diff --git a/py/_com.py b/py/_com.py
index 9bf31a273..6c8f83d0b 100644
--- a/py/_com.py
+++ b/py/_com.py
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ class Registry:
     """
         Manage Plugins: Load plugins and manage calls to plugins. 
     """
+    logfile = None
     MultiCall = MultiCall
 
     def __init__(self, plugins=None):
@@ -130,6 +131,11 @@ class HookCall:
                             "for api call to %r" % self.name)
         attr = self.registry.listattr(self.name, extra=self.extralookup)
         mc = MultiCall(attr, **kwargs)
+        # XXX this should be doable from a hook impl:
+        if self.registry.logfile:
+            self.registry.logfile.write("%s(**%s) # firstresult=%s\n" %
+                (self.name, kwargs, self.firstresult))
+            self.registry.logfile.flush()
         return mc.execute(firstresult=self.firstresult)
 
 comregistry = Registry()
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/conftest.py b/py/test/plugin/conftest.py
index 12f639454..5d5b81f4c 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/conftest.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/conftest.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ def pytest_funcarg__testdir(request):
     basename = request.module.__name__.split(".")[-1] 
     if basename.startswith("pytest_"):
         testdir.plugins.append(vars(request.module))
+        testdir.plugins.append(basename) 
     else:
         pass # raise ValueError("need better support code")
     return testdir
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_doctest.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_doctest.py
index c97e89749..cec84ddb8 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_doctest.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_doctest.py
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
+"""
+automatically collect and execute doctests. 
+"""
+
 import py
+from py.__.code.excinfo import Repr, ReprFileLocation
 
 def pytest_addoption(parser):
     group = parser.addgroup("doctest options")
@@ -13,8 +18,6 @@ def pytest_collect_file(path, parent):
     if path.check(fnmatch="test_*.txt"):
         return DoctestTextfile(path, parent)
 
-from py.__.code.excinfo import Repr, ReprFileLocation
-
 class ReprFailDoctest(Repr):
     def __init__(self, reprlocation, lines):
         self.reprlocation = reprlocation
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_eventlog.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_eventlog.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 07268ed0e..000000000
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_eventlog.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,45 +0,0 @@
-import py
-
-""" expected to fail. 
-"""
-
-class EventlogPlugin:
-    """ log pytest events to a file. """
-    def pytest_addoption(self, parser):
-        parser.addoption("--eventlog", dest="eventlog", 
-            help="write all pytest events to the given file.")
-
-    def pytest_configure(self, config):
-        eventlog = config.getvalue("eventlog")
-        if eventlog:
-            self.eventlogfile = open(eventlog, 'w')
-
-    def pytest_unconfigure(self, config):
-        if hasattr(self, 'eventlogfile'):
-            self.eventlogfile.close()
-            del self.eventlogfile
-
-    def pyevent(self, eventname, args, kwargs):
-        if hasattr(self, 'eventlogfile'):
-            f = self.eventlogfile
-            print >>f, eventname, args, kwargs
-            f.flush()
-
-# ===============================================================================
-# plugin tests 
-# ===============================================================================
-
-@py.test.mark.xfail
-def test_generic(plugintester):
-    plugintester.hookcheck()
-
-    testdir = plugintester.testdir()
-    testdir.makepyfile("""
-        def test_pass():
-            pass
-    """)
-    testdir.runpytest("--eventlog=event.log")
-    s = testdir.tmpdir.join("event.log").read()
-    assert s.find("testrunstart") != -1
-    assert s.find("ItemTestReport") != -1
-    assert s.find("testrunfinish") != -1
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_execnetcleanup.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_execnetcleanup.py
index a31036892..689653e5e 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_execnetcleanup.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_execnetcleanup.py
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+"""
+cleanup gateways that were instantiated during a test function run. 
+"""
 import py
 
 def pytest_configure(config):
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_figleaf.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_figleaf.py
index d23345eb1..220f86aa7 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_figleaf.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_figleaf.py
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+"""
+write and report coverage data using the 'figleaf' module. 
+"""
 import py
 
 figleaf = py.test.importorskip("figleaf")
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_hooklog.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_hooklog.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b9333f371
--- /dev/null
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_hooklog.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+""" log calling of plugin hooks to a file. """ 
+import py
+
+def pytest_addoption(parser):
+    parser.addoption("--hooklog", dest="hooklog", default=None, 
+        help="write hook calls to the given file.")
+
+def pytest_configure(config):
+    hooklog = config.getvalue("hooklog")
+    if hooklog:
+        assert not config.pluginmanager.comregistry.logfile
+        config.pluginmanager.comregistry.logfile = open(hooklog, 'w')
+
+def pytest_unconfigure(config):
+    f = config.pluginmanager.comregistry.logfile
+    if f:
+        f.close()
+        config.pluginmanager.comregistry.logfile = None
+
+# ===============================================================================
+# plugin tests 
+# ===============================================================================
+
+def test_generic(plugintester):
+    plugintester.hookcheck()
+
+def test_functional(testdir):
+    testdir.makepyfile("""
+        def test_pass():
+            pass
+    """)
+    testdir.runpytest("--hooklog=hook.log")
+    s = testdir.tmpdir.join("hook.log").read()
+    assert s.find("pytest_testrunstart") != -1
+    assert s.find("ItemTestReport") != -1
+    assert s.find("testrunfinish") != -1
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_iocapture.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_iocapture.py
index 32221ed0d..0c0eb228f 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_iocapture.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_iocapture.py
@@ -1,12 +1,22 @@
+"""
+'capsys' and 'capfd' funcargs for capturing stdout/stderror either
+by intercepting sys.stdout/stderr or File Descriptors 1/2. 
+
+Calling the reset() method of the capture funcargs gives 
+a out/err tuple of strings representing the captured streams. 
+You can call reset() multiple times each time getting
+the chunk of output that was captured between the invocations. 
+
+"""
 import py
 
-def pytest_funcarg__stdcapture(request):
+def pytest_funcarg__capsys(request):
     """ capture writes to sys.stdout/sys.stderr. """ 
     capture = Capture(py.io.StdCapture)
     request.addfinalizer(capture.finalize)
     return capture 
 
-def pytest_funcarg__stdcapturefd(request):
+def pytest_funcarg__capfd(request):
     """ capture writes to filedescriptors 1 and 2"""
     capture = Capture(py.io.StdCaptureFD)
     request.addfinalizer(capture.finalize)
@@ -31,19 +41,19 @@ def test_generic(plugintester):
 class TestCapture:
     def test_std_functional(self, testdir):        
         reprec = testdir.inline_runsource("""
-            def test_hello(stdcapture):
+            def test_hello(capsys):
                 print 42
-                out, err = stdcapture.reset()
+                out, err = capsys.reset()
                 assert out.startswith("42")
         """)
         reprec.assertoutcome(passed=1)
         
     def test_stdfd_functional(self, testdir):        
         reprec = testdir.inline_runsource("""
-            def test_hello(stdcapturefd):
+            def test_hello(capfd):
                 import os
                 os.write(1, "42")
-                out, err = stdcapturefd.reset()
+                out, err = capfd.reset()
                 assert out.startswith("42")
         """)
         reprec.assertoutcome(passed=1)
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_monkeypatch.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_monkeypatch.py
index 943c6443a..0f0c47ff4 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_monkeypatch.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_monkeypatch.py
@@ -1,17 +1,15 @@
-import os
 """
-    provides the "monkeypatch" funcarg for safely patching objects, 
+    "monkeypatch" funcarg for safely patching objects, 
     dictionaries and environment variables during the execution of 
-    a test.  There are three helper functions: 
+    a test.  "monkeypatch" has three helper functions: 
 
         monkeypatch.setattr(obj, name, value) 
         monkeypatch.setitem(obj, name, value) 
         monkeypatch.setenv(name, value) 
 
-    After the test run all such modifications will be undone, 
-    which may even mean deleting the attribute or dictionary entry 
-    if it didn't exist before. 
+    After the test has run modifications will be undone. 
 """
+import os
 
 def pytest_funcarg__monkeypatch(request):
     monkeypatch = MonkeyPatch()
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_pdb.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_pdb.py
index 6320903d3..1f1c026c5 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_pdb.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_pdb.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+""" XXX should be used sometime. """ 
 from py.__.test.custompdb import post_mortem
 
 def pytest_item_runtest_finished(item, excinfo, outerr):
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_pylint.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_pylint.py
index d7dc7529a..2bd46ad2d 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_pylint.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_pylint.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 """pylint plugin
 
-
 XXX: Currently in progress, NOT IN WORKING STATE.
 """
 import py
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_pytester.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_pytester.py
index 7794fe579..4a243cd6d 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_pytester.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_pytester.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 """
-pytes plugin for easing testing of pytest runs themselves. 
+funcargs and support code for testing py.test functionality. 
 """
 
 import py
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_recwarn.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_recwarn.py
index e56ac5eb2..8d8fe66b4 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_recwarn.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_recwarn.py
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 """
-
-provides "recwarn" funcarg for asserting warnings to be shown 
-to a user.  See the test at the bottom for an example. 
-
+"recwarn" funcarg for asserting that warnings are shown to a user.  
 """
 import py
 import os
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_restdoc.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_restdoc.py
index 6492fbe22..4a4d36968 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_restdoc.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_restdoc.py
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+"""
+perform ReST specific tests on .txt files, including
+linkchecks and remote URL checks. 
+"""
 import py
 
 def pytest_addoption(parser):
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_resultdb.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_resultdb.py
index 59b1660f8..3cbfccceb 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_resultdb.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_resultdb.py
@@ -1,54 +1,51 @@
+"""XXX in progress: resultdb plugin for database logging of test results. 
+
+Saves test results to a datastore.
+
+XXX this needs to be merged with resultlog plugin
+
+Also mixes in some early ideas about an archive abstraction for test 
+results.
+""" 
 import py
+
+py.test.skip("XXX needs to be merged with resultlog")
+
 from pytest_resultlog import ResultLog
 
-class ResultdbPlugin:
-    """XXX in progress: resultdb plugin for database logging of test results. 
+def pytest_addoption(parser):
+    group = parser.addgroup("resultdb", "resultdb plugin options")
+    group.addoption('--resultdb', action="store", dest="resultdb", 
+            metavar="path",
+            help="path to the file to store test results.")
+    group.addoption('--resultdb_format', action="store", 
+            dest="resultdbformat", default='json',
+            help="data format (json, sqlite)")
 
-    Saves test results to a datastore.
-
-    XXX this needs to be merged with resultlog plugin
-
-    Also mixes in some early ideas about an archive abstraction for test 
-    results.
-    """ 
-    def pytest_addoption(self, parser):
-        group = parser.addgroup("resultdb", "resultdb plugin options")
-        group.addoption('--resultdb', action="store", dest="resultdb", 
-                metavar="path",
-                help="path to the file to store test results.")
-        group.addoption('--resultdb_format', action="store", 
-                dest="resultdbformat", default='json',
-                help="data format (json, sqlite)")
-    
-    def pytest_configure(self, config):
-        if config.getvalue('resultdb'):
-            if config.option.resultdb:
-                # local import so missing module won't crash py.test
-                try:
-                    import sqlite3
-                except ImportError:
-                    raise config.Error('Could not import sqlite3 module')
-                try:
-                    import simplejson
-                except ImportError:
-                    raise config.Error('Could not import simplejson module')
-                if config.option.resultdbformat.lower() == 'json':
-                    self.resultdb = ResultDB(JSONResultArchive, 
-                            config.option.resultdb) 
-                elif config.option.resultdbformat.lower() == 'sqlite':
-                    self.resultdb = ResultDB(SQLiteResultArchive, 
-                            config.option.resultdb) 
-                else:
-                    raise config.Error('Unknown --resultdb_format: %s' % 
-                            config.option.resultdbformat) 
-
-                config.pluginmanager.register(self.resultdb)
-
-    def pytest_unconfigure(self, config):
-        if hasattr(self, 'resultdb'):
-            del self.resultdb 
-            #config.pluginmanager.unregister(self.resultdb)
+def pytest_configure(config):
+    # XXX using config.XYZ is not good 
+    if config.getvalue('resultdb'):
+        if config.option.resultdb:
+            # local import so missing module won't crash py.test
+            try:
+                import sqlite3
+            except ImportError:
+                raise config.Error('Could not import sqlite3 module')
+            try:
+                import simplejson
+            except ImportError:
+                raise config.Error('Could not import simplejson module')
+            if config.option.resultdbformat.lower() == 'json':
+                resultdb = ResultDB(JSONResultArchive, 
+                        config.option.resultdb) 
+            elif config.option.resultdbformat.lower() == 'sqlite':
+                resultdb = ResultDB(SQLiteResultArchive, 
+                        config.option.resultdb) 
+            else:
+                raise config.Error('Unknown --resultdb_format: %s' % 
+                        config.option.resultdbformat) 
 
+            config.pluginmanager.register(resultdb)
 
 class JSONResultArchive(object):
     def __init__(self, archive_path):
@@ -328,8 +325,7 @@ class TestWithFunctionIntegration:
             assert x.startswith(" ")
         assert "XXX" in "".join(lines[1:])
 
-    def test_log_test_outcomes(self, plugintester):
-        testdir = plugintester.testdir()
+    def test_log_test_outcomes(self, testdir):
         mod = testdir.makepyfile(test_mod="""
             import py 
             def test_pass(): pass
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_unittest.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_unittest.py
index ff2c54d3e..03e38628f 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_unittest.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_unittest.py
@@ -10,8 +10,6 @@ this code is somewhat derived from Guido Wesdorps
 
     http://johnnydebris.net/svn/projects/py_unittest
 
-$HeadURL: https://codespeak.net/svn/py/branch/pytestplugin/contrib/py_unittest/conftest.py $
-$Id: conftest.py 60979 2009-01-14 22:29:32Z hpk $
 """
 import py
 
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_xfail.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_xfail.py
index 84cbb58ac..6024eb673 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_xfail.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_xfail.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 """
-mark and report specially about "expected to fail" tests. 
+mark tests as expected-to-fail and report them separately. 
+
+example: 
 
-for marking and reporting "expected to fail" tests. 
     @py.test.mark.xfail("needs refactoring")
     def test_hello():
         ...
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ def pytest_report_teststatus(rep):
         elif rep.failed:
             return "xpassed", "P", "xpass" 
 
-# a hook implemented called by the terminalreporter instance/plugin
+# called by the terminalreporter instance/plugin
 def pytest_terminal_summary(terminalreporter):
     tr = terminalreporter
     xfailed = tr.stats.get("xfailed")