diff --git a/chatmastermind/chat.py b/chatmastermind/chat.py
index c1464c3..8823da4 100644
--- a/chatmastermind/chat.py
+++ b/chatmastermind/chat.py
@@ -118,14 +118,14 @@ class Chat:
 
     messages: list[Message]
 
-    def filter(self, mfilter: MessageFilter) -> None:
+    def msg_filter(self, mfilter: MessageFilter) -> None:
         """
         Use 'Message.match(mfilter) to remove all messages that
         don't fulfill the filter requirements.
         """
         self.messages = [m for m in self.messages if m.match(mfilter)]
 
-    def sort(self, reverse: bool = False) -> None:
+    def msg_sort(self, reverse: bool = False) -> None:
         """
         Sort the messages according to 'Message.msg_id()'.
         """
@@ -135,33 +135,33 @@ class Chat:
         except MessageError:
             pass
 
-    def clear(self) -> None:
+    def msg_clear(self) -> None:
         """
         Delete all messages.
         """
         self.messages = []
 
-    def add_messages(self, messages: list[Message]) -> None:
+    def msg_add(self, messages: list[Message]) -> None:
         """
         Add new messages and sort them if possible.
         """
         self.messages += messages
-        self.sort()
+        self.msg_sort()
 
-    def latest_message(self, mfilter: Optional[MessageFilter] = None) -> Optional[Message]:
+    def msg_latest(self, mfilter: Optional[MessageFilter] = None) -> Optional[Message]:
         """
         Return the last added message (according to the file ID) that matches the given filter.
         When containing messages without a valid file_path, it returns the latest message in
         the internal list.
         """
         if len(self.messages) > 0:
-            self.sort()
+            self.msg_sort()
             for m in reversed(self.messages):
                 if mfilter is None or m.match(mfilter):
                     return m
         return None
 
-    def find_messages(self, msg_names: list[str]) -> list[Message]:
+    def msg_find(self, msg_names: list[str]) -> list[Message]:
         """
         Search and return the messages with the given names. Names can either be filenames
         (incl. suffixes) or full paths. Messages that can't be found are ignored (i. e. the
@@ -170,16 +170,16 @@ class Chat:
         return [m for m in self.messages
                 if any((m.file_path and (m.file_path == Path(mn) or m.file_path.name == mn)) for mn in msg_names)]
 
-    def remove_messages(self, msg_names: list[str]) -> None:
+    def msg_remove(self, msg_names: list[str]) -> None:
         """
         Remove the messages with the given names. Names can either be filenames
         (incl. the suffix) or full paths.
         """
         self.messages = [m for m in self.messages
                          if not any((m.file_path and (m.file_path == Path(mn) or m.file_path.name == mn)) for mn in msg_names)]
-        self.sort()
+        self.msg_sort()
 
-    def tags(self, prefix: Optional[str] = None, contain: Optional[str] = None) -> set[Tag]:
+    def msg_tags(self, prefix: Optional[str] = None, contain: Optional[str] = None) -> set[Tag]:
         """
         Get the tags of all messages, optionally filtered by prefix or substring.
         """
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ class Chat:
             tags |= m.filter_tags(prefix, contain)
         return set(sorted(tags))
 
-    def tags_frequency(self, prefix: Optional[str] = None, contain: Optional[str] = None) -> dict[Tag, int]:
+    def msg_tags_frequency(self, prefix: Optional[str] = None, contain: Optional[str] = None) -> dict[Tag, int]:
         """
         Get the frequency of all tags of all messages, optionally filtered by prefix or substring.
         """
@@ -292,44 +292,78 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
         with open(self.next_path, 'w') as f:
             f.write(f'{fid}')
 
-    def read_db(self) -> None:
+    def msg_write(self, messages: Optional[list[Message]] = None) -> None:
         """
-        Reads new messages from the DB directory. New ones are added to the internal list,
-        existing ones are replaced. A message is determined as 'existing' if a message with
-        the same base filename (i. e. 'file_path.name') is already in the list.
+        Write either the given messages or the internal ones to their CURRENT file_path.
+        If messages are given, they all must have a valid file_path. When writing the
+        internal messages, the ones with a valid file_path are written, the others
+        are ignored.
         """
-        new_messages = read_dir(self.db_path, self.glob, self.mfilter)
-        # remove all messages from self.messages that are in the new list
-        self.messages = [m for m in self.messages if not message_in(m, new_messages)]
-        # copy the messages from the temporary list to self.messages and sort them
-        self.messages += new_messages
-        self.sort()
+        if messages and any(m.file_path is None for m in messages):
+            raise ChatError("Can't write files without a valid file_path")
+        msgs = iter(messages if messages else self.messages)
+        while (m := next(msgs, None)):
+            m.to_file()
 
-    def read_cache(self) -> None:
+    def msg_update(self, messages: list[Message], write: bool = True) -> None:
         """
-        Reads new messages from the cache directory. New ones are added to the internal list,
-        existing ones are replaced. A message is determined as 'existing' if a message with
-        the same base filename (i. e. 'file_path.name') is already in the list.
+        Update EXISTING messages. A message is determined as 'existing' if a message with
+        the same base filename (i. e. 'file_path.name') is already in the list. Only accepts
+        existing messages.
+        """
+        if any(not message_in(m, self.messages) for m in messages):
+            raise ChatError("Can't update messages that are not in the internal list")
+        # remove old versions and add new ones
+        self.messages = [m for m in self.messages if not message_in(m, messages)]
+        self.messages += messages
+        self.msg_sort()
+        # write the UPDATED messages if requested
+        if write:
+            self.msg_write(messages)
+
+    def msg_latest(self,
+                   mfilter: Optional[MessageFilter] = None,
+                   source: Literal['mem', 'disk', 'cache', 'db', 'all'] = 'mem') -> Optional[Message]:
+        """
+        Return the last added message (according to the file ID) that matches the given filter.
+        Only consider messages with a valid file_path (except if source is 'mem').
+        Searches one of the following sources:
+        * 'mem'  : only search messages currently in memory
+        * 'disk' : search messages on disk (cache + DB directory), but not in memory
+        * 'cache': only search messages in the cache directory
+        * 'db'   : only search messages in the DB directory
+        * 'all'  : search all messages ('mem' + 'disk')
+        """
+        source_messages: list[Message] = []
+        if source == 'mem':
+            return super().msg_latest(mfilter)
+        if source in ['cache', 'disk', 'all']:
+            source_messages += read_dir(self.cache_path, mfilter=mfilter)
+        if source in ['db', 'disk', 'all']:
+            source_messages += read_dir(self.db_path, mfilter=mfilter)
+        if source in ['all']:
+            # only consider messages with a valid file_path so they can be sorted
+            source_messages += [m for m in self.messages if (m.file_path is not None and (mfilter is None or m.match(mfilter)))]
+        source_messages.sort(key=lambda m: m.msg_id(), reverse=True)
+        for m in source_messages:
+            if mfilter is None or m.match(mfilter):
+                return m
+        return None
+
+    def cache_read(self) -> None:
+        """
+        Read messages from the cache directory. New ones are added to the internal list,
+        existing ones are replaced. A message is determined as 'existing' if a message
+        with the same base filename (i. e. 'file_path.name') is already in the list.
         """
         new_messages = read_dir(self.cache_path, self.glob, self.mfilter)
         # remove all messages from self.messages that are in the new list
         self.messages = [m for m in self.messages if not message_in(m, new_messages)]
         # copy the messages from the temporary list to self.messages and sort them
         self.messages += new_messages
-        self.sort()
+        self.msg_sort()
 
-    def write_db(self, messages: Optional[list[Message]] = None) -> None:
-        """
-        Write messages to the DB directory. If a message has no file_path, a new one
-        will be created. If message.file_path exists, it will be modified to point
-        to the DB directory.
-        """
-        write_dir(self.db_path,
-                  messages if messages else self.messages,
-                  self.file_suffix,
-                  self.get_next_fid)
-
-    def write_cache(self, messages: Optional[list[Message]] = None) -> None:
+    def cache_write(self, messages: Optional[list[Message]] = None) -> None:
         """
         Write messages to the cache directory. If a message has no file_path, a new one
         will be created. If message.file_path exists, it will be modified to point to
@@ -340,36 +374,9 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
                   self.file_suffix,
                   self.get_next_fid)
 
-    def clear_cache(self) -> None:
+    def cache_add(self, messages: list[Message], write: bool = True) -> None:
         """
-        Deletes all Message files from the cache dir and removes those messages from
-        the internal list.
-        """
-        clear_dir(self.cache_path, self.glob)
-        # only keep messages from DB dir (or those that have not yet been written)
-        self.messages = [m for m in self.messages if not m.file_path or m.file_path.parent.samefile(self.db_path)]
-
-    def add_to_db(self, messages: list[Message], write: bool = True) -> None:
-        """
-        Add the given new messages and set the file_path to the DB directory.
-        Only accepts messages without a file_path.
-        """
-        if any(m.file_path is not None for m in messages):
-            raise ChatError("Can't add new messages with existing file_path")
-        if write:
-            write_dir(self.db_path,
-                      messages,
-                      self.file_suffix,
-                      self.get_next_fid)
-        else:
-            for m in messages:
-                m.file_path = make_file_path(self.db_path, self.default_file_suffix, self.get_next_fid)
-        self.messages += messages
-        self.sort()
-
-    def add_to_cache(self, messages: list[Message], write: bool = True) -> None:
-        """
-        Add the given new messages and set the file_path to the cache directory.
+        Add NEW messages and set the file_path to the cache directory.
         Only accepts messages without a file_path.
         """
         if any(m.file_path is not None for m in messages):
@@ -383,62 +390,54 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
             for m in messages:
                 m.file_path = make_file_path(self.cache_path, self.default_file_suffix, self.get_next_fid)
         self.messages += messages
-        self.sort()
+        self.msg_sort()
 
-    def write_messages(self, messages: Optional[list[Message]] = None) -> None:
+    def cache_clear(self) -> None:
         """
-        Write either the given messages or the internal ones to their current file_path.
-        If messages are given, they all must have a valid file_path. When writing the
-        internal messages, the ones with a valid file_path are written, the others
-        are ignored.
+        Delete all message files from the cache dir and remove them from the internal list.
         """
-        if messages and any(m.file_path is None for m in messages):
-            raise ChatError("Can't write files without a valid file_path")
-        msgs = iter(messages if messages else self.messages)
-        while (m := next(msgs, None)):
-            m.to_file()
+        clear_dir(self.cache_path, self.glob)
+        # only keep messages from DB dir (or those that have not yet been written)
+        self.messages = [m for m in self.messages if not m.file_path or m.file_path.parent.samefile(self.db_path)]
 
-    def update_messages(self, messages: list[Message], write: bool = True) -> None:
+    def db_read(self) -> None:
         """
-        Update existing messages. A message is determined as 'existing' if a message with
-        the same base filename (i. e. 'file_path.name') is already in the list. Only accepts
-        existing messages.
+        Read messages from the DB directory. New ones are added to the internal list,
+        existing ones are replaced. A message is determined as 'existing' if a message
+        with the same base filename (i. e. 'file_path.name') is already in the list.
         """
-        if any(not message_in(m, self.messages) for m in messages):
-            raise ChatError("Can't update messages that are not in the internal list")
-        # remove old versions and add new ones
-        self.messages = [m for m in self.messages if not message_in(m, messages)]
-        self.messages += messages
-        self.sort()
-        # write the UPDATED messages if requested
+        new_messages = read_dir(self.db_path, self.glob, self.mfilter)
+        # remove all messages from self.messages that are in the new list
+        self.messages = [m for m in self.messages if not message_in(m, new_messages)]
+        # copy the messages from the temporary list to self.messages and sort them
+        self.messages += new_messages
+        self.msg_sort()
+
+    def db_write(self, messages: Optional[list[Message]] = None) -> None:
+        """
+        Write messages to the DB directory. If a message has no file_path, a new one
+        will be created. If message.file_path exists, it will be modified to point
+        to the DB directory.
+        """
+        write_dir(self.db_path,
+                  messages if messages else self.messages,
+                  self.file_suffix,
+                  self.get_next_fid)
+
+    def db_add(self, messages: list[Message], write: bool = True) -> None:
+        """
+        Add NEW messages and set the file_path to the DB directory.
+        Only accepts messages without a file_path.
+        """
+        if any(m.file_path is not None for m in messages):
+            raise ChatError("Can't add new messages with existing file_path")
         if write:
-            self.write_messages(messages)
-
-    def latest_message(self,
-                       mfilter: Optional[MessageFilter] = None,
-                       source: Literal['mem', 'disk', 'cache', 'db', 'all'] = 'mem') -> Optional[Message]:
-        """
-        Return the last added message (according to the file ID) that matches the given filter.
-        Only consider messages with a valid file_path (except if source is 'mem').
-        Searches one of the following sources:
-        * 'mem'  : only search messages currently in memory
-        * 'disk' : search messages on disk (cache + DB directory), but not in memory
-        * 'cache': only search messages in the cache directory
-        * 'db'   : only search messages in the DB directory
-        * 'all'  : search all messages ('mem' + 'disk')
-        """
-        source_messages: list[Message] = []
-        if source == 'mem':
-            return super().latest_message(mfilter)
-        if source in ['cache', 'disk', 'all']:
-            source_messages += read_dir(self.cache_path, mfilter=mfilter)
-        if source in ['db', 'disk', 'all']:
-            source_messages += read_dir(self.db_path, mfilter=mfilter)
-        if source in ['all']:
-            # only consider messages with a valid file_path so they can be sorted
-            source_messages += [m for m in self.messages if (m.file_path is not None and (mfilter is None or m.match(mfilter)))]
-        source_messages.sort(key=lambda m: m.msg_id(), reverse=True)
-        for m in source_messages:
-            if mfilter is None or m.match(mfilter):
-                return m
-        return None
+            write_dir(self.db_path,
+                      messages,
+                      self.file_suffix,
+                      self.get_next_fid)
+        else:
+            for m in messages:
+                m.file_path = make_file_path(self.db_path, self.default_file_suffix, self.get_next_fid)
+        self.messages += messages
+        self.msg_sort()
diff --git a/chatmastermind/commands/question.py b/chatmastermind/commands/question.py
index d143792..78a6c4e 100644
--- a/chatmastermind/commands/question.py
+++ b/chatmastermind/commands/question.py
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ def add_file_as_code(question_parts: list[str], file: str) -> None:
 
 def create_message(chat: ChatDB, args: argparse.Namespace) -> Message:
     """
-    Creates (and writes) a new message from the given arguments.
+    Creates a new message from the given arguments and writes it
+    to the cache directory.
     """
     question_parts = []
     question_list = args.ask if args.ask is not None else []
@@ -72,7 +73,7 @@ def create_message(chat: ChatDB, args: argparse.Namespace) -> Message:
                       tags=args.output_tags,  # FIXME
                       ai=args.AI,
                       model=args.model)
-    chat.add_to_cache([message])
+    chat.cache_add([message])
     return message
 
 
@@ -101,8 +102,8 @@ def question_cmd(args: argparse.Namespace, config: Config) -> None:
                                           chat,
                                           args.num_answers,  # FIXME
                                           args.output_tags)  # FIXME
-        chat.update_messages([response.messages[0]])
-        chat.add_to_cache(response.messages[1:])
+        chat.msg_update([response.messages[0]])
+        chat.cache_add(response.messages[1:])
         for idx, msg in enumerate(response.messages):
             print(f"=== ANSWER {idx+1} ===")
             print(msg.answer)
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ def question_cmd(args: argparse.Namespace, config: Config) -> None:
             print("===============")
             print(response.tokens)
     elif args.repeat is not None:
-        lmessage = chat.latest_message()
+        lmessage = chat.msg_latest()
         assert lmessage
         # TODO: repeat either the last question or the
         # one(s) given in 'args.repeat' (overwrite
diff --git a/chatmastermind/commands/tags.py b/chatmastermind/commands/tags.py
index 2906a5b..71574ff 100644
--- a/chatmastermind/commands/tags.py
+++ b/chatmastermind/commands/tags.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ def tags_cmd(args: argparse.Namespace, config: Config) -> None:
     chat = ChatDB.from_dir(cache_path=Path('.'),
                            db_path=Path(config.db))
     if args.list:
-        tags_freq = chat.tags_frequency(args.prefix, args.contain)
+        tags_freq = chat.msg_tags_frequency(args.prefix, args.contain)
         for tag, freq in tags_freq.items():
             print(f"- {tag}: {freq}")
     # TODO: add renaming
diff --git a/tests/test_chat.py b/tests/test_chat.py
index b052d19..dbd9915 100644
--- a/tests/test_chat.py
+++ b/tests/test_chat.py
@@ -22,78 +22,78 @@ class TestChat(unittest.TestCase):
                                 file_path=pathlib.Path('0002.txt'))
 
     def test_filter(self) -> None:
-        self.chat.add_messages([self.message1, self.message2])
-        self.chat.filter(MessageFilter(answer_contains='Answer 1'))
+        self.chat.msg_add([self.message1, self.message2])
+        self.chat.msg_filter(MessageFilter(answer_contains='Answer 1'))
 
         self.assertEqual(len(self.chat.messages), 1)
         self.assertEqual(self.chat.messages[0].question, 'Question 1')
 
     def test_sort(self) -> None:
-        self.chat.add_messages([self.message2, self.message1])
-        self.chat.sort()
+        self.chat.msg_add([self.message2, self.message1])
+        self.chat.msg_sort()
         self.assertEqual(self.chat.messages[0].question, 'Question 1')
         self.assertEqual(self.chat.messages[1].question, 'Question 2')
-        self.chat.sort(reverse=True)
+        self.chat.msg_sort(reverse=True)
         self.assertEqual(self.chat.messages[0].question, 'Question 2')
         self.assertEqual(self.chat.messages[1].question, 'Question 1')
 
     def test_clear(self) -> None:
-        self.chat.add_messages([self.message1])
-        self.chat.clear()
+        self.chat.msg_add([self.message1])
+        self.chat.msg_clear()
         self.assertEqual(len(self.chat.messages), 0)
 
     def test_add_messages(self) -> None:
-        self.chat.add_messages([self.message1, self.message2])
+        self.chat.msg_add([self.message1, self.message2])
         self.assertEqual(len(self.chat.messages), 2)
         self.assertEqual(self.chat.messages[0].question, 'Question 1')
         self.assertEqual(self.chat.messages[1].question, 'Question 2')
 
     def test_tags(self) -> None:
-        self.chat.add_messages([self.message1, self.message2])
-        tags_all = self.chat.tags()
+        self.chat.msg_add([self.message1, self.message2])
+        tags_all = self.chat.msg_tags()
         self.assertSetEqual(tags_all, {Tag('atag1'), Tag('btag2')})
-        tags_pref = self.chat.tags(prefix='a')
+        tags_pref = self.chat.msg_tags(prefix='a')
         self.assertSetEqual(tags_pref, {Tag('atag1')})
-        tags_cont = self.chat.tags(contain='2')
+        tags_cont = self.chat.msg_tags(contain='2')
         self.assertSetEqual(tags_cont, {Tag('btag2')})
 
     def test_tags_frequency(self) -> None:
-        self.chat.add_messages([self.message1, self.message2])
-        tags_freq = self.chat.tags_frequency()
+        self.chat.msg_add([self.message1, self.message2])
+        tags_freq = self.chat.msg_tags_frequency()
         self.assertDictEqual(tags_freq, {'atag1': 1, 'btag2': 2})
 
     def test_find_remove_messages(self) -> None:
-        self.chat.add_messages([self.message1, self.message2])
-        msgs = self.chat.find_messages(['0001.txt'])
+        self.chat.msg_add([self.message1, self.message2])
+        msgs = self.chat.msg_find(['0001.txt'])
         self.assertListEqual(msgs, [self.message1])
-        msgs = self.chat.find_messages(['0001.txt', '0002.txt'])
+        msgs = self.chat.msg_find(['0001.txt', '0002.txt'])
         self.assertListEqual(msgs, [self.message1, self.message2])
         # add new Message with full path
         message3 = Message(Question('Question 2'),
                            Answer('Answer 2'),
                            {Tag('btag2')},
                            file_path=pathlib.Path('/foo/bla/0003.txt'))
-        self.chat.add_messages([message3])
+        self.chat.msg_add([message3])
         # find new Message by full path
-        msgs = self.chat.find_messages(['/foo/bla/0003.txt'])
+        msgs = self.chat.msg_find(['/foo/bla/0003.txt'])
         self.assertListEqual(msgs, [message3])
         # find Message with full path only by filename
-        msgs = self.chat.find_messages(['0003.txt'])
+        msgs = self.chat.msg_find(['0003.txt'])
         self.assertListEqual(msgs, [message3])
         # remove last message
-        self.chat.remove_messages(['0003.txt'])
+        self.chat.msg_remove(['0003.txt'])
         self.assertListEqual(self.chat.messages, [self.message1, self.message2])
 
     def test_latest_message(self) -> None:
-        self.assertIsNone(self.chat.latest_message())
-        self.chat.add_messages([self.message1])
-        self.assertEqual(self.chat.latest_message(), self.message1)
-        self.chat.add_messages([self.message2])
-        self.assertEqual(self.chat.latest_message(), self.message2)
+        self.assertIsNone(self.chat.msg_latest())
+        self.chat.msg_add([self.message1])
+        self.assertEqual(self.chat.msg_latest(), self.message1)
+        self.chat.msg_add([self.message2])
+        self.assertEqual(self.chat.msg_latest(), self.message2)
 
     @patch('sys.stdout', new_callable=StringIO)
     def test_print(self, mock_stdout: StringIO) -> None:
-        self.chat.add_messages([self.message1, self.message2])
+        self.chat.msg_add([self.message1, self.message2])
         self.chat.print(paged=False)
         expected_output = f"""{Question.txt_header}
 Question 1
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ Answer 2
 
     @patch('sys.stdout', new_callable=StringIO)
     def test_print_with_tags_and_file(self, mock_stdout: StringIO) -> None:
-        self.chat.add_messages([self.message1, self.message2])
+        self.chat.msg_add([self.message1, self.message2])
         self.chat.print(paged=False, with_tags=True, with_files=True)
         expected_output = f"""{TagLine.prefix} atag1 btag2
 FILE: 0001.txt
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ class TestChatDB(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[3].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0004.yaml'))
 
         # write the messages to the cache directory
-        chat_db.write_cache()
+        chat_db.cache_write()
         # check if the written files are in the cache directory
         cache_dir_files = self.message_list(self.cache_path)
         self.assertEqual(len(cache_dir_files), 4)
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ class TestChatDB(unittest.TestCase):
         old_timestamps = {file: file.stat().st_mtime for file in db_dir_files}
         # overwrite the messages in the db directory
         time.sleep(0.05)
-        chat_db.write_db()
+        chat_db.db_write()
         # check if the written files are in the DB directory
         db_dir_files = self.message_list(self.db_path)
         self.assertEqual(len(db_dir_files), 4)
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ class TestChatDB(unittest.TestCase):
         new_message1.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0005.txt'))
         new_message2.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0006.yaml'))
         # read and check them
-        chat_db.read_db()
+        chat_db.db_read()
         self.assertEqual(len(chat_db.messages), 6)
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[4].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0005.txt'))
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[5].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0006.yaml'))
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ class TestChatDB(unittest.TestCase):
         new_message3.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '0007.txt'))
         new_message4.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '0008.yaml'))
         # read and check them
-        chat_db.read_cache()
+        chat_db.cache_read()
         self.assertEqual(len(chat_db.messages), 8)
         # check that the new message have the cache dir path
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[6].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '0007.txt'))
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ class TestChatDB(unittest.TestCase):
         new_message1.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0005.txt'))
         new_message2.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0006.yaml'))
         # read from the DB dir and check if the modified messages have been updated
-        chat_db.read_db()
+        chat_db.db_read()
         self.assertEqual(len(chat_db.messages), 8)
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[4].question, 'New Question 1')
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[5].question, 'New Question 2')
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ class TestChatDB(unittest.TestCase):
         new_message3.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0007.txt'))
         new_message4.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0008.yaml'))
         # read and check them
-        chat_db.read_db()
+        chat_db.db_read()
         self.assertEqual(len(chat_db.messages), 8)
         # check that they now have the DB path
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[6].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0007.txt'))
@@ -371,13 +371,13 @@ class TestChatDB(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[3].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0004.yaml'))
 
         # write the messages to the cache directory
-        chat_db.write_cache()
+        chat_db.cache_write()
         # check if the written files are in the cache directory
         cache_dir_files = self.message_list(self.cache_path)
         self.assertEqual(len(cache_dir_files), 4)
 
         # now rewrite them to the DB dir and check for modified paths
-        chat_db.write_db()
+        chat_db.db_write()
         db_dir_files = self.message_list(self.db_path)
         self.assertEqual(len(db_dir_files), 4)
         self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0001.txt'), db_dir_files)
@@ -392,10 +392,10 @@ class TestChatDB(unittest.TestCase):
         message_cache = Message(question=Question("What the hell am I doing here?"),
                                 answer=Answer("You're a creep!"),
                                 file_path=pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '0005.txt'))
-        chat_db.add_messages([message_empty, message_cache])
+        chat_db.msg_add([message_empty, message_cache])
 
         # clear the cache and check the cache dir
-        chat_db.clear_cache()
+        chat_db.cache_clear()
         cache_dir_files = self.message_list(self.cache_path)
         self.assertEqual(len(cache_dir_files), 0)
         # make sure that the DB messages (and the new message) are still there
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ class TestChatDB(unittest.TestCase):
         # add new messages to the cache dir
         message1 = Message(question=Question("Question 1"),
                            answer=Answer("Answer 1"))
-        chat_db.add_to_cache([message1])
+        chat_db.cache_add([message1])
         # check if the file_path has been correctly set
         self.assertIsNotNone(message1.file_path)
         self.assertEqual(message1.file_path.parent, pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name))  # type: ignore [union-attr]
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ class TestChatDB(unittest.TestCase):
         # add new messages to the DB dir
         message2 = Message(question=Question("Question 2"),
                            answer=Answer("Answer 2"))
-        chat_db.add_to_db([message2])
+        chat_db.db_add([message2])
         # check if the file_path has been correctly set
         self.assertIsNotNone(message2.file_path)
         self.assertEqual(message2.file_path.parent, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name))  # type: ignore [union-attr]
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ class TestChatDB(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(len(db_dir_files), 5)
 
         with self.assertRaises(ChatError):
-            chat_db.add_to_cache([Message(Question("?"), file_path=pathlib.Path("foo"))])
+            chat_db.cache_add([Message(Question("?"), file_path=pathlib.Path("foo"))])
 
     def test_chat_db_write_messages(self) -> None:
         # create a new ChatDB instance
@@ -450,11 +450,11 @@ class TestChatDB(unittest.TestCase):
         message = Message(question=Question("Question 1"),
                           answer=Answer("Answer 1"))
         with self.assertRaises(ChatError):
-            chat_db.write_messages([message])
+            chat_db.msg_write([message])
 
         # write a message with a valid file_path
         message.file_path = pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name) / '123456.txt'
-        chat_db.write_messages([message])
+        chat_db.msg_write([message])
         cache_dir_files = self.message_list(self.cache_path)
         self.assertEqual(len(cache_dir_files), 1)
         self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '123456.txt'), cache_dir_files)
@@ -472,37 +472,37 @@ class TestChatDB(unittest.TestCase):
         message = chat_db.messages[0]
         message.answer = Answer("New answer")
         # update message without writing
-        chat_db.update_messages([message], write=False)
+        chat_db.msg_update([message], write=False)
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[0].answer, Answer("New answer"))
         # re-read the message and check for old content
-        chat_db.read_db()
+        chat_db.db_read()
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[0].answer, Answer("Answer 1"))
         # now check with writing (message should be overwritten)
-        chat_db.update_messages([message], write=True)
-        chat_db.read_db()
+        chat_db.msg_update([message], write=True)
+        chat_db.db_read()
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[0].answer, Answer("New answer"))
         # test without file_path -> expect error
         message1 = Message(question=Question("Question 1"),
                            answer=Answer("Answer 1"))
         with self.assertRaises(ChatError):
-            chat_db.update_messages([message1])
+            chat_db.msg_update([message1])
 
     def test_chat_db_latest_message(self) -> None:
         chat_db = ChatDB.from_dir(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name),
                                   pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.latest_message(source='mem'), self.message4)
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.latest_message(source='db'), self.message4)
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.latest_message(source='disk'), self.message4)
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.latest_message(source='all'), self.message4)
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(source='mem'), self.message4)
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(source='db'), self.message4)
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(source='disk'), self.message4)
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(source='all'), self.message4)
         # the cache is currently empty:
-        self.assertIsNone(chat_db.latest_message(source='cache'))
+        self.assertIsNone(chat_db.msg_latest(source='cache'))
         # add new messages to the cache dir
         new_message = Message(question=Question("New Question"),
                               answer=Answer("New Answer"))
-        chat_db.add_to_cache([new_message])
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.latest_message(source='cache'), new_message)
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.latest_message(source='mem'), new_message)
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.latest_message(source='disk'), new_message)
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.latest_message(source='all'), new_message)
+        chat_db.cache_add([new_message])
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(source='cache'), new_message)
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(source='mem'), new_message)
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(source='disk'), new_message)
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(source='all'), new_message)
         # the DB does not contain the new message
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.latest_message(source='db'), self.message4)
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(source='db'), self.message4)
diff --git a/tests/test_question_cmd.py b/tests/test_question_cmd.py
index b94560f..1c6c958 100644
--- a/tests/test_question_cmd.py
+++ b/tests/test_question_cmd.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ class TestMessageCreate(unittest.TestCase):
                                     Answer("It is pure text"))
         self.message_code = Message(Question("What is this?"),
                                     Answer("Text\n```\nIt is embedded code\n```\ntext"))
-        self.chat.add_to_db([self.message_text, self.message_code])
+        self.chat.db_add([self.message_text, self.message_code])
         # create arguments mock
         self.args = MagicMock(spec=argparse.Namespace)
         self.args.source_text = None