diff --git a/cop/collection.go b/cop/collection.go
index 4f806c5..852dc1a 100644
--- a/cop/collection.go
+++ b/cop/collection.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ type ProtocolCollectionList struct {
 // WriteCache updates the cache file of the available protocols
 func (pcl *ProtocolCollectionList) WriteCache() error {
 	// [impl->dsn~protocol-collection-cache~0>>utest]
-	data, err := json.MarshalIndent(*pcl, "", "  ")
+	data, err := json.MarshalIndent(pcl, "", "  ")
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -45,7 +45,10 @@ func (pcl *ProtocolCollectionList) ReadCache() error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	//fmt.Println(string(data))
 	err = json.Unmarshal(data, pcl)
+	data, err = json.MarshalIndent(pcl, "", "  ")
+	fmt.Println(string(data))
 	return err
 }
 
@@ -85,7 +88,7 @@ func GetCOP() *ProtocolCollectionList {
 
 // COP represents a Collection of Protocols
 type COP struct {
-	protocols map[string]ProtocolCollectionEntry
+	Protocols map[string]ProtocolCollectionEntry
 	closed    bool
 }
 
@@ -93,7 +96,7 @@ type COP struct {
 type COPer interface {
 	Open(string) error
 	Close() error
-	Protocols() ([]ProtocolCollectionEntry, error)
+	GetProtocols() ([]ProtocolCollectionEntry, error)
 	Add(*protocol.Protocol) error
 	Sync() error
 	Update(*protocol.Protocol) error
@@ -145,14 +148,14 @@ func (fd *FileCOP) Close() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// Protocols returns the map of protocols or an error if the first read failed
-func (fd *FileCOP) Protocols() ([]ProtocolCollectionEntry, error) {
+// GetProtocols returns the map of protocols or an error if the first read failed
+func (fd *FileCOP) GetProtocols() ([]ProtocolCollectionEntry, error) {
 	if fd.closed {
 		return nil, errors.New("COP closed, no protocols to deliver")
 	}
 	entries := []ProtocolCollectionEntry{}
-	if !fd.closed && len(fd.protocols) == 0 {
-		fd.protocols = map[string]ProtocolCollectionEntry{}
+	if !fd.closed && len(fd.Protocols) == 0 {
+		fd.Protocols = map[string]ProtocolCollectionEntry{}
 		err := fd.Sync()
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
@@ -160,7 +163,7 @@ func (fd *FileCOP) Protocols() ([]ProtocolCollectionEntry, error) {
 	}
 	if entries == nil || len(entries) == 0 {
 		entries = make([]ProtocolCollectionEntry, 0)
-		for _, v := range fd.protocols {
+		for _, v := range fd.Protocols {
 			entries = append(entries, v)
 		}
 	}
@@ -175,7 +178,7 @@ func (fd *FileCOP) Add(prot *protocol.Protocol) error {
 	p := path.Join(fd.Path, prot.Metadata.Name, ".protocoljson")
 	err := prot.Save(p)
 	if err == nil {
-		fd.protocols[prot.Metadata.Name] = ProtocolCollectionEntry{p, prot.Metadata}
+		fd.Protocols[prot.Metadata.Name] = ProtocolCollectionEntry{p, prot.Metadata}
 	}
 	return err
 }
@@ -185,7 +188,7 @@ func (fd *FileCOP) Update(prot *protocol.Protocol) error {
 	if fd.closed {
 		return errors.New("Cannot update, FileCOP is closed")
 	}
-	if v, ok := fd.protocols[prot.Metadata.Name]; ok {
+	if v, ok := fd.Protocols[prot.Metadata.Name]; ok {
 		v.Protocol = prot.Metadata
 		return prot.Save(v.Path)
 	}
@@ -198,8 +201,8 @@ func (fd *FileCOP) Sync() error {
 		return errors.New("Cannot sync, FileCOP is closed")
 	}
 	// recurse recursively through the path
-	if fd.protocols == nil {
-		fd.protocols = make(map[string]ProtocolCollectionEntry)
+	if fd.Protocols == nil {
+		fd.Protocols = make(map[string]ProtocolCollectionEntry)
 	}
 	err := filepath.Walk(fd.Path, func(path string, info fs.FileInfo, err error) error {
 		if !info.IsDir() && strings.HasSuffix(info.Name(), ".protocoljson") {
@@ -209,7 +212,7 @@ func (fd *FileCOP) Sync() error {
 				// add to map
 				entry := ProtocolCollectionEntry{path, prot.Metadata}
 
-				fd.protocols[prot.Metadata.Name] = entry
+				fd.Protocols[prot.Metadata.Name] = entry
 			}
 			return err
 		}
@@ -220,6 +223,6 @@ func (fd *FileCOP) Sync() error {
 
 // Get a protocol by name
 func (fd *FileCOP) Get(prot string) (*protocol.Protocol, error) {
-	entry := fd.protocols[prot]
+	entry := fd.Protocols[prot]
 	return protocol.LoadNew(entry.Path)
 }
diff --git a/cop/collection_test.go b/cop/collection_test.go
index 1e45973..a4d9c88 100644
--- a/cop/collection_test.go
+++ b/cop/collection_test.go
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ func TestOpen(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fail()
 	}
 	fcop.Open(path.Join(wd, "test", "cop"))
-	l, err := fcop.Protocols()
+	l, err := fcop.GetProtocols()
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fail()
 	}
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func TestClosed(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	fcop.Open(path.Join(wd, "test", "cop"))
 	fcop.Close()
-	l, err := fcop.Protocols()
+	l, err := fcop.GetProtocols()
 	if err == nil || l != nil {
 		fmt.Println("Protocols did not deliver error")
 		t.Fail()
@@ -140,8 +140,16 @@ func TestGlobalCOP(t *testing.T) {
 func TestCOPCache(t *testing.T) {
 	td := setupSuite(t)
 	defer td(t)
-
 	gcop := cop.GlobalCOP
+	// reset to zero because of other tests
+	gcop.PCs = []cop.COP{}
+	cop.Init()
+	c := gcop.PCs[0]
+	protos := c.Protocols
+	if len(protos) != 4 {
+		t.Fail()
+	}
+
 	err := gcop.WriteCache()
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("Writing the cache file failed")
@@ -153,10 +161,18 @@ func TestCOPCache(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fail()
 	}
 
+	// reset again and check if reading the cache works
+	gcop.PCs = []cop.COP{}
+
 	err = gcop.ReadCache()
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("Reading the cache file failed")
 		t.Fail()
 	}
+	c = gcop.PCs[0]
+	protos = c.Protocols
+	if len(protos) != 4 {
+		t.Fail()
+	}
 
 }
diff --git a/globals/globals.go b/globals/globals.go
index bd5c576..27bbc8b 100644
--- a/globals/globals.go
+++ b/globals/globals.go
@@ -23,3 +23,11 @@ var COPCacheFileName string = "cop-cache.json"
 // Global Mockings
 
 var MockUserCurrent = user.Current
+
+// Marshaler interface to enrich structs which can be exported/imported even with private fields
+/*
+type Marshaler interface {
+	toJSON() ([]byte, error)
+	fromJSON() error
+}
+*/