diff --git a/src/common/configrules.cpp b/src/common/configrules.cpp
index 15852a05d..18edc4f40 100644
--- a/src/common/configrules.cpp
+++ b/src/common/configrules.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 #include "common/configrules.hpp"
 #include "common/query/mockconfigrules.hpp"
 //#include "common/util.hpp"
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 
 
 
diff --git a/src/common/multithread.hpp b/src/common/multithread.hpp
index ed1d5ebcc..794d4a18d 100644
--- a/src/common/multithread.hpp
+++ b/src/common/multithread.hpp
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 #ifndef LUMIERA_MULTITHREAD_H
 #define LUMIERA_MULTITHREAD_H
 
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 #include "common/util.hpp"
 
 
diff --git a/src/common/query.cpp b/src/common/query.cpp
index 28dd06a65..10b43e12e 100644
--- a/src/common/query.cpp
+++ b/src/common/query.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 
 #include "common/query.hpp"
 #include "common/util.hpp"
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 
 #include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>
 #include <boost/regex.hpp>
diff --git a/src/common/query/mockconfigrules.cpp b/src/common/query/mockconfigrules.cpp
index e40c7d95a..62848245e 100644
--- a/src/common/query/mockconfigrules.cpp
+++ b/src/common/query/mockconfigrules.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 #include "proc/asset/pipe.hpp"
 
 
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 #include "common/util.hpp"
 
 using util::isnil;
diff --git a/src/common/singletonfactory.hpp b/src/common/singletonfactory.hpp
index 8523c1a75..ee9548342 100644
--- a/src/common/singletonfactory.hpp
+++ b/src/common/singletonfactory.hpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ This code is heavily inspired by
 #include "common/singletonpolicies.hpp"  // several Policies usable together with SingletonFactory
 
 #include "common/util.hpp"
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 
 
 
diff --git a/src/common/test/run.hpp b/src/common/test/run.hpp
index 13fcf1bd4..06b1cda95 100644
--- a/src/common/test/run.hpp
+++ b/src/common/test/run.hpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 #include "pre.hpp"
 
 
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 
 #include "common/test/suite.hpp"
 #include "common/util.hpp"
diff --git a/src/common/test/suite.cpp b/src/common/test/suite.cpp
index 7c73cbfdb..0f8036997 100644
--- a/src/common/test/suite.cpp
+++ b/src/common/test/suite.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 #include <sstream>
 #include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>
 
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 #include "lib/cmdline.hpp"
 #include "common/test/suite.hpp"
 #include "common/test/run.hpp"
diff --git a/src/gui/workspace/actions.cpp b/src/gui/workspace/actions.cpp
index f18c44ccb..3aaa73d6e 100644
--- a/src/gui/workspace/actions.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/workspace/actions.cpp
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ Actions::on_menu_help_about()
   
   //dialog.set_program_name(AppTitle);
   dialog.set_version(AppVersion);
-  //dialog.set_version(Appconfig::get("version"));
+  //dialog.set_version(AppState::get("version"));
   dialog.set_copyright(AppCopyright);
   dialog.set_website(AppWebsite);
   dialog.set_authors(StringArrayHandle(AppAuthors,
diff --git a/src/include/error.hpp b/src/include/error.hpp
index 74ed49721..566a80809 100644
--- a/src/include/error.hpp
+++ b/src/include/error.hpp
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
 #define LUMIERA_ERROR_HPP_
 
 #include <string>
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
-#include "lumiera/appconfig.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
+#include "include/lifecycle.h"
 #include "lib/error.h"
 
 
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ namespace lumiera {
     /** install our own handler for undeclared exceptions. Will be
      *  called automatically ON_BASIC_INIT when including errror.hpp
      *  @note it's OK this is defined multiple times...
-     *  @see appconfig.hpp  */
+     *  @see appstate.hpp  */
     void install_unexpectedException_handler ();
     namespace {
       LifecycleHook schedule_ (ON_BASIC_INIT, &install_unexpectedException_handler);         
diff --git a/src/include/lifecycle.h b/src/include/lifecycle.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ba21f3791
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/include/lifecycle.h
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+/*
+  LIFECYCLE.h  -  interface for registering and triggering lifecycle callbacks 
+ 
+  Copyright (C)         Lumiera.org
+    2008,               Hermann Vosseler <Ichthyostega@web.de>
+ 
+  This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+  modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
+  published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the
+  License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ 
+  This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+  GNU General Public License for more details.
+ 
+  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+  along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+  Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
+ 
+*/
+
+/** @file lifecycle.h
+ ** Interface for registering and triggering application lifecycle event callbacks.
+ ** This service is a facade for and implemented by lumiera::AppState.
+ ** By placing a static LifecycleHook variable or by calling LifecycleHook::add,
+ ** a callback can be registered to be executed on a specific application lifecycle
+ ** event. Examples being #ON_BASIC_INIT, #ON_GLOBAL_INIT. Other subsystems may
+ ** register additional events for more specific purpose.
+ **
+ ** @see lumiera::AppState
+ ** @see main.cpp
+ */
+
+
+#ifndef LUMIERA_LIFECYCLE_H
+#define LUMIERA_LIFECYCLE_H
+
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+
+#include "include/symbol.hpp"
+#include <boost/noncopyable.hpp>
+
+
+
+namespace lumiera {
+  
+  extern Symbol ON_BASIC_INIT;      ///< automatic static init. treated specially
+  extern Symbol ON_GLOBAL_INIT;     ///< to be triggered in main()             @note no magic!
+  extern Symbol ON_GLOBAL_SHUTDOWN; ///< to be triggered at the end of main()  @note no magic!
+  
+  // client code is free to register and use additional lifecycle events
+  
+  
+  
+  /**
+   *  define and register a callback for a specific lifecycle event.
+   *  The purpose of this class is to be defined as a static variable in the implementation
+   *  of some subsystem (i.e. in the cpp file), providing the ctor with the pointer to a 
+   *  callback function. Thus the callback gets enrolled when the corresponding object file
+   *  is loaded. The event ON_BASIC_INIT is handled specifically, firing off the referred 
+   *  callback function as soon as possible. All other labels are just arbitrary (string)
+   *  constants and it is necessary that "someone" cares to fire off the lifecycle events
+   *  at the right place. For example, lumiera-main (and the test runner) calls 
+   *  \c AppState::instance().execute(ON_GLOBAL_INIT) (and..SHUTDOWN)
+   *  @note duplicate or repeated calls with the same callback are NOP 
+   */
+  class LifecycleHook
+    : private boost::noncopyable
+    {
+    public:
+      typedef void (*Hook)(void);
+      
+      LifecycleHook (Symbol eventLabel, Hook callbackFun);
+      
+      /** for chained calls (add multiple callbacks) */
+      LifecycleHook& add (Hook callbackFun);
+      
+      /** alternative, static interface for registering a callback */
+      static void add (Symbol eventLabel, Hook callbackFun);
+      
+      /** trigger lifecycle callbacks registered under the given label */
+      static void trigger (Symbol eventLabel);
+    };
+  
+  
+  
+} // namespace lumiera
+
+
+
+#else /* =========== C interface ====================== */
+
+
+extern const char * lumiera_ON_BASIC_INIT;
+extern const char * lumiera_ON_GLOBAL_INIT;
+extern const char * lumiera_ON_GLOBAL_SHUTDOWN;
+
+
+void lumiera_LifecycleHook_add (const char* eventLabel, void callbackFun(void));
+void lumiera_Lifecycle_trigger (const char* eventLabel);
+  
+#endif
+#endif
diff --git a/src/include/nobugcfg.h b/src/include/nobugcfg.h
index 70de908fb..57df1fe29 100644
--- a/src/include/nobugcfg.h
+++ b/src/include/nobugcfg.h
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
  
 */
 
-/** @file nobugcfg.hpp
+/** @file nobugcfg.h
  ** This header is for including and configuring NoBug.
  ** The idea is that configuration and some commonly used flag 
  ** declarations are to be kept in one central location. Subsystems
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus  /* ============= C++ ================ */
 
-#include "lumiera/appstate.hpp"
+#include "include/lifecycle.h"
 #include "include/error.hpp"  ///< make assertions throw instead of abort()
 
 namespace lumiera { 
diff --git a/src/lib/Makefile.am b/src/lib/Makefile.am
index 2ba729d73..dd5f8ed02 100644
--- a/src/lib/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/lib/Makefile.am
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ noinst_HEADERS +=						\
 	$(liblumiera_a_srcdir)/mrucache.h			\
 	$(liblumiera_a_srcdir)/time.h				\
 	$(liblumiera_a_srcdir)/ppmpl.h				\
-	$(liblumiera_a_srcdir)/appconfig.hpp			\
+	$(liblumiera_a_srcdir)/appstate.hpp			\
 	$(liblumiera_a_srcdir)/allocationcluster.hpp	\
 	$(liblumiera_a_srcdir)/scopedholdertransfer.hpp	\
 	$(liblumiera_a_srcdir)/scopedholder.hpp			\
diff --git a/src/lib/cmdline.cpp b/src/lib/cmdline.cpp
index 753e4a1c9..a2d62c19a 100644
--- a/src/lib/cmdline.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/cmdline.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 
 #include "lib/cmdline.hpp"
 #include "common/util.hpp"
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 
 #include <boost/regex.hpp>
 #include <boost/algorithm/string/split.hpp>
diff --git a/src/lib/lifecycleregistry.hpp b/src/lib/lifecycleregistry.hpp
index c23395419..774fc726b 100644
--- a/src/lib/lifecycleregistry.hpp
+++ b/src/lib/lifecycleregistry.hpp
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 
 /** @file lifecycleregistry.hpp
  ** Helper for registering lifecycle event callbacks, which are
- ** provided as a global service by lumiera::Appconfig. This service
+ ** provided as a global service by lumiera::AppState. This service
  ** allows to enrol functions under a given label and then to call
  ** all those registered functions. 
  ** @note this is in fact an event mechanism, and if we start using
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
  ** boost::signals. (which has the downside of being an binary
  ** dependency).
  **
- ** @see appconfig.hpp
+ ** @see appstate.hpp
  */
 
 
@@ -54,14 +54,14 @@ namespace lumiera {
   using util::contains;
   using std::string;
 
-  typedef const char * const Symbol;  //TODO define a real Symbol class, i.e. same literal string==same pointer,
+//  typedef const char * const Symbol;  //TODO define a real Symbol class, i.e. same literal string==same pointer,
                                       //     so we don't have to store string keys in the map...
 
   
   /**
    * Registry of callback functions accessible by a label (ID)
    * provided at registration. Registered functions will be added
-   * to a list, which can be triggered via label. Used by Appconfig
+   * to a list, which can be triggered via label. Used by AppState
    * to implement the lumiera lifecycle (init, shutdown) hooks.
    */
   class LifecycleRegistry
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ namespace lumiera {
       std::map<const string, Callbacks> table_;
       
       LifecycleRegistry ()  {}
-      friend class Appconfig;
+      friend class AppState;
       
     };
 
diff --git a/src/lumiera/appconfig.hpp b/src/lumiera/appconfig.hpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 83c081751..000000000
--- a/src/lumiera/appconfig.hpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,150 +0,0 @@
-/*
-  APPCONFIG.hpp  -  for global initialization and configuration 
- 
-  Copyright (C)         Lumiera.org
-    2008,               Hermann Vosseler <Ichthyostega@web.de>
- 
-  This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
-  modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
-  published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the
-  License, or (at your option) any later version.
- 
-  This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
-  GNU General Public License for more details.
- 
-  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
-  along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
-  Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
- 
-*/
-
-/** @file appconfig.hpp
- ** Registering and managing some application-global services.
- ** Besides \link Appconfig::get querying \endlink for some 
- ** "Application property" constants, there is a mechanism for
- ** registering and firing off application lifecycle event hooks.
- ** The implementation of some subsystem can define a static instance
- ** variable of class LifecycleHook, which will place the provided
- ** callback function into a central registry accessable through
- ** the Appconfig singleton instance.
- **
- ** @see lumiera.cpp
- ** @see nobugcfg.cpp
- ** @see sessmanagerimpl.cpp
- */
-
-
-#ifndef LUMIERA_APPCONFIG_H
-#define LUMIERA_APPCONFIG_H
-
-#include <map>
-#include <string>
-#include <boost/scoped_ptr.hpp>
-#include <boost/noncopyable.hpp>
-#include "lib/lifecycleregistry.hpp"
-
-
-
-namespace lumiera
-  {
-  using std::string;
-  using boost::scoped_ptr;
-  using boost::noncopyable;
-
-
-  /**
-   * Singleton to hold inevitable global flags and constants 
-   * and for performing early (static) global initialization tasks.
-   * Appconfig services are available already from static 
-   * initialsation code.
-   * @warning don't use Appconfig in destuctors.
-   */
-  class Appconfig
-    : private noncopyable
-    {
-    private:
-      /** perform initialization on first access.
-       *  @see #instance()
-       */
-      Appconfig ();
-      
-      ~Appconfig ()  throw()   {};  ///< deletion prohibited
-      friend void boost::checked_delete<Appconfig>(Appconfig*);
-
-      
-    public:
-      /** get the (single) Appconfig instance. 
-       *  Implemented as Meyers singleton.
-       *  @warning don't use it after the end of main()!
-       */
-      static Appconfig& instance()
-      {
-        static scoped_ptr<Appconfig> theApp_ (0);
-        if (!theApp_) theApp_.reset (new Appconfig ());
-        return *theApp_;
-      }
-      
-      
-      /** fire off all lifecycle callbacks
-       *  registered under the given label  */
-      static void lifecycle (Symbol eventLabel);
-      
-      // note: if necessary, we can add support 
-      // for querying the current lifecycle phase...
-      
-    private:
-      typedef scoped_ptr<LifecycleRegistry> PLife;
-      
-      PLife lifecycleHooks_;
-      
-      friend class LifecycleHook;
-      
-    };
-    
-  
-  extern Symbol ON_BASIC_INIT;      ///< automatic static init. treated specially
-  extern Symbol ON_GLOBAL_INIT;     ///< to be triggered in main()             @note no magic!
-  extern Symbol ON_GLOBAL_SHUTDOWN; ///< to be triggered at the end of main()  @note no magic!
-  
-  // client code is free to register and use additional lifecycle events
-  
-  
-  /**
-   *  define and register a callback for some lifecycle event.
-   *  The purpose of this class is to be defined as a static variable
-   *  in the implementation of some subsystem (i.e. in the cpp file),
-   *  providing the ctor with the pointer to a callback function.
-   *  Thus the callback gets enrolled when the corresponding object
-   *  file is loaded. The event ON_BASIC_INIT is handled specifically,
-   *  firing off the referred callback function as soon as possible.
-   *  All other lables are just arbitrary (string) constants and it
-   *  is necessary that "someone" cares to fire off the lifcycle events
-   *  at the right place. For example, lumiera-main (and the test runner)
-   *  calls \c Appconfig::instance().execute(ON_GLOBAL_INIT) (and..SHUTDOWN)
-   *  @note duplicate or repeated calls with the same callback are a NOP 
-   */
-  class LifecycleHook
-    : private noncopyable
-    {
-    public:
-      LifecycleHook (Symbol eventLabel, LifecycleRegistry::Hook callbackFun);
-      
-      LifecycleHook& add (Symbol eventLabel, LifecycleRegistry::Hook callbackFun); ///< for chained calls (add multiple callbacks)
-    };
-
-
-
-} // namespace lumiera
-
-
-extern "C" {  //TODO provide a separate header if some C code happens to need this...
-
-  void lumiera_LifecycleHook_add (const char* eventLabel, void callbackFun(void));
-  void lumiera_Lifecycle_execute (const char* eventLabel);
-  
-}
-
-
-#endif
diff --git a/src/lumiera/appconfig.cpp b/src/lumiera/appstate.cpp
similarity index 65%
rename from src/lumiera/appconfig.cpp
rename to src/lumiera/appstate.cpp
index c589ade42..73e8285fa 100644
--- a/src/lumiera/appconfig.cpp
+++ b/src/lumiera/appstate.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
-  Appconfig  -  for global initialisation and configuration 
+  AppState  -  application initialisation and behaviour 
  
   Copyright (C)         Lumiera.org
     2008,               Hermann Vosseler <Ichthyostega@web.de>
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@
 * *****************************************************/
 
 
-#include "lumiera/appconfig.hpp"
+#include "lumiera/appstate.hpp"
+#include "lib/lifecycleregistry.hpp"
+
 #include "include/error.hpp"
 #include "common/util.hpp"
 
@@ -31,41 +33,53 @@ using util::cStr;
 
 namespace lumiera {
   
-
-
+  
+  
   Symbol ON_BASIC_INIT      ("ON_BASIC_INIT");
   Symbol ON_GLOBAL_INIT     ("ON_GLOBAL_INIT");
   Symbol ON_GLOBAL_SHUTDOWN ("ON_GLOBAL_SHUTDOWN");
   
-
+  
   /** perform initialisation triggered on first access. 
    *  Will execute the ON_BASIC_INIT hook, but under typical
    *  circumstances this is a NOP, because when callbacks are
-   *  added to this hook, the Appconfig singleton instance has
+   *  added to this hook, the AppState singleton instance has
    *  already been created. For this reason, there is special
    *  treatment for the ON_BASIC_INIT in LifecycleHook::add,
    *  causing the provided callbacks to be fired immediately.
    *  (btw, this is nothing to be worried of, because from
    *  client codes POV it just behaves like intended). 
    */
-  Appconfig::Appconfig()
+  AppState::AppState()
     : lifecycleHooks_(new LifecycleRegistry)
   {
     lifecycleHooks_->execute (ON_BASIC_INIT);   // note in most cases a NOP
   }
   
   
+  AppState::~AppState()  { }
+  
+  
+  
+  AppState& 
+  AppState::instance()  // Meyer's singleton
+  {
+    static scoped_ptr<AppState> theApp_ (0);
+    if (!theApp_) theApp_.reset (new AppState ());
+    return *theApp_;
+  }
   
   
   
   void
-  Appconfig::lifecycle (Symbol event_label)
+  AppState::lifecycle (Symbol event_label)
   {
     instance().lifecycleHooks_->execute(event_label);
   }
-
-
-
+  
+  
+  
+  
   
   // ==== implementation LifecycleHook class =======
   
@@ -80,12 +94,12 @@ namespace lumiera {
   LifecycleHook&
   LifecycleHook::add (Symbol eventLabel, Callback callbackFun)
   {
-    bool isNew = Appconfig::instance().lifecycleHooks_->enroll (eventLabel,callbackFun);
+    bool isNew = AppState::instance().lifecycleHooks_->enroll (eventLabel,callbackFun);
     
     if (isNew && !strcmp(ON_BASIC_INIT, eventLabel))
       callbackFun();  // when this code executes,
                      //  then per definition we are already post "basic init"
-                    //   (which happens in the Appconfig ctor); thus fire it immediately
+                    //   (which happens in the AppState ctor); thus fire it immediately
     return *this;
   }
   
@@ -93,17 +107,28 @@ namespace lumiera {
   
 } // namespace lumiera
 
-// ==== implementation C interface =======
 
-void 
-lumiera_LifecycleHook_add (const char* eventLabel, void callbackFun(void))
-{
-  lumiera::LifecycleHook (eventLabel, callbackFun);
+extern "C" { /* ==== implementation C interface for lifecycle hooks ======= */
+  
+  
+  extern const char * lumiera_ON_BASIC_INIT       = lumiera::ON_BASIC_INIT;
+  extern const char * lumiera_ON_GLOBAL_INIT      = lumiera::ON_GLOBAL_INIT;
+  extern const char * lumiera_ON_GLOBAL_SHUTDOWN  = lumiera::ON_GLOBAL_SHUTDOWN;
+  
+  
+  
+  void 
+  lumiera_LifecycleHook_add (const char* eventLabel, void callbackFun(void))
+  {
+    lumiera::LifecycleHook (eventLabel, callbackFun);
+  }
+  
+  
+  void
+  lumiera_Lifecycle_trigger (const char* eventLabel)
+  {
+    lumiera::AppState::lifecycle (eventLabel);
+  }
+  
 }
 
-
-void
-lumiera_Lifecycle_execute (const char* eventLabel)
-{
-  lumiera::Appconfig::lifecycle (eventLabel);
-}
diff --git a/src/lumiera/appstate.hpp b/src/lumiera/appstate.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7339fa235
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lumiera/appstate.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+/*
+  APPSTATE.hpp  -  application initialisation and behaviour 
+ 
+  Copyright (C)         Lumiera.org
+    2008,               Hermann Vosseler <Ichthyostega@web.de>
+ 
+  This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+  modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
+  published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the
+  License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ 
+  This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+  GNU General Public License for more details.
+ 
+  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+  along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+  Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
+ 
+*/
+
+/** @file appstate.hpp
+ ** Registering and managing some application-global services.
+ ** Besides encapsulating the logic for starting up the fundamental parts
+ ** of the application, there is a mechanism for registering and firing off
+ ** application lifecycle event callbacks. 
+ **
+ ** @see LifecycleHook
+ ** @see main.cpp
+ ** @see nobugcfg.h
+ */
+
+
+#ifndef LUMIERA_APPSTATE_H
+#define LUMIERA_APPSTATE_H
+
+#include "include/symbol.hpp"
+
+#include <boost/noncopyable.hpp>
+#include <boost/scoped_ptr.hpp>
+#include <string>
+#include <map>
+
+
+
+namespace lumiera {
+  
+  using std::string;
+  using boost::scoped_ptr;
+  using boost::noncopyable;
+  
+  class LifecycleRegistry;
+  
+  
+  /**
+   * Singleton to hold global flags directing the overall application behaviour,
+   * for triggering lifecycle events and performing early initialisation tasks.
+   * AppState services are available already from static initialisation code.
+   * @warning don't use AppState in destructors.
+   */
+  class AppState
+    : private noncopyable
+    {
+    private:
+      AppState ();
+      
+      ~AppState ();                 ///< deletion prohibited
+      friend void boost::checked_delete<AppState>(AppState*);
+      
+      
+    public:
+      /** get the (single) AppState instance. 
+       *  @warning don't use it after the end of main()! */
+      static AppState& instance();
+      
+      
+      /** fire off all lifecycle callbacks
+       *  registered under the given label  */
+      static void lifecycle (Symbol eventLabel);
+      
+      
+      
+    private:
+      typedef scoped_ptr<LifecycleRegistry> PLife;
+      
+      PLife lifecycleHooks_;
+      
+      friend class LifecycleHook;
+      
+    };
+  
+  
+} // namespace lumiera
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/lumiera/lumiera.c b/src/lumiera/lumiera.c
index 4ffcb8447..289646180 100644
--- a/src/lumiera/lumiera.c
+++ b/src/lumiera/lumiera.c
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 
 
 //TODO: Lumiera header includes//
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 #include "lumiera/lumiera.h"
 #include "lumiera/interface.h"
 #include "lumiera/interfaceregistry.h"
diff --git a/src/lumiera/lumiera_init.c b/src/lumiera/lumiera_init.c
index 071d2439a..479fb5622 100644
--- a/src/lumiera/lumiera_init.c
+++ b/src/lumiera/lumiera_init.c
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 
 
 //TODO: Lumiera header includes//
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 #include "lumiera/lumiera.h"
 #include "lumiera/config_interface.h"
 
diff --git a/src/lumiera/main.cpp b/src/lumiera/main.cpp
index 5bf4ec79c..7c310ada4 100644
--- a/src/lumiera/main.cpp
+++ b/src/lumiera/main.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 
 using std::cout;
 using std::endl;
-using lumiera::Appconfig;
+using lumiera::AppState;
 using lumiera::ON_GLOBAL_INIT;
 using lumiera::ON_GLOBAL_SHUTDOWN;
 
@@ -37,10 +37,10 @@ int main (int argc, char* argv[])
 {
   cout << "*** Lumiera NLE for Linux ***" << endl;
   
-  Appconfig::lifecycle (ON_GLOBAL_INIT);
+  AppState::lifecycle (ON_GLOBAL_INIT);
   
   // great things are happening here....
   
-  Appconfig::lifecycle (ON_GLOBAL_SHUTDOWN);
+  AppState::lifecycle (ON_GLOBAL_SHUTDOWN);
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/lumiera/nobugcfg.cpp b/src/lumiera/nobugcfg.cpp
index 9c50d58de..ecbde0e79 100644
--- a/src/lumiera/nobugcfg.cpp
+++ b/src/lumiera/nobugcfg.cpp
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@
 * *****************************************************/
 
 
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 
 #define NOBUG_INIT_DEFS_
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 #undef NOBUG_INIT_DEFS_
 
 
diff --git a/src/proc/Makefile.am b/src/proc/Makefile.am
index 580bb637e..9d30d454f 100644
--- a/src/proc/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/proc/Makefile.am
@@ -219,5 +219,5 @@ noinst_HEADERS +=							\
 	$(liblumiproc_a_srcdir)/asset.hpp				\
 	$(liblumiproc_a_srcdir)/assetmanager.hpp			\
 	$(liblumiproc_a_srcdir)/lumiera.hpp				\
-	$(liblumiproc_a_srcdir)/nobugcfg.hpp
+	$(liblumiproc_a_srcdir)/nobugcfg.h
 
diff --git a/src/proc/asset.hpp b/src/proc/asset.hpp
index 2e82051d7..2298a9a01 100644
--- a/src/proc/asset.hpp
+++ b/src/proc/asset.hpp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
 
 
 #include "proc/asset/category.hpp"
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 #include "include/error.hpp"
 #include "common/p.hpp"
 
diff --git a/src/proc/asset/category.cpp b/src/proc/asset/category.cpp
index 7467325e4..ad2e22cf0 100644
--- a/src/proc/asset/category.cpp
+++ b/src/proc/asset/category.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 
 #include "proc/asset/category.hpp"
 #include "common/util.hpp"
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 
 #include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>
 
diff --git a/src/proc/asset/media.cpp b/src/proc/asset/media.cpp
index 1344c791d..75f78ea31 100644
--- a/src/proc/asset/media.cpp
+++ b/src/proc/asset/media.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 #include "proc/mobject/session/clip.hpp"
 #include "proc/mobject/session/mobjectfactory.hpp"
 #include "common/util.hpp"
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 
 #include <boost/regex.hpp>
 #include <boost/format.hpp>
diff --git a/src/proc/asset/meta.cpp b/src/proc/asset/meta.cpp
index f2f42bc22..8d71b8a1b 100644
--- a/src/proc/asset/meta.cpp
+++ b/src/proc/asset/meta.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 #include "proc/assetmanager.hpp"
 #include "proc/asset/meta.hpp"
 #include "common/util.hpp"
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 
 
 namespace asset
diff --git a/src/proc/asset/proc.cpp b/src/proc/asset/proc.cpp
index d383b8c31..223d3616b 100644
--- a/src/proc/asset/proc.cpp
+++ b/src/proc/asset/proc.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 #include "proc/assetmanager.hpp"
 #include "proc/asset/proc.hpp"
 #include "common/util.hpp"
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 
 
 namespace asset
diff --git a/src/proc/asset/struct.cpp b/src/proc/asset/struct.cpp
index 9305722e0..68764b008 100644
--- a/src/proc/asset/struct.cpp
+++ b/src/proc/asset/struct.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 #include "proc/asset/structfactoryimpl.hpp"
 
 #include "common/util.hpp"
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 
 #include <boost/format.hpp>
 
diff --git a/src/proc/common.hpp b/src/proc/common.hpp
index 622c3c1ea..07dc821c3 100644
--- a/src/proc/common.hpp
+++ b/src/proc/common.hpp
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@
 #include "common/p.hpp"
 #include "common/util.hpp"
 #include "common/lumitime.hpp"
-#include "include/error.hpp"   ///< pulls in NoBug via nobugcfg.hpp
-#include "lumiera/appconfig.hpp"
+#include "include/error.hpp"   ///< pulls in NoBug via nobugcfg.h
+#include "lumiera/appstate.hpp"
 
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/proc/control/stypemanager.cpp b/src/proc/control/stypemanager.cpp
index 2d2982118..6a8301010 100644
--- a/src/proc/control/stypemanager.cpp
+++ b/src/proc/control/stypemanager.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ namespace control {
   STypeManager::reset() 
   {
     reg_.reset(new Registry);
-    lumiera::Appconfig::lifecycle(ON_STREAMTYPES_RESET);
+    lumiera::AppState::lifecycle(ON_STREAMTYPES_RESET);
   }
   
   /** \par
diff --git a/src/proc/mobject/builder/common.hpp b/src/proc/mobject/builder/common.hpp
index 160d0a858..36993fa03 100644
--- a/src/proc/mobject/builder/common.hpp
+++ b/src/proc/mobject/builder/common.hpp
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 #ifndef MOBJECT_BUILDER_COMMON_H
 #define MOBJECT_BUILDER_COMMON_H
 
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 
 
 namespace mobject {
diff --git a/src/proc/mobject/session/fixture.cpp b/src/proc/mobject/session/fixture.cpp
index bfccd57a4..88329075d 100644
--- a/src/proc/mobject/session/fixture.cpp
+++ b/src/proc/mobject/session/fixture.cpp
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 
 
 #include "proc/mobject/session/fixture.hpp"
-#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 
 namespace mobject
   {
diff --git a/src/tool/try.cpp b/src/tool/try.cpp
index 40c5d2d42..d6b3a95b9 100644
--- a/src/tool/try.cpp
+++ b/src/tool/try.cpp
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 
 #include <nobug.h>
-//#include "include/nobugcfg.hpp"
+//#include "include/nobugcfg.h"
 
 #include <iostream>
 //#include <typeinfo>
diff --git a/tests/common/appconfigtest.cpp b/tests/common/appconfigtest.cpp
index aba78fe01..08683fa3b 100644
--- a/tests/common/appconfigtest.cpp
+++ b/tests/common/appconfigtest.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
-  Appconfig(Test)  -  accessing the always-available Appconfig singleton
+  Appconfig(Test)  -  accessing the always-available AppState singleton
  
   Copyright (C)         Lumiera.org
     2008,               Hermann Vosseler <Ichthyostega@web.de>
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 #include "common/test/run.hpp"
 #include "common/util.hpp"
 
-#include "lumiera/appconfig.hpp"
+#include "lumiera/appstate.hpp"
 
 
 
@@ -42,10 +42,10 @@ namespace lumiera {
             UNIMPLEMENTED ("reorganise config access for C++");
           }
         
-        /** @test accessing a value from lumiera::Appconfig */
+        /** @test accessing a value from lumiera::AppState */
         void testAccess (const string& key)
         {
-//        string ver = lumiera::Appconfig::get(key);
+//        string ver = lumiera::AppState::get(key);
 //        ASSERT ( !util::isnil(ver));
         }
       };
diff --git a/tests/common/exceptionerrortest.cpp b/tests/common/exceptionerrortest.cpp
index 336b87c0e..9ce45a1c8 100644
--- a/tests/common/exceptionerrortest.cpp
+++ b/tests/common/exceptionerrortest.cpp
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ namespace lumiera
          *        this should result in the global unknown() handler to be called,
          *        so usually it will terminate the testrun. 
          *  @note inside error.hpp, an initialisation hook has been installed into
-         *        Appconfig, causing our own unknown() handler to be installed and
+         *        AppState, causing our own unknown() handler to be installed and
          *        invoked, which gives additional diagnostics.*/
         void terminateUnknown ()  throw() 
         {
diff --git a/tests/common/lifecycletest.cpp b/tests/common/lifecycletest.cpp
index 4d5e3b594..529eda9bf 100644
--- a/tests/common/lifecycletest.cpp
+++ b/tests/common/lifecycletest.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
-  LifeCycle(Test)  -  checking the lifecycle callback hooks provided by Appconfig
+  LifeCycle(Test)  -  checking the lifecycle callback hooks provided by AppState
  
   Copyright (C)         Lumiera.org
     2008,               Hermann Vosseler <Ichthyostega@web.de>
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 #include "common/test/run.hpp"
 #include "common/util.hpp"
 
-#include "lumiera/appconfig.hpp"
+#include "lumiera/appstate.hpp"
 
 
 
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ namespace lumiera
             ASSERT (1 == basicInit, "the basic-init callback has been invoked more than once");
             
             ASSERT (!customCallback);
-            Appconfig::lifecycle (MY_MAGIC_MEGA_EVENT);
+            AppState::lifecycle (MY_MAGIC_MEGA_EVENT);
             ASSERT ( 1 == customCallback);
           }
         
diff --git a/tests/common/mainsuite.cpp b/tests/common/mainsuite.cpp
index d7dbb7903..58024d645 100644
--- a/tests/common/mainsuite.cpp
+++ b/tests/common/mainsuite.cpp
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@
 
 #include "common/test/suite.hpp"
 #include "common/test/testoption.hpp"
-#include "lumiera/appconfig.hpp"
+#include "lumiera/appstate.hpp"
 
-using lumiera::Appconfig;
+using lumiera::AppState;
 using lumiera::ON_GLOBAL_INIT;
 using lumiera::ON_GLOBAL_SHUTDOWN;
 
@@ -39,13 +39,13 @@ int main (int argc, const char* argv[])
   util::Cmdline args (argc,argv);
   test::TestOption optparser (args);
   test::Suite suite (optparser.getTestgroup());
-  Appconfig::lifecycle(ON_GLOBAL_INIT);
+  AppState::lifecycle(ON_GLOBAL_INIT);
   
   if (optparser.getDescribe())
     suite.describe();
   else
     suite.run (args);
 
-  Appconfig::lifecycle(ON_GLOBAL_SHUTDOWN);
+  AppState::lifecycle(ON_GLOBAL_SHUTDOWN);
   return 0;
 }