diff --git a/REQUIRE b/REQUIRE
index b9cf9457..26a3ae70 100644
--- a/REQUIRE
+++ b/REQUIRE
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-julia 0.7-alpha
+julia 0.7
 
 RecipesBase 0.2.3
 PlotUtils 0.4.1
diff --git a/src/Plots.jl b/src/Plots.jl
index d67a0381..854b13bf 100644
--- a/src/Plots.jl
+++ b/src/Plots.jl
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-__precompile__(true)
-
 module Plots
 
 using Reexport
@@ -171,6 +169,7 @@ include("arg_desc.jl")
 include("plotattr.jl")
 include("backends.jl")
 include("output.jl")
+include("init.jl")
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -236,10 +235,10 @@ zlims!(zmin::Real, zmax::Real; kw...)                     = plot!(; zlims = (zmi
 
 
 "Set xticks for an existing plot"
-xticks!(v::AVec{T}; kw...) where {T<:Real}                       = plot!(; xticks = v, kw...)
+xticks!(v::TicksArgs; kw...) where {T<:Real}                       = plot!(; xticks = v, kw...)
 
 "Set yticks for an existing plot"
-yticks!(v::AVec{T}; kw...) where {T<:Real}                       = plot!(; yticks = v, kw...)
+yticks!(v::TicksArgs; kw...) where {T<:Real}                       = plot!(; yticks = v, kw...)
 
 xticks!(
 ticks::AVec{T}, labels::AVec{S}; kw...) where {T<:Real,S<:AbstractString}     = plot!(; xticks = (ticks,labels), kw...)
@@ -274,8 +273,8 @@ let PlotOrSubplot = Union{Plot, Subplot}
     global xlims!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, xmin::Real, xmax::Real; kw...)             = plot!(plt; xlims = (xmin,xmax), kw...)
     global ylims!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, ymin::Real, ymax::Real; kw...)             = plot!(plt; ylims = (ymin,ymax), kw...)
     global zlims!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, zmin::Real, zmax::Real; kw...)             = plot!(plt; zlims = (zmin,zmax), kw...)
-    global xticks!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, ticks::AVec{T}; kw...) where {T<:Real}           = plot!(plt; xticks = ticks, kw...)
-    global yticks!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, ticks::AVec{T}; kw...) where {T<:Real}           = plot!(plt; yticks = ticks, kw...)
+    global xticks!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, ticks::TicksArgs; kw...) where {T<:Real}           = plot!(plt; xticks = ticks, kw...)
+    global yticks!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, ticks::TicksArgs; kw...) where {T<:Real}           = plot!(plt; yticks = ticks, kw...)
     global xticks!(plt::PlotOrSubplot,
    ticks::AVec{T}, labels::AVec{S}; kw...) where {T<:Real,S<:AbstractString}     = plot!(plt; xticks = (ticks,labels), kw...)
     global yticks!(plt::PlotOrSubplot,
diff --git a/src/args.jl b/src/args.jl
index 7930b775..a6310170 100644
--- a/src/args.jl
+++ b/src/args.jl
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ function hasgrid(arg::Symbol, letter)
     if arg in _allGridSyms
         arg in (:all, :both, :on) || occursin(string(letter), string(arg))
     else
-        warn("Unknown grid argument $arg; $(Symbol(letter, :grid)) was set to `true` instead.")
+        @warn("Unknown grid argument $arg; $(Symbol(letter, :grid)) was set to `true` instead.")
         true
     end
 end
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ function showaxis(arg::Symbol, letter)
     if arg in _allGridSyms
         arg in (:all, :both, :on, :yes) || occursin(string(letter), string(arg))
     else
-        warn("Unknown showaxis argument $arg; $(Symbol(letter, :showaxis)) was set to `true` instead.")
+        @warn("Unknown showaxis argument $arg; $(Symbol(letter, :showaxis)) was set to `true` instead.")
         true
     end
 end
@@ -704,7 +704,7 @@ function processLineArg(d::KW, arg)
 
     # color
     elseif !handleColors!(d, arg, :linecolor)
-        warn("Skipped line arg $arg.")
+        @warn("Skipped line arg $arg.")
 
     end
 end
@@ -740,7 +740,7 @@ function processMarkerArg(d::KW, arg)
 
     # markercolor
     elseif !handleColors!(d, arg, :markercolor)
-        warn("Skipped marker arg $arg.")
+        @warn("Skipped marker arg $arg.")
 
     end
 end
@@ -800,7 +800,7 @@ function processGridArg!(d::KW, arg, letter)
 
     # color
     elseif !handleColors!(d, arg, Symbol(letter, :foreground_color_grid))
-        warn("Skipped grid arg $arg.")
+        @warn("Skipped grid arg $arg.")
 
     end
 end
@@ -834,7 +834,7 @@ function processMinorGridArg!(d::KW, arg, letter)
     elseif handleColors!(d, arg, Symbol(letter, :foreground_color_minor_grid))
         d[Symbol(letter, :minorgrid)] = true
     else
-        warn("Skipped grid arg $arg.")
+        @warn("Skipped grid arg $arg.")
     end
 end
 
@@ -867,7 +867,7 @@ function processFontArg!(d::KW, fontname::Symbol, arg)
     elseif typeof(arg) <: Real
         d[Symbol(fontname, :rotation)] = convert(Float64, arg)
     else
-        warn("Skipped font arg: $arg ($(typeof(arg)))")
+        @warn("Skipped font arg: $arg ($(typeof(arg)))")
     end
 end
 
@@ -1050,7 +1050,7 @@ function preprocessArgs!(d::KW)
     # warnings for moved recipes
     st = get(d, :seriestype, :path)
     if st in (:boxplot, :violin, :density) && !isdefined(Main, :StatPlots)
-        warn("seriestype $st has been moved to StatPlots.  To use: \`Pkg.add(\"StatPlots\"); using StatPlots\`")
+        @warn("seriestype $st has been moved to StatPlots.  To use: \`Pkg.add(\"StatPlots\"); using StatPlots\`")
     end
 
     return
@@ -1070,7 +1070,7 @@ function extractGroupArgs(v::AVec, args...; legendEntry = string)
     groupLabels = sort(collect(unique(v)))
     n = length(groupLabels)
     if n > 100
-        warn("You created n=$n groups... Is that intended?")
+        @warn("You created n=$n groups... Is that intended?")
     end
     groupIds = Vector{Int}[filter(i -> v[i] == glab, 1:length(v)) for glab in groupLabels]
     GroupBy(map(legendEntry, groupLabels), groupIds)
@@ -1142,7 +1142,7 @@ function warnOnUnsupported_args(pkg::AbstractBackend, d::KW)
     if !isempty(_to_warn)
         for k in sort(collect(_to_warn))
             push!(already_warned, k)
-            warn("Keyword argument $k not supported with $pkg.  Choose from: $(supported_attrs(pkg))")
+            @warn("Keyword argument $k not supported with $pkg.  Choose from: $(supported_attrs(pkg))")
         end
     end
 end
@@ -1153,13 +1153,13 @@ end
 
 function warnOnUnsupported(pkg::AbstractBackend, d::KW)
     if !is_seriestype_supported(pkg, d[:seriestype])
-        warn("seriestype $(d[:seriestype]) is unsupported with $pkg.  Choose from: $(supported_seriestypes(pkg))")
+        @warn("seriestype $(d[:seriestype]) is unsupported with $pkg.  Choose from: $(supported_seriestypes(pkg))")
     end
     if !is_style_supported(pkg, d[:linestyle])
-        warn("linestyle $(d[:linestyle]) is unsupported with $pkg.  Choose from: $(supported_styles(pkg))")
+        @warn("linestyle $(d[:linestyle]) is unsupported with $pkg.  Choose from: $(supported_styles(pkg))")
     end
     if !is_marker_supported(pkg, d[:markershape])
-        warn("markershape $(d[:markershape]) is unsupported with $pkg.  Choose from: $(supported_markers(pkg))")
+        @warn("markershape $(d[:markershape]) is unsupported with $pkg.  Choose from: $(supported_markers(pkg))")
     end
 end
 
@@ -1168,7 +1168,7 @@ function warnOnUnsupported_scales(pkg::AbstractBackend, d::KW)
         if haskey(d, k)
             v = d[k]
             if !is_scale_supported(pkg, v)
-                warn("scale $v is unsupported with $pkg.  Choose from: $(supported_scales(pkg))")
+                @warn("scale $v is unsupported with $pkg.  Choose from: $(supported_scales(pkg))")
             end
         end
     end
diff --git a/src/axes.jl b/src/axes.jl
index 43bef9a0..094d4494 100644
--- a/src/axes.jl
+++ b/src/axes.jl
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ function process_axis_arg!(d::KW, arg, letter = "")
         d[Symbol(letter,:formatter)] = arg
 
     elseif !handleColors!(d, arg, Symbol(letter, :foreground_color_axis))
-        warn("Skipped $(letter)axis arg $arg")
+        @warn("Skipped $(letter)axis arg $arg")
 
     end
 end
diff --git a/src/backends.jl b/src/backends.jl
index 3e1affce..ad1b92d2 100644
--- a/src/backends.jl
+++ b/src/backends.jl
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ const _backendType = Dict{Symbol, DataType}(:none => NoBackend)
 const _backendSymbol = Dict{DataType, Symbol}(NoBackend => :none)
 const _backends = Symbol[]
 const _initialized_backends = Set{Symbol}()
+const _default_backends = (:none, :gr, :plotly)
+const _backendPackage = Dict{Symbol, Symbol}()
 
 "Returns a list of supported backends"
 backends() = _backends
@@ -13,9 +15,12 @@ backends() = _backends
 "Returns the name of the current backend"
 backend_name() = CURRENT_BACKEND.sym
 _backend_instance(sym::Symbol) = haskey(_backendType, sym) ? _backendType[sym]() : error("Unsupported backend $sym")
+backend_package(pkg::Symbol) = pkg in _default_backends ? :Plots : Symbol("Plots", _backendPackage[pkg])
+backend_package_name(sym::Symbol) = sym in _default_backends ? :Plots : _backendPackage[sym]
 
 macro init_backend(s)
-    str = lowercase(string(s))
+    package_str = string(s)
+    str = lowercase(package_str)
     sym = Symbol(str)
     T = Symbol(string(s) * "Backend")
     esc(quote
@@ -23,14 +28,16 @@ macro init_backend(s)
         export $sym
         $sym(; kw...) = (default(; kw...); backend(Symbol($str)))
         backend_name(::$T) = Symbol($str)
+        backend_package_name(pkg::$T) = backend_package_name(Symbol($str))
         push!(_backends, Symbol($str))
         _backendType[Symbol($str)] = $T
         _backendSymbol[$T] = Symbol($str)
-        include("backends/" * $str * ".jl")
+        _backendPackage[Symbol($str)] = Symbol($package_str)
+        # include("backends/" * $str * ".jl")
     end)
 end
 
-include("backends/web.jl")
+# include("backends/web.jl")
 # include("backends/supported.jl")
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------
@@ -40,7 +47,6 @@ function add_backend(pkg::Symbol)
     println(add_backend_string(_backend_instance(pkg)))
     println()
 end
-add_backend_string(b::AbstractBackend) = warn("No custom install defined for $(backend_name(b))")
 
 # don't do anything as a default
 _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot) = nothing
@@ -135,30 +141,30 @@ CurrentBackend(sym::Symbol) = CurrentBackend(sym, _backend_instance(sym))
 function pickDefaultBackend()
     env_default = get(ENV, "PLOTS_DEFAULT_BACKEND", "")
     if env_default != ""
-        if env_default in keys(Pkg.installed())
-            sym = Symbol(lowercase(env_default))
-            if haskey(_backendType, sym)
+        sym = Symbol(lowercase(env_default))
+        if sym in _backends
+            if sym in _initialized_backends
                 return backend(sym)
             else
-                warn("You have set PLOTS_DEFAULT_BACKEND=$env_default but it is not a valid backend package.  Choose from:\n\t",
-                     join(sort(_backends), "\n\t"))
+                @warn("You have set `PLOTS_DEFAULT_BACKEND=$env_default` but `$(backend_package_name(sym))` is not loaded.")
             end
         else
-            warn("You have set PLOTS_DEFAULT_BACKEND=$env_default but it is not installed.")
+            @warn("You have set PLOTS_DEFAULT_BACKEND=$env_default but it is not a valid backend package.  Choose from:\n\t",
+                 join(sort(_backends), "\n\t"))
         end
     end
 
     # the ordering/inclusion of this package list is my semi-arbitrary guess at
     # which one someone will want to use if they have the package installed...accounting for
     # features, speed, and robustness
-    for pkgstr in ("GR", "PyPlot", "PlotlyJS", "PGFPlots", "UnicodePlots", "InspectDR", "GLVisualize")
-        if pkgstr in keys(Pkg.installed())
-            return backend(Symbol(lowercase(pkgstr)))
-        end
-    end
+    # for pkgstr in ("GR", "PyPlot", "PlotlyJS", "PGFPlots", "UnicodePlots", "InspectDR", "GLVisualize")
+    #     if pkgstr in keys(Pkg.installed())
+    #         return backend(Symbol(lowercase(pkgstr)))
+    #     end
+    # end
 
     # the default if nothing else is installed
-    backend(:plotly)
+    backend(:gr)
 end
 
 
@@ -174,24 +180,6 @@ function backend()
     pickDefaultBackend()
   end
 
-  sym = CURRENT_BACKEND.sym
-  if !(sym in _initialized_backends)
-
-    # # initialize
-    # println("[Plots.jl] Initializing backend: ", sym)
-
-    inst = _backend_instance(sym)
-    try
-      _initialize_backend(inst)
-    catch err
-      warn("Couldn't initialize $sym.  (might need to install it?)")
-      add_backend(sym)
-      rethrow(err)
-    end
-
-    push!(_initialized_backends, sym)
-
-  end
   CURRENT_BACKEND.pkg
 end
 
@@ -199,16 +187,29 @@ end
 Set the plot backend.
 """
 function backend(pkg::AbstractBackend)
-    CURRENT_BACKEND.sym = backend_name(pkg)
-    warn_on_deprecated_backend(CURRENT_BACKEND.sym)
-    CURRENT_BACKEND.pkg = pkg
+    sym = backend_name(pkg)
+    if sym in _initialized_backends
+        CURRENT_BACKEND.sym = backend_name(pkg)
+        CURRENT_BACKEND.pkg = pkg
+    else
+        # try
+            _initialize_backend(pkg)
+            push!(_initialized_backends, sym)
+            CURRENT_BACKEND.sym = backend_name(pkg)
+            CURRENT_BACKEND.pkg = pkg
+        # catch
+        #     add_backend(sym)
+        # end
+    end
     backend()
 end
 
-function backend(modname::Symbol)
-    warn_on_deprecated_backend(modname)
-    CURRENT_BACKEND.sym = modname
-    CURRENT_BACKEND.pkg = _backend_instance(modname)
+function backend(sym::Symbol)
+    if sym in _backends
+        backend(_backend_instance(sym))
+    else
+        @warn("`:$sym` is not a supported backend.")
+    end
     backend()
 end
 
@@ -216,7 +217,7 @@ const _deprecated_backends = [:qwt, :winston, :bokeh, :gadfly, :immerse]
 
 function warn_on_deprecated_backend(bsym::Symbol)
     if bsym in _deprecated_backends
-        warn("Backend $bsym has been deprecated.  It may not work as originally intended.")
+        @warn("Backend $bsym has been deprecated.  It may not work as originally intended.")
     end
 end
 
@@ -308,3 +309,109 @@ end
 
 # is_subplot_supported(::AbstractBackend) = false
 # is_subplot_supported() = is_subplot_supported(backend())
+
+
+################################################################################
+# initialize the backends
+
+function _initialize_backend(pkg::AbstractBackend)
+    sym = backend_package_name(pkg)
+    @eval Main begin
+        import $sym
+        export $sym
+    end
+end
+
+function add_backend_string(pkg::AbstractBackend)
+    sym = backend_package_name(pkg)
+    """
+    using Pkg
+    Pkg.add("$sym")
+    """
+end
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# glvisualize
+
+function _initialize_backend(::GLVisualizeBackend; kw...)
+    @eval Main begin
+        import GLVisualize, GeometryTypes, Reactive, GLAbstraction, GLWindow, Contour
+        import GeometryTypes: Point2f0, Point3f0, Vec2f0, Vec3f0, GLNormalMesh, SimpleRectangle, Point, Vec
+        import FileIO, Images
+        export GLVisualize
+        import Reactive: Signal
+        import GLAbstraction: Style
+        import GLVisualize: visualize
+        import Plots.GL
+        import UnicodeFun
+    end
+end
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# hdf5
+
+function _initialize_backend(::HDF5Backend)
+    @eval Main begin
+        import HDF5
+        export HDF5
+    end
+end
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# PGFPLOTS
+
+function add_backend_string(::PGFPlotsBackend)
+    """
+    using Pkg
+    Pkg.add("PGFPlots")
+    Pkg.build("PGFPlots")
+    """
+end
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# plotlyjs
+
+function add_backend_string(::PlotlyJSBackend)
+    """
+    using Pkg
+    Pkg.add("PlotlyJS")
+    Pkg.add("Rsvg")
+    import Blink
+    Blink.AtomShell.install()
+    """
+end
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# pyplot
+
+function _initialize_backend(::PyPlotBackend)
+    @eval Main begin
+        import PyPlot, PyCall
+        import LaTeXStrings: latexstring
+
+        export PyPlot
+
+        # we don't want every command to update the figure
+        PyPlot.ioff()
+    end
+end
+
+function add_backend_string(::PyPlotBackend)
+    """
+    using Pkg
+    Pkg.add("PyPlot")
+    withenv("PYTHON" => "") do
+        Pkg.build("PyPlot")
+    end
+    """
+end
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# unicodeplots
+function add_backend_string(::UnicodePlotsBackend)
+    """
+    using Pkg
+    Pkg.add("UnicodePlots")
+    Pkg.build("UnicodePlots")
+    """
+end
diff --git a/src/backends/glvisualize.jl b/src/backends/glvisualize.jl
index 29880097..bf33704b 100644
--- a/src/backends/glvisualize.jl
+++ b/src/backends/glvisualize.jl
@@ -9,10 +9,6 @@ TODO
     * fix units in all visuals (e.g dotted lines, marker scale, surfaces)
 =#
 
-@require Revise = "295af30f-e4ad-537b-8983-00126c2a3abe" begin
-    Revise.track(Plots, joinpath(Pkg.dir("Plots"), "src", "backends", "glvisualize.jl"))
-end
-
 const _glvisualize_attr = merge_with_base_supported([
     :annotations,
     :background_color_legend, :background_color_inside, :background_color_outside,
@@ -61,36 +57,11 @@ const _glvisualize_style = [:auto, :solid, :dash, :dot, :dashdot]
 const _glvisualize_marker = _allMarkers
 const _glvisualize_scale = [:identity, :ln, :log2, :log10]
 
-
-
-# --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-function _initialize_backend(::GLVisualizeBackend; kw...)
-    @eval begin
-        import GLVisualize, GeometryTypes, Reactive, GLAbstraction, GLWindow, Contour
-        import GeometryTypes: Point2f0, Point3f0, Vec2f0, Vec3f0, GLNormalMesh, SimpleRectangle, Point, Vec
-        import FileIO, Images
-        export GLVisualize
-        import Reactive: Signal
-        import GLAbstraction: Style
-        import GLVisualize: visualize
-        import Plots.GL
-        import UnicodeFun
-        Plots.slice_arg(img::Matrix{C}, idx::Int) where {C<:Colorant} = img
-        is_marker_supported(::GLVisualizeBackend, shape::GLVisualize.AllPrimitives) = true
-        is_marker_supported(::GLVisualizeBackend, shape::Union{Vector{Matrix{C}}, Matrix{C}}) where {C<:Colorant} = true
-        is_marker_supported(::GLVisualizeBackend, shape::Shape) = true
-        GL = Plots
-    end
-end
-
-function add_backend_string(b::GLVisualizeBackend)
-    """
-    if !Plots.is_installed("GLVisualize")
-        Pkg.add("GLVisualize")
-    end
-    """
-end
+slice_arg(img::Matrix{C}, idx::Int) where {C<:Colorant} = img
+is_marker_supported(::GLVisualizeBackend, shape::GLVisualize.AllPrimitives) = true
+is_marker_supported(::GLVisualizeBackend, shape::Union{Vector{Matrix{C}}, Matrix{C}}) where {C<:Colorant} = true
+is_marker_supported(::GLVisualizeBackend, shape::Shape) = true
+GL = Plots
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -1329,7 +1300,7 @@ function gl_poly(points, kw_args)
         if !isempty(GeometryTypes.faces(mesh)) # check if polygonation has any faces
             push!(result, GLVisualize.visualize(mesh, Style(:default), kw_args))
         else
-            warn("Couldn't draw the polygon: $points")
+            @warn("Couldn't draw the polygon: $points")
         end
     end
     result
diff --git a/src/backends/gr.jl b/src/backends/gr.jl
index 099378d7..0c2253fe 100644
--- a/src/backends/gr.jl
+++ b/src/backends/gr.jl
@@ -3,10 +3,6 @@
 
 # significant contributions by @jheinen
 
-@require Revise = "295af30f-e4ad-537b-8983-00126c2a3abe" begin
-    Revise.track(Plots, joinpath(Pkg.dir("Plots"), "src", "backends", "gr.jl"))
-end
-
 const _gr_attr = merge_with_base_supported([
     :annotations,
     :background_color_legend, :background_color_inside, :background_color_outside,
@@ -65,12 +61,8 @@ function add_backend_string(::GRBackend)
     """
 end
 
-function _initialize_backend(::GRBackend; kw...)
-    @eval begin
-        import GR
-        export GR
-    end
-end
+import GR
+export GR
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -624,7 +616,7 @@ end
 function _update_min_padding!(sp::Subplot{GRBackend})
     dpi = sp.plt[:thickness_scaling]
     if !haskey(ENV, "GKSwstype")
-        if isijulia() || (isdefined(Main, :Juno) && Juno.isactive())
+        if isijulia()
             ENV["GKSwstype"] = "svg"
         end
     end
diff --git a/src/backends/hdf5.jl b/src/backends/hdf5.jl
index 0d8c1901..d8919942 100644
--- a/src/backends/hdf5.jl
+++ b/src/backends/hdf5.jl
@@ -28,10 +28,6 @@ Read from .hdf5 file using:
     - Should be reliable for archival purposes.
 ==#
 
-@require Revise = "295af30f-e4ad-537b-8983-00126c2a3abe" begin
-    Revise.track(Plots, joinpath(Pkg.dir("Plots"), "src", "backends", "hdf5.jl"))
-end
-
 import FixedPointNumbers: N0f8 #In core Julia
 
 #Dispatch types:
@@ -108,12 +104,35 @@ const _hdf5_marker = vcat(_allMarkers, :pixel)
 const _hdf5_scale = [:identity, :ln, :log2, :log10]
 is_marker_supported(::HDF5Backend, shape::Shape) = true
 
-function add_backend_string(::HDF5Backend)
-    """
-    if !Plots.is_installed("HDF5")
-        Pkg.add("HDF5")
-    end
-    """
+if length(HDF5PLOT_MAP_TELEM2STR) < 1
+    #Possible element types of high-level data types:
+    telem2str = Dict{String, Type}(
+        "NATIVE" => HDF5PlotNative,
+        "VOID" => Nothing,
+        "BOOL" => Bool,
+        "SYMBOL" => Symbol,
+        "TUPLE" => Tuple,
+        "CTUPLE" => HDF5CTuple, #Tuple of complex structures
+        "RGBA" => ARGB{N0f8},
+        "EXTREMA" => Extrema,
+        "LENGTH" => Length,
+        "ARRAY" => Array, #Dict won't allow Array to be key in HDF5PLOT_MAP_TELEM2STR
+
+        #Sub-structure types:
+        "FONT" => Font,
+        "BOUNDINGBOX" => BoundingBox,
+        "GRIDLAYOUT" => GridLayout,
+        "ROOTLAYOUT" => RootLayout,
+        "SERIESANNOTATIONS" => SeriesAnnotations,
+#                "PLOTTEXT" => PlotText,
+        "COLORGRADIENT" => ColorGradient,
+        "AXIS" => Axis,
+        "SURFACE" => Surface,
+        "SUBPLOT" => Subplot,
+        "NULLABLE" => Nullable,
+    )
+    merge!(HDF5PLOT_MAP_STR2TELEM, telem2str)
+    merge!(HDF5PLOT_MAP_TELEM2STR, Dict{Type, String}(v=>k for (k,v) in HDF5PLOT_MAP_STR2TELEM))
 end
 
 
@@ -140,44 +159,6 @@ end
 #==
 ===============================================================================#
 
-function _initialize_backend(::HDF5Backend)
-    @eval begin
-        import HDF5
-        export HDF5
-        if length(HDF5PLOT_MAP_TELEM2STR) < 1
-            #Possible element types of high-level data types:
-            telem2str = Dict{String, Type}(
-                "NATIVE" => HDF5PlotNative,
-                "VOID" => Nothing,
-                "BOOL" => Bool,
-                "SYMBOL" => Symbol,
-                "TUPLE" => Tuple,
-                "CTUPLE" => HDF5CTuple, #Tuple of complex structures
-                "RGBA" => ARGB{N0f8},
-                "EXTREMA" => Extrema,
-                "LENGTH" => Length,
-                "ARRAY" => Array, #Dict won't allow Array to be key in HDF5PLOT_MAP_TELEM2STR
-
-                #Sub-structure types:
-                "FONT" => Font,
-                "BOUNDINGBOX" => BoundingBox,
-                "GRIDLAYOUT" => GridLayout,
-                "ROOTLAYOUT" => RootLayout,
-                "SERIESANNOTATIONS" => SeriesAnnotations,
-#                "PLOTTEXT" => PlotText,
-                "COLORGRADIENT" => ColorGradient,
-                "AXIS" => Axis,
-                "SURFACE" => Surface,
-                "SUBPLOT" => Subplot,
-                "NULLABLE" => Nullable,
-            )
-            merge!(HDF5PLOT_MAP_STR2TELEM, telem2str)
-            merge!(HDF5PLOT_MAP_TELEM2STR, Dict{Type, String}(v=>k for (k,v) in HDF5PLOT_MAP_STR2TELEM))
-        end
-    end
-end
-
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 # Create the window/figure for this backend.
 function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{HDF5Backend})
@@ -244,7 +225,7 @@ end
 function _display(plt::Plot{HDF5Backend})
     msg = "HDF5 interface does not support `display()` function."
     msg *= "\nUse `Plots.hdf5plot_write(::String)` method to write to .HDF5 \"plot\" file instead."
-    warn(msg)
+    @warn(msg)
     return
 end
 
@@ -312,7 +293,7 @@ end
 #=
 function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::Array{Any})
 #    @show grp, k
-    warn("Cannot write Array: $k=$v")
+    @warn("Cannot write Array: $k=$v")
 end
 =#
 function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::Nothing)
@@ -342,7 +323,7 @@ function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::Tuple)
     #NOTE: _hdf5plot_overwritetype overwrites "Array" type with "Tuple".
 end
 function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, d::Dict)
-#    warn("Cannot write dict: $k=$d")
+#    @warn("Cannot write dict: $k=$d")
 end
 function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::AbstractRange)
     _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k, collect(v)) #For now
@@ -605,7 +586,7 @@ function _hdf5plot_read(grp, d::Dict)
         catch e
             @show e
             @show grp
-            warn("Could not read field $k")
+            @warn("Could not read field $k")
         end
     end
     return
diff --git a/src/backends/inspectdr.jl b/src/backends/inspectdr.jl
index 3eb8e5fc..2a82f192 100644
--- a/src/backends/inspectdr.jl
+++ b/src/backends/inspectdr.jl
@@ -13,10 +13,6 @@ Add in functionality to Plots.jl:
     :aspect_ratio,
 =#
 
-@require Revise = "295af30f-e4ad-537b-8983-00126c2a3abe" begin
-    Revise.track(Plots, joinpath(Pkg.dir("Plots"), "src", "backends", "inspectdr.jl"))
-end
-
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #TODO: remove features
 const _inspectdr_attr = merge_with_base_supported([
@@ -152,37 +148,23 @@ end
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-function add_backend_string(::InspectDRBackend)
-    """
-    if !Plots.is_installed("InspectDR")
-        Pkg.add("InspectDR")
-    end
-    """
+#Glyph used when plotting "Shape"s:
+INSPECTDR_GLYPH_SHAPE = InspectDR.GlyphPolyline(
+    2*InspectDR.GLYPH_SQUARE.x, InspectDR.GLYPH_SQUARE.y
+)
+
+mutable struct InspecDRPlotRef
+    mplot::Union{Nothing, InspectDR.Multiplot}
+    gui::Union{Nothing, InspectDR.GtkPlot}
 end
 
-function _initialize_backend(::InspectDRBackend; kw...)
-    @eval begin
-        import InspectDR
-        export InspectDR
+_inspectdr_getmplot(::Any) = nothing
+_inspectdr_getmplot(r::InspecDRPlotRef) = r.mplot
 
-        #Glyph used when plotting "Shape"s:
-        INSPECTDR_GLYPH_SHAPE = InspectDR.GlyphPolyline(
-            2*InspectDR.GLYPH_SQUARE.x, InspectDR.GLYPH_SQUARE.y
-        )
-
-        mutable struct InspecDRPlotRef
-            mplot::Union{Nothing, InspectDR.Multiplot}
-            gui::Union{Nothing, InspectDR.GtkPlot}
-        end
-
-        _inspectdr_getmplot(::Any) = nothing
-        _inspectdr_getmplot(r::InspecDRPlotRef) = r.mplot
-
-        _inspectdr_getgui(::Any) = nothing
-        _inspectdr_getgui(gplot::InspectDR.GtkPlot) = (gplot.destroyed ? nothing : gplot)
-        _inspectdr_getgui(r::InspecDRPlotRef) = _inspectdr_getgui(r.gui)
-    end
-end
+_inspectdr_getgui(::Any) = nothing
+_inspectdr_getgui(gplot::InspectDR.GtkPlot) = (gplot.destroyed ? nothing : gplot)
+_inspectdr_getgui(r::InspecDRPlotRef) = _inspectdr_getgui(r.gui)
+push!(_initialized_backends, :inspectdr)
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/src/backends/pgfplots.jl b/src/backends/pgfplots.jl
index ab5f8bee..153331d8 100644
--- a/src/backends/pgfplots.jl
+++ b/src/backends/pgfplots.jl
@@ -2,10 +2,6 @@
 
 # significant contributions by: @pkofod
 
-@require Revise = "295af30f-e4ad-537b-8983-00126c2a3abe" begin
-    Revise.track(Plots, joinpath(Pkg.dir("Plots"), "src", "backends", "pgfplots.jl"))
-end
-
 const _pgfplots_attr = merge_with_base_supported([
     :annotations,
     :background_color_legend,
@@ -47,23 +43,6 @@ const _pgfplots_marker = [:none, :auto, :circle, :rect, :diamond, :utriangle, :d
 const _pgfplots_scale = [:identity, :ln, :log2, :log10]
 
 
-# --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-function add_backend_string(::PGFPlotsBackend)
-    """
-    Pkg.add("PGFPlots")
-    Pkg.build("PGFPlots")
-    """
-end
-
-function _initialize_backend(::PGFPlotsBackend; kw...)
-    @eval begin
-        import PGFPlots
-        export PGFPlots
-    end
-end
-
-
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 const _pgfplots_linestyles = KW(
@@ -124,7 +103,7 @@ function pgf_framestyle(style::Symbol)
         return style
     else
         default_style = get(_pgf_framestyle_defaults, style, :axes)
-        warn("Framestyle :$style is not (yet) supported by the PGFPlots backend. :$default_style was cosen instead.")
+        @warn("Framestyle :$style is not (yet) supported by the PGFPlots backend. :$default_style was cosen instead.")
         default_style
     end
 end
diff --git a/src/backends/plotly.jl b/src/backends/plotly.jl
index 0b4c44d4..51c24c85 100644
--- a/src/backends/plotly.jl
+++ b/src/backends/plotly.jl
@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
 
 # https://plot.ly/javascript/getting-started
 
-@require Revise = "295af30f-e4ad-537b-8983-00126c2a3abe" begin
-    Revise.track(Plots, joinpath(Pkg.dir("Plots"), "src", "backends", "plotly.jl"))
-end
-
 const _plotly_attr = merge_with_base_supported([
     :annotations,
     :background_color_legend, :background_color_inside, :background_color_outside,
@@ -68,7 +64,7 @@ function _plotly_framestyle(style::Symbol)
         return style
     else
         default_style = get(_plotly_framestyle_defaults, style, :axes)
-        warn("Framestyle :$style is not supported by Plotly and PlotlyJS. :$default_style was cosen instead.")
+        @warn("Framestyle :$style is not supported by Plotly and PlotlyJS. :$default_style was cosen instead.")
         default_style
     end
 end
@@ -76,46 +72,37 @@ end
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-function add_backend_string(::PlotlyBackend)
-    """
-    Pkg.build("Plots")
-    """
-end
-
 
 const _plotly_js_path = joinpath(dirname(@__FILE__), "..", "..", "deps", "plotly-latest.min.js")
 const _plotly_js_path_remote = "https://cdn.plot.ly/plotly-latest.min.js"
 
-function _initialize_backend(::PlotlyBackend; kw...)
-  @eval begin
-    _js_code = open(readstring, _plotly_js_path, "r")
+_js_code = open(read, _plotly_js_path, "r")
 
-    # borrowed from https://github.com/plotly/plotly.py/blob/2594076e29584ede2d09f2aa40a8a195b3f3fc66/plotly/offline/offline.py#L64-L71 c/o @spencerlyon2
-    _js_script = """
-        <script type='text/javascript'>
-            define('plotly', function(require, exports, module) {
-                $(_js_code)
-            });
-            require(['plotly'], function(Plotly) {
-                window.Plotly = Plotly;
-            });
-        </script>
-    """
+# borrowed from https://github.com/plotly/plotly.py/blob/2594076e29584ede2d09f2aa40a8a195b3f3fc66/plotly/offline/offline.py#L64-L71 c/o @spencerlyon2
+_js_script = """
+    <script type='text/javascript'>
+        define('plotly', function(require, exports, module) {
+            $(_js_code)
+        });
+        require(['plotly'], function(Plotly) {
+            window.Plotly = Plotly;
+        });
+    </script>
+"""
 
-    # if we're in IJulia call setupnotebook to load js and css
-    if isijulia()
-        display("text/html", _js_script)
-    end
-
-    # if isatom()
-    #     import Atom
-    #     Atom.@msg evaljs(_js_code)
-    # end
-
-  end
-  # TODO: other initialization
+# if we're in IJulia call setupnotebook to load js and css
+if isijulia()
+    display("text/html", _js_script)
 end
 
+# if isatom()
+#     import Atom
+#     Atom.@msg evaljs(_js_code)
+# end
+using UUIDs
+
+push!(_initialized_backends, :plotly)
+
 
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -631,7 +618,7 @@ function plotly_series(plt::Plot, series::Series)
         d_out[:hoverinfo] = "label+percent+name"
 
     else
-        warn("Plotly: seriestype $st isn't supported.")
+        @warn("Plotly: seriestype $st isn't supported.")
         return KW()
     end
 
@@ -744,7 +731,7 @@ function plotly_series_segments(series::Series, d_base::KW, x, y, z)
                 d_out[:fill] = "tonexty"
                 d_out[:fillcolor] = rgba_string(plot_color(get_fillcolor(series, i), get_fillalpha(series, i)))
             elseif !(series[:fillrange] in (false, nothing))
-                warn("fillrange ignored... plotly only supports filling to zero and to a vector of values. fillrange: $(series[:fillrange])")
+                @warn("fillrange ignored... plotly only supports filling to zero and to a vector of values. fillrange: $(series[:fillrange])")
             end
             d_out[:x], d_out[:y] = x[rng], y[rng]
 
@@ -906,7 +893,7 @@ function html_body(plt::Plot{PlotlyBackend}, style = nothing)
         w, h = plt[:size]
         style = "width:$(w)px;height:$(h)px;"
     end
-    uuid = Base.Random.uuid4()
+    uuid = UUIDs.uuid4()
     html = """
         <div id=\"$(uuid)\" style=\"$(style)\"></div>
         <script>
diff --git a/src/backends/plotlyjs.jl b/src/backends/plotlyjs.jl
index a371888c..1482b717 100644
--- a/src/backends/plotlyjs.jl
+++ b/src/backends/plotlyjs.jl
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-@require Revise = "295af30f-e4ad-537b-8983-00126c2a3abe" begin
-    Revise.track(Plots, joinpath(Pkg.dir("Plots"), "src", "backends", "plotlyjs.jl"))
-end
 
 # https://github.com/spencerlyon2/PlotlyJS.jl
 
@@ -13,35 +10,6 @@ const _plotlyjs_scale       = _plotly_scale
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
-function add_backend_string(::PlotlyJSBackend)
-    """
-    if !Plots.is_installed("PlotlyJS")
-        Pkg.add("PlotlyJS")
-    end
-    if !Plots.is_installed("Rsvg")
-        Pkg.add("Rsvg")
-    end
-    import Blink
-    Blink.AtomShell.install()
-    """
-end
-
-
-function _initialize_backend(::PlotlyJSBackend; kw...)
-    @eval begin
-        import PlotlyJS
-        export PlotlyJS
-    end
-
-    # # override IJulia inline display
-    # if isijulia()
-    #     IJulia.display_dict(plt::AbstractPlot{PlotlyJSBackend}) = IJulia.display_dict(plt.o)
-    # end
-end
-
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
 function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend})
     if !isplotnull() && plt[:overwrite_figure] && isa(current().o, PlotlyJS.SyncPlot)
         PlotlyJS.SyncPlot(PlotlyJS.Plot(), current().o.view)
diff --git a/src/backends/pyplot.jl b/src/backends/pyplot.jl
index 02c57320..e6ac252c 100644
--- a/src/backends/pyplot.jl
+++ b/src/backends/pyplot.jl
@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
 
 # https://github.com/stevengj/PyPlot.jl
 
-@require Revise = "295af30f-e4ad-537b-8983-00126c2a3abe" begin
-    Revise.track(Plots, joinpath(Pkg.dir("Plots"), "src", "backends", "pyplot.jl"))
-end
-
 const _pyplot_attr = merge_with_base_supported([
     :annotations,
     :background_color_legend, :background_color_inside, :background_color_outside,
@@ -59,57 +55,31 @@ is_marker_supported(::PyPlotBackend, shape::Shape) = true
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-function add_backend_string(::PyPlotBackend)
-    """
-    if !Plots.is_installed("PyPlot")
-        Pkg.add("PyPlot")
-    end
-    withenv("PYTHON" => "") do
-        Pkg.build("PyPlot")
-    end
+# problem: https://github.com/tbreloff/Plots.jl/issues/308
+# solution: hack from @stevengj: https://github.com/stevengj/PyPlot.jl/pull/223#issuecomment-229747768
+otherdisplays = splice!(Base.Multimedia.displays, 2:length(Base.Multimedia.displays))
+append!(Base.Multimedia.displays, otherdisplays)
+pycolors = PyPlot.pyimport("matplotlib.colors")
+pypath = PyPlot.pyimport("matplotlib.path")
+mplot3d = PyPlot.pyimport("mpl_toolkits.mplot3d")
+pypatches = PyPlot.pyimport("matplotlib.patches")
+pyfont = PyPlot.pyimport("matplotlib.font_manager")
+pyticker = PyPlot.pyimport("matplotlib.ticker")
+pycmap = PyPlot.pyimport("matplotlib.cm")
+pynp = PyPlot.pyimport("numpy")
+pynp["seterr"](invalid="ignore")
+pytransforms = PyPlot.pyimport("matplotlib.transforms")
+pycollections = PyPlot.pyimport("matplotlib.collections")
+pyart3d = PyPlot.art3D
 
-    # now restart julia!
-    """
+# "support" matplotlib v1.5
+set_facecolor_sym = if PyPlot.version < v"2"
+    @warn("You are using Matplotlib $(PyPlot.version), which is no longer officialy supported by the Plots community. To ensure smooth Plots.jl integration update your Matplotlib library to a version >= 2.0.0")
+    :set_axis_bgcolor
+else
+    :set_facecolor
 end
 
-function _initialize_backend(::PyPlotBackend)
-    @eval begin
-        # problem: https://github.com/tbreloff/Plots.jl/issues/308
-        # solution: hack from @stevengj: https://github.com/stevengj/PyPlot.jl/pull/223#issuecomment-229747768
-        otherdisplays = splice!(Base.Multimedia.displays, 2:length(Base.Multimedia.displays))
-        import PyPlot, PyCall
-        import LaTeXStrings: latexstring
-        append!(Base.Multimedia.displays, otherdisplays)
-
-        export PyPlot
-        pycolors = PyPlot.pyimport("matplotlib.colors")
-        pypath = PyPlot.pyimport("matplotlib.path")
-        mplot3d = PyPlot.pyimport("mpl_toolkits.mplot3d")
-        pypatches = PyPlot.pyimport("matplotlib.patches")
-        pyfont = PyPlot.pyimport("matplotlib.font_manager")
-        pyticker = PyPlot.pyimport("matplotlib.ticker")
-        pycmap = PyPlot.pyimport("matplotlib.cm")
-        pynp = PyPlot.pyimport("numpy")
-        pynp["seterr"](invalid="ignore")
-        pytransforms = PyPlot.pyimport("matplotlib.transforms")
-        pycollections = PyPlot.pyimport("matplotlib.collections")
-        pyart3d = PyPlot.art3D
-
-        # "support" matplotlib v1.5
-        set_facecolor_sym = if PyPlot.version < v"2"
-            warn("You are using Matplotlib $(PyPlot.version), which is no longer officialy supported by the Plots community. To ensure smooth Plots.jl integration update your Matplotlib library to a version >= 2.0.0")
-            :set_axis_bgcolor
-        else
-            :set_facecolor
-        end
-
-        # we don't want every command to update the figure
-        PyPlot.ioff()
-    end
-end
-
-# --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 # # convert colorant to 4-tuple RGBA
 # py_color(c::Colorant, α=nothing) = map(f->float(f(convertColor(c,α))), (red, green, blue, alpha))
@@ -160,7 +130,7 @@ function py_linestyle(seriestype::Symbol, linestyle::Symbol)
     linestyle == :dash && return "--"
     linestyle == :dot && return ":"
     linestyle == :dashdot && return "-."
-    warn("Unknown linestyle $linestyle")
+    @warn("Unknown linestyle $linestyle")
     return "-"
 end
 
@@ -221,13 +191,13 @@ function py_marker(marker::Symbol)
     marker == :vline && return "|"
     haskey(_shapes, marker) && return py_marker(_shapes[marker])
 
-    warn("Unknown marker $marker")
+    @warn("Unknown marker $marker")
     return "o"
 end
 
 # py_marker(markers::AVec) = map(py_marker, markers)
 function py_marker(markers::AVec)
-    warn("Vectors of markers are currently unsupported in PyPlot: $markers")
+    @warn("Vectors of markers are currently unsupported in PyPlot: $markers")
     py_marker(markers[1])
 end
 
@@ -279,10 +249,12 @@ function labelfunc(scale::Symbol, backend::PyPlotBackend)
     end
 end
 
-function py_mask_nans(z)
-    # pynp["ma"][:masked_invalid](z)))
-    PyCall.pycall(pynp["ma"][:masked_invalid], Any, z)
-    # pynp["ma"][:masked_where](pynp["isnan"](z),z)
+@require PyCall = "438e738f-606a-5dbb-bf0a-cddfbfd45ab0" begin
+    function py_mask_nans(z)
+        # pynp["ma"][:masked_invalid](z)))
+        PyCall.pycall(pynp["ma"][:masked_invalid], Any, z)
+        # pynp["ma"][:masked_where](pynp["isnan"](z),z)
+    end
 end
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -542,7 +514,7 @@ function py_add_series(plt::Plot{PyPlotBackend}, series::Series)
             a = series[:arrow]
             if a != nothing && !is3d(st)  # TODO: handle 3d later
                 if typeof(a) != Arrow
-                    warn("Unexpected type for arrow: $(typeof(a))")
+                    @warn("Unexpected type for arrow: $(typeof(a))")
                 else
                     arrowprops = KW(
                         :arrowstyle => "simple,head_length=$(a.headlength),head_width=$(a.headwidth)",
@@ -912,7 +884,7 @@ end
 function py_set_scale(ax, axis::Axis)
     scale = axis[:scale]
     letter = axis[:letter]
-    scale in supported_scales() || return warn("Unhandled scale value in pyplot: $scale")
+    scale in supported_scales() || return @warn("Unhandled scale value in pyplot: $scale")
     func = ax[Symbol("set_", letter, "scale")]
     kw = KW()
     arg = if scale == :identity
diff --git a/src/backends/template.jl b/src/backends/template.jl
index 71fabbf9..0c0652cc 100644
--- a/src/backends/template.jl
+++ b/src/backends/template.jl
@@ -3,14 +3,9 @@
 
 # [ADD BACKEND WEBSITE]
 
-function _initialize_backend(::[PkgName]Backend; kw...)
-    @eval begin
-        import [PkgName]
-        export [PkgName]
-        # todo: other initialization that needs to be eval-ed
-    end
-    # todo: other initialization
-end
+import [PkgName]
+export [PkgName]
+push!(_initialized_backends, [pgkname]::Symbol)
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/src/backends/unicodeplots.jl b/src/backends/unicodeplots.jl
index 4ed936cb..c0639830 100644
--- a/src/backends/unicodeplots.jl
+++ b/src/backends/unicodeplots.jl
@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
 
 # https://github.com/Evizero/UnicodePlots.jl
 
-@require Revise = "295af30f-e4ad-537b-8983-00126c2a3abe" begin
-    Revise.track(Plots, joinpath(Pkg.dir("Plots"), "src", "backends", "unicodeplots.jl"))
-end
-
 const _unicodeplots_attr = merge_with_base_supported([
     :label,
     :legend,
@@ -33,22 +29,6 @@ warnOnUnsupported_args(::UnicodePlotsBackend, d::KW) = nothing
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-function add_backend_string(::UnicodePlotsBackend)
-    """
-    Pkg.add("UnicodePlots")
-    Pkg.build("UnicodePlots")
-    """
-end
-
-function _initialize_backend(::UnicodePlotsBackend; kw...)
-    @eval begin
-        import UnicodePlots
-        export UnicodePlots
-    end
-end
-
-# -------------------------------
-
 const _canvas_type = Ref(:auto)
 
 function _canvas_map()
diff --git a/src/backends/web.jl b/src/backends/web.jl
index 75a3a8ed..55984167 100644
--- a/src/backends/web.jl
+++ b/src/backends/web.jl
@@ -2,9 +2,6 @@
 # NOTE:  backend should implement `html_body` and `html_head`
 
 # CREDIT: parts of this implementation were inspired by @joshday's PlotlyLocal.jl
-@require Revise = "295af30f-e4ad-537b-8983-00126c2a3abe" begin
-    Revise.track(Plots, joinpath(Pkg.dir("Plots"), "src", "backends", "web.jl"))
-end
 
 function standalone_html(plt::AbstractPlot; title::AbstractString = get(plt.attr, :window_title, "Plots.jl"))
     """
diff --git a/src/components.jl b/src/components.jl
index 8ca11574..8a35c95c 100644
--- a/src/components.jl
+++ b/src/components.jl
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ nanpush!(a::AbstractVector{P2}, b) = (push!(a, P2(NaN,NaN)); push!(a, b))
 nanappend!(a::AbstractVector{P2}, b) = (push!(a, P2(NaN,NaN)); append!(a, b))
 nanpush!(a::AbstractVector{P3}, b) = (push!(a, P3(NaN,NaN,NaN)); push!(a, b))
 nanappend!(a::AbstractVector{P3}, b) = (push!(a, P3(NaN,NaN,NaN)); append!(a, b))
-compute_angle(v::P2) = (angle = atan2(v[2], v[1]); angle < 0 ? 2π - angle : angle)
+compute_angle(v::P2) = (angle = atan(v[2], v[1]); angle < 0 ? 2π - angle : angle)
 
 # -------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ function font(args...)
     elseif typeof(arg) <: Real
       rotation = convert(Float64, arg)
     else
-      warn("Unused font arg: $arg ($(typeof(arg)))")
+      @warn("Unused font arg: $arg ($(typeof(arg)))")
     end
   end
 
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ function stroke(args...; alpha = nothing)
     elseif allReals(arg)
       width = arg
     else
-      warn("Unused stroke arg: $arg ($(typeof(arg)))")
+      @warn("Unused stroke arg: $arg ($(typeof(arg)))")
     end
   end
 
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ function brush(args...; alpha = nothing)
     elseif allReals(arg)
       size = arg
     else
-      warn("Unused brush arg: $arg ($(typeof(arg)))")
+      @warn("Unused brush arg: $arg ($(typeof(arg)))")
     end
   end
 
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ function series_annotations(strs::AbstractVector, args...)
         elseif is_2tuple(arg)
             scalefactor = arg
         else
-            warn("Unused SeriesAnnotations arg: $arg ($(typeof(arg)))")
+            @warn("Unused SeriesAnnotations arg: $arg ($(typeof(arg)))")
         end
     end
     # if scalefactor != 1
@@ -523,9 +523,12 @@ mutable struct EachAnn
     x
     y
 end
-Base.start(ea::EachAnn) = 1
-Base.done(ea::EachAnn, i) = ea.anns == nothing || isempty(ea.anns.strs) || i > length(ea.y)
-function Base.next(ea::EachAnn, i)
+
+function Base.iterate(ea::EachAnn, i = 1)
+    if ea.anns == nothing || isempty(ea.anns.strs) || i > length(ea.y)
+        return nothing
+    end
+
     tmp = _cycle(ea.anns.strs,i)
     str,fnt = if isa(tmp, PlotText)
         tmp.str, tmp.font
@@ -701,7 +704,7 @@ function arrow(args...)
         elseif T <: Tuple && length(arg) == 2
             headlength, headwidth = Float64(arg[1]), Float64(arg[2])
         else
-            warn("Skipped arrow arg $arg")
+            @warn("Skipped arrow arg $arg")
         end
     end
     Arrow(style, side, headlength, headwidth)
diff --git a/src/deprecated/backends/gadfly.jl b/src/deprecated/backends/gadfly.jl
index 90072a94..50ffc526 100644
--- a/src/deprecated/backends/gadfly.jl
+++ b/src/deprecated/backends/gadfly.jl
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ function getGadflyMarkerTheme(d::KW, attr::KW)
 
     ms = d[:markersize]
     ms = if typeof(ms) <: AVec
-        warn("Gadfly doesn't support variable marker sizes... using the average: $(mean(ms))")
+        @warn("Gadfly doesn't support variable marker sizes... using the average: $(mean(ms))")
         mean(ms) * Gadfly.px
     else
         ms * Gadfly.px
diff --git a/src/deprecated/backends/qwt.jl b/src/deprecated/backends/qwt.jl
index 6f7fefcb..d64e5cd9 100644
--- a/src/deprecated/backends/qwt.jl
+++ b/src/deprecated/backends/qwt.jl
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ function updateLimsAndTicks(plt::Plot{QwtBackend}, d::KW, isx::Bool)
     end
     w[:setAxisScale](axisid, float(minimum(ticks)), float(maximum(ticks)), float(step(ticks)))
   elseif !(ticks in (nothing, :none, :auto))
-    warn("Only Range types are supported for Qwt xticks/yticks. typeof(ticks)=$(typeof(ticks))")
+    @warn("Only Range types are supported for Qwt xticks/yticks. typeof(ticks)=$(typeof(ticks))")
   end
 
   # change the scale
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ function updateLimsAndTicks(plt::Plot{QwtBackend}, d::KW, isx::Bool)
     # scaletype == :log       && w[:setAxisScaleEngine](axisid, Qwt.QWT.QwtLogScaleEngine(e))
     # scaletype == :log2      && w[:setAxisScaleEngine](axisid, Qwt.QWT.QwtLogScaleEngine(2))
     scaletype == :log10     && w[:setAxisScaleEngine](axisid, Qwt.QWT.QwtLog10ScaleEngine())
-    scaletype in supported_scales() || warn("Unsupported scale type: ", scaletype)
+    scaletype in supported_scales() || @warn("Unsupported scale type: ", scaletype)
   end
 
 end
diff --git a/src/init.jl b/src/init.jl
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..53f5898b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/init.jl
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+function __init__()
+    include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "plotly.jl"))
+    include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "gr.jl"))
+    include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "web.jl"))
+
+    @require GLVisualize = "4086de5b-f4b6-55f3-abb0-b8c73827585f" include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "gr.jl"))
+    @require HDF5 = "f67ccb44-e63f-5c2f-98bd-6dc0ccc4ba2f" include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "hdf5.jl"))
+    @require InspectDR = "d0351b0e-4b05-5898-87b3-e2a8edfddd1d" include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "inspectdr.jl"))
+    @require PGFPlots = "3b7a836e-365b-5785-a47d-02c71176b4aa" include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "pgfplots.jl"))
+    @require PlotlyJS = "f0f68f2c-4968-5e81-91da-67840de0976a" include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "plotlyjs.jl"))
+    @require PyPlot = "d330b81b-6aea-500a-939a-2ce795aea3ee" include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "pyplot.jl"))
+    @require UnicodePlots = "b8865327-cd53-5732-bb35-84acbb429228" include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "unicodeplots.jl"))
+
+    # ---------------------------------------------------------
+    # IJulia
+    # ---------------------------------------------------------
+
+    @require IJulia = "7073ff75-c697-5162-941a-fcdaad2a7d2a" begin
+        if IJulia.inited
+
+            """
+            Add extra jupyter mimetypes to display_dict based on the plot backed.
+
+            The default is nothing, except for plotly based backends, where it
+            adds data for `application/vnd.plotly.v1+json` that is used in
+            frontends like jupyterlab and nteract.
+            """
+            _extra_mime_info!(plt::Plot, out::Dict) = out
+            function _extra_mime_info!(plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend}, out::Dict)
+                out["application/vnd.plotly.v1+json"] = JSON.lower(plt.o)
+                out
+            end
+
+            function _extra_mime_info!(plt::Plot{PlotlyBackend}, out::Dict)
+                out["application/vnd.plotly.v1+json"] = Dict(
+                    :data => plotly_series(plt),
+                    :layout => plotly_layout(plt)
+                )
+                out
+            end
+
+            function IJulia.display_dict(plt::Plot)
+                output_type = Symbol(plt.attr[:html_output_format])
+                if output_type == :auto
+                    output_type = get(_best_html_output_type, backend_name(plt.backend), :svg)
+                end
+                out = Dict()
+                if output_type == :txt
+                    mime = "text/plain"
+                    out[mime] = sprint(show, MIME(mime), plt)
+                elseif output_type == :png
+                    mime = "image/png"
+                    out[mime] = base64encode(show, MIME(mime), plt)
+                elseif output_type == :svg
+                    mime = "image/svg+xml"
+                    out[mime] = sprint(show, MIME(mime), plt)
+                elseif output_type == :html
+                    mime = "text/html"
+                    out[mime] = sprint(show, MIME(mime), plt)
+                else
+                    error("Unsupported output type $output_type")
+                end
+                _extra_mime_info!(plt, out)
+                out
+            end
+
+            ENV["MPLBACKEND"] = "Agg"
+        end
+    end
+end
diff --git a/src/layouts.jl b/src/layouts.jl
index 8999cf62..038a9361 100644
--- a/src/layouts.jl
+++ b/src/layouts.jl
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ to_pixels(m::AbsoluteLength) = m.value / 0.254
 
 const _cbar_width = 5mm
 
-Base.broadcast(::typeof(Base.:.*), m::Measure, n::Number) = m * n
-Base.broadcast(::typeof(Base.:.*), m::Number, n::Measure) = m * n
+#Base.broadcast(::typeof(Base.:.*), m::Measure, n::Number) = m * n
+#Base.broadcast(::typeof(Base.:.*), m::Number, n::Measure) = m * n
 Base.:-(m::Measure, a::AbstractArray) = map(ai -> m - ai, a)
 Base.:-(a::AbstractArray, m::Measure) = map(ai -> ai - m, a)
 Base.zero(::Type{typeof(mm)}) = 0mm
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ function bbox(x, y, w, h, oarg1::Symbol, originargs::Symbol...)
         elseif oarg in (:top, :bottom, :vcenter)
             origver = oarg
         else
-            warn("Unused origin arg in bbox construction: $oarg")
+            @warn("Unused origin arg in bbox construction: $oarg")
         end
     end
     bbox(x, y, w, h; h_anchor = orighor, v_anchor = origver)
diff --git a/src/output.jl b/src/output.jl
index c4dec4f4..7c762d6b 100644
--- a/src/output.jl
+++ b/src/output.jl
@@ -185,8 +185,8 @@ function _show(io::IO, ::MIME"text/html", plt::Plot)
     end
 end
 
-# delegate mimewritable (showable on julia 0.7) to _show instead
-function Base.mimewritable(m::M, plt::P) where {M<:MIME, P<:Plot}
+# delegate showable to _show instead
+function Base.showable(m::M, plt::P) where {M<:MIME, P<:Plot}
     return hasmethod(_show, Tuple{IO, M, P})
 end
 
@@ -199,8 +199,12 @@ for mime in ("text/plain", "text/html", "image/png", "image/eps", "image/svg+xml
              "application/eps", "application/pdf", "application/postscript",
              "application/x-tex")
     @eval function Base.show(io::IO, m::MIME{Symbol($mime)}, plt::Plot)
-        prepare_output(plt)
-        _show(io, m, plt)
+        if haskey(io, :juno_plotsize)
+          showjuno(io, m, plt)
+        else
+          prepare_output(plt)
+          _show(io, m, plt)
+        end
     end
 end
 
@@ -251,112 +255,26 @@ end
 #
 # html_output_format("svg")
 
-# ---------------------------------------------------------
-# IJulia
-# ---------------------------------------------------------
-
-@require IJulia = "7073ff75-c697-5162-941a-fcdaad2a7d2a" begin
-    if IJulia.inited
-
-        """
-        Add extra jupyter mimetypes to display_dict based on the plot backed.
-
-        The default is nothing, except for plotly based backends, where it
-        adds data for `application/vnd.plotly.v1+json` that is used in
-        frontends like jupyterlab and nteract.
-        """
-        _extra_mime_info!(plt::Plot, out::Dict) = out
-        function _extra_mime_info!(plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend}, out::Dict)
-            out["application/vnd.plotly.v1+json"] = JSON.lower(plt.o)
-            out
-        end
-
-        function _extra_mime_info!(plt::Plot{PlotlyBackend}, out::Dict)
-            out["application/vnd.plotly.v1+json"] = Dict(
-                :data => plotly_series(plt),
-                :layout => plotly_layout(plt)
-            )
-            out
-        end
-
-        function IJulia.display_dict(plt::Plot)
-            output_type = Symbol(plt.attr[:html_output_format])
-            if output_type == :auto
-                output_type = get(_best_html_output_type, backend_name(plt.backend), :svg)
-            end
-            out = Dict()
-            if output_type == :txt
-                mime = "text/plain"
-                out[mime] = sprint(show, MIME(mime), plt)
-            elseif output_type == :png
-                mime = "image/png"
-                out[mime] = base64encode(show, MIME(mime), plt)
-            elseif output_type == :svg
-                mime = "image/svg+xml"
-                out[mime] = sprint(show, MIME(mime), plt)
-            elseif output_type == :html
-                mime = "text/html"
-                out[mime] = sprint(show, MIME(mime), plt)
-            else
-                error("Unsupported output type $output_type")
-            end
-            _extra_mime_info!(plt, out)
-            out
-        end
-
-        ENV["MPLBACKEND"] = "Agg"
-    end
-end
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------
 # Atom PlotPane
 # ---------------------------------------------------------
-@require Juno = "e5e0dc1b-0480-54bc-9374-aad01c23163d" begin
-    import Hiccup, Media
+function showjuno(io::IO, m, plt)
+    sz = plt[:size]
+    dpi = plt[:dpi]
+    thickness_scaling = plt[:thickness_scaling]
 
-    if Juno.isactive()
-        Media.media(Plot, Media.Plot)
+    jsize = get(io, :juno_plotsize, [400, 500])
 
-        function Juno.render(e::Juno.Editor, plt::Plot)
-            Juno.render(e, nothing)
-        end
+    scale = minimum(jsize[i] / sz[i] for i in 1:2)
+    plt[:size] = (s * scale for s in sz)
+    plt[:dpi] = Plots.DPI
+    plt[:thickness_scaling] *= scale
 
-        if get(ENV, "PLOTS_USE_ATOM_PLOTPANE", true) in (true, 1, "1", "true", "yes")
-            function Juno.render(pane::Juno.PlotPane, plt::Plot)
-                # temporarily overwrite size to be Atom.plotsize
-                sz = plt[:size]
-                dpi = plt[:dpi]
-                thickness_scaling = plt[:thickness_scaling]
-                jsize = Juno.plotsize()
-                jsize[1] == 0 && (jsize[1] = 400)
-                jsize[2] == 0 && (jsize[2] = 500)
+    prepare_output(plt)
+    _show(io, m, plt)
 
-                scale = minimum(jsize[i] / sz[i] for i in 1:2)
-                plt[:size] = (s * scale for s in sz)
-                plt[:dpi] = Plots.DPI
-                plt[:thickness_scaling] *= scale
-                Juno.render(pane, HTML(stringmime(MIME("text/html"), plt)))
-                plt[:size] = sz
-                plt[:dpi] = dpi
-                plt[:thickness_scaling] = thickness_scaling
-            end
-            # special handling for PlotlyJS
-            function Juno.render(pane::Juno.PlotPane, plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend})
-                display(Plots.PlotsDisplay(), plt)
-            end
-        else
-            function Juno.render(pane::Juno.PlotPane, plt::Plot)
-                display(Plots.PlotsDisplay(), plt)
-                s = "PlotPane turned off.  Unset ENV[\"PLOTS_USE_ATOM_PLOTPANE\"] and restart Julia to enable it."
-                Juno.render(pane, HTML(s))
-            end
-        end
-
-        # special handling for plotly... use PlotsDisplay
-        function Juno.render(pane::Juno.PlotPane, plt::Plot{PlotlyBackend})
-            display(Plots.PlotsDisplay(), plt)
-            s = "PlotPane turned off.  The plotly backend cannot render in the PlotPane due to javascript issues. Plotlyjs is similar to plotly and is compatible with the plot pane."
-            Juno.render(pane, HTML(s))
-        end
-    end
+    plt[:size] = sz
+    plt[:dpi] = dpi
+    plt[:thickness_scaling] = thickness_scaling
 end
diff --git a/src/pipeline.jl b/src/pipeline.jl
index d4cb1f4a..bca77623 100644
--- a/src/pipeline.jl
+++ b/src/pipeline.jl
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ function _process_seriesrecipe(plt::Plot, d::KW)
                 end
                 _process_seriesrecipe(plt, data.d)
             else
-                warn("Unhandled recipe: $(data)")
+                @warn("Unhandled recipe: $(data)")
                 break
             end
         end
diff --git a/src/recipes.jl b/src/recipes.jl
index 91f84fe5..26796657 100644
--- a/src/recipes.jl
+++ b/src/recipes.jl
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ end
 end
 Plots.@deps stepbins path
 
-wand_edges(x...) = (warn("Load the StatPlots package in order to use :wand bins. Defaulting to :auto", once = true); :auto)
+wand_edges(x...) = (@warn("Load the StatPlots package in order to use :wand bins. Defaulting to :auto", once = true); :auto)
 
 function _auto_binning_nbins(vs::NTuple{N,AbstractVector}, dim::Integer; mode::Symbol = :auto) where N
     _cl(x) = ceil(Int, NaNMath.max(x, one(x)))
@@ -619,7 +619,7 @@ _hist_edge(vs::NTuple{N,AbstractVector}, dim::Integer, binning::Integer) where {
 _hist_edge(vs::NTuple{N,AbstractVector}, dim::Integer, binning::Symbol) where {N} = _hist_edge(vs, dim, _auto_binning_nbins(vs, dim, mode = binning))
 _hist_edge(vs::NTuple{N,AbstractVector}, dim::Integer, binning::AbstractVector) where {N} = binning
 
-_hist_edges(vs::NTuple{N,AbstractVector}, binning::NTuple{N}) where {N} =
+_hist_edges(vs::NTuple{N,AbstractVector}, binning::NTuple{N, Any}) where {N} =
     map(dim -> _hist_edge(vs, dim, binning[dim]), (1:N...,))
 
 _hist_edges(vs::NTuple{N,AbstractVector}, binning::Union{Integer, Symbol, AbstractVector}) where {N} =
diff --git a/src/types.jl b/src/types.jl
index 3b63392b..c9ae2f24 100644
--- a/src/types.jl
+++ b/src/types.jl
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 const AVec = AbstractVector
 const AMat = AbstractMatrix
 const KW = Dict{Symbol,Any}
+const TicksArgs = Union{AVec{T}, Tuple{AVec{T}, AVec{S}}, Symbol} where {T<:Real, S<:AbstractString}
 
 struct PlotsDisplay <: AbstractDisplay end
 
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ end
 
 Base.getindex(plt::Plot, i::Integer) = plt.subplots[i]
 Base.length(plt::Plot) = length(plt.subplots)
-Base.endof(plt::Plot) = length(plt)
+Base.lastindex(plt::Plot) = length(plt)
 
 Base.getindex(plt::Plot, r::Integer, c::Integer) = plt.layout[r,c]
 Base.size(plt::Plot) = size(plt.layout)
@@ -98,6 +99,6 @@ Base.ndims(plt::Plot) = 2
 # attr!(plt::Plot, v, k::Symbol) = (plt.attr[k] = v)
 
 Base.getindex(sp::Subplot, i::Integer) = series_list(sp)[i]
-Base.endof(sp::Subplot) = length(series_list(sp))
+Base.lastindex(sp::Subplot) = length(series_list(sp))
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/utils.jl b/src/utils.jl
index cd1db249..f76785fe 100644
--- a/src/utils.jl
+++ b/src/utils.jl
@@ -215,15 +215,12 @@ anynan(i::Int, args::Tuple) = any(a -> try isnan(_cycle(a,i)) catch MethodError
 anynan(istart::Int, iend::Int, args::Tuple) = any(i -> anynan(i, args), istart:iend)
 allnan(istart::Int, iend::Int, args::Tuple) = all(i -> anynan(i, args), istart:iend)
 
-function Base.start(itr::SegmentsIterator)
-    nextidx = 1
-    if !any(isempty,itr.args) && anynan(1, itr.args)
-        _, nextidx = next(itr, 1)
+function Base.iterate(itr::SegmentsIterator, nextidx::Int = 1)
+    nextidx > itr.n && return nothing
+    if nextidx == 1 && !any(isempty,itr.args) && anynan(1, itr.args)
+        nextidx = 2
     end
-    nextidx
-end
-Base.done(itr::SegmentsIterator, nextidx::Int) = nextidx > itr.n
-function Base.next(itr::SegmentsIterator, nextidx::Int)
+
     i = istart = iend = nextidx
 
     # find the next NaN, and iend is the one before
@@ -306,7 +303,7 @@ function _expand_limits(lims, x)
     lims[1] = NaNMath.min(lims[1], e1)
     lims[2] = NaNMath.max(lims[2], e2)
   # catch err
-  #   warn(err)
+  #   @warn(err)
   catch
   end
   nothing
@@ -412,8 +409,8 @@ function fakedata(sz...)
   y
 end
 
-isijulia() = isdefined(Main, :IJulia) && Main.IJulia.inited
-isatom() = isdefined(Main, :Atom) && Main.Atom.isconnected()
+isijulia() = :IJulia in nameof.(collect(values(Base.loaded_modules)))
+isatom() = :Atom in nameof.(collect(values(Base.loaded_modules)))
 
 function is_installed(pkgstr::AbstractString)
     try
@@ -933,7 +930,7 @@ function attr!(series::Series; kw...)
         if haskey(_series_defaults, k)
             series[k] = v
         else
-            warn("unused key $k in series attr")
+            @warn("unused key $k in series attr")
         end
     end
     _series_updated(series[:subplot].plt, series)
@@ -947,7 +944,7 @@ function attr!(sp::Subplot; kw...)
         if haskey(_subplot_defaults, k)
             sp[k] = v
         else
-            warn("unused key $k in subplot attr")
+            @warn("unused key $k in subplot attr")
         end
     end
     sp
diff --git a/test/REQUIRE b/test/REQUIRE
index 09681156..6cd6a973 100644
--- a/test/REQUIRE
+++ b/test/REQUIRE
@@ -6,3 +6,4 @@ GR 0.31.0
 RDatasets
 VisualRegressionTests
 UnicodePlots
+LaTeXStrings
diff --git a/test/imgcomp.jl b/test/imgcomp.jl
index 8b6cda82..c1442686 100644
--- a/test/imgcomp.jl
+++ b/test/imgcomp.jl
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ function image_comparison_tests(pkg::Symbol, idx::Int; debug = false, popup = is
     backend()
 
     # ensure consistent results
-    srand(1234)
+    Random.seed!(1234)
 
     # reference image directory setup
     # refdir = joinpath(Pkg.dir("ExamplePlots"), "test", "refimg", string(pkg))
diff --git a/test/runtests.jl b/test/runtests.jl
index 280c698f..fd9f00bf 100644
--- a/test/runtests.jl
+++ b/test/runtests.jl
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module PlotsTests
 include("imgcomp.jl")
 
 # don't actually show the plots
-srand(1234)
+Random.seed!(1234)
 default(show=false, reuse=true)
 img_eps = isinteractive() ? 1e-2 : 10e-2