diff --git a/bin/db_gentest.py b/bin/db_gentest.py
index 8e648f6..caf7d9f 100755
--- a/bin/db_gentest.py
+++ b/bin/db_gentest.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 GRADE_FILENAME = 'NOTA'
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    root = misc.VmcheckerPaths().dir_checked()
+    root = misc.VmcheckerPaths().dir_checked
     
     if not os.path.exists(root):
         print " %s directory does not exist " % root
diff --git a/bin/initialise_course.py b/bin/initialise_course.py
index 00acc63..cce5717 100755
--- a/bin/initialise_course.py
+++ b/bin/initialise_course.py
@@ -9,17 +9,21 @@
 import sqlite3
 import misc
 import sys
+import logging
 
+logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG)
+logger = logging.getLogger("vmchecker.initialise_course")
+logger.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
+#logger.basicConfig(level=logger.DEBUG)
 
 def create_storer_paths():
     """ Create all paths used by vmchecker on the storer machine""" 
-    storer_paths = misc.VmcheckerPaths().storer_paths()
+    storer_paths = misc.VmcheckerPaths().storer_paths
     for path in storer_paths:
         if not(os.path.isdir(path)):
             os.mkdir(path)
         else:
-            print("[%s] Skipping existing directory %s" % (
-                sys.argv[0], path))
+            logger.info("Skipping existing directory %s" % path)
 
 
 
@@ -47,12 +51,11 @@ def create_db_tables(db_path):
 
 def create_db():
     # check for DB existance
-    db_file = misc.VmcheckerPaths().db_file()
+    db_file = misc.VmcheckerPaths().db_file
     if None == db_file:
         create_db(db_file)
     else:
-        print("[%s] Skipping existing Sqlite3 DB file %s" % (
-            sys.argv[0], db_file))
+        logger.info("Skipping existing Sqlite3 DB file %s" % db_file)
 
         
 
@@ -60,8 +63,7 @@ def create_db():
 def main():
     create_storer_paths()
     create_db()
-    print("[%s] storer init done setting up paths and db file." % (
-            sys.argv[0]))
+    logger.info(" -- storer init done setting up paths and db file.")
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     main()
diff --git a/bin/misc.py b/bin/misc.py
index 932bd87..2fdede2 100644
--- a/bin/misc.py
+++ b/bin/misc.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ def config():
 
 def relative_path(*args):
     """Joins the arguments and returns a path relative to root"""
-    return os.path.join(VmcheckerPaths().root(), os.path.join(*args))
+    return os.path.join(VmcheckerPaths().root, os.path.join(*args))
 
 
 def repository(assignment):
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def db_file():
     @return
         - absolute path of config file
         - None if the path isn't a file"""
-    path = VmcheckerPaths().db_file()
+    path = VmcheckerPaths().db_file
     if os.path.isfile(path):
         return path
     else:
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         pass
 
     def abs_path(self, relative):
-        return os.path.join(self.root(), relative)
+        return os.path.join(self.root, relative)
 
     @property
     def root(self):
@@ -85,13 +85,13 @@ def root(self):
     @property
     def tester_paths(self):
         """ A list of all the paths relevant to the tester machine."""
-        return [self.dir_queue()]
+        return [self.dir_queue]
 
     @property
     def storer_paths(self):
         """ A list of all the paths relevant to the storer machine."""
-        return [self.dir_unchecked(), self.dir_checked(),
-                self.dir_backup(), self.dir_tests()]
+        return [self.dir_unchecked, self.dir_checked,
+                self.dir_backup, self.dir_tests]
 
     @property
     def dir_unchecked(self):
diff --git a/bin/submit.py b/bin/submit.py
index 30d4a95..9d0ac80 100755
--- a/bin/submit.py
+++ b/bin/submit.py
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ def submit_assignment(assignment_config):
     fd = mkstemp(
             suffix='.zip',
             prefix='%s_%s_%s_' % (course, assignment, user),
-            dir=VmcheckerPaths().dir_unchecked())
+            dir=VmcheckerPaths().dir_unchecked)
     print sys.stderr, 'Creating zip package at `%s\'' % fd[1]
 
     # adds the files to
diff --git a/bin/update_db.py b/bin/update_db.py
index 0a4f66e..ebdd7dd 100644
--- a/bin/update_db.py
+++ b/bin/update_db.py
@@ -11,10 +11,10 @@
 
 GRADE_VALUE_FILE = 'nota'
 
-vmchk_root = misc.VmcheckerPaths().root()
-db_path = misc.VmcheckerPaths().db_file()
+vmchk_root = misc.VmcheckerPaths().root
+db_path = misc.VmcheckerPaths().db_file
 cwd = os.getcwd()
-checked_root = misc.VmcheckerPaths().dir_checked()
+checked_root = misc.VmcheckerPaths().dir_checked
 
 if not cwd.startswith(checked_root):
     print "Error: working directory not in the VMCHECKER_ROOT subtree "