diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7b1916d..b98d599 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@
 
 - complete manual actions specified in [ref/post-run](ref/post-run.md)
 
+## todo items
+
+see [ref/todo.md](ref/todo.md)
+
 ## attribution
 
 ### Original pattern/approach and some key config logic
@@ -44,6 +48,10 @@ wanted to give attribution nonetheless.
 
 Author: ThePrimeagen (Michael Paulson)
 
+### Idea of using a list of programs in a file for build/install
+
+The idea of using a file with a list of programs in it to build and/or install was inspired by Luke Smith's [LARBS project](https://github.com/LukeSmithxyz/LARBS/tree/master).
+
 ### Some themes and theme-swtiching/setting logic
 
 The theme configuration files in this repository under
diff --git a/install_programs.sh b/install_programs.sh
index 77af424..65afbb8 100755
--- a/install_programs.sh
+++ b/install_programs.sh
@@ -1,34 +1,41 @@
 #!/bin/zsh
 
-find_scripts_in_dir() {
-    echo $(find $1 -maxdepth 1 -mindepth 1 -type f | sort)
+apply_overrides() {
+    echo $3 |
+        sed -E 's/; */\n/g' |
+        while IFS=$'\n ' read -r override_key override_values; do
+            [[ -z $override_values ]] && continue
+            override_key=$(echo $override_key | sed 's/[: ]//g')
+            [[ $override_key = $BOX_SETUP_OS ]] && eval $override_values
+            [[ $override_key = $BOX_SETUP_DISTRO ]] && eval $override_values
+            [[ $4 =~ $override_key ]] && eval $override_values
+        done
+    [[ -z $name || -z $kind ]] && echo "zz_skip,zz_skip" || echo "$name,$kind"
 }
 
-install_scripts_from_list() {
-    for script in $@; do
-        if [[ -x $script ]]; then
-            echo "executing: $script"
-            ./$script
-        fi
-    done
-}
-
-system_types_list="base"
-scripts_from_dir=($(find_scripts_in_dir "./installs_and_builds"))
-[[ $1 = "personal" ]] && {
-    system_types_list+=", personal"
-    scripts_from_dir+=($(find_scripts_in_dir "./installs_and_builds/personal"))
-}
-[[ $1 = "studio-music" ]] && {
-    system_types_list+=", studio-music"
-    scripts_from_dir+=($(find_scripts_in_dir "./installs_and_builds/studio_music"))
-}
-[[ $1 = "work-placeholder" ]] && {
-    system_types_list+=", work-placeholder"
-    scripts_from_dir+=($(find_scripts_in_dir "./installs_and_builds/work_placeholder"))
-}
+echo "---- updating package manager / packages"
+[[ -n "$BOX_SETUP_UPDATE_PKG_MANAGER_AND_DEFS_CMD" ]] &&
+    ${=BOX_SETUP_UPDATE_PKG_MANAGER_AND_DEFS_CMD}
+[[ -n "$BOX_SETUP_UPDATE_PKGS_CMD" ]] && ${=BOX_SETUP_UPDATE_PKGS_CMD}
 
 echo "---- installing programs ---------------"
+[[ -z $1 ]] && system_types_list="base" || system_types_list="base,$1"
 echo "-------- for system types: $system_types_list"
-install_scripts_from_list "${scripts_from_dir[@]}"
+
+sed 1d "installs_and_builds/programs.csv" |
+    while IFS=, read -r name kind os_overrides distro_overrides system_overrides notes; do
+        apply_overrides $name $kind $os_overrides '' | IFS=, read -r name kind
+        apply_overrides $name $kind $distro_overrides '' | IFS=, read -r name kind
+        apply_overrides $name $kind $system_overrides $system_types_list |
+            IFS=, read -r name kind
+
+        [[ $name = 'zz_skip' || $kind = 'zz_skip' ]] && continue
+
+        [[ $kind = 'package_manager' ]] && ${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} ${=name} || {
+            [[ $kind = 'build_custom' ]] && {
+                target=$(echo "custom_$BOX_SETUP_OS-$BOX_SETUP_DISTRO-$name" | tr '-' '_')
+                "./installs_and_builds/$target"
+            }
+        }
+    done
 
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/custom_linux_alpine_bitwig_studio b/installs_and_builds/custom_linux_alpine_bitwig_studio
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..f6bde75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/installs_and_builds/custom_linux_alpine_bitwig_studio
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+echo 'hello from bitwig custom build!'
+echo 'custom script for bitwig is not yet implemented, these echos just here for testing'
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/manual_runs/s99_neovim_from_source b/installs_and_builds/custom_reference_neovim
similarity index 100%
rename from installs_and_builds/manual_runs/s99_neovim_from_source
rename to installs_and_builds/custom_reference_neovim
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/personal/placeholder-TODO b/installs_and_builds/personal/placeholder-TODO
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29..0000000
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/programs.csv b/installs_and_builds/programs.csv
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..444ca16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/installs_and_builds/programs.csv
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+name,kind,os_overrides,distro_overrides,system_type_overrides,notes
+mpv,package_manager,,,,
+zsh,package_manager,,,,
+mutt,package_manager,,,,
+docker,package_manager,,,,may need special logic for debian https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/debian/
+curl,package_manager,,,,
+grep,package_manager,,,,
+ripgrep,package_manager,,,,
+sed,package_manager,macos: name='',,,
+fzf,package_manager,,,,
+jq,package_manager,,,,
+parallel,package_manager,,,,
+make,package_manager,,,,
+cmake,package_manager,,,,
+gettext,package_manager,,,,
+htop,package_manager,,,,
+neovim,package_manager,,,,
+mpd,package_manager,,,,
+ncmpcpp,package_manager,,,,
+ffmpeg,package_manager,,,work: name='',
+git,package_manager,,,,
+tmux,package_manager,,,,
+khal,package_manager,,,,
+zathura,package_manager,macos: name='',,,
+gcc,package_manager,macos: name='',,,
+g++,package_manager,macos: name='',,,
+clang,package_manager,macos: name='',,,
+clang++,package_manager,macos: name='',,,
+tenacity,package_manager,macos: name='--cask audacity',,work: name='',tenacity not available via homebrew; use audacity in macos
+bitwig-studio,package_manager,macos: name='--cask bitwig-studio',artix: kind='aur'; arch: kind='aur'; alpine: kind='build_custom'; debian: kind='build_custom';,work: name='',
+kitty,package_manager,macos: name='--cask kitty',,,
+gimp,package_manager,macos: name='--cask gimp',,,
+coreutils,package_manager,linux: name='',,,
+findutils,package_manager,linux: name='',,,
+--cask nikitabobko/tap/aerospace,package_manager,linux: name='',,,
+pandoc,package_manager,,arch: name='pandoc-cli'; artix: name='pandoc-bin'; alpine: name='pandoc-cli';,work: name='',
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s00_package_manager_updates b/installs_and_builds/s00_package_manager_updates
deleted file mode 100755
index cdd1723..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s00_package_manager_updates
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-[[ -n "$BOX_SETUP_UPDATE_PKG_MANAGER_AND_DEFS_CMD" ]] &&
-    ${=BOX_SETUP_UPDATE_PKG_MANAGER_AND_DEFS_CMD}
-
-[[ -n "$BOX_SETUP_UPDATE_PKGS_CMD" ]] &&
-    ${=BOX_SETUP_UPDATE_PKGS_CMD}
-
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s01_libs b/installs_and_builds/s01_libs
deleted file mode 100755
index f4256b3..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s01_libs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-# ${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} zxcv_placeholder
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s02_utils b/installs_and_builds/s02_utils
deleted file mode 100755
index 203ac04..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s02_utils
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-# likely on unix systems already: find, xargs, awk? (maybe get alternative like nawk?)
-${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} \
-    curl \
-    grep \
-    ripgrep \
-    sed \
-    fzf \
-    jq \
-    parallel \
-    make \
-    cmake \
-    gettext \
-    htop
-
-utils_package_name_pandoc="pandoc"
-case $BOX_SETUP_DISTRO in
-    (arch | alpine)
-        utils_package_name_pandoc="pandoc-cli"
-        ;;
-    (artix)
-        utils_package_name_pandoc="pandoc-bin"
-        ;;
-esac
-${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} $utils_package_name_pandoc
-
-[[ "$BOX_SETUP_OS" = "macos" ]] &&
-    ${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} coreutils findutils
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s03_shell b/installs_and_builds/s03_shell
deleted file mode 100755
index 6fcbba3..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s03_shell
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} zsh
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s04_terminal b/installs_and_builds/s04_terminal
deleted file mode 100755
index 55cc7ad..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s04_terminal
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-install_option_prefix=''
-[[ "$BOX_SETUP_OS" = "macos" ]] && install_option_prefix='--cask'
-# NOTE: ghostty not currently in debian repos, maybe build from source
-${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} "$install_option_prefix" ghostty
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s05_terminal_multiplexer b/installs_and_builds/s05_terminal_multiplexer
deleted file mode 100755
index fd76e87..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s05_terminal_multiplexer
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} tmux
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s06_window_manager b/installs_and_builds/s06_window_manager
deleted file mode 100755
index e154398..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s06_window_manager
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-linux_wm_and_utils() {
-    # TODO: pick wm for linux; options: dwm, i3, others?
-    echo "TODO: linux_wm_and_utils not yet implemented"
-}
-
-macos_wm_and_utils() {
-    brew install --cask nikitabobko/tap/aerospace
-}
-
-[[ "$BOX_SETUP_OS" = "macos" ]] && macos_wm_and_utils || linux_wm_and_utils
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s07_text_editor b/installs_and_builds/s07_text_editor
deleted file mode 100755
index 84f1954..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s07_text_editor
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} neovim
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s10_mail_client b/installs_and_builds/s10_mail_client
deleted file mode 100755
index c006c1e..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s10_mail_client
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} mutt
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s11_calendar_and_time b/installs_and_builds/s11_calendar_and_time
deleted file mode 100755
index f2ca454..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s11_calendar_and_time
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} khal
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s12_web_browser b/installs_and_builds/s12_web_browser
deleted file mode 100755
index 37e5664..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s12_web_browser
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-# TODO: get browser config and install set up
-# current idea: qutebrowser for general, tor for sensitive, brave as a backup option
-
-# install_option_prefix=''
-# [[ "$BOX_SETUP_OS" = "macos" ]] && install_option_prefix='--cask'
-# firefox_package_name='firefox'
-# [[ "$BOX_SETUP_DISTRO" = "debian" ]] && firefox_package_name='firefox-esr'
-# ${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} "$install_option_prefix" "$firefox_package_name"
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s13_rss b/installs_and_builds/s13_rss
deleted file mode 100755
index 7a8f6c5..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s13_rss
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-# TODO: pick rss reader; newsboat? others? option with inbox and separate queues?
-# ${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} zxcv-placeholder
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s14_audio_player b/installs_and_builds/s14_audio_player
deleted file mode 100755
index fcff41a..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s14_audio_player
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-# local music
-${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} mpd mpc ncmpcpp
-# possible mpd clients to consider: ncmpc, inori
-
-# spotify
-# TODO: decide if i want to use the package-manager install below, or build from source
-# ${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} ncspot
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s15_video_player b/installs_and_builds/s15_video_player
deleted file mode 100755
index ecd26a6..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s15_video_player
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} mpv
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s16_image_viewer b/installs_and_builds/s16_image_viewer
deleted file mode 100755
index 7397805..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s16_image_viewer
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-[[ "$BOX_SETUP_OS" = "macos" ]] && exit 0 # TODO: maybe find an option for macos
-${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} nsxiv
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s17_doc_viewer b/installs_and_builds/s17_doc_viewer
deleted file mode 100755
index c35d365..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s17_doc_viewer
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-[[ "$BOX_SETUP_OS" = "macos" ]] && exit 0 # TODO: maybe find an option for macos
-${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} zathura
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s18_file_manager b/installs_and_builds/s18_file_manager
deleted file mode 100755
index 30f1e98..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s18_file_manager
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-# TODO: do i even want a filemanager? if yes, pick one; consider: lf, ranger, others?
-# ${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} zxcv-placeholder
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s20_audio_editor b/installs_and_builds/s20_audio_editor
deleted file mode 100755
index 78e69be..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s20_audio_editor
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-# only audio editor(s) in this file; daws are handled separately
-install_option_prefix=''
-[[ "$BOX_SETUP_OS" = "macos" ]] && install_option_prefix='--cask'
-${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} "$install_option_prefix" audacity
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s21_video_editor b/installs_and_builds/s21_video_editor
deleted file mode 100755
index 932ad85..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s21_video_editor
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-# TODO: set this up; likely using ffmpeg (work on macos?), maybe others
-# ${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} zxcv-placeholder
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s22_image_editor b/installs_and_builds/s22_image_editor
deleted file mode 100755
index 74e4e0d..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s22_image_editor
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-install_option_prefix=''
-[[ "$BOX_SETUP_OS" = "macos" ]] && install_option_prefix='--cask'
-${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} "$install_option_prefix" gimp
-
-# ${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} imagemagick # TODO: consider this program too
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s30_git b/installs_and_builds/s30_git
deleted file mode 100755
index ffafe57..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s30_git
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} git
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s31_docker b/installs_and_builds/s31_docker
deleted file mode 100755
index 25f5375..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s31_docker
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-setup_docker_on_debian() {
-    # refer to https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/debian/
-    # build this function based on that
-    # in that, could use BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND or just apt install
-    echo "setup_docker_on_debian function not implemented"
-}
-
-# TODO: decide on docker vs others
-[[ "$BOX_SETUP_DISTRO" = "debian" ]] && setup_docker_on_debian || {
-    ${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} docker
-}
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s49_languages_general b/installs_and_builds/s49_languages_general
deleted file mode 100755
index fbbbcdd..0000000
--- a/installs_and_builds/s49_languages_general
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-
-[[ "$BOX_SETUP_OS" != "macos" ]] && {
-    ${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} gcc g++ clang clang++
-}
-
-# TODO: review and decide if the things below are needed
-# install_lua_package="lua5.1"
-#[[ "$BOX_SETUP_OS" = "macos" ]] && install_lua_package="lua@5.1"
-#${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} "$install_lua_package" liblua5.1-0-dev
-
-# TODO: do i want to install luarocks? lazy.nvim plugin manager currently expects it
-#luarocks install luacheck
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/studio_music/placeholder-TODO b/installs_and_builds/studio_music/placeholder-TODO
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29..0000000
diff --git a/todo.md b/ref/todo.md
similarity index 52%
rename from todo.md
rename to ref/todo.md
index 7cf74d2..8a0d79a 100644
--- a/todo.md
+++ b/ref/todo.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 - config for: terminal (kitty? havoc?)
 - config for shell (if keeping zsh, may not need anything beyond what i've already done)
-- config for mpd, mpc, ncmpcpp
+- config for mpd, and client(s), (mpd clients to consider: mpc, ncmpcpp, ncmpc, inori)
 - config for mpv (if any, may not need anything)
 - hyprland config and install on linux
 - web browsers config and install
@@ -11,11 +11,4 @@
 - pick rss reader; newsboat? others? option with inbox and separate queues?
 - decide if i even want a filemanager; if yes, pick one and configure
 - decide what i'm doing for music streaming; spotify official? web? tui option?
-- switch installation approach, use csv file with programs to install, install types,
-  any extra flags/opts, comments
-    - regarding the system-types idea i'd started to build in already, maybe have a
-      column for filtering in the csv file, or just have multiple csv files corresponding
-      to a base/core install, a music-studio install, a employer/work machine, etc.
-    - alternate idea: columns for "include_in_systems" and/or "excluded_from_systems"
-        - if both, likely apply the include column first, then the exclude (priority)