diff --git a/engine/resources/file_test.go b/engine/resources/file_test.go
index 3b93a482..2c779149 100644
--- a/engine/resources/file_test.go
+++ b/engine/resources/file_test.go
@@ -119,6 +119,12 @@ func TestMiscEncodeDecode2(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Can't create: %v", err)
 		return
 	}
+	// NOTE: Do not add this bit of code, because it would cause the path to
+	// get taken from the actual Path parameter, instead of using the name,
+	// and if we use the name, the Cmp function will detect if the name is
+	// stored properly or not.
+	//fileRes := input.(*FileRes) // must not panic
+	//fileRes.Path = "/tmp/whatever"
 
 	b64, err := engineUtil.ResToB64(input)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -142,11 +148,53 @@ func TestMiscEncodeDecode2(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Output %v is not a Res", res2)
 		return
 	}
+	// this uses the standalone file cmp function
 	if err := res1.Cmp(res2); err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("The input and output Res values do not match: %+v", err)
 	}
 }
 
+func TestMiscEncodeDecode3(t *testing.T) {
+	var err error
+
+	// encode
+	input, err := engine.NewNamedResource("file", "file1")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Can't create: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+	fileRes := input.(*FileRes) // must not panic
+	fileRes.Path = "/tmp/whatever"
+	// TODO: add other params/traits/etc here!
+
+	b64, err := engineUtil.ResToB64(input)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Can't encode: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	output, err := engineUtil.B64ToRes(b64)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Can't decode: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	res1, ok := input.(engine.Res)
+	if !ok {
+		t.Errorf("Input %v is not a Res", res1)
+		return
+	}
+	res2, ok := output.(engine.Res)
+	if !ok {
+		t.Errorf("Output %v is not a Res", res2)
+		return
+	}
+	// this uses the more complete, engine cmp function
+	if err := engine.ResCmp(res1, res2); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("The input and output Res values do not match: %+v", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestFileAbsolute1(t *testing.T) {
 	// file resource paths should be absolute
 	f1 := &FileRes{
diff --git a/engine/traits/autoedge.go b/engine/traits/autoedge.go
index 1f6fe254..5bcc036b 100644
--- a/engine/traits/autoedge.go
+++ b/engine/traits/autoedge.go
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ import (
 // methods needed to support autoedges on resources. It may be used as a start
 // point to avoid re-implementing the straightforward methods.
 type Edgeable struct {
-	meta *engine.AutoEdgeMeta
+	// Xmeta is the stored meta. It should be called `meta` but it must be
+	// public so that the `encoding/gob` package can encode it properly.
+	Xmeta *engine.AutoEdgeMeta
 
 	// Bug5819 works around issue https://github.com/golang/go/issues/5819
 	Bug5819 interface{} // XXX: workaround
@@ -33,16 +35,16 @@ type Edgeable struct {
 
 // AutoEdgeMeta lets you get or set meta params for the automatic edges trait.
 func (obj *Edgeable) AutoEdgeMeta() *engine.AutoEdgeMeta {
-	if obj.meta == nil { // set the defaults if previously empty
-		obj.meta = &engine.AutoEdgeMeta{
+	if obj.Xmeta == nil { // set the defaults if previously empty
+		obj.Xmeta = &engine.AutoEdgeMeta{
 			Disabled: false,
 		}
 	}
-	return obj.meta
+	return obj.Xmeta
 }
 
 // SetAutoEdgeMeta lets you set all of the meta params for the automatic edges
 // trait in a single call.
 func (obj *Edgeable) SetAutoEdgeMeta(meta *engine.AutoEdgeMeta) {
-	obj.meta = meta
+	obj.Xmeta = meta
 }
diff --git a/engine/traits/autogroup.go b/engine/traits/autogroup.go
index a77d520c..ef50167d 100644
--- a/engine/traits/autogroup.go
+++ b/engine/traits/autogroup.go
@@ -27,7 +27,9 @@ import (
 // methods needed to support autogrouping on resources. It may be used as a
 // starting point to avoid re-implementing the straightforward methods.
 type Groupable struct {
-	meta *engine.AutoGroupMeta
+	// Xmeta is the stored meta. It should be called `meta` but it must be
+	// public so that the `encoding/gob` package can encode it properly.
+	Xmeta *engine.AutoGroupMeta
 
 	isGrouped bool                  // am i contained within a group?
 	grouped   []engine.GroupableRes // list of any grouped resources
@@ -39,18 +41,18 @@ type Groupable struct {
 // AutoGroupMeta lets you get or set meta params for the automatic grouping
 // trait.
 func (obj *Groupable) AutoGroupMeta() *engine.AutoGroupMeta {
-	if obj.meta == nil { // set the defaults if previously empty
-		obj.meta = &engine.AutoGroupMeta{
+	if obj.Xmeta == nil { // set the defaults if previously empty
+		obj.Xmeta = &engine.AutoGroupMeta{
 			Disabled: false,
 		}
 	}
-	return obj.meta
+	return obj.Xmeta
 }
 
 // SetAutoGroupMeta lets you set all of the meta params for the automatic
 // grouping trait in a single call.
 func (obj *Groupable) SetAutoGroupMeta(meta *engine.AutoGroupMeta) {
-	obj.meta = meta
+	obj.Xmeta = meta
 }
 
 // GroupCmp compares two resources and decides if they're suitable for grouping.
diff --git a/engine/traits/kind.go b/engine/traits/kind.go
index dfc0c2a9..1d2c3830 100644
--- a/engine/traits/kind.go
+++ b/engine/traits/kind.go
@@ -17,11 +17,21 @@
 
 package traits
 
+import (
+	"encoding/gob"
+)
+
+func init() {
+	gob.Register(&Kinded{})
+}
+
 // Kinded contains a general implementation of the properties and methods needed
 // to support the resource kind. It should be used as a starting point to avoid
 // re-implementing the straightforward kind methods.
 type Kinded struct {
-	kind string
+	// Xkind is the stored kind. It should be called `kind` but it must be
+	// public so that the `encoding/gob` package can encode it properly.
+	Xkind string
 
 	// Bug5819 works around issue https://github.com/golang/go/issues/5819
 	Bug5819 interface{} // XXX: workaround
@@ -29,11 +39,11 @@ type Kinded struct {
 
 // Kind returns the string representation for the kind this resource is.
 func (obj *Kinded) Kind() string {
-	return obj.kind
+	return obj.Xkind
 }
 
 // SetKind sets the kind string for this resource. It must only be set by the
 // engine.
 func (obj *Kinded) SetKind(kind string) {
-	obj.kind = kind
+	obj.Xkind = kind
 }
diff --git a/engine/traits/meta.go b/engine/traits/meta.go
index 0e6e72da..5c1ebf3a 100644
--- a/engine/traits/meta.go
+++ b/engine/traits/meta.go
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ import (
 // to support meta parameters. It should be used as a starting point to avoid
 // re-implementing the straightforward meta methods.
 type Meta struct {
-	meta *engine.MetaParams
+	// Xmeta is the stored meta. It should be called `meta` but it must be
+	// public so that the `encoding/gob` package can encode it properly.
+	Xmeta *engine.MetaParams
 
 	// Bug5819 works around issue https://github.com/golang/go/issues/5819
 	Bug5819 interface{} // XXX: workaround
@@ -33,14 +35,14 @@ type Meta struct {
 
 // MetaParams lets you get or set meta params for this trait.
 func (obj *Meta) MetaParams() *engine.MetaParams {
-	if obj.meta == nil { // set the defaults if previously empty
-		obj.meta = engine.DefaultMetaParams.Copy()
+	if obj.Xmeta == nil { // set the defaults if previously empty
+		obj.Xmeta = engine.DefaultMetaParams.Copy()
 	}
-	return obj.meta
+	return obj.Xmeta
 }
 
 // SetMetaParams lets you set all of the meta params for the resource in a
 // single call.
 func (obj *Meta) SetMetaParams(meta *engine.MetaParams) {
-	obj.meta = meta
+	obj.Xmeta = meta
 }
diff --git a/engine/traits/named.go b/engine/traits/named.go
index 48d366a5..550156be 100644
--- a/engine/traits/named.go
+++ b/engine/traits/named.go
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@ package traits
 // to support named resources. It should be used as a starting point to avoid
 // re-implementing the straightforward name methods.
 type Named struct {
-	name string
+	// Xname is the stored name. It should be called `name` but it must be
+	// public so that the `encoding/gob` package can encode it properly.
+	Xname string
 
 	// Bug5819 works around issue https://github.com/golang/go/issues/5819
 	Bug5819 interface{} // XXX: workaround
@@ -30,11 +32,11 @@ type Named struct {
 // Name returns the unique name this resource has. It is only unique within its
 // own kind.
 func (obj *Named) Name() string {
-	return obj.name
+	return obj.Xname
 }
 
 // SetName sets the unique name for this resource. It must only be unique within
 // its own kind.
 func (obj *Named) SetName(name string) {
-	obj.name = name
+	obj.Xname = name
 }
diff --git a/engine/traits/reverse.go b/engine/traits/reverse.go
index 0ae44e13..d3752d58 100644
--- a/engine/traits/reverse.go
+++ b/engine/traits/reverse.go
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ import (
 // methods needed to support reversing resources. It may be used as a starting
 // point to avoid re-implementing the straightforward methods.
 type Reversible struct {
-	meta *engine.ReversibleMeta
+	// Xmeta is the stored meta. It should be called `meta` but it must be
+	// public so that the `encoding/gob` package can encode it properly.
+	Xmeta *engine.ReversibleMeta
 
 	// Bug5819 works around issue https://github.com/golang/go/issues/5819
 	Bug5819 interface{} // XXX: workaround
@@ -33,16 +35,16 @@ type Reversible struct {
 
 // ReversibleMeta lets you get or set meta params for the reversing trait.
 func (obj *Reversible) ReversibleMeta() *engine.ReversibleMeta {
-	if obj.meta == nil { // set the defaults if previously empty
-		obj.meta = &engine.ReversibleMeta{
+	if obj.Xmeta == nil { // set the defaults if previously empty
+		obj.Xmeta = &engine.ReversibleMeta{
 			Disabled: true, // by default we're disabled
 		}
 	}
-	return obj.meta
+	return obj.Xmeta
 }
 
 // SetReversibleMeta lets you set all of the meta params for the reversing trait
 // in a single call.
 func (obj *Reversible) SetReversibleMeta(meta *engine.ReversibleMeta) {
-	obj.meta = meta
+	obj.Xmeta = meta
 }