diff --git a/examples/test-adctk_hello_world.sh b/examples/test-adctk_hello_world.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..b38a437
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/test-adctk_hello_world.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#! /bin/bash
+module purge
+module load aue/gdb
+rm -rf test.outputs adc.file_plugin.log
+mkdir test.outputs
+. ./test-env-publishers
+export ADC_MULTI_PUBLISHER_DEBUG=1
+export ADC_MULTIFILE_PLUGIN_DEBUG=1
+env |grep ADC |grep CURL
+env |grep ADC |grep MULTI_PUB
+echo starting...
+adctk_hello_world > >(tee test.outputs/hello-world.stdout.log) 2> >(tee test.outputs/hello-world.stderr.log)
+if test -s ./adc.file_plugin.log; then
+	echo "got ./adc.file_plugin.log"
+else
+	echo "no ./adc.file_plugin.log"
+fi
+if test -s test.outputs/out.file.log; then
+	echo got test.outputs/out.file.log
+else
+	echo "no test.outputs/out.file.log"
+fi
+sleep 1 ; # catch up with nfs delays
+if test -s ./test.outputs/script; then
+	echo "got test.outputs/script"
+else
+	echo "no test.outputs/script"
+fi
diff --git a/examples/test-env-publishers b/examples/test-env-publishers
index 3d0d5ca..f4a486e 100644
--- a/examples/test-env-publishers
+++ b/examples/test-env-publishers
@@ -11,11 +11,12 @@ TEST_LDMS_AUTH=munge
 TEST_LDMS_PORT=412
 
 # define the plugins for the multipublisher
-TEST_ALL_PUBS="curl:file:multifile:script:stdout:syslog:ldmsd_stream_publish:ldms_message_publish"
+TEST_ALL_PUBS="http:file:multifile:script:stdout:syslog:ldmsd_stream_publish:ldms_message_publish"
 TEST_LOCAL_PUBS="file:script:stdout:multifile"
-TEST_NET_PUBS="curl:syslog:ldmsd_stream_publish:ldms_message_publish"
+TEST_NET_PUBS="http:syslog:ldmsd-system-message:ldms-system-stream"
 #serial
-TEST_ASF_PUBS="multifile:ldms_message_publish"
+TEST_ASF_PUBS="multifile:ldms-system-message:http"
+TEST_ASF_PUBS="ldms-system-message"
 
 # default the multi_publisher to node-local ones; can be overridden.
 export ADC_MULTI_PUBLISHER_NAMES=$TEST_ASF_PUBS
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ export ADC_CURL_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY="/dev/shm/adc"
 export ADC_CURL_PLUGIN_PROG="/usr/bin/curl"
 export ADC_CURL_PLUGIN_PORT="443"
 export ADC_CURL_PLUGIN_URL="$TEST_ADC_URL"
-export ADC_CURL_PLUGIN_DEBUG="0"
+export ADC_CURL_PLUGIN_DEBUG="2"
 
 # environment variables for file serial code plugin
 export ADC_FILE_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY="."
@@ -58,12 +59,12 @@ export ADC_FILE_PLUGIN_DEBUG="0"
 
 # environment variables for file parallel code plugin
 export ADC_MULTIFILE_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY=$ADC_FS_ROOT/$WGTEAM
-export ADC_MULTIFILE_PLUGIN_DEBUG="1"
 export ADC_MULTIFILE_PLUGIN_DEBUG="0"
+export ADC_MULTIFILE_PLUGIN_DEBUG="1"
 # Normally rank should be defined in code rather than the environment,
 # using either setenv before creating the plugin instance
 # or passing rank to the publisher config setup.
-export ADC_MULTIFILE_PLUGIN_RANK=""
+export ADC_MULTIFILE_PLUGIN_RANK="0"
 
 # environment variables for ldmsd_stream_publish subprocess plugin
 export ADC_LDMS_MESSAGE_PUBLISH_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY="/dev/shm/adc"
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ export ADC_LDMS_MESSAGE_PUBLISH_PLUGIN_AUTH="$TEST_LDMS_AUTH"
 export ADC_LDMS_MESSAGE_PUBLISH_PLUGIN_PORT="$TEST_LDMS_PORT"
 export ADC_LDMS_MESSAGE_PUBLISH_PLUGIN_HOST="localhost"
 export ADC_LDMS_MESSAGE_PUBLISH_PLUGIN_AFFINITY="all"
-export ADC_LDMS_MESSAGE_PUBLISH_PLUGIN_DEBUG="0"
+export ADC_LDMS_MESSAGE_PUBLISH_PLUGIN_DEBUG="1"
 
 # environment variables for ldmsd_stream_publish subprocess plugin
 export ADC_LDMSD_STREAM_PUBLISH_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY="/dev/shm/adc"
diff --git a/examples/test-test_adctk_builder.sh b/examples/test-test_adctk_builder.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..4137957
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/test-test_adctk_builder.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#! /bin/bash
+module purge
+module load aue/gdb
+rm -rf test.outputs adc.file_plugin.log
+mkdir test.outputs
+. ./test-env-publishers
+export ADC_MULTI_PUBLISHER_DEBUG=1
+export ADC_MULTIFILE_PLUGIN_DEBUG=1
+env |grep ADC
+echo starting...
+test_adctk_builder > >(tee test.outputs/stdout.log) 2> >(tee test.outputs/stderr.log)
+#test_adctk_builder |tee test.outputs/test_adctk_builder.out
+if test -s ./adc.file_plugin.log; then
+	echo "got ./adc.file_plugin.log"
+else
+	echo "no ./adc.file_plugin.log"
+fi
+if test -s test.outputs/out.file.log; then
+	echo got test.outputs/out.file.log
+else
+	echo "no test.outputs/out.file.log"
+fi
+sleep 1 ; # catch up with nfs delays
+if test -s ./test.outputs/script; then
+	echo "got test.outputs/script"
+else
+	echo "no test.outputs/script"
+fi
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 51163d0..b644bc8 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ dev = [
 
 [project.scripts]
 adctk-publish = "adctk.scripts.adctk_publish:main"
+adctk_hello_world = "adctk.scripts.adctk_hello_world:main"
 test_adc_types = "adctk.scripts.test_adc_types:main"
 test_adctk_builder = "adctk.scripts.test_adctk_builder:main"
 test_old_builder = "adctk.scripts.test_builder:main"
diff --git a/src/adctk/builder.py b/src/adctk/builder.py
index df363c1..1e51d6f 100644
--- a/src/adctk/builder.py
+++ b/src/adctk/builder.py
@@ -879,7 +879,7 @@ def add(self, name: str, value: any, value_type=None):
         if name is None or value is None:
             raise ValueError("add: name and value cannot be None")
         t = type(value)
-        print(f"\nadd {name} {t}")
+        ### print(f"\n DEB: add {name} {t}")
         if isinstance(t, Builder):
             self.add_section(name, value)
             return
diff --git a/src/adctk/factory.py b/src/adctk/factory.py
index 0a0f1b6..9460ef7 100644
--- a/src/adctk/factory.py
+++ b/src/adctk/factory.py
@@ -128,10 +128,7 @@ def get_multi_publisher(strict=False,
                                               "http":{"port": "8443", "url": "localhost"}})
 
         """
-#       try:
         return publisher.MultiPublisher(strict, plugins)
-#       except:
-#           return None
 
     def __init__(self):
         pass # Factory.__init__ nothing to do
diff --git a/src/adctk/publisher.py b/src/adctk/publisher.py
index 33e1080..736fcdb 100644
--- a/src/adctk/publisher.py
+++ b/src/adctk/publisher.py
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ def _config_from_list(self, plugins: list[str], strict: bool):
     def _config_from_env(self, env_name: str, strict: bool):
         """@brief configure with list following env_name.split(":")"""
         env_val = os.getenv(env_name, "")
-        if env_val is None or len(env_val):
+        if env_val is None or not len(env_val):
             return
         plugins = env_val.split(":")
         self._config_from_list(plugins, strict)
@@ -303,6 +303,7 @@ def add(self, publisher: Publisher) -> None:
         if not publisher:
             return None
         self.pvec.append(publisher)
+        print(f"DEB: Adding publisher {publisher.name()}")
         return None
 
     def publish(self, b: builder.Builder) -> int:
diff --git a/src/adctk/scripts/adctk_hello_world.py b/src/adctk/scripts/adctk_hello_world.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..45bc9df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/adctk/scripts/adctk_hello_world.py
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+# Copyright 2026 NTESS. See the top-level LICENSE.txt file for details.
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+
+import os
+import adctk
+#*! \file adcHelloWorld.py
+#  This demonstrates using the adctk.factory API to build and publish a message.
+#  The message sent includes the bare minimum, plus hello world and host data.
+
+#! \addtogroup examples
+#  @{
+
+#!
+# \brief adctk python hello world without hard-coded publisher choices.
+def main() -> int:
+    """!
+    @brief adctk python hello world without hard-coded publisher choices.
+    """
+
+    # create a factory
+    f = adctk.Factory()
+
+    # create a message and add header
+    b = f.get_builder()
+    b.add_header_section("cxx_demo_1")
+
+    # add an application-defined payload to the message
+    app_data = f.get_builder()
+    app_data.add("hello", "world")
+    b.add_app_data_section(app_data)
+
+    # add environment chunks of interest on at least the first message in production
+    b.add_host_section(all_hs=True)
+
+    # could add lots of other sections, as needed.
+
+    print(f'adc pub version: {adctk.Publisher.API_VERSION["version"]}' )
+    print(f'adc builder version: {adctk.Builder.API_VERSION["version"]}' )
+
+    # create publishers following runtime environment variables and defaults.
+    # Do not tolerate failures in a testing environment.
+    mp = f.get_multi_publisher(strict=True, plugins=[])
+
+    # send built message b to all publishers
+    err = mp.publish(b)
+    if err:
+        print(f"got {err} publication errors." )
+
+    # do some work
+
+    # send the final status updating the header to get the needed new timestamp and uuid
+    b.add_exit_data_section(0, "all good in python", None)
+    b.add_header_section("cxx_demo_1")
+    err = mp.publish(b)
+    if err:
+        print(f"got {err} publication errors." )
+
+    # clean up all publishers
+    mp.terminate()
+
+    # the next block is skipped pending implementation of get_multifile_log_path
+    # the next block is skipped pending implementation of consolidate_multifile_logs
+    if False:
+        # may need to sleep here to give local fs a chance to catch up
+        # dir/user/[wfid.].host.Ppid.Tstarttime.pptr/application.Rrank.XXXXXX
+        # -->
+        # dir/user/consolidated.[wfid].adct-json.multi.xml
+        path = os.getenv("ADC_MULTIFILE_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY")
+        wfid = os.getenv("ADC_WFID")
+        ## pattern = adctk.get_multifile_log_path(path, wfid)
+
+        old_paths = []
+        ## new_files = adctk.consolidate_multifile_logs(pattern, old_paths)
+        new_files = []
+        if len(old_paths):
+            for i in old_paths:
+                print(f"consolidating from: {i}")
+                if False:
+                    try:
+                        os.remove(i) # we could delete the merged files.
+                    except FileNotFoundError:
+                        pass
+            for i in new_files:
+                print(f"consolidated to: {i}" )
+        else:
+            print("no consolidation done.")
+
+    return 0
+
+#! @}
+#! @}
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/src/adctk/scripts/test_adc_types.py b/src/adctk/scripts/test_adc_types.py
index 8a0be91..4e0a87d 100644
--- a/src/adctk/scripts/test_adc_types.py
+++ b/src/adctk/scripts/test_adc_types.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ def add2(x, name, value):
     if isinstance(value, range):
         pass
     if type(value) == int:
-        if fits_int64(value):
+        if adctk.adc_types.fits_int64(value):
             pass
         #store as cp_number_str
         pass
diff --git a/src/adctk/scripts/test_adctk_builder.py b/src/adctk/scripts/test_adctk_builder.py
index 2501da9..14dd89f 100644
--- a/src/adctk/scripts/test_adctk_builder.py
+++ b/src/adctk/scripts/test_adctk_builder.py
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
-import numpy
 import array
+import numpy
 import adctk
 #import adctk.adc_types
 #import adctk.builder
@@ -24,23 +24,23 @@
 
 # config w/file_config and call initialize.
 def test_publisher( pub: adctk.Publisher,  b: adctk.Builder) -> int :
-    err = 0;
-    e = 0;
+    err = 0
+    e = 0
     err = pub.config(**file_config)
     if err:
         print(f"config failed {err}")
-        e += 1;
+        e += 1
     err = pub.initialize()
     if err:
         print(f"initialize failed {err}")
-        e += 1;
-        err = 0;
-    err = pub.publish(b); # there should be 1 b in the output
+        e += 1
+        err = 0
+    err = pub.publish(b) # there should be 1 b in the output
     if err:
         print(f"publish 1 failed {err}")
-        e += 1;
-        err = 0;
-    return e;
+        e += 1
+        err = 0
+    return e
 
 def not_scalar_or_string(var):
     # returns False for numeric scalars and standard strings
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ def roundtrip_array(name: str, val: any, cptype: adctk.adc_types.ScalarType, cou
                 print(f"[{i}]: {ck.data[i]} vs {val[i]}")
     if not bad:
         print(" ok")
-        return;
+        return
     print("\nBAD", end='')
     print(f"\tkt: {ck.kt}", end='')
     print(f"\tst: {str(ck.st)}", end='')
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ def populate_builder(b, f):
     u8 = numpy.iinfo(numpy.int8).max
     u16 = numpy.iinfo(numpy.int16).max
     u32 = numpy.iinfo(numpy.int32).max
-    u64 = numpy.iinfo(numpy.uint64).max;
+    u64 = numpy.iinfo(numpy.uint64).max
     b.add("u8", u8, 'uint8')
     roundtrip("u8", u8, adctk.adc_types.ScalarType.cp_uint8, b)
     b.add("u16", u16, 'uint16')
@@ -261,23 +261,23 @@ def populate_builder(b, f):
     b.add("cppstr", cppstr)
     roundtrip_string("cppstr", cppstr, adctk.adc_types.ScalarType.cp_cstr, b)
 
-    cstr = "cstr_nul";
+    cstr = "cstr_nul"
     b.add("cstr1", cstr)
     roundtrip_string("cstr1", cstr, adctk.adc_types.ScalarType.cp_cstr, b)
 
-    jstr = "{\"a\":\"b\", \"c\":[1,2, 3]}";
+    jstr = "{\"a\":\"b\", \"c\":[1,2, 3]}"
     b.add_json_string("jstr1", jstr)
     roundtrip_string("jstr1", jstr, adctk.adc_types.ScalarType.cp_json_str, b)
 
-    ystr = "---\na: b\nc: [1,2, 3]\nd:\n  e: 1\n  f: 2";
+    ystr = "---\na: b\nc: [1,2, 3]\nd:\n  e: 1\n  f: 2"
     b.add_yaml_string("ystr1", ystr)
     roundtrip_string("ystr1", ystr, adctk.adc_types.ScalarType.cp_yaml_str, b)
 
-    xstr = "<note> <to>Tove</to> <from>Jani</from> </note>";
+    xstr = "<note> <to>Tove</to> <from>Jani</from> </note>"
     b.add_xml_string("xstr1", xstr)
     roundtrip_string("xstr1", xstr, adctk.adc_types.ScalarType.cp_xml_str, b)
 
-    nstr = "1234567890123456789012345678901234567890.123";
+    nstr = "1234567890123456789012345678901234567890.123"
     b.add_number_string("number1", nstr)
     roundtrip_string("number1", nstr, adctk.adc_types.ScalarType.cp_number_str, b)
     ss = b.serialize()
@@ -378,13 +378,13 @@ def populate_builder(b, f):
     cpu2 = dict()
     mem2 = dict()
 
-    host2["NAME"] = "MYHOST";
-    host2["CLUSTER"] ="MYCLUSTER";
-    cpu2["PROCESSOR"] = "PENTIUM ii";
-    mem2["SIZE"] = "256g";
-    arch2["CPU"] = cpu2;
-    arch2["MEMORY"] = mem2;
-    host2["ARCHITECTURE"] = arch2;
+    host2["NAME"] = "MYHOST"
+    host2["CLUSTER"] ="MYCLUSTER"
+    cpu2["PROCESSOR"] = "PENTIUM ii"
+    mem2["SIZE"] = "256g"
+    arch2["CPU"] = cpu2
+    arch2["MEMORY"] = mem2
+    host2["ARCHITECTURE"] = arch2
 
     b.add("host2", host2)
 
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ def main() -> int:
     mp.publish(b)
     mp.terminate()
 
-    return 0;
+    return 0
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     main()