def makeGroup(self, parent, thissizer, group, *args):
        '''
        Messily builds the (potentially) nested and grouped layout

        Note! Mutates `self.reifiedWidgets` in place with the widgets as they're
        instantiated! I cannot figure out how to split out the creation of the
        widgets from their styling without WxPython violently exploding

        TODO: sort out the WX quirks and clean this up.
        '''

        # determine the type of border , if any, the main sizer will use
        if getin(group, ['options', 'show_border'], False):
            boxDetails = wx.StaticBox(parent, -1, group['name'] or '')
            boxSizer = wx.StaticBoxSizer(boxDetails, wx.VERTICAL)
        else:
            boxSizer = wx.BoxSizer(wx.VERTICAL)
            boxSizer.AddSpacer(10)
            if group['name']:
                boxSizer.Add(wx_util.h1(parent, group['name'] or ''), 0, wx.TOP | wx.BOTTOM | wx.LEFT, 8)

        group_description = getin(group, ['description'])
        if group_description:
            description = wx.StaticText(parent, label=group_description)
            boxSizer.Add(description, 0,  wx.EXPAND | wx.LEFT, 10)

        # apply an underline when a grouping border is not specified
        if not getin(group, ['options', 'show_border'], False) and group['name']:
            boxSizer.Add(wx_util.horizontal_rule(parent), 0, wx.EXPAND | wx.LEFT, 10)

        ui_groups = self.chunkWidgets(group)

        for uigroup in ui_groups:
            sizer = wx.BoxSizer(wx.HORIZONTAL)
            for item in uigroup:
                widget = self.reifyWidget(parent, item)
                # !Mutate the reifiedWidgets instance variable in place
                self.reifiedWidgets.append(widget)
                sizer.Add(widget, 1, wx.ALL, 5)
            boxSizer.Add(sizer, 0, wx.ALL | wx.EXPAND, 5)

        # apply the same layout rules recursively for subgroups
        hs = wx.BoxSizer(wx.HORIZONTAL)
        for e, subgroup in enumerate(group['groups']):
            self.makeGroup(parent, hs, subgroup, 1, wx.ALL | wx.EXPAND, 5)
            if e % getin(group, ['options', 'columns'], 2) \
                    or e == len(group['groups']):
                boxSizer.Add(hs, *args)
                hs = wx.BoxSizer(wx.HORIZONTAL)

        thissizer.Add(boxSizer, *args)
Messily builds the (potentially) nested and grouped layout

        Note! Mutates `self.reifiedWidgets` in place with the widgets as they're
        instantiated! I cannot figure out how to split out the creation of the
        widgets from their styling without WxPython violently exploding

        TODO: sort out the WX quirks and clean this up.