diff --git a/src/canary/metta_interp.pl b/src/canary/metta_interp.pl
index aa087700ebc..55af8a4433f 100755
--- a/src/canary/metta_interp.pl
+++ b/src/canary/metta_interp.pl
@@ -129,15 +129,15 @@
 :-dynamic(user:loaded_into_kb/2).
 :- dynamic(user:is_metta_dir/1).
 
-once_writeq_ln(_):- \+ clause(pfcTraceExecution,true),!.
-once_writeq_ln(P):- nb_current('$once_writeq_ln',W),W=@=P,!.
-once_writeq_ln(P):-
+once_writeq_nl(_):- \+ clause(pfcTraceExecution,true),!.
+once_writeq_nl(P):- nb_current('$once_writeq_ln',W),W=@=P,!.
+once_writeq_nl(P):-
  \+ \+ (numbervars(P,444,_,[attvar(skip),singletons(true)]),
  ansi_format([fg(cyan)],'~N~q.~n',[P])),nb_setval('$once_writeq_ln',P),!.
 % TODO uncomment this next line but it is breaking the curried chainer
 % pfcAdd_Now(P):- pfcAdd(P),!.
-pfcAdd_Now(P):- current_predicate(pfcAdd/1),!, once_writeq_ln(pfcAdd(P)),pfcAdd(P).
-pfcAdd_Now(P):- once_writeq_ln(asssert(P)),assert(P).
+pfcAdd_Now(P):- current_predicate(pfcAdd/1),!, once_writeq_nl(pfcAdd(P)),pfcAdd(P).
+pfcAdd_Now(P):- once_writeq_nl(asssert(P)),assert(P).
 %:- endif.
 
 system:copy_term_g(I,O):- ground(I),!,I=O.
diff --git a/src/canary/metta_loader.pl b/src/canary/metta_loader.pl
index 5f2a0b50767..dec81a69e0f 100755
--- a/src/canary/metta_loader.pl
+++ b/src/canary/metta_loader.pl
@@ -461,8 +461,6 @@
   format(user_error,'~N; Done translating ~w forms: ~q.',
                            [TF,asserted_metta_pred(MangleP2,Filename)]))).
 
-write_src_woi(Term):- with_indents(false,write_src(Term)).
-
 % write comments
 write_metta_datalog_term(Output,'$COMMENT'(Term,_,_),_MangleP2,_Lineno):-
   format(Output,"/* ~w */~n",[Term]).
diff --git a/src/canary/metta_pfc_base.pl b/src/canary/metta_pfc_base.pl
index aad619a51fe..14c8ccda24e 100755
--- a/src/canary/metta_pfc_base.pl
+++ b/src/canary/metta_pfc_base.pl
@@ -1278,7 +1278,7 @@
 
 pfc_eval_rhs1(Assertion,Support) :-
  % an assertion to be added.
-  once_writeq_ln(pfcRHS(Assertion)),
+  once_writeq_nl(pfcRHS(Assertion)),
  (must_ex(pfcPost1(Assertion,Support))*->true ;
    pfcWarn("Malformed rhs of a rule: ~p",[Assertion])).
 
diff --git a/src/canary/metta_printer.pl b/src/canary/metta_printer.pl
index 74979ba1e02..bcd3060da41 100755
--- a/src/canary/metta_printer.pl
+++ b/src/canary/metta_printer.pl
@@ -145,9 +145,13 @@
 py_is_enabled:- predicate_property(py_ppp(_),defined), asserta((py_is_enabled:-!)).
 
 %write_src(V):-  !, \+ \+ quietly(pp_sex(V)),!.
-write_src(V):- \+ \+ notrace(pp_sex(V)),!.
-write_src_woi_ln(X):-
-  format('~N'),write_src_woi(X),format('~N').
+write_src(V):- \+ \+ notrace((
+  guess_metta_vars(V),pp_sex(V))),!.
+write_src_woi(Term):-
+  notrace((with_indents(false,write_src(Term)))).
+write_src_woi_nl(X):- \+ \+
+ notrace((guess_metta_vars(X),
+    format('~N'),write_src_woi(X),format('~N'))).
 
 
 pp_sex(V):- pp_sexi(V),!.
diff --git a/src/canary/metta_space.pl b/src/canary/metta_space.pl
index fc96c1a295b..73b66412c21 100755
--- a/src/canary/metta_space.pl
+++ b/src/canary/metta_space.pl
@@ -553,7 +553,7 @@
 has_type(S,Type):- sub_atom(S,0,4,Aft,FB),flybase_identifier(FB,Type),!,Aft>0.
 
 
-call_sexpr(S):- once_writeq_ln(call_sexpr(S)).
+call_sexpr(S):- once_writeq_nl(call_sexpr(S)).
 %call_sexpr(Space,Expr,Result):-
 
 :- dynamic(fb_pred/2).
@@ -666,4 +666,24 @@
 symbolic_list_concat(A,B):- atomic_list_concat(A,B).
 symbol_contains(T,TT):- atom_contains(T,TT).
 */
+search_for1(X):-
+  forall((metta_atom(_Where,What),contains_var(X,What)),
+    write_src_nl(What)).
 
+search_for2(X):-
+  forall((metta_src(_Where,What),contains_var(X,What)),
+   write_src_woi_nl(What)).
+
+
+metta_src(Where,What):-
+  loaded_into_kb(Where,File), metta_file_buffer(_,What,Vars,File,_Loc),
+  ignore(maplist(name_the_var,Vars)).
+
+
+name_the_var(N=V):- ignore((atom_concat('_',NV,N),V='$VAR'(NV))).
+guess_metta_vars(What):-
+  ignore(once((metta_file_buffer(_,What0,Vars,_File,_Loc),
+     alpha_unif(What,What0),
+     maplist(name_the_var,Vars)))).
+
+alpha_unif(What,What0):- What=@=What0,What=What0.
diff --git a/tests/extended_compat/ai-service/ai-service-composition-hard.metta.answers b/tests/extended_compat/ai-service/ai-service-composition-hard.metta.answers
index 2c5da382ce3..e69de29bb2d 100644
--- a/tests/extended_compat/ai-service/ai-service-composition-hard.metta.answers
+++ b/tests/extended_compat/ai-service/ai-service-composition-hard.metta.answers
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-timeout: failed to run command 'time': No such file or directory
diff --git a/tests/extended_compat/ai-service/ai-service-composition-sanity.metta.answers b/tests/extended_compat/ai-service/ai-service-composition-sanity.metta.answers
index 2c5da382ce3..b546e15489d 100644
--- a/tests/extended_compat/ai-service/ai-service-composition-sanity.metta.answers
+++ b/tests/extended_compat/ai-service/ai-service-composition-sanity.metta.answers
@@ -1 +1,10 @@
-timeout: failed to run command 'time': No such file or directory
+[()]
+[()]
+[()]
+[()]
+[()]
+[()]
+[()]
+[]
+0.11user 0.01system 0:00.12elapsed 99%CPU (0avgtext+0avgdata 26552maxresident)k
+560inputs+0outputs (5major+3377minor)pagefaults 0swaps