diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d89ee725..7200e70b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 TaskFlow
 ========
 
-A library to do [jobs, tasks, flows] in a HA manner using different backends to be used with OpenStack projects.
+A library to do [jobs, tasks, flows] in a HA manner using different backends to
+be used with OpenStack projects.
 
 * More information at http://wiki.openstack.org/wiki/TaskFlow
 
@@ -9,3 +10,16 @@ Join us
 -------
 
 - http://launchpad.net/taskflow
+
+Help
+----
+
+### Tox.ini
+
+To generate tox.ini, use the `toxgen.py` tool located in `tools/` and provide
+that script as input the `tox-tmpl.ini` file to generate the final `tox.ini`
+file.
+
+For example:
+
+    $ ./tools/toxgen.py -i tox-tmpl.ini -o tox.ini
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 490643eb..644b7075 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -4,9 +4,6 @@ anyjson>=0.3.3
 iso8601>=0.1.8
 # Python 2->3 compatibility library.
 six>=1.4.1
-# Only needed if database backend used.
-SQLAlchemy>=0.7.8,<=0.7.99
-alembic>=0.4.1
 # Very nice graph library
 networkx>=1.8
 Babel>=1.3
@@ -14,8 +11,3 @@ Babel>=1.3
 stevedore>=0.12
 # Backport for concurrent.futures which exists in 3.2+
 futures>=2.1.3
-# Only needed if the eventlet executor is used.
-# eventlet>=0.13.0
-# NOTE(harlowja): if you want to be able to use the graph_utils
-# export_graph_to_dot function you will need to uncomment the following.
-# pydot>=1.0
diff --git a/taskflow/examples/example_utils.py b/taskflow/examples/example_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d3069db6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/taskflow/examples/example_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+# vim: tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4 softtabstop=4
+
+#    Copyright (C) 2013 Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved.
+#
+#    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.
+
+import contextlib
+import logging
+import os
+import shutil
+import sys
+import tempfile
+
+from taskflow import exceptions
+from taskflow.openstack.common.py3kcompat import urlutils
+from taskflow.persistence import backends
+
+LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+try:
+    import sqlalchemy as _sa  # noqa
+    SQLALCHEMY_AVAILABLE = True
+except ImportError:
+    SQLALCHEMY_AVAILABLE = False
+
+
+def rm_path(persist_path):
+    if not os.path.exists(persist_path):
+        return
+    if os.path.isdir(persist_path):
+        rm_func = shutil.rmtree
+    elif os.path.isfile(persist_path):
+        rm_func = os.unlink
+    else:
+        raise ValueError("Unknown how to `rm` path: %s" % (persist_path))
+    try:
+        rm_func(persist_path)
+    except (IOError, OSError):
+        pass
+
+
+def _make_conf(backend_uri):
+    parsed_url = urlutils.urlparse(backend_uri)
+    backend_type = parsed_url.scheme.lower()
+    if not backend_type:
+        raise ValueError("Unknown backend type for uri: %s" % (backend_type))
+    if backend_type in ('file', 'dir'):
+        conf = {
+            'path': parsed_url.path,
+            'connection': backend_uri,
+        }
+    else:
+        conf = {
+            'connection': backend_uri,
+        }
+    return conf
+
+
+@contextlib.contextmanager
+def get_backend(backend_uri=None):
+    tmp_dir = None
+    if not backend_uri:
+        if len(sys.argv) > 1:
+            backend_uri = str(sys.argv[1])
+        if not backend_uri:
+            tmp_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp()
+            backend_uri = "file:///%s" % tmp_dir
+    try:
+        backend = backends.fetch(_make_conf(backend_uri))
+    except exceptions.NotFound as e:
+        # Fallback to one that will work if the provided backend is not found.
+        if not tmp_dir:
+            tmp_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp()
+            backend_uri = "file:///%s" % tmp_dir
+            LOG.exception("Falling back to file backend using temporary"
+                          " directory located at: %s", tmp_dir)
+            backend = backends.fetch(_make_conf(backend_uri))
+        else:
+            raise e
+    try:
+        # Ensure schema upgraded before we continue working.
+        with contextlib.closing(backend.get_connection()) as conn:
+            conn.upgrade()
+        yield backend
+    finally:
+        # Make sure to cleanup the temporary path if one was created for us.
+        if tmp_dir:
+            rm_path(tmp_dir)
diff --git a/taskflow/examples/persistence_example.py b/taskflow/examples/persistence_example.py
index 54b84244..d852d33b 100644
--- a/taskflow/examples/persistence_example.py
+++ b/taskflow/examples/persistence_example.py
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 #    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #    under the License.
 
-import contextlib
 import logging
 import os
 import sys
@@ -25,18 +24,20 @@ import traceback
 
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.ERROR)
 
+self_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
 top_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
                                        os.pardir,
                                        os.pardir))
 sys.path.insert(0, top_dir)
+sys.path.insert(0, self_dir)
 
 from taskflow import engines
 from taskflow.patterns import linear_flow as lf
-from taskflow.persistence import backends
 from taskflow.persistence import logbook
 from taskflow import task
 from taskflow.utils import persistence_utils as p_utils
 
+import example_utils  # noqa
 
 # INTRO: In this example we create two tasks, one that will say hi and one
 # that will say bye with optional capability to raise an error while
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ from taskflow.utils import persistence_utils as p_utils
 # as well as shows you what happens during reversion and what happens to
 # the database during both of these modes (failing or not failing).
 
+
 def print_wrapped(text):
     print("-" * (len(text)))
     print(text)
@@ -81,48 +83,44 @@ def make_flow(blowup=False):
     return flow
 
 
-# Persist the flow and task state here, if the file exists already blowup
+# Persist the flow and task state here, if the file/dir exists already blowup
 # if not don't blowup, this allows a user to see both the modes and to
 # see what is stored in each case.
-persist_filename = os.path.join(tempfile.gettempdir(), "persisting.db")
-if os.path.isfile(persist_filename):
+if example_utils.SQLALCHEMY_AVAILABLE:
+    persist_path = os.path.join(tempfile.gettempdir(), "persisting.db")
+    backend_uri = "sqlite:///%s" % (persist_path)
+else:
+    persist_path = os.path.join(tempfile.gettempdir(), "persisting")
+    backend_uri = "file:///%s" % (persist_path)
+
+if os.path.exists(persist_path):
     blowup = False
 else:
     blowup = True
 
-# Ensure schema upgraded before we continue working.
-backend_config = {
-    'connection': "sqlite:///%s" % (persist_filename),
-}
-with contextlib.closing(backends.fetch(backend_config)) as be:
-    with contextlib.closing(be.get_connection()) as conn:
-        conn.upgrade()
+with example_utils.get_backend(backend_uri) as backend:
+    # Now we can run.
+    engine_config = {
+        'backend': backend,
+        'engine_conf': 'serial',
+        'book': logbook.LogBook("my-test"),
+    }
 
-# Now we can run.
-engine_config = {
-    'backend': backend_config,
-    'engine_conf': 'serial',
-    'book': logbook.LogBook("my-test"),
-}
-
-# Make a flow that will blowup if the file doesn't exist previously, if it
-# did exist, assume we won't blowup (and therefore this shows the undo
-# and redo that a flow will go through).
-flow = make_flow(blowup=blowup)
-print_wrapped("Running")
-
-try:
-    eng = engines.load(flow, **engine_config)
-    eng.run()
+    # Make a flow that will blowup if the file doesn't exist previously, if it
+    # did exist, assume we won't blowup (and therefore this shows the undo
+    # and redo that a flow will go through).
+    flow = make_flow(blowup=blowup)
+    print_wrapped("Running")
     try:
-        os.unlink(persist_filename)
-    except (OSError, IOError):
-        pass
-except Exception:
-    # NOTE(harlowja): don't exit with non-zero status code, so that we can
-    # print the book contents, as well as avoiding exiting also makes the
-    # unit tests (which also runs these examples) pass.
-    traceback.print_exc(file=sys.stdout)
+        eng = engines.load(flow, **engine_config)
+        eng.run()
+        if not blowup:
+            example_utils.rm_path(persist_path)
+    except Exception:
+        # NOTE(harlowja): don't exit with non-zero status code, so that we can
+        # print the book contents, as well as avoiding exiting also makes the
+        # unit tests (which also runs these examples) pass.
+        traceback.print_exc(file=sys.stdout)
 
-print_wrapped("Book contents")
-print(p_utils.pformat(engine_config['book']))
+    print_wrapped("Book contents")
+    print(p_utils.pformat(engine_config['book']))
diff --git a/taskflow/examples/resume_from_backend.py b/taskflow/examples/resume_from_backend.py
index 5e40a174..dece074c 100644
--- a/taskflow/examples/resume_from_backend.py
+++ b/taskflow/examples/resume_from_backend.py
@@ -22,17 +22,21 @@ import sys
 
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.ERROR)
 
+self_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
 top_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
                                        os.pardir,
                                        os.pardir))
 sys.path.insert(0, top_dir)
+sys.path.insert(0, self_dir)
 
 import taskflow.engines
+
 from taskflow.patterns import linear_flow as lf
-from taskflow.persistence import backends
 from taskflow import task
 from taskflow.utils import persistence_utils as p_utils
 
+import example_utils  # noqa
+
 # INTRO: In this example linear_flow is used to group three tasks, one which
 # will suspend the future work the engine may do. This suspend engine is then
 # discarded and the workflow is reloaded from the persisted data and then the
@@ -61,17 +65,6 @@ def print_task_states(flowdetail, msg):
         print(" %s==%s: %s, result=%s" % item)
 
 
-def get_backend():
-    try:
-        backend_uri = sys.argv[1]
-    except Exception:
-        backend_uri = 'sqlite://'
-
-    backend = backends.fetch({'connection': backend_uri})
-    backend.get_connection().upgrade()
-    return backend
-
-
 def find_flow_detail(backend, lb_id, fd_id):
     conn = backend.get_connection()
     lb = conn.get_logbook(lb_id)
@@ -102,40 +95,38 @@ def flow_factory():
 
 ### INITIALIZE PERSISTENCE ####################################
 
-backend = get_backend()
-logbook = p_utils.temporary_log_book(backend)
+with example_utils.get_backend() as backend:
+    logbook = p_utils.temporary_log_book(backend)
 
+    ### CREATE AND RUN THE FLOW: FIRST ATTEMPT ####################
 
-### CREATE AND RUN THE FLOW: FIRST ATTEMPT ####################
+    flow = flow_factory()
+    flowdetail = p_utils.create_flow_detail(flow, logbook, backend)
+    engine = taskflow.engines.load(flow, flow_detail=flowdetail,
+                                   backend=backend)
 
-flow = flow_factory()
-flowdetail = p_utils.create_flow_detail(flow, logbook, backend)
-engine = taskflow.engines.load(flow, flow_detail=flowdetail,
-                               backend=backend)
+    print_task_states(flowdetail, "At the beginning, there is no state")
+    print_wrapped("Running")
+    engine.run()
+    print_task_states(flowdetail, "After running")
 
-print_task_states(flowdetail, "At the beginning, there is no state")
-print_wrapped("Running")
-engine.run()
-print_task_states(flowdetail, "After running")
+    ### RE-CREATE, RESUME, RUN ####################################
 
+    print_wrapped("Resuming and running again")
 
-### RE-CREATE, RESUME, RUN ####################################
-
-print_wrapped("Resuming and running again")
-
-# NOTE(harlowja): reload the flow detail from backend, this will allow us to
-# resume the flow from its suspended state, but first we need to search for
-# the right flow details in the correct logbook where things are stored.
-#
-# We could avoid re-loading the engine and just do engine.run() again, but this
-# example shows how another process may unsuspend a given flow and start it
-# again for situations where this is useful to-do (say the process running
-# the above flow crashes).
-flow2 = flow_factory()
-flowdetail2 = find_flow_detail(backend, logbook.uuid,
-                               flowdetail.uuid)
-engine2 = taskflow.engines.load(flow2,
-                                flow_detail=flowdetail2,
-                                backend=backend)
-engine2.run()
-print_task_states(flowdetail2, "At the end")
+    # NOTE(harlowja): reload the flow detail from backend, this will allow us
+    # to resume the flow from its suspended state, but first we need to search
+    # for the right flow details in the correct logbook where things are
+    # stored.
+    #
+    # We could avoid re-loading the engine and just do engine.run() again, but
+    # this example shows how another process may unsuspend a given flow and
+    # start it again for situations where this is useful to-do (say the process
+    # running the above flow crashes).
+    flow2 = flow_factory()
+    flowdetail2 = find_flow_detail(backend, logbook.uuid, flowdetail.uuid)
+    engine2 = taskflow.engines.load(flow2,
+                                    flow_detail=flowdetail2,
+                                    backend=backend)
+    engine2.run()
+    print_task_states(flowdetail2, "At the end")
diff --git a/taskflow/examples/resume_many_flows.py b/taskflow/examples/resume_many_flows.py
index e3f08bca..44cad4a2 100644
--- a/taskflow/examples/resume_many_flows.py
+++ b/taskflow/examples/resume_many_flows.py
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ import subprocess
 import sys
 import tempfile
 
+self_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
+sys.path.insert(0, self_dir)
+
+import example_utils  # noqa
+
 # INTRO: In this example we create a common persistence database (sqlite based)
 # and then we run a few set of processes which themselves use this persistence
 # database, those processes 'crash' (in a simulated way) by exiting with a
@@ -58,10 +63,15 @@ def _path_to(name):
 
 
 def main():
+    backend_uri = None
+    tmp_path = None
     try:
-        fd, db_path = tempfile.mkstemp(prefix='tf-resume-example')
-        os.close(fd)
-        backend_uri = 'sqlite:///%s' % db_path
+        if example_utils.SQLALCHEMY_AVAILABLE:
+            tmp_path = tempfile.mktemp(prefix='tf-resume-example')
+            backend_uri = "sqlite:///%s" % (tmp_path)
+        else:
+            tmp_path = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix='tf-resume-example')
+            backend_uri = 'file:///%s' % (tmp_path)
 
         def run_example(name, add_env=None):
             _exec([sys.executable, _path_to(name), backend_uri], add_env)
@@ -78,7 +88,8 @@ def main():
         print('\nResuming all failed flows')
         run_example('resume_all.py')
     finally:
-        os.unlink(db_path)
+        if tmp_path:
+            example_utils.rm_path(tmp_path)
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     main()
diff --git a/taskflow/examples/resume_many_flows/my_utils.py b/taskflow/examples/resume_many_flows/my_utils.py
deleted file mode 100644
index dd1fbd5e..00000000
--- a/taskflow/examples/resume_many_flows/my_utils.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,31 +0,0 @@
-# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-
-# vim: tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4 softtabstop=4
-
-#    Copyright (C) 2013 Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved.
-#
-#    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.
-
-import sys
-
-from taskflow.persistence import backends
-
-
-def get_backend():
-    try:
-        backend_uri = sys.argv[1]
-    except Exception:
-        backend_uri = 'sqlite://'
-    backend = backends.fetch({'connection': backend_uri})
-    backend.get_connection().upgrade()
-    return backend
diff --git a/taskflow/examples/resume_many_flows/resume_all.py b/taskflow/examples/resume_many_flows/resume_all.py
index 94e3b48a..5cedcaf4 100644
--- a/taskflow/examples/resume_many_flows/resume_all.py
+++ b/taskflow/examples/resume_many_flows/resume_all.py
@@ -25,16 +25,17 @@ logging.basicConfig(level=logging.ERROR)
 self_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
 top_dir = os.path.abspath(
     os.path.join(self_dir, os.pardir, os.pardir, os.pardir))
+example_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(self_dir, os.pardir))
 
 sys.path.insert(0, top_dir)
-sys.path.insert(0, self_dir)
+sys.path.insert(0, example_dir)
 
 
 import taskflow.engines
 
 from taskflow import states
 
-import my_utils  # noqa
+import example_utils  # noqa
 
 
 FINISHED_STATES = (states.SUCCESS, states.FAILURE, states.REVERTED)
@@ -48,12 +49,12 @@ def resume(flowdetail, backend):
 
 
 def main():
-    backend = my_utils.get_backend()
-    logbooks = list(backend.get_connection().get_logbooks())
-    for lb in logbooks:
-        for fd in lb:
-            if fd.state not in FINISHED_STATES:
-                resume(fd, backend)
+    with example_utils.get_backend() as backend:
+        logbooks = list(backend.get_connection().get_logbooks())
+        for lb in logbooks:
+            for fd in lb:
+                if fd.state not in FINISHED_STATES:
+                    resume(fd, backend)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/taskflow/examples/resume_many_flows/run_flow.py b/taskflow/examples/resume_many_flows/run_flow.py
index e3409e13..cbd2c2ec 100644
--- a/taskflow/examples/resume_many_flows/run_flow.py
+++ b/taskflow/examples/resume_many_flows/run_flow.py
@@ -25,19 +25,21 @@ logging.basicConfig(level=logging.ERROR)
 self_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
 top_dir = os.path.abspath(
     os.path.join(self_dir, os.pardir, os.pardir, os.pardir))
+example_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(self_dir, os.pardir))
 
 sys.path.insert(0, top_dir)
 sys.path.insert(0, self_dir)
+sys.path.insert(0, example_dir)
 
 import taskflow.engines
 
+import example_utils  # noqa
 import my_flows  # noqa
-import my_utils  # noqa
 
 
-backend = my_utils.get_backend()
-engine = taskflow.engines.load_from_factory(my_flows.flow_factory,
-                                            backend=backend)
-print('Running flow %s %s' % (engine.storage.flow_name,
-                              engine.storage.flow_uuid))
-engine.run()
+with example_utils.get_backend() as backend:
+    engine = taskflow.engines.load_from_factory(my_flows.flow_factory,
+                                                backend=backend)
+    print('Running flow %s %s' % (engine.storage.flow_name,
+                                  engine.storage.flow_uuid))
+    engine.run()
diff --git a/taskflow/examples/resume_vm_boot.py b/taskflow/examples/resume_vm_boot.py
index e4ecc157..7499c70a 100644
--- a/taskflow/examples/resume_vm_boot.py
+++ b/taskflow/examples/resume_vm_boot.py
@@ -26,10 +26,12 @@ import time
 
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.ERROR)
 
+self_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
 top_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
                                        os.pardir,
                                        os.pardir))
 sys.path.insert(0, top_dir)
+sys.path.insert(0, self_dir)
 
 from taskflow.patterns import graph_flow as gf
 from taskflow.patterns import linear_flow as lf
@@ -40,10 +42,10 @@ from taskflow import engines
 from taskflow import exceptions as exc
 from taskflow import task
 
-from taskflow.persistence import backends
 from taskflow.utils import eventlet_utils as e_utils
 from taskflow.utils import persistence_utils as p_utils
 
+import example_utils  # noqa
 
 # INTRO: This examples shows how a hierarchy of flows can be used to create a
 # vm in a reliable & resumable manner using taskflow + a miniature version of
@@ -67,17 +69,6 @@ def print_wrapped(text):
     print("-" * (len(text)))
 
 
-def get_backend():
-    try:
-        backend_uri = sys.argv[1]
-    except Exception:
-        backend_uri = 'sqlite://'
-
-    backend = backends.fetch({'connection': backend_uri})
-    backend.get_connection().upgrade()
-    return backend
-
-
 class PrintText(task.Task):
     """Just inserts some text print outs in a workflow."""
     def __init__(self, print_what, no_slow=False):
@@ -243,50 +234,51 @@ def create_flow():
 print_wrapped("Initializing")
 
 # Setup the persistence & resumption layer.
-backend = get_backend()
-try:
-    book_id, flow_id = sys.argv[2].split("+", 1)
-    if not uuidutils.is_uuid_like(book_id):
+with example_utils.get_backend() as backend:
+    try:
+        book_id, flow_id = sys.argv[2].split("+", 1)
+        if not uuidutils.is_uuid_like(book_id):
+            book_id = None
+        if not uuidutils.is_uuid_like(flow_id):
+            flow_id = None
+    except (IndexError, ValueError):
         book_id = None
-    if not uuidutils.is_uuid_like(flow_id):
         flow_id = None
-except (IndexError, ValueError):
-    book_id = None
-    flow_id = None
 
-# Set up how we want our engine to run, serial, parallel...
-engine_conf = {
-    'engine': 'parallel',
-}
-if e_utils.EVENTLET_AVAILABLE:
-    engine_conf['executor'] = e_utils.GreenExecutor(5)
+    # Set up how we want our engine to run, serial, parallel...
+    engine_conf = {
+        'engine': 'parallel',
+    }
+    if e_utils.EVENTLET_AVAILABLE:
+        engine_conf['executor'] = e_utils.GreenExecutor(5)
 
-# Create/fetch a logbook that will track the workflows work.
-book = None
-flow_detail = None
-if all([book_id, flow_id]):
-    with contextlib.closing(backend.get_connection()) as conn:
-        try:
-            book = conn.get_logbook(book_id)
-            flow_detail = book.find(flow_id)
-        except exc.NotFound:
-            pass
-if book is None and flow_detail is None:
-    book = p_utils.temporary_log_book(backend)
-    engine = engines.load_from_factory(create_flow,
-                                       backend=backend, book=book,
-                                       engine_conf=engine_conf)
-    print("!! Your tracking id is: '%s+%s'" % (book.uuid,
-                                               engine.storage.flow_uuid))
-    print("!! Please submit this on later runs for tracking purposes")
-else:
-    # Attempt to load from a previously potentially partially completed flow.
-    engine = engines.load_from_detail(flow_detail,
-                                      backend=backend, engine_conf=engine_conf)
+    # Create/fetch a logbook that will track the workflows work.
+    book = None
+    flow_detail = None
+    if all([book_id, flow_id]):
+        with contextlib.closing(backend.get_connection()) as conn:
+            try:
+                book = conn.get_logbook(book_id)
+                flow_detail = book.find(flow_id)
+            except exc.NotFound:
+                pass
+    if book is None and flow_detail is None:
+        book = p_utils.temporary_log_book(backend)
+        engine = engines.load_from_factory(create_flow,
+                                           backend=backend, book=book,
+                                           engine_conf=engine_conf)
+        print("!! Your tracking id is: '%s+%s'" % (book.uuid,
+                                                   engine.storage.flow_uuid))
+        print("!! Please submit this on later runs for tracking purposes")
+    else:
+        # Attempt to load from a previously partially completed flow.
+        engine = engines.load_from_detail(flow_detail,
+                                          backend=backend,
+                                          engine_conf=engine_conf)
 
-# Make me my vm please!
-print_wrapped('Running')
-engine.run()
+    # Make me my vm please!
+    print_wrapped('Running')
+    engine.run()
 
 # How to use.
 #
diff --git a/taskflow/examples/resume_volume_create.py b/taskflow/examples/resume_volume_create.py
index 35edbac6..a8be9c69 100644
--- a/taskflow/examples/resume_volume_create.py
+++ b/taskflow/examples/resume_volume_create.py
@@ -26,10 +26,12 @@ import time
 
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.ERROR)
 
+self_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
 top_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
                                        os.pardir,
                                        os.pardir))
 sys.path.insert(0, top_dir)
+sys.path.insert(0, self_dir)
 
 from taskflow.patterns import graph_flow as gf
 from taskflow.patterns import linear_flow as lf
@@ -37,9 +39,9 @@ from taskflow.patterns import linear_flow as lf
 from taskflow import engines
 from taskflow import task
 
-from taskflow.persistence import backends
 from taskflow.utils import persistence_utils as p_utils
 
+import example_utils  # noqa
 
 # INTRO: This examples shows how a hierarchy of flows can be used to create a
 # pseudo-volume in a reliable & resumable manner using taskflow + a miniature
@@ -69,17 +71,6 @@ def find_flow_detail(backend, book_id, flow_id):
         return lb.find(flow_id)
 
 
-def get_backend():
-    try:
-        backend_uri = sys.argv[1]
-    except Exception:
-        backend_uri = 'sqlite://'
-
-    backend = backends.fetch({'connection': backend_uri})
-    backend.get_connection().upgrade()
-    return backend
-
-
 class PrintText(task.Task):
     def __init__(self, print_what, no_slow=False):
         content_hash = hashlib.md5(print_what.encode('utf-8')).hexdigest()[0:8]
@@ -131,38 +122,39 @@ flow = lf.Flow("root").add(
     PrintText("Finished volume create", no_slow=True))
 
 # Setup the persistence & resumption layer.
-backend = get_backend()
-try:
-    book_id, flow_id = sys.argv[2].split("+", 1)
-except (IndexError, ValueError):
-    book_id = None
-    flow_id = None
+with example_utils.get_backend() as backend:
+    try:
+        book_id, flow_id = sys.argv[2].split("+", 1)
+    except (IndexError, ValueError):
+        book_id = None
+        flow_id = None
 
-if not all([book_id, flow_id]):
-    # If no 'tracking id' (think a fedex or ups tracking id) is provided then
-    # we create one by creating a logbook (where flow details are stored) and
-    # creating a flow detail (where flow and task state is stored). The
-    # combination of these 2 objects unique ids (uuids) allows the users of
-    # taskflow to reassociate the workflows that were potentially running (and
-    # which may have partially completed) back with taskflow so that those
-    # workflows can be resumed (or reverted) after a process/thread/engine
-    # has failed in someway.
-    logbook = p_utils.temporary_log_book(backend)
-    flow_detail = p_utils.create_flow_detail(flow, logbook, backend)
-    print("!! Your tracking id is: '%s+%s'" % (logbook.uuid, flow_detail.uuid))
-    print("!! Please submit this on later runs for tracking purposes")
-else:
-    flow_detail = find_flow_detail(backend, book_id, flow_id)
+    if not all([book_id, flow_id]):
+        # If no 'tracking id' (think a fedex or ups tracking id) is provided
+        # then we create one by creating a logbook (where flow details are
+        # stored) and creating a flow detail (where flow and task state is
+        # stored). The combination of these 2 objects unique ids (uuids) allows
+        # the users of taskflow to reassociate the workflows that were
+        # potentially running (and which may have partially completed) back
+        # with taskflow so that those workflows can be resumed (or reverted)
+        # after a process/thread/engine has failed in someway.
+        logbook = p_utils.temporary_log_book(backend)
+        flow_detail = p_utils.create_flow_detail(flow, logbook, backend)
+        print("!! Your tracking id is: '%s+%s'" % (logbook.uuid,
+                                                   flow_detail.uuid))
+        print("!! Please submit this on later runs for tracking purposes")
+    else:
+        flow_detail = find_flow_detail(backend, book_id, flow_id)
 
-# Annnnd load and run.
-engine_conf = {
-    'engine': 'serial',
-}
-engine = engines.load(flow,
-                      flow_detail=flow_detail,
-                      backend=backend,
-                      engine_conf=engine_conf)
-engine.run()
+    # Annnnd load and run.
+    engine_conf = {
+        'engine': 'serial',
+    }
+    engine = engines.load(flow,
+                          flow_detail=flow_detail,
+                          backend=backend,
+                          engine_conf=engine_conf)
+    engine.run()
 
 # How to use.
 #
diff --git a/taskflow/tests/test_examples.py b/taskflow/tests/test_examples.py
index dae1fdb2..f526b94c 100644
--- a/taskflow/tests/test_examples.py
+++ b/taskflow/tests/test_examples.py
@@ -49,9 +49,8 @@ def root_path(*args):
 
 def run_example(name):
     path = root_path('taskflow', 'examples', '%s.py' % name)
-    obj = subprocess.Popen(
-        [sys.executable, path],
-        stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+    obj = subprocess.Popen([sys.executable, path],
+                           stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
     output = obj.communicate()
     if output[1]:
         raise RuntimeError('Example wrote to stderr:\n%s'
@@ -60,15 +59,14 @@ def run_example(name):
 
 
 def expected_output_path(name):
-    return root_path('taskflow', 'examples',
-                     '%s.out.txt' % name)
+    return root_path('taskflow', 'examples', '%s.out.txt' % name)
 
 
 def list_examples():
-    ext = '.py'
     examples_dir = root_path('taskflow', 'examples')
     for filename in os.listdir(examples_dir):
-        if filename.endswith(ext):
+        name, ext = os.path.splitext(filename)
+        if ext == ".py" and 'utils' not in name.lower():
             yield filename[:-len(ext)]
 
 
diff --git a/taskflow/tests/unit/persistence/test_sql_persistence.py b/taskflow/tests/unit/persistence/test_sql_persistence.py
index ba60f5a9..bc3f104b 100644
--- a/taskflow/tests/unit/persistence/test_sql_persistence.py
+++ b/taskflow/tests/unit/persistence/test_sql_persistence.py
@@ -19,11 +19,19 @@
 import os
 import tempfile
 
-from taskflow.persistence.backends import impl_sqlalchemy
+import testtools
+
+try:
+    from taskflow.persistence.backends import impl_sqlalchemy
+    SQLALCHEMY_AVAILABLE = True
+except ImportError:
+    SQLALCHEMY_AVAILABLE = False
+
 from taskflow import test
 from taskflow.tests.unit.persistence import base
 
 
+@testtools.skipIf(not SQLALCHEMY_AVAILABLE, 'sqlalchemy is not available')
 class SqlPersistenceTest(test.TestCase, base.PersistenceTestMixin):
     """Inherits from the base test and sets up a sqlite temporary db."""
     def _get_connection(self):
diff --git a/test-2.x-requirements.txt b/test-2.x-requirements.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index a6a628e6..00000000
--- a/test-2.x-requirements.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-eventlet>=0.13.0
diff --git a/tools/toxgen.py b/tools/toxgen.py
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..111ed9b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/toxgen.py
@@ -0,0 +1,211 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+# From: https://bitbucket.org/cdevienne/toxgen (pypi soon hopefully) and
+# modified slightly to work in python 2.6 and set some values that are not
+# being set.
+#
+# TODO(harlowja): remove me when toxgen is a pypi package.
+
+"""
+Produce a tox.ini file from a template config file.
+
+The template config file is a standard tox.ini file with additional sections.
+Theses sections will be combined to create new testenv: sections if they do
+not exists yet.
+"""
+
+import collections
+import itertools
+import optparse
+import os
+
+import six
+
+from six.moves import configparser
+
+try:
+    from collections import OrderedDict
+except ImportError:
+    from ordereddict import OrderedDict
+
+
+HEADER = '# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE - it is machine generated from %(filename)s'
+SKIP_VENVS = frozenset(['venv'])
+
+parser = optparse.OptionParser(epilog=__doc__)
+parser.add_option('-i', '--input', dest='input',
+                  default='tox-tmpl.ini', metavar='FILE')
+parser.add_option('-o', '--output', dest='output',
+                  default='tox.ini', metavar='FILE')
+
+
+class AxisItem(object):
+    def __init__(self, axis, name, config):
+        self.axis = axis
+        self.isdefault = name[-1] == '*'
+        self.name = name[:-1] if self.isdefault else name
+        self.load(config)
+
+    def load(self, config):
+        sectionname = 'axis:%s:%s' % (self.axis.name, self.name)
+        if config.has_section(sectionname):
+            self.options = dict(config.items(sectionname))
+        else:
+            self.options = dict()
+
+        for name, value in self.axis.defaults.items():
+            if name not in self.options:
+                self.options[name] = value
+
+
+class Axis(object):
+    def __init__(self, name, config):
+        self.name = name
+        self.load(config)
+
+    def load(self, config):
+        self.items = dict()
+        values = config.get('axes', self.name).split(',')
+        if config.has_section('axis:%s' % self.name):
+            self.defaults = dict(
+                config.items('axis:%s' % self.name)
+            )
+        else:
+            self.defaults = {}
+        for value in values:
+            self.items[value.strip('*')] = AxisItem(self, value, config)
+
+
+def format_list(contents, max_len=80, sep=","):
+    lines = []
+    for line in contents:
+        if not lines:
+            lines.append(line + ",")
+        else:
+            last_len = len(lines[-1])
+            if last_len + len(line) >= max_len:
+                lines.append(str(line) + sep)
+            else:
+                lines[-1] = lines[-1] + str(line) + sep
+    return "\n".join(lines).rstrip(",")
+
+
+def render(incfg, filename, adjust_envlist=True):
+    test_envs = set()
+    for s in incfg.sections():
+        if s.startswith("testenv:"):
+            env = s[len("testenv:"):].strip()
+            if env in SKIP_VENVS or not env:
+                continue
+            test_envs.add(env)
+    test_envs = [s for s in test_envs if s]
+
+    try:
+        envlist = incfg.get("tox", 'envlist')
+        envlist = [e.strip() for e in envlist.split(",")]
+        envlist = set([e for e in envlist if e])
+    except (configparser.NoOptionError, configparser.NoSectionError):
+        envlist = set()
+    for e in test_envs:
+        if e not in envlist:
+            envlist.add(e)
+
+    if not incfg.has_section("tox"):
+        incfg.add_section("tox")
+    incfg.set("tox", "envlist",
+              format_list(list(sorted(envlist)), max_len=-1))
+
+    text = six.StringIO()
+    incfg.write(text)
+    contents = [
+        HEADER % {'filename': os.path.basename(filename)},
+        '',
+        # Remove how configparser uses tabs instead of spaces, madness...
+        text.getvalue().replace("\t", " " * 4),
+    ]
+    return "\n".join(contents)
+
+
+def compile_template(incfg):
+    axes = dict()
+
+    if incfg.has_section('axes'):
+        for axis in incfg.options('axes'):
+            axes[axis] = Axis(axis, incfg)
+
+    out = configparser.ConfigParser(dict_type=OrderedDict)
+    for section in incfg.sections():
+        if section == 'axes' or section.startswith('axis:'):
+            continue
+        out.add_section(section)
+        for name, value in incfg.items(section):
+            out.set(section, name, value)
+
+    items = [axis.items.keys() for axis in axes.values()]
+    for combination in itertools.product(*items):
+        options = {}
+
+        section_name = (
+            'testenv:' + '-'.join([item for item in combination if item])
+        )
+        section_alt_name = (
+            'testenv:' + '-'.join([
+                itemname
+                for axis, itemname in zip(axes.values(), combination)
+                if itemname and not axis.items[itemname].isdefault
+            ])
+        )
+        if section_alt_name == section_name:
+            section_alt_name = None
+
+        axes_items = [
+            '%s:%s' % (axis, itemname)
+            for axis, itemname in zip(axes, combination)
+        ]
+
+        for axis, itemname in zip(axes.values(), combination):
+            axis_options = axis.items[itemname].options
+            if 'constraints' in axis_options:
+                constraints = axis_options['constraints'].split('\n')
+                for c in constraints:
+                    if c.startswith('!') and c[1:] in axes_items:
+                        continue
+            for name, value in axis_options.items():
+                if name in options:
+                    options[name] += value
+                else:
+                    options[name] = value
+
+        constraints = options.pop('constraints', '').split('\n')
+        neg_constraints = [c[1:] for c in constraints if c and c[0] == '!']
+        if not set(neg_constraints).isdisjoint(axes_items):
+            continue
+
+        if not out.has_section(section_name):
+            out.add_section(section_name)
+
+        if (section_alt_name and not out.has_section(section_alt_name)):
+            out.add_section(section_alt_name)
+
+        for name, value in reversed(options.items()):
+            if not out.has_option(section_name, name):
+                out.set(section_name, name, value)
+            if section_alt_name and not out.has_option(section_alt_name, name):
+                out.set(section_alt_name, name, value)
+
+    return out
+
+
+def main():
+    options, args = parser.parse_args()
+    tmpl = configparser.ConfigParser()
+    with open(options.input, 'rb') as fh:
+        tmpl.readfp(fh, filename=options.input)
+    with open(options.output, 'wb') as outfile:
+        text = render(compile_template(tmpl), options.input)
+        outfile.write(text)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
+
diff --git a/tox-tmpl.ini b/tox-tmpl.ini
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b9d55e59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tox-tmpl.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+# NOTE(harlowja): this is a template, not a fully-generated tox.ini, use toxgen
+# to translate this into a fully specified tox.ini file before using. Changes
+# made to tox.ini will only be reflected if ran through the toxgen generator.
+
+[tox]
+minversion = 1.6
+skipsdist = True
+
+[testenv]
+usedevelop = True
+install_command = pip install {opts} {packages}
+setenv = VIRTUAL_ENV={envdir}
+         LANG=en_US.UTF-8
+         LANGUAGE=en_US:en
+         LC_ALL=C
+deps = -r{toxinidir}/requirements.txt
+       -r{toxinidir}/test-requirements.txt
+commands = python setup.py testr --slowest --testr-args='{posargs}'
+
+[tox:jenkins]
+downloadcache = ~/cache/pip
+
+[testenv:pep8]
+commands =
+  flake8 {posargs}
+
+[testenv:pylint]
+setenv = VIRTUAL_ENV={envdir}
+deps = -r{toxinidir}/requirements.txt
+       pylint==0.26.0
+commands = pylint
+
+[testenv:cover]
+deps = -r{toxinidir}/requirements.txt
+       -r{toxinidir}/test-requirements.txt
+commands = python setup.py testr --coverage --testr-args='{posargs}'
+
+[testenv:venv]
+commands = {posargs}
+
+[flake8]
+ignore = H402
+builtins = _
+exclude = .venv,.tox,dist,doc,./taskflow/openstack/common,*egg,.git,build,tools
+
+[axes]
+python = py26,py27,py33
+sqlalchemy = sa7,sa8,sa9,*
+eventlet = ev,*
+
+[axis:python:py26]
+basepython = python2.6
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+
+[axis:python:py27]
+basepython = python2.7
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+
+[axis:python:py33]
+basepython = python3.3
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+
+[axis:eventlet:ev]
+deps =
+    eventlet>=0.13.0
+constraints=
+    !python:py33
+
+[axis:sqlalchemy:sa7]
+deps =
+    SQLAlchemy<=0.7.99
+    alembic>=0.4.1
+
+[axis:sqlalchemy:sa8]
+deps =
+    SQLAlchemy>0.7.99
+    SQLAlchemy<=0.8.99
+    alembic>=0.4.1
+
+[axis:sqlalchemy:sa9]
+deps =
+    SQLAlchemy>0.8.99
+    SQLAlchemy<=0.9.99
+    alembic>=0.4.1
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 05d03ef5..57d83f5d 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -1,47 +1,60 @@
+# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE - it is machine generated from tox-tmpl.ini
+
 [tox]
 minversion = 1.6
 skipsdist = True
-envlist = py26,py27,py33,pep8
+envlist = cover,
+    pep8,
+    py26,
+    py26-ev,
+    py26-sa7,
+    py26-sa7-ev,
+    py26-sa8,
+    py26-sa8-ev,
+    py26-sa9,
+    py26-sa9-ev,
+    py27,
+    py27-ev,
+    py27-sa7,
+    py27-sa7-ev,
+    py27-sa8,
+    py27-sa8-ev,
+    py27-sa9,
+    py27-sa9-ev,
+    py33,
+    py33-sa7,
+    py33-sa8,
+    py33-sa9,
+    pylint
 
 [testenv]
-usedevelop = True
 install_command = pip install {opts} {packages}
-setenv = VIRTUAL_ENV={envdir}
-         LANG=en_US.UTF-8
-         LANGUAGE=en_US:en
-         LC_ALL=C
-deps = -r{toxinidir}/requirements.txt
-       -r{toxinidir}/test-requirements.txt
 commands = python setup.py testr --slowest --testr-args='{posargs}'
-
-[testenv:py26]
+setenv = VIRTUAL_ENV={envdir}
+    LANG=en_US.UTF-8
+    LANGUAGE=en_US:en
+    LC_ALL=C
 deps = -r{toxinidir}/requirements.txt
-       -r{toxinidir}/test-requirements.txt
-       -r{toxinidir}/test-2.x-requirements.txt
+    -r{toxinidir}/test-requirements.txt
+usedevelop = True
 
-[testenv:py27]
+[testenv:pylint]
+commands = pylint
+setenv = VIRTUAL_ENV={envdir}
 deps = -r{toxinidir}/requirements.txt
-       -r{toxinidir}/test-requirements.txt
-       -r{toxinidir}/test-2.x-requirements.txt
+    pylint==0.26.0
+
+[testenv:cover]
+commands = python setup.py testr --coverage --testr-args='{posargs}'
+deps = -r{toxinidir}/requirements.txt
+    -r{toxinidir}/test-requirements.txt
 
 [tox:jenkins]
 downloadcache = ~/cache/pip
 
 [testenv:pep8]
-commands =
-  flake8 {posargs}
-
-[testenv:pylint]
-setenv = VIRTUAL_ENV={envdir}
-deps = -r{toxinidir}/requirements.txt
-       pylint==0.26.0
-commands = pylint
-
-[testenv:cover]
-deps = -r{toxinidir}/requirements.txt
-       -r{toxinidir}/test-requirements.txt
-       -r{toxinidir}/test-2.x-requirements.txt
-commands = python setup.py testr --coverage --testr-args='{posargs}'
+commands = 
+    flake8 {posargs}
 
 [testenv:venv]
 commands = {posargs}
@@ -50,3 +63,132 @@ commands = {posargs}
 ignore = H402
 builtins = _
 exclude = .venv,.tox,dist,doc,./taskflow/openstack/common,*egg,.git,build,tools
+
+[testenv:py27]
+basepython = python2.7
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+
+[testenv:py27-ev]
+basepython = python2.7
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+    eventlet>=0.13.0
+
+[testenv:py27-sa9]
+basepython = python2.7
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+    SQLAlchemy>0.8.99
+    SQLAlchemy<=0.9.99
+    alembic>=0.4.1
+
+[testenv:py27-sa9-ev]
+basepython = python2.7
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+    SQLAlchemy>0.8.99
+    SQLAlchemy<=0.9.99
+    alembic>=0.4.1
+    eventlet>=0.13.0
+
+[testenv:py27-sa8]
+basepython = python2.7
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+    SQLAlchemy>0.7.99
+    SQLAlchemy<=0.8.99
+    alembic>=0.4.1
+
+[testenv:py27-sa8-ev]
+basepython = python2.7
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+    SQLAlchemy>0.7.99
+    SQLAlchemy<=0.8.99
+    alembic>=0.4.1
+    eventlet>=0.13.0
+
+[testenv:py27-sa7]
+basepython = python2.7
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+    SQLAlchemy<=0.7.99
+    alembic>=0.4.1
+
+[testenv:py27-sa7-ev]
+basepython = python2.7
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+    SQLAlchemy<=0.7.99
+    alembic>=0.4.1
+    eventlet>=0.13.0
+
+[testenv:py26]
+basepython = python2.6
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+
+[testenv:py26-ev]
+basepython = python2.6
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+    eventlet>=0.13.0
+
+[testenv:py26-sa9]
+basepython = python2.6
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+    SQLAlchemy>0.8.99
+    SQLAlchemy<=0.9.99
+    alembic>=0.4.1
+
+[testenv:py26-sa9-ev]
+basepython = python2.6
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+    SQLAlchemy>0.8.99
+    SQLAlchemy<=0.9.99
+    alembic>=0.4.1
+    eventlet>=0.13.0
+
+[testenv:py26-sa8]
+basepython = python2.6
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+    SQLAlchemy>0.7.99
+    SQLAlchemy<=0.8.99
+    alembic>=0.4.1
+
+[testenv:py26-sa8-ev]
+basepython = python2.6
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+    SQLAlchemy>0.7.99
+    SQLAlchemy<=0.8.99
+    alembic>=0.4.1
+    eventlet>=0.13.0
+
+[testenv:py26-sa7]
+basepython = python2.6
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+    SQLAlchemy<=0.7.99
+    alembic>=0.4.1
+
+[testenv:py26-sa7-ev]
+basepython = python2.6
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+    SQLAlchemy<=0.7.99
+    alembic>=0.4.1
+    eventlet>=0.13.0
+
+[testenv:py33]
+basepython = python3.3
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+
+[testenv:py33-sa9]
+basepython = python3.3
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+    SQLAlchemy>0.8.99
+    SQLAlchemy<=0.9.99
+    alembic>=0.4.1
+
+[testenv:py33-sa8]
+basepython = python3.3
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+    SQLAlchemy>0.7.99
+    SQLAlchemy<=0.8.99
+    alembic>=0.4.1
+
+[testenv:py33-sa7]
+basepython = python3.3
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+    SQLAlchemy<=0.7.99
+    alembic>=0.4.1
+