diff --git a/src/backend/exports.js b/src/backend/exports.js
index e9a4fa3b1..ef002e174 100644
--- a/src/backend/exports.js
+++ b/src/backend/exports.js
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ module.exports = {
         HostOSModule,
         CoreModule,
         WebModule,
-        TemplateModule,
+        // TemplateModule,
         AppsModule,
         CaptchaModule,
         EntityStoreModule,
diff --git a/src/backend/src/Extension.js b/src/backend/src/Extension.js
index f40a21c46..8e3b9d1ab 100644
--- a/src/backend/src/Extension.js
+++ b/src/backend/src/Extension.js
@@ -36,6 +36,20 @@ class Extension extends AdvancedBase {
             ]
         }),
     ];
+    
+    randomBrightColor() {
+        // Bright colors in ANSI (foreground codes 90–97)
+        const brightColors = [
+            // 91, // Bright Red
+            92, // Bright Green
+            // 93, // Bright Yellow
+            94, // Bright Blue
+            95, // Bright Magenta
+            // 96, // Bright Cyan
+        ];
+
+        return brightColors[Math.floor(Math.random() * brightColors.length)];
+    }
 
     constructor (...a) {
         super(...a);
@@ -43,6 +57,9 @@ class Extension extends AdvancedBase {
         this.log = null;
         this.ensure_service_();
         
+        // this.terminal_color = this.randomBrightColor();
+        this.terminal_color = 94;
+        
         this.log = (...a) => {
             this.log_context.info(a.join(' '));
         };
@@ -260,6 +277,14 @@ class Extension extends AdvancedBase {
         }
         this.only_one_init_fn = callback;
     }
+    
+    get console () {
+        const extensionConsole = Object.create(console);
+        extensionConsole.log = (...a) => {
+            console.log(`\x1B[${this.terminal_color};1m(extension/${this.name})\x1B[0m`, ...a);
+        };
+        return extensionConsole;
+    }
 
     /**
      * This method will create the "default service" for an extension.
diff --git a/src/backend/src/Kernel.js b/src/backend/src/Kernel.js
index 0557b28d0..daaa41784 100644
--- a/src/backend/src/Kernel.js
+++ b/src/backend/src/Kernel.js
@@ -218,8 +218,6 @@ class Kernel extends AdvancedBase {
             await services.ready;
             globalThis.services = services;
             const log = services.get('log-service').create('init');
-            log.info('services ready');
-
             log.system('server ready', {
                 deployment_type: globalThis.deployment_type,
             });
@@ -411,6 +409,7 @@ class Kernel extends AdvancedBase {
             `const { use: puter } = globalThis.__puter_extension_globals__.useapi;`,
             `const extension = globalThis.__puter_extension_globals__` +
                 `.extensionObjectRegistry[${JSON.stringify(extension_id)}];`,
+            `const console = extension.console;`,
             `const runtime = extension.runtime;`,
             `const config = extension.config;`,
             `const registry = extension.registry;`,
@@ -465,6 +464,8 @@ class Kernel extends AdvancedBase {
             },
         });
         
+        mod.extension.name = packageJSON.name;
+        
         const maybe_promise = (typ => typ.trim().toLowerCase())(packageJSON.type ?? '') === 'module'
             ? await import(path_.join(require_dir, packageJSON.main ?? 'index.js'))
             : require(require_dir);
@@ -577,7 +578,7 @@ class Kernel extends AdvancedBase {
 
     async run_npm_install (path) {
         const npmCmd = process.platform === "win32" ? "npm.cmd" : "npm";
-        const proc = spawn(npmCmd, ["install"], { cwd: path, shell: true, stdio: "pipe" });
+        const proc = spawn(npmCmd, ["install"], { cwd: path, stdio: "pipe" });
 
         let buffer = '';
 
diff --git a/src/backend/src/boot/BootLogger.js b/src/backend/src/boot/BootLogger.js
index 0cad37dc7..4dabe0b8d 100644
--- a/src/backend/src/boot/BootLogger.js
+++ b/src/backend/src/boot/BootLogger.js
@@ -17,11 +17,6 @@
  * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
 class BootLogger {
-    constructor () {
-        console.log(
-            `\x1B[36;1mBoot logger started :)\x1B[0m`,
-        );
-    }
     info (...args) {
         console.log(
             '\x1B[36;1m[BOOT/INFO]\x1B[0m',
diff --git a/src/backend/src/boot/RuntimeEnvironment.js b/src/backend/src/boot/RuntimeEnvironment.js
index be547202d..3d05ea842 100644
--- a/src/backend/src/boot/RuntimeEnvironment.js
+++ b/src/backend/src/boot/RuntimeEnvironment.js
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ class RuntimeEnvironment extends AdvancedBase {
             if ( ! checks_pass ) continue;
 
             this.logger.info(
-                `${hl('USING')} ${quot(entry.path)} for ${meta.pathFor}.`
+                `${hl(meta.pathFor)} ${quot(entry.path)}`
             )
 
             return entry;
diff --git a/src/backend/src/modules/broadcast/BroadcastService.js b/src/backend/src/modules/broadcast/BroadcastService.js
index 5b7a7cbfa..bd9bfdabe 100644
--- a/src/backend/src/modules/broadcast/BroadcastService.js
+++ b/src/backend/src/modules/broadcast/BroadcastService.js
@@ -102,11 +102,6 @@ class BroadcastService extends BaseService {
                 });
             });
         });
-        
-        
-        this.log.noticeme(
-            require('node:util').inspect(this.config)
-        );
     }
     
     _register_commands (commands) {
diff --git a/src/backend/src/modules/selfhosted/ComplainAboutVersionsService.js b/src/backend/src/modules/selfhosted/ComplainAboutVersionsService.js
index d28957666..ed0011a21 100644
--- a/src/backend/src/modules/selfhosted/ComplainAboutVersionsService.js
+++ b/src/backend/src/modules/selfhosted/ComplainAboutVersionsService.js
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class ComplainAboutVersionsService extends BaseService {
         const cur_date_obj = new Date();
 
         if ( cur_date_obj < eol_date ) {
-            this.log.info('node.js version looks good');
+            this.log.debug('node.js version looks good');
             return;
         }
 
@@ -75,22 +75,13 @@ class ComplainAboutVersionsService extends BaseService {
             return str;
         })();
 
-        const svc_devConsole = this.services.get('dev-console');
-        svc_devConsole.add_widget(() => {
-            const widget_lines = [];
-            widget_lines.push(
-                `Node.js version ${major} is past EOL by ${timeago};`,
-                `Everything should work, but you should still upgrade.`,
-            );
-            surrounding_box('31;1', widget_lines);
-            return widget_lines;
-        });
+        this.log.warn(`Node.js version ${major} is past EOL by ${timeago}`);
     }
 
     async get_eol_data_ () {
         const require = this.require;
         const axios = require('axios');
-        const url = 'https://endoflife.date/api/nodejs.json'
+        const url = 'https://endoflife.date/api/nodejs.json';
         let data;
         try {
             ({ data } = await axios.get(url));
diff --git a/src/backend/src/modules/selfhosted/DevWatcherService.js b/src/backend/src/modules/selfhosted/DevWatcherService.js
index f3623200a..a3fac7c18 100644
--- a/src/backend/src/modules/selfhosted/DevWatcherService.js
+++ b/src/backend/src/modules/selfhosted/DevWatcherService.js
@@ -176,7 +176,14 @@ class DevWatcherService extends BaseService {
 
         const webpacker = webpack(webpackConfig);
         
+        let errorAfterLastEnd = false;
+        let firstEvent = true;
         webpacker.watch({}, (err, stats) => {
+            let hideSuccess = false;
+            if ( firstEvent ) {
+                firstEvent = false;
+                hideSuccess = true;
+            }
             if (err || stats.hasErrors()) {
                 this.log.error(`error information: ${entry.directory} using Webpack`, {
                     err,
@@ -187,7 +194,9 @@ class DevWatcherService extends BaseService {
                 // Normally success messages aren't important, but sometimes it takes
                 // a little bit for the bundle to update so a developer probably would
                 // like to have a visual indication in the console when it happens.
-                this.log.info(`✅ updated ${entry.directory} using Webpack`);
+                if ( ! hideSuccess ) {
+                    this.log.info(`✅ updated ${entry.directory} using Webpack`);
+                }
             }
         });
     }
@@ -244,13 +253,21 @@ class DevWatcherService extends BaseService {
 
         const watcher = rollupModule.watch(rollupConfig);
         let errorAfterLastEnd = false;
+        let firstEvent = true;
         watcher.on('event', (event) => {
             if ( event.code === 'END' ) {
+                let hideSuccess = false;
+                if ( firstEvent ) {
+                    firstEvent = false;
+                    hideSuccess = true;
+                }
                 if ( errorAfterLastEnd ) {
                     errorAfterLastEnd = false;
                     return;
                 }
-                this.log.info(`✅ updated ${entry.directory} using Rollup`);
+                if ( ! hideSuccess ) {
+                    this.log.info(`✅ updated ${entry.directory} using Rollup`);
+                }
             } else if ( event.code === 'ERROR' ) {
                 this.log.error(`error information: ${entry.directory} using Rollup`, {
                     event,
diff --git a/src/backend/src/modules/selfhosted/SelfHostedModule.js b/src/backend/src/modules/selfhosted/SelfHostedModule.js
index 9fc7f5271..4273f52b1 100644
--- a/src/backend/src/modules/selfhosted/SelfHostedModule.js
+++ b/src/backend/src/modules/selfhosted/SelfHostedModule.js
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ class SelfHostedModule extends AdvancedBase {
         const { DBKVServiceWrapper } = require("../../services/repositories/DBKVStore/index.mjs");
         services.registerService('puter-kvstore', DBKVServiceWrapper);
 
-        const MinLogService = require('./MinLogService');
-        services.registerService('min-log', MinLogService);
+        // const MinLogService = require('./MinLogService');
+        // services.registerService('min-log', MinLogService);
 
         // TODO: sucks
         const RELATIVE_PATH = '../../../../../';
diff --git a/src/backend/src/modules/web/WebServerService.js b/src/backend/src/modules/web/WebServerService.js
index 5a06322b1..4f8290876 100644
--- a/src/backend/src/modules/web/WebServerService.js
+++ b/src/backend/src/modules/web/WebServerService.js
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ class WebServerService extends BaseService {
         const services = this.services;
         await services.emit('start.webserver');
         await services.emit('ready.webserver');
-        this.print_puter_logo_();
+        // this.print_puter_logo_();
     }
 
 
@@ -223,21 +223,13 @@ class WebServerService extends BaseService {
                 console.log('Error opening browser', e);
             }
         }
-        /**
-        * Starts the HTTP server.
-        *
-        * This method sets up the Express server, initializes middleware, and starts the HTTP server.
-        * It handles error handling, authentication, and other necessary configurations.
-        *
-        * @returns {Promise} A Promise that resolves when the server is listening.
-        */
+
+        const link = `\x1B[34;1m${strutil.osclink(url)}\x1B[0m`;
+        const lines = [
+            `Puter is now live at: ${link}`,
+        ];
         this.startup_widget = () => {
 
-            const link = `\x1B[34;1m${strutil.osclink(url)}\x1B[0m`;
-            const lines = [
-                `Puter is now live at: ${link}`,
-                `Type web:dismiss to un-stick this message`,
-            ];
             const lengths = [
                 (`Puter is now live at: `).length + url.length,
                 lines[1].length,
@@ -245,9 +237,16 @@ class WebServerService extends BaseService {
             surrounding_box('34;1', lines, lengths);
             return lines;
         };
-        {
+        if ( this.config.old_widget_behavior ) {
             const svc_devConsole = this.services.get('dev-console', { optional: true });
             if ( svc_devConsole ) svc_devConsole.add_widget(this.startup_widget);
+        } else {
+            const svc_devConsole = this.services.get('dev-console', { optional: true });
+            svc_devConsole.notice({
+                colors: { bg: '38;2;0;0;0;48;2;0;202;252;1', bginv: '38;2;0;202;252' },
+                title: 'Puter is live!',
+                lines,
+            });
         }
 
         server.timeout = 1000 * 60 * 60 * 2; // 2 hours
diff --git a/src/backend/src/services/BaseService.js b/src/backend/src/services/BaseService.js
index 9b1cc225c..36c572019 100644
--- a/src/backend/src/services/BaseService.js
+++ b/src/backend/src/services/BaseService.js
@@ -50,7 +50,9 @@ class BaseService extends concepts.Service {
         Object.defineProperty(this, 'config', {
             get: () => configOverride ?? config.services?.[name] ?? {},
             set: why => {
-                console.warn('replacing config like this is probably a bad idea');
+                // TODO: uncomment and fix these in legacy services
+                //       (not very important; low priority)
+                // console.warn('replacing config like this is probably a bad idea');
                 configOverride = why;
             },
         });
diff --git a/src/backend/src/services/DevConsoleService.js b/src/backend/src/services/DevConsoleService.js
index 24c532078..cd9898dc4 100644
--- a/src/backend/src/services/DevConsoleService.js
+++ b/src/backend/src/services/DevConsoleService.js
@@ -90,7 +90,18 @@ class DevConsoleService extends BaseService {
         this.widgets = this.widgets.filter(w => w !== id_or_outputter);
         this.mark_updated();
     }
+    
+    notice ({ colors, title, lines }) {
+        colors = colors ?? {
+            bg: '46',
+            bginv: '36',
+        };
 
+        console.log(`\x1B[${colors.bginv}m▐\x1B[0m\x1B[${colors.bg}m ${title} \x1B[0m`);
+        for ( const line of lines ) {
+            console.log(`\x1B[${colors.bginv}m▐▌\x1B[0m${line}\x1B[0m`);
+        }
+    }
 
     /**
      * Updates the displayed output based on the current state of widgets.
@@ -142,7 +153,7 @@ class DevConsoleService extends BaseService {
         for ( let i = this.widgets.length-1 ; i >= 0 ; i-- ) {
             if ( size_ok() ) break;
             const w = this.widgets[i];
-            if ( w.critical ) continue; 
+            if ( w.critical ) continue;
             n_hidden++;
             const [start, length] = positions[i];
             this.static_lines.splice(start, length);
diff --git a/src/backend/src/services/DevTODService.js b/src/backend/src/services/DevTODService.js
index f4e799c55..6f24ecf5c 100644
--- a/src/backend/src/services/DevTODService.js
+++ b/src/backend/src/services/DevTODService.js
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
  * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
  * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
+const putility = require("@heyputer/putility");
 const { surrounding_box } = require("../fun/dev-console-ui-utils");
 const BaseService = require("./BaseService");
 
@@ -88,28 +89,39 @@ class DevTODService extends BaseService {
     */
     async ['__on_boot.consolidation'] () {
         let random_tip = tips[Math.floor(Math.random() * tips.length)];
-        random_tip = wordwrap(
-            random_tip,
-            process.stdout.columns
-                ? process.stdout.columns - 6 : 50
-        );
-        this.tod_widget = () => {
-            const lines = [
-                ...random_tip,
-            ];
-            if ( ! this.global_config.minimal_console ) {
-                lines.unshift("\x1B[1mTip of the Day\x1B[0m");
-                lines.push("Type tod:dismiss to un-stick this message");
-            }
-            surrounding_box('33;1', lines);
-            return lines;
+        if ( this.config.old_widget_behavior ) {
+            random_tip = wordwrap(
+                random_tip,
+                process.stdout.columns
+                    ? process.stdout.columns - 6 : 50,
+            );
+        
+            this.tod_widget = () => {
+                const lines = [
+                    ...random_tip,
+                ];
+                if ( ! this.global_config.minimal_console ) {
+                    lines.unshift("\x1B[1mTip of the Day\x1B[0m");
+                    lines.push("Type tod:dismiss to un-stick this message");
+                }
+                surrounding_box('33;1', lines);
+                return lines;
+            };
+
+            this.tod_widget.unimportant = true;
+
+            const svc_devConsole = this.services.get('dev-console', { optional: true });
+            if ( ! svc_devConsole ) return;
+            svc_devConsole.add_widget(this.tod_widget);
+        } else {
+            const svc_devConsole = this.services.get('dev-console', { optional: true });
+            if ( ! svc_devConsole ) return;
+            svc_devConsole.notice({
+                colors: { bg: '38;2;0;0;0;48;2;255;255;0;1', bginv: '38;2;255;255;0' },
+                title: 'Tip of the Day',
+                lines: putility.libs.string.wrap_text(random_tip),
+            });
         }
-
-        this.tod_widget.unimportant = true;
-
-        const svc_devConsole = this.services.get('dev-console', { optional: true });
-        if ( ! svc_devConsole ) return;
-        svc_devConsole.add_widget(this.tod_widget);
     }
 
     _register_commands (commands) {
diff --git a/src/putility/src/libs/string.js b/src/putility/src/libs/string.js
index 8e85524aa..9f8d2a6f7 100644
--- a/src/putility/src/libs/string.js
+++ b/src/putility/src/libs/string.js
@@ -68,9 +68,40 @@ const format_as_usd = (amount) => {
     return '$' + amount.toFixed(2);
 }
 
+// wrap.js
+const wrap_text = (text, width = 71) => {
+    const out = [];
+    const paras = text.split(/\r?\n\s*\r?\n/); // split on blank lines
+
+    for (const p of paras) {
+        const words = p.trim().replace(/\s+/g, ' ').split(' ');
+        if (words.length === 1 && words[0] === '') { out.push(''); continue; }
+
+        let line = '';
+        for (const w of words) {
+            if (line.length === 0) {
+                // start new line; do NOT split long words
+                line = w;
+            } else if (line.length + 1 + w.length <= width) {
+                line += ' ' + w;
+            } else {
+                out.push(line);
+                line = w; // put word on its own new line (even if > width)
+            }
+        }
+        if (line) out.push(line);
+        out.push(''); // blank line between paragraphs
+    }
+
+    // remove the extra trailing blank line
+    if (out.length && out[out.length - 1] === '') out.pop();
+
+    return out;
+};
+
 module.exports = {
     quot,
     osclink,
     format_as_usd,
+    wrap_text,
 };
-