diff --git a/examples/digger.cpp b/examples/digger.cpp
index 1a4e8f556..958b7f089 100644
--- a/examples/digger.cpp
+++ b/examples/digger.cpp
@@ -8,12 +8,14 @@
 // TODO add a sort of "sub-target" to dig() to make it able to designate stone as well
 // TODO add proper cli
 // TODO add interactive text based menu
+// TODO add ability to mark num closest to cursor
 
 #include <iostream>
 #include <integers.h>
 #include <vector>
 #include <list>
 #include <cstdlib>
+#include <algorithm>
 using namespace std;
 
 #include <DFTypes.h>
@@ -31,48 +33,120 @@ int vec_count(vector<uint16_t>& vec, uint16_t t)
     return count;
 }
 
-int dig(DFHack::API& DF, vector<uint16_t>& targets)
+// manhattan distance
+int source_distance(int sx, int sy, int sz, 
+					int x, int y, int z, int i)
 {
+	// TODO changing x and y seems to be optimized away (?)
+	cout << x << " " << i << " " << i%16 << " " << x+(i%16) << endl;
+
+	// handle the fact that x,y,z refers to a 16x16 grid
+	//x += i%16;
+	//y += i/16;
+	int dx = i%16;
+	int dy = i/16;
+	//x *= 16;
+	//y *= 16;
+	//x += dx;
+	//y += dy;
+	return abs(sx-(x+(i%16)))+abs(sy-(y+(i/16)))+abs(sz-z);
+}
+
+struct DigTarget
+{
+	int source_distance;	// the distance to the source coords, used for sorting
+	int x, y, z;			// call read designations with these and you have the tile at i
+	int i;					// 0 <= i <= 255
+
+	bool operator<(const DigTarget& o) { return source_distance < o.source_distance; }
+};
+
+int dig(DFHack::API& DF, 
+		vector<uint16_t>& targets,
+		int num = -1,
+		const int x_source = 0, 
+		const int y_source = 0, 
+		const int z_source = 0)
+{
+	if (num == 0)
+		return 0; // max limit of 0, nothing to do
+
     uint32_t x_max,y_max,z_max;
     DFHack::t_designation designations[256];
     uint16_t tiles[256];
-    uint32_t count = 0;
+    //uint32_t count = 0;
     DF.getSize(x_max,y_max,z_max);
+
+	// every tile found, will later be sorted by distance to source
+	vector<DigTarget> candidates;
     
     // walk the map
-    for(uint32_t x = 0; x< x_max;x++)
+    for(uint32_t x = 0; x < x_max; x++)
     {
-        for(uint32_t y = 0; y< y_max;y++)
+        for(uint32_t y = 0; y < y_max; y++)
         {
-            for(uint32_t z = 0; z< z_max;z++)
+            for(uint32_t z = 0; z < z_max; z++)
             {
+				if (z != z_source)
+					continue; // hack to cut down on targets
+
                 if(DF.isValidBlock(x,y,z))
                 {
                     // read block designations and tiletype
                     DF.ReadDesignations(x,y,z, (uint32_t *) designations);
                     DF.ReadTileTypes(x,y,z, (uint16_t *) tiles);
 
-                    // check all tiles, if type is in target list and its visible: designate for dig
+                    // search all tiles for dig targets:
+					// visible, not yet marked for dig and matching tile type
                     for (uint32_t i = 0; i < 256; i++)
                     {
                         if (designations[i].bits.hidden == 0 && 
+							designations[i].bits.dig == 0 && 
                             vec_count(targets, DFHack::tileTypeTable[tiles[i]].c) > 0)
                         {
                             //cout << "target found at: ";
                             //cout << x << "," << y << "," << z << "," << i << endl;
-                            designations[i].bits.dig = DFHack::designation_default;
-                            ++count;
+
+                            //designations[i].bits.dig = DFHack::designation_default;
+                            //++count;
+
+							DigTarget dt;
+							dt.x = x;
+							dt.y = y;
+							dt.z = z;
+							dt.i = i;
+							dt.source_distance = source_distance(
+								x_source, y_source, z_source,
+								x, y, z, i);
+							candidates.push_back(dt);
                         }
                     }
-
-                    // write the designations back
-                    // could probably be optimized in the cases where we dont changed anything
-                    DF.WriteDesignations(x,y,z, (uint32_t *) designations);
                 }
             }
         }
     }
-    return count;
+
+	// TODO the following routine doesnt check if the tile is already marked for digging
+
+	// if we found more tiles than was requested, sort them by distance to source,
+	// keep the front 'num' elements and drop the rest
+	if (num != -1 && candidates.size() > (unsigned int)num)
+	{
+		sort(candidates.begin(), candidates.end());
+		candidates.resize(num);
+	}
+	num = candidates.size();
+
+	// mark the tiles for actual digging
+	for (vector<DigTarget>::iterator i = candidates.begin(); i != candidates.end(); ++i)
+	{
+		// TODO this could probably be made much better, theres a big chance the trees are on the same grid
+		DF.ReadDesignations((*i).x, (*i).y, (*i).z, (uint32_t *) designations);
+		designations[(*i).i].bits.dig = DFHack::designation_default;
+		DF.WriteDesignations((*i).x, (*i).y, (*i).z, (uint32_t *) designations);
+	}
+
+	return num;
 }
 
 int main (int argc, const char* argv[])
@@ -96,8 +170,17 @@ int main (int argc, const char* argv[])
             return 1;
         }
         DF.InitMap();
+
+		// TODO hack until we have a proper cli to specify origin
+		int x_source = 134, y_source = 134, z_source = 16; // my wagon starts here; cut trees close to wagon 
+		//DF.InitViewAndCursor();
+		//if (!DF.getViewCoords(x_source, y_source, z_source))
+		//{
+		//	cerr << "Enable cursor" << endl;
+		//	return 1;
+		//}
         
-        int count = dig(DF, targets); // <-- important part
+        int count = dig(DF, targets, 10, x_source, y_source, z_source); // <-- important part
         cout << count << " targets designated" << endl;
         
         DF.Detach();