diff --git a/.vscode/launch.json b/.vscode/launch.json
index 0d1185b..4f91ec9 100644
--- a/.vscode/launch.json
+++ b/.vscode/launch.json
@@ -4,12 +4,20 @@
   // For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387
   "version": "0.2.0",
   "configurations": [
+    {
+      "name": "Launch file",
+      "type": "go",
+      "request": "launch",
+      "mode": "debug",
+      "program": "${file}"
+    },
     {
       "name": "Launch Package",
       "type": "go",
       "request": "launch",
       "mode": "auto",
-      "program": "${fileDirname}"
+      "program": "${fileDirname}",
+      "args": ["shrink", "~/music/"]
     }
   ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 77b97af..afd9ec4 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -190,8 +190,6 @@ github.com/samber/lo v1.38.1 h1:j2XEAqXKb09Am4ebOg31SpvzUTTs6EN3VfgeLUhPdXM=
 github.com/samber/lo v1.38.1/go.mod h1:+m/ZKRl6ClXCE2Lgf3MsQlWfh4bn1bz6CXEOxnEXnEA=
 github.com/snivilised/cobrass v0.3.0 h1:ByvHGg59ctNl+OD+qCINC6vl0QtUNtZjR1ChX3V9+hg=
 github.com/snivilised/cobrass v0.3.0/go.mod h1:5pf0tiAz1mWb7h+QDm/CJtukO3HXPQoKjQKhUnyX980=
-github.com/snivilised/extendio v0.1.16 h1:pMu1ZFKDZwRl/DB2QHL9jH02JaZMm0ax+ZZ3AZxLUUU=
-github.com/snivilised/extendio v0.1.16/go.mod h1:SO4udqtdfNl/KTLG9GF8kHxoMiIhnvN/9xlqkCCC6VY=
 github.com/snivilised/extendio v0.1.20 h1:pEnWUHFBVf62EaDWyG2dYsJdwiyWCs/GN8pQBlBd4G4=
 github.com/snivilised/extendio v0.1.20/go.mod h1:60Q6KRprh4qD7+aDXdlnKkXSgcmwsEV91OPO7j2CaEI=
 github.com/spf13/afero v1.9.5 h1:stMpOSZFs//0Lv29HduCmli3GUfpFoF3Y1Q/aXj/wVM=
diff --git a/src/app/command/bootstrap.go b/src/app/command/bootstrap.go
index e09fe5a..9fcd87b 100644
--- a/src/app/command/bootstrap.go
+++ b/src/app/command/bootstrap.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/snivilised/cobrass/src/assistant"
 	ci18n "github.com/snivilised/cobrass/src/assistant/i18n"
 	xi18n "github.com/snivilised/extendio/i18n"
+	"github.com/snivilised/extendio/xfs/utils"
 	"github.com/snivilised/pixa/src/app/magick"
 	"github.com/snivilised/pixa/src/i18n"
 )
@@ -33,6 +34,20 @@ func (j *Jabber) Scan() language.Tag {
 	return language.MustParse(lang)
 }
 
+func validatePositionalArgs(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+	if err := cobra.ExactArgs(1)(cmd, args); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	directory := magick.ResolvePath(args[0])
+
+	if !utils.Exists(directory) {
+		return xi18n.NewPathNotFoundError("shrink directory", directory)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // Bootstrap represents construct that performs start up of the cli
 // without resorting to the use of Go's init() mechanism and minimal
 // use of package global variables.
@@ -48,18 +63,22 @@ func (b *Bootstrap) Root() *cobra.Command {
 		// ---> co.configFile = "~/pixa.yml"
 	})
 
-	// all these string literals here should be made translate-able
-	//
-
 	b.container = assistant.NewCobraContainer(
 		&cobra.Command{
 			Use:     "main",
 			Short:   xi18n.Text(i18n.RootCmdShortDescTemplData{}),
 			Long:    xi18n.Text(i18n.RootCmdLongDescTemplData{}),
 			Version: fmt.Sprintf("'%v'", Version),
-			// Uncomment the following line if your bare application
-			// has an action associated with it:
-			// Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) { },
+			RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+				fmt.Printf("		===> 🌷🌷🌷 Root Command...\n")
+
+				rps := b.container.MustGetParamSet(RootPsName).(magick.RootParameterSetPtr) //nolint:errcheck // is Must call
+				rps.Native.Directory = magick.ResolvePath(args[0])
+
+				// ---> execute root core
+				//
+				return magick.EnterRoot(rps)
+			},
 		},
 	)
 
@@ -277,5 +296,7 @@ func (b *Bootstrap) buildRootCommand(container *assistant.CobraContainer) {
 	rootCommand.MarkFlagsMutuallyExclusive("files-rx", "files-gb")
 	rootCommand.MarkFlagsMutuallyExclusive("folder-rx", "folder-gb")
 
+	rootCommand.Args = validatePositionalArgs
+
 	container.MustRegisterParamSet(RootPsName, paramSet)
 }
diff --git a/src/app/command/root-cmd_test.go b/src/app/command/root-cmd_test.go
index 7147bab..b007850 100644
--- a/src/app/command/root-cmd_test.go
+++ b/src/app/command/root-cmd_test.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ var _ = Describe("RootCmd", Ordered, func() {
 			Detector: &DetectorStub{},
 		}
 		tester := helpers.CommandTester{
-			Args: []string{},
+			Args: []string{"./"},
 			Root: bootstrap.Root(),
 		}
 		_, err := tester.Execute()
diff --git a/src/app/command/shrink-cmd.go b/src/app/command/shrink-cmd.go
index a4a14de..6504bdd 100644
--- a/src/app/command/shrink-cmd.go
+++ b/src/app/command/shrink-cmd.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package command
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/snivilised/cobrass/src/assistant"
@@ -96,14 +95,10 @@ func buildShrinkCommand(container *assistant.CobraContainer) *cobra.Command {
 						fmt.Printf("💠 Blur defined with value: '%v'\n", cmd.Flag("sampling-factor").Value)
 					}
 
-					ps.Native.Directory = args[0]
-					if absolute, absErr := filepath.Abs(args[0]); absErr == nil {
-						ps.Native.Directory = absolute
-					}
-
 					// Get inherited parameters
 					//
 					rps := container.MustGetParamSet(RootPsName).(magick.RootParameterSetPtr) //nolint:errcheck // is Must call
+					rps.Native.Directory = magick.ResolvePath(args[0])
 
 					// ---> execute application core with the parameter set (native)
 					//
@@ -264,19 +259,7 @@ func buildShrinkCommand(container *assistant.CobraContainer) *cobra.Command {
 	container.MustRegisterRootedCommand(shrinkCommand)
 	container.MustRegisterParamSet(shrinkPsName, paramSet)
 
-	shrinkCommand.Args = func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-		if err := cobra.ExactArgs(1)(cmd, args); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		directory := args[0]
-
-		if !utils.Exists(directory) {
-			return xi18n.NewPathNotFoundError("shrink directory", directory)
-		}
-
-		return nil
-	}
+	shrinkCommand.Args = validatePositionalArgs
 
 	return shrinkCommand
 }
diff --git a/src/app/magick/enter-root.go b/src/app/magick/enter-root.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9631f39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/magick/enter-root.go
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+package magick
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
+	"path/filepath"
+
+	"github.com/samber/lo"
+	"github.com/snivilised/cobrass/src/assistant"
+	"github.com/snivilised/extendio/xfs/nav"
+)
+
+type RootEntry struct {
+	EntryBase
+
+	rps   *assistant.ParamSet[RootParameterSet]
+	files []string
+}
+
+func (e *RootEntry) ConfigureOptions(o *nav.TraverseOptions) {
+	o.Notify.OnBegin = func(_ *nav.NavigationState) {
+		fmt.Printf("===> 🛡️ beginning traversal ...\n")
+	}
+	o.Notify.OnEnd = func(result *nav.TraverseResult) {
+		fmt.Printf("===> 🚩 finished traversal - folders '%v'\n",
+			result.Metrics.Count(nav.MetricNoFoldersInvokedEn),
+		)
+	}
+	o.Callback = nav.LabelledTraverseCallback{
+		Label: "Root Entry Callback",
+		Fn: func(item *nav.TraverseItem) error {
+			depth := item.Extension.Depth
+			indicator := lo.Ternary(len(item.Children) > 0, "☀️", "🌊")
+
+			lo.ForEach(item.Children, func(de fs.DirEntry, index int) {
+				fullPath := filepath.Join(item.Path, de.Name())
+				e.files = append(e.files, fullPath)
+			})
+
+			fmt.Printf(
+				"---> %v ROOT-CALLBACK: (depth:%v, files:%v) '%v'\n",
+				indicator,
+				depth, len(item.Children),
+				item.Path,
+			)
+
+			return nil
+		},
+	}
+	o.Store.Subscription = nav.SubscribeFoldersWithFiles
+	o.Store.DoExtend = true
+	e.EntryBase.ConfigureOptions(o)
+}
+
+func GetRootTraverseOptionsFunc(entry *RootEntry) func(o *nav.TraverseOptions) {
+	// make this a generic?
+	//
+	return func(o *nav.TraverseOptions) {
+		entry.ConfigureOptions(o)
+	}
+}
+
+func EnterRoot(
+	rps *assistant.ParamSet[RootParameterSet],
+) error {
+	fmt.Printf("---> 🦠🦠🦠 Directory: '%v'\n", rps.Native.Directory)
+
+	entry := &RootEntry{
+		rps: rps,
+	}
+	session := &nav.PrimarySession{
+		Path:     rps.Native.Directory,
+		OptionFn: GetRootTraverseOptionsFunc(entry),
+	}
+	result, err := session.Init().Run()
+
+	lo.ForEach(entry.files, func(f string, _ int) {
+		fmt.Printf("		===> 🔆 candidate file: '%v'\n", f)
+	})
+
+	no := result.Metrics.Count(nav.MetricNoChildFilesFoundEn)
+	summary := fmt.Sprintf("files: %v", no)
+	message := lo.Ternary(err == nil,
+		fmt.Sprintf("navigation completed (%v) ✔️", summary),
+		fmt.Sprintf("error occurred during navigation (%v)❌\n", err),
+	)
+	fmt.Println(message)
+
+	return err
+}
diff --git a/src/app/magick/enter-shrink.go b/src/app/magick/enter-shrink.go
index 1761114..711905e 100644
--- a/src/app/magick/enter-shrink.go
+++ b/src/app/magick/enter-shrink.go
@@ -10,20 +10,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/snivilised/extendio/xfs/nav"
 )
 
-type EntryBase struct {
-	session nav.TraverseSession
-}
-
-func (e *EntryBase) ConfigureOptions(o *nav.TraverseOptions) {
-	o.Store.FilterDefs = &nav.FilterDefinitions{
-		Children: nav.CompoundFilterDef{
-			Type:        nav.FilterTypeRegexEn,
-			Description: "Image types supported by pixa",
-			Pattern:     "\\.(jpe?g|png|gif)$",
-		},
-	}
-}
-
 type ShrinkEntry struct {
 	EntryBase
 
@@ -67,15 +53,11 @@ func (e *ShrinkEntry) ConfigureOptions(o *nav.TraverseOptions) {
 	e.EntryBase.ConfigureOptions(o)
 }
 
-func Configure(entry *ShrinkEntry, o *nav.TraverseOptions) {
-	entry.ConfigureOptions(o)
-}
-
-func GetTraverseOptionsFunc(entry *ShrinkEntry) func(o *nav.TraverseOptions) {
+func GetShrinkTraverseOptionsFunc(entry *ShrinkEntry) func(o *nav.TraverseOptions) {
 	// make this a generic?
 	//
 	return func(o *nav.TraverseOptions) {
-		Configure(entry, o)
+		entry.ConfigureOptions(o)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -83,23 +65,24 @@ func EnterShrink(
 	rps *assistant.ParamSet[RootParameterSet],
 	ps *assistant.ParamSet[ShrinkParameterSet],
 ) error {
-	fmt.Printf("---> 🦠🦠🦠 Directory: '%v'\n", ps.Native.Directory)
+	fmt.Printf("---> 🦠🦠🦠 Directory: '%v'\n", rps.Native.Directory)
 
 	entry := &ShrinkEntry{
 		rps: rps,
 		ps:  ps,
 	}
 	session := &nav.PrimarySession{
-		Path:     ps.Native.Directory,
-		OptionFn: GetTraverseOptionsFunc(entry),
+		Path:     rps.Native.Directory,
+		OptionFn: GetShrinkTraverseOptionsFunc(entry),
 	}
-	_, err := session.Init().Run()
+	result, err := session.Init().Run()
 
-	lo.ForEach(entry.jobs, func(i string, index int) {
-		fmt.Printf("		===> ✨ job: '%v'\n", i)
+	lo.ForEach(entry.jobs, func(j string, _ int) {
+		fmt.Printf("		===> ✨ job: '%v'\n", j)
 	})
 
-	summary := fmt.Sprintf("files: %v", len(entry.jobs))
+	no := result.Metrics.Count(nav.MetricNoChildFilesFoundEn)
+	summary := fmt.Sprintf("files: %v, count: %v", len(entry.jobs), no)
 	message := lo.Ternary(err == nil,
 		fmt.Sprintf("navigation completed (%v) ✔️", summary),
 		fmt.Sprintf("error occurred during navigation (%v)❌\n", err),
diff --git a/src/app/magick/entry-base.go b/src/app/magick/entry-base.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..89e5ecd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/magick/entry-base.go
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+package magick
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+
+	"github.com/snivilised/extendio/xfs/nav"
+)
+
+type EntryBase struct {
+	session nav.TraverseSession
+}
+
+func (e *EntryBase) ConfigureOptions(o *nav.TraverseOptions) {
+	o.Store.FilterDefs = &nav.FilterDefinitions{
+		Children: nav.CompoundFilterDef{
+			Type:        nav.FilterTypeRegexEn,
+			Description: "Image types supported by pixa",
+			Pattern:     "\\.(jpe?g|png|gif)$",
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+func ResolvePath(path string) string {
+	result := path
+
+	if result[0] == '~' {
+		if h, err := os.UserHomeDir(); err == nil {
+			result = filepath.Join(h, result[1:])
+		}
+	} else {
+		if absolute, absErr := filepath.Abs(path); absErr == nil {
+			result = absolute
+		}
+	}
+
+	return result
+}
diff --git a/src/app/magick/image-defs.go b/src/app/magick/image-defs.go
index 1c0a6d3..3004977 100644
--- a/src/app/magick/image-defs.go
+++ b/src/app/magick/image-defs.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 type RootParameterSet struct {
 	GeneralParameters
 	FilterParameters
+	Directory  string
 	Viper      bool
 	ConfigFile string
 	Language   string
@@ -92,7 +93,6 @@ type CoreParameters struct {
 type ShrinkParameterSet struct {
 	CoreParameters
 	//
-	Directory  string
 	MirrorPath string
 	ModeEn     assistant.EnumValue[ModeEnum]
 }