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-rw-r--r--compiler/ast.nim11
-rw-r--r--compiler/c2nim/cparse.nim8
-rw-r--r--compiler/c2nim/cpp.nim4
-rw-r--r--compiler/ccgstmts.nim34
-rw-r--r--compiler/cgendata.nim1
-rw-r--r--compiler/docgen.nim10
-rw-r--r--compiler/parser.nim2
-rw-r--r--compiler/pas2nim/paslex.nim2
-rw-r--r--compiler/pas2nim/pasparse.nim24
-rw-r--r--compiler/semcall.nim38
-rw-r--r--compiler/semdata.nim1
-rw-r--r--compiler/semdestruct.nim67
-rw-r--r--compiler/semexprs.nim53
-rw-r--r--compiler/sempass2.nim8
-rw-r--r--compiler/semtypes.nim5
-rw-r--r--compiler/sigmatch.nim24
-rw-r--r--compiler/types.nim11
-rw-r--r--doc/manual.txt89
-rw-r--r--examples/htmlrefs.nim2
-rw-r--r--koch.nim5
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/times.nim242
-rw-r--r--tests/ambsym/mambsym1.nim2
-rw-r--r--tests/ambsym/mambsys1.nim2
-rw-r--r--tests/ambsym/mambsys2.nim2
-rw-r--r--tests/casestmt/tcasestm.nim4
-rw-r--r--tests/concurrency/tnodeadlocks.nim2
-rw-r--r--tests/destructor/tdestructor.nim44
-rw-r--r--tests/destructor/tdictdestruct.nim2
-rw-r--r--tests/exception/texceptionbreak.nim45
-rw-r--r--tests/generics/tgeneric3.nim6
-rw-r--r--tests/lookups/tredef.nim14
-rw-r--r--tests/metatype/tusertypeclasses.nim13
-rw-r--r--tests/method/tmethods1.nim4
-rw-r--r--tests/overload/toverwr.nim14
-rw-r--r--tests/patterns/targlist.nim2
-rw-r--r--tests/range/tsubrange2.nim2
-rw-r--r--tests/range/tsubrange3.nim2
-rw-r--r--tests/sets/tsets.nim18
-rw-r--r--tests/specialops/tdotops.nim66
-rw-r--r--tests/stdlib/tircbot.nim8
-rw-r--r--tests/stdlib/tmath2.nim2
-rw-r--r--tests/stdlib/tos.nim2
-rw-r--r--tests/stdlib/tpegs.nim14
-rw-r--r--tests/table/ttableconstr.nim2
-rw-r--r--tests/typerel/typalias.nim2
-rw-r--r--tools/nimgrep.nim2
-rw-r--r--web/news.txt4
47 files changed, 578 insertions, 343 deletions
diff --git a/compiler/ast.nim b/compiler/ast.nim
index cd002eef1..fe724f4dd 100644
--- a/compiler/ast.nim
+++ b/compiler/ast.nim
@@ -409,7 +409,9 @@ type
                 # efficiency
     nfTransf,   # node has been transformed
     nfSem       # node has been checked for semantics
-    nfDelegate  # the call can use a delegator
+    nfDotField  # the call can use a dot operator
+    nfDotSetter # the call can use a setter dot operarator
+    nfExplicitCall # x.y() was used instead of x.y
     nfExprCall  # this is an attempt to call a regular expression
     nfIsRef     # this node is a 'ref' node; used for the VM
 
@@ -843,7 +845,8 @@ const
   ExportableSymKinds* = {skVar, skConst, skProc, skMethod, skType, skIterator, 
     skMacro, skTemplate, skConverter, skEnumField, skLet, skStub}
   PersistentNodeFlags*: TNodeFlags = {nfBase2, nfBase8, nfBase16,
-                                      nfAllConst, nfDelegate, nfIsRef}
+                                      nfDotSetter, nfDotField,
+                                      nfAllConst,nfIsRef}
   namePos* = 0
   patternPos* = 1    # empty except for term rewriting macros
   genericParamsPos* = 2
@@ -1044,6 +1047,10 @@ proc newStrNode(kind: TNodeKind, strVal: string): PNode =
   result = newNode(kind)
   result.strVal = strVal
 
+proc withInfo*(n: PNode, info: TLineInfo): PNode =
+  n.info = info
+  return n
+
 proc newIdentNode(ident: PIdent, info: TLineInfo): PNode = 
   result = newNode(nkIdent)
   result.ident = ident
diff --git a/compiler/c2nim/cparse.nim b/compiler/c2nim/cparse.nim
index ffab05788..e4abe11a0 100644
--- a/compiler/c2nim/cparse.nim
+++ b/compiler/c2nim/cparse.nim
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ proc typeAtom(p: var TParser): PNode =
       if p.tok.s == "unsigned":
         isUnsigned = true
       elif p.tok.s == "signed" or p.tok.s == "int":
-        nil
+        discard
       else:
         add(x, p.tok.s)
       getTok(p, nil)
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ proc directDeclarator(p: var TParser, a: PNode, ident: ptr PNode): PNode =
       result = declarator(p, a, ident)
       eat(p, pxParRi, result)
   else:
-    nil
+    discard
   return parseTypeSuffix(p, a)
 
 proc declarator(p: var TParser, a: PNode, ident: ptr PNode): PNode =
@@ -1165,7 +1165,7 @@ proc enumSpecifier(p: var TParser): PNode =
 
 proc setBaseFlags(n: PNode, base: TNumericalBase) = 
   case base
-  of base10: nil
+  of base10: discard
   of base2: incl(n.flags, nfBase2)
   of base8: incl(n.flags, nfBase8)
   of base16: incl(n.flags, nfBase16)
@@ -1686,7 +1686,7 @@ proc switchStatement(p: var TParser): PNode =
       break
     of "case", "default":
       break
-    else: nil
+    else: discard
     addSon(result, statement(p))
   if sonsLen(result) == 0:
     # translate empty statement list to Nimrod's ``nil`` statement
diff --git a/compiler/c2nim/cpp.nim b/compiler/c2nim/cpp.nim
index 1707b75db..84b4c4dfb 100644
--- a/compiler/c2nim/cpp.nim
+++ b/compiler/c2nim/cpp.nim
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ proc parseDefBody(p: var TParser, m: var TMacro, params: seq[string]) =
       m.body.add(tok)
     of pxDirConc: 
       # just ignore this token: this implements token merging correctly
-      nil
+      discard
     else:
       m.body.add(p.tok)
     # we do not want macro expansion here:
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ proc parseStmtList(p: var TParser): PNode =
     of pxDirectiveParLe, pxDirective: 
       case p.tok.s
       of "else", "endif", "elif": break
-    else: nil
+    else: discard
     addSon(result, statement(p))
   
 proc eatEndif(p: var TParser) =
diff --git a/compiler/ccgstmts.nim b/compiler/ccgstmts.nim
index af0d657f1..443d845f6 100644
--- a/compiler/ccgstmts.nim
+++ b/compiler/ccgstmts.nim
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ proc startBlock(p: BProc, start: TFormatStr = "{$n",
   setLen(p.blocks, result + 1)
   p.blocks[result].id = p.labels
   p.blocks[result].nestedTryStmts = p.nestedTryStmts.len.int16
+  p.blocks[result].nestedExceptStmts = p.inExceptBlock.int16
 
 proc assignLabel(b: var TBlock): PRope {.inline.} =
   b.label = con("LA", b.id.toRope)
@@ -260,14 +261,22 @@ proc genIf(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
     else: internalError(n.info, "genIf()")
   if sonsLen(n) > 1: fixLabel(p, lend)
 
-proc blockLeaveActions(p: BProc, howMany: int) = 
-  var L = p.nestedTryStmts.len
+
+proc blockLeaveActions(p: BProc, howManyTrys, howManyExcepts: int) = 
+  # This is called by return and break stmts.
+  # When jumping out of try/except/finally stmts,
+  # we need to pop safe points from try statements,
+  # execute finally-stmts, and pop exceptions
+  # from except stmts
+
+  let L = p.nestedTryStmts.len
+
   # danger of endless recursion! we workaround this here by a temp stack
   var stack: seq[PNode]
-  newSeq(stack, howMany)
-  for i in countup(1, howMany): 
+  newSeq(stack, howManyTrys)
+  for i in countup(1, howManyTrys): 
     stack[i-1] = p.nestedTryStmts[L-i]
-  setLen(p.nestedTryStmts, L-howMany)
+  setLen(p.nestedTryStmts, L-howManyTrys)
   
   var alreadyPoppedCnt = p.inExceptBlock
   for tryStmt in items(stack):
@@ -276,21 +285,26 @@ proc blockLeaveActions(p: BProc, howMany: int) =
         dec alreadyPoppedCnt
       else:
         linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "#popSafePoint();$n")
+    # Find finally-stmts for this try-stmt
+    # and generate a copy of the finally stmts here
     var finallyStmt = lastSon(tryStmt)
     if finallyStmt.kind == nkFinally: 
       genStmts(p, finallyStmt.sons[0])
   # push old elements again:
-  for i in countdown(howMany-1, 0): 
+  for i in countdown(howManyTrys-1, 0): 
     p.nestedTryStmts.add(stack[i])
+
   if gCmd != cmdCompileToCpp:
-    for i in countdown(p.inExceptBlock-1, 0):
+    # Pop exceptions that was handled by the
+    # except-blocks we are in
+    for i in countdown(howManyExcepts-1, 0):
       linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "#popCurrentException();$n")
 
 proc genReturnStmt(p: BProc, t: PNode) =
   p.beforeRetNeeded = true
   genLineDir(p, t)
   if (t.sons[0].kind != nkEmpty): genStmts(p, t.sons[0])
-  blockLeaveActions(p, min(1, p.nestedTryStmts.len))
+  blockLeaveActions(p, min(1, p.nestedTryStmts.len), p.inExceptBlock)
   lineFF(p, cpsStmts, "goto BeforeRet;$n", "br label %BeforeRet$n", [])
 
 proc genComputedGoto(p: BProc; n: PNode) =
@@ -450,7 +464,9 @@ proc genBreakStmt(p: BProc, t: PNode) =
     if idx < 0 or not p.blocks[idx].isLoop:
       internalError(t.info, "no loop to break")
   let label = assignLabel(p.blocks[idx])
-  blockLeaveActions(p, p.nestedTryStmts.len - p.blocks[idx].nestedTryStmts)
+  blockLeaveActions(p, 
+    p.nestedTryStmts.len - p.blocks[idx].nestedTryStmts,
+    p.inExceptBlock - p.blocks[idx].nestedExceptStmts)
   genLineDir(p, t)
   lineF(p, cpsStmts, "goto $1;$n", [label])
 
diff --git a/compiler/cgendata.nim b/compiler/cgendata.nim
index 0e1148343..71479abdd 100644
--- a/compiler/cgendata.nim
+++ b/compiler/cgendata.nim
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ type
     sections*: TCProcSections # the code beloging
     isLoop*: bool             # whether block is a loop
     nestedTryStmts*: int16    # how many try statements is it nested into
+    nestedExceptStmts*: int16 # how many except statements is it nested into
     frameLen*: int16
   
   TCProc{.final.} = object    # represents C proc that is currently generated
diff --git a/compiler/docgen.nim b/compiler/docgen.nim
index 343f415b3..c05b55184 100644
--- a/compiler/docgen.nim
+++ b/compiler/docgen.nim
@@ -42,17 +42,23 @@ proc compilerMsgHandler(filename: string, line, col: int,
   of mwUnsupportedLanguage: k = warnLanguageXNotSupported
   globalError(newLineInfo(filename, line, col), k, arg)
 
+proc docgenFindFile(s: string): string {.procvar.} =
+  result = options.findFile(s)
+  if result.len == 0:
+    result = getCurrentDir() / s
+    if not existsFile(result): result = ""
+
 proc parseRst(text, filename: string,
               line, column: int, hasToc: var bool,
               rstOptions: TRstParseOptions): PRstNode =
   result = rstParse(text, filename, line, column, hasToc, rstOptions,
-                    options.findFile, compilerMsgHandler)
+                    docgenFindFile, compilerMsgHandler)
 
 proc newDocumentor*(filename: string, config: PStringTable): PDoc =
   new(result)
   initRstGenerator(result[], (if gCmd != cmdRst2tex: outHtml else: outLatex),
                    options.gConfigVars, filename, {roSupportRawDirective},
-                   options.findFile, compilerMsgHandler)
+                   docgenFindFile, compilerMsgHandler)
   result.id = 100
 
 proc dispA(dest: var PRope, xml, tex: string, args: openArray[PRope]) =
diff --git a/compiler/parser.nim b/compiler/parser.nim
index ff3324b47..5a5bfb574 100644
--- a/compiler/parser.nim
+++ b/compiler/parser.nim
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ proc parseSymbol(p: var TParser): PNode =
         add(result, newIdentNodeP(getIdent"{}", p))
         getTok(p)
         eat(p, tkCurlyRi)
-      of tokKeywordLow..tokKeywordHigh, tkSymbol, tkOpr, tkDotDot:
+      of tokKeywordLow..tokKeywordHigh, tkSymbol, tkOpr, tkDot, tkDotDot:
         add(result, newIdentNodeP(p.tok.ident, p))
         getTok(p)
       of tkIntLit..tkCharLit:
diff --git a/compiler/pas2nim/paslex.nim b/compiler/pas2nim/paslex.nim
index 67473e71f..f24b0c420 100644
--- a/compiler/pas2nim/paslex.nim
+++ b/compiler/pas2nim/paslex.nim
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ proc getSymbol(L: var TLexer, tok: var TToken) =
       h = h +% ord(c)
       h = h +% h shl 10
       h = h xor (h shr 6)
-    of '_': nil
+    of '_': discard
     else: break
     inc(pos)
   h = h +% h shl 3
diff --git a/compiler/pas2nim/pasparse.nim b/compiler/pas2nim/pasparse.nim
index 928896338..a6f8363f6 100644
--- a/compiler/pas2nim/pasparse.nim
+++ b/compiler/pas2nim/pasparse.nim
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ proc exprColonEqExprList(p: var TParser, kind, elemKind: TNodeKind,
 
 proc setBaseFlags(n: PNode, base: TNumericalBase) = 
   case base
-  of base10: nil
+  of base10: discard
   of base2: incl(n.flags, nfBase2)
   of base8: incl(n.flags, nfBase8)
   of base16: incl(n.flags, nfBase16)
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ proc lowestExprAux(p: var TParser, v: var PNode, limit: int): TTokKind =
         eat(p, pxCurlyDirRi)
         opNode.ident = getIdent("&")
       else: 
-        nil
+        discard
     of pxMinus: 
       if p.tok.xkind == pxPer: 
         getTok(p)
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ proc lowestExprAux(p: var TParser, v: var PNode, limit: int): TTokKind =
     of pxNeq: 
       opNode.ident = getIdent("!=")
     else: 
-      nil
+      discard
     skipCom(p, opNode)        # read sub-expression with higher priority
     nextop = lowestExprAux(p, v2, opPred)
     addSon(node, opNode)
@@ -505,7 +505,7 @@ proc fixExpr(n: PNode): PNode =
             (n.sons[2].kind in {nkCharLit, nkStrLit}): 
           n.sons[0].ident = getIdent("&") # fix operator
   else: 
-    nil
+    discard
   if not (n.kind in {nkEmpty..nkNilLit}): 
     for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1): result.sons[i] = fixExpr(n.sons[i])
   
@@ -603,7 +603,7 @@ proc parseStmtList(p: var TParser): PNode =
     of pxCurlyDirLe, pxStarDirLe: 
       if not isHandledDirective(p): break 
     else: 
-      nil
+      discard
     addSon(result, parseStmt(p))
   if sonsLen(result) == 1: result = result.sons[0]
   
@@ -732,7 +732,7 @@ proc parseRepeat(p: var TParser): PNode =
   addSon(b, c)
   addSon(a, b)
   if b.sons[0].kind == nkIdent and b.sons[0].ident.id == getIdent("false").id: 
-    nil
+    discard
   else: 
     addSon(s, a)
   addSon(result, s)
@@ -840,7 +840,7 @@ proc parseParam(p: var TParser): PNode =
     getTok(p)
     v = newNodeP(nkVarTy, p)
   else: 
-    nil
+    discard
   while true: 
     case p.tok.xkind
     of pxSymbol: a = createIdentNodeP(p.tok.ident, p)
@@ -1133,7 +1133,7 @@ proc parseRecordPart(p: var TParser): PNode =
 proc exSymbol(n: var PNode) = 
   case n.kind
   of nkPostfix: 
-    nil
+    discard
   of nkPragmaExpr: 
     exSymbol(n.sons[0])
   of nkIdent, nkAccQuoted: 
@@ -1154,7 +1154,7 @@ proc fixRecordDef(n: var PNode) =
     for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1): fixRecordDef(n.sons[i])
   of nkIdentDefs: 
     for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 3): exSymbol(n.sons[i])
-  of nkNilLit, nkEmpty: nil
+  of nkNilLit, nkEmpty: discard
   else: internalError(n.info, "fixRecordDef(): " & $n.kind)
   
 proc addPragmaToIdent(ident: var PNode, pragma: PNode) = 
@@ -1191,7 +1191,7 @@ proc parseRecordBody(p: var TParser, result, definition: PNode) =
     if definition != nil: addPragmaToIdent(definition.sons[0], parseCommand(p))
     else: internalError(result.info, "anonymous record is not supported")
   else: 
-    nil
+    discard
   opt(p, pxSemicolon)
   skipCom(p, result)
 
@@ -1399,7 +1399,7 @@ proc fixVarSection(p: var TParser, counter: PNode) =
 
 proc exSymbols(n: PNode) = 
   case n.kind
-  of nkEmpty..nkNilLit: nil
+  of nkEmpty..nkNilLit: discard
   of nkProcDef..nkIteratorDef: exSymbol(n.sons[namePos])
   of nkWhenStmt, nkStmtList: 
     for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1): exSymbols(n.sons[i])
@@ -1410,7 +1410,7 @@ proc exSymbols(n: PNode) =
       exSymbol(n.sons[i].sons[0])
       if n.sons[i].sons[2].kind == nkObjectTy: 
         fixRecordDef(n.sons[i].sons[2])
-  else: nil
+  else: discard
 
 proc parseBegin(p: var TParser, result: PNode) = 
   getTok(p)
diff --git a/compiler/semcall.nim b/compiler/semcall.nim
index 6b19dc359..0cd27a443 100644
--- a/compiler/semcall.nim
+++ b/compiler/semcall.nim
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ proc notFoundError*(c: PContext, n: PNode, errors: seq[string]) =
     # fail fast:
     globalError(n.info, errTypeMismatch, "")
   var result = msgKindToString(errTypeMismatch)
-  add(result, describeArgs(c, n, 1 + ord(nfDelegate in n.flags)))
+  add(result, describeArgs(c, n, 1 + ord(nfDotField in n.flags)))
   add(result, ')')
   
   var candidates = ""
@@ -138,17 +138,35 @@ proc resolveOverloads(c: PContext, n, orig: PNode,
 
   let overloadsState = result.state
   if overloadsState != csMatch:
-    if nfDelegate in n.flags:
-      internalAssert f.kind == nkIdent
-      let calleeName = newStrNode(nkStrLit, f.ident.s)
-      calleeName.info = n.info
+    if nfDotField in n.flags:
+      internalAssert f.kind == nkIdent and n.sonsLen >= 2
+      let calleeName = newStrNode(nkStrLit, f.ident.s).withInfo(n.info)
 
-      let callOp = newIdentNode(idDelegator, n.info)
-      n.sons[0..0] = [callOp, calleeName]
-      orig.sons[0..0] = [callOp, calleeName]
-     
-      pickBest(callOp)
+      # leave the op head symbol empty,
+      # we are going to try multiple variants
+      n.sons[0..1] = [nil, n[1], calleeName]
+      orig.sons[0..1] = [nil, orig[1], calleeName]
+      
+      template tryOp(x) =
+        let op = newIdentNode(getIdent(x), n.info)
+        n.sons[0] = op
+        orig.sons[0] = op
+        pickBest(op)
+
+      if nfExplicitCall in n.flags:
+        tryOp ".()"
+   
+      if result.state in {csEmpty, csNoMatch}:
+        tryOp "."
 
+    elif nfDotSetter in n.flags:
+      internalAssert f.kind == nkIdent and n.sonsLen == 3
+      let calleeName = newStrNode(nkStrLit, f.ident.s[0.. -2]).withInfo(n.info)
+      let callOp = newIdentNode(getIdent".=", n.info)
+      n.sons[0..1] = [callOp, n[1], calleeName]
+      orig.sons[0..1] = [callOp, orig[1], calleeName]
+      pickBest(callOp)
+    
     if overloadsState == csEmpty and result.state == csEmpty:
       localError(n.info, errUndeclaredIdentifier, considerAcc(f).s)
       return
diff --git a/compiler/semdata.nim b/compiler/semdata.nim
index 0bc52d6b7..234526054 100644
--- a/compiler/semdata.nim
+++ b/compiler/semdata.nim
@@ -213,7 +213,6 @@ proc makeTypeDesc*(c: PContext, typ: PType): PType =
 
 proc makeTypeSymNode*(c: PContext, typ: PType, info: TLineInfo): PNode =
   let typedesc = makeTypeDesc(c, typ)
-  rawAddSon(typedesc, newTypeS(tyNone, c))
   let sym = newSym(skType, idAnon, getCurrOwner(), info).linkTo(typedesc)
   return newSymNode(sym, info)
 
diff --git a/compiler/semdestruct.nim b/compiler/semdestruct.nim
index fb05826cb..791bef823 100644
--- a/compiler/semdestruct.nim
+++ b/compiler/semdestruct.nim
@@ -55,7 +55,9 @@ proc doDestructorStuff(c: PContext, s: PSym, n: PNode) =
             useSym(destructableT.destructor),
             n.sons[paramsPos][1][0]]))
 
-proc destroyField(c: PContext, field: PSym, holder: PNode): PNode =
+proc destroyFieldOrFields(c: PContext, field: PNode, holder: PNode): PNode
+
+proc destroySym(c: PContext, field: PSym, holder: PNode): PNode =
   let destructableT = instantiateDestructor(c, field.typ)
   if destructableT != nil:
     result = newNode(nkCall, field.info, @[
@@ -70,56 +72,49 @@ proc destroyCase(c: PContext, n: PNode, holder: PNode): PNode =
   for i in countup(1, n.len - 1):
     # of A, B:
     var caseBranch = newNode(n[i].kind, n[i].info, n[i].sons[0 .. -2])
-    let recList = n[i].lastSon
-    var destroyRecList = newNode(nkStmtList, n[i].info, @[])
-    template addField(f: expr): stmt =
-      let stmt = destroyField(c, f, holder)
-      if stmt != nil:
-        destroyRecList.addSon(stmt)
-        inc nonTrivialFields
-        
-    case recList.kind
-    of nkSym:
-      addField(recList.sym)
-    of nkRecList:
-      for j in countup(0, recList.len - 1):
-        addField(recList[j].sym)
+    
+    let stmt = destroyFieldOrFields(c, n[i].lastSon, holder)
+    if stmt == nil:
+      caseBranch.addSon(newNode(nkStmtList, n[i].info, @[]))
     else:
-      internalAssert false
-      
-    caseBranch.addSon(destroyRecList)
+      caseBranch.addSon(stmt)
+      nonTrivialFields += stmt.len
+    
     result.addSon(caseBranch)
+  
   # maybe no fields were destroyed?
   if nonTrivialFields == 0:
     result = nil
- 
+
+proc destroyFieldOrFields(c: PContext, field: PNode, holder: PNode): PNode =
+  template maybeAddLine(e: expr): stmt =
+    let stmt = e
+    if stmt != nil:
+      if result == nil: result = newNode(nkStmtList)
+      result.addSon(stmt)
+
+  case field.kind
+  of nkRecCase:
+    maybeAddLine destroyCase(c, field, holder)
+  of nkSym:
+    maybeAddLine destroySym(c, field.sym, holder)
+  of nkRecList:
+    for son in field:
+      maybeAddLine destroyFieldOrFields(c, son, holder)
+  else:
+    internalAssert false
+
 proc generateDestructor(c: PContext, t: PType): PNode =
   ## generate a destructor for a user-defined object or tuple type
   ## returns nil if the destructor turns out to be trivial
   
-  template addLine(e: expr): stmt =
-    if result == nil: result = newNode(nkStmtList)
-    result.addSon(e)
-
   # XXX: This may be true for some C-imported types such as
   # Tposix_spawnattr
   if t.n == nil or t.n.sons == nil: return
   internalAssert t.n.kind == nkRecList
   let destructedObj = newIdentNode(destructorParam, unknownLineInfo())
   # call the destructods of all fields
-  for s in countup(0, t.n.sons.len - 1):
-    case t.n.sons[s].kind
-    of nkRecCase:
-      let stmt = destroyCase(c, t.n.sons[s], destructedObj)
-      if stmt != nil: addLine(stmt)
-    of nkSym:
-      let stmt = destroyField(c, t.n.sons[s].sym, destructedObj)
-      if stmt != nil: addLine(stmt)
-    else:
-      # XXX just skip it for now so that the compiler doesn't crash, but
-      # please zahary fix it! arbitrary nesting of nkRecList/nkRecCase is
-      # possible. Any thread example seems to trigger this. 
-      discard
+  result = destroyFieldOrFields(c, t.n, destructedObj)
   # base classes' destructors will be automatically called by
   # semProcAux for both auto-generated and user-defined destructors
 
diff --git a/compiler/semexprs.nim b/compiler/semexprs.nim
index 3fe1367ec..f09ee1295 100644
--- a/compiler/semexprs.nim
+++ b/compiler/semexprs.nim
@@ -346,22 +346,21 @@ proc semIs(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode =
 
   result = n
   n.typ = getSysType(tyBool)
-  
-  n.sons[1] = semExprWithType(c, n[1], {efDetermineType})
-  
+ 
+  n.sons[1] = semExprWithType(c, n[1], {efDetermineType, efWantIterator})
   if n[2].kind notin {nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit}:
     let t2 = semTypeNode(c, n[2], nil)
     n.sons[2] = newNodeIT(nkType, n[2].info, t2)
 
-  if n[1].typ.kind != tyTypeDesc:
-    n.sons[1] = makeTypeSymNode(c, n[1].typ, n[1].info)
-  elif n[1].typ.sonsLen == 0:
+  let lhsType = n[1].typ
+  if lhsType.kind != tyTypeDesc:
+    n.sons[1] = makeTypeSymNode(c, lhsType, n[1].info)
+  elif lhsType.base.kind == tyNone:
     # this is a typedesc variable, leave for evals
     return
 
-  let t1 = n[1].typ.sons[0]
   # BUGFIX: don't evaluate this too early: ``T is void``
-  if not containsGenericType(t1): result = isOpImpl(c, n)
+  if not n[1].typ.base.containsGenericType: result = isOpImpl(c, n)
 
 proc semOpAux(c: PContext, n: PNode) =
   const flags = {efDetermineType}
@@ -683,20 +682,21 @@ proc semOverloadedCallAnalyseEffects(c: PContext, n: PNode, nOrig: PNode,
           incl(c.p.owner.flags, sfSideEffect)
 
 proc semObjConstr(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags): PNode
-proc semIndirectOp(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags): PNode = 
+proc semIndirectOp(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
   result = nil
   checkMinSonsLen(n, 1)
   var prc = n.sons[0]
-  if n.sons[0].kind == nkDotExpr: 
+  if n.sons[0].kind == nkDotExpr:
     checkSonsLen(n.sons[0], 2)
     n.sons[0] = semFieldAccess(c, n.sons[0])
-    if n.sons[0].kind == nkDotCall: 
+    if n.sons[0].kind == nkDotCall:
       # it is a static call!
       result = n.sons[0]
       result.kind = nkCall
+      result.flags.incl nfExplicitCall
       for i in countup(1, sonsLen(n) - 1): addSon(result, n.sons[i])
       return semExpr(c, result, flags)
-  else: 
+  else:
     n.sons[0] = semExpr(c, n.sons[0])
   let nOrig = n.copyTree
   semOpAux(c, n)
@@ -917,8 +917,8 @@ proc builtinFieldAccess(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
   var ty = n.sons[0].typ
   var f: PSym = nil
   result = nil
-  if isTypeExpr(n.sons[0]) or ty.kind == tyTypeDesc and ty.len == 1:
-    if ty.kind == tyTypeDesc: ty = ty.sons[0]
+  if isTypeExpr(n.sons[0]) or ty.kind == tyTypeDesc and ty.base.kind != tyNone:
+    if ty.kind == tyTypeDesc: ty = ty.base
     case ty.kind
     of tyEnum:
       # look up if the identifier belongs to the enum:
@@ -999,7 +999,7 @@ proc dotTransformation(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode =
   else:
     var i = considerAcc(n.sons[1])
     result = newNodeI(nkDotCall, n.info)
-    result.flags.incl nfDelegate
+    result.flags.incl nfDotField
     addSon(result, newIdentNode(i, n[1].info))
     addSon(result, copyTree(n[0]))
   
@@ -1082,12 +1082,13 @@ proc semArrayAccess(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
 
 proc propertyWriteAccess(c: PContext, n, nOrig, a: PNode): PNode =
   var id = considerAcc(a[1])
-  let setterId = newIdentNode(getIdent(id.s & '='), n.info)
+  var setterId = newIdentNode(getIdent(id.s & '='), n.info)
   # a[0] is already checked for semantics, that does ``builtinFieldAccess``
   # this is ugly. XXX Semantic checking should use the ``nfSem`` flag for
   # nodes?
   let aOrig = nOrig[0]
   result = newNode(nkCall, n.info, sons = @[setterId, a[0], semExpr(c, n[1])])
+  result.flags.incl nfDotSetter
   let orig = newNode(nkCall, n.info, sons = @[setterId, aOrig[0], nOrig[1]])
   result = semOverloadedCallAnalyseEffects(c, result, orig, {})
   
@@ -1777,22 +1778,6 @@ proc semBlock(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode =
   closeScope(c)
   dec(c.p.nestedBlockCounter)
 
-proc buildCall(n: PNode): PNode =
-  if n.kind == nkDotExpr and n.len == 2:
-    # x.y --> y(x)
-    result = newNodeI(nkCall, n.info, 2)
-    result.sons[0] = n.sons[1]
-    result.sons[1] = n.sons[0]
-  elif n.kind in nkCallKinds and n.sons[0].kind == nkDotExpr:
-    # x.y(a) -> y(x, a)
-    let a = n.sons[0]
-    result = newNodeI(nkCall, n.info, n.len+1)
-    result.sons[0] = a.sons[1]
-    result.sons[1] = a.sons[0]
-    for i in 1 .. <n.len: result.sons[i+1] = n.sons[i]
-  else:
-    result = n
-
 proc doBlockIsStmtList(n: PNode): bool =
   result = n.kind == nkDo and
            n[paramsPos].sonsLen == 1 and
@@ -1901,7 +1886,7 @@ proc semExpr(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags = {}): PNode =
   of nkCall, nkInfix, nkPrefix, nkPostfix, nkCommand, nkCallStrLit: 
     # check if it is an expression macro:
     checkMinSonsLen(n, 1)
-    let mode = if nfDelegate in n.flags: {} else: {checkUndeclared}
+    let mode = if nfDotField in n.flags: {} else: {checkUndeclared}
     var s = qualifiedLookUp(c, n.sons[0], mode)
     if s != nil: 
       if gCmd == cmdPretty and n.sons[0].kind == nkDotExpr:
@@ -1940,7 +1925,7 @@ proc semExpr(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags = {}): PNode =
       # the 'newSeq[T](x)' bug
       setGenericParams(c, n.sons[0])
       result = semDirectOp(c, n, flags)
-    elif isSymChoice(n.sons[0]) or nfDelegate in n.flags:
+    elif isSymChoice(n.sons[0]) or nfDotField in n.flags:
       result = semDirectOp(c, n, flags)
     else:
       result = semIndirectOp(c, n, flags)
diff --git a/compiler/sempass2.nim b/compiler/sempass2.nim
index fedf19c79..a00325277 100644
--- a/compiler/sempass2.nim
+++ b/compiler/sempass2.nim
@@ -476,7 +476,6 @@ proc track(tracked: PEffects, n: PNode) =
     if warnProveField in gNotes: checkFieldAccess(tracked.guards, n)
   of nkTryStmt: trackTryStmt(tracked, n)
   of nkPragma: trackPragmaStmt(tracked, n)
-  of nkMacroDef, nkTemplateDef: discard
   of nkAsgn, nkFastAsgn:
     track(tracked, n.sons[1])
     initVar(tracked, n.sons[0])
@@ -526,7 +525,9 @@ proc track(tracked: PEffects, n: PNode) =
       if sfDiscriminant in x.sons[0].sym.flags:
         addDiscriminantFact(tracked.guards, x)
     setLen(tracked.guards, oldFacts)
-  of nkTypeSection: discard
+  of nkTypeSection, nkProcDef, nkConverterDef, nkMethodDef, nkIteratorDef,
+      nkMacroDef, nkTemplateDef:
+    discard
   else:
     for i in 0 .. <safeLen(n): track(tracked, n.sons[i])
 
@@ -623,6 +624,9 @@ proc trackProc*(s: PSym, body: PNode) =
     effects.sons[tagEffects] = tagsSpec
     
 proc trackTopLevelStmt*(module: PSym; n: PNode) =
+  if n.kind in {nkPragma, nkMacroDef, nkTemplateDef, nkProcDef,
+                nkTypeSection, nkConverterDef, nkMethodDef, nkIteratorDef}:
+    return
   var effects = newNode(nkEffectList, n.info)
   var t: TEffects
   initEffects(effects, module, t)
diff --git a/compiler/semtypes.nim b/compiler/semtypes.nim
index 44e414e9c..184aca4f8 100644
--- a/compiler/semtypes.nim
+++ b/compiler/semtypes.nim
@@ -1030,9 +1030,8 @@ proc semTypeNode(c: PContext, n: PNode, prev: PType): PType =
       if s.kind != skError: localError(n.info, errTypeExpected)
       result = newOrPrevType(tyError, prev, c)
     elif s.kind == skParam and s.typ.kind == tyTypeDesc:
-      assert s.typ.len > 0
-      internalAssert prev == nil
-      result = s.typ.sons[0]
+      internalAssert s.typ.base.kind != tyNone and prev == nil
+      result = s.typ.base
     elif prev == nil:
       result = s.typ
     else: 
diff --git a/compiler/sigmatch.nim b/compiler/sigmatch.nim
index 227228f6e..fce0bdf48 100644
--- a/compiler/sigmatch.nim
+++ b/compiler/sigmatch.nim
@@ -866,7 +866,7 @@ proc typeRel(c: var TCandidate, f, aOrig: PType, doBind = true): TTypeRelation =
           else:
             internalAssert a.sons != nil and a.sons.len > 0
             c.typedescMatched = true
-            result = typeRel(c, f.sons[0], a.sons[0])
+            result = typeRel(c, f.base, a.base)
         else:
           result = isNone
       else:
@@ -896,22 +896,20 @@ proc typeRel(c: var TCandidate, f, aOrig: PType, doBind = true): TTypeRelation =
       result = isNone
 
   of tyTypeDesc:
+    if a.kind != tyTypeDesc: return isNone
+    
     var prev = PType(idTableGet(c.bindings, f))
     if prev == nil:
-      if a.kind == tyTypeDesc:
-        if f.sons[0].kind == tyNone:
-          result = isGeneric
-        else:
-          result = typeRel(c, f.sons[0], a.sons[0])
-        if result != isNone:
-          put(c.bindings, f, a)
+      if f.base.kind == tyNone:
+        result = isGeneric
       else:
-        result = isNone
+        result = typeRel(c, f.base, a.base)
+      if result != isNone:
+        put(c.bindings, f, a)
     else:
-      internalAssert prev.sonsLen == 1
       let toMatch = if tfUnresolved in f.flags: a
-                    else: a.sons[0]
-      result = typeRel(c, prev.sons[0], toMatch)
+                    else: a.base
+      result = typeRel(c, prev.base, toMatch)
   
   of tyStmt:
     result = isGeneric
@@ -1015,7 +1013,7 @@ proc paramTypesMatchAux(m: var TCandidate, f, argType: PType,
       argType = arg.typ
  
   var
-    a = if c.inTypeClass > 0: argType.skipTypes({tyTypeDesc})
+    a = if c.inTypeClass > 0: argType.skipTypes({tyTypeDesc, tyFieldAccessor})
         else: argType
  
     r = typeRel(m, f, a)
diff --git a/compiler/types.nim b/compiler/types.nim
index db75cd3c0..55a89920a 100644
--- a/compiler/types.nim
+++ b/compiler/types.nim
@@ -431,8 +431,8 @@ proc typeToString(typ: PType, prefer: TPreferedDesc = preferName): string =
       add(result, typeToString(t.sons[i]))
     add(result, ']')
   of tyTypeDesc:
-    if t.len == 0: result = "typedesc"
-    else: result = "typedesc[" & typeToString(t.sons[0]) & "]"
+    if t.base.kind == tyNone: result = "typedesc"
+    else: result = "typedesc[" & typeToString(t.base) & "]"
   of tyStatic:
     internalAssert t.len > 0
     result = "static[" & typeToString(t.sons[0]) & "]"
@@ -857,7 +857,7 @@ proc sameTypeAux(x, y: PType, c: var TSameTypeClosure): bool =
       if a.kind != b.kind: return false
     of dcEqOrDistinctOf:
       while a.kind == tyDistinct: a = a.sons[0]
-      if a.kind != b.kind: return false  
+      if a.kind != b.kind: return false
   case a.kind
   of tyEmpty, tyChar, tyBool, tyNil, tyPointer, tyString, tyCString,
      tyInt..tyBigNum, tyStmt, tyExpr:
@@ -1231,8 +1231,7 @@ proc computeSizeAux(typ: PType, a: var BiggestInt): BiggestInt =
   of tyGenericInst, tyDistinct, tyGenericBody, tyMutable, tyConst, tyIter:
     result = computeSizeAux(lastSon(typ), a)
   of tyTypeDesc:
-    result = if typ.len == 1: computeSizeAux(typ.sons[0], a)
-             else: szUnknownSize
+    result = computeSizeAux(typ.base, a)
   of tyForward: return szIllegalRecursion
   else:
     #internalError("computeSizeAux()")
@@ -1258,7 +1257,7 @@ proc containsGenericTypeIter(t: PType, closure: PObject): bool =
     return true
 
   if t.kind == tyTypeDesc:
-    if t.sons[0].kind == tyNone: return true
+    if t.base.kind == tyNone: return true
     if containsGenericTypeIter(t.base, closure): return true
     return false
   
diff --git a/doc/manual.txt b/doc/manual.txt
index fb357f7d3..53817c508 100644
--- a/doc/manual.txt
+++ b/doc/manual.txt
@@ -4106,6 +4106,59 @@ types that will match the typedesc param:
 
 The constraint can be a concrete type or a type class.
 
+Special Operators
+=================
+
+dot operators
+-------------
+
+Nimrod offers a special family of dot operators that can be used to
+intercept and rewrite proc call and field access attempts, referring
+to previously undeclared symbol names. They can be used to provide a
+fluent interface to objects lying outside the static confines of the
+Nimrod's type system such as values from dynamic scripting languages
+or dynamic file formats such as JSON or XML.
+
+When Nimrod encounters an expression that cannot be resolved by the
+standard overload resolution rules, the current scope will be searched
+for a dot operator that can be matched against a re-written form of
+the expression, where the unknown field or proc name is converted to
+an additional static string parameter:
+
+.. code-block:: nimrod
+  a.b # becomes `.`(a, "b")
+  a.b(c, d) # becomes `.`(a, "b", c, d)
+
+The matched dot operators can be symbols of any callable kind (procs,
+templates and macros), depending on the desired effect:
+
+.. code-block:: nimrod
+  proc `.` (js: PJsonNode, field: string): JSON = js[field]
+
+  var js = parseJson("{ x: 1, y: 2}")
+  echo js.x # outputs 1
+  echo js.y # outputs 2
+
+The following dot operators are available:
+
+operator `.`
+------------ 
+This operator will be matched against both field accesses and method calls.
+
+operator `.()`
+---------------
+This operator will be matched exclusively against method calls. It has higher
+precedence than the `.` operator and this allows you to handle expressions like
+`x.y` and `x.y()` differently if you are interfacing with a scripting language
+for example.
+
+operator `.=`
+-------------
+This operator will be matched against assignments to missing fields.
+
+.. code-block:: nimrod
+  a.b = c # becomes `.=`(a, "b", c)
+
 
 Term rewriting macros
 =====================
@@ -4758,42 +4811,6 @@ This may change in future versions of language, but for now use
 the ``finalizer`` parameter to ``new``.
 
 
-delegator pragma
-----------------
-
-**Note**: The design of the delegator feature is subject to change.
-
-The delegator pragma can be used to intercept and rewrite proc call and field
-access attempts referring to previously undeclared symbol names. It can be used
-to provide a fluent interface to objects lying outside the static confines of
-the Nimrod's type system such as values from dynamic scripting languages or
-dynamic file formats such as JSON or XML.
-
-A delegator is a special form of the `()` operator marked with the delagator
-pragma. When Nimrod encounters an expression that cannot be resolved by the
-standard overload resolution, any delegators in the current scope will be
-matched against a rewritten form of the expression following the standard
-signature matching rules. In the rewritten expression, the name of the unknown
-proc or field name is inserted as an additional static string parameter always
-appearing in the leading position:
-
-.. code-block:: nimrod
-  a.b => delegator("b", a)
-  a.b(c, d) => delegator("b", a, c)
-  a b, c, d => delegator("a", b, c, d)
-
-
-The delegators can be any callable symbol type (procs, templates, macros)
-depending on the desired effect:
-
-.. code-block:: nimrod
-  proc `()` (field: string, js: PJsonNode): JSON {.delegator.} = js[field]
-
-  var js = parseJson("{ x: 1, y: 2}")
-  echo js.x # outputs 1
-  echo js.y # outputs 2
-
-
 procvar pragma
 --------------
 The `procvar`:idx: pragma is used to mark a proc that it can be passed to a
diff --git a/examples/htmlrefs.nim b/examples/htmlrefs.nim
index 824c1d8c7..8b668325f 100644
--- a/examples/htmlrefs.nim
+++ b/examples/htmlrefs.nim
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ block mainLoop:
               case x.kind
               of xmlEof: break mainLoop
               of xmlElementClose: break
-              else: nil
+              else: discard
             x.next() # skip ``xmlElementClose``
             # now we have the description for the ``a`` element
             var desc = ""
diff --git a/koch.nim b/koch.nim
index dcb66ae3e..ce01d36a5 100644
--- a/koch.nim
+++ b/koch.nim
@@ -104,9 +104,8 @@ proc install(args: string) =
   exec("sh ./install.sh $#" % args)
 
 proc web(args: string) =
-  exec(("$# cc -r tools/nimweb.nim web/nimrod --putenv:nimrodversion=$#" &
-        " --path:$#") % [findNim(), NimrodVersion,
-                         getCurrentDir().quoteIfContainsWhite])
+  exec("$# cc -r tools/nimweb.nim web/nimrod --putenv:nimrodversion=$#" % 
+       [findNim(), NimrodVersion])
 
 # -------------- boot ---------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/lib/pure/times.nim b/lib/pure/times.nim
index de6c4e4fa..2fce235e2 100644
--- a/lib/pure/times.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/times.nim
@@ -557,6 +557,119 @@ proc `$`*(m: TMonth): string =
       "November", "December"]
   return lookup[m]
 
+proc format_token(info: TTimeInfo, token: string, buf: var string) =
+  ## Helper of the format proc to parse individual tokens.
+  ##
+  ## Pass the found token in the user input string, and the buffer where the
+  ## final string is being built. This has to be a var value because certain
+  ## formatting tokens require modifying the previous characters.
+  case token
+  of "d":
+    buf.add($info.monthday)
+  of "dd":
+    if info.monthday < 10:
+      buf.add("0")
+    buf.add($info.monthday)
+  of "ddd":
+    buf.add(($info.weekday)[0 .. 2])
+  of "dddd":
+    buf.add($info.weekday)
+  of "h":
+    buf.add($(if info.hour > 12: info.hour - 12 else: info.hour))
+  of "hh":
+    let amerHour = if info.hour > 12: info.hour - 12 else: info.hour
+    if amerHour < 10:
+      buf.add('0')
+    buf.add($amerHour)
+  of "H":
+    buf.add($info.hour)
+  of "HH":
+    if info.hour < 10:
+      buf.add('0')
+    buf.add($info.hour)
+  of "m":
+    buf.add($info.minute)
+  of "mm":
+    if info.minute < 10:
+      buf.add('0')
+    buf.add($info.minute)
+  of "M":
+    buf.add($(int(info.month)+1))
+  of "MM":
+    if info.month < mOct:
+      buf.add('0')
+    buf.add($(int(info.month)+1))
+  of "MMM":
+    buf.add(($info.month)[0..2])
+  of "MMMM":
+    buf.add($info.month)
+  of "s":
+    buf.add($info.second)
+  of "ss":
+    if info.second < 10:
+      buf.add('0')
+    buf.add($info.second)
+  of "t":
+    if info.hour >= 12:
+      buf.add('P')
+    else: buf.add('A')
+  of "tt":
+    if info.hour >= 12:
+      buf.add("PM")
+    else: buf.add("AM")
+  of "y":
+    var fr = ($info.year).len()-1
+    if fr < 0: fr = 0
+    buf.add(($info.year)[fr .. ($info.year).len()-1])
+  of "yy":
+    var fr = ($info.year).len()-2
+    if fr < 0: fr = 0
+    var fyear = ($info.year)[fr .. ($info.year).len()-1]
+    if fyear.len != 2: fyear = repeatChar(2-fyear.len(), '0') & fyear
+    buf.add(fyear)
+  of "yyy":
+    var fr = ($info.year).len()-3
+    if fr < 0: fr = 0
+    var fyear = ($info.year)[fr .. ($info.year).len()-1]
+    if fyear.len != 3: fyear = repeatChar(3-fyear.len(), '0') & fyear
+    buf.add(fyear)
+  of "yyyy":
+    var fr = ($info.year).len()-4
+    if fr < 0: fr = 0
+    var fyear = ($info.year)[fr .. ($info.year).len()-1]
+    if fyear.len != 4: fyear = repeatChar(4-fyear.len(), '0') & fyear
+    buf.add(fyear)
+  of "yyyyy":
+    var fr = ($info.year).len()-5
+    if fr < 0: fr = 0
+    var fyear = ($info.year)[fr .. ($info.year).len()-1]
+    if fyear.len != 5: fyear = repeatChar(5-fyear.len(), '0') & fyear
+    buf.add(fyear)
+  of "z":
+    let hrs = (info.timezone div 60) div 60
+    buf.add($hrs)
+  of "zz":
+    let hrs = (info.timezone div 60) div 60
+
+    buf.add($hrs)
+    if hrs.abs < 10:
+      var atIndex = buf.len-(($hrs).len-(if hrs < 0: 1 else: 0))
+      buf.insert("0", atIndex)
+  of "zzz":
+    let hrs = (info.timezone div 60) div 60
+
+    buf.add($hrs & ":00")
+    if hrs.abs < 10:
+      var atIndex = buf.len-(($hrs & ":00").len-(if hrs < 0: 1 else: 0))
+      buf.insert("0", atIndex)
+  of "ZZZ":
+    buf.add(info.tzname)
+  of "":
+    discard
+  else:
+    raise newException(EInvalidValue, "Invalid format string: " & token)
+
+
 proc format*(info: TTimeInfo, f: string): string =
   ## This function formats `info` as specified by `f`. The following format
   ## specifiers are available:
@@ -591,8 +704,11 @@ proc format*(info: TTimeInfo, f: string): string =
   ##    ZZZ      Displays the name of the timezone.                                                 ``GMT -> GMT``, ``EST -> EST``
   ## ==========  =================================================================================  ================================================
   ##
-  ## Other strings can be inserted by putting them in ``''``. For example ``hh'->'mm`` will give ``01->56``.
-  ## The following characters can be inserted without quoting them: ``:`` ``-`` ``(`` ``)`` ``/`` ``[`` ``]`` ``,``
+  ## Other strings can be inserted by putting them in ``''``. For example
+  ## ``hh'->'mm`` will give ``01->56``.  The following characters can be
+  ## inserted without quoting them: ``:`` ``-`` ``(`` ``)`` ``/`` ``[`` ``]``
+  ## ``,``. However you don't need to necessarily separate format specifiers, a
+  ## unambiguous format string like ``yyyyMMddhhmmss`` is valid too.
 
   result = ""
   var i = 0
@@ -600,112 +716,8 @@ proc format*(info: TTimeInfo, f: string): string =
   while true:
     case f[i]
     of ' ', '-', '/', ':', '\'', '\0', '(', ')', '[', ']', ',':
-      case currentF
-      of "d":
-        result.add($info.monthday)
-      of "dd":
-        if info.monthday < 10:
-          result.add("0")
-        result.add($info.monthday)
-      of "ddd":
-        result.add(($info.weekday)[0 .. 2])
-      of "dddd":
-        result.add($info.weekday)
-      of "h":
-        result.add($(if info.hour > 12: info.hour - 12 else: info.hour))
-      of "hh":
-        let amerHour = if info.hour > 12: info.hour - 12 else: info.hour
-        if amerHour < 10:
-          result.add('0')
-        result.add($amerHour)
-      of "H":
-        result.add($info.hour)
-      of "HH":
-        if info.hour < 10:
-          result.add('0')
-        result.add($info.hour)
-      of "m":
-        result.add($info.minute)
-      of "mm":
-        if info.minute < 10:
-          result.add('0')
-        result.add($info.minute)
-      of "M":
-        result.add($(int(info.month)+1))
-      of "MM":
-        if info.month < mOct:
-          result.add('0')
-        result.add($(int(info.month)+1))
-      of "MMM":
-        result.add(($info.month)[0..2])
-      of "MMMM":
-        result.add($info.month)
-      of "s":
-        result.add($info.second)
-      of "ss":
-        if info.second < 10:
-          result.add('0')
-        result.add($info.second)
-      of "t":
-        if info.hour >= 12:
-          result.add('P')
-        else: result.add('A')
-      of "tt":
-        if info.hour >= 12:
-          result.add("PM")
-        else: result.add("AM")
-      of "y":
-        var fr = ($info.year).len()-1
-        if fr < 0: fr = 0
-        result.add(($info.year)[fr .. ($info.year).len()-1])
-      of "yy":
-        var fr = ($info.year).len()-2
-        if fr < 0: fr = 0
-        var fyear = ($info.year)[fr .. ($info.year).len()-1]
-        if fyear.len != 2: fyear = repeatChar(2-fyear.len(), '0') & fyear
-        result.add(fyear)
-      of "yyy":
-        var fr = ($info.year).len()-3
-        if fr < 0: fr = 0
-        var fyear = ($info.year)[fr .. ($info.year).len()-1]
-        if fyear.len != 3: fyear = repeatChar(3-fyear.len(), '0') & fyear
-        result.add(fyear)
-      of "yyyy":
-        var fr = ($info.year).len()-4
-        if fr < 0: fr = 0
-        var fyear = ($info.year)[fr .. ($info.year).len()-1]
-        if fyear.len != 4: fyear = repeatChar(4-fyear.len(), '0') & fyear
-        result.add(fyear)
-      of "yyyyy":
-        var fr = ($info.year).len()-5
-        if fr < 0: fr = 0
-        var fyear = ($info.year)[fr .. ($info.year).len()-1]
-        if fyear.len != 5: fyear = repeatChar(5-fyear.len(), '0') & fyear
-        result.add(fyear)
-      of "z":
-        let hrs = (info.timezone div 60) div 60
-        result.add($hrs)
-      of "zz":
-        let hrs = (info.timezone div 60) div 60
-        
-        result.add($hrs)
-        if hrs.abs < 10:
-          var atIndex = result.len-(($hrs).len-(if hrs < 0: 1 else: 0))
-          result.insert("0", atIndex)
-      of "zzz":
-        let hrs = (info.timezone div 60) div 60
-        
-        result.add($hrs & ":00")
-        if hrs.abs < 10:
-          var atIndex = result.len-(($hrs & ":00").len-(if hrs < 0: 1 else: 0))
-          result.insert("0", atIndex)
-      of "ZZZ":
-        result.add(info.tzname)
-      of "":
-        discard
-      else:
-        raise newException(EInvalidValue, "Invalid format string: " & currentF)
-      
+      format_token(info, currentF, result)
+
       currentF = ""
       if f[i] == '\0': break
       
@@ -716,7 +728,15 @@ proc format*(info: TTimeInfo, f: string): string =
           inc(i)
       else: result.add(f[i])
       
-    else: currentF.add(f[i])
+    else:
+      # Check if the letter being added matches previous accumulated buffer.
+      if currentF.len < 1 or currentF[high(currentF)] == f[i]:
+        currentF.add(f[i])
+      else:
+        format_token(info, currentF, result)
+        dec(i) # Move position back to re-process the character separately.
+        currentF = ""
+
     inc(i)
 
 {.pop.}
@@ -727,11 +747,15 @@ when isMainModule:
 
   var t = getGMTime(fromSeconds(2147483647))
   echo t.format("ddd dd MMM hh:mm:ss ZZZ yyyy")
+  echo t.format("ddd ddMMMhhmmssZZZyyyy")
   assert t.format("ddd dd MMM hh:mm:ss ZZZ yyyy") == "Tue 19 Jan 03:14:07 UTC 2038"
+  assert t.format("ddd ddMMMhh:mm:ssZZZyyyy") == "Tue 19Jan03:14:07UTC2038"
   
   assert t.format("d dd ddd dddd h hh H HH m mm M MM MMM MMMM s" &
     " ss t tt y yy yyy yyyy yyyyy z zz zzz ZZZ") == 
     "19 19 Tue Tuesday 3 03 3 03 14 14 1 01 Jan January 7 07 A AM 8 38 038 2038 02038 0 00 00:00 UTC"
+
+  assert t.format("yyyyMMddhhmmss") == "20380119031407"
   
   var t2 = getGMTime(fromSeconds(160070789)) # Mon 27 Jan 16:06:29 GMT 1975
   assert t2.format("d dd ddd dddd h hh H HH m mm M MM MMM MMMM s" &
diff --git a/tests/ambsym/mambsym1.nim b/tests/ambsym/mambsym1.nim
index cf8ac5242..d9d57b5e5 100644
--- a/tests/ambsym/mambsym1.nim
+++ b/tests/ambsym/mambsym1.nim
@@ -7,4 +7,4 @@ type
 proc ha() =

   var

     x: TExport # no error

-  nil

+  discard

diff --git a/tests/ambsym/mambsys1.nim b/tests/ambsym/mambsys1.nim
index 5472b5ae4..04f9561d3 100644
--- a/tests/ambsym/mambsys1.nim
+++ b/tests/ambsym/mambsys1.nim
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ type
   TExport* = enum x, y, z

 

 proc foo*(x: int) =

-  nil

+  discard

diff --git a/tests/ambsym/mambsys2.nim b/tests/ambsym/mambsys2.nim
index 395425b86..d59706865 100644
--- a/tests/ambsym/mambsys2.nim
+++ b/tests/ambsym/mambsys2.nim
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 type

   TExport* = enum x, y, z # exactly the same type!

 

-proc foo*(x: int) = nil

+proc foo*(x: int) = discard

diff --git a/tests/casestmt/tcasestm.nim b/tests/casestmt/tcasestm.nim
index 003ec6e50..b033b98ec 100644
--- a/tests/casestmt/tcasestm.nim
+++ b/tests/casestmt/tcasestm.nim
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ of eB, eC: write(stdout, "b or c")
 case x
 of "Andreas", "Rumpf": write(stdout, "Hallo Meister!")
 of "aa", "bb": write(stdout, "Du bist nicht mein Meister")
-of "cc", "hash", "when": nil
-of "will", "it", "finally", "be", "generated": nil
+of "cc", "hash", "when": discard
+of "will", "it", "finally", "be", "generated": discard
 
 var z = case i
   of 1..5, 8, 9: "aa"
diff --git a/tests/concurrency/tnodeadlocks.nim b/tests/concurrency/tnodeadlocks.nim
index 18fdca3e9..3f27e24f6 100644
--- a/tests/concurrency/tnodeadlocks.nim
+++ b/tests/concurrency/tnodeadlocks.nim
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ var
   thr: array [0..5, TThread[tuple[a, b: int]]]
   L, M, N: TLock
 
-proc doNothing() = nil
+proc doNothing() = discard
 
 proc threadFunc(interval: tuple[a, b: int]) {.thread.} = 
   doNothing()
diff --git a/tests/destructor/tdestructor.nim b/tests/destructor/tdestructor.nim
index bb1410d92..f10c0cc9c 100644
--- a/tests/destructor/tdestructor.nim
+++ b/tests/destructor/tdestructor.nim
@@ -12,6 +12,13 @@ myobj destroyed
 ----
 mygeneric3 constructed
 mygeneric1 destroyed
+----
+mygeneric1 destroyed
+----
+myobj destroyed
+----
+----
+myobj destroyed
 '''
 """
 
@@ -31,6 +38,22 @@ type
     x: A
     y: B
     z: C
+  
+  TObjKind = enum A, B, C, D
+
+  TCaseObj = object
+    case kind: TObjKind
+    of A:
+      x: TMyGeneric1[int]
+    of B, C:
+      y: TMyObj
+    else:
+      case innerKind: TObjKind
+      of A, B, C:
+        p: TMyGeneric3[int, float, string]
+      of D:
+        q: TMyGeneric3[TMyObj, int, int]
+      r: string
 
 proc destruct(o: var TMyObj) {.destructor.} =
   if o.p != nil: dealloc o.p
@@ -82,3 +105,24 @@ mygeneric2[int](10)
 echo "----"
 mygeneric3()
 
+proc caseobj =
+  block:
+    echo "----"
+    var o1 = TCaseObj(kind: A, x: TMyGeneric1[int](x: 10))
+  
+  block:
+    echo "----"
+    var o2 = TCaseObj(kind: B, y: open())
+  
+  block:
+    echo "----"
+    var o3 = TCaseObj(kind: D, innerKind: B, r: "test",
+                      p: TMyGeneric3[int, float, string](x: 10, y: 1.0, z: "test"))
+
+  block:
+    echo "----"
+    var o4 = TCaseObj(kind: D, innerKind: D, r: "test",
+                      q: TMyGeneric3[TMyObj, int, int](x: open(), y: 1, z: 0))
+
+caseobj()
+
diff --git a/tests/destructor/tdictdestruct.nim b/tests/destructor/tdictdestruct.nim
index ec1084105..b7043f7b7 100644
--- a/tests/destructor/tdictdestruct.nim
+++ b/tests/destructor/tdictdestruct.nim
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ type
   PDict[TK, TV] = ref TDict[TK, TV]
 
 proc fakeNew[T](x: var ref T, destroy: proc (a: ref T) {.nimcall.}) =
-  nil
+  discard
 
 proc destroyDict[TK, TV](a: PDict[TK, TV]) =
     return
diff --git a/tests/exception/texceptionbreak.nim b/tests/exception/texceptionbreak.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..76e986787
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/exception/texceptionbreak.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+discard """
+  file: "tnestedbreak.nim"
+  output: "1\n2\n3\n4"
+"""
+
+# First variety
+try:
+  raise newException(EOS, "Problem")
+except EOS:
+  for y in [1, 2, 3]:
+    discard
+  try:
+    discard
+  except EOS:
+    discard
+echo "1"
+
+# Second Variety
+try:
+  raise newException(EOS, "Problem")
+except EOS:
+  for y in [1, 2, 3]:
+    discard
+  for y in [1, 2, 3]:
+    discard
+
+echo "2"
+
+# Third Variety
+try:
+  raise newException(EOS, "Problem")
+except EOS:
+  block:
+    break
+
+echo "3"
+
+# Fourth Variety
+block:
+  try:
+    raise newException(EOS, "Problem")
+  except EOS:
+    break
+
+echo "4"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/generics/tgeneric3.nim b/tests/generics/tgeneric3.nim
index 3c543ecfa..963d0ccfb 100644
--- a/tests/generics/tgeneric3.nim
+++ b/tests/generics/tgeneric3.nim
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ const
 proc len[T,D] (n:PNode[T,D]): Int {.inline.} =
   return n.Count
 
-proc clean[T: TOrdinal|TNumber](o: var T) {.inline.} = nil
+proc clean[T: TOrdinal|TNumber](o: var T) {.inline.} = discard
 
 proc clean[T: string|seq](o: var T) {.inline.} =
   o = nil
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ proc DeleteItem[T,D] (n: PNode[T,D], x: Int): PNode[T,D] {.inline.} =
     of cLen3 : setLen(n.slots, cLen3)
     of cLenCenter : setLen(n.slots, cLenCenter)
     of cLen4 : setLen(n.slots, cLen4)
-    else: nil
+    else: discard
     Result = n
 
   else :
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ proc InsertItem[T,D](APath: RPath[T,D], ANode:PNode[T,D], AKey: T, AValue: D) =
   of cLen3: setLen(APath.Nd.slots, cLenCenter)
   of cLenCenter: setLen(APath.Nd.slots, cLen4)
   of cLen4: setLen(APath.Nd.slots, cLenMax)
-  else: nil
+  else: discard
   for i in countdown(APath.Nd.Count.int - 1, x + 1): shallowCopy(APath.Nd.slots[i], APath.Nd.slots[i - 1])
   APath.Nd.slots[x] = setItem(AKey, AValue, ANode)
 
diff --git a/tests/lookups/tredef.nim b/tests/lookups/tredef.nim
index 02d1f7776..a1647000c 100644
--- a/tests/lookups/tredef.nim
+++ b/tests/lookups/tredef.nim
@@ -1,28 +1,28 @@
-template foo(a: int, b: string) = nil
+template foo(a: int, b: string) = discard
 foo(1, "test")
 
-proc bar(a: int, b: string) = nil
+proc bar(a: int, b: string) = discard
 bar(1, "test")
 
 template foo(a: int, b: string) = bar(a, b)
 foo(1, "test")
 
 block:
-  proc bar(a: int, b: string) = nil
-  template foo(a: int, b: string) = nil
+  proc bar(a: int, b: string) = discard
+  template foo(a: int, b: string) = discard
   foo(1, "test")
   bar(1, "test")
   
 proc baz =
-  proc foo(a: int, b: string) = nil
+  proc foo(a: int, b: string) = discard
   proc foo(b: string) =
-    template bar(a: int, b: string) = nil
+    template bar(a: int, b: string) = discard
     bar(1, "test")
     
   foo("test")
 
   block:
-    proc foo(b: string) = nil
+    proc foo(b: string) = discard
     foo("test")
     foo(1, "test")
 
diff --git a/tests/metatype/tusertypeclasses.nim b/tests/metatype/tusertypeclasses.nim
index 4c2f07b85..4c8c0fc56 100644
--- a/tests/metatype/tusertypeclasses.nim
+++ b/tests/metatype/tusertypeclasses.nim
@@ -26,3 +26,16 @@ foo 10
 foo "test"
 foo(@[TObj(x: 10), TObj(x: 20)])
 
+proc intval(x: int) = discard
+
+# check real and virtual fields
+type
+  TFoo = generic T
+    intval T.x
+    intval T.y
+
+proc y(x: TObj): int = 10
+
+proc testFoo(x: TFoo) = discard
+testFoo(TObj(x: 10))
+
diff --git a/tests/method/tmethods1.nim b/tests/method/tmethods1.nim
index f4add6af4..43a260bca 100644
--- a/tests/method/tmethods1.nim
+++ b/tests/method/tmethods1.nim
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ type
   TSomethingElse = object 
   PSomethingElse = ref TSomethingElse
 
-method foo(a: PNode, b: PSomethingElse) = nil
-method foo(a: PNodeFoo, b: PSomethingElse) = nil
+method foo(a: PNode, b: PSomethingElse) = discard
+method foo(a: PNodeFoo, b: PSomethingElse) = discard
 
 var o: TObject
 o.somethin()
diff --git a/tests/overload/toverwr.nim b/tests/overload/toverwr.nim
index ef25e8913..32d50faaa 100644
--- a/tests/overload/toverwr.nim
+++ b/tests/overload/toverwr.nim
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
-discard """
-  file: "toverwr.nim"
-  output: "hello"
-"""
+discard """

+  file: "toverwr.nim"

+  output: "hello"

+"""

 # Test the overloading resolution in connection with a qualifier

 

 proc write(t: TFile, s: string) =

-  nil # a nop

+  discard # a nop

 

 system.write(stdout, "hello")

 #OUT hello

-
-
+

+

diff --git a/tests/patterns/targlist.nim b/tests/patterns/targlist.nim
index a2fa1fa48..e416edf0a 100644
--- a/tests/patterns/targlist.nim
+++ b/tests/patterns/targlist.nim
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ discard """
   output: "12false3ha"
 """
 
-proc f(x: varargs[string, `$`]) = nil
+proc f(x: varargs[string, `$`]) = discard
 template optF{f(X)}(x: varargs[expr]) = 
   writeln(stdout, x)
 
diff --git a/tests/range/tsubrange2.nim b/tests/range/tsubrange2.nim
index 51598713b..d14111bb9 100644
--- a/tests/range/tsubrange2.nim
+++ b/tests/range/tsubrange2.nim
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ type
   TRange = range[0..40]
   
 proc p(r: TRange) =
-  nil
+  discard
   
 var
   r: TRange
diff --git a/tests/range/tsubrange3.nim b/tests/range/tsubrange3.nim
index b3e02fd29..9afb5018b 100644
--- a/tests/range/tsubrange3.nim
+++ b/tests/range/tsubrange3.nim
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ type
   TRange = range[0..40]
   
 proc p(r: TRange) =
-  nil
+  discard
   
 var
   r: TRange
diff --git a/tests/sets/tsets.nim b/tests/sets/tsets.nim
index 7b806f15b..e370209ed 100644
--- a/tests/sets/tsets.nim
+++ b/tests/sets/tsets.nim
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-discard """
-  file: "tsets.nim"
-  output: "Ha ein F ist in s!"
-"""
+discard """

+  file: "tsets.nim"

+  output: "Ha ein F ist in s!"

+"""

 # Test the handling of sets

 

 import

@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ type
   TTokTypes* = set[TTokTypeRange]

 

 const

-  toktypes: TTokTypes = {TTokTypeRange(tkSymbol)..pred(tkIntLit), 
+  toktypes: TTokTypes = {TTokTypeRange(tkSymbol)..pred(tkIntLit), 

                          tkStrLit..tkTripleStrLit}

 

 var

@@ -51,14 +51,14 @@ else: write(stdout, "BUG: F ist nicht in s!\n")
 a = {} #{'a'..'z'}

 for x in low(TAZ) .. high(TAZ):

   incl(a, x)

-  if x in a: nil

+  if x in a: discard

   else: write(stdout, "BUG: something not in a!\n")

 

 for x in low(TTokTypeRange) .. high(TTokTypeRange):

   if x in tokTypes:

-    nil
+    discard

     #writeln(stdout, "the token '$1' is in the set" % repr(x))

 

 #OUT Ha ein F ist in s!

-
-
+

+

diff --git a/tests/specialops/tdotops.nim b/tests/specialops/tdotops.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ce5b3942d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/specialops/tdotops.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+discard """
+  output: '''
+10
+assigning z = 20
+reading field y
+20
+call to y
+dot call
+no params call to a
+100
+no params call to b
+100
+one param call to c with 10
+100'''
+"""
+
+type
+  T1 = object
+    x*: int
+
+  TD = distinct T1
+
+  T2 = object
+    x: int
+
+proc `.`*(v: T1, f: string): int =
+  echo "reading field ", f
+  return v.x
+
+proc `.=`(x: var T1, f: string{lit}, v: int) =
+  echo "assigning ", f, " = ", v
+  x.x = v
+
+template `.()`(x: T1, f: string, args: varargs[expr]): string =
+  echo "call to ", f
+  "dot call"
+
+echo ""
+
+var t = T1(x: 10)
+
+echo t.x
+t.z = 20
+echo t.y
+echo t.y()
+
+var d = TD(t)
+assert(not compiles(d.y))
+
+proc `.`(v: T2, f: string): int =
+  echo "no params call to ", f
+  return v.x
+
+proc `.`*(v: T2, f: string, a: int): int =
+  echo "one param call to ", f, " with ", a
+  return v.x
+
+var tt = T2(x: 100)
+
+echo tt.a
+echo tt.b()
+echo tt.c(10)
+
+assert(not compiles(tt.d("x")))
+assert(not compiles(tt.d(1, 2)))
+
diff --git a/tests/stdlib/tircbot.nim b/tests/stdlib/tircbot.nim
index 6008838ff..71ecb0b48 100644
--- a/tests/stdlib/tircbot.nim
+++ b/tests/stdlib/tircbot.nim
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ type
     channel: string
     timestamp: TTime
     case kind*: TSeenType
-    of PSeenJoin: nil
+    of PSeenJoin: discard
     of PSeenPart, PSeenQuit, PSeenMsg:
       msg: string
     of PSeenNick:
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ proc setSeen(d: TDb, s: TSeen) =
   var hashToSet = @[("type", $s.kind.int), ("channel", s.channel),
                     ("timestamp", $s.timestamp.int)]
   case s.kind
-  of PSeenJoin: nil
+  of PSeenJoin: discard
   of PSeenPart, PSeenMsg, PSeenQuit:
     hashToSet.add(("msg", s.msg))
   of PSeenNick:
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ proc hubConnect(state: PState) =
 
 proc handleIrc(irc: PAsyncIRC, event: TIRCEvent, state: PState) =
   case event.typ
-  of EvConnected: nil
+  of EvConnected: discard
   of EvDisconnected:
     while not state.ircClient.isConnected:
       try:
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ proc handleIrc(irc: PAsyncIRC, event: TIRCEvent, state: PState) =
       seenNick.newNick = event.params[0]
       state.database.setSeen(seenNick)
     else:
-      nil # TODO: ?
+      discard # TODO: ?
 
 proc open(port: TPort = TPort(5123)): PState =
   var res: PState
diff --git a/tests/stdlib/tmath2.nim b/tests/stdlib/tmath2.nim
index 6a1dae54d..935b08634 100644
--- a/tests/stdlib/tmath2.nim
+++ b/tests/stdlib/tmath2.nim
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # tests for the interpreter

 

 proc loops(a: var int) =

-  nil

+  discard

   #var

   #  b: int

   #b = glob

diff --git a/tests/stdlib/tos.nim b/tests/stdlib/tos.nim
index fa9993cc9..ebe577b00 100644
--- a/tests/stdlib/tos.nim
+++ b/tests/stdlib/tos.nim
@@ -7,6 +7,6 @@ proc walkDirTree(root: string) =
     case k 
     of pcFile, pcLinkToFile: echo(f)
     of pcDir: walkDirTree(f)
-    of pcLinkToDir: nil
+    of pcLinkToDir: discard
 
 walkDirTree(".")
diff --git a/tests/stdlib/tpegs.nim b/tests/stdlib/tpegs.nim
index bdd8db0f8..7775091a1 100644
--- a/tests/stdlib/tpegs.nim
+++ b/tests/stdlib/tpegs.nim
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ type
     rule: TNode                   ## the rule that the symbol refers to
   TNode {.final, shallow.} = object
     case kind: TPegKind
-    of pkEmpty..pkWhitespace: nil
+    of pkEmpty..pkWhitespace: discard
     of pkTerminal, pkTerminalIgnoreCase, pkTerminalIgnoreStyle: term: string
     of pkChar, pkGreedyRepChar: ch: char
     of pkCharChoice, pkGreedyRepSet: charChoice: ref set[char]
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ proc add(d: var TPeg, s: TPeg) {.inline.} = add(d.sons, s)
 proc copyPeg(a: TPeg): TPeg = 
   result.kind = a.kind
   case a.kind
-  of pkEmpty..pkWhitespace: nil
+  of pkEmpty..pkWhitespace: discard
   of pkTerminal, pkTerminalIgnoreCase, pkTerminalIgnoreStyle: 
     result.term = a.term
   of pkChar, pkGreedyRepChar: 
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ when false:
     case a.kind
     of pkEmpty, pkAny, pkAnyRune, pkGreedyAny, pkNewLine, pkTerminal,
        pkTerminalIgnoreCase, pkTerminalIgnoreStyle, pkChar, pkGreedyRepChar,
-       pkCharChoice, pkGreedyRepSet: nil
+       pkCharChoice, pkGreedyRepSet: discard
     of pkNonTerminal: return true
     else:
       for i in 0..a.sons.len-1:
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ proc backrefIgnoreStyle*(index: range[1..MaxSubPatterns]): TPeg {.
 
 proc spaceCost(n: TPeg): int =
   case n.kind
-  of pkEmpty: nil
+  of pkEmpty: discard
   of pkTerminal, pkTerminalIgnoreCase, pkTerminalIgnoreStyle, pkChar,
      pkGreedyRepChar, pkCharChoice, pkGreedyRepSet, 
      pkAny..pkWhitespace, pkGreedyAny:
@@ -1111,7 +1111,7 @@ proc handleHexChar(c: var TPegLexer, xi: var int) =
   of 'A'..'F': 
     xi = (xi shl 4) or (ord(c.buf[c.bufpos]) - ord('A') + 10)
     inc(c.bufpos)
-  else: nil
+  else: discard
 
 proc getEscapedChar(c: var TPegLexer, tok: var TToken) = 
   inc(c.bufpos)
@@ -1341,7 +1341,7 @@ proc getTok(c: var TPegLexer, tok: var TToken) =
       of "i": tok.modifier = modIgnoreCase
       of "y": tok.modifier = modIgnoreStyle
       of "v": tok.modifier = modVerbatim
-      else: nil
+      else: discard
       setLen(tok.literal, 0)
       if c.buf[c.bufpos] == '$':
         getDollar(c, tok)
@@ -1488,7 +1488,7 @@ proc primary(p: var TPegParser): TPeg =
   of tkCurlyAt:
     getTok(p)
     return !*\primary(p).token(p)
-  else: nil
+  else: discard
   case p.tok.kind
   of tkIdentifier:
     if p.identIsVerbatim: 
diff --git a/tests/table/ttableconstr.nim b/tests/table/ttableconstr.nim
index c627e68e8..1a21a18d1 100644
--- a/tests/table/ttableconstr.nim
+++ b/tests/table/ttableconstr.nim
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Test if the new table constructor syntax works:
 
 template ignoreExpr(e: expr): stmt {.immediate.} =
-  nil
+  discard
 
 # test first class '..' syntactical citizen:  
 ignoreExpr x <> 2..4
diff --git a/tests/typerel/typalias.nim b/tests/typerel/typalias.nim
index ba9f38ed9..40ff06765 100644
--- a/tests/typerel/typalias.nim
+++ b/tests/typerel/typalias.nim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ proc init: TYourObj =
   result.y = -1
   
 proc f(x: var TYourObj) =
-  nil
+  discard
   
 var m: TMyObj = init()
 f(m)
diff --git a/tools/nimgrep.nim b/tools/nimgrep.nim
index b20e86a68..28d92402e 100644
--- a/tools/nimgrep.nim
+++ b/tools/nimgrep.nim
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ proc walker(dir: string) =
     of pcDir: 
       if optRecursive in options:
         walker(path)
-    else: nil
+    else: discard
   if existsFile(dir): processFile(dir)
 
 proc writeHelp() = 
diff --git a/web/news.txt b/web/news.txt
index a045eb880..b28e5c64a 100644
--- a/web/news.txt
+++ b/web/news.txt
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ Language Additions
 - Exported templates are allowed to access hidden fields.
 - The ``using statement`` enables you to more easily author domain-specific
   languages and libraries providing OOP-like syntactic sugar.
-- Added a new ``delegator pragma`` for handling calls to missing procs and
-  fields at compile-time.
+- Added the possibility to override various dot operators in order to handle
+  calls to missing procs and reads from undeclared fields at compile-time.
 - The overload resolution now supports ``static[T]`` params that must be
   evaluable at compile-time.
 - Support for user-defined type classes has been added.