diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index cca0a961..d8b28257 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -77,56 +77,42 @@ dependencies = [
     "pyvnc",
 ]
 # ------ dependencies ------
+# NOTE, by default we ship only a "headless" deps set bc
+# the `uis` group is not listed in the optional set.
 
-
-# TODO: add an `--only daemon` group for running non-ui / pikerd
-# service tree in distributed mode B)
+# [optional-dependencies]
+# uis = []
+# ?TODO? really we should be able to mv this `uis` group
+# to be under [optional-dependencies] and then include
+# it in the dev deps?
 # https://docs.astral.sh/uv/concepts/projects/dependencies/#optional-dependencies
+# -> uis should be included in pubbed pkgs.
+# [ ] uv seems to have no way to do this though?
+
+# TODO? move to a `uv.toml`?
+[tool.uv]
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/reference/settings/#python-preference
+python-preference = 'system'
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/reference/settings/#python-downloads
+python-downloads = 'manual'
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/concepts/projects/dependencies/#default-groups
+default-groups = [
+  'uis',
+]
+# ------ tool.uv ------
 
 [dependency-groups]
 uis = [
-    # https://docs.astral.sh/uv/concepts/projects/dependencies/#optional-dependencies
-    # TODO: make sure the levenshtein shit compiles on nix..
-    # rapidfuzz = {extras = ["speedup"], version = "^0.18.0"}
-    "rapidfuzz >=3.2.0, <4.0.0",
-    "qdarkstyle >=3.0.2, <4.0.0",
-    "pyqt6 >=6.7.0, <7.0.0",
-    "pyqtgraph",
+  "pyqtgraph",
+  "qdarkstyle >=3.0.2, <4.0.0",
+  "pyqt6 >=6.7.0, <7.0.0",
 
-    # for consideration,
-    # - 'visidata'
-
-    "qdarkstyle >=3.0.2, <4.0.0",
-    "pyqt6 >=6.7.0, <7.0.0",
-    "pyqtgraph",
+  # fuzzy search
+  "rapidfuzz >=3.2.0, <4.0.0",
 ]
 
-# TODO: a toolset that makes debugging a `pikerd` service (tree) easy
-# to hack on directly using more or less the local env:
-# - xonsh + xxh
-# - rsyscall + pdbp
-# - actor runtime control console like BEAM/OTP
-#
-# console ehancements and eventually remote debugging extras/helpers.
-# use `uv --dev` to enable
-repl = [
-  # debug
-  "pdbp >=1.8.2, <2.0.0",
-  # ^XXX, to get our frame indexing fix B)
-  # https://github.com/mdmintz/pdbp/releases/tag/v1.8.2
-    "greenback >=1.1.1, <2.0.0",
-  "xonsh",
-    "prompt-toolkit ==3.0.40",
-    "pyperclip>=1.9.0",
-
-]
-testing = [
-  "pytest",
-]
-de = [
-  # DE-specific
-  "i3ipc>=2.2.1",
-]
+# dev deps enabled by `uv --dev`
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/concepts/projects/dependencies/#development-dependencies
 dev = [
   # https://docs.astral.sh/uv/concepts/projects/dependencies/#development-dependencies
   "cython >=3.0.0, <4.0.0",
@@ -138,13 +124,34 @@ dev = [
   {include-group = 'testing'},
   {include-group = 'de'},
 ]
+repl = [
+  # `tractor`'s debugger
+  "pdbp >=1.8.2, <2.0.0",
+    "greenback >=1.1.1, <2.0.0",
+
+  # @goodboy's preferred console toolz
+  "xonsh",
+    "prompt-toolkit ==3.0.40",
+    "pyperclip>=1.9.0",
+
+  # ?TODO, new stuff to consider..
+  # "visidata"  # console numerics
+  # "xxh"  # for remote `xonsh`-ing
+  # "rsyscall"  # (eventual) optional `tractor` backend
+  # - an actor-runtime-ctl console like BEAM/OTP
+]
+testing = [
+  "pytest",
+]
+de = [ # (linux) specific DEs
+  "i3ipc>=2.2.1",
+]
 lint = [
   # XXX, with flake.nix needs to be from nixpkgs
-  "ruff>=0.9.6" 
-  #
-  # ^TODO? these markers don't work; use deps-flags for now?
+  "ruff>=0.9.6"
   # ; os_name != 'nixos' and platform_system != 'NixOS'",
-  # ; defined('IN_NIX_SHELL')",
+  # ?TODO? since ^ markers won't work, use a deps-flags to toggle for
+  # now.
 ]
 dbs = [
   "elasticsearch >=8.9.0, <9.0.0",
@@ -179,15 +186,6 @@ include = ["piker"]
 # ------ tool.hatch ------
 
 
-# TODO? move to a `uv.toml`?
-[tool.uv]
-python-preference = 'system'
-python-downloads = 'manual'
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/concepts/projects/dependencies/#default-groups
-default-groups = ['uis', 'dev']
-# ------ tool.uv ------
-
-
 [tool.uv.sources]
 pyqtgraph = { git = "https://github.com/pikers/pyqtgraph.git" }
 tomlkit = { git = "https://github.com/pikers/tomlkit.git", branch ="piker_pin" }