winpython
diff --git a/‎README_PYPI.md‎
Lines changed: 6 additions & 4 deletions b/‎README_PYPI.md‎
Lines changed: 6 additions & 4 deletions
diff --git a/‎tests/test_top_level.py‎
Lines changed: 17 additions & 3 deletions b/‎tests/test_top_level.py‎
Lines changed: 17 additions & 3 deletions
diff --git a/‎wppm/wppm.py‎
Lines changed: 17 additions & 12 deletions b/‎wppm/wppm.py‎
Lines changed: 17 additions & 12 deletions
@@ -112,13 +112,15 @@ Those two lines are commented although they go to stderr, so folding both stream
 one file (`> new.txt 2>&1`) still leaves a file pip can read.
 
 The notes the source file carried are kept, since they are its author's. `-v` adds the
-reasoning: where the list came from, and every dropped entry commented out with what
-pulls it in, so re-asking for one is uncommenting it.
+reasoning: what the list is made from and when, the same counts, and every dropped entry
+commented out with what pulls it in, so re-asking for one is uncommenting it. stderr then
+keeps quiet, the counts being in the file already.
 
 ```console
 $ wppm requirements_slim.txt -tl -v -t D:\WPy64\python
-# requirements_slim.txt, sorted, with every entry
-# another one already pulls in commented out: 160 entries -> 112.
+# requirements_slim.txt, sorted, 2026-08-13 19:22:43
+# 160 entries -> 112 kept, 48 already pulled in
+# 8 repeated, collapsed: brotli, openai, pympler, pytest, python-barcode, ...
 
 ...
 #numpy  # <- baresql, clarabel, cvxpy, dask[array,dataframe,diagnostics], datashader, ...
 
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 graph, not the packages.
 """
 import json
+import re
 import subprocess
 import sys
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -142,9 +143,16 @@ def test_verbose_comments_out_what_went_and_why(self, pip):
         assert "app" in lines
         assert "#lib  # <- app" in lines
 
-    def test_verbose_heads_the_list_with_its_counts(self, pip):
-        lines = wppm_module.top_level_as_requirements(pip.top_level(["app", "lib", "orphan"]), verbose=True)
-        assert "3 entries -> 2" in "\n".join(lines[:2])
+    def test_verbose_heads_the_list_with_source_and_time(self, pip):
+        lines = wppm_module.top_level_as_requirements(
+            pip.top_level(["app", "lib"]), source="req.txt", verbose=True)
+        assert re.fullmatch(r"# req\.txt, sorted, \d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2} \d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}", lines[0])
+
+    def test_verbose_heads_the_list_with_the_same_counts_stderr_gives(self, pip):
+        result = pip.top_level(["app", "lib", "orphan"])
+        lines = wppm_module.top_level_as_requirements(result, verbose=True)
+        assert lines[1:2] == wppm_module.top_level_summary(result)[:1]
+        assert lines[1] == "# 3 entries -> 2 kept, 1 already pulled in"
 
     def test_source_notes_are_kept_even_plainly(self, pip):
         """They are the author's own lines, not our commentary."""
@@ -202,6 +210,12 @@ def test_the_short_flag_does_the_same(self, graph):
     def test_verbose_adds_the_reasoning(self, graph):
         assert "#lib  # <- app" in self.wppm("-t", str(graph), "--top-level", "-v").splitlines()
 
+    def test_verbose_does_not_say_the_counts_twice(self, graph):
+        """Under -v they head the list, so stderr keeps quiet."""
+        proc = self.run("-t", str(graph), "--top-level", "-v")
+        assert "entries ->" in proc.stdout
+        assert "entries ->" not in proc.stderr
+
     def test_top_level_of_a_requirements_file(self, graph, tmp_path):
         req = tmp_path / "req.txt"
         req.write_text("# keep me\nlib\napp\n", encoding="utf-8")
 
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 import shutil
 import subprocess
 import json
+from datetime import datetime
 from pathlib import Path
 from argparse import ArgumentParser, RawTextHelpFormatter
 from . import utils, piptree, diff, __version__
@@ -286,17 +287,18 @@ def top_level_as_requirements(result, comments=(), source=None, verbose=False):
 
     Plainly, it is that file and nothing else: the entries, plus the notes the
     source itself carried, so redirecting the output replaces the source
-    without losing what its author wrote in it. -v adds the reasoning -- where
-    the list came from, and every dropped entry commented out with what pulls
-    it in, so re-asking for one is uncommenting it.
+    without losing what its author wrote in it. -v adds the reasoning -- what
+    the list is made from and when, the same counts stderr gives, and every
+    dropped entry commented out with what pulls it in, so re-asking for one is
+    uncommenting it.
     """
-    kept, dropped = result["kept"], result["dropped"]
     lines = []
     if verbose:
-        lines += [f"# {Path(source).name if source else 'installed packages'}, sorted, with every entry",
-                  f"# another one already pulls in commented out: {len(kept) + len(dropped)} entries -> {len(kept)}.",
-                  ""]
-    lines += kept
+        lines += [f"# {Path(source).name if source else 'installed packages'}, sorted,"
+                  f" {datetime.now():%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S}"]
+        lines += top_level_summary(result) + [""]
+    lines += result["kept"]
+    dropped = result["dropped"]
     if verbose and dropped:
         lines += ["", "# ---- already pulled in by an entry above ----"]
         for text, pullers in dropped.items():
@@ -308,8 +310,10 @@ def top_level_as_requirements(result, comments=(), source=None, verbose=False):
 def top_level_summary(result):
     """What the caller should know about the answer, rather than of it.
 
-    Commented, though it goes to stderr: someone will fold the two streams
-    into one file sooner or later, and a comment costs nothing.
+    Goes to stderr, so a redirected list stays a list -- and heads the list
+    itself under -v, where the reasoning belongs in the file. Commented either
+    way: someone will fold the two streams into one file sooner or later, and a
+    comment costs nothing.
     """
     kept, dropped = result["kept"], result["dropped"]
     notes = [f"{len(kept) + len(dropped)} entries -> {len(kept)} kept, {len(dropped)} already pulled in"]
@@ -384,8 +388,9 @@ def main(test=False):
             sys.exit()
         for line in top_level_as_requirements(result, comments, source, args.verbose):
             print(line)
-        for note in top_level_summary(result):   # stderr: a redirected list stays a list
-            print(note, file=sys.stderr)
+        if not args.verbose:   # -v already heads the list with them; don't say it twice
+            for note in top_level_summary(result):
+                print(note, file=sys.stderr)
         sys.exit()
     elif args.list:
         pip = piptree.PipData(targetpython, args.wheelsource)