diff --git a/fw/HackSpaceCon/.gitignore b/fw/HackSpaceCon/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..89cc49c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fw/HackSpaceCon/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+.pio
+.vscode/.browse.c_cpp.db*
+.vscode/c_cpp_properties.json
+.vscode/launch.json
+.vscode/ipch
diff --git a/fw/HackSpaceCon/src/main.cpp b/fw/HackSpaceCon/src/main.cpp
index e9dd2f8..e2eb578 100644
--- a/fw/HackSpaceCon/src/main.cpp
+++ b/fw/HackSpaceCon/src/main.cpp
@@ -1,24 +1,41 @@
 /*
-
     hackspacecon wand firmware
 
     initially written by true
     rgb programs and further hacking by 000000widow
   
+
   operation workflow:
-  - at poweron, set up GPIO and used peripherals, then go into standby mode.
-  - when button interrupt happens, wake up and process. if button is pushed,
-    prepare to run RGB program.
-  - enable the TCB0 periodic timer, which will interrupt every ~61Hz.
-  - initialize the rgb program. idle the CPU.
-  - timer will interrupt every ~61Hz and the program function will be called
-    again, until prog function returns 0.
-  - run the RGB program. if program returns 0, disable periodic timer, and
-    wait for the next button event to wake us up and run a program again.
+
+  - at initial reset (battery inserted), set up GPIO and peripherals. this
+    includes setting up button wake interrupt. sleep MCU into standby mode.
+
+  - when button state changes, MCU will wake up and process the interrupt.
+    if button is pushed (btn gpio is low), prepare to run next RGB program.
+
+    - rgb program setup involves turning on power to the LEDs and enabling
+	  TCB0 periodic timer to interrupt every ~61Hz. this timer interrupt
+	  does not handle the rgb program, but will wake the CPU which resumes
+	  processing in the loop() function.
+
+    - call the rgb program with the `init` parameter set to 1. idle the CPU.
+
+    - rgb prog timer will interrupt every ~61Hz. this will wake the CPU and
+	  send the previously rendered LED data, then call the rgb prog function.
+	  afterward, the CPU idles. process repeats until the rgb prog fn returns 0.
+
+	- every time the rgb program is run, the rgb data to send is updated.
+	  the data is not actually sent until next wakeup in less than 16.4ms.
+	  this allows the functions to have variable processing time, but the
+	  output to have a consistent ~61Hz (~16.4ms) timing.
+
+  - once rgb program has finalized, clean up state, disable LED power, and sleep
+    the CPU in standby mode. MCU will wake again once the button is activated.
   
+
   todo:
   - test the code
-  - actually process the RGB data in the sample rainbow puke program
+  - set the RGB output data in the sample rainbow puke program
   - add more programs
   - support incrementing or randomly selecting the next program on each button push
   - run TCB0 in standby mode to save a little more power
@@ -38,12 +55,37 @@ tinyNeoPixel rgb = tinyNeoPixel(RGB_COUNT, PIN_PA1, NEO_GRB, rgbled);
 
 
 
+enum {
+	RGB_PROG_IDLE,
+	RGB_PROG_INIT,
+	RGB_PROG_RUNNING,
+	RGB_PROG_BTN_RELEASE
+};
+
 uint8_t run_rgb_program = 0;
 
 
 
+void idle_cpu()
+{
+	SLPCTRL.CTRLA = SLPCTRL_SMODE_IDLE_gc | SLPCTRL_SEN_bm;
+	__asm("sleep");
+}
+
+inline void sleep_cpu()
+{
+	SLPCTRL.CTRLA = SLPCTRL_SMODE_STDBY_gc | SLPCTRL_SEN_bm;
+	__asm("sleep");
+}
+
+
+
 void setup() {
-	// configure PA3 as falling edge interrupt input for button
+	// configure PA3 as both edge interrupt input for button
+	// note: only PA2 and PA6 support async wakeup and thus we can't check for
+    //       falling edge on PA3. we're not using PA6 for the button as a
+	//		 future program may use SPI MISO to drive the LEDs.
+	//		 because of this, we need to wake up on both edges.
 	PORTA.DIRCLR = PIN3_bm;
     PORTA.PIN3CTRL = PORT_PULLUPEN_bm | PORT_ISC_BOTHEDGES_gc;
 
@@ -66,46 +108,52 @@ void setup() {
 
 void loop() {
 	switch (run_rgb_program) {
-		case 1: {	// just started running a program
-			digitalWrite(PIN_PA6, HIGH);	// enable LED power supply,
-			delay(10);						// wait a moment for LEDs to stabilize,
+		case RGB_PROG_INIT: {					// just started running a program
+			digitalWrite(PIN_PA6, HIGH);		// enable LED power supply,
+			delay(10);							// wait a moment for LEDs to stabilize,
 
-			rgb_program[0](1);				// initialize the program,
-			run_rgb_program++;				// and set to running mode.
+			rgb_program[0](1);					// initialize the program,
+			run_rgb_program++;					// and set to running mode.
 
-			enable_rgb_timer();				// then start the RGB program timebase.
+			enable_rgb_timer();					// then start the RGB program timebase.
 
-			// we can idle the CPU after running the program
-			SLPCTRL.CTRLA = SLPCTRL_SMODE_IDLE_gc | SLPCTRL_SEN_bm;
-			__asm("sleep");
+			idle_cpu();							// we can idle CPU after running the program
 
 			break;
 		}
-		case 2: {	// continuing to run a program
+
+		case RGB_PROG_RUNNING: {				// continuing to run a program
 			// send updates to the led
 			rgb.show();
 
 			// then process the next program frame
 			if (!rgb_program[0](0)) {
 				// until the program says it's done
-				run_rgb_program = 0;
+				run_rgb_program = RGB_PROG_IDLE;
 				break;
 			}
 
-			// we can idle the CPU after running the program
-			SLPCTRL.CTRLA = SLPCTRL_SMODE_IDLE_gc | SLPCTRL_SEN_bm;
-			__asm("sleep");
+			idle_cpu();							// we can idle CPU after running the program
 
 			break;
 		}
-		default: {	// no longer running a program
-			disable_rgb_timer();			// disable RGB program timer,
-			digitalWrite(PIN_PA6, LOW);		// disable LED power supply,
-			run_rgb_program = 0;			// and clear run_rgb_program.
+
+		case RGB_PROG_BTN_RELEASE: {			// button released wakes MCU, but we're still running a program
+			// skip processing and go back to stage 2
+			run_rgb_program = RGB_PROG_RUNNING;
+
+			idle_cpu();							// we can idle the CPU after doing nothing
+			
+			break;
+		}
+
+		default: {								// no longer running a program
+			disable_rgb_timer();				// disable RGB program timer,
+			digitalWrite(PIN_PA6, LOW);			// disable LED power supply,
+			run_rgb_program = RGB_PROG_IDLE;	// and clear run_rgb_program.
 
 			// finally, go to sleep in standby mode
-			SLPCTRL.CTRLA = SLPCTRL_SMODE_STDBY_gc | SLPCTRL_SEN_bm;
-			__asm("sleep");
+			sleep_cpu();
 
 			break;
 		}
@@ -125,6 +173,10 @@ ISR(PORTA_PORT_vect)
 		if (!digitalRead(PIN_PA3)) {
 			// start running a program if one isn't running already
         	if (!run_rgb_program) run_rgb_program = 1;
+		} else if (run_rgb_program == 2) {
+			// if we're running a program when the button is released (likely),
+			// then skip this interrupt
+			run_rgb_program++;
 		}
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/fw/HackSpaceCon/src/rgbled.h b/fw/HackSpaceCon/src/rgbled.h
index b0c4e65..c75d2a3 100644
--- a/fw/HackSpaceCon/src/rgbled.h
+++ b/fw/HackSpaceCon/src/rgbled.h
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 
 
-#define enable_rgb_timer()      {TCB0.CTRLA |=  1;};
+#define enable_rgb_timer()      {TCB0.CNT = 0; TCB0.CTRLA |=  1;};
 #define disable_rgb_timer()     {TCB0.CTRLA &= ~1;};