diff --git a/bridge.go b/bridge.go
index 5d8c4c6a..34945dcd 100644
--- a/bridge.go
+++ b/bridge.go
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ type bridge struct {
 	// held by the solver that it ends up being easier and saner to do this.
 	s *solver
 
+	// Whether to sort version lists for downgrade.
+	down bool
+
 	// Simple, local cache of the root's PackageTree
 	crp *struct {
 		ptree PackageTree
@@ -58,17 +61,18 @@ type bridge struct {
 
 // Global factory func to create a bridge. This exists solely to allow tests to
 // override it with a custom bridge and sm.
-var mkBridge = func(s *solver, sm SourceManager) sourceBridge {
+var mkBridge = func(s *solver, sm SourceManager, down bool) sourceBridge {
 	return &bridge{
 		sm:     sm,
 		s:      s,
+		down:   down,
 		vlists: make(map[ProjectIdentifier][]Version),
 	}
 }
 
 func (b *bridge) GetManifestAndLock(id ProjectIdentifier, v Version) (Manifest, Lock, error) {
-	if id.ProjectRoot == ProjectRoot(b.s.rpt.ImportRoot) {
-		return b.s.rm, b.s.rl, nil
+	if b.s.rd.isRoot(id.ProjectRoot) {
+		return b.s.rd.rm, b.s.rd.rl, nil
 	}
 
 	b.s.mtr.push("b-gmal")
@@ -94,7 +98,7 @@ func (b *bridge) ListVersions(id ProjectIdentifier) ([]Version, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if b.s.params.Downgrade {
+	if b.down {
 		SortForDowngrade(vl)
 	} else {
 		SortForUpgrade(vl)
@@ -120,7 +124,7 @@ func (b *bridge) SourceExists(id ProjectIdentifier) (bool, error) {
 }
 
 func (b *bridge) vendorCodeExists(id ProjectIdentifier) (bool, error) {
-	fi, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(b.s.params.RootDir, "vendor", string(id.ProjectRoot)))
+	fi, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(b.s.rd.dir, "vendor", string(id.ProjectRoot)))
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	} else if fi.IsDir() {
@@ -279,7 +283,7 @@ func (b *bridge) vtu(id ProjectIdentifier, v Version) versionTypeUnion {
 // The root project is handled separately, as the source manager isn't
 // responsible for that code.
 func (b *bridge) ListPackages(id ProjectIdentifier, v Version) (PackageTree, error) {
-	if id.ProjectRoot == ProjectRoot(b.s.rpt.ImportRoot) {
+	if b.s.rd.isRoot(id.ProjectRoot) {
 		panic("should never call ListPackages on root project")
 	}
 
@@ -327,7 +331,7 @@ func (b *bridge) breakLock() {
 		return
 	}
 
-	for _, lp := range b.s.rl.Projects() {
+	for _, lp := range b.s.rd.rl.Projects() {
 		if _, is := b.s.sel.selected(lp.pi); !is {
 			// TODO(sdboyer) use this as an opportunity to detect
 			// inconsistencies between upstream and the lock (e.g., moved tags)?
diff --git a/hash.go b/hash.go
index 8cc9b6d8..d926c713 100644
--- a/hash.go
+++ b/hash.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ func (s *solver) writeHashingInputs(w io.Writer) {
 	// Apply overrides to the constraints from the root. Otherwise, the hash
 	// would be computed on the basis of a constraint from root that doesn't
 	// actually affect solving.
-	wc := s.ovr.overrideAll(s.rm.DependencyConstraints().merge(s.rm.TestDependencyConstraints()))
+	wc := s.rd.combineConstraints()
 
 	for _, pd := range wc {
 		writeString(string(pd.Ident.ProjectRoot))
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func (s *solver) writeHashingInputs(w io.Writer) {
 	// particular subpath, into the hash. We need to do this in a
 	// deterministic order, so expand and sort the map.
 	var pkgs []PackageOrErr
-	for _, perr := range s.rpt.Packages {
+	for _, perr := range s.rd.rpt.Packages {
 		pkgs = append(pkgs, perr)
 	}
 	sort.Sort(sortPackageOrErr(pkgs))
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ func (s *solver) writeHashingInputs(w io.Writer) {
 	}
 
 	// Write any required packages given in the root manifest.
-	req := make([]string, 0, len(s.req))
-	for pkg := range s.req {
+	req := make([]string, 0, len(s.rd.req))
+	for pkg := range s.rd.req {
 		req = append(req, pkg)
 	}
 	sort.Strings(req)
@@ -95,8 +95,8 @@ func (s *solver) writeHashingInputs(w io.Writer) {
 	}
 
 	// Add the ignored packages, if any.
-	ig := make([]string, 0, len(s.ig))
-	for pkg := range s.ig {
+	ig := make([]string, 0, len(s.rd.ig))
+	for pkg := range s.rd.ig {
 		ig = append(ig, pkg)
 	}
 	sort.Strings(ig)
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ func (s *solver) writeHashingInputs(w io.Writer) {
 		writeString(igp)
 	}
 
-	for _, pc := range s.ovr.asSortedSlice() {
+	for _, pc := range s.rd.ovr.asSortedSlice() {
 		writeString(string(pc.Ident.ProjectRoot))
 		if pc.Ident.Source != "" {
 			writeString(pc.Ident.Source)
diff --git a/rootdata.go b/rootdata.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..413e5585
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rootdata.go
@@ -0,0 +1,173 @@
+package gps
+
+import (
+	"sort"
+
+	"github.com/armon/go-radix"
+)
+
+// rootdata holds static data and constraining rules from the root project for
+// use in solving.
+type rootdata struct {
+	// Path to the root of the project on which gps is operating.
+	dir string
+
+	// Map of packages to ignore.
+	ig map[string]bool
+
+	// Map of packages to require.
+	req map[string]bool
+
+	// A ProjectConstraints map containing the validated (guaranteed non-empty)
+	// overrides declared by the root manifest.
+	ovr ProjectConstraints
+
+	// A map of the ProjectRoot (local names) that should be allowed to change
+	chng map[ProjectRoot]struct{}
+
+	// Flag indicating all projects should be allowed to change, without regard
+	// for lock.
+	chngall bool
+
+	// A map of the project names listed in the root's lock.
+	rlm map[ProjectRoot]LockedProject
+
+	// A defensively-copied instance of the root manifest.
+	rm Manifest
+
+	// A defensively-copied instance of the root lock.
+	rl Lock
+
+	// A defensively-copied instance of params.RootPackageTree
+	rpt PackageTree
+}
+
+// rootImportList returns a list of the unique imports from the root data.
+// Ignores and requires are taken into consideration.
+func (rd rootdata) externalImportList() []string {
+	reach := rd.rpt.ExternalReach(true, true, rd.ig).ListExternalImports()
+
+	// If there are any requires, slide them into the reach list, as well.
+	if len(rd.req) > 0 {
+		reqs := make([]string, 0, len(rd.req))
+
+		// Make a map of both imported and required pkgs to skip, to avoid
+		// duplication. Technically, a slice would probably be faster (given
+		// small size and bounds check elimination), but this is a one-time op,
+		// so it doesn't matter.
+		skip := make(map[string]bool, len(rd.req))
+		for _, r := range reach {
+			if rd.req[r] {
+				skip[r] = true
+			}
+		}
+
+		for r := range rd.req {
+			if !skip[r] {
+				reqs = append(reqs, r)
+			}
+		}
+
+		reach = append(reach, reqs...)
+	}
+
+	return reach
+}
+
+func (rd rootdata) getApplicableConstraints() []workingConstraint {
+	xt := radix.New()
+	combined := rd.combineConstraints()
+
+	type wccount struct {
+		count int
+		wc    workingConstraint
+	}
+	for _, wc := range combined {
+		xt.Insert(string(wc.Ident.ProjectRoot), wccount{wc: wc})
+	}
+
+	// Walk all dep import paths we have to consider and mark the corresponding
+	// wc entry in the trie, if any
+	for _, im := range rd.externalImportList() {
+		if isStdLib(im) {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if pre, v, match := xt.LongestPrefix(im); match && isPathPrefixOrEqual(pre, im) {
+			wcc := v.(wccount)
+			wcc.count++
+			xt.Insert(pre, wcc)
+		}
+	}
+
+	var ret []workingConstraint
+
+	xt.Walk(func(s string, v interface{}) bool {
+		wcc := v.(wccount)
+		if wcc.count > 0 || wcc.wc.overrNet || wcc.wc.overrConstraint {
+			ret = append(ret, wcc.wc)
+		}
+		return false
+	})
+
+	return ret
+}
+
+func (rd rootdata) combineConstraints() []workingConstraint {
+	return rd.ovr.overrideAll(rd.rm.DependencyConstraints().merge(rd.rm.TestDependencyConstraints()))
+}
+
+// needVersionListFor indicates whether we need a version list for a given
+// project root, based solely on general solver inputs (no constraint checking
+// required). This will be true if:
+//
+//  - ChangeAll is on
+//  - The project is not in the lock at all
+//  - The project is in the lock, but is also in the list of projects to change
+func (rd rootdata) needVersionsFor(pr ProjectRoot) bool {
+	if rd.chngall {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	if _, has := rd.rlm[pr]; !has {
+		// not in the lock
+		return true
+	} else if _, has := rd.chng[pr]; has {
+		// in the lock, but marked for change
+		return true
+	}
+	// in the lock, not marked for change
+	return false
+
+}
+
+func (rd rootdata) isRoot(pr ProjectRoot) bool {
+	return pr == ProjectRoot(rd.rpt.ImportRoot)
+}
+
+// rootAtom creates an atomWithPackages that represents the root project.
+func (rd rootdata) rootAtom() atomWithPackages {
+	a := atom{
+		id: ProjectIdentifier{
+			ProjectRoot: ProjectRoot(rd.rpt.ImportRoot),
+		},
+		// This is a hack so that the root project doesn't have a nil version.
+		// It's sort of OK because the root never makes it out into the results.
+		// We may need a more elegant solution if we discover other side
+		// effects, though.
+		v: rootRev,
+	}
+
+	list := make([]string, 0, len(rd.rpt.Packages))
+	for path, pkg := range rd.rpt.Packages {
+		if pkg.Err != nil && !rd.ig[path] {
+			list = append(list, path)
+		}
+	}
+	sort.Strings(list)
+
+	return atomWithPackages{
+		a:  a,
+		pl: list,
+	}
+}
diff --git a/solve_test.go b/solve_test.go
index 2d3de696..9b203f0c 100644
--- a/solve_test.go
+++ b/solve_test.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ var fixtorun string
 // TODO(sdboyer) regression test ensuring that locks with only revs for projects don't cause errors
 func init() {
 	flag.StringVar(&fixtorun, "gps.fix", "", "A single fixture to run in TestBasicSolves or TestBimodalSolves")
-	mkBridge(nil, nil)
+	mkBridge(nil, nil, false)
 	overrideMkBridge()
 	overrideIsStdLib()
 }
@@ -29,11 +29,12 @@ func init() {
 func overrideMkBridge() {
 	// For all tests, override the base bridge with the depspecBridge that skips
 	// verifyRootDir calls
-	mkBridge = func(s *solver, sm SourceManager) sourceBridge {
+	mkBridge = func(s *solver, sm SourceManager, down bool) sourceBridge {
 		return &depspecBridge{
 			&bridge{
 				sm:     sm,
 				s:      s,
+				down:   down,
 				vlists: make(map[ProjectIdentifier][]Version),
 			},
 		}
@@ -417,10 +418,11 @@ func TestBadSolveOpts(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// swap out the test mkBridge override temporarily, just to make sure we get
 	// the right error
-	mkBridge = func(s *solver, sm SourceManager) sourceBridge {
+	mkBridge = func(s *solver, sm SourceManager, down bool) sourceBridge {
 		return &bridge{
 			sm:     sm,
 			s:      s,
+			down:   down,
 			vlists: make(map[ProjectIdentifier][]Version),
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/solver.go b/solver.go
index c74e104c..1727666f 100644
--- a/solver.go
+++ b/solver.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ var rootRev = Revision("")
 
 // SolveParameters hold all arguments to a solver run.
 //
-// Only RootDir and ImportRoot are absolutely required. A nil Manifest is
+// Only RootDir and RootPackageTree are absolutely required. A nil Manifest is
 // allowed, though it usually makes little sense.
 //
 // Of these properties, only Manifest and Ignore are (directly) incorporated in
@@ -92,14 +92,6 @@ type solver struct {
 	// starts moving forward again.
 	attempts int
 
-	// SolveParameters are the inputs to the solver. They determine both what
-	// data the solver should operate on, and certain aspects of how solving
-	// proceeds.
-	//
-	// Prepare() validates these, so by the time we have a *solver instance, we
-	// know they're valid.
-	params SolveParameters
-
 	// Logger used exclusively for trace output, if the trace option is set.
 	tl *log.Logger
 
@@ -128,12 +120,6 @@ type solver struct {
 	// removal.
 	unsel *unselected
 
-	// Map of packages to ignore.
-	ig map[string]bool
-
-	// Map of packages to require.
-	req map[string]bool
-
 	// A stack of all the currently active versionQueues in the solver. The set
 	// of projects represented here corresponds closely to what's in s.sel,
 	// although s.sel will always contain the root project, and s.vqs never
@@ -142,29 +128,157 @@ type solver struct {
 	// added to an existing project.
 	vqs []*versionQueue
 
-	// A map of the ProjectRoot (local names) that should be allowed to change
-	chng map[ProjectRoot]struct{}
-
-	// A ProjectConstraints map containing the validated (guaranteed non-empty)
-	// overrides declared by the root manifest.
-	ovr ProjectConstraints
-
-	// A map of the project names listed in the root's lock.
-	rlm map[ProjectRoot]LockedProject
-
-	// A defensively-copied instance of the root manifest.
-	rm Manifest
-
-	// A defensively-copied instance of the root lock.
-	rl Lock
-
-	// A defensively-copied instance of params.RootPackageTree
-	rpt PackageTree
+	// Contains data and constraining information from the root project
+	rd rootdata
 
 	// metrics for the current solve run.
 	mtr *metrics
 }
 
+func (params SolveParameters) toRootdata() (rootdata, error) {
+	if params.RootDir == "" {
+		return rootdata{}, badOptsFailure("params must specify a non-empty root directory")
+	}
+	if params.RootPackageTree.ImportRoot == "" {
+		return rootdata{}, badOptsFailure("params must include a non-empty import root")
+	}
+	if len(params.RootPackageTree.Packages) == 0 {
+		return rootdata{}, badOptsFailure("at least one package must be present in the PackageTree")
+	}
+	if params.Lock == nil && len(params.ToChange) != 0 {
+		return rootdata{}, badOptsFailure(fmt.Sprintf("update specifically requested for %s, but no lock was provided to upgrade from", params.ToChange))
+	}
+
+	if params.Manifest == nil {
+		params.Manifest = simpleRootManifest{}
+	}
+
+	rd := rootdata{
+		ig:      params.Manifest.IgnoredPackages(),
+		req:     params.Manifest.RequiredPackages(),
+		ovr:     params.Manifest.Overrides(),
+		rpt:     params.RootPackageTree.dup(),
+		chng:    make(map[ProjectRoot]struct{}),
+		rlm:     make(map[ProjectRoot]LockedProject),
+		chngall: params.ChangeAll,
+		dir:     params.RootDir,
+	}
+
+	// Ensure the required, ignore and overrides maps are at least initialized
+	if rd.ig == nil {
+		rd.ig = make(map[string]bool)
+	}
+	if rd.req == nil {
+		rd.req = make(map[string]bool)
+	}
+	if rd.ovr == nil {
+		rd.ovr = make(ProjectConstraints)
+	}
+
+	if len(rd.ig) != 0 {
+		var both []string
+		for pkg := range params.Manifest.RequiredPackages() {
+			if rd.ig[pkg] {
+				both = append(both, pkg)
+			}
+		}
+		switch len(both) {
+		case 0:
+			break
+		case 1:
+			return rootdata{}, badOptsFailure(fmt.Sprintf("%q was given as both a required and ignored package", both[0]))
+		default:
+			return rootdata{}, badOptsFailure(fmt.Sprintf("multiple packages given as both required and ignored: %s", strings.Join(both, ", ")))
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Validate no empties in the overrides map
+	var eovr []string
+	for pr, pp := range rd.ovr {
+		if pp.Constraint == nil && pp.Source == "" {
+			eovr = append(eovr, string(pr))
+		}
+	}
+
+	if eovr != nil {
+		// Maybe it's a little nitpicky to do this (we COULD proceed; empty
+		// overrides have no effect), but this errs on the side of letting the
+		// tool/user know there's bad input. Purely as a principle, that seems
+		// preferable to silently allowing progress with icky input.
+		if len(eovr) > 1 {
+			return rootdata{}, badOptsFailure(fmt.Sprintf("Overrides lacked any non-zero properties for multiple project roots: %s", strings.Join(eovr, " ")))
+		}
+		return rootdata{}, badOptsFailure(fmt.Sprintf("An override was declared for %s, but without any non-zero properties", eovr[0]))
+	}
+
+	// Prep safe, normalized versions of root manifest and lock data
+	rd.rm = prepManifest(params.Manifest)
+
+	if params.Lock != nil {
+		for _, lp := range params.Lock.Projects() {
+			rd.rlm[lp.Ident().ProjectRoot] = lp
+		}
+
+		// Also keep a prepped one, mostly for the bridge. This is probably
+		// wasteful, but only minimally so, and yay symmetry
+		rd.rl = prepLock(params.Lock)
+	}
+
+	for _, p := range params.ToChange {
+		if _, exists := rd.rlm[p]; !exists {
+			return rootdata{}, badOptsFailure(fmt.Sprintf("cannot update %s as it is not in the lock", p))
+		}
+		rd.chng[p] = struct{}{}
+	}
+
+	return rd, nil
+}
+
+// Prepare readies a Solver for use.
+//
+// This function reads and validates the provided SolveParameters. If a problem
+// with the inputs is detected, an error is returned. Otherwise, a Solver is
+// returned, ready to hash and check inputs or perform a solving run.
+func Prepare(params SolveParameters, sm SourceManager) (Solver, error) {
+	if sm == nil {
+		return nil, badOptsFailure("must provide non-nil SourceManager")
+	}
+	if params.Trace && params.TraceLogger == nil {
+		return nil, badOptsFailure("trace requested, but no logger provided")
+	}
+
+	rd, err := params.toRootdata()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	s := &solver{
+		tl: params.TraceLogger,
+		rd: rd,
+	}
+
+	// Set up the bridge and ensure the root dir is in good, working order
+	// before doing anything else. (This call is stubbed out in tests, via
+	// overriding mkBridge(), so we can run with virtual RootDir.)
+	s.b = mkBridge(s, sm, params.Downgrade)
+	err = s.b.verifyRootDir(params.RootDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// Initialize stacks and queues
+	s.sel = &selection{
+		deps: make(map[ProjectRoot][]dependency),
+		sm:   s.b,
+	}
+	s.unsel = &unselected{
+		sl:  make([]bimodalIdentifier, 0),
+		cmp: s.unselectedComparator,
+	}
+
+	return s, nil
+}
+
 // A Solver is the main workhorse of gps: given a set of project inputs, it
 // performs a constraint solving analysis to develop a complete Solution, or
 // else fail with an informative error.
@@ -186,133 +300,6 @@ type Solver interface {
 	Solve() (Solution, error)
 }
 
-// Prepare readies a Solver for use.
-//
-// This function reads and validates the provided SolveParameters. If a problem
-// with the inputs is detected, an error is returned. Otherwise, a Solver is
-// returned, ready to hash and check inputs or perform a solving run.
-func Prepare(params SolveParameters, sm SourceManager) (Solver, error) {
-	if sm == nil {
-		return nil, badOptsFailure("must provide non-nil SourceManager")
-	}
-	if params.RootDir == "" {
-		return nil, badOptsFailure("params must specify a non-empty root directory")
-	}
-	if params.RootPackageTree.ImportRoot == "" {
-		return nil, badOptsFailure("params must include a non-empty import root")
-	}
-	if len(params.RootPackageTree.Packages) == 0 {
-		return nil, badOptsFailure("at least one package must be present in the PackageTree")
-	}
-	if params.Trace && params.TraceLogger == nil {
-		return nil, badOptsFailure("trace requested, but no logger provided")
-	}
-	if params.Lock == nil && len(params.ToChange) != 0 {
-		return nil, badOptsFailure(fmt.Sprintf("update specifically requested for %s, but no lock was provided to upgrade from", params.ToChange))
-	}
-
-	if params.Manifest == nil {
-		params.Manifest = simpleRootManifest{}
-	}
-
-	s := &solver{
-		params: params,
-		ig:     params.Manifest.IgnoredPackages(),
-		req:    params.Manifest.RequiredPackages(),
-		ovr:    params.Manifest.Overrides(),
-		tl:     params.TraceLogger,
-		rpt:    params.RootPackageTree.dup(),
-	}
-
-	if len(s.ig) != 0 {
-		var both []string
-		for pkg := range params.Manifest.RequiredPackages() {
-			if s.ig[pkg] {
-				both = append(both, pkg)
-			}
-		}
-		switch len(both) {
-		case 0:
-			break
-		case 1:
-			return nil, badOptsFailure(fmt.Sprintf("%q was given as both a required and ignored package", both[0]))
-		default:
-			return nil, badOptsFailure(fmt.Sprintf("multiple packages given as both required and ignored: %s", strings.Join(both, ", ")))
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Ensure the ignore and overrides maps are at least initialized
-	if s.ig == nil {
-		s.ig = make(map[string]bool)
-	}
-	if s.ovr == nil {
-		s.ovr = make(ProjectConstraints)
-	}
-
-	// Validate no empties in the overrides map
-	var eovr []string
-	for pr, pp := range s.ovr {
-		if pp.Constraint == nil && pp.Source == "" {
-			eovr = append(eovr, string(pr))
-		}
-	}
-
-	if eovr != nil {
-		// Maybe it's a little nitpicky to do this (we COULD proceed; empty
-		// overrides have no effect), but this errs on the side of letting the
-		// tool/user know there's bad input. Purely as a principle, that seems
-		// preferable to silently allowing progress with icky input.
-		if len(eovr) > 1 {
-			return nil, badOptsFailure(fmt.Sprintf("Overrides lacked any non-zero properties for multiple project roots: %s", strings.Join(eovr, " ")))
-		}
-		return nil, badOptsFailure(fmt.Sprintf("An override was declared for %s, but without any non-zero properties", eovr[0]))
-	}
-
-	// Set up the bridge and ensure the root dir is in good, working order
-	// before doing anything else. (This call is stubbed out in tests, via
-	// overriding mkBridge(), so we can run with virtual RootDir.)
-	s.b = mkBridge(s, sm)
-	err := s.b.verifyRootDir(s.params.RootDir)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	// Initialize maps
-	s.chng = make(map[ProjectRoot]struct{})
-	s.rlm = make(map[ProjectRoot]LockedProject)
-
-	// Initialize stacks and queues
-	s.sel = &selection{
-		deps: make(map[ProjectRoot][]dependency),
-		sm:   s.b,
-	}
-	s.unsel = &unselected{
-		sl:  make([]bimodalIdentifier, 0),
-		cmp: s.unselectedComparator,
-	}
-
-	// Prep safe, normalized versions of root manifest and lock data
-	s.rm = prepManifest(s.params.Manifest)
-	if s.params.Lock != nil {
-		for _, lp := range s.params.Lock.Projects() {
-			s.rlm[lp.Ident().ProjectRoot] = lp
-		}
-
-		// Also keep a prepped one, mostly for the bridge. This is probably
-		// wasteful, but only minimally so, and yay symmetry
-		s.rl = prepLock(s.params.Lock)
-	}
-
-	for _, p := range s.params.ToChange {
-		if _, exists := s.rlm[p]; !exists {
-			return nil, badOptsFailure(fmt.Sprintf("cannot update %s as it is not in the lock", p))
-		}
-		s.chng[p] = struct{}{}
-	}
-
-	return s, nil
-}
-
 // Solve attempts to find a dependency solution for the given project, as
 // represented by the SolveParameters with which this Solver was created.
 //
@@ -348,8 +335,8 @@ func (s *solver) Solve() (Solution, error) {
 	}
 
 	s.traceFinish(soln, err)
-	if s.params.Trace {
-		s.mtr.dump(s.params.TraceLogger)
+	if s.tl != nil {
+		s.mtr.dump(s.tl)
 	}
 	return soln, err
 }
@@ -467,67 +454,14 @@ func (s *solver) solve() (map[atom]map[string]struct{}, error) {
 // populate the queues at the beginning of a solve run.
 func (s *solver) selectRoot() error {
 	s.mtr.push("select-root")
-	pa := atom{
-		id: ProjectIdentifier{
-			ProjectRoot: ProjectRoot(s.rpt.ImportRoot),
-		},
-		// This is a hack so that the root project doesn't have a nil version.
-		// It's sort of OK because the root never makes it out into the results.
-		// We may need a more elegant solution if we discover other side
-		// effects, though.
-		v: rootRev,
-	}
-
-	list := make([]string, len(s.rpt.Packages))
-	k := 0
-	for path, pkg := range s.rpt.Packages {
-		if pkg.Err != nil {
-			list[k] = path
-			k++
-		}
-	}
-	list = list[:k]
-	sort.Strings(list)
-
-	a := atomWithPackages{
-		a:  pa,
-		pl: list,
-	}
-
 	// Push the root project onto the queue.
 	// TODO(sdboyer) maybe it'd just be better to skip this?
-	s.sel.pushSelection(a, true)
+	awp := s.rd.rootAtom()
+	s.sel.pushSelection(awp, true)
 
 	// If we're looking for root's deps, get it from opts and local root
 	// analysis, rather than having the sm do it
-	mdeps := s.ovr.overrideAll(s.rm.DependencyConstraints().merge(s.rm.TestDependencyConstraints()))
-	reach := s.rpt.ExternalReach(true, true, s.ig).ListExternalImports()
-
-	// If there are any requires, slide them into the reach list, as well.
-	if len(s.req) > 0 {
-		reqs := make([]string, 0, len(s.req))
-
-		// Make a map of both imported and required pkgs to skip, to avoid
-		// duplication. Technically, a slice would probably be faster (given
-		// small size and bounds check elimination), but this is a one-time op,
-		// so it doesn't matter.
-		skip := make(map[string]bool, len(s.req))
-		for _, r := range reach {
-			if s.req[r] {
-				skip[r] = true
-			}
-		}
-
-		for r := range s.req {
-			if !skip[r] {
-				reqs = append(reqs, r)
-			}
-		}
-
-		reach = append(reach, reqs...)
-	}
-
-	deps, err := s.intersectConstraintsWithImports(mdeps, reach)
+	deps, err := s.intersectConstraintsWithImports(s.rd.combineConstraints(), s.rd.externalImportList())
 	if err != nil {
 		// TODO(sdboyer) this could well happen; handle it with a more graceful error
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("shouldn't be possible %s", err))
@@ -537,16 +471,16 @@ func (s *solver) selectRoot() error {
 		// If we have no lock, or if this dep isn't in the lock, then prefetch
 		// it. See longer explanation in selectAtom() for how we benefit from
 		// parallelism here.
-		if s.needVersionsFor(dep.Ident.ProjectRoot) {
+		if s.rd.needVersionsFor(dep.Ident.ProjectRoot) {
 			go s.b.SyncSourceFor(dep.Ident)
 		}
 
-		s.sel.pushDep(dependency{depender: pa, dep: dep})
+		s.sel.pushDep(dependency{depender: awp.a, dep: dep})
 		// Add all to unselected queue
 		heap.Push(s.unsel, bimodalIdentifier{id: dep.Ident, pl: dep.pl, fromRoot: true})
 	}
 
-	s.traceSelectRoot(s.rpt, deps)
+	s.traceSelectRoot(s.rd.rpt, deps)
 	s.mtr.pop()
 	return nil
 }
@@ -554,7 +488,7 @@ func (s *solver) selectRoot() error {
 func (s *solver) getImportsAndConstraintsOf(a atomWithPackages) ([]completeDep, error) {
 	var err error
 
-	if ProjectRoot(s.rpt.ImportRoot) == a.a.id.ProjectRoot {
+	if s.rd.isRoot(a.a.id.ProjectRoot) {
 		panic("Should never need to recheck imports/constraints from root during solve")
 	}
 
@@ -570,7 +504,7 @@ func (s *solver) getImportsAndConstraintsOf(a atomWithPackages) ([]completeDep,
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	allex := ptree.ExternalReach(false, false, s.ig)
+	allex := ptree.ExternalReach(false, false, s.rd.ig)
 	// Use a map to dedupe the unique external packages
 	exmap := make(map[string]struct{})
 	// Add to the list those packages that are reached by the packages
@@ -603,7 +537,7 @@ func (s *solver) getImportsAndConstraintsOf(a atomWithPackages) ([]completeDep,
 	}
 	sort.Strings(reach)
 
-	deps := s.ovr.overrideAll(m.DependencyConstraints())
+	deps := s.rd.ovr.overrideAll(m.DependencyConstraints())
 	return s.intersectConstraintsWithImports(deps, reach)
 }
 
@@ -629,23 +563,21 @@ func (s *solver) intersectConstraintsWithImports(deps []workingConstraint, reach
 
 		// Look for a prefix match; it'll be the root project/repo containing
 		// the reached package
-		if pre, idep, match := xt.LongestPrefix(rp); match {
-			if isPathPrefixOrEqual(pre, rp) {
-				// Match is valid; put it in the dmap, either creating a new
-				// completeDep or appending it to the existing one for this base
-				// project/prefix.
-				dep := idep.(workingConstraint)
-				if cdep, exists := dmap[dep.Ident.ProjectRoot]; exists {
-					cdep.pl = append(cdep.pl, rp)
-					dmap[dep.Ident.ProjectRoot] = cdep
-				} else {
-					dmap[dep.Ident.ProjectRoot] = completeDep{
-						workingConstraint: dep,
-						pl:                []string{rp},
-					}
+		if pre, idep, match := xt.LongestPrefix(rp); match && isPathPrefixOrEqual(pre, rp) {
+			// Match is valid; put it in the dmap, either creating a new
+			// completeDep or appending it to the existing one for this base
+			// project/prefix.
+			dep := idep.(workingConstraint)
+			if cdep, exists := dmap[dep.Ident.ProjectRoot]; exists {
+				cdep.pl = append(cdep.pl, rp)
+				dmap[dep.Ident.ProjectRoot] = cdep
+			} else {
+				dmap[dep.Ident.ProjectRoot] = completeDep{
+					workingConstraint: dep,
+					pl:                []string{rp},
 				}
-				continue
 			}
+			continue
 		}
 
 		// No match. Let the SourceManager try to figure out the root
@@ -656,7 +588,7 @@ func (s *solver) intersectConstraintsWithImports(deps []workingConstraint, reach
 		}
 
 		// Make a new completeDep with an open constraint, respecting overrides
-		pd := s.ovr.override(root, ProjectProperties{Constraint: Any()})
+		pd := s.rd.ovr.override(root, ProjectProperties{Constraint: Any()})
 
 		// Insert the pd into the trie so that further deps from this
 		// project get caught by the prefix search
@@ -682,7 +614,7 @@ func (s *solver) intersectConstraintsWithImports(deps []workingConstraint, reach
 func (s *solver) createVersionQueue(bmi bimodalIdentifier) (*versionQueue, error) {
 	id := bmi.id
 	// If on the root package, there's no queue to make
-	if ProjectRoot(s.rpt.ImportRoot) == id.ProjectRoot {
+	if s.rd.isRoot(id.ProjectRoot) {
 		return newVersionQueue(id, nil, nil, s.b)
 	}
 
@@ -704,7 +636,7 @@ func (s *solver) createVersionQueue(bmi bimodalIdentifier) (*versionQueue, error
 	}
 
 	var lockv Version
-	if len(s.rlm) > 0 {
+	if len(s.rd.rlm) > 0 {
 		lockv, err = s.getLockVersionIfValid(id)
 		if err != nil {
 			// Can only get an error here if an upgrade was expressly requested on
@@ -722,7 +654,7 @@ func (s *solver) createVersionQueue(bmi bimodalIdentifier) (*versionQueue, error
 		// TODO(sdboyer) nested loop; prime candidate for a cache somewhere
 		for _, dep := range s.sel.getDependenciesOn(bmi.id) {
 			// Skip the root, of course
-			if ProjectRoot(s.rpt.ImportRoot) == dep.depender.id.ProjectRoot {
+			if s.rd.isRoot(dep.depender.id.ProjectRoot) {
 				continue
 			}
 
@@ -857,7 +789,7 @@ func (s *solver) findValidVersion(q *versionQueue, pl []string) error {
 func (s *solver) getLockVersionIfValid(id ProjectIdentifier) (Version, error) {
 	// If the project is specifically marked for changes, then don't look for a
 	// locked version.
-	if _, explicit := s.chng[id.ProjectRoot]; explicit || s.params.ChangeAll {
+	if _, explicit := s.rd.chng[id.ProjectRoot]; explicit || s.rd.chngall {
 		// For projects with an upstream or cache repository, it's safe to
 		// ignore what's in the lock, because there's presumably more versions
 		// to be found and attempted in the repository. If it's only in vendor,
@@ -880,7 +812,7 @@ func (s *solver) getLockVersionIfValid(id ProjectIdentifier) (Version, error) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	lp, exists := s.rlm[id.ProjectRoot]
+	lp, exists := s.rd.rlm[id.ProjectRoot]
 	if !exists {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
@@ -922,29 +854,6 @@ func (s *solver) getLockVersionIfValid(id ProjectIdentifier) (Version, error) {
 	return v, nil
 }
 
-// needVersionListFor indicates whether we need a version list for a given
-// project root, based solely on general solver inputs (no constraint checking
-// required). This will be true if:
-//
-//  - ChangeAll is on
-//  - The project is not in the lock at all
-//  - The project is in the lock, but is also in the list of projects to change
-func (s *solver) needVersionsFor(pr ProjectRoot) bool {
-	if s.params.ChangeAll {
-		return true
-	}
-
-	if _, has := s.rlm[pr]; !has {
-		// not in the lock
-		return true
-	} else if _, has := s.chng[pr]; has {
-		// in the lock, but marked for change
-		return true
-	}
-	// in the lock, not marked for change
-	return false
-}
-
 // backtrack works backwards from the current failed solution to find the next
 // solution to try.
 func (s *solver) backtrack() bool {
@@ -1059,8 +968,8 @@ func (s *solver) unselectedComparator(i, j int) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 
-	_, ilock := s.rlm[iname.ProjectRoot]
-	_, jlock := s.rlm[jname.ProjectRoot]
+	_, ilock := s.rd.rlm[iname.ProjectRoot]
+	_, jlock := s.rd.rlm[jname.ProjectRoot]
 
 	switch {
 	case ilock && !jlock:
@@ -1105,7 +1014,7 @@ func (s *solver) fail(id ProjectIdentifier) {
 	// selection?
 
 	// skip if the root project
-	if ProjectRoot(s.rpt.ImportRoot) != id.ProjectRoot {
+	if !s.rd.isRoot(id.ProjectRoot) {
 		// just look for the first (oldest) one; the backtracker will necessarily
 		// traverse through and pop off any earlier ones
 		for _, vq := range s.vqs {
@@ -1167,7 +1076,7 @@ func (s *solver) selectAtom(a atomWithPackages, pkgonly bool) {
 		// few microseconds before blocking later. Best case, the dep doesn't
 		// come up next, but some other dep comes up that wasn't prefetched, and
 		// both fetches proceed in parallel.
-		if s.needVersionsFor(dep.Ident.ProjectRoot) {
+		if s.rd.needVersionsFor(dep.Ident.ProjectRoot) {
 			go s.b.SyncSourceFor(dep.Ident)
 		}
 
diff --git a/trace.go b/trace.go
index 6baf3f4e..db0ff2ef 100644
--- a/trace.go
+++ b/trace.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ const (
 )
 
 func (s *solver) traceCheckPkgs(bmi bimodalIdentifier) {
-	if !s.params.Trace {
+	if s.tl == nil {
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ func (s *solver) traceCheckPkgs(bmi bimodalIdentifier) {
 }
 
 func (s *solver) traceCheckQueue(q *versionQueue, bmi bimodalIdentifier, cont bool, offset int) {
-	if !s.params.Trace {
+	if s.tl == nil {
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func (s *solver) traceCheckQueue(q *versionQueue, bmi bimodalIdentifier, cont bo
 // traceStartBacktrack is called with the bmi that first failed, thus initiating
 // backtracking
 func (s *solver) traceStartBacktrack(bmi bimodalIdentifier, err error, pkgonly bool) {
-	if !s.params.Trace {
+	if s.tl == nil {
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func (s *solver) traceStartBacktrack(bmi bimodalIdentifier, err error, pkgonly b
 // traceBacktrack is called when a package or project is poppped off during
 // backtracking
 func (s *solver) traceBacktrack(bmi bimodalIdentifier, pkgonly bool) {
-	if !s.params.Trace {
+	if s.tl == nil {
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ func (s *solver) traceBacktrack(bmi bimodalIdentifier, pkgonly bool) {
 
 // Called just once after solving has finished, whether success or not
 func (s *solver) traceFinish(sol solution, err error) {
-	if !s.params.Trace {
+	if s.tl == nil {
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -101,15 +101,15 @@ func (s *solver) traceFinish(sol solution, err error) {
 
 // traceSelectRoot is called just once, when the root project is selected
 func (s *solver) traceSelectRoot(ptree PackageTree, cdeps []completeDep) {
-	if !s.params.Trace {
+	if s.tl == nil {
 		return
 	}
 
 	// This duplicates work a bit, but we're in trace mode and it's only once,
 	// so who cares
-	rm := ptree.ExternalReach(true, true, s.ig)
+	rm := ptree.ExternalReach(true, true, s.rd.ig)
 
-	s.tl.Printf("Root project is %q", s.rpt.ImportRoot)
+	s.tl.Printf("Root project is %q", s.rd.rpt.ImportRoot)
 
 	var expkgs int
 	for _, cdep := range cdeps {
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ func (s *solver) traceSelectRoot(ptree PackageTree, cdeps []completeDep) {
 
 // traceSelect is called when an atom is successfully selected
 func (s *solver) traceSelect(awp atomWithPackages, pkgonly bool) {
-	if !s.params.Trace {
+	if s.tl == nil {
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ func (s *solver) traceSelect(awp atomWithPackages, pkgonly bool) {
 }
 
 func (s *solver) traceInfo(args ...interface{}) {
-	if !s.params.Trace {
+	if s.tl == nil {
 		return
 	}