diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cdf593b..bfe3458 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 attr
 ====
 
-Evented Property getter/setter component
+Evented Property getter/setter component and automatic dependency calculation
 
 ## API
 
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@ name.on('change', function(new_name, old_name) {
 
   These have the same API, except no setter and a function is passed in and is run to determine the intial value
 
-### attr.computed(fn)
+### attr.computed(fn, dependencies)
 
-   Creates a computed attr:
+   Creates a computed attr. If dependencies is not set explicitly, they are automatically calculated
 
 ```javascript
 fullName = attr.computed(function() {
@@ -78,20 +78,10 @@ fullName = attr.computed(function() {
 fullName() // => 'Homer Simpson'
 ```
 
-### attr.depends()  
+### attr.depencencies
 
-  Returns the current dependencies
+  Contains the current dependencies
 
-### attr.depends(array)  
-
-  Set dependencies. attr is recalculated whenever a dependency changes
-
-```javascript
-fullName.depends([firstName, surName])
-firstName('Bart')
-
-fullName.value // => 'Bart Simpson'
-```
 
 # Testing
 
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 65c0aed..33a473f 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -32,17 +32,22 @@ function extend(a, b) {
  * simple attribute
  */
 
-function createAttr(arg) {
+var watcher = false
+
+function Attr(arg) {
 
   // IDEA: autocreate computed attr for function values
-  // if(typeof arg =='function') return createAttr.computed(arg)
+  // if(typeof arg =='function') return Attr.computed(arg)
 
   function attr(v) {
     if(arguments.length) {
       // setter
       attr.old = attr.value
       attr.value = v
+      
       attr.emit('change', attr.value, attr.old)
+    } else {
+      if(watcher) watcher(attr)
     }
     return attr.value
   }
@@ -56,11 +61,28 @@ function createAttr(arg) {
   return attr
 }
 
+
+
+Attr.dependencies = function(fn) {
+  var deps = []
+  // watches for simple attr reads
+  watcher = function(attr) {
+    deps.push(attr)
+  }
+  var val = fn()
+  watcher = false
+  return {
+    value: val,
+    depends: deps
+  }
+}
+
+
 /* 
  * computed attribute
  */
 
-createAttr.computed = function(fn) {
+Attr.computed = function(fn, depends) {
   function attr() {
     // nb - there is no setter
     attr.old = attr.value
@@ -72,31 +94,22 @@ createAttr.computed = function(fn) {
   // mixin common methods
   extend(attr, methods)
 
-  // set to initial value
-  attr.value = fn()
-
   // setup dependencies
-  attr._depends = []
-
-  // dependency setter
-  attr.depends = function(deps) {
-    // getter
-    if(arguments.length == 0) return attr._depends
-
-    // unbind old
-    attr._depends.forEach(function(dep) {
-      dep.off('change', changeFn)
-    })
-
-    attr._depends = deps
-    // bind new
-    deps.forEach(function(dep) {
-      dep.on('change', changeFn)
-    })
-    return attr
+  if(depends) {
+    attr.value = fn() // set to initial value
+  } else {
+    var o = Attr.dependencies(fn)
+    depends = o.depends
+    attr.value = o.value
   }
 
-  // static change function for binding
+  attr.depends = depends
+
+  depends.forEach(function(dep) {
+    dep.on('change', changeFn)
+  })
+
+  // static change function
   function changeFn() {
     attr.change()
   }
@@ -104,4 +117,4 @@ createAttr.computed = function(fn) {
   return attr
 }
 
-module.exports = createAttr
\ No newline at end of file
+module.exports = Attr
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/test.attr.js b/test/test.attr.js
index feea894..f5f583b 100644
--- a/test/test.attr.js
+++ b/test/test.attr.js
@@ -136,20 +136,37 @@ describe('attr()', function(){
 
       var fullName = attr.computed(function() {})
     
-      assert(fullName.depends().length == 0)
+      assert(fullName.depends.length == 0)
     })
 
+    it('has 2 dependencies calculated automatically', function(){
+
+      var firstName = attr('John')
+      var surName = attr('Bob')
+      
+      var fullName = attr.computed(function() { return firstName() + surName() })
+    
+      assert(fullName.depends.length == 2)
+    })
+
+    it('has 1 dependencies when set explicitly', function(){
+
+      var firstName = attr('John')
+      var surName = attr('Bob')
+      
+      var fullName = attr.computed(function() { return firstName() + surName() }, [firstName])
+    
+      assert(fullName.depends.length == 1)
+    })
 
-    it('recalcs when a dependency changes', function(){
 
-            var firstName = attr('John')
+    it('recalcs when a dependency changes', function(){
+      var firstName = attr('John')
       var surName = attr('Bob')
 
       var fullName = attr.computed(function() {
         return firstName() + ' ' + surName()
-      }).depends([surName, firstName])
-
-      assert(fullName._depends.length == 2)
+      })
 
       surName('Sandy')