Big commit this time:

* Moved entirely to alpm_pkg_get_* accessors, to read data on demand
* Mostly removed the INFRQ_ parameters from outside the be_files backend (making
  the backend more extensible in the long run)
* packages created from _alpm_db_scan now have the db and origin set (making
  accessors actually work for these packages)
* removed _alpm_db_ensure_pkgcache

* totally revamped the _alpm_checkconflicts function, making it cleaner and
  easier to read (and thus fix in the long run) - maintainable code ftw
  NOTE: feel free to rename the functions... I couldn't think of anything better

* removed an extra loop in sync.c:find_replacements - no sense in looping over
  an entire DB while strcmp'ing the name, when we have get_pkgfromcache

Other:
* package struct "license" -> "licenses"
* Created _alpm_sync_find (duplicate code in some places, find_pkginsync
* Minor const correctness changes along the way
* fixed a couple extra '/' pathing issues (non-issues really)
* removed a duplicate pkg_cmp function

24 files changed, 655 insertions, 576 deletions

diff --git a/lib/libalpm/add.c b/lib/libalpm/add.c
index 220c1d8a..64686ed2 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/add.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/add.c
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ int _alpm_add_prepare(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db, alpm_list_t **data)
 	_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("cleaning up"));
 	for (lp=trans->packages; lp!=NULL; lp=lp->next) {
 		info=(pmpkg_t *)lp->data;
-		for (rmlist=info->removes; rmlist!=NULL; rmlist=rmlist->next) {
+		for (rmlist = alpm_pkg_get_removes(info); rmlist; rmlist = rmlist->next) {
 			snprintf(rm_fname, PATH_MAX, "%s%s", handle->root, (char *)rmlist->data);
 			remove(rm_fname);
 		}
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ int _alpm_add_commit(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db)
 			newpkg->reason = alpm_pkg_get_reason(local);
 
 			/* pre_upgrade scriptlet */
-			if(newpkg->scriptlet && !(trans->flags & PM_TRANS_FLAG_NOSCRIPTLET)) {
+			if(alpm_pkg_has_scriptlet(newpkg) && !(trans->flags & PM_TRANS_FLAG_NOSCRIPTLET)) {
 				_alpm_runscriptlet(handle->root, newpkg->data, "pre_upgrade", newpkg->version, oldpkg->version, trans);
 			}
 		} else {
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ int _alpm_add_commit(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db)
 			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("adding package %s-%s"), newpkg->name, newpkg->version);
 			
 			/* pre_install scriptlet */
-			if(newpkg->scriptlet && !(trans->flags & PM_TRANS_FLAG_NOSCRIPTLET)) {
+			if(alpm_pkg_has_scriptlet(newpkg) && !(trans->flags & PM_TRANS_FLAG_NOSCRIPTLET)) {
 				_alpm_runscriptlet(handle->root, newpkg->data, "pre_install", newpkg->version, NULL, trans);
 			}
 		}
@@ -400,9 +400,10 @@ int _alpm_add_commit(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db)
 			 * old, we cover all bases, including backup=() locations changing hands.
 			 * But is this viable? */
 			alpm_list_t *old_noupgrade = alpm_list_strdup(handle->noupgrade);
-			for(b = newpkg->backup; b; b = b->next) {
-				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("adding %s to the NoUpgrade array temporarilly"), (char *)b->data);
-				handle->noupgrade = alpm_list_add(handle->noupgrade, strdup(b->data));
+			for(b = alpm_pkg_get_backup(newpkg); b; b = b->next) {
+				const char *backup = b->data;
+				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("adding %s to the NoUpgrade array temporarilly"), backup);
+				handle->noupgrade = alpm_list_add(handle->noupgrade, strdup(backup));
 			}
 
 			int ret = _alpm_remove_commit(tr, db);
@@ -491,7 +492,7 @@ int _alpm_add_commit(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db)
 				/* if a file is in NoExtract then we never extract it */
 				if(alpm_list_find_str(handle->noextract, entryname)) {
 					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("%s is in NoExtract, skipping extraction"), entryname);
-					alpm_logaction(_("notice: %s is in NoExtract -- skipping extraction"), entryname);
+					alpm_logaction(_("%s is in NoExtract, skipping extraction"), entryname);
 					archive_read_data_skip(archive);
 					continue;
 				}
@@ -508,10 +509,10 @@ int _alpm_add_commit(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db)
 					/* it does, is it a backup=() file?
 					 * always check the newpkg first, so when we do add a backup=() file,
 					 * we don't have to wait a full upgrade cycle */
-					needbackup = alpm_list_find_str(newpkg->backup, entryname);
+					needbackup = alpm_list_find_str(alpm_pkg_get_backup(newpkg), entryname);
 
 					if(is_upgrade) {
-						hash_orig = _alpm_needbackup(entryname, oldpkg->backup);
+						hash_orig = _alpm_needbackup(entryname, alpm_pkg_get_backup(oldpkg));
 						if(hash_orig) {
 							needbackup = 1;
 						}
@@ -561,9 +562,9 @@ int _alpm_add_commit(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db)
 						hash_pkg = _alpm_SHAFile(tempfile);
 					}
 
-					/* append the new md5 or sha1 hash to it's respective entry in newpkg->backup
+					/* append the new md5 or sha1 hash to it's respective entry in newpkg's backup
 					 * (it will be the new orginal) */
-					for(lp = newpkg->backup; lp; lp = lp->next) {
+					for(lp = alpm_pkg_get_backup(newpkg); lp; lp = lp->next) {
 						if(!lp->data || strcmp(lp->data, entryname) != 0) {
 							continue;
 						}
@@ -699,8 +700,8 @@ int _alpm_add_commit(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db)
 						errors++;
 					}
 
-					/* calculate an hash if this is in newpkg->backup */
-					for(lp = newpkg->backup; lp; lp = lp->next) {
+					/* calculate an hash if this is in newpkg's backup */
+					for(lp = alpm_pkg_get_backup(newpkg); lp; lp = lp->next) {
 						char *backup = NULL, *hash = NULL;
 						int backup_len = strlen(lp->data) + 2; /* tab char and null byte */
 
@@ -760,7 +761,8 @@ int _alpm_add_commit(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db)
 		for(prov = provdiff; prov; prov = prov->next) {
 			const char *provname = prov->data;
 			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("provision '%s' has been removed from package %s (%s => %s)"),
-								provname, oldpkg->name, oldpkg->version, newpkg->version);
+								provname, alpm_pkg_get_name(oldpkg),
+								alpm_pkg_get_version(oldpkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(newpkg));
 
 			alpm_list_t *p = _alpm_db_whatprovides(handle->db_local, provname);
 			if(p) {
@@ -769,15 +771,18 @@ int _alpm_add_commit(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db)
 				 * provision, we'll use the FIRST for now.
 				 * TODO figure out a way to find a "correct" provision */
 				pmpkg_t *provpkg = p->data;
-				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("updating '%s' due to provision change (%s)"), provpkg->name, provname);
+				const char *pkgname = alpm_pkg_get_name(provpkg);
+				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("updating '%s' due to provision change (%s)"), pkgname, provname);
 				_alpm_pkg_update_requiredby(provpkg);
+
 				if(_alpm_db_write(db, provpkg, INFRQ_DEPENDS)) {
-					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not update provision '%s' from '%s'"), provname, provpkg->name);
-					alpm_logaction(_("could not update provision '%s' from '%s'"), provname, provpkg->name);
+					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not update provision '%s' from '%s'"), provname, pkgname);
+					alpm_logaction(_("could not update provision '%s' from '%s'"), provname, pkgname);
 					RET_ERR(PM_ERR_DB_WRITE, -1);
 				}
 			}
 		}
+		alpm_list_free(provdiff);
 
 		/* make an install date (in UTC) */
 		time_t t = time(NULL);
@@ -790,31 +795,36 @@ int _alpm_add_commit(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db)
 
 		if(_alpm_db_write(db, newpkg, INFRQ_ALL)) {
 			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not update database entry %s-%s"),
-								newpkg->name, newpkg->version);
+								alpm_pkg_get_name(newpkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(newpkg));
 			alpm_logaction(_("could not update database entry %s-%s"),
-										 newpkg->name, newpkg->version);
+										 alpm_pkg_get_name(newpkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(newpkg));
 			RET_ERR(PM_ERR_DB_WRITE, -1);
 		}
 		
 		if(_alpm_db_add_pkgincache(db, newpkg) == -1) {
-			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not add entry '%s' in cache"), newpkg->name);
+			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not add entry '%s' in cache"),
+										 alpm_pkg_get_name(newpkg));
 		}
 
 		/* update dependency packages' REQUIREDBY fields */
 		_alpm_trans_update_depends(trans, newpkg);
 
 		PROGRESS(trans, (is_upgrade ? PM_TRANS_PROGRESS_UPGRADE_START : PM_TRANS_PROGRESS_ADD_START),
-						 newpkg->name, 100, pkg_count, (pkg_count - targ_count +1));
+						 alpm_pkg_get_name(newpkg), 100, pkg_count, (pkg_count - targ_count +1));
 		EVENT(trans, PM_TRANS_EVT_EXTRACT_DONE, NULL, NULL);
 
 		/* run the post-install script if it exists  */
-		if(newpkg->scriptlet && !(trans->flags & PM_TRANS_FLAG_NOSCRIPTLET)) {
+		if(alpm_pkg_has_scriptlet(newpkg) && !(trans->flags & PM_TRANS_FLAG_NOSCRIPTLET)) {
 			char pm_install[PATH_MAX];
-			snprintf(pm_install, PATH_MAX, "%s%s/%s/%s-%s/install", handle->root, handle->dbpath, db->treename, newpkg->name, newpkg->version);
+			snprintf(pm_install, PATH_MAX, "%s%s/%s/%s-%s/install", handle->root, handle->dbpath, db->treename,
+							 alpm_pkg_get_name(newpkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(newpkg));
 			if(is_upgrade) {
-				_alpm_runscriptlet(handle->root, pm_install, "post_upgrade", newpkg->version, oldpkg ? oldpkg->version : NULL, trans);
+				_alpm_runscriptlet(handle->root, pm_install, "post_upgrade",
+													alpm_pkg_get_version(newpkg), oldpkg ? alpm_pkg_get_version(oldpkg) : NULL,
+													trans);
 			} else {
-				_alpm_runscriptlet(handle->root, pm_install, "post_install", newpkg->version, NULL, trans);
+				_alpm_runscriptlet(handle->root, pm_install, "post_install",
+													 alpm_pkg_get_version(newpkg), NULL, trans);
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/alpm.c b/lib/libalpm/alpm.c
index f01e0da5..96ad3416 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/alpm.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/alpm.c
@@ -302,13 +302,12 @@ int SYMEXPORT alpm_db_update(int force, pmdb_t *db)
 		snprintf(path, PATH_MAX, "%s%s/%s" PM_EXT_DB, handle->root, handle->dbpath, db->treename);
 
 		/* remove the old dir */
-		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("flushing database %s/%s"), handle->dbpath, db->treename);
-		for(lp = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db, INFRQ_BASE); lp; lp = lp->next) {
-			if(_alpm_db_remove(db, lp->data) == -1) {
-				if(lp->data) {
-					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not remove database entry %s/%s"), db->treename,
-					                        ((pmpkg_t *)lp->data)->name);
-				}
+		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("flushing database %s%s"), handle->dbpath, db->treename);
+		for(lp = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db); lp; lp = lp->next) {
+			pmpkg_t *pkg = lp->data;
+			if(pkg && _alpm_db_remove(db, pkg) == -1) {
+				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not remove database entry %s%s"), db->treename,
+									alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg));
 				RET_ERR(PM_ERR_DB_REMOVE, -1);
 			}
 		}
@@ -354,7 +353,7 @@ alpm_list_t SYMEXPORT *alpm_db_getpkgcache(pmdb_t *db)
 	ASSERT(handle != NULL, return(NULL));
 	ASSERT(db != NULL, return(NULL));
 
-	return(_alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db, INFRQ_BASE));
+	return(_alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db));
 }
 
 /** Get the list of packages that a package provides
@@ -472,21 +471,21 @@ int alpm_pkg_checksha1sum(pmpkg_t *pkg)
 
 	snprintf(path, PATH_MAX, "%s%s/%s-%s" PM_EXT_PKG,
 	                handle->root, handle->cachedir,
-	                pkg->name, pkg->version);
+	                alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(pkg));
 
 	sha1sum = _alpm_SHAFile(path);
 	if(sha1sum == NULL) {
 		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not get sha1sum for package %s-%s"),
-		          pkg->name, pkg->version);
+							alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(pkg));
 		pm_errno = PM_ERR_NOT_A_FILE;
 		retval = -1;
 	} else {
 		if(strcmp(sha1sum, alpm_pkg_get_sha1sum(pkg)) == 0) {
 			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("sha1sums for package %s-%s match"),
-			                        pkg->name, pkg->version);
+								alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(pkg));
 		} else {
 			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("sha1sums do not match for package %s-%s"),
-			                        pkg->name, pkg->version);
+								alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(pkg));
 			pm_errno = PM_ERR_PKG_INVALID;
 			retval = -1;
 		}
@@ -516,21 +515,21 @@ int alpm_pkg_checkmd5sum(pmpkg_t *pkg)
 
 	snprintf(path, PATH_MAX, "%s%s/%s-%s" PM_EXT_PKG,
 	                handle->root, handle->cachedir,
-	                pkg->name, pkg->version);
+									alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(pkg));
 
 	md5sum = _alpm_MDFile(path);
 	if(md5sum == NULL) {
 		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not get md5sum for package %s-%s"),
-		          pkg->name, pkg->version);
+							alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(pkg));
 		pm_errno = PM_ERR_NOT_A_FILE;
 		retval = -1;
 	} else {
 		if(strcmp(md5sum, alpm_pkg_get_md5sum(pkg)) == 0) {
 			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("md5sums for package %s-%s match"),
-			                        pkg->name, pkg->version);
+								alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(pkg));
 		} else {
 			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("md5sums do not match for package %s-%s"),
-			                        pkg->name, pkg->version);
+								alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(pkg));
 			pm_errno = PM_ERR_PKG_INVALID;
 			retval = -1;
 		}
@@ -1071,9 +1070,8 @@ int SYMEXPORT alpm_parse_config(char *file, alpm_cb_db_register callback, const
  * solution made for -Qu operation */
 alpm_list_t *alpm_get_upgrades()
 {
-	int found = 0;
 	alpm_list_t *syncpkgs = NULL;
-	alpm_list_t *i, *j, *k;
+	alpm_list_t *i, *j, *k, *m;
 
 	ALPM_LOG_FUNC;
 
@@ -1081,36 +1079,35 @@ alpm_list_t *alpm_get_upgrades()
 	/* check for "recommended" package replacements */
 	_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("checking for package replacements"));
 	for(i = handle->dbs_sync; i; i = i->next) {
-		for(j = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(i->data, INFRQ_DESC); j; j = j->next) {
+		for(j = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(i->data); j; j = j->next) {
 			pmpkg_t *spkg = j->data;
-			for(k = spkg->replaces; k; k = k->next) {
-				alpm_list_t *m;
-				for(m = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(handle->db_local, INFRQ_BASE); m; m = m->next) {
+
+			for(k = alpm_pkg_get_replaces(spkg); k; k = k->next) {
+
+				for(m = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(handle->db_local); m; m = m->next) {
 					pmpkg_t *lpkg = m->data;
-					if(strcmp(k->data, lpkg->name) == 0) {
-						_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("checking replacement '%s' for package '%s'"), k->data, spkg->name);
-						if(alpm_list_find_str(handle->ignorepkg, lpkg->name)) {
+					
+					if(strcmp(k->data, alpm_pkg_get_name(lpkg)) == 0) {
+						_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("checking replacement '%s' for package '%s'"), k->data,
+											alpm_pkg_get_name(spkg));
+						if(alpm_list_find_str(handle->ignorepkg, alpm_pkg_get_name(lpkg))) {
 							_alpm_log(PM_LOG_WARNING, _("%s-%s: ignoring package upgrade (to be replaced by %s-%s)"),
-												lpkg->name, lpkg->version, spkg->name, spkg->version);
+												alpm_pkg_get_name(lpkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(lpkg),
+												alpm_pkg_get_name(spkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(spkg));
 						} else {
 							/* assume all replaces=() packages are accepted */
 							pmsyncpkg_t *sync = NULL;
-							pmpkg_t *dummy = _alpm_pkg_new(lpkg->name, NULL);
+							pmpkg_t *dummy = _alpm_pkg_new(alpm_pkg_get_name(lpkg), NULL);
 							if(dummy == NULL) {
 								pm_errno = PM_ERR_MEMORY;
 								goto error;
 							}
-							dummy->requiredby = alpm_list_strdup(lpkg->requiredby);
-							/* check if spkg->name is already in the packages list. */
-							alpm_list_t *s;
-							for(s = syncpkgs; s && !found; s = s->next) {
-								sync = i->data;
-								if(sync && !strcmp(sync->pkg->name, spkg->name)) {
-									found = 1;
-								}
-							}
+							dummy->requiredby = alpm_list_strdup(alpm_pkg_get_requiredby(lpkg));
+
+							pmsyncpkg_t *syncpkg;
+							syncpkg = _alpm_sync_find(syncpkgs, alpm_pkg_get_name(spkg));
 
-							if(found) {
+							if(syncpkg) {
 								/* found it -- just append to the replaces list */
 								sync->data = alpm_list_add(sync->data, dummy);
 							} else {
@@ -1125,7 +1122,8 @@ alpm_list_t *alpm_get_upgrades()
 								syncpkgs = alpm_list_add(syncpkgs, sync);
 							}
 							_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("%s-%s elected for upgrade (to be replaced by %s-%s)"),
-												lpkg->name, lpkg->version, spkg->name, spkg->version);
+												alpm_pkg_get_name(lpkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(lpkg),
+												alpm_pkg_get_name(spkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(spkg));
 						}
 						break;
 					}
@@ -1135,17 +1133,17 @@ alpm_list_t *alpm_get_upgrades()
 	}
 
 	/* now do normal upgrades */
-	for(i = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(handle->db_local, INFRQ_BASE); i; i = i->next) {
+	for(i = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(handle->db_local); i; i = i->next) {
 		int replace=0;
 		pmpkg_t *local = i->data;
 		pmpkg_t *spkg = NULL;
 		pmsyncpkg_t *sync;
 
 		for(j = handle->dbs_sync; !spkg && j; j = j->next) {
-			spkg = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(j->data, local->name);
+			spkg = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(j->data, alpm_pkg_get_name(local));
 		}
 		if(spkg == NULL) {
-			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("'%s' not found in sync db -- skipping"), local->name);
+			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("'%s' not found in sync db -- skipping"), alpm_pkg_get_name(local));
 			continue;
 		}
 
@@ -1153,32 +1151,28 @@ alpm_list_t *alpm_get_upgrades()
 		for(j = syncpkgs; j && !replace; j=j->next) {
 			sync = j->data;
 			if(sync->type == PM_SYNC_TYPE_REPLACE) {
-				if(_alpm_pkg_find(spkg->name, sync->data)) {
+				if(_alpm_pkg_find(alpm_pkg_get_name(spkg), sync->data)) {
 					replace=1;
 				}
 			}
 		}
 		if(replace) {
 			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("'%s' is already elected for removal -- skipping"),
-								local->name);
+								alpm_pkg_get_name(local));
 			continue;
 		}
 
 		if(alpm_pkg_compare_versions(local, spkg)) {
-			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("%s-%s elected for upgrade (%s => %s)"),
-								local->name, local->version, local->version, spkg->version);
-			alpm_list_t *s;
-			pmsyncpkg_t *sync = NULL;
-			found = 0;
-			for(s = syncpkgs; s && !found; s = s->next) {
-				sync = s->data;
-				if(sync && strcmp(sync->pkg->name, local->name) == 0) {
-					found = 1;
-				}
-			}
+			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("%s elected for upgrade (%s => %s)"),
+								alpm_pkg_get_name(local), alpm_pkg_get_version(local),
+								alpm_pkg_get_version(spkg));
+
+			pmsyncpkg_t *syncpkg;
+			syncpkg	= _alpm_sync_find(syncpkgs, alpm_pkg_get_name(local));
 
-			if(!found) {
-				pmpkg_t *dummy = _alpm_pkg_new(local->name, local->version);
+			if(!syncpkg) {
+				pmpkg_t *dummy = _alpm_pkg_new(alpm_pkg_get_name(local),
+																			 alpm_pkg_get_version(local));
 				if(dummy == NULL) {
 					goto error;
 				}
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/alpm.h b/lib/libalpm/alpm.h
index 9a093a97..9308efd8 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/alpm.h
+++ b/lib/libalpm/alpm.h
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ typedef void (*alpm_trans_cb_conv)(pmtransconv_t, void *, void *,
                                    void *, int *);
 
 /* Transaction Progress callback */
-typedef void (*alpm_trans_cb_progress)(pmtransprog_t, char *, int, int, int);
+typedef void (*alpm_trans_cb_progress)(pmtransprog_t, const char *, int, int, int);
 
 pmtranstype_t alpm_trans_get_type();
 unsigned int alpm_trans_get_flags();
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/alpm_list.c b/lib/libalpm/alpm_list.c
index 36517fd2..0737fc89 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/alpm_list.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/alpm_list.c
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ alpm_list_t* alpm_list_msort(alpm_list_t *list, int n, alpm_list_fn_cmp fn)
  *  @param data output parameter containing the data member of the item removed
  *  @return the resultant list, or NULL on failure
  */
-alpm_list_t *alpm_list_remove(alpm_list_t *haystack, void *needle, alpm_list_fn_cmp fn, void **data)
+alpm_list_t *alpm_list_remove(alpm_list_t *haystack, const void *needle, alpm_list_fn_cmp fn, void **data)
 { /* TODO I modified this to remove ALL matching items.  Do we need a remove_first? */
 	alpm_list_t *i = haystack, *tmp = NULL;
 
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/alpm_list.h b/lib/libalpm/alpm_list.h
index f3a7c6ef..214deea4 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/alpm_list.h
+++ b/lib/libalpm/alpm_list.h
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ alpm_list_t *alpm_list_add(alpm_list_t *list, void *data);
 alpm_list_t *alpm_list_add_sorted(alpm_list_t *list, void *data, alpm_list_fn_cmp fn);
 alpm_list_t *alpm_list_mmerge(alpm_list_t *left, alpm_list_t *right, alpm_list_fn_cmp fn);
 alpm_list_t *alpm_list_msort(alpm_list_t *list, int n, alpm_list_fn_cmp fn);
-alpm_list_t *alpm_list_remove(alpm_list_t *haystack, void *needle, alpm_list_fn_cmp fn, void **data);
+alpm_list_t *alpm_list_remove(alpm_list_t *haystack, const void *needle, alpm_list_fn_cmp fn, void **data);
 alpm_list_t *alpm_list_remove_node(alpm_list_t *node);
 alpm_list_t *alpm_list_remove_dupes(alpm_list_t *list);
 alpm_list_t *alpm_list_strdup(alpm_list_t *list);
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/be_files.c b/lib/libalpm/be_files.c
index ac268788..a847af05 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/be_files.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/be_files.c
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ void _alpm_db_rewind(pmdb_t *db)
 	rewinddir(db->handle);
 }
 
-pmpkg_t *_alpm_db_scan(pmdb_t *db, const char *target, pmdbinfrq_t inforeq)
+pmpkg_t *_alpm_db_scan(pmdb_t *db, const char *target)
 {
 	struct dirent *ent = NULL;
 	struct stat sbuf;
@@ -183,9 +183,14 @@ pmpkg_t *_alpm_db_scan(pmdb_t *db, const char *target, pmdbinfrq_t inforeq)
 			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("invalid name for dabatase entry '%s'"), ent->d_name);
 			return(NULL);
 		}
-		if(_alpm_db_read(db, pkg, inforeq) == -1) {
+
+		/* explicitly read with only 'BASE' data, accessors will handle the rest */
+		if(_alpm_db_read(db, pkg, INFRQ_BASE) == -1) {
 			/* TODO removed corrupt entry from the FS here */
 			FREEPKG(pkg);
+		} else {
+			pkg->data = db;
+			pkg->origin = PKG_FROM_CACHE;
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -298,7 +303,7 @@ int _alpm_db_read(pmdb_t *db, pmpkg_t *info, pmdbinfrq_t inforeq)
 				_alpm_strtrim(info->url);
 			} else if(!strcmp(line, "%LICENSE%")) {
 				while(fgets(line, 512, fp) && strlen(_alpm_strtrim(line))) {
-					info->license = alpm_list_add(info->license, strdup(line));
+					info->licenses = alpm_list_add(info->licenses, strdup(line));
 				}
 			} else if(!strcmp(line, "%ARCH%")) {
 				if(fgets(info->arch, sizeof(info->arch), fp) == NULL) {
@@ -527,9 +532,9 @@ int _alpm_db_write(pmdb_t *db, pmpkg_t *info, pmdbinfrq_t inforeq)
 				fprintf(fp, "%%URL%%\n"
 								"%s\n\n", info->url);
 			}
-			if(info->license) {
+			if(info->licenses) {
 				fputs("%LICENSE%\n", fp);
-				for(lp = info->license; lp; lp = lp->next) {
+				for(lp = info->licenses; lp; lp = lp->next) {
 					fprintf(fp, "%s\n", (char *)lp->data);
 				}
 				fprintf(fp, "\n");
@@ -687,7 +692,7 @@ int _alpm_db_remove(pmdb_t *db, pmpkg_t *info)
 		RET_ERR(PM_ERR_DB_NULL, -1);
 	}
 
-	snprintf(path, PATH_MAX, "%s/%s-%s", db->path, info->name, info->version);
+	snprintf(path, PATH_MAX, "%s%s-%s", db->path, info->name, info->version);
 	if(_alpm_rmrf(path) == -1) {
 		return(-1);
 	}
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/cache.c b/lib/libalpm/cache.c
index 74299061..75100283 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/cache.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/cache.c
@@ -41,12 +41,10 @@
 /* Returns a new package cache from db.
  * It frees the cache if it already exists.
  */
-int _alpm_db_load_pkgcache(pmdb_t *db, pmdbinfrq_t infolevel)
+int _alpm_db_load_pkgcache(pmdb_t *db)
 {
 	pmpkg_t *info;
 	int count = 0;
-	/* The group cache needs INFRQ_DESC as well */
-	/* pmdbinfrq_t infolevel = INFRQ_DEPENDS | INFRQ_DESC;*/
 
 	ALPM_LOG_FUNC;
 
@@ -56,12 +54,13 @@ int _alpm_db_load_pkgcache(pmdb_t *db, pmdbinfrq_t infolevel)
 
 	_alpm_db_free_pkgcache(db);
 
-	_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("loading package cache (infolevel=%#x) for repository '%s'"),
-	                        infolevel, db->treename);
+	_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("loading package cache for repository '%s'"),
+	          db->treename);
 
 	_alpm_db_rewind(db);
-	while((info = _alpm_db_scan(db, NULL, infolevel)) != NULL) {
-		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_FUNCTION, _("adding '%s' to package cache for db '%s'"), info->name, db->treename);
+	while((info = _alpm_db_scan(db, NULL)) != NULL) {
+		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_FUNCTION, _("adding '%s' to package cache for db '%s'"),
+							alpm_pkg_get_name(info), db->treename);
 		info->origin = PKG_FROM_CACHE;
 		info->data = db;
 		/* add to the collection */
@@ -91,7 +90,7 @@ void _alpm_db_free_pkgcache(pmdb_t *db)
 	}
 }
 
-alpm_list_t *_alpm_db_get_pkgcache(pmdb_t *db, pmdbinfrq_t infolevel)
+alpm_list_t *_alpm_db_get_pkgcache(pmdb_t *db)
 {
 	ALPM_LOG_FUNC;
 
@@ -99,44 +98,16 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_db_get_pkgcache(pmdb_t *db, pmdbinfrq_t infolevel)
 		return(NULL);
 	}
 
-	if(db->pkgcache == NULL) {
-		_alpm_db_load_pkgcache(db, infolevel);
+	if(!db->pkgcache) {
+		_alpm_db_load_pkgcache(db);
 	}
 
-	_alpm_db_ensure_pkgcache(db, infolevel);
-
+	/* hmmm, still NULL ?*/
 	if(!db->pkgcache) {
 		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("error: pkgcache is NULL for db '%s'"), db->treename);
 	}
-	return(db->pkgcache);
-}
-
-int _alpm_db_ensure_pkgcache(pmdb_t *db, pmdbinfrq_t infolevel)
-{
-	int reloaded = 0;
-	/* for each pkg, check and reload if the requested
-	 * info is not already cached
-	 */
-
-	ALPM_LOG_FUNC;
 
-  alpm_list_t *p;
-	for(p = db->pkgcache; p; p = p->next) {
-		pmpkg_t *pkg = (pmpkg_t *)p->data;
-		if(infolevel != INFRQ_BASE && !(pkg->infolevel & infolevel)) {
-			if(_alpm_db_read(db, pkg, infolevel) == -1) {
-				/* TODO should we actually remove from the filesystem here as well? */
-				_alpm_db_remove_pkgfromcache(db, pkg);
-			} else {
-				reloaded = 1;
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	if(reloaded) {
-		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("package cache reloaded (infolevel=%#x) for repository '%s'"),
-							infolevel, db->treename);
-	}
-	return(0);
+	return(db->pkgcache);
 }
 
 int _alpm_db_add_pkgincache(pmdb_t *db, pmpkg_t *pkg)
@@ -153,7 +124,8 @@ int _alpm_db_add_pkgincache(pmdb_t *db, pmpkg_t *pkg)
 	if(newpkg == NULL) {
 		return(-1);
 	}
-	_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("adding entry '%s' in '%s' cache"), newpkg->name, db->treename);
+	_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("adding entry '%s' in '%s' cache"),
+						alpm_pkg_get_name(newpkg), db->treename);
 	db->pkgcache = alpm_list_add_sorted(db->pkgcache, newpkg, _alpm_pkg_cmp);
 
 	_alpm_db_free_grpcache(db);
@@ -172,14 +144,18 @@ int _alpm_db_remove_pkgfromcache(pmdb_t *db, pmpkg_t *pkg)
 		return(-1);
 	}
 
+	_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("removing entry '%s' from '%s' cache"),
+						alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), db->treename);
+
 	db->pkgcache = alpm_list_remove(db->pkgcache, pkg, _alpm_pkg_cmp, &vdata);
 	data = vdata;
 	if(data == NULL) {
 		/* package not found */
+		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("cannot remove entry '%s' from '%s' cache: not found"),
+							alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), db->treename);
 		return(-1);
 	}
 
-	_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("removing entry '%s' from '%s' cache"), pkg->name, db->treename);
 	FREEPKG(data);
 
 	_alpm_db_free_grpcache(db);
@@ -195,7 +171,7 @@ pmpkg_t *_alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(pmdb_t *db, const char *target)
 		return(NULL);
 	}
 
-	alpm_list_t *pkgcache = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db, INFRQ_BASE);
+	alpm_list_t *pkgcache = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db);
 	if(!pkgcache) {
 		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("error: failed to get '%s' from NULL pkgcache"), target);
 		return(NULL);
@@ -217,21 +193,26 @@ int _alpm_db_load_grpcache(pmdb_t *db)
 	}
 
 	if(db->pkgcache == NULL) {
-		_alpm_db_load_pkgcache(db, INFRQ_DESC);
+		_alpm_db_load_pkgcache(db);
 	}
 
 	_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("loading group cache for repository '%s'"), db->treename);
 
-	for(lp = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db, INFRQ_DESC); lp; lp = lp->next) {
+	for(lp = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db); lp; lp = lp->next) {
 		alpm_list_t *i;
 		pmpkg_t *pkg = lp->data;
 
-		for(i = pkg->groups; i; i = i->next) {
+		for(i = alpm_pkg_get_groups(pkg); i; i = i->next) {
 			if(!alpm_list_find_str(db->grpcache, i->data)) {
 				pmgrp_t *grp = _alpm_grp_new();
 
-				STRNCPY(grp->name, (char *)i->data, GRP_NAME_LEN);
-				grp->packages = alpm_list_add_sorted(grp->packages, pkg->name, _alpm_grp_cmp);
+				strncpy(grp->name, i->data, GRP_NAME_LEN);
+				grp->name[GRP_NAME_LEN-1] = '\0';
+				grp->packages = alpm_list_add_sorted(grp->packages,
+																						 /* gross signature forces us to
+																							* discard const */
+																						 (void *)alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg),
+																						 _alpm_grp_cmp);
 				db->grpcache = alpm_list_add_sorted(db->grpcache, grp, _alpm_grp_cmp);
 			} else {
 				alpm_list_t *j;
@@ -240,8 +221,9 @@ int _alpm_db_load_grpcache(pmdb_t *db)
 					pmgrp_t *grp = j->data;
 
 					if(strcmp(grp->name, i->data) == 0) {
-						if(!alpm_list_find_str(grp->packages, pkg->name)) {
-							grp->packages = alpm_list_add_sorted(grp->packages, (char *)pkg->name, _alpm_grp_cmp);
+						const char *pkgname = alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg);
+						if(!alpm_list_find_str(grp->packages, pkgname)) {
+							grp->packages = alpm_list_add_sorted(grp->packages, (void *)pkgname, _alpm_grp_cmp);
 						}
 					}
 				}
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/cache.h b/lib/libalpm/cache.h
index 7efae5b8..fa1fef32 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/cache.h
+++ b/lib/libalpm/cache.h
@@ -27,11 +27,11 @@
 #include "package.h"
 
 /* packages */
-int _alpm_db_load_pkgcache(pmdb_t *db, pmdbinfrq_t infolevel);
+int _alpm_db_load_pkgcache(pmdb_t *db);
 void _alpm_db_free_pkgcache(pmdb_t *db);
 int _alpm_db_add_pkgincache(pmdb_t *db, pmpkg_t *pkg);
 int _alpm_db_remove_pkgfromcache(pmdb_t *db, pmpkg_t *pkg);
-alpm_list_t *_alpm_db_get_pkgcache(pmdb_t *db, pmdbinfrq_t infolevel);
+alpm_list_t *_alpm_db_get_pkgcache(pmdb_t *db);
 int _alpm_db_ensure_pkgcache(pmdb_t *db, pmdbinfrq_t infolevel);
 pmpkg_t *_alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(pmdb_t *db, const char *target);
 /* groups */
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/conflict.c b/lib/libalpm/conflict.c
index 9a164dbe..d8843bda 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/conflict.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/conflict.c
@@ -46,168 +46,218 @@
 #include "deps.h"
 #include "conflict.h"
 
-/* Returns a alpm_list_t* of pmdepmissing_t pointers.
+
+/** See if potential conflict 'name' matches package 'pkg'
+ * @param target the name of the parent package we're checking
+ * @param depname the name of the dependency we're checking
+ * @param pkg the package to check
+ * @param conflict the name of the possible conflict
+ * @return A depmissing struct indicating the conflict
+ * @note The first two paramters are here to simplify the addition
+ *			 of new 'depmiss' objects
  *
- * conflicts are always name only
+ * TODO WTF is a 'depmissing' doing indicating a conflict??
  */
-alpm_list_t *_alpm_checkconflicts(pmdb_t *db, alpm_list_t *packages)
+static pmdepmissing_t *does_conflict(const char *target, const char *depname,
+																		 pmpkg_t *pkg, const char *conflict)
+{
+	alpm_list_t *i;
+
+	/* check the actual package name, easy */
+	if(strcmp(alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), conflict) == 0) {
+		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("   found conflict '%s' : package '%s'"), conflict, target);
+		return(_alpm_depmiss_new(target, PM_DEP_TYPE_CONFLICT,
+														 PM_DEP_MOD_ANY, depname, NULL));
+	} else {
+		/* check what this package provides, harder */
+		for(i = alpm_pkg_get_provides(pkg); i; i = i->next) {
+			const char *provision = i->data;
+
+			if(strcmp(provision, conflict) == 0) {
+				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("   found conflict '%s' : package '%s' provides '%s'"),
+									conflict, target, provision);
+				return(_alpm_depmiss_new(target, PM_DEP_TYPE_CONFLICT,
+																 PM_DEP_MOD_ANY, depname, NULL));
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return(NULL); /* not a conflict */
+}
+
+static alpm_list_t *chk_pkg_vs_db(alpm_list_t *baddeps, pmpkg_t *pkg, pmdb_t *db)
 {
-	pmpkg_t *info = NULL;
-	alpm_list_t *i, *j, *k;
-	alpm_list_t *baddeps = NULL;
 	pmdepmissing_t *miss = NULL;
+	const char *pkgname;
+	alpm_list_t *i, *j;
 
-	ALPM_LOG_FUNC;
+  pkgname = alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg);
 
-	if(db == NULL) {
-		return(NULL);
-	}
+	for(i = alpm_pkg_get_conflicts(pkg); i; i = i->next) {
+		const char *conflict = i->data;
 
-	for(i = packages; i; i = i->next) {
-		pmpkg_t *tp = i->data;
-		if(tp == NULL) {
+		if(strcmp(pkgname, conflict) == 0) {
+			/* a package cannot conflict with itself -- that's just not nice */
+			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("package '%s' conflicts with itself - packaging error"),
+								pkgname);
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		for(j = tp->conflicts; j; j = j->next) {
-			if(!strcmp(tp->name, j->data)) {
-				/* a package cannot conflict with itself -- that's just not nice */
+		/* CHECK 1: check targets against database */
+		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("checkconflicts: target '%s' vs db"), pkgname);
+
+		for(j = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db); j; j = j->next) {
+			pmpkg_t *dbpkg = j->data;
+
+			if(strcmp(alpm_pkg_get_name(dbpkg), pkgname) == 0) {
+				/* skip the package we're currently processing */
 				continue;
 			}
-			/* CHECK 1: check targets against database */
-			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("checkconflicts: targ '%s' vs db"), tp->name);
-			for(k = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db, INFRQ_DEPENDS); k; k = k->next) {
-				pmpkg_t *dp = (pmpkg_t *)k->data;
-				if(!strcmp(dp->name, tp->name)) {
-					/* a package cannot conflict with itself -- that's just not nice */
-					continue;
-				}
-				if(!strcmp(j->data, dp->name)) {
-					/* conflict */
-					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("targs vs db: found %s as a conflict for %s"),
-					          dp->name, tp->name);
-					miss = _alpm_depmiss_new(tp->name, PM_DEP_TYPE_CONFLICT, PM_DEP_MOD_ANY, dp->name, NULL);
-					if(!_alpm_depmiss_isin(miss, baddeps)) {
-						baddeps = alpm_list_add(baddeps, miss);
-					} else {
-						FREE(miss);
-					}
-				} else {
-					/* see if dp provides something in tp's conflict list */
-					alpm_list_t *m;
-					for(m = dp->provides; m; m = m->next) {
-						if(!strcmp(m->data, j->data)) {
-							/* confict */
-							_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("targs vs db: found %s as a conflict for %s"),
-							          dp->name, tp->name);
-							miss = _alpm_depmiss_new(tp->name, PM_DEP_TYPE_CONFLICT, PM_DEP_MOD_ANY, dp->name, NULL);
-							if(!_alpm_depmiss_isin(miss, baddeps)) {
-								baddeps = alpm_list_add(baddeps, miss);
-							} else {
-								FREE(miss);
-							}
-						}
-					}
-				}
-			}
-			/* CHECK 2: check targets against targets */
-			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("checkconflicts: targ '%s' vs targs"), tp->name);
-			for(k = packages; k; k = k->next) {
-				pmpkg_t *otp = (pmpkg_t *)k->data;
-				if(!strcmp(otp->name, tp->name)) {
-					/* a package cannot conflict with itself -- that's just not nice */
-					continue;
-				}
-				if(!strcmp(otp->name, (char *)j->data)) {
-					/* otp is listed in tp's conflict list */
-					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("targs vs targs: found %s as a conflict for %s"),
-					          otp->name, tp->name);
-					miss = _alpm_depmiss_new(tp->name, PM_DEP_TYPE_CONFLICT, PM_DEP_MOD_ANY, otp->name, NULL);
-					if(!_alpm_depmiss_isin(miss, baddeps)) {
-						baddeps = alpm_list_add(baddeps, miss);
-					} else {
-						FREE(miss);
-					}
-				} else {
-					/* see if otp provides something in tp's conflict list */ 
-					alpm_list_t *m;
-					for(m = otp->provides; m; m = m->next) {
-						if(!strcmp(m->data, j->data)) {
-							_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("targs vs targs: found %s as a conflict for %s"),
-							          otp->name, tp->name);
-							miss = _alpm_depmiss_new(tp->name, PM_DEP_TYPE_CONFLICT, PM_DEP_MOD_ANY, otp->name, NULL);
-							if(!_alpm_depmiss_isin(miss, baddeps)) {
-								baddeps = alpm_list_add(baddeps, miss);
-							} else {
-								FREE(miss);
-							}
-						}
-					}
-				}
+
+			miss = does_conflict(pkgname, alpm_pkg_get_name(dbpkg), dbpkg, conflict);
+			if(miss && !_alpm_depmiss_isin(miss, baddeps)) {
+				baddeps = alpm_list_add(baddeps, miss);
+			} else {
+				FREE(miss);
 			}
 		}
-		/* CHECK 3: check database against targets */
-		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("checkconflicts: db vs targ '%s'"), tp->name);
-		for(k = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db, INFRQ_DEPENDS); k; k = k->next) {
-			alpm_list_t *conflicts = NULL;
-			int usenewconflicts = 0;
-
-			info = k->data;
-			if(!strcmp(info->name, tp->name)) {
-				/* a package cannot conflict with itself -- that's just not nice */
+	}
+	return(baddeps);
+}
+
+static alpm_list_t *chk_pkg_vs_targets(alpm_list_t *baddeps,
+															 pmpkg_t *pkg, pmdb_t *db,
+															 alpm_list_t *targets)
+{
+	pmdepmissing_t *miss = NULL;
+	const char *pkgname;
+	alpm_list_t *i, *j;
+
+  pkgname = alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg);
+
+	for(i = alpm_pkg_get_conflicts(pkg); i; i = i->next) {
+		const char *conflict = i->data;
+
+		if(strcmp(pkgname, conflict) == 0) {
+			/* a package cannot conflict with itself -- that's just not nice */
+			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("package '%s' conflicts with itself - packaging error"),
+								pkgname);
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		/* CHECK 2: check targets against targets */
+		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("checkconflicts: target '%s' vs all targets"), pkgname);
+
+		for(j = targets; j; j = j->next) {
+			const char *targetname;
+			pmpkg_t *target = j->data;
+			targetname = alpm_pkg_get_name(target);
+
+			if(strcmp(targetname, pkgname) == 0) {
+				/* skip the package we're currently processing */
 				continue;
 			}
-			/* If this package (*info) is also in our packages alpm_list_t, use the
-			 * conflicts list from the new package, not the old one (*info)
-			 */
-			for(j = packages; j; j = j->next) {
-				pmpkg_t *pkg = j->data;
-				if(!strcmp(pkg->name, info->name)) {
-					/* Use the new, to-be-installed package's conflicts */
-					conflicts = pkg->conflicts;
-					usenewconflicts = 1;
-				}
+
+			miss = does_conflict(pkgname, targetname, target, conflict);
+			if(miss && !_alpm_depmiss_isin(miss, baddeps)) {
+				baddeps = alpm_list_add(baddeps, miss);
+			} else {
+				FREE(miss);
 			}
-			if(!usenewconflicts) {
-				/* Use the old package's conflicts, it's the only set we have */
-				conflicts = info->conflicts;
+		}
+	}
+	return(baddeps);
+}
+
+static alpm_list_t *chk_db_vs_targets(alpm_list_t *baddeps, pmpkg_t *pkg,
+																			pmdb_t *db, alpm_list_t *targets)
+{
+	pmdepmissing_t *miss = NULL;
+	const char *pkgname;
+	alpm_list_t *i, *j;
+
+	pkgname = alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg);
+
+	_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("checkconflicts: db vs target '%s'"), pkgname);
+	
+	for(i = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db); i; i = i->next) {
+		alpm_list_t *conflicts = NULL;
+		const char *dbpkgname;
+
+		pmpkg_t *dbpkg = i->data;
+		dbpkgname = alpm_pkg_get_name(dbpkg);
+
+		if(strcmp(dbpkgname, pkgname) == 0) {
+			/* skip the package we're currently processing */
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		/* is this db package in the targets? if so use the
+		 * new package's conflict list to pick up new changes */
+		int use_newconflicts = 0;
+		for(j = targets; j; j = j->next) {
+			pmpkg_t *targ = j->data;
+			if(strcmp(alpm_pkg_get_name(targ), dbpkgname) == 0) {
+				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("target '%s' is also in target list, using NEW conflicts"),
+									dbpkgname);
+				conflicts = alpm_pkg_get_conflicts(targ);
+				use_newconflicts = 1;
+				break;
 			}
-			for(j = conflicts; j; j = j->next) {
-				if(!strcmp((char *)j->data, tp->name)) {
-					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("db vs targs: found %s as a conflict for %s"),
-					          info->name, tp->name);
-					miss = _alpm_depmiss_new(tp->name, PM_DEP_TYPE_CONFLICT, PM_DEP_MOD_ANY, info->name, NULL);
-					if(!_alpm_depmiss_isin(miss, baddeps)) {
-						baddeps = alpm_list_add(baddeps, miss);
-					} else {
-						FREE(miss);
-					}
-				} else {
-					/* see if the db package conflicts with something we provide */
-					alpm_list_t *m;
-					for(m = conflicts; m; m = m->next) {
-						alpm_list_t *n;
-						for(n = tp->provides; n; n = n->next) {
-							if(!strcmp(m->data, n->data)) {
-								_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("db vs targs: found %s as a conflict for %s"),
-								          info->name, tp->name);
-								miss = _alpm_depmiss_new(tp->name, PM_DEP_TYPE_CONFLICT, PM_DEP_MOD_ANY, info->name, NULL);
-								if(!_alpm_depmiss_isin(miss, baddeps)) {
-									baddeps = alpm_list_add(baddeps, miss);
-								} else {
-									FREE(miss);
-								}
-							}
-						}
-					}
-				}
+		}
+		/* if we didn't find newer conflicts, use the original list */
+		if(!use_newconflicts) {
+			conflicts = alpm_pkg_get_conflicts(dbpkg);
+		}
+
+		for(j = conflicts; j; j = j->next) {
+			const char *conflict = j->data;
+
+
+			miss = does_conflict(pkgname, dbpkgname, pkg, conflict);
+			if(miss && !_alpm_depmiss_isin(miss, baddeps)) {
+				baddeps = alpm_list_add(baddeps, miss);
+			} else {
+				FREE(miss);
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	return(baddeps);
+}
+
+/* Returns a alpm_list_t* of pmdepmissing_t pointers.
+ *
+ * conflicts are always name only
+ */
+alpm_list_t *_alpm_checkconflicts(pmdb_t *db, alpm_list_t *packages)
+{
+	alpm_list_t *i, *baddeps = NULL;
+
+	ALPM_LOG_FUNC;
+
+	if(db == NULL) {
+		return(NULL);
+	}
+
+	for(i = packages; i; i = i->next) {
+		pmpkg_t *pkg = i->data;
+		if(pkg == NULL) {
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		baddeps = chk_pkg_vs_db(baddeps, pkg, db);
+		baddeps = chk_pkg_vs_targets(baddeps, pkg, db, packages);
+		baddeps = chk_db_vs_targets(baddeps, pkg, db, packages);
+	}
+
+	for(i = baddeps; i; i = i->next) {
+		pmdepmissing_t *miss = i->data;
+		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("\tCONFLICTS:: %s conflicts with %s"), miss->target, miss->depend.name);
+	}
 
 	return(baddeps);
 }
 
+
 /* Returns a alpm_list_t* of file conflicts.
  *  Hooray for set-intersects!
  *  Pre-condition: both lists are sorted!
@@ -288,8 +338,8 @@ static alpm_list_t *chk_filedifference(alpm_list_t *filesA, alpm_list_t *filesB)
  * functionality that was done inline.
  */
 static alpm_list_t *add_fileconflict(alpm_list_t *conflicts,
-                    pmconflicttype_t type, char *filestr, char* name1,
-                    char* name2)
+                    pmconflicttype_t type, const char *filestr,
+										const char* name1, const char* name2)
 {
 	pmconflict_t *conflict = malloc(sizeof(pmconflict_t));
 	if(conflict == NULL) {
@@ -349,15 +399,16 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_db_find_conflicts(pmdb_t *db, pmtrans_t *trans, char *root)
 			if(!p2) {
 				continue;
 			}
-			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, "searching for file conflicts: %s and %s", p1->name, p2->name);
-			tmpfiles = chk_fileconflicts(p1->files, p2->files);
+			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, "searching for file conflicts: %s and %s",
+								alpm_pkg_get_name(p1), alpm_pkg_get_name(p2));
+			tmpfiles = chk_fileconflicts(alpm_pkg_get_files(p1), alpm_pkg_get_files(p2));
 
 			if(tmpfiles) {
 				char path[PATH_MAX];
 				for(k = tmpfiles; k; k = k->next) {
 					snprintf(path, PATH_MAX, "%s%s", root, (char *)k->data);
-					conflicts = add_fileconflict(conflicts, PM_CONFLICT_TYPE_TARGET,
-					                             path, p1->name, p2->name);
+					conflicts = add_fileconflict(conflicts, PM_CONFLICT_TYPE_TARGET, path,
+																			 alpm_pkg_get_name(p1), alpm_pkg_get_name(p2));
 				}
 				alpm_list_free_inner(tmpfiles, &free);
 				alpm_list_free(tmpfiles);
@@ -373,10 +424,10 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_db_find_conflicts(pmdb_t *db, pmtrans_t *trans, char *root)
 		 * is not currently installed, then simply stat the whole filelist */
 		if(dbpkg) {
 			/* older ver of package currently installed */
-			tmpfiles = chk_filedifference(p1->files, alpm_pkg_get_files(dbpkg));
+			tmpfiles = chk_filedifference(alpm_pkg_get_files(p1), alpm_pkg_get_files(dbpkg));
 		} else {
 			/* no version of package currently installed */
-			tmpfiles = alpm_list_strdup(p1->files);
+			tmpfiles = alpm_list_strdup(alpm_pkg_get_files(p1));
 		}
 
 		/* loop over each file to be installed */
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/db.c b/lib/libalpm/db.c
index a44e079d..ab828614 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/db.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/db.c
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ pmdb_t *_alpm_db_new(const char *root, const char *dbpath, const char *treename)
 		FREE(db);
 		RET_ERR(PM_ERR_MEMORY, NULL);
 	}
-	sprintf(db->path, "%s%s%s", root, dbpath, treename);
+	sprintf(db->path, "%s%s%s/", root, dbpath, treename);
 
 	STRNCPY(db->treename, treename, PATH_MAX);
 
@@ -115,23 +115,23 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_db_search(pmdb_t *db, alpm_list_t *needles)
 			RET_ERR(PM_ERR_INVALID_REGEX, NULL);
 		}
 
-		for(j = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db, INFRQ_DESC|INFRQ_DEPENDS); j; j = j->next) {
+		for(j = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db); j; j = j->next) {
 			pmpkg_t *pkg = j->data;
-			char *matched = NULL;
+			const char *matched = NULL;
 
 			/* check name */
-			if (regexec(&reg, pkg->name, 0, 0, 0) == 0) {
-				matched = pkg->name;
+			if (regexec(&reg, alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), 0, 0, 0) == 0) {
+				matched = alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg);
 			}
 			/* check desc */
-			else if (regexec(&reg, pkg->desc, 0, 0, 0) == 0) {
-				matched = pkg->desc;
+			else if (regexec(&reg, alpm_pkg_get_desc(pkg), 0, 0, 0) == 0) {
+				matched = alpm_pkg_get_desc(pkg);
 			}
 			/* check provides */
 			/* TODO: should we be doing this, and should we print something
 			 * differently when we do match it since it isn't currently printed? */
 			else {
-				for(k = pkg->provides; k; k = k->next) {
+				for(k = alpm_pkg_get_provides(pkg); k; k = k->next) {
 					if (regexec(&reg, k->data, 0, 0, 0) == 0) {
 						matched = k->data;
 						break;
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/db.h b/lib/libalpm/db.h
index 5c45432d..4ef1e591 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/db.h
+++ b/lib/libalpm/db.h
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ int _alpm_db_install(pmdb_t *db, const char *dbfile);
 int _alpm_db_open(pmdb_t *db);
 void _alpm_db_close(pmdb_t *db);
 void _alpm_db_rewind(pmdb_t *db);
-pmpkg_t *_alpm_db_scan(pmdb_t *db, const char *target, pmdbinfrq_t inforeq);
+pmpkg_t *_alpm_db_scan(pmdb_t *db, const char *target);
 int _alpm_db_read(pmdb_t *db, pmpkg_t *info, pmdbinfrq_t inforeq);
 int _alpm_db_write(pmdb_t *db, pmpkg_t *info, pmdbinfrq_t inforeq);
 int _alpm_db_remove(pmdb_t *db, pmpkg_t *info);
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/deps.c b/lib/libalpm/deps.c
index 0e90c0ef..75ecab3c 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/deps.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/deps.c
@@ -136,8 +136,8 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_sortbydeps(alpm_list_t *targets, pmtranstype_t mode)
 		numscans++;
 		/* run thru targets, moving up packages as necessary */
 		for(i = newtargs; i; i = i->next) {
-			pmpkg_t *p = (pmpkg_t*)i->data;
-			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, "sorting %s", p->name);
+			pmpkg_t *p = i->data;
+			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, "   sorting %s", alpm_pkg_get_name(p));
 			for(j = alpm_pkg_get_depends(p); j; j = j->next) {
 				pmdepend_t dep;
 				pmpkg_t *q = NULL;
@@ -148,17 +148,19 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_sortbydeps(alpm_list_t *targets, pmtranstype_t mode)
 				 * move it up above p
 				 */
 				for(k = i->next; k; k = k->next) {
-					q = (pmpkg_t *)k->data;
-					if(!strcmp(dep.name, q->name)) {
-						if(!_alpm_pkg_find(q->name, tmptargs)) {
+					q = k->data;
+					const char *qname = alpm_pkg_get_name(q);
+					if(!strcmp(dep.name, qname)) {
+						if(!_alpm_pkg_find(qname, tmptargs)) {
 							change = 1;
 							tmptargs = alpm_list_add(tmptargs, q);
 						}
 						break;
 					}
-					for(l = q->provides; l; l = l->next) {
-						if(!strcmp(dep.name, (char*)l->data)) {
-							if(!_alpm_pkg_find((char*)l->data, tmptargs)) {
+					for(l = alpm_pkg_get_provides(q); l; l = l->next) {
+						const char *provname = l->data;
+						if(!strcmp(dep.name, provname)) {
+							if(!_alpm_pkg_find(provname, tmptargs)) {
 								change = 1;
 								tmptargs = alpm_list_add(tmptargs, q);
 							}
@@ -167,7 +169,7 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_sortbydeps(alpm_list_t *targets, pmtranstype_t mode)
 					}
 				}
 			}
-			if(!_alpm_pkg_find(p->name, tmptargs)) {
+			if(!_alpm_pkg_find(alpm_pkg_get_name(p), tmptargs)) {
 				tmptargs = alpm_list_add(tmptargs, p);
 			}
 		}
@@ -221,8 +223,9 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_checkdeps(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db, pmtranstype_t op,
 				continue;
 			}
 
-			if((oldpkg = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(db, newpkg->name)) == NULL) {
-				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("cannot find package installed '%s'"), newpkg->name);
+			if((oldpkg = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(db, alpm_pkg_get_name(newpkg))) == NULL) {
+				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("cannot find package installed '%s'"),
+									alpm_pkg_get_name(newpkg));
 				continue;
 			}
 			for(j = alpm_pkg_get_requiredby(oldpkg); j; j = j->next) {
@@ -232,7 +235,7 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_checkdeps(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db, pmtranstype_t op,
 					/* hmmm... package isn't installed.. */
 					continue;
 				}
-				if(_alpm_pkg_find(p->name, packages)) {
+				if(_alpm_pkg_find(alpm_pkg_get_name(p), packages)) {
 					/* this package also in the upgrade list, so don't worry about it */
 					continue;
 				}
@@ -250,7 +253,7 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_checkdeps(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db, pmtranstype_t op,
 
 							if(_alpm_depcmp(pkg, &depend)) {
 								_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("checkdeps: dependency '%s' has moved from '%s' to '%s'"),
-													depend.name, oldpkg->name, pkg->name);
+													depend.name, alpm_pkg_get_name(oldpkg), alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg));
 								satisfied = 1;
 								break;
 							}
@@ -259,17 +262,17 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_checkdeps(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db, pmtranstype_t op,
 						if(!satisfied) {
 							/* worst case... check installed packages to see if anything else
 							 * satisfies this... */
-							for(l = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db, INFRQ_DEPENDS); l; l = l->next) {
+							for(l = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db); l; l = l->next) {
 								pmpkg_t *pkg = l->data;
 
-								if(strcmp(pkg->name, oldpkg->name) == 0) {
+								if(strcmp(alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), alpm_pkg_get_name(oldpkg)) == 0) {
 									/* well, we know this one succeeds, but we're removing it... skip it */
 									continue;
 								}
 
 								if(_alpm_depcmp(pkg, &depend)) {
 									_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("checkdeps: dependency '%s' satisfied by installed package '%s'"),
-														depend.name, pkg->name);
+														depend.name, alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg));
 									satisfied = 1;
 									break;
 								}
@@ -278,7 +281,7 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_checkdeps(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db, pmtranstype_t op,
 
 						if(!satisfied) {
 							_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("checkdeps: updated '%s' won't satisfy a dependency of '%s'"),
-												oldpkg->name, p->name);
+												alpm_pkg_get_name(oldpkg), alpm_pkg_get_name(p));
 							miss = _alpm_depmiss_new(p->name, PM_DEP_TYPE_REQUIRED, depend.mod,
 																			 depend.name, depend.version);
 							if(!_alpm_depmiss_isin(miss, baddeps)) {
@@ -301,28 +304,19 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_checkdeps(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db, pmtranstype_t op,
 				continue;
 			}
 
-			/* ensure package has depends data */
-			pmdb_t *pkgdb = tp->data;
-			_alpm_db_read(pkgdb, tp, INFRQ_DEPENDS);
-			if(!tp->depends) {
-				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("no dependencies for target '%s'"), tp->name);
-			}
-
-			for(j = tp->depends; j; j = j->next) {
+			for(j = alpm_pkg_get_depends(tp); j; j = j->next) {
 				/* split into name/version pairs */
 				_alpm_splitdep((char *)j->data, &depend);
 				found = 0;
 				/* check database for literal packages */
-				for(k = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db, INFRQ_DESC|INFRQ_DEPENDS);
-						k && !found; k = k->next) {
+				for(k = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db); k && !found; k = k->next) {
 					pmpkg_t *p = (pmpkg_t *)k->data;
 					found = _alpm_depcmp(p, &depend);
 				}
  				/* check database for provides matches */
  				if(!found) {
  					alpm_list_t *m;
- 					k = _alpm_db_whatprovides(db, depend.name);
- 					for(m = k; m && !found; m = m->next) {
+ 					for(m = _alpm_db_whatprovides(db, depend.name); m && !found; m = m->next) {
  						/* look for a match that isn't one of the packages we're trying
  						 * to install.  this way, if we match against a to-be-installed
  						 * package, we'll defer to the NEW one, not the one already
@@ -332,7 +326,7 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_checkdeps(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db, pmtranstype_t op,
  						int skip = 0;
  						for(n = packages; n && !skip; n = n->next) {
  							pmpkg_t *ptp = n->data;
- 							if(!strcmp(ptp->name, p->name)) {
+ 							if(strcmp(alpm_pkg_get_name(ptp), alpm_pkg_get_name(p)) == 0) {
  								skip = 1;
  							}
  						}
@@ -346,14 +340,14 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_checkdeps(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db, pmtranstype_t op,
 				}
  				/* check other targets */
  				for(k = packages; k && !found; k = k->next) {
- 					pmpkg_t *p = (pmpkg_t *)k->data;
+ 					pmpkg_t *p = k->data;
 					found = _alpm_depcmp(p, &depend);
 				}
 				/* else if still not found... */
 				if(!found) {
 					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("missing dependency '%s' for package '%s'"),
-					                          depend.name, tp->name);
-					miss = _alpm_depmiss_new(tp->name, PM_DEP_TYPE_DEPEND, depend.mod,
+					                          depend.name, alpm_pkg_get_name(tp));
+					miss = _alpm_depmiss_new(alpm_pkg_get_name(tp), PM_DEP_TYPE_DEPEND, depend.mod,
 					                         depend.name, depend.version);
 					if(!_alpm_depmiss_isin(miss, baddeps)) {
 						baddeps = alpm_list_add(baddeps, miss);
@@ -372,20 +366,20 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_checkdeps(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db, pmtranstype_t op,
 			}
 
 			found=0;
-			for(j = tp->requiredby; j; j = j->next) {
+			for(j = alpm_pkg_get_requiredby(tp); j; j = j->next) {
 				/* Search for 'reqname' in packages for removal */
 				char *reqname = j->data;
 				alpm_list_t *x = NULL;
 				for(x = packages; x; x = x->next) {
 					pmpkg_t *xp = x->data;
-					if(strcmp(reqname, xp->name) == 0) {
+					if(strcmp(reqname, alpm_pkg_get_name(xp)) == 0) {
 						found = 1;
 						break;
 					}
 				}
 				if(!found) {
 					/* check if a package in trans->packages provides this package */
-					for(k=trans->packages; !found && k; k=k->next) {
+					for(k = trans->packages; !found && k; k=k->next) {
 						pmpkg_t *spkg = NULL;
 						if(trans->type == PM_TRANS_TYPE_SYNC) {
 							pmsyncpkg_t *sync = k->data;
@@ -394,16 +388,16 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_checkdeps(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db, pmtranstype_t op,
 							spkg = k->data;
 						}
 						if(spkg) {
-							if(alpm_list_find_str(spkg->provides, tp->name)) {
+							if(alpm_list_find_str(alpm_pkg_get_provides(spkg), tp->name)) {
 								found = 1;
 							}
 						}
 					}
 					if(!found) {
 						_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("checkdeps: found %s as required by %s"),
-								reqname, tp->name);
-						miss = _alpm_depmiss_new(tp->name, PM_DEP_TYPE_REQUIRED,
-								PM_DEP_MOD_ANY, j->data, NULL);
+								reqname, alpm_pkg_get_name(tp));
+						miss = _alpm_depmiss_new(alpm_pkg_get_name(tp), PM_DEP_TYPE_REQUIRED,
+																		 PM_DEP_MOD_ANY, j->data, NULL);
 						if(!_alpm_depmiss_isin(miss, baddeps)) {
 							baddeps = alpm_list_add(baddeps, miss);
 						} else {
@@ -468,20 +462,20 @@ static int can_remove_package(pmdb_t *db, pmpkg_t *pkg, alpm_list_t *targets)
 {
 	alpm_list_t *i;
 
-	if(_alpm_pkg_find(pkg->name, targets)) {
+	if(_alpm_pkg_find(alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), targets)) {
 		return(0);
 	}
 
 	/* see if it was explicitly installed */
 	if(alpm_pkg_get_reason(pkg) == PM_PKG_REASON_EXPLICIT) {
-		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("excluding %s -- explicitly installed"), pkg->name);
+		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("excluding %s -- explicitly installed"), alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg));
 		return(0);
 	}
 
 	/* see if other packages need it */
 	for(i = alpm_pkg_get_requiredby(pkg); i; i = i->next) {
 		pmpkg_t *reqpkg = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(db, i->data);
-		if(reqpkg && !_alpm_pkg_find(reqpkg->name, targets)) {
+		if(reqpkg && !_alpm_pkg_find(alpm_pkg_get_name(reqpkg), targets)) {
 			return(0);
 		}
 	}
@@ -527,10 +521,9 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_removedeps(pmdb_t *db, alpm_list_t *targs)
 				for(k = provides; k; k = k->next) {
 					pmpkg_t *provpkg = k->data;
 					if(can_remove_package(db, provpkg, newtargs)) {
-						pmpkg_t *pkg = _alpm_pkg_new(provpkg->name, provpkg->version);
-						_alpm_db_read(db, pkg, INFRQ_ALL);
+						pmpkg_t *pkg = _alpm_pkg_new(alpm_pkg_get_name(provpkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(provpkg));
 
-						_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("adding '%s' to the targets"), pkg->name);
+						_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("adding '%s' to the targets"), alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg));
 
 						/* add it to the target list */
 						newtargs = alpm_list_add(newtargs, pkg);
@@ -540,9 +533,8 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_removedeps(pmdb_t *db, alpm_list_t *targs)
 				FREELISTPTR(provides);
 			} else if(can_remove_package(db, dep, newtargs)) {
 				pmpkg_t *pkg = _alpm_pkg_new(dep->name, dep->version);
-				_alpm_db_read(db, pkg, INFRQ_ALL);
 
-				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("adding '%s' to the targets"), pkg->name);
+				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("adding '%s' to the targets"), alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg));
 
 				/* add it to the target list */
 				newtargs = alpm_list_add(newtargs, pkg);
@@ -589,10 +581,10 @@ int _alpm_resolvedeps(pmdb_t *local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sync, pmpkg_t *syncpkg,
 
 		/* check if one of the packages in *list already provides this dependency */
 		for(j = list; j && !found; j = j->next) {
-			pmpkg_t *sp = (pmpkg_t *)j->data;
-			if(alpm_list_find_str(sp->provides, miss->depend.name)) {
+			pmpkg_t *sp = j->data;
+			if(alpm_list_find_str(alpm_pkg_get_provides(sp), miss->depend.name)) {
 				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("%s provides dependency %s -- skipping"),
-				          sp->name, miss->depend.name);
+				          alpm_pkg_get_name(sp), miss->depend.name);
 				found = 1;
 			}
 		}
@@ -604,18 +596,22 @@ int _alpm_resolvedeps(pmdb_t *local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sync, pmpkg_t *syncpkg,
 		/* check literals */
 		for(j = dbs_sync; !sync && j; j = j->next) {
 			sync = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(j->data, miss->depend.name);
-			_alpm_db_read(j->data, sync, INFRQ_DEPENDS);
 		}
+		/*TODO this autoresolves the first 'provides' package... we should fix this
+		 * somehow */
 		/* check provides */
-		for(j = dbs_sync; !sync && j; j = j->next) {
-			alpm_list_t *provides;
-			provides = _alpm_db_whatprovides(j->data, miss->depend.name);
-			if(provides) {
-				sync = provides->data;
+		if(!sync) {
+			for(j = dbs_sync; !sync && j; j = j->next) {
+				alpm_list_t *provides;
+				provides = _alpm_db_whatprovides(j->data, miss->depend.name);
+				if(provides) {
+					sync = provides->data;
+				}
+				FREELISTPTR(provides);
 			}
-			FREELISTPTR(provides);
 		}
-		if(sync == NULL) {
+
+		if(!sync) {
 			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("cannot resolve dependencies for \"%s\" (\"%s\" is not in the package set)"),
 			          miss->target, miss->depend.name);
 			if(data) {
@@ -631,19 +627,19 @@ int _alpm_resolvedeps(pmdb_t *local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sync, pmpkg_t *syncpkg,
 			pm_errno = PM_ERR_UNSATISFIED_DEPS;
 			goto error;
 		}
-		if(_alpm_pkg_find(sync->name, list)) {
+		if(_alpm_pkg_find(alpm_pkg_get_name(sync), list)) {
 			/* this dep is already in the target list */
 			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("dependency %s is already in the target list -- skipping"),
-			          sync->name);
+								alpm_pkg_get_name(sync));
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		if(!_alpm_pkg_find(sync->name, trail)) {
+		if(!_alpm_pkg_find(alpm_pkg_get_name(sync), trail)) {
 			/* check pmo_ignorepkg and pmo_s_ignore to make sure we haven't pulled in
 			 * something we're not supposed to.
 			 */
 			int usedep = 1;
-			if(alpm_list_find_str(handle->ignorepkg, sync->name)) {
+			if(alpm_list_find_str(handle->ignorepkg, alpm_pkg_get_name(sync))) {
 				pmpkg_t *dummypkg = _alpm_pkg_new(miss->target, NULL);
 				QUESTION(trans, PM_TRANS_CONV_INSTALL_IGNOREPKG, dummypkg, sync, NULL, &usedep);
 				FREEPKG(dummypkg);
@@ -654,7 +650,7 @@ int _alpm_resolvedeps(pmdb_t *local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sync, pmpkg_t *syncpkg,
 					goto error;
 				}
 				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("pulling dependency %s (needed by %s)"),
-				          sync->name, syncpkg->name);
+									alpm_pkg_get_name(sync), alpm_pkg_get_name(syncpkg));
 				list = alpm_list_add(list, sync);
 			} else {
 				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("cannot resolve dependencies for \"%s\""), miss->target);
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/package.c b/lib/libalpm/package.c
index f7753d7c..f720bd7f 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/package.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/package.c
@@ -82,17 +82,17 @@ pmpkg_t *_alpm_pkg_dup(pmpkg_t *pkg)
 	}
 
 	memcpy(newpkg, pkg, sizeof(pmpkg_t));
-	newpkg->license    = alpm_list_strdup(pkg->license);
+	newpkg->licenses    = alpm_list_strdup(alpm_pkg_get_licenses(pkg));
 	/*newpkg->desc_localized = alpm_list_strdup(pkg->desc_localized);*/
-	newpkg->requiredby = alpm_list_strdup(pkg->requiredby);
-	newpkg->conflicts  = alpm_list_strdup(pkg->conflicts);
-	newpkg->files      = alpm_list_strdup(pkg->files);
-	newpkg->backup     = alpm_list_strdup(pkg->backup);
-	newpkg->depends    = alpm_list_strdup(pkg->depends);
-	newpkg->removes    = alpm_list_strdup(pkg->removes);
-	newpkg->groups     = alpm_list_strdup(pkg->groups);
-	newpkg->provides   = alpm_list_strdup(pkg->provides);
-	newpkg->replaces   = alpm_list_strdup(pkg->replaces);
+	newpkg->requiredby = alpm_list_strdup(alpm_pkg_get_requiredby(pkg));
+	newpkg->conflicts  = alpm_list_strdup(alpm_pkg_get_conflicts(pkg));
+	newpkg->files      = alpm_list_strdup(alpm_pkg_get_files(pkg));
+	newpkg->backup     = alpm_list_strdup(alpm_pkg_get_backup(pkg));
+	newpkg->depends    = alpm_list_strdup(alpm_pkg_get_depends(pkg));
+	newpkg->removes    = alpm_list_strdup(alpm_pkg_get_removes(pkg));
+	newpkg->groups     = alpm_list_strdup(alpm_pkg_get_groups(pkg));
+	newpkg->provides   = alpm_list_strdup(alpm_pkg_get_provides(pkg));
+	newpkg->replaces   = alpm_list_strdup(alpm_pkg_get_replaces(pkg));
 	/* internal */
 	newpkg->data = (newpkg->origin == PKG_FROM_FILE) ? strdup(pkg->data) : pkg->data;
 
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ void _alpm_pkg_free(void *data)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	FREELIST(pkg->license);
+	FREELIST(pkg->licenses);
   /*FREELIST(pkg->desc_localized);*/
 	FREELIST(pkg->files);
 	FREELIST(pkg->backup);
@@ -141,28 +141,32 @@ int alpm_pkg_compare_versions(pmpkg_t *local_pkg, pmpkg_t *pkg)
 	}
 
 	/* compare versions and see if we need to upgrade */
-	cmp = _alpm_versioncmp(pkg->version, local_pkg->version);
+	cmp = _alpm_versioncmp(alpm_pkg_get_version(pkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(local_pkg));
 
 	if(cmp != 0 && pkg->force) {
 		cmp = 1;
-		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_WARNING, _("%s: forcing upgrade to version %s"), local_pkg->name, pkg->version);
+		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_WARNING, _("%s: forcing upgrade to version %s"),
+							alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(pkg));
 	} else if(cmp < 0) {
 		/* local version is newer */
 		pmdb_t *db = pkg->data;
 		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_WARNING, _("%s: local (%s) is newer than %s (%s)"),
-							local_pkg->name, local_pkg->version, db->treename, pkg->version);
+							alpm_pkg_get_name(local_pkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(local_pkg),
+							alpm_db_get_name(db), alpm_pkg_get_version(pkg));
 		cmp = 0;
 	} else if(cmp > 0) {
 		/* we have an upgrade, make sure we should actually do it */
-		if(alpm_list_find_str(handle->ignorepkg, pkg->name)) {
+		if(alpm_list_find_str(handle->ignorepkg, alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg))) {
 			/* package should be ignored (IgnorePkg) */
 			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_WARNING, _("%s-%s: ignoring package upgrade (%s)"),
-								local_pkg->name, local_pkg->version, pkg->version);
+								alpm_pkg_get_name(local_pkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(local_pkg),
+								alpm_pkg_get_version(pkg));
 			cmp = 0;
 		} else if(_alpm_pkg_istoonew(pkg)) {
 			/* package too new (UpgradeDelay) */
 			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_WARNING, _("%s-%s: delaying upgrade of package (%s)"),
-								local_pkg->name, local_pkg->version, pkg->version);
+								alpm_pkg_get_name(local_pkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(local_pkg),
+								alpm_pkg_get_version(pkg));
 			cmp = 0;
 		}
 	}
@@ -174,7 +178,10 @@ int alpm_pkg_compare_versions(pmpkg_t *local_pkg, pmpkg_t *pkg)
  */
 int _alpm_pkg_cmp(const void *p1, const void *p2)
 {
-	return(strcmp(((pmpkg_t *)p1)->name, ((pmpkg_t *)p2)->name));
+	pmpkg_t *pk1 = (pmpkg_t *)p1;
+	pmpkg_t *pk2 = (pmpkg_t *)p2;
+	
+	return(strcmp(alpm_pkg_get_name(pk1), alpm_pkg_get_name(pk2)));
 }
 
 /* Parses the package description file for the current package
@@ -240,7 +247,7 @@ static int parse_descfile(const char *descfile, pmpkg_t *info)
 			} else if(!strcmp(key, "URL")) {
 				STRNCPY(info->url, ptr, sizeof(info->url));
 			} else if(!strcmp(key, "LICENSE")) {
-				info->license = alpm_list_add(info->license, strdup(ptr));
+				info->licenses = alpm_list_add(info->licenses, strdup(ptr));
 			} else if(!strcmp(key, "BUILDDATE")) {
 				STRNCPY(info->builddate, ptr, sizeof(info->builddate));
 			} else if(!strcmp(key, "BUILDTYPE")) {
@@ -467,7 +474,7 @@ pmpkg_t *_alpm_pkg_find(const char *needle, alpm_list_t *haystack)
 	for(lp = haystack; lp; lp = lp->next) {
 		pmpkg_t *info = lp->data;
 
-		if(info && strcmp(info->name, needle) == 0) {
+		if(info && strcmp(alpm_pkg_get_name(info), needle) == 0) {
 			return(info);
 		}
 	}
@@ -533,12 +540,12 @@ void _alpm_pkg_update_requiredby(pmpkg_t *pkg)
 	alpm_list_t *i, *j, *k;
 
 	pmdb_t *localdb = alpm_option_get_localdb();
-	for(i = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(localdb, INFRQ_DEPENDS); i; i = i->next) {
+	for(i = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(localdb); i; i = i->next) {
 		if(!i->data) {
 			continue;
 		}
 		pmpkg_t *cachepkg = i->data;
-		for(j = cachepkg->depends; j; j = j->next) {
+		for(j = alpm_pkg_get_depends(cachepkg); j; j = j->next) {
 			pmdepend_t dep;
 			if(!j->data) {
 				continue;
@@ -548,19 +555,23 @@ void _alpm_pkg_update_requiredby(pmpkg_t *pkg)
 			}
 
 			/* check the actual package itself */
-			if(strcmp(dep.name, pkg->name) == 0) {
+			if(strcmp(dep.name, alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg)) == 0) {
 				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("adding '%s' in requiredby field for '%s'"),
 									cachepkg->name, pkg->name);
-				pkg->requiredby = alpm_list_add(pkg->requiredby, strdup(cachepkg->name));
+				alpm_list_t *reqs = alpm_pkg_get_requiredby(pkg);
+				reqs = alpm_list_add(reqs, strdup(alpm_pkg_get_name(cachepkg)));
+				pkg->requiredby = reqs;
 			}
 
 			/* check for provisions as well */
-			for(k = pkg->provides; k; k = k->next) {
+			for(k = alpm_pkg_get_provides(pkg); k; k = k->next) {
 				const char *provname = k->data;
 				if(strcmp(dep.name, provname) == 0) {
 					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("adding '%s' in requiredby field for '%s' (provides: %s)"),
-										cachepkg->name, pkg->name, provname);
-					pkg->requiredby = alpm_list_add(pkg->requiredby, strdup(cachepkg->name));
+										alpm_pkg_get_name(cachepkg), alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), provname);
+					alpm_list_t *reqs = alpm_pkg_get_requiredby(pkg);
+					reqs = alpm_list_add(reqs, strdup(alpm_pkg_get_name(cachepkg)));
+					pkg->requiredby = reqs;
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -799,7 +810,7 @@ alpm_list_t SYMEXPORT *alpm_pkg_get_licenses(pmpkg_t *pkg)
 	if(pkg->origin == PKG_FROM_CACHE && !(pkg->infolevel & INFRQ_DESC)) {
 		_alpm_db_read(pkg->data, pkg, INFRQ_DESC);
 	}
-	return pkg->license;
+	return pkg->licenses;
 }
 
 alpm_list_t SYMEXPORT *alpm_pkg_get_groups(pmpkg_t *pkg)
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/package.h b/lib/libalpm/package.h
index f849ba85..8055c177 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/package.h
+++ b/lib/libalpm/package.h
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ struct __pmpkg_t {
 	time_t date;
 	pmpkgreason_t reason;
 	/* alpm_list_t *desc_localized;*/
-	alpm_list_t *license;
+	alpm_list_t *licenses;
 	alpm_list_t *replaces;
 	alpm_list_t *groups;
 	alpm_list_t *files;
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/provide.c b/lib/libalpm/provide.c
index a01f059a..3b563365 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/provide.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/provide.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ alpm_list_t *_alpm_db_whatprovides(pmdb_t *db, const char *package)
 		return(NULL);
 	}
 
-	for(lp = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db, INFRQ_DEPENDS); lp; lp = lp->next) {
+	for(lp = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db); lp; lp = lp->next) {
 		pmpkg_t *info = lp->data;
 
 		if(alpm_list_find_str(alpm_pkg_get_provides(info), package)) {
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/remove.c b/lib/libalpm/remove.c
index 0fd08732..68900b5f 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/remove.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/remove.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ int _alpm_remove_loadtarget(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db, char *name)
 		RET_ERR(PM_ERR_TRANS_DUP_TARGET, -1);
 	}
 
-	if((info = _alpm_db_scan(db, name, INFRQ_ALL)) == NULL) {
+	if((info = _alpm_db_scan(db, name)) == NULL) {
 		/* Unimportant - just ignore it if we can't find it */
 		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("could not find %s in database"), name);
 		RET_ERR(PM_ERR_PKG_NOT_FOUND, -1);
@@ -115,9 +115,9 @@ int _alpm_remove_prepare(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db, alpm_list_t **data)
 					alpm_list_t *i;
 					for(i = lp; i; i = i->next) {
 						pmdepmissing_t *miss = (pmdepmissing_t *)i->data;
-						pmpkg_t *info = _alpm_db_scan(db, miss->depend.name, INFRQ_ALL);
+						pmpkg_t *info = _alpm_db_scan(db, miss->depend.name);
 						if(info) {
-							_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("pulling %s in the targets list"), info->name);
+							_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("pulling %s in the targets list"), alpm_pkg_get_name(info));
 							trans->packages = alpm_list_add(trans->packages, info);
 						} else {
 							_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not find %s in database -- skipping"),
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ static void unlink_file(pmpkg_t *info, alpm_list_t *lp, alpm_list_t *targ,
 		percent = (double)*position / filenum;
 	}
 
-	char *hash = _alpm_needbackup(lp->data, info->backup);
+	char *hash = _alpm_needbackup(lp->data, alpm_pkg_get_backup(info));
 	if(hash) {
 		needbackup = 1;
 		FREE(hash);
@@ -275,6 +275,7 @@ int _alpm_remove_commit(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db)
 	for(targ = trans->packages; targ; targ = targ->next) {
 		int position = 0;
 		char pm_install[PATH_MAX];
+		alpm_list_t *files;
 		info = (pmpkg_t*)targ->data;
 
 		if(handle->trans->state == STATE_INTERRUPTED) {
@@ -283,54 +284,63 @@ int _alpm_remove_commit(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db)
 
 		if(trans->type != PM_TRANS_TYPE_UPGRADE) {
 			EVENT(trans, PM_TRANS_EVT_REMOVE_START, info, NULL);
-			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("removing package %s-%s"), info->name, info->version);
+			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("removing package %s-%s"),
+								alpm_pkg_get_name(info), alpm_pkg_get_version(info));
 
 			/* run the pre-remove scriptlet if it exists  */
-			if(info->scriptlet && !(trans->flags & PM_TRANS_FLAG_NOSCRIPTLET)) {
-				snprintf(pm_install, PATH_MAX, "%s/%s-%s/install", db->path, info->name, info->version);
-				_alpm_runscriptlet(handle->root, pm_install, "pre_remove", info->version, NULL, trans);
+			if(alpm_pkg_has_scriptlet(info) && !(trans->flags & PM_TRANS_FLAG_NOSCRIPTLET)) {
+				snprintf(pm_install, PATH_MAX, "%s/%s-%s/install", db->path,
+										alpm_pkg_get_name(info), alpm_pkg_get_version(info));
+				_alpm_runscriptlet(handle->root, pm_install, "pre_remove",
+													 alpm_pkg_get_version(info), NULL, trans);
 			}
 		}
 
+		files = alpm_pkg_get_files(info);
+
 		if(!(trans->flags & PM_TRANS_FLAG_DBONLY)) {
-			for(lp = info->files; lp; lp = lp->next) {
+			for(lp = files; lp; lp = lp->next) {
 				if(!can_remove_file(trans, lp->data)) {
-					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("not removing package '%s', can't remove all files"), info->name);
+					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("not removing package '%s', can't remove all files"),
+										alpm_pkg_get_name(info));
 					RET_ERR(PM_ERR_PKG_CANT_REMOVE, -1);
 				}
 			}
 
-			int filenum = alpm_list_count(info->files);
-			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("removing files"));
+			int filenum = alpm_list_count(files);
+			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("removing %d files"), filenum);
 
 			/* iterate through the list backwards, unlinking files */
-			for(lp = alpm_list_last(info->files); lp; lp = lp->prev) {
+			for(lp = alpm_list_last(files); lp; lp = lp->prev) {
 				unlink_file(info, lp, targ, trans, filenum, &position);
 			}
 		}
 
 		if(trans->type != PM_TRANS_TYPE_UPGRADE) {
 			/* run the post-remove script if it exists  */
-			if(info->scriptlet && !(trans->flags & PM_TRANS_FLAG_NOSCRIPTLET)) {
-				snprintf(pm_install, PATH_MAX, "%s/%s-%s/install", db->path, info->name, info->version);
-				_alpm_runscriptlet(handle->root, pm_install, "post_remove", info->version, NULL, trans);
+			if(alpm_pkg_has_scriptlet(info) && !(trans->flags & PM_TRANS_FLAG_NOSCRIPTLET)) {
+				snprintf(pm_install, PATH_MAX, "%s/%s-%s/install", db->path,
+								 alpm_pkg_get_name(info), alpm_pkg_get_version(info));
+				_alpm_runscriptlet(handle->root, pm_install, "post_remove",
+													 alpm_pkg_get_version(info), NULL, trans);
 			}
 		}
 
 		/* remove the package from the database */
 		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("updating database"));
-		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("removing database entry '%s'"), info->name);
+		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("removing database entry '%s'"), alpm_pkg_get_name(info));
 		if(_alpm_db_remove(db, info) == -1) {
-			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not remove database entry %s-%s"), info->name, info->version);
+			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not remove database entry %s-%s"),
+								alpm_pkg_get_name(info), alpm_pkg_get_version(info));
 		}
 		if(_alpm_db_remove_pkgfromcache(db, info) == -1) {
-			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not remove entry '%s' from cache"), info->name);
+			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not remove entry '%s' from cache"), alpm_pkg_get_name(info));
 		}
 
 		/* update dependency packages' REQUIREDBY fields */
 		_alpm_trans_update_depends(trans, info);
 
-		PROGRESS(trans, PM_TRANS_PROGRESS_REMOVE_START, info->name, 100, alpm_list_count(trans->packages), (alpm_list_count(trans->packages) - alpm_list_count(targ) +1));
+		PROGRESS(trans, PM_TRANS_PROGRESS_REMOVE_START, alpm_pkg_get_name(info), 100, alpm_list_count(trans->packages), (alpm_list_count(trans->packages) - alpm_list_count(targ) +1));
 		if(trans->type != PM_TRANS_TYPE_UPGRADE) {
 			EVENT(trans, PM_TRANS_EVT_REMOVE_DONE, info, NULL);
 		}
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/sync.c b/lib/libalpm/sync.c
index 81d2a738..6f5a715d 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/sync.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/sync.c
@@ -91,37 +91,13 @@ void _alpm_sync_free(void *data)
 	FREE(sync);
 }
 
-/* Test for existence of a package in a alpm_list_t* of pmsyncpkg_t*
- * If found, return a pointer to the respective pmsyncpkg_t*
- */
-static pmsyncpkg_t *find_pkginsync(char *needle, alpm_list_t *haystack)
-{
-	alpm_list_t *i;
-	pmsyncpkg_t *sync = NULL;
-	int found = 0;
-
-	ALPM_LOG_FUNC;
-
-	for(i = haystack; i && !found; i = i->next) {
-		sync = i->data;
-		if(sync && !strcmp(sync->pkg->name, needle)) {
-			found = 1;
-		}
-	}
-	if(!found) {
-		sync = NULL;
-	}
-
-	return(sync);
-}
-
 /* Find recommended replacements for packages during a sync.
  * (refactored from _alpm_sync_prepare)
  */
 static int find_replacements(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local,
 														 alpm_list_t *dbs_sync)
 {
-	alpm_list_t *i, *j, *k, *m; /* wow */
+	alpm_list_t *i, *j, *k; /* wow */
 
 	ALPM_LOG_FUNC;
 
@@ -131,57 +107,57 @@ static int find_replacements(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local,
 		pmdb_t *db = i->data;
 
 		/* for each db, check each package's REPLACES list */
-		for(j = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db, INFRQ_DESC); j; j = j->next) {
+		for(j = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db); j; j = j->next) {
 			pmpkg_t *spkg = j->data;
 
 			for(k = alpm_pkg_get_replaces(spkg); k; k = k->next) {
 				const char *replacement = k->data;
-				/* compare to local DB */
-				for(m = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db_local, INFRQ_BASE); m; m = m->next) {
-					pmpkg_t *lpkg = m->data;
-
-					if(strcmp(replacement, lpkg->name) == 0) {
-						_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("checking replacement '%s' for package '%s'"), replacement, spkg->name);
-						if(alpm_list_find_str(handle->ignorepkg, lpkg->name)) {
-							_alpm_log(PM_LOG_WARNING, _("%s-%s: ignoring package upgrade (to be replaced by %s-%s)"),
-								lpkg->name, lpkg->version, spkg->name, spkg->version);
+				
+				pmpkg_t *lpkg = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(db_local, replacement);
+				if(!lpkg) {
+					continue;
+				}
+
+				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("checking replacement '%s' for package '%s'"), replacement, spkg->name);
+				if(alpm_list_find_str(handle->ignorepkg, lpkg->name)) {
+					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_WARNING, _("%s-%s: ignoring package upgrade (to be replaced by %s-%s)"),
+										alpm_pkg_get_name(lpkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(lpkg),
+										alpm_pkg_get_name(spkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(spkg));
+				} else {
+					/* get confirmation for the replacement */
+					int doreplace = 0;
+					QUESTION(trans, PM_TRANS_CONV_REPLACE_PKG, lpkg, spkg, db->treename, &doreplace);
+
+					if(doreplace) {
+						/* if confirmed, add this to the 'final' list, designating 'lpkg' as
+						 * the package to replace.
+						 */
+						pmsyncpkg_t *sync;
+						pmpkg_t *dummy = _alpm_pkg_new(alpm_pkg_get_name(lpkg), NULL);
+						if(dummy == NULL) {
+							pm_errno = PM_ERR_MEMORY;
+							goto error;
+						}
+						dummy->requiredby = alpm_list_strdup(alpm_pkg_get_requiredby(lpkg));
+						/* check if spkg->name is already in the packages list. */
+						sync = _alpm_sync_find(trans->packages, alpm_pkg_get_name(spkg));
+						if(sync) {
+							/* found it -- just append to the replaces list */
+							sync->data = alpm_list_add(sync->data, dummy);
 						} else {
-							/* get confirmation for the replacement */
-							int doreplace = 0;
-							QUESTION(trans, PM_TRANS_CONV_REPLACE_PKG, lpkg, spkg, db->treename, &doreplace);
-
-							if(doreplace) {
-								/* if confirmed, add this to the 'final' list, designating 'lpkg' as
-								 * the package to replace.
-								 */
-								pmsyncpkg_t *sync;
-								pmpkg_t *dummy = _alpm_pkg_new(lpkg->name, NULL);
-								if(dummy == NULL) {
-									pm_errno = PM_ERR_MEMORY;
-									goto error;
-								}
-								dummy->requiredby = alpm_list_strdup(lpkg->requiredby);
-								/* check if spkg->name is already in the packages list. */
-								sync = find_pkginsync(spkg->name, trans->packages);
-								if(sync) {
-									/* found it -- just append to the replaces list */
-									sync->data = alpm_list_add(sync->data, dummy);
-								} else {
-									/* none found -- enter pkg into the final sync list */
-									sync = _alpm_sync_new(PM_SYNC_TYPE_REPLACE, spkg, NULL);
-									if(sync == NULL) {
-										FREEPKG(dummy);
-										pm_errno = PM_ERR_MEMORY;
-										goto error;
-									}
-									sync->data = alpm_list_add(NULL, dummy);
-									trans->packages = alpm_list_add(trans->packages, sync);
-								}
-								_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("%s-%s elected for upgrade (to be replaced by %s-%s)"),
-								          lpkg->name, lpkg->version, spkg->name, spkg->version);
+							/* none found -- enter pkg into the final sync list */
+							sync = _alpm_sync_new(PM_SYNC_TYPE_REPLACE, spkg, NULL);
+							if(sync == NULL) {
+								FREEPKG(dummy);
+								pm_errno = PM_ERR_MEMORY;
+								goto error;
 							}
+							sync->data = alpm_list_add(NULL, dummy);
+							trans->packages = alpm_list_add(trans->packages, sync);
 						}
-						break;
+						_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("%s-%s elected for upgrade (to be replaced by %s-%s)"),
+											alpm_pkg_get_name(lpkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(lpkg),
+											alpm_pkg_get_name(spkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(spkg));
 					}
 				}
 			}
@@ -200,20 +176,20 @@ int _alpm_sync_sysupgrade(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_s
 	ALPM_LOG_FUNC;
 
 	/* check for "recommended" package replacements */
-	if( find_replacements(trans, db_local, dbs_sync) == 0 ) {
+	if(find_replacements(trans, db_local, dbs_sync) == 0) {
 		/* match installed packages with the sync dbs and compare versions */
 		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("checking for package upgrades"));
-		for(i = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db_local, INFRQ_BASE); i; i = i->next) {
+		for(i = _alpm_db_get_pkgcache(db_local); i; i = i->next) {
 			int replace=0;
 			pmpkg_t *local = i->data;
 			pmpkg_t *spkg = NULL;
 			pmsyncpkg_t *sync;
 
 			for(j = dbs_sync; !spkg && j; j = j->next) {
-				spkg = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(j->data, local->name);
+				spkg = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(j->data, alpm_pkg_get_name(local));
 			}
 			if(spkg == NULL) {
-				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("'%s' not found in sync db -- skipping"), local->name);
+				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("'%s' not found in sync db -- skipping"), alpm_pkg_get_name(local));
 				continue;
 			}
 
@@ -221,23 +197,25 @@ int _alpm_sync_sysupgrade(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_s
 			for(j = trans->packages; j && !replace; j=j->next) {
 				sync = j->data;
 				if(sync->type == PM_SYNC_TYPE_REPLACE) {
-					if(_alpm_pkg_find(spkg->name, sync->data)) {
+					if(_alpm_pkg_find(alpm_pkg_get_name(spkg), sync->data)) {
 						replace=1;
 					}
 				}
 			}
 			if(replace) {
 				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("'%s' is already elected for removal -- skipping"),
-									local->name);
+									alpm_pkg_get_name(local));
 				continue;
 			}
 
 			/* compare versions and see if we need to upgrade */
 			if(alpm_pkg_compare_versions(local, spkg)) {
 				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("%s-%s elected for upgrade (%s => %s)"),
-									local->name, local->version, local->version, spkg->version);
-				if(!find_pkginsync(spkg->name, trans->packages)) {
-					pmpkg_t *dummy = _alpm_pkg_new(local->name, local->version);
+									alpm_pkg_get_name(local), alpm_pkg_get_version(local),
+									alpm_pkg_get_name(spkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(spkg));
+				if(!_alpm_sync_find(trans->packages, alpm_pkg_get_name(spkg))) {
+					pmpkg_t *dummy = _alpm_pkg_new(alpm_pkg_get_name(local),
+																				 alpm_pkg_get_version(local));
 					if(dummy == NULL) {
 						goto error;
 					}
@@ -279,22 +257,21 @@ int _alpm_sync_addtarget(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sy
 	if(targ) {
 		*targ = '\0';
 		targ++;
-		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("searching for target in repo '%s'"), targline);
+		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("searching for target in repo '%s'"), targ);
 		for(j = dbs_sync; j && !spkg; j = j->next) {
-			pmdb_t *dbs = j->data;
-			if(strcmp(dbs->treename, targline) == 0) {
+			pmdb_t *db = j->data;
+			if(strcmp(db->treename, targline) == 0) {
 				repo_found = 1;
-				spkg = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(dbs, targ);
+				spkg = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(db, targ);
 				if(spkg == NULL) {
 					/* Search provides */
-					alpm_list_t *p;
 					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("target '%s' not found -- looking for provisions"), targ);
-					p = _alpm_db_whatprovides(dbs, targ);
-					if(p == NULL) {
+					alpm_list_t *p = _alpm_db_whatprovides(db, targ);
+					if(!p) {
 						RET_ERR(PM_ERR_PKG_NOT_FOUND, -1);
 					}
 					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("found '%s' as a provision for '%s'"), p->data, targ);
-					spkg = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(dbs, p->data);
+					spkg = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(db, p->data);
 					FREELISTPTR(p);
 				}
 			}
@@ -306,33 +283,34 @@ int _alpm_sync_addtarget(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sy
 	} else {
 		targ = targline;
 		for(j = dbs_sync; j && !spkg; j = j->next) {
-			pmdb_t *dbs = j->data;
-			spkg = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(dbs, targ);
+			pmdb_t *db = j->data;
+			spkg = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(db, targ);
 		}
 		if(spkg == NULL) {
 			/* Search provides */
 			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("target '%s' not found -- looking for provisions"), targ);
 			for(j = dbs_sync; j && !spkg; j = j->next) {
-				pmdb_t *dbs = j->data;
-				alpm_list_t *p = _alpm_db_whatprovides(dbs, targ);
+				pmdb_t *db = j->data;
+				alpm_list_t *p = _alpm_db_whatprovides(db, targ);
 				if(p) {
 					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("found '%s' as a provision for '%s'"), p->data, targ);
-					spkg = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(dbs, p->data);
+					spkg = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(db, p->data);
 					FREELISTPTR(p);
 				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
+
 	if(spkg == NULL) {
 		RET_ERR(PM_ERR_PKG_NOT_FOUND, -1);
 	}
 
-	local = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(db_local, spkg->name);
+	local = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(db_local, alpm_pkg_get_name(spkg));
 	if(local) {
 		if(alpm_pkg_compare_versions(local, spkg) == 0) {
 			/* spkg is NOT an upgrade, get confirmation before adding */
 			int resp = 0;
-			if(alpm_list_find_str(handle->ignorepkg, local->name)) {
+			if(alpm_list_find_str(handle->ignorepkg, alpm_pkg_get_name(local))) {
 				QUESTION(trans, PM_TRANS_CONV_INSTALL_IGNOREPKG, local, NULL, NULL, &resp);
 				if(!resp) {
 					return(0);
@@ -340,7 +318,8 @@ int _alpm_sync_addtarget(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sy
 			} else {
 				QUESTION(trans, PM_TRANS_CONV_LOCAL_UPTODATE, local, NULL, NULL, &resp);
 				if(!resp) {
-					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_WARNING, _("%s-%s is up to date -- skipping"), local->name, local->version);
+					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_WARNING, _("%s-%s is up to date -- skipping"),
+										alpm_pkg_get_name(local), alpm_pkg_get_version(local));
 					return(0);
 				}
 			}
@@ -348,10 +327,11 @@ int _alpm_sync_addtarget(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sy
 	}
 
 	/* add the package to the transaction */
-	if(!find_pkginsync(spkg->name, trans->packages)) {
+	if(!_alpm_sync_find(trans->packages, alpm_pkg_get_name(spkg))) {
 		pmpkg_t *dummy = NULL;
 		if(local) {
-			dummy = _alpm_pkg_new(local->name, local->version);
+			dummy = _alpm_pkg_new(alpm_pkg_get_name(local),
+														alpm_pkg_get_version(local));
 			if(dummy == NULL) {
 				RET_ERR(PM_ERR_MEMORY, -1);
 			}
@@ -361,7 +341,8 @@ int _alpm_sync_addtarget(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sy
 			FREEPKG(dummy);
 			RET_ERR(PM_ERR_MEMORY, -1);
 		}
-		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("adding target '%s' to the transaction set"), spkg->name);
+		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("adding target '%s' to the transaction set"),
+							alpm_pkg_get_name(spkg));
 		trans->packages = alpm_list_add(trans->packages, sync);
 	}
 
@@ -372,12 +353,14 @@ int _alpm_sync_addtarget(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sy
  */
 static int syncpkg_cmp(const void *s1, const void *s2)
 {
-	return(strcmp(((pmsyncpkg_t *)s1)->pkg->name, ((pmsyncpkg_t *)s2)->pkg->name));
-}
+	pmsyncpkg_t *sp1 = (pmsyncpkg_t *)s1;
+	pmsyncpkg_t *sp2 = (pmsyncpkg_t *)s2;
+	pmpkg_t *p1, *p2;
 
-static int pkg_cmp(const void *p1, const void *p2)
-{
-	return(strcmp(((pmpkg_t *)p1)->name, ((pmsyncpkg_t *)p2)->pkg->name));
+  p1 = alpm_sync_get_pkg(sp1);
+  p2 = alpm_sync_get_pkg(sp2);
+
+	return(strcmp(alpm_pkg_get_name(p1), alpm_pkg_get_name(p2)));
 }
 
 int _alpm_sync_prepare(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sync, alpm_list_t **data)
@@ -419,7 +402,7 @@ int _alpm_sync_prepare(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sync
 		for(i = list; i; i = i->next) {
 			/* add the dependencies found by resolvedeps to the transaction set */
 			pmpkg_t *spkg = i->data;
-			if(!find_pkginsync(spkg->name, trans->packages)) {
+			if(!_alpm_sync_find(trans->packages, alpm_pkg_get_name(spkg))) {
 				pmsyncpkg_t *sync = _alpm_sync_new(PM_SYNC_TYPE_DEPEND, spkg, NULL);
 				if(sync == NULL) {
 					ret = -1;
@@ -427,13 +410,13 @@ int _alpm_sync_prepare(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sync
 				}
 				trans->packages = alpm_list_add(trans->packages, sync);
 				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("adding package %s-%s to the transaction targets"),
-						spkg->name, spkg->version);
+									alpm_pkg_get_name(spkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(spkg));
 			} else {
 				/* remove the original targets from the list if requested */
 				if((trans->flags & PM_TRANS_FLAG_DEPENDSONLY)) {
 					void *vp;
 					pmpkg_t *p;
-					trans->packages = alpm_list_remove(trans->packages, spkg, pkg_cmp, &vp);
+					trans->packages = alpm_list_remove(trans->packages, spkg, _alpm_pkg_cmp, &vp);
 					p = vp;
 					FREEPKG(p);
 				}
@@ -492,7 +475,7 @@ int _alpm_sync_prepare(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sync
 				pmsyncpkg_t *sync;
 				pmpkg_t *local;
 
-				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("package '%s' is conflicting with '%s'"),
+				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("package '%s' conflicts with '%s'"),
 				          miss->target, miss->depend.name);
 
 				/* check if the conflicting package is one that's about to be removed/replaced.
@@ -512,7 +495,7 @@ int _alpm_sync_prepare(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sync
 					continue;
 				}
 
-				sync = find_pkginsync(miss->target, trans->packages);
+				sync = _alpm_sync_find(trans->packages, miss->target);
 				if(sync == NULL) {
 					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("'%s' not found in transaction set -- skipping"),
 					          miss->target);
@@ -521,7 +504,7 @@ int _alpm_sync_prepare(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sync
 				local = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(db_local, miss->depend.name);
 				/* check if this package also "provides" the package it's conflicting with
 				 */
-				if(alpm_list_find_str(sync->pkg->provides, miss->depend.name)) {
+				if(alpm_list_find_str(alpm_pkg_get_provides(sync->pkg), miss->depend.name)) {
 					/* so just treat it like a "replaces" item so the REQUIREDBY
 					 * fields are inherited properly.
 					 */
@@ -563,7 +546,7 @@ int _alpm_sync_prepare(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sync
 							rmpkg = miss->depend.name;
 						}
 						if(rmpkg) {
-							pmsyncpkg_t *rsync = find_pkginsync(rmpkg, trans->packages);
+							pmsyncpkg_t *rsync = _alpm_sync_find(trans->packages, rmpkg);
 							void *vpkg;
 							_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("removing '%s' from target list"), rsync->pkg->name);
 							trans->packages = alpm_list_remove(trans->packages, rsync, syncpkg_cmp, &vpkg);
@@ -581,7 +564,7 @@ int _alpm_sync_prepare(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sync
 						QUESTION(trans, PM_TRANS_CONV_CONFLICT_PKG, miss->target, miss->depend.name, NULL, &doremove);
 						asked = alpm_list_add(asked, strdup(miss->depend.name));
 						if(doremove) {
-							pmsyncpkg_t *rsync = find_pkginsync(miss->depend.name, trans->packages);
+							pmsyncpkg_t *rsync = _alpm_sync_find(trans->packages, miss->depend.name);
 							pmpkg_t *q = _alpm_pkg_new(miss->depend.name, NULL);
 							if(q == NULL) {
 								if(data) {
@@ -590,7 +573,7 @@ int _alpm_sync_prepare(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sync
 								ret = -1;
 								goto cleanup;
 							}
-							q->requiredby = alpm_list_strdup(local->requiredby);
+							q->requiredby = alpm_list_strdup(alpm_pkg_get_requiredby(local));
 							if(sync->type != PM_SYNC_TYPE_REPLACE) {
 								/* switch this sync type to REPLACE */
 								sync->type = PM_SYNC_TYPE_REPLACE;
@@ -682,7 +665,7 @@ int _alpm_sync_prepare(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sync
 				int errorout = 0;
 				for(i = deps; i; i = i->next) {
 					pmdepmissing_t *miss = i->data;
-					if(!find_pkginsync(miss->depend.name, trans->packages)) {
+					if(!_alpm_sync_find(trans->packages, miss->depend.name)) {
 						int pfound = 0;
 						alpm_list_t *k;
 						/* If miss->depend.name depends on something that miss->target and a
@@ -696,9 +679,9 @@ int _alpm_sync_prepare(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sync
 						}
 						/* Look through the upset package's dependencies and try to match one up
 						 * to a provisio from the package we want to remove */
-						for(k = conflictp->depends; k && !pfound; k = k->next) {
+						for(k = alpm_pkg_get_depends(conflictp); k && !pfound; k = k->next) {
 							alpm_list_t *m;
-							for(m = leavingp->provides; m && !pfound; m = m->next) {
+							for(m = alpm_pkg_get_provides(leavingp); m && !pfound; m = m->next) {
 								if(!strcmp(k->data, m->data)) {
 									/* Found a match -- now look through final for a package that
 									 * provides the same thing.  If none are found, then it truly
@@ -706,11 +689,12 @@ int _alpm_sync_prepare(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sync
 									alpm_list_t *n, *o;
 									for(n = trans->packages; n && !pfound; n = n->next) {
 										pmsyncpkg_t *sp = n->data;
-										for(o = sp->pkg->provides; o && !pfound; o = o->next) {
+										pmpkg_t *sppkg = sp->pkg;
+										for(o = alpm_pkg_get_provides(sppkg); o && !pfound; o = o->next) {
 											if(!strcmp(m->data, o->data)) {
 												/* found matching provisio -- we're good to go */
 												_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("found '%s' as a provision for '%s' -- conflict aborted"),
-														sp->pkg->name, (char *)o->data);
+														alpm_pkg_get_name(sppkg), (char *)o->data);
 												pfound = 1;
 											}
 										}
@@ -1002,13 +986,13 @@ int _alpm_sync_commit(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t **data)
 			pmsyncpkg_t *sync = i->data;
 			if(sync->type == PM_SYNC_TYPE_REPLACE) {
 				alpm_list_t *j;
-				pmpkg_t *new = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(db_local, sync->pkg->name);
+				pmpkg_t *new = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(db_local, alpm_pkg_get_name(sync->pkg));
 				for(j = sync->data; j; j = j->next) {
 					alpm_list_t *k;
 					pmpkg_t *old = j->data;
 					/* merge lists */
-					for(k = old->requiredby; k; k = k->next) {
-						if(!alpm_list_find_str(new->requiredby, k->data)) {
+					for(k = alpm_pkg_get_requiredby(old); k; k = k->next) {
+						if(!alpm_list_find_str(alpm_pkg_get_requiredby(new), k->data)) {
 							/* replace old's name with new's name in the requiredby's dependency list */
 							alpm_list_t *m;
 							pmpkg_t *depender = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(db_local, k->data);
@@ -1019,24 +1003,24 @@ int _alpm_sync_commit(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t **data)
 								 * here. */
 								continue;
 							}
-							for(m = depender->depends; m; m = m->next) {
-								if(!strcmp(m->data, old->name)) {
+							for(m = alpm_pkg_get_depends(depender); m; m = m->next) {
+								if(!strcmp(m->data, alpm_pkg_get_name(old))) {
 									FREE(m->data);
-									m->data = strdup(new->name);
+									m->data = strdup(alpm_pkg_get_name(new));
 								}
 							}
 							if(_alpm_db_write(db_local, depender, INFRQ_DEPENDS) == -1) {
 								_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not update requiredby for database entry %s-%s"),
-								          new->name, new->version);
+													alpm_pkg_get_name(new), alpm_pkg_get_version(new));
 							}
 							/* add the new requiredby */
-							new->requiredby = alpm_list_add(new->requiredby, strdup(k->data));
+							new->requiredby = alpm_list_add(alpm_pkg_get_requiredby(new), strdup(k->data));
 						}
 					}
 				}
 				if(_alpm_db_write(db_local, new, INFRQ_DEPENDS) == -1) {
 					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not update new database entry %s-%s"),
-					          new->name, new->version);
+										alpm_pkg_get_name(new), alpm_pkg_get_version(new));
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -1064,6 +1048,27 @@ error:
 	return(-1);
 }
 
+pmsyncpkg_t *_alpm_sync_find(alpm_list_t *syncpkgs, const char* pkgname)
+{
+	alpm_list_t *i;
+	for(i = syncpkgs; i; i = i->next) {
+		pmsyncpkg_t *syncpkg = i->data;
+		if(!syncpkg) {
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		pmpkg_t *pkg = alpm_sync_get_pkg(syncpkg);
+		if(strcmp(alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), pkgname) == 0) {
+			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("found package '%s-%s' in sync"),
+								alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(pkg));
+			return(syncpkg);
+		}
+	}
+
+	_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("package '%s not found in sync"), pkgname);
+	return(NULL); /* not found */
+}
+
 pmsynctype_t SYMEXPORT alpm_sync_get_type(pmsyncpkg_t *sync)
 {
 	/* Sanity checks */
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/sync.h b/lib/libalpm/sync.h
index a2e2e11e..3ba7e009 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/sync.h
+++ b/lib/libalpm/sync.h
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ int _alpm_sync_addtarget(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sy
 int _alpm_sync_prepare(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t *dbs_sync, alpm_list_t **data);
 int _alpm_sync_commit(pmtrans_t *trans, pmdb_t *db_local, alpm_list_t **data);
 
+/* typically trans->packages */
+pmsyncpkg_t *_alpm_sync_find(alpm_list_t *syncpkgs, const char* pkgname);
+
 #endif /* _ALPM_SYNC_H */
 
 /* vim: set ts=2 sw=2 noet: */
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/trans.c b/lib/libalpm/trans.c
index dc767f8b..9a301b63 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/trans.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/trans.c
@@ -250,6 +250,7 @@ int _alpm_trans_commit(pmtrans_t *trans, alpm_list_t **data)
 int _alpm_trans_update_depends(pmtrans_t *trans, pmpkg_t *pkg)
 {
 	alpm_list_t *i, *j;
+	alpm_list_t *depends = NULL;
 	pmdb_t *localdb;
 
 	ALPM_LOG_FUNC;
@@ -258,7 +259,8 @@ int _alpm_trans_update_depends(pmtrans_t *trans, pmpkg_t *pkg)
 	ASSERT(trans != NULL, RET_ERR(PM_ERR_TRANS_NULL, -1));
 	ASSERT(pkg != NULL, RET_ERR(PM_ERR_PKG_INVALID, -1));
 
-	if(pkg->depends) {
+	depends = alpm_pkg_get_depends(pkg);
+	if(depends) {
 		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("updating dependency packages 'requiredby' fields for %s-%s"),
 							pkg->name, pkg->version);
 	} else {
@@ -266,7 +268,7 @@ int _alpm_trans_update_depends(pmtrans_t *trans, pmpkg_t *pkg)
 	}
 
 	localdb = alpm_option_get_localdb();
-	for(i = pkg->depends; i; i = i->next) {
+	for(i = depends; i; i = i->next) {
 		pmdepend_t dep;
 		if(_alpm_splitdep(i->data, &dep) != 0) {
 			continue;
@@ -288,7 +290,7 @@ int _alpm_trans_update_depends(pmtrans_t *trans, pmpkg_t *pkg)
 					continue;
 				}
 				pmpkg_t *provpkg = j->data;
-				deppkg = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(localdb, provpkg->name);
+				deppkg = _alpm_db_get_pkgfromcache(localdb, alpm_pkg_get_name(provpkg));
 
 				if(!deppkg) {
 					continue;
@@ -296,20 +298,22 @@ int _alpm_trans_update_depends(pmtrans_t *trans, pmpkg_t *pkg)
 
 				found_provides = 1;
 
-				/* Ensure package has the right newpkg */
-				_alpm_db_read(localdb, deppkg, INFRQ_DEPENDS);
+				/* this is cheating... we call this function to populate the package */
+				alpm_pkg_get_requiredby(deppkg);
 
-				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("updating 'requiredby' field for package '%s'"), deppkg->name);
+				_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("updating 'requiredby' field for package '%s'"), alpm_pkg_get_name(deppkg));
 				if(trans->type == PM_TRANS_TYPE_REMOVE) {
 					void *data = NULL;
-					deppkg->requiredby = alpm_list_remove(deppkg->requiredby, pkg->name, _alpm_str_cmp, &data);
+					deppkg->requiredby = alpm_list_remove(deppkg->requiredby,
+																								alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), _alpm_str_cmp, &data);
 					FREE(data);
 				} else {
-					deppkg->requiredby = alpm_list_add(deppkg->requiredby, strdup(pkg->name));
+					deppkg->requiredby = alpm_list_add(deppkg->requiredby, strdup(alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg)));
 				}
 
 				if(_alpm_db_write(localdb, deppkg, INFRQ_DEPENDS)) {
-					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not update 'requiredby' database entry %s-%s"), deppkg->name, deppkg->version);
+					_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not update 'requiredby' database entry %s-%s"),
+										alpm_pkg_get_name(deppkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(deppkg));
 				}
 			}
 			FREELISTPTR(provides);
@@ -320,20 +324,22 @@ int _alpm_trans_update_depends(pmtrans_t *trans, pmpkg_t *pkg)
 			}
 		}
 
-		/* Ensure package has the right newpkg */
-		_alpm_db_read(localdb, deppkg, INFRQ_DEPENDS);
+		/* this is cheating... we call this function to populate the package */
+		alpm_pkg_get_requiredby(deppkg);
 
 		_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("updating 'requiredby' field for package '%s'"), deppkg->name);
 		if(trans->type == PM_TRANS_TYPE_REMOVE) {
 			void *data = NULL;
-			deppkg->requiredby = alpm_list_remove(deppkg->requiredby, pkg->name, _alpm_str_cmp, &data);
+			deppkg->requiredby = alpm_list_remove(deppkg->requiredby,
+																						alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), _alpm_str_cmp, &data);
 			FREE(data);
 		} else {
-			deppkg->requiredby = alpm_list_add(deppkg->requiredby, strdup(pkg->name));
+			deppkg->requiredby = alpm_list_add(deppkg->requiredby, strdup(alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg)));
 		}
 
 		if(_alpm_db_write(localdb, deppkg, INFRQ_DEPENDS)) {
-			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not update 'requiredby' database entry %s-%s"), deppkg->name, deppkg->version);
+			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_ERROR, _("could not update 'requiredby' database entry %s-%s"),
+								alpm_pkg_get_name(deppkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(deppkg));
 		}
 	}
 	return(0);
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/util.c b/lib/libalpm/util.c
index 359b8bfc..dd1ba812 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/util.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/util.c
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ char* strsep(char** str, const char* delims)
 
 /* Backported from Solaris Express 4/06
  * Copyright (c) 2006 Sun Microsystems, Inc. */
-char * mkdtemp(char *template)
+char *mkdtemp(char *template)
 {
 	char *t = alloca(strlen(template) + 1);
 	char *r;
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ char * mkdtemp(char *template)
 #endif
 
 /* does the same thing as 'mkdir -p' */
-int _alpm_makepath(char *path)
+int _alpm_makepath(const char *path)
 {
 	char *orig, *str, *ptr;
 	char full[PATH_MAX] = "";
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ int _alpm_makepath(char *path)
 	return(0);
 }
 
-int _alpm_copyfile(char *src, char *dest)
+int _alpm_copyfile(const char *src, const char *dest)
 {
 	FILE *in, *out;
 	size_t len;
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ char *_alpm_strtoupper(char *str)
 		(*ptr) = toupper(*ptr);
 		ptr++;
 	}
-	return str;
+	return(str);
 }
 
 /* Trim whitespace and newlines from a string
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ char *_alpm_strtrim(char *str)
 
 /* Create a lock file
  */
-int _alpm_lckmk(char *file)
+int _alpm_lckmk(const char *file)
 {
 	int fd, count = 0;
 	char *dir, *ptr;
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ int _alpm_lckmk(char *file)
 
 /* Remove a lock file
  */
-int _alpm_lckrm(char *file)
+int _alpm_lckrm(const char *file)
 {
 	if(unlink(file) == -1 && errno != ENOENT) {
 		return(-1);
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ int _alpm_unpack(const char *archive, const char *prefix, const char *fn)
 }
 
 /* does the same thing as 'rm -rf' */
-int _alpm_rmrf(char *path)
+int _alpm_rmrf(const char *path)
 {
 	int errflag = 0;
 	struct dirent *dp;
@@ -370,15 +370,15 @@ int _alpm_logaction(unsigned short usesyslog, FILE *f, const char *str)
 	return(0);
 }
 
-int _alpm_ldconfig(char *root)
+int _alpm_ldconfig(const char *root)
 {
 	char line[PATH_MAX];
 	struct stat buf;
 
 	snprintf(line, PATH_MAX, "%setc/ld.so.conf", root);
-	if(!stat(line, &buf)) {
+	if(stat(line, &buf) == 0) {
 		snprintf(line, PATH_MAX, "%ssbin/ldconfig", root);
-		if(!stat(line, &buf)) {
+		if(stat(line, &buf) == 0) {
 			char cmd[PATH_MAX];
 			snprintf(cmd, PATH_MAX, "%s -r %s", line, root);
 			system(cmd);
@@ -413,7 +413,9 @@ static int grep(const char *fn, const char *needle)
 	return(0);
 }
 
-int _alpm_runscriptlet(char *root, char *installfn, char *script, char *ver, char *oldver, pmtrans_t *trans)
+int _alpm_runscriptlet(const char *root, const char *installfn,
+											 const char *script, const char *ver,
+											 const char *oldver, pmtrans_t *trans)
 {
 	char scriptfn[PATH_MAX];
 	char cmdline[PATH_MAX];
@@ -589,13 +591,13 @@ int _alpm_check_freespace(pmtrans_t *trans, alpm_list_t **data)
 			pmsyncpkg_t *sync = i->data;
 			if(sync->type != PM_SYNC_TYPE_REPLACE) {
 				pmpkg_t *pkg = sync->pkg;
-				pkgsize += pkg->isize;
+				pkgsize += alpm_pkg_get_isize(pkg);
 			}
 		}
 		else
 		{
 			pmpkg_t *pkg = i->data;
-			pkgsize += pkg->size;
+			pkgsize += alpm_pkg_get_size(pkg);
 		}
 	}
 	freespace = get_freespace();
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/util.h b/lib/libalpm/util.h
index 277ddb47..9f028e8a 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/util.h
+++ b/lib/libalpm/util.h
@@ -55,18 +55,20 @@
 #define SCRIPTLET_START "START "
 #define SCRIPTLET_DONE "DONE "
 
-int _alpm_makepath(char *path);
-int _alpm_copyfile(char *src, char *dest);
+int _alpm_makepath(const char *path);
+int _alpm_copyfile(const char *src, const char *dest);
 char *_alpm_strtoupper(char *str);
 char *_alpm_strtrim(char *str);
-int _alpm_lckmk(char *file);
-int _alpm_lckrm(char *file);
+int _alpm_lckmk(const char *file);
+int _alpm_lckrm(const char *file);
 int _alpm_unpack(const char *archive, const char *prefix, const char *fn);
-int _alpm_rmrf(char *path);
+int _alpm_rmrf(const char *path);
 int _alpm_logaction(unsigned short usesyslog, FILE *f, const char *str);
-int _alpm_ldconfig(char *root);
+int _alpm_ldconfig(const char *root);
 #ifdef _ALPM_TRANS_H
-int _alpm_runscriptlet(char *util, char *installfn, char *script, char *ver, char *oldver, pmtrans_t *trans);
+int _alpm_runscriptlet(const char *root, const char *installfn,
+											 const char *script, const char *ver,
+											 const char *oldver, pmtrans_t *trans);
 #ifndef __sun__
 int _alpm_check_freespace(pmtrans_t *trans, alpm_list_t **data);
 #endif
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/versioncmp.c b/lib/libalpm/versioncmp.c
index 3356e99f..ad628866 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/versioncmp.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/versioncmp.c
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ int _alpm_depcmp(pmpkg_t *pkg, pmdepend_t *dep)
 		if(dep->mod == PM_DEP_MOD_ANY) {
 			equal = 1;
 		} else {
-			int cmp = _alpm_versioncmp(pkg->version, dep->version);
+			int cmp = _alpm_versioncmp(alpm_pkg_get_version(pkg), dep->version);
 			switch(dep->mod) {
 				case PM_DEP_MOD_EQ: equal = (cmp == 0); break;
 				case PM_DEP_MOD_GE: equal = (cmp >= 0); break;
@@ -275,11 +275,13 @@ int _alpm_depcmp(pmpkg_t *pkg, pmdepend_t *dep)
 
 		if(strlen(dep->version) > 0) {
 			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("depcmp: %s-%s %s %s-%s => %s"),
-								pkg->name, pkg->version, mod, dep->name, dep->version,
+								alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(pkg),
+								mod, dep->name, dep->version,
 								(equal ? "match" : "no match"));
 		} else {
 			_alpm_log(PM_LOG_DEBUG, _("depcmp: %s-%s %s %s => %s"),
-								pkg->name, pkg->version, mod, dep->name,
+								alpm_pkg_get_name(pkg), alpm_pkg_get_version(pkg),
+								mod, dep->name, 
 								(equal ? "match" : "no match"));
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/pacman/trans.c b/src/pacman/trans.c
index ede9b78d..4af0aa41 100644
--- a/src/pacman/trans.c
+++ b/src/pacman/trans.c
@@ -277,8 +277,8 @@ void cb_trans_conv(pmtransconv_t event, void *data1, void *data2,
 	}
 }
 
-void cb_trans_progress(pmtransprog_t event, char *pkgname, const int percent,
-                       const int howmany, const int remain)
+void cb_trans_progress(pmtransprog_t event, const char *pkgname, int percent,
+                       int howmany, int remain)
 {
 	float timediff;
 
diff --git a/src/pacman/trans.h b/src/pacman/trans.h
index 63ff4714..85e122c4 100644
--- a/src/pacman/trans.h
+++ b/src/pacman/trans.h
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ void cb_trans_conv(pmtransconv_t event, void *data1, void *data2,
                    void *data3, int *response);
 
 /* callback to handle display of the progress bar for transactions */
-void cb_trans_progress(pmtransprog_t event, char *pkgname, const int percent,
-                   const int howmany, const int remain);
+void cb_trans_progress(pmtransprog_t event, const char *pkgname, int percent,
+                   int howmany, int remain);
 
 #endif /* _PM_TRANS_H */