diff --git a/client/app.C b/client/app.C
index 83e939c2c2..bc6cc88174 100644
--- a/client/app.C
+++ b/client/app.C
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ int ACTIVE_TASK::init(RESULT* rp) {
 // Current dir is top-level BOINC dir
 //
 int ACTIVE_TASK::start(bool first_time) {
-    char exec_name[256], file_path[256], link_path[256], temp[256], exec_path[256];
+    char exec_name[256], file_path[256], link_path[256], buf[256], exec_path[256];
     unsigned int i;
     FILE_REF file_ref;
     FILE_INFO* fip;
@@ -156,9 +156,11 @@ int ACTIVE_TASK::start(bool first_time) {
     sprintf(init_data_path, "%s%s%s", slot_dir, PATH_SEPARATOR, INIT_DATA_FILE);
     f = fopen(init_data_path, "w");
     if (!f) {
-        if (log_flags.task_debug) {
-            printf("Failed to open core to app prefs file %s.\n", init_data_path);
-        }
+        sprintf(
+            buf, "Failed to open core-to-app prefs file %s.\n",
+            init_data_path
+        );
+        show_message(wup->project, buf, MSG_ERROR);
         return ERR_FOPEN;
     }
     retval = write_init_data_file(f, aid);
@@ -169,9 +171,11 @@ int ACTIVE_TASK::start(bool first_time) {
     sprintf(graphics_data_path, "%s%s%s", slot_dir, PATH_SEPARATOR, GRAPHICS_DATA_FILE);
     f = fopen(graphics_data_path, "w");
     if (!f) {
-        if (log_flags.task_debug) {
-            printf("Failed to open core to app graphics prefs file %s.\n", graphics_data_path);
-        }
+        sprintf(
+            buf, "Failed to open core-to-app graphics prefs file %s.\n",
+            graphics_data_path
+        );
+        show_message(wup->project, buf, MSG_ERROR);
         return ERR_FOPEN;
     }
     retval = write_graphics_file(f, &gi);
@@ -180,9 +184,8 @@ int ACTIVE_TASK::start(bool first_time) {
     sprintf(fd_init_path, "%s%s%s", slot_dir, PATH_SEPARATOR, FD_INIT_FILE);
     f = fopen(fd_init_path, "w");
     if (!f) {
-        if(log_flags.task_debug) {
-            printf("Failed to open init file %s.\n", fd_init_path);
-        }
+        sprintf(buf, "Failed to open init file %s.\n", fd_init_path);
+        show_message(wup->project, buf, MSG_ERROR);
         return ERR_FOPEN;
     }
 
@@ -197,13 +200,14 @@ int ACTIVE_TASK::start(bool first_time) {
         }
         if (first_time) {
             sprintf(link_path, "%s%s%s", slot_dir, PATH_SEPARATOR, fip->name);
-            sprintf(temp, "..%s..%s%s", PATH_SEPARATOR, PATH_SEPARATOR, file_path );
-            retval = boinc_link( temp, link_path);
+            sprintf(buf, "..%s..%s%s", PATH_SEPARATOR, PATH_SEPARATOR, file_path );
+            retval = boinc_link( buf, link_path);
             if (log_flags.task_debug) {
                 printf("link %s to %s\n", file_path, link_path);
             }
             if (retval) {
-                perror("link");
+                sprintf(buf, "Can't link %s to %s\n", file_path, link_path);
+                show_message(wup->project, buf, MSG_ERROR);
                 fclose(f);
                 return retval;
             }
@@ -218,20 +222,21 @@ int ACTIVE_TASK::start(bool first_time) {
         if (strlen(file_ref.open_name)) {
             if (first_time) {
                 sprintf(link_path, "%s%s%s", slot_dir, PATH_SEPARATOR, file_ref.open_name);
-                sprintf(temp, "..%s..%s%s", PATH_SEPARATOR, PATH_SEPARATOR, file_path );
+                sprintf(buf, "..%s..%s%s", PATH_SEPARATOR, PATH_SEPARATOR, file_path );
                 if (log_flags.task_debug) {
                     printf("link %s to %s\n", file_path, link_path);
                 }
-                retval = boinc_link(temp, link_path);
+                retval = boinc_link(buf, link_path);
                 if (retval) {
-                    perror("link");
+                    sprintf(buf, "Can't link %s to %s\n", file_path, link_path);
+                    show_message(wup->project, buf, MSG_ERROR);
                     fclose(f);
                     return retval;
                 }
             }
         } else {
-            sprintf(temp, "..%s..%s%s", PATH_SEPARATOR, PATH_SEPARATOR, file_path);
-            retval = write_fd_init_file(f, temp, file_ref.fd, 1);
+            sprintf(buf, "..%s..%s%s", PATH_SEPARATOR, PATH_SEPARATOR, file_path);
+            retval = write_fd_init_file(f, buf, file_ref.fd, 1);
             if (retval) return retval;
         }
     }
@@ -243,24 +248,22 @@ int ACTIVE_TASK::start(bool first_time) {
         get_pathname(file_ref.file_info, file_path);
         if (strlen(file_ref.open_name)) {
             if (first_time) {
-                // the following is a relic of using hard links.  not needed
-                //int fd = creat(file_path, 0660);
-                //close(fd);
                 sprintf(link_path, "%s%s%s", slot_dir, PATH_SEPARATOR, file_ref.open_name);
-                sprintf(temp, "..%s..%s%s", PATH_SEPARATOR, PATH_SEPARATOR, file_path );
+                sprintf(buf, "..%s..%s%s", PATH_SEPARATOR, PATH_SEPARATOR, file_path );
                 if (log_flags.task_debug) {
                     printf("link %s to %s\n", file_path, link_path);
                 }
-                retval = boinc_link(temp, link_path);
+                retval = boinc_link(buf, link_path);
                 if (retval) {
+                    sprintf(buf, "Can't link %s to %s\n", file_path, link_path);
+                    show_message(wup->project, buf, MSG_ERROR);
                     fclose(f);
-                    perror("link");
                     return retval;
                 }
             }
         } else {
-            sprintf(temp, "..%s..%s%s", PATH_SEPARATOR, PATH_SEPARATOR, file_path);
-            retval = write_fd_init_file(f, temp, file_ref.fd, 0);
+            sprintf(buf, "..%s..%s%s", PATH_SEPARATOR, PATH_SEPARATOR, file_path);
+            retval = write_fd_init_file(f, buf, file_ref.fd, 0);
             if (retval) return retval;
         }
     }
@@ -284,10 +287,7 @@ int ACTIVE_TASK::start(bool first_time) {
     
     // NOTE: in Windows, stderr is redirected within boinc_init();
 
-    sprintf( cmd_line, "%s %s", exec_path, wup->command_line );
-    // Need to condense argv into a single string
-    //if (log_flags.task_debug) print_argv(argv);
-    //
+    sprintf(cmd_line, "%s %s", exec_path, wup->command_line);
     full_path(slot_dir, slotdirpath);
     if (!CreateProcess(exec_path,
         cmd_line,
@@ -307,13 +307,13 @@ int ACTIVE_TASK::start(bool first_time) {
             NULL, win_error, 0, (LPTSTR)&lpMsgBuf, 0, errorargs
         );
 
-        // check for an error; if there is one, set error information for the currect result
         if (win_error) {
-            gstate.report_project_error(*result, win_error, (LPTSTR)&lpMsgBuf);
+            gstate.report_result_error(*result, win_error, (LPTSTR)&lpMsgBuf);
             LocalFree(lpMsgBuf);
             return -1;
         }
-        fprintf(stdout, "CreateProcess: %s\n", (LPCTSTR)lpMsgBuf);
+        sprintf(buf, "CreateProcess: %s\n", (LPCTSTR)lpMsgBuf);
+        show_message(wup->project, buf, MSG_ERROR);
         LocalFree(lpMsgBuf);
     }
     pid = process_info.dwProcessId;
@@ -343,8 +343,8 @@ int ACTIVE_TASK::start(bool first_time) {
         argv[0] = exec_name;
         parse_command_line(wup->command_line, argv+1);
         if (log_flags.task_debug) print_argv(argv);
-        boinc_resolve_filename(exec_name, temp, sizeof(temp));
-        retval = execv(temp, argv);
+        boinc_resolve_filename(exec_name, buf, sizeof(buf));
+        retval = execv(buf, argv);
         fprintf(stderr, "execv failed: %d\n", retval);
         perror("execv");
         exit(1);
@@ -423,8 +423,12 @@ bool ACTIVE_TASK_SET::poll() {
     for (int i=0; i<active_tasks.size(); i++) {
         atp = active_tasks[i];
         if (GetExitCodeProcess(atp->pid_handle, &exit_code)) {
+            //
             // Get the elapsed CPU time
-            if (GetProcessTimes(atp->pid_handle, &creation_time, &exit_time, &kernel_time, &user_time)) {
+            if (GetProcessTimes(
+                atp->pid_handle, &creation_time, &exit_time,
+                &kernel_time, &user_time
+            )) {
                 tKernel.LowPart = kernel_time.dwLowDateTime;
                 tKernel.HighPart = kernel_time.dwHighDateTime;
                 tUser.LowPart = user_time.dwLowDateTime;
@@ -439,7 +443,7 @@ bool ACTIVE_TASK_SET::poll() {
                 if (atp->state == PROCESS_ABORT_PENDING) {
                     atp->state = PROCESS_ABORTED;
                     atp->result->active_task_state = PROCESS_ABORTED;
-                    gstate.report_project_error(
+                    gstate.report_result_error(
                         *(atp->result), 0, "process was aborted\n"
                     );
                 } else {
@@ -449,7 +453,7 @@ bool ACTIVE_TASK_SET::poll() {
                     atp->result->active_task_state = PROCESS_EXITED;
                     //if a nonzero error code, then report it
                     if (exit_code) {
-                        gstate.report_project_error(
+                        gstate.report_result_error(
                             *(atp->result), 0,
                             "process exited with a non zero exit code\n"
                         );
@@ -482,7 +486,7 @@ bool ACTIVE_TASK_SET::poll() {
         if (atp->state == PROCESS_ABORT_PENDING) {
             atp->state = PROCESS_ABORTED;
             atp->result->active_task_state =  PROCESS_ABORTED;
-            gstate.report_project_error(
+            gstate.report_result_error(
                 *(atp->result), 0, "process was aborted\n"
             );
         } else {
@@ -491,24 +495,30 @@ bool ACTIVE_TASK_SET::poll() {
                 atp->exit_status = WEXITSTATUS(stat);
                 atp->result->exit_status = atp->exit_status;
                 atp->result->active_task_state = PROCESS_EXITED;
-                // If exit_status != 0, then we don't need to upload the
-                // files for the result of this app 
+
+                // If exit_status is nonzero, then we don't need to upload the
+                // output files
+                //
                 if(atp->exit_status) {
-                    gstate.report_project_error(
+                    gstate.report_result_error(
                         *(atp->result), 0,
                         "process exited with a nonzero exit code\n"
                     );
                 }
-                if (log_flags.task_debug) printf("process exited: status %d\n", atp->exit_status);
+                if (log_flags.task_debug) {
+                    printf("process exited: status %d\n", atp->exit_status);
+                }
             } else if (WIFSIGNALED(stat)) {
                 atp->state = PROCESS_WAS_SIGNALED;
                 atp->signal = WTERMSIG(stat);
                 atp->result->signal = atp->signal;
                 atp->result->active_task_state = PROCESS_WAS_SIGNALED;
-                gstate.report_project_error(
+                gstate.report_result_error(
                     *(atp->result), 0, "process was signaled\n"
                 );
-                if (log_flags.task_debug) printf("process was signaled: %d\n", atp->signal);
+                if (log_flags.task_debug) {
+                    printf("process was signaled: %d\n", atp->signal);
+                }
             } else {
                 atp->state = PROCESS_EXIT_UNKNOWN;
                 atp->result->state = PROCESS_EXIT_UNKNOWN;
@@ -562,15 +572,15 @@ bool ACTIVE_TASK::read_stderr_file() {
 // Wait up to wait_time seconds for all processes in this set to exit
 //
 int ACTIVE_TASK_SET::wait_for_exit(double wait_time) {
-    bool             all_exited;
-	unsigned int     i,n;
-	ACTIVE_TASK      *atp;
+    bool all_exited;
+	unsigned int i,n;
+	ACTIVE_TASK *atp;
 
-    for( i=0;i<10;i++ ) {
+    for (i=0; i<10; i++) {
         boinc_sleep(wait_time/10.0);
         all_exited = true;
 
-        for (n=0;n<active_tasks.size();n++) {
+        for (n=0; n<active_tasks.size(); n++) {
             atp = active_tasks[n];
             if (!atp->task_exited()) {
                 all_exited = false;
@@ -606,8 +616,12 @@ void ACTIVE_TASK_SET::suspend_all() {
     ACTIVE_TASK* atp;
     for (i=0; i<active_tasks.size(); i++) {
         atp = active_tasks[i];
-        if(atp->suspend()) {
-            fprintf(stderr, "ACTIVE_TASK_SET::suspend_all(): could not suspend active_task\n");
+        if (atp->suspend()) {
+            show_message(
+                atp->wup->project,
+                "ACTIVE_TASK_SET::suspend_all(): could not suspend active_task\n",
+                MSG_ERROR
+            );
         }
     }
 }
@@ -619,8 +633,12 @@ void ACTIVE_TASK_SET::unsuspend_all() {
     ACTIVE_TASK* atp;
     for (i=0; i<active_tasks.size(); i++) {
         atp = active_tasks[i];
-        if(atp->unsuspend()) {
-            fprintf(stderr, "ACTIVE_TASK_SET::unsuspend_all(): could not unsuspend active_task\n");
+        if (atp->unsuspend()) {
+            show_message(
+                atp->wup->project,
+                "ACTIVE_TASK_SET::unsuspend_all(): could not unsuspend active_task\n",
+                MSG_ERROR
+            );
         }
     } 
 }
@@ -633,7 +651,10 @@ void ACTIVE_TASK_SET::request_tasks_exit() {
     for (i=0; i<active_tasks.size(); i++) {
         atp = active_tasks[i];
         if(atp->request_exit()) {
-            fprintf(stderr, "ACTIVE_TASK_SET::request_tasks_exit(): could not exit active_task\n");
+            show_message(atp->wup->project,
+                "ACTIVE_TASK_SET::exit_tasks(): could not suspend active_task\n",
+                MSG_ERROR
+            );
         }
     }
 }
@@ -705,13 +726,14 @@ int ACTIVE_TASK_SET::restart_tasks() {
         atp->result->is_active = true;
         retval = atp->start(false);
         if (log_flags.task) {
-            printf("restarting application for result %s\n", atp->result->name);
+            sprintf(buf, "restarting computation for result %s\n", atp->result->name);
+            show_message(atp->wup->project, buf, MSG_INFO);
         }
         if (retval) {
             sprintf(buf, "ACTIVE_TASKS::restart_tasks(); restart failed: %d\n", retval);
             show_message(atp->wup->project, buf, MSG_ERROR);
             atp->result->active_task_state = PROCESS_COULDNT_START;
-            gstate.report_project_error(
+            gstate.report_result_error(
                 *(atp->result), retval,
                 "Couldn't restart the app for this result.\n"
             );
diff --git a/client/client_state.C b/client/client_state.C
index dfca83b851..e389e66d19 100644
--- a/client/client_state.C
+++ b/client/client_state.C
@@ -1006,16 +1006,13 @@ bool CLIENT_STATE::garbage_collect() {
             // See if the files for this result's workunit had
             // any errors (MD5, RSA, etc)
             //
-            if(rp->wup->had_failure(failnum)) {
+            if (rp->wup->had_failure(failnum)) {
                 // If we don't already have an error for this file
                 if (!rp->ready_to_ack) {
                     // the wu corresponding to this result
                     // had an error downloading some input file(s).
                     //
-                    report_project_error(
-                        *rp,0,
-                        "The work_unit corresponding to this result had an error"
-                    );
+                    report_result_error(*rp, 0, "Couldn't get input files");
                 }
             } else {
                 rp->wup->ref_cnt++;
@@ -1030,9 +1027,7 @@ bool CLIENT_STATE::garbage_collect() {
                     if (!rp->ready_to_ack) {
                         // had an error uploading a file for this result
                         //
-                        report_project_error(*rp,0,
-                            "An output file of this result had an error"
-                        );
+                        report_result_error(*rp, 0, "Couldn't upload files");
                     }
                 } else {
                     rp->output_files[i].file_info->ref_cnt++;
@@ -1277,37 +1272,39 @@ void CLIENT_STATE::set_client_state_dirty(char* source) {
 }
 
 // Call this when a result has a nonrecoverable error.
-// The error will appear in the stderr_out field of the result.
+// Append a description of the error to the stderr_out field of the result.
 //
-// It goes through the input and output files for this result
+// Go through the input and output files for this result
 // and generates error messages for upload/download failures.
 //
 // This function is called in the following situations:
 // 1. When the active_task could not start or restart,
-//    in which case err_num is set to the an OS-specific error_code.
+//    in which case err_num is set to an OS-specific error_code.
 //    and err_msg has an OS-supplied string.
 // 2. when we fail in downloading an input file or uploading an output file,
 //    in which case err_num and err_msg are zero.
 // 3. When the active_task exits with a non_zero error code
-//    or it gets signaled, relevant info is printed to stderr_out of res.
+//    or it gets signaled.
 //
-int CLIENT_STATE::report_project_error(
+int CLIENT_STATE::report_result_error(
     RESULT& res, int err_num, char *err_msg
 ) {
-    char total_err[MAX_BLOB_LEN];
+    char buf[MAX_BLOB_LEN];
     unsigned int i;
     int failnum;
     
+    // only do this once per result
+    //
     if (res.ready_to_ack) {
         return 0;
     }
     
     res.ready_to_ack = true;
 
-    scheduler_op->backoff(res.project, "");
+    scheduler_op->backoff(res.project, "Backing off because a result failed");
 
     sprintf(
-        total_err, 
+        buf, 
         "<message>%s</message>\n"
         "<active_task_state>%d</active_task_state>\n"
         "<exit_status>%d</exit_status>\n"
@@ -1318,29 +1315,29 @@ int CLIENT_STATE::report_project_error(
         res.signal
     );
     
-    if (strlen(res.stderr_out)+strlen(total_err) < MAX_BLOB_LEN) {
-        strcat(res.stderr_out, total_err );
+    if (strlen(res.stderr_out) + strlen(buf) < MAX_BLOB_LEN) {
+        strcat(res.stderr_out, buf );
     }
     
     if ((res.state == RESULT_FILES_DOWNLOADED) && err_num) {            
-        sprintf(total_err,"<couldnt_start>%d</couldnt_start>\n", err_num);
-        if (strlen(res.stderr_out)+strlen(total_err) < MAX_BLOB_LEN) {
-            strcat(res.stderr_out, total_err );
+        sprintf(buf,"<couldnt_start>%d</couldnt_start>\n", err_num);
+        if (strlen(res.stderr_out) + strlen(buf) < MAX_BLOB_LEN) {
+            strcat(res.stderr_out, buf );
         }
     }
 
     if (res.state == RESULT_NEW) {
         for (i=0;i<res.wup->input_files.size();i++) {
             if (res.wup->input_files[i].file_info->had_failure(failnum)) {
-                sprintf(total_err,
+                sprintf(buf,
                     "<download_error>\n"
                     "    <file_name>%s</file_name>\n"
                     "    <error_code>%d</error_code>\n"
                     "</download_error>\n",
                     res.wup->input_files[i].file_info->name, failnum
                 );
-                if (strlen(res.stderr_out)+strlen(total_err) < MAX_BLOB_LEN ) {
-                    strcat( res.stderr_out, total_err );
+                if (strlen(res.stderr_out) + strlen(buf) < MAX_BLOB_LEN ) {
+                    strcat( res.stderr_out, buf );
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -1349,15 +1346,15 @@ int CLIENT_STATE::report_project_error(
     if (res.state == RESULT_COMPUTE_DONE) {
         for (i=0; i<res.output_files.size(); i++) {
             if (res.output_files[i].file_info->had_failure(failnum)) {
-                sprintf(total_err,
+                sprintf(buf,
                     "<upload_error>\n"
                     "    <file_name>%s</file_name>\n"
                     "    <error_code>%d</error_code>\n"
                     "</upload_error>\n",
                     res.output_files[i].file_info->name, failnum
                 );
-                if (strlen(res.stderr_out)+strlen(total_err) < MAX_BLOB_LEN ) {
-                    strcat( res.stderr_out, total_err );
+                if (strlen(res.stderr_out) + strlen(buf) < MAX_BLOB_LEN ) {
+                    strcat( res.stderr_out, buf );
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/client/client_state.h b/client/client_state.h
index b4ad84174f..8e378f1ed5 100644
--- a/client/client_state.h
+++ b/client/client_state.h
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ public:
     int make_scheduler_request(PROJECT*, double);
     int handle_scheduler_reply(PROJECT*, char* scheduler_url, int& nresults);
     void set_client_state_dirty(char*);
-    int report_project_error( RESULT &res,int err_num, char *err_msg);
+    int report_result_error(RESULT &res, int err_num, char *err_msg);
         // flag a result as having an error
     int add_project(char* master_url, char* authenticator);
     int change_project(int index, char* master_url, char* authenticator);
diff --git a/client/client_types.C b/client/client_types.C
index f7a4452327..3dda4a4099 100644
--- a/client/client_types.C
+++ b/client/client_types.C
@@ -712,9 +712,6 @@ int RESULT::write(FILE* out, bool to_server) {
     FILE_INFO* fip;
     int n, retval;
 
-    // If we didn't have an error with this result, (in which case
-    // we would have called report_project_error():
-   
     fprintf(out,
         "<result>\n"
         "    <name>%s</name>\n"
diff --git a/client/cs_apps.C b/client/cs_apps.C
index e06e565f73..ed522ffef5 100644
--- a/client/cs_apps.C
+++ b/client/cs_apps.C
@@ -112,10 +112,13 @@ bool CLIENT_STATE::handle_running_apps() {
     unsigned int i;
     ACTIVE_TASK* atp;
     bool action = false;
+    char buf[256];
 
     for (i=0; i<active_tasks.active_tasks.size(); i++) {
         atp = active_tasks.active_tasks[i];
         if (atp->state != PROCESS_RUNNING) {
+            sprintf(buf, "computation for result %s finished\n", atp->wup->name);
+            show_message(atp->wup->project, buf, MSG_INFO);
             if (log_flags.task_debug) {
                 printf(
                     "task finished; pid %d, status %d\n",
@@ -160,8 +163,8 @@ bool CLIENT_STATE::start_apps() {
     RESULT* rp;
     ACTIVE_TASK* atp;
     bool action = false;
-    int open_slot;
-    int retval;
+    int open_slot, retval;
+    char buf[256];
 
     for (i=0; i<results.size(); i++) {
 
@@ -179,8 +182,9 @@ bool CLIENT_STATE::start_apps() {
         // 3) all the input files for the result are locally available
         //
         if (rp->state == RESULT_FILES_DOWNLOADED && !rp->is_active ) {
-            if (log_flags.task_debug) {
-                printf("starting application for result %s\n", rp->name);
+            if (log_flags.task) {
+                sprintf(buf, "starting computation for result %s\n", rp->name);
+                show_message(rp->project, buf, MSG_INFO);
             }
             rp->is_active = true;
             atp = new ACTIVE_TASK;
@@ -193,7 +197,7 @@ bool CLIENT_STATE::start_apps() {
             if (retval) {
                 atp->state = PROCESS_COULDNT_START;
                 atp->result->active_task_state = PROCESS_COULDNT_START;
-                report_project_error(
+                report_result_error(
                     *(atp->result), retval,
                     "Couldn't start the app for this result.\n"
                 );
diff --git a/client/file_xfer.C b/client/file_xfer.C
index 21c677c7c4..fa228d3a03 100644
--- a/client/file_xfer.C
+++ b/client/file_xfer.C
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ int FILE_XFER::init_download(FILE_INFO& file_info) {
 
     fip = &file_info;
     get_pathname(fip, pathname);
-    // Check the current file size
     if (file_size(pathname, f_size)) {
         f_size = 0;
     }
@@ -59,8 +58,7 @@ int FILE_XFER::init_download(FILE_INFO& file_info) {
 int FILE_XFER::init_upload(FILE_INFO& file_info) {
     // If upload_offset < 0, we need to query the upload handler
     // for the offset information
-    // TODO: give priority to URL of unfinished upload if there
-    // are multiple choices
+    // TODO: give priority to unfinished upload if there are multiple choices
     //
     fip = &file_info;
     get_pathname(fip, pathname);
diff --git a/client/log_flags.C b/client/log_flags.C
index 7504a38237..a3e20d35d3 100644
--- a/client/log_flags.C
+++ b/client/log_flags.C
@@ -30,9 +30,22 @@
 LOG_FLAGS log_flags;
 
 LOG_FLAGS::LOG_FLAGS() {
-    task = file_xfer = sched_ops = state_debug = false;
-    task_debug = file_xfer_debug = sched_op_debug = false;
-    http_debug = time_debug = net_xfer_debug = false;
+
+    // informational output is on by default
+    //
+    task = true;
+    file_xfer = true;
+    sched_ops = true;
+
+    // debugging output is off by default
+    //
+    state_debug = false;
+    task_debug = false;
+    file_xfer_debug = false;
+    sched_op_debug = false;
+    http_debug = false;
+    time_debug = false;
+    net_xfer_debug = false;
     measurement_debug = false;
 }
 
@@ -48,48 +61,37 @@ int LOG_FLAGS::parse(FILE* in) {
         else if (match_tag(buf, "<task/>")) {
             task = true;
             continue;
-        }
-        else if (match_tag(buf, "<file_xfer/>")) {
+        } else if (match_tag(buf, "<file_xfer/>")) {
             file_xfer = true;
             continue;
-        }
-        else if (match_tag(buf, "<sched_ops/>")) {
+        } else if (match_tag(buf, "<sched_ops/>")) {
             sched_ops = true;
             continue;
-        }
-        else if (match_tag(buf, "<state_debug/>")) {
+        } else if (match_tag(buf, "<state_debug/>")) {
             state_debug = true;
             continue;
-        }
-        else if (match_tag(buf, "<task_debug/>")) {
+        } else if (match_tag(buf, "<task_debug/>")) {
             task_debug = true;
             continue;
-        }
-        else if (match_tag(buf, "<file_xfer_debug/>")) {
+        } else if (match_tag(buf, "<file_xfer_debug/>")) {
             file_xfer_debug = true;
             continue;
-        }
-        else if (match_tag(buf, "<sched_op_debug/>")) {
+        } else if (match_tag(buf, "<sched_op_debug/>")) {
             sched_op_debug = true;
             continue;
-        }
-        else if (match_tag(buf, "<http_debug/>")) {
+        } else if (match_tag(buf, "<http_debug/>")) {
             http_debug = true;
             continue;
-        }
-        else if (match_tag(buf, "<time_debug/>")) {
+        } else if (match_tag(buf, "<time_debug/>")) {
             time_debug = true;
             continue;
-        }
-        else if (match_tag(buf, "<net_xfer_debug/>")) {
+        } else if (match_tag(buf, "<net_xfer_debug/>")) {
             net_xfer_debug = true;
             continue;
-        }
-        else if (match_tag(buf, "<measurement_debug/>")) {
+        } else if (match_tag(buf, "<measurement_debug/>")) {
             measurement_debug = true;
             continue;
-        }
-        else if (match_tag(buf, "<poll_debug/>")) {
+        } else if (match_tag(buf, "<poll_debug/>")) {
             poll_debug = true;
             continue;
         }
diff --git a/client/pers_file_xfer.C b/client/pers_file_xfer.C
index 41a9a6a55f..7ac4bf9bd3 100644
--- a/client/pers_file_xfer.C
+++ b/client/pers_file_xfer.C
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ bool PERS_FILE_XFER::start_xfer() {
     int retval;
     struct tm *newtime;
     time_t now;
+    char buf[256];
 
     now = time(0);
 
@@ -80,7 +81,10 @@ bool PERS_FILE_XFER::start_xfer() {
     file_xfer = new FILE_XFER;
     if (gstate.use_http_proxy) {
         file_xfer->use_http_proxy = true;
-        safe_strncpy(file_xfer->proxy_server_name, gstate.proxy_server_name, sizeof(file_xfer->proxy_server_name));
+        safe_strncpy(
+            file_xfer->proxy_server_name, gstate.proxy_server_name,
+            sizeof(file_xfer->proxy_server_name)
+        );
         file_xfer->proxy_server_port = gstate.proxy_server_port;
     }
     if (is_upload) {
@@ -89,16 +93,18 @@ bool PERS_FILE_XFER::start_xfer() {
         retval = file_xfer->init_download(*fip);
     }
     if (retval) {
-        fprintf(
-            stderr, "couldn't start %s for %s: error %d\n",
+        sprintf(buf,
+            "couldn't start %s for %s: error %d\n",
             (is_upload ? "upload" : "download"), fip->get_url(), retval
         );
+        show_message(fip->project, buf, MSG_ERROR);
+        // TODO: do we need to do anything here?
     } else {
         retval = gstate.file_xfers->insert(file_xfer);
         fxp = file_xfer;
         if (retval) {
             if (log_flags.file_xfer) {
-                printf( "file_xfer insert failed\n" );
+                show_message(fip->project, "file_xfer insert failed\n", MSG_ERROR);
             }
             fxp->file_xfer_retval = retval;
             handle_xfer_failure(now);
@@ -108,11 +114,12 @@ bool PERS_FILE_XFER::start_xfer() {
         if (log_flags.file_xfer) {
             now = time(0);
             newtime = localtime(&now);
-            printf(
+            sprintf(buf,
                 "started %s of %s to %s at time: %s\n",
                 (is_upload ? "upload" : "download"), fip->name, fip->get_url(),
                 asctime(newtime) 
             );
+            show_message(fip->project, buf, MSG_INFO);
         }
         return true;
     }
@@ -125,7 +132,7 @@ bool PERS_FILE_XFER::start_xfer() {
 //
 bool PERS_FILE_XFER::poll(unsigned int now) {
     int retval;
-    char pathname[256];
+    char pathname[256], buf[256];
     
     if (xfer_done) {
         return false;
@@ -151,10 +158,12 @@ bool PERS_FILE_XFER::poll(unsigned int now) {
 
     if (fxp->file_xfer_done) {
         if (log_flags.file_xfer) {
-            printf(
-                "file transfer done for %s; retval %d\n",
+            sprintf(
+                buf,
+                "file transfer done for %s; error code %d\n",
                 fip->get_url(), fxp->file_xfer_retval
             );
+            show_message(fip->project, buf, MSG_INFO);
         }
         if (fxp->file_xfer_retval == 0) {
             // The transfer finished with no errors.
@@ -174,11 +183,13 @@ bool PERS_FILE_XFER::poll(unsigned int now) {
                 get_pathname(fip, pathname);
                 retval = verify_downloaded_file(pathname, *fip);
                 if (retval) {
-                    printf("checksum or signature error for %s\n", fip->name);
+                    sprintf(buf, "checksum or signature error for %s\n", fip->name);
+                    show_message(fip->project, buf, MSG_ERROR);
                     fip->status = retval;
                 } else {
                     if (log_flags.file_xfer_debug) {
-                        printf("MD5 checksum validated for %s\n", pathname);
+                        sprintf(buf, "MD5 checksum validated for %s\n", pathname);
+                        show_message(fip->project, buf, MSG_INFO);
                     }
                     // Set the appropriate permissions depending on whether
                     // it's an executable or normal file
@@ -206,12 +217,15 @@ bool PERS_FILE_XFER::poll(unsigned int now) {
 // Handle a transfer failure
 //
 void PERS_FILE_XFER::handle_xfer_failure(unsigned int cur_time) {
+    char buf[256];
+
     // If it was a bad range request, delete the file and start over
+    //
     if (fxp->file_xfer_retval == HTTP_STATUS_RANGE_REQUEST_ERROR) {
         fip->delete_file();
     }
 
-    retry_and_backoff(cur_time);
+    retry_or_backoff(cur_time);
     
     // See if it's time to give up on the persistent file xfer
     //
@@ -222,19 +236,19 @@ void PERS_FILE_XFER::handle_xfer_failure(unsigned int cur_time) {
             fip->status = ERR_GIVEUP_DOWNLOAD;
         }
         xfer_done = true;
-    }
-    if (log_flags.file_xfer_debug) {
-        printf("Error: transfer failure for %s: %d\n", fip->name, fip->status);
+        sprintf(buf, "Giving up on file transfer for %s: %d\n", fip->name, fip->status);
+        show_message(fip->project, buf, MSG_ERROR);
     }
 }
 
 // Cycle to the next URL, or if we've hit all URLs in this cycle,
 // backoff and try again later
 //
-void PERS_FILE_XFER::retry_and_backoff(unsigned int cur_time) {
+void PERS_FILE_XFER::retry_or_backoff(unsigned int cur_time) {
     double exp_backoff;
     struct tm *newtime;
     time_t aclock;
+    char buf[256];
     
     time( &aclock );                 /* Get time in seconds */
     
@@ -258,17 +272,18 @@ void PERS_FILE_XFER::retry_and_backoff(unsigned int cur_time) {
         next_request_time = cur_time+(int)max(PERS_RETRY_DELAY_MIN,min(PERS_RETRY_DELAY_MAX,exp_backoff));
     }
     if (log_flags.file_xfer_debug) {
-        printf(
+        sprintf(buf,
             "exponential back off is %d, current_time is %s\n",
             (int) exp_backoff,asctime(newtime) 
         );
+        show_message(fip->project, buf, MSG_INFO);
     }
 }
 
 // Parse XML information about a single persistent file transfer
 //
 int PERS_FILE_XFER::parse(FILE* fin) {
-    char buf[256];
+    char buf[256], buf2[256];
 
     while (fgets(buf, 256, fin)) {
         if (match_tag(buf, "</persistent_file_xfer>")) return 0;
@@ -276,7 +291,10 @@ int PERS_FILE_XFER::parse(FILE* fin) {
         else if (parse_int(buf, "<first_request_time>", first_request_time)) continue;
         else if (parse_int(buf, "<next_request_time>", next_request_time)) continue;
         else if (parse_double(buf, "<time_so_far>", time_so_far)) continue;
-        else fprintf(stderr, "PERS_FILE_XFER::parse(): unrecognized: %s\n", buf);
+        else {
+            sprintf(buf2, "PERS_FILE_XFER::parse(): unrecognized: %s\n", buf);
+            show_message(fip->project, buf2, MSG_ERROR);
+        }
     }
     return -1;
 }
@@ -339,6 +357,6 @@ int PERS_FILE_XFER_SET::remove(PERS_FILE_XFER* pfx) {
         }
         iter++;
     }
-    fprintf(stderr, "PERS_FILE_XFER_SET::remove(): not found\n");
+    show_message(pfx->fip->project, "PERS_FILE_XFER_SET::remove(): not found\n", MSG_ERROR);
     return 1;
 }
diff --git a/client/pers_file_xfer.h b/client/pers_file_xfer.h
index 16da25e6c3..ce8800d916 100644
--- a/client/pers_file_xfer.h
+++ b/client/pers_file_xfer.h
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public:
     int init(FILE_INFO*, bool is_file_upload);
     bool poll(unsigned int now);
     void handle_xfer_failure(unsigned int cur_time);
-    void retry_and_backoff(unsigned int cur_time);
+    void retry_or_backoff(unsigned int cur_time);
     int write(FILE* fout);
     int parse(FILE* fin);
     bool start_xfer();
diff --git a/client/scheduler_op.C b/client/scheduler_op.C
index a3697fd71d..28671743ef 100644
--- a/client/scheduler_op.C
+++ b/client/scheduler_op.C
@@ -148,10 +148,8 @@ int SCHEDULER_OP::set_min_rpc_time(PROJECT* p) {
 
 // Back off on the scheduler and output an error msg if needed
 //
-void SCHEDULER_OP::backoff( PROJECT* p, char *error_msg ) {
-    if (log_flags.sched_op_debug) {
-        printf(error_msg);
-    }
+void SCHEDULER_OP::backoff(PROJECT* p, char *error_msg ) {
+    show_message(p, error_msg, MSG_ERROR);
     
     if (p->master_fetch_failures >= MASTER_FETCH_RETRY_CAP) {
         p->master_url_fetch_pending = true;