diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index ed20a4667d..b9cf028bcd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: Install dependencies
       run: sudo rm -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/dotnetdev.list /etc/apt/sources.list.d/microsoft-prod.list; sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install --quiet -y libglfw3 libglfw3-dev libfreetype6-dev libssl-dev sqlite3 libsqlite3-dev libsdl2-dev libsdl2-ttf-dev libsdl2-mixer-dev libsdl2-image-dev
     - name: Build v
-      run: echo $VFLAGS && make -j4 && ./v -o v v.v
+      run: echo $VFLAGS && make -j4 && ./v -cg -o v v.v
     - name: Test v->c
       run: |
         sudo ln -s /var/tmp/tcc/bin/tcc /usr/local/bin/tcc
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ jobs:
         brew install freetype glfw openssl postgres sdl2 sdl2_ttf sdl2_mixer sdl2_image
         export LIBRARY_PATH="$LIBRARY_PATH:/usr/local/opt/openssl/lib/"
     - name: Build V
-      run:  make -j4 && ./v -o v v.v
+      run:  make -j4 && ./v -cg -o v v.v
     - name: Build V using V
       run:  ./v -o v2 v.v && ./v2 -o v3 v.v
     - name: Test symlink
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: Install dependencies
       run: sudo rm -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/dotnetdev.list /etc/apt/sources.list.d/microsoft-prod.list; sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install --quiet -y musl musl-tools libsdl2-dev libsdl2-ttf-dev libsdl2-mixer-dev libsdl2-image-dev
     - name: Build v
-      run: echo $VFLAGS && make -j4 && ./v -o v v.v
+      run: echo $VFLAGS && make -j4 && ./v -cg -o v v.v
     - name: Test v binaries
       run: ./v build-vbinaries
 #    - name: Test v->js
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 3efe00f795..08c7c39ea8 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ fns.txt
 /tools/vrepl
 /tools/vtest
 /tools/vtest-compiler
+/tools/vfmt
 /tools/vup
 /tools/vpm
 /tools/vcreate
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index b734e8b4e5..4e76b25a8e 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ $(TMPVC)/.git/config:
 	$(MAKE) fresh_vc
 
 selfcompile:
-	./v -o v v.v
+	./v -cg -o v v.v
 
 modules: module_builtin module_strings module_strconv
 module_builtin:
diff --git a/tools/modules/testing/common.v b/tools/modules/testing/common.v
index d479d33d71..0a6671c310 100644
--- a/tools/modules/testing/common.v
+++ b/tools/modules/testing/common.v
@@ -27,11 +27,11 @@ pub fn new_test_session(vargs string) TestSession {
 }
 
 pub fn vexe_path() string {
-	// NB: tools extracted from v require that the first
-	// argument to them to be the v executable location.
+	// NB: tools extracted from v require that the VEXE 
+	// environment variable contains the path to the v executable location.
 	// They are usually launched by vlib/compiler/vtools.v,
 	// launch_tool/1 , which provides it.
-	return os.args[1]
+	return os.getenv('VEXE')
 }
 
 
diff --git a/tools/vfmt.v b/tools/vfmt.v
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b02ec3dea8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/vfmt.v
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2019 Alexander Medvednikov. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by an MIT license
+// that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+module main
+
+import (
+	os
+	compiler
+)
+
+struct FormatOptions {
+	is_w       bool
+	is_diff    bool
+	is_verbose bool
+	is_all     bool
+}
+
+fn main() {
+	foptions := FormatOptions{
+		is_w: '-w' in os.args
+		is_diff: '-diff' in os.args
+		is_verbose: '-verbose' in os.args || '--verbose' in os.args
+		is_all: '-all' in os.args || '--all' in os.args
+	}
+	toolexe := os.executable()
+	compiler.set_vroot_folder(os.dir(os.dir(toolexe)))
+	args := compiler.env_vflags_and_os_args()
+	if foptions.is_verbose {
+		eprintln('vfmt toolexe: $toolexe')
+		eprintln('vfmt args: ' + os.args.str())
+		eprintln('vfmt env_vflags_and_os_args: ' + args.str())
+	}
+	mut files := []string
+	for i := 1; i < args.len; i++ {
+		a := args[i]
+		if a == 'fmt' {
+			continue
+		}
+		if !a.starts_with('-') {
+			file := a
+			if !os.exists(file) {
+				compiler.verror('"$file" does not exist.')
+			}
+			if !file.ends_with('.v') {
+				compiler.verror('v fmt can only be used on .v files.\nOffending file: "$file" .')
+			}
+			files << a
+		}
+	}
+	if files.len == 0 {
+		usage()
+		exit(0)
+	}
+	if foptions.is_all {
+		os.setenv('VFMT_OPTION_ALL', 'yes', true)
+	}
+	for file in files {
+		format_file(file, foptions)
+	}
+}
+
+fn format_file(file string, foptions FormatOptions) {
+	mut v := compiler.new_v_compiler_with_args([file])
+	if foptions.is_verbose {
+		eprintln('vfmt format_file: $file | v.dir: $v.dir')
+	}
+	v.compile()
+	formatted_file_path := os.getenv('VFMT_FILE_RESULT')
+	// eprintln('File: $file .')
+	// eprintln('Formatted file is: $formatted_file_path .')
+	if foptions.is_diff {
+		if find_diff:=os.exec('diff -v'){
+			os.system('diff "$formatted_file_path" "$file" ')
+			return
+		}
+		eprintln('No working "diff" CLI command found.')
+		return
+	}
+	if foptions.is_w {
+		os.mv_by_cp(formatted_file_path, file) or {
+			panic(err)
+		}
+		eprintln('Reformatted file in place: $file .')
+	}
+	else {
+		content := os.read_file(formatted_file_path) or {
+			panic(err)
+		}
+		print(content)
+	}
+}
+
+fn usage() {
+	print('Usage: tools/vfmt [flags] path_to_source.v [path_to_other_source.v]
+Formats the given V source files, and prints their formatted source to stdout.
+Options:
+  -diff display only diffs between the formatted source and the original source.
+  -w    write result to (source) file(s) instead of to stdout.
+')
+}
+
diff --git a/tools/vpm.v b/tools/vpm.v
index d1906207a7..71bf30dec7 100644
--- a/tools/vpm.v
+++ b/tools/vpm.v
@@ -7,15 +7,15 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	//url = 'http://localhost:8089'
+// url = 'http://localhost:8089'
 	url = 'https://vpm.best'
 	valid_vpm_commands = ['help', 'search', 'install', 'update', 'remove']
 )
 
 struct Mod {
-	id int
-	name string
-	url string
+	id           int
+	name         string
+	url          string
 	nr_downloads int
 }
 
@@ -23,21 +23,31 @@ fn main() {
 	ensure_vmodules_dir_exist()
 	change_to_vmodules_dir()
 	// This tool is intended to be launched by the v frontend,
-	// so its first argument is the path to the v frontend executable.
-	args := os.args // args are: vpm vexepath SUBCOMMAND module names
-	if args.len < 3 {
+	// which provides the path to V inside os.getenv('VEXE')
+	args := os.args // args are: vpm SUBCOMMAND module names
+	if args.len < 2 {
 		vpm_help([])
 		exit(5)
 	}
-	vpm_command := args[2]
-	module_names := args[3..]
-	//println('module names: ') println(module_names)
+	vpm_command := args[1]
+	module_names := args[2..]
+	// println('module names: ') println(module_names)
 	match vpm_command {
-		'help'    { vpm_help(module_names) }
-		'search'  { vpm_search(module_names) }
-		'install' { vpm_install(module_names) }
-		'update'  { vpm_update(module_names) }
-		'remove'  { vpm_remove(module_names) }
+		'help' {
+			vpm_help(module_names)
+		}
+		'search' {
+			vpm_search(module_names)
+		}
+		'install' {
+			vpm_install(module_names)
+		}
+		'update' {
+			vpm_update(module_names)
+		}
+		'remove' {
+			vpm_remove(module_names)
+		}
 		else {
 			println('Error: you tried to run "v $vpm_command"')
 			println('... but the v package management tool vpm only knows about these commands:')
@@ -45,11 +55,10 @@ fn main() {
 				println('    v $validcmd')
 			}
 			exit(3)
-		}
-	}
+		}}
 }
 
-fn vpm_search(module_names []string){
+fn vpm_search(module_names []string) {
 	if user_asks_for_help(module_names) {
 		println('Usage:')
 		println('  v search keyword1 [keyword2] [...]')
@@ -64,7 +73,7 @@ fn vpm_search(module_names []string){
 	todo('search')
 }
 
-fn vpm_install(module_names []string){
+fn vpm_install(module_names []string) {
 	if user_asks_for_help(module_names) {
 		println('Usage:')
 		println('  v install module [module] [module] [...]')
@@ -75,40 +84,35 @@ fn vpm_install(module_names []string){
 		println('  v install requires *at least one* module name')
 		exit(2)
 	}
-
 	mut errors := 0
 	for name in module_names {
 		modurl := url + '/jsmod/$name'
-		r := http.get(modurl) or { panic(err) }
-
+		r := http.get(modurl) or {
+			panic(err)
+		}
 		if r.status_code == 404 {
 			println('Skipping module "$name", since $url reported that "$name" does not exist.')
 			errors++
 			continue
 		}
-
 		if r.status_code != 200 {
 			println('Skipping module "$name", since $url responded with $r.status_code http status code. Please try again later.')
 			errors++
 			continue
 		}
-
 		s := r.text
-		mod := json.decode(Mod, s) or {
+		mod := json.decode(Mod,s) or {
 			errors++
 			println('Skipping module "$name", since its information is not in json format.')
 			continue
 		}
-
-		if( '' == mod.url || '' == mod.name ){
+		if ('' == mod.url || '' == mod.name) {
 			errors++
 			// a possible 404 error, which means a missing module?
 			println('Skipping module "$name", since it is missing name or url information.')
 			continue
 		}
-
 		final_module_path := get_vmodules_dir_path() + '/' + mod.name.replace('.', '/')
-
 		println('Installing module "$name" from $mod.url to $final_module_path ...')
 		_ = os.exec('git clone --depth=1 $mod.url $final_module_path') or {
 			errors++
@@ -122,7 +126,7 @@ fn vpm_install(module_names []string){
 	}
 }
 
-fn vpm_update(module_names []string){
+fn vpm_update(module_names []string) {
 	if user_asks_for_help(module_names) {
 		println('Usage: ')
 		println(' a) v update module [module] [module] [...]')
@@ -134,7 +138,7 @@ fn vpm_update(module_names []string){
 	todo('update')
 }
 
-fn vpm_remove(module_names []string){
+fn vpm_remove(module_names []string) {
 	if user_asks_for_help(module_names) {
 		println('Usage: ')
 		println(' a) v remove module [module] [module] [...]')
@@ -152,9 +156,11 @@ fn get_vmodules_dir_path() string {
 
 fn ensure_vmodules_dir_exist() {
 	home_vmodules := get_vmodules_dir_path()
-	if !os.is_dir( home_vmodules ) {
+	if !os.is_dir(home_vmodules) {
 		println('Creating $home_vmodules/ ...')
-		os.mkdir(home_vmodules) or { panic(err) }
+		os.mkdir(home_vmodules) or {
+			panic(err)
+		}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -162,7 +168,7 @@ fn change_to_vmodules_dir() {
 	os.chdir(get_vmodules_dir_path())
 }
 
-fn todo(vpm_command string){
+fn todo(vpm_command string) {
 	println('TODO: v $vpm_command')
 	exit(4)
 }
@@ -171,12 +177,13 @@ fn user_asks_for_help(module_names []string) bool {
 	return ('-h' in module_names) || ('--help' in module_names) || ('help' in module_names)
 }
 
-fn vpm_help(module_names []string){
+fn vpm_help(module_names []string) {
 	println('Usage:')
-	println('  b) v search keyword1 [keyword2] [...]')
-	println('  c) v install module [module] [module] [...]')
-	println('  d) v update [module] [...]')
-	println('  e) v remove [module] [...]')
+	println('  a) v install module [module] [module] [...]')
+	println('  b) v update [module] [...]')
+	println('  c) v remove [module] [...]')
+	println('  d) v search keyword1 [keyword2] [...]')
 	println('')
 	println('  You can also pass -h or --help after each vpm command from the above, to see more details about it.')
 }
+
diff --git a/tools/vrepl.v b/tools/vrepl.v
index b1b8c02e0b..5749c54087 100644
--- a/tools/vrepl.v
+++ b/tools/vrepl.v
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ pub fn run_repl() []string {
 	}
 	mut r := Repl{}
 	mut readline := readline.Readline{}
-	vexe := os.args[1]
+	vexe := os.getenv('VEXE')
 	for {
 		if r.indent == 0 {
 			prompt = '>>> '
@@ -200,9 +200,9 @@ fn print_output(s os.Result) {
 }
 
 fn main() {
-	if os.args.len < 2 || !os.exists(os.args[1]) {
+	if !os.exists(os.getenv('VEXE')) {
 		println('Usage:')
-		println('  vrepl vexepath\n')
+		println('  VEXE=vexepath vrepl\n')
 		println('  ... where vexepath is the full path to the v executable file')
 		return
 	}
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ pub fn rerror(s string) {
 }
 
 fn v_version() string {
-	vexe := os.args[1]
+	vexe := os.getenv('VEXE')
 	vversion_res := os.exec('$vexe --version') or { panic('"$vexe --version" is not working') }
 	return vversion_res.output
 }
diff --git a/tools/vup.v b/tools/vup.v
index 8369b39573..86a9680dc3 100644
--- a/tools/vup.v
+++ b/tools/vup.v
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import os
 
 fn main() {
 	println('Updating V...')
-	vroot := os.dir(os.args[1])
+	vroot := os.getenv('VEXE')
 	os.chdir(vroot)
 	s := os.exec('git -C "$vroot" pull --rebase origin master') or { panic(err) }
 	println(s.output)
diff --git a/v.v b/v.v
index 4e5c7dcea5..b34568a2d4 100644
--- a/v.v
+++ b/v.v
@@ -13,14 +13,21 @@ import (
 
 const (
 	known_commands = ['run', 'build', 'version', 'doc']
-	simple_tools = ['up', 'create', 'test', 'test-compiler', 'build-tools', 'build-examples', 'build-vbinaries']
+	simple_tools = ['fmt', 'up', 'create', 'test', 'test-compiler', 'build-tools', 'build-examples', 'build-vbinaries']
 )
 
 fn main() {
+  is_verbose := '-verbose' in os.args || '--verbose' in os.args
 	// t := time.ticks()
 	// defer { println(time.ticks() - t) }
 	args := compiler.env_vflags_and_os_args()
-	options,command := compiler.get_v_options_and_main_command(args)
+	options, command := compiler.get_v_options_and_main_command( args )
+  if is_verbose {
+	  eprintln('v    args: $args')
+	  eprintln('v command: $command')
+	  eprintln('v options: $options')
+  }    
+	
 	// external tool
 	if command in simple_tools {
 		compiler.launch_tool('v' + command)
@@ -88,7 +95,7 @@ fn v_command(command string, args []string) {
 		'translate' {
 			println('Translating C to V will be available in V 0.3 (January)')
 		}
-		'search', 'install', 'update' {
+		'search', 'install', 'update', 'remove' {
 			compiler.launch_tool('vpm')
 		}
 		'get' {
@@ -97,9 +104,6 @@ fn v_command(command string, args []string) {
 		'symlink' {
 			compiler.create_symlink()
 		}
-		'fmt' {
-			compiler.vfmt(args)
-		}
 		'runrepl' {
 			compiler.launch_tool('vrepl')
 		}
@@ -109,16 +113,15 @@ fn v_command(command string, args []string) {
 			os.chdir(vdir)
 			mod := args.last()
 			os.system('$vexe build module vlib$os.path_separator' + args.last())
-			txt := os.read_file(filepath.join(compiler.v_modules_path,'vlib','${mod}.vh'))or{
-				panic(err)
-			}
+			vhfile := filepath.join(compiler.v_modules_path,'vlib','${mod}.vh')
+			txt := os.read_file(vhfile) or { panic(err) }
 			println(txt)
 			// v.gen_doc_html_for_module(args.last())
 		}
 		else {
 			println('v $command: unknown command')
 			println('Run "v help" for usage.')
-		}}
+		}
+	}
 	exit(0)
 }
-
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/main.v b/vlib/compiler/main.v
index 504b1a9c80..96c8ef9b1f 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/main.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/main.v
@@ -1132,32 +1132,6 @@ pub fn env_vflags_and_os_args() []string {
 	return non_empty(args)
 }
 
-pub fn vfmt(args []string) {
-	file := args.last()
-	if !os.exists(file) {
-		println('"$file" does not exist')
-		exit(1)
-	}
-	if !file.ends_with('.v') {
-		println('v fmt can only be used on .v files')
-		exit(1)
-	}
-	vexe := vexe_path()
-	// launch_tool('vfmt', '-d vfmt')
-	vroot := os.dir(vexe)
-	os.chdir(vroot)
-	println('building vfmt... (it will be cached soon)')
-	ret := os.system('$vexe -o $vroot/tools/vfmt -d vfmt v.v')
-	if ret != 0 {
-		println('err')
-		return
-	}
-	println('running vfmt...')
-	os.exec('$vroot/tools/vfmt $file')or{
-		panic(err)
-	}
-	// if !os.exists('
-}
 
 pub fn create_symlink() {
 	$if windows {
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/vfmt.v b/vlib/compiler/vfmt.v
index 726bae588a..8f8dcbd844 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/vfmt.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/vfmt.v
@@ -240,7 +240,6 @@ fn (p mut Parser) fremove_last() {
 
 }
 
-
 [if vfmt]
 fn (p &Parser) gen_fmt() {
 	if p.pass != .main {
@@ -250,6 +249,11 @@ fn (p &Parser) gen_fmt() {
 	if p.file_name == '' {
 		return
 	}
+	is_all := os.getenv('VFMT_OPTION_ALL') == 'yes'
+	if p.file_path != p.v.dir && !is_all {
+		// skip everything except the last file (given by the CLI argument)
+		return
+	}
 	//s := p.scanner.fmt_out.str().replace('\n\n\n', '\n').trim_space()
 	//s := p.scanner.fmt_out.str().trim_space()
 	//p.scanner.fgenln('// nice')
@@ -260,29 +264,40 @@ fn (p &Parser) gen_fmt() {
 		') or{', ') or {',
 	])
 	*/
-		//.replace('\n\n\n\n', '\n\n')
-		.replace_each([
-			' \n', '\n',
-			') or{', ') or {',
-			')or{', ') or {',
-		] )
-
+	//.replace('\n\n\n\n', '\n\n')
+	.replace_each([
+		' \n', '\n',
+		') or{', ') or {',
+		')or{', ') or {',
+	])
+	
 	if s == '' {
 		return
 	}
 	//files := ['get_type.v']
-	if p.file_path.contains('vfmt') {return}
+	if p.file_path.contains('compiler/vfmt.v') {return}
 	//if !(p.file_name in files) { return }
-	path := os.tmpdir() + '/' + p.file_name
-	println('generating ${path}')
-	mut out := os.create(path) or {
-		verror('failed to create os_nix.v')
-		return
+	if is_all {
+		if p.file_path.len > 0 {
+			path := write_formatted_source( p.file_name, s )
+			os.cp( path, p.file_path ) or { panic(err) }
+			eprintln('Written fmt file to: $p.file_path')
+		}
+	}
+	if p.file_path == p.v.dir {
+		res_path := write_formatted_source( p.file_name, s )
+		os.setenv('VFMT_FILE_RESULT', res_path, true )
 	}
-	println('replacing ${p.file_path}...\n')
-	out.writeln(s.trim_space())//p.scanner.fmt_out.str().trim_space())
-	out.writeln('')
-	out.close()
-	os.mv(path, p.file_path)
 }
 
+fn write_formatted_source(file_name string, s string) string {
+	path := os.tmpdir() + '/' + file_name
+	mut out := os.create(path) or {
+		verror('failed to create file $path')
+		return ''
+	}
+	//eprintln('replacing ${p.file_path} ...\n')
+	out.writeln(s.trim_space())//p.scanner.fmt_out.str().trim_space())
+	out.close()
+	return path
+}	
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/vtools.v b/vlib/compiler/vtools.v
index 2a8be006a8..d56f69630b 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/vtools.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/vtools.v
@@ -3,22 +3,25 @@ module compiler
 import os
 
 pub fn launch_tool(tname string) {
+  is_verbose := '-verbose' in os.args || '--verbose' in os.args
 	vexe := vexe_path()
 	vroot := os.dir(vexe)
-	mut oargs := os.args
-	oargs[0] = '"$vexe"' // make it more explicit
+	set_vroot_folder( vroot ) // needed by tools to find back v
+	tool_args := os.args[1..].join(' ')
 	tool_exe := os.realpath('$vroot/tools/$tname')
 	tool_source := os.realpath('$vroot/tools/${tname}.v')
-	// ////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-	tool_args := oargs.join(' ')
 	tool_command := '"$tool_exe" $tool_args'
-	// println('Launching: "$tool_command" ...')
+	if is_verbose { 
+		eprintln('launch_tool vexe        : $vroot')
+		eprintln('launch_tool vroot       : $vroot')
+		eprintln('launch_tool tool_args   : $tool_args')
+		eprintln('launch_tool tool_command: $tool_command')
+	}	
 	mut tool_should_be_recompiled := false
 	if !os.exists(tool_exe) {
 		// fresh checkout
 		tool_should_be_recompiled = true
-	}
-	else {
+	} else {
 		if os.file_last_mod_unix(tool_exe) <= os.file_last_mod_unix(vexe) {
 			// v was recompiled, maybe after v up ...
 			// rebuild the tool too just in case
@@ -29,16 +32,26 @@ pub fn launch_tool(tname string) {
 			tool_should_be_recompiled = true
 		}
 	}
+	
+	if is_verbose {
+		eprintln('launch_tool tool_should_be_recompiled: $tool_should_be_recompiled')
+	}
+	
 	if tool_should_be_recompiled {
-		compilation_command := '"$vexe" "$tool_source"'
-		// println('Compiling $tname with: "$compilation_command"')
-		tool_compilation := os.exec(compilation_command)or{
-			panic(err)
+		mut compilation_options := ''
+		if tname == 'vfmt' {  compilation_options = '-d vfmt' }
+		compilation_command := '"$vexe" $compilation_options "$tool_source"'
+		if is_verbose {
+			eprintln('Compiling $tname with: "$compilation_command"') 
 		}
+		tool_compilation := os.exec(compilation_command) or { panic(err) }
 		if tool_compilation.exit_code != 0 {
 			panic('V tool "$tool_source" could not be compiled\n' + tool_compilation.output)
 		}
 	}
-	exit(os.system(tool_command))
+	if is_verbose {
+		eprintln('launch_tool running tool command: $tool_command ...')
+	}
+	
+	exit( os.system(tool_command) )
 }
-