diff --git a/processing/app/KjcApplet.java b/processing/app/KjcApplet.java
index fe6a30fb4..2b0dc3f87 100644
--- a/processing/app/KjcApplet.java
+++ b/processing/app/KjcApplet.java
@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@ public class KjcApplet extends BApplet {
   public void run() {
     try {
       super.run();
+
     } catch (Exception e) {
-      //System.out.println("ex found in run");
+      System.out.println("ex found in run");
       //e.printStackTrace();
       //engine.error(e);
       engine.newMessage = true;
diff --git a/processing/app/KjcEngine.java b/processing/app/KjcEngine.java
index 8904a7588..561c1ed06 100644
--- a/processing/app/KjcEngine.java
+++ b/processing/app/KjcEngine.java
@@ -741,6 +741,14 @@ public class KjcEngine extends PdeEngine {
 	// has to be before init
 	applet.serialProperties(PdeBase.properties);
 	applet.init();
+	if (applet.exception != null) {
+	  if (applet.exception instanceof javax.comm.PortInUseException) {
+	    throw new PdeException("Another program is already " +
+				   "using the serial port.");
+	  } else {
+	    throw new PdeException(applet.exception.getMessage());
+	  }
+	}
 	applet.start();
 
 	if (editor.presenting) {
diff --git a/processing/app/PdeBase.java b/processing/app/PdeBase.java
index 8dffdb454..74ef4797d 100644
--- a/processing/app/PdeBase.java
+++ b/processing/app/PdeBase.java
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ public class PdeBase extends Frame implements ActionListener {
 
   // hack for #@#)$(* macosx
   public Dimension getMinimumSize() {
-    return new Dimension(300, 300);
+    return new Dimension(500, 500);
   }
 
 
@@ -719,11 +719,15 @@ public class PdeBase extends Frame implements ActionListener {
     String defaultName = get("serial.port", "unspecified");
     boolean problem = false;
 
+    // if this is failing, it may be because
+    // lib/javax.comm.properties is missing
     try {
+      //System.out.println("building port list");
       Enumeration portList = CommPortIdentifier.getPortIdentifiers();
       while (portList.hasMoreElements()) {
 	CommPortIdentifier portId = 
 	  (CommPortIdentifier) portList.nextElement();
+	//System.out.println(portId);
 	
 	if (portId.getPortType() == CommPortIdentifier.PORT_SERIAL) {
 	  //if (portId.getName().equals(port)) {
@@ -745,8 +749,7 @@ public class PdeBase extends Frame implements ActionListener {
     }
 
     // only warn them if this is the first time
-    //if (getInteger("window.x", 0) == 0) {
-    if (firstTime) {
+    if (problem && firstTime) {
       JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(frame,
 				    "Serial port support not installed.\n" +
 				    "Check the readme for instructions if you " +
diff --git a/processing/app/PdeEditorTextPane.java b/processing/app/PdeEditorTextPane.java
index 2c070f83a..3dd978ad8 100644
--- a/processing/app/PdeEditorTextPane.java
+++ b/processing/app/PdeEditorTextPane.java
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ public class PdeEditorTextPane extends JTextPane {
     setStyledDocument(document);
     // MAYBE?    textPane = this;
 
+    //setPreferredSize(new Dimension(620, 460));
+
     //setDoubleBuffered(true);
 
     //textPane.setCaretPosition(0);
diff --git a/processing/todo.txt b/processing/todo.txt
index 65a32d928..c0817bfd6 100644
--- a/processing/todo.txt
+++ b/processing/todo.txt
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ X   remove .jar, .class, and .java files from the 'applet' dir
 When I am working in a project and I save it with another name, 
 all the old files are copyied to new directory, and some of the old 
 unused .class files and images remains inside new project JAR files. 
+X serial port
+X   better message for PortInUseException (full explanation)
+X   better message for when serial port code not available/not installed
 
 bagel
 _ images don't load during setup()
@@ -69,9 +72,6 @@ _ set frame title of launched window to the name of the sketch
 _ use date in the sketch name sketch_021104 
 _   with a _2 if needed or '021104a' '021104b' etc
 _   when using save as, allow to remove the old (numbered) sketch
-_ serial port
-_   better message for PortInUseException (full explanation)
-_   better message for when serial port code not available/not installed
 _ lots of problems with the console [maybe this needs to be a textarea?]
 _   long lines seem to be trouble
 _   also printing of objects, esp when null, in jdk 14