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ type multiAttribute struct {
 }
 
 type attribute struct {
-	Name    []byte
 	Changed bool
 	Type    xopbase.DataType
 }
@@ -101,20 +100,15 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) Append(b *xoputil.JBuilder, onlyChanged bool) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (m *multiAttribute) init(a *AttributeBuilder, k string) {
+func (m *multiAttribute) init(a *AttributeBuilder, jsonKey xopat.JSONKey) {
 	m.Builder.B = m.Buf[:0]
 	m.Builder.reset(a.span)
-	m.Builder.AddString(k)
-	if len(m.Builder.B) == len(k)+2 {
-		m.Name = m.Builder.B[1 : len(m.Builder.B)-1]
-	} else {
-		m.Name = []byte(k)
-	}
-	m.Builder.AppendBytes([]byte{':', '['}) // ]
+	m.Builder.AppendString(jsonKey.String())
+	m.Builder.AppendByte('[') // ]
 	m.Distinct = nil
 }
 
-func (a *AttributeBuilder) addMulti(k string) *multiAttribute {
+func (a *AttributeBuilder) addMulti(k string, jsonKey xopat.JSONKey) *multiAttribute {
 	var m *multiAttribute
 	var ok bool
 	m, ok = a.multiMap[k]
@@ -124,7 +118,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) addMulti(k string) *multiAttribute {
 		}
 		a.multis = a.multis[:len(a.multis)+1]
 		m = &a.multis[len(a.multis)-1]
-		m.init(a, k)
+		m.init(a, jsonKey)
 		a.multiMap[k] = m
 	}
 	m.Changed = true
@@ -132,22 +126,16 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) addMulti(k string) *multiAttribute {
 	return m
 }
 
-func (s *singleAttribute) init(k string) {
+func (s *singleAttribute) init(jsonKey xopat.JSONKey) {
 	b := xoputil.JBuilder{
 		B: s.Buf[:0],
 	}
-	b.AddString(k)
-	if len(b.B) == len(k)+2 {
-		s.Name = b.B[1 : len(b.B)-1]
-	} else {
-		s.Name = []byte(k)
-	}
-	b.AppendByte(':')
+	b.AppendString(jsonKey.String())
 	s.Changed = true
 	s.KeyValue = b.B
 }
 
-func (a *AttributeBuilder) addSingle(k string) (*singleAttribute, bool) {
+func (a *AttributeBuilder) addSingle(k string, jsonKey xopat.JSONKey) (*singleAttribute, bool) {
 	s, ok := a.singleMap[k]
 	if !ok {
 		if len(a.singles) == cap(a.singles) {
@@ -155,7 +143,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) addSingle(k string) (*singleAttribute, bool) {
 		}
 		a.singles = a.singles[:len(a.singles)+1]
 		s = &a.singles[len(a.singles)-1]
-		s.init(k)
+		s.init(jsonKey)
 		a.singleMap[k] = s
 	}
 	s.Changed = true
@@ -171,7 +159,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) MetadataAny(k *xopat.AnyAttribute, v interface{}) {
 		a.encoder.SetEscapeHTML(false)
 	}
 	if !k.Multiple() {
-		s, preExisting := a.addSingle(k.Key())
+		s, preExisting := a.addSingle(k.Key(), k.JSONKey())
 		if preExisting {
 			if k.Locked() {
 				return
@@ -194,7 +182,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) MetadataAny(k *xopat.AnyAttribute, v interface{}) {
 		s.KeyValue = b.B
 		return
 	}
-	m := a.addMulti(k.Key())
+	m := a.addMulti(k.Key(), k.JSONKey())
 	m.Type = xopbase.AnyDataType
 	a.encodeTarget = &m.Builder.B
 	m.Builder.encoder = a.encoder
@@ -223,7 +211,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) MetadataBool(k *xopat.BoolAttribute, v bool) {
 	defer a.lock.Unlock()
 	a.anyChanged = true
 	if !k.Multiple() {
-		s, preExisting := a.addSingle(k.Key())
+		s, preExisting := a.addSingle(k.Key(), k.JSONKey())
 		if preExisting {
 			if k.Locked() {
 				return
@@ -244,7 +232,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) MetadataBool(k *xopat.BoolAttribute, v bool) {
 		s.KeyValue = b.B
 		return
 	}
-	m := a.addMulti(k.Key())
+	m := a.addMulti(k.Key(), k.JSONKey())
 	m.Type = xopbase.BoolDataType
 	lenBefore := len(m.Builder.B)
 	m.Builder.AddBool(v)
@@ -271,7 +259,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) MetadataEnum(k *xopat.EnumAttribute, v xopat.Enum) {
 	defer a.lock.Unlock()
 	a.anyChanged = true
 	if !k.Multiple() {
-		s, preExisting := a.addSingle(k.Key())
+		s, preExisting := a.addSingle(k.Key(), k.JSONKey())
 		if preExisting {
 			if k.Locked() {
 				return
@@ -292,7 +280,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) MetadataEnum(k *xopat.EnumAttribute, v xopat.Enum) {
 		s.KeyValue = b.B
 		return
 	}
-	m := a.addMulti(k.Key())
+	m := a.addMulti(k.Key(), k.JSONKey())
 	m.Type = xopbase.EnumDataType
 	lenBefore := len(m.Builder.B)
 	m.Builder.AddEnum(v)
@@ -319,7 +307,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) MetadataFloat64(k *xopat.Float64Attribute, v float64)
 	defer a.lock.Unlock()
 	a.anyChanged = true
 	if !k.Multiple() {
-		s, preExisting := a.addSingle(k.Key())
+		s, preExisting := a.addSingle(k.Key(), k.JSONKey())
 		if preExisting {
 			if k.Locked() {
 				return
@@ -340,7 +328,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) MetadataFloat64(k *xopat.Float64Attribute, v float64)
 		s.KeyValue = b.B
 		return
 	}
-	m := a.addMulti(k.Key())
+	m := a.addMulti(k.Key(), k.JSONKey())
 	m.Type = xopbase.Float64DataType
 	lenBefore := len(m.Builder.B)
 	m.Builder.AddFloat64(v)
@@ -367,7 +355,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) MetadataInt64(k *xopat.Int64Attribute, v int64) {
 	defer a.lock.Unlock()
 	a.anyChanged = true
 	if !k.Multiple() {
-		s, preExisting := a.addSingle(k.Key())
+		s, preExisting := a.addSingle(k.Key(), k.JSONKey())
 		if preExisting {
 			if k.Locked() {
 				return
@@ -388,7 +376,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) MetadataInt64(k *xopat.Int64Attribute, v int64) {
 		s.KeyValue = b.B
 		return
 	}
-	m := a.addMulti(k.Key())
+	m := a.addMulti(k.Key(), k.JSONKey())
 	m.Type = xopbase.Int64DataType
 	lenBefore := len(m.Builder.B)
 	m.Builder.AddInt64(v)
@@ -415,7 +403,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) MetadataLink(k *xopat.LinkAttribute, v trace.Trace) {
 	defer a.lock.Unlock()
 	a.anyChanged = true
 	if !k.Multiple() {
-		s, preExisting := a.addSingle(k.Key())
+		s, preExisting := a.addSingle(k.Key(), k.JSONKey())
 		if preExisting {
 			if k.Locked() {
 				return
@@ -436,7 +424,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) MetadataLink(k *xopat.LinkAttribute, v trace.Trace) {
 		s.KeyValue = b.B
 		return
 	}
-	m := a.addMulti(k.Key())
+	m := a.addMulti(k.Key(), k.JSONKey())
 	m.Type = xopbase.LinkDataType
 	lenBefore := len(m.Builder.B)
 	m.Builder.AddLink(v)
@@ -463,7 +451,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) MetadataString(k *xopat.StringAttribute, v string) {
 	defer a.lock.Unlock()
 	a.anyChanged = true
 	if !k.Multiple() {
-		s, preExisting := a.addSingle(k.Key())
+		s, preExisting := a.addSingle(k.Key(), k.JSONKey())
 		if preExisting {
 			if k.Locked() {
 				return
@@ -484,7 +472,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) MetadataString(k *xopat.StringAttribute, v string) {
 		s.KeyValue = b.B
 		return
 	}
-	m := a.addMulti(k.Key())
+	m := a.addMulti(k.Key(), k.JSONKey())
 	m.Type = xopbase.StringDataType
 	lenBefore := len(m.Builder.B)
 	m.Builder.AddString(v)
@@ -511,7 +499,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) MetadataTime(k *xopat.TimeAttribute, v time.Time) {
 	defer a.lock.Unlock()
 	a.anyChanged = true
 	if !k.Multiple() {
-		s, preExisting := a.addSingle(k.Key())
+		s, preExisting := a.addSingle(k.Key(), k.JSONKey())
 		if preExisting {
 			if k.Locked() {
 				return
@@ -532,7 +520,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) MetadataTime(k *xopat.TimeAttribute, v time.Time) {
 		s.KeyValue = b.B
 		return
 	}
-	m := a.addMulti(k.Key())
+	m := a.addMulti(k.Key(), k.JSONKey())
 	m.Type = xopbase.TimeDataType
 	lenBefore := len(m.Builder.B)
 	m.Builder.AddTime(v)
diff --git a/xopjson/attributes.zzzgo b/xopjson/attributes.zzzgo
index d9a6dde1..6315ba77 100644
--- a/xopjson/attributes.zzzgo
+++ b/xopjson/attributes.zzzgo
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ type multiAttribute struct {
 }
 
 type attribute struct {
-	Name    []byte
 	Changed bool
 	Type    xopbase.DataType
 }
@@ -95,20 +94,15 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) Append(b *xoputil.JBuilder, onlyChanged bool) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (m *multiAttribute) init(a *AttributeBuilder, k string) {
+func (m *multiAttribute) init(a *AttributeBuilder, jsonKey xopat.JSONKey) {
 	m.Builder.B = m.Buf[:0]
 	m.Builder.reset(a.span)
-	m.Builder.AddString(k)
-	if len(m.Builder.B) == len(k)+2 {
-		m.Name = m.Builder.B[1 : len(m.Builder.B)-1]
-	} else {
-		m.Name = []byte(k)
-	}
-	m.Builder.AppendBytes([]byte{':', '['}) // ]
+	m.Builder.AppendString(jsonKey.String())
+	m.Builder.AppendByte('[') // ]
 	m.Distinct = nil
 }
 
-func (a *AttributeBuilder) addMulti(k string) *multiAttribute {
+func (a *AttributeBuilder) addMulti(k string, jsonKey xopat.JSONKey) *multiAttribute {
 	var m *multiAttribute
 	var ok bool
 	m, ok = a.multiMap[k]
@@ -118,7 +112,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) addMulti(k string) *multiAttribute {
 		}
 		a.multis = a.multis[:len(a.multis)+1]
 		m = &a.multis[len(a.multis)-1]
-		m.init(a, k)
+		m.init(a, jsonKey)
 		a.multiMap[k] = m
 	}
 	m.Changed = true
@@ -126,22 +120,16 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) addMulti(k string) *multiAttribute {
 	return m
 }
 
-func (s *singleAttribute) init(k string) {
+func (s *singleAttribute) init(jsonKey xopat.JSONKey) {
 	b := xoputil.JBuilder{
 		B: s.Buf[:0],
 	}
-	b.AddString(k)
-	if len(b.B) == len(k)+2 {
-		s.Name = b.B[1 : len(b.B)-1]
-	} else {
-		s.Name = []byte(k)
-	}
-	b.AppendByte(':')
+	b.AppendString(jsonKey.String())
 	s.Changed = true
 	s.KeyValue = b.B
 }
 
-func (a *AttributeBuilder) addSingle(k string) (*singleAttribute, bool) {
+func (a *AttributeBuilder) addSingle(k string, jsonKey xopat.JSONKey) (*singleAttribute, bool) {
 	s, ok := a.singleMap[k]
 	if !ok {
 		if len(a.singles) == cap(a.singles) {
@@ -149,7 +137,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) addSingle(k string) (*singleAttribute, bool) {
 		}
 		a.singles = a.singles[:len(a.singles)+1]
 		s = &a.singles[len(a.singles)-1]
-		s.init(k)
+		s.init(jsonKey)
 		a.singleMap[k] = s
 	}
 	s.Changed = true
@@ -168,7 +156,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) MetadataZZZ(k *xopat.ZZZAttribute, v zzz) {
 	}
 	//END CONDITIONAL
 	if !k.Multiple() {
-		s, preExisting := a.addSingle(k.Key())
+		s, preExisting := a.addSingle(k.Key(), k.JSONKey())
 		if preExisting {
 			if k.Locked() {
 				return
@@ -195,7 +183,7 @@ func (a *AttributeBuilder) MetadataZZZ(k *xopat.ZZZAttribute, v zzz) {
 		s.KeyValue = b.B
 		return
 	}
-	m := a.addMulti(k.Key())
+	m := a.addMulti(k.Key(), k.JSONKey())
 	m.Type = xopbase.ZZZDataType
 	//CONDITIONAL ONLY:Any
 	a.encodeTarget = &m.Builder.B
diff --git a/xopjson/jsonlogger.go b/xopjson/jsonlogger.go
index 7d374b0c..da87e2a1 100644
--- a/xopjson/jsonlogger.go
+++ b/xopjson/jsonlogger.go
@@ -194,7 +194,6 @@ func (r *request) maintainBuffer() {
 }
 
 func (r *request) flushBuffer() {
-	// TODO: trigger spans to write their stuff
 	if len(r.writeBuffer) == 0 {
 		return
 	}
@@ -335,7 +334,7 @@ func (s *span) Done(t time.Time, _ bool) {
 	s.FlushAttributes()
 }
 
-func (s *span) Boring(bool) {} // TODO
+func (s *span) Boring(bool) {}
 func (s *span) ID() string  { return s.logger.id.String() }
 
 func (s *span) NoPrefill() xopbase.Prefilled {
@@ -415,7 +414,6 @@ func (p *prefilled) Line(level xopnum.Level, t time.Time, pc []uintptr) xopbase.
 	l.Int64("lvl", int64(level), 0)
 	l.Time("ts", t)
 	if len(pc) > 0 {
-		// TODO: debug this!
 		frames := runtime.CallersFrames(pc)
 		l.AppendBytes([]byte(`,"stack":[`))
 		for {
@@ -482,7 +480,7 @@ func (l *line) Msg(m string) {
 }
 
 func (l *line) Static(m string) {
-	l.Msg(m) // TODO
+	l.Msg(m)
 }
 
 func (b *builder) reclaimMemory() {
@@ -545,7 +543,8 @@ func (b *builder) AddAny(v interface{}) {
 
 func (b *builder) Enum(k *xopat.EnumAttribute, v xopat.Enum) {
 	b.startAttributes()
-	b.AddSafeKey(k.Key()) // TODO: check attribute keys at registration time
+	b.Comma()
+	b.AppendString(k.JSONKey().String())
 	b.AddEnum(v)
 }
 
diff --git a/xopjson/jsonlogger.zzzgo b/xopjson/jsonlogger.zzzgo
index 12f8944e..125f51a5 100644
--- a/xopjson/jsonlogger.zzzgo
+++ b/xopjson/jsonlogger.zzzgo
@@ -192,7 +192,6 @@ func (r *request) maintainBuffer() {
 }
 
 func (r *request) flushBuffer() {
-	// TODO: trigger spans to write their stuff
 	if len(r.writeBuffer) == 0 {
 		return
 	}
@@ -333,7 +332,7 @@ func (s *span) Done(t time.Time, _ bool) {
 	s.FlushAttributes()
 }
 
-func (s *span) Boring(bool) {} // TODO
+func (s *span) Boring(bool) {}
 func (s *span) ID() string  { return s.logger.id.String() }
 
 func (s *span) NoPrefill() xopbase.Prefilled {
@@ -413,7 +412,6 @@ func (p *prefilled) Line(level xopnum.Level, t time.Time, pc []uintptr) xopbase.
 	l.Int64("lvl", int64(level), 0)
 	l.Time("ts", t)
 	if len(pc) > 0 {
-		// TODO: debug this!
 		frames := runtime.CallersFrames(pc)
 		l.AppendBytes([]byte(`,"stack":[`))
 		for {
@@ -480,7 +478,7 @@ func (l *line) Msg(m string) {
 }
 
 func (l *line) Static(m string) {
-	l.Msg(m) // TODO
+	l.Msg(m)
 }
 
 func (b *builder) reclaimMemory() {
@@ -543,7 +541,8 @@ func (b *builder) AddAny(v interface{}) {
 
 func (b *builder) Enum(k *xopat.EnumAttribute, v xopat.Enum) {
 	b.startAttributes()
-	b.AddSafeKey(k.Key()) // TODO: check attribute keys at registration time
+	b.Comma()
+	b.AppendString(k.JSONKey().String())
 	b.AddEnum(v)
 }