diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Module.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Module.hpp
index a9525029..017a9172 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Module.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Module.hpp
@@ -157,10 +157,11 @@ public:
     // parse parameters
     virtual void parseParameters(XmlReader &reader, const std::string name) = 0;
     virtual void saveParameters(XmlWriter &writer, const std::string name) = 0;
-    // setup
-    virtual void setup(void) {};
     // execution
     void operator()(void);
+protected:
+    // setup
+    virtual void setup(void) {};
     virtual void execute(void) = 0;
 private:
     std::string name_;
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MAction/DWF.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MAction/DWF.hpp
index 7c82fe8b..36c70073 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MAction/DWF.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MAction/DWF.hpp
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MAction/Wilson.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MAction/Wilson.hpp
index 5c334f8d..7fe1f44e 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MAction/Wilson.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MAction/Wilson.hpp
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ public:
     // dependencies/products
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/Baryon.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/Baryon.hpp
index 78bde5a2..da927391 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/Baryon.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/Baryon.hpp
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // execution
     virtual void execute(void);
 };
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/DiscLoop.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/DiscLoop.hpp
index 4f782cd3..f8da3943 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/DiscLoop.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/DiscLoop.hpp
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/Gamma3pt.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/Gamma3pt.hpp
index 162ab786..a8653186 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/Gamma3pt.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/Gamma3pt.hpp
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/Meson.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/Meson.hpp
index 34127da3..31640b7c 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/Meson.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/Meson.hpp
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ public:
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
     virtual void parseGammaString(std::vector<GammaPair> &gammaList);
+protected:
     // execution
     virtual void execute(void);
 };
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/WardIdentity.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/WardIdentity.hpp
index 8a56e0eb..a298c1a1 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/WardIdentity.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/WardIdentity.hpp
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/WeakHamiltonian.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/WeakHamiltonian.hpp
index 302b207e..7df40370 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/WeakHamiltonian.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MContraction/WeakHamiltonian.hpp
@@ -100,11 +100,13 @@ public:\
     /* dependency relation */ \
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);\
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);\
+public:\
+    std::vector<std::string> VA_label = {"V", "A"};\
+protected:\
     /* setup */ \
     virtual void setup(void);\
     /* execution */ \
     virtual void execute(void);\
-    std::vector<std::string> VA_label = {"V", "A"};\
 };\
 MODULE_REGISTER_NS(modname, T##modname, MContraction);
 
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MFermion/GaugeProp.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MFermion/GaugeProp.hpp
index 59994d0d..8529825b 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MFermion/GaugeProp.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MFermion/GaugeProp.hpp
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MGauge/Load.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MGauge/Load.hpp
index 5ff6da0f..a338af79 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MGauge/Load.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MGauge/Load.hpp
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MGauge/Random.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MGauge/Random.hpp
index a97d25cf..a07130e4 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MGauge/Random.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MGauge/Random.hpp
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MGauge/StochEm.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MGauge/StochEm.hpp
index 12ce9fdc..bacb5172 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MGauge/StochEm.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MGauge/StochEm.hpp
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MGauge/Unit.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MGauge/Unit.hpp
index 7cd15ef7..c1650cc7 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MGauge/Unit.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MGauge/Unit.hpp
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ public:
     // dependencies/products
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MLoop/NoiseLoop.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MLoop/NoiseLoop.hpp
index 5d2c4a13..1f40dd48 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MLoop/NoiseLoop.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MLoop/NoiseLoop.hpp
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MScalar/ChargedProp.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MScalar/ChargedProp.hpp
index fbe75c05..ab6a0184 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MScalar/ChargedProp.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MScalar/ChargedProp.hpp
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MScalar/FreeProp.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MScalar/FreeProp.hpp
index 97cf288a..38372a0c 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MScalar/FreeProp.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MScalar/FreeProp.hpp
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSink/Point.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSink/Point.hpp
index b124e2e5..853a7c32 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSink/Point.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSink/Point.hpp
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSink/Smear.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSink/Smear.hpp
index c3973d2b..b51d2f49 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSink/Smear.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSink/Smear.hpp
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSolver/RBPrecCG.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSolver/RBPrecCG.hpp
index 8063d939..d8a4b95f 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSolver/RBPrecCG.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSolver/RBPrecCG.hpp
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ public:
     // dependencies/products
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/Point.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/Point.hpp
index 5e16149e..b9813688 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/Point.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/Point.hpp
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/SeqConserved.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/SeqConserved.hpp
index 86a7dfb9..e8f91be1 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/SeqConserved.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/SeqConserved.hpp
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/SeqGamma.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/SeqGamma.hpp
index e2129a46..8f67f8fa 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/SeqGamma.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/SeqGamma.hpp
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/Wall.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/Wall.hpp
index 4de37e4d..57dee06d 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/Wall.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/Wall.hpp
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/Z2.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/Z2.hpp
index a7f7a3e6..e2cc4f34 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/Z2.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MSource/Z2.hpp
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MUtilities/TestSeqConserved.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MUtilities/TestSeqConserved.hpp
index b085eb8c..f8714d88 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MUtilities/TestSeqConserved.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MUtilities/TestSeqConserved.hpp
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution
diff --git a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MUtilities/TestSeqGamma.hpp b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MUtilities/TestSeqGamma.hpp
index 2799e5d0..9736ab54 100644
--- a/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MUtilities/TestSeqGamma.hpp
+++ b/extras/Hadrons/Modules/MUtilities/TestSeqGamma.hpp
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ public:
     // dependency relation
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getInput(void);
     virtual std::vector<std::string> getOutput(void);
+protected:
     // setup
     virtual void setup(void);
     // execution