diff --git a/dagger/component.go b/dagger/component.go
index 8735d97a..3e81df0b 100644
--- a/dagger/component.go
+++ b/dagger/component.go
@@ -30,7 +30,12 @@ func (c *Component) Config() *Value {
 // NOTE: calling matchSpec("#Component") is not enough because
 //   it does not match embedded scalars.
 func (c Component) Validate() error {
-	return c.Config().Validate("#ComponentConfig")
+	// FIXME: this crashes on `#dagger:compute:_`
+	//  see TestValidateEmptyComponent
+	// Using a workaround for now.
+	// return c.Config().Validate("#ComponentConfig")
+
+	return c.Config().Validate()
 }
 
 // Return this component's compute script.
diff --git a/dagger/component_test.go b/dagger/component_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6c6fdc66
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dagger/component_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+package dagger
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestValidateEmptyComponent(t *testing.T) {
+	cc := &Compiler{}
+	v, err := cc.Compile("", "#dagger: compute: _")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	_, err = v.Component()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestValidateSimpleComponent(t *testing.T) {
+	cc := &Compiler{}
+	v, err := cc.Compile("", `hello: "world", #dagger: { compute: [{do:"local",dir:"foo"}]}`)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	c, err := v.Component()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	s, err := c.ComputeScript()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	n := 0
+	if err := s.Walk(func(op *Op) error {
+		n += 1
+		return nil
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if n != 1 {
+		t.Fatal(s.v)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/dagger/compute.go b/dagger/compute.go
index f5ea6563..787b3d6a 100644
--- a/dagger/compute.go
+++ b/dagger/compute.go
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ func Compute(ctx context.Context, c bkgw.Client) (r *bkgw.Result, err error) {
 		}
 	}()
 	debugf("initializing env")
-	env, err := NewEnv(ctx, c)
+	// Retrieve boot script form client
+	env, err := NewEnv(ctx, NewSolver(c), getBootScript(c), getInput(c))
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -39,3 +40,17 @@ func Compute(ctx context.Context, c bkgw.Client) (r *bkgw.Result, err error) {
 	// Wrap cue directory in buildkit result
 	return outdir.Result(ctx)
 }
+
+func getBootScript(c bkgw.Client) string {
+	if boot, exists := c.BuildOpts().Opts["boot"]; exists {
+		return boot
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+func getInput(c bkgw.Client) string {
+	if input, exists := c.BuildOpts().Opts["input"]; exists {
+		return input
+	}
+	return ""
+}
diff --git a/dagger/env.go b/dagger/env.go
index 0952939d..9513694c 100644
--- a/dagger/env.go
+++ b/dagger/env.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import (
 
 	"cuelang.org/go/cue"
 	cueflow "cuelang.org/go/tools/flow"
-	bkgw "github.com/moby/buildkit/frontend/gateway/client"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 )
 
@@ -28,27 +27,38 @@ type Env struct {
 }
 
 // Initialize a new environment
-func NewEnv(ctx context.Context, c bkgw.Client) (*Env, error) {
+func NewEnv(ctx context.Context, s Solver, bootsrc, inputsrc string) (*Env, error) {
 	cc := &Compiler{}
-	// 1. Load base config (specified by client)
-	debugf("Loading base configuration")
-	base, err := envBase(ctx, c, cc)
+	// 1. Compile & execute boot script
+	boot, err := cc.CompileScript("boot.cue", bootsrc)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "compile boot script")
 	}
-	// 2. Load input overlay (specified by client)
+	bootfs, err := boot.Execute(ctx, s.Scratch(), Discard())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "execute boot script")
+	}
+	// 2. load cue files produced by boot script
+	// FIXME: BuildAll() to force all files (no required package..)
+	debugf("building cue configuration from boot state")
+	base, err := cc.Build(ctx, bootfs)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "load base config")
+	}
+	// 3. Compile & merge input overlay (user settings, input directories, secrets.)
 	debugf("Loading input overlay")
-	input, err := envInput(ctx, c, cc)
+	input, err := cc.Compile("input.cue", inputsrc)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	// Check that input can be merged on base
 	if _, err := base.Merge(input); err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "merge base & input")
 	}
 	return &Env{
 		base:  base,
 		input: input,
-		s:     NewSolver(c),
+		s:     s,
 		cc:    cc,
 	}, nil
 }
@@ -57,6 +67,7 @@ func NewEnv(ctx context.Context, c bkgw.Client) (*Env, error) {
 func (env *Env) Compute(ctx context.Context) error {
 	debugf("Computing environment")
 	output, err := env.Walk(ctx, func(c *Component, out Fillable) error {
+		debugf("  [Env.Compute] processing %s", c.Value().Path().String())
 		_, err := c.Compute(ctx, env.s, out)
 		return err
 	})
@@ -95,6 +106,7 @@ func (env *Env) Walk(ctx context.Context, fn EnvWalkFunc) (*Value, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	debugf("walking: \n----\n%s\n----\n", env.cc.Wrap(flowInst.Value(), flowInst).JSON())
 	// Initialize empty output
 	out, err := env.cc.EmptyStruct()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -125,6 +137,7 @@ func (env *Env) Walk(ctx context.Context, fn EnvWalkFunc) (*Value, error) {
 	}
 	// Cueflow match func
 	flowMatchFn := func(v cue.Value) (cueflow.Runner, error) {
+		debugf("Env.Walk: processing %s", v.Path().String())
 		val := env.cc.Wrap(v, flowInst)
 		c, err := val.Component()
 		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
@@ -145,42 +158,3 @@ func (env *Env) Walk(ctx context.Context, fn EnvWalkFunc) (*Value, error) {
 	}
 	return out, nil
 }
-
-func envBase(ctx context.Context, c bkgw.Client, cc *Compiler) (*Value, error) {
-	// 1. Receive boot script from client.
-	debugf("retrieving boot script")
-	bootSrc, exists := c.BuildOpts().Opts["boot"]
-	if !exists {
-		// No boot script: return empty base config
-		return cc.EmptyStruct()
-	}
-
-	// 2. Compile & execute boot script
-	debugf("compiling boot script")
-	boot, err := cc.CompileScript("boot.cue", bootSrc)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "compile boot script")
-	}
-	debugf("executing boot script")
-	bootState, err := boot.Execute(ctx, NewSolver(c).Scratch(), Discard())
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "execute boot script")
-	}
-	// 3. load cue files produced by bootstrap script
-	// FIXME: BuildAll() to force all files (no required package..)
-	debugf("building cue configuration from boot state")
-	base, err := cc.Build(ctx, bootState)
-	debugf("done building cue configuration: err=%q", err)
-	return base, err
-}
-
-func envInput(ctx context.Context, c bkgw.Client, cc *Compiler) (*Value, error) {
-	// 1. Receive input overlay from client.
-	//     This is used to provide run-time settings, directories..
-	inputSrc, exists := c.BuildOpts().Opts["input"]
-	if !exists {
-		// No input overlay: return empty tree
-		return cc.EmptyStruct()
-	}
-	return cc.Compile("input.cue", inputSrc)
-}
diff --git a/dagger/gen.go b/dagger/gen.go
index 524aa628..87dacbef 100644
--- a/dagger/gen.go
+++ b/dagger/gen.go
@@ -46,41 +46,8 @@ package dagger
 
 // The contents of a #dagger annotation
 #ComponentConfig: {
-	// FIXME: deprecated
-	input?: bool
-
 	// script to compute the value
 	compute?:  #Script
-
-	terminal?: {
-		// Display a message when opening a terminal session
-		greeting?: string
-		command: [string]: #Script
-	}
-	// Configure how the component is incorporated to user settings.
-	// Configure how the end-user can configure this component
-	settings?: {
-		// If not specified, scrape from comments
-		title?:       string
-		description?: string
-		// Disable user input, even if incomplete?
-		hidden: true | *false
-		ui:     _ // insert here something which can be compiled to react-jsonschema-form
-		// Show the cue default value to the user, as a default input value?
-		showDefault: true | *false
-
-		// Insert information needed by:
-		//   1) clients to encrypt
-		//  ie. web wizard, cli
-		//   2) middleware to implement deicphering in the cuellb pipeline
-		//  eg. integration with clcoud KMS, Vault...
-		//
-		//   3) connectors to make sure secrets are preserved 
-		encrypt?: {
-			pubkey: string
-			cipher: string
-		}
-	}
 }
 
 
@@ -92,7 +59,7 @@ package dagger
 #Script: [...#Op]
 
 // One operation in a script
-#Op: #FetchContainer | #FetchGit | #Export | #Exec | #Local | #Copy
+#Op: #FetchContainer | #FetchGit | #Export | #Exec | #Local | #Copy | #Load
 
 // Export a value from fs state to cue
 #Export: {
@@ -105,7 +72,7 @@ package dagger
 #Local: {
 	do: "local"
 	dir: string
-	include: [...string] | *[]
+	include?: [...string] | *[]
 }
 
 // FIXME: bring back load (more efficient than copy)
diff --git a/dagger/op.go b/dagger/op.go
index bef6e6df..3633ff81 100644
--- a/dagger/op.go
+++ b/dagger/op.go
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ func (op *Op) Action() (Action, error) {
 		"#FetchContainer": op.FetchContainer,
 		"#FetchGit":       op.FetchGit,
 		"#Local":          op.Local,
+		"#Load":           op.Load,
 	}
 	for def, action := range actions {
 		if err := op.Validate(def); err == nil {
diff --git a/dagger/op_test.go b/dagger/op_test.go
index d1ffa56d..0702d06a 100644
--- a/dagger/op_test.go
+++ b/dagger/op_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,30 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 )
 
+func TestLocalMatch(t *testing.T) {
+	cc := &Compiler{}
+	src := `do: "local", dir: "foo"`
+	v, err := cc.Compile("", src)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	op, err := v.Op()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	n := 0
+	err = op.Walk(func(op *Op) error {
+		n += 1
+		return nil
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if n != 1 {
+		t.Fatal(n)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestCopyMatch(t *testing.T) {
 	cc := &Compiler{}
 	src := `do: "copy", from: [{do: "local", dir: "foo"}]`
diff --git a/dagger/script.go b/dagger/script.go
index 2b56843b..a76495bf 100644
--- a/dagger/script.go
+++ b/dagger/script.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ type Script struct {
 }
 
 func (s Script) Validate() error {
+	// FIXME this crashes when a script is incomplete or empty
 	return s.Value().Validate("#Script")
 }
 
diff --git a/dagger/script_test.go b/dagger/script_test.go
index 97b0c021..1591c329 100644
--- a/dagger/script_test.go
+++ b/dagger/script_test.go
@@ -5,9 +5,37 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 )
 
+func TestLocalScript(t *testing.T) {
+	cc := &Compiler{}
+	src := `[{do: "local", dir: "foo"}]`
+	v, err := cc.Compile("", src)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	s, err := v.Script()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	n := 0
+	err = s.Walk(func(op *Op) error {
+		n += 1
+		return nil
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if n != 1 {
+		t.Fatal(n)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestWalkBootScript(t *testing.T) {
 	cc := &Compiler{}
-	script, err := cc.CompileScript("boot.cue", defaultBootScript)
+	cfg, err := cc.Compile("clientconfig.cue", defaultBootScript)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	script, err := cfg.Get("bootscript").Script()
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
diff --git a/dagger/spec.cue b/dagger/spec.cue
index 7e9098cf..7cd9de4f 100644
--- a/dagger/spec.cue
+++ b/dagger/spec.cue
@@ -41,41 +41,8 @@ package dagger
 
 // The contents of a #dagger annotation
 #ComponentConfig: {
-	// FIXME: deprecated
-	input?: bool
-
 	// script to compute the value
 	compute?:  #Script
-
-	terminal?: {
-		// Display a message when opening a terminal session
-		greeting?: string
-		command: [string]: #Script
-	}
-	// Configure how the component is incorporated to user settings.
-	// Configure how the end-user can configure this component
-	settings?: {
-		// If not specified, scrape from comments
-		title?:       string
-		description?: string
-		// Disable user input, even if incomplete?
-		hidden: true | *false
-		ui:     _ // insert here something which can be compiled to react-jsonschema-form
-		// Show the cue default value to the user, as a default input value?
-		showDefault: true | *false
-
-		// Insert information needed by:
-		//   1) clients to encrypt
-		//  ie. web wizard, cli
-		//   2) middleware to implement deicphering in the cuellb pipeline
-		//  eg. integration with clcoud KMS, Vault...
-		//
-		//   3) connectors to make sure secrets are preserved 
-		encrypt?: {
-			pubkey: string
-			cipher: string
-		}
-	}
 }
 
 
@@ -87,7 +54,7 @@ package dagger
 #Script: [...#Op]
 
 // One operation in a script
-#Op: #FetchContainer | #FetchGit | #Export | #Exec | #Local | #Copy
+#Op: #FetchContainer | #FetchGit | #Export | #Exec | #Local | #Copy | #Load
 
 // Export a value from fs state to cue
 #Export: {
@@ -100,7 +67,7 @@ package dagger
 #Local: {
 	do: "local"
 	dir: string
-	include: [...string] | *[]
+	include?: [...string] | *[]
 }
 
 // FIXME: bring back load (more efficient than copy)
diff --git a/dagger/spec.go b/dagger/spec.go
index b5c46e70..ca2db4ec 100644
--- a/dagger/spec.go
+++ b/dagger/spec.go
@@ -18,15 +18,23 @@ func (s Spec) Validate(v *Value, defpath string) (err error) {
 	// FIXME: there is probably a cleaner way to do this.
 	defer func() {
 		if err != nil {
+			debugf("ERROR while validating %v against %v err=%q", v, defpath, err)
 			err = fmt.Errorf("%s", cueerrors.Details(err, nil))
 		}
 	}()
 
-	def := s.root.LookupTarget(defpath)
-	if err := def.Err(); err != nil {
+	// Lookup def by name, eg. "#Script" or "#Copy"
+	// See dagger/spec.cue
+	def := s.root.Get(defpath)
+	if err := def.Validate(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := def.Unwrap().Fill(v).Validate(cue.Final()); err != nil {
+	merged := def.Unwrap().Fill(v)
+	if err := merged.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	debugf("Validating %v against %v", v, def)
+	if err := merged.Validate(cue.Final()); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	return nil
diff --git a/dagger/value.go b/dagger/value.go
index daa41541..a421bac2 100644
--- a/dagger/value.go
+++ b/dagger/value.go
@@ -312,9 +312,9 @@ func (v *Value) CueInst() *cue.Instance {
 }
 
 func (v *Value) Compiler() *Compiler {
-	if v.cc == nil {
-		return &Compiler{}
-	}
+	//	if v.cc == nil {
+	//		return &Compiler{}
+	//	}
 	return v.cc
 }
 
diff --git a/dagger/value_test.go b/dagger/value_test.go
index fdbebae6..fde2b312 100644
--- a/dagger/value_test.go
+++ b/dagger/value_test.go
@@ -14,7 +14,11 @@ func TestSimple(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestCompileBootScript(t *testing.T) {
 	cc := &Compiler{}
-	s, err := cc.CompileScript("boot.cue", defaultBootScript)
+	cfg, err := cc.Compile("boot.cue", defaultBootScript)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	s, err := cfg.Get("bootscript").Script()
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
diff --git a/examples/simple/simple.cue b/examples/simple/simple.cue
index f2125984..ad663b72 100644
--- a/examples/simple/simple.cue
+++ b/examples/simple/simple.cue
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ let base=alpine & {
 www: {
 
 	source: {
-		#dagger: input: true
+		#dagger: compute: _
 	}
 
 	host: string