diff --git a/Engine.cpp b/Engine.cpp
index 0845b3d..eb09fc7 100644
--- a/Engine.cpp
+++ b/Engine.cpp
@@ -72,14 +72,16 @@ void Engine::setEnableTextureInterpolation(bool EnableTextureInterpolation)
 
 void Engine::addRecent(std::string path)
 {
-    int count = this->countRecent();
-    std::string name = "recent" + std::to_string(count);
-    this->settings.set(name, path);
+    if (!this->hasRecent(path)) {
+        int count = this->countRecent();
+        std::string name = "recent" + std::to_string(count);
+        this->settings.set(name, path);
+    }
 }
 
 void Engine::addRecentPaths(std::vector<std::string> paths)
 {
-    for (std::vector<std::string>::iterator it = paths.begin() ; it != paths.end(); ++it) {
+    for (std::vector<std::string>::iterator it = paths.begin(); it != paths.end(); ++it) {
         this->addRecent(*it);
     }
 }
@@ -93,6 +95,24 @@ int Engine::countRecent()
     return count;
 }
 
+bool Engine::hasRecent(std::string path) {
+    int count = 0;
+    while (true) {
+        bool found = false;
+        std::string value = this->settings.get("recent" + std::to_string(count), found);
+        if (found) {
+            if (value == path) {
+                break;
+            }
+            count++;
+        }
+        else {
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
 std::vector<std::string> Engine::recentPaths()
 {
     std::vector<std::string> results;
@@ -336,6 +356,9 @@ Engine::Engine()
     }
     if (appdatas.length() > 0) {
         myAppData = appdatas + path_separator_s + std::string("b3view");
+        if (!Utility::is_directory(myAppData)) {
+            Utility::create_directory(myAppData);
+        }
     }
     std::string settingsName = "settings.conf";
     std::string settingsPath = settingsName;
diff --git a/Engine.h b/Engine.h
index 27d76d7..d7c790a 100644
--- a/Engine.h
+++ b/Engine.h
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ public:
     void addRecentPaths(std::vector<std::string> paths);
     int countRecent();
     std::vector<std::string> recentPaths();
+    bool hasRecent(std::string path);
 };
 
 #endif // ENGINE_H
diff --git a/UserInterface.cpp b/UserInterface.cpp
index c474537..5fa5da3 100644
--- a/UserInterface.cpp
+++ b/UserInterface.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
+#include "Debug.h"
+#include "Engine.h"
+#include "Utility.h"
 #include "UserInterface.h"
+
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <iostream>
 #include <string>
@@ -8,9 +12,6 @@
 // #include <filesystem>  // requires C++17
 #include <experimental/filesystem> // requires C++14 such as gcc 8.2.1
 
-#include "Debug.h"
-#include "Engine.h"
-#include "Utility.h"
 
 using namespace irr;
 using namespace irr::core;
@@ -24,6 +25,9 @@ using namespace std;
 // namespace fs = std::filesystem;  // doesn't work (not a namespace in gcc's C++17)
 // using namespace std::filesystem;  // doesn't work (not a namespace in gcc's C++17)
 namespace fs = std::experimental::filesystem;
+// namespace fs = std::filesystem;  // doesn't work (not a namespace in gcc's C++17)
+
+const u32 UserInterface::UIC_FILE_RECENT_FIRST = UIE_RECENTMENU + 1;
 
 // PRIVATE
 void UserInterface::setupUserInterface()
@@ -39,7 +43,6 @@ void UserInterface::setupUserInterface()
     fileMenu->addItem(L"Open", UIC_FILE_OPEN);
     this->fileRecentIdx = fileMenu->addItem(L"Open Recent", UIC_FILE_RECENT, true, true);
     std::vector<std::string> recentPaths = this->m_Engine->recentPaths();
-    this->addRecentPaths(recentPaths);
     fileMenu->addItem(L"Change Texture", UIC_FILE_OPEN_TEXTURE);
     fileMenu->addItem(L"Previous Texture    Shift F3", UIC_FILE_PREVIOUS_TEXTURE);
     fileMenu->addItem(L"Next Texture        F3", UIC_FILE_NEXT_TEXTURE);
@@ -54,11 +57,12 @@ void UserInterface::setupUserInterface()
     this->recentMenu = fileMenu->getSubMenu(this->fileRecentIdx);
 
     this->recentMenu->addItem(L"Clear Recent", UIC_FILE_RECENT_CLEAR);
-    this->uic_file_recent_first = UIC_FILE_RECENT_CLEAR + 1;
-    this->uic_file_recent_next = this->uic_file_recent_first;
+    this->uic_file_recent_next = UserInterface::UIC_FILE_RECENT_FIRST;
     this->m_file_recent_first_idx = -1;
     this->m_file_recent_last_idx = -1;
 
+    this->recent_initialized = true;
+    this->addRecentMenuItems(recentPaths, false);
 
     // Playback Menu
     playbackMenu = menu->getSubMenu(1);
@@ -503,6 +507,7 @@ void UserInterface::snapWidgets()
 // PUBLIC
 UserInterface::UserInterface(Engine* engine)
 {
+    this->recent_initialized = false;
     viewTextureInterpolationIdx = 0;
     viewWireframeIdx = 0;
     viewLightingIdx = 0;
@@ -776,21 +781,31 @@ void UserInterface::exportMeshToHome(std::string extension)
 
 void UserInterface::clearRecent()
 {
-    // for (int idx=this->uic_file_recent_next-1; idx>=this->uic_file_recent_first; idx--) {
+    // for (int idx=this->uic_file_recent_next-1; idx>=UserInterface::uic_file_recent_first; idx--) {
     for (std::vector<u32>::iterator idxIt = this->recentIndices.begin(); idxIt != this->recentIndices.end(); ++idxIt) {
         this->recentMenu->removeItem(*idxIt);
     }
     this->recentIndices.clear();
-    this->uic_file_recent_next = this->uic_file_recent_first;
+    this->uic_file_recent_next = UserInterface::UIC_FILE_RECENT_FIRST;
     this->m_file_recent_first_idx = -1;
     this->m_file_recent_last_idx = -1;
 }
 
-void UserInterface::addRecent(std::string path)
+void UserInterface::addRecentMenuItem(std::string path, bool addToEngine)
 {
+    if (!this->recent_initialized) {
+        throw std::string("The UI is not ready in addRecent.");
+    }
     if (!this->hasRecent(path)) {
-        u32 newI = this->recentMenu->addItem(Utility::toWstring(path).c_str(), this->uic_file_recent_next);
-        IGUIContextMenu* menu = this->recentMenu->getSubMenu(newI);
+        wstring path_ws = Utility::toWstring(path);
+        if (this->uic_file_recent_next < UserInterface::UIC_FILE_RECENT_FIRST) {
+            throw std::string("this->uic_file_recent_next is "
+                              + std::to_string(this->uic_file_recent_next)
+                              + " but should be equal to or greater than first: "
+                              + std::to_string(this->uic_file_recent_next));
+        }
+        u32 newI = this->recentMenu->addItem(path_ws.c_str(), this->uic_file_recent_next);
+        // IGUIContextMenu* menu = this->recentMenu->getSubMenu(newI);
         this->recentIndices.push_back(newI);
         this->uic_file_recent_next += 1;
         /*
@@ -803,19 +818,32 @@ void UserInterface::addRecent(std::string path)
     }
 }
 
-void UserInterface::addRecentPaths(std::vector<std::string> paths)
+void UserInterface::addRecentMenuItems(std::vector<std::string> paths, bool addToEngine)
 {
+    if (!this->recent_initialized) {
+        throw std::string("The UI is not ready in addRecent.");
+    }
     for (std::vector<std::string>::iterator it = paths.begin() ; it != paths.end(); ++it) {
-        this->addRecent(*it);
+        this->addRecentMenuItem(*it, addToEngine);
     }
 }
 
 bool UserInterface::hasRecent(std::string path)
 {
+    if (!this->recent_initialized) {
+        throw std::string("The UI is not ready in addRecent.");
+    }
     for (std::vector<u32>::iterator uiIt = this->recentIndices.begin() ; uiIt != this->recentIndices.end(); ++uiIt) {
         IGUIContextMenu* menu = this->recentMenu->getSubMenu(*uiIt);
-        if (Utility::toString(menu->getText()) == path) {
-            return true;
+        if (menu != nullptr) {
+            if (Utility::toString(menu->getText()) == path) {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+        else {
+            const std::string msg = "There was no menu for " + std::to_string(*uiIt) + " in hasRecent";
+            cerr << msg << endl;
+            throw std::string(msg);
         }
     }
     return false;
@@ -823,6 +851,9 @@ bool UserInterface::hasRecent(std::string path)
 
 void UserInterface::openRecent(s32 menuID, std::wstring menuText)
 {
+    if (!this->recent_initialized) {
+        throw std::string("The UI is not ready in addRecent.");
+    }
     IGUIElement* menu = this->recentMenu->getElementFromId(menuID);
     std::string path = Utility::toString(menu->getText());
     cerr << "path: " << path << endl;
@@ -868,7 +899,7 @@ bool UserInterface::OnEvent(const SEvent& event)
                 else {
                     result = m_Engine->loadMesh(fileOpenDialog->getFileName());
                 }
-                this->addRecent(Utility::toString(path));
+                this->addRecentMenuItem(Utility::toString(path), true);
 
                 if (!result) {
                     this->m_Engine->m_Device->getGUIEnvironment()->addMessageBox(
@@ -968,6 +999,7 @@ bool UserInterface::OnEvent(const SEvent& event)
             }
             break;
         case UIE_RECENTMENU:
+            cerr << "called UIE_RECENTMENU unexpectedly for \"" << ge->Caller->getText() << "\"" << endl;
             break;
         default:
             // if ((ge->Caller->getID() >= this->m_file_recent_first_idx)
@@ -977,7 +1009,8 @@ bool UserInterface::OnEvent(const SEvent& event)
                 this->openRecent(callerID, ge->Caller->getText());
             }
             else {
-                cerr << "Unknown caller id: " << callerID << endl;
+                cerr << "Unknown caller id: " << callerID << " Text:" << ge->Caller->getText() << endl;
+
                 handled = false;
             }
         }
diff --git a/UserInterface.h b/UserInterface.h
index 978b13d..3b0a984 100644
--- a/UserInterface.h
+++ b/UserInterface.h
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ enum UserInterfaceCommands {
 class UserInterface : public irr::IEventReceiver {
 private:
     irr::s32 spacing_y;
-    irr::u32 uic_file_recent_first;
+    static const irr::u32 UIC_FILE_RECENT_FIRST;
     irr::u32 uic_file_recent_next;
     irr::s32 m_file_recent_first_idx;
     irr::s32 m_file_recent_last_idx;
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ private:
     irr::gui::IGUIEnvironment* m_Gui;
     irr::gui::CGUITTFont* m_GuiFont;
     irr::gui::CGUITTFace* m_GuiFontFace;
+    bool recent_initialized;
 
     void setupUserInterface();
     void displayLoadFileDialog();
@@ -128,8 +129,8 @@ public:
     bool loadNextTexture(int direction);
     void exportMeshToHome(std::string extension);
     void clearRecent();
-    void addRecent(std::string path);
-    void addRecentPaths(std::vector<std::string> paths);
+    void addRecentMenuItem(std::string path, bool addToEngine);
+    void addRecentMenuItems(std::vector<std::string> paths, bool addToEngine);
     bool hasRecent(std::string path);
     void openRecent(irr::s32 menuID, std::wstring menuText);
     bool OnSelectMesh();
diff --git a/Utility.cpp b/Utility.cpp
index ae103df..4aacd97 100644
--- a/Utility.cpp
+++ b/Utility.cpp
@@ -1,16 +1,29 @@
+#include "Debug.h"
 #include "Utility.h"
+
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <clocale>
 #include <cmath>
 #include <cwctype> // #include <cwtype>
 #include <iostream>
+#include <filesystem>
 #include <locale>
 #include <sstream>
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 #include <assert.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+// NOTE: to use filesystem, you must also include the fs library such
+// as via the `-lstdc++fs` linker option -- see b3view.pro
+// #include <filesystem>  // requires C++17
+#include <experimental/filesystem> // requires C++14 such as gcc 8.2.1
 
-#include "Debug.h"
+
+// C++14: namespace filesystem = std::experimental::filesystem;
+// namespace fs = std::filesystem;  // doesn't work (not a namespace in gcc's C++17)
+// using namespace std::filesystem;  // doesn't work (not a namespace in gcc's C++17)
+namespace fs = std::experimental::filesystem;
+// namespace fs = std::filesystem;  // doesn't work (not a namespace in gcc's C++17)
 
 using namespace irr::core;
 using namespace irr::scene;
@@ -459,6 +472,37 @@ bool Utility::isFile(const std::wstring& name)
     }
 }
 
+bool Utility::is_directory(const std::string &path)
+{
+    return fs::is_directory(fs::status(path));
+    /*
+    //pre C++17:
+    struct stat info;
+    if (stat(path, &info) != 0) {
+        // TODO: ^ fails on OSX 10.11 according to a comment on the
+        // accepted answer on
+        // https://stackoverflow.com/questions/18100097/portable-way-to-check-if-directory-exists-windows-linux-c
+    }
+    */
+}
+bool Utility::is_directory(const std::wstring &path)
+{
+    return fs::is_directory(fs::status(path));
+    /*
+    //pre C++17:
+    struct stat info;
+    if (stat(path, &info) != 0) {
+        // TODO: ^ fails on OSX 10.11 according to a comment on the
+        // accepted answer on
+        // https://stackoverflow.com/questions/18100097/portable-way-to-check-if-directory-exists-windows-linux-c
+    }
+    */
+}
+
+void Utility::create_directory(const std::string &path) {
+    fs::create_directory(path);
+}
+
 std::string Utility::toString(int val)
 {
     return std::to_string(val);
@@ -554,5 +598,8 @@ void TestUtility::assertEqual(const std::string subject, const std::string expec
     assert(subject == expectedResult);
 }
 
-
+#ifdef DEBUG
 static TestUtility testutility;  // Run tests (Creating the first instance runs the static constructor).
+#elif QT_DEBUG
+static TestUtility testutility;  // Run tests (Creating the first instance runs the static constructor).
+#endif
diff --git a/Utility.h b/Utility.h
index a4e4503..3b31ec3 100644
--- a/Utility.h
+++ b/Utility.h
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ public:
     static std::wstring delimiter(const std::wstring& path);
     static bool isFile(const std::string& name);
     static bool isFile(const std::wstring& name);
+    static bool is_directory(const std::string& name);
+    static bool is_directory(const std::wstring &path);
+    static void create_directory(const std::string &path);
     static std::string toString(int val);
     static std::string toString(irr::f32 val);
     static std::string toString(const std::wstring& name);
diff --git a/View.cpp b/View.cpp
index 41115ac..0202b0a 100644
--- a/View.cpp
+++ b/View.cpp
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-#include "View.h"
 #include "Engine.h"
-#include <iostream>
-
 #include "Utility.h"
+#include "View.h"
+
+#include <iostream>
 
 using namespace irr;
 using namespace irr::core;
diff --git a/b3view.pro b/b3view.pro
index 3ea4a54..b95b4b7 100644
--- a/b3view.pro
+++ b/b3view.pro
@@ -37,9 +37,12 @@ LIBS += -lIrrlicht \
     -lXxf86vm \
     -lXcursor
 
+#QMAKE_CXXFLAGS += -std=c++17
+#QMAKE_LFLAGS += -lstdc++fs
 # <experimental/filesystem>:
 LIBS += -lstdc++fs
 
 # Freetype
 INCLUDEPATH += /usr/include/freetype2
 LIBS += -lfreetype
+
diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
index 3ef34cb..285b606 100755
--- a/build.sh
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -1,15 +1,24 @@
-#!/bin/sh
+#!/bin/bash
+# ^ bash is required for the "if" syntax used here.
 if [ -z "$PREFIX" ]; then
     PREFIX="/usr"
 fi
 if [ -z "$DEBUG" ]; then
     DEBUG=false
 fi
+if [ "@$1" == "@--debug" ]; then
+    DEBUG=true
+fi
 OPTION1="-O2"
-OPTION2=""
+OPTION2=
+OPTION3=
 if [ "@$DEBUG" = "@true" ]; then
     OPTION1="-g"
     #OPTION2="-DQT_QML_DEBUG"
+    OPTION3="-DDEBUG=true"
+    echo "* build:Debug"
+else
+    echo "* build:Release"
 fi
 #IRR_INCDIR=
 #IRR_LIBDIR=
@@ -35,28 +44,38 @@ fi
 # gcc -o build/b3view main.cpp Debug.cpp Engine.cpp EventHandler.cpp settings.cpp  UserInterface.cpp  Utility.cpp  View.cpp -I$FT2_INCDIR
 
 # based on qtcreator's build after clean (see contributing.md; some options are unclear):
-eche
-g++ -c -pipe $OPTION1 -fPIC -I../b3view -I$FT2_INCDIR -o $OBJDIR/main.o ../b3view/main.cpp
-g++ -c -pipe $OPTION1 -fPIC -I../b3view -I$FT2_INCDIR -o $OBJDIR/Engine.o ../b3view/Engine.cpp
-g++ -c -pipe $OPTION1 -fPIC -I../b3view -I$FT2_INCDIR -o $OBJDIR/EventHandler.o ../b3view/EventHandler.cpp
-g++ -c -pipe $OPTION1 -fPIC -I../b3view -I$FT2_INCDIR -o $OBJDIR/UserInterface.o ../b3view/UserInterface.cpp
-g++ -c -pipe $OPTION1 -fPIC -I../b3view -I$FT2_INCDIR -o $OBJDIR/View.o ../b3view/View.cpp
-g++ -c -pipe $OPTION1 -fPIC -I../b3view -I$FT2_INCDIR -o $OBJDIR/Debug.o ../b3view/Debug.cpp
-g++ -c -pipe $OPTION1 -fPIC -I../b3view -I$FT2_INCDIR -o $OBJDIR/CGUITTFont.o ../b3view/extlib/CGUITTFont.cpp
-g++ -c -pipe $OPTION1 -fPIC -I../b3view -I$FT2_INCDIR -o $OBJDIR/Utility.o ../b3view/Utility.cpp
-g++ -c -pipe $OPTION1 -fPIC -I../b3view -I$FT2_INCDIR -o $OBJDIR/settings.o ../b3view/settings.cpp
+g++ -c -pipe $OPTION1 $OPTION2 $OPTION3 -fPIC -I../b3view -I$FT2_INCDIR -o $OBJDIR/main.o ../b3view/main.cpp
+if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo "Error: building main failed. Ensure that libirrlicht-dev is installed."
+    exit 1
+fi
+g++ -c -pipe $OPTION1 $OPTION2 $OPTION3 -fPIC -I../b3view -I$FT2_INCDIR -o $OBJDIR/Engine.o ../b3view/Engine.cpp
+g++ -c -pipe $OPTION1 $OPTION2 $OPTION3 -fPIC -I../b3view -I$FT2_INCDIR -o $OBJDIR/EventHandler.o ../b3view/EventHandler.cpp
+g++ -c -pipe $OPTION1 $OPTION2 $OPTION3 -fPIC -I../b3view -I$FT2_INCDIR -o $OBJDIR/UserInterface.o ../b3view/UserInterface.cpp
+g++ -c -pipe $OPTION1 $OPTION2 $OPTION3 -fPIC -I../b3view -I$FT2_INCDIR -o $OBJDIR/View.o ../b3view/View.cpp
+g++ -c -pipe $OPTION1 $OPTION2 $OPTION3 -fPIC -I../b3view -I$FT2_INCDIR -o $OBJDIR/Debug.o ../b3view/Debug.cpp
+g++ -c -pipe $OPTION1 $OPTION2 $OPTION3 -fPIC -I../b3view -I$FT2_INCDIR -o $OBJDIR/CGUITTFont.o ../b3view/extlib/CGUITTFont.cpp
+g++ -c -pipe $OPTION1 $OPTION2 $OPTION3 -fPIC -I../b3view -I$FT2_INCDIR -o $OBJDIR/Utility.o ../b3view/Utility.cpp
+g++ -c -pipe $OPTION1 $OPTION2 $OPTION3 -fPIC -I../b3view -I$FT2_INCDIR -o $OBJDIR/settings.o ../b3view/settings.cpp
 #-w: suppress warning
 # -I.: include the current directory (suppresses errors when using include < instead of include "
 #-pipe: "Use pipes rather than intermediate files."
 #Options starting with -g, -f, -m, -O, -W, or --param are automatically
 # passed on to the various sub-processes invoked by g++.  In order to pass
 # other options on to these processes the -W<letter> options must be used.
-rm "$OUT_BIN"
-if [ -f "$OUT_BIN" ]; then
-    echo "Error: $OUT_BIN couldn't be deleted."
-    exit 1
+if [ -f "$$OUT_BIN" ]; then
+    mv "$OUT_BIN" "$OUT_BIN.BAK"
+    if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+        echo "Error: 'mv \"$OUT_BIN\" \"$OUT_BIN.BAK\"' failed.."
+        exit 1
+    fi
 fi
 g++  -o build/b3view $OBJDIR/main.o $OBJDIR/Engine.o $OBJDIR/EventHandler.o $OBJDIR/UserInterface.o $OBJDIR/Debug.o $OBJDIR/View.o $OBJDIR/CGUITTFont.o $OBJDIR/Utility.o $OBJDIR/settings.o -lIrrlicht -lX11 -lGL -lXxf86vm -lXcursor -lstdc++fs -lfreetype
+if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo "* linking failed."
+else
+    echo "* linking suceeded."
+fi
 if [ ! -f "$OUT_BIN" ]; then
     echo "Error: $OUT_BIN couldn't be built."
     exit 1
@@ -77,5 +96,11 @@ if [ -f "$INSTALLED_BIN" ]; then
         else
             echo "* FAILED to install $INSTALLED_BIN."
         fi
+    else
+        echo "* skipping install since './$OUT_BIN' failed."
+        echo "* try:"
+        echo "  $0 --debug"
+        echo "  # then:"
+        echo "  gdb \"$OUT_BIN\""
     fi
 fi
diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index bdbad0f..aaa0edd 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ bat: [github.com/poikilos/mobs_sky](https://github.com/poikilos/mobs_sky)
 
 Website: [poikilos.org](https://poikilos.org)
 
+## Requirements
+* libirrlicht
 
 ## Main Features in poikilos fork
 * stabilized (makes sure font, model or texture loads before using;
diff --git a/settings.cpp b/settings.cpp
index a1df4a7..9715fa6 100644
--- a/settings.cpp
+++ b/settings.cpp
@@ -1,14 +1,13 @@
+#include "Utility.h"
+// #include "Debug.h"
+#include "settings.h"
+
 #include <fstream>
 #include <iostream>
 #include <vector>
 #include <algorithm> // std::find
-
 #include <assert.h>
 
-#include "settings.h"
-#include "Utility.h"
-// #include "Debug.h"
-
 using namespace std;
 
 void Settings::init_default_symbols() {
@@ -76,8 +75,22 @@ bool Settings::load(std::string path)
                 std::string value = Utility::trim(line.substr(signPos+1));
                 std::string::size_type iSz;
                 std::string::size_type fSz;
-                int valueI = std::stoi(value, &iSz);
-                float valueF = std::stof(value, &fSz);
+                int valueI;
+                int valueF;
+                try {
+                    valueI = std::stoi(value, &iSz);
+                }
+                catch (const std::invalid_argument& ex) {
+                    valueI = 0;
+                    iSz = 0;
+                }
+                try {
+                    valueF = std::stof(value, &iSz);
+                }
+                catch (const std::invalid_argument& ex) {
+                    valueF = 0.0f;
+                    fSz = 0;
+                }
                 // ^ radix (3rd param) default is 10 (base-10 number system)
                 cerr << name << std::endl;
                 cerr << "  valueI length: " << iSz << std::endl;
@@ -89,9 +102,8 @@ bool Settings::load(std::string path)
                     typeStr = "int";
                 }
                 else if (iSz > 0) {
-                    cerr << this->pre << "WARNING: The file has a "
-                         << typeStr << " for " << name << ", but "
-                         << this->types[name] << " was expected."
+                    cerr << this->pre << "WARNING: The value \"" << value
+                         << "\" starts with a number but is not a number."
                          << std::endl;
                 }
 
@@ -137,6 +149,7 @@ bool Settings::load(std::string path)
         }
         newfile.close();
         readable = true;
+        cerr << "* load finished reading " << path << " (elements:" << this->table.size() << ")" << endl;
     }
     this->section = "";
     this->pre = "";
@@ -455,4 +468,8 @@ void TestSettings::assert_section_set_on_create()
     }
 }
 
+#ifdef DEBUG
 static TestSettings testsettings;  // Run tests (Creating the first instance runs the static constructor).
+#elif QT_DEBUG
+static TestSettings testsettings;  // Run tests (Creating the first instance runs the static constructor).
+#endif
diff --git a/test.conf b/test.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..96d2fe8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+a = 3
+[more]
+b = 2