Index: doc/example-scripts/bagel.tcl
===================================================================
diff -u -r45e24b34c85bf0fc3e14db5250550100bd07ff31 -racc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9
--- doc/example-scripts/bagel.tcl	(.../bagel.tcl)	(revision 45e24b34c85bf0fc3e14db5250550100bd07ff31)
+++ doc/example-scripts/bagel.tcl	(.../bagel.tcl)	(revision acc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9)
@@ -27,26 +27,24 @@
 # they've been toasted. We can create and access an instance variable
 # by defining an property for the class. All instance variables are
 # per default public in the sense of C++.
-? {Bagel property -accessor public {toasted 0}} "::nsf::classes::Bagel::toasted"
+? {Bagel property {toasted 0}} ""
 
 # Since abagel was created before the definition of the property we
 # have to set the default value for it using the setter method. Again,
 # the info method helps us keep track of things.
 
-? {abagel toasted 0} 0
+? {abagel cget -toasted} 0
 
 ? {abagel info vars} toasted
 
-? {abagel toasted} 0
-
 # But we really want them to begin in an untoasted state to start
 # with.
 
 ? {Bagel create bagel2} ::bagel2
 
 ? {bagel2 info vars} toasted
 
-? {bagel2 toasted} 0
+? {bagel2 cget -toasted} 0
 
 #
 # Our bagels now remember whether they've been toasted. Let is
@@ -65,15 +63,15 @@
 # Tcl procs. Here's the toast method.
 
 ? {Bagel public method toast {} {
-      if {[incr :toasted]>1} then { 
+      if {[incr :toasted] > 1} then { 
         error "something's burning!"
       }
 }} "::nsf::classes::Bagel::toast"
 
 # The defined methods can be queried with info. We see as well the
 # setter method for the variable toasted.
 
-? {Bagel info methods} {toasted toast}
+? {Bagel info methods} {toast}
 
 # Aside from setting the toasted variable, the body of the toast
 # method demonstrates how to access instance variables by using a
@@ -95,7 +93,7 @@
 # toppings are empty.
 
 ? {nx::Class create SpreadableBagel -superclass Bagel {
-    :property -accessor public {toppings:0..n ""}
+    :property -incremental {toppings:0..n ""}
 }} ::SpreadableBagel
 
 ? {SpreadableBagel info superclass} ::Bagel
@@ -126,7 +124,7 @@
 ? {SpreadableBagel create abagel} ::abagel
 
 ? {abagel toast} ""
-? {abagel toppings jam} jam
+? {abagel toppings add jam} jam
 
 ? {abagel taste} "toasty jam"
 
Index: doc/example-scripts/container.tcl
===================================================================
diff -u -r45e24b34c85bf0fc3e14db5250550100bd07ff31 -racc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9
--- doc/example-scripts/container.tcl	(.../container.tcl)	(revision 45e24b34c85bf0fc3e14db5250550100bd07ff31)
+++ doc/example-scripts/container.tcl	(.../container.tcl)	(revision acc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9)
@@ -95,13 +95,13 @@
 ? {container2 new} "::container2::member3"
 
 # The elements of the container are obtained via the method +items+.
-? {container2 items} "::container2::member1 ::container2::member2 ::container2::member3"
+? {container2 items get} "::container2::member1 ::container2::member2 ::container2::member3"
 
 # When we delete an item in the container ...
 ? {container2 delete ::container2::member2} ""
 
 # the item is as well removed from the +items+ list.
-? {container2 items} "::container2::member1 ::container2::member3"
+? {container2 items get} "::container2::member1 ::container2::member3"
 
 # == Sorted Container
 #
@@ -178,4 +178,4 @@
 # The item is as well removed from the result lists
 ? {container3 items} "::container3::member1 ::container3::member3"
 
-? {container3 index} "::container3::member3 ::container3::member1"
\ No newline at end of file
+? {container3 index} "::container3::member3 ::container3::member1"
Index: doc/example-scripts/traits-composite.tcl
===================================================================
diff -u -rac2bbda827dff056beb23cf8400ab77b6996d1e8 -racc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9
--- doc/example-scripts/traits-composite.tcl	(.../traits-composite.tcl)	(revision ac2bbda827dff056beb23cf8400ab77b6996d1e8)
+++ doc/example-scripts/traits-composite.tcl	(.../traits-composite.tcl)	(revision acc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9)
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@
   #
   # Define the methods provided by this trait:
   #  
-  :public method atStart {} {expr {[:position] == [:minPosition]}}
-  :public method atEnd {} {expr {[:position] == [:maxPosition]}}
+  :public method atStart {} {expr {[:position get] == [:minPosition]}}
+  :public method atEnd {} {expr {[:position get] == [:maxPosition]}}
   :public method setToStart {} {set :position [:minPosition]}
   :public method setToEnd {} {set :position [:maxPosition]}
   :public method maxPosition {} {llength ${:collection}}
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@
   # from the base class or other traits. The definition is incomplete
   # in these regards
 
-  :requiredMethods position
-  :requiredVariables collection
+  :requiredMethods assign position
+  :requiredVariables assign collection
 }
 
 #
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
   }
   
   # This trait requires these methods:
-  :requiredMethods {setToStart atEnd nextPosition}
+  :requiredMethods assign {setToStart atEnd nextPosition}
 
   # Require the trait "tPositionableStream"
   :require trait tPositionableStream
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
   }
 
   # This trait requires these methods:
-  :requiredMethods {setToEnd nextPosition}
+  :requiredMethods assign {setToEnd nextPosition}
 
   # Require the trait "tPositionableStream"
   :require trait tPositionableStream
Index: doc/example-scripts/traits-simple.tcl
===================================================================
diff -u -rac2bbda827dff056beb23cf8400ab77b6996d1e8 -racc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9
--- doc/example-scripts/traits-simple.tcl	(.../traits-simple.tcl)	(revision ac2bbda827dff056beb23cf8400ab77b6996d1e8)
+++ doc/example-scripts/traits-simple.tcl	(.../traits-simple.tcl)	(revision acc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9)
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@
   #
   # Define the methods provided by this trait:
   #
-  :public method atStart {} {expr {[:position] == [:minPosition]}}
-  :public method atEnd {} {expr {[:position] == [:maxPosition]}}
+  :public method atStart {} {expr {[:position get] == [:minPosition]}}
+  :public method atEnd {} {expr {[:position get] == [:maxPosition]}}
   :public method setToStart {} {set :position [:minPosition]}
   :public method setToEnd {} {set :position [:maxPosition]}
   :public method maxPosition {} {llength ${:collection}}
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@
   # "collection" from the base class. The definition is incomplete in
   # these regards.
 
-  :requiredMethods position
-  :requiredVariables collection
+  :requiredMethods assign position
+  :requiredVariables assign collection
 }
 
 # Define the class +ReadStream+ with properties +position+ and
Index: library/lib/nx-traits.tcl
===================================================================
diff -u -r9d0ea2cf357adc5108001519286490593977e7e1 -racc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9
--- library/lib/nx-traits.tcl	(.../nx-traits.tcl)	(revision 9d0ea2cf357adc5108001519286490593977e7e1)
+++ library/lib/nx-traits.tcl	(.../nx-traits.tcl)	(revision acc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9)
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@
   # object has the method defined that the trait requires.
   #
   nsf::proc checkObject {obj traitName} {
-    foreach m [$traitName requiredMethods] {
+    foreach m [$traitName requiredMethods get] {
       #puts "$m ok? [$obj info methods -closure $m]"
       if {[$obj info lookup method $m] eq ""} {
 	error "trait $traitName requires $m, which is not defined for $obj"
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@
   # class has the method defined that the trait requires.
   #
   nsf::proc checkClass {obj traitName} {
-    foreach m [$traitName requiredMethods] {
+    foreach m [$traitName requiredMethods get] {
       #puts "$m ok? [$obj info methods -closure $m]"
       if {[$obj info methods -closure $m] eq ""} {
 	error "trait $traitName requires $m, which is not defined for $obj"
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@
     nx::trait::add [self] $traitName $nameMap
     set finalReqMethods {}
     # remove the methods from the set of required methods, which became available
-    foreach m [lsort -unique [concat ${:requiredMethods} [$traitName requiredMethods]]] {
+    foreach m [lsort -unique [concat ${:requiredMethods} [$traitName requiredMethods get]]] {
       if {[:info methods $m] eq ""} {lappend finalReqMethods $m}
     }
     #puts "final reqMethods of [self]: $finalReqMethods // defined=[:info methods]"
Index: library/serialize/serializer.tcl
===================================================================
diff -u -r74b7a4066526ff5f5a8080ed907f71c9ed5c7700 -racc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9
--- library/serialize/serializer.tcl	(.../serializer.tcl)	(revision 74b7a4066526ff5f5a8080ed907f71c9ed5c7700)
+++ library/serialize/serializer.tcl	(.../serializer.tcl)	(revision acc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9)
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@
       # don't filter anything during serialization
       set filterstate [::nsf::configure filter off]
       set s [:new -childof [::nsf::current object]]
-      if {[info exists ignoreVarsRE]} {$s ignoreVarsRE $ignoreVarsRE}
+      if {[info exists ignoreVarsRE]} {$s ignoreVarsRE assign $ignoreVarsRE}
       if {[info exists ignore]} {$s ignore $ignore}
 
       set r [subst {
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@
     :public object method deepSerialize {-ignoreVarsRE -ignore -map -objmap args} {
       :resetPattern
       set s [:new -childof [::nsf::current object]]
-      if {[info exists ignoreVarsRE]} {$s ignoreVarsRE $ignoreVarsRE}
+      if {[info exists ignoreVarsRE]} {$s ignoreVarsRE assign $ignoreVarsRE}
       if {[info exists ignore]} {$s ignore $ignore}
       if {[info exists objmap]} {$s objmap $objmap}
       foreach o $args {
Index: library/xotcl/tests/slottest.xotcl
===================================================================
diff -u -r4bc60e16c10fdbbb640b3019d4bdebdc469fdf55 -racc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9
--- library/xotcl/tests/slottest.xotcl	(.../slottest.xotcl)	(revision 4bc60e16c10fdbbb640b3019d4bdebdc469fdf55)
+++ library/xotcl/tests/slottest.xotcl	(.../slottest.xotcl)	(revision acc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9)
@@ -619,9 +619,9 @@
 
 ? {lsort [Person info slots]} "::Person::slot::name ::Person::slot::projects ::Person::slot::salary"
 
-? {Person::slot::name multivalued} 0
-? {Person::slot::salary multivalued} 0
-? {Person::slot::projects multivalued} 1
+? {Person::slot::name multivalued get} 0
+? {Person::slot::salary multivalued get} 0
+? {Person::slot::projects multivalued get} 1
 
 Person p2 -name "John Doe"
 ? {p2 name} "John Doe"
Index: tests/protected.test
===================================================================
diff -u -r4bc60e16c10fdbbb640b3019d4bdebdc469fdf55 -racc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9
--- tests/protected.test	(.../protected.test)	(revision 4bc60e16c10fdbbb640b3019d4bdebdc469fdf55)
+++ tests/protected.test	(.../protected.test)	(revision acc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9)
@@ -693,17 +693,17 @@
     :property -accessor protected {b b1}
     :property -accessor private {c c1}
     :property -accessor private {d:integer 1}
-    :public method foo {p} {return [: $p]}
-    :public method bar {p} {return [: -local $p]}
-    :public method baz {p v} {return [: -local $p $v]}
+    :public method foo {p} {return [: $p get]}
+    :public method bar {p} {return [: -local $p get]}
+    :public method baz {p v} {return [: -local $p assign $v]}
     :create c1
   }
 
   # call properties directly
 
-  ? {c1 a} a1
-  ? {c1 b} {::c1: unable to dispatch method 'b'}
-  ? {c1 c} {::c1: unable to dispatch method 'c'}
+  ? {c1 a get} a1
+  ? {c1 b get} {::c1: unable to dispatch method 'b'}
+  ? {c1 c get} {::c1: unable to dispatch method 'c'}
 
   # call properties via method
 
@@ -736,15 +736,15 @@
   #
   nx::Class create D -superclass C {
     :property -accessor private {c c1d}
-    :public method bard {p} {return [: -local $p]}
+    :public method bard {p} {return [: -local $p get]}
     :create d1 {
       :object property -accessor public {c c1o}
     }
   }
 
   ? {d1 bar c} c1
   ? {d1 bard c} c1d
-  ? {d1 c} c1o
+  ? {d1 c get} c1o
 
   #
   # Define a public property with the same name as the private
@@ -755,17 +755,17 @@
   #
   nx::Class create D -superclass C {
     :property -accessor public {c c1d}
-    :public method bard {p} {return [: -local $p]}
+    :public method bard {p} {return [: -local $p get]}
     :create d1 {
       :object property -accessor private {c c1o}
-      :public object method bard1 {p} {return [: -local $p]}
+      :public object method bard1 {p} {return [: -local $p get]}
     }
   }
 
   ? {d1 bar c} c1
   ? {d1 bard c} c1d
   ? {d1 bard1 c} c1o
-  ? {d1 c} c1d
+  ? {d1 c get} c1d
 }
 
 #
@@ -778,15 +778,15 @@
   }
   nx::Class create D -superclass C {
     :property -accessor private {x d}
-    :public method bar-d {p} {return [: -local $p]}
+    :public method bar-d {p} {return [: -local $p get]}
   }
   nx::Class create E -superclass D {
     :property -accessor private {x e}
-    :public method bar-e {p} {return [: -local $p]}
+    :public method bar-e {p} {return [: -local $p get]}
   }
 
   E create e1
-  ? {e1 x} c
+  ? {e1 x get} c
   ? {e1 bar-d x} d
   ? {e1 bar-e x} e
 }
@@ -800,14 +800,14 @@
     :object property -accessor protected {b b1}
     :object property -accessor private {c c1}
     :object property -accessor private {d:integer 1}
-    :public object method foo {p} {return [: $p]}
-    :public object method bar {p} {return [: -local $p]}
-    :public object method baz {p v} {return [: -local $p $v]}
+    :public object method foo {p} {return [: $p get]}
+    :public object method bar {p} {return [: -local $p get]}
+    :public object method baz {p v} {return [: -local $p assign $v]}
   }
 
-  ? {o a} a1
-  ? {o b} {::o: unable to dispatch method 'b'}
-  ? {o c} {::o: unable to dispatch method 'c'}
+  ? {o a get} a1
+  ? {o b get} {::o: unable to dispatch method 'b'}
+  ? {o c get} {::o: unable to dispatch method 'c'}
 
   ? {o foo a} a1
   ? {o foo b} b1
@@ -836,18 +836,18 @@
     :object property -accessor protected {b b1}
     :object property -accessor private {c c1}
     :object property -accessor private {d:integer 1}
-    :public object method foo {p} {return [: $p]}
-    :public object method bar {p} {return [: -local $p]}
-    :public object method baz {p v} {return [: -local $p $v]}
+    :public object method foo {p} {return [: $p get]}
+    :public object method bar {p} {return [: -local $p get]}
+    :public object method baz {p v} {return [: -local $p assign $v]}
   }
 
-  ? {C a} a1
-  ? {C b} {method 'b' unknown for ::C; consider '::C create b ' instead of '::C b '}
-  ? {C c} {method 'c' unknown for ::C; consider '::C create c ' instead of '::C c '}
+  ? {C a get} a1
+  ? {C b get} {method 'b' unknown for ::C; consider '::C create b get' instead of '::C b get'}
+  ? {C c get} {method 'c' unknown for ::C; consider '::C create c get' instead of '::C c get'}
 
   ? {C foo a} a1
   ? {C foo b} b1
-  ? {C foo c} {method 'c' unknown for ::C; consider '::C create c ' instead of '::C c '}
+  ? {C foo c} {method 'c' unknown for ::C; consider '::C create c get' instead of '::C c get'}
 
   ? {C bar a} a1
   ? {C bar b} b1
Index: tests/serialize.test
===================================================================
diff -u -r4bc60e16c10fdbbb640b3019d4bdebdc469fdf55 -racc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9
--- tests/serialize.test	(.../serialize.test)	(revision 4bc60e16c10fdbbb640b3019d4bdebdc469fdf55)
+++ tests/serialize.test	(.../serialize.test)	(revision acc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9)
@@ -8,14 +8,14 @@
   Object create ::a {
     :object property -accessor public ref:object,type=[:info class]
     Object create [self]::b {
-      [:info parent] ref [Object create [self]::c]
+      [:info parent] ref assign [Object create [self]::c]
     }
   }
 
   ? {::nsf::object::exists ::a} 1
   ? {::nsf::object::exists ::a::b} 1
   ? {::nsf::object::exists ::a::b::c} 1
-  ? {::a ref} [[::a::b] info children]
+  ? {::a ref get} [[::a::b] info children]
 
   set script [::Serializer deepSerialize -map {::a::b ::x::y ::a ::x} ::a]
   # fix collateral damage (TODO: fixme, preprecate me, ...)
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
   ? {::nsf::object::exists ::x} 1
   ? {::nsf::object::exists ::x::y} 1
   ? {::nsf::object::exists ::x::y::c} 1
-  ? {::x ref} [::x::y info children]
+  ? {::x ref get} [::x::y info children]
 
   Object create ::a
   ::x::y::c eval {
@@ -62,28 +62,27 @@
     :create c1
   }
 
-  ? {C x 1} 1
-  ? {C x} 1
-  ? {C y 1} 1
-  ? {C y} 1
+  ? {C x assign 1} 1
+  ? {C x get} 1
+  ? {C y assign 1} 1
+  ? {C y get} 1
   
   ? {lsort [C info methods]} "a b"
   ? {lsort [C info object methods]} "x y"
-  ? {c1 a b} {expected integer but got "b" for parameter "a"}
-  ? {c1 a 1} 1
-  ? {c1 b 1} 1
+  ? {c1 a assign b} {expected integer but got "b" for parameter "value"}
+  ? {c1 a assign 1} 1
+  ? {c1 b assign 1} 1
 
   set c1(IgnoreNone1) [list [::Serializer deepSerialize c1] "a b"]
   set c1(IgnoreNone2) [list [::Serializer deepSerialize -ignoreVarsRE "" c1] "a b"]
-  set c1(One) [list [::Serializer deepSerialize -ignoreVarsRE "a" c1] "b"]
-  set c1(One2) [list [::Serializer deepSerialize -ignoreVarsRE {::a$} c1] "b"]
-  set c1(IgnoreAll) [list [::Serializer deepSerialize -ignoreVarsRE "." c1] ""]
+  set c1(One)         [list [::Serializer deepSerialize -ignoreVarsRE "a" c1] "b"]
+  set c1(One2)        [list [::Serializer deepSerialize -ignoreVarsRE {::a$} c1] "b"]
+  set c1(IgnoreAll)   [list [::Serializer deepSerialize -ignoreVarsRE "." c1] ""]
   set names {}; foreach s [C info slots] {lappend names [$s name]}
-  set c1(None2) [list [::Serializer deepSerialize -ignoreVarsRE \
-			   [join $names |] c1] ""]
+  set c1(None2)       [list [::Serializer deepSerialize -ignoreVarsRE [join $names |] c1] ""]
   
   c1 destroy
-
+puts stderr ====1
   foreach t [array names c1] {
     ? {nsf::object::exists c1} 0
     lassign $c1($t) script res
Index: tests/traits.test
===================================================================
diff -u -r9d0ea2cf357adc5108001519286490593977e7e1 -racc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9
--- tests/traits.test	(.../traits.test)	(revision 9d0ea2cf357adc5108001519286490593977e7e1)
+++ tests/traits.test	(.../traits.test)	(revision acc540eae81024718461724ce69e7971fa9ddfa9)
@@ -8,15 +8,15 @@
     :public method t1m2 {} {return t1.[current method]}
 
     # This trait requires a method "foo" 
-    :requiredMethods foo
+    :requiredMethods add foo
   }
   nx::Trait create t2 {
     :public method "bar x" {} {return t2.[current methodpath]}
     :public method "bar y" {} {return t2.[current methodpath]}
     :public method foo {} {return t2.[current methodpath]}
 
     # This trait requires a method "t1m1" 
-    :requiredMethods t1m1
+    :requiredMethods add t1m1
   }
 
   nx::Trait create t3 {