diff --git a/adapters-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/adapters/api/util/TagFilter.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/adapters/api/util/TagFilter.java
similarity index 96%
rename from adapters-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/adapters/api/util/TagFilter.java
rename to nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/adapters/api/util/TagFilter.java
index 60fd57d64..17dfebf41 100644
--- a/adapters-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/adapters/api/util/TagFilter.java
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/adapters/api/util/TagFilter.java
@@ -17,11 +17,9 @@
 package io.nosqlbench.adapters.api.util;
 
 import io.nosqlbench.api.engine.util.Tagged;
+import io.nosqlbench.api.labels.NBLabeledElement;
 
-import java.util.ArrayList;
-import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
-import java.util.List;
-import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.*;
 import java.util.function.BiFunction;
 import java.util.regex.Matcher;
 import java.util.regex.Pattern;
@@ -107,6 +105,12 @@ public class TagFilter {
             .collect(Collectors.toList());
     }
 
+    public <T extends NBLabeledElement> List<T> filterLabeled(Collection<T> labeled) {
+        return labeled.stream()
+            .filter(l -> this.matches(l.getLabels().asMap()).matched())
+            .collect(Collectors.toList());
+    }
+
     public <T extends Tagged> List<String> filterLog(List<T> tagged) {
         return tagged.stream()
             .map(this::matchesTaggedResult)
@@ -156,6 +160,11 @@ public class TagFilter {
         }
     }
 
+//    TODO: Implement Me!
+//     public TagFilter(Map<String,String> filterSpec) {
+//
+//    }
+
     private static String unquote(String filterSpec) {
         for (String s : new String[]{"'", "\""}) {
             if (filterSpec.indexOf(s) == 0 && filterSpec.indexOf(s, 1) == filterSpec.length() - 1) {
diff --git a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBBaseMetric.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBBaseMetric.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bedfbee8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBBaseMetric.java
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2023 nosqlbench
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package io.nosqlbench.api.engine.metrics.instruments;
+
+import io.nosqlbench.api.labels.NBLabels;
+
+public class NBBaseMetric implements NBMetric {
+    private final NBLabels labels;
+
+    public NBBaseMetric(String... labels) {
+        this.labels = NBLabels.forKV((Object[]) labels);
+    }
+    @Override
+    public NBLabels getLabels() {
+        return this.labels;
+    }
+
+
+}
diff --git a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetric.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetric.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..861bfe435
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetric.java
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2023 nosqlbench
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package io.nosqlbench.api.engine.metrics.instruments;
+
+import com.codahale.metrics.Metric;
+import io.nosqlbench.api.labels.NBLabeledElement;
+
+public interface NBMetric extends Metric, NBLabeledElement {
+}
diff --git a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricCounter.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricCounter.java
index 5e4013702..19457a8dc 100644
--- a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricCounter.java
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricCounter.java
@@ -17,9 +17,10 @@
 package io.nosqlbench.api.engine.metrics.instruments;
 
 import com.codahale.metrics.Counter;
+import io.nosqlbench.api.labels.NBLabeledElement;
 import io.nosqlbench.api.labels.NBLabels;
 
-public class NBMetricCounter extends Counter implements NBLabeledMetric {
+public class NBMetricCounter extends Counter implements NBMetric {
 
     private final NBLabels labels;
 
diff --git a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricGauge.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricGauge.java
index e9e018e0c..bff4072a9 100644
--- a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricGauge.java
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricGauge.java
@@ -18,6 +18,6 @@ package io.nosqlbench.api.engine.metrics.instruments;
 
 import com.codahale.metrics.Gauge;
 
-public interface NBMetricGauge<T> extends Gauge<T>, NBLabeledMetric {
+public interface NBMetricGauge<T> extends Gauge<T>, NBMetric {
 
 }
diff --git a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricGaugeWrapper.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricGaugeWrapper.java
index c3f4ef650..56bce54ed 100644
--- a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricGaugeWrapper.java
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricGaugeWrapper.java
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ package io.nosqlbench.api.engine.metrics.instruments;
 import com.codahale.metrics.Gauge;
 import io.nosqlbench.api.labels.NBLabels;
 
-public class NBMetricGaugeWrapper<T> implements NBMetricGauge<T> {
+public class NBMetricGaugeWrapper<T> implements NBMetricGauge<T>, NBMetric {
 
     private final Gauge<? extends T> gauge;
     private final NBLabels labels;
diff --git a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricHistogram.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricHistogram.java
index f495de6d9..9652dbe72 100644
--- a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricHistogram.java
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricHistogram.java
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import java.util.List;
 import java.util.concurrent.CopyOnWriteArrayList;
 
 
-public class NBMetricHistogram extends Histogram implements DeltaSnapshotter, HdrDeltaHistogramAttachment, HistogramAttachment, NBLabeledMetric {
+public class NBMetricHistogram extends Histogram implements DeltaSnapshotter, HdrDeltaHistogramAttachment, HistogramAttachment, NBMetric {
 
     private final DeltaHdrHistogramReservoir hdrDeltaReservoir;
     private final NBLabels labels;
diff --git a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricMeter.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricMeter.java
index 3a3afb47c..cf0c8f50b 100644
--- a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricMeter.java
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricMeter.java
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ package io.nosqlbench.api.engine.metrics.instruments;
 import com.codahale.metrics.Meter;
 import io.nosqlbench.api.labels.NBLabels;
 
-public class NBMetricMeter extends Meter implements NBLabeledMetric {
+public class NBMetricMeter extends Meter implements NBMetric {
 
     private final NBLabels labels;
 
diff --git a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricTimer.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricTimer.java
index bbcd16fe2..9d1ed137c 100644
--- a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricTimer.java
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/engine/metrics/instruments/NBMetricTimer.java
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import java.util.List;
 import java.util.concurrent.CopyOnWriteArrayList;
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
 
-public class NBMetricTimer extends Timer implements DeltaSnapshotter, HdrDeltaHistogramAttachment, TimerAttachment, NBLabeledMetric {
+public class NBMetricTimer extends Timer implements DeltaSnapshotter, HdrDeltaHistogramAttachment, TimerAttachment, NBMetric {
     private final DeltaHdrHistogramReservoir deltaHdrHistogramReservoir;
     private long cacheExpiry;
     private List<Timer> mirrors;
diff --git a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/labels/MapLabels.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/labels/MapLabels.java
index 557f9a5c8..f38d91e4c 100644
--- a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/labels/MapLabels.java
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/labels/MapLabels.java
@@ -123,9 +123,11 @@ public class MapLabels implements NBLabels {
     @Override
     public String linearizeAsMetrics() {
         StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder("{");
-        this.labels.forEach((k,v) -> {
-            sb.append(k).append(":\"").append(v).append("\",");
-        });
+        ArrayList<String> keys = new ArrayList<>(this.labels.keySet());
+        Collections.sort(keys);
+        for (String key : keys) {
+            sb.append(key).append("=\"").append(labels.get(key)).append("\",");
+        }
         sb.setLength(sb.length()-",".length());
         sb.append("}");
         return sb.toString();
diff --git a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/labels/NBLabels.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/labels/NBLabels.java
index ebc6f714d..cf318e6a2 100644
--- a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/labels/NBLabels.java
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/api/labels/NBLabels.java
@@ -170,10 +170,10 @@ public interface NBLabels {
      */
     Map<String, String> asMap();
 
-    String linearizeAsMetrics();
-
     /**
-     * @return a new set of labels which includes only those which are not using per-instance semantics.
+     * Return a String representation of the metric's labels as you would see it in an openmetrics filter,
+     * like <PRE>{@code {__name__="metric_family_name",k="20"}}</PRE>
+     * @return a String
      */
-
+    String linearizeAsMetrics();
 }
diff --git a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBBaseComponent.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBBaseComponent.java
index a147ff437..932118bbc 100644
--- a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBBaseComponent.java
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBBaseComponent.java
@@ -16,11 +16,15 @@
 
 package io.nosqlbench.components;
 
+import io.nosqlbench.api.engine.metrics.instruments.NBMetric;
 import io.nosqlbench.api.labels.NBLabels;
 
-import java.util.*;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.Iterator;
+import java.util.List;
 
-public class NBBaseComponent implements NBComponent {
+public class NBBaseComponent extends NBBaseComponentMetrics implements NBComponent {
     private final NBComponent parent;
     private final List<NBComponent> children = new ArrayList<>();
     private final NBLabels labels;
@@ -57,4 +61,25 @@ public class NBBaseComponent implements NBComponent {
         return (this.parent==null) ? labels : this.parent.getLabels().and(labels);
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public NBMetric lookupMetricInTree(String name) {
+        Iterator<NBComponent> tree = NBComponentTraversal.traverseBreadth(this);
+        while (tree.hasNext()) {
+            NBComponent c = tree.next();
+            NBMetric metric = c.lookupMetric(name);
+            if (metric!=null) return metric;
+        }
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public List<NBMetric> findMetricsInTree(String pattern) {
+        Iterator<NBComponent> tree = NBComponentTraversal.traverseBreadth(this);
+        List<NBMetric> found = new ArrayList<>();
+        while (tree.hasNext()) {
+            NBComponent c = tree.next();
+            found.addAll(c.findMetrics(pattern));
+        }
+        return found;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBBaseComponentMetrics.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBBaseComponentMetrics.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d1d11a10c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBBaseComponentMetrics.java
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2023 nosqlbench
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package io.nosqlbench.components;
+
+import io.nosqlbench.adapters.api.util.TagFilter;
+import io.nosqlbench.api.engine.metrics.instruments.NBMetric;
+
+import java.util.HashMap;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.concurrent.locks.Lock;
+import java.util.concurrent.locks.ReentrantLock;
+
+public class NBBaseComponentMetrics implements NBComponentMetrics {
+    private final Lock lock = new ReentrantLock(false);
+    private final Map<String, NBMetric> metrics = new HashMap<>();
+    @Override
+    public String addMetric(NBMetric metric) {
+        try {
+            lock.lock();
+            String openMetricsName = metric.getLabels().linearizeAsMetrics();
+            if (metrics.containsKey(openMetricsName)) {
+                throw new RuntimeException("Can't add the same metric by label set to the same live component:" + openMetricsName);
+            }
+            metrics.put(openMetricsName,metric);
+            return metric.getLabels().linearizeAsMetrics();
+        } finally {
+            lock.unlock();
+        }
+    }
+    @Override
+    public NBMetric lookupMetric(String name) {
+        return metrics.get(name);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public List<NBMetric> findMetrics(String pattern) {
+        TagFilter filter = new TagFilter(pattern);
+        return filter.filterLabeled(metrics.values());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBComponent.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBComponent.java
index 65f895b84..9a0061157 100644
--- a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBComponent.java
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBComponent.java
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ import java.util.List;
  *
  * This interface will start as a tagging interface, but will eventually include aspects of above by extension.
  */
-public interface NBComponent extends NBLabeledElement {
+public interface NBComponent extends NBLabeledElement, NBComponentMetrics, NBMetricsQuery {
 
     NBComponent getParent();
 
diff --git a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBComponentMetrics.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBComponentMetrics.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0b1d23e0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBComponentMetrics.java
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2023 nosqlbench
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package io.nosqlbench.components;
+
+import io.nosqlbench.api.engine.metrics.instruments.NBMetric;
+
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Optional;
+
+public interface NBComponentMetrics {
+    String addMetric(NBMetric metric);
+
+    /**
+     * If you have the serialized open metrics name of a metric, you can ask for it
+     * this way and get a direct result.
+     * @param name The name of a metric in {@code {a:"b",...}} form
+     * @return the metric or null if it dosen't exist
+     */
+    NBMetric lookupMetric(String name);
+
+    default Optional<NBMetric> lookupMetricOptionally(String name) {
+        return Optional.ofNullable(lookupMetric(name));
+    }
+
+    List<NBMetric> findMetrics(String pattern);
+
+    default NBMetric findOneMetric(String pattern) {
+        List<NBMetric> found = findMetrics(pattern);
+        if (found.size()!=1) {
+            throw new RuntimeException("Found " + found.size() + " metrics with pattern '" + pattern + "', expected exactly 1");
+        }
+        return found.get(0);
+    }
+
+
+}
diff --git a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBMetricsQuery.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBMetricsQuery.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..20267aa03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBMetricsQuery.java
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2023 nosqlbench
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package io.nosqlbench.components;
+
+import io.nosqlbench.api.engine.metrics.instruments.NBMetric;
+
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Optional;
+
+public interface NBMetricsQuery {
+    /**
+     * If you have the serialized open metrics name of a metric, you can ask for it
+     * this way and get a direct result.
+     * @param name The name of a metric in {@code {a:"b",...}} form
+     * @return the metric or null if it dosen't exist
+     */
+    NBMetric lookupMetricInTree(String name);
+
+    default Optional<NBMetric> lookupMetricOptionallyInTree(String name) {
+        return Optional.ofNullable(lookupMetricInTree(name));
+    }
+
+    List<NBMetric> findMetricsInTree(String pattern);
+
+    default NBMetric findOneMetricInTree(String pattern) {
+        List<NBMetric> found = findMetricsInTree(pattern);
+        if (found.size()!=1) {
+            throw new RuntimeException("Found " + found.size() + " metrics with pattern '" + pattern + "', expected exactly 1");
+        }
+        return found.get(0);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/package-info.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/package-info.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..48edda892
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/components/package-info.java
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2023 nosqlbench
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * <P>The component types in this package create a basic structural and lifecycle
+ * pattern that NoSQLBench runtimes should build upon. This allows leverage of
+ * the base component types to achieve:
+ * <UL>
+ * <LI>consistent runtime behavior between modules</LI>
+ * <LI>modular composition of runtime modules in different configurations</LI>
+ * <LI>a uniform configuration interface across all components</LI>
+ * <LI>exposition of foundational runtime structure to users</LI>
+ * <LI>consistent layering of components and their lifetimes at different runtime scopes</LI>
+ * <LI>a naming and metadata based view which allows for components to be managed in a tangible way</LI>
+ * <LI>a consistent manifest and registry interface for attached elements, like metrics</LI>
+ * </UL>
+ * </P>
+ * <hr/>
+ *
+ * <H2>Components Defined</H2>
+ * <P>There can be different layers or types of components, but there is only one component hierarchy in each
+ * NoSQLBench process. Basically the Session is a component. The Scenario is a component. Each activity within a
+ * scenario is a component. Whether something is meaningful as a component depends on whether the management facilities
+ * provided by the component API make using, interacting with, or understanding that element better for users. However
+ * there is a limit to how fine-grained the component hierarchy should be allowed to get. This is because maintaining
+ * the component structure at runtime incurs a cost, and most feature of the component types are related to assemblage
+ * of fixtures in the runtime which are configured and initialized before steady state processing begins. For example,
+ * it makes sense to wire an activity as component, but not an operation, since an operation is ephemeral and
+ * short-lived. Apart from these trade-offs, make a layer a component layer if it makes sense for the user and/or the
+ * developer, as consolidating the logic into the component layer is beneficial to both.</P>
+ *
+ * <H2>Adoption Strategy</H2>
+ * <P>Consolidating existing logic to use the component types will be an incremental process. The base contract type
+ * {@link io.nosqlbench.components.NBComponent} establishes the contract for any conforming types. As contract facets
+ * are added to this type, common logic can be implemented on the base implementation types where possible, allowing
+ * for the elision of duplicitous code from prior functionality.</P>
+ * <p>
+ * <p>
+ * <hr/>
+ *
+ * <H2>Component System Design</H2>
+ * <P><strong>All</strong> key types in the NBComponent system must have names starting with <em>NBComponent</em>.</P>
+ *
+ * <P>Components are structured hierarchically. All components exist within the scope of their parent, with the only
+ * exception being the root component, which has no parent. Components always know their parent from construction time.
+ * After a component is constructed, it is informed of children components being added and removed via
+ * {@link io.nosqlbench.components.NBComponent#attach} and {@link io.nosqlbench.components.NBComponent#detach}
+ * methods.</P>
+ *
+ * <P>Component logic should interact with other components using the component interfaces and types. No contextual
+ * typing or casting should be allowed within the component layer methods. Components only understand components by
+ * design, and breaking this abstraction is counter-productive at best.</P>
+ *
+ * <P>Utility classes which understand how to interact with components should be used where possible when the
+ * capabilities they provide are well-themed and cohesive. A Corollary to this is that each interface added to the core
+ * component type should be solely informational about the structure and properties of the component hierarchy when
+ * possible. This will help organize usage patterns around themed utilities and keep the surface area of the core types
+ * to a minimum.</p>
+ *
+ * TODO: labeling consistency
+ */
+package io.nosqlbench.components;
diff --git a/adapters-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/adapters/api/util/TagFilterTest.java b/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/adapters/api/util/TagFilterTest.java
similarity index 90%
rename from adapters-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/adapters/api/util/TagFilterTest.java
rename to nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/adapters/api/util/TagFilterTest.java
index 2943ba8c4..9431909f6 100644
--- a/adapters-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/adapters/api/util/TagFilterTest.java
+++ b/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/adapters/api/util/TagFilterTest.java
@@ -168,4 +168,18 @@ public class TagFilterTest {
         TagFilter tf2 = new TagFilter("any(car:truck,block:moon)");
         assertThat(tf2.matches(itemtags).matched()).isFalse();
     }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testNoneCondition() {
+        Map<String, String> itemtags = Map.of("block", "main", "truck", "car");
+        TagFilter tf = new TagFilter("");
+        assertThat(tf.matches(itemtags).matched()).isTrue();
+        TagFilter tf4 = new TagFilter("none(unseen)");
+        assertThat(tf4.matches(itemtags).matched()).isTrue();
+        TagFilter tf2 = new TagFilter("none(truck)");
+        assertThat(tf2.matches(itemtags).matched()).isFalse();
+        TagFilter tf3 = new TagFilter("none(truck:car)");
+        assertThat(tf3.matches(itemtags).matched()).isFalse();
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/api/labels/MapLabelsTest.java b/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/api/labels/MapLabelsTest.java
index ab62f33d8..134f443a2 100644
--- a/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/api/labels/MapLabelsTest.java
+++ b/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/api/labels/MapLabelsTest.java
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 
 package io.nosqlbench.api.labels;
 
-import io.nosqlbench.api.labels.MapLabels;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
 
 import java.util.Map;
@@ -38,6 +37,4 @@ public class MapLabelsTest {
     public void testInvalidCharacters() {
         assertThatThrownBy(() -> new MapLabels(Map.of("a-b","c-d"))).isOfAnyClassIn(RuntimeException.class);
     }
-
-
 }
diff --git a/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBBaseComponentMetricsTest.java b/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBBaseComponentMetricsTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..11bb21678
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBBaseComponentMetricsTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2023 nosqlbench
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package io.nosqlbench.components;
+
+import io.nosqlbench.api.engine.metrics.instruments.NBBaseMetric;
+import io.nosqlbench.api.engine.metrics.instruments.NBMetric;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+
+import java.util.List;
+
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
+
+class NBBaseComponentMetricsTest {
+
+    @Test
+    void testBasicAddAndLookup() {
+        NBBaseComponentMetrics cm = new NBBaseComponentMetrics();
+        NBMetric m1 = new NBBaseMetric("k","20");
+        String m1Handle = cm.addMetric(m1);
+        NBMetric m2 = new NBBaseMetric("k","27","l","62");
+        String m2Handle = cm.addMetric(m2);
+
+        assertThat(cm.lookupMetric(m1Handle)).isEqualTo(m1);
+        assertThat(cm.lookupMetric(m2Handle)).isEqualTo(m2);
+    }
+    @Test
+    void find() {
+        NBBaseComponentMetrics cm = new NBBaseComponentMetrics();
+        NBMetric m1 = new NBBaseMetric("k","20");
+        String m1Handle = cm.addMetric(m1);
+        NBMetric m2 = new NBBaseMetric("k","27","l","62");
+        String m2Handle = cm.addMetric(m2);
+
+        assertThat(cm.findMetrics("k=27")).isEqualTo(List.of(m2));
+        assertThat(cm.findMetrics("k=20")).isNotEqualTo(List.of(m2));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBComponentLifecycleTest.java b/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBComponentLifecycleTest.java
index 31c39f7c9..e1a5823e6 100644
--- a/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBComponentLifecycleTest.java
+++ b/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBComponentLifecycleTest.java
@@ -19,8 +19,6 @@ package io.nosqlbench.components;
 import io.nosqlbench.api.config.standard.TestComponent;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
 
-import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.*;
-
 class NBComponentLifecycleTest {
 
     @Test
@@ -36,7 +34,7 @@ class NBComponentLifecycleTest {
             System.out.println("node2 active");
         }
 
-        System.out.print("node1 inactive");
+        System.out.print("all inactive");
 
     }
 
diff --git a/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBComponentViewsTest.java b/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBComponentViewsTest.java
index 359639e60..2b8f56ea6 100644
--- a/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBComponentViewsTest.java
+++ b/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBComponentViewsTest.java
@@ -19,19 +19,27 @@ package io.nosqlbench.components;
 import io.nosqlbench.api.config.standard.TestComponent;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
 
-import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.*;
-
 class NBComponentViewsTest {
     @Test
     public void testBasicTreeView() {
-        var root = new TestComponent("a", "b")
-            .attach(new TestComponent("c", "d")
-                .attach(new TestComponent("U", "V"))
-                .attach(new TestComponent("Y","Z")))
-            .attach(new TestComponent("e", "f"));
-        System.out.println(NBComponentViews.treeView(root));
+        var root1 = new TestComponent("a", "b");
+        var cd = new TestComponent(root1, "c", "d");
+        var UV = new TestComponent(cd, "U", "V");
+        var YZ = new TestComponent(cd, "Y", "Z");
+        var ef = new TestComponent(root1, "e", "f");
 
-        System.out.println(NBComponentViews.treeView(root, c -> String.valueOf(c.hashCode())));
+        var root2 = new TestComponent("a", "b");
+
+        root2.attach(new TestComponent(root2, "c", "d")
+                .attach(new TestComponent("U", "V"))
+                .attach(new TestComponent("Y", "Z")))
+            .attach(new TestComponent("e", "f"));
+
+        System.out.println("root1:\n" + NBComponentViews.treeView(root1));
+        System.out.println("root1:\n" + NBComponentViews.treeView(root1, c -> String.valueOf(c.hashCode())));
+
+        System.out.println("root2:\n" + NBComponentViews.treeView(root2));
+        System.out.println("root2:\n" + NBComponentViews.treeView(root2, c -> String.valueOf(c.hashCode())));
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBMetricsQueryTest.java b/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBMetricsQueryTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3fd8baac3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nb-api/src/test/java/io/nosqlbench/components/NBMetricsQueryTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2023 nosqlbench
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package io.nosqlbench.components;
+
+import io.nosqlbench.api.config.standard.TestComponent;
+import io.nosqlbench.api.engine.metrics.instruments.NBBaseMetric;
+import io.nosqlbench.api.engine.metrics.instruments.NBMetric;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+
+import java.util.List;
+
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
+
+class NBMetricsQueryTest {
+    private final static TestComponent root = new TestComponent("root","root","type","rootelement");
+    private final static TestComponent root_c2 = new TestComponent(root,"c2","c2");
+    private final static TestComponent root_c3 = new TestComponent(root,"c3","c3");
+    private final static NBMetric m1 = new NBBaseMetric("m1","m1");
+    private final String m1Handle = root.addMetric(m1);
+    private final static NBMetric m2 = new NBBaseMetric("m2","m2");
+    private final String m2Handle = root_c2.addMetric(m2);
+    private final static NBMetric m3 = new NBBaseMetric("m3","m3");
+    private final String m3Handle = root_c3.addMetric(m3);
+
+    @Test
+    public void testFindInTree() {
+        NBMetric expectedM3 = root.findOneMetricInTree("m3:m3");
+        assertThat(expectedM3).isEqualTo(m3);
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> root.findOneMetricInTree("m3:m4")).isOfAnyClassIn(RuntimeException.class);
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testFindOneInTree() {
+        List<NBMetric> metricsInTree = root.findMetricsInTree("");
+        assertThat(metricsInTree).containsExactly(m1, m2, m3);
+        List<NBMetric> m3Only = root.findMetricsInTree("m3:m3");
+        assertThat(m3Only).containsExactly(m3);
+    }
+}