diff --git a/020_conda.sh b/020_conda.sh
index 91b93c4..6a2f0aa 100644
--- a/020_conda.sh
+++ b/020_conda.sh
@@ -1,28 +1,31 @@
 DEST=${1:-/etc/skel}
 
 # Install our public GPG key to trusted store
-curl https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/misc/gpgkeys/anaconda.asc | gpg --dearmor > conda.gpg
-install -o root -g root -m 644 conda.gpg /usr/share/keyrings/conda-archive-keyring.gpg
+# KEY_DIR=/usr/share/keyrings
+KEY_DIR=/etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d
+
+sudo curl https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/misc/gpgkeys/anaconda.asc | gpg --dearmor >conda.gpg
+sudo install -o root -g root -m 644 conda.gpg ${KEY_DIR}/conda-archive-keyring.gpg
 
 # Check whether fingerprint is correct (will output an error message otherwise)
-gpg --keyring /usr/share/keyrings/conda-archive-keyring.gpg --no-default-keyring --fingerprint 34161F5BF5EB1D4BFBBB8F0A8AEB4F8B29D82806
+sudo gpg --keyring ${KEY_DIR}/conda-archive-keyring.gpg --no-default-keyring --fingerprint 34161F5BF5EB1D4BFBBB8F0A8AEB4F8B29D82806
 
 # Add our Debian repo
+sudo echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=${KEY_DIR}/conda-archive-keyring.gpg] https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/misc/debrepo/conda stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list-available/conda.list
 
-echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/conda-archive-keyring.gpg] https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/misc/debrepo/conda stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list-available/conda.list
-
-ln -s /etc/apt/sources.list-available/conda.list /etc/apt/sources.list.d/conda.list
-
+sudo ln -sf /etc/apt/sources.list-available/conda.list /etc/apt/sources.list.d/conda.list
 
 # Install it!
-apt update
-apt install -y conda
+sudo apt update
+sudo apt install -y conda
+
+mkdir -p "${DEST}"/.zshrc.pre-plugins.d/
 
 cat <<-EOF | sudo tee "${DEST}"/.zshrc.pre-plugins.d/008_conda.zsh >/dev/null
 	# when using conda from the vim plugin it expects to be called from base conda environment.
 	## >>> conda initialize >>>
 	## !! Contents within this block are managed by 'conda init' !!
-	__conda_setup="$('/opt/conda/bin/conda' 'shell.zsh' 'hook' 2> /dev/null)"
+	__conda_setup="$('/opt/conda/bin/conda' 'shell.zsh' 'hook' 2>/dev/null)"
 	if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
 	    eval "$__conda_setup"
 	else
@@ -46,7 +49,6 @@ EOF
 
 # see: https://github.com/ubaldot/vim-conda-activate for vim support
 
-
 # Check to see if the installation is successful:
 . /opt/conda/etc/profile.d/conda.sh
 conda -V
diff --git a/020_zephyr.sh b/020_zephyr.sh
index 1843db0..f86226e 100644
--- a/020_zephyr.sh
+++ b/020_zephyr.sh
@@ -3,12 +3,16 @@
 # https://www.zephyrproject.org/zephyr-rtos-on-esp32/
 # https://zmk.dev/docs/development/setup/
 
+## build basic blinky
+# BOARD_NAME=esp32s3_devkitm
+# cd ~/zephyrproject/zephyr
+# west build -p always -b ${BOARD_NAME} samples/basic/blinky
 
 # Manual flash instructions https://github.com/seemoo-lab/openhaystack/wiki/Flashing-nRF-with-OpenOCD---ST-Link
 # $ openocd \
 #   -f ${ZEPHYR_SDK_INSTALL_DIR}/sysroots/${MACHINE}-pokysdk-linux/usr/share/openocd/scripts/interface/stlink.cfg \
 #   -f ${ZEPHYR_SDK_INSTALL_DIR}/sysroots/${MACHINE}-pokysdk-linux/usr/share/openocd/scripts/target/nrf51.cfg
-# 
+#
 # $ telnet localhost 4444
 # $ help
 #
@@ -42,23 +46,33 @@ DEST=${1:-${HOME}}
 
 ARCH=$(dpkg --print-architecture)
 MACHINE=$(uname -m)
+PYTHON_VERSION='3.12.4'
 
+# zephyr version
+# ZEPHYR_VERSION=$(lastversion --format tag zephyr)  # 3.7.0
+ZEPHYR_VERSION='v3.5.0' # zmk lags https://zmk.dev/blog
+
+# sdk version
 USER=zephyrproject-rtos
 PROJECT=sdk-ng
 API_URL=https://api.github.com/repos/${USER}/${PROJECT}/releases/latest
 RELEASE=$(curl -s ${API_URL} | grep tarball_url | cut -d '"' -f 4 | awk -F "/" {'print $8'})
-SDK_FILENAME=zephyr-sdk-${RELEASE#v}_linux-${MACHINE}_minimal.tar.xz    # 41.8 MB 
+SDK_FILENAME=zephyr-sdk-${RELEASE#v}_linux-${MACHINE}_minimal.tar.xz # 41.8 MB
 # SDK_FILENAME=zephyr-sdk-${RELEASE#v}_linux-${MACHINE}.tar.xz            # 1.35 GB
-SDK_URL=https://github.com/${USER}/${PROJECT}/releases/download/${RELEASE}/
+SDK_URL=https://github.com/${USER}/${PROJECT}/releases/download/${RELEASE}
 
 # fetch the sdk
-# wget ${SDK_URL}/${SDK_FILENAME}
-# wget -O - ${SDK_URL}/sha256.sum | shasum --check --ignore-missing
-
+wget -c ${SDK_URL}/${SDK_FILENAME}
+wget -c -O - ${SDK_URL}/sha256.sum | shasum --check --ignore-missing
 
 SDK_DEST=${DEST}/zephyr-sdk-${RELEASE#v}
 PROJECT_DEST=${DEST}/zephyrproject
 
+mkdir -p ${SDK_DEST}
+mkdir -p ${PROJECT_DEST}
+
+# unpack the sdk
+tar xvf ${SDK_FILENAME}
 
 # https://docs.zephyrproject.org/latest/develop/env_vars.html#env-vars-important
 ZEPHYR_ENV_FILE="${HOME}/.zshrc.d/001_zephyr.zsh"
@@ -69,38 +83,23 @@ export ZEPHYR_SDK_INSTALL_DIR="${SDK_DEST}"
 
 EOF
 
-
-# use the sdk setup script to add the target toolchains and the host tools.
-pushd ${ZEPHYR_SDK_INSTALL_DIR}
-  west update
-  # bash ./setup.sh -t x86_64-zephyr-elf
-  bash ./setup.sh -t arm-zephyr-eabi
-  bash ./setup.sh -t xtensa-espressif_esp32_zephyr-elf
-  bash ./setup.sh -t xtensa-espressif_esp32s3_zephyr-elf
-  bash ./setup.sh -h
-popd
-
-# install udev rules
-sudo cp ~/zephyr-sdk-${RELEASE#v}/sysroots/x86_64-pokysdk-linux/usr/share/openocd/contrib/60-openocd.rules /etc/udev/rules.d
-sudo udevadm control --reload
-
 RSS_FEED="https://github.com/${USER}/${PROJECT}/releases.atom"
 # xdg-open ${RSS_FEED}
-cat ${RSS_FEED}
+echo ${RSS_FEED}
 
 echo "*** Installing dependencies. ***"
 sudo apt-get update
 
 sudo apt install --no-install-recommends -y autoconf automake \
-	build-essential bzip2 ccache coccinelle cmake device-tree-compiler dfu-util \
-	git gperf gcc g++ gcc-multilib g++-multilib libsdl2-dev libtool python3-dev \
-	python3-pip python3-setuptools python3-tk python3-wheel ninja-build file make \
-	wget xz-utils
+  build-essential bzip2 ccache coccinelle cmake device-tree-compiler dfu-util \
+  git gperf gcc g++ gcc-multilib g++-multilib libsdl2-dev libtool python3-dev \
+  python3-pip python3-setuptools python3-tk python3-wheel ninja-build file make \
+  wget xz-utils
 
 echo "*** Getting Zephyr and installing Python dependencies. ***"
 # Install west and ensure that ${HOME}/.local/bin is part of your PATH environment variable:
 
-echo "*** Installing west with pip3 ***"
+# echo "*** Installing west with pip3 ***"
 # pip3 install -U --user west
 # echo 'export PATH=${HOME}/.local/bin:”$PATH”' >>${HOME}/.bashrc
 
@@ -109,20 +108,29 @@ echo "*** Installing west with pip3 ***"
 # fi
 
 # ensure a conda env exists for zephyr python requirements
+if which conda >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "Conda is already installed."
+else
+  echo "Conda is not installed. Installing..."
+  bash /var/tmp/automate/020_conda.sh ${HOME}
+fi
+
+. /opt/conda/etc/profile.d/conda.sh
+
 # https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Development-tools/nRF-Command-Line-Tools/Download?lang=en#infotabs
 # https://nsscprodmedia.blob.core.windows.net/prod/software-and-other-downloads/desktop-software/nrf-command-line-tools/sw/versions-10-x-x/10-24-2/nrf-command-line-tools_10.24.2_amd64.deb
 # py -3 -m pip install --pre -U git+https://github.com/makerdiary/uf2utils.git@main
-if [[ ! -d ${HOME}/.conda/envs/zephyr ]];
-  conda init -n zephyr python west pynrfjprog dtsh # pyocd pylink
+
+if [[ ! -d "${HOME}/.conda/envs/zephyr" ]]; then
+  echo "Creating the zephyr environment with conda."
+  conda create -n zephyr python=${PYTHON_VERSION}
+  conda activate zephyr
+  pip install --no-input west pynrfjprog dtsh
+  echo "Zephyr environment created successfully."
+else
+  echo "Zephyr environment already exists."
 fi
 
-conda activate zephyr
-
-# add 'west' completion to zsh - use /usr/share/when packaging for debian
-COMPLETION_FILE="/usr/share/zsh/site-functions/_west"
-COMPLETION_FILE="${HOME}/.zshrc.d/001_west-completion.zsh"
-west completion zsh > ${COMPLETION_FILE}
-
 # Create west configuation file.
 cat <<EOF | tee ${HOME}/.westconfig
 [zephyr]
@@ -131,33 +139,63 @@ cat <<EOF | tee ${HOME}/.westconfig
 [build]
 # pristine = auto
 #board = nrf52840dk/nrf52840
-#dir-fmt = build/{board}
+#dir-fmt = build/\${board}
 #guess-dir = runners
 EOF
 
+echo "Installing Zephyr's toolchain."
+#Zephyr's SDK adds several additional tools for the host. Download the SDK installer:
+# use the sdk setup script to add the target toolchains and the host tools.
+
 #  'west' is the tool that manages the entire life-cycle of a Zephyr-based project.
+# west init -m https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr --mr v2.5.0 zephyrproject
+
 echo "*** Getting zephyr source code ***"
-git clone https://github.com/${USER}/zephyr
-mkdir -p ${DEST}/zephyr
-cd ${DEST}/zephyr
-git show -s --pretty=format:%cd
+
+# Move into the conda venv
+conda activate zephyr
+west init -m https://github.com/${USER}/zephyr --mr ${ZEPHYR_VERSION} ${PROJECT_DEST}
+
+pushd ${PROJECT_DEST}/zephyr
+# enable autoswitching with zsh-autoswitch-conda (use echo not mkcenv)
+echo zephyr >.cenv
+# sed -i '|\.venv|a|\.cenv' .gitignore
+sed -i '/\.venv/a\.cenv' .gitignore
+
 west update
+conda deactivate
+popd
+
+pushd ${ZEPHYR_SDK_INSTALL_DIR}
+
+# enable autoswitching with zsh-autoswitch-conda (use echo not mkcenv)
+echo zephyr >.cenv
+# sed -i '|\.venv|a|\.cenv' .gitignore
+sed -i '/\.venv/a\.cenv' .gitignore
 
 conda activate zephyr
+bash ./setup.sh
+# bash ./setup.sh -t x86_64-zephyr-elf
+bash ./setup.sh -t arm-zephyr-eabi
+bash ./setup.sh -t xtensa-espressif_esp32_zephyr-elf
+bash ./setup.sh -t xtensa-espressif_esp32s3_zephyr-elf
+bash ./setup.sh -h
+popd
+
+# install udev rules
+sudo cp ~/zephyr-sdk-${RELEASE#v}/sysroots/x86_64-pokysdk-linux/usr/share/openocd/contrib/60-openocd.rules /etc/udev/rules.d
+sudo udevadm control --reload
+
+# add 'west' completion to zsh - use /usr/share/when packaging for debian
+COMPLETION_FILE="/usr/share/zsh/site-functions/_west"
+COMPLETION_FILE="${HOME}/.zshrc.d/001_west-completion.zsh"
+west completion zsh >${COMPLETION_FILE}
 
 echo "Exporting a Zephyr CMake package."
 west zephyr-export
 
 echo "Installing additional python dependencies via pip3."
 pip install -r \
-	${HOME}/zephyrproject/zephyr/scripts/requirements.txt
+  ${HOME}/zephyrproject/zephyr/scripts/requirements.txt
 
-echo "Installing Zephyr's toolchain."
-#Zephyr's SDK adds several additional tools for the host. Download the SDK installer:
-
-cd ${HOME}
-wget -O /var/tmp/${SDK_FILENAME} ${SDK_URL}/{SDK_FILENAME}
-
-echo "Running the installer, this will install the SDK under the ${DEST}-${RELEASE:1} folder."
-chmod +x /var/tmp/${SDK_FILENAME}
-/var/tmp/${SDK_FILENAME} -- -d ${DEST}-${RELEASE:1}
+conda deactivate