diff --git a/docs/abstractions.py b/docs/abstractions.py
index c8c1e01d6c..8f8ebeb123 100644
--- a/docs/abstractions.py
+++ b/docs/abstractions.py
@@ -250,7 +250,8 @@ result = Tensor(2.0).realize() + Tensor(3.0).realize()
 
 # use the real Linearizer to linearize 2+3
 from tinygrad.codegen.linearizer import Linearizer
-sched = result.lazydata.schedule()
+from tinygrad.realize import create_schedule
+sched = create_schedule([result.lazydata])
 linearizer = Linearizer(sched[-1].ast, ClangCompiler.linearizer_opts)
 linearizer.linearize()
 
diff --git a/docs/abstractions2.py b/docs/abstractions2.py
index 38c13ffa56..e0db5effa8 100644
--- a/docs/abstractions2.py
+++ b/docs/abstractions2.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ assert out.as_buffer().cast('I')[0] == 5
 print("******** third, the LazyBuffer ***********")
 
 from tinygrad.lazy import LazyBuffer, LoadOps
-from tinygrad.realize import run_schedule
+from tinygrad.realize import run_schedule, create_schedule
 
 # allocate some values + load in values
 # TODO: remove numpy here
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ b.realized = Buffer("CPU", 1, dtypes.int32, np.array([3], np.int32).flatten())
 out = a.e(BinaryOps.ADD, b)
 
 # schedule the computation as a list of kernels
-sched = out.schedule()
+sched = create_schedule([out])
 for si in sched: print(si.ast.op)  # NOTE: the first two convert it to CLANG
 
 # DEBUGGING: print the compute ast as a tree
diff --git a/docs/linearizer_v2.md b/docs/linearizer_v2.md
index 6e7966c616..5b02e7fb41 100644
--- a/docs/linearizer_v2.md
+++ b/docs/linearizer_v2.md
@@ -20,10 +20,8 @@ More generically, the whole network is a DAG. Ignore the forward/backward stuff,
 
 This is a rewrite of a lot of tinygrad. I don't think continuing to support Interpreted backends is worth it, have to deal with disk in a smart way.
 
-We keep the frontend: tensor.py + mlops.py + lazy.py
-We keep the backend (renderer/runtime): cstyle.py + device.py + ops_*.py
-We keep the shapetracker/symbolic: shapetracker.py + view.py + symbolic.py
 We keep the features and nn stuff.
-But codegen is all rewritten.
-
-
+We keep the frontend (Tensor -> LazyBuffer): tensor.py + mlops.py + lazy.py
+We keep the shapetracker/symbolic (part of the frontend): shapetracker.py + view.py + symbolic.py
+Codegen is all rewritten.
+We keep the backend (uops renderer/runtime): cstyle.py + device.py + ops_*.py
diff --git a/examples/handcode_resnet50_opt.py b/examples/handcode_resnet50_opt.py
index 75ece98b2b..7f88087f1c 100644
--- a/examples/handcode_resnet50_opt.py
+++ b/examples/handcode_resnet50_opt.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from tinygrad.features.search import time_linearizer, beam_search, bufs_from_lin
 from tinygrad.helpers import ansilen, DEBUG, getenv
 from tinygrad.shape.symbolic import sym_infer
 from tinygrad.dtype import dtypes
+from tinygrad.realize import create_schedule
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
   if getenv("HALF"):
@@ -21,12 +22,12 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
   print(f"optimizing for {Device.DEFAULT}")
 
   # first model run to init the weights, they are saved in seen
-  mdl(Tensor.empty(64, 3, 224, 224)).lazydata.schedule(seen)
+  create_schedule([mdl(Tensor.empty(64, 3, 224, 224)).lazydata], seen)
 
   # run model again to get only what changes, these are the kernels of the model
   x = Tensor.empty(64, 3, 224, 224)
   out = mdl(x)
-  sched = out.lazydata.schedule(seen)
+  sched = create_schedule([out.lazydata], seen)
   sched = [x for x in sched if x.ast.op not in LoadOps]
 
   # focus on one kernel
diff --git a/extra/autopad.py b/extra/autopad.py
index 2fce66171b..7aebc2358f 100644
--- a/extra/autopad.py
+++ b/extra/autopad.py
@@ -3,13 +3,14 @@ from tinygrad.ops import LoadOps
 from tinygrad.codegen.linearizer import Linearizer
 from test.external.fuzz_linearizer import run_linearizer
 from tinygrad.codegen.kernel import Opt, OptOps
+from tinygrad.realize import create_schedule
 
 N = 17**3
 
 a = Tensor.rand(N, N)
 b = Tensor.rand(N, N)
 c = a @ b
-sched = [si for si in c.lazydata.schedule() if si.ast.op not in LoadOps]
+sched = [si for si in create_schedule([c.lazydata]) if si.ast.op not in LoadOps]
 assert len(sched) == 1
 lin = Linearizer(sched[0].ast)
 
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ run_linearizer(lin)
 ###
 
 a = Tensor.rand(61, 61).sum(axis=0)
-sched = [si for si in a.lazydata.schedule() if si.ast.op not in LoadOps]
+sched = [si for si in create_schedule([a.lazydata]) if si.ast.op not in LoadOps]
 assert len(sched) == 1
 lin = Linearizer(sched[0].ast)
 
diff --git a/extra/gemm/tvm_gemm.py b/extra/gemm/tvm_gemm.py
index 11318a348e..d89d189852 100644
--- a/extra/gemm/tvm_gemm.py
+++ b/extra/gemm/tvm_gemm.py
@@ -30,13 +30,14 @@ except ImportError:
 
 import os
 from tinygrad.tensor import Tensor
+from tinygrad.realize import create_schedule
 
 # define the compute
 A = Tensor.rand(M, K, device="clang")
 B = Tensor.rand(K, N, device="clang")
 C = (A.reshape(M, 1, K) * B.permute(1,0).reshape(1, N, K)).sum(axis=2)
 
-sched = C.lazydata.schedule()
+sched = create_schedule([C.lazydata])
 from tinygrad.codegen.linearizer import Linearizer
 from tinygrad.codegen.kernel import LinearizerOptions
 lin = Linearizer(sched[-1].ast, LinearizerOptions(has_local=False, supports_float4=False))
diff --git a/openpilot/compile2.py b/openpilot/compile2.py
index 9153e71889..238f5001ec 100644
--- a/openpilot/compile2.py
+++ b/openpilot/compile2.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from extra.onnx import get_run_onnx
 from tinygrad import Tensor, Device, GlobalCounters, dtypes
 from tinygrad.dtype import ImageDType
 from tinygrad.helpers import partition, Context, fetch, getenv, GRAPH, DEBUG
-from tinygrad.realize import run_schedule, lower_schedule_item
+from tinygrad.realize import run_schedule, lower_schedule_item, create_schedule
 from tinygrad.ops import LoadOps, ScheduleItem
 Device.DEFAULT = "GPU"
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ def get_schedule(onnx_data) -> Tuple[List[ScheduleItem], List[ScheduleItem]]:
   # run the model
   inputs = {k:Tensor.empty(*shp) for k,shp in input_shapes.items()}
   ret: Tensor = next(iter(run_onnx(inputs).values())).cast(dtypes.float32).contiguous()
-  schedule = ret.lazydata.schedule()
+  schedule = create_schedule([ret.lazydata])
 
   # filter schedule that don't depend on the inputs
   input_lb = [x.lazydata.base for x in inputs.values()]
diff --git a/test/external/external_test_uops_graphing.py b/test/external/external_test_uops_graphing.py
index 8c49828a9c..56bd18cd7b 100644
--- a/test/external/external_test_uops_graphing.py
+++ b/test/external/external_test_uops_graphing.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from tinygrad.tensor import Tensor
 from tinygrad.codegen.linearizer import Linearizer
 from tinygrad.renderer.cstyle import OpenCLRenderer
 from tinygrad.features.graph import graph_uops
+from tinygrad.realize import create_schedule
 from tinygrad.nn import Conv2d
 
 class TestUopsGraph(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@ class TestUopsGraph(unittest.TestCase):
     N = 1024
     a = Tensor.rand(N,N)
     b = Tensor.rand(N,N)
-    si = (a@b).lazydata.schedule()[-1]
+    si = create_schedule([(a@b).lazydata])[-1]
     lin = Linearizer(si.ast)
     lin.hand_coded_optimizations()
     print(lin.colored_shape())
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ class TestUopsGraph(unittest.TestCase):
 
   def test_reduce(self):
     a = Tensor.rand(1024*1024)
-    si = a.sum().lazydata.schedule()[-1]
+    si = create_schedule([a.sum().lazydata])[-1]
     lin = Linearizer(si.ast)
     lin.hand_coded_optimizations()
     uops = lin.linearize().uops
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ class TestUopsGraph(unittest.TestCase):
   def test_conv(self):
     x = Tensor.rand(1,3,16,16)
     c = Conv2d(3, 16, (3,3))
-    si = c(x).elu().lazydata.schedule()[-1]
+    si = create_schedule([c(x).elu().lazydata])[-1]
     lin = Linearizer(si.ast)
     lin.hand_coded_optimizations()
     uops = lin.linearize().uops
diff --git a/test/test_conv_shapetracker.py b/test/test_conv_shapetracker.py
index 9cf7ff24a2..a3fc0da6dd 100644
--- a/test/test_conv_shapetracker.py
+++ b/test/test_conv_shapetracker.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import unittest
 from tinygrad.tensor import Tensor
 from tinygrad.ops import LoadOps
 from tinygrad.nn import Conv2d
+from tinygrad.realize import create_schedule
 
 class TestConvShapetracker(unittest.TestCase):
   def test_conv_3x3_one_view(self):
@@ -10,9 +11,9 @@ class TestConvShapetracker(unittest.TestCase):
     seen = set()
 
     # first run to init the weights, they are saved in seen
-    conv(Tensor.empty(1, 16, 10, 10)).lazydata.schedule(seen)
+    create_schedule([conv(Tensor.empty(1, 16, 10, 10)).lazydata], seen)
     # run it again to get the kernels
-    sched = [si for si in conv(Tensor.empty(1, 16, 10, 10)).lazydata.schedule(seen) if si.ast.op not in LoadOps]
+    sched = [si for si in create_schedule([conv(Tensor.empty(1, 16, 10, 10)).lazydata], seen) if si.ast.op not in LoadOps]
     assert len(sched) == 1, f"conv should only have one kernel, getting {len(sched)}"
     print(sched[0])
     for arg in [sched[0].out, *sched[0].inputs]:
diff --git a/test/test_dtype_alu.py b/test/test_dtype_alu.py
index e9b4a8111a..be27bd7e8c 100644
--- a/test/test_dtype_alu.py
+++ b/test/test_dtype_alu.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import numpy as np
 from hypothesis import given, strategies as strat, settings
 from tinygrad.dtype import DType
 from tinygrad.helpers import CI, getenv
+from tinygrad.realize import create_schedule
 from tinygrad.ops import UnaryOps, get_lazyop_info
 from test.test_dtype import is_dtype_supported
 
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ def universal_test(a, b, dtype, op):
 def universal_test_unary(a, dtype, op):
   if not isinstance(op, tuple): op = (op, op)
   out: Tensor = op[0](Tensor([a], dtype=dtype))
-  ast = out.lazydata.schedule()[-1].ast
+  ast = create_schedule([out.lazydata])[-1].ast
   tensor_value = out.numpy()
   numpy_value = op[1](np.array([a]).astype(dtype.np))
   if dtype in dtypes_float:
diff --git a/test/test_fusion_op.py b/test/test_fusion_op.py
index 0562e608df..56e4a42049 100644
--- a/test/test_fusion_op.py
+++ b/test/test_fusion_op.py
@@ -3,8 +3,7 @@ import time
 import numpy as np
 from tinygrad import Tensor, dtypes
 from tinygrad.device import InterpretedASTRunner
-from tinygrad.lazy import create_schedule
-from tinygrad.realize import run_schedule, lower_schedule_item
+from tinygrad.realize import run_schedule, create_schedule, lower_schedule_item
 
 class TestFusionOp(unittest.TestCase):
   def test_contiguous_add(self):
diff --git a/test/test_lazyop.py b/test/test_lazyop.py
index 7e097d3d4a..da5d8a1227 100644
--- a/test/test_lazyop.py
+++ b/test/test_lazyop.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import unittest
 from tinygrad.tensor import Tensor
+from tinygrad.realize import create_schedule
 
 # stuff needed to unpack a kernel
 # ruff: noqa: F401
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ inf, nan = float('inf'), float('nan')
 class TestLazyOp(unittest.TestCase):
   def test_lazyop_str(self):
     t = Tensor.rand(10) + Tensor.rand(10)
-    s = t.lazydata.schedule()
+    s = create_schedule([t.lazydata])
     ast = s[-1].ast
     ast_remade = eval(str(ast))
     self.assertEqual(ast, ast_remade)
diff --git a/test/test_linearizer.py b/test/test_linearizer.py
index f90d0dc75c..1bcf32ce14 100644
--- a/test/test_linearizer.py
+++ b/test/test_linearizer.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ from tinygrad.shape.view import View
 from tinygrad.shape.symbolic import MulNode, SumNode, Variable, NumNode, Node, create_rednode
 from tinygrad.tensor import Tensor
 from tinygrad.features.jit import CacheCollector
-from tinygrad.realize import run_schedule
+from tinygrad.realize import create_schedule, run_schedule
 from tinygrad.helpers import prod, Context
 from tinygrad.dtype import DType, dtypes
 
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class TestLinearizer(unittest.TestCase):
     # these are of size 3 to avoid float4 coalesce
     r = a[:-1] + a[1:]
 
-    k = Linearizer(r.lazydata.schedule()[-1].ast)
+    k = Linearizer(create_schedule([r.lazydata])[-1].ast)
     k.upcast()
     k.linearize()
     num_loads = len([uop for uop in k.uops if uop.uop == UOps.LOAD])
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class TestLinearizer(unittest.TestCase):
     a, b = Tensor.randn(1).realize(), Tensor.randn(1).realize()
     r = a.expand([2]) + b.expand([2])
 
-    k = Linearizer(r.lazydata.schedule()[-1].ast)
+    k = Linearizer(create_schedule([r.lazydata])[-1].ast)
     k.upcast()
     k.linearize()
     num_ops = len([uop for uop in k.uops if uop.uop == UOps.ALU])
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class TestLinearizer(unittest.TestCase):
     a, b = Tensor.randn(1).realize(), Tensor.randn(1).realize()
     r = Tensor.stack([a, b])
 
-    k = Linearizer(r.lazydata.schedule()[-1].ast)
+    k = Linearizer(create_schedule([r.lazydata])[-1].ast)
     k.upcast()
     k.linearize()
     num_ops = len([uop for uop in k.uops if uop.uop == UOps.ALU])
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ class TestLinearizer(unittest.TestCase):
     a, b = Tensor(2), Tensor(3)
     r = a * b
 
-    k = Linearizer(r.lazydata.schedule()[-1].ast)
+    k = Linearizer(create_schedule([r.lazydata])[-1].ast)
     k.linearize()
     num_ops = len([uop for uop in k.uops if uop.uop in [UOps.LOAD, UOps.ALU]])
     assert num_ops <= 0, "more load or alu uops than needed"
@@ -76,14 +76,14 @@ class TestLinearizer(unittest.TestCase):
     for tensor_dtype, acc_dtype in (
       (dtypes.bool, dtypes.int), (dtypes.int16, dtypes.int), (dtypes.float16, dtypes.float), (dtypes.bfloat16, dtypes.float)):
       a = Tensor([1, 2, 3], dtype=tensor_dtype).sum()
-      k = Linearizer(a.lazydata.schedule()[-1].ast)
+      k = Linearizer(create_schedule([a.lazydata])[-1].ast)
       k.linearize()
       local = [uop for uop in k.uops if uop.uop == UOps.DEFINE_ACC]
       assert local[0].dtype == acc_dtype
 
   def test_arg_acc_dtype(self):
     def helper_arg_acc_dtype(c: Tensor, expected_dtype:DType):
-      k = Linearizer(c.lazydata.schedule()[-1].ast)
+      k = Linearizer(create_schedule([c.lazydata])[-1].ast)
       k.linearize()
       local = [uop for uop in k.uops if uop.uop == UOps.DEFINE_ACC]
       assert local[0].dtype == expected_dtype
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ class TestLinearizer(unittest.TestCase):
 
   def test_limit_dims_to_max_5d_global(self):
     t = Tensor.rand(3, 4, 5, 6, 7).pad(((1, 1), (1, 1), (1, 1), (1, 1), (1, 1))) + 1
-    sched = [si for si in t.lazydata.schedule() if si.ast.op not in LoadOps]
+    sched = [si for si in create_schedule([t.lazydata]) if si.ast.op not in LoadOps]
     assert len(sched) == 1
     lin = Linearizer(sched[0].ast)
     assert lin.full_shape[:lin.global_dims] == (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ class TestLinearizer(unittest.TestCase):
 
   def test_sum_collapse(self):
     t = Tensor.ones(256,256).sum()
-    sched = [si for si in t.lazydata.schedule() if si.ast.op not in LoadOps]
+    sched = [si for si in create_schedule([t.lazydata]) if si.ast.op not in LoadOps]
     assert len(sched) == 1
     lin = Linearizer(sched[0].ast)
     assert not any(u.uop == UOps.LOOP for u in lin.linearize().uops), "found loop in sum collapse"
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ class TestLinearizer(unittest.TestCase):
                                 arg=TernaryOps.WHERE).uop == UOps.ALU
 
 def helper_realized_ast(r:Tensor):
-  s = r.lazydata.schedule()
+  s = create_schedule([r.lazydata])
   run_schedule(s[:-1])  # run all kernels except the last one
   # now all input LazyBuffers buffers in s[-1] should be realized
   # allocate an output buffer
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ class TestFloat4(unittest.TestCase):
     b = Tensor.rand(2, 8).realize()
     c = a + b
 
-    s = c.lazydata.schedule()[0]
+    s = create_schedule([c.lazydata])[0]
     k = Linearizer(s.ast)
     k.hand_coded_optimizations()
     k.linearize()
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ class TestFloat4(unittest.TestCase):
     b = Tensor.rand(2, 8).realize()
     c = a + b
 
-    s = c.lazydata.schedule()[0]
+    s = create_schedule([c.lazydata])[0]
     k = Linearizer(s.ast)
     k.shift_to(0, 4)  # float4 dimension
     k.shift_to(0, 2, insert_before=k.shape_len-1)
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ class TestFloat4(unittest.TestCase):
     b = Tensor.rand(9).realize().shrink(((1, 9),))
     c = a + b
 
-    s = c.lazydata.schedule()[0]
+    s = create_schedule([c.lazydata])[0]
     k = Linearizer(s.ast)
     k.hand_coded_optimizations()  # implicit trigger float4 dim
     k.linearize()
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ class TestFloat4(unittest.TestCase):
     b = Tensor.rand(2, 9).realize().shrink(((0, 2), (1, 9),))
     c = a + b
 
-    s = c.lazydata.schedule()[0]
+    s = create_schedule([c.lazydata])[0]
     k = Linearizer(s.ast)
     k.shift_to(len(k.full_unupcasted_shape)-1, 4)  # manual trigger float4 dim
     k.upcast()
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ class TestFloat4(unittest.TestCase):
     # only the first and last conv dot products are aligned in a, and b is never aligned, so no
     # float4 should be emitted (the reduce axis of size 4 is the float4 axis here)
 
-    s = c.lazydata.schedule()[0]
+    s = create_schedule([c.lazydata])[0]
     k = Linearizer(s.ast)
     k.upcast()
     k.linearize()
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ class TestFloat4(unittest.TestCase):
     # dimension, then we could do float4 for only that one set of loads, but we currently
     # don't.
 
-    s = c.lazydata.schedule()[0]
+    s = create_schedule([c.lazydata])[0]
     k = Linearizer(s.ast)
     k.upcast()
     k.upcast()
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ class TestFloat4(unittest.TestCase):
     # we will upcast the top axis of sz 4. they should not be coalesced into float4,
     # since the top axis is not contiguous.
 
-    s = c.lazydata.schedule()[0]
+    s = create_schedule([c.lazydata])[0]
     k = Linearizer(s.ast)
     k.shift_to(0, 4, top=True)  # top axes are float4 axes
     k.upcast()
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ class TestFloat4(unittest.TestCase):
     # we will upcast the top axis of sz 4. they should not be coalesced into float4,
     # since the top axis is not contiguous.
 
-    s = c.lazydata.schedule()[0]
+    s = create_schedule([c.lazydata])[0]
     k = Linearizer(s.ast)
     k.shift_to(0, 4)  # float4 axis
     k.upcast()
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ class TestFloat4(unittest.TestCase):
 
     # should float4 b but not a
 
-    s = c.lazydata.schedule()[0]
+    s = create_schedule([c.lazydata])[0]
     k = Linearizer(s.ast)
     k.shift_to(0, 4)  # float4 axis
     k.upcast()
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ class TestHandCodedOpts(unittest.TestCase):
     layer_1 = Tensor.cat(*[Tensor.rand(5) for _ in range(4)])
     layer_2 = Tensor.cat(layer_1.unsqueeze(0), Tensor.rand(6, 20))
 
-    s = layer_2.lazydata.schedule()[-1]
+    s = create_schedule([layer_2.lazydata])[-1]
     k = Linearizer(s.ast)
     k.hand_coded_optimizations()
     assert len(k.bufs) == 6  # make sure all ops are done in one kernel
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ class TestHandCodedOpts(unittest.TestCase):
   def test_masked_upcast_wino(self):
     monster = Tensor.stack([Tensor.stack([Tensor.rand(16) for _ in range(6)]) for _ in range(6)])
 
-    s = monster.lazydata.schedule()[-1]
+    s = create_schedule([monster.lazydata])[-1]
     k = Linearizer(s.ast)
     k.hand_coded_optimizations()
     assert len(k.bufs) == 37  # make sure all ops are done in one kernel
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ class TestHandCodedOpts(unittest.TestCase):
       x,w = Tensor.rand(1,4,8,8, requires_grad=True).realize(), Tensor.rand(4,4,3,3, requires_grad=True).realize()
       out = Tensor.conv2d(x,w, padding=1)
       upcasts = []
-      wino_schedule = out.lazydata.schedule()
+      wino_schedule = create_schedule([out.lazydata])
       # collect upcasts of tile transform kernels
       for i, si in enumerate(wino_schedule):
         k = Linearizer(si.ast)
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ class TestHandCodedOpts(unittest.TestCase):
       assert upcasts.count((6, 6)) == 2 #and upcasts.count((4, 4)) == 1
 
       out.mean().backward()
-      backward_schedule = x.grad.lazydata.schedule() + w.grad.lazydata.schedule()
+      backward_schedule = create_schedule([x.grad.lazydata, w.grad.lazydata])
       for si in backward_schedule:
         k = Linearizer(si.ast)
         k.hand_coded_optimizations()
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ class TestHandCodedOpts(unittest.TestCase):
     layer_2 = Tensor.cat(layer_1.unsqueeze(0), Tensor.rand(6, 7, 4))
     layer_3 = Tensor.cat(layer_2.unsqueeze(0), Tensor.rand(6, 7, 7, 4))
 
-    s = layer_3.lazydata.schedule()[-1]
+    s = create_schedule([layer_3.lazydata])[-1]
     k = Linearizer(s.ast)
     k.hand_coded_optimizations()
     assert len(k.bufs) == 5  # make sure all ops are done in one kernel
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ class TestHandCodedOpts(unittest.TestCase):
     b = Tensor.rand(N, N).realize()
     c = a @ b
 
-    s = c.lazydata.schedule()[0]
+    s = create_schedule([c.lazydata])[0]
     k = Linearizer(s.ast)
     k.hand_coded_optimizations()
 
diff --git a/test/test_multitensor.py b/test/test_multitensor.py
index 77f5ce202a..92a22e7f40 100644
--- a/test/test_multitensor.py
+++ b/test/test_multitensor.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from tinygrad.device import BufferCopy
 from tinygrad.ops import LoadOps, ReduceOps
 from tinygrad.helpers import CI
 from tinygrad.nn.state import get_parameters
+from tinygrad.realize import create_schedule
 import numpy as np
 from hypothesis import given, strategies as strat, settings
 
@@ -296,7 +297,7 @@ class TestMultiTensor(unittest.TestCase):
     for p in get_parameters(bn): p.shard_(devices).realize()
 
     out = bn(t)
-    scheds = [sched for sched in out.lazydata.schedule() if sched.out.device in devices and sched.ast.op is not LoadOps.COPY]
+    scheds = [sched for sched in create_schedule(out.lazydata.lbs) if sched.out.device in devices and sched.ast.op is not LoadOps.COPY]
     assert set(sched.out.device for sched in scheds) == set(devices), "should have ast on each shard device"
     asts = [sched.ast for sched in scheds]
     assert len(asts) == 8, len(asts)
@@ -527,9 +528,9 @@ class TestShrinkMultiTensorShardedAxis(unittest.TestCase):
         p.shard_(devices)
 
       synced_out = synced_bn(x)
-      synced_si = [si for si in synced_out.lazydata.schedule()]
+      synced_si = [si for si in create_schedule(synced_out.lazydata.lbs)]
       unsynced_out = unsynced_bn(x)
-      unsynced_si = [si for si in unsynced_out.lazydata.schedule()]
+      unsynced_si = [si for si in create_schedule(unsynced_out.lazydata.lbs)]
 
     # TODO: test synced / unsynced batchnorm cross device kernel and copies
     assert synced_si
diff --git a/test/test_schedule.py b/test/test_schedule.py
index 2e39cc28cd..3ba137fdbd 100644
--- a/test/test_schedule.py
+++ b/test/test_schedule.py
@@ -10,16 +10,17 @@ from tinygrad.device import Device, Compiled
 from tinygrad.helpers import DEBUG, GRAPH
 from tinygrad.codegen.linearizer import Linearizer
 from tinygrad.features.graph import print_tree, realized_lazybuffer
+from tinygrad.realize import create_schedule
 from tinygrad import nn, dtypes
 
 def check_schedule(t:Tensor, allowed:int, to_prerealize:Optional[List[Tensor]]=None, filter_loadops=True):
   seen = set()
   if to_prerealize:
     for pre in to_prerealize:
-      for s in pre.lazydata.schedule(seen.copy()):
+      for s in create_schedule([pre.lazydata], seen.copy()):
         if GRAPH: realized_lazybuffer(s.out, 0)
         seen.add(s.out)
-  sched = t.lazydata.schedule(seen)
+  sched = create_schedule([t.lazydata], seen)
   if GRAPH:
     for i,s in enumerate(sched): realized_lazybuffer(s.out, i+1)
   if filter_loadops: sched = [s for s in sched if s.ast.op not in LoadOps]
diff --git a/test/test_search.py b/test/test_search.py
index 485fd8fd7f..f893230a81 100644
--- a/test/test_search.py
+++ b/test/test_search.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import unittest
 
 from tinygrad.codegen.linearizer import Linearizer
+from tinygrad.realize import create_schedule
 from tinygrad.features.search import time_linearizer
 from tinygrad.device import Compiled, Device, Buffer
 from tinygrad.ops import LoadOps
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@ class TestTimeLinearizer(unittest.TestCase):
     if not isinstance(Device[Device.DEFAULT], Compiled): raise unittest.SkipTest("only test for compiled backends")
 
   def test_reasonable_time(self):
-    si = [si for si in Tensor([1,2,3,4]).add(1).lazydata.schedule() if si.ast.op not in LoadOps][0]
+    si = [si for si in create_schedule([Tensor([1,2,3,4]).add(1).lazydata]) if si.ast.op not in LoadOps][0]
     rawbufs = [Buffer(Device.DEFAULT, si.out.st.real_size(), si.out.dtype)] + [Buffer(Device.DEFAULT, x.st.real_size(), x.dtype) for x in si.inputs]
     tm = time_linearizer(Linearizer(si.ast), rawbufs, allow_test_size=False, cnt=10)
     assert tm > 0 and tm != float('inf')
diff --git a/test/test_winograd.py b/test/test_winograd.py
index 281ba611fd..5f13447637 100644
--- a/test/test_winograd.py
+++ b/test/test_winograd.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from tinygrad import Tensor, GlobalCounters
 from tinygrad.helpers import Timing, CI, Profiling, WINO, DEBUG
 from tinygrad.ops import LoadOps
 from tinygrad.codegen.linearizer import Linearizer
+from tinygrad.realize import create_schedule
 
 class TestWinograd(unittest.TestCase):
   def setUp(self):
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ class TestWinograd(unittest.TestCase):
       out = Tensor.conv2d(x, w)
 
     with Timing("scheduling: "):
-      sched = out.lazydata.schedule()
+      sched = create_schedule([out.lazydata])
 
     for i,s in enumerate(sched):
       if s.ast.op in LoadOps: continue
diff --git a/tinygrad/features/multi.py b/tinygrad/features/multi.py
index 0c159e1caf..384440d8f9 100644
--- a/tinygrad/features/multi.py
+++ b/tinygrad/features/multi.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import functools, itertools, operator
 from tinygrad.helpers import all_same, dedup, round_up, prod, DEBUG
 from tinygrad.dtype import DType, Scalar
 from tinygrad.ops import BinaryOps, LoadOps, UnaryOps, TernaryOps, ReduceOps
-from tinygrad.lazy import LazyBuffer, create_schedule
+from tinygrad.lazy import LazyBuffer
 from tinygrad.shape.shapetracker import sint
 
 def all_reduce(op:ReduceOps, lbs):
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ class MultiLazyBuffer:
   def is_unrealized_contiguous_const(self): return False
 
   # passthroughs
-  def schedule(self, seen=None): return create_schedule(self.real_lbs, seen)
   def cast(self, dtype:DType, bitcast:bool=False): return MultiLazyBuffer([x.cast(dtype, bitcast) for x in self.lbs], self.axis, self.real)
   def const(self, val:Scalar) -> MultiLazyBuffer: return MultiLazyBuffer([x.const(val) for x in self.lbs], self.axis, self.real)
   def contiguous(self): return MultiLazyBuffer([x.contiguous() for x in self.lbs], self.axis, self.real)
diff --git a/tinygrad/lazy.py b/tinygrad/lazy.py
index 10793f1219..5c546873c3 100644
--- a/tinygrad/lazy.py
+++ b/tinygrad/lazy.py
@@ -1,19 +1,14 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
-import sys, math
-from collections import defaultdict
-from typing import Union, Optional, Any, Tuple, List, Set, Dict, DefaultDict, cast
-from tinygrad.dtype import dtypes, DType, ImageDType, Scalar
-from tinygrad.helpers import prod, flatten, getenv, dedup, DEBUG, all_int, all_same, GRAPH
-from tinygrad.ops import LoadOps, UnaryOps, BinaryOps, TernaryOps, ReduceOps, BufferOps, Op, LazyOp, ConstBuffer, MemBuffer, ScheduleItem
-from tinygrad.shape.symbolic import sint, Variable
+import math
+from typing import Union, Optional, Any, Tuple, List, Dict, cast
+from tinygrad.dtype import dtypes, DType, Scalar
+from tinygrad.helpers import prod, getenv, all_int, all_same
+from tinygrad.ops import LoadOps, UnaryOps, BinaryOps, TernaryOps, ReduceOps, Op
+from tinygrad.shape.symbolic import sint
 from tinygrad.shape.shapetracker import ShapeTracker
 from tinygrad.device import Buffer
-from tinygrad.features.graph import log_lazybuffer
 from weakref import ref, ReferenceType
 
-# lazy can recurse a lot
-sys.setrecursionlimit(10000)
-
 lazycache: Dict[Any, ReferenceType[LazyBuffer]] = {}
 def create_lazybuffer(device:str, st:ShapeTracker, dtype:DType, op:Optional[Op]=None, arg:Any=None, srcs:Tuple[LazyBuffer, ...]=(),
                       base:Optional[LazyBuffer]=None, enable_cache=bool(getenv("LAZYCACHE", 1))):
@@ -76,8 +71,6 @@ class LazyBuffer:
   def is_unrealized_const(self): return not self.base.realized and self.base.op is LoadOps.CONST
   def is_unrealized_contiguous_const(self): return self.base == self and not self.base.realized and self.op is LoadOps.CONST
 
-  def schedule(self, seen=None): return create_schedule([self], seen)
-
   def _copy(self, device:str) -> LazyBuffer:
     sync_size = 1 if self.device.startswith("HIP") else 0
     sync = LazyBuffer.loadop(LoadOps.SYNC, (sync_size,), dtypes.uint32, self.device, src=self, enable_cache=True)
@@ -124,6 +117,7 @@ class LazyBuffer:
     return create_lazybuffer(self.device, ShapeTracker.from_shape(new_shape), self.dtype, op, unbound_new_shape, (self,))
 
   def r(self, op:ReduceOps, new_shape:Tuple[sint, ...]) -> LazyBuffer:
+    # TODO: this logic should move to the scheduler
     if self.size == 0 and 0 not in new_shape: return self.const({ReduceOps.SUM: 0.0, ReduceOps.MAX: -math.inf}[op], new_shape)
     assert len(self.shape)==len(new_shape) and all(ns in (1,s) for s,ns in zip(self.shape,new_shape)), f"not a contraction {self.shape=} {new_shape=}"
     # TODO: can we split symbolic shape if the reduce axis is not symbolic?
@@ -149,166 +143,3 @@ class LazyBuffer:
   def permute(self, arg:Tuple[int, ...]): return self._view(self.st.permute(arg))
   def shrink(self, arg:Tuple[Tuple[sint, sint], ...]): return self._view(self.st.shrink(arg))
   def stride(self, arg:Tuple[int, ...]): return self._view(self.st.stride(arg))
-
-# *** schedule creation ***
-
-# recursively create a lazyop
-def _recursive_lazyop(buf:LazyBuffer, inputs:List[LazyBuffer], var_vals:Dict[Variable, int], st:ShapeTracker,
-                      realizes:Set[LazyBuffer], cache, first=True) -> LazyOp:
-  if (buf, st) in cache: return cache[(buf, st)]
-  if buf != buf.base:
-    st = buf.st + st
-    buf = buf.base
-  # all buffers here are base now
-  assert buf.op is not None
-
-  # consts are always fused and generated
-  if buf.op is LoadOps.CONST:
-    unbound_st, st_var_vals = st.simplify().unbind()
-    var_vals.update(st_var_vals)
-    return LazyOp(BufferOps.CONST, (), ConstBuffer(float(buf.arg), buf.dtype, unbound_st))
-
-  # if we aren't fusing it, it's a load and we add it to the inputs
-  if buf.realized or (buf in realizes and not first):
-    if buf not in inputs: inputs.append(buf)
-    unbound_st, st_var_vals = st.simplify().unbind()
-    var_vals.update(st_var_vals)
-    return LazyOp(BufferOps.LOAD, (), MemBuffer(inputs.index(buf)+1, buf.dtype, unbound_st))
-
-  # if a CONTIGUOUS made it all the way here, just skip it
-  if buf.op is LoadOps.CONTIGUOUS:
-    assert first
-    return _recursive_lazyop(buf.srcs[0], inputs, var_vals, st, realizes, cache, False)
-
-  # if it's a reduce, we have to change the shapetracker
-  if buf.op in ReduceOps:
-    assert st.contiguous, "ReduceOps late fusion must be contiguous"
-    st = ShapeTracker.from_shape(buf.srcs[0].shape)
-
-  # otherwise we fuse it like normal
-  cache[(buf, st)] = ret = LazyOp(buf.op, tuple(_recursive_lazyop(x, inputs, var_vals, st, realizes, cache, False) for x in buf.srcs), buf.arg)
-  return ret
-
-# recursively walk back in the graph to create the schedule
-def _recursive_schedule(out:LazyBuffer, seen:Set[LazyBuffer], realizes:Set[LazyBuffer],
-                        reduce_for_op: Dict[LazyBuffer, LazyBuffer]) -> List[ScheduleItem]:
-  if out in seen or out.realized or out.op == LoadOps.CONST: return []
-  assert out.base == out
-  seen.add(out)
-
-  inputs: List[LazyBuffer] = []
-  var_vals: Dict[Variable, int] = out.st.var_vals.copy()
-  if out.op in {LoadOps.CUSTOM, LoadOps.SYNC, LoadOps.WAIT, LoadOps.COPY, LoadOps.EMPTY}:
-    op, inputs = LazyOp(out.op, (), out.arg), list(out.srcs)
-  else:
-    output_st = ShapeTracker.from_shape(reduce_for_op[out].shape if out in reduce_for_op else out.shape)
-    op = _recursive_lazyop(out, inputs, var_vals, output_st, realizes, cache={})
-    op = LazyOp(BufferOps.STORE, (op, ), MemBuffer(0, out.dtype, output_st.simplify().unbind()[0]))
-
-  return flatten(_recursive_schedule(x.base, seen, realizes, reduce_for_op) for x in inputs) + [ScheduleItem(op, out, tuple(inputs), var_vals)]
-
-# recursively search the entire graph for all LazyBuffers, insert realizes after expands
-def _recurse_lb(buf:LazyBuffer, realizes:Set[LazyBuffer], allbufs:Dict[LazyBuffer, None],
-                simple_pads:Set[LazyBuffer], children:DefaultDict[LazyBuffer, Dict[LazyBuffer, None]], scheduled=False):
-  if buf in allbufs or buf.base.realized: return
-  if GRAPH: log_lazybuffer(buf, scheduled)
-  if isinstance(buf.dtype, ImageDType) and (prod(buf.shape) != prod(buf.dtype.shape) or
-                                            not any(buf.shape[x]%4 == 0 for x in buf.st.unit_stride_axes())):
-    if DEBUG >= 3: print(f"forcing image {buf.dtype} with shape {buf.shape} to float32")
-    buf.dtype = dtypes.float32  # NOTE: this is what makes the dtype above not match
-  if buf.base != buf:
-    # realize all places where the buffer is expanded
-    if prod(buf.base.st.shape) < prod(buf.st.shape):
-      if len(buf.st.views) == 1 and buf.st.views[-1].mask and all_int(buf.base.st.shape) and \
-          prod(buf.base.st.shape) >= prod([y-x for x,y in buf.st.views[-1].mask]):
-        simple_pads.add(buf.base)
-      else:
-        realizes.add(buf.base)
-    return _recurse_lb(buf.base, realizes, allbufs, simple_pads, children)
-  if buf.forced_realize: realizes.add(buf)
-  allbufs[buf] = None
-  if buf.op in LoadOps: realizes.add(buf.base)
-  if buf.op == LoadOps.COPY:
-    assert buf.srcs[0].st.contiguous and buf.srcs[0].size == buf.srcs[0].base.size, "can only copy contig"
-    realizes.add(buf.srcs[0].base)
-  for x in buf.srcs:
-    children[x.base][buf] = None
-    _recurse_lb(x, realizes, allbufs, simple_pads, children)
-
-UNSAFE_PAD_OPS = {BinaryOps.DIV, BinaryOps.CMPLT, BinaryOps.CMPEQ, UnaryOps.LOG2, UnaryOps.EXP2}
-def _is_padding_okay(buf:LazyBuffer, realizes:Set[LazyBuffer]) -> bool:
-  if buf in realizes or buf.realized: return True
-  # NOTE: this broke to_image_idx and coder with JIT
-  if buf.op in UNSAFE_PAD_OPS: return False
-  return all(_is_padding_okay(x.base, realizes) for x in buf.srcs)
-
-def create_schedule(outs:List[LazyBuffer], seen:Optional[Set[LazyBuffer]]=None) -> List[ScheduleItem]:
-  if seen is None: seen = set()
-
-  # start by just realizing the buffers passed in
-  realizes: Set[LazyBuffer] = set([x.base for x in outs if not x.base.realized])
-  allbufs: Dict[LazyBuffer, None] = {}
-  simple_pads: Set[LazyBuffer] = set()
-  children: DefaultDict[LazyBuffer, Dict[LazyBuffer, None]] = defaultdict(dict)
-  for out in outs: _recurse_lb(out.base, realizes, allbufs, simple_pads, children, scheduled=True)
-
-  # check if we have to realize pads
-  for p in simple_pads:
-    if not _is_padding_okay(p, realizes):
-      realizes.add(p)
-
-  # find all reduces, and pair them to a elementwise op. if they can't be cleanly paired, force realize the reduce (or a contig child)
-  reduce_for_op: Dict[LazyBuffer, LazyBuffer] = {}
-  for r in allbufs.keys():
-    if r != r.base or r.op not in ReduceOps or r in realizes: continue
-
-    # follow the reduce down
-    child_set: Dict[LazyBuffer, ShapeTracker] = {r: r.st}
-    realized_children: Dict[LazyBuffer, ShapeTracker] = {}
-    forced_realize = False
-    can_chase = True
-    while not forced_realize and len(child_set):
-      next_child_set = {}
-      for tr,st in child_set.items():
-        if tr in realizes:
-          realized_children[tr] = st
-          # can only have one output buffer
-          # can only reduce contiguous
-          # max one reduceop per kernel
-          if len(realized_children) > 1 or not st.contiguous or st.size != r.st.size or (tr in reduce_for_op and reduce_for_op[tr] != r):
-            can_chase = tr not in reduce_for_op or reduce_for_op[tr] == r
-            forced_realize = True
-            break
-          continue
-        for tr_next in children[tr].keys():
-          if not tr_next.realized:
-            # max one reduceop per kernel
-            if tr_next.op in ReduceOps:
-              forced_realize = True
-              break
-            st_childs = dedup([s for s in tr_next.srcs if s.base == tr])
-            if len(st_childs) > 1:
-              forced_realize = True
-              break
-            next_child_set[tr_next] = st + st_childs[0].st
-      child_set = next_child_set
-    if forced_realize:
-      tr = r
-      if can_chase:
-        # can chase this down to contiguous children
-        st = tr.st
-        while len(children[tr]) == 1:
-          tr_next = next(iter(children[tr].keys()))
-          st_childs = dedup([s for s in tr_next.srcs if s.base == tr])
-          if len(st_childs) > 1: break
-          if st.size != st_childs[0].st.size: break
-          st = st + st_childs[0].st
-          if not st.contiguous or tr_next.op in ReduceOps: break
-          tr = tr_next
-        reduce_for_op[tr] = r
-      realizes.add(tr)
-    else:
-      assert len(realized_children) == 1
-      reduce_for_op[next(iter(realized_children.keys()))] = r
-
-  return flatten(_recursive_schedule(x.base, seen, realizes, reduce_for_op) for x in outs)
diff --git a/tinygrad/realize.py b/tinygrad/realize.py
index f7ab930add..ee5b66f45a 100644
--- a/tinygrad/realize.py
+++ b/tinygrad/realize.py
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
-from typing import List, Dict, Optional, cast
-from tinygrad.ops import LoadOps, ScheduleItem, BufferOps, GlobalCounters
+import sys
+from collections import defaultdict
+from typing import List, Dict, Optional, cast, Set, DefaultDict
+from tinygrad.ops import LoadOps, ScheduleItem, BufferOps, GlobalCounters, LazyOp, ReduceOps, ConstBuffer, MemBuffer, BinaryOps, UnaryOps
 from tinygrad.device import Device, Buffer, BufferCopy, BufferXfer, BufferRead, JITRunner, update_stats, InterpretedASTRunner, Compiled, BufferOptions
-from tinygrad.features.graph import print_tree, realized_lazybuffer
-from tinygrad.helpers import colored, getenv, GRAPH, cpu_time_execution, DEBUG
+from tinygrad.features.graph import print_tree, realized_lazybuffer, log_lazybuffer
+from tinygrad.helpers import colored, getenv, GRAPH, cpu_time_execution, DEBUG, flatten, prod, dedup, all_int
 from tinygrad.shape.symbolic import Variable
+from tinygrad.dtype import ImageDType, dtypes
+from tinygrad.lazy import LazyBuffer
+from tinygrad.shape.shapetracker import ShapeTracker
 
 # *** schedule running ***
 
@@ -68,3 +73,169 @@ def run_schedule(schedule:List[ScheduleItem]):
     if prg: prg.exec(cast(List[Buffer], real_buffers), si.var_vals)
     elif si.out.size > 0: update_stats(colored(f"empty {si.out.st.size:10d} {si.out.dtype}", "yellow"), 0, 0, {}, None, 1, device=si.out.device)
     if GRAPH: realized_lazybuffer(si.out, GlobalCounters.kernel_count)
+
+# *** schedule creation ***
+
+# creation can recurse a lot
+sys.setrecursionlimit(10000)
+
+# recursively create a lazyop
+def _recursive_lazyop(buf:LazyBuffer, inputs:List[LazyBuffer], var_vals:Dict[Variable, int], st:ShapeTracker,
+                      realizes:Set[LazyBuffer], cache, first=True) -> LazyOp:
+  if (buf, st) in cache: return cache[(buf, st)]
+  if buf != buf.base:
+    st = buf.st + st
+    buf = buf.base
+  # all buffers here are base now
+  assert buf.op is not None
+
+  # consts are always fused and generated
+  if buf.op is LoadOps.CONST:
+    unbound_st, st_var_vals = st.simplify().unbind()
+    var_vals.update(st_var_vals)
+    return LazyOp(BufferOps.CONST, (), ConstBuffer(float(buf.arg), buf.dtype, unbound_st))
+
+  # if we aren't fusing it, it's a load and we add it to the inputs
+  if buf.realized or (buf in realizes and not first):
+    if buf not in inputs: inputs.append(buf)
+    unbound_st, st_var_vals = st.simplify().unbind()
+    var_vals.update(st_var_vals)
+    return LazyOp(BufferOps.LOAD, (), MemBuffer(inputs.index(buf)+1, buf.dtype, unbound_st))
+
+  # if a CONTIGUOUS made it all the way here, just skip it
+  if buf.op is LoadOps.CONTIGUOUS:
+    assert first
+    return _recursive_lazyop(buf.srcs[0], inputs, var_vals, st, realizes, cache, False)
+
+  # if it's a reduce, we have to change the shapetracker
+  if buf.op in ReduceOps:
+    assert st.contiguous, "ReduceOps late fusion must be contiguous"
+    st = ShapeTracker.from_shape(buf.srcs[0].shape)
+
+  # otherwise we fuse it like normal
+  cache[(buf, st)] = ret = LazyOp(buf.op, tuple(_recursive_lazyop(x, inputs, var_vals, st, realizes, cache, False) for x in buf.srcs), buf.arg)
+  return ret
+
+# recursively walk back in the graph to create the schedule
+def _recursive_schedule(out:LazyBuffer, seen:Set[LazyBuffer], realizes:Set[LazyBuffer],
+                        reduce_for_op: Dict[LazyBuffer, LazyBuffer]) -> List[ScheduleItem]:
+  if out in seen or out.realized or out.op == LoadOps.CONST: return []
+  assert out.base == out
+  seen.add(out)
+
+  inputs: List[LazyBuffer] = []
+  var_vals: Dict[Variable, int] = out.st.var_vals.copy()
+  if out.op in {LoadOps.CUSTOM, LoadOps.SYNC, LoadOps.WAIT, LoadOps.COPY, LoadOps.EMPTY}:
+    op, inputs = LazyOp(out.op, (), out.arg), list(out.srcs)
+  else:
+    output_st = ShapeTracker.from_shape(reduce_for_op[out].shape if out in reduce_for_op else out.shape)
+    op = _recursive_lazyop(out, inputs, var_vals, output_st, realizes, cache={})
+    op = LazyOp(BufferOps.STORE, (op, ), MemBuffer(0, out.dtype, output_st.simplify().unbind()[0]))
+
+  return flatten(_recursive_schedule(x.base, seen, realizes, reduce_for_op) for x in inputs) + [ScheduleItem(op, out, tuple(inputs), var_vals)]
+
+# recursively search the entire graph for all LazyBuffers, insert realizes after expands
+def _recurse_lb(buf:LazyBuffer, realizes:Set[LazyBuffer], allbufs:Dict[LazyBuffer, None],
+                simple_pads:Set[LazyBuffer], children:DefaultDict[LazyBuffer, Dict[LazyBuffer, None]], scheduled=False):
+  if buf in allbufs or buf.base.realized: return
+  if GRAPH: log_lazybuffer(buf, scheduled)
+  if isinstance(buf.dtype, ImageDType) and (prod(buf.shape) != prod(buf.dtype.shape) or
+                                            not any(buf.shape[x]%4 == 0 for x in buf.st.unit_stride_axes())):
+    if DEBUG >= 3: print(f"forcing image {buf.dtype} with shape {buf.shape} to float32")
+    buf.dtype = dtypes.float32  # NOTE: this is what makes the dtype above not match
+  if buf.base != buf:
+    # realize all places where the buffer is expanded
+    if prod(buf.base.st.shape) < prod(buf.st.shape):
+      if len(buf.st.views) == 1 and buf.st.views[-1].mask and all_int(buf.base.st.shape) and \
+          prod(buf.base.st.shape) >= prod([y-x for x,y in buf.st.views[-1].mask]):
+        simple_pads.add(buf.base)
+      else:
+        realizes.add(buf.base)
+    return _recurse_lb(buf.base, realizes, allbufs, simple_pads, children)
+  if buf.forced_realize: realizes.add(buf)
+  allbufs[buf] = None
+  if buf.op in LoadOps: realizes.add(buf.base)
+  if buf.op == LoadOps.COPY:
+    assert buf.srcs[0].st.contiguous and buf.srcs[0].size == buf.srcs[0].base.size, "can only copy contig"
+    realizes.add(buf.srcs[0].base)
+  for x in buf.srcs:
+    children[x.base][buf] = None
+    _recurse_lb(x, realizes, allbufs, simple_pads, children)
+
+UNSAFE_PAD_OPS = {BinaryOps.DIV, BinaryOps.CMPLT, BinaryOps.CMPEQ, UnaryOps.LOG2, UnaryOps.EXP2}
+def _is_padding_okay(buf:LazyBuffer, realizes:Set[LazyBuffer]) -> bool:
+  if buf in realizes or buf.realized: return True
+  # NOTE: this broke to_image_idx and coder with JIT
+  if buf.op in UNSAFE_PAD_OPS: return False
+  return all(_is_padding_okay(x.base, realizes) for x in buf.srcs)
+
+def create_schedule(outs:List[LazyBuffer], seen:Optional[Set[LazyBuffer]]=None) -> List[ScheduleItem]:
+  if seen is None: seen = set()
+
+  # start by just realizing the buffers passed in
+  realizes: Set[LazyBuffer] = set([x.base for x in outs if not x.base.realized])
+  allbufs: Dict[LazyBuffer, None] = {}
+  simple_pads: Set[LazyBuffer] = set()
+  children: DefaultDict[LazyBuffer, Dict[LazyBuffer, None]] = defaultdict(dict)
+  for out in outs: _recurse_lb(out.base, realizes, allbufs, simple_pads, children, scheduled=True)
+
+  # check if we have to realize pads
+  for p in simple_pads:
+    if not _is_padding_okay(p, realizes):
+      realizes.add(p)
+
+  # find all reduces, and pair them to a elementwise op. if they can't be cleanly paired, force realize the reduce (or a contig child)
+  reduce_for_op: Dict[LazyBuffer, LazyBuffer] = {}
+  for r in allbufs.keys():
+    if r != r.base or r.op not in ReduceOps or r in realizes: continue
+
+    # follow the reduce down
+    child_set: Dict[LazyBuffer, ShapeTracker] = {r: r.st}
+    realized_children: Dict[LazyBuffer, ShapeTracker] = {}
+    forced_realize = False
+    can_chase = True
+    while not forced_realize and len(child_set):
+      next_child_set = {}
+      for tr,st in child_set.items():
+        if tr in realizes:
+          realized_children[tr] = st
+          # can only have one output buffer
+          # can only reduce contiguous
+          # max one reduceop per kernel
+          if len(realized_children) > 1 or not st.contiguous or st.size != r.st.size or (tr in reduce_for_op and reduce_for_op[tr] != r):
+            can_chase = tr not in reduce_for_op or reduce_for_op[tr] == r
+            forced_realize = True
+            break
+          continue
+        for tr_next in children[tr].keys():
+          if not tr_next.realized:
+            # max one reduceop per kernel
+            if tr_next.op in ReduceOps:
+              forced_realize = True
+              break
+            st_childs = dedup([s for s in tr_next.srcs if s.base == tr])
+            if len(st_childs) > 1:
+              forced_realize = True
+              break
+            next_child_set[tr_next] = st + st_childs[0].st
+      child_set = next_child_set
+    if forced_realize:
+      tr = r
+      if can_chase:
+        # can chase this down to contiguous children
+        st = tr.st
+        while len(children[tr]) == 1:
+          tr_next = next(iter(children[tr].keys()))
+          st_childs = dedup([s for s in tr_next.srcs if s.base == tr])
+          if len(st_childs) > 1: break
+          if st.size != st_childs[0].st.size: break
+          st = st + st_childs[0].st
+          if not st.contiguous or tr_next.op in ReduceOps: break
+          tr = tr_next
+        reduce_for_op[tr] = r
+      realizes.add(tr)
+    else:
+      assert len(realized_children) == 1
+      reduce_for_op[next(iter(realized_children.keys()))] = r
+
+  return flatten(_recursive_schedule(x.base, seen, realizes, reduce_for_op) for x in outs)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tinygrad/tensor.py b/tinygrad/tensor.py
index 7ce0ada442..67ecf19165 100644
--- a/tinygrad/tensor.py
+++ b/tinygrad/tensor.py
@@ -8,12 +8,12 @@ import numpy as np
 
 from tinygrad.dtype import DType, dtypes, ImageDType, Scalar, least_upper_float, least_upper_dtype
 from tinygrad.helpers import argfix, make_pair, getenv, IMAGE, DEBUG, WINO, flatten, prod, all_int, round_up, merge_dicts, fully_flatten
-from tinygrad.lazy import LazyBuffer, create_schedule
+from tinygrad.lazy import LazyBuffer
 from tinygrad.features.multi import MultiLazyBuffer
 from tinygrad.ops import LoadOps
 from tinygrad.device import Device, Buffer
 from tinygrad.shape.symbolic import sint
-from tinygrad.realize import run_schedule
+from tinygrad.realize import run_schedule, create_schedule
 
 # **** start with two base classes, Tensor and Function ****
 
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ class Tensor:
     run_schedule(create_schedule(flatten([x.lazydata.lbs if isinstance(x.lazydata, MultiLazyBuffer) else [x.lazydata] for x in lst])))
 
   def realize(self) -> Tensor:
-    run_schedule(self.lazydata.schedule())
+    Tensor.corealize([self])
     return self
 
   def assign(self, x) -> Tensor: