diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 89cda4a4e..63c8610bf 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -7,17 +7,19 @@ export CONTAINER_COMMAND ?= podman
 export CONTAINER_BGRUN ?= $(CONTAINER_COMMAND) run -dit --network=host --replace
 export CONTAINER_FGRUN ?= $(CONTAINER_COMMAND) run -it --network=host --replace
 
-export CONTAINER_NAME ?= $(FRADRIVE_SERVICE)
+#export CONTAINER_NAME ?= $(FRADRIVE_SERVICE)
 export ENTRYPOINT
 
 export IN_CONTAINER ?= false
 export IN_CI ?= false
 
+export SINGLETON
 export WATCH
 export UNIWORXDB_OPTS ?= -cf
 
 export CONTAINER_ID
 export FRADRIVE_SERVICE
+export SERVICE_VARIANT
 
 export DEV_PORT_HTTP
 export DEV_PORT_HTTPS
@@ -89,12 +91,65 @@ release:
 .PHONY: %-shell
 # HELP: launch shell (bash) inside a currently running container
 %-shell: --%-shell;
---%-shell:
+--shell:
 	$(CONTAINER_COMMAND) exec -it $(EXEC_OPTS) fradrive.$(CURR_DEV).$* $(if $(ENTRYPOINT),$(ENTRYPOINT),/bin/bash)
 
+compile-%: --%-containerized-compile;
+
 ##### GENERAL TARGETS #####
 ###########################
 
+##############################################
+##### SERVICE DEPENDENCIES AND VARIABLES #####
+
+--frontend-%: FRADRIVE_SERVICE=frontend
+--frontend-%: SERVICE_VARIANT=frontend
+--frontend-%: SINGLETON = false
+--frontend-%: WATCH = false
+--frontend-%:
+# TODO --containerized-% is not yet working; comment this in again as soon as it does
+#	$(MAKE) -- --containerized-static --containerized-well-known
+	$(MAKE) -- --$*
+
+--backend-%: FRADRIVE_SERVICE=backend
+--backend-%: SERVICE_VARIANT=backend
+--backend-%: BASE_PORTS = "DEV_PORT_HTTP=3000" "DEV_PORT_HTTPS=3443"
+--backend-%: SINGLETON = false
+--backend-%:
+	$(MAKE) -- --frontend-containerized-compile
+	$(MAKE) -- --$*
+
+--hoogle-%: FRADRIVE_SERVICE=backend
+--hoogle-%: SERVICE_VARIANT=hoogle
+--hoogle-%: BASE_PORTS = "HOOGLE_PORT=8081"
+--hoogle-%: SINGLETON = true
+--hoogle-%:
+	$(MAKE) -- --$*
+
+# --uniworxdb was --db in old versions
+--uniworxdb-%: FRADRIVE_SERVICE=backend
+--uniworxdb-%: SERVICE_VARIANT=uniworxdb
+--uniworxdb-%: 
+	$(MAKE) -- --$*
+
+--minio-%: FRADRIVE_SERVICE=minio
+--minio-%: SERVICE_VARIANT=minio
+--minio-%:
+	$(MAKE) -- --$*
+
+--memcached-%: FRADRIVE_SERVICE=memcached
+--memcached-%: SERVICE_VARIANT=memcached
+--memcached-%:
+	$(MAKE) -- --$*
+
+# --postgres was --database in old versions
+--postgres-%: BASE_PORTS = "PGPORT=5432"
+--postgres-%: SINGLETON = true
+--postgres-%:
+	$(MAKE) -- --$*
+
+##### SERVICE DEPENDENCIES AND VARIABLES #####
+##############################################
 
 ############################################
 ##### UNIFIED FRONTEND/BACKEND TARGETS #####
@@ -109,7 +164,7 @@ compile:
 	$(MAKE) compile-frontend
 	$(MAKE) compile-backend
 
-compile-%: --develop
+--compile-%: --checkvarsset --develop --%
 
 .PHONY: lint
 # HELP: lint frontend and backend
@@ -122,31 +177,54 @@ test: start-database test-frontend test-backend i18n-check;
 ##### UNIFIED FRONTEND/BACKEND TARGETS #####
 ############################################
 
+--checkvarsset:
+	echo "FS:$(FRADRIVE_SERVICE) SV:$(SERVICE_VARIANT) DE:$(DEVELOP) CF:$(CONTAINER_FILE)"
+	@:
+ifeq "$(FRADRIVE_SERVICE)" ""
+	>&2 echo "Variable FRADRIVE_SERVICE is not set; this hints to an internal error in the Makefile unless you have manually requested a '--'-target"
+	exit 1
+endif
+ifeq "$(SERVICE_VARIANT)" ""
+	>&2 echo "Variable SERVICE_VARIANT is not set; this hints to an internal error in the Makefile unless you have manually requested a '--'-target"
+	exit 1
+endif
+#ifeq "$(DEVELOP)" ""
+#	>&2 echo "Variable DEVELOP is not set; this hints to an internal error in the Makefile unless you have manually requested a '--'-target"
+#	exit 1
+#endif
+#ifeq "$(CONTAINER_FILE)" ""
+#	>&2 echo "Variable CONTAINER_FILE is not set; this hints to an internal error in the Makefile unless you have manually requested a '--'-target"
+#	exit 1
+#endif
+
 
 ############################
 ##### FRONTEND TARGETS #####
 
-.PHONY: %-frontend
-%-frontend: FRADRIVE_SERVICE=frontend
-%-frontend: --image-build --containerized---%-frontend;
+#--frontend-%: --image-build --containerized---%-frontend;
 
---%-frontend: --containerized-static-frontend --containerized-well-known-frontend
+#--%-frontend: --containerized-static-frontend --containerized-well-known-frontend
 
---start-frontend: static
+#--frontend-start: static
+#	npm run start
+
+ifeq ($(SERVICE_VARIANT), frontend)
+--start: --checkvarsset
 	npm run start
-
+ 
 # HELP(compile-frontend): compile frontend
---compile-frontend: static well-known;
+--compile: static well-known --checkvarsset;
 
 # HELP(lint-frontend): lint frontend
---lint-frontend: eslint.config.js
+--lint: eslint.config.js --checkvarsset
 	npx -- eslint frontend/src $(FIX)
 	@echo Hooray! There are no hints.
 
 # HELP(test-frontend): test frontend
---test-frontend: karma.conf.cjs
+--test: karma.conf.cjs --checkvarsset
 	@echo Karma frontend tests are currently broken after npm update and have therefor been temporarily disabled.
 # npx -- karma start --conf karma.conf.cjs $(WATCH)
+endif
 
 node_modules: package.json package-lock.json
 	npm ci --cache .npm --prefer-offline
@@ -157,10 +235,10 @@ package-lock.json: package.json
 assets: assets/favicons assets/icons;
 assets/favicons:
 	./utils/faviconize.pl assets/favicon.svg long assets/favicons
-assets/icons: node_modules utils/rename-fa.json
+assets/icons: node_modules assets/icons-src/fontawesome.json
 	./utils/renamer.pl node_modules/@fortawesome/fontawesome-free/svgs/solid assets/icons-src/fontawesome.json assets/icons/fradrive
 	./utils/renamer.pl node_modules/@fortawesome/fontawesome-free/svgs/regular assets/icons-src/fontawesome.json assets/icons/fradrive
-	cp assets/icons-src/*.svg assets/icons/fradrive
+	-cp assets/icons-src/*.svg assets/icons/fradrive
 static: node_modules assets esbuild.config.mjs
 	npm run build
 well-known: static;
@@ -172,42 +250,43 @@ well-known: static;
 ###########################
 ##### BACKEND TARGETS #####
 
-.PHONY: %-backend
-%-backend: FRADRIVE_SERVICE=backend
-%-backend: --image-build --containerized---%-backend;
 
---start-backend:
+ifeq ($(SERVICE_VARIANT), backend)
+--start: --checkvarsset
 	DEV_PORT_HTTP=`cat $(CONTAINER_FILE) | grep 'DEV_PORT_HTTP=' | sed 's/DEV_PORT_HTTP=//'`; \
 	DEV_PORT_HTTPS=`cat $(CONTAINER_FILE) | grep 'DEV_PORT_HTTPS=' | sed 's/DEV_PORT_HTTPS=//'`; \
 	stack --work-dir=.stack-work-run $(--DEVELOPMENT) exec -- yesod devel -p "$${DEV_PORT_HTTP}" -q "$${DEV_PORT_HTTPS}"
---start-hoogle-backend:
+endif
+ifeq ($(SERVICE_VARIANT), hoogle)
+--start:
 	HOOGLE_PORT=`cat $(CONTAINER_FILE) | grep 'HOOGLE_PORT=' | sed 's/HOOGLE_PORT=//'` ; \
 	echo "${HOOGLE_PORT}" ; \
 	stack --work-dir=.stack-work-doc hoogle -- server --local --port $${HOOGLE_PORT}
+endif
 
 # HELP(compile-backend): compile backend
---compile-backend:
+ifeq ($(SERVICE_VARIANT), backend)
+--compile: --checkvarsset
 	stack build --fast --profile --library-profiling --executable-profiling --flag uniworx:-library-only $(--DEVELOPMENT) --local-bin-path $$(pwd)/bin
 
 # HELP(lint-backend): lint backend
---lint-backend:
+--lint: --checkvarsset
 	stack build --test --fast --work-dir=.stack-work-test --flag uniworx:library-only $(--DEVELOPMENT) uniworx:test:hlint
 
 # HELP(test-backend): test backend
---test-backend:
+--test: --checkvarsset
 	stack build --test --coverage --fast --work-dir=.stack-work-test --flag uniworx:library-only $(--DEVELOPMENT)
+endif
 
-# TODO: better name
-.PHONY: db
-# HELP: clear and fill database. requires running postgres
-db: FRADRIVE_SERVICE=backend
-db: CONTAINER_NAME=uniworxdb
-db: compile-frontend --image-build --containerized---db;
+# HELP(uniworxdb): clear and fill database. requires running postgres
+uniworxdb: --frontend-compile --backend-imagebuild-containerized-uniworxdb-start;
 # TODO (db-m-$MIGRATION-backend): apply migration (see src/Model/Migration/Definition.hs for list of available migrations)
---db-backend: .stack --compile-backend
+ifeq ($(SERVICE_VARIANT), uniworxdb)
+--start: .stack
 	SERVER_SESSION_ACID_FALLBACK=${SERVER_SESSION_ACID_FALLBACK:-true} ; \
 	AVSPASS=${AVSPASS:-nopasswordset} ; \
 	stack $(--DEVELOPMENT) exec uniworxdb -- $(UNIWORXDB_OPTS)
+endif
 
 .PHONY: .stack
 .stack:
@@ -226,13 +305,13 @@ db: compile-frontend --image-build --containerized---db;
 ############################
 ##### DATABASE TARGETS #####
 
---containerized---db: CONTAINER_NAME=uniworxdb
---containerized---db: --containerized-db-backend;
-
---containerized-%-database: FRADRIVE_SERVICE=database
---containerized-%-database: CONTAINER_NAME=database
---containerized-%-database: docker/database/initdb.sh docker/database/pg_hba.conf docker/database/postgresql.conf docker/database/schema.sql --image-build
-	$(MAKE) -- --image-run-$*-database
+ifeq ($(SERVICE_VARIANT), postgres)
+--containerized-%: --checkvarsset docker/database/initdb.sh docker/database/pg_hba.conf docker/database/postgresql.conf docker/database/schema.sql --image-build
+	$(MAKE) -- --imagerun-$*
+else
+--containerized-%: --checkvarsset
+	$(MAKE) -- --imagerun-$*
+endif
 
 .PHONY: psql
 # HELP: enter psql (postgresql) cli inside a currently running database container
@@ -247,38 +326,42 @@ psql: --database-shell;
 #############################
 ##### CONTAINER TARGETS #####
 
---containerized-%-frontend: FRADRIVE_SERVICE=frontend
---containerized-%-frontend: CONTAINER_NAME=frontend
---containerized-%-frontend: --image-build
-	$(MAKE) -- --image-run-$*-frontend
-
---containerized-%-backend: FRADRIVE_SERVICE=backend
---containerized-%-backend: CONTAINER_NAME?=backend
---containerized-%-backend: --image-build
-	$(MAKE) -- --image-run-$*-backend 
---containerized-%-hoogle: FRADRIVE_SERVICE=backend
---containerized-%-hoogle: CONTAINER_NAME=hoogle
---containerized-%-hoogle: --image-build
-	$(MAKE) -- --image-run-$*-hoogle-backend 
+#--containerized-%-frontend: FRADRIVE_SERVICE=frontend
+#--containerized-%-frontend: SERVICE_VARIANT=frontend
+#--containerized-%-frontend: --image-build
+#	$(MAKE) -- --image-run-$*-frontend
+#
+#--containerized-%-backend: FRADRIVE_SERVICE=backend
+#--containerized-%-backend: SERVICE_VARIANT?=backend
+#--containerized-%-backend: --image-build
+#	$(MAKE) -- --image-run-$*-backend 
+#--containerized-%-hoogle: FRADRIVE_SERVICE=backend
+#--containerized-%-hoogle: SERVICE_VARIANT=hoogle
+#--containerized-%-hoogle: --image-build
+#	$(MAKE) -- --image-run-$*-hoogle-backend 
 
 # --containerized-%-minio: FRADRIVE_SERVICE=minio
 # --containerized-%-minio: --image-build
 # 	$(MAKE) -- --image-run-$*-minio
---containerized---start-minio:
+ifeq ($(SERVICE_VARIANT), minio)
+--containerized-start:
 	UPLOAD_S3_PORT=`cat $(CONTAINER_FILE) | grep 'UPLOAD_S3_PORT=' | sed 's/UPLOAD_S3_PORT=//'`; \
 	MINIO_DIR=`mktemp` ; \
 	./utils/watchcontainerrun.sh "$(CONTAINER_COMMAND)" "$(CONTAINER_FILE)" "" "rm -rf $${MINIO_DIR}" & \
 	CONTAINER_ID=`$(CONTAINER_BGRUN) --name fradrive.$(CURR_DEV).minio $(MINIO_IMAGE) -- server $${MINIO_DIR} --address=:$${UPLOAD_S3_PORT}` ; \
 	printf "CONTAINER_ID=$${CONTAINER_ID}\nUPLOAD_S3_PORT=$${UPLOAD_S3_PORT}\nMINIO_DIR=$${MINIO_DIR}" >> $(CONTAINER_FILE)
+endif
 
 # --containerized-%-memcached: FRADRIVE_SERVICE=memcached
 # --containerized-%-memcached: --image-build
 # 	$(MAKE) -- --image-run-$*-memcached
---containerized---start-memcached:
+ifeq ($(SERVICE_VARIANT), memcached)
+--containerized-start:
 	MEMCACHED_PORT=`cat $(CONTAINER_FILE) | grep 'MEMCACHED_PORT=' | sed 's/MEMCACHED_PORT=//'`; \
 	./utils/watchcontainerrun.sh "$(CONTAINER_COMMAND)" "$(CONTAINER_FILE)" & \
 	CONTAINER_ID=`$(CONTAINER_BGRUN) --name fradrive.$(CURR_DEV).memcached $(MEMCACHED_IMAGE) --port=$${MEMCACHED_PORT}` ; \
 	printf "CONTAINER_ID=$${CONTAINER_ID}\nMEMCACHED_PORT=$${MEMCACHED_PORT}" >> $(CONTAINER_FILE)
+endif
 
 .PHONY: image-rebuild
 # HELP(image-rebuild-{backend,frontend,database,memcached,minio}): force-rebuild the stated docker image
@@ -296,42 +379,22 @@ image-rebuild-%:
 	  $(CONTAINER_COMMAND) build $(NO_CACHE) -v $(PWD):$${MOUNT_DIR} --env IN_CONTAINER=true --build-arg MOUNT_DIR=$${MOUNT_DIR} --build-arg PROJECT_DIR=$${PROJECT_DIR} --tag fradrive/$(FRADRIVE_SERVICE) --file $(PWD)/.Dockerfile ; \
 	fi
 
---image-run-%: CONTAINER_NAME ?= $(FRADRIVE_SERVICE)
---image-run-%: docker/$(FRADRIVE_SERVICE)/Dockerfile
+# runs --% in the container. Targets meant to be called manually cannot be run in the container via this target. If that is ever needed split this target into two targets, one for manually one for automatic (one may use the other) so that not at every usage a '---' has to be after containerized
+--imagerun-%: --checkvarsset docker/$(FRADRIVE_SERVICE)/Dockerfile
 	MOUNT_DIR=/mnt/fradrive; \
 	if [ "$(IN_CONTAINER)" == "true" ] ; then \
 	  $(MAKE) -- $* ; \
 	else \
 	  if [ -z "$(CONTAINER_FILE)" ] ; then \
-	    $(CONTAINER_FGRUN) -v $(PWD):$${MOUNT_DIR} --env IN_CONTAINER=true --env FRADRIVE_MAKE_TARGET=$* --env CONTAINER_FILE=$(CONTAINER_FILE) --env CONTAINER_FILE_CONTENT=$(CONTAINER_FILE_CONTENT) --env WATCH=$(WATCH) --name fradrive.$(CURR_DEV).$(CONTAINER_NAME) localhost/fradrive/$(FRADRIVE_SERVICE) ; \
+	    $(CONTAINER_FGRUN) -v $(PWD):$${MOUNT_DIR} --env FRADRIVE_SERVICE=$(FRADRIVE_SERVICE) --env SERVICE_VARIANT=$(SERVICE_VARIANT) --env IN_CONTAINER=true --env FRADRIVE_MAKE_TARGET=--$* --env CONTAINER_FILE=$(CONTAINER_FILE) --env CONTAINER_FILE_CONTENT=$(CONTAINER_FILE_CONTENT) --env WATCH=$(WATCH) --name fradrive.$(CURR_DEV).$(SERVICE_VARIANT) localhost/fradrive/$(FRADRIVE_SERVICE) ; \
 	  else \
 	  	./utils/watchcontainerrun.sh "$(CONTAINER_COMMAND)" "$(CONTAINER_FILE)" & \
-	    CONTAINER_ID=`$(CONTAINER_BGRUN) -v $(PWD):$${MOUNT_DIR} --env IN_CONTAINER=true --env FRADRIVE_MAKE_TARGET=$* --env CONTAINER_FILE=$(CONTAINER_FILE) --env CONTAINER_FILE_CONTENT=$(CONTAINER_FILE_CONTENT) --env WATCH=$(WATCH) --name fradrive.$(CURR_DEV).$(CONTAINER_NAME) localhost/fradrive/$(FRADRIVE_SERVICE)` ; \
+	    CONTAINER_ID=`$(CONTAINER_BGRUN) -v $(PWD):$${MOUNT_DIR} --env FRADRIVE_SERVICE=$(FRADRIVE_SERVICE) --env SERVICE_VARIANT=$(SERVICE_VARIANT) --env IN_CONTAINER=true --env FRADRIVE_MAKE_TARGET=--$* --env CONTAINER_FILE=$(CONTAINER_FILE) --env CONTAINER_FILE_CONTENT=$(CONTAINER_FILE_CONTENT) --env WATCH=$(WATCH) --name fradrive.$(CURR_DEV).$(SERVICE_VARIANT) localhost/fradrive/$(FRADRIVE_SERVICE)` ; \
 	    echo "CONTAINER_ID=$${CONTAINER_ID}" >> "$(CONTAINER_FILE)"; \
 	  fi \
 	fi
 
 
-# TODO: move starts below to respective entries, or leave together?
-
-start-database:  BASE_PORTS = "PGPORT=5432"
-start-database:  SINGLETON = true
-
-start-memcached: BASE_PORTS = "MEMCACHED_PORT=11211"
-start-memcached: SINGLETON = true
-
-start-minio:     BASE_PORTS = "UPLOAD_S3_PORT=9000"
-start-minio:     SINGLETON = true
-
-start-backend:   BASE_PORTS = "DEV_PORT_HTTP=3000" "DEV_PORT_HTTPS=3443"
-start-backend:   SINGLETON = false
-start-backend:   compile-frontend
-
-start-hoogle:    BASE_PORTS = "HOOGLE_PORT=8081"
-start-hoogle:    SINGLETON = true
-
-start-frontend:  SINGLETON = false
-start-frontend:  WATCH = false
 
 # HELP(start-database): start postgres server
 # HELP(start-memcached): start memcached server
@@ -441,4 +504,4 @@ i18n-check: --image-run---i18n-check
 	flock -en $@ true
 
 .PHONY: --%
-.SUFFIXES: # Delete all default suffixes
\ No newline at end of file
+.SUFFIXES: # Delete all default suffixes