diff --git a/LICENSE b/LICENSE
index 33511fc..f76e763 100644
--- a/LICENSE
+++ b/LICENSE
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 MIT License
 Copyright (c) 2022 Andreas Neue <an@dnix.de>
-Copyright (c) 2022-25 the make-deploy authors (see CONTRIBUTORS)
+Copyright (c) 2022-23 the make-deploy authors (see CONTRIBUTORS)
 
 Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of
 this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 59a1159..973b289 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 DEPLOY_START_DELAY = 0
-DEPLOY_PROJECT_DIR =
-
-MANDATORY = DEPLOY_NAME DEPLOY_HOSTS DEPLOY_PATH SSH_USER
 
 -include secrets.mk
 include config.mk
@@ -12,19 +9,20 @@ ifeq ($(DEPLOY_TYPE), copy)
 	DEPLOY_TYPE = simple
 endif
 
-project_dir = $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME)$(DEPLOY_PROJECT_DIR)
-
 include make-deploy/$(DEPLOY_TYPE).mk
 
-.PHONY: self-update mandatory cleanup prerequisites prepare build test deploy pre-deploy post-deploy pre-local post-local upload pull start stop restart reload notify
+.PHONY: self-update mandatory prerequisites prepare build test deploy pre-deploy post-deploy pre-local post-local upload pull start stop restart reload
 
 self-update:
 	@- git submodule update --remote
 
-deploy: mandatory cleanup prepare build test upload pre-deploy pre-local pull start notify post-local post-deploy reload
+deploy: mandatory prepare build test upload pre-deploy pre-local pull start post-local post-deploy reload
 
 mandatory:
 	@- echo "\n### mandatory check"
+ifndef MANDATORY-$(DEPLOY_TYPE)
+	$(error MANDATORY-$(DEPLOY_TYPE) is not defined)
+endif
 	@ $(foreach var,$(MANDATORY), \
 		if test -z "${$(var)}"; then \
 			echo "Missing mandatory variable: $(var)"; \
@@ -35,16 +33,7 @@ mandatory:
 prerequisites:
 	@- echo "\n### prerequisites ..."
 	@- ./prerequisites.sh
-
-ifdef DEPLOY_CLEANUP
-cleanup:
-	@- echo "\n### cleanup ..."
-	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
-		scp cleanup.sh $(SSH_USER)@$(host):/$(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); \
-		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); sh cleanup.sh $(host)"; \
-	)
-endif
-
+	
 prepare:
 	@- echo "\n### preparing ..."
 	@- chmod 600 secrets.mk
@@ -109,13 +98,7 @@ ifdef DEPLOY_HOSTS
 	@- echo "\n### uploading files"
 	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
 		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "mkdir -p $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME)"; \
-		rsync_xtra=`cat .rsync`; \
-		rsync_xtra_host=`cat .rsync_$(host)`; \
-		param="-ravv"; \
-		param="$$param $$rsync_xtra"; \
-		param="$$param $$rsync_xtra_host"; \
-		param="$$param --exclude '*~' --exclude '.git*' --exclude '*.swp' . $(SSH_USER)@$(host):$(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME)"; \
-		eval rsync $$param; \
+		rsync -rav --exclude '*~' --exclude '.git*' --exclude '*.swp' . $(SSH_USER)@$(host):$(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); \
 		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME) && chmod o-r .env secrets*"; \
 	)
 endif
@@ -125,17 +108,7 @@ pull: pull-$(DEPLOY_TYPE)
 start: start-$(DEPLOY_TYPE)
 
 stop: stop-$(DEPLOY_TYPE)
-
-notify:
-ifdef DEPLOY_NOTIFY_HOSTS
-ifdef DEPLOY_NOTIFY_MAIL
-ifdef DEPLOY_NOTIFY_MSG
-	@- echo "\n### notify"
-	@- echo "$$DEPLOY_NOTIFY_MSG :: Please deploy manually on following hosts: $$DEPLOY_NOTIFY_HOSTS" | mail -s "make-deploy notification" $(DEPLOY_MAIL)
-endif
-endif
-endif
-
+	
 logs: logs-$(DEPLOY_TYPE)
 
 restart: restart-$(DEPLOY_TYPE)
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ca140d4..183d0ab 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 A simple Makefile based deployment system.
 
+**make-deploy** was initially hosted at https://git.dnix.de/an/make-deploy. Since it has become heavily used at chefkoch.de for system deployments, and lots of code is committed there, we moved the repo to https://git.chefkoch.net/pub/make-deploy. A mirror still exists at https://git.dnix.de/mirror/make-deploy.
+
 **make-deploy** is licensed under the terms of the MIT-License. See [LICENSE](LICENSE) for info.
 
 ## Installation
@@ -22,7 +24,6 @@ Example `config.mk`:
 	DEPLOY_PATH = /srv
 	DEPLOY_TYPE = compose
 	DEPLOY_HOSTS = server01.example.com server02.example.com
-	DEPLOY_SUBPATH = my-sub-path
 
 	DOCKER_IMAGE = dr.example.com/my-project:latest
 	DOCKER_LOGIN = 1
@@ -35,8 +36,6 @@ Example `secrets.mk`:
     DOCKER_USER = root
     DOCKER_PASS = secret1234
 
-`DEPLOY_SUBPATH` is used to define a location for `DEPLOY_TYPE` = compose that states where the docker-compose.yml is placed at. If that variable is undefined, it is expected to be in projects root.
-
 By setting `DEPLOY_CONFIG_OVERRIDE`, an alternative config can be loaded to override existing configuration settings. This is useful in script calling make deploy or in a `.gitlab-ci.yml` in order to control settings for different targets.
 
 ## Usage
@@ -55,8 +54,6 @@ Relying only on GNU Make and simple CLI tools makes deployments robust and still
 
 `mandatory`: Checks if all needed variables are set in config.mk.
 
-`cleanup`:  Runs `cleanup.sh` on each remote target, meant to be used to wipe contents of prior installations.
-
 `prepare`: Creates needed directory for the deployment on the target system, sets secure file permissions for `secrets.mk`.
 
 `build`: Calls `build.sh` locally. This is for building purposts, e.g. docker build and push.
@@ -134,11 +131,3 @@ systemd. (TBD)
 ##### apt
 
 APT deployment on debian-like distributions.
-
-##### tf
-
-Deploy via Terraform. Config is mostly done with terraform.
-
-`TF_FLAGS`: What you think.
-
-`TF_TARGET`: Limits deployment to `TF_TARGET`.
diff --git a/apt.mk b/apt.mk
index 0741f74..7afe780 100644
--- a/apt.mk
+++ b/apt.mk
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-MANDATORY = $(shell printenv MANDATORY) APT_PACKAGES
+MANDATORY-apt = APT_PACKAGES
 
 pull-apt:
 	# nop
diff --git a/compose-file.mk b/compose-file.mk
index 37a98d1..0d1c7c9 100644
--- a/compose-file.mk
+++ b/compose-file.mk
@@ -1,8 +1,4 @@
-MANDATORY = $(shell printenv MANDATORY) SSH_USER DEPLOY_COMPOSE_FILE DEPLOY_COMPOSE_PROJECT
-
-ifndef DOCKER_LOGIN
-DOCKER_LOGIN = 0
-endif
+MANDATORY-compose-file = DEPLOY_HOSTS DEPLOY_TYPE TAG DEPLOY_COMPOSE_FILE DEPLOY_COMPOSE_PROJECT
 
 pull-compose-file:
 	@- echo "\n### pulling image(s)"
@@ -13,10 +9,7 @@ pull-compose-file:
 			echo "\n#### perfom docker login with user $(DOCKER_USER) on $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)"; \
 			ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "docker login -u $(DOCKER_USER) -p $(DOCKER_PASS) $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)"; \
 		fi; \
-		if test -n "$(DOCKER_IMAGE)" ; \
-		then \
-			ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "docker pull $(DOCKER_IMAGE)"; \
-		fi; \
+		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "docker pull $(DOCKER_IMAGE)"; \
 	)
 
 start-compose-file:
diff --git a/compose.mk b/compose.mk
index ec8b6b3..c9779bf 100644
--- a/compose.mk
+++ b/compose.mk
@@ -1,45 +1,39 @@
-ifdef DOCKER_LOGIN
-MANDATORY = $(shell printenv MANDATORY) DOCKER_USER DOCKER_PASS DOCKER_REGISTRY
-endif
-
-ifndef DOCKER_LOGIN
-DOCKER_LOGIN = 0
-endif
+MANDATORY-compose = DEPLOY_HOSTS DEPLOY_TYPE TAG
 
 pull-compose:
-	@echo "\n### pulling image(s)"
-	$(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
+	@- echo "\n### pulling image(s)"
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
 		echo "$(host)"; \
-		if test "$(DOCKER_LOGIN)" = "1" ; \
+		if test $(DOCKER_LOGIN) -eq 1 ; \
 		then \
-			echo "\n#### perform docker login with user $(DOCKER_USER) on $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)"; \
+			echo "\n#### perfom docker login with user $(DOCKER_USER) on $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)"; \
 			ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "docker login -u $(DOCKER_USER) -p $(DOCKER_PASS) $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)"; \
 		fi; \
-		if test -n "$(DOCKER_IMAGE)" ; \
-		then \
-			ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "docker pull $(DOCKER_IMAGE)"; \
-		fi; \
+		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "docker pull $(DOCKER_IMAGE)"; \
 	)
 
 start-compose:
-	@echo "\n### starting service(s)"
-	$(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
+	@- echo "\n### starting service(s)"
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
 		echo "$(host)"; \
-		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(project_dir); docker-compose up -d"; \
+		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); docker-compose up -d"; \
 		sleep $(DEPLOY_START_DELAY); \
 	)
 
+stop-compose:
+	@- echo "\n### stopping service(s)"
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
+		echo "$(host)"; \
+		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); docker-compose down"; \
+	)
+		
 logs-compose:
-	@echo "\n### logs"
-	$(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
-		echo "$(host)"; \
-		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(project_dir); docker-compose logs -f $(service)"; \
-	)
-
+	@- echo "\n### logs"
+	@- ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); docker-compose logs -f $(service)"
+	
 restart-compose:
-	@echo "\n### restarting service(s)"
-	$(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
 		echo "$(host)"; \
-		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(project_dir); docker-compose restart"; \
+		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); docker-compose restart"; \
 		sleep $(DEPLOY_START_DELAY); \
 	)
diff --git a/cron.mk b/cron.mk
index ad5a78d..f107828 100644
--- a/cron.mk
+++ b/cron.mk
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-MANDATORY = $(shell printenv MANDATORY) CRON_USER 
+MANDATORY-cron = true
 
 start-cron:
 	@- echo "\n### starting..."
diff --git a/helm.mk b/helm.mk
index 394fb8c..a50495e 100644
--- a/helm.mk
+++ b/helm.mk
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-MANDATORY = $(shell printenv MANDATORY) K8S_CONTEXT HELM_CHART_NAME HELM_CHART_PATH HELM_VALUES_FILE K8S_NAMESPACE
+MANDATORY-helm = K8S_CONTEXT HELM_CHART_NAME HELM_CHART_PATH HELM_VALUES_FILE NAMESPACE
 # helm
 #
 # deploys helm charts on k8s via helm
@@ -10,47 +10,25 @@ start-helm:
 
 ifdef TEST_MODE
 	@- echo "Testing chart with 'helm template --debug'"
-	@ envsubst < ${HELM_VALUES_FILE} | helm template ${HELM_CHART_NAME} ${HELM_CHART_PATH} --debug --values -
+    @ envsubst < ${HELM_VALUES_FILE} | helm template ${HELM_CHART_NAME} ${HELM_CHART_PATH} --debug --values -
 endif
 
 ifdef NAMESPACE
-	@ $(eval K8S_NAMESPACE = $(NAMESPACE))
+	K8S_NAMESPACE = $(NAMESPACE)
 endif
-
-ifdef HELM_REPO_URL
-	@- echo "Helm Repo: $(HELM_REPO_URL)"
-	@ helm repo add $(HELM_CHART_NAME) $(HELM_REPO_URL)
-	@- helm repo update $(HELM_CHART_NAME)
-endif
-
-ifdef DEBUG_MODE
-	@- echo "\n### deploying helm chart with --debug flag"
-	@- echo "-- DEBUG DEPLOYMENT --------------------"
-	@- echo " "
-	@- echo "Namespace: $(K8S_NAMESPACE)"
-	@- echo "Helm Chart: $(HELM_CHART_PATH)"
-	@- echo "Helm Version (use latest if empty): $(HELM_CHART_VERSION)"
-	@- echo "Values File: $(HELM_VALUES_FILE)"
-	@- echo " "
-	@- echo "----------------------------------"
-
-	@ envsubst < $(HELM_VALUES_FILE) | helm upgrade $(HELM_CHART_NAME) $(HELM_CHART_PATH) -n $(K8S_NAMESPACE) --install --debug --wait --values - --version "$(HELM_CHART_VERSION)"
-
-else
 	
 	@- echo "\n### deploying helm chart"
 	@- echo "-- DEPLOYMENT --------------------"
 	@- echo " "
 	@- echo "Namespace: $(K8S_NAMESPACE)"
 	@- echo "Helm Chart: $(HELM_CHART_PATH)"
-	@- echo "Helm Version (use latest if empty): $(HELM_CHART_VERSION)"
 	@- echo "Values File: $(HELM_VALUES_FILE)"
 	@- echo " "
 	@- echo "----------------------------------"
 
-	@ envsubst < $(HELM_VALUES_FILE) | helm upgrade $(HELM_CHART_NAME) $(HELM_CHART_PATH) -n $(K8S_NAMESPACE) --install --wait --values - --version "$(HELM_CHART_VERSION)"
+	@ envsubst < $(HELM_VALUES_FILE) | helm upgrade $(HELM_CHART_NAME) $(HELM_CHART_PATH) -n $(K8S_NAMESPACE) --install --wait --values -
+
 
-endif
 
 
 pull-helm:
diff --git a/k8s.mk b/k8s.mk
index b439929..bc962fb 100644
--- a/k8s.mk
+++ b/k8s.mk
@@ -2,16 +2,35 @@
 #
 # deploys k8s
 
-MANDATORY = $(shell printenv MANDATORY) K8S_CONTEXT
-K8S_MANIFEST_FILENAME ?= kubernetes.yaml
+MANDATORY-k8s = K8S_CONTEXT
 
+start-k8s: SHELL:=/bin/bash
 start-k8s:
-	@- echo "\n### starting deployment with k8s"
-	@- echo "\n### setting kubernetes context to $(K8S_CONTEXT)"
-	@ kubectl config use-context $(K8S_CONTEXT)
+	@- echo "### starting deployment with k8s"
+	@- echo "### setting kubernetes context to $(K8S_CONTEXT)"
+	#@ kubectl config use-context $(K8S_CONTEXT)
 
-	@- echo "\n### run kubectl apply -f $(K8S_MANIFEST_FILENAME) and secrets.yaml"
-	@ cat $(K8S_MANIFEST_FILENAME) secrets.yaml | envsubst | kubectl apply $(K8S_ADDITIONAL_PARAMS) -f -
+	@- echo "### run kubectl apply -f kubernetes.yaml and secrets.yaml"
+	@- cat kubernetes.yaml secrets.yaml >_manifest.yaml
+
+ifdef K8S_MANIFESTS
+	@- echo "\n%%%DEBUG1"
+	@- echo $(K8S_MANIFESTS)
+	@- for file in $(K8S_MANIFESTS); do \
+		if [[ $$file == http* ]] ; \
+		then \
+			curl -o _tmpfile.yaml $$file; \
+		else \
+			cp $$file _tmpfile.yaml; \
+		fi; \
+		cat _tmpfile.yaml >>_manifest.yaml; \
+		rm _tmpfile.yaml; \
+	done
+endif
+	@- echo "\n%%%DEBUG22"
+
+	@ cat _manifest.yaml | envsubst | kubectl apply -f -
+	@- rm _manifest.yaml
 
 pull-k8s:
 # nop
diff --git a/kustomize.mk b/kustomize.mk
index 9bdcfdf..60dacac 100644
--- a/kustomize.mk
+++ b/kustomize.mk
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-MANDATORY = $(shell printenv MANDATORY) K8S_CONTEXT KUSTOMIZE_FOLDER NAMESPACE
+MANDATORY-kustomize = K8S_CONTEXT KUSTOMIZE_FOLDER NAMESPACE
 # kustomize
 #
 # this uses kustomize to install stuff on k8s
diff --git a/simple.mk b/simple.mk
index 8210118..b95bf0f 100644
--- a/simple.mk
+++ b/simple.mk
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
-# simple 
+MANDATORY-copy = DEPLOY_TYPE DEPLOY_HOSTS SSH_USER DEPLOY_PATH DEPLOY_NAME
+MANDATORY-simple = $(MANDATORY-copy)
+
+# copy
 #
 # this just rsyncs the stuff to the remote server(s) and runs
 # build.sh, pre-/post-deploy, pre-/post-local, start.sh, etc.
 
-ifndef DEPLOY_StART_DELAY
-DEPLOY_START_DELAY = 0
-endif
-
 pull-simple:
 	# nop
 	
diff --git a/swarm.mk b/swarm.mk
index 45f67b8..913a125 100644
--- a/swarm.mk
+++ b/swarm.mk
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+MANDATORY-swarm = DEPLOY_HOSTS DEPLOY_TYPE TAG
+
 pull-swarm:
 
 start-swarm:
diff --git a/test.sh b/test.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index 88d79e1..0000000
--- a/test.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,50 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-
-set -e
-
-DIR=$(mktemp -d)
-TESTS=$DIR/make-deploy/testing
-
-function prepdir() {
-  mkdir $DIR/make-deploy
-  cp -r * $DIR/make-deploy
-  cd $DIR
-  ln -s make-deploy/Makefile
-  touch secrets.mk
-  echo "::::::::: testing directory root: $DIR"
-}
-
-function cleandir(){
-  rm -fr $DIR
-  echo "::::::::: cleanup done"
-}
-
-function test_with_minimal_vars_apt(){
-  echo "::::::::: $FUNCNAME ::::::::::::"
-  cp $TESTS/apt_config.mk config.mk
-  make deploy
-}
-
-function test_with_minimal_vars_compose(){
-  echo "::::::::: $FUNCNAME ::::::::::::"
-  cp $TESTS/compose_config.mk config.mk
-  cp $TESTS/docker-compose.yml .
-  make deploy
-  rm -f docker-compose.yml
-}
-
-function test_with_minimal_vars_compose_file(){
-  echo "::::::::: $FUNCNAME ::::::::::::"
-  cp $TESTS/compose_file_config.mk config.mk
-  cp $TESTS/docker-compose.yml .
-  make deploy
-  rm -f docker-compose.yml
-}
-
-prepdir
-
-test_with_minimal_vars_apt
-test_with_minimal_vars_compose
-test_with_minimal_vars_compose_file
-
-cleandir
diff --git a/testing/apt_config.mk b/testing/apt_config.mk
deleted file mode 100644
index 444165f..0000000
--- a/testing/apt_config.mk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-DEPLOY_NAME = make-deploy-test-apt
-DEPLOY_PATH = /tmp
-DEPLOY_HOSTS = localhost
-DEPLOY_TYPE = apt
-SSH_USER = $(USER)
-APT_PACKAGES = curl
diff --git a/testing/compose_config.mk b/testing/compose_config.mk
deleted file mode 100644
index 7d81afb..0000000
--- a/testing/compose_config.mk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-DEPLOY_NAME = make-deploy-test-compose
-DEPLOY_PATH = /tmp
-DEPLOY_HOSTS = localhost
-DEPLOY_TYPE = compose
-SSH_USER = $(USER)
diff --git a/testing/compose_file_config.mk b/testing/compose_file_config.mk
deleted file mode 100644
index bdd0ab8..0000000
--- a/testing/compose_file_config.mk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-DEPLOY_NAME = make-deploy-test-compose-file
-DEPLOY_PATH = /tmp
-DEPLOY_HOSTS = localhost
-DEPLOY_TYPE = compose-file
-SSH_USER = $(USER)
-DEPLOY_COMPOSE_PROJECT = make-deploy-test-compose-file
-DEPLOY_COMPOSE_FILE = docker-compose.yml
diff --git a/testing/docker-compose.yml b/testing/docker-compose.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index d362336..0000000
--- a/testing/docker-compose.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-services:
-  curl:
-    image: "alpine/curl"
-    command: -s -o /dev/null https://www.test.de
diff --git a/tf.mk b/tf.mk
deleted file mode 100644
index df910ed..0000000
--- a/tf.mk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-MANDATORY = $(shell printenv MANDATORY) TF_FLAGS
-
-# tf
-#
-# deploys via tf apply
-#
-start-tf:
-ifdef TF_TARGET
-	terraform apply $(TF_FLAGS) -t $(TF_TARGET)
-else
-	terraform apply $(TF_FLAGS)
-endif
-	
-	
-pull-tf:
-# nop