diff --git a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/AnalysisModuleScanner.java b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/AnalysisModuleScanner.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..95f4a3746
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/AnalysisModuleScanner.java
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+package org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report;
+
+import org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.tags.Analysis;
+import org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.tags.Datum;
+import org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.tags.Param;
+import org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.tags.Table;
+import org.broadinstitute.sting.utils.StingException;
+
+import java.lang.annotation.Annotation;
+import java.lang.reflect.Field;
+import java.util.HashMap;
+import java.util.Map;
+
+
+/**
+ * @author aaron
+ *         <p/>
+ *         Class AnalysisModuleScanner
+ *         <p/>
+ *         Given an analysis, find the annotated fields and methods.  Given this module and
+ *         the object, a Mashalling object can serialize or deserialize a analysis module.
+ */
+public class AnalysisModuleScanner {
+
+    // what we extracted from the class
+    private Map<Param, Field> parameters = new HashMap<Param, Field>(); // the parameter annotations
+    private Map<Table, Field> tables = new HashMap<Table, Field>();     // the table annotations
+    private Map<Datum, Field> datums = new HashMap<Datum, Field>();     // the data we've discovered
+    private Analysis analysis;                               // the analysis annotation
+
+    // private storage of the class type
+    private final Class cls;
+
+    /**
+     * create a report scanner from the passed in class
+     * @param cls the target class, annotated with the @Analysis annotation
+     */
+    public AnalysisModuleScanner(Class cls) {
+        this.cls = cls;
+        scan(); // scan the passed in class
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * create a report scanner from the passed in class
+     * @param obj the target object, annotated with the @Analysis annotation
+     */
+    public AnalysisModuleScanner(Object obj) {
+        this.cls = obj.getClass();
+        scan(); // scan the passed in class
+    }
+
+    /** scan the class and find all appropriate fields and tables */
+    public void scan() {
+        if (cls == null || !cls.isAnnotationPresent(Analysis.class))
+            throw new StingException("The class passed in cannot be null, " + "" +
+                                     "and must contain the @Analysis annotation, class " + cls + " was the input");
+
+        // get the annotation off of the class
+        analysis = (Analysis) cls.getAnnotation(Analysis.class);
+        scanFields();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * scan the fields of the class, extracting parameters and table annotations and their associated fields
+     */
+    private void scanFields() {
+        // get the fields from the class, and extract
+        for (Field f : cls.getDeclaredFields())
+            for (Annotation annotation : f.getAnnotations()) {
+                if (annotation.annotationType().equals(Param.class))
+                    parameters.put((Param) annotation, f);
+                if (annotation.annotationType().equals(Table.class))
+                    tables.put((Table) annotation, f);
+                if (annotation.annotationType().equals(Datum.class))
+                    datums.put((Datum) annotation, f);
+            }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     *
+     * @return get the list of parameters we found
+     */
+    public Map<Param, Field> getParameters() {
+        return parameters;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     *
+     * @return a list of table annotations found
+     */
+    public Map<Table, Field> getTables() {
+        return tables;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     *
+     * @return a map of the datum annotations found
+     */
+    public Map<Datum, Field> getData() {
+        return datums;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     *
+     * @return the analysis annotation found
+     */
+    public Analysis getAnalysis() {
+        return analysis;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/Marshaller.java b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/Marshaller.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4b82388e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/Marshaller.java
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2010.  The Broad Institute
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person
+ * obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation
+ * files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without
+ * restriction, including without limitation the rights to use,
+ * copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+ * copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
+ * Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following
+ * conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be
+ * included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED 'AS IS', WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
+ * EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES
+ * OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND
+ * NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT
+ * HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY,
+ * WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
+ * FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR
+ * OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+package org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report;
+
+import org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.formats.OutputFormater;
+import org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.tags.*;
+import org.broadinstitute.sting.utils.StingException;
+
+import java.util.Collection;
+
+/**
+ * @author aaron
+ *         <p/>
+ *         Class Marshaller
+ *         <p/>
+ *         Given an analysis scan, an object, and a formatter, this class emits
+ *         a report to disk (or other source).
+ */
+public class Marshaller {
+    private String report;
+    private OutputFormater formatter;
+
+    /**
+     * create a report
+     * @param reportName the report name
+     * @param formater the formater to use
+     */
+    public void createReport(String reportName, OutputFormater formater) {
+        this.formatter = formater;
+        report = reportName;
+        formatter.startReport(report);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * add an analysis module to the output source
+     * @param toMarshall the object to marshall
+     */
+    public void write(Object toMarshall) {
+        AnalysisModuleScanner moduleScanner = new AnalysisModuleScanner(toMarshall);
+        formatter.addAnalysis(moduleScanner.getAnalysis());
+        for (Param p : moduleScanner.getParameters().keySet())
+            try {
+                formatter.addParam(p, moduleScanner.getParameters().get(p).get(toMarshall).toString());
+            } catch (IllegalAccessException e) {
+                throw new StingException("Unable to access variable " + moduleScanner.getParameters().get(p), e);
+            }
+        for (Datum d : moduleScanner.getData().keySet())
+            try {
+                formatter.addDatum(d, moduleScanner.getData().get(d).get(toMarshall).toString());
+            } catch (IllegalAccessException e) {
+                throw new StingException("Unable to access variable " + moduleScanner.getParameters().get(d), e);
+            }
+        for (Table t : moduleScanner.getTables().keySet())
+            try {
+                formatter.addTable(t, new TableContainer((Collection<Object>) moduleScanner.getTables().get(t).get(toMarshall),t.columns()));
+            } catch (IllegalAccessException e) {
+                throw new StingException("Unable to access variable " + moduleScanner.getParameters().get(t), e);
+            }
+
+    }
+
+    public void endReport() {
+        formatter.endReport();    
+    }
+
+
+}
diff --git a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/TableContainer.java b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/TableContainer.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2b2881125
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/TableContainer.java
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2010.  The Broad Institute
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person
+ * obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation
+ * files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without
+ * restriction, including without limitation the rights to use,
+ * copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+ * copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
+ * Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following
+ * conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be
+ * included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED 'AS IS', WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
+ * EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES
+ * OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND
+ * NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT
+ * HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY,
+ * WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
+ * FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR
+ * OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+package org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report;
+
+import java.util.*;
+
+
+/**
+ * 
+ * @author aaron 
+ * 
+ * Class TableContainer
+ *
+ * represents a table of data, and formats according to column count.  Do not use,
+ * needs improvement.  This is a stand-in for something better.
+ */
+public class TableContainer {
+    private List<Object> tableEntries;
+    private int columns = 2;  // default to two
+
+    public TableContainer(Collection<Object> tbl, int columns) {
+        tableEntries = new ArrayList<Object>();
+        if (tbl instanceof List || tbl instanceof Vector || tbl instanceof Set)
+            tableEntries.addAll(tbl);
+        if (tbl instanceof Map)
+            for (Object key : ((Map)tbl).keySet()) {
+                tableEntries.add(key);
+                tableEntries.add(((Map) tbl).get(key));
+            }
+        this.columns = columns;         
+    }
+
+    public List<List<Object>> toRows() {
+        ArrayList<List<Object>> list = new ArrayList<List<Object>>();
+        List<Object> currentRow = new ArrayList<Object>();
+        for (Object obj : tableEntries) {
+            if (currentRow.size() >= columns) {
+                list.add(currentRow);
+                currentRow = new ArrayList<Object>();
+            }
+            currentRow.add(obj);
+        }
+        list.add(currentRow);
+        return list;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/formats/OutputFormater.java b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/formats/OutputFormater.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e7117dce6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/formats/OutputFormater.java
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2010.  The Broad Institute
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person
+ * obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation
+ * files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without
+ * restriction, including without limitation the rights to use,
+ * copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+ * copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
+ * Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following
+ * conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be
+ * included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED 'AS IS', WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
+ * EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES
+ * OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND
+ * NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT
+ * HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY,
+ * WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
+ * FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR
+ * OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+package org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.formats;
+
+import org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.TableContainer;
+import org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.tags.*;
+
+
+/**
+ * 
+ * @author aaron 
+ * 
+ * Class OutputFormater
+ *
+ * The formatter defines a perticular output format style.  The formatter methods
+ * are required to be called in the following order:
+ *
+ * 1. startReport()
+ * 2. for each analysis module:
+ *      addAnalysis()
+ *          with many addParam(), addTable(), and addDatum() in no particular order promised
+ * 3. endReport()
+ */
+public interface OutputFormater {
+    /**
+     * start the report, given the report tag
+     * @param reportName the report name.
+     */
+    public void startReport(String reportName);
+
+    /**
+     * add an analysis to the report
+     * @param analysisTag the analysis tag
+     */
+    public void addAnalysis(Analysis analysisTag);
+
+    /**
+     * add a parameter value to the output location
+     * @param value
+     */
+    public void addParam(Param paramTag, String value);
+
+    /**
+     * add a parameter value to the output location
+     * @param value
+     */
+    public void addTable(Table tableTag, TableContainer value);
+
+    /**
+     * add a datum object to the output location
+     * @param value
+     */
+    public void addDatum(Datum datumTag, String value);
+
+    /**
+     * end the report 
+     */
+    public void endReport();
+}
diff --git a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/formats/SimpleTextOutputer.java b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/formats/SimpleTextOutputer.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..816b19ca8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/formats/SimpleTextOutputer.java
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2010.  The Broad Institute
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person
+ * obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation
+ * files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without
+ * restriction, including without limitation the rights to use,
+ * copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+ * copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
+ * Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following
+ * conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be
+ * included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED 'AS IS', WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
+ * EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES
+ * OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND
+ * NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT
+ * HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY,
+ * WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
+ * FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR
+ * OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+package org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.formats;
+
+import org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.TableContainer;
+import org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.tags.*;
+import org.broadinstitute.sting.utils.StingException;
+
+import java.io.*;
+import java.util.List;
+
+
+/**
+ * 
+ * @author aaron 
+ * 
+ * Class SimpleTextOutputer
+ *
+ * a very small demo of text output, just to use for testing and development
+ */
+public class SimpleTextOutputer implements OutputFormater {
+    protected PrintWriter out;
+    protected String terminator = "\n";
+    protected String spacer = "\t\t\t";
+    /**
+     * create a simple text output format given the output file
+     * @param outputFile
+     */
+    public SimpleTextOutputer(File outputFile) {
+        try {
+            FileOutputStream stream = new FileOutputStream(outputFile);
+            out = new PrintWriter(stream);
+        } catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
+            throw new StingException("Unable to find file ",e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * start the report, given the report tag
+     *
+     * @param reportTag the report tag, which describes the basics of the report
+     */
+    @Override
+    public void startReport(String reportTag) {
+        out.write("----------------" + reportTag + "----------------" + terminator);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * add an analysis to the report
+     *
+     * @param analysisTag the analysis tag
+     */
+    @Override
+    public void addAnalysis(Analysis analysisTag) {
+        out.write("----------------" + analysisTag.name() + "----------------" + terminator);
+        out.write(String.format("Name%s%s%s",spacer,analysisTag.name(),terminator));
+        out.write(String.format("Description\t\t%s%s",analysisTag.description(),terminator));
+        out.write(String.format("Version%s%s%s",spacer,analysisTag.version(),terminator));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * add a parameter value to the output location
+     *
+     * @param value
+     */
+    @Override
+    public void addParam(Param paramTag, String value) {
+        out.write(String.format("Param %s%s%s%s",paramTag.name(),spacer,value,terminator));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * add a parameter value to the output location
+     *
+     * @param value
+     */
+    @Override
+    public void addTable(Table tableTag, TableContainer value) {
+        out.write(tableTag.name());
+        boolean first = false;
+        for (List<Object> row : value.toRows()) {
+            if (!first) first = true;
+            else out.write("\t");
+            out.write("\t\t");
+            for (Object obj: row) out.write(obj+",");
+            out.write(terminator);
+        }
+
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * add a datum object to the output location
+     *
+     * @param value
+     */
+    @Override
+    public void addDatum(Datum datumTag, String value) {
+        out.write("Datum "+datumTag.name()+spacer+value+terminator);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * end the report
+     *     
+     */
+    @Override
+    public void endReport() {
+        out.write("----------------" + "----------------" + terminator);
+        out.close();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/tags/Analysis.java b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/tags/Analysis.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0e2dea55b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/tags/Analysis.java
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+package org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.tags;
+
+import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
+import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
+
+/**
+ * @author aaron
+ *         <p/>
+ *         Annotation Analysis
+ *         <p/>
+ *         the main annotation for analysis objects in the report system
+ */
+@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+public @interface Analysis {
+    String name();                          // the name of the analysis
+    String description();                   // its description, required
+    String version() default "unversioned"; // the version, not always used
+}
diff --git a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/tags/Datum.java b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/tags/Datum.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9ffcd1bb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/tags/Datum.java
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2010.  The Broad Institute
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person
+ * obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation
+ * files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without
+ * restriction, including without limitation the rights to use,
+ * copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+ * copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
+ * Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following
+ * conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be
+ * included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED 'AS IS', WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
+ * EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES
+ * OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND
+ * NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT
+ * HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY,
+ * WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
+ * FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR
+ * OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+package org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.tags;
+
+import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
+import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
+
+/**
+ * @author aaron
+ *         <p/>
+ *         Annotation Datum
+ *         <p/>
+ *         The basic Datum annotation, for fields in an analysis that
+ *         are to be output as data.
+ */
+@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+public @interface Datum {
+    String name();          // the name, required
+    String description();   // a description
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/tags/Param.java b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/tags/Param.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..79530d215
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/tags/Param.java
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+package org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.tags;
+
+import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
+import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
+
+/**
+ * @author aaron
+ *         <p/>
+ *         Annotation Param
+ *         <p/>
+ *         a description annotation for a parameter; a variable used as input to the
+ *         analysis, but not (nessasarally) an output.  Some formats will store this
+ *         information in comments, others will not include it.
+ */
+@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+public @interface Param {
+    String name() default "";   // the name, defaulted to the variable name
+    String description();       // the description of the parameter
+}
diff --git a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/tags/Table.java b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/tags/Table.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b2d1bf3de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/tags/Table.java
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+package org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.tags;
+
+import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
+import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
+
+/**
+ * @author aaron
+ *         <p/>
+ *         Annotation Table
+ *         <p/>
+ *         tells the report system to make a table out of the annotated field.  The field
+ *         can be of type List<>, Map<>, Vector<>, Collection<> or primative array.
+ */
+@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+public @interface Table {
+    String name();              // the name
+    String header() default ""; // any text representing the table header
+    String description();       // a description of the table
+    int columns() default -1;   // the number of columns to divide the data into
+}
diff --git a/java/test/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/AnalysisModuleScannerTest.java b/java/test/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/AnalysisModuleScannerTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..818c27e23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/test/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/AnalysisModuleScannerTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+package org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report;
+
+import org.broadinstitute.sting.BaseTest;
+import org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.tags.Analysis;
+import org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.tags.Param;
+import org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.tags.Table;
+import org.junit.Assert;
+import org.junit.Test;
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+
+
+/**
+ * @author aaron
+ *         <p/>
+ *         Class AnalysisModuleScannerTest
+ *         <p/>
+ *         Test out the analysis scanner, which takes an analysis module and extracts out basic data
+ */
+public class AnalysisModuleScannerTest extends BaseTest {
+
+    @Test
+    public void testBasicScan() {
+        AnalysisModuleScanner scanner = new AnalysisModuleScanner(FakeAnalysis.class);
+
+        // check we found one param, and check its description
+        Assert.assertEquals(1, scanner.getParameters().size());
+        Assert.assertTrue("basic description".equals(scanner.getParameters().keySet().iterator().next().description()));
+
+        // check that we've found a table, and check its description
+        Assert.assertEquals(1, scanner.getTables().size());
+        Assert.assertTrue("Generate a table from this data".equals(scanner.getTables().keySet().iterator().next().description()));
+
+        // check that the analysis name and description were set
+        Assert.assertTrue("testAnalysis".equals(scanner.getAnalysis().name()));
+        Assert.assertTrue("The is just a simple description".equals(scanner.getAnalysis().description()));
+
+    }
+}
+
+// --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// my fake analysis class
+// --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+@Analysis(name = "testAnalysis", description = "The is just a simple description")
+class FakeAnalysis {
+
+    @Param(description = "basic description")
+    public String text = "GRRR";
+
+    @Table(name="FakeTable", description = "Generate a table from this data",columns=3)
+    public List<Integer> values = new ArrayList<Integer>();
+
+    public FakeAnalysis() {
+        values.add(1);
+        values.add(2);
+        values.add(3);
+        values.add(4);
+        values.add(5);
+        values.add(6);
+
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/java/test/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/MarshallerTest.java b/java/test/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/MarshallerTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6475095fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/test/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/utils/report/MarshallerTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2010.  The Broad Institute
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person
+ * obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation
+ * files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without
+ * restriction, including without limitation the rights to use,
+ * copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+ * copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
+ * Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following
+ * conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be
+ * included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED 'AS IS', WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
+ * EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES
+ * OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND
+ * NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT
+ * HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY,
+ * WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
+ * FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR
+ * OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+package org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report;
+
+import org.broadinstitute.sting.BaseTest;
+import org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.utils.report.formats.SimpleTextOutputer;
+import org.junit.Test;
+
+import java.io.File;
+
+
+/**
+ * 
+ * @author aaron 
+ * 
+ * Class MarshallerTest
+ *
+ * test out the marshaller
+ */
+public class MarshallerTest extends BaseTest {
+    @Test
+    public void testMarshalling() {
+        // output file
+        /*File fl = new File("testfile.txt");
+        fl.deleteOnExit();
+        Marshaller m = new Marshaller();
+        SimpleTextOutputer format = new SimpleTextOutputer(fl);
+        FakeAnalysis fa = new FakeAnalysis();
+        
+        // start the marshall
+        m.createReport("Fake Report",format);
+        m.write(fa);
+        m.write(fa);
+        m.write(fa);
+        m.endReport();*/
+    }
+}