summary refs log tree commit diff stats
diff options
context:
space:
mode:
-rw-r--r--compiler/ast.nim37
-rw-r--r--compiler/astalgo.nim667
-rw-r--r--compiler/canonicalizer.nim14
-rw-r--r--compiler/ccgcalls.nim217
-rw-r--r--compiler/ccgexprs.nim385
-rw-r--r--compiler/ccgmerge.nim74
-rw-r--r--compiler/ccgstmts.nim180
-rw-r--r--compiler/ccgthreadvars.nim28
-rw-r--r--compiler/ccgtrav.nim98
-rw-r--r--compiler/ccgtypes.nim478
-rw-r--r--compiler/ccgutils.nim6
-rw-r--r--compiler/cgen.nim479
-rw-r--r--compiler/cgendata.nim26
-rw-r--r--compiler/commands.nim184
-rw-r--r--compiler/depends.nim30
-rw-r--r--compiler/docgen.nim124
-rw-r--r--compiler/extccomp.nim40
-rw-r--r--compiler/installer.ini2
-rw-r--r--compiler/jsgen.nim545
-rw-r--r--compiler/jstypes.nim172
-rw-r--r--compiler/lambdalifting.nim108
-rw-r--r--compiler/lexer.nim27
-rw-r--r--compiler/lowerings.nim4
-rw-r--r--compiler/main.nim1
-rw-r--r--compiler/msgs.nim37
-rw-r--r--compiler/options.nim70
-rw-r--r--compiler/parampatterns.nim7
-rw-r--r--compiler/parser.nim41
-rw-r--r--compiler/pragmas.nim17
-rw-r--r--compiler/renderer.nim1
-rw-r--r--compiler/rodread.nim4
-rw-r--r--compiler/rodwrite.nim4
-rw-r--r--compiler/ropes.nim330
-rw-r--r--compiler/sem.nim2
-rw-r--r--compiler/semasgn.nim341
-rw-r--r--compiler/semcall.nim3
-rw-r--r--compiler/semdata.nim70
-rw-r--r--compiler/semdestruct.nim33
-rw-r--r--compiler/semexprs.nim27
-rw-r--r--compiler/semfold.nim280
-rw-r--r--compiler/seminst.nim5
-rw-r--r--compiler/semmagic.nim43
-rw-r--r--compiler/sempass2.nim52
-rw-r--r--compiler/semstmts.nim113
-rw-r--r--compiler/semtempl.nim2
-rw-r--r--compiler/semtypes.nim29
-rw-r--r--compiler/semtypinst.nim24
-rw-r--r--compiler/sigmatch.nim29
-rw-r--r--compiler/trees.nim84
-rw-r--r--compiler/types.nim5
-rw-r--r--compiler/vm.nim9
-rw-r--r--compiler/vmdef.nim42
-rw-r--r--compiler/vmdeps.nim5
-rw-r--r--compiler/vmgen.nim12
-rw-r--r--doc/manual/generics.txt2
-rw-r--r--doc/manual/lexing.txt2
-rw-r--r--doc/manual/pragmas.txt69
-rw-r--r--doc/manual/procs.txt43
-rw-r--r--doc/manual/syntax.txt17
-rw-r--r--doc/manual/threads.txt42
-rw-r--r--doc/manual/type_bound_ops.txt62
-rw-r--r--doc/manual/types.txt6
-rw-r--r--doc/nimc.txt21
-rw-r--r--doc/tut2.txt25
-rw-r--r--lib/core/macros.nim16
-rw-r--r--lib/impure/re.nim158
-rw-r--r--lib/js/dom.nim233
-rw-r--r--lib/packages/docutils/rst.nim912
-rw-r--r--lib/packages/docutils/rstast.nim83
-rw-r--r--lib/packages/docutils/rstgen.nim264
-rw-r--r--lib/posix/posix.nim8
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/algorithm.nim14
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/asyncdispatch.nim11
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/asyncftpclient.nim4
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/asyncio.nim96
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/collections/intsets.nim66
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/collections/sets.nim351
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/collections/tables.nim2
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/concurrency/threadpool.nim2
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/ftpclient.nim52
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/httpclient.nim10
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/json.nim86
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/logging.nim68
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/math.nim7
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/osproc.nim16
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/rationals.nim20
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/rawsockets.nim7
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/ropes.nim168
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/strutils.nim42
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/times.nim2
-rw-r--r--lib/pure/unicode.nim1930
-rw-r--r--lib/system.nim191
-rw-r--r--lib/system/alloc.nim208
-rw-r--r--lib/system/atomics.nim2
-rw-r--r--lib/system/gc_ms.nim2
-rw-r--r--lib/system/mmdisp.nim24
-rw-r--r--lib/system/sysio.nim105
-rw-r--r--lib/windows/windows.nim10
-rw-r--r--lib/wrappers/iup.nim228
-rw-r--r--lib/wrappers/pcre.nim762
-rw-r--r--tests/array/troof1.nim36
-rw-r--r--tests/array/troof2.nim10
-rw-r--r--tests/array/troof3.nim8
-rw-r--r--tests/array/troof4.nim37
-rw-r--r--tests/assert/tfailedassert.nim2
-rw-r--r--tests/assign/moverload_asgn2.nim10
-rw-r--r--tests/assign/toverload_asgn1.nim75
-rw-r--r--tests/assign/toverload_asgn2.nim22
-rw-r--r--tests/async/tasynctry.nim12
-rw-r--r--tests/async/tasynctry2.nim16
-rw-r--r--tests/ccgbugs/tarray_equality.nim15
-rw-r--r--tests/cpp/tget_subsystem.nim23
-rw-r--r--tests/cpp/tvector_iterator.nim19
-rw-r--r--tests/destructor/tdestructor.nim16
-rw-r--r--tests/destructor/tdestructor2.nim8
-rw-r--r--tests/effects/tgcsafe.nim2
-rw-r--r--tests/exception/texceptions.nim6
-rw-r--r--tests/exception/treraise.nim4
-rw-r--r--tests/exprs/texprstmt.nim2
-rw-r--r--tests/generics/tunique_type.nim2
-rw-r--r--tests/generics/twrong_generic_object.nim21
-rw-r--r--tests/js/test2.nim11
-rw-r--r--tests/js/tunittests.nim7
-rw-r--r--tests/macros/tlexerex.nim16
-rw-r--r--tests/macros/ttryparseexpr.nim1
-rw-r--r--tests/macros/typesapi2.nim49
-rw-r--r--tests/metatype/tautoproc.nim6
-rw-r--r--tests/misc/tcharinc.nim10
-rw-r--r--tests/misc/tgtk.nim53
-rw-r--r--tests/misc/tlibs.nim28
-rw-r--r--tests/misc/tnewlibs.nim21
-rw-r--r--tests/misc/tslices.nim6
-rw-r--r--tests/misc/tunsignedinc.nim14
-rw-r--r--tests/notnil/tnotnil_in_objconstr.nim14
-rw-r--r--tests/objects/tillegal_recursion.nim7
-rw-r--r--tests/objects/tobjloop.nim15
-rw-r--r--tests/objects/trefobjsyntax2.nim19
-rw-r--r--tests/overload/tstmtoverload.nim38
-rw-r--r--tests/parallel/tgc_unsafe2.nim39
-rw-r--r--tests/parallel/twrong_refcounts.nim53
-rw-r--r--tests/parser/tstrongspaces.nim33
-rw-r--r--tests/stdlib/treloop.nim9
-rw-r--r--tests/system/tsettostring.nim (renamed from tests/system/settostring.nim)0
-rw-r--r--tests/template/ttempl2.nim8
-rw-r--r--tests/testament/categories.nim36
-rw-r--r--tests/testament/specs.nim6
-rw-r--r--tests/testament/tester.nim19
-rw-r--r--tests/tuples/tuint_tuple.nim10
-rw-r--r--tests/types/tisopr.nim41
-rw-r--r--todo.txt10
-rw-r--r--web/news.txt44
151 files changed, 7252 insertions, 5813 deletions
diff --git a/compiler/ast.nim b/compiler/ast.nim
index d94f09ccb..1b14a8f79 100644
--- a/compiler/ast.nim
+++ b/compiler/ast.nim
@@ -296,6 +296,7 @@ const
   sfCompileToCpp* = sfInfixCall       # compile the module as C++ code
   sfCompileToObjc* = sfNamedParamCall # compile the module as Objective-C code
   sfExperimental* = sfOverriden       # module uses the .experimental switch
+  sfGoto* = sfOverriden               # var is used for 'goto' code generation
 
 const
   # getting ready for the future expr/stmt merge
@@ -472,7 +473,7 @@ type
                       # T and I here can bind to both typedesc and static types
                       # before this is determined, we'll consider them to be a
                       # wildcard type.
-    tfGuarded         # guarded pointer
+    tfHasAsgn         # type has overloaded assignment operator
     tfBorrowDot       # distinct type borrows '.'
 
   TTypeFlags* = set[TTypeFlag]
@@ -529,7 +530,7 @@ type
   TMagic* = enum # symbols that require compiler magic:
     mNone,
     mDefined, mDefinedInScope, mCompiles,
-    mLow, mHigh, mSizeOf, mTypeTrait, mIs, mOf, mAddr, mTypeOf,
+    mLow, mHigh, mSizeOf, mTypeTrait, mIs, mOf, mAddr, mTypeOf, mRoof,
     mEcho, mShallowCopy, mSlurp, mStaticExec,
     mParseExprToAst, mParseStmtToAst, mExpandToAst, mQuoteAst,
     mUnaryLt, mInc, mDec, mOrd, mNew, mNewFinalize, mNewSeq, mLengthOpenArray,
@@ -557,6 +558,7 @@ type
     mIntToStr, mInt64ToStr, mFloatToStr, mCStrToStr, mStrToStr, mEnumToStr,
     mAnd, mOr, mEqStr, mLeStr, mLtStr, mEqSet, mLeSet, mLtSet, mMulSet,
     mPlusSet, mMinusSet, mSymDiffSet, mConStrStr, mSlice,
+    mDotDot, # this one is only necessary to give nice compile time warnings
     mFields, mFieldPairs, mOmpParFor,
     mAppendStrCh, mAppendStrStr, mAppendSeqElem,
     mInRange, mInSet, mRepr, mExit, mSetLengthStr, mSetLengthSeq,
@@ -684,8 +686,8 @@ type
     s*: TStorageLoc
     flags*: TLocFlags         # location's flags
     t*: PType                 # type of location
-    r*: PRope                 # rope value of location (code generators)
-    heapRoot*: PRope          # keeps track of the enclosing heap object that
+    r*: Rope                 # rope value of location (code generators)
+    heapRoot*: Rope          # keeps track of the enclosing heap object that
                               # owns this location (required by GC algorithms
                               # employing heap snapshots or sliding views)
 
@@ -697,7 +699,7 @@ type
     kind*: TLibKind
     generated*: bool          # needed for the backends:
     isOverriden*: bool
-    name*: PRope
+    name*: Rope
     path*: PNode              # can be a string literal!
 
   TInstantiation* = object
@@ -727,7 +729,8 @@ type
       typScope*: PScope
     of routineKinds:
       procInstCache*: seq[PInstantiation]
-      scope*: PScope          # the scope where the proc was defined
+      gcUnsafetyReason*: PSym  # for better error messages wrt gcsafe
+      #scope*: PScope          # the scope where the proc was defined
     of skModule:
       # modules keep track of the generic symbols they use from other modules.
       # this is because in incremental compilation, when a module is about to
@@ -793,8 +796,8 @@ type
                               # for enum types a list of symbols
                               # for tyInt it can be the int literal
                               # for procs and tyGenericBody, it's the
-                              # the body of the user-defined type class
                               # formal param list
+                              # for concepts, the concept body
                               # else: unused
     owner*: PSym              # the 'owner' of the type
     sym*: PSym                # types have the sym associated with them
@@ -803,6 +806,7 @@ type
                               # mean that there is no destructor.
                               # see instantiateDestructor in semdestruct.nim
     deepCopy*: PSym           # overriden 'deepCopy' operation
+    assignment*: PSym         # overriden '=' operator
     size*: BiggestInt         # the size of the type in bytes
                               # -1 means that the size is unkwown
     align*: int16             # the type's alignment requirements
@@ -1167,7 +1171,9 @@ proc newType*(kind: TTypeKind, owner: PSym): PType =
   result.lockLevel = UnspecifiedLockLevel
   when debugIds:
     registerId(result)
-  #if result.id < 2000:
+  #if result.id == 92231:
+  #  echo "KNID ", kind
+  #  writeStackTrace()
   #  messageOut(typeKindToStr[kind] & ' has id: ' & toString(result.id))
 
 proc mergeLoc(a: var TLoc, b: TLoc) =
@@ -1217,6 +1223,7 @@ proc assignType*(dest, src: PType) =
   dest.align = src.align
   dest.destructor = src.destructor
   dest.deepCopy = src.deepCopy
+  dest.assignment = src.assignment
   dest.lockLevel = src.lockLevel
   # this fixes 'type TLock = TSysLock':
   if src.sym != nil:
@@ -1313,6 +1320,13 @@ proc skipTypes*(t: PType, kinds: TTypeKinds): PType =
   result = t
   while result.kind in kinds: result = lastSon(result)
 
+proc skipTypesOrNil*(t: PType, kinds: TTypeKinds): PType =
+  ## same as skipTypes but handles 'nil'
+  result = t
+  while result != nil and result.kind in kinds:
+    if result.len == 0: return nil
+    result = lastSon(result)
+
 proc isGCedMem*(t: PType): bool {.inline.} =
   result = t.kind in {tyString, tyRef, tySequence} or
            t.kind == tyProc and t.callConv == ccClosure
@@ -1333,6 +1347,13 @@ proc propagateToOwner*(owner, elem: PType) =
   if elem.isMetaType:
     owner.flags.incl tfHasMeta
 
+  if tfHasAsgn in elem.flags:
+    let o2 = elem.skipTypes({tyGenericInst})
+    if o2.kind in {tyTuple, tyObject, tyArray, tyArrayConstr,
+                   tySequence, tySet, tyDistinct}:
+      o2.flags.incl tfHasAsgn
+      owner.flags.incl tfHasAsgn
+
   if owner.kind notin {tyProc, tyGenericInst, tyGenericBody,
                        tyGenericInvocation}:
     let elemB = elem.skipTypes({tyGenericInst})
diff --git a/compiler/astalgo.nim b/compiler/astalgo.nim
index c53e53b88..1707718d7 100644
--- a/compiler/astalgo.nim
+++ b/compiler/astalgo.nim
@@ -11,18 +11,18 @@
 # and sets of nodes are supported. Efficiency is important as
 # the data structures here are used in various places of the compiler.
 
-import 
+import
   ast, hashes, intsets, strutils, options, msgs, ropes, idents, rodutils
 
 proc hashNode*(p: RootRef): THash
-proc treeToYaml*(n: PNode, indent: int = 0, maxRecDepth: int = - 1): PRope
+proc treeToYaml*(n: PNode, indent: int = 0, maxRecDepth: int = - 1): Rope
   # Convert a tree into its YAML representation; this is used by the
   # YAML code generator and it is invaluable for debugging purposes.
   # If maxRecDepht <> -1 then it won't print the whole graph.
-proc typeToYaml*(n: PType, indent: int = 0, maxRecDepth: int = - 1): PRope
-proc symToYaml*(n: PSym, indent: int = 0, maxRecDepth: int = - 1): PRope
-proc lineInfoToStr*(info: TLineInfo): PRope
-  
+proc typeToYaml*(n: PType, indent: int = 0, maxRecDepth: int = - 1): Rope
+proc symToYaml*(n: PSym, indent: int = 0, maxRecDepth: int = - 1): Rope
+proc lineInfoToStr*(info: TLineInfo): Rope
+
 # ----------------------- node sets: ---------------------------------------
 proc objectSetContains*(t: TObjectSet, obj: RootRef): bool
   # returns true whether n is in t
@@ -34,10 +34,10 @@ proc objectSetContainsOrIncl*(t: var TObjectSet, obj: RootRef): bool
 # ----------------------- (key, val)-Hashtables ----------------------------
 proc tablePut*(t: var TTable, key, val: RootRef)
 proc tableGet*(t: TTable, key: RootRef): RootRef
-type 
+type
   TCmpProc* = proc (key, closure: RootRef): bool {.nimcall.} # true if found
 
-proc tableSearch*(t: TTable, key, closure: RootRef, 
+proc tableSearch*(t: TTable, key, closure: RootRef,
                   comparator: TCmpProc): RootRef
   # return val as soon as comparator returns true; if this never happens,
   # nil is returned
@@ -45,16 +45,16 @@ proc tableSearch*(t: TTable, key, closure: RootRef,
 # ----------------------- str table -----------------------------------------
 proc strTableContains*(t: TStrTable, n: PSym): bool
 proc strTableAdd*(t: var TStrTable, n: PSym)
-proc strTableGet*(t: TStrTable, name: PIdent): PSym  
-  
-type 
+proc strTableGet*(t: TStrTable, name: PIdent): PSym
+
+type
   TTabIter*{.final.} = object # consider all fields here private
     h*: THash                 # current hash
 
 proc initTabIter*(ti: var TTabIter, tab: TStrTable): PSym
 proc nextIter*(ti: var TTabIter, tab: TStrTable): PSym
   # usage:
-  # var 
+  # var
   #   i: TTabIter
   #   s: PSym
   # s = InitTabIter(i, table)
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ proc nextIter*(ti: var TTabIter, tab: TStrTable): PSym
   #   s = NextIter(i, table)
   #
 
-type 
+type
   TIdentIter*{.final.} = object # iterator over all syms with same identifier
     h*: THash                   # current hash
     name*: PIdent
@@ -97,11 +97,11 @@ proc mustRehash*(length, counter: int): bool
 proc nextTry*(h, maxHash: THash): THash {.inline.}
 
 # ------------- table[int, int] ---------------------------------------------
-const 
+const
   InvalidKey* = low(int)
 
-type 
-  TIIPair*{.final.} = object 
+type
+  TIIPair*{.final.} = object
     key*, val*: int
 
   TIIPairSeq* = seq[TIIPair]
@@ -127,21 +127,21 @@ proc skipConvAndClosure*(n: PNode): PNode =
       result = result.sons[1]
     else: break
 
-proc sameValue*(a, b: PNode): bool = 
+proc sameValue*(a, b: PNode): bool =
   result = false
   case a.kind
-  of nkCharLit..nkUInt64Lit: 
+  of nkCharLit..nkUInt64Lit:
     if b.kind in {nkCharLit..nkUInt64Lit}: result = a.intVal == b.intVal
-  of nkFloatLit..nkFloat64Lit: 
+  of nkFloatLit..nkFloat64Lit:
     if b.kind in {nkFloatLit..nkFloat64Lit}: result = a.floatVal == b.floatVal
-  of nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit: 
+  of nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit:
     if b.kind in {nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit}: result = a.strVal == b.strVal
   else:
     # don't raise an internal error for 'nimrod check':
     #InternalError(a.info, "SameValue")
     discard
 
-proc leValue*(a, b: PNode): bool = 
+proc leValue*(a, b: PNode): bool =
   # a <= b?
   result = false
   case a.kind
@@ -162,289 +162,289 @@ proc weakLeValue*(a, b: PNode): TImplication =
   else:
     result = if leValue(a, b): impYes else: impNo
 
-proc lookupInRecord(n: PNode, field: PIdent): PSym = 
+proc lookupInRecord(n: PNode, field: PIdent): PSym =
   result = nil
   case n.kind
-  of nkRecList: 
-    for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1): 
+  of nkRecList:
+    for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
       result = lookupInRecord(n.sons[i], field)
-      if result != nil: return 
-  of nkRecCase: 
+      if result != nil: return
+  of nkRecCase:
     if (n.sons[0].kind != nkSym): internalError(n.info, "lookupInRecord")
     result = lookupInRecord(n.sons[0], field)
-    if result != nil: return 
-    for i in countup(1, sonsLen(n) - 1): 
+    if result != nil: return
+    for i in countup(1, sonsLen(n) - 1):
       case n.sons[i].kind
-      of nkOfBranch, nkElse: 
+      of nkOfBranch, nkElse:
         result = lookupInRecord(lastSon(n.sons[i]), field)
-        if result != nil: return 
+        if result != nil: return
       else: internalError(n.info, "lookupInRecord(record case branch)")
-  of nkSym: 
+  of nkSym:
     if n.sym.name.id == field.id: result = n.sym
   else: internalError(n.info, "lookupInRecord()")
-  
-proc getModule(s: PSym): PSym = 
+
+proc getModule(s: PSym): PSym =
   result = s
   assert((result.kind == skModule) or (result.owner != result))
   while result != nil and result.kind != skModule: result = result.owner
-  
-proc getSymFromList(list: PNode, ident: PIdent, start: int = 0): PSym = 
-  for i in countup(start, sonsLen(list) - 1): 
+
+proc getSymFromList(list: PNode, ident: PIdent, start: int = 0): PSym =
+  for i in countup(start, sonsLen(list) - 1):
     if list.sons[i].kind == nkSym:
       result = list.sons[i].sym
-      if result.name.id == ident.id: return 
+      if result.name.id == ident.id: return
     else: internalError(list.info, "getSymFromList")
   result = nil
 
-proc hashNode(p: RootRef): THash = 
+proc hashNode(p: RootRef): THash =
   result = hash(cast[pointer](p))
 
-proc mustRehash(length, counter: int): bool = 
+proc mustRehash(length, counter: int): bool =
   assert(length > counter)
   result = (length * 2 < counter * 3) or (length - counter < 4)
 
-proc rspaces(x: int): PRope = 
+proc rspaces(x: int): Rope =
   # returns x spaces
-  result = toRope(spaces(x))
+  result = rope(spaces(x))
 
-proc toYamlChar(c: char): string = 
+proc toYamlChar(c: char): string =
   case c
   of '\0'..'\x1F', '\x80'..'\xFF': result = "\\u" & strutils.toHex(ord(c), 4)
   of '\'', '\"', '\\': result = '\\' & c
   else: result = $c
-  
-proc makeYamlString*(s: string): PRope = 
+
+proc makeYamlString*(s: string): Rope =
   # We have to split long strings into many ropes. Otherwise
   # this could trigger InternalError(111). See the ropes module for
   # further information.
   const MaxLineLength = 64
   result = nil
   var res = "\""
-  for i in countup(0, if s.isNil: -1 else: (len(s)-1)): 
-    if (i + 1) mod MaxLineLength == 0: 
+  for i in countup(0, if s.isNil: -1 else: (len(s)-1)):
+    if (i + 1) mod MaxLineLength == 0:
       add(res, '\"')
       add(res, "\n")
-      app(result, toRope(res))
+      add(result, rope(res))
       res = "\""              # reset
     add(res, toYamlChar(s[i]))
   add(res, '\"')
-  app(result, toRope(res))
+  add(result, rope(res))
 
-proc flagsToStr[T](flags: set[T]): PRope = 
-  if flags == {}: 
-    result = toRope("[]")
-  else: 
+proc flagsToStr[T](flags: set[T]): Rope =
+  if flags == {}:
+    result = rope("[]")
+  else:
     result = nil
-    for x in items(flags): 
-      if result != nil: app(result, ", ")
-      app(result, makeYamlString($x))
-    result = con("[", con(result, "]"))
-
-proc lineInfoToStr(info: TLineInfo): PRope = 
-  result = ropef("[$1, $2, $3]", [makeYamlString(toFilename(info)), 
-                                  toRope(toLinenumber(info)), 
-                                  toRope(toColumn(info))])
-
-proc treeToYamlAux(n: PNode, marker: var IntSet, 
-                   indent, maxRecDepth: int): PRope
-proc symToYamlAux(n: PSym, marker: var IntSet, 
-                  indent, maxRecDepth: int): PRope
-proc typeToYamlAux(n: PType, marker: var IntSet, 
-                   indent, maxRecDepth: int): PRope
-proc strTableToYaml(n: TStrTable, marker: var IntSet, indent: int, 
-                    maxRecDepth: int): PRope = 
+    for x in items(flags):
+      if result != nil: add(result, ", ")
+      add(result, makeYamlString($x))
+    result = "[" & result & "]"
+
+proc lineInfoToStr(info: TLineInfo): Rope =
+  result = "[$1, $2, $3]" % [makeYamlString(toFilename(info)),
+                             rope(toLinenumber(info)),
+                             rope(toColumn(info))]
+
+proc treeToYamlAux(n: PNode, marker: var IntSet,
+                   indent, maxRecDepth: int): Rope
+proc symToYamlAux(n: PSym, marker: var IntSet,
+                  indent, maxRecDepth: int): Rope
+proc typeToYamlAux(n: PType, marker: var IntSet,
+                   indent, maxRecDepth: int): Rope
+proc strTableToYaml(n: TStrTable, marker: var IntSet, indent: int,
+                    maxRecDepth: int): Rope =
   var istr = rspaces(indent + 2)
-  result = toRope("[")
+  result = rope("[")
   var mycount = 0
-  for i in countup(0, high(n.data)): 
-    if n.data[i] != nil: 
-      if mycount > 0: app(result, ",")
-      appf(result, "$N$1$2", 
+  for i in countup(0, high(n.data)):
+    if n.data[i] != nil:
+      if mycount > 0: add(result, ",")
+      addf(result, "$N$1$2",
            [istr, symToYamlAux(n.data[i], marker, indent + 2, maxRecDepth - 1)])
       inc(mycount)
-  if mycount > 0: appf(result, "$N$1", [rspaces(indent)])
-  app(result, "]")
+  if mycount > 0: addf(result, "$N$1", [rspaces(indent)])
+  add(result, "]")
   assert(mycount == n.counter)
 
-proc ropeConstr(indent: int, c: openArray[PRope]): PRope = 
+proc ropeConstr(indent: int, c: openArray[Rope]): Rope =
   # array of (name, value) pairs
   var istr = rspaces(indent + 2)
-  result = toRope("{")
+  result = rope("{")
   var i = 0
-  while i <= high(c): 
-    if i > 0: app(result, ",")
-    appf(result, "$N$1\"$2\": $3", [istr, c[i], c[i + 1]])
+  while i <= high(c):
+    if i > 0: add(result, ",")
+    addf(result, "$N$1\"$2\": $3", [istr, c[i], c[i + 1]])
     inc(i, 2)
-  appf(result, "$N$1}", [rspaces(indent)])
-
-proc symToYamlAux(n: PSym, marker: var IntSet, indent: int, 
-                  maxRecDepth: int): PRope = 
-  if n == nil: 
-    result = toRope("null")
-  elif containsOrIncl(marker, n.id): 
-    result = ropef("\"$1 @$2\"", [toRope(n.name.s), toRope(
-        strutils.toHex(cast[ByteAddress](n), sizeof(n) * 2))])
-  else: 
+  addf(result, "$N$1}", [rspaces(indent)])
+
+proc symToYamlAux(n: PSym, marker: var IntSet, indent: int,
+                  maxRecDepth: int): Rope =
+  if n == nil:
+    result = rope("null")
+  elif containsOrIncl(marker, n.id):
+    result = "\"$1 @$2\"" % [rope(n.name.s), rope(
+        strutils.toHex(cast[ByteAddress](n), sizeof(n) * 2))]
+  else:
     var ast = treeToYamlAux(n.ast, marker, indent + 2, maxRecDepth - 1)
-    result = ropeConstr(indent, [toRope("kind"), 
-                                 makeYamlString($n.kind), 
-                                 toRope("name"), makeYamlString(n.name.s), 
-                                 toRope("typ"), typeToYamlAux(n.typ, marker, 
-                                   indent + 2, maxRecDepth - 1), 
-                                 toRope("info"), lineInfoToStr(n.info), 
-                                 toRope("flags"), flagsToStr(n.flags), 
-                                 toRope("magic"), makeYamlString($n.magic), 
-                                 toRope("ast"), ast, toRope("options"), 
-                                 flagsToStr(n.options), toRope("position"), 
-                                 toRope(n.position)])
-
-proc typeToYamlAux(n: PType, marker: var IntSet, indent: int, 
-                   maxRecDepth: int): PRope = 
-  if n == nil: 
-    result = toRope("null")
-  elif containsOrIncl(marker, n.id): 
-    result = ropef("\"$1 @$2\"", [toRope($n.kind), toRope(
-        strutils.toHex(cast[ByteAddress](n), sizeof(n) * 2))])
-  else: 
-    if sonsLen(n) > 0: 
-      result = toRope("[")
-      for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1): 
-        if i > 0: app(result, ",")
-        appf(result, "$N$1$2", [rspaces(indent + 4), typeToYamlAux(n.sons[i], 
+    result = ropeConstr(indent, [rope("kind"),
+                                 makeYamlString($n.kind),
+                                 rope("name"), makeYamlString(n.name.s),
+                                 rope("typ"), typeToYamlAux(n.typ, marker,
+                                   indent + 2, maxRecDepth - 1),
+                                 rope("info"), lineInfoToStr(n.info),
+                                 rope("flags"), flagsToStr(n.flags),
+                                 rope("magic"), makeYamlString($n.magic),
+                                 rope("ast"), ast, rope("options"),
+                                 flagsToStr(n.options), rope("position"),
+                                 rope(n.position)])
+
+proc typeToYamlAux(n: PType, marker: var IntSet, indent: int,
+                   maxRecDepth: int): Rope =
+  if n == nil:
+    result = rope("null")
+  elif containsOrIncl(marker, n.id):
+    result = "\"$1 @$2\"" % [rope($n.kind), rope(
+        strutils.toHex(cast[ByteAddress](n), sizeof(n) * 2))]
+  else:
+    if sonsLen(n) > 0:
+      result = rope("[")
+      for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
+        if i > 0: add(result, ",")
+        addf(result, "$N$1$2", [rspaces(indent + 4), typeToYamlAux(n.sons[i],
             marker, indent + 4, maxRecDepth - 1)])
-      appf(result, "$N$1]", [rspaces(indent + 2)])
-    else: 
-      result = toRope("null")
-    result = ropeConstr(indent, [toRope("kind"), 
-                                 makeYamlString($n.kind), 
-                                 toRope("sym"), symToYamlAux(n.sym, marker, 
-        indent + 2, maxRecDepth - 1), toRope("n"), treeToYamlAux(n.n, marker, 
-        indent + 2, maxRecDepth - 1), toRope("flags"), flagsToStr(n.flags), 
-                                 toRope("callconv"), 
-                                 makeYamlString(CallingConvToStr[n.callConv]), 
-                                 toRope("size"), toRope(n.size), 
-                                 toRope("align"), toRope(n.align), 
-                                 toRope("sons"), result])
-
-proc treeToYamlAux(n: PNode, marker: var IntSet, indent: int, 
-                   maxRecDepth: int): PRope = 
-  if n == nil: 
-    result = toRope("null")
-  else: 
+      addf(result, "$N$1]", [rspaces(indent + 2)])
+    else:
+      result = rope("null")
+    result = ropeConstr(indent, [rope("kind"),
+                                 makeYamlString($n.kind),
+                                 rope("sym"), symToYamlAux(n.sym, marker,
+        indent + 2, maxRecDepth - 1), rope("n"), treeToYamlAux(n.n, marker,
+        indent + 2, maxRecDepth - 1), rope("flags"), flagsToStr(n.flags),
+                                 rope("callconv"),
+                                 makeYamlString(CallingConvToStr[n.callConv]),
+                                 rope("size"), rope(n.size),
+                                 rope("align"), rope(n.align),
+                                 rope("sons"), result])
+
+proc treeToYamlAux(n: PNode, marker: var IntSet, indent: int,
+                   maxRecDepth: int): Rope =
+  if n == nil:
+    result = rope("null")
+  else:
     var istr = rspaces(indent + 2)
-    result = ropef("{$N$1\"kind\": $2", [istr, makeYamlString($n.kind)])
-    if maxRecDepth != 0: 
-      appf(result, ",$N$1\"info\": $2", [istr, lineInfoToStr(n.info)])
+    result = "{$N$1\"kind\": $2" % [istr, makeYamlString($n.kind)]
+    if maxRecDepth != 0:
+      addf(result, ",$N$1\"info\": $2", [istr, lineInfoToStr(n.info)])
       case n.kind
-      of nkCharLit..nkInt64Lit: 
-        appf(result, ",$N$1\"intVal\": $2", [istr, toRope(n.intVal)])
-      of nkFloatLit, nkFloat32Lit, nkFloat64Lit: 
-        appf(result, ",$N$1\"floatVal\": $2", 
-            [istr, toRope(n.floatVal.toStrMaxPrecision)])
-      of nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit: 
+      of nkCharLit..nkInt64Lit:
+        addf(result, ",$N$1\"intVal\": $2", [istr, rope(n.intVal)])
+      of nkFloatLit, nkFloat32Lit, nkFloat64Lit:
+        addf(result, ",$N$1\"floatVal\": $2",
+            [istr, rope(n.floatVal.toStrMaxPrecision)])
+      of nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit:
         if n.strVal.isNil:
-          appf(result, ",$N$1\"strVal\": null", [istr])
+          addf(result, ",$N$1\"strVal\": null", [istr])
         else:
-          appf(result, ",$N$1\"strVal\": $2", [istr, makeYamlString(n.strVal)])
-      of nkSym: 
-        appf(result, ",$N$1\"sym\": $2", 
+          addf(result, ",$N$1\"strVal\": $2", [istr, makeYamlString(n.strVal)])
+      of nkSym:
+        addf(result, ",$N$1\"sym\": $2",
              [istr, symToYamlAux(n.sym, marker, indent + 2, maxRecDepth)])
-      of nkIdent: 
-        if n.ident != nil: 
-          appf(result, ",$N$1\"ident\": $2", [istr, makeYamlString(n.ident.s)])
-        else: 
-          appf(result, ",$N$1\"ident\": null", [istr])
-      else: 
-        if sonsLen(n) > 0: 
-          appf(result, ",$N$1\"sons\": [", [istr])
-          for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1): 
-            if i > 0: app(result, ",")
-            appf(result, "$N$1$2", [rspaces(indent + 4), treeToYamlAux(n.sons[i], 
+      of nkIdent:
+        if n.ident != nil:
+          addf(result, ",$N$1\"ident\": $2", [istr, makeYamlString(n.ident.s)])
+        else:
+          addf(result, ",$N$1\"ident\": null", [istr])
+      else:
+        if sonsLen(n) > 0:
+          addf(result, ",$N$1\"sons\": [", [istr])
+          for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
+            if i > 0: add(result, ",")
+            addf(result, "$N$1$2", [rspaces(indent + 4), treeToYamlAux(n.sons[i],
                 marker, indent + 4, maxRecDepth - 1)])
-          appf(result, "$N$1]", [istr])
-      appf(result, ",$N$1\"typ\": $2", 
+          addf(result, "$N$1]", [istr])
+      addf(result, ",$N$1\"typ\": $2",
            [istr, typeToYamlAux(n.typ, marker, indent + 2, maxRecDepth)])
-    appf(result, "$N$1}", [rspaces(indent)])
+    addf(result, "$N$1}", [rspaces(indent)])
 
-proc treeToYaml(n: PNode, indent: int = 0, maxRecDepth: int = - 1): PRope = 
+proc treeToYaml(n: PNode, indent: int = 0, maxRecDepth: int = - 1): Rope =
   var marker = initIntSet()
   result = treeToYamlAux(n, marker, indent, maxRecDepth)
 
-proc typeToYaml(n: PType, indent: int = 0, maxRecDepth: int = - 1): PRope = 
+proc typeToYaml(n: PType, indent: int = 0, maxRecDepth: int = - 1): Rope =
   var marker = initIntSet()
   result = typeToYamlAux(n, marker, indent, maxRecDepth)
 
-proc symToYaml(n: PSym, indent: int = 0, maxRecDepth: int = - 1): PRope = 
+proc symToYaml(n: PSym, indent: int = 0, maxRecDepth: int = - 1): Rope =
   var marker = initIntSet()
   result = symToYamlAux(n, marker, indent, maxRecDepth)
 
-proc debugTree(n: PNode, indent: int, maxRecDepth: int; renderType=false): PRope
-proc debugType(n: PType, maxRecDepth=100): PRope = 
-  if n == nil: 
-    result = toRope("null")
+proc debugTree*(n: PNode, indent: int, maxRecDepth: int; renderType=false): Rope
+proc debugType(n: PType, maxRecDepth=100): Rope =
+  if n == nil:
+    result = rope("null")
   else:
-    result = toRope($n.kind)
-    if n.sym != nil: 
-      app(result, " ")
-      app(result, n.sym.name.s)
+    result = rope($n.kind)
+    if n.sym != nil:
+      add(result, " ")
+      add(result, n.sym.name.s)
     if n.kind in IntegralTypes and n.n != nil:
-      app(result, ", node: ")
-      app(result, debugTree(n.n, 2, maxRecDepth-1, renderType=true))
+      add(result, ", node: ")
+      add(result, debugTree(n.n, 2, maxRecDepth-1, renderType=true))
     if (n.kind != tyString) and (sonsLen(n) > 0) and maxRecDepth != 0:
-      app(result, "(")
+      add(result, "(")
       for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
-        if i > 0: app(result, ", ")
+        if i > 0: add(result, ", ")
         if n.sons[i] == nil:
-          app(result, "null")
+          add(result, "null")
         else:
-          app(result, debugType(n.sons[i], maxRecDepth-1))
+          add(result, debugType(n.sons[i], maxRecDepth-1))
       if n.kind == tyObject and n.n != nil:
-        app(result, ", node: ")
-        app(result, debugTree(n.n, 2, maxRecDepth-1, renderType=true))
-      app(result, ")")
+        add(result, ", node: ")
+        add(result, debugTree(n.n, 2, maxRecDepth-1, renderType=true))
+      add(result, ")")
 
 proc debugTree(n: PNode, indent: int, maxRecDepth: int;
-               renderType=false): PRope = 
-  if n == nil: 
-    result = toRope("null")
-  else: 
+               renderType=false): Rope =
+  if n == nil:
+    result = rope("null")
+  else:
     var istr = rspaces(indent + 2)
-    result = ropef("{$N$1\"kind\": $2", 
-                   [istr, makeYamlString($n.kind)])
-    if maxRecDepth != 0: 
+    result = "{$N$1\"kind\": $2" %
+             [istr, makeYamlString($n.kind)]
+    if maxRecDepth != 0:
       case n.kind
       of nkCharLit..nkUInt64Lit:
-        appf(result, ",$N$1\"intVal\": $2", [istr, toRope(n.intVal)])
-      of nkFloatLit, nkFloat32Lit, nkFloat64Lit: 
-        appf(result, ",$N$1\"floatVal\": $2", 
-            [istr, toRope(n.floatVal.toStrMaxPrecision)])
-      of nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit: 
+        addf(result, ",$N$1\"intVal\": $2", [istr, rope(n.intVal)])
+      of nkFloatLit, nkFloat32Lit, nkFloat64Lit:
+        addf(result, ",$N$1\"floatVal\": $2",
+            [istr, rope(n.floatVal.toStrMaxPrecision)])
+      of nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit:
         if n.strVal.isNil:
-          appf(result, ",$N$1\"strVal\": null", [istr])
+          addf(result, ",$N$1\"strVal\": null", [istr])
         else:
-          appf(result, ",$N$1\"strVal\": $2", [istr, makeYamlString(n.strVal)])
-      of nkSym: 
-        appf(result, ",$N$1\"sym\": $2_$3", 
-            [istr, toRope(n.sym.name.s), toRope(n.sym.id)])
-        #     [istr, symToYaml(n.sym, indent, maxRecDepth), 
-        #     toRope(n.sym.id)])
+          addf(result, ",$N$1\"strVal\": $2", [istr, makeYamlString(n.strVal)])
+      of nkSym:
+        addf(result, ",$N$1\"sym\": $2_$3",
+            [istr, rope(n.sym.name.s), rope(n.sym.id)])
+        #     [istr, symToYaml(n.sym, indent, maxRecDepth),
+        #     rope(n.sym.id)])
         if renderType and n.sym.typ != nil:
-          appf(result, ",$N$1\"typ\": $2", [istr, debugType(n.sym.typ, 2)])
-      of nkIdent: 
-        if n.ident != nil: 
-          appf(result, ",$N$1\"ident\": $2", [istr, makeYamlString(n.ident.s)])
-        else: 
-          appf(result, ",$N$1\"ident\": null", [istr])
-      else: 
-        if sonsLen(n) > 0: 
-          appf(result, ",$N$1\"sons\": [", [istr])
-          for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1): 
-            if i > 0: app(result, ",")
-            appf(result, "$N$1$2", [rspaces(indent + 4), debugTree(n.sons[i], 
+          addf(result, ",$N$1\"typ\": $2", [istr, debugType(n.sym.typ, 2)])
+      of nkIdent:
+        if n.ident != nil:
+          addf(result, ",$N$1\"ident\": $2", [istr, makeYamlString(n.ident.s)])
+        else:
+          addf(result, ",$N$1\"ident\": null", [istr])
+      else:
+        if sonsLen(n) > 0:
+          addf(result, ",$N$1\"sons\": [", [istr])
+          for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
+            if i > 0: add(result, ",")
+            addf(result, "$N$1$2", [rspaces(indent + 4), debugTree(n.sons[i],
                 indent + 4, maxRecDepth - 1, renderType)])
-          appf(result, "$N$1]", [istr])
-    appf(result, ",$N$1\"info\": $2", [istr, lineInfoToStr(n.info)])
-    appf(result, "$N$1}", [rspaces(indent)])
+          addf(result, "$N$1]", [istr])
+    addf(result, ",$N$1\"info\": $2", [istr, lineInfoToStr(n.info)])
+    addf(result, "$N$1}", [rspaces(indent)])
 
 proc debug(n: PSym) =
   if n == nil:
@@ -452,27 +452,26 @@ proc debug(n: PSym) =
   elif n.kind == skUnknown:
     msgWriteln("skUnknown")
   else:
-    #writeln(stdout, ropeToStr(symToYaml(n, 0, 1)))
+    #writeln(stdout, $symToYaml(n, 0, 1))
     msgWriteln("$1_$2: $3, $4, $5, $6" % [
-      n.name.s, $n.id, flagsToStr(n.flags).ropeToStr, 
-      flagsToStr(n.loc.flags).ropeToStr, lineInfoToStr(n.info).ropeToStr,
-      $n.kind])
+      n.name.s, $n.id, $flagsToStr(n.flags), $flagsToStr(n.loc.flags),
+      $lineInfoToStr(n.info), $n.kind])
 
-proc debug(n: PType) = 
-  msgWriteln(ropeToStr(debugType(n)))
+proc debug(n: PType) =
+  msgWriteln($debugType(n))
 
-proc debug(n: PNode) = 
-  msgWriteln(ropeToStr(debugTree(n, 0, 100)))
+proc debug(n: PNode) =
+  msgWriteln($debugTree(n, 0, 100))
 
-const 
+const
   EmptySeq = @[]
 
-proc nextTry(h, maxHash: THash): THash = 
-  result = ((5 * h) + 1) and maxHash 
+proc nextTry(h, maxHash: THash): THash =
+  result = ((5 * h) + 1) and maxHash
   # For any initial h in range(maxHash), repeating that maxHash times
   # generates each int in range(maxHash) exactly once (see any text on
   # random-number generation for proof).
-  
+
 proc objectSetContains(t: TObjectSet, obj: RootRef): bool =
   # returns true whether n is in t
   var h: THash = hashNode(obj) and high(t.data) # start with real hash value
@@ -490,94 +489,94 @@ proc objectSetRawInsert(data: var TObjectSeq, obj: RootRef) =
   assert(data[h] == nil)
   data[h] = obj
 
-proc objectSetEnlarge(t: var TObjectSet) = 
+proc objectSetEnlarge(t: var TObjectSet) =
   var n: TObjectSeq
   newSeq(n, len(t.data) * GrowthFactor)
   for i in countup(0, high(t.data)):
     if t.data[i] != nil: objectSetRawInsert(n, t.data[i])
   swap(t.data, n)
 
-proc objectSetIncl(t: var TObjectSet, obj: RootRef) = 
+proc objectSetIncl(t: var TObjectSet, obj: RootRef) =
   if mustRehash(len(t.data), t.counter): objectSetEnlarge(t)
   objectSetRawInsert(t.data, obj)
   inc(t.counter)
 
-proc objectSetContainsOrIncl(t: var TObjectSet, obj: RootRef): bool = 
+proc objectSetContainsOrIncl(t: var TObjectSet, obj: RootRef): bool =
   # returns true if obj is already in the string table:
   var h: THash = hashNode(obj) and high(t.data)
-  while true: 
+  while true:
     var it = t.data[h]
-    if it == nil: break 
-    if it == obj: 
+    if it == nil: break
+    if it == obj:
       return true             # found it
     h = nextTry(h, high(t.data))
-  if mustRehash(len(t.data), t.counter): 
+  if mustRehash(len(t.data), t.counter):
     objectSetEnlarge(t)
     objectSetRawInsert(t.data, obj)
-  else: 
+  else:
     assert(t.data[h] == nil)
     t.data[h] = obj
   inc(t.counter)
   result = false
 
-proc tableRawGet(t: TTable, key: RootRef): int = 
+proc tableRawGet(t: TTable, key: RootRef): int =
   var h: THash = hashNode(key) and high(t.data) # start with real hash value
-  while t.data[h].key != nil: 
-    if t.data[h].key == key: 
+  while t.data[h].key != nil:
+    if t.data[h].key == key:
       return h
     h = nextTry(h, high(t.data))
   result = -1
 
-proc tableSearch(t: TTable, key, closure: RootRef, 
-                 comparator: TCmpProc): RootRef = 
+proc tableSearch(t: TTable, key, closure: RootRef,
+                 comparator: TCmpProc): RootRef =
   var h: THash = hashNode(key) and high(t.data) # start with real hash value
-  while t.data[h].key != nil: 
-    if t.data[h].key == key: 
-      if comparator(t.data[h].val, closure): 
+  while t.data[h].key != nil:
+    if t.data[h].key == key:
+      if comparator(t.data[h].val, closure):
         # BUGFIX 1
         return t.data[h].val
     h = nextTry(h, high(t.data))
   result = nil
 
-proc tableGet(t: TTable, key: RootRef): RootRef = 
+proc tableGet(t: TTable, key: RootRef): RootRef =
   var index = tableRawGet(t, key)
   if index >= 0: result = t.data[index].val
   else: result = nil
-  
-proc tableRawInsert(data: var TPairSeq, key, val: RootRef) = 
+
+proc tableRawInsert(data: var TPairSeq, key, val: RootRef) =
   var h: THash = hashNode(key) and high(data)
-  while data[h].key != nil: 
+  while data[h].key != nil:
     assert(data[h].key != key)
     h = nextTry(h, high(data))
   assert(data[h].key == nil)
   data[h].key = key
   data[h].val = val
 
-proc tableEnlarge(t: var TTable) = 
+proc tableEnlarge(t: var TTable) =
   var n: TPairSeq
   newSeq(n, len(t.data) * GrowthFactor)
-  for i in countup(0, high(t.data)): 
+  for i in countup(0, high(t.data)):
     if t.data[i].key != nil: tableRawInsert(n, t.data[i].key, t.data[i].val)
   swap(t.data, n)
 
-proc tablePut(t: var TTable, key, val: RootRef) = 
+proc tablePut(t: var TTable, key, val: RootRef) =
   var index = tableRawGet(t, key)
-  if index >= 0: 
+  if index >= 0:
     t.data[index].val = val
-  else: 
+  else:
     if mustRehash(len(t.data), t.counter): tableEnlarge(t)
     tableRawInsert(t.data, key, val)
     inc(t.counter)
 
-proc strTableContains(t: TStrTable, n: PSym): bool = 
+proc strTableContains(t: TStrTable, n: PSym): bool =
   var h: THash = n.name.h and high(t.data) # start with real hash value
-  while t.data[h] != nil: 
-    if (t.data[h] == n): 
+  while t.data[h] != nil:
+    if (t.data[h] == n):
       return true
     h = nextTry(h, high(t.data))
   result = false
 
-proc strTableRawInsert(data: var TSymSeq, n: PSym) = 
+proc strTableRawInsert(data: var TSymSeq, n: PSym) =
   var h: THash = n.name.h and high(data)
   if sfImmediate notin n.flags:
     # fast path:
@@ -614,18 +613,18 @@ proc symTabReplaceRaw(data: var TSymSeq, prevSym: PSym, newSym: PSym) =
       return
     h = nextTry(h, high(data))
   assert false
- 
+
 proc symTabReplace*(t: var TStrTable, prevSym: PSym, newSym: PSym) =
   symTabReplaceRaw(t.data, prevSym, newSym)
 
-proc strTableEnlarge(t: var TStrTable) = 
+proc strTableEnlarge(t: var TStrTable) =
   var n: TSymSeq
   newSeq(n, len(t.data) * GrowthFactor)
-  for i in countup(0, high(t.data)): 
+  for i in countup(0, high(t.data)):
     if t.data[i] != nil: strTableRawInsert(n, t.data[i])
   swap(t.data, n)
 
-proc strTableAdd(t: var TStrTable, n: PSym) = 
+proc strTableAdd(t: var TStrTable, n: PSym) =
   if mustRehash(len(t.data), t.counter): strTableEnlarge(t)
   strTableRawInsert(t.data, n)
   inc(t.counter)
@@ -666,103 +665,103 @@ proc strTableIncl*(t: var TStrTable, n: PSym): bool {.discardable.} =
   inc(t.counter)
   result = false
 
-proc strTableGet(t: TStrTable, name: PIdent): PSym = 
+proc strTableGet(t: TStrTable, name: PIdent): PSym =
   var h: THash = name.h and high(t.data)
-  while true: 
+  while true:
     result = t.data[h]
-    if result == nil: break 
-    if result.name.id == name.id: break 
+    if result == nil: break
+    if result.name.id == name.id: break
     h = nextTry(h, high(t.data))
 
-proc initIdentIter(ti: var TIdentIter, tab: TStrTable, s: PIdent): PSym = 
+proc initIdentIter(ti: var TIdentIter, tab: TStrTable, s: PIdent): PSym =
   ti.h = s.h
   ti.name = s
   if tab.counter == 0: result = nil
   else: result = nextIdentIter(ti, tab)
-  
-proc nextIdentIter(ti: var TIdentIter, tab: TStrTable): PSym = 
+
+proc nextIdentIter(ti: var TIdentIter, tab: TStrTable): PSym =
   var h = ti.h and high(tab.data)
   var start = h
   result = tab.data[h]
-  while result != nil: 
-    if result.name.id == ti.name.id: break 
+  while result != nil:
+    if result.name.id == ti.name.id: break
     h = nextTry(h, high(tab.data))
-    if h == start: 
+    if h == start:
       result = nil
-      break 
+      break
     result = tab.data[h]
   ti.h = nextTry(h, high(tab.data))
-  
-proc nextIdentExcluding*(ti: var TIdentIter, tab: TStrTable, 
+
+proc nextIdentExcluding*(ti: var TIdentIter, tab: TStrTable,
                          excluding: IntSet): PSym =
   var h: THash = ti.h and high(tab.data)
   var start = h
   result = tab.data[h]
-  while result != nil: 
-    if result.name.id == ti.name.id and not contains(excluding, result.id): 
+  while result != nil:
+    if result.name.id == ti.name.id and not contains(excluding, result.id):
       break
     h = nextTry(h, high(tab.data))
-    if h == start: 
+    if h == start:
       result = nil
-      break 
+      break
     result = tab.data[h]
   ti.h = nextTry(h, high(tab.data))
   if result != nil and contains(excluding, result.id): result = nil
 
 proc firstIdentExcluding*(ti: var TIdentIter, tab: TStrTable, s: PIdent,
-                          excluding: IntSet): PSym = 
+                          excluding: IntSet): PSym =
   ti.h = s.h
   ti.name = s
   if tab.counter == 0: result = nil
   else: result = nextIdentExcluding(ti, tab, excluding)
 
-proc initTabIter(ti: var TTabIter, tab: TStrTable): PSym = 
+proc initTabIter(ti: var TTabIter, tab: TStrTable): PSym =
   ti.h = 0                    # we start by zero ...
-  if tab.counter == 0: 
+  if tab.counter == 0:
     result = nil              # FIX 1: removed endless loop
-  else: 
+  else:
     result = nextIter(ti, tab)
-  
-proc nextIter(ti: var TTabIter, tab: TStrTable): PSym = 
+
+proc nextIter(ti: var TTabIter, tab: TStrTable): PSym =
   result = nil
-  while (ti.h <= high(tab.data)): 
+  while (ti.h <= high(tab.data)):
     result = tab.data[ti.h]
     inc(ti.h)                 # ... and increment by one always
-    if result != nil: break 
+    if result != nil: break
 
-iterator items*(tab: TStrTable): PSym = 
+iterator items*(tab: TStrTable): PSym =
   var it: TTabIter
   var s = initTabIter(it, tab)
-  while s != nil: 
+  while s != nil:
     yield s
     s = nextIter(it, tab)
 
-proc hasEmptySlot(data: TIdPairSeq): bool = 
-  for h in countup(0, high(data)): 
-    if data[h].key == nil: 
+proc hasEmptySlot(data: TIdPairSeq): bool =
+  for h in countup(0, high(data)):
+    if data[h].key == nil:
       return true
   result = false
 
-proc idTableRawGet(t: TIdTable, key: int): int = 
+proc idTableRawGet(t: TIdTable, key: int): int =
   var h: THash
   h = key and high(t.data)    # start with real hash value
-  while t.data[h].key != nil: 
+  while t.data[h].key != nil:
     if t.data[h].key.id == key:
       return h
     h = nextTry(h, high(t.data))
   result = - 1
 
-proc idTableHasObjectAsKey(t: TIdTable, key: PIdObj): bool = 
+proc idTableHasObjectAsKey(t: TIdTable, key: PIdObj): bool =
   var index = idTableRawGet(t, key.id)
   if index >= 0: result = t.data[index].key == key
   else: result = false
-  
-proc idTableGet(t: TIdTable, key: PIdObj): RootRef = 
+
+proc idTableGet(t: TIdTable, key: PIdObj): RootRef =
   var index = idTableRawGet(t, key.id)
   if index >= 0: result = t.data[index].val
   else: result = nil
-  
-proc idTableGet(t: TIdTable, key: int): RootRef = 
+
+proc idTableGet(t: TIdTable, key: int): RootRef =
   var index = idTableRawGet(t, key)
   if index >= 0: result = t.data[index].val
   else: result = nil
@@ -771,30 +770,30 @@ iterator pairs*(t: TIdTable): tuple[key: int, value: RootRef] =
   for i in 0..high(t.data):
     if t.data[i].key != nil:
       yield (t.data[i].key.id, t.data[i].val)
-  
-proc idTableRawInsert(data: var TIdPairSeq, key: PIdObj, val: RootRef) = 
+
+proc idTableRawInsert(data: var TIdPairSeq, key: PIdObj, val: RootRef) =
   var h: THash
   h = key.id and high(data)
-  while data[h].key != nil: 
+  while data[h].key != nil:
     assert(data[h].key.id != key.id)
     h = nextTry(h, high(data))
   assert(data[h].key == nil)
   data[h].key = key
   data[h].val = val
 
-proc idTablePut(t: var TIdTable, key: PIdObj, val: RootRef) = 
-  var 
+proc idTablePut(t: var TIdTable, key: PIdObj, val: RootRef) =
+  var
     index: int
     n: TIdPairSeq
   index = idTableRawGet(t, key.id)
-  if index >= 0: 
+  if index >= 0:
     assert(t.data[index].key != nil)
     t.data[index].val = val
-  else: 
-    if mustRehash(len(t.data), t.counter): 
+  else:
+    if mustRehash(len(t.data), t.counter):
       newSeq(n, len(t.data) * GrowthFactor)
-      for i in countup(0, high(t.data)): 
-        if t.data[i].key != nil: 
+      for i in countup(0, high(t.data)):
+        if t.data[i].key != nil:
           idTableRawInsert(n, t.data[i].key, t.data[i].val)
       assert(hasEmptySlot(n))
       swap(t.data, n)
@@ -805,7 +804,7 @@ iterator idTablePairs*(t: TIdTable): tuple[key: PIdObj, val: RootRef] =
   for i in 0 .. high(t.data):
     if not isNil(t.data[i].key): yield (t.data[i].key, t.data[i].val)
 
-proc idNodeTableRawGet(t: TIdNodeTable, key: PIdObj): int = 
+proc idNodeTableRawGet(t: TIdNodeTable, key: PIdObj): int =
   var h: THash
   h = key.id and high(t.data) # start with real hash value
   while t.data[h].key != nil:
@@ -814,7 +813,7 @@ proc idNodeTableRawGet(t: TIdNodeTable, key: PIdObj): int =
     h = nextTry(h, high(t.data))
   result = - 1
 
-proc idNodeTableGet(t: TIdNodeTable, key: PIdObj): PNode = 
+proc idNodeTableGet(t: TIdNodeTable, key: PIdObj): PNode =
   var index: int
   index = idNodeTableRawGet(t, key)
   if index >= 0: result = t.data[index].val
@@ -823,28 +822,28 @@ proc idNodeTableGet(t: TIdNodeTable, key: PIdObj): PNode =
 proc idNodeTableGetLazy*(t: TIdNodeTable, key: PIdObj): PNode =
   if not isNil(t.data):
     result = idNodeTableGet(t, key)
-  
-proc idNodeTableRawInsert(data: var TIdNodePairSeq, key: PIdObj, val: PNode) = 
+
+proc idNodeTableRawInsert(data: var TIdNodePairSeq, key: PIdObj, val: PNode) =
   var h: THash
   h = key.id and high(data)
-  while data[h].key != nil: 
+  while data[h].key != nil:
     assert(data[h].key.id != key.id)
     h = nextTry(h, high(data))
   assert(data[h].key == nil)
   data[h].key = key
   data[h].val = val
 
-proc idNodeTablePut(t: var TIdNodeTable, key: PIdObj, val: PNode) = 
+proc idNodeTablePut(t: var TIdNodeTable, key: PIdObj, val: PNode) =
   var index = idNodeTableRawGet(t, key)
-  if index >= 0: 
+  if index >= 0:
     assert(t.data[index].key != nil)
     t.data[index].val = val
-  else: 
-    if mustRehash(len(t.data), t.counter): 
+  else:
+    if mustRehash(len(t.data), t.counter):
       var n: TIdNodePairSeq
       newSeq(n, len(t.data) * GrowthFactor)
-      for i in countup(0, high(t.data)): 
-        if t.data[i].key != nil: 
+      for i in countup(0, high(t.data)):
+        if t.data[i].key != nil:
           idNodeTableRawInsert(n, t.data[i].key, t.data[i].val)
       swap(t.data, n)
     idNodeTableRawInsert(t.data, key, val)
@@ -858,46 +857,46 @@ iterator pairs*(t: TIdNodeTable): tuple[key: PIdObj, val: PNode] =
   for i in 0 .. high(t.data):
     if not isNil(t.data[i].key): yield (t.data[i].key, t.data[i].val)
 
-proc initIITable(x: var TIITable) = 
+proc initIITable(x: var TIITable) =
   x.counter = 0
   newSeq(x.data, StartSize)
   for i in countup(0, StartSize - 1): x.data[i].key = InvalidKey
-  
-proc iiTableRawGet(t: TIITable, key: int): int = 
+
+proc iiTableRawGet(t: TIITable, key: int): int =
   var h: THash
   h = key and high(t.data)    # start with real hash value
-  while t.data[h].key != InvalidKey: 
+  while t.data[h].key != InvalidKey:
     if t.data[h].key == key: return h
     h = nextTry(h, high(t.data))
   result = -1
 
-proc iiTableGet(t: TIITable, key: int): int = 
+proc iiTableGet(t: TIITable, key: int): int =
   var index = iiTableRawGet(t, key)
   if index >= 0: result = t.data[index].val
   else: result = InvalidKey
-  
-proc iiTableRawInsert(data: var TIIPairSeq, key, val: int) = 
+
+proc iiTableRawInsert(data: var TIIPairSeq, key, val: int) =
   var h: THash
   h = key and high(data)
-  while data[h].key != InvalidKey: 
+  while data[h].key != InvalidKey:
     assert(data[h].key != key)
     h = nextTry(h, high(data))
   assert(data[h].key == InvalidKey)
   data[h].key = key
   data[h].val = val
 
-proc iiTablePut(t: var TIITable, key, val: int) = 
+proc iiTablePut(t: var TIITable, key, val: int) =
   var index = iiTableRawGet(t, key)
-  if index >= 0: 
+  if index >= 0:
     assert(t.data[index].key != InvalidKey)
     t.data[index].val = val
-  else: 
-    if mustRehash(len(t.data), t.counter): 
+  else:
+    if mustRehash(len(t.data), t.counter):
       var n: TIIPairSeq
       newSeq(n, len(t.data) * GrowthFactor)
       for i in countup(0, high(n)): n[i].key = InvalidKey
-      for i in countup(0, high(t.data)): 
-        if t.data[i].key != InvalidKey: 
+      for i in countup(0, high(t.data)):
+        if t.data[i].key != InvalidKey:
           iiTableRawInsert(n, t.data[i].key, t.data[i].val)
       swap(t.data, n)
     iiTableRawInsert(t.data, key, val)
diff --git a/compiler/canonicalizer.nim b/compiler/canonicalizer.nim
index 50d3fd017..6fcc57a91 100644
--- a/compiler/canonicalizer.nim
+++ b/compiler/canonicalizer.nim
@@ -243,24 +243,24 @@ proc encodeNode(w: PRodWriter, fInfo: TLineInfo, n: PNode,
       encodeNode(w, n.info, n.sons[i], result)
   add(result, ')')
 
-proc encodeLoc(w: PRodWriter, loc: TLoc, result: var string) = 
+proc encodeLoc(w: PRodWriter, loc: TLoc, result: var string) =
   var oldLen = result.len
   result.add('<')
   if loc.k != low(loc.k): encodeVInt(ord(loc.k), result)
-  if loc.s != low(loc.s): 
+  if loc.s != low(loc.s):
     add(result, '*')
     encodeVInt(ord(loc.s), result)
-  if loc.flags != {}: 
+  if loc.flags != {}:
     add(result, '$')
     encodeVInt(cast[int32](loc.flags), result)
   if loc.t != nil:
     add(result, '^')
     encodeVInt(cast[int32](loc.t.id), result)
     pushType(w, loc.t)
-  if loc.r != nil: 
+  if loc.r != nil:
     add(result, '!')
-    encodeStr(ropeToStr(loc.r), result)
-  if loc.a != 0: 
+    encodeStr($loc.r, result)
+  if loc.a != 0:
     add(result, '?')
     encodeVInt(loc.a, result)
   if oldLen + 1 == result.len:
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ proc encodeLib(w: PRodWriter, lib: PLib, info: TLineInfo, result: var string) =
   add(result, '|')
   encodeVInt(ord(lib.kind), result)
   add(result, '|')
-  encodeStr(ropeToStr(lib.name), result)
+  encodeStr($lib.name, result)
   add(result, '|')
   encodeNode(w, info, lib.path, result)
 
diff --git a/compiler/ccgcalls.nim b/compiler/ccgcalls.nim
index 5c4767aed..2dacc25e9 100644
--- a/compiler/ccgcalls.nim
+++ b/compiler/ccgcalls.nim
@@ -19,13 +19,13 @@ proc hasNoInit(call: PNode): bool {.inline.} =
   result = call.sons[0].kind == nkSym and sfNoInit in call.sons[0].sym.flags
 
 proc fixupCall(p: BProc, le, ri: PNode, d: var TLoc,
-               callee, params: PRope) =
-  var pl = con(callee, ~"(", params)
+               callee, params: Rope) =
+  var pl = callee & ~"(" & params
   # getUniqueType() is too expensive here:
   var typ = skipTypes(ri.sons[0].typ, abstractInst)
   if typ.sons[0] != nil:
     if isInvalidReturnType(typ.sons[0]):
-      if params != nil: pl.app(~", ")
+      if params != nil: pl.add(~", ")
       # beware of 'result = p(result)'. We may need to allocate a temporary:
       if d.k in {locTemp, locNone} or not leftAppearsOnRightSide(le, ri):
         # Great, we can use 'd':
@@ -33,18 +33,18 @@ proc fixupCall(p: BProc, le, ri: PNode, d: var TLoc,
         elif d.k notin {locExpr, locTemp} and not hasNoInit(ri):
           # reset before pass as 'result' var:
           resetLoc(p, d)
-        app(pl, addrLoc(d))
-        app(pl, ~");$n")
+        add(pl, addrLoc(d))
+        add(pl, ~");$n")
         line(p, cpsStmts, pl)
       else:
         var tmp: TLoc
         getTemp(p, typ.sons[0], tmp, needsInit=true)
-        app(pl, addrLoc(tmp))
-        app(pl, ~");$n")
+        add(pl, addrLoc(tmp))
+        add(pl, ~");$n")
         line(p, cpsStmts, pl)
         genAssignment(p, d, tmp, {}) # no need for deep copying
     else:
-      app(pl, ~")")
+      add(pl, ~")")
       if p.module.compileToCpp and lfSingleUse in d.flags:
         # do not generate spurious temporaries for C++! For C we're better off
         # with them to prevent undefined behaviour and because the codegen
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ proc fixupCall(p: BProc, le, ri: PNode, d: var TLoc,
         list.r = pl
         genAssignment(p, d, list, {}) # no need for deep copying
   else:
-    app(pl, ~");$n")
+    add(pl, ~");$n")
     line(p, cpsStmts, pl)
 
 proc isInCurrentFrame(p: BProc, n: PNode): bool =
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ proc isInCurrentFrame(p: BProc, n: PNode): bool =
     result = isInCurrentFrame(p, n.sons[0])
   else: discard
 
-proc openArrayLoc(p: BProc, n: PNode): PRope =
+proc openArrayLoc(p: BProc, n: PNode): Rope =
   var a: TLoc
 
   let q = skipConv(n)
@@ -104,28 +104,28 @@ proc openArrayLoc(p: BProc, n: PNode): PRope =
         else:
           "$1->data+($2), ($3)-($2)+1"
       else: (internalError("openArrayLoc: " & typeToString(a.t)); "")
-    result = ropef(fmt, [rdLoc(a), rdLoc(b), rdLoc(c)])
+    result = fmt % [rdLoc(a), rdLoc(b), rdLoc(c)]
   else:
     initLocExpr(p, n, a)
     case skipTypes(a.t, abstractVar).kind
     of tyOpenArray, tyVarargs:
-      result = ropef("$1, $1Len0", [rdLoc(a)])
+      result = "$1, $1Len0" % [rdLoc(a)]
     of tyString, tySequence:
       if skipTypes(n.typ, abstractInst).kind == tyVar and
             not compileToCpp(p.module):
-        result = ropef("(*$1)->data, (*$1)->$2", [a.rdLoc, lenField(p)])
+        result = "(*$1)->data, (*$1)->$2" % [a.rdLoc, lenField(p)]
       else:
-        result = ropef("$1->data, $1->$2", [a.rdLoc, lenField(p)])
+        result = "$1->data, $1->$2" % [a.rdLoc, lenField(p)]
     of tyArray, tyArrayConstr:
-      result = ropef("$1, $2", [rdLoc(a), toRope(lengthOrd(a.t))])
+      result = "$1, $2" % [rdLoc(a), rope(lengthOrd(a.t))]
     else: internalError("openArrayLoc: " & typeToString(a.t))
 
-proc genArgStringToCString(p: BProc, n: PNode): PRope {.inline.} =
+proc genArgStringToCString(p: BProc, n: PNode): Rope {.inline.} =
   var a: TLoc
   initLocExpr(p, n.sons[0], a)
-  result = ropef("$1->data", [a.rdLoc])
+  result = "$1->data" % [a.rdLoc]
 
-proc genArg(p: BProc, n: PNode, param: PSym; call: PNode): PRope =
+proc genArg(p: BProc, n: PNode, param: PSym; call: PNode): Rope =
   var a: TLoc
   if n.kind == nkStringToCString:
     result = genArgStringToCString(p, n)
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ proc genArg(p: BProc, n: PNode, param: PSym; call: PNode): PRope =
     initLocExprSingleUse(p, n, a)
     result = rdLoc(a)
 
-proc genArgNoParam(p: BProc, n: PNode): PRope =
+proc genArgNoParam(p: BProc, n: PNode): Rope =
   var a: TLoc
   if n.kind == nkStringToCString:
     result = genArgStringToCString(p, n)
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ proc genPrefixCall(p: BProc, le, ri: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   var op: TLoc
   # this is a hotspot in the compiler
   initLocExpr(p, ri.sons[0], op)
-  var params: PRope
+  var params: Rope
   # getUniqueType() is too expensive here:
   var typ = skipTypes(ri.sons[0].typ, abstractInst)
   assert(typ.kind == tyProc)
@@ -171,27 +171,27 @@ proc genPrefixCall(p: BProc, le, ri: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   var length = sonsLen(ri)
   for i in countup(1, length - 1):
     if ri.sons[i].typ.isCompileTimeOnly: continue
-    if params != nil: app(params, ~", ")
+    if params != nil: add(params, ~", ")
     if i < sonsLen(typ):
       assert(typ.n.sons[i].kind == nkSym)
-      app(params, genArg(p, ri.sons[i], typ.n.sons[i].sym, ri))
+      add(params, genArg(p, ri.sons[i], typ.n.sons[i].sym, ri))
     else:
-      app(params, genArgNoParam(p, ri.sons[i]))
+      add(params, genArgNoParam(p, ri.sons[i]))
   fixupCall(p, le, ri, d, op.r, params)
 
 proc genClosureCall(p: BProc, le, ri: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
 
-  proc getRawProcType(p: BProc, t: PType): PRope =
+  proc getRawProcType(p: BProc, t: PType): Rope =
     result = getClosureType(p.module, t, clHalf)
 
-  proc addComma(r: PRope): PRope =
-    result = if r == nil: r else: con(r, ~", ")
+  proc addComma(r: Rope): Rope =
+    result = if r == nil: r else: r & ~", "
 
   const PatProc = "$1.ClEnv? $1.ClPrc($3$1.ClEnv):(($4)($1.ClPrc))($2)"
   const PatIter = "$1.ClPrc($3$1.ClEnv)" # we know the env exists
   var op: TLoc
   initLocExpr(p, ri.sons[0], op)
-  var pl: PRope
+  var pl: Rope
 
   var typ = skipTypes(ri.sons[0].typ, abstractInst)
   assert(typ.kind == tyProc)
@@ -201,19 +201,19 @@ proc genClosureCall(p: BProc, le, ri: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
     if ri.sons[i].typ.isCompileTimeOnly: continue
     if i < sonsLen(typ):
       assert(typ.n.sons[i].kind == nkSym)
-      app(pl, genArg(p, ri.sons[i], typ.n.sons[i].sym, ri))
+      add(pl, genArg(p, ri.sons[i], typ.n.sons[i].sym, ri))
     else:
-      app(pl, genArgNoParam(p, ri.sons[i]))
-    if i < length - 1: app(pl, ~", ")
+      add(pl, genArgNoParam(p, ri.sons[i]))
+    if i < length - 1: add(pl, ~", ")
 
   template genCallPattern {.dirty.} =
-    lineF(p, cpsStmts, callPattern & ";$n", op.r, pl, pl.addComma, rawProc)
+    lineF(p, cpsStmts, callPattern & ";$n", [op.r, pl, pl.addComma, rawProc])
 
   let rawProc = getRawProcType(p, typ)
   let callPattern = if tfIterator in typ.flags: PatIter else: PatProc
   if typ.sons[0] != nil:
     if isInvalidReturnType(typ.sons[0]):
-      if sonsLen(ri) > 1: app(pl, ~", ")
+      if sonsLen(ri) > 1: add(pl, ~", ")
       # beware of 'result = p(result)'. We may need to allocate a temporary:
       if d.k in {locTemp, locNone} or not leftAppearsOnRightSide(le, ri):
         # Great, we can use 'd':
@@ -222,12 +222,12 @@ proc genClosureCall(p: BProc, le, ri: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
         elif d.k notin {locExpr, locTemp} and not hasNoInit(ri):
           # reset before pass as 'result' var:
           resetLoc(p, d)
-        app(pl, addrLoc(d))
+        add(pl, addrLoc(d))
         genCallPattern()
       else:
         var tmp: TLoc
         getTemp(p, typ.sons[0], tmp, needsInit=true)
-        app(pl, addrLoc(tmp))
+        add(pl, addrLoc(tmp))
         genCallPattern()
         genAssignment(p, d, tmp, {}) # no need for deep copying
     else:
@@ -235,12 +235,12 @@ proc genClosureCall(p: BProc, le, ri: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
       assert(d.t != nil)        # generate an assignment to d:
       var list: TLoc
       initLoc(list, locCall, d.t, OnUnknown)
-      list.r = ropef(callPattern, op.r, pl, pl.addComma, rawProc)
+      list.r = callPattern % [op.r, pl, pl.addComma, rawProc]
       genAssignment(p, d, list, {}) # no need for deep copying
   else:
     genCallPattern()
 
-proc genOtherArg(p: BProc; ri: PNode; i: int; typ: PType): PRope =
+proc genOtherArg(p: BProc; ri: PNode; i: int; typ: PType): Rope =
   if ri.sons[i].typ.isCompileTimeOnly:
     result = nil
   elif i < sonsLen(typ):
@@ -291,7 +291,25 @@ y.v()          --> y.v() is correct
 
 """
 
-proc genThisArg(p: BProc; ri: PNode; i: int; typ: PType): PRope =
+proc skipAddrDeref(node: PNode): PNode =
+  var n = node
+  var isAddr = false
+  case n.kind
+  of nkAddr, nkHiddenAddr:
+    n = n.sons[0]
+    isAddr = true
+  of nkDerefExpr, nkHiddenDeref:
+    n = n.sons[0]
+  else: return n
+  if n.kind == nkObjDownConv: n = n.sons[0]
+  if isAddr and n.kind in {nkDerefExpr, nkHiddenDeref}:
+    result = n.sons[0]
+  elif n.kind in {nkAddr, nkHiddenAddr}:
+    result = n.sons[0]
+  else:
+    result = node
+
+proc genThisArg(p: BProc; ri: PNode; i: int; typ: PType): Rope =
   # for better or worse c2nim translates the 'this' argument to a 'var T'.
   # However manual wrappers may also use 'ptr T'. In any case we support both
   # for convenience.
@@ -301,83 +319,84 @@ proc genThisArg(p: BProc; ri: PNode; i: int; typ: PType): PRope =
   # skip the deref:
   var ri = ri[i]
   while ri.kind == nkObjDownConv: ri = ri[0]
-  if typ.sons[i].kind == tyVar:
+  let t = typ.sons[i].skipTypes({tyGenericInst})
+  if t.kind == tyVar:
     let x = if ri.kind == nkHiddenAddr: ri[0] else: ri
     if x.typ.kind == tyPtr:
       result = genArgNoParam(p, x)
-      result.app("->")
+      result.add("->")
     elif x.kind in {nkHiddenDeref, nkDerefExpr} and x[0].typ.kind == tyPtr:
       result = genArgNoParam(p, x[0])
-      result.app("->")
+      result.add("->")
     else:
       result = genArgNoParam(p, x)
-      result.app(".")
-  elif typ.sons[i].kind == tyPtr:
+      result.add(".")
+  elif t.kind == tyPtr:
     if ri.kind in {nkAddr, nkHiddenAddr}:
       result = genArgNoParam(p, ri[0])
-      result.app(".")
+      result.add(".")
     else:
       result = genArgNoParam(p, ri)
-      result.app("->")
+      result.add("->")
   else:
+    ri = skipAddrDeref(ri)
+    if ri.kind in {nkAddr, nkHiddenAddr}: ri = ri[0]
     result = genArgNoParam(p, ri) #, typ.n.sons[i].sym)
-    result.app(".")
+    result.add(".")
 
-proc genPatternCall(p: BProc; ri: PNode; pat: string; typ: PType): PRope =
+proc genPatternCall(p: BProc; ri: PNode; pat: string; typ: PType): Rope =
   var i = 0
   var j = 1
   while i < pat.len:
     case pat[i]
     of '@':
       if j < ri.len:
-        result.app genOtherArg(p, ri, j, typ)
+        result.add genOtherArg(p, ri, j, typ)
         for k in j+1 .. < ri.len:
-          result.app(~", ")
-          result.app genOtherArg(p, ri, k, typ)
+          result.add(~", ")
+          result.add genOtherArg(p, ri, k, typ)
       inc i
     of '#':
       if pat[i+1] in {'+', '@'}:
         let ri = ri[j]
         if ri.kind in nkCallKinds:
           let typ = skipTypes(ri.sons[0].typ, abstractInst)
-          if pat[i+1] == '+': result.app genArgNoParam(p, ri.sons[0])
-          result.app(~"(")
+          if pat[i+1] == '+': result.add genArgNoParam(p, ri.sons[0])
+          result.add(~"(")
           if 1 < ri.len:
-            result.app genOtherArg(p, ri, 1, typ)
+            result.add genOtherArg(p, ri, 1, typ)
           for k in j+1 .. < ri.len:
-            result.app(~", ")
-            result.app genOtherArg(p, ri, k, typ)
-          result.app(~")")
+            result.add(~", ")
+            result.add genOtherArg(p, ri, k, typ)
+          result.add(~")")
         else:
           localError(ri.info, "call expression expected for C++ pattern")
         inc i
       elif pat[i+1] == '.':
-        result.app genThisArg(p, ri, j, typ)
+        result.add genThisArg(p, ri, j, typ)
         inc i
+      elif pat[i+1] == '[':
+        var arg = ri.sons[j].skipAddrDeref
+        while arg.kind in {nkAddr, nkHiddenAddr, nkObjDownConv}: arg = arg[0]
+        result.add genArgNoParam(p, arg)
+        #result.add debugTree(arg, 0, 10)
       else:
-        result.app genOtherArg(p, ri, j, typ)
+        result.add genOtherArg(p, ri, j, typ)
       inc j
       inc i
     of '\'':
-      inc i
-      let stars = i
-      while pat[i] == '*': inc i
-      if pat[i] in Digits:
-        let j = pat[i].ord - '0'.ord
-        var t = typ.sons[j]
-        for k in 1..i-stars:
-          if t != nil and t.len > 0:
-            t = if t.kind == tyGenericInst: t.sons[1] else: t.elemType
-        if t == nil: result.app(~"void")
-        else: result.app(getTypeDesc(p.module, t))
-        inc i
+      var idx, stars: int
+      if scanCppGenericSlot(pat, i, idx, stars):
+        var t = resolveStarsInCppType(typ, idx, stars)
+        if t == nil: result.add(~"void")
+        else: result.add(getTypeDesc(p.module, t))
     else:
       let start = i
       while i < pat.len:
         if pat[i] notin {'@', '#', '\''}: inc(i)
         else: break
       if i - 1 >= start:
-        app(result, substr(pat, start, i - 1))
+        add(result, substr(pat, start, i - 1))
 
 proc genInfixCall(p: BProc, le, ri: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   var op, a: TLoc
@@ -387,7 +406,7 @@ proc genInfixCall(p: BProc, le, ri: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   assert(typ.kind == tyProc)
   var length = sonsLen(ri)
   assert(sonsLen(typ) == sonsLen(typ.n))
-  # don't call 'ropeToStr' here for efficiency:
+  # don't call '$' here for efficiency:
   let pat = ri.sons[0].sym.loc.r.data
   internalAssert pat != nil
   if pat.contains({'#', '(', '@', '\''}):
@@ -410,19 +429,19 @@ proc genInfixCall(p: BProc, le, ri: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
         list.r = pl
         genAssignment(p, d, list, {}) # no need for deep copying
     else:
-      app(pl, ~";$n")
+      add(pl, ~";$n")
       line(p, cpsStmts, pl)
   else:
-    var pl: PRope = nil
+    var pl: Rope = nil
     #var param = typ.n.sons[1].sym
     if 1 < ri.len:
-      app(pl, genThisArg(p, ri, 1, typ))
-    app(pl, op.r)
-    var params: PRope
+      add(pl, genThisArg(p, ri, 1, typ))
+    add(pl, op.r)
+    var params: Rope
     for i in countup(2, length - 1):
-      if params != nil: params.app(~", ")
+      if params != nil: params.add(~", ")
       assert(sonsLen(typ) == sonsLen(typ.n))
-      app(params, genOtherArg(p, ri, i, typ))
+      add(params, genOtherArg(p, ri, i, typ))
     fixupCall(p, le, ri, d, pl, params)
 
 proc genNamedParamCall(p: BProc, ri: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
@@ -436,55 +455,55 @@ proc genNamedParamCall(p: BProc, ri: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   var length = sonsLen(ri)
   assert(sonsLen(typ) == sonsLen(typ.n))
 
-  # don't call 'ropeToStr' here for efficiency:
+  # don't call '$' here for efficiency:
   let pat = ri.sons[0].sym.loc.r.data
   internalAssert pat != nil
   var start = 3
   if ' ' in pat:
     start = 1
-    app(pl, op.r)
+    add(pl, op.r)
     if length > 1:
-      app(pl, ~": ")
-      app(pl, genArg(p, ri.sons[1], typ.n.sons[1].sym, ri))
+      add(pl, ~": ")
+      add(pl, genArg(p, ri.sons[1], typ.n.sons[1].sym, ri))
       start = 2
   else:
     if length > 1:
-      app(pl, genArg(p, ri.sons[1], typ.n.sons[1].sym, ri))
-      app(pl, ~" ")
-    app(pl, op.r)
+      add(pl, genArg(p, ri.sons[1], typ.n.sons[1].sym, ri))
+      add(pl, ~" ")
+    add(pl, op.r)
     if length > 2:
-      app(pl, ~": ")
-      app(pl, genArg(p, ri.sons[2], typ.n.sons[2].sym, ri))
+      add(pl, ~": ")
+      add(pl, genArg(p, ri.sons[2], typ.n.sons[2].sym, ri))
   for i in countup(start, length-1):
     assert(sonsLen(typ) == sonsLen(typ.n))
     if i >= sonsLen(typ):
       internalError(ri.info, "varargs for objective C method?")
     assert(typ.n.sons[i].kind == nkSym)
     var param = typ.n.sons[i].sym
-    app(pl, ~" ")
-    app(pl, param.name.s)
-    app(pl, ~": ")
-    app(pl, genArg(p, ri.sons[i], param, ri))
+    add(pl, ~" ")
+    add(pl, param.name.s)
+    add(pl, ~": ")
+    add(pl, genArg(p, ri.sons[i], param, ri))
   if typ.sons[0] != nil:
     if isInvalidReturnType(typ.sons[0]):
-      if sonsLen(ri) > 1: app(pl, ~" ")
+      if sonsLen(ri) > 1: add(pl, ~" ")
       # beware of 'result = p(result)'. We always allocate a temporary:
       if d.k in {locTemp, locNone}:
         # We already got a temp. Great, special case it:
         if d.k == locNone: getTemp(p, typ.sons[0], d, needsInit=true)
-        app(pl, ~"Result: ")
-        app(pl, addrLoc(d))
-        app(pl, ~"];$n")
+        add(pl, ~"Result: ")
+        add(pl, addrLoc(d))
+        add(pl, ~"];$n")
         line(p, cpsStmts, pl)
       else:
         var tmp: TLoc
         getTemp(p, typ.sons[0], tmp, needsInit=true)
-        app(pl, addrLoc(tmp))
-        app(pl, ~"];$n")
+        add(pl, addrLoc(tmp))
+        add(pl, ~"];$n")
         line(p, cpsStmts, pl)
         genAssignment(p, d, tmp, {}) # no need for deep copying
     else:
-      app(pl, ~"]")
+      add(pl, ~"]")
       if d.k == locNone: getTemp(p, typ.sons[0], d)
       assert(d.t != nil)        # generate an assignment to d:
       var list: TLoc
@@ -492,7 +511,7 @@ proc genNamedParamCall(p: BProc, ri: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
       list.r = pl
       genAssignment(p, d, list, {}) # no need for deep copying
   else:
-    app(pl, ~"];$n")
+    add(pl, ~"];$n")
     line(p, cpsStmts, pl)
 
 proc genCall(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
diff --git a/compiler/ccgexprs.nim b/compiler/ccgexprs.nim
index e19341db5..a468de6e5 100644
--- a/compiler/ccgexprs.nim
+++ b/compiler/ccgexprs.nim
@@ -11,45 +11,45 @@
 
 # -------------------------- constant expressions ------------------------
 
-proc int64Literal(i: BiggestInt): PRope =
+proc int64Literal(i: BiggestInt): Rope =
   if i > low(int64):
-    result = rfmt(nil, "IL64($1)", toRope(i))
+    result = rfmt(nil, "IL64($1)", rope(i))
   else:
     result = ~"(IL64(-9223372036854775807) - IL64(1))"
 
-proc uint64Literal(i: uint64): PRope = toRope($i & "ULL")
+proc uint64Literal(i: uint64): Rope = rope($i & "ULL")
 
-proc intLiteral(i: BiggestInt): PRope =
+proc intLiteral(i: BiggestInt): Rope =
   if i > low(int32) and i <= high(int32):
-    result = toRope(i)
+    result = rope(i)
   elif i == low(int32):
     # Nim has the same bug for the same reasons :-)
     result = ~"(-2147483647 -1)"
   elif i > low(int64):
-    result = rfmt(nil, "IL64($1)", toRope(i))
+    result = rfmt(nil, "IL64($1)", rope(i))
   else:
     result = ~"(IL64(-9223372036854775807) - IL64(1))"
 
-proc int32Literal(i: int): PRope =
+proc int32Literal(i: int): Rope =
   if i == int(low(int32)):
     result = ~"(-2147483647 -1)"
   else:
-    result = toRope(i)
+    result = rope(i)
 
-proc genHexLiteral(v: PNode): PRope =
+proc genHexLiteral(v: PNode): Rope =
   # hex literals are unsigned in C
   # so we don't generate hex literals any longer.
   if v.kind notin {nkIntLit..nkUInt64Lit}:
     internalError(v.info, "genHexLiteral")
   result = intLiteral(v.intVal)
 
-proc getStrLit(m: BModule, s: string): PRope =
+proc getStrLit(m: BModule, s: string): Rope =
   discard cgsym(m, "TGenericSeq")
-  result = con("TMP", toRope(backendId()))
-  appf(m.s[cfsData], "STRING_LITERAL($1, $2, $3);$n",
-       [result, makeCString(s), toRope(len(s))])
+  result = "TMP" & rope(backendId())
+  addf(m.s[cfsData], "STRING_LITERAL($1, $2, $3);$n",
+       [result, makeCString(s), rope(len(s))])
 
-proc genLiteral(p: BProc, n: PNode, ty: PType): PRope =
+proc genLiteral(p: BProc, n: PNode, ty: PType): Rope =
   if ty == nil: internalError(n.info, "genLiteral: ty is nil")
   case n.kind
   of nkCharLit..nkUInt64Lit:
@@ -62,21 +62,21 @@ proc genLiteral(p: BProc, n: PNode, ty: PType): PRope =
     of tyInt64: result = int64Literal(n.intVal)
     of tyUInt64: result = uint64Literal(uint64(n.intVal))
     else:
-      result = ropef("(($1) $2)", [getTypeDesc(p.module,
-          skipTypes(ty, abstractVarRange)), intLiteral(n.intVal)])
+      result = "(($1) $2)" % [getTypeDesc(p.module,
+          skipTypes(ty, abstractVarRange)), intLiteral(n.intVal)]
   of nkNilLit:
     let t = skipTypes(ty, abstractVarRange)
     if t.kind == tyProc and t.callConv == ccClosure:
       var id = nodeTableTestOrSet(p.module.dataCache, n, gBackendId)
-      result = con("TMP", toRope(id))
+      result = "TMP" & rope(id)
       if id == gBackendId:
         # not found in cache:
         inc(gBackendId)
-        appf(p.module.s[cfsData],
+        addf(p.module.s[cfsData],
              "static NIM_CONST $1 $2 = {NIM_NIL,NIM_NIL};$n",
              [getTypeDesc(p.module, t), result])
     else:
-      result = toRope("NIM_NIL")
+      result = rope("NIM_NIL")
   of nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit:
     if n.strVal.isNil:
       result = ropecg(p.module, "((#NimStringDesc*) NIM_NIL)", [])
@@ -87,16 +87,16 @@ proc genLiteral(p: BProc, n: PNode, ty: PType): PRope =
         result = ropecg(p.module, "((#NimStringDesc*) &$1)",
                         [getStrLit(p.module, n.strVal)])
       else:
-        result = ropecg(p.module, "((#NimStringDesc*) &TMP$1)", [toRope(id)])
+        result = ropecg(p.module, "((#NimStringDesc*) &TMP$1)", [rope(id)])
     else:
       result = makeCString(n.strVal)
   of nkFloatLit..nkFloat64Lit:
-    result = toRope(n.floatVal.toStrMaxPrecision)
+    result = rope(n.floatVal.toStrMaxPrecision)
   else:
     internalError(n.info, "genLiteral(" & $n.kind & ')')
     result = nil
 
-proc genLiteral(p: BProc, n: PNode): PRope =
+proc genLiteral(p: BProc, n: PNode): Rope =
   result = genLiteral(p, n, n.typ)
 
 proc bitSetToWord(s: TBitSet, size: int): BiggestInt =
@@ -113,10 +113,10 @@ proc bitSetToWord(s: TBitSet, size: int): BiggestInt =
       for j in countup(0, size - 1):
         if j < len(s): result = result or `shl`(Ze64(s[j]), (Size - 1 - j) * 8)
 
-proc genRawSetData(cs: TBitSet, size: int): PRope =
-  var frmt: TFormatStr
+proc genRawSetData(cs: TBitSet, size: int): Rope =
+  var frmt: FormatStr
   if size > 8:
-    result = ropef("{$n")
+    result = "{$n" % []
     for i in countup(0, size - 1):
       if i < size - 1:
         # not last iteration?
@@ -124,22 +124,22 @@ proc genRawSetData(cs: TBitSet, size: int): PRope =
         else: frmt = "0x$1, "
       else:
         frmt = "0x$1}$n"
-      appf(result, frmt, [toRope(toHex(ze64(cs[i]), 2))])
+      addf(result, frmt, [rope(toHex(ze64(cs[i]), 2))])
   else:
     result = intLiteral(bitSetToWord(cs, size))
-    #  result := toRope('0x' + ToHex(bitSetToWord(cs, size), size * 2))
+    #  result := rope('0x' + ToHex(bitSetToWord(cs, size), size * 2))
 
-proc genSetNode(p: BProc, n: PNode): PRope =
+proc genSetNode(p: BProc, n: PNode): Rope =
   var cs: TBitSet
   var size = int(getSize(n.typ))
   toBitSet(n, cs)
   if size > 8:
     var id = nodeTableTestOrSet(p.module.dataCache, n, gBackendId)
-    result = con("TMP", toRope(id))
+    result = "TMP" & rope(id)
     if id == gBackendId:
       # not found in cache:
       inc(gBackendId)
-      appf(p.module.s[cfsData], "static NIM_CONST $1 $2 = $3;$n",
+      addf(p.module.s[cfsData], "static NIM_CONST $1 $2 = $3;$n",
            [getTypeDesc(p.module, n.typ), result, genRawSetData(cs, size)])
   else:
     result = genRawSetData(cs, size)
@@ -211,12 +211,12 @@ proc asgnComplexity(n: PNode): int =
         result += asgnComplexity(t)
     else: discard
 
-proc optAsgnLoc(a: TLoc, t: PType, field: PRope): TLoc =
+proc optAsgnLoc(a: TLoc, t: PType, field: Rope): TLoc =
   assert field != nil
   result.k = locField
   result.s = a.s
   result.t = t
-  result.r = rdLoc(a).con(".").con(field)
+  result.r = rdLoc(a) & "." & field
   result.heapRoot = a.heapRoot
 
 proc genOptAsgnTuple(p: BProc, dest, src: TLoc, flags: TAssignmentFlags) =
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ proc genOptAsgnTuple(p: BProc, dest, src: TLoc, flags: TAssignmentFlags) =
   let t = skipTypes(dest.t, abstractInst).getUniqueType()
   for i in 0 .. <t.len:
     let t = t.sons[i]
-    let field = ropef("Field$1", i.toRope)
+    let field = "Field$1" % [i.rope]
     genAssignment(p, optAsgnLoc(dest, t, field),
                      optAsgnLoc(src, t, field), newflags)
 
@@ -313,8 +313,8 @@ proc genAssignment(p: BProc, dest, src: TLoc, flags: TAssignmentFlags) =
   of tyProc:
     if needsComplexAssignment(dest.t):
       # optimize closure assignment:
-      let a = optAsgnLoc(dest, dest.t, "ClEnv".toRope)
-      let b = optAsgnLoc(src, dest.t, "ClEnv".toRope)
+      let a = optAsgnLoc(dest, dest.t, "ClEnv".rope)
+      let b = optAsgnLoc(src, dest.t, "ClEnv".rope)
       genRefAssign(p, a, b, flags)
       linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "$1.ClPrc = $2.ClPrc;$n", rdLoc(dest), rdLoc(src))
     else:
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ proc genAssignment(p: BProc, dest, src: TLoc, flags: TAssignmentFlags) =
     if mapType(ty) == ctArray:
       useStringh(p.module)
       linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "memcpy((void*)$1, (NIM_CONST void*)$2, $3);$n",
-              rdLoc(dest), rdLoc(src), toRope(getSize(dest.t)))
+              rdLoc(dest), rdLoc(src), rope(getSize(dest.t)))
     else:
       linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "$1 = $2;$n", rdLoc(dest), rdLoc(src))
   of tyPtr, tyPointer, tyChar, tyBool, tyEnum, tyCString,
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ proc genDeepCopy(p: BProc; dest, src: TLoc) =
     if mapType(ty) == ctArray:
       useStringh(p.module)
       linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "memcpy((void*)$1, (NIM_CONST void*)$2, $3);$n",
-              rdLoc(dest), rdLoc(src), toRope(getSize(dest.t)))
+              rdLoc(dest), rdLoc(src), rope(getSize(dest.t)))
     else:
       linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "$1 = $2;$n", rdLoc(dest), rdLoc(src))
   of tyPointer, tyChar, tyBool, tyEnum, tyCString,
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ proc putLocIntoDest(p: BProc, d: var TLoc, s: TLoc) =
   else:
     d = s # ``d`` is free, so fill it with ``s``
 
-proc putDataIntoDest(p: BProc, d: var TLoc, t: PType, r: PRope) =
+proc putDataIntoDest(p: BProc, d: var TLoc, t: PType, r: Rope) =
   var a: TLoc
   if d.k != locNone:
     # need to generate an assignment here
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ proc putDataIntoDest(p: BProc, d: var TLoc, t: PType, r: PRope) =
     d.t = t
     d.r = r
 
-proc putIntoDest(p: BProc, d: var TLoc, t: PType, r: PRope) =
+proc putIntoDest(p: BProc, d: var TLoc, t: PType, r: Rope) =
   var a: TLoc
   if d.k != locNone:
     # need to generate an assignment here
@@ -486,13 +486,13 @@ proc unaryExprChar(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc, frmt: string) =
   putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, ropecg(p.module, frmt, [rdCharLoc(a)]))
 
 proc binaryArithOverflowRaw(p: BProc, t: PType, a, b: TLoc;
-                            frmt: string): PRope =
+                            frmt: string): Rope =
   var size = getSize(t)
-  let storage = if size < platform.intSize: toRope("NI")
+  let storage = if size < platform.intSize: rope("NI")
                 else: getTypeDesc(p.module, t)
   result = getTempName()
   linefmt(p, cpsLocals, "$1 $2;$n", storage, result)
-  lineCg(p, cpsStmts, frmt, result, rdLoc(a), rdLoc(b))
+  lineCg(p, cpsStmts, frmt, result, rdCharLoc(a), rdCharLoc(b))
   if size < platform.intSize or t.kind in {tyRange, tyEnum}:
     linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "if ($1 < $2 || $1 > $3) #raiseOverflow();$n",
             result, intLiteral(firstOrd(t)), intLiteral(lastOrd(t)))
@@ -522,11 +522,11 @@ proc binaryArithOverflow(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc, m: TMagic) =
   # later via 'chckRange'
   let t = e.typ.skipTypes(abstractRange)
   if optOverflowCheck notin p.options:
-    let res = ropef(opr[m], [getTypeDesc(p.module, t), rdLoc(a), rdLoc(b)])
+    let res = opr[m] % [getTypeDesc(p.module, t), rdLoc(a), rdLoc(b)]
     putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, res)
   else:
     let res = binaryArithOverflowRaw(p, t, a, b, prc[m])
-    putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, ropef("($#)($#)", [getTypeDesc(p.module, t), res]))
+    putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, "($#)($#)" % [getTypeDesc(p.module, t), res])
 
 proc unaryArithOverflow(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc, m: TMagic) =
   const
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ proc unaryArithOverflow(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc, m: TMagic) =
   if optOverflowCheck in p.options:
     linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "if ($1 == $2) #raiseOverflow();$n",
             rdLoc(a), intLiteral(firstOrd(t)))
-  putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, ropef(opr[m], [rdLoc(a), toRope(getSize(t) * 8)]))
+  putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, opr[m] % [rdLoc(a), rope(getSize(t) * 8)])
 
 proc binaryArith(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc, op: TMagic) =
   const
@@ -613,8 +613,8 @@ proc binaryArith(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc, op: TMagic) =
   # BUGFIX: cannot use result-type here, as it may be a boolean
   s = max(getSize(a.t), getSize(b.t)) * 8
   putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ,
-              ropef(binArithTab[op], [rdLoc(a), rdLoc(b), toRope(s),
-                                      getSimpleTypeDesc(p.module, e.typ)]))
+              binArithTab[op] % [rdLoc(a), rdLoc(b), rope(s),
+                                      getSimpleTypeDesc(p.module, e.typ)])
 
 proc genEqProc(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   var a, b: TLoc
@@ -624,10 +624,9 @@ proc genEqProc(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   initLocExpr(p, e.sons[2], b)
   if a.t.callConv == ccClosure:
     putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ,
-      ropef("($1.ClPrc == $2.ClPrc && $1.ClEnv == $2.ClEnv)", [
-      rdLoc(a), rdLoc(b)]))
+      "($1.ClPrc == $2.ClPrc && $1.ClEnv == $2.ClEnv)" % [rdLoc(a), rdLoc(b)])
   else:
-    putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, ropef("($1 == $2)", [rdLoc(a), rdLoc(b)]))
+    putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, "($1 == $2)" % [rdLoc(a), rdLoc(b)])
 
 proc genIsNil(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   let t = skipTypes(e.sons[1].typ, abstractRange)
@@ -667,8 +666,8 @@ proc unaryArith(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc, op: TMagic) =
   initLocExpr(p, e.sons[1], a)
   t = skipTypes(e.typ, abstractRange)
   putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ,
-              ropef(unArithTab[op], [rdLoc(a), toRope(getSize(t) * 8),
-                    getSimpleTypeDesc(p.module, e.typ)]))
+              unArithTab[op] % [rdLoc(a), rope(getSize(t) * 8),
+                getSimpleTypeDesc(p.module, e.typ)])
 
 proc isCppRef(p: BProc; typ: PType): bool {.inline.} =
   result = p.module.compileToCpp and
@@ -677,7 +676,7 @@ proc isCppRef(p: BProc; typ: PType): bool {.inline.} =
 
 proc genDeref(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc; enforceDeref=false) =
   let mt = mapType(e.sons[0].typ)
-  if (mt in {ctArray, ctPtrToArray} and not enforceDeref):
+  if mt in {ctArray, ctPtrToArray} and not enforceDeref:
     # XXX the amount of hacks for C's arrays is incredible, maybe we should
     # simply wrap them in a struct? --> Losing auto vectorization then?
     #if e[0].kind != nkBracketExpr:
@@ -686,19 +685,29 @@ proc genDeref(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc; enforceDeref=false) =
   else:
     var a: TLoc
     initLocExprSingleUse(p, e.sons[0], a)
-    let typ = skipTypes(a.t, abstractInst)
-    case typ.kind
-    of tyRef:
-      d.s = OnHeap
-    of tyVar:
-      d.s = OnUnknown
-      if tfVarIsPtr notin typ.flags and p.module.compileToCpp and
-          e.kind == nkHiddenDeref:
+    if d.k == locNone:
+      let typ = skipTypes(a.t, abstractInst)
+      # dest = *a;  <-- We do not know that 'dest' is on the heap!
+      # It is completely wrong to set 'd.s' here, unless it's not yet
+      # been assigned to.
+      case typ.kind
+      of tyRef:
+        d.s = OnHeap
+      of tyVar:
+        d.s = OnUnknown
+        if tfVarIsPtr notin typ.flags and p.module.compileToCpp and
+            e.kind == nkHiddenDeref:
+          putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, rdLoc(a))
+          return
+      of tyPtr:
+        d.s = OnUnknown         # BUGFIX!
+      else: internalError(e.info, "genDeref " & $a.t.kind)
+    elif p.module.compileToCpp:
+      let typ = skipTypes(a.t, abstractInst)
+      if typ.kind == tyVar and tfVarIsPtr notin typ.flags and
+           e.kind == nkHiddenDeref:
         putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, rdLoc(a))
         return
-    of tyPtr:
-      d.s = OnUnknown         # BUGFIX!
-    else: internalError(e.info, "genDeref " & $a.t.kind)
     if enforceDeref and mt == ctPtrToArray:
       # we lie about the type for better C interop: 'ptr array[3,T]' is
       # translated to 'ptr T', but for deref'ing this produces wrong code.
@@ -707,14 +716,14 @@ proc genDeref(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc; enforceDeref=false) =
       # so the '&' and '*' cancel out:
       putIntoDest(p, d, a.t.sons[0], rdLoc(a))
     else:
-      putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, ropef("(*$1)", [rdLoc(a)]))
+      putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, "(*$1)" % [rdLoc(a)])
 
 proc genAddr(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   # careful  'addr(myptrToArray)' needs to get the ampersand:
   if e.sons[0].typ.skipTypes(abstractInst).kind in {tyRef, tyPtr}:
     var a: TLoc
     initLocExpr(p, e.sons[0], a)
-    putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, con("&", a.r))
+    putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, "&" & a.r)
     #Message(e.info, warnUser, "HERE NEW &")
   elif mapType(e.sons[0].typ) == ctArray or isCppRef(p, e.sons[0].typ):
     expr(p, e.sons[0], d)
@@ -747,7 +756,7 @@ proc genTupleElem(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   case e.sons[1].kind
   of nkIntLit..nkUInt64Lit: i = int(e.sons[1].intVal)
   else: internalError(e.info, "genTupleElem")
-  appf(r, ".Field$1", [toRope(i)])
+  addf(r, ".Field$1", [rope(i)])
   putIntoDest(p, d, ty.sons[i], r)
 
 proc genRecordField(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
@@ -758,7 +767,7 @@ proc genRecordField(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   if ty.kind == tyTuple:
     # we found a unique tuple type which lacks field information
     # so we use Field$i
-    appf(r, ".Field$1", [toRope(f.position)])
+    addf(r, ".Field$1", [rope(f.position)])
     putIntoDest(p, d, f.typ, r)
   else:
     var field: PSym = nil
@@ -767,17 +776,17 @@ proc genRecordField(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
         internalError(e.info, "genRecordField")
       field = lookupInRecord(ty.n, f.name)
       if field != nil: break
-      if not p.module.compileToCpp: app(r, ".Sup")
+      if not p.module.compileToCpp: add(r, ".Sup")
       ty = getUniqueType(ty.sons[0])
     if field == nil: internalError(e.info, "genRecordField 2 ")
     if field.loc.r == nil: internalError(e.info, "genRecordField 3")
-    appf(r, ".$1", [field.loc.r])
+    addf(r, ".$1", [field.loc.r])
     putIntoDest(p, d, field.typ, r)
   #d.s = a.s
 
 proc genInExprAux(p: BProc, e: PNode, a, b, d: var TLoc)
 
-proc genFieldCheck(p: BProc, e: PNode, obj: PRope, field: PSym) =
+proc genFieldCheck(p: BProc, e: PNode, obj: Rope, field: PSym) =
   var test, u, v: TLoc
   for i in countup(1, sonsLen(e) - 1):
     var it = e.sons[i]
@@ -790,12 +799,12 @@ proc genFieldCheck(p: BProc, e: PNode, obj: PRope, field: PSym) =
     initLoc(test, locNone, it.typ, OnStack)
     initLocExpr(p, it.sons[1], u)
     initLoc(v, locExpr, disc.typ, OnUnknown)
-    v.r = ropef("$1.$2", [obj, disc.sym.loc.r])
+    v.r = "$1.$2" % [obj, disc.sym.loc.r]
     genInExprAux(p, it, u, v, test)
     let id = nodeTableTestOrSet(p.module.dataCache,
                                newStrNode(nkStrLit, field.name.s), gBackendId)
     let strLit = if id == gBackendId: getStrLit(p.module, field.name.s)
-                 else: con("TMP", toRope(id))
+                 else: "TMP" & rope(id)
     if op.magic == mNot:
       linefmt(p, cpsStmts,
               "if ($1) #raiseFieldError(((#NimStringDesc*) &$2));$n",
@@ -811,7 +820,7 @@ proc genCheckedRecordField(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
       a: TLoc
       f, field: PSym
       ty: PType
-      r: PRope
+      r: Rope
     ty = genRecordFieldAux(p, e.sons[0], d, a)
     r = rdLoc(a)
     f = e.sons[0].sons[1].sym
@@ -820,13 +829,13 @@ proc genCheckedRecordField(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
       assert(ty.kind in {tyTuple, tyObject})
       field = lookupInRecord(ty.n, f.name)
       if field != nil: break
-      if not p.module.compileToCpp: app(r, ".Sup")
+      if not p.module.compileToCpp: add(r, ".Sup")
       ty = getUniqueType(ty.sons[0])
     if field == nil: internalError(e.info, "genCheckedRecordField")
     if field.loc.r == nil:
       internalError(e.info, "genCheckedRecordField") # generate the checks:
     genFieldCheck(p, e, r, field)
-    app(r, rfmt(nil, ".$1", field.loc.r))
+    add(r, rfmt(nil, ".$1", field.loc.r))
     putIntoDest(p, d, field.typ, r)
   else:
     genRecordField(p, e.sons[0], d)
@@ -955,11 +964,11 @@ proc genEcho(p: BProc, n: PNode) =
   # is threadsafe.
   internalAssert n.kind == nkBracket
   discard lists.includeStr(p.module.headerFiles, "<stdio.h>")
-  var args: PRope = nil
+  var args: Rope = nil
   var a: TLoc
   for i in countup(0, n.len-1):
     initLocExpr(p, n.sons[i], a)
-    appf(args, ", $1? ($1)->data:\"nil\"", [rdLoc(a)])
+    addf(args, ", $1? ($1)->data:\"nil\"", [rdLoc(a)])
   linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "printf($1$2);$n",
           makeCString(repeat("%s", n.len) & tnl), args)
 
@@ -986,22 +995,22 @@ proc genStrConcat(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   var a, tmp: TLoc
   getTemp(p, e.typ, tmp)
   var L = 0
-  var appends: PRope = nil
-  var lens: PRope = nil
+  var appends: Rope = nil
+  var lens: Rope = nil
   for i in countup(0, sonsLen(e) - 2):
     # compute the length expression:
     initLocExpr(p, e.sons[i + 1], a)
     if skipTypes(e.sons[i + 1].typ, abstractVarRange).kind == tyChar:
       inc(L)
-      app(appends, rfmt(p.module, "#appendChar($1, $2);$n", tmp.r, rdLoc(a)))
+      add(appends, rfmt(p.module, "#appendChar($1, $2);$n", tmp.r, rdLoc(a)))
     else:
       if e.sons[i + 1].kind in {nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit}:
         inc(L, len(e.sons[i + 1].strVal))
       else:
-        appf(lens, "$1->$2 + ", [rdLoc(a), lenField(p)])
-      app(appends, rfmt(p.module, "#appendString($1, $2);$n", tmp.r, rdLoc(a)))
-  linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "$1 = #rawNewString($2$3);$n", tmp.r, lens, toRope(L))
-  app(p.s(cpsStmts), appends)
+        addf(lens, "$1->$2 + ", [rdLoc(a), lenField(p)])
+      add(appends, rfmt(p.module, "#appendString($1, $2);$n", tmp.r, rdLoc(a)))
+  linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "$1 = #rawNewString($2$3);$n", tmp.r, lens, rope(L))
+  add(p.s(cpsStmts), appends)
   if d.k == locNone:
     d = tmp
     keepAlive(p, tmp)
@@ -1023,7 +1032,7 @@ proc genStrAppend(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   #  }
   var
     a, dest: TLoc
-    appends, lens: PRope
+    appends, lens: Rope
   assert(d.k == locNone)
   var L = 0
   initLocExpr(p, e.sons[1], dest)
@@ -1032,19 +1041,19 @@ proc genStrAppend(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
     initLocExpr(p, e.sons[i + 2], a)
     if skipTypes(e.sons[i + 2].typ, abstractVarRange).kind == tyChar:
       inc(L)
-      app(appends, rfmt(p.module, "#appendChar($1, $2);$n",
+      add(appends, rfmt(p.module, "#appendChar($1, $2);$n",
                         rdLoc(dest), rdLoc(a)))
     else:
       if e.sons[i + 2].kind in {nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit}:
         inc(L, len(e.sons[i + 2].strVal))
       else:
-        appf(lens, "$1->$2 + ", [rdLoc(a), lenField(p)])
-      app(appends, rfmt(p.module, "#appendString($1, $2);$n",
+        addf(lens, "$1->$2 + ", [rdLoc(a), lenField(p)])
+      add(appends, rfmt(p.module, "#appendString($1, $2);$n",
                         rdLoc(dest), rdLoc(a)))
   linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "$1 = #resizeString($1, $2$3);$n",
-          rdLoc(dest), lens, toRope(L))
+          rdLoc(dest), lens, rope(L))
   keepAlive(p, dest)
-  app(p.s(cpsStmts), appends)
+  add(p.s(cpsStmts), appends)
   gcUsage(e)
 
 proc genSeqElemAppend(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
@@ -1074,14 +1083,14 @@ proc genReset(p: BProc, n: PNode) =
   linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "#genericReset((void*)$1, $2);$n",
           addrLoc(a), genTypeInfo(p.module, skipTypes(a.t, abstractVarRange)))
 
-proc rawGenNew(p: BProc, a: TLoc, sizeExpr: PRope) =
+proc rawGenNew(p: BProc, a: TLoc, sizeExpr: Rope) =
   var sizeExpr = sizeExpr
   let refType = skipTypes(a.t, abstractVarRange)
   var b: TLoc
   initLoc(b, locExpr, a.t, OnHeap)
   if sizeExpr.isNil:
-    sizeExpr = ropef("sizeof($1)",
-        getTypeDesc(p.module, skipTypes(refType.sons[0], abstractRange)))
+    sizeExpr = "sizeof($1)" %
+        [getTypeDesc(p.module, skipTypes(refType.sons[0], abstractRange))]
   let args = [getTypeDesc(p.module, refType),
               genTypeInfo(p.module, refType),
               sizeExpr]
@@ -1111,7 +1120,7 @@ proc genNew(p: BProc, e: PNode) =
     rawGenNew(p, a, nil)
   gcUsage(e)
 
-proc genNewSeqAux(p: BProc, dest: TLoc, length: PRope) =
+proc genNewSeqAux(p: BProc, dest: TLoc, length: Rope) =
   let seqtype = skipTypes(dest.t, abstractVarRange)
   let args = [getTypeDesc(p.module, seqtype),
               genTypeInfo(p.module, seqtype), length]
@@ -1144,7 +1153,7 @@ proc genObjConstr(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   if isRef:
     rawGenNew(p, tmp, nil)
     t = t.lastSon.skipTypes(abstractInst)
-    r = ropef("(*$1)", r)
+    r = "(*$1)" % [r]
     gcUsage(e)
   else:
     constructLoc(p, tmp)
@@ -1158,13 +1167,13 @@ proc genObjConstr(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
     while ty != nil:
       field = lookupInRecord(ty.n, it.sons[0].sym.name)
       if field != nil: break
-      if not p.module.compileToCpp: app(tmp2.r, ".Sup")
+      if not p.module.compileToCpp: add(tmp2.r, ".Sup")
       ty = getUniqueType(ty.sons[0])
     if field == nil or field.loc.r == nil: internalError(e.info, "genObjConstr")
     if it.len == 3 and optFieldCheck in p.options:
       genFieldCheck(p, it.sons[2], tmp2.r, field)
-    app(tmp2.r, ".")
-    app(tmp2.r, field.loc.r)
+    add(tmp2.r, ".")
+    add(tmp2.r, field.loc.r)
     tmp2.k = locTemp
     tmp2.t = field.loc.t
     tmp2.s = if isRef: OnHeap else: OnStack
@@ -1214,14 +1223,14 @@ proc genNewFinalize(p: BProc, e: PNode) =
   var
     a, b, f: TLoc
     refType, bt: PType
-    ti: PRope
+    ti: Rope
     oldModule: BModule
   refType = skipTypes(e.sons[1].typ, abstractVarRange)
   initLocExpr(p, e.sons[1], a)
   initLocExpr(p, e.sons[2], f)
   initLoc(b, locExpr, a.t, OnHeap)
   ti = genTypeInfo(p.module, refType)
-  appf(p.module.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1->finalizer = (void*)$2;$n", [ti, rdLoc(f)])
+  addf(p.module.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1->finalizer = (void*)$2;$n", [ti, rdLoc(f)])
   b.r = ropecg(p.module, "($1) #newObj($2, sizeof($3))", [
       getTypeDesc(p.module, refType),
       ti, getTypeDesc(p.module, skipTypes(refType.lastSon, abstractRange))])
@@ -1230,18 +1239,18 @@ proc genNewFinalize(p: BProc, e: PNode) =
   genObjectInit(p, cpsStmts, bt, a, false)
   gcUsage(e)
 
-proc genOfHelper(p: BProc; dest: PType; a: PRope): PRope =
+proc genOfHelper(p: BProc; dest: PType; a: Rope): Rope =
   # unfortunately 'genTypeInfo' sets tfObjHasKids as a side effect, so we
   # have to call it here first:
   let ti = genTypeInfo(p.module, dest)
   if tfFinal in dest.flags or (p.module.objHasKidsValid and
                                tfObjHasKids notin dest.flags):
-    result = ropef("$1.m_type == $2", a, ti)
+    result = "$1.m_type == $2" % [a, ti]
   else:
     discard cgsym(p.module, "TNimType")
     inc p.module.labels
-    let cache = con("Nim_OfCheck_CACHE", p.module.labels.toRope)
-    appf(p.module.s[cfsVars], "static TNimType* $#[2];$n", cache)
+    let cache = "Nim_OfCheck_CACHE" & p.module.labels.rope
+    addf(p.module.s[cfsVars], "static TNimType* $#[2];$n", [cache])
     result = rfmt(p.module, "#isObjWithCache($#.m_type, $#, $#)", a, ti, cache)
   when false:
     # former version:
@@ -1253,7 +1262,7 @@ proc genOf(p: BProc, x: PNode, typ: PType, d: var TLoc) =
   initLocExpr(p, x, a)
   var dest = skipTypes(typ, typedescPtrs)
   var r = rdLoc(a)
-  var nilCheck: PRope = nil
+  var nilCheck: Rope = nil
   var t = skipTypes(a.t, abstractInst)
   while t.kind in {tyVar, tyPtr, tyRef}:
     if t.kind != tyVar: nilCheck = r
@@ -1262,7 +1271,7 @@ proc genOf(p: BProc, x: PNode, typ: PType, d: var TLoc) =
     t = skipTypes(t.lastSon, typedescInst)
   if not p.module.compileToCpp:
     while t.kind == tyObject and t.sons[0] != nil:
-      app(r, ~".Sup")
+      add(r, ~".Sup")
       t = skipTypes(t.sons[0], typedescInst)
   if isObjLackingTypeField(t):
     globalError(x.info, errGenerated,
@@ -1303,13 +1312,13 @@ proc genRepr(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
     var b: TLoc
     case a.t.kind
     of tyOpenArray, tyVarargs:
-      putIntoDest(p, b, e.typ, ropef("$1, $1Len0", [rdLoc(a)]))
+      putIntoDest(p, b, e.typ, "$1, $1Len0" % [rdLoc(a)])
     of tyString, tySequence:
       putIntoDest(p, b, e.typ,
-                  ropef("$1->data, $1->$2", [rdLoc(a), lenField(p)]))
+                  "$1->data, $1->$2" % [rdLoc(a), lenField(p)])
     of tyArray, tyArrayConstr:
       putIntoDest(p, b, e.typ,
-                  ropef("$1, $2", [rdLoc(a), toRope(lengthOrd(a.t))]))
+                  "$1, $2" % [rdLoc(a), rope(lengthOrd(a.t))])
     else: internalError(e.sons[0].info, "genRepr()")
     putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ,
         ropecg(p.module, "#reprOpenArray($1, $2)", [rdLoc(b),
@@ -1357,8 +1366,8 @@ proc genArrayLen(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc, op: TMagic) =
       else: unaryExpr(p, e, d, "$1->len")
   of tyArray, tyArrayConstr:
     # YYY: length(sideeffect) is optimized away incorrectly?
-    if op == mHigh: putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, toRope(lastOrd(typ)))
-    else: putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, toRope(lengthOrd(typ)))
+    if op == mHigh: putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, rope(lastOrd(typ)))
+    else: putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, rope(lengthOrd(typ)))
   else: internalError(e.info, "genArrayLen()")
 
 proc genSetLengthSeq(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
@@ -1396,13 +1405,13 @@ proc genSwap(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   genAssignment(p, a, b, {})
   genAssignment(p, b, tmp, {})
 
-proc rdSetElemLoc(a: TLoc, setType: PType): PRope =
+proc rdSetElemLoc(a: TLoc, setType: PType): Rope =
   # read a location of an set element; it may need a subtraction operation
   # before the set operation
   result = rdCharLoc(a)
   assert(setType.kind == tySet)
   if firstOrd(setType) != 0:
-    result = ropef("($1- $2)", [result, toRope(firstOrd(setType))])
+    result = "($1- $2)" % [result, rope(firstOrd(setType))]
 
 proc fewCmps(s: PNode): bool =
   # this function estimates whether it is better to emit code
@@ -1416,7 +1425,7 @@ proc fewCmps(s: PNode): bool =
     result = sonsLen(s) <= 8  # 8 seems to be a good value
 
 proc binaryExprIn(p: BProc, e: PNode, a, b, d: var TLoc, frmt: string) =
-  putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, ropef(frmt, [rdLoc(a), rdSetElemLoc(b, a.t)]))
+  putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, frmt % [rdLoc(a), rdSetElemLoc(b, a.t)])
 
 proc genInExprAux(p: BProc, e: PNode, a, b, d: var TLoc) =
   case int(getSize(skipTypes(e.sons[1].typ, abstractVar)))
@@ -1446,19 +1455,19 @@ proc genInOp(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
                e.sons[2]
     initLocExpr(p, ea, a)
     initLoc(b, locExpr, e.typ, OnUnknown)
-    b.r = toRope("(")
+    b.r = rope("(")
     var length = sonsLen(e.sons[1])
     for i in countup(0, length - 1):
       if e.sons[1].sons[i].kind == nkRange:
         initLocExpr(p, e.sons[1].sons[i].sons[0], x)
         initLocExpr(p, e.sons[1].sons[i].sons[1], y)
-        appf(b.r, "$1 >= $2 && $1 <= $3",
+        addf(b.r, "$1 >= $2 && $1 <= $3",
              [rdCharLoc(a), rdCharLoc(x), rdCharLoc(y)])
       else:
         initLocExpr(p, e.sons[1].sons[i], x)
-        appf(b.r, "$1 == $2", [rdCharLoc(a), rdCharLoc(x)])
-      if i < length - 1: app(b.r, " || ")
-    app(b.r, ")")
+        addf(b.r, "$1 == $2", [rdCharLoc(a), rdCharLoc(x)])
+      if i < length - 1: add(b.r, " || ")
+    add(b.r, ")")
     putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, b.r)
   else:
     assert(e.sons[1].typ != nil)
@@ -1514,7 +1523,7 @@ proc genSetOp(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc, op: TMagic) =
       initLocExpr(p, e.sons[2], b)
       if d.k == locNone: getTemp(p, getSysType(tyBool), d)
       lineF(p, cpsStmts, lookupOpr[op],
-           [rdLoc(i), toRope(size), rdLoc(d), rdLoc(a), rdLoc(b)])
+           [rdLoc(i), rope(size), rdLoc(d), rdLoc(a), rdLoc(b)])
     of mEqSet:
       useStringh(p.module)
       binaryExprChar(p, e, d, "(memcmp($1, $2, " & $(size) & ")==0)")
@@ -1527,8 +1536,8 @@ proc genSetOp(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc, op: TMagic) =
       lineF(p, cpsStmts,
            "for ($1 = 0; $1 < $2; $1++) $n" &
            "  $3[$1] = $4[$1] $6 $5[$1];$n", [
-          rdLoc(i), toRope(size), rdLoc(d), rdLoc(a), rdLoc(b),
-          toRope(lookupOpr[op])])
+          rdLoc(i), rope(size), rdLoc(d), rdLoc(a), rdLoc(b),
+          rope(lookupOpr[op])])
     of mInSet: genInOp(p, e, d)
     else: internalError(e.info, "genSetOp")
 
@@ -1545,14 +1554,14 @@ proc genSomeCast(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   initLocExpr(p, e.sons[1], a)
   let etyp = skipTypes(e.typ, abstractRange)
   if etyp.kind in ValueTypes and lfIndirect notin a.flags:
-    putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, ropef("(*($1*) ($2))",
-        [getTypeDesc(p.module, e.typ), addrLoc(a)]))
+    putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, "(*($1*) ($2))" %
+        [getTypeDesc(p.module, e.typ), addrLoc(a)])
   elif etyp.kind == tyProc and etyp.callConv == ccClosure:
-    putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, ropef("(($1) ($2))",
-        [getClosureType(p.module, etyp, clHalfWithEnv), rdCharLoc(a)]))
+    putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, "(($1) ($2))" %
+        [getClosureType(p.module, etyp, clHalfWithEnv), rdCharLoc(a)])
   else:
-    putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, ropef("(($1) ($2))",
-        [getTypeDesc(p.module, e.typ), rdCharLoc(a)]))
+    putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, "(($1) ($2))" %
+        [getTypeDesc(p.module, e.typ), rdCharLoc(a)])
 
 proc genCast(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   const floatTypes = {tyFloat..tyFloat128}
@@ -1562,9 +1571,9 @@ proc genCast(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   if destt.kind in floatTypes or srct.kind in floatTypes:
     # 'cast' and some float type involved? --> use a union.
     inc(p.labels)
-    var lbl = p.labels.toRope
+    var lbl = p.labels.rope
     var tmp: TLoc
-    tmp.r = ropef("LOC$1.source", lbl)
+    tmp.r = "LOC$1.source" % [lbl]
     linefmt(p, cpsLocals, "union { $1 source; $2 dest; } LOC$3;$n",
       getTypeDesc(p.module, srct), getTypeDesc(p.module, destt), lbl)
     tmp.k = locExpr
@@ -1572,7 +1581,7 @@ proc genCast(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
     tmp.s = OnStack
     tmp.flags = {}
     expr(p, e.sons[1], tmp)
-    putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, ropef("LOC$#.dest", lbl))
+    putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, "LOC$#.dest" % [lbl])
   else:
     # I prefer the shorter cast version for pointer types -> generate less
     # C code; plus it's the right thing to do for closures:
@@ -1584,16 +1593,14 @@ proc genRangeChck(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc, magic: string) =
   # range checks for unsigned turned out to be buggy and annoying:
   if optRangeCheck notin p.options or dest.kind in {tyUInt..tyUInt64}:
     initLocExpr(p, n.sons[0], a)
-    putIntoDest(p, d, n.typ, ropef("(($1) ($2))",
-        [getTypeDesc(p.module, dest), rdCharLoc(a)]))
+    putIntoDest(p, d, n.typ, "(($1) ($2))" %
+        [getTypeDesc(p.module, dest), rdCharLoc(a)])
   else:
     initLocExpr(p, n.sons[0], a)
-    if leValue(n.sons[2], n.sons[1]):
-      internalError(n.info, "range check will always fail; empty range")
     putIntoDest(p, d, dest, ropecg(p.module, "(($1)#$5($2, $3, $4))", [
         getTypeDesc(p.module, dest), rdCharLoc(a),
         genLiteral(p, n.sons[1], dest), genLiteral(p, n.sons[2], dest),
-        toRope(magic)]))
+        rope(magic)]))
 
 proc genConv(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   let destType = e.typ.skipTypes({tyVar, tyGenericInst})
@@ -1605,8 +1612,7 @@ proc genConv(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
 proc convStrToCStr(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   var a: TLoc
   initLocExpr(p, n.sons[0], a)
-  putIntoDest(p, d, skipTypes(n.typ, abstractVar), ropef("$1->data",
-      [rdLoc(a)]))
+  putIntoDest(p, d, skipTypes(n.typ, abstractVar), "$1->data" % [rdLoc(a)])
 
 proc convCStrToStr(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   var a: TLoc
@@ -1641,7 +1647,7 @@ proc binaryFloatArith(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc, m: TMagic) =
     initLocExpr(p, e.sons[1], a)
     initLocExpr(p, e.sons[2], b)
     putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, rfmt(nil, "(($4)($2) $1 ($4)($3))",
-                                  toRope(opr[m]), rdLoc(a), rdLoc(b),
+                                  rope(opr[m]), rdLoc(a), rdLoc(b),
                                   getSimpleTypeDesc(p.module, e[1].typ)))
     if optNaNCheck in p.options:
       linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "#nanCheck($1);$n", rdLoc(d))
@@ -1651,7 +1657,7 @@ proc binaryFloatArith(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc, m: TMagic) =
     binaryArith(p, e, d, m)
 
 proc genMagicExpr(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc, op: TMagic) =
-  var line, filen: PRope
+  var line, filen: Rope
   case op
   of mOr, mAnd: genAndOr(p, e, d, op)
   of mNot..mToBiggestInt: unaryArith(p, e, d, op)
@@ -1672,7 +1678,8 @@ proc genMagicExpr(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc, op: TMagic) =
                                                "$# = #subInt64($#, $#);$n"]
     const fun: array [mInc..mDec, string] = ["$# = #addInt($#, $#);$n",
                                              "$# = #subInt($#, $#);$n"]
-    if optOverflowCheck notin p.options:
+    let underlying = skipTypes(e.sons[1].typ, {tyGenericInst, tyVar, tyRange})
+    if optOverflowCheck notin p.options or underlying.kind in {tyUInt..tyUInt64}:
       binaryStmt(p, e, d, opr[op])
     else:
       var a, b: TLoc
@@ -1681,12 +1688,11 @@ proc genMagicExpr(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc, op: TMagic) =
       initLocExpr(p, e.sons[1], a)
       initLocExpr(p, e.sons[2], b)
 
-      let underlying = skipTypes(e.sons[1].typ, {tyGenericInst, tyVar, tyRange})
       let ranged = skipTypes(e.sons[1].typ, {tyGenericInst, tyVar})
       let res = binaryArithOverflowRaw(p, ranged, a, b,
         if underlying.kind == tyInt64: fun64[op] else: fun[op])
-      putIntoDest(p, a, ranged, ropef("($#)($#)", [
-        getTypeDesc(p.module, ranged), res]))
+      putIntoDest(p, a, ranged, "($#)($#)" % [
+        getTypeDesc(p.module, ranged), res])
 
   of mConStrStr: genStrConcat(p, e, d)
   of mAppendStrCh:
@@ -1713,8 +1719,7 @@ proc genMagicExpr(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc, op: TMagic) =
   of mNewSeq: genNewSeq(p, e)
   of mSizeOf:
     let t = e.sons[1].typ.skipTypes({tyTypeDesc})
-    putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, ropef("((NI)sizeof($1))",
-                                   [getTypeDesc(p.module, t)]))
+    putIntoDest(p, d, e.typ, "((NI)sizeof($1))" % [getTypeDesc(p.module, t)])
   of mChr: genSomeCast(p, e, d)
   of mOrd: genOrd(p, e, d)
   of mLengthArray, mHigh, mLengthStr, mLengthSeq, mLengthOpenArray:
@@ -1730,14 +1735,12 @@ proc genMagicExpr(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc, op: TMagic) =
       mParseBiggestFloat:
     var opr = e.sons[0].sym
     if lfNoDecl notin opr.loc.flags:
-      discard cgsym(p.module, opr.loc.r.ropeToStr)
+      discard cgsym(p.module, $opr.loc.r)
     genCall(p, e, d)
   of mReset: genReset(p, e)
   of mEcho: genEcho(p, e[1].skipConv)
   of mArrToSeq: genArrToSeq(p, e, d)
-  of mNLen..mNError:
-    localError(e.info, errCannotGenerateCodeForX, e.sons[0].sym.name.s)
-  of mSlurp..mQuoteAst:
+  of mNLen..mNError, mSlurp..mQuoteAst:
     localError(e.info, errXMustBeCompileTime, e.sons[0].sym.name.s)
   of mSpawn:
     let n = lowerings.wrapProcForSpawn(p.module.module, e, e.typ, nil, nil)
@@ -1751,19 +1754,20 @@ proc genMagicExpr(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc, op: TMagic) =
     initLocExpr(p, x, a)
     initLocExpr(p, e.sons[2], b)
     genDeepCopy(p, a, b)
+  of mDotDot: genCall(p, e, d)
   else: internalError(e.info, "genMagicExpr: " & $op)
 
-proc genConstExpr(p: BProc, n: PNode): PRope
+proc genConstExpr(p: BProc, n: PNode): Rope
 proc handleConstExpr(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc): bool =
   if nfAllConst in n.flags and d.k == locNone and n.len > 0 and n.isDeepConstExpr:
     var t = getUniqueType(n.typ)
     discard getTypeDesc(p.module, t) # so that any fields are initialized
     var id = nodeTableTestOrSet(p.module.dataCache, n, gBackendId)
-    fillLoc(d, locData, t, con("TMP", toRope(id)), OnHeap)
+    fillLoc(d, locData, t, "TMP" & rope(id), OnHeap)
     if id == gBackendId:
       # expression not found in the cache:
       inc(gBackendId)
-      appf(p.module.s[cfsData], "NIM_CONST $1 $2 = $3;$n",
+      addf(p.module.s[cfsData], "NIM_CONST $1 $2 = $3;$n",
            [getTypeDesc(p.module, t), d.r, genConstExpr(p, n)])
     result = true
   else:
@@ -1825,13 +1829,12 @@ proc genTupleConstr(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
       var it = n.sons[i]
       if it.kind == nkExprColonExpr: it = it.sons[1]
       initLoc(rec, locExpr, it.typ, d.s)
-      rec.r = ropef("$1.Field$2", [rdLoc(d), toRope(i)])
+      rec.r = "$1.Field$2" % [rdLoc(d), rope(i)]
       expr(p, it, rec)
       when false:
         initLoc(rec, locExpr, it.typ, d.s)
         if (t.n.sons[i].kind != nkSym): InternalError(n.info, "genTupleConstr")
-        rec.r = ropef("$1.$2",
-                      [rdLoc(d), mangleRecFieldName(t.n.sons[i].sym, t)])
+        rec.r = "$1.$2" % [rdLoc(d), mangleRecFieldName(t.n.sons[i].sym, t)]
         expr(p, it, rec)
 
 proc isConstClosure(n: PNode): bool {.inline.} =
@@ -1843,8 +1846,8 @@ proc genClosure(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
 
   if isConstClosure(n):
     inc(p.labels)
-    var tmp = con("LOC", toRope(p.labels))
-    appf(p.module.s[cfsData], "NIM_CONST $1 $2 = $3;$n",
+    var tmp = "LOC" & rope(p.labels)
+    addf(p.module.s[cfsData], "NIM_CONST $1 $2 = $3;$n",
         [getTypeDesc(p.module, n.typ), tmp, genConstExpr(p, n)])
     putIntoDest(p, d, n.typ, tmp)
   else:
@@ -1862,7 +1865,7 @@ proc genArrayConstr(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
     if d.k == locNone: getTemp(p, n.typ, d)
     for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
       initLoc(arr, locExpr, elemType(skipTypes(n.typ, abstractInst)), d.s)
-      arr.r = ropef("$1[$2]", [rdLoc(d), intLiteral(i)])
+      arr.r = "$1[$2]" % [rdLoc(d), intLiteral(i)]
       expr(p, n.sons[i], arr)
 
 proc genComplexConst(p: BProc, sym: PSym, d: var TLoc) =
@@ -1881,16 +1884,16 @@ proc upConv(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   var dest = skipTypes(n.typ, abstractPtrs)
   if optObjCheck in p.options and not isObjLackingTypeField(dest):
     var r = rdLoc(a)
-    var nilCheck: PRope = nil
+    var nilCheck: Rope = nil
     var t = skipTypes(a.t, abstractInst)
     while t.kind in {tyVar, tyPtr, tyRef}:
       if t.kind != tyVar: nilCheck = r
       if t.kind != tyVar or not p.module.compileToCpp:
-        r = ropef("(*$1)", [r])
+        r = "(*$1)" % [r]
       t = skipTypes(t.lastSon, abstractInst)
     if not p.module.compileToCpp:
       while t.kind == tyObject and t.sons[0] != nil:
-        app(r, ".Sup")
+        add(r, ".Sup")
         t = skipTypes(t.sons[0], abstractInst)
     if nilCheck != nil:
       linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "if ($1) #chckObj($2.m_type, $3);$n",
@@ -1900,10 +1903,10 @@ proc upConv(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
               r, genTypeInfo(p.module, dest))
   if n.sons[0].typ.kind != tyObject:
     putIntoDest(p, d, n.typ,
-                ropef("(($1) ($2))", [getTypeDesc(p.module, n.typ), rdLoc(a)]))
+                "(($1) ($2))" % [getTypeDesc(p.module, n.typ), rdLoc(a)])
   else:
-    putIntoDest(p, d, n.typ, ropef("(*($1*) ($2))",
-                                   [getTypeDesc(p.module, dest), addrLoc(a)]))
+    putIntoDest(p, d, n.typ, "(*($1*) ($2))" %
+                             [getTypeDesc(p.module, dest), addrLoc(a)])
 
 proc downConv(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   if p.module.compileToCpp:
@@ -1920,10 +1923,10 @@ proc downConv(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
     var r = rdLoc(a)
     let isRef = skipTypes(arg.typ, abstractInst).kind in {tyRef, tyPtr, tyVar}
     if isRef:
-      app(r, "->Sup")
+      add(r, "->Sup")
     else:
-      app(r, ".Sup")
-    for i in countup(2, abs(inheritanceDiff(dest, src))): app(r, ".Sup")
+      add(r, ".Sup")
+    for i in countup(2, abs(inheritanceDiff(dest, src))): add(r, ".Sup")
     if isRef:
       # it can happen that we end up generating '&&x->Sup' here, so we pack
       # the '&x->Sup' into a temporary and then those address is taken
@@ -1934,7 +1937,7 @@ proc downConv(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
         getTemp(p, n.typ, d)
         linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "$1 = &$2;$n", rdLoc(d), r)
       else:
-        r = con("&", r)
+        r = "&" & r
         putIntoDest(p, d, n.typ, r)
     else:
       putIntoDest(p, d, n.typ, r)
@@ -1943,12 +1946,12 @@ proc exprComplexConst(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   var t = getUniqueType(n.typ)
   discard getTypeDesc(p.module, t) # so that any fields are initialized
   var id = nodeTableTestOrSet(p.module.dataCache, n, gBackendId)
-  var tmp = con("TMP", toRope(id))
+  var tmp = "TMP" & rope(id)
 
   if id == gBackendId:
     # expression not found in the cache:
     inc(gBackendId)
-    appf(p.module.s[cfsData], "NIM_CONST $1 $2 = $3;$n",
+    addf(p.module.s[cfsData], "NIM_CONST $1 $2 = $3;$n",
          [getTypeDesc(p.module, t), tmp, genConstExpr(p, n)])
 
   if d.k == locNone:
@@ -1983,7 +1986,7 @@ proc expr(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
       else:
         genComplexConst(p, sym, d)
     of skEnumField:
-      putIntoDest(p, d, n.typ, toRope(sym.position))
+      putIntoDest(p, d, n.typ, rope(sym.position))
     of skVar, skForVar, skResult, skLet:
       if sfGlobal in sym.flags: genVarPrototype(p.module, sym)
       if sym.loc.r == nil or sym.loc.t == nil:
@@ -1992,7 +1995,7 @@ proc expr(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
       if sfThread in sym.flags:
         accessThreadLocalVar(p, sym)
         if emulatedThreadVars():
-          putIntoDest(p, d, sym.loc.t, con("NimTV->", sym.loc.r))
+          putIntoDest(p, d, sym.loc.t, "NimTV->" & sym.loc.r)
         else:
           putLocIntoDest(p, d, sym.loc)
       else:
@@ -2135,42 +2138,42 @@ proc expr(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   of nkBreakState: genBreakState(p, n)
   else: internalError(n.info, "expr(" & $n.kind & "); unknown node kind")
 
-proc genNamedConstExpr(p: BProc, n: PNode): PRope =
+proc genNamedConstExpr(p: BProc, n: PNode): Rope =
   if n.kind == nkExprColonExpr: result = genConstExpr(p, n.sons[1])
   else: result = genConstExpr(p, n)
 
-proc genConstSimpleList(p: BProc, n: PNode): PRope =
+proc genConstSimpleList(p: BProc, n: PNode): Rope =
   var length = sonsLen(n)
-  result = toRope("{")
+  result = rope("{")
   for i in countup(0, length - 2):
-    appf(result, "$1,$n", [genNamedConstExpr(p, n.sons[i])])
-  if length > 0: app(result, genNamedConstExpr(p, n.sons[length - 1]))
-  appf(result, "}$n")
+    addf(result, "$1,$n", [genNamedConstExpr(p, n.sons[i])])
+  if length > 0: add(result, genNamedConstExpr(p, n.sons[length - 1]))
+  addf(result, "}$n", [])
 
-proc genConstSeq(p: BProc, n: PNode, t: PType): PRope =
-  var data = ropef("{{$1, $1}", n.len.toRope)
+proc genConstSeq(p: BProc, n: PNode, t: PType): Rope =
+  var data = "{{$1, $1}" % [n.len.rope]
   if n.len > 0:
     # array part needs extra curlies:
-    data.app(", {")
+    data.add(", {")
     for i in countup(0, n.len - 1):
-      if i > 0: data.appf(",$n")
-      data.app genConstExpr(p, n.sons[i])
-    data.app("}")
-  data.app("}")
+      if i > 0: data.addf(",$n", [])
+      data.add genConstExpr(p, n.sons[i])
+    data.add("}")
+  data.add("}")
 
   inc(gBackendId)
-  result = con("CNSTSEQ", gBackendId.toRope)
+  result = "CNSTSEQ" & gBackendId.rope
 
   appcg(p.module, cfsData,
         "NIM_CONST struct {$n" &
         "  #TGenericSeq Sup;$n" &
         "  $1 data[$2];$n" &
         "} $3 = $4;$n", [
-        getTypeDesc(p.module, t.sons[0]), n.len.toRope, result, data])
+        getTypeDesc(p.module, t.sons[0]), n.len.rope, result, data])
 
-  result = ropef("(($1)&$2)", [getTypeDesc(p.module, t), result])
+  result = "(($1)&$2)" % [getTypeDesc(p.module, t), result]
 
-proc genConstExpr(p: BProc, n: PNode): PRope =
+proc genConstExpr(p: BProc, n: PNode): Rope =
   case n.kind
   of nkHiddenStdConv, nkHiddenSubConv:
     result = genConstExpr(p, n.sons[1])
diff --git a/compiler/ccgmerge.nim b/compiler/ccgmerge.nim
index f4f837834..2a37257b6 100644
--- a/compiler/ccgmerge.nim
+++ b/compiler/ccgmerge.nim
@@ -45,29 +45,29 @@ const
   ]
   NimMergeEndMark = "/*\tNIM_merge_END:*/"
 
-proc genSectionStart*(fs: TCFileSection): PRope =
+proc genSectionStart*(fs: TCFileSection): Rope =
   if compilationCachePresent:
-    result = toRope(tnl)
-    app(result, "/*\t")
-    app(result, CFileSectionNames[fs])
-    app(result, ":*/")
-    app(result, tnl)
+    result = rope(tnl)
+    add(result, "/*\t")
+    add(result, CFileSectionNames[fs])
+    add(result, ":*/")
+    add(result, tnl)
 
-proc genSectionEnd*(fs: TCFileSection): PRope =
+proc genSectionEnd*(fs: TCFileSection): Rope =
   if compilationCachePresent:
-    result = toRope(NimMergeEndMark & tnl)
+    result = rope(NimMergeEndMark & tnl)
 
-proc genSectionStart*(ps: TCProcSection): PRope =
+proc genSectionStart*(ps: TCProcSection): Rope =
   if compilationCachePresent:
-    result = toRope(tnl)
-    app(result, "/*\t")
-    app(result, CProcSectionNames[ps])
-    app(result, ":*/")
-    app(result, tnl)
+    result = rope(tnl)
+    add(result, "/*\t")
+    add(result, CProcSectionNames[ps])
+    add(result, ":*/")
+    add(result, tnl)
 
-proc genSectionEnd*(ps: TCProcSection): PRope =
+proc genSectionEnd*(ps: TCProcSection): Rope =
   if compilationCachePresent:
-    result = toRope(NimMergeEndMark & tnl)
+    result = rope(NimMergeEndMark & tnl)
 
 proc writeTypeCache(a: TIdTable, s: var string) =
   var i = 0
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ proc writeTypeCache(a: TIdTable, s: var string) =
       s.add(' ')
     encodeVInt(id, s)
     s.add(':')
-    encodeStr(PRope(value).ropeToStr, s)
+    encodeStr($Rope(value), s)
     inc i
   s.add('}')
 
@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ proc writeIntSet(a: IntSet, s: var string) =
     encodeVInt(x, s)
     inc i
   s.add('}')
-  
-proc genMergeInfo*(m: BModule): PRope =
+
+proc genMergeInfo*(m: BModule): Rope =
   if optSymbolFiles notin gGlobalOptions: return nil
   var s = "/*\tNIM_merge_INFO:"
   s.add(tnl)
@@ -111,9 +111,9 @@ proc genMergeInfo*(m: BModule): PRope =
   encodeVInt(ord(m.frameDeclared), s)
   s.add(tnl)
   s.add("*/")
-  result = s.toRope
+  result = s.rope
 
-template `^`(pos: expr): expr = L.buf[pos]
+template `^`(pos: int): expr = L.buf[pos]
 
 proc skipWhite(L: var TBaseLexer) =
   var pos = L.bufpos
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ proc skipUntilCmd(L: var TBaseLexer) =
     of CR: pos = nimlexbase.handleCR(L, pos)
     of LF: pos = nimlexbase.handleLF(L, pos)
     of '\0': break
-    of '/': 
+    of '/':
       if ^(pos+1) == '*' and ^(pos+2) == '\t':
         inc pos, 3
         break
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ proc atEndMark(buf: cstring, pos: int): bool =
   while s < NimMergeEndMark.len and buf[pos+s] == NimMergeEndMark[s]: inc s
   result = s == NimMergeEndMark.len
 
-proc readVerbatimSection(L: var TBaseLexer): PRope = 
+proc readVerbatimSection(L: var TBaseLexer): Rope =
   var pos = L.bufpos
   var buf = L.buf
   var r = newStringOfCap(30_000)
@@ -162,14 +162,14 @@ proc readVerbatimSection(L: var TBaseLexer): PRope =
     of '\0':
       internalError("ccgmerge: expected: " & NimMergeEndMark)
       break
-    else: 
+    else:
       if atEndMark(buf, pos):
         inc pos, NimMergeEndMark.len
         break
       r.add(buf[pos])
       inc pos
   L.bufpos = pos
-  result = r.toRope
+  result = r.rope
 
 proc readKey(L: var TBaseLexer, result: var string) =
   var pos = L.bufpos
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ proc readKey(L: var TBaseLexer, result: var string) =
   if buf[pos] != ':': internalError("ccgmerge: ':' expected")
   L.bufpos = pos + 1 # skip ':'
 
-proc newFakeType(id: int): PType = 
+proc newFakeType(id: int): PType =
   new(result)
   result.id = id
 
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ proc readTypeCache(L: var TBaseLexer, result: var TIdTable) =
     # XXX little hack: we create a "fake" type object with the correct Id
     # better would be to adapt the data structure to not even store the
     # object as key, but only the Id
-    idTablePut(result, newFakeType(key), value.toRope)
+    idTablePut(result, newFakeType(key), value.rope)
   inc L.bufpos
 
 proc readIntSet(L: var TBaseLexer, result: var IntSet) =
@@ -227,8 +227,8 @@ proc processMergeInfo(L: var TBaseLexer, m: BModule) =
 
 when not defined(nimhygiene):
   {.pragma: inject.}
-  
-template withCFile(cfilename: string, body: stmt) {.immediate.} = 
+
+template withCFile(cfilename: string, body: stmt) {.immediate.} =
   var s = llStreamOpen(cfilename, fmRead)
   if s == nil: return
   var L {.inject.}: TBaseLexer
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ template withCFile(cfilename: string, body: stmt) {.immediate.} =
     if ^L.bufpos == '\0': break
     body
   closeBaseLexer(L)
-  
+
 proc readMergeInfo*(cfilename: string, m: BModule) =
   ## reads the merge meta information into `m`.
   withCFile(cfilename):
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ proc readMergeSections(cfilename: string, m: var TMergeSections) =
   ## reads the merge sections into `m`.
   withCFile(cfilename):
     readKey(L, k)
-    if k == "NIM_merge_INFO":   
+    if k == "NIM_merge_INFO":
       discard
     elif ^L.bufpos == '*' and ^(L.bufpos+1) == '/':
       inc(L.bufpos, 2)
@@ -280,19 +280,19 @@ proc readMergeSections(cfilename: string, m: var TMergeSections) =
 proc mergeRequired*(m: BModule): bool =
   for i in cfsHeaders..cfsProcs:
     if m.s[i] != nil:
-      #echo "not empty: ", i, " ", ropeToStr(m.s[i])
+      #echo "not empty: ", i, " ", m.s[i]
       return true
   for i in low(TCProcSection)..high(TCProcSection):
-    if m.initProc.s(i) != nil: 
-      #echo "not empty: ", i, " ", ropeToStr(m.initProc.s[i])
+    if m.initProc.s(i) != nil:
+      #echo "not empty: ", i, " ", m.initProc.s[i]
       return true
 
 proc mergeFiles*(cfilename: string, m: BModule) =
   ## merges the C file with the old version on hard disc.
   var old: TMergeSections
   readMergeSections(cfilename, old)
-  # do the merge; old section before new section:    
+  # do the merge; old section before new section:
   for i in low(TCFileSection)..high(TCFileSection):
-    m.s[i] = con(old.f[i], m.s[i])
+    m.s[i] = old.f[i] & m.s[i]
   for i in low(TCProcSection)..high(TCProcSection):
-    m.initProc.s(i) = con(old.p[i], m.initProc.s(i))
+    m.initProc.s(i) = old.p[i] & m.initProc.s(i)
diff --git a/compiler/ccgstmts.nim b/compiler/ccgstmts.nim
index 0cf452985..c1e6b01ae 100644
--- a/compiler/ccgstmts.nim
+++ b/compiler/ccgstmts.nim
@@ -61,11 +61,10 @@ proc genVarTuple(p: BProc, n: PNode) =
       initLocalVar(p, v, immediateAsgn=isAssignedImmediately(n[L-1]))
     initLoc(field, locExpr, t.sons[i], tup.s)
     if t.kind == tyTuple:
-      field.r = ropef("$1.Field$2", [rdLoc(tup), toRope(i)])
+      field.r = "$1.Field$2" % [rdLoc(tup), rope(i)]
     else:
       if t.n.sons[i].kind != nkSym: internalError(n.info, "genVarTuple")
-      field.r = ropef("$1.$2",
-                      [rdLoc(tup), mangleRecFieldName(t.n.sons[i].sym, t)])
+      field.r = "$1.$2" % [rdLoc(tup), mangleRecFieldName(t.n.sons[i].sym, t)]
     putLocIntoDest(p, v.loc, field)
 
 proc genDeref(p: BProc, e: PNode, d: var TLoc; enforceDeref=false)
@@ -86,8 +85,8 @@ proc loadInto(p: BProc, le, ri: PNode, a: var TLoc) {.inline.} =
   else:
     expr(p, ri, a)
 
-proc startBlock(p: BProc, start: TFormatStr = "{$n",
-                args: varargs[PRope]): int {.discardable.} =
+proc startBlock(p: BProc, start: FormatStr = "{$n",
+                args: varargs[Rope]): int {.discardable.} =
   lineCg(p, cpsStmts, start, args)
   inc(p.labels)
   result = len(p.blocks)
@@ -96,21 +95,21 @@ proc startBlock(p: BProc, start: TFormatStr = "{$n",
   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)
+proc assignLabel(b: var TBlock): Rope {.inline.} =
+  b.label = "LA" & b.id.rope
   result = b.label
 
-proc blockBody(b: var TBlock): PRope =
+proc blockBody(b: var TBlock): Rope =
   result = b.sections[cpsLocals]
   if b.frameLen > 0:
-    result.appf("F.len+=$1;$n", b.frameLen.toRope)
-  result.app(b.sections[cpsInit])
-  result.app(b.sections[cpsStmts])
+    result.addf("F.len+=$1;$n", [b.frameLen.rope])
+  result.add(b.sections[cpsInit])
+  result.add(b.sections[cpsStmts])
 
-proc endBlock(p: BProc, blockEnd: PRope) =
+proc endBlock(p: BProc, blockEnd: Rope) =
   let topBlock = p.blocks.len-1
   # the block is merged into the parent block
-  app(p.blocks[topBlock-1].sections[cpsStmts], p.blocks[topBlock].blockBody)
+  add(p.blocks[topBlock-1].sections[cpsStmts], p.blocks[topBlock].blockBody)
   setLen(p.blocks, topBlock)
   # this is done after the block is popped so $n is
   # properly indented when pretty printing is enabled
@@ -124,7 +123,7 @@ proc endBlock(p: BProc) =
       ~"}$n"
   let frameLen = p.blocks[topBlock].frameLen
   if frameLen > 0:
-    blockEnd.appf("F.len-=$1;$n", frameLen.toRope)
+    blockEnd.addf("F.len-=$1;$n", [frameLen.rope])
   endBlock(p, blockEnd)
 
 proc genSimpleBlock(p: BProc, stmts: PNode) {.inline.} =
@@ -145,7 +144,7 @@ template preserveBreakIdx(body: stmt): stmt {.immediate.} =
 proc genState(p: BProc, n: PNode) =
   internalAssert n.len == 1 and n.sons[0].kind == nkIntLit
   let idx = n.sons[0].intVal
-  linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "STATE$1: ;$n", idx.toRope)
+  linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "STATE$1: ;$n", idx.rope)
 
 proc genGotoState(p: BProc, n: PNode) =
   # we resist the temptation to translate it into duff's device as it later
@@ -159,7 +158,7 @@ proc genGotoState(p: BProc, n: PNode) =
   p.beforeRetNeeded = true
   lineF(p, cpsStmts, "case -1: goto BeforeRet;$n", [])
   for i in 0 .. lastOrd(n.sons[0].typ):
-    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "case $1: goto STATE$1;$n", [toRope(i)])
+    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "case $1: goto STATE$1;$n", [rope(i)])
   lineF(p, cpsStmts, "}$n", [])
 
 proc genBreakState(p: BProc, n: PNode) =
@@ -176,9 +175,18 @@ proc genBreakState(p: BProc, n: PNode) =
 
 proc genVarPrototypeAux(m: BModule, sym: PSym)
 
+proc genGotoVar(p: BProc; value: PNode) =
+  if value.kind notin {nkCharLit..nkUInt64Lit}:
+    localError(value.info, "'goto' target must be a literal value")
+  else:
+    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "goto NIMSTATE_$#;$n", [value.intVal.rope])
+
 proc genSingleVar(p: BProc, a: PNode) =
   var v = a.sons[0].sym
-  if sfCompileTime in v.flags: return
+  if {sfCompileTime, sfGoto} * v.flags != {}:
+    # translate 'var state {.goto.} = X' into 'goto LX':
+    if sfGoto in v.flags: genGotoVar(p, a.sons[2])
+    return
   var targetProc = p
   if sfGlobal in v.flags:
     if v.flags * {sfImportc, sfExportc} == {sfImportc} and
@@ -214,17 +222,17 @@ proc genSingleVar(p: BProc, a: PNode) =
       var tmp: TLoc
       if value.kind in nkCallKinds and value[0].kind == nkSym and
            sfConstructor in value[0].sym.flags:
-        var params: PRope
+        var params: Rope
         let typ = skipTypes(value.sons[0].typ, abstractInst)
         assert(typ.kind == tyProc)
         for i in 1.. <value.len:
-          if params != nil: params.app(~", ")
+          if params != nil: params.add(~", ")
           assert(sonsLen(typ) == sonsLen(typ.n))
-          app(params, genOtherArg(p, value, i, typ))
-        lineF(p, cpsStmts, "$#($#);$n", decl, params)
+          add(params, genOtherArg(p, value, i, typ))
+        lineF(p, cpsStmts, "$#($#);$n", [decl, params])
       else:
         initLocExprSingleUse(p, value, tmp)
-        lineF(p, cpsStmts, "$# = $#;$n", decl, tmp.rdLoc)
+        lineF(p, cpsStmts, "$# = $#;$n", [decl, tmp.rdLoc])
       return
     assignLocalVar(p, v)
     initLocalVar(p, v, imm)
@@ -298,9 +306,9 @@ proc genIf(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
       when not newScopeForIf: startBlock(p)
       if p.module.compileToCpp:
         # avoid "jump to label crosses initialization" error:
-        app(p.s(cpsStmts), "{")
+        add(p.s(cpsStmts), "{")
         expr(p, it.sons[1], d)
-        app(p.s(cpsStmts), "}")
+        add(p.s(cpsStmts), "}")
       else:
         expr(p, it.sons[1], d)
       endBlock(p)
@@ -366,6 +374,19 @@ proc genReturnStmt(p: BProc, t: PNode) =
     linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "if ($1.status != 0) #popCurrentException();$n", safePoint)
   lineF(p, cpsStmts, "goto BeforeRet;$n", [])
 
+proc genGotoForCase(p: BProc; caseStmt: PNode) =
+  for i in 1 .. <caseStmt.len:
+    startBlock(p)
+    let it = caseStmt.sons[i]
+    for j in 0 .. it.len-2:
+      if it.sons[j].kind == nkRange:
+        localError(it.info, "range notation not available for computed goto")
+        return
+      let val = getOrdValue(it.sons[j])
+      lineF(p, cpsStmts, "NIMSTATE_$#:$n", [val.rope])
+    genStmts(p, it.lastSon)
+    endBlock(p)
+
 proc genComputedGoto(p: BProc; n: PNode) =
   # first pass: Generate array of computed labels:
   var casePos = -1
@@ -389,11 +410,11 @@ proc genComputedGoto(p: BProc; n: PNode) =
     localError(n.info, "no case statement found for computed goto"); return
   var id = p.labels+1
   inc p.labels, arraySize+1
-  let tmp = ropef("TMP$1", id.toRope)
-  var gotoArray = ropef("static void* $#[$#] = {", tmp, arraySize.toRope)
+  let tmp = "TMP$1" % [id.rope]
+  var gotoArray = "static void* $#[$#] = {" % [tmp, arraySize.rope]
   for i in 1..arraySize-1:
-    gotoArray.appf("&&TMP$#, ", (id+i).toRope)
-  gotoArray.appf("&&TMP$#};$n", (id+arraySize).toRope)
+    gotoArray.addf("&&TMP$#, ", [(id+i).rope])
+  gotoArray.addf("&&TMP$#};$n", [(id+arraySize).rope])
   line(p, cpsLocals, gotoArray)
 
   let topBlock = p.blocks.len-1
@@ -407,13 +428,13 @@ proc genComputedGoto(p: BProc; n: PNode) =
   for j in 0 .. casePos-1: genStmts(p, n.sons[j])
   let tailA = p.blocks[topBlock].sections[cpsStmts]
 
-  p.blocks[topBlock].sections[cpsStmts] = oldBody.con(tailA)
+  p.blocks[topBlock].sections[cpsStmts] = oldBody & tailA
 
   let caseStmt = n.sons[casePos]
   var a: TLoc
   initLocExpr(p, caseStmt.sons[0], a)
   # first goto:
-  lineF(p, cpsStmts, "goto *$#[$#];$n", tmp, a.rdLoc)
+  lineF(p, cpsStmts, "goto *$#[$#];$n", [tmp, a.rdLoc])
 
   for i in 1 .. <caseStmt.len:
     startBlock(p)
@@ -423,16 +444,16 @@ proc genComputedGoto(p: BProc; n: PNode) =
         localError(it.info, "range notation not available for computed goto")
         return
       let val = getOrdValue(it.sons[j])
-      lineF(p, cpsStmts, "TMP$#:$n", intLiteral(val+id+1))
+      lineF(p, cpsStmts, "TMP$#:$n", [intLiteral(val+id+1)])
     genStmts(p, it.lastSon)
     #for j in casePos+1 .. <n.len: genStmts(p, n.sons[j]) # tailB
     #for j in 0 .. casePos-1: genStmts(p, n.sons[j])  # tailA
-    app(p.s(cpsStmts), tailB)
-    app(p.s(cpsStmts), tailA)
+    add(p.s(cpsStmts), tailB)
+    add(p.s(cpsStmts), tailA)
 
     var a: TLoc
     initLocExpr(p, caseStmt.sons[0], a)
-    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "goto *$#[$#];$n", tmp, a.rdLoc)
+    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "goto *$#[$#];$n", [tmp, a.rdLoc])
     endBlock(p)
 
 proc genWhileStmt(p: BProc, t: PNode) =
@@ -498,9 +519,9 @@ proc genParForStmt(p: BProc, t: PNode) =
 
     lineF(p, cpsStmts, "#pragma omp parallel for $4$n" &
                         "for ($1 = $2; $1 <= $3; ++$1)",
-                        forLoopVar.loc.rdLoc,
+                        [forLoopVar.loc.rdLoc,
                         rangeA.rdLoc, rangeB.rdLoc,
-                        call.sons[3].getStr.toRope)
+                        call.sons[3].getStr.rope])
 
     p.breakIdx = startBlock(p)
     p.blocks[p.breakIdx].isLoop = true
@@ -560,7 +581,7 @@ proc genRaiseStmt(p: BProc, t: PNode) =
       linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "#reraiseException();$n")
 
 proc genCaseGenericBranch(p: BProc, b: PNode, e: TLoc,
-                          rangeFormat, eqFormat: TFormatStr, labl: TLabel) =
+                          rangeFormat, eqFormat: FormatStr, labl: TLabel) =
   var
     x, y: TLoc
   var length = sonsLen(b)
@@ -578,7 +599,7 @@ proc genCaseSecondPass(p: BProc, t: PNode, d: var TLoc,
                        labId, until: int): TLabel =
   var lend = getLabel(p)
   for i in 1..until:
-    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "LA$1: ;$n", [toRope(labId + i)])
+    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "LA$1: ;$n", [rope(labId + i)])
     if t.sons[i].kind == nkOfBranch:
       var length = sonsLen(t.sons[i])
       exprBlock(p, t.sons[i].sons[length - 1], d)
@@ -588,7 +609,7 @@ proc genCaseSecondPass(p: BProc, t: PNode, d: var TLoc,
   result = lend
 
 proc genIfForCaseUntil(p: BProc, t: PNode, d: var TLoc,
-                       rangeFormat, eqFormat: TFormatStr,
+                       rangeFormat, eqFormat: FormatStr,
                        until: int, a: TLoc): TLabel =
   # generate a C-if statement for a Nim case statement
   var labId = p.labels
@@ -596,27 +617,27 @@ proc genIfForCaseUntil(p: BProc, t: PNode, d: var TLoc,
     inc(p.labels)
     if t.sons[i].kind == nkOfBranch: # else statement
       genCaseGenericBranch(p, t.sons[i], a, rangeFormat, eqFormat,
-                           con("LA", toRope(p.labels)))
+                           "LA" & rope(p.labels))
     else:
-      lineF(p, cpsStmts, "goto LA$1;$n", [toRope(p.labels)])
+      lineF(p, cpsStmts, "goto LA$1;$n", [rope(p.labels)])
   if until < t.len-1:
     inc(p.labels)
     var gotoTarget = p.labels
-    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "goto LA$1;$n", [toRope(gotoTarget)])
+    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "goto LA$1;$n", [rope(gotoTarget)])
     result = genCaseSecondPass(p, t, d, labId, until)
-    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "LA$1: ;$n", [toRope(gotoTarget)])
+    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "LA$1: ;$n", [rope(gotoTarget)])
   else:
     result = genCaseSecondPass(p, t, d, labId, until)
 
 proc genCaseGeneric(p: BProc, t: PNode, d: var TLoc,
-                    rangeFormat, eqFormat: TFormatStr) =
+                    rangeFormat, eqFormat: FormatStr) =
   var a: TLoc
   initLocExpr(p, t.sons[0], a)
   var lend = genIfForCaseUntil(p, t, d, rangeFormat, eqFormat, sonsLen(t)-1, a)
   fixLabel(p, lend)
 
 proc genCaseStringBranch(p: BProc, b: PNode, e: TLoc, labl: TLabel,
-                         branches: var openArray[PRope]) =
+                         branches: var openArray[Rope]) =
   var x: TLoc
   var length = sonsLen(b)
   for i in countup(0, length - 2):
@@ -634,7 +655,7 @@ proc genStringCase(p: BProc, t: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
     if t.sons[i].kind == nkOfBranch: inc(strings, sonsLen(t.sons[i]) - 1)
   if strings > stringCaseThreshold:
     var bitMask = math.nextPowerOfTwo(strings) - 1
-    var branches: seq[PRope]
+    var branches: seq[Rope]
     newSeq(branches, bitMask + 1)
     var a: TLoc
     initLocExpr(p, t.sons[0], a) # fist pass: gnerate ifs+goto:
@@ -642,21 +663,21 @@ proc genStringCase(p: BProc, t: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
     for i in countup(1, sonsLen(t) - 1):
       inc(p.labels)
       if t.sons[i].kind == nkOfBranch:
-        genCaseStringBranch(p, t.sons[i], a, con("LA", toRope(p.labels)),
+        genCaseStringBranch(p, t.sons[i], a, "LA" & rope(p.labels),
                             branches)
       else:
         # else statement: nothing to do yet
         # but we reserved a label, which we use later
         discard
     linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "switch (#hashString($1) & $2) {$n",
-            rdLoc(a), toRope(bitMask))
+            rdLoc(a), rope(bitMask))
     for j in countup(0, high(branches)):
       if branches[j] != nil:
         lineF(p, cpsStmts, "case $1: $n$2break;$n",
              [intLiteral(j), branches[j]])
-    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "}$n") # else statement:
+    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "}$n", []) # else statement:
     if t.sons[sonsLen(t)-1].kind != nkOfBranch:
-      lineF(p, cpsStmts, "goto LA$1;$n", [toRope(p.labels)])
+      lineF(p, cpsStmts, "goto LA$1;$n", [rope(p.labels)])
     # third pass: generate statements
     var lend = genCaseSecondPass(p, t, d, labId, sonsLen(t)-1)
     fixLabel(p, lend)
@@ -718,13 +739,13 @@ proc genOrdinalCase(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
         genCaseRange(p, branch)
       else:
         # else part of case statement:
-        lineF(p, cpsStmts, "default:$n")
+        lineF(p, cpsStmts, "default:$n", [])
         hasDefault = true
       exprBlock(p, branch.lastSon, d)
-      lineF(p, cpsStmts, "break;$n")
+      lineF(p, cpsStmts, "break;$n", [])
     if (hasAssume in CC[cCompiler].props) and not hasDefault:
-      lineF(p, cpsStmts, "default: __assume(0);$n")
-    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "}$n")
+      lineF(p, cpsStmts, "default: __assume(0);$n", [])
+    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "}$n", [])
   if lend != nil: fixLabel(p, lend)
 
 proc genCase(p: BProc, t: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
@@ -738,7 +759,10 @@ proc genCase(p: BProc, t: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
     genCaseGeneric(p, t, d, "if ($1 >= $2 && $1 <= $3) goto $4;$n",
                             "if ($1 == $2) goto $3;$n")
   else:
-    genOrdinalCase(p, t, d)
+    if t.sons[0].kind == nkSym and sfGoto in t.sons[0].sym.flags:
+      genGotoForCase(p, t)
+    else:
+      genOrdinalCase(p, t, d)
 
 proc hasGeneralExceptSection(t: PNode): bool =
   var length = sonsLen(t)
@@ -774,7 +798,7 @@ proc genTryCpp(p: BProc, t: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   if not isEmptyType(t.typ) and d.k == locNone:
     getTemp(p, t.typ, d)
   var
-    exc: PRope
+    exc: Rope
     i, length, blen: int
   genLineDir(p, t)
   exc = getTempName()
@@ -794,16 +818,16 @@ proc genTryCpp(p: BProc, t: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   var catchAllPresent = false
   while (i < length) and (t.sons[i].kind == nkExceptBranch):
     blen = sonsLen(t.sons[i])
-    if i > 1: appf(p.s(cpsStmts), "else ")
+    if i > 1: addf(p.s(cpsStmts), "else ", [])
     if blen == 1:
       # general except section:
       catchAllPresent = true
       exprBlock(p, t.sons[i].sons[0], d)
     else:
-      var orExpr: PRope = nil
+      var orExpr: Rope = nil
       for j in countup(0, blen - 2):
         assert(t.sons[i].sons[j].kind == nkType)
-        if orExpr != nil: app(orExpr, "||")
+        if orExpr != nil: add(orExpr, "||")
         appcg(p.module, orExpr,
               "#isObj($1.exp->m_type, $2)",
               [exc, genTypeInfo(p.module, t.sons[i].sons[j].typ)])
@@ -814,7 +838,7 @@ proc genTryCpp(p: BProc, t: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
   # reraise the exception if there was no catch all
   # and none of the handlers matched
   if not catchAllPresent:
-    if i > 1: lineF(p, cpsStmts, "else ")
+    if i > 1: lineF(p, cpsStmts, "else ", [])
     startBlock(p)
     var finallyBlock = t.lastSon
     if finallyBlock.kind == nkFinally:
@@ -824,7 +848,7 @@ proc genTryCpp(p: BProc, t: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
     line(p, cpsStmts, ~"throw;$n")
     endBlock(p)
 
-  lineF(p, cpsStmts, "}$n") # end of catch block
+  lineF(p, cpsStmts, "}$n", []) # end of catch block
   dec p.inExceptBlock
 
   discard pop(p.nestedTryStmts)
@@ -895,17 +919,17 @@ proc genTry(p: BProc, t: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
     var blen = sonsLen(t.sons[i])
     if blen == 1:
       # general except section:
-      if i > 1: lineF(p, cpsStmts, "else")
+      if i > 1: lineF(p, cpsStmts, "else", [])
       startBlock(p)
       linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "$1.status = 0;$n", safePoint)
       expr(p, t.sons[i].sons[0], d)
       linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "#popCurrentException();$n")
       endBlock(p)
     else:
-      var orExpr: PRope = nil
+      var orExpr: Rope = nil
       for j in countup(0, blen - 2):
         assert(t.sons[i].sons[j].kind == nkType)
-        if orExpr != nil: app(orExpr, "||")
+        if orExpr != nil: add(orExpr, "||")
         appcg(p.module, orExpr,
               "#isObj(#getCurrentException()->Sup.m_type, $1)",
               [genTypeInfo(p.module, t.sons[i].sons[j].typ)])
@@ -925,7 +949,7 @@ proc genTry(p: BProc, t: PNode, d: var TLoc) =
     discard pop(p.finallySafePoints)
   linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "if ($1.status != 0) #reraiseException();$n", safePoint)
 
-proc genAsmOrEmitStmt(p: BProc, t: PNode, isAsmStmt=false): PRope =
+proc genAsmOrEmitStmt(p: BProc, t: PNode, isAsmStmt=false): Rope =
   var res = ""
   for i in countup(0, sonsLen(t) - 1):
     case t.sons[i].kind
@@ -936,7 +960,7 @@ proc genAsmOrEmitStmt(p: BProc, t: PNode, isAsmStmt=false): PRope =
       if sym.kind in {skProc, skIterator, skClosureIterator, skMethod}:
         var a: TLoc
         initLocExpr(p, t.sons[i], a)
-        res.add(rdLoc(a).ropeToStr)
+        res.add($rdLoc(a))
       else:
         var r = sym.loc.r
         if r == nil:
@@ -944,7 +968,7 @@ proc genAsmOrEmitStmt(p: BProc, t: PNode, isAsmStmt=false): PRope =
           # it doesn't matter much:
           r = mangleName(sym)
           sym.loc.r = r       # but be consequent!
-        res.add(r.ropeToStr)
+        res.add($r)
     else: internalError(t.sons[i].info, "genAsmOrEmitStmt()")
 
   if isAsmStmt and hasGnuAsm in CC[cCompiler].props:
@@ -954,15 +978,15 @@ proc genAsmOrEmitStmt(p: BProc, t: PNode, isAsmStmt=false): PRope =
       if x[j] in {'"', ':'}:
         # don't modify the line if already in quotes or
         # some clobber register list:
-        app(result, x); app(result, tnl)
+        add(result, x); add(result, tnl)
       elif x[j] != '\0':
         # ignore empty lines
-        app(result, "\"")
-        app(result, x)
-        app(result, "\\n\"\n")
+        add(result, "\"")
+        add(result, x)
+        add(result, "\\n\"\n")
   else:
     res.add(tnl)
-    result = res.toRope
+    result = res.rope
 
 proc genAsmStmt(p: BProc, t: PNode) =
   assert(t.kind == nkAsmStmt)
@@ -973,7 +997,7 @@ proc genAsmStmt(p: BProc, t: PNode) =
   # work:
   if p.prc == nil:
     # top level asm statement?
-    appf(p.module.s[cfsProcHeaders], CC[cCompiler].asmStmtFrmt, [s])
+    addf(p.module.s[cfsProcHeaders], CC[cCompiler].asmStmtFrmt, [s])
   else:
     lineF(p, cpsStmts, CC[cCompiler].asmStmtFrmt, [s])
 
@@ -982,14 +1006,14 @@ proc genEmit(p: BProc, t: PNode) =
   if p.prc == nil:
     # top level emit pragma?
     genCLineDir(p.module.s[cfsProcHeaders], t.info)
-    app(p.module.s[cfsProcHeaders], s)
+    add(p.module.s[cfsProcHeaders], s)
   else:
     genLineDir(p, t)
     line(p, cpsStmts, s)
 
 var
   breakPointId: int = 0
-  gBreakpoints: PRope # later the breakpoints are inserted into the main proc
+  gBreakpoints: Rope # later the breakpoints are inserted into the main proc
 
 proc genBreakPoint(p: BProc, t: PNode) =
   var name: string
@@ -1003,7 +1027,7 @@ proc genBreakPoint(p: BProc, t: PNode) =
     genLineDir(p, t)          # BUGFIX
     appcg(p.module, gBreakpoints,
          "#dbgRegisterBreakpoint($1, (NCSTRING)$2, (NCSTRING)$3);$n", [
-        toRope(toLinenumber(t.info)), makeCString(toFilename(t.info)),
+        rope(toLinenumber(t.info)), makeCString(toFilename(t.info)),
         makeCString(name)])
 
 proc genWatchpoint(p: BProc, n: PNode) =
@@ -1066,7 +1090,9 @@ proc asgnFieldDiscriminant(p: BProc, e: PNode) =
 
 proc genAsgn(p: BProc, e: PNode, fastAsgn: bool) =
   genLineDir(p, e)
-  if not fieldDiscriminantCheckNeeded(p, e):
+  if e.sons[0].kind == nkSym and sfGoto in e.sons[0].sym.flags:
+    genGotoVar(p, e.sons[1])
+  elif not fieldDiscriminantCheckNeeded(p, e):
     var a: TLoc
     initLocExpr(p, e.sons[0], a)
     if fastAsgn: incl(a.flags, lfNoDeepCopy)
diff --git a/compiler/ccgthreadvars.nim b/compiler/ccgthreadvars.nim
index c24dd5c41..d741c47a9 100644
--- a/compiler/ccgthreadvars.nim
+++ b/compiler/ccgthreadvars.nim
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 #    distribution, for details about the copyright.
 #
 
-## Thread var support for crappy architectures that lack native support for 
+## Thread var support for crappy architectures that lack native support for
 ## thread local storage. (**Thank you Mac OS X!**)
 
 # included from cgen.nim
@@ -19,12 +19,12 @@ proc accessThreadLocalVar(p: BProc, s: PSym) =
   if emulatedThreadVars() and not p.threadVarAccessed:
     p.threadVarAccessed = true
     p.module.usesThreadVars = true
-    appf(p.procSec(cpsLocals), "\tNimThreadVars* NimTV;$n")
-    app(p.procSec(cpsInit),
+    addf(p.procSec(cpsLocals), "\tNimThreadVars* NimTV;$n", [])
+    add(p.procSec(cpsInit),
       ropecg(p.module, "\tNimTV = (NimThreadVars*) #GetThreadLocalVars();$n"))
-    
+
 var
-  nimtv: PRope                 # nimrod thread vars; the struct body
+  nimtv: Rope                 # nimrod thread vars; the struct body
   nimtvDeps: seq[PType] = @[]  # type deps: every module needs whole struct
   nimtvDeclared = initIntSet() # so that every var/field exists only once
                                # in the struct
@@ -43,23 +43,23 @@ proc declareThreadVar(m: BModule, s: PSym, isExtern: bool) =
     # allocator for it :-(
     if not containsOrIncl(nimtvDeclared, s.id):
       nimtvDeps.add(s.loc.t)
-      appf(nimtv, "$1 $2;$n", [getTypeDesc(m, s.loc.t), s.loc.r])
+      addf(nimtv, "$1 $2;$n", [getTypeDesc(m, s.loc.t), s.loc.r])
   else:
-    if isExtern: app(m.s[cfsVars], "extern ")
-    if optThreads in gGlobalOptions: app(m.s[cfsVars], "NIM_THREADVAR ")
-    app(m.s[cfsVars], getTypeDesc(m, s.loc.t))
-    appf(m.s[cfsVars], " $1;$n", [s.loc.r])
-  
+    if isExtern: add(m.s[cfsVars], "extern ")
+    if optThreads in gGlobalOptions: add(m.s[cfsVars], "NIM_THREADVAR ")
+    add(m.s[cfsVars], getTypeDesc(m, s.loc.t))
+    addf(m.s[cfsVars], " $1;$n", [s.loc.r])
+
 proc generateThreadLocalStorage(m: BModule) =
   if nimtv != nil and (m.usesThreadVars or sfMainModule in m.module.flags):
     for t in items(nimtvDeps): discard getTypeDesc(m, t)
-    appf(m.s[cfsSeqTypes], "typedef struct {$1} NimThreadVars;$n", [nimtv])
+    addf(m.s[cfsSeqTypes], "typedef struct {$1} NimThreadVars;$n", [nimtv])
 
 proc generateThreadVarsSize(m: BModule) =
   if nimtv != nil:
     let externc = if gCmd != cmdCompileToCpp and
                        sfCompileToCpp in m.module.flags: "extern \"C\""
                   else: ""
-    appf(m.s[cfsProcs],
+    addf(m.s[cfsProcs],
       "$#NI NimThreadVarsSize(){return (NI)sizeof(NimThreadVars);}$n",
-      [externc.toRope])
+      [externc.rope])
diff --git a/compiler/ccgtrav.nim b/compiler/ccgtrav.nim
index 8bb820283..5f59702e5 100644
--- a/compiler/ccgtrav.nim
+++ b/compiler/ccgtrav.nim
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ type
     p: BProc
     visitorFrmt: string
 
-proc genTraverseProc(c: var TTraversalClosure, accessor: PRope, typ: PType)
+proc genTraverseProc(c: var TTraversalClosure, accessor: Rope, typ: PType)
 proc genCaseRange(p: BProc, branch: PNode)
 proc getTemp(p: BProc, t: PType, result: var TLoc; needsInit=false)
 
-proc genTraverseProc(c: var TTraversalClosure, accessor: PRope, n: PNode) =
+proc genTraverseProc(c: var TTraversalClosure, accessor: Rope, n: PNode) =
   if n == nil: return
   case n.kind
   of nkRecList:
@@ -31,31 +31,31 @@ proc genTraverseProc(c: var TTraversalClosure, accessor: PRope, n: PNode) =
     if (n.sons[0].kind != nkSym): internalError(n.info, "genTraverseProc")
     var p = c.p
     let disc = n.sons[0].sym
-    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "switch ($1.$2) {$n", accessor, disc.loc.r)
+    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "switch ($1.$2) {$n", [accessor, disc.loc.r])
     for i in countup(1, sonsLen(n) - 1):
       let branch = n.sons[i]
       assert branch.kind in {nkOfBranch, nkElse}
       if branch.kind == nkOfBranch:
         genCaseRange(c.p, branch)
       else:
-        lineF(p, cpsStmts, "default:$n")
+        lineF(p, cpsStmts, "default:$n", [])
       genTraverseProc(c, accessor, lastSon(branch))
-      lineF(p, cpsStmts, "break;$n")
-    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "} $n")
+      lineF(p, cpsStmts, "break;$n", [])
+    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "} $n", [])
   of nkSym:
     let field = n.sym
     if field.loc.t == nil:
       internalError(n.info, "genTraverseProc()")
-    genTraverseProc(c, ropef("$1.$2", accessor, field.loc.r), field.loc.t)
+    genTraverseProc(c, "$1.$2" % [accessor, field.loc.r], field.loc.t)
   else: internalError(n.info, "genTraverseProc()")
 
-proc parentObj(accessor: PRope; m: BModule): PRope {.inline.} =
+proc parentObj(accessor: Rope; m: BModule): Rope {.inline.} =
   if not m.compileToCpp:
-    result = ropef("$1.Sup", accessor)
+    result = "$1.Sup" % [accessor]
   else:
     result = accessor
 
-proc genTraverseProc(c: var TTraversalClosure, accessor: PRope, typ: PType) =
+proc genTraverseProc(c: var TTraversalClosure, accessor: Rope, typ: PType) =
   if typ == nil: return
   var p = c.p
   case typ.kind
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@ proc genTraverseProc(c: var TTraversalClosure, accessor: PRope, typ: PType) =
     var i: TLoc
     getTemp(p, getSysType(tyInt), i)
     linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "for ($1 = 0; $1 < $2; $1++) {$n",
-            i.r, arraySize.toRope)
+            i.r, arraySize.rope)
     genTraverseProc(c, rfmt(nil, "$1[$2]", accessor, i.r), typ.sons[1])
-    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "}$n")
+    lineF(p, cpsStmts, "}$n", [])
   of tyObject:
     for i in countup(0, sonsLen(typ) - 1):
       genTraverseProc(c, accessor.parentObj(c.p.module), typ.sons[i])
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ proc genTraverseProc(c: var TTraversalClosure, accessor: PRope, typ: PType) =
   of tyTuple:
     let typ = getUniqueType(typ)
     for i in countup(0, sonsLen(typ) - 1):
-      genTraverseProc(c, rfmt(nil, "$1.Field$2", accessor, i.toRope), typ.sons[i])
+      genTraverseProc(c, rfmt(nil, "$1.Field$2", accessor, i.rope), typ.sons[i])
   of tyRef, tyString, tySequence:
     lineCg(p, cpsStmts, c.visitorFrmt, accessor)
   of tyProc:
@@ -85,67 +85,67 @@ proc genTraverseProc(c: var TTraversalClosure, accessor: PRope, typ: PType) =
   else:
     discard
 
-proc genTraverseProcSeq(c: var TTraversalClosure, accessor: PRope, typ: PType) =
+proc genTraverseProcSeq(c: var TTraversalClosure, accessor: Rope, typ: PType) =
   var p = c.p
-  assert typ.kind == tySequence  
+  assert typ.kind == tySequence
   var i: TLoc
   getTemp(p, getSysType(tyInt), i)
   lineF(p, cpsStmts, "for ($1 = 0; $1 < $2->$3; $1++) {$n",
-      i.r, accessor, toRope(if c.p.module.compileToCpp: "len" else: "Sup.len"))
-  genTraverseProc(c, ropef("$1->data[$2]", accessor, i.r), typ.sons[0])
-  lineF(p, cpsStmts, "}$n")
-  
-proc genTraverseProc(m: BModule, typ: PType, reason: TTypeInfoReason): PRope =
+      [i.r, accessor, rope(if c.p.module.compileToCpp: "len" else: "Sup.len")])
+  genTraverseProc(c, "$1->data[$2]" % [accessor, i.r], typ.sons[0])
+  lineF(p, cpsStmts, "}$n", [])
+
+proc genTraverseProc(m: BModule, typ: PType, reason: TTypeInfoReason): Rope =
   var c: TTraversalClosure
   var p = newProc(nil, m)
   result = getGlobalTempName()
-  
+
   case reason
   of tiNew: c.visitorFrmt = "#nimGCvisit((void*)$1, op);$n"
   else: assert false
-  
-  let header = ropef("N_NIMCALL(void, $1)(void* p, NI op)", result)
-  
+
+  let header = "N_NIMCALL(void, $1)(void* p, NI op)" % [result]
+
   let t = getTypeDesc(m, typ)
-  lineF(p, cpsLocals, "$1 a;$n", t)
-  lineF(p, cpsInit, "a = ($1)p;$n", t)
-  
+  lineF(p, cpsLocals, "$1 a;$n", [t])
+  lineF(p, cpsInit, "a = ($1)p;$n", [t])
+
   c.p = p
   assert typ.kind != tyTypeDesc
   if typ.kind == tySequence:
-    genTraverseProcSeq(c, "a".toRope, typ)
+    genTraverseProcSeq(c, "a".rope, typ)
   else:
     if skipTypes(typ.sons[0], typedescInst).kind in {tyArrayConstr, tyArray}:
       # C's arrays are broken beyond repair:
-      genTraverseProc(c, "a".toRope, typ.sons[0])
+      genTraverseProc(c, "a".rope, typ.sons[0])
     else:
-      genTraverseProc(c, "(*a)".toRope, typ.sons[0])
-  
-  let generatedProc = ropef("$1 {$n$2$3$4}$n",
-        [header, p.s(cpsLocals), p.s(cpsInit), p.s(cpsStmts)])
-  
-  m.s[cfsProcHeaders].appf("$1;$n", header)
-  m.s[cfsProcs].app(generatedProc)
-
-proc genTraverseProcForGlobal(m: BModule, s: PSym): PRope =
+      genTraverseProc(c, "(*a)".rope, typ.sons[0])
+
+  let generatedProc = "$1 {$n$2$3$4}$n" %
+        [header, p.s(cpsLocals), p.s(cpsInit), p.s(cpsStmts)]
+
+  m.s[cfsProcHeaders].addf("$1;$n", [header])
+  m.s[cfsProcs].add(generatedProc)
+
+proc genTraverseProcForGlobal(m: BModule, s: PSym): Rope =
   discard genTypeInfo(m, s.loc.t)
-  
+
   var c: TTraversalClosure
   var p = newProc(nil, m)
   var sLoc = s.loc.r
   result = getGlobalTempName()
-  
+
   if sfThread in s.flags and emulatedThreadVars():
     accessThreadLocalVar(p, s)
-    sLoc = con("NimTV->", sLoc)
-    
+    sLoc = "NimTV->" & sLoc
+
   c.visitorFrmt = "#nimGCvisit((void*)$1, 0);$n"
   c.p = p
-  let header = ropef("N_NIMCALL(void, $1)()", result)
+  let header = "N_NIMCALL(void, $1)()" % [result]
   genTraverseProc(c, sLoc, s.loc.t)
-  
-  let generatedProc = ropef("$1 {$n$2$3$4}$n",
-        [header, p.s(cpsLocals), p.s(cpsInit), p.s(cpsStmts)])
-  
-  m.s[cfsProcHeaders].appf("$1;$n", header)
-  m.s[cfsProcs].app(generatedProc)
+
+  let generatedProc = "$1 {$n$2$3$4}$n" %
+        [header, p.s(cpsLocals), p.s(cpsInit), p.s(cpsStmts)]
+
+  m.s[cfsProcHeaders].addf("$1;$n", [header])
+  m.s[cfsProcs].add(generatedProc)
diff --git a/compiler/ccgtypes.nim b/compiler/ccgtypes.nim
index 086aeb966..60ebf591b 100644
--- a/compiler/ccgtypes.nim
+++ b/compiler/ccgtypes.nim
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ proc isKeyword(w: PIdent): bool =
      ord(wInline): return true
   else: return false
 
-proc mangleName(s: PSym): PRope =
+proc mangleName(s: PSym): Rope =
   result = s.loc.r
   if result == nil:
     when oKeepVariableNames:
@@ -77,27 +77,27 @@ proc mangleName(s: PSym): PRope =
       # These are not properly scoped now - we need to add blocks
       # around for loops in transf
       if keepOrigName:
-        result = s.name.s.mangle.newRope
+        result = s.name.s.mangle.rope
       else:
-        app(result, newRope(mangle(s.name.s)))
-        app(result, ~"_")
-        app(result, toRope(s.id))
+        add(result, rope(mangle(s.name.s)))
+        add(result, ~"_")
+        add(result, rope(s.id))
     else:
-      app(result, newRope(mangle(s.name.s)))
-      app(result, ~"_")
-      app(result, toRope(s.id))
+      add(result, rope(mangle(s.name.s)))
+      add(result, ~"_")
+      add(result, rope(s.id))
     s.loc.r = result
 
-proc typeName(typ: PType): PRope =
-  result = if typ.sym != nil: typ.sym.name.s.mangle.toRope
+proc typeName(typ: PType): Rope =
+  result = if typ.sym != nil: typ.sym.name.s.mangle.rope
            else: ~"TY"
 
-proc getTypeName(typ: PType): PRope =
+proc getTypeName(typ: PType): Rope =
   if typ.sym != nil and {sfImportc, sfExportc} * typ.sym.flags != {}:
     result = typ.sym.loc.r
   else:
     if typ.loc.r == nil:
-      typ.loc.r = con(typ.typeName, typ.id.toRope)
+      typ.loc.r = typ.typeName & typ.id.rope
     result = typ.loc.r
   if result == nil: internalError("getTypeName: " & $typ.kind)
 
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ proc isImportedType(t: PType): bool =
 proc isImportedCppType(t: PType): bool =
   result = t.sym != nil and sfInfixCall in t.sym.flags
 
-proc getTypeDescAux(m: BModule, typ: PType, check: var IntSet): PRope
+proc getTypeDescAux(m: BModule, typ: PType, check: var IntSet): Rope
 proc needsComplexAssignment(typ: PType): bool =
   result = containsGarbageCollectedRef(typ)
 
@@ -189,17 +189,17 @@ const
                  # but one can #define it to what one wants
     "N_INLINE", "N_NOINLINE", "N_FASTCALL", "N_CLOSURE", "N_NOCONV"]
 
-proc cacheGetType(tab: TIdTable, key: PType): PRope =
+proc cacheGetType(tab: TIdTable, key: PType): Rope =
   # returns nil if we need to declare this type
   # since types are now unique via the ``getUniqueType`` mechanism, this slow
   # linear search is not necessary anymore:
-  result = PRope(idTableGet(tab, key))
+  result = Rope(idTableGet(tab, key))
 
-proc getTempName(): PRope =
-  result = rfmt(nil, "TMP$1", toRope(backendId()))
+proc getTempName(): Rope =
+  result = rfmt(nil, "TMP$1", rope(backendId()))
 
-proc getGlobalTempName(): PRope =
-  result = rfmt(nil, "TMP$1", toRope(backendId()))
+proc getGlobalTempName(): Rope =
+  result = rfmt(nil, "TMP$1", rope(backendId()))
 
 proc ccgIntroducedPtr(s: PSym): bool =
   var pt = skipTypes(s.typ, typedescInst)
@@ -226,13 +226,13 @@ proc fillResult(param: PSym) =
     incl(param.loc.flags, lfIndirect)
     param.loc.s = OnUnknown
 
-proc typeNameOrLiteral(t: PType, literal: string): PRope =
+proc typeNameOrLiteral(t: PType, literal: string): Rope =
   if t.sym != nil and sfImportc in t.sym.flags and t.sym.magic == mNone:
     result = getTypeName(t)
   else:
-    result = toRope(literal)
+    result = rope(literal)
 
-proc getSimpleTypeDesc(m: BModule, typ: PType): PRope =
+proc getSimpleTypeDesc(m: BModule, typ: PType): Rope =
   const
     NumericalTypeToStr: array[tyInt..tyUInt64, string] = [
       "NI", "NI8", "NI16", "NI32", "NI64",
@@ -268,20 +268,20 @@ proc getSimpleTypeDesc(m: BModule, typ: PType): PRope =
 proc pushType(m: BModule, typ: PType) =
   add(m.typeStack, typ)
 
-proc getTypePre(m: BModule, typ: PType): PRope =
-  if typ == nil: result = toRope("void")
+proc getTypePre(m: BModule, typ: PType): Rope =
+  if typ == nil: result = rope("void")
   else:
     result = getSimpleTypeDesc(m, typ)
     if result == nil: result = cacheGetType(m.typeCache, typ)
 
-proc structOrUnion(t: PType): PRope =
-  (if tfUnion in t.flags: toRope("union") else: toRope("struct"))
+proc structOrUnion(t: PType): Rope =
+  (if tfUnion in t.flags: rope("union") else: rope("struct"))
 
 proc getForwardStructFormat(m: BModule): string =
   if m.compileToCpp: result = "$1 $2;$n"
   else: result = "typedef $1 $2 $2;$n"
 
-proc getTypeForward(m: BModule, typ: PType): PRope =
+proc getTypeForward(m: BModule, typ: PType): Rope =
   result = cacheGetType(m.forwTypeCache, typ)
   if result != nil: return
   result = getTypePre(m, typ)
@@ -290,12 +290,12 @@ proc getTypeForward(m: BModule, typ: PType): PRope =
   of tySequence, tyTuple, tyObject:
     result = getTypeName(typ)
     if not isImportedType(typ):
-      appf(m.s[cfsForwardTypes], getForwardStructFormat(m),
+      addf(m.s[cfsForwardTypes], getForwardStructFormat(m),
           [structOrUnion(typ), result])
     idTablePut(m.forwTypeCache, typ, result)
   else: internalError("getTypeForward(" & $typ.kind & ')')
 
-proc getTypeDescWeak(m: BModule; t: PType; check: var IntSet): PRope =
+proc getTypeDescWeak(m: BModule; t: PType; check: var IntSet): Rope =
   ## like getTypeDescAux but creates only a *weak* dependency. In other words
   ## we know we only need a pointer to it so we only generate a struct forward
   ## declaration:
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ proc getTypeDescWeak(m: BModule; t: PType; check: var IntSet): PRope =
       pushType(m, x)
   of tySequence:
     let x = getUniqueType(etB)
-    result = getTypeForward(m, x).con("*")
+    result = getTypeForward(m, x) & "*"
     pushType(m, x)
   else:
     result = getTypeDescAux(m, t, check)
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ proc paramStorageLoc(param: PSym): TStorageLoc =
   else:
     result = OnUnknown
 
-proc genProcParams(m: BModule, t: PType, rettype, params: var PRope,
+proc genProcParams(m: BModule, t: PType, rettype, params: var Rope,
                    check: var IntSet, declareEnvironment=true) =
   params = nil
   if (t.sons[0] == nil) or isInvalidReturnType(t.sons[0]):
@@ -332,18 +332,18 @@ proc genProcParams(m: BModule, t: PType, rettype, params: var PRope,
     if t.n.sons[i].kind != nkSym: internalError(t.n.info, "genProcParams")
     var param = t.n.sons[i].sym
     if isCompileTimeOnly(param.typ): continue
-    if params != nil: app(params, ~", ")
+    if params != nil: add(params, ~", ")
     fillLoc(param.loc, locParam, param.typ, mangleName(param),
             param.paramStorageLoc)
     if ccgIntroducedPtr(param):
-      app(params, getTypeDescWeak(m, param.typ, check))
-      app(params, ~"*")
+      add(params, getTypeDescWeak(m, param.typ, check))
+      add(params, ~"*")
       incl(param.loc.flags, lfIndirect)
       param.loc.s = OnUnknown
     else:
-      app(params, getTypeDescAux(m, param.typ, check))
-    app(params, ~" ")
-    app(params, param.loc.r)
+      add(params, getTypeDescAux(m, param.typ, check))
+    add(params, ~" ")
+    add(params, param.loc.r)
     # declare the len field for open arrays:
     var arr = param.typ
     if arr.kind == tyVar: arr = arr.sons[0]
@@ -352,78 +352,78 @@ proc genProcParams(m: BModule, t: PType, rettype, params: var PRope,
       # this fixes the 'sort' bug:
       if param.typ.kind == tyVar: param.loc.s = OnUnknown
       # need to pass hidden parameter:
-      appf(params, ", NI $1Len$2", [param.loc.r, j.toRope])
+      addf(params, ", NI $1Len$2", [param.loc.r, j.rope])
       inc(j)
       arr = arr.sons[0]
   if (t.sons[0] != nil) and isInvalidReturnType(t.sons[0]):
     var arr = t.sons[0]
-    if params != nil: app(params, ", ")
+    if params != nil: add(params, ", ")
     if (mapReturnType(t.sons[0]) != ctArray):
-      app(params, getTypeDescWeak(m, arr, check))
-      app(params, "*")
+      add(params, getTypeDescWeak(m, arr, check))
+      add(params, "*")
     else:
-      app(params, getTypeDescAux(m, arr, check))
-    appf(params, " Result", [])
+      add(params, getTypeDescAux(m, arr, check))
+    addf(params, " Result", [])
   if t.callConv == ccClosure and declareEnvironment:
-    if params != nil: app(params, ", ")
-    app(params, "void* ClEnv")
+    if params != nil: add(params, ", ")
+    add(params, "void* ClEnv")
   if tfVarargs in t.flags:
-    if params != nil: app(params, ", ")
-    app(params, "...")
-  if params == nil: app(params, "void)")
-  else: app(params, ")")
-  params = con("(", params)
+    if params != nil: add(params, ", ")
+    add(params, "...")
+  if params == nil: add(params, "void)")
+  else: add(params, ")")
+  params = "(" & params
 
-proc mangleRecFieldName(field: PSym, rectype: PType): PRope =
+proc mangleRecFieldName(field: PSym, rectype: PType): Rope =
   if (rectype.sym != nil) and
       ({sfImportc, sfExportc} * rectype.sym.flags != {}):
     result = field.loc.r
   else:
-    result = toRope(mangleField(field.name.s))
+    result = rope(mangleField(field.name.s))
   if result == nil: internalError(field.info, "mangleRecFieldName")
 
 proc genRecordFieldsAux(m: BModule, n: PNode,
-                        accessExpr: PRope, rectype: PType,
-                        check: var IntSet): PRope =
+                        accessExpr: Rope, rectype: PType,
+                        check: var IntSet): Rope =
   var
-    ae, uname, sname, a: PRope
+    ae, uname, sname, a: Rope
     k: PNode
     field: PSym
   result = nil
   case n.kind
   of nkRecList:
     for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
-      app(result, genRecordFieldsAux(m, n.sons[i], accessExpr, rectype, check))
+      add(result, genRecordFieldsAux(m, n.sons[i], accessExpr, rectype, check))
   of nkRecCase:
     if n.sons[0].kind != nkSym: internalError(n.info, "genRecordFieldsAux")
-    app(result, genRecordFieldsAux(m, n.sons[0], accessExpr, rectype, check))
-    uname = toRope(mangle(n.sons[0].sym.name.s) & 'U')
-    if accessExpr != nil: ae = ropef("$1.$2", [accessExpr, uname])
+    add(result, genRecordFieldsAux(m, n.sons[0], accessExpr, rectype, check))
+    uname = rope(mangle(n.sons[0].sym.name.s) & 'U')
+    if accessExpr != nil: ae = "$1.$2" % [accessExpr, uname]
     else: ae = uname
-    var unionBody: PRope = nil
+    var unionBody: Rope = nil
     for i in countup(1, sonsLen(n) - 1):
       case n.sons[i].kind
       of nkOfBranch, nkElse:
         k = lastSon(n.sons[i])
         if k.kind != nkSym:
-          sname = con("S", toRope(i))
-          a = genRecordFieldsAux(m, k, ropef("$1.$2", [ae, sname]), rectype,
+          sname = "S" & rope(i)
+          a = genRecordFieldsAux(m, k, "$1.$2" % [ae, sname], rectype,
                                  check)
           if a != nil:
-            app(unionBody, "struct {")
-            app(unionBody, a)
-            appf(unionBody, "} $1;$n", [sname])
+            add(unionBody, "struct {")
+            add(unionBody, a)
+            addf(unionBody, "} $1;$n", [sname])
         else:
-          app(unionBody, genRecordFieldsAux(m, k, ae, rectype, check))
+          add(unionBody, genRecordFieldsAux(m, k, ae, rectype, check))
       else: internalError("genRecordFieldsAux(record case branch)")
     if unionBody != nil:
-      appf(result, "union{$n$1} $2;$n", [unionBody, uname])
+      addf(result, "union{$n$1} $2;$n", [unionBody, uname])
   of nkSym:
     field = n.sym
     if field.typ.kind == tyEmpty: return
     #assert(field.ast == nil)
     sname = mangleRecFieldName(field, rectype)
-    if accessExpr != nil: ae = ropef("$1.$2", [accessExpr, sname])
+    if accessExpr != nil: ae = "$1.$2" % [accessExpr, sname]
     else: ae = sname
     fillLoc(field.loc, locField, field.typ, ae, OnUnknown)
     # for importcpp'ed objects, we only need to set field.loc, but don't
@@ -432,27 +432,27 @@ proc genRecordFieldsAux(m: BModule, n: PNode,
     if not isImportedCppType(rectype):
       let fieldType = field.loc.t.skipTypes(abstractInst)
       if fieldType.kind == tyArray and tfUncheckedArray in fieldType.flags:
-        appf(result, "$1 $2[SEQ_DECL_SIZE];$n",
+        addf(result, "$1 $2[SEQ_DECL_SIZE];$n",
             [getTypeDescAux(m, fieldType.elemType, check), sname])
       elif fieldType.kind == tySequence:
         # we need to use a weak dependency here for trecursive_table.
-        appf(result, "$1 $2;$n", [getTypeDescWeak(m, field.loc.t, check), sname])
+        addf(result, "$1 $2;$n", [getTypeDescWeak(m, field.loc.t, check), sname])
       else:
         # don't use fieldType here because we need the
         # tyGenericInst for C++ template support
-        appf(result, "$1 $2;$n", [getTypeDescAux(m, field.loc.t, check), sname])
+        addf(result, "$1 $2;$n", [getTypeDescAux(m, field.loc.t, check), sname])
   else: internalError(n.info, "genRecordFieldsAux()")
 
-proc getRecordFields(m: BModule, typ: PType, check: var IntSet): PRope =
+proc getRecordFields(m: BModule, typ: PType, check: var IntSet): Rope =
   result = genRecordFieldsAux(m, typ.n, nil, typ, check)
 
-proc getRecordDesc(m: BModule, typ: PType, name: PRope,
-                   check: var IntSet): PRope =
+proc getRecordDesc(m: BModule, typ: PType, name: Rope,
+                   check: var IntSet): Rope =
   # declare the record:
   var hasField = false
 
-  var attribute: PRope =
-    if tfPacked in typ.flags: toRope(CC[cCompiler].packedPragma)
+  var attribute: Rope =
+    if tfPacked in typ.flags: rope(CC[cCompiler].packedPragma)
     else: nil
 
   result = ropecg(m, CC[cCompiler].structStmtFmt,
@@ -475,27 +475,54 @@ proc getRecordDesc(m: BModule, typ: PType, name: PRope,
                       [getTypeDescAux(m, typ.sons[0], check)])
       hasField = true
   else:
-    appf(result, " {$n", [name])
+    addf(result, " {$n", [name])
 
   var desc = getRecordFields(m, typ, check)
   if desc == nil and not hasField:
-    appf(result, "char dummy;$n", [])
+    addf(result, "char dummy;$n", [])
   else:
-    app(result, desc)
-  app(result, "};" & tnl)
+    add(result, desc)
+  add(result, "};" & tnl)
 
-proc getTupleDesc(m: BModule, typ: PType, name: PRope,
-                  check: var IntSet): PRope =
-  result = ropef("$1 $2 {$n", [structOrUnion(typ), name])
-  var desc: PRope = nil
+proc getTupleDesc(m: BModule, typ: PType, name: Rope,
+                  check: var IntSet): Rope =
+  result = "$1 $2 {$n" % [structOrUnion(typ), name]
+  var desc: Rope = nil
   for i in countup(0, sonsLen(typ) - 1):
-    appf(desc, "$1 Field$2;$n",
-         [getTypeDescAux(m, typ.sons[i], check), toRope(i)])
-  if desc == nil: app(result, "char dummy;" & tnl)
-  else: app(result, desc)
-  app(result, "};" & tnl)
+    addf(desc, "$1 Field$2;$n",
+         [getTypeDescAux(m, typ.sons[i], check), rope(i)])
+  if desc == nil: add(result, "char dummy;" & tnl)
+  else: add(result, desc)
+  add(result, "};" & tnl)
+
+proc scanCppGenericSlot(pat: string, cursor, outIdx, outStars: var int): bool =
+  # A helper proc for handling cppimport patterns, involving numeric
+  # placeholders for generic types (e.g. '0, '**2, etc).
+  # pre: the cursor must be placed at the ' symbol
+  # post: the cursor will be placed after the final digit
+  # false will returned if the input is not recognized as a placeholder
+  inc cursor
+  let begin = cursor
+  while pat[cursor] == '*': inc cursor
+  if pat[cursor] in Digits:
+    outIdx = pat[cursor].ord - '0'.ord
+    outStars = cursor - begin
+    inc cursor
+    return true
+  else:
+    return false
+
+proc resolveStarsInCppType(typ: PType, idx, stars: int): PType =
+  # XXX: we should catch this earlier and report it as a semantic error
+  if idx >= typ.len: internalError "invalid apostrophe type parameter index"
+
+  result = typ.sons[idx]
+  for i in 1..stars:
+    if result != nil and result.len > 0:
+      result = if result.kind == tyGenericInst: result.sons[1]
+               else: result.elemType
 
-proc getTypeDescAux(m: BModule, typ: PType, check: var IntSet): PRope =
+proc getTypeDescAux(m: BModule, typ: PType, check: var IntSet): Rope =
   # returns only the type's name
   var t = getUniqueType(typ)
   if t == nil: internalError("getTypeDescAux: t == nil")
@@ -523,39 +550,39 @@ proc getTypeDescAux(m: BModule, typ: PType, check: var IntSet): PRope =
     case etB.kind
     of tyObject, tyTuple:
       if isImportedCppType(etB) and et.kind == tyGenericInst:
-        result = con(getTypeDescAux(m, et, check), star)
+        result = getTypeDescAux(m, et, check) & star
       else:
         # no restriction! We have a forward declaration for structs
         let x = getUniqueType(etB)
         let name = getTypeForward(m, x)
-        result = con(name, star)
+        result = name & star
         idTablePut(m.typeCache, t, result)
         pushType(m, x)
     of tySequence:
       # no restriction! We have a forward declaration for structs
       let x = getUniqueType(etB)
       let name = getTypeForward(m, x)
-      result = con(name, "*" & star)
+      result = name & "*" & star
       idTablePut(m.typeCache, t, result)
       pushType(m, x)
     else:
       # else we have a strong dependency  :-(
-      result = con(getTypeDescAux(m, et, check), star)
+      result = getTypeDescAux(m, et, check) & star
       idTablePut(m.typeCache, t, result)
   of tyOpenArray, tyVarargs:
-    result = con(getTypeDescAux(m, t.sons[0], check), "*")
+    result = getTypeDescAux(m, t.sons[0], check) & "*"
     idTablePut(m.typeCache, t, result)
   of tyProc:
     result = getTypeName(t)
     idTablePut(m.typeCache, t, result)
-    var rettype, desc: PRope
+    var rettype, desc: Rope
     genProcParams(m, t, rettype, desc, check)
     if not isImportedType(t):
       if t.callConv != ccClosure: # procedure vars may need a closure!
-        appf(m.s[cfsTypes], "typedef $1_PTR($2, $3) $4;$n",
-             [toRope(CallingConvToStr[t.callConv]), rettype, result, desc])
+        addf(m.s[cfsTypes], "typedef $1_PTR($2, $3) $4;$n",
+             [rope(CallingConvToStr[t.callConv]), rettype, result, desc])
       else:
-        appf(m.s[cfsTypes], "typedef struct {$n" &
+        addf(m.s[cfsTypes], "typedef struct {$n" &
             "N_NIMCALL_PTR($2, ClPrc) $3;$n" &
             "void* ClEnv;$n} $1;$n",
              [result, rettype, desc])
@@ -566,11 +593,11 @@ proc getTypeDescAux(m: BModule, typ: PType, check: var IntSet): PRope =
     if result == nil:
       result = getTypeName(t)
       if not isImportedType(t):
-        appf(m.s[cfsForwardTypes], getForwardStructFormat(m),
+        addf(m.s[cfsForwardTypes], getForwardStructFormat(m),
             [structOrUnion(t), result])
       idTablePut(m.forwTypeCache, t, result)
     assert(cacheGetType(m.typeCache, t) == nil)
-    idTablePut(m.typeCache, t, con(result, "*"))
+    idTablePut(m.typeCache, t, result & "*")
     if not isImportedType(t):
       if skipTypes(t.sons[0], typedescInst).kind != tyEmpty:
         const
@@ -582,8 +609,8 @@ proc getTypeDescAux(m: BModule, typ: PType, check: var IntSet): PRope =
             "  $1 data[SEQ_DECL_SIZE];$n" &
             "};$n", [getTypeDescAux(m, t.sons[0], check), result])
       else:
-        result = toRope("TGenericSeq")
-    app(result, "*")
+        result = rope("TGenericSeq")
+    add(result, "*")
   of tyArrayConstr, tyArray:
     var n: BiggestInt = lengthOrd(t)
     if n <= 0: n = 1   # make an array of at least one element
@@ -591,17 +618,39 @@ proc getTypeDescAux(m: BModule, typ: PType, check: var IntSet): PRope =
     idTablePut(m.typeCache, t, result)
     if not isImportedType(t):
       let foo = getTypeDescAux(m, t.sons[1], check)
-      appf(m.s[cfsTypes], "typedef $1 $2[$3];$n",
-           [foo, result, toRope(n)])
+      addf(m.s[cfsTypes], "typedef $1 $2[$3];$n",
+           [foo, result, rope(n)])
   of tyObject, tyTuple:
     if isImportedCppType(t) and typ.kind == tyGenericInst:
       # for instantiated templates we do not go through the type cache as the
       # the type cache is not aware of 'tyGenericInst'.
-      result = getTypeName(t).con("<")
-      for i in 1 .. typ.len-2:
-        if i > 1: result.app(", ")
-        result.app(getTypeDescAux(m, typ.sons[i], check))
-      result.app("> ")
+      let cppName = getTypeName(t)
+      var i = 0
+      var chunkStart = 0
+      while i < cppName.data.len:
+        if cppName.data[i] == '\'':
+          var chunkEnd = <i
+          var idx, stars: int
+          if scanCppGenericSlot(cppName.data, i, idx, stars):
+            result.add cppName.data.substr(chunkStart, chunkEnd)
+            chunkStart = i
+
+            let typeInSlot = resolveStarsInCppType(typ, idx + 1, stars)
+            if typeInSlot == nil or typeInSlot.kind == tyEmpty:
+              result.add(~"void")
+            else:
+              result.add getTypeDescAux(m, typeInSlot, check)
+        else:
+          inc i
+      
+      if chunkStart != 0:
+        result.add cppName.data.substr(chunkStart)
+      else:
+        result = cppName & "<"
+        for i in 1 .. typ.len-2:
+          if i > 1: result.add(", ")
+          result.add(getTypeDescAux(m, typ.sons[i], check))
+        result.add("> ")
       # always call for sideeffects:
       assert t.kind != tyTuple
       discard getRecordDesc(m, t, result, check)
@@ -610,25 +659,25 @@ proc getTypeDescAux(m: BModule, typ: PType, check: var IntSet): PRope =
       if result == nil:
         result = getTypeName(t)
         if not isImportedType(t):
-          appf(m.s[cfsForwardTypes], getForwardStructFormat(m),
+          addf(m.s[cfsForwardTypes], getForwardStructFormat(m),
              [structOrUnion(t), result])
         idTablePut(m.forwTypeCache, t, result)
       idTablePut(m.typeCache, t, result) # always call for sideeffects:
       let recdesc = if t.kind != tyTuple: getRecordDesc(m, t, result, check)
                     else: getTupleDesc(m, t, result, check)
-      if not isImportedType(t): app(m.s[cfsTypes], recdesc)
+      if not isImportedType(t): add(m.s[cfsTypes], recdesc)
   of tySet:
     case int(getSize(t))
-    of 1: result = toRope("NU8")
-    of 2: result = toRope("NU16")
-    of 4: result = toRope("NU32")
-    of 8: result = toRope("NU64")
+    of 1: result = rope("NU8")
+    of 2: result = rope("NU16")
+    of 4: result = rope("NU32")
+    of 8: result = rope("NU64")
     else:
       result = getTypeName(t)
       idTablePut(m.typeCache, t, result)
       if not isImportedType(t):
-        appf(m.s[cfsTypes], "typedef NU8 $1[$2];$n",
-             [result, toRope(getSize(t))])
+        addf(m.s[cfsTypes], "typedef NU8 $1[$2];$n",
+             [result, rope(getSize(t))])
   of tyGenericInst, tyDistinct, tyOrdinal, tyConst, tyMutable,
       tyIter, tyTypeDesc:
     result = getTypeDescAux(m, lastSon(t), check)
@@ -638,7 +687,7 @@ proc getTypeDescAux(m: BModule, typ: PType, check: var IntSet): PRope =
   # fixes bug #145:
   excl(check, t.id)
 
-proc getTypeDesc(m: BModule, typ: PType): PRope =
+proc getTypeDesc(m: BModule, typ: PType): Rope =
   var check = initIntSet()
   result = getTypeDescAux(m, typ, check)
 
@@ -646,23 +695,23 @@ type
   TClosureTypeKind = enum
     clHalf, clHalfWithEnv, clFull
 
-proc getClosureType(m: BModule, t: PType, kind: TClosureTypeKind): PRope =
+proc getClosureType(m: BModule, t: PType, kind: TClosureTypeKind): Rope =
   assert t.kind == tyProc
   var check = initIntSet()
   result = getTempName()
-  var rettype, desc: PRope
+  var rettype, desc: Rope
   genProcParams(m, t, rettype, desc, check, declareEnvironment=kind != clHalf)
   if not isImportedType(t):
     if t.callConv != ccClosure or kind != clFull:
-      appf(m.s[cfsTypes], "typedef $1_PTR($2, $3) $4;$n",
-           [toRope(CallingConvToStr[t.callConv]), rettype, result, desc])
+      addf(m.s[cfsTypes], "typedef $1_PTR($2, $3) $4;$n",
+           [rope(CallingConvToStr[t.callConv]), rettype, result, desc])
     else:
-      appf(m.s[cfsTypes], "typedef struct {$n" &
+      addf(m.s[cfsTypes], "typedef struct {$n" &
           "N_NIMCALL_PTR($2, ClPrc) $3;$n" &
           "void* ClEnv;$n} $1;$n",
            [result, rettype, desc])
 
-proc getTypeDesc(m: BModule, magic: string): PRope =
+proc getTypeDesc(m: BModule, magic: string): Rope =
   var sym = magicsys.getCompilerProc(magic)
   if sym != nil:
     result = getTypeDesc(m, sym.typ)
@@ -678,38 +727,38 @@ proc finishTypeDescriptions(m: BModule) =
 
 template cgDeclFrmt*(s: PSym): string = s.constraint.strVal
 
-proc genProcHeader(m: BModule, prc: PSym): PRope =
+proc genProcHeader(m: BModule, prc: PSym): Rope =
   var
-    rettype, params: PRope
+    rettype, params: Rope
   genCLineDir(result, prc.info)
   # using static is needed for inline procs
   if lfExportLib in prc.loc.flags:
     if m.isHeaderFile:
-      result.app "N_LIB_IMPORT "
+      result.add "N_LIB_IMPORT "
     else:
-      result.app "N_LIB_EXPORT "
+      result.add "N_LIB_EXPORT "
   elif prc.typ.callConv == ccInline:
-    result.app "static "
+    result.add "static "
   var check = initIntSet()
   fillLoc(prc.loc, locProc, prc.typ, mangleName(prc), OnUnknown)
   genProcParams(m, prc.typ, rettype, params, check)
   # careful here! don't access ``prc.ast`` as that could reload large parts of
   # the object graph!
   if prc.constraint.isNil:
-    appf(result, "$1($2, $3)$4",
-         [toRope(CallingConvToStr[prc.typ.callConv]), rettype, prc.loc.r,
+    addf(result, "$1($2, $3)$4",
+         [rope(CallingConvToStr[prc.typ.callConv]), rettype, prc.loc.r,
          params])
   else:
-    result = ropef(prc.cgDeclFrmt, [rettype, prc.loc.r, params])
+    result = prc.cgDeclFrmt % [rettype, prc.loc.r, params]
 
 # ------------------ type info generation -------------------------------------
 
-proc genTypeInfo(m: BModule, t: PType): PRope
-proc getNimNode(m: BModule): PRope =
-  result = ropef("$1[$2]", [m.typeNodesName, toRope(m.typeNodes)])
+proc genTypeInfo(m: BModule, t: PType): Rope
+proc getNimNode(m: BModule): Rope =
+  result = "$1[$2]" % [m.typeNodesName, rope(m.typeNodes)]
   inc(m.typeNodes)
 
-proc genTypeInfoAuxBase(m: BModule; typ, origType: PType; name, base: PRope) =
+proc genTypeInfoAuxBase(m: BModule; typ, origType: PType; name, base: Rope) =
   var nimtypeKind: int
   #allocMemTI(m, typ, name)
   if isObjLackingTypeField(typ):
@@ -717,48 +766,47 @@ proc genTypeInfoAuxBase(m: BModule; typ, origType: PType; name, base: PRope) =
   else:
     nimtypeKind = ord(typ.kind)
 
-  var size: PRope
-  if tfIncompleteStruct in typ.flags: size = toRope"void*"
+  var size: Rope
+  if tfIncompleteStruct in typ.flags: size = rope"void*"
   elif m.compileToCpp: size = getTypeDesc(m, origType)
   else: size = getTypeDesc(m, typ)
-  appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3],
+  addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3],
        "$1.size = sizeof($2);$n" & "$1.kind = $3;$n" & "$1.base = $4;$n",
-       [name, size, toRope(nimtypeKind), base])
+       [name, size, rope(nimtypeKind), base])
   # compute type flags for GC optimization
   var flags = 0
   if not containsGarbageCollectedRef(typ): flags = flags or 1
   if not canFormAcycle(typ): flags = flags or 2
   #else MessageOut("can contain a cycle: " & typeToString(typ))
   if flags != 0:
-    appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.flags = $2;$n", [name, toRope(flags)])
+    addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.flags = $2;$n", [name, rope(flags)])
   discard cgsym(m, "TNimType")
-  appf(m.s[cfsVars], "TNimType $1; /* $2 */$n",
-       [name, toRope(typeToString(typ))])
+  addf(m.s[cfsVars], "TNimType $1; /* $2 */$n",
+       [name, rope(typeToString(typ))])
 
-proc genTypeInfoAux(m: BModule, typ, origType: PType, name: PRope) =
-  var base: PRope
+proc genTypeInfoAux(m: BModule, typ, origType: PType, name: Rope) =
+  var base: Rope
   if (sonsLen(typ) > 0) and (typ.sons[0] != nil):
     base = genTypeInfo(m, typ.sons[0])
   else:
-    base = toRope("0")
+    base = rope("0")
   genTypeInfoAuxBase(m, typ, origType, name, base)
 
-proc discriminatorTableName(m: BModule, objtype: PType, d: PSym): PRope =
+proc discriminatorTableName(m: BModule, objtype: PType, d: PSym): Rope =
   # bugfix: we need to search the type that contains the discriminator:
   var objtype = objtype
   while lookupInRecord(objtype.n, d.name) == nil:
     objtype = objtype.sons[0]
   if objtype.sym == nil:
     internalError(d.info, "anonymous obj with discriminator")
-  result = ropef("NimDT_$1_$2", [
-    toRope(objtype.id), toRope(d.name.s.mangle)])
+  result = "NimDT_$1_$2" % [rope(objtype.id), rope(d.name.s.mangle)]
 
-proc discriminatorTableDecl(m: BModule, objtype: PType, d: PSym): PRope =
+proc discriminatorTableDecl(m: BModule, objtype: PType, d: PSym): Rope =
   discard cgsym(m, "TNimNode")
   var tmp = discriminatorTableName(m, objtype, d)
-  result = ropef("TNimNode* $1[$2];$n", [tmp, toRope(lengthOrd(d.typ)+1)])
+  result = "TNimNode* $1[$2];$n" % [tmp, rope(lengthOrd(d.typ)+1)]
 
-proc genObjectFields(m: BModule, typ: PType, n: PNode, expr: PRope) =
+proc genObjectFields(m: BModule, typ: PType, n: PNode, expr: Rope) =
   case n.kind
   of nkRecList:
     var L = sonsLen(n)
@@ -766,29 +814,29 @@ proc genObjectFields(m: BModule, typ: PType, n: PNode, expr: PRope) =
       genObjectFields(m, typ, n.sons[0], expr)
     elif L > 0:
       var tmp = getTempName()
-      appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit1], "static TNimNode* $1[$2];$n", [tmp, toRope(L)])
+      addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit1], "static TNimNode* $1[$2];$n", [tmp, rope(L)])
       for i in countup(0, L-1):
         var tmp2 = getNimNode(m)
-        appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1[$2] = &$3;$n", [tmp, toRope(i), tmp2])
+        addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1[$2] = &$3;$n", [tmp, rope(i), tmp2])
         genObjectFields(m, typ, n.sons[i], tmp2)
-      appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.len = $2; $1.kind = 2; $1.sons = &$3[0];$n",
-           [expr, toRope(L), tmp])
+      addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.len = $2; $1.kind = 2; $1.sons = &$3[0];$n",
+           [expr, rope(L), tmp])
     else:
-      appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.len = $2; $1.kind = 2;$n", [expr, toRope(L)])
+      addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.len = $2; $1.kind = 2;$n", [expr, rope(L)])
   of nkRecCase:
     assert(n.sons[0].kind == nkSym)
     var field = n.sons[0].sym
     var tmp = discriminatorTableName(m, typ, field)
     var L = lengthOrd(field.typ)
     assert L > 0
-    appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.kind = 3;$n" &
+    addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.kind = 3;$n" &
         "$1.offset = offsetof($2, $3);$n" & "$1.typ = $4;$n" &
         "$1.name = $5;$n" & "$1.sons = &$6[0];$n" &
         "$1.len = $7;$n", [expr, getTypeDesc(m, typ), field.loc.r,
                            genTypeInfo(m, field.typ),
                            makeCString(field.name.s),
-                           tmp, toRope(L)])
-    appf(m.s[cfsData], "TNimNode* $1[$2];$n", [tmp, toRope(L+1)])
+                           tmp, rope(L)])
+    addf(m.s[cfsData], "TNimNode* $1[$2];$n", [tmp, rope(L+1)])
     for i in countup(1, sonsLen(n)-1):
       var b = n.sons[i]           # branch
       var tmp2 = getNimNode(m)
@@ -802,60 +850,60 @@ proc genObjectFields(m: BModule, typ: PType, n: PNode, expr: PRope) =
             var x = int(getOrdValue(b.sons[j].sons[0]))
             var y = int(getOrdValue(b.sons[j].sons[1]))
             while x <= y:
-              appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1[$2] = &$3;$n", [tmp, toRope(x), tmp2])
+              addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1[$2] = &$3;$n", [tmp, rope(x), tmp2])
               inc(x)
           else:
-            appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1[$2] = &$3;$n",
-                 [tmp, toRope(getOrdValue(b.sons[j])), tmp2])
+            addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1[$2] = &$3;$n",
+                 [tmp, rope(getOrdValue(b.sons[j])), tmp2])
       of nkElse:
-        appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1[$2] = &$3;$n",
-             [tmp, toRope(L), tmp2])
+        addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1[$2] = &$3;$n",
+             [tmp, rope(L), tmp2])
       else: internalError(n.info, "genObjectFields(nkRecCase)")
   of nkSym:
     var field = n.sym
-    appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.kind = 1;$n" &
+    addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.kind = 1;$n" &
         "$1.offset = offsetof($2, $3);$n" & "$1.typ = $4;$n" &
         "$1.name = $5;$n", [expr, getTypeDesc(m, typ),
         field.loc.r, genTypeInfo(m, field.typ), makeCString(field.name.s)])
   else: internalError(n.info, "genObjectFields")
 
-proc genObjectInfo(m: BModule, typ, origType: PType, name: PRope) =
+proc genObjectInfo(m: BModule, typ, origType: PType, name: Rope) =
   if typ.kind == tyObject: genTypeInfoAux(m, typ, origType, name)
-  else: genTypeInfoAuxBase(m, typ, origType, name, toRope("0"))
+  else: genTypeInfoAuxBase(m, typ, origType, name, rope("0"))
   var tmp = getNimNode(m)
   if not isImportedCppType(typ):
     genObjectFields(m, typ, typ.n, tmp)
-  appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.node = &$2;$n", [name, tmp])
+  addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.node = &$2;$n", [name, tmp])
   var t = typ.sons[0]
   while t != nil:
     t = t.skipTypes(abstractInst)
     t.flags.incl tfObjHasKids
     t = t.sons[0]
 
-proc genTupleInfo(m: BModule, typ: PType, name: PRope) =
-  genTypeInfoAuxBase(m, typ, typ, name, toRope("0"))
+proc genTupleInfo(m: BModule, typ: PType, name: Rope) =
+  genTypeInfoAuxBase(m, typ, typ, name, rope("0"))
   var expr = getNimNode(m)
   var length = sonsLen(typ)
   if length > 0:
     var tmp = getTempName()
-    appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit1], "static TNimNode* $1[$2];$n", [tmp, toRope(length)])
+    addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit1], "static TNimNode* $1[$2];$n", [tmp, rope(length)])
     for i in countup(0, length - 1):
       var a = typ.sons[i]
       var tmp2 = getNimNode(m)
-      appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1[$2] = &$3;$n", [tmp, toRope(i), tmp2])
-      appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.kind = 1;$n" &
+      addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1[$2] = &$3;$n", [tmp, rope(i), tmp2])
+      addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.kind = 1;$n" &
           "$1.offset = offsetof($2, Field$3);$n" &
           "$1.typ = $4;$n" &
           "$1.name = \"Field$3\";$n",
-           [tmp2, getTypeDesc(m, typ), toRope(i), genTypeInfo(m, a)])
-    appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.len = $2; $1.kind = 2; $1.sons = &$3[0];$n",
-         [expr, toRope(length), tmp])
+           [tmp2, getTypeDesc(m, typ), rope(i), genTypeInfo(m, a)])
+    addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.len = $2; $1.kind = 2; $1.sons = &$3[0];$n",
+         [expr, rope(length), tmp])
   else:
-    appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.len = $2; $1.kind = 2;$n",
-         [expr, toRope(length)])
-  appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.node = &$2;$n", [name, expr])
+    addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.len = $2; $1.kind = 2;$n",
+         [expr, rope(length)])
+  addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.node = &$2;$n", [name, expr])
 
-proc genEnumInfo(m: BModule, typ: PType, name: PRope) =
+proc genEnumInfo(m: BModule, typ: PType, name: Rope) =
   # Type information for enumerations is quite heavy, so we do some
   # optimizations here: The ``typ`` field is never set, as it is redundant
   # anyway. We generate a cstring array and a loop over it. Exceptional
@@ -863,9 +911,9 @@ proc genEnumInfo(m: BModule, typ: PType, name: PRope) =
   genTypeInfoAux(m, typ, typ, name)
   var nodePtrs = getTempName()
   var length = sonsLen(typ.n)
-  appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit1], "static TNimNode* $1[$2];$n",
-       [nodePtrs, toRope(length)])
-  var enumNames, specialCases: PRope
+  addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit1], "static TNimNode* $1[$2];$n",
+       [nodePtrs, rope(length)])
+  var enumNames, specialCases: Rope
   var firstNimNode = m.typeNodes
   var hasHoles = false
   for i in countup(0, length - 1):
@@ -874,38 +922,38 @@ proc genEnumInfo(m: BModule, typ: PType, name: PRope) =
     var elemNode = getNimNode(m)
     if field.ast == nil:
       # no explicit string literal for the enum field, so use field.name:
-      app(enumNames, makeCString(field.name.s))
+      add(enumNames, makeCString(field.name.s))
     else:
-      app(enumNames, makeCString(field.ast.strVal))
-    if i < length - 1: app(enumNames, ", " & tnl)
+      add(enumNames, makeCString(field.ast.strVal))
+    if i < length - 1: add(enumNames, ", " & tnl)
     if field.position != i or tfEnumHasHoles in typ.flags:
-      appf(specialCases, "$1.offset = $2;$n", [elemNode, toRope(field.position)])
+      addf(specialCases, "$1.offset = $2;$n", [elemNode, rope(field.position)])
       hasHoles = true
   var enumArray = getTempName()
   var counter = getTempName()
-  appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit1], "NI $1;$n", [counter])
-  appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit1], "static char* NIM_CONST $1[$2] = {$n$3};$n",
-       [enumArray, toRope(length), enumNames])
-  appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "for ($1 = 0; $1 < $2; $1++) {$n" &
+  addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit1], "NI $1;$n", [counter])
+  addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit1], "static char* NIM_CONST $1[$2] = {$n$3};$n",
+       [enumArray, rope(length), enumNames])
+  addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "for ($1 = 0; $1 < $2; $1++) {$n" &
       "$3[$1+$4].kind = 1;$n" & "$3[$1+$4].offset = $1;$n" &
       "$3[$1+$4].name = $5[$1];$n" & "$6[$1] = &$3[$1+$4];$n" & "}$n", [counter,
-      toRope(length), m.typeNodesName, toRope(firstNimNode), enumArray, nodePtrs])
-  app(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], specialCases)
-  appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3],
+      rope(length), m.typeNodesName, rope(firstNimNode), enumArray, nodePtrs])
+  add(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], specialCases)
+  addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3],
        "$1.len = $2; $1.kind = 2; $1.sons = &$3[0];$n$4.node = &$1;$n",
-       [getNimNode(m), toRope(length), nodePtrs, name])
+       [getNimNode(m), rope(length), nodePtrs, name])
   if hasHoles:
     # 1 << 2 is {ntfEnumHole}
-    appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.flags = 1<<2;$n", [name])
+    addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.flags = 1<<2;$n", [name])
 
-proc genSetInfo(m: BModule, typ: PType, name: PRope) =
+proc genSetInfo(m: BModule, typ: PType, name: Rope) =
   assert(typ.sons[0] != nil)
   genTypeInfoAux(m, typ, typ, name)
   var tmp = getNimNode(m)
-  appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.len = $2; $1.kind = 0;$n" & "$3.node = &$1;$n",
-       [tmp, toRope(firstOrd(typ)), name])
+  addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.len = $2; $1.kind = 0;$n" & "$3.node = &$1;$n",
+       [tmp, rope(firstOrd(typ)), name])
 
-proc genArrayInfo(m: BModule, typ: PType, name: PRope) =
+proc genArrayInfo(m: BModule, typ: PType, name: Rope) =
   genTypeInfoAuxBase(m, typ, typ, name, genTypeInfo(m, typ.sons[1]))
 
 proc fakeClosureType(owner: PSym): PType =
@@ -925,17 +973,17 @@ type
 
 include ccgtrav
 
-proc genDeepCopyProc(m: BModule; s: PSym; result: PRope) =
+proc genDeepCopyProc(m: BModule; s: PSym; result: Rope) =
   genProc(m, s)
-  appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.deepcopy =(void* (N_RAW_NIMCALL*)(void*))$2;$n",
+  addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.deepcopy =(void* (N_RAW_NIMCALL*)(void*))$2;$n",
      [result, s.loc.r])
 
-proc genTypeInfo(m: BModule, t: PType): PRope =
+proc genTypeInfo(m: BModule, t: PType): Rope =
   let origType = t
   var t = getUniqueType(t)
-  result = ropef("NTI$1", [toRope(t.id)])
+  result = "NTI$1" % [rope(t.id)]
   if containsOrIncl(m.typeInfoMarker, t.id):
-    return con("(&".toRope, result, ")".toRope)
+    return "(&".rope & result & ")".rope
 
   # getUniqueType doesn't skip tyDistinct when that has an overriden operation:
   while t.kind == tyDistinct: t = t.lastSon
@@ -946,23 +994,23 @@ proc genTypeInfo(m: BModule, t: PType): PRope =
     # reference the type info as extern here
     discard cgsym(m, "TNimType")
     discard cgsym(m, "TNimNode")
-    appf(m.s[cfsVars], "extern TNimType $1; /* $2 */$n",
-         [result, toRope(typeToString(t))])
-    return con("(&".toRope, result, ")".toRope)
+    addf(m.s[cfsVars], "extern TNimType $1; /* $2 */$n",
+         [result, rope(typeToString(t))])
+    return "(&".rope & result & ")".rope
   case t.kind
-  of tyEmpty: result = toRope"0"
+  of tyEmpty: result = rope"0"
   of tyPointer, tyBool, tyChar, tyCString, tyString, tyInt..tyUInt64, tyVar:
-    genTypeInfoAuxBase(m, t, t, result, toRope"0")
+    genTypeInfoAuxBase(m, t, t, result, rope"0")
   of tyProc:
     if t.callConv != ccClosure:
-      genTypeInfoAuxBase(m, t, t, result, toRope"0")
+      genTypeInfoAuxBase(m, t, t, result, rope"0")
     else:
       genTupleInfo(m, fakeClosureType(t.owner), result)
   of tySequence, tyRef:
     genTypeInfoAux(m, t, t, result)
     if gSelectedGC >= gcMarkAndSweep:
       let markerProc = genTraverseProc(m, t, tiNew)
-      appf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.marker = $2;$n", [result, markerProc])
+      addf(m.s[cfsTypeInit3], "$1.marker = $2;$n", [result, markerProc])
   of tyPtr, tyRange: genTypeInfoAux(m, t, t, result)
   of tyArrayConstr, tyArray: genArrayInfo(m, t, result)
   of tySet: genSetInfo(m, t, result)
@@ -979,7 +1027,7 @@ proc genTypeInfo(m: BModule, t: PType): PRope =
     genDeepCopyProc(m, t.deepCopy, result)
   elif origType.deepCopy != nil:
     genDeepCopyProc(m, origType.deepCopy, result)
-  result = con("(&".toRope, result, ")".toRope)
+  result = "(&".rope & result & ")".rope
 
 proc genTypeSection(m: BModule, n: PNode) =
   discard
diff --git a/compiler/ccgutils.nim b/compiler/ccgutils.nim
index 25c1a12e5..4e94c1867 100644
--- a/compiler/ccgutils.nim
+++ b/compiler/ccgutils.nim
@@ -193,13 +193,13 @@ proc mangle*(name: string): string =
     else:
       add(result, "HEX" & toHex(ord(c), 2))
 
-proc makeLLVMString*(s: string): PRope =
+proc makeLLVMString*(s: string): Rope =
   const MaxLineLength = 64
   result = nil
   var res = "c\""
   for i in countup(0, len(s) - 1):
     if (i + 1) mod MaxLineLength == 0:
-      app(result, toRope(res))
+      add(result, rope(res))
       setLen(res, 0)
     case s[i]
     of '\0'..'\x1F', '\x80'..'\xFF', '\"', '\\':
@@ -207,6 +207,6 @@ proc makeLLVMString*(s: string): PRope =
       add(res, toHex(ord(s[i]), 2))
     else: add(res, s[i])
   add(res, "\\00\"")
-  app(result, toRope(res))
+  add(result, rope(res))
 
 initTypeTables()
diff --git a/compiler/cgen.nim b/compiler/cgen.nim
index 01db97e73..da9c6f653 100644
--- a/compiler/cgen.nim
+++ b/compiler/cgen.nim
@@ -10,13 +10,15 @@
 ## This module implements the C code generator.
 
 import
-  ast, astalgo, strutils, hashes, trees, platform, magicsys, extccomp,
+  ast, astalgo, hashes, trees, platform, magicsys, extccomp,
   options, intsets,
   nversion, nimsets, msgs, crc, bitsets, idents, lists, types, ccgutils, os,
   ropes, math, passes, rodread, wordrecg, treetab, cgmeth, condsyms,
   rodutils, renderer, idgen, cgendata, ccgmerge, semfold, aliases, lowerings,
   semparallel
 
+import strutils except `%` # collides with ropes.`%`
+
 when options.hasTinyCBackend:
   import tccgen
 
@@ -48,7 +50,7 @@ proc initLoc(result: var TLoc, k: TLocKind, typ: PType, s: TStorageLoc) =
   result.r = nil
   result.flags = {}
 
-proc fillLoc(a: var TLoc, k: TLocKind, typ: PType, r: PRope, s: TStorageLoc) =
+proc fillLoc(a: var TLoc, k: TLocKind, typ: PType, r: Rope, s: TStorageLoc) =
   # fills the loc if it is not already initialized
   if a.k == locNone:
     a.k = k
@@ -72,9 +74,9 @@ proc useHeader(m: BModule, sym: PSym) =
     assert(sym.annex != nil)
     discard lists.includeStr(m.headerFiles, getStr(sym.annex.path))
 
-proc cgsym(m: BModule, name: string): PRope
+proc cgsym(m: BModule, name: string): Rope
 
-proc ropecg(m: BModule, frmt: TFormatStr, args: varargs[PRope]): PRope =
+proc ropecg(m: BModule, frmt: FormatStr, args: varargs[Rope]): Rope =
   var i = 0
   var length = len(frmt)
   result = nil
@@ -84,11 +86,11 @@ proc ropecg(m: BModule, frmt: TFormatStr, args: varargs[PRope]): PRope =
       inc(i)                  # skip '$'
       case frmt[i]
       of '$':
-        app(result, "$")
+        add(result, "$")
         inc(i)
       of '#':
         inc(i)
-        app(result, args[num])
+        add(result, args[num])
         inc(num)
       of '0'..'9':
         var j = 0
@@ -99,12 +101,12 @@ proc ropecg(m: BModule, frmt: TFormatStr, args: varargs[PRope]): PRope =
         num = j
         if j > high(args) + 1:
           internalError("ropes: invalid format string $" & $j)
-        app(result, args[j-1])
+        add(result, args[j-1])
       of 'n':
-        if optLineDir notin gOptions: app(result, rnl)
+        if optLineDir notin gOptions: add(result, rnl)
         inc(i)
       of 'N':
-        app(result, rnl)
+        add(result, rnl)
         inc(i)
       else: internalError("ropes: invalid format string $" & frmt[i])
     elif frmt[i] == '#' and frmt[i+1] in IdentStartChars:
@@ -113,74 +115,74 @@ proc ropecg(m: BModule, frmt: TFormatStr, args: varargs[PRope]): PRope =
       while frmt[j] in IdentChars: inc(j)
       var ident = substr(frmt, i, j-1)
       i = j
-      app(result, cgsym(m, ident))
+      add(result, cgsym(m, ident))
     elif frmt[i] == '#' and frmt[i+1] == '$':
       inc(i, 2)
       var j = 0
       while frmt[i] in Digits:
         j = (j * 10) + ord(frmt[i]) - ord('0')
         inc(i)
-      app(result, cgsym(m, args[j-1].ropeToStr))
+      add(result, cgsym(m, $args[j-1]))
     var start = i
     while i < length:
       if frmt[i] != '$' and frmt[i] != '#': inc(i)
       else: break
     if i - 1 >= start:
-      app(result, substr(frmt, start, i - 1))
+      add(result, substr(frmt, start, i - 1))
 
-template rfmt(m: BModule, fmt: string, args: varargs[PRope]): expr =
+template rfmt(m: BModule, fmt: string, args: varargs[Rope]): expr =
   ropecg(m, fmt, args)
 
-proc appcg(m: BModule, c: var PRope, frmt: TFormatStr,
-           args: varargs[PRope]) =
-  app(c, ropecg(m, frmt, args))
+proc appcg(m: BModule, c: var Rope, frmt: FormatStr,
+           args: varargs[Rope]) =
+  add(c, ropecg(m, frmt, args))
 
-proc appcg(m: BModule, s: TCFileSection, frmt: TFormatStr,
-           args: varargs[PRope]) =
-  app(m.s[s], ropecg(m, frmt, args))
+proc appcg(m: BModule, s: TCFileSection, frmt: FormatStr,
+           args: varargs[Rope]) =
+  add(m.s[s], ropecg(m, frmt, args))
 
-proc appcg(p: BProc, s: TCProcSection, frmt: TFormatStr,
-           args: varargs[PRope]) =
-  app(p.s(s), ropecg(p.module, frmt, args))
+proc appcg(p: BProc, s: TCProcSection, frmt: FormatStr,
+           args: varargs[Rope]) =
+  add(p.s(s), ropecg(p.module, frmt, args))
 
-var indent = "\t".toRope
-proc indentLine(p: BProc, r: PRope): PRope =
+var indent = "\t".rope
+proc indentLine(p: BProc, r: Rope): Rope =
   result = r
   for i in countup(0, p.blocks.len-1): prepend(result, indent)
 
-proc line(p: BProc, s: TCProcSection, r: PRope) =
-  app(p.s(s), indentLine(p, r))
+proc line(p: BProc, s: TCProcSection, r: Rope) =
+  add(p.s(s), indentLine(p, r))
 
 proc line(p: BProc, s: TCProcSection, r: string) =
-  app(p.s(s), indentLine(p, r.toRope))
+  add(p.s(s), indentLine(p, r.rope))
 
-proc lineF(p: BProc, s: TCProcSection, frmt: TFormatStr,
-              args: varargs[PRope]) =
-  app(p.s(s), indentLine(p, ropef(frmt, args)))
+proc lineF(p: BProc, s: TCProcSection, frmt: FormatStr,
+              args: openarray[Rope]) =
+  add(p.s(s), indentLine(p, frmt % args))
 
-proc lineCg(p: BProc, s: TCProcSection, frmt: TFormatStr,
-               args: varargs[PRope]) =
-  app(p.s(s), indentLine(p, ropecg(p.module, frmt, args)))
+proc lineCg(p: BProc, s: TCProcSection, frmt: FormatStr,
+               args: varargs[Rope]) =
+  add(p.s(s), indentLine(p, ropecg(p.module, frmt, args)))
 
-proc linefmt(p: BProc, s: TCProcSection, frmt: TFormatStr,
-             args: varargs[PRope]) =
-  app(p.s(s), indentLine(p, ropecg(p.module, frmt, args)))
+proc linefmt(p: BProc, s: TCProcSection, frmt: FormatStr,
+             args: varargs[Rope]) =
+  add(p.s(s), indentLine(p, ropecg(p.module, frmt, args)))
 
-proc appLineCg(p: BProc, r: var PRope, frmt: TFormatStr,
-               args: varargs[PRope]) =
-  app(r, indentLine(p, ropecg(p.module, frmt, args)))
+proc appLineCg(p: BProc, r: var Rope, frmt: FormatStr,
+               args: varargs[Rope]) =
+  add(r, indentLine(p, ropecg(p.module, frmt, args)))
 
 proc safeLineNm(info: TLineInfo): int =
   result = toLinenumber(info)
   if result < 0: result = 0 # negative numbers are not allowed in #line
 
-proc genCLineDir(r: var PRope, filename: string, line: int) =
+proc genCLineDir(r: var Rope, filename: string, line: int) =
   assert line >= 0
   if optLineDir in gOptions:
-    appf(r, "$N#line $2 $1$N",
-        [toRope(makeSingleLineCString(filename)), toRope(line)])
+    addf(r, "$N#line $2 $1$N",
+        [rope(makeSingleLineCString(filename)), rope(line)])
 
-proc genCLineDir(r: var PRope, info: TLineInfo) =
+proc genCLineDir(r: var Rope, info: TLineInfo) =
   genCLineDir(r, info.toFullPath, info.safeLineNm)
 
 proc freshLineInfo(p: BProc; info: TLineInfo): bool =
@@ -193,22 +195,22 @@ proc freshLineInfo(p: BProc; info: TLineInfo): bool =
 proc genLineDir(p: BProc, t: PNode) =
   var line = t.info.safeLineNm
   if optEmbedOrigSrc in gGlobalOptions:
-    app(p.s(cpsStmts), con(~"//", t.info.sourceLine, rnl))
+    add(p.s(cpsStmts), ~"//" & t.info.sourceLine & rnl)
   genCLineDir(p.s(cpsStmts), t.info.toFullPath, line)
   if ({optStackTrace, optEndb} * p.options == {optStackTrace, optEndb}) and
       (p.prc == nil or sfPure notin p.prc.flags):
     if freshLineInfo(p, t.info):
       linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "#endb($1, $2);$n",
-              line.toRope, makeCString(toFilename(t.info)))
+              line.rope, makeCString(toFilename(t.info)))
   elif ({optLineTrace, optStackTrace} * p.options ==
       {optLineTrace, optStackTrace}) and
       (p.prc == nil or sfPure notin p.prc.flags) and t.info.fileIndex >= 0:
     if freshLineInfo(p, t.info):
       linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "nimln($1, $2);$n",
-              line.toRope, t.info.quotedFilename)
+              line.rope, t.info.quotedFilename)
 
 proc postStmtActions(p: BProc) {.inline.} =
-  app(p.s(cpsStmts), p.module.injectStmt)
+  add(p.s(cpsStmts), p.module.injectStmt)
 
 proc accessThreadLocalVar(p: BProc, s: PSym)
 proc emulatedThreadVars(): bool {.inline.}
@@ -221,21 +223,21 @@ include "ccgtypes.nim"
 
 # ------------------------------ Manager of temporaries ------------------
 
-proc rdLoc(a: TLoc): PRope =
+proc rdLoc(a: TLoc): Rope =
   # 'read' location (deref if indirect)
   result = a.r
-  if lfIndirect in a.flags: result = ropef("(*$1)", [result])
+  if lfIndirect in a.flags: result = "(*$1)" % [result]
 
-proc addrLoc(a: TLoc): PRope =
+proc addrLoc(a: TLoc): Rope =
   result = a.r
   if lfIndirect notin a.flags and mapType(a.t) != ctArray:
-    result = con("(&", result).con(")")
+    result = "(&" & result & ")"
 
-proc rdCharLoc(a: TLoc): PRope =
+proc rdCharLoc(a: TLoc): Rope =
   # read a location that may need a char-cast:
   result = rdLoc(a)
   if skipTypes(a.t, abstractRange).kind == tyChar:
-    result = ropef("((NU8)($1))", [result])
+    result = "((NU8)($1))" % [result]
 
 proc genObjectInit(p: BProc, section: TCProcSection, t: PType, a: TLoc,
                    takeAddr: bool) =
@@ -244,11 +246,11 @@ proc genObjectInit(p: BProc, section: TCProcSection, t: PType, a: TLoc,
     discard
   of frHeader:
     var r = rdLoc(a)
-    if not takeAddr: r = ropef("(*$1)", [r])
+    if not takeAddr: r = "(*$1)" % [r]
     var s = skipTypes(t, abstractInst)
     if not p.module.compileToCpp:
       while (s.kind == tyObject) and (s.sons[0] != nil):
-        app(r, ".Sup")
+        add(r, ".Sup")
         s = skipTypes(s.sons[0], abstractInst)
     linefmt(p, section, "$1.m_type = $2;$n", r, genTypeInfo(p.module, t))
   of frEmbedded:
@@ -276,7 +278,7 @@ proc resetLoc(p: BProc, loc: var TLoc) =
     if containsGcRef:
       var nilLoc: TLoc
       initLoc(nilLoc, locTemp, loc.t, OnStack)
-      nilLoc.r = toRope("NIM_NIL")
+      nilLoc.r = rope("NIM_NIL")
       genRefAssign(p, loc, nilLoc, {afSrcIsNil})
     else:
       linefmt(p, cpsStmts, "$1 = 0;$n", rdLoc(loc))
@@ -325,7 +327,7 @@ proc initLocalVar(p: BProc, v: PSym, immediateAsgn: bool) =
 
 proc getTemp(p: BProc, t: PType, result: var TLoc; needsInit=false) =
   inc(p.labels)
-  result.r = con("LOC", toRope(p.labels))
+  result.r = "LOC" & rope(p.labels)
   linefmt(p, cpsLocals, "$1 $2;$n", getTypeDesc(p.module, t), result.r)
   result.k = locTemp
   #result.a = - 1
@@ -340,9 +342,9 @@ proc keepAlive(p: BProc, toKeepAlive: TLoc) =
     # of interior pointers instead
     if optRefcGC notin gGlobalOptions: return
     var result: TLoc
-    var fid = toRope(p.gcFrameId)
-    result.r = con("GCFRAME.F", fid)
-    appf(p.gcFrameType, "  $1 F$2;$n",
+    var fid = rope(p.gcFrameId)
+    result.r = "GCFRAME.F" & fid
+    addf(p.gcFrameType, "  $1 F$2;$n",
         [getTypeDesc(p.module, toKeepAlive.t), fid])
     inc(p.gcFrameId)
     result.k = locTemp
@@ -359,10 +361,10 @@ proc keepAlive(p: BProc, toKeepAlive: TLoc) =
            "memcpy((void*)$1, (NIM_CONST void*)$2, sizeof($3));$n",
            addrLoc(result), addrLoc(toKeepAlive), rdLoc(result))
 
-proc initGCFrame(p: BProc): PRope =
-  if p.gcFrameId > 0: result = ropef("struct {$1} GCFRAME;$n", p.gcFrameType)
+proc initGCFrame(p: BProc): Rope =
+  if p.gcFrameId > 0: result = "struct {$1} GCFRAME;$n" % [p.gcFrameType]
 
-proc deinitGCFrame(p: BProc): PRope =
+proc deinitGCFrame(p: BProc): Rope =
   if p.gcFrameId > 0:
     result = ropecg(p.module,
                     "if (((NU)&GCFRAME) < 4096) #nimGCFrame(&GCFRAME);$n")
@@ -371,42 +373,42 @@ proc localDebugInfo(p: BProc, s: PSym) =
   if {optStackTrace, optEndb} * p.options != {optStackTrace, optEndb}: return
   # XXX work around a bug: No type information for open arrays possible:
   if skipTypes(s.typ, abstractVar).kind in {tyOpenArray, tyVarargs}: return
-  var a = con("&", s.loc.r)
+  var a = "&" & s.loc.r
   if s.kind == skParam and ccgIntroducedPtr(s): a = s.loc.r
   lineF(p, cpsInit,
        "F.s[$1].address = (void*)$3; F.s[$1].typ = $4; F.s[$1].name = $2;$n",
-       [p.maxFrameLen.toRope, makeCString(normalize(s.name.s)), a,
+       [p.maxFrameLen.rope, makeCString(normalize(s.name.s)), a,
         genTypeInfo(p.module, s.loc.t)])
   inc(p.maxFrameLen)
   inc p.blocks[p.blocks.len-1].frameLen
 
-proc localVarDecl(p: BProc; s: PSym): PRope =
+proc localVarDecl(p: BProc; s: PSym): Rope =
   if s.loc.k == locNone:
     fillLoc(s.loc, locLocalVar, s.typ, mangleName(s), OnStack)
     if s.kind == skLet: incl(s.loc.flags, lfNoDeepCopy)
   result = getTypeDesc(p.module, s.loc.t)
   if s.constraint.isNil:
-    if sfRegister in s.flags: app(result, " register")
+    if sfRegister in s.flags: add(result, " register")
     #elif skipTypes(s.typ, abstractInst).kind in GcTypeKinds:
-    #  app(decl, " GC_GUARD")
-    if sfVolatile in s.flags: app(result, " volatile")
-    app(result, " ")
-    app(result, s.loc.r)
+    #  add(decl, " GC_GUARD")
+    if sfVolatile in s.flags: add(result, " volatile")
+    add(result, " ")
+    add(result, s.loc.r)
   else:
-    result = ropef(s.cgDeclFrmt, result, s.loc.r)
+    result = s.cgDeclFrmt % [result, s.loc.r]
 
 proc assignLocalVar(p: BProc, s: PSym) =
   #assert(s.loc.k == locNone) # not yet assigned
   # this need not be fulfilled for inline procs; they are regenerated
   # for each module that uses them!
-  let decl = localVarDecl(p, s).con(";" & tnl)
+  let decl = localVarDecl(p, s) & ";" & tnl
   line(p, cpsLocals, decl)
   localDebugInfo(p, s)
 
 include ccgthreadvars
 
 proc varInDynamicLib(m: BModule, sym: PSym)
-proc mangleDynLibProc(sym: PSym): PRope
+proc mangleDynLibProc(sym: PSym): Rope
 
 proc assignGlobalVar(p: BProc, s: PSym) =
   if s.loc.k == locNone:
@@ -424,17 +426,17 @@ proc assignGlobalVar(p: BProc, s: PSym) =
   if sfThread in s.flags:
     declareThreadVar(p.module, s, sfImportc in s.flags)
   else:
-    var decl: PRope = nil
+    var decl: Rope = nil
     var td = getTypeDesc(p.module, s.loc.t)
     if s.constraint.isNil:
-      if sfImportc in s.flags: app(decl, "extern ")
-      app(decl, td)
-      if sfRegister in s.flags: app(decl, " register")
-      if sfVolatile in s.flags: app(decl, " volatile")
-      appf(decl, " $1;$n", [s.loc.r])
+      if sfImportc in s.flags: add(decl, "extern ")
+      add(decl, td)
+      if sfRegister in s.flags: add(decl, " register")
+      if sfVolatile in s.flags: add(decl, " volatile")
+      addf(decl, " $1;$n", [s.loc.r])
     else:
-      decl = ropef(s.cgDeclFrmt & ";$n", td, s.loc.r)
-    app(p.module.s[cfsVars], decl)
+      decl = (s.cgDeclFrmt & ";$n") % [td, s.loc.r]
+    add(p.module.s[cfsVars], decl)
   if p.withinLoop > 0:
     # fixes tests/run/tzeroarray:
     resetLoc(p, s.loc)
@@ -455,7 +457,7 @@ proc fillProcLoc(sym: PSym) =
 
 proc getLabel(p: BProc): TLabel =
   inc(p.labels)
-  result = con("LA", toRope(p.labels))
+  result = "LA" & rope(p.labels)
 
 proc fixLabel(p: BProc, labl: TLabel) =
   lineF(p, cpsStmts, "$1: ;$n", [labl])
@@ -467,9 +469,9 @@ proc expr(p: BProc, n: PNode, d: var TLoc)
 proc genProcPrototype(m: BModule, sym: PSym)
 proc putLocIntoDest(p: BProc, d: var TLoc, s: TLoc)
 proc genAssignment(p: BProc, dest, src: TLoc, flags: TAssignmentFlags)
-proc intLiteral(i: BiggestInt): PRope
-proc genLiteral(p: BProc, n: PNode): PRope
-proc genOtherArg(p: BProc; ri: PNode; i: int; typ: PType): PRope
+proc intLiteral(i: BiggestInt): Rope
+proc genLiteral(p: BProc, n: PNode): Rope
+proc genOtherArg(p: BProc; ri: PNode; i: int; typ: PType): Rope
 
 proc initLocExpr(p: BProc, e: PNode, result: var TLoc) =
   initLoc(result, locNone, e.typ, OnUnknown)
@@ -480,13 +482,13 @@ proc initLocExprSingleUse(p: BProc, e: PNode, result: var TLoc) =
   result.flags.incl lfSingleUse
   expr(p, e, result)
 
-proc lenField(p: BProc): PRope =
-  result = toRope(if p.module.compileToCpp: "len" else: "Sup.len")
+proc lenField(p: BProc): Rope =
+  result = rope(if p.module.compileToCpp: "len" else: "Sup.len")
 
 include ccgcalls, "ccgstmts.nim", "ccgexprs.nim"
 
 # ----------------------------- dynamic library handling -----------------
-# We don't finalize dynamic libs as this does the OS for us.
+# We don't finalize dynamic libs as the OS does this for us.
 
 proc isGetProcAddr(lib: PLib): bool =
   let n = lib.path
@@ -500,16 +502,16 @@ proc loadDynamicLib(m: BModule, lib: PLib) =
     var tmp = getGlobalTempName()
     assert(lib.name == nil)
     lib.name = tmp # BUGFIX: cgsym has awful side-effects
-    appf(m.s[cfsVars], "static void* $1;$n", [tmp])
+    addf(m.s[cfsVars], "static void* $1;$n", [tmp])
     if lib.path.kind in {nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit}:
       var s: TStringSeq = @[]
       libCandidates(lib.path.strVal, s)
       if gVerbosity >= 2:
         msgWriteln("Dependency: " & lib.path.strVal)
-      var loadlib: PRope = nil
+      var loadlib: Rope = nil
       for i in countup(0, high(s)):
         inc(m.labels)
-        if i > 0: app(loadlib, "||")
+        if i > 0: add(loadlib, "||")
         appcg(m, loadlib, "($1 = #nimLoadLibrary((#NimStringDesc*) &$2))$n",
               [tmp, getStrLit(m, s[i])])
       appcg(m, m.s[cfsDynLibInit],
@@ -520,21 +522,21 @@ proc loadDynamicLib(m: BModule, lib: PLib) =
       p.options = p.options - {optStackTrace, optEndb}
       var dest: TLoc
       initLocExpr(p, lib.path, dest)
-      app(m.s[cfsVars], p.s(cpsLocals))
-      app(m.s[cfsDynLibInit], p.s(cpsInit))
-      app(m.s[cfsDynLibInit], p.s(cpsStmts))
+      add(m.s[cfsVars], p.s(cpsLocals))
+      add(m.s[cfsDynLibInit], p.s(cpsInit))
+      add(m.s[cfsDynLibInit], p.s(cpsStmts))
       appcg(m, m.s[cfsDynLibInit],
            "if (!($1 = #nimLoadLibrary($2))) #nimLoadLibraryError($2);$n",
            [tmp, rdLoc(dest)])
 
   if lib.name == nil: internalError("loadDynamicLib")
 
-proc mangleDynLibProc(sym: PSym): PRope =
+proc mangleDynLibProc(sym: PSym): Rope =
   if sfCompilerProc in sym.flags:
     # NOTE: sym.loc.r is the external name!
-    result = toRope(sym.name.s)
+    result = rope(sym.name.s)
   else:
-    result = ropef("Dl_$1", [toRope(sym.id)])
+    result = "Dl_$1" % [rope(sym.id)]
 
 proc symInDynamicLib(m: BModule, sym: PSym) =
   var lib = sym.annex
@@ -549,30 +551,28 @@ proc symInDynamicLib(m: BModule, sym: PSym) =
     let n = lib.path
     var a: TLoc
     initLocExpr(m.initProc, n[0], a)
-    var params = con(rdLoc(a), "(")
+    var params = rdLoc(a) & "("
     for i in 1 .. n.len-2:
       initLocExpr(m.initProc, n[i], a)
-      params.app(rdLoc(a))
-      params.app(", ")
-    let load = ropef("\t$1 = ($2) ($3$4));$n",
-        [tmp, getTypeDesc(m, sym.typ),
-        params, makeCString(ropeToStr(extname))])
+      params.add(rdLoc(a))
+      params.add(", ")
+    let load = "\t$1 = ($2) ($3$4));$n" %
+        [tmp, getTypeDesc(m, sym.typ), params, makeCString($extname)]
     var last = lastSon(n)
     if last.kind == nkHiddenStdConv: last = last.sons[1]
     internalAssert(last.kind == nkStrLit)
     let idx = last.strVal
     if idx.len == 0:
-      app(m.initProc.s(cpsStmts), load)
+      add(m.initProc.s(cpsStmts), load)
     elif idx.len == 1 and idx[0] in {'0'..'9'}:
-      app(m.extensionLoaders[idx[0]], load)
+      add(m.extensionLoaders[idx[0]], load)
     else:
       internalError(sym.info, "wrong index: " & idx)
   else:
     appcg(m, m.s[cfsDynLibInit],
         "\t$1 = ($2) #nimGetProcAddr($3, $4);$n",
-        [tmp, getTypeDesc(m, sym.typ),
-        lib.name, makeCString(ropeToStr(extname))])
-  appf(m.s[cfsVars], "$2 $1;$n", [sym.loc.r, getTypeDesc(m, sym.loc.t)])
+        [tmp, getTypeDesc(m, sym.typ), lib.name, makeCString($extname)])
+  addf(m.s[cfsVars], "$2 $1;$n", [sym.loc.r, getTypeDesc(m, sym.loc.t)])
 
 proc varInDynamicLib(m: BModule, sym: PSym) =
   var lib = sym.annex
@@ -584,16 +584,15 @@ proc varInDynamicLib(m: BModule, sym: PSym) =
   inc(m.labels, 2)
   appcg(m, m.s[cfsDynLibInit],
       "$1 = ($2*) #nimGetProcAddr($3, $4);$n",
-      [tmp, getTypeDesc(m, sym.typ),
-      lib.name, makeCString(ropeToStr(extname))])
-  appf(m.s[cfsVars], "$2* $1;$n",
+      [tmp, getTypeDesc(m, sym.typ), lib.name, makeCString($extname)])
+  addf(m.s[cfsVars], "$2* $1;$n",
       [sym.loc.r, getTypeDesc(m, sym.loc.t)])
 
 proc symInDynamicLibPartial(m: BModule, sym: PSym) =
   sym.loc.r = mangleDynLibProc(sym)
   sym.typ.sym = nil           # generate a new name
 
-proc cgsym(m: BModule, name: string): PRope =
+proc cgsym(m: BModule, name: string): Rope =
   var sym = magicsys.getCompilerProc(name)
   if sym != nil:
     case sym.kind
@@ -609,29 +608,29 @@ proc cgsym(m: BModule, name: string): PRope =
   result = sym.loc.r
 
 proc generateHeaders(m: BModule) =
-  app(m.s[cfsHeaders], tnl & "#include \"nimbase.h\"" & tnl)
+  add(m.s[cfsHeaders], tnl & "#include \"nimbase.h\"" & tnl)
   var it = PStrEntry(m.headerFiles.head)
   while it != nil:
     if it.data[0] notin {'\"', '<'}:
-      appf(m.s[cfsHeaders], "$N#include \"$1\"$N", [toRope(it.data)])
+      addf(m.s[cfsHeaders], "$N#include \"$1\"$N", [rope(it.data)])
     else:
-      appf(m.s[cfsHeaders], "$N#include $1$N", [toRope(it.data)])
+      addf(m.s[cfsHeaders], "$N#include $1$N", [rope(it.data)])
     it = PStrEntry(it.next)
 
 proc retIsNotVoid(s: PSym): bool =
   result = (s.typ.sons[0] != nil) and not isInvalidReturnType(s.typ.sons[0])
 
-proc initFrame(p: BProc, procname, filename: PRope): PRope =
+proc initFrame(p: BProc, procname, filename: Rope): Rope =
   discard cgsym(p.module, "nimFrame")
   if p.maxFrameLen > 0:
     discard cgsym(p.module, "TVarSlot")
     result = rfmt(nil, "\tnimfrs($1, $2, $3, $4)$N",
-                  procname, filename, p.maxFrameLen.toRope,
-                  p.blocks[0].frameLen.toRope)
+                  procname, filename, p.maxFrameLen.rope,
+                  p.blocks[0].frameLen.rope)
   else:
     result = rfmt(nil, "\tnimfr($1, $2)$N", procname, filename)
 
-proc deinitFrame(p: BProc): PRope =
+proc deinitFrame(p: BProc): Rope =
   result = rfmt(p.module, "\t#popFrame();$n")
 
 proc closureSetup(p: BProc, prc: PSym) =
@@ -650,7 +649,7 @@ proc closureSetup(p: BProc, prc: PSym) =
 proc genProcAux(m: BModule, prc: PSym) =
   var p = newProc(prc, m)
   var header = genProcHeader(m, prc)
-  var returnStmt: PRope = nil
+  var returnStmt: Rope = nil
   assert(prc.ast != nil)
   if sfPure notin prc.flags and prc.typ.sons[0] != nil:
     if resultPos >= prc.ast.len:
@@ -676,33 +675,33 @@ proc genProcAux(m: BModule, prc: PSym) =
     assignParam(p, param)
   closureSetup(p, prc)
   genStmts(p, prc.getBody) # modifies p.locals, p.init, etc.
-  var generatedProc: PRope
+  var generatedProc: Rope
   if sfPure in prc.flags:
     if hasNakedDeclspec in extccomp.CC[extccomp.cCompiler].props:
-      header = con("__declspec(naked) ", header)
+      header = "__declspec(naked) " & header
     generatedProc = rfmt(nil, "$N$1 {$n$2$3$4}$N$N",
                          header, p.s(cpsLocals), p.s(cpsInit), p.s(cpsStmts))
   else:
     generatedProc = rfmt(nil, "$N$1 {$N", header)
-    app(generatedProc, initGCFrame(p))
+    add(generatedProc, initGCFrame(p))
     if optStackTrace in prc.options:
-      app(generatedProc, p.s(cpsLocals))
+      add(generatedProc, p.s(cpsLocals))
       var procname = makeCString(prc.name.s)
-      app(generatedProc, initFrame(p, procname, prc.info.quotedFilename))
+      add(generatedProc, initFrame(p, procname, prc.info.quotedFilename))
     else:
-      app(generatedProc, p.s(cpsLocals))
+      add(generatedProc, p.s(cpsLocals))
     if optProfiler in prc.options:
       # invoke at proc entry for recursion:
       appcg(p, cpsInit, "\t#nimProfile();$n", [])
-    if p.beforeRetNeeded: app(generatedProc, "{")
-    app(generatedProc, p.s(cpsInit))
-    app(generatedProc, p.s(cpsStmts))
-    if p.beforeRetNeeded: app(generatedProc, ~"\t}BeforeRet: ;$n")
-    app(generatedProc, deinitGCFrame(p))
-    if optStackTrace in prc.options: app(generatedProc, deinitFrame(p))
-    app(generatedProc, returnStmt)
-    app(generatedProc, ~"}$N")
-  app(m.s[cfsProcs], generatedProc)
+    if p.beforeRetNeeded: add(generatedProc, "{")
+    add(generatedProc, p.s(cpsInit))
+    add(generatedProc, p.s(cpsStmts))
+    if p.beforeRetNeeded: add(generatedProc, ~"\t}BeforeRet: ;$n")
+    add(generatedProc, deinitGCFrame(p))
+    if optStackTrace in prc.options: add(generatedProc, deinitFrame(p))
+    add(generatedProc, returnStmt)
+    add(generatedProc, ~"}$N")
+  add(m.s[cfsProcs], generatedProc)
 
 proc crossesCppBoundary(m: BModule; sym: PSym): bool {.inline.} =
   result = sfCompileToCpp in m.module.flags and
@@ -715,15 +714,15 @@ proc genProcPrototype(m: BModule, sym: PSym) =
   if lfDynamicLib in sym.loc.flags:
     if getModule(sym).id != m.module.id and
         not containsOrIncl(m.declaredThings, sym.id):
-      app(m.s[cfsVars], rfmt(nil, "extern $1 $2;$n",
+      add(m.s[cfsVars], rfmt(nil, "extern $1 $2;$n",
                         getTypeDesc(m, sym.loc.t), mangleDynLibProc(sym)))
   elif not containsOrIncl(m.declaredProtos, sym.id):
     var header = genProcHeader(m, sym)
     if sym.typ.callConv != ccInline and crossesCppBoundary(m, sym):
-      header = con("extern \"C\" ", header)
+      header = "extern \"C\" " & header
     if sfPure in sym.flags and hasNakedAttribute in CC[cCompiler].props:
-      header.app(" __attribute__((naked))")
-    app(m.s[cfsProcHeaders], rfmt(nil, "$1;$n", header))
+      header.add(" __attribute__((naked))")
+    add(m.s[cfsProcHeaders], rfmt(nil, "$1;$n", header))
 
 proc genProcNoForward(m: BModule, prc: PSym) =
   fillProcLoc(prc)
@@ -760,16 +759,16 @@ proc requestConstImpl(p: BProc, sym: PSym) =
   var q = findPendingModule(m, sym)
   if q != nil and not containsOrIncl(q.declaredThings, sym.id):
     assert q.initProc.module == q
-    appf(q.s[cfsData], "NIM_CONST $1 $2 = $3;$n",
+    addf(q.s[cfsData], "NIM_CONST $1 $2 = $3;$n",
         [getTypeDesc(q, sym.typ), sym.loc.r, genConstExpr(q.initProc, sym.ast)])
   # declare header:
   if q != m and not containsOrIncl(m.declaredThings, sym.id):
     assert(sym.loc.r != nil)
-    let headerDecl = ropef("extern NIM_CONST $1 $2;$n",
-        [getTypeDesc(m, sym.loc.t), sym.loc.r])
-    app(m.s[cfsData], headerDecl)
+    let headerDecl = "extern NIM_CONST $1 $2;$n" %
+        [getTypeDesc(m, sym.loc.t), sym.loc.r]
+    add(m.s[cfsData], headerDecl)
     if sfExportc in sym.flags and generatedHeader != nil:
-      app(generatedHeader.s[cfsData], headerDecl)
+      add(generatedHeader.s[cfsData], headerDecl)
 
 proc isActivated(prc: PSym): bool = prc.typ != nil
 
@@ -798,47 +797,47 @@ proc genVarPrototypeAux(m: BModule, sym: PSym) =
     if sfThread in sym.flags:
       declareThreadVar(m, sym, true)
     else:
-      app(m.s[cfsVars], "extern ")
-      app(m.s[cfsVars], getTypeDesc(m, sym.loc.t))
-      if lfDynamicLib in sym.loc.flags: app(m.s[cfsVars], "*")
-      if sfRegister in sym.flags: app(m.s[cfsVars], " register")
-      if sfVolatile in sym.flags: app(m.s[cfsVars], " volatile")
-      appf(m.s[cfsVars], " $1;$n", [sym.loc.r])
+      add(m.s[cfsVars], "extern ")
+      add(m.s[cfsVars], getTypeDesc(m, sym.loc.t))
+      if lfDynamicLib in sym.loc.flags: add(m.s[cfsVars], "*")
+      if sfRegister in sym.flags: add(m.s[cfsVars], " register")
+      if sfVolatile in sym.flags: add(m.s[cfsVars], " volatile")
+      addf(m.s[cfsVars], " $1;$n", [sym.loc.r])
 
 proc genVarPrototype(m: BModule, sym: PSym) =
   genVarPrototypeAux(m, sym)
 
-proc addIntTypes(result: var PRope) {.inline.} =
-  appf(result, "#define NIM_INTBITS $1", [
-    platform.CPU[targetCPU].intSize.toRope])
+proc addIntTypes(result: var Rope) {.inline.} =
+  addf(result, "#define NIM_INTBITS $1", [
+    platform.CPU[targetCPU].intSize.rope])
 
-proc getCopyright(cfile: string): PRope =
+proc getCopyright(cfile: string): Rope =
   if optCompileOnly in gGlobalOptions:
-    result = ropef("/* Generated by Nim Compiler v$1 */$N" &
+    result = ("/* Generated by Nim Compiler v$1 */$N" &
         "/*   (c) 2015 Andreas Rumpf */$N" &
-        "/* The generated code is subject to the original license. */$N",
-        [toRope(VersionAsString)])
+        "/* The generated code is subject to the original license. */$N") %
+        [rope(VersionAsString)]
   else:
-    result = ropef("/* Generated by Nim Compiler v$1 */$N" &
+    result = ("/* Generated by Nim Compiler v$1 */$N" &
         "/*   (c) 2015 Andreas Rumpf */$N" &
         "/* The generated code is subject to the original license. */$N" &
         "/* Compiled for: $2, $3, $4 */$N" &
-        "/* Command for C compiler:$n   $5 */$N",
-        [toRope(VersionAsString),
-        toRope(platform.OS[targetOS].name),
-        toRope(platform.CPU[targetCPU].name),
-        toRope(extccomp.CC[extccomp.cCompiler].name),
-        toRope(getCompileCFileCmd(cfile))])
-
-proc getFileHeader(cfile: string): PRope =
+        "/* Command for C compiler:$n   $5 */$N") %
+        [rope(VersionAsString),
+        rope(platform.OS[targetOS].name),
+        rope(platform.CPU[targetCPU].name),
+        rope(extccomp.CC[extccomp.cCompiler].name),
+        rope(getCompileCFileCmd(cfile))]
+
+proc getFileHeader(cfile: string): Rope =
   result = getCopyright(cfile)
   addIntTypes(result)
 
-proc genFilenames(m: BModule): PRope =
+proc genFilenames(m: BModule): Rope =
   discard cgsym(m, "dbgRegisterFilename")
   result = nil
   for i in 0.. <fileInfos.len:
-    result.appf("dbgRegisterFilename($1);$N", fileInfos[i].projPath.makeCString)
+    result.addf("dbgRegisterFilename($1);$N", [fileInfos[i].projPath.makeCString])
 
 proc genMainProc(m: BModule) =
   const
@@ -920,7 +919,7 @@ proc genMainProc(m: BModule) =
         MainProcs &
       "}$N$N"
 
-  var nimMain, otherMain: TFormatStr
+  var nimMain, otherMain: FormatStr
   if platform.targetOS == osWindows and
       gGlobalOptions * {optGenGuiApp, optGenDynLib} != {}:
     if optGenGuiApp in gGlobalOptions:
@@ -941,10 +940,10 @@ proc genMainProc(m: BModule) =
     otherMain = PosixCMain
   if gBreakpoints != nil: discard cgsym(m, "dbgRegisterBreakpoint")
   if optEndb in gOptions:
-    gBreakpoints.app(m.genFilenames)
+    gBreakpoints.add(m.genFilenames)
 
   let initStackBottomCall =
-    if platform.targetOS == osStandalone: "".toRope
+    if platform.targetOS == osStandalone: "".rope
     else: ropecg(m, "\t#initStackBottomWith((void *)&inner);$N")
   inc(m.labels)
   appcg(m, m.s[cfsProcs], PreMainBody, [
@@ -952,56 +951,56 @@ proc genMainProc(m: BModule) =
      if emulatedThreadVars() and platform.targetOS != osStandalone:
        ropecg(m, "\t#initThreadVarsEmulation();$N")
      else:
-       "".toRope,
+       "".rope,
      initStackBottomCall])
 
-  appcg(m, m.s[cfsProcs], nimMain, [mainModInit, initStackBottomCall, toRope(m.labels)])
+  appcg(m, m.s[cfsProcs], nimMain, [mainModInit, initStackBottomCall, rope(m.labels)])
   if optNoMain notin gGlobalOptions:
     appcg(m, m.s[cfsProcs], otherMain, [])
 
-proc getSomeInitName(m: PSym, suffix: string): PRope =
+proc getSomeInitName(m: PSym, suffix: string): Rope =
   assert m.kind == skModule
   assert m.owner.kind == skPackage
   if {sfSystemModule, sfMainModule} * m.flags == {}:
-    result = m.owner.name.s.mangle.toRope
-    result.app "_"
-  result.app m.name.s
-  result.app suffix
+    result = m.owner.name.s.mangle.rope
+    result.add "_"
+  result.add m.name.s
+  result.add suffix
 
-proc getInitName(m: PSym): PRope = getSomeInitName(m, "Init")
-proc getDatInitName(m: PSym): PRope = getSomeInitName(m, "DatInit")
+proc getInitName(m: PSym): Rope = getSomeInitName(m, "Init")
+proc getDatInitName(m: PSym): Rope = getSomeInitName(m, "DatInit")
 
 proc registerModuleToMain(m: PSym) =
   var
     init = m.getInitName
     datInit = m.getDatInitName
-  appf(mainModProcs, "NIM_EXTERNC N_NOINLINE(void, $1)(void);$N", [init])
-  appf(mainModProcs, "NIM_EXTERNC N_NOINLINE(void, $1)(void);$N", [datInit])
+  addf(mainModProcs, "NIM_EXTERNC N_NOINLINE(void, $1)(void);$N", [init])
+  addf(mainModProcs, "NIM_EXTERNC N_NOINLINE(void, $1)(void);$N", [datInit])
   if sfSystemModule notin m.flags:
-    appf(mainDatInit, "\t$1();$N", [datInit])
-    let initCall = ropef("\t$1();$N", [init])
+    addf(mainDatInit, "\t$1();$N", [datInit])
+    let initCall = "\t$1();$N" % [init]
     if sfMainModule in m.flags:
-      app(mainModInit, initCall)
+      add(mainModInit, initCall)
     else:
-      app(otherModsInit, initCall)
+      add(otherModsInit, initCall)
 
 proc genInitCode(m: BModule) =
   var initname = getInitName(m.module)
-  var prc = ropef("NIM_EXTERNC N_NOINLINE(void, $1)(void) {$N", [initname])
+  var prc = "NIM_EXTERNC N_NOINLINE(void, $1)(void) {$N" % [initname]
   if m.typeNodes > 0:
     appcg(m, m.s[cfsTypeInit1], "static #TNimNode $1[$2];$n",
-          [m.typeNodesName, toRope(m.typeNodes)])
+          [m.typeNodesName, rope(m.typeNodes)])
   if m.nimTypes > 0:
     appcg(m, m.s[cfsTypeInit1], "static #TNimType $1[$2];$n",
-          [m.nimTypesName, toRope(m.nimTypes)])
+          [m.nimTypesName, rope(m.nimTypes)])
 
-  app(prc, initGCFrame(m.initProc))
+  add(prc, initGCFrame(m.initProc))
 
-  app(prc, genSectionStart(cpsLocals))
-  app(prc, m.preInitProc.s(cpsLocals))
-  app(prc, m.initProc.s(cpsLocals))
-  app(prc, m.postInitProc.s(cpsLocals))
-  app(prc, genSectionEnd(cpsLocals))
+  add(prc, genSectionStart(cpsLocals))
+  add(prc, m.preInitProc.s(cpsLocals))
+  add(prc, m.initProc.s(cpsLocals))
+  add(prc, m.postInitProc.s(cpsLocals))
+  add(prc, genSectionEnd(cpsLocals))
 
   if optStackTrace in m.initProc.options and not m.frameDeclared:
     # BUT: the generated init code might depend on a current frame, so
@@ -1009,58 +1008,58 @@ proc genInitCode(m: BModule) =
     m.frameDeclared = true
     if not m.preventStackTrace:
       var procname = makeCString(m.module.name.s)
-      app(prc, initFrame(m.initProc, procname, m.module.info.quotedFilename))
+      add(prc, initFrame(m.initProc, procname, m.module.info.quotedFilename))
     else:
-      app(prc, ~"\tTFrame F; F.len = 0;$N")
-
-  app(prc, genSectionStart(cpsInit))
-  app(prc, m.preInitProc.s(cpsInit))
-  app(prc, m.initProc.s(cpsInit))
-  app(prc, m.postInitProc.s(cpsInit))
-  app(prc, genSectionEnd(cpsInit))
-
-  app(prc, genSectionStart(cpsStmts))
-  app(prc, m.preInitProc.s(cpsStmts))
-  app(prc, m.initProc.s(cpsStmts))
-  app(prc, m.postInitProc.s(cpsStmts))
-  app(prc, genSectionEnd(cpsStmts))
+      add(prc, ~"\tTFrame F; F.len = 0;$N")
+
+  add(prc, genSectionStart(cpsInit))
+  add(prc, m.preInitProc.s(cpsInit))
+  add(prc, m.initProc.s(cpsInit))
+  add(prc, m.postInitProc.s(cpsInit))
+  add(prc, genSectionEnd(cpsInit))
+
+  add(prc, genSectionStart(cpsStmts))
+  add(prc, m.preInitProc.s(cpsStmts))
+  add(prc, m.initProc.s(cpsStmts))
+  add(prc, m.postInitProc.s(cpsStmts))
+  add(prc, genSectionEnd(cpsStmts))
   if optStackTrace in m.initProc.options and not m.preventStackTrace:
-    app(prc, deinitFrame(m.initProc))
-  app(prc, deinitGCFrame(m.initProc))
-  appf(prc, "}$N$N")
+    add(prc, deinitFrame(m.initProc))
+  add(prc, deinitGCFrame(m.initProc))
+  addf(prc, "}$N$N", [])
 
-  prc.appf("NIM_EXTERNC N_NOINLINE(void, $1)(void) {$N",
+  prc.addf("NIM_EXTERNC N_NOINLINE(void, $1)(void) {$N",
            [getDatInitName(m.module)])
 
   for i in cfsTypeInit1..cfsDynLibInit:
-    app(prc, genSectionStart(i))
-    app(prc, m.s[i])
-    app(prc, genSectionEnd(i))
+    add(prc, genSectionStart(i))
+    add(prc, m.s[i])
+    add(prc, genSectionEnd(i))
 
-  appf(prc, "}$N$N")
+  addf(prc, "}$N$N", [])
   # we cannot simply add the init proc to ``m.s[cfsProcs]`` anymore because
   # that would lead to a *nesting* of merge sections which the merger does
   # not support. So we add it to another special section: ``cfsInitProc``
-  app(m.s[cfsInitProc], prc)
+  add(m.s[cfsInitProc], prc)
 
   for i, el in pairs(m.extensionLoaders):
     if el != nil:
-      let ex = ropef("N_NIMCALL(void, nimLoadProcs$1)(void) {$2}$N$N",
-        (i.ord - '0'.ord).toRope, el)
-      app(m.s[cfsInitProc], ex)
+      let ex = "N_NIMCALL(void, nimLoadProcs$1)(void) {$2}$N$N" %
+        [(i.ord - '0'.ord).rope, el]
+      add(m.s[cfsInitProc], ex)
 
-proc genModule(m: BModule, cfile: string): PRope =
+proc genModule(m: BModule, cfile: string): Rope =
   result = getFileHeader(cfile)
-  result.app(genMergeInfo(m))
+  result.add(genMergeInfo(m))
 
   generateHeaders(m)
 
   generateThreadLocalStorage(m)
   for i in countup(cfsHeaders, cfsProcs):
-    app(result, genSectionStart(i))
-    app(result, m.s[i])
-    app(result, genSectionEnd(i))
-  app(result, m.s[cfsInitProc])
+    add(result, genSectionStart(i))
+    add(result, m.s[i])
+    add(result, genSectionEnd(i))
+  add(result, m.s[cfsInitProc])
 
 proc newPreInitProc(m: BModule): BProc =
   result = newProc(nil, m)
@@ -1172,22 +1171,22 @@ proc myOpen(module: PSym): PPassContext =
 
 proc writeHeader(m: BModule) =
   var result = getCopyright(m.filename)
-  var guard = ropef("__$1__", m.filename.splitFile.name.toRope)
-  result.appf("#ifndef $1$n#define $1$n", guard)
+  var guard = "__$1__" % [m.filename.splitFile.name.rope]
+  result.addf("#ifndef $1$n#define $1$n", [guard])
   addIntTypes(result)
   generateHeaders(m)
 
   generateThreadLocalStorage(m)
   for i in countup(cfsHeaders, cfsProcs):
-    app(result, genSectionStart(i))
-    app(result, m.s[i])
-    app(result, genSectionEnd(i))
-  app(result, m.s[cfsInitProc])
+    add(result, genSectionStart(i))
+    add(result, m.s[i])
+    add(result, genSectionEnd(i))
+  add(result, m.s[cfsInitProc])
 
   if optGenDynLib in gGlobalOptions:
-    result.app("N_LIB_IMPORT ")
-  result.appf("N_CDECL(void, NimMain)(void);$n")
-  result.appf("#endif /* $1 */$n", guard)
+    result.add("N_LIB_IMPORT ")
+  result.addf("N_CDECL(void, NimMain)(void);$n", [])
+  result.addf("#endif /* $1 */$n", [guard])
   writeRope(result, m.filename)
 
 proc getCFile(m: BModule): string =
@@ -1224,7 +1223,7 @@ proc finishModule(m: BModule) =
   dec(gForwardedProcsCounter, i)
   setLen(m.forwardedProcs, 0)
 
-proc shouldRecompile(code: PRope, cfile: string): bool =
+proc shouldRecompile(code: Rope, cfile: string): bool =
   result = true
   if optForceFullMake notin gGlobalOptions:
     var objFile = toObjFile(cfile)
@@ -1249,13 +1248,13 @@ proc writeModule(m: BModule, pending: bool) =
     finishTypeDescriptions(m)
     if sfMainModule in m.module.flags:
       # generate main file:
-      app(m.s[cfsProcHeaders], mainModProcs)
+      add(m.s[cfsProcHeaders], mainModProcs)
       generateThreadVarsSize(m)
 
     var code = genModule(m, cfile)
     when hasTinyCBackend:
       if gCmd == cmdRun:
-        tccgen.compileCCode(ropeToStr(code))
+        tccgen.compileCCode($code)
         return
 
     if shouldRecompile(code, cfile):
diff --git a/compiler/cgendata.nim b/compiler/cgendata.nim
index 9e9640f59..187186373 100644
--- a/compiler/cgendata.nim
+++ b/compiler/cgendata.nim
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import
 from msgs import TLineInfo
 
 type
-  TLabel* = PRope             # for the C generator a label is just a rope
+  TLabel* = Rope             # for the C generator a label is just a rope
   TCFileSection* = enum       # the sections a generated C file consists of
     cfsMergeInfo,             # section containing merge information
     cfsHeaders,               # section for C include file headers
@@ -45,17 +45,17 @@ type
     ctUInt, ctUInt8, ctUInt16, ctUInt32, ctUInt64,
     ctArray, ctPtrToArray, ctStruct, ctPtr, ctNimStr, ctNimSeq, ctProc,
     ctCString
-  TCFileSections* = array[TCFileSection, PRope] # represents a generated C file
+  TCFileSections* = array[TCFileSection, Rope] # represents a generated C file
   TCProcSection* = enum       # the sections a generated C proc consists of
     cpsLocals,                # section of local variables for C proc
     cpsInit,                  # section for init of variables for C proc
     cpsStmts                  # section of local statements for C proc
-  TCProcSections* = array[TCProcSection, PRope] # represents a generated C proc
+  TCProcSections* = array[TCProcSection, Rope] # represents a generated C proc
   BModule* = ref TCGen
   BProc* = ref TCProc
   TBlock*{.final.} = object
     id*: int                  # the ID of the label; positive means that it
-    label*: PRope             # generated text for the label
+    label*: Rope             # generated text for the label
                               # nil if label is not used
     sections*: TCProcSections # the code beloging
     isLoop*: bool             # whether block is a loop
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ type
     inExceptBlock*: int       # are we currently inside an except block?
                               # leaving such scopes by raise or by return must
                               # execute any applicable finally blocks
-    finallySafePoints*: seq[PRope]  # For correctly cleaning up exceptions when
+    finallySafePoints*: seq[Rope]  # For correctly cleaning up exceptions when
                                     # using return in finally statements
     labels*: Natural          # for generating unique labels in the C proc
     blocks*: seq[TBlock]      # nested blocks
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ type
                               # requires 'T x = T()' to become 'T x; x = T()'
                               # (yes, C++ is weird like that)
     gcFrameId*: Natural       # for the GC stack marking
-    gcFrameType*: PRope       # the struct {} we put the GC markers into
+    gcFrameType*: Rope       # the struct {} we put the GC markers into
 
   TTypeSeq* = seq[PType]
   TCGen = object of TPassContext # represents a C source file
@@ -118,24 +118,24 @@ type
     dataCache*: TNodeTable
     forwardedProcs*: TSymSeq  # keep forwarded procs here
     typeNodes*, nimTypes*: int # used for type info generation
-    typeNodesName*, nimTypesName*: PRope # used for type info generation
+    typeNodesName*, nimTypesName*: Rope # used for type info generation
     labels*: Natural          # for generating unique module-scope names
-    extensionLoaders*: array['0'..'9', PRope] # special procs for the
+    extensionLoaders*: array['0'..'9', Rope] # special procs for the
                                               # OpenGL wrapper
-    injectStmt*: PRope
+    injectStmt*: Rope
 
 var
-  mainModProcs*, mainModInit*, otherModsInit*, mainDatInit*: PRope
+  mainModProcs*, mainModInit*, otherModsInit*, mainDatInit*: Rope
     # varuious parts of the main module
-  gMapping*: PRope             # the generated mapping file (if requested)
+  gMapping*: Rope             # the generated mapping file (if requested)
   gModules*: seq[BModule] = @[] # list of all compiled modules
   gForwardedProcsCounter*: int = 0
 
-proc s*(p: BProc, s: TCProcSection): var PRope {.inline.} =
+proc s*(p: BProc, s: TCProcSection): var Rope {.inline.} =
   # section in the current block
   result = p.blocks[p.blocks.len - 1].sections[s]
 
-proc procSec*(p: BProc, s: TCProcSection): var PRope {.inline.} =
+proc procSec*(p: BProc, s: TCProcSection): var Rope {.inline.} =
   # top level proc sections
   result = p.blocks[0].sections[s]
 
diff --git a/compiler/commands.nim b/compiler/commands.nim
index a2d02e469..5b5f461ef 100644
--- a/compiler/commands.nim
+++ b/compiler/commands.nim
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ bootSwitch(usedMarkAndSweep, defined(gcmarkandsweep), "--gc:markAndSweep")
 bootSwitch(usedGenerational, defined(gcgenerational), "--gc:generational")
 bootSwitch(usedNoGC, defined(nogc), "--gc:none")
 
-import 
-  os, msgs, options, nversion, condsyms, strutils, extccomp, platform, lists, 
+import
+  os, msgs, options, nversion, condsyms, strutils, extccomp, platform, lists,
   wordrecg, parseutils, nimblecmd, idents, parseopt
 
 # but some have deps to imported modules. Yay.
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ bootSwitch(usedFFI, hasFFI, "-d:useFFI")
 
 proc writeCommandLineUsage*()
 
-type 
-  TCmdLinePass* = enum 
+type
+  TCmdLinePass* = enum
     passCmd1,                 # first pass over the command line
     passCmd2,                 # second pass over the command line
     passPP                    # preprocessor called processCommand()
@@ -54,35 +54,35 @@ const
   HelpMessage = "Nim Compiler Version $1 (" & CompileDate & ") [$2: $3]\n" &
       "Copyright (c) 2006-2015 by Andreas Rumpf\n"
 
-const 
+const
   Usage = slurp"doc/basicopt.txt".replace("//", "")
   AdvancedUsage = slurp"doc/advopt.txt".replace("//", "")
 
-proc getCommandLineDesc(): string = 
-  result = (HelpMessage % [VersionAsString, platform.OS[platform.hostOS].name, 
+proc getCommandLineDesc(): string =
+  result = (HelpMessage % [VersionAsString, platform.OS[platform.hostOS].name,
                            CPU[platform.hostCPU].name]) & Usage
 
-proc helpOnError(pass: TCmdLinePass) = 
+proc helpOnError(pass: TCmdLinePass) =
   if pass == passCmd1:
     msgWriteln(getCommandLineDesc())
     msgQuit(0)
 
-proc writeAdvancedUsage(pass: TCmdLinePass) = 
+proc writeAdvancedUsage(pass: TCmdLinePass) =
   if pass == passCmd1:
-    msgWriteln(`%`(HelpMessage, [VersionAsString, 
-                                 platform.OS[platform.hostOS].name, 
+    msgWriteln(`%`(HelpMessage, [VersionAsString,
+                                 platform.OS[platform.hostOS].name,
                                  CPU[platform.hostCPU].name]) & AdvancedUsage)
     msgQuit(0)
 
-proc writeVersionInfo(pass: TCmdLinePass) = 
+proc writeVersionInfo(pass: TCmdLinePass) =
   if pass == passCmd1:
-    msgWriteln(`%`(HelpMessage, [VersionAsString, 
-                                 platform.OS[platform.hostOS].name, 
+    msgWriteln(`%`(HelpMessage, [VersionAsString,
+                                 platform.OS[platform.hostOS].name,
                                  CPU[platform.hostCPU].name]))
 
-    discard """const gitHash = gorge("git log -n 1 --format=%H")
-    if gitHash.strip.len == 40:
-      msgWriteln("git hash: " & gitHash)"""
+    const gitHash = gorge("git log -n 1 --format=%H").strip
+    when gitHash.len == 40:
+      msgWriteln("git hash: " & gitHash)
 
     msgWriteln("active boot switches:" & usedRelease & usedAvoidTimeMachine &
       usedTinyC & usedGnuReadline & usedNativeStacktrace & usedNoCaas &
@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ proc writeVersionInfo(pass: TCmdLinePass) =
 var
   helpWritten: bool
 
-proc writeCommandLineUsage() = 
-  if not helpWritten: 
+proc writeCommandLineUsage() =
+  if not helpWritten:
     msgWriteln(getCommandLineDesc())
     helpWritten = true
 
@@ -101,51 +101,51 @@ proc addPrefix(switch: string): string =
   if len(switch) == 1: result = "-" & switch
   else: result = "--" & switch
 
-proc invalidCmdLineOption(pass: TCmdLinePass, switch: string, info: TLineInfo) = 
+proc invalidCmdLineOption(pass: TCmdLinePass, switch: string, info: TLineInfo) =
   if switch == " ": localError(info, errInvalidCmdLineOption, "-")
   else: localError(info, errInvalidCmdLineOption, addPrefix(switch))
 
-proc splitSwitch(switch: string, cmd, arg: var string, pass: TCmdLinePass, 
-                 info: TLineInfo) = 
+proc splitSwitch(switch: string, cmd, arg: var string, pass: TCmdLinePass,
+                 info: TLineInfo) =
   cmd = ""
   var i = 0
   if i < len(switch) and switch[i] == '-': inc(i)
   if i < len(switch) and switch[i] == '-': inc(i)
-  while i < len(switch): 
+  while i < len(switch):
     case switch[i]
     of 'a'..'z', 'A'..'Z', '0'..'9', '_', '.': add(cmd, switch[i])
-    else: break 
+    else: break
     inc(i)
   if i >= len(switch): arg = ""
   elif switch[i] in {':', '=', '['}: arg = substr(switch, i + 1)
   else: invalidCmdLineOption(pass, switch, info)
-  
-proc processOnOffSwitch(op: TOptions, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, 
-                        info: TLineInfo) = 
+
+proc processOnOffSwitch(op: TOptions, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass,
+                        info: TLineInfo) =
   case whichKeyword(arg)
   of wOn: gOptions = gOptions + op
   of wOff: gOptions = gOptions - op
   else: localError(info, errOnOrOffExpectedButXFound, arg)
-  
-proc processOnOffSwitchG(op: TGlobalOptions, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, 
-                         info: TLineInfo) = 
+
+proc processOnOffSwitchG(op: TGlobalOptions, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass,
+                         info: TLineInfo) =
   case whichKeyword(arg)
   of wOn: gGlobalOptions = gGlobalOptions + op
   of wOff: gGlobalOptions = gGlobalOptions - op
   else: localError(info, errOnOrOffExpectedButXFound, arg)
-  
-proc expectArg(switch, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, info: TLineInfo) = 
+
+proc expectArg(switch, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, info: TLineInfo) =
   if arg == "": localError(info, errCmdLineArgExpected, addPrefix(switch))
-  
-proc expectNoArg(switch, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, info: TLineInfo) = 
+
+proc expectNoArg(switch, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, info: TLineInfo) =
   if arg != "": localError(info, errCmdLineNoArgExpected, addPrefix(switch))
-  
-proc processSpecificNote(arg: string, state: TSpecialWord, pass: TCmdLinePass, 
-                         info: TLineInfo; orig: string) = 
+
+proc processSpecificNote(arg: string, state: TSpecialWord, pass: TCmdLinePass,
+                         info: TLineInfo; orig: string) =
   var id = ""  # arg = "X]:on|off"
   var i = 0
   var n = hintMin
-  while i < len(arg) and (arg[i] != ']'): 
+  while i < len(arg) and (arg[i] != ']'):
     add(id, arg[i])
     inc(i)
   if i < len(arg) and (arg[i] == ']'): inc(i)
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ proc processSpecificNote(arg: string, state: TSpecialWord, pass: TCmdLinePass,
   of wOff: excl(gNotes, n)
   else: localError(info, errOnOrOffExpectedButXFound, arg)
 
-proc processCompile(filename: string) = 
+proc processCompile(filename: string) =
   var found = findFile(filename)
   if found == "": found = filename
   var trunc = changeFileExt(found, "")
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ proc testCompileOptionArg*(switch, arg: string, info: TLineInfo): bool =
     else: localError(info, errNoneSpeedOrSizeExpectedButXFound, arg)
   else: invalidCmdLineOption(passCmd1, switch, info)
 
-proc testCompileOption*(switch: string, info: TLineInfo): bool = 
+proc testCompileOption*(switch: string, info: TLineInfo): bool =
   case switch.normalize
   of "debuginfo": result = contains(gGlobalOptions, optCDebug)
   of "compileonly", "c": result = contains(gGlobalOptions, optCompileOnly)
@@ -228,11 +228,11 @@ proc testCompileOption*(switch: string, info: TLineInfo): bool =
   of "patterns": result = contains(gOptions, optPatterns)
   of "experimental": result = gExperimentalMode
   else: invalidCmdLineOption(passCmd1, switch, info)
-  
+
 proc processPath(path: string, notRelativeToProj = false): string =
   let p = if notRelativeToProj or os.isAbsolute(path) or
-              '$' in path or path[0] == '.': 
-            path 
+              '$' in path or path[0] == '.':
+            path
           else:
             options.gProjectPath / path
   result = unixToNativePath(p % ["nimrod", getPrefixDir(),
@@ -251,14 +251,14 @@ proc trackDirty(arg: string, info: TLineInfo) =
     localError(info, errInvalidNumber, a[1])
   if parseUtils.parseInt(a[3], column) <= 0:
     localError(info, errInvalidNumber, a[2])
-  
+
   let dirtyOriginalIdx = a[1].fileInfoIdx
   if dirtyOriginalIdx >= 0:
     msgs.setDirtyFile(dirtyOriginalIdx, a[0])
 
   gTrackPos = newLineInfo(dirtyOriginalIdx, line, column)
 
-proc track(arg: string, info: TLineInfo) = 
+proc track(arg: string, info: TLineInfo) =
   var a = arg.split(',')
   if a.len != 3: localError(info, errTokenExpected, "FILE,LINE,COLUMN")
   var line, column: int
@@ -273,13 +273,13 @@ proc dynlibOverride(switch, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, info: TLineInfo) =
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     options.inclDynlibOverride(arg)
 
-proc processSwitch(switch, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, info: TLineInfo) = 
-  var 
+proc processSwitch(switch, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, info: TLineInfo) =
+  var
     theOS: TSystemOS
     cpu: TSystemCPU
     key, val: string
   case switch.normalize
-  of "path", "p": 
+  of "path", "p":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     addPath(processPath(arg), info)
   of "nimblepath", "babelpath":
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ proc processSwitch(switch, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, info: TLineInfo) =
   of "nimcache":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     options.nimcacheDir = processPath(arg)
-  of "out", "o": 
+  of "out", "o":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     options.outFile = arg
   of "docseesrcurl":
@@ -311,19 +311,19 @@ proc processSwitch(switch, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, info: TLineInfo) =
     options.docSeeSrcUrl = arg
   of "mainmodule", "m":
     discard "allow for backwards compatibility, but don't do anything"
-  of "define", "d": 
+  of "define", "d":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     defineSymbol(arg)
-  of "undef", "u": 
+  of "undef", "u":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     undefSymbol(arg)
   of "symbol":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
-    declareSymbol(arg)  
-  of "compile": 
+    declareSymbol(arg)
+  of "compile":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     if pass in {passCmd2, passPP}: processCompile(arg)
-  of "link": 
+  of "link":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     if pass in {passCmd2, passPP}: addFileToLink(arg)
   of "debuginfo":
@@ -332,25 +332,25 @@ proc processSwitch(switch, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, info: TLineInfo) =
   of "embedsrc":
     expectNoArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     incl(gGlobalOptions, optEmbedOrigSrc)
-  of "compileonly", "c": 
+  of "compileonly", "c":
     expectNoArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     incl(gGlobalOptions, optCompileOnly)
-  of "nolinking": 
+  of "nolinking":
     expectNoArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     incl(gGlobalOptions, optNoLinking)
-  of "nomain": 
+  of "nomain":
     expectNoArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     incl(gGlobalOptions, optNoMain)
-  of "forcebuild", "f": 
+  of "forcebuild", "f":
     expectNoArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     incl(gGlobalOptions, optForceFullMake)
   of "project":
     expectNoArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     gWholeProject = true
-  of "gc": 
+  of "gc":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     case arg.normalize
-    of "boehm": 
+    of "boehm":
       gSelectedGC = gcBoehm
       defineSymbol("boehmgc")
     of "refc":
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ proc processSwitch(switch, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, info: TLineInfo) =
       undefSymbol("endb")
     else:
       localError(info, "expected endb|gdb but found " & arg)
-  of "profiler": 
+  of "profiler":
     processOnOffSwitch({optProfiler}, arg, pass, info)
     if optProfiler in gOptions: defineSymbol("profiler")
     else: undefSymbol("profiler")
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ proc processSwitch(switch, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, info: TLineInfo) =
   of "deadcodeelim": processOnOffSwitchG({optDeadCodeElim}, arg, pass, info)
   of "threads":
     processOnOffSwitchG({optThreads}, arg, pass, info)
-    if optThreads in gGlobalOptions: incl(gNotes, warnGcUnsafe)
+    #if optThreads in gGlobalOptions: incl(gNotes, warnGcUnsafe)
   of "tlsemulation": processOnOffSwitchG({optTlsEmulation}, arg, pass, info)
   of "taintmode": processOnOffSwitchG({optTaintMode}, arg, pass, info)
   of "implicitstatic":
@@ -417,17 +417,17 @@ proc processSwitch(switch, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, info: TLineInfo) =
   of "opt":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     case arg.normalize
-    of "speed": 
+    of "speed":
       incl(gOptions, optOptimizeSpeed)
       excl(gOptions, optOptimizeSize)
-    of "size": 
+    of "size":
       excl(gOptions, optOptimizeSpeed)
       incl(gOptions, optOptimizeSize)
     of "none":
       excl(gOptions, optOptimizeSpeed)
       excl(gOptions, optOptimizeSize)
     else: localError(info, errNoneSpeedOrSizeExpectedButXFound, arg)
-  of "app": 
+  of "app":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     case arg.normalize
     of "gui":
@@ -449,10 +449,10 @@ proc processSwitch(switch, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, info: TLineInfo) =
       defineSymbol("library")
       defineSymbol("staticlib")
     else: localError(info, errGuiConsoleOrLibExpectedButXFound, arg)
-  of "passc", "t": 
+  of "passc", "t":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     if pass in {passCmd2, passPP}: extccomp.addCompileOption(arg)
-  of "passl", "l": 
+  of "passl", "l":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     if pass in {passCmd2, passPP}: extccomp.addLinkOption(arg)
   of "cincludes":
@@ -475,52 +475,52 @@ proc processSwitch(switch, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, info: TLineInfo) =
   of "include":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     if pass in {passCmd2, passPP}: implicitIncludes.add arg
-  of "listcmd": 
+  of "listcmd":
     expectNoArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     incl(gGlobalOptions, optListCmd)
-  of "genmapping": 
+  of "genmapping":
     expectNoArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     incl(gGlobalOptions, optGenMapping)
-  of "os": 
+  of "os":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
-    if pass in {passCmd1, passPP}: 
+    if pass in {passCmd1, passPP}:
       theOS = platform.nameToOS(arg)
       if theOS == osNone: localError(info, errUnknownOS, arg)
-      elif theOS != platform.hostOS: 
+      elif theOS != platform.hostOS:
         setTarget(theOS, targetCPU)
         condsyms.initDefines()
-  of "cpu": 
+  of "cpu":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
-    if pass in {passCmd1, passPP}: 
+    if pass in {passCmd1, passPP}:
       cpu = platform.nameToCPU(arg)
       if cpu == cpuNone: localError(info, errUnknownCPU, arg)
-      elif cpu != platform.hostCPU: 
+      elif cpu != platform.hostCPU:
         setTarget(targetOS, cpu)
         condsyms.initDefines()
-  of "run", "r": 
+  of "run", "r":
     expectNoArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     incl(gGlobalOptions, optRun)
-  of "verbosity": 
+  of "verbosity":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     gVerbosity = parseInt(arg)
-  of "parallelbuild": 
+  of "parallelbuild":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     gNumberOfProcessors = parseInt(arg)
-  of "version", "v": 
+  of "version", "v":
     expectNoArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     writeVersionInfo(pass)
-  of "advanced": 
+  of "advanced":
     expectNoArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     writeAdvancedUsage(pass)
-  of "help", "h": 
+  of "help", "h":
     expectNoArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     helpOnError(pass)
-  of "symbolfiles": 
+  of "symbolfiles":
     processOnOffSwitchG({optSymbolFiles}, arg, pass, info)
-  of "skipcfg": 
+  of "skipcfg":
     expectNoArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     incl(gGlobalOptions, optSkipConfigFile)
-  of "skipprojcfg": 
+  of "skipprojcfg":
     expectNoArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     incl(gGlobalOptions, optSkipProjConfigFile)
   of "skipusercfg":
@@ -529,17 +529,17 @@ proc processSwitch(switch, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, info: TLineInfo) =
   of "skipparentcfg":
     expectNoArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     incl(gGlobalOptions, optSkipParentConfigFiles)
-  of "genscript": 
+  of "genscript":
     expectNoArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     incl(gGlobalOptions, optGenScript)
   of "lib":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     libpath = processPath(arg, notRelativeToProj=true)
-  of "putenv": 
+  of "putenv":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     splitSwitch(arg, key, val, pass, info)
     os.putEnv(key, val)
-  of "cc": 
+  of "cc":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     setCC(arg)
   of "track":
@@ -548,7 +548,7 @@ proc processSwitch(switch, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, info: TLineInfo) =
   of "trackdirty":
     expectArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     trackDirty(arg, info)
-  of "suggest": 
+  of "suggest":
     expectNoArg(switch, arg, pass, info)
     gIdeCmd = ideSug
   of "def":
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ proc processSwitch(switch, arg: string, pass: TCmdLinePass, info: TLineInfo) =
   else:
     if strutils.find(switch, '.') >= 0: options.setConfigVar(switch, arg)
     else: invalidCmdLineOption(pass, switch, info)
-  
+
 proc processCommand(switch: string, pass: TCmdLinePass) =
   var cmd, arg: string
   splitSwitch(switch, cmd, arg, pass, gCmdLineInfo)
@@ -600,14 +600,14 @@ proc processSwitch*(pass: TCmdLinePass; p: OptParser) =
   # hint[X]:off is parsed as (p.key = "hint[X]", p.val = "off")
   # we fix this here
   var bracketLe = strutils.find(p.key, '[')
-  if bracketLe >= 0: 
+  if bracketLe >= 0:
     var key = substr(p.key, 0, bracketLe - 1)
     var val = substr(p.key, bracketLe + 1) & ':' & p.val
     processSwitch(key, val, pass, gCmdLineInfo)
-  else: 
+  else:
     processSwitch(p.key, p.val, pass, gCmdLineInfo)
 
-proc processArgument*(pass: TCmdLinePass; p: OptParser; 
+proc processArgument*(pass: TCmdLinePass; p: OptParser;
                       argsCount: var int): bool =
   if argsCount == 0:
     options.command = p.key
diff --git a/compiler/depends.nim b/compiler/depends.nim
index 115a98f84..1ccb134f2 100644
--- a/compiler/depends.nim
+++ b/compiler/depends.nim
@@ -9,41 +9,41 @@
 
 # This module implements a dependency file generator.
 
-import 
+import
   os, options, ast, astalgo, msgs, ropes, idents, passes, importer
 
 proc generateDot*(project: string)
 
-type 
+type
   TGen = object of TPassContext
     module*: PSym
   PGen = ref TGen
 
-var gDotGraph: PRope # the generated DOT file; we need a global variable
+var gDotGraph: Rope # the generated DOT file; we need a global variable
 
-proc addDependencyAux(importing, imported: string) = 
-  appf(gDotGraph, "$1 -> $2;$n", [toRope(importing), toRope(imported)]) 
+proc addDependencyAux(importing, imported: string) =
+  addf(gDotGraph, "$1 -> $2;$n", [rope(importing), rope(imported)])
   # s1 -> s2_4[label="[0-9]"];
-  
-proc addDotDependency(c: PPassContext, n: PNode): PNode = 
+
+proc addDotDependency(c: PPassContext, n: PNode): PNode =
   result = n
   var g = PGen(c)
   case n.kind
-  of nkImportStmt: 
-    for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1): 
+  of nkImportStmt:
+    for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
       var imported = getModuleName(n.sons[i])
       addDependencyAux(g.module.name.s, imported)
-  of nkFromStmt, nkImportExceptStmt: 
+  of nkFromStmt, nkImportExceptStmt:
     var imported = getModuleName(n.sons[0])
     addDependencyAux(g.module.name.s, imported)
-  of nkStmtList, nkBlockStmt, nkStmtListExpr, nkBlockExpr: 
+  of nkStmtList, nkBlockStmt, nkStmtListExpr, nkBlockExpr:
     for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1): discard addDotDependency(c, n.sons[i])
-  else: 
+  else:
     discard
 
-proc generateDot(project: string) = 
-  writeRope(ropef("digraph $1 {$n$2}$n", [
-      toRope(changeFileExt(extractFilename(project), "")), gDotGraph]), 
+proc generateDot(project: string) =
+  writeRope("digraph $1 {$n$2}$n" % [
+      rope(changeFileExt(extractFilename(project), "")), gDotGraph],
             changeFileExt(project, "dot"))
 
 proc myOpen(module: PSym): PPassContext =
diff --git a/compiler/docgen.nim b/compiler/docgen.nim
index 4af69745b..f8489d825 100644
--- a/compiler/docgen.nim
+++ b/compiler/docgen.nim
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ import
   importer, sempass2, json, xmltree, cgi, typesrenderer
 
 type
-  TSections = array[TSymKind, PRope]
+  TSections = array[TSymKind, Rope]
   TDocumentor = object of rstgen.TRstGenerator
-    modDesc: PRope           # module description
+    modDesc: Rope           # module description
     id: int                  # for generating IDs
     toc, section: TSections
     indexValFilename: string
@@ -82,9 +82,9 @@ proc newDocumentor*(filename: string, config: StringTableRef): PDoc =
   result.seenSymbols = newStringTable(modeCaseInsensitive)
   result.id = 100
 
-proc dispA(dest: var PRope, xml, tex: string, args: openArray[PRope]) =
-  if gCmd != cmdRst2tex: appf(dest, xml, args)
-  else: appf(dest, tex, args)
+proc dispA(dest: var Rope, xml, tex: string, args: openArray[Rope]) =
+  if gCmd != cmdRst2tex: addf(dest, xml, args)
+  else: addf(dest, tex, args)
 
 proc getVarIdx(varnames: openArray[string], id: string): int =
   for i in countup(0, high(varnames)):
@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ proc getVarIdx(varnames: openArray[string], id: string): int =
       return i
   result = -1
 
-proc ropeFormatNamedVars(frmt: TFormatStr, varnames: openArray[string],
-                         varvalues: openArray[PRope]): PRope =
+proc ropeFormatNamedVars(frmt: FormatStr, varnames: openArray[string],
+                         varvalues: openArray[Rope]): Rope =
   var i = 0
   var L = len(frmt)
   result = nil
@@ -103,11 +103,11 @@ proc ropeFormatNamedVars(frmt: TFormatStr, varnames: openArray[string],
       inc(i)                  # skip '$'
       case frmt[i]
       of '#':
-        app(result, varvalues[num])
+        add(result, varvalues[num])
         inc(num)
         inc(i)
       of '$':
-        app(result, "$")
+        add(result, "$")
         inc(i)
       of '0'..'9':
         var j = 0
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ proc ropeFormatNamedVars(frmt: TFormatStr, varnames: openArray[string],
           if (i > L + 0 - 1) or not (frmt[i] in {'0'..'9'}): break
         if j > high(varvalues) + 1: internalError("ropeFormatNamedVars")
         num = j
-        app(result, varvalues[j - 1])
+        add(result, varvalues[j - 1])
       of 'A'..'Z', 'a'..'z', '\x80'..'\xFF':
         var id = ""
         while true:
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ proc ropeFormatNamedVars(frmt: TFormatStr, varnames: openArray[string],
           inc(i)
           if not (frmt[i] in {'A'..'Z', '_', 'a'..'z', '\x80'..'\xFF'}): break
         var idx = getVarIdx(varnames, id)
-        if idx >= 0: app(result, varvalues[idx])
+        if idx >= 0: add(result, varvalues[idx])
         else: rawMessage(errUnknownSubstitionVar, id)
       of '{':
         var id = ""
@@ -137,14 +137,14 @@ proc ropeFormatNamedVars(frmt: TFormatStr, varnames: openArray[string],
         inc(i)                # skip }
                               # search for the variable:
         var idx = getVarIdx(varnames, id)
-        if idx >= 0: app(result, varvalues[idx])
+        if idx >= 0: add(result, varvalues[idx])
         else: rawMessage(errUnknownSubstitionVar, id)
       else: internalError("ropeFormatNamedVars")
     var start = i
     while i < L:
       if frmt[i] != '$': inc(i)
       else: break
-    if i - 1 >= start: app(result, substr(frmt, start, i - 1))
+    if i - 1 >= start: add(result, substr(frmt, start, i - 1))
 
 proc genComment(d: PDoc, n: PNode): string =
   result = ""
@@ -154,9 +154,9 @@ proc genComment(d: PDoc, n: PNode): string =
                                toLinenumber(n.info), toColumn(n.info),
                                dummyHasToc, d.options + {roSkipPounds}), result)
 
-proc genRecComment(d: PDoc, n: PNode): PRope =
+proc genRecComment(d: PDoc, n: PNode): Rope =
   if n == nil: return nil
-  result = genComment(d, n).toRope
+  result = genComment(d, n).rope
   if result == nil:
     if n.kind notin {nkEmpty..nkNilLit}:
       for i in countup(0, len(n)-1):
@@ -331,9 +331,9 @@ proc genItem(d: PDoc, n, nameNode: PNode, k: TSymKind) =
   if not isVisible(nameNode): return
   let
     name = getName(d, nameNode)
-    nameRope = name.toRope
+    nameRope = name.rope
     plainDocstring = getPlainDocstring(n) # call here before genRecComment!
-  var result: PRope = nil
+  var result: Rope = nil
   var literal, plainName = ""
   var kind = tkEof
   var comm = genRecComment(d, n)  # call this here for the side-effect!
@@ -356,69 +356,69 @@ proc genItem(d: PDoc, n, nameNode: PNode, k: TSymKind) =
       break
     of tkComment:
       dispA(result, "<span class=\"Comment\">$1</span>", "\\spanComment{$1}",
-            [toRope(esc(d.target, literal))])
+            [rope(esc(d.target, literal))])
     of tokKeywordLow..tokKeywordHigh:
       dispA(result, "<span class=\"Keyword\">$1</span>", "\\spanKeyword{$1}",
-            [toRope(literal)])
+            [rope(literal)])
     of tkOpr:
       dispA(result, "<span class=\"Operator\">$1</span>", "\\spanOperator{$1}",
-            [toRope(esc(d.target, literal))])
+            [rope(esc(d.target, literal))])
     of tkStrLit..tkTripleStrLit:
       dispA(result, "<span class=\"StringLit\">$1</span>",
-            "\\spanStringLit{$1}", [toRope(esc(d.target, literal))])
+            "\\spanStringLit{$1}", [rope(esc(d.target, literal))])
     of tkCharLit:
       dispA(result, "<span class=\"CharLit\">$1</span>", "\\spanCharLit{$1}",
-            [toRope(esc(d.target, literal))])
+            [rope(esc(d.target, literal))])
     of tkIntLit..tkUInt64Lit:
       dispA(result, "<span class=\"DecNumber\">$1</span>",
-            "\\spanDecNumber{$1}", [toRope(esc(d.target, literal))])
+            "\\spanDecNumber{$1}", [rope(esc(d.target, literal))])
     of tkFloatLit..tkFloat128Lit:
       dispA(result, "<span class=\"FloatNumber\">$1</span>",
-            "\\spanFloatNumber{$1}", [toRope(esc(d.target, literal))])
+            "\\spanFloatNumber{$1}", [rope(esc(d.target, literal))])
     of tkSymbol:
       dispA(result, "<span class=\"Identifier\">$1</span>",
-            "\\spanIdentifier{$1}", [toRope(esc(d.target, literal))])
+            "\\spanIdentifier{$1}", [rope(esc(d.target, literal))])
     of tkSpaces, tkInvalid:
-      app(result, literal)
+      add(result, literal)
     of tkParLe, tkParRi, tkBracketLe, tkBracketRi, tkCurlyLe, tkCurlyRi,
        tkBracketDotLe, tkBracketDotRi, tkCurlyDotLe, tkCurlyDotRi, tkParDotLe,
        tkParDotRi, tkComma, tkSemiColon, tkColon, tkEquals, tkDot, tkDotDot,
        tkAccent, tkColonColon,
        tkGStrLit, tkGTripleStrLit, tkInfixOpr, tkPrefixOpr, tkPostfixOpr:
       dispA(result, "<span class=\"Other\">$1</span>", "\\spanOther{$1}",
-            [toRope(esc(d.target, literal))])
+            [rope(esc(d.target, literal))])
   inc(d.id)
   let
-    plainNameRope = toRope(xmltree.escape(plainName.strip))
+    plainNameRope = rope(xmltree.escape(plainName.strip))
     cleanPlainSymbol = renderPlainSymbolName(nameNode)
     complexSymbol = complexName(k, n, cleanPlainSymbol)
-    plainSymbolRope = toRope(cleanPlainSymbol)
-    plainSymbolEncRope = toRope(encodeUrl(cleanPlainSymbol))
-    itemIDRope = toRope(d.id)
+    plainSymbolRope = rope(cleanPlainSymbol)
+    plainSymbolEncRope = rope(encodeUrl(cleanPlainSymbol))
+    itemIDRope = rope(d.id)
     symbolOrId = d.newUniquePlainSymbol(complexSymbol)
-    symbolOrIdRope = symbolOrId.toRope
-    symbolOrIdEncRope = encodeUrl(symbolOrId).toRope
+    symbolOrIdRope = symbolOrId.rope
+    symbolOrIdEncRope = encodeUrl(symbolOrId).rope
 
-  var seeSrcRope: PRope = nil
+  var seeSrcRope: Rope = nil
   let docItemSeeSrc = getConfigVar("doc.item.seesrc")
   if docItemSeeSrc.len > 0 and options.docSeeSrcUrl.len > 0:
     # XXX toFilename doesn't really work. We need to ensure that this keeps
     # returning a relative path.
     let urlRope = ropeFormatNamedVars(options.docSeeSrcUrl,
-      ["path", "line"], [n.info.toFilename.toRope, toRope($n.info.line)])
+      ["path", "line"], [n.info.toFilename.rope, rope($n.info.line)])
     dispA(seeSrcRope, "$1", "", [ropeFormatNamedVars(docItemSeeSrc,
-        ["path", "line", "url"], [n.info.toFilename.toRope,
-        toRope($n.info.line), urlRope])])
+        ["path", "line", "url"], [n.info.toFilename.rope,
+        rope($n.info.line), urlRope])])
 
-  app(d.section[k], ropeFormatNamedVars(getConfigVar("doc.item"),
+  add(d.section[k], ropeFormatNamedVars(getConfigVar("doc.item"),
     ["name", "header", "desc", "itemID", "header_plain", "itemSym",
       "itemSymOrID", "itemSymEnc", "itemSymOrIDEnc", "seeSrc"],
     [nameRope, result, comm, itemIDRope, plainNameRope, plainSymbolRope,
       symbolOrIdRope, plainSymbolEncRope, symbolOrIdEncRope, seeSrcRope]))
-  app(d.toc[k], ropeFormatNamedVars(getConfigVar("doc.item.toc"),
+  add(d.toc[k], ropeFormatNamedVars(getConfigVar("doc.item.toc"),
     ["name", "header", "desc", "itemID", "header_plain", "itemSym",
       "itemSymOrID", "itemSymEnc", "itemSymOrIDEnc"],
-    [toRope(getName(d, nameNode, d.splitAfter)), result, comm,
+    [rope(getName(d, nameNode, d.splitAfter)), result, comm,
       itemIDRope, plainNameRope, plainSymbolRope, symbolOrIdRope,
       plainSymbolEncRope, symbolOrIdEncRope]))
 
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ proc genJSONItem(d: PDoc, n, nameNode: PNode, k: TSymKind): JsonNode =
   if not isVisible(nameNode): return
   var
     name = getName(d, nameNode)
-    comm = genRecComment(d, n).ropeToStr()
+    comm = $genRecComment(d, n)
     r: TSrcGen
 
   initTokRender(r, n, {renderNoBody, renderNoComments, renderDocComments})
@@ -453,14 +453,14 @@ proc checkForFalse(n: PNode): bool =
 
 proc traceDeps(d: PDoc, n: PNode) =
   const k = skModule
-  if d.section[k] != nil: app(d.section[k], ", ")
+  if d.section[k] != nil: add(d.section[k], ", ")
   dispA(d.section[k],
         "<a class=\"reference external\" href=\"$1.html\">$1</a>",
-        "$1", [toRope(getModuleName(n))])
+        "$1", [rope(getModuleName(n))])
 
 proc generateDoc*(d: PDoc, n: PNode) =
   case n.kind
-  of nkCommentStmt: app(d.modDesc, genComment(d, n))
+  of nkCommentStmt: add(d.modDesc, genComment(d, n))
   of nkProcDef:
     when useEffectSystem: documentRaises(n)
     genItem(d, n, n.sons[namePos], skProc)
@@ -540,28 +540,28 @@ proc genSection(d: PDoc, kind: TSymKind) =
     "Iterators", "Iterators", "Converters", "Macros", "Templates"
   ]
   if d.section[kind] == nil: return
-  var title = sectionNames[kind].toRope
+  var title = sectionNames[kind].rope
   d.section[kind] = ropeFormatNamedVars(getConfigVar("doc.section"), [
       "sectionid", "sectionTitle", "sectionTitleID", "content"], [
-      ord(kind).toRope, title, toRope(ord(kind) + 50), d.section[kind]])
+      ord(kind).rope, title, rope(ord(kind) + 50), d.section[kind]])
   d.toc[kind] = ropeFormatNamedVars(getConfigVar("doc.section.toc"), [
       "sectionid", "sectionTitle", "sectionTitleID", "content"], [
-      ord(kind).toRope, title, toRope(ord(kind) + 50), d.toc[kind]])
+      ord(kind).rope, title, rope(ord(kind) + 50), d.toc[kind]])
 
-proc genOutFile(d: PDoc): PRope =
+proc genOutFile(d: PDoc): Rope =
   var
-    code, content: PRope
+    code, content: Rope
     title = ""
   var j = 0
   var tmp = ""
   renderTocEntries(d[], j, 1, tmp)
-  var toc = tmp.toRope
+  var toc = tmp.rope
   for i in countup(low(TSymKind), high(TSymKind)):
     genSection(d, i)
-    app(toc, d.toc[i])
+    add(toc, d.toc[i])
   if toc != nil:
     toc = ropeFormatNamedVars(getConfigVar("doc.toc"), ["content"], [toc])
-  for i in countup(low(TSymKind), high(TSymKind)): app(code, d.section[i])
+  for i in countup(low(TSymKind), high(TSymKind)): add(code, d.section[i])
 
   # Extract the title. Non API modules generate an entry in the index table.
   if d.meta[metaTitle].len != 0:
@@ -574,16 +574,16 @@ proc genOutFile(d: PDoc): PRope =
   let bodyname = if d.hasToc: "doc.body_toc" else: "doc.body_no_toc"
   content = ropeFormatNamedVars(getConfigVar(bodyname), ["title",
       "tableofcontents", "moduledesc", "date", "time", "content"],
-      [title.toRope, toc, d.modDesc, toRope(getDateStr()),
-      toRope(getClockStr()), code])
+      [title.rope, toc, d.modDesc, rope(getDateStr()),
+      rope(getClockStr()), code])
   if optCompileOnly notin gGlobalOptions:
     # XXX what is this hack doing here? 'optCompileOnly' means raw output!?
     code = ropeFormatNamedVars(getConfigVar("doc.file"), ["title",
         "tableofcontents", "moduledesc", "date", "time",
         "content", "author", "version", "analytics"],
-        [title.toRope, toc, d.modDesc, toRope(getDateStr()),
-                     toRope(getClockStr()), content, d.meta[metaAuthor].toRope,
-                     d.meta[metaVersion].toRope, d.analytics.toRope])
+        [title.rope, toc, d.modDesc, rope(getDateStr()),
+                     rope(getClockStr()), content, d.meta[metaAuthor].rope,
+                     d.meta[metaVersion].rope, d.analytics.rope])
   else:
     code = content
   result = code
@@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ proc commandRstAux(filename, outExt: string) =
   #d.modDesc = newMutableRope(30_000)
   renderRstToOut(d[], rst, modDesc)
   #freezeMutableRope(d.modDesc)
-  d.modDesc = toRope(modDesc)
+  d.modDesc = rope(modDesc)
   writeOutput(d, filename, outExt)
   generateIndex(d)
 
@@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ proc commandJSON*() =
   var d = newDocumentor(gProjectFull, options.gConfigVars)
   d.hasToc = true
   var json = generateJson(d, ast)
-  var content = newRope(pretty(json))
+  var content = rope(pretty(json))
 
   if optStdout in gGlobalOptions:
     writeRope(stdout, content)
@@ -644,12 +644,12 @@ proc commandJSON*() =
     writeRope(content, getOutFile(gProjectFull, JsonExt), useWarning = false)
 
 proc commandBuildIndex*() =
-  var content = mergeIndexes(gProjectFull).toRope
+  var content = mergeIndexes(gProjectFull).rope
 
   let code = ropeFormatNamedVars(getConfigVar("doc.file"), ["title",
       "tableofcontents", "moduledesc", "date", "time",
       "content", "author", "version", "analytics"],
-      ["Index".toRope, nil, nil, toRope(getDateStr()),
-                   toRope(getClockStr()), content, nil, nil, nil])
+      ["Index".rope, nil, nil, rope(getDateStr()),
+                   rope(getClockStr()), content, nil, nil, nil])
   # no analytics because context is not available
   writeRope(code, getOutFile("theindex", HtmlExt))
diff --git a/compiler/extccomp.nim b/compiler/extccomp.nim
index a68e7f734..499d9ae52 100644
--- a/compiler/extccomp.nim
+++ b/compiler/extccomp.nim
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ proc execExternalProgram*(cmd: string, prettyCmd = "") =
   if execWithEcho(cmd, prettyCmd) != 0:
     rawMessage(errExecutionOfProgramFailed, "")
 
-proc generateScript(projectFile: string, script: PRope) = 
+proc generateScript(projectFile: string, script: Rope) = 
   let (dir, name, ext) = splitFile(projectFile)
   writeRope(script, dir / addFileExt("compile_" & name, 
                                      platform.OS[targetOS].scriptExt))
@@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ proc addExternalFileToCompile*(filename: string) =
   if optForceFullMake in gGlobalOptions or externalFileChanged(filename):
     appendStr(externalToCompile, filename)
 
-proc compileCFile(list: TLinkedList, script: var PRope, cmds: var TStringSeq,
+proc compileCFile(list: TLinkedList, script: var Rope, cmds: var TStringSeq,
                   prettyCmds: var TStringSeq, isExternal: bool) =
   var it = PStrEntry(list.head)
   while it != nil: 
@@ -615,8 +615,8 @@ proc compileCFile(list: TLinkedList, script: var PRope, cmds: var TStringSeq,
       let (dir, name, ext) = splitFile(it.data)
       add(prettyCmds, "CC: " & name)
     if optGenScript in gGlobalOptions: 
-      app(script, compileCmd)
-      app(script, tnl)
+      add(script, compileCmd)
+      add(script, tnl)
     it = PStrEntry(it.next)
 
 proc callCCompiler*(projectfile: string) =
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ proc callCCompiler*(projectfile: string) =
            # generated
   fileCounter = 0
   var c = cCompiler
-  var script: PRope = nil
+  var script: Rope = nil
   var cmds: TStringSeq = @[]
   var prettyCmds: TStringSeq = @[]
   let prettyCb = proc (idx: int) =
@@ -710,30 +710,30 @@ proc callCCompiler*(projectfile: string) =
   else:
     linkCmd = ""
   if optGenScript in gGlobalOptions:
-    app(script, linkCmd)
-    app(script, tnl)
+    add(script, linkCmd)
+    add(script, tnl)
     generateScript(projectfile, script)
 
-proc genMappingFiles(list: TLinkedList): PRope = 
+proc genMappingFiles(list: TLinkedList): Rope = 
   var it = PStrEntry(list.head)
   while it != nil: 
-    appf(result, "--file:r\"$1\"$N", [toRope(it.data)])
+    addf(result, "--file:r\"$1\"$N", [rope(it.data)])
     it = PStrEntry(it.next)
 
-proc writeMapping*(gSymbolMapping: PRope) = 
+proc writeMapping*(gSymbolMapping: Rope) = 
   if optGenMapping notin gGlobalOptions: return 
-  var code = toRope("[C_Files]\n")
-  app(code, genMappingFiles(toCompile))
-  app(code, genMappingFiles(externalToCompile))
-  app(code, "\n[C_Compiler]\nFlags=")
-  app(code, strutils.escape(getCompileOptions()))
+  var code = rope("[C_Files]\n")
+  add(code, genMappingFiles(toCompile))
+  add(code, genMappingFiles(externalToCompile))
+  add(code, "\n[C_Compiler]\nFlags=")
+  add(code, strutils.escape(getCompileOptions()))
   
-  app(code, "\n[Linker]\nFlags=")
-  app(code, strutils.escape(getLinkOptions() & " " & 
+  add(code, "\n[Linker]\nFlags=")
+  add(code, strutils.escape(getLinkOptions() & " " & 
                             getConfigVar(cCompiler, ".options.linker")))
 
-  app(code, "\n[Environment]\nlibpath=")
-  app(code, strutils.escape(libpath))
+  add(code, "\n[Environment]\nlibpath=")
+  add(code, strutils.escape(libpath))
   
-  appf(code, "\n[Symbols]$n$1", [gSymbolMapping])
+  addf(code, "\n[Symbols]$n$1", [gSymbolMapping])
   writeRope(code, joinPath(gProjectPath, "mapping.txt"))
diff --git a/compiler/installer.ini b/compiler/installer.ini
index b4160cab3..12a8e702d 100644
--- a/compiler/installer.ini
+++ b/compiler/installer.ini
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ Files: "icons/koch_icon.o"
 
 Files: "compiler/readme.txt"
 Files: "compiler/installer.ini"
-Files: "compiler/nim.nimrod.cfg"
+Files: "compiler/nim.nim.cfg"
 Files: "compiler/*.nim"
 Files: "doc/*.txt"
 Files: "doc/manual/*.txt"
diff --git a/compiler/jsgen.nim b/compiler/jsgen.nim
index 4e0e732a5..c3f01774e 100644
--- a/compiler/jsgen.nim
+++ b/compiler/jsgen.nim
@@ -59,9 +59,9 @@ type
   TCompRes = object
     kind: TResKind
     typ: TJSTypeKind
-    res: PRope               # result part; index if this is an
+    res: Rope               # result part; index if this is an
                              # (address, index)-tuple
-    address: PRope           # address of an (address, index)-tuple
+    address: Rope           # address of an (address, index)-tuple
 
   TBlock = object
     id: int                  # the ID of the label; positive means that it
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ type
     isLoop: bool             # whether it's a 'block' or 'while'
 
   TGlobals = object
-    typeInfo, code: PRope
+    typeInfo, code: Rope
     forwarded: seq[PSym]
     generatedSyms: IntSet
     typeInfoGenerated: IntSet
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ type
   TProc = object
     procDef: PNode
     prc: PSym
-    locals, body: PRope
+    locals, body: Rope
     options: TOptions
     module: BModule
     g: PGlobals
@@ -104,13 +104,13 @@ proc initCompRes(r: var TCompRes) =
   r.typ = etyNone
   r.kind = resNone
 
-proc rdLoc(a: TCompRes): PRope {.inline.} =
+proc rdLoc(a: TCompRes): Rope {.inline.} =
   result = a.res
   when false:
     if a.typ != etyBaseIndex:
       result = a.res
     else:
-      result = ropef("$1[$2]", a.address, a.res)
+      result = "$1[$2]" % [a.address, a.res]
 
 proc newProc(globals: PGlobals, module: BModule, procDef: PNode,
              options: TOptions): PProc =
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ proc newProc(globals: PGlobals, module: BModule, procDef: PNode,
 
 const
   MappedToObject = {tyObject, tyArray, tyArrayConstr, tyTuple, tyOpenArray,
-    tySet, tyVar, tyRef, tyPtr, tyBigNum, tyVarargs}
+    tySet, tyBigNum, tyVarargs}
 
 proc mapType(typ: PType): TJSTypeKind =
   let t = skipTypes(typ, abstractInst)
@@ -155,21 +155,22 @@ proc mapType(typ: PType): TJSTypeKind =
   of tyProc: result = etyProc
   of tyCString: result = etyString
 
-proc mangleName(s: PSym): PRope =
+proc mangleName(s: PSym): Rope =
   result = s.loc.r
   if result == nil:
-    result = toRope(mangle(s.name.s))
-    app(result, "_")
-    app(result, toRope(s.id))
+    result = rope(mangle(s.name.s))
+    add(result, "_")
+    add(result, rope(s.id))
     s.loc.r = result
 
-proc makeJSString(s: string): PRope = strutils.escape(s).toRope
+proc makeJSString(s: string): Rope =
+  (if s.isNil: "null".rope else: strutils.escape(s).rope)
 
 include jstypes
 
 proc gen(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes)
 proc genStmt(p: PProc, n: PNode)
-proc genProc(oldProc: PProc, prc: PSym): PRope
+proc genProc(oldProc: PProc, prc: PSym): Rope
 proc genConstant(p: PProc, c: PSym)
 
 proc useMagic(p: PProc, name: string) =
@@ -178,7 +179,7 @@ proc useMagic(p: PProc, name: string) =
   if s != nil:
     internalAssert s.kind in {skProc, skMethod, skConverter}
     if not p.g.generatedSyms.containsOrIncl(s.id):
-      app(p.g.code, genProc(p, s))
+      add(p.g.code, genProc(p, s))
   else:
     # we used to exclude the system module from this check, but for DLL
     # generation support this sloppyness leads to hard to detect bugs, so
@@ -196,10 +197,10 @@ proc isSimpleExpr(n: PNode): bool =
   elif n.isAtom:
     result = true
 
-proc getTemp(p: PProc): PRope =
+proc getTemp(p: PProc): Rope =
   inc(p.unique)
-  result = ropef("Tmp$1", [toRope(p.unique)])
-  appf(p.locals, "var $1;$n" | "local $1;$n", [result])
+  result = "Tmp$1" % [rope(p.unique)]
+  addf(p.locals, "var $1;$n" | "local $1;$n", [result])
 
 proc genAnd(p: PProc, a, b: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   assert r.kind == resNone
@@ -208,7 +209,7 @@ proc genAnd(p: PProc, a, b: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
     gen(p, a, x)
     gen(p, b, y)
     r.kind = resExpr
-    r.res = ropef("($1 && $2)" | "($1 and $2)", [x.rdLoc, y.rdLoc])
+    r.res = ("($1 && $2)" | "($1 and $2)") % [x.rdLoc, y.rdLoc]
   else:
     r.res = p.getTemp
     r.kind = resVal
@@ -222,11 +223,11 @@ proc genAnd(p: PProc, a, b: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
     #     tmp = b
     # tmp
     gen(p, a, x)
-    p.body.appf("if (!$1) $2 = false; else {" |
-                "if not $1 then $2 = false; else", x.rdLoc, r.rdLoc)
+    p.body.addf("if (!$1) $2 = false; else {" |
+                "if not $1 then $2 = false; else", [x.rdLoc, r.rdLoc])
     gen(p, b, y)
-    p.body.appf("$2 = $1; }" |
-                "$2 = $1 end", y.rdLoc, r.rdLoc)
+    p.body.addf("$2 = $1; }" |
+                "$2 = $1 end", [y.rdLoc, r.rdLoc])
 
 proc genOr(p: PProc, a, b: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   assert r.kind == resNone
@@ -235,16 +236,16 @@ proc genOr(p: PProc, a, b: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
     gen(p, a, x)
     gen(p, b, y)
     r.kind = resExpr
-    r.res = ropef("($1 || $2)" | "($1 or $2)", [x.rdLoc, y.rdLoc])
+    r.res = ("($1 || $2)" | "($1 or $2)") % [x.rdLoc, y.rdLoc]
   else:
     r.res = p.getTemp
     r.kind = resVal
     gen(p, a, x)
-    p.body.appf("if ($1) $2 = true; else {" |
-                "if $1 then $2 = true; else", x.rdLoc, r.rdLoc)
+    p.body.addf("if ($1) $2 = true; else {" |
+                "if $1 then $2 = true; else", [x.rdLoc, r.rdLoc])
     gen(p, b, y)
-    p.body.appf("$2 = $1; }" |
-                "$2 = $1 end", y.rdLoc, r.rdLoc)
+    p.body.addf("$2 = $1; }" |
+                "$2 = $1 end", [y.rdLoc, r.rdLoc])
 
 type
   TMagicFrmt = array[0..3, string]
@@ -460,7 +461,7 @@ proc binaryExpr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes, magic, frmt: string) =
   useMagic(p, magic)
   gen(p, n.sons[1], x)
   gen(p, n.sons[2], y)
-  r.res = ropef(frmt, [x.rdLoc, y.rdLoc])
+  r.res = frmt % [x.rdLoc, y.rdLoc]
   r.kind = resExpr
 
 proc ternaryExpr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes, magic, frmt: string) =
@@ -469,13 +470,13 @@ proc ternaryExpr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes, magic, frmt: string) =
   gen(p, n.sons[1], x)
   gen(p, n.sons[2], y)
   gen(p, n.sons[3], z)
-  r.res = ropef(frmt, [x.rdLoc, y.rdLoc, z.rdLoc])
+  r.res = frmt % [x.rdLoc, y.rdLoc, z.rdLoc]
   r.kind = resExpr
 
 proc unaryExpr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes, magic, frmt: string) =
   useMagic(p, magic)
   gen(p, n.sons[1], r)
-  r.res = ropef(frmt, [r.rdLoc])
+  r.res = frmt % [r.rdLoc]
   r.kind = resExpr
 
 proc arithAux(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes, op: TMagic, ops: TMagicOps) =
@@ -486,10 +487,10 @@ proc arithAux(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes, op: TMagic, ops: TMagicOps) =
   if sonsLen(n) > 2:
     gen(p, n.sons[1], x)
     gen(p, n.sons[2], y)
-    r.res = ropef(ops[op][i + 2], [x.rdLoc, y.rdLoc])
+    r.res = ops[op][i + 2] % [x.rdLoc, y.rdLoc]
   else:
     gen(p, n.sons[1], r)
-    r.res = ropef(ops[op][i + 2], [r.rdLoc])
+    r.res = ops[op][i + 2] % [r.rdLoc]
   r.kind = resExpr
 
 proc arith(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes, op: TMagic) =
@@ -498,16 +499,16 @@ proc arith(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes, op: TMagic) =
 proc genLineDir(p: PProc, n: PNode) =
   let line = toLinenumber(n.info)
   if optLineDir in p.options:
-    appf(p.body, "// line $2 \"$1\"$n" | "-- line $2 \"$1\"$n",
-         [toRope(toFilename(n.info)), toRope(line)])
+    addf(p.body, "// line $2 \"$1\"$n" | "-- line $2 \"$1\"$n",
+         [rope(toFilename(n.info)), rope(line)])
   if {optStackTrace, optEndb} * p.options == {optStackTrace, optEndb} and
       ((p.prc == nil) or sfPure notin p.prc.flags):
     useMagic(p, "endb")
-    appf(p.body, "endb($1);$n", [toRope(line)])
+    addf(p.body, "endb($1);$n", [rope(line)])
   elif ({optLineTrace, optStackTrace} * p.options ==
       {optLineTrace, optStackTrace}) and
       ((p.prc == nil) or not (sfPure in p.prc.flags)):
-    appf(p.body, "F.line = $1;$n", [toRope(line)])
+    addf(p.body, "F.line = $1;$n", [rope(line)])
 
 proc genWhileStmt(p: PProc, n: PNode) =
   var
@@ -519,21 +520,21 @@ proc genWhileStmt(p: PProc, n: PNode) =
   setLen(p.blocks, length + 1)
   p.blocks[length].id = -p.unique
   p.blocks[length].isLoop = true
-  let labl = p.unique.toRope
-  appf(p.body, "L$1: while (true) {$n" | "while true do$n", labl)
+  let labl = p.unique.rope
+  addf(p.body, "L$1: while (true) {$n" | "while true do$n", [labl])
   gen(p, n.sons[0], cond)
-  appf(p.body, "if (!$1) break L$2;$n" | "if not $1 then goto ::L$2:: end;$n",
+  addf(p.body, "if (!$1) break L$2;$n" | "if not $1 then goto ::L$2:: end;$n",
        [cond.res, labl])
   genStmt(p, n.sons[1])
-  appf(p.body, "}$n" | "end ::L$#::$n", [labl])
+  addf(p.body, "}$n" | "end ::L$#::$n", [labl])
   setLen(p.blocks, length)
 
 proc moveInto(p: PProc, src: var TCompRes, dest: TCompRes) =
   if src.kind != resNone:
     if dest.kind != resNone:
-      p.body.appf("$1 = $2;$n", dest.rdLoc, src.rdLoc)
+      p.body.addf("$1 = $2;$n", [dest.rdLoc, src.rdLoc])
     else:
-      p.body.appf("$1;$n", src.rdLoc)
+      p.body.addf("$1;$n", [src.rdLoc])
     src.kind = resNone
     src.res = nil
 
@@ -562,52 +563,52 @@ proc genTry(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
     r.kind = resVal
     r.res = getTemp(p)
   inc(p.unique)
-  var safePoint = ropef("Tmp$1", [toRope(p.unique)])
-  appf(p.body,
+  var safePoint = "Tmp$1" % [rope(p.unique)]
+  addf(p.body,
        "var $1 = {prev: excHandler, exc: null};$nexcHandler = $1;$n" |
        "local $1 = pcall(",
        [safePoint])
-  if optStackTrace in p.options: app(p.body, "framePtr = F;" & tnl)
-  appf(p.body, "try {$n" | "function()$n")
+  if optStackTrace in p.options: add(p.body, "framePtr = F;" & tnl)
+  addf(p.body, "try {$n" | "function()$n", [])
   var length = sonsLen(n)
   var a: TCompRes
   gen(p, n.sons[0], a)
   moveInto(p, a, r)
   var i = 1
   if p.target == targetJS and length > 1 and n.sons[i].kind == nkExceptBranch:
-    appf(p.body, "} catch (EXC) {$n  lastJSError = EXC;$n")
+    addf(p.body, "} catch (EXC) {$n  lastJSError = EXC;$n", [])
   elif p.target == targetLua:
-    appf(p.body, "end)$n")
+    addf(p.body, "end)$n", [])
   while i < length and n.sons[i].kind == nkExceptBranch:
     let blen = sonsLen(n.sons[i])
     if blen == 1:
       # general except section:
-      if i > 1: appf(p.body, "else {$n" | "else$n")
+      if i > 1: addf(p.body, "else {$n" | "else$n", [])
       gen(p, n.sons[i].sons[0], a)
       moveInto(p, a, r)
-      if i > 1: appf(p.body, "}$n" | "end$n")
+      if i > 1: addf(p.body, "}$n" | "end$n", [])
     else:
-      var orExpr: PRope = nil
+      var orExpr: Rope = nil
       useMagic(p, "isObj")
       for j in countup(0, blen - 2):
         if n.sons[i].sons[j].kind != nkType:
           internalError(n.info, "genTryStmt")
-        if orExpr != nil: app(orExpr, "||" | " or ")
-        appf(orExpr, "isObj($1.exc.m_type, $2)",
+        if orExpr != nil: add(orExpr, "||" | " or ")
+        addf(orExpr, "isObj($1.exc.m_type, $2)",
              [safePoint, genTypeInfo(p, n.sons[i].sons[j].typ)])
-      if i > 1: app(p.body, "else ")
-      appf(p.body, "if ($1.exc && ($2)) {$n" | "if $1.exc and ($2) then$n",
+      if i > 1: add(p.body, "else ")
+      addf(p.body, "if ($1.exc && ($2)) {$n" | "if $1.exc and ($2) then$n",
         [safePoint, orExpr])
       gen(p, n.sons[i].sons[blen - 1], a)
       moveInto(p, a, r)
-      appf(p.body, "}$n" | "end$n")
+      addf(p.body, "}$n" | "end$n", [])
     inc(i)
   if p.target == targetJS:
-    app(p.body, "} finally {" & tnl & "excHandler = excHandler.prev;" & tnl)
+    add(p.body, "} finally {" & tnl & "excHandler = excHandler.prev;" & tnl)
   if i < length and n.sons[i].kind == nkFinally:
     genStmt(p, n.sons[i].sons[0])
   if p.target == targetJS:
-    app(p.body, "}" & tnl)
+    add(p.body, "}" & tnl)
   if p.target == targetLua:
     # we need to repeat the finally block for Lua ...
     if i < length and n.sons[i].kind == nkFinally:
@@ -620,11 +621,11 @@ proc genRaiseStmt(p: PProc, n: PNode) =
     gen(p, n.sons[0], a)
     let typ = skipTypes(n.sons[0].typ, abstractPtrs)
     useMagic(p, "raiseException")
-    appf(p.body, "raiseException($1, $2);$n",
+    addf(p.body, "raiseException($1, $2);$n",
          [a.rdLoc, makeJSString(typ.sym.name.s)])
   else:
     useMagic(p, "reraiseException")
-    app(p.body, "reraiseException();" & tnl)
+    add(p.body, "reraiseException();" & tnl)
 
 proc genCaseJS(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   var
@@ -634,9 +635,9 @@ proc genCaseJS(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   let stringSwitch = skipTypes(n.sons[0].typ, abstractVar).kind == tyString
   if stringSwitch:
     useMagic(p, "toJSStr")
-    appf(p.body, "switch (toJSStr($1)) {$n", [cond.rdLoc])
+    addf(p.body, "switch (toJSStr($1)) {$n", [cond.rdLoc])
   else:
-    appf(p.body, "switch ($1) {$n", [cond.rdLoc])
+    addf(p.body, "switch ($1) {$n", [cond.rdLoc])
   if not isEmptyType(n.typ):
     r.kind = resVal
     r.res = getTemp(p)
@@ -650,27 +651,27 @@ proc genCaseJS(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
           var v = copyNode(e.sons[0])
           while v.intVal <= e.sons[1].intVal:
             gen(p, v, cond)
-            appf(p.body, "case $1: ", [cond.rdLoc])
+            addf(p.body, "case $1: ", [cond.rdLoc])
             inc(v.intVal)
         else:
           if stringSwitch:
             case e.kind
-            of nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit: appf(p.body, "case $1: ",
+            of nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit: addf(p.body, "case $1: ",
                 [makeJSString(e.strVal)])
             else: internalError(e.info, "jsgen.genCaseStmt: 2")
           else:
             gen(p, e, cond)
-            appf(p.body, "case $1: ", [cond.rdLoc])
+            addf(p.body, "case $1: ", [cond.rdLoc])
       gen(p, lastSon(it), stmt)
       moveInto(p, stmt, r)
-      appf(p.body, "$nbreak;$n")
+      addf(p.body, "$nbreak;$n", [])
     of nkElse:
-      appf(p.body, "default: $n")
+      addf(p.body, "default: $n", [])
       gen(p, it.sons[0], stmt)
       moveInto(p, stmt, r)
-      appf(p.body, "break;$n")
+      addf(p.body, "break;$n", [])
     else: internalError(it.info, "jsgen.genCaseStmt")
-  appf(p.body, "}$n")
+  addf(p.body, "}$n", [])
 
 proc genCaseLua(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   var
@@ -681,7 +682,7 @@ proc genCaseLua(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   if stringSwitch:
     useMagic(p, "eqStr")
   let tmp = getTemp(p)
-  appf(p.body, "$1 = $2;$n", [tmp, cond.rdLoc])
+  addf(p.body, "$1 = $2;$n", [tmp, cond.rdLoc])
   if not isEmptyType(n.typ):
     r.kind = resVal
     r.res = getTemp(p)
@@ -689,34 +690,34 @@ proc genCaseLua(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
     let it = n.sons[i]
     case it.kind
     of nkOfBranch:
-      if i != 1: appf(p.body, "$nelsif ")
-      else: appf(p.body, "if ")
+      if i != 1: addf(p.body, "$nelsif ", [])
+      else: addf(p.body, "if ", [])
       for j in countup(0, sonsLen(it) - 2):
-        if j != 0: app(p.body, " or ")
+        if j != 0: add(p.body, " or ")
         let e = it.sons[j]
         if e.kind == nkRange:
           var ia, ib: TCompRes
           gen(p, e.sons[0], ia)
           gen(p, e.sons[1], ib)
-          appf(p.body, "$1 >= $2 and $1 <= $3", [tmp, ia.rdLoc, ib.rdLoc])
+          addf(p.body, "$1 >= $2 and $1 <= $3", [tmp, ia.rdLoc, ib.rdLoc])
         else:
           if stringSwitch:
             case e.kind
-            of nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit: appf(p.body, "eqStr($1, $2)",
+            of nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit: addf(p.body, "eqStr($1, $2)",
                 [tmp, makeJSString(e.strVal)])
             else: internalError(e.info, "jsgen.genCaseStmt: 2")
           else:
             gen(p, e, cond)
-            appf(p.body, "$1 == $2", [tmp, cond.rdLoc])
-      appf(p.body, " then$n")
+            addf(p.body, "$1 == $2", [tmp, cond.rdLoc])
+      addf(p.body, " then$n", [])
       gen(p, lastSon(it), stmt)
       moveInto(p, stmt, r)
     of nkElse:
-      appf(p.body, "else$n")
+      addf(p.body, "else$n", [])
       gen(p, it.sons[0], stmt)
       moveInto(p, stmt, r)
     else: internalError(it.info, "jsgen.genCaseStmt")
-  appf(p.body, "$nend$n")
+  addf(p.body, "$nend$n", [])
 
 proc genBlock(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   inc(p.unique)
@@ -730,9 +731,9 @@ proc genBlock(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   setLen(p.blocks, idx + 1)
   p.blocks[idx].id = - p.unique # negative because it isn't used yet
   let labl = p.unique
-  appf(p.body, "L$1: do {$n" | "", labl.toRope)
+  addf(p.body, "L$1: do {$n" | "", [labl.rope])
   gen(p, n.sons[1], r)
-  appf(p.body, "} while(false);$n" | "$n::L$#::$n", labl.toRope)
+  addf(p.body, "} while(false);$n" | "$n::L$#::$n", [labl.rope])
   setLen(p.blocks, idx)
 
 proc genBreakStmt(p: PProc, n: PNode) =
@@ -751,15 +752,15 @@ proc genBreakStmt(p: PProc, n: PNode) =
     if idx < 0 or not p.blocks[idx].isLoop:
       internalError(n.info, "no loop to break")
   p.blocks[idx].id = abs(p.blocks[idx].id) # label is used
-  appf(p.body, "break L$1;$n" | "goto ::L$1::;$n", [toRope(p.blocks[idx].id)])
+  addf(p.body, "break L$1;$n" | "goto ::L$1::;$n", [rope(p.blocks[idx].id)])
 
 proc genAsmStmt(p: PProc, n: PNode) =
   genLineDir(p, n)
   assert(n.kind == nkAsmStmt)
   for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
     case n.sons[i].kind
-    of nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit: app(p.body, n.sons[i].strVal)
-    of nkSym: app(p.body, mangleName(n.sons[i].sym))
+    of nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit: add(p.body, n.sons[i].strVal)
+    of nkSym: add(p.body, mangleName(n.sons[i].sym))
     else: internalError(n.sons[i].info, "jsgen: genAsmStmt()")
 
 proc genIf(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
@@ -772,35 +773,35 @@ proc genIf(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
     let it = n.sons[i]
     if sonsLen(it) != 1:
       if i > 0:
-        appf(p.body, "else {$n" | "else$n", [])
+        addf(p.body, "else {$n" | "else$n", [])
         inc(toClose)
       gen(p, it.sons[0], cond)
-      appf(p.body, "if ($1) {$n" | "if $# then$n", cond.rdLoc)
+      addf(p.body, "if ($1) {$n" | "if $# then$n", [cond.rdLoc])
       gen(p, it.sons[1], stmt)
     else:
       # else part:
-      appf(p.body, "else {$n" | "else$n")
+      addf(p.body, "else {$n" | "else$n", [])
       gen(p, it.sons[0], stmt)
     moveInto(p, stmt, r)
-    appf(p.body, "}$n" | "end$n")
+    addf(p.body, "}$n" | "end$n", [])
   if p.target == targetJS:
-    app(p.body, repeat('}', toClose) & tnl)
+    add(p.body, repeat('}', toClose) & tnl)
   else:
-    for i in 1..toClose: appf(p.body, "end$n")
+    for i in 1..toClose: addf(p.body, "end$n", [])
 
-proc generateHeader(p: PProc, typ: PType): PRope =
+proc generateHeader(p: PProc, typ: PType): Rope =
   result = nil
   for i in countup(1, sonsLen(typ.n) - 1):
-    if result != nil: app(result, ", ")
     assert(typ.n.sons[i].kind == nkSym)
     var param = typ.n.sons[i].sym
     if isCompileTimeOnly(param.typ): continue
+    if result != nil: add(result, ", ")
     var name = mangleName(param)
-    app(result, name)
+    add(result, name)
     if mapType(param.typ) == etyBaseIndex:
-      app(result, ", ")
-      app(result, name)
-      app(result, "_Idx")
+      add(result, ", ")
+      add(result, name)
+      add(result, "_Idx")
 
 const
   nodeKindsNeedNoCopy = {nkCharLit..nkInt64Lit, nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit,
@@ -819,17 +820,17 @@ proc genAsgnAux(p: PProc, x, y: PNode, noCopyNeeded: bool) =
   case mapType(x.typ)
   of etyObject:
     if needsNoCopy(y) or noCopyNeeded:
-      appf(p.body, "$1 = $2;$n", [a.rdLoc, b.rdLoc])
+      addf(p.body, "$1 = $2;$n", [a.rdLoc, b.rdLoc])
     else:
       useMagic(p, "nimCopy")
-      appf(p.body, "$1 = nimCopy($2, $3);$n",
+      addf(p.body, "$1 = nimCopy($2, $3);$n",
            [a.res, b.res, genTypeInfo(p, y.typ)])
   of etyBaseIndex:
     if a.typ != etyBaseIndex or b.typ != etyBaseIndex:
       internalError(x.info, "genAsgn")
-    appf(p.body, "$1 = $2; $3 = $4;$n", [a.address, b.address, a.res, b.res])
+    addf(p.body, "$1 = $2; $3 = $4;$n", [a.address, b.address, a.res, b.res])
   else:
-    appf(p.body, "$1 = $2;$n", [a.res, b.res])
+    addf(p.body, "$1 = $2;$n", [a.res, b.res])
 
 proc genAsgn(p: PProc, n: PNode) =
   genLineDir(p, n)
@@ -844,17 +845,17 @@ proc genSwap(p: PProc, n: PNode) =
   gen(p, n.sons[1], a)
   gen(p, n.sons[2], b)
   inc(p.unique)
-  var tmp = ropef("Tmp$1", [toRope(p.unique)])
+  var tmp = "Tmp$1" % [rope(p.unique)]
   if mapType(skipTypes(n.sons[1].typ, abstractVar)) == etyBaseIndex:
     inc(p.unique)
-    let tmp2 = ropef("Tmp$1", [toRope(p.unique)])
+    let tmp2 = "Tmp$1" % [rope(p.unique)]
     if a.typ != etyBaseIndex or b.typ != etyBaseIndex:
       internalError(n.info, "genSwap")
-    appf(p.body, "var $1 = $2; $2 = $3; $3 = $1;$n" |
+    addf(p.body, "var $1 = $2; $2 = $3; $3 = $1;$n" |
                  "local $1 = $2; $2 = $3; $3 = $1;$n", [
                  tmp, a.address, b.address])
     tmp = tmp2
-  appf(p.body, "var $1 = $2; $2 = $3; $3 = $1;" |
+  addf(p.body, "var $1 = $2; $2 = $3; $3 = $1;" |
                "local $1 = $2; $2 = $3; $3 = $1;", [tmp, a.res, b.res])
 
 proc getFieldPosition(f: PNode): int =
@@ -874,7 +875,7 @@ proc genFieldAddr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
     if b.sons[1].kind != nkSym: internalError(b.sons[1].info, "genFieldAddr")
     var f = b.sons[1].sym
     if f.loc.r == nil: f.loc.r = mangleName(f)
-    r.res = makeJSString(ropeToStr(f.loc.r))
+    r.res = makeJSString($f.loc.r)
   internalAssert a.typ != etyBaseIndex
   r.address = a.res
   r.kind = resExpr
@@ -883,12 +884,12 @@ proc genFieldAccess(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   r.typ = etyNone
   gen(p, n.sons[0], r)
   if skipTypes(n.sons[0].typ, abstractVarRange).kind == tyTuple:
-    r.res = ropef("$1.Field$2", [r.res, getFieldPosition(n.sons[1]).toRope])
+    r.res = "$1.Field$2" % [r.res, getFieldPosition(n.sons[1]).rope]
   else:
     if n.sons[1].kind != nkSym: internalError(n.sons[1].info, "genFieldAddr")
     var f = n.sons[1].sym
     if f.loc.r == nil: f.loc.r = mangleName(f)
-    r.res = ropef("$1.$2", [r.res, f.loc.r])
+    r.res = "$1.$2" % [r.res, f.loc.r]
   r.kind = resExpr
 
 proc genCheckedFieldAddr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
@@ -914,10 +915,9 @@ proc genArrayAddr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   else: first = 0
   if optBoundsCheck in p.options and not isConstExpr(m.sons[1]):
     useMagic(p, "chckIndx")
-    r.res = ropef("chckIndx($1, $2, $3.length)-$2",
-                  [b.res, toRope(first), a.res])
+    r.res = "chckIndx($1, $2, $3.length)-$2" % [b.res, rope(first), a.res]
   elif first != 0:
-    r.res = ropef("($1)-$2", [b.res, toRope(first)])
+    r.res = "($1)-$2" % [b.res, rope(first)]
   else:
     r.res = b.res
   r.kind = resExpr
@@ -934,10 +934,16 @@ proc genArrayAccess(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   else: internalError(n.info, "expr(nkBracketExpr, " & $ty.kind & ')')
   r.typ = etyNone
   if r.res == nil: internalError(n.info, "genArrayAccess")
-  r.res = ropef("$1[$2]", [r.address, r.res])
+  r.res = "$1[$2]" % [r.address, r.res]
   r.address = nil
   r.kind = resExpr
 
+proc isIndirect(v: PSym): bool =
+  result = {sfAddrTaken, sfGlobal} * v.flags != {} and
+    #(mapType(v.typ) != etyObject) and
+    {sfImportc, sfVolatile, sfExportc} * v.flags == {} and
+    v.kind notin {skProc, skConverter, skMethod, skIterator, skClosureIterator}
+
 proc genAddr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   case n.sons[0].kind
   of nkSym:
@@ -946,17 +952,21 @@ proc genAddr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
     case s.kind
     of skVar, skLet, skResult:
       r.kind = resExpr
-      if mapType(n.sons[0].typ) == etyObject:
+      let jsType = mapType(n.typ)
+      if jsType == etyObject:
         # make addr() a no-op:
         r.typ = etyNone
-        r.res = s.loc.r
+        if isIndirect(s):
+          r.res = s.loc.r & "[0]"
+        else:
+          r.res = s.loc.r
         r.address = nil
-      elif {sfGlobal, sfAddrTaken} * s.flags != {}:
+      elif {sfGlobal, sfAddrTaken} * s.flags != {} or jsType == etyBaseIndex:
         # for ease of code generation, we do not distinguish between
         # sfAddrTaken and sfGlobal.
         r.typ = etyBaseIndex
         r.address = s.loc.r
-        r.res = toRope("0")
+        r.res = rope("0")
       else:
         # 'var openArray' for instance produces an 'addr' but this is harmless:
         gen(p, n.sons[0], r)
@@ -988,13 +998,13 @@ proc genSym(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
     if k == etyBaseIndex:
       r.typ = etyBaseIndex
       if {sfAddrTaken, sfGlobal} * s.flags != {}:
-        r.address = ropef("$1[0]", [s.loc.r])
-        r.res = ropef("$1[1]", [s.loc.r])
+        r.address = "$1[0]" % [s.loc.r]
+        r.res = "$1[1]" % [s.loc.r]
       else:
         r.address = s.loc.r
-        r.res = con(s.loc.r, "_Idx")
-    elif k != etyObject and {sfAddrTaken, sfGlobal} * s.flags != {}:
-      r.res = ropef("$1[0]", [s.loc.r])
+        r.res = s.loc.r & "_Idx"
+    elif isIndirect(s):
+      r.res = "$1[0]" % [s.loc.r]
     else:
       r.res = s.loc.r
   of skConst:
@@ -1018,8 +1028,8 @@ proc genSym(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
       var owner = p
       while owner != nil and owner.prc != s.owner:
         owner = owner.up
-      if owner != nil: app(owner.locals, newp)
-      else: app(p.g.code, newp)
+      if owner != nil: add(owner.locals, newp)
+      else: add(p.g.code, newp)
   else:
     if s.loc.r == nil:
       internalError(n.info, "symbol has no generated name: " & s.name.s)
@@ -1033,26 +1043,26 @@ proc genDeref(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
     var a: TCompRes
     gen(p, n.sons[0], a)
     if a.typ != etyBaseIndex: internalError(n.info, "genDeref")
-    r.res = ropef("$1[$2]", [a.address, a.res])
+    r.res = "$1[$2]" % [a.address, a.res]
 
 proc genArg(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   var a: TCompRes
   gen(p, n, a)
   if a.typ == etyBaseIndex:
-    app(r.res, a.address)
-    app(r.res, ", ")
-    app(r.res, a.res)
+    add(r.res, a.address)
+    add(r.res, ", ")
+    add(r.res, a.res)
   else:
-    app(r.res, a.res)
+    add(r.res, a.res)
 
 proc genArgs(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
-  app(r.res, "(")
+  add(r.res, "(")
   for i in countup(1, sonsLen(n) - 1):
     let it = n.sons[i]
     if it.typ.isCompileTimeOnly: continue
-    if i > 1: app(r.res, ", ")
+    if i > 1: add(r.res, ", ")
     genArg(p, it, r)
-  app(r.res, ")")
+  add(r.res, ")")
   r.kind = resExpr
 
 proc genCall(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
@@ -1064,58 +1074,58 @@ proc genInfixCall(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   if r.typ == etyBaseIndex:
     if r.address == nil:
       globalError(n.info, "cannot invoke with infix syntax")
-    r.res = ropef("$1[$2]", [r.address, r.res])
+    r.res = "$1[$2]" % [r.address, r.res]
     r.address = nil
     r.typ = etyNone
-  app(r.res, ".")
+  add(r.res, ".")
   var op: TCompRes
   gen(p, n.sons[0], op)
-  app(r.res, op.res)
+  add(r.res, op.res)
 
-  app(r.res, "(")
+  add(r.res, "(")
   for i in countup(2, sonsLen(n) - 1):
-    if i > 2: app(r.res, ", ")
+    if i > 2: add(r.res, ", ")
     genArg(p, n.sons[i], r)
-  app(r.res, ")")
+  add(r.res, ")")
   r.kind = resExpr
 
 proc genEcho(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   useMagic(p, "rawEcho")
-  app(r.res, "rawEcho(")
+  add(r.res, "rawEcho(")
   let n = n[1].skipConv
   internalAssert n.kind == nkBracket
   for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
     let it = n.sons[i]
     if it.typ.isCompileTimeOnly: continue
-    if i > 0: app(r.res, ", ")
+    if i > 0: add(r.res, ", ")
     genArg(p, it, r)
-  app(r.res, ")")
+  add(r.res, ")")
   r.kind = resExpr
 
-proc putToSeq(s: string, indirect: bool): PRope =
-  result = toRope(s)
-  if indirect: result = ropef("[$1]", [result])
+proc putToSeq(s: string, indirect: bool): Rope =
+  result = rope(s)
+  if indirect: result = "[$1]" % [result]
 
-proc createVar(p: PProc, typ: PType, indirect: bool): PRope
-proc createRecordVarAux(p: PProc, rec: PNode, c: var int): PRope =
+proc createVar(p: PProc, typ: PType, indirect: bool): Rope
+proc createRecordVarAux(p: PProc, rec: PNode, c: var int): Rope =
   result = nil
   case rec.kind
   of nkRecList:
     for i in countup(0, sonsLen(rec) - 1):
-      app(result, createRecordVarAux(p, rec.sons[i], c))
+      add(result, createRecordVarAux(p, rec.sons[i], c))
   of nkRecCase:
-    app(result, createRecordVarAux(p, rec.sons[0], c))
+    add(result, createRecordVarAux(p, rec.sons[0], c))
     for i in countup(1, sonsLen(rec) - 1):
-      app(result, createRecordVarAux(p, lastSon(rec.sons[i]), c))
+      add(result, createRecordVarAux(p, lastSon(rec.sons[i]), c))
   of nkSym:
-    if c > 0: app(result, ", ")
-    app(result, mangleName(rec.sym))
-    app(result, ": ")
-    app(result, createVar(p, rec.sym.typ, false))
+    if c > 0: add(result, ", ")
+    add(result, mangleName(rec.sym))
+    add(result, ": ")
+    add(result, createVar(p, rec.sym.typ, false))
     inc(c)
   else: internalError(rec.info, "createRecordVarAux")
 
-proc createVar(p: PProc, typ: PType, indirect: bool): PRope =
+proc createVar(p: PProc, typ: PType, indirect: bool): Rope =
   var t = skipTypes(typ, abstractInst)
   case t.kind
   of tyInt..tyInt64, tyUInt..tyUInt64, tyEnum, tyChar:
@@ -1125,7 +1135,7 @@ proc createVar(p: PProc, typ: PType, indirect: bool): PRope =
   of tyRange, tyGenericInst:
     result = createVar(p, lastSon(typ), indirect)
   of tySet:
-    result = toRope("{}")
+    result = putToSeq("{}", indirect)
   of tyBool:
     result = putToSeq("false", indirect)
   of tyArray, tyArrayConstr:
@@ -1135,33 +1145,36 @@ proc createVar(p: PProc, typ: PType, indirect: bool): PRope =
       useMagic(p, "arrayConstr")
       # XXX: arrayConstr depends on nimCopy. This line shouldn't be necessary.
       useMagic(p, "nimCopy")
-      result = ropef("arrayConstr($1, $2, $3)", [toRope(length),
-          createVar(p, e, false), genTypeInfo(p, e)])
+      result = "arrayConstr($1, $2, $3)" % [rope(length),
+          createVar(p, e, false), genTypeInfo(p, e)]
     else:
-      result = toRope("[")
+      result = rope("[")
       var i = 0
       while i < length:
-        if i > 0: app(result, ", ")
-        app(result, createVar(p, e, false))
+        if i > 0: add(result, ", ")
+        add(result, createVar(p, e, false))
         inc(i)
-      app(result, "]")
+      add(result, "]")
+    if indirect: result = "[$1]" % [result]
   of tyTuple:
-    result = toRope("{")
+    result = rope("{")
     for i in 0.. <t.sonsLen:
-      if i > 0: app(result, ", ")
-      appf(result, "Field$1: $2" | "Field$# = $#", i.toRope,
-           createVar(p, t.sons[i], false))
-    app(result, "}")
+      if i > 0: add(result, ", ")
+      addf(result, "Field$1: $2" | "Field$# = $#", [i.rope,
+           createVar(p, t.sons[i], false)])
+    add(result, "}")
+    if indirect: result = "[$1]" % [result]
   of tyObject:
-    result = toRope("{")
+    result = rope("{")
     var c = 0
     if tfFinal notin t.flags or t.sons[0] != nil:
       inc(c)
-      appf(result, "m_type: $1" | "m_type = $#", [genTypeInfo(p, t)])
+      addf(result, "m_type: $1" | "m_type = $#", [genTypeInfo(p, t)])
     while t != nil:
-      app(result, createRecordVarAux(p, t.n, c))
+      add(result, createRecordVarAux(p, t.n, c))
       t = t.sons[0]
-    app(result, "}")
+    add(result, "}")
+    if indirect: result = "[$1]" % [result]
   of tyVar, tyPtr, tyRef:
     if mapType(t) == etyBaseIndex:
       result = putToSeq("[null, 0]" | "{nil, 0}", indirect)
@@ -1173,17 +1186,12 @@ proc createVar(p: PProc, typ: PType, indirect: bool): PRope =
     internalError("createVar: " & $t.kind)
     result = nil
 
-proc isIndirect(v: PSym): bool =
-  result = {sfAddrTaken, sfGlobal} * v.flags != {} and
-    (mapType(v.typ) != etyObject) and
-    v.kind notin {skProc, skConverter, skMethod, skIterator, skClosureIterator}
-
 proc genVarInit(p: PProc, v: PSym, n: PNode) =
   var
     a: TCompRes
-    s: PRope
+    s: Rope
   if n.kind == nkEmpty:
-    appf(p.body, "var $1 = $2;$n" | "local $1 = $2;$n",
+    addf(p.body, "var $1 = $2;$n" | "local $1 = $2;$n",
          [mangleName(v), createVar(p, v.typ, isIndirect(v))])
   else:
     discard mangleName(v)
@@ -1194,23 +1202,23 @@ proc genVarInit(p: PProc, v: PSym, n: PNode) =
         s = a.res
       else:
         useMagic(p, "nimCopy")
-        s = ropef("nimCopy($1, $2)", [a.res, genTypeInfo(p, n.typ)])
+        s = "nimCopy($1, $2)" % [a.res, genTypeInfo(p, n.typ)]
     of etyBaseIndex:
       if (a.typ != etyBaseIndex): internalError(n.info, "genVarInit")
       if {sfAddrTaken, sfGlobal} * v.flags != {}:
-        appf(p.body, "var $1 = [$2, $3];$n" | "local $1 = {$2, $3};$n",
+        addf(p.body, "var $1 = [$2, $3];$n" | "local $1 = {$2, $3};$n",
             [v.loc.r, a.address, a.res])
       else:
-        appf(p.body, "var $1 = $2; var $1_Idx = $3;$n" |
+        addf(p.body, "var $1 = $2; var $1_Idx = $3;$n" |
                      "local $1 = $2; local $1_Idx = $3;$n", [
              v.loc.r, a.address, a.res])
       return
     else:
       s = a.res
     if isIndirect(v):
-      appf(p.body, "var $1 = [$2];$n" | "local $1 = {$2};$n", [v.loc.r, s])
+      addf(p.body, "var $1 = [$2];$n" | "local $1 = {$2};$n", [v.loc.r, s])
     else:
-      appf(p.body, "var $1 = $2;$n" | "local $1 = $2;$n", [v.loc.r, s])
+      addf(p.body, "var $1 = $2;$n" | "local $1 = $2;$n", [v.loc.r, s])
 
 proc genVarStmt(p: PProc, n: PNode) =
   for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
@@ -1233,21 +1241,21 @@ proc genConstant(p: PProc, c: PSym) =
     p.body = nil
     #genLineDir(p, c.ast)
     genVarInit(p, c, c.ast)
-    app(p.g.code, p.body)
+    add(p.g.code, p.body)
     p.body = oldBody
 
 proc genNew(p: PProc, n: PNode) =
   var a: TCompRes
   gen(p, n.sons[1], a)
   var t = skipTypes(n.sons[1].typ, abstractVar).sons[0]
-  appf(p.body, "$1 = $2;$n", [a.res, createVar(p, t, true)])
+  addf(p.body, "$1 = $2;$n", [a.res, createVar(p, t, false)])
 
 proc genNewSeq(p: PProc, n: PNode) =
   var x, y: TCompRes
   gen(p, n.sons[1], x)
   gen(p, n.sons[2], y)
   let t = skipTypes(n.sons[1].typ, abstractVar).sons[0]
-  appf(p.body, "$1 = new Array($2); for (var i=0;i<$2;++i) {$1[i]=$3;}", [
+  addf(p.body, "$1 = new Array($2); for (var i=0;i<$2;++i) {$1[i]=$3;}", [
     x.rdLoc, y.rdLoc, createVar(p, t, false)])
 
 proc genOrd(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
@@ -1262,22 +1270,22 @@ proc genConStrStr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   gen(p, n.sons[1], a)
   r.kind = resExpr
   if skipTypes(n.sons[1].typ, abstractVarRange).kind == tyChar:
-    r.res.app(ropef("[$1].concat(", [a.res]))
+    r.res.add("[$1].concat(" % [a.res])
   else:
-    r.res.app(ropef("($1.slice(0,-1)).concat(", [a.res]))
+    r.res.add("($1.slice(0,-1)).concat(" % [a.res])
 
   for i in countup(2, sonsLen(n) - 2):
     gen(p, n.sons[i], a)
     if skipTypes(n.sons[i].typ, abstractVarRange).kind == tyChar:
-      r.res.app(ropef("[$1],", [a.res]))
+      r.res.add("[$1]," % [a.res])
     else:
-      r.res.app(ropef("$1.slice(0,-1),", [a.res]))
+      r.res.add("$1.slice(0,-1)," % [a.res])
 
   gen(p, n.sons[sonsLen(n) - 1], a)
   if skipTypes(n.sons[sonsLen(n) - 1].typ, abstractVarRange).kind == tyChar:
-    r.res.app(ropef("[$1, 0])", [a.res]))
+    r.res.add("[$1, 0])" % [a.res])
   else:
-    r.res.app(ropef("$1)", [a.res]))
+    r.res.add("$1)" % [a.res])
 
 proc genRepr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   var t = skipTypes(n.sons[1].typ, abstractVarRange)
@@ -1288,8 +1296,7 @@ proc genRepr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
     gen(p, n.sons[1], r)
     useMagic(p, "cstrToNimstr")
     r.kind = resExpr
-    r.res = ropef("cstrToNimstr($1.node.sons[$2].name)",
-                 [genTypeInfo(p, t), r.res])
+    r.res = "cstrToNimstr($1.node.sons[$2].name)" % [genTypeInfo(p, t), r.res]
   else:
     # XXX:
     internalError(n.info, "genRepr: Not implemented")
@@ -1299,23 +1306,23 @@ proc genOf(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   let t = skipTypes(n.sons[2].typ, abstractVarRange+{tyRef, tyPtr, tyTypeDesc})
   gen(p, n.sons[1], x)
   if tfFinal in t.flags:
-    r.res = ropef("($1.m_type == $2)", [x.res, genTypeInfo(p, t)])
+    r.res = "($1.m_type == $2)" % [x.res, genTypeInfo(p, t)]
   else:
     useMagic(p, "isObj")
-    r.res = ropef("isObj($1.m_type, $2)", [x.res, genTypeInfo(p, t)])
+    r.res = "isObj($1.m_type, $2)" % [x.res, genTypeInfo(p, t)]
   r.kind = resExpr
 
 proc genReset(p: PProc, n: PNode) =
   var x: TCompRes
   useMagic(p, "genericReset")
   gen(p, n.sons[1], x)
-  appf(p.body, "$1 = genericReset($1, $2);$n", [x.res,
+  addf(p.body, "$1 = genericReset($1, $2);$n", [x.res,
                 genTypeInfo(p, n.sons[1].typ)])
 
 proc genMagic(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   var
     a: TCompRes
-    line, filen: PRope
+    line, filen: Rope
   var op = n.sons[0].sym.magic
   case op
   of mOr: genOr(p, n.sons[1], n.sons[2], r)
@@ -1342,7 +1349,7 @@ proc genMagic(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   of mIsNil: unaryExpr(p, n, r, "", "$1 == null")
   of mEnumToStr: genRepr(p, n, r)
   of mNew, mNewFinalize: genNew(p, n)
-  of mSizeOf: r.res = toRope(getSize(n.sons[1].typ))
+  of mSizeOf: r.res = rope(getSize(n.sons[1].typ))
   of mChr, mArrToSeq: gen(p, n.sons[1], r)      # nothing to do
   of mOrd: genOrd(p, n, r)
   of mLengthStr: unaryExpr(p, n, r, "", "($1.length-1)")
@@ -1371,13 +1378,11 @@ proc genMagic(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   of mIncl: binaryExpr(p, n, r, "", "$1[$2] = true")
   of mExcl: binaryExpr(p, n, r, "", "delete $1[$2]")
   of mInSet: binaryExpr(p, n, r, "", "($1[$2] != undefined)")
-  of mNLen..mNError:
-    localError(n.info, errCannotGenerateCodeForX, n.sons[0].sym.name.s)
   of mNewSeq: genNewSeq(p, n)
   of mOf: genOf(p, n, r)
   of mReset: genReset(p, n)
   of mEcho: genEcho(p, n, r)
-  of mSlurp, mStaticExec:
+  of mNLen..mNError, mSlurp, mStaticExec:
     localError(n.info, errXMustBeCompileTime, n.sons[0].sym.name.s)
   of mCopyStr: binaryExpr(p, n, r, "", "($1.slice($2))")
   of mCopyStrLast: ternaryExpr(p, n, r, "", "($1.slice($2, ($3)+1).concat(0))")
@@ -1391,56 +1396,56 @@ proc genSetConstr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   var
     a, b: TCompRes
   useMagic(p, "SetConstr")
-  r.res = toRope("SetConstr(")
+  r.res = rope("SetConstr(")
   r.kind = resExpr
   for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
-    if i > 0: app(r.res, ", ")
+    if i > 0: add(r.res, ", ")
     var it = n.sons[i]
     if it.kind == nkRange:
       gen(p, it.sons[0], a)
       gen(p, it.sons[1], b)
-      appf(r.res, "[$1, $2]", [a.res, b.res])
+      addf(r.res, "[$1, $2]", [a.res, b.res])
     else:
       gen(p, it, a)
-      app(r.res, a.res)
-  app(r.res, ")")
+      add(r.res, a.res)
+  add(r.res, ")")
 
 proc genArrayConstr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   var a: TCompRes
-  r.res = toRope("[")
+  r.res = rope("[")
   r.kind = resExpr
   for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
-    if i > 0: app(r.res, ", ")
+    if i > 0: add(r.res, ", ")
     gen(p, n.sons[i], a)
-    app(r.res, a.res)
-  app(r.res, "]")
+    add(r.res, a.res)
+  add(r.res, "]")
 
 proc genTupleConstr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   var a: TCompRes
-  r.res = toRope("{")
+  r.res = rope("{")
   r.kind = resExpr
   for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
-    if i > 0: app(r.res, ", ")
+    if i > 0: add(r.res, ", ")
     var it = n.sons[i]
     if it.kind == nkExprColonExpr: it = it.sons[1]
     gen(p, it, a)
-    appf(r.res, "Field$#: $#" | "Field$# = $#", [i.toRope, a.res])
-  r.res.app("}")
+    addf(r.res, "Field$#: $#" | "Field$# = $#", [i.rope, a.res])
+  r.res.add("}")
 
 proc genObjConstr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   # XXX inheritance?
   var a: TCompRes
-  r.res = toRope("{")
+  r.res = rope("{")
   r.kind = resExpr
   for i in countup(1, sonsLen(n) - 1):
-    if i > 1: app(r.res, ", ")
+    if i > 1: add(r.res, ", ")
     var it = n.sons[i]
     internalAssert it.kind == nkExprColonExpr
     gen(p, it.sons[1], a)
     var f = it.sons[0].sym
     if f.loc.r == nil: f.loc.r = mangleName(f)
-    appf(r.res, "$#: $#" | "$# = $#" , [f.loc.r, a.res])
-  r.res.app("}")
+    addf(r.res, "$#: $#" | "$# = $#" , [f.loc.r, a.res])
+  r.res.add("}")
 
 proc genConv(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   var dest = skipTypes(n.typ, abstractVarRange)
@@ -1451,10 +1456,10 @@ proc genConv(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
     return
   case dest.kind:
   of tyBool:
-    r.res = ropef("(($1)? 1:0)" | "toBool($#)", [r.res])
+    r.res = ("(($1)? 1:0)" | "toBool($#)") % [r.res]
     r.kind = resExpr
   of tyInt:
-    r.res = ropef("($1|0)", [r.res])
+    r.res = "($1|0)" % [r.res]
   else:
     # TODO: What types must we handle here?
     discard
@@ -1469,7 +1474,7 @@ proc genRangeChck(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes, magic: string) =
     gen(p, n.sons[1], a)
     gen(p, n.sons[2], b)
     useMagic(p, "chckRange")
-    r.res = ropef("chckRange($1, $2, $3)", [r.res, a.res, b.res])
+    r.res = "chckRange($1, $2, $3)" % [r.res, a.res, b.res]
     r.kind = resExpr
 
 proc convStrToCStr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
@@ -1481,7 +1486,7 @@ proc convStrToCStr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
     gen(p, n.sons[0], r)
     if r.res == nil: internalError(n.info, "convStrToCStr")
     useMagic(p, "toJSStr")
-    r.res = ropef("toJSStr($1)", [r.res])
+    r.res = "toJSStr($1)" % [r.res]
     r.kind = resExpr
 
 proc convCStrToStr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
@@ -1493,7 +1498,7 @@ proc convCStrToStr(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
     gen(p, n.sons[0], r)
     if r.res == nil: internalError(n.info, "convCStrToStr")
     useMagic(p, "cstrToNimstr")
-    r.res = ropef("cstrToNimstr($1)", [r.res])
+    r.res = "cstrToNimstr($1)" % [r.res]
     r.kind = resExpr
 
 proc genReturnStmt(p: PProc, n: PNode) =
@@ -1503,32 +1508,32 @@ proc genReturnStmt(p: PProc, n: PNode) =
     genStmt(p, n.sons[0])
   else:
     genLineDir(p, n)
-  appf(p.body, "break BeforeRet;$n" | "goto ::BeforeRet::;$n")
+  addf(p.body, "break BeforeRet;$n" | "goto ::BeforeRet::;$n", [])
 
-proc genProcBody(p: PProc, prc: PSym): PRope =
+proc genProcBody(p: PProc, prc: PSym): Rope =
   if optStackTrace in prc.options:
-    result = ropef(("var F={procname:$1,prev:framePtr,filename:$2,line:0};$n" |
-                  "local F={procname=$#,prev=framePtr,filename=$#,line=0};$n") &
-                   "framePtr = F;$n", [
-                   makeJSString(prc.owner.name.s & '.' & prc.name.s),
-                   makeJSString(toFilename(prc.info))])
+    result = (("var F={procname:$1,prev:framePtr,filename:$2,line:0};$n" |
+               "local F={procname=$#,prev=framePtr,filename=$#,line=0};$n") &
+              "framePtr = F;$n") % [
+              makeJSString(prc.owner.name.s & '.' & prc.name.s),
+              makeJSString(toFilename(prc.info))]
   else:
     result = nil
   if p.beforeRetNeeded:
-    appf(result, "BeforeRet: do {$n$1} while (false); $n" |
+    addf(result, "BeforeRet: do {$n$1} while (false); $n" |
                  "$#;::BeforeRet::$n", [p.body])
   else:
-    app(result, p.body)
+    add(result, p.body)
   if prc.typ.callConv == ccSysCall and p.target == targetJS:
-    result = ropef("try {$n$1} catch (e) {$n" &
-        " alert(\"Unhandled exception:\\n\" + e.message + \"\\n\"$n}", [result])
+    result = ("try {$n$1} catch (e) {$n" &
+      " alert(\"Unhandled exception:\\n\" + e.message + \"\\n\"$n}") % [result]
   if optStackTrace in prc.options:
-    app(result, "framePtr = framePtr.prev;" & tnl)
+    add(result, "framePtr = framePtr.prev;" & tnl)
 
-proc genProc(oldProc: PProc, prc: PSym): PRope =
+proc genProc(oldProc: PProc, prc: PSym): Rope =
   var
     resultSym: PSym
-    name, returnStmt, resultAsgn, header: PRope
+    name, returnStmt, resultAsgn, header: Rope
     a: TCompRes
   #if gVerbosity >= 3:
   #  echo "BEGIN generating code for: " & prc.name.s
@@ -1541,23 +1546,23 @@ proc genProc(oldProc: PProc, prc: PSym): PRope =
   header = generateHeader(p, prc.typ)
   if prc.typ.sons[0] != nil and sfPure notin prc.flags:
     resultSym = prc.ast.sons[resultPos].sym
-    resultAsgn = ropef("var $# = $#;$n" | "local $# = $#;$n", [
+    resultAsgn = ("var $# = $#;$n" | "local $# = $#;$n") % [
         mangleName(resultSym),
-        createVar(p, resultSym.typ, isIndirect(resultSym))])
+        createVar(p, resultSym.typ, isIndirect(resultSym))]
     gen(p, prc.ast.sons[resultPos], a)
-    returnStmt = ropef("return $#;$n", [a.res])
+    returnStmt = "return $#;$n" % [a.res]
   genStmt(p, prc.getBody)
-  result = ropef("function $#($#) {$n$#$#$#$#}$n" |
-                 "function $#($#) $n$#$#$#$#$nend$n",
-                [name, header, p.locals, resultAsgn,
-                 genProcBody(p, prc), returnStmt])
+  result = ("function $#($#) {$n$#$#$#$#}$n" |
+            "function $#($#) $n$#$#$#$#$nend$n") %
+            [name, header, p.locals, resultAsgn,
+             genProcBody(p, prc), returnStmt]
   #if gVerbosity >= 3:
   #  echo "END   generated code for: " & prc.name.s
 
 proc genStmt(p: PProc, n: PNode) =
   var r: TCompRes
   gen(p, n, r)
-  if r.res != nil: appf(p.body, "$#;$n", r.res)
+  if r.res != nil: addf(p.body, "$#;$n", [r.res])
 
 proc gen(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   r.typ = etyNone
@@ -1568,34 +1573,34 @@ proc gen(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
   of nkSym:
     genSym(p, n, r)
   of nkCharLit..nkInt64Lit:
-    r.res = toRope(n.intVal)
+    r.res = rope(n.intVal)
     r.kind = resExpr
   of nkNilLit:
     if isEmptyType(n.typ):
       discard
     elif mapType(n.typ) == etyBaseIndex:
       r.typ = etyBaseIndex
-      r.address = toRope"null" | toRope"nil"
-      r.res = toRope"0"
+      r.address = rope"null" | rope"nil"
+      r.res = rope"0"
       r.kind = resExpr
     else:
-      r.res = toRope"null" | toRope"nil"
+      r.res = rope"null" | rope"nil"
       r.kind = resExpr
   of nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit:
     if skipTypes(n.typ, abstractVarRange).kind == tyString:
       useMagic(p, "cstrToNimstr")
-      r.res = ropef("cstrToNimstr($1)", [makeJSString(n.strVal)])
+      r.res = "cstrToNimstr($1)" % [makeJSString(n.strVal)]
     else:
       r.res = makeJSString(n.strVal)
     r.kind = resExpr
   of nkFloatLit..nkFloat64Lit:
     let f = n.floatVal
-    if f != f: r.res = toRope"NaN"
-    elif f == 0.0: r.res = toRope"0.0"
+    if f != f: r.res = rope"NaN"
+    elif f == 0.0: r.res = rope"0.0"
     elif f == 0.5 * f:
-      if f > 0.0: r.res = toRope"Infinity"
-      else: r.res = toRope"-Infinity"
-    else: r.res = toRope(f.toStrMaxPrecision)
+      if f > 0.0: r.res = rope"Infinity"
+      else: r.res = rope"-Infinity"
+    else: r.res = rope(f.toStrMaxPrecision)
     r.kind = resExpr
   of nkCallKinds:
     if (n.sons[0].kind == nkSym) and (n.sons[0].sym.magic != mNone):
@@ -1630,7 +1635,7 @@ proc gen(p: PProc, n: PNode, r: var TCompRes) =
     r.res = s.loc.r
     if lfNoDecl in s.loc.flags or s.magic != mNone: discard
     elif not p.g.generatedSyms.containsOrIncl(s.id):
-      app(p.locals, genProc(p, s))
+      add(p.locals, genProc(p, s))
   of nkType: r.res = genTypeInfo(p, n.typ)
   of nkStmtList, nkStmtListExpr:
     # this shows the distinction is nice for backends and should be kept
@@ -1681,23 +1686,23 @@ proc newModule(module: PSym): BModule =
   result.module = module
   if globals == nil: globals = newGlobals()
 
-proc genHeader(): PRope =
-  result = ropef("/* Generated by the Nim Compiler v$1 */$n" &
-                 "/*   (c) 2015 Andreas Rumpf */$n$n" &
-                 "var framePtr = null;$n" &
-                 "var excHandler = null;$n" &
-                 "var lastJSError = null;$n",
-                 [toRope(VersionAsString)])
+proc genHeader(): Rope =
+  result = ("/* Generated by the Nim Compiler v$1 */$n" &
+            "/*   (c) 2015 Andreas Rumpf */$n$n" &
+            "var framePtr = null;$n" &
+            "var excHandler = null;$n" &
+            "var lastJSError = null;$n") %
+           [rope(VersionAsString)]
 
 proc genModule(p: PProc, n: PNode) =
   if optStackTrace in p.options:
-    appf(p.body, "var F = {procname:$1,prev:framePtr,filename:$2,line:0};$n" &
+    addf(p.body, "var F = {procname:$1,prev:framePtr,filename:$2,line:0};$n" &
                  "framePtr = F;$n", [
         makeJSString("module " & p.module.module.name.s),
         makeJSString(toFilename(p.module.module.info))])
   genStmt(p, n)
   if optStackTrace in p.options:
-    appf(p.body, "framePtr = framePtr.prev;$n")
+    addf(p.body, "framePtr = framePtr.prev;$n", [])
 
 proc myProcess(b: PPassContext, n: PNode): PNode =
   if passes.skipCodegen(n): return n
@@ -1706,23 +1711,23 @@ proc myProcess(b: PPassContext, n: PNode): PNode =
   if m.module == nil: internalError(n.info, "myProcess")
   var p = newProc(globals, m, nil, m.module.options)
   genModule(p, n)
-  app(p.g.code, p.locals)
-  app(p.g.code, p.body)
+  add(p.g.code, p.locals)
+  add(p.g.code, p.body)
 
-proc wholeCode*(m: BModule): PRope =
+proc wholeCode*(m: BModule): Rope =
   for prc in globals.forwarded:
     if not globals.generatedSyms.containsOrIncl(prc.id):
       var p = newProc(globals, m, nil, m.module.options)
-      app(p.g.code, genProc(p, prc))
+      add(p.g.code, genProc(p, prc))
 
   var disp = generateMethodDispatchers()
   for i in 0..sonsLen(disp)-1:
     let prc = disp.sons[i].sym
     if not globals.generatedSyms.containsOrIncl(prc.id):
       var p = newProc(globals, m, nil, m.module.options)
-      app(p.g.code, genProc(p, prc))
+      add(p.g.code, genProc(p, prc))
 
-  result = con(globals.typeInfo, globals.code)
+  result = globals.typeInfo & globals.code
 
 proc myClose(b: PPassContext, n: PNode): PNode =
   if passes.skipCodegen(n): return n
@@ -1736,7 +1741,7 @@ proc myClose(b: PPassContext, n: PNode): PNode =
         else: getCurrentDir() / options.outFile
       else:
        changeFileExt(completeCFilePath(m.module.filename), "js")
-    discard writeRopeIfNotEqual(con(genHeader(), code), outfile)
+    discard writeRopeIfNotEqual(genHeader() & code, outfile)
 
 proc myOpenCached(s: PSym, rd: PRodReader): PPassContext =
   internalError("symbol files are not possible with the JS code generator")
diff --git a/compiler/jstypes.nim b/compiler/jstypes.nim
index 1288c854d..851938327 100644
--- a/compiler/jstypes.nim
+++ b/compiler/jstypes.nim
@@ -9,138 +9,138 @@
 
 ## Type info generation for the JS backend.
 
-proc genTypeInfo(p: PProc, typ: PType): PRope
-proc genObjectFields(p: PProc, typ: PType, n: PNode): PRope = 
-  var 
-    s, u: PRope
+proc genTypeInfo(p: PProc, typ: PType): Rope
+proc genObjectFields(p: PProc, typ: PType, n: PNode): Rope =
+  var
+    s, u: Rope
     length: int
     field: PSym
     b: PNode
   result = nil
   case n.kind
-  of nkRecList: 
+  of nkRecList:
     length = sonsLen(n)
-    if length == 1: 
+    if length == 1:
       result = genObjectFields(p, typ, n.sons[0])
-    else: 
+    else:
       s = nil
-      for i in countup(0, length - 1): 
-        if i > 0: app(s, ", " & tnl)
-        app(s, genObjectFields(p, typ, n.sons[i]))
-      result = ropef("{kind: 2, len: $1, offset: 0, " &
-          "typ: null, name: null, sons: [$2]}", [toRope(length), s])
-  of nkSym: 
+      for i in countup(0, length - 1):
+        if i > 0: add(s, ", " & tnl)
+        add(s, genObjectFields(p, typ, n.sons[i]))
+      result = ("{kind: 2, len: $1, offset: 0, " &
+          "typ: null, name: null, sons: [$2]}") % [rope(length), s]
+  of nkSym:
     field = n.sym
     s = genTypeInfo(p, field.typ)
-    result = ropef("{kind: 1, offset: \"$1\", len: 0, " &
-        "typ: $2, name: $3, sons: null}", 
-                   [mangleName(field), s, makeJSString(field.name.s)])
-  of nkRecCase: 
+    result = ("{kind: 1, offset: \"$1\", len: 0, " &
+        "typ: $2, name: $3, sons: null}") %
+                   [mangleName(field), s, makeJSString(field.name.s)]
+  of nkRecCase:
     length = sonsLen(n)
     if (n.sons[0].kind != nkSym): internalError(n.info, "genObjectFields")
     field = n.sons[0].sym
     s = genTypeInfo(p, field.typ)
-    for i in countup(1, length - 1): 
+    for i in countup(1, length - 1):
       b = n.sons[i]           # branch
       u = nil
       case b.kind
-      of nkOfBranch: 
-        if sonsLen(b) < 2: 
+      of nkOfBranch:
+        if sonsLen(b) < 2:
           internalError(b.info, "genObjectFields; nkOfBranch broken")
-        for j in countup(0, sonsLen(b) - 2): 
-          if u != nil: app(u, ", ")
-          if b.sons[j].kind == nkRange: 
-            appf(u, "[$1, $2]", [toRope(getOrdValue(b.sons[j].sons[0])), 
-                                 toRope(getOrdValue(b.sons[j].sons[1]))])
-          else: 
-            app(u, toRope(getOrdValue(b.sons[j])))
-      of nkElse: 
-        u = toRope(lengthOrd(field.typ))
+        for j in countup(0, sonsLen(b) - 2):
+          if u != nil: add(u, ", ")
+          if b.sons[j].kind == nkRange:
+            addf(u, "[$1, $2]", [rope(getOrdValue(b.sons[j].sons[0])),
+                                 rope(getOrdValue(b.sons[j].sons[1]))])
+          else:
+            add(u, rope(getOrdValue(b.sons[j])))
+      of nkElse:
+        u = rope(lengthOrd(field.typ))
       else: internalError(n.info, "genObjectFields(nkRecCase)")
-      if result != nil: app(result, ", " & tnl)
-      appf(result, "[SetConstr($1), $2]", 
+      if result != nil: add(result, ", " & tnl)
+      addf(result, "[SetConstr($1), $2]",
            [u, genObjectFields(p, typ, lastSon(b))])
-    result = ropef("{kind: 3, offset: \"$1\", len: $3, " &
-        "typ: $2, name: $4, sons: [$5]}", [mangleName(field), s, 
-        toRope(lengthOrd(field.typ)), makeJSString(field.name.s), result])
+    result = ("{kind: 3, offset: \"$1\", len: $3, " &
+        "typ: $2, name: $4, sons: [$5]}") % [mangleName(field), s,
+        rope(lengthOrd(field.typ)), makeJSString(field.name.s), result]
   else: internalError(n.info, "genObjectFields")
-  
-proc genObjectInfo(p: PProc, typ: PType, name: PRope) = 
-  var s = ropef("var $1 = {size: 0, kind: $2, base: null, node: null, " &
-                "finalizer: null};$n", [name, toRope(ord(typ.kind))])
+
+proc genObjectInfo(p: PProc, typ: PType, name: Rope) =
+  var s = ("var $1 = {size: 0, kind: $2, base: null, node: null, " &
+           "finalizer: null};$n") % [name, rope(ord(typ.kind))]
   prepend(p.g.typeInfo, s)
-  appf(p.g.typeInfo, "var NNI$1 = $2;$n", 
-       [toRope(typ.id), genObjectFields(p, typ, typ.n)])
-  appf(p.g.typeInfo, "$1.node = NNI$2;$n", [name, toRope(typ.id)])
-  if (typ.kind == tyObject) and (typ.sons[0] != nil): 
-    appf(p.g.typeInfo, "$1.base = $2;$n", 
+  addf(p.g.typeInfo, "var NNI$1 = $2;$n",
+       [rope(typ.id), genObjectFields(p, typ, typ.n)])
+  addf(p.g.typeInfo, "$1.node = NNI$2;$n", [name, rope(typ.id)])
+  if (typ.kind == tyObject) and (typ.sons[0] != nil):
+    addf(p.g.typeInfo, "$1.base = $2;$n",
          [name, genTypeInfo(p, typ.sons[0])])
 
-proc genTupleFields(p: PProc, typ: PType): PRope =
-  var s: PRope = nil
+proc genTupleFields(p: PProc, typ: PType): Rope =
+  var s: Rope = nil
   for i in 0 .. <typ.len:
-    if i > 0: app(s, ", " & tnl)
-    s.appf("{kind: 1, offset: \"Field$1\", len: 0, " &
+    if i > 0: add(s, ", " & tnl)
+    s.addf("{kind: 1, offset: \"Field$1\", len: 0, " &
            "typ: $2, name: \"Field$1\", sons: null}",
-           [i.toRope, genTypeInfo(p, typ.sons[i])])
-  result = ropef("{kind: 2, len: $1, offset: 0, " &
-                 "typ: null, name: null, sons: [$2]}", [toRope(typ.len), s])
+           [i.rope, genTypeInfo(p, typ.sons[i])])
+  result = ("{kind: 2, len: $1, offset: 0, " &
+            "typ: null, name: null, sons: [$2]}") % [rope(typ.len), s]
 
-proc genTupleInfo(p: PProc, typ: PType, name: PRope) = 
-  var s = ropef("var $1 = {size: 0, kind: $2, base: null, node: null, " &
-                "finalizer: null};$n", [name, toRope(ord(typ.kind))])
+proc genTupleInfo(p: PProc, typ: PType, name: Rope) =
+  var s = ("var $1 = {size: 0, kind: $2, base: null, node: null, " &
+           "finalizer: null};$n") % [name, rope(ord(typ.kind))]
   prepend(p.g.typeInfo, s)
-  appf(p.g.typeInfo, "var NNI$1 = $2;$n", 
-       [toRope(typ.id), genTupleFields(p, typ)])
-  appf(p.g.typeInfo, "$1.node = NNI$2;$n", [name, toRope(typ.id)])
+  addf(p.g.typeInfo, "var NNI$1 = $2;$n",
+       [rope(typ.id), genTupleFields(p, typ)])
+  addf(p.g.typeInfo, "$1.node = NNI$2;$n", [name, rope(typ.id)])
 
-proc genEnumInfo(p: PProc, typ: PType, name: PRope) =
+proc genEnumInfo(p: PProc, typ: PType, name: Rope) =
   let length = sonsLen(typ.n)
-  var s: PRope = nil
-  for i in countup(0, length - 1): 
+  var s: Rope = nil
+  for i in countup(0, length - 1):
     if (typ.n.sons[i].kind != nkSym): internalError(typ.n.info, "genEnumInfo")
     let field = typ.n.sons[i].sym
-    if i > 0: app(s, ", " & tnl)
+    if i > 0: add(s, ", " & tnl)
     let extName = if field.ast == nil: field.name.s else: field.ast.strVal
-    appf(s, "{kind: 1, offset: $1, typ: $2, name: $3, len: 0, sons: null}", 
-         [toRope(field.position), name, makeJSString(extName)])
-  var n = ropef("var NNI$1 = {kind: 2, offset: 0, typ: null, " &
-      "name: null, len: $2, sons: [$3]};$n", [toRope(typ.id), toRope(length), s])
-  s = ropef("var $1 = {size: 0, kind: $2, base: null, node: null, " &
-      "finalizer: null};$n", [name, toRope(ord(typ.kind))])
+    addf(s, "{kind: 1, offset: $1, typ: $2, name: $3, len: 0, sons: null}",
+         [rope(field.position), name, makeJSString(extName)])
+  var n = ("var NNI$1 = {kind: 2, offset: 0, typ: null, " &
+      "name: null, len: $2, sons: [$3]};$n") % [rope(typ.id), rope(length), s]
+  s = ("var $1 = {size: 0, kind: $2, base: null, node: null, " &
+       "finalizer: null};$n") % [name, rope(ord(typ.kind))]
   prepend(p.g.typeInfo, s)
-  app(p.g.typeInfo, n)
-  appf(p.g.typeInfo, "$1.node = NNI$2;$n", [name, toRope(typ.id)])
+  add(p.g.typeInfo, n)
+  addf(p.g.typeInfo, "$1.node = NNI$2;$n", [name, rope(typ.id)])
   if typ.sons[0] != nil:
-    appf(p.g.typeInfo, "$1.base = $2;$n", 
+    addf(p.g.typeInfo, "$1.base = $2;$n",
          [name, genTypeInfo(p, typ.sons[0])])
 
-proc genTypeInfo(p: PProc, typ: PType): PRope = 
+proc genTypeInfo(p: PProc, typ: PType): Rope =
   var t = typ
   if t.kind == tyGenericInst: t = lastSon(t)
-  result = ropef("NTI$1", [toRope(t.id)])
-  if containsOrIncl(p.g.typeInfoGenerated, t.id): return 
+  result = "NTI$1" % [rope(t.id)]
+  if containsOrIncl(p.g.typeInfoGenerated, t.id): return
   case t.kind
-  of tyDistinct: 
+  of tyDistinct:
     result = genTypeInfo(p, typ.sons[0])
   of tyPointer, tyProc, tyBool, tyChar, tyCString, tyString, tyInt..tyUInt64:
-    var s = ropef(
-      "var $1 = {size: 0,kind: $2,base: null,node: null,finalizer: null};$n", 
-              [result, toRope(ord(t.kind))])
+    var s =
+      "var $1 = {size: 0,kind: $2,base: null,node: null,finalizer: null};$n" %
+      [result, rope(ord(t.kind))]
     prepend(p.g.typeInfo, s)
-  of tyVar, tyRef, tyPtr, tySequence, tyRange, tySet: 
-    var s = ropef(
-      "var $1 = {size: 0,kind: $2,base: null,node: null,finalizer: null};$n", 
-              [result, toRope(ord(t.kind))])
+  of tyVar, tyRef, tyPtr, tySequence, tyRange, tySet:
+    var s =
+      "var $1 = {size: 0,kind: $2,base: null,node: null,finalizer: null};$n" %
+              [result, rope(ord(t.kind))]
     prepend(p.g.typeInfo, s)
-    appf(p.g.typeInfo, "$1.base = $2;$n", 
+    addf(p.g.typeInfo, "$1.base = $2;$n",
          [result, genTypeInfo(p, typ.lastSon)])
-  of tyArrayConstr, tyArray: 
-    var s = ropef(
-      "var $1 = {size: 0,kind: $2,base: null,node: null,finalizer: null};$n",
-              [result, toRope(ord(t.kind))])
+  of tyArrayConstr, tyArray:
+    var s =
+      "var $1 = {size: 0,kind: $2,base: null,node: null,finalizer: null};$n" %
+              [result, rope(ord(t.kind))]
     prepend(p.g.typeInfo, s)
-    appf(p.g.typeInfo, "$1.base = $2;$n", 
+    addf(p.g.typeInfo, "$1.base = $2;$n",
          [result, genTypeInfo(p, typ.sons[1])])
   of tyEnum: genEnumInfo(p, t, result)
   of tyObject: genObjectInfo(p, t, result)
diff --git a/compiler/lambdalifting.nim b/compiler/lambdalifting.nim
index 123445e1f..c68bc352c 100644
--- a/compiler/lambdalifting.nim
+++ b/compiler/lambdalifting.nim
@@ -9,92 +9,92 @@
 
 # This include file implements lambda lifting for the transformator.
 
-import 
-  intsets, strutils, lists, options, ast, astalgo, trees, treetab, msgs, os, 
+import
+  intsets, strutils, lists, options, ast, astalgo, trees, treetab, msgs, os,
   idents, renderer, types, magicsys, rodread, lowerings
 
 discard """
   The basic approach is that captured vars need to be put on the heap and
   that the calling chain needs to be explicitly modelled. Things to consider:
-  
+
   proc a =
     var v = 0
     proc b =
       var w = 2
-      
+
       for x in 0..3:
         proc c = capture v, w, x
         c()
     b()
-    
+
     for x in 0..4:
       proc d = capture x
       d()
-  
+
   Needs to be translated into:
-    
+
   proc a =
     var cl: *
     new cl
     cl.v = 0
-    
+
     proc b(cl) =
       var bcl: *
       new bcl
       bcl.w = 2
       bcl.up = cl
-      
+
       for x in 0..3:
         var bcl2: *
         new bcl2
         bcl2.up = bcl
         bcl2.up2 = cl
         bcl2.x = x
-      
+
         proc c(cl) = capture cl.up2.v, cl.up.w, cl.x
         c(bcl2)
-      
+
       c(bcl)
-    
+
     b(cl)
-    
+
     for x in 0..4:
       var acl2: *
       new acl2
       acl2.x = x
       proc d(cl) = capture cl.x
       d(acl2)
-    
+
   Closures as interfaces:
-  
+
   proc outer: T =
     var captureMe: TObject # value type required for efficiency
     proc getter(): int = result = captureMe.x
     proc setter(x: int) = captureMe.x = x
-    
+
     result = (getter, setter)
-    
+
   Is translated to:
-  
+
   proc outer: T =
     var cl: *
     new cl
-    
+
     proc getter(cl): int = result = cl.captureMe.x
     proc setter(cl: *, x: int) = cl.captureMe.x = x
-    
+
     result = ((cl, getter), (cl, setter))
-    
-    
+
+
   For 'byref' capture, the outer proc needs to access the captured var through
   the indirection too. For 'bycopy' capture, the outer proc accesses the var
   not through the indirection.
-    
-  Possible optimizations: 
-  
+
+  Possible optimizations:
+
   1) If the closure contains a single 'ref' and this
   reference is not re-assigned (check ``sfAddrTaken`` flag) make this the
-  closure. This is an important optimization if closures are used as 
+  closure. This is an important optimization if closures are used as
   interfaces.
   2) If the closure does not escape, put it onto the stack, not on the heap.
   3) Dataflow analysis would help to eliminate the 'up' indirections.
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ type
     fn, closureParam, state, resultSym: PSym # most are only valid if
                                              # fn.kind == skClosureIterator
     obj: PType
-    
+
   PEnv = ref TEnv
   TEnv {.final.} = object of RootObj
     attachedNode, replacementNode: PNode
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ type
                             # if up.fn != fn then we cross function boundaries.
                             # This is an important case to consider.
     vars: IntSet           # variables belonging to this environment
-    
+
   TOuterContext = object
     fn: PSym # may also be a module!
     head: PEnv
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ proc addClosureParam(fn: PSym; e: PEnv) =
     #assert e.obj.kind == tyObject
 
 proc illegalCapture(s: PSym): bool {.inline.} =
-  result = skipTypes(s.typ, abstractInst).kind in 
+  result = skipTypes(s.typ, abstractInst).kind in
                    {tyVar, tyOpenArray, tyVarargs} or
       s.kind == skResult
 
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ proc createUpField(obj, fieldType: PType): PSym =
   #rawAddField(obj, result)
   addField(obj, result)
 
-proc captureVar(o: POuterContext; top: PEnv; local: PSym; 
+proc captureVar(o: POuterContext; top: PEnv; local: PSym;
                 info: TLineInfo): bool =
   # first check if we should be concerned at all:
   var it = top
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ proc gatherVars(o: POuterContext; e: PEnv; n: PNode): int =
     var s = n.sym
     if interestingVar(s) and e.fn != s.owner:
       if captureVar(o, e, s, n.info): result = 1
-  of nkEmpty..pred(nkSym), succ(nkSym)..nkNilLit, nkClosure, nkProcDef, 
+  of nkEmpty..pred(nkSym), succ(nkSym)..nkNilLit, nkClosure, nkProcDef,
      nkMethodDef, nkConverterDef, nkMacroDef, nkTemplateDef, nkTypeSection:
     discard
   else:
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ proc gatherVars(o: POuterContext; e: PEnv; n: PNode): int =
 proc generateThunk(prc: PNode, dest: PType): PNode =
   ## Converts 'prc' into '(thunk, nil)' so that it's compatible with
   ## a closure.
-  
+
   # we cannot generate a proper thunk here for GC-safety reasons (see internal
   # documentation):
   if gCmd == cmdCompileToJS: return prc
@@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ proc closureCreationPoint(n: PNode): PNode =
 
 proc addParamsToEnv(fn: PSym; env: PEnv) =
   let params = fn.typ.n
-  for i in 1.. <params.len: 
+  for i in 1.. <params.len:
     if params.sons[i].kind != nkSym:
       internalError(params.info, "liftLambdas: strange params")
     let param = params.sons[i].sym
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ proc searchForInnerProcs(o: POuterContext, n: PNode, env: PEnv) =
       addParamsToEnv(fn, envB)
       searchForInnerProcs(o, body, envB)
       fn.ast.sons[bodyPos] = ex
-      
+
       let capturedCounter = gatherVars(o, envB, body)
       # dummy closure param needed?
       if capturedCounter == 0 and fn.typ.callConv == ccClosure:
@@ -560,7 +560,7 @@ proc searchForInnerProcs(o: POuterContext, n: PNode, env: PEnv) =
   of nkWhileStmt, nkForStmt, nkParForStmt, nkBlockStmt:
     # some nodes open a new scope, so they are candidates for the insertion
     # of closure creation; however for simplicity we merge closures between
-    # branches, in fact, only loop bodies are of interest here as only they 
+    # branches, in fact, only loop bodies are of interest here as only they
     # yield observable changes in semantics. For Zahary we also
     # include ``nkBlock``. We don't do this for closure iterators because
     # 'yield' can produce wrong code otherwise (XXX show example):
@@ -598,7 +598,7 @@ proc searchForInnerProcs(o: POuterContext, n: PNode, env: PEnv) =
         internalError(it.info, "searchForInnerProcs")
   of nkClosure:
     searchForInnerProcs(o, n.sons[0], env)
-  of nkProcDef, nkMethodDef, nkConverterDef, nkMacroDef, nkTemplateDef, 
+  of nkProcDef, nkMethodDef, nkConverterDef, nkMacroDef, nkTemplateDef,
      nkTypeSection:
     # don't recurse here:
     discard
@@ -606,7 +606,7 @@ proc searchForInnerProcs(o: POuterContext, n: PNode, env: PEnv) =
     for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
       searchForInnerProcs(o, n.sons[i], env)
 
-proc newAsgnStmt(le, ri: PNode, info: TLineInfo): PNode = 
+proc newAsgnStmt(le, ri: PNode, info: TLineInfo): PNode =
   # Bugfix: unfortunately we cannot use 'nkFastAsgn' here as that would
   # mean to be able to capture string literals which have no GC header.
   # However this can only happen if the capture happens through a parameter,
@@ -624,7 +624,7 @@ proc rawClosureCreation(o: POuterContext, scope: PEnv; env: PNode): PNode =
     result.add(v)
   # add 'new' statement:
   result.add(newCall(getSysSym"internalNew", env))
-  
+
   # add assignment statements:
   for local in scope.capturedVars:
     let fieldAccess = indirectAccess(env, local, env.info)
@@ -696,10 +696,10 @@ proc transformYield(c: POuterContext, n: PNode, it: TIter): PNode =
     retStmt.add(a)
   else:
     retStmt.add(emptyNode)
-  
+
   var stateLabelStmt = newNodeI(nkState, n.info)
   stateLabelStmt.add(newIntTypeNode(nkIntLit, stateNo, getSysType(tyInt)))
-  
+
   result = newNodeI(nkStmtList, n.info)
   result.add(stateAsgnStmt)
   result.add(retStmt)
@@ -725,7 +725,7 @@ proc liftIterSym(n: PNode; owner: PSym): PNode =
   assert iter.kind == skClosureIterator
 
   result = newNodeIT(nkStmtListExpr, n.info, n.typ)
-  
+
   let hp = getHiddenParam(iter)
   let env = newSym(skLet, iter.name, owner, n.info)
   env.typ = hp.typ
@@ -800,7 +800,7 @@ proc transformOuterProcBody(o: POuterContext, n: PNode; it: TIter): PNode =
     # with some rather primitive check for now:
     if n.kind == nkStmtList and n.len > 0:
       if n.sons[0].kind == nkGotoState: return nil
-      if n.len > 1 and n[1].kind == nkStmtList and n[1].len > 0 and 
+      if n.len > 1 and n[1].kind == nkStmtList and n[1].len > 0 and
           n[1][0].kind == nkGotoState:
         return nil
     result = newNodeI(nkStmtList, it.fn.info)
@@ -812,7 +812,7 @@ proc transformOuterProcBody(o: POuterContext, n: PNode; it: TIter): PNode =
     var state0 = newNodeI(nkState, it.fn.info)
     state0.add(newIntNode(nkIntLit, 0))
     result.add(state0)
-    
+
     let newBody = transformOuterProc(o, n, it)
     if newBody != nil:
       result.add(newBody)
@@ -899,7 +899,7 @@ proc transformOuterProc(o: POuterContext, n: PNode; it: TIter): PNode =
         let x = closure.createdVar
         assert x != nil
         return makeClosure(local, x, n.info)
-    
+
     if not contains(o.capturedVars, local.id): return
     # change 'local' to 'closure.local', unless it's a 'byCopy' variable:
     # if sfByCopy notin local.flags:
@@ -946,7 +946,7 @@ proc transformOuterProc(o: POuterContext, n: PNode; it: TIter): PNode =
 proc liftLambdas*(fn: PSym, body: PNode): PNode =
   # XXX gCmd == cmdCompileToJS does not suffice! The compiletime stuff needs
   # the transformation even when compiling to JS ...
-  if body.kind == nkEmpty or gCmd == cmdCompileToJS or 
+  if body.kind == nkEmpty or gCmd == cmdCompileToJS or
       fn.skipGenericOwner.kind != skModule:
     # ignore forward declaration:
     result = body
@@ -985,17 +985,17 @@ proc liftLambdasForTopLevel*(module: PSym, body: PNode): PNode =
 
 proc liftForLoop*(body: PNode): PNode =
   # problem ahead: the iterator could be invoked indirectly, but then
-  # we don't know what environment to create here: 
-  # 
+  # we don't know what environment to create here:
+  #
   # iterator count(): int =
   #   yield 0
-  # 
+  #
   # iterator count2(): int =
   #   var x = 3
   #   yield x
   #   inc x
   #   yield x
-  # 
+  #
   # proc invoke(iter: iterator(): int) =
   #   for x in iter(): echo x
   #
@@ -1004,7 +1004,7 @@ proc liftForLoop*(body: PNode): PNode =
       for i in foo(): ...
 
     Is transformed to:
-      
+
       cl = createClosure()
       while true:
         let i = foo(cl)
@@ -1016,7 +1016,7 @@ proc liftForLoop*(body: PNode): PNode =
   var call = body[L-2]
 
   result = newNodeI(nkStmtList, body.info)
-  
+
   # static binding?
   var env: PSym
   if call[0].kind == nkSym and call[0].sym.kind == skClosureIterator:
@@ -1030,18 +1030,18 @@ proc liftForLoop*(body: PNode): PNode =
     result.add(v)
     # add 'new' statement:
     result.add(newCall(getSysSym"internalNew", env.newSymNode))
-  
+
   var loopBody = newNodeI(nkStmtList, body.info, 3)
   var whileLoop = newNodeI(nkWhileStmt, body.info, 2)
   whileLoop.sons[0] = newIntTypeNode(nkIntLit, 1, getSysType(tyBool))
   whileLoop.sons[1] = loopBody
   result.add whileLoop
-  
+
   # setup loopBody:
   # gather vars in a tuple:
   var v2 = newNodeI(nkLetSection, body.info)
   var vpart = newNodeI(if L == 3: nkIdentDefs else: nkVarTuple, body.info)
-  for i in 0 .. L-3: 
+  for i in 0 .. L-3:
     assert body[i].kind == nkSym
     body[i].sym.kind = skLet
     addSon(vpart, body[i])
diff --git a/compiler/lexer.nim b/compiler/lexer.nim
index 78266ef4d..694d6f4d7 100644
--- a/compiler/lexer.nim
+++ b/compiler/lexer.nim
@@ -131,24 +131,10 @@ type
 
 var gLinesCompiled*: int  # all lines that have been compiled
 
-proc isKeyword*(kind: TTokType): bool
-proc openLexer*(lex: var TLexer, fileidx: int32, inputstream: PLLStream)
-proc rawGetTok*(L: var TLexer, tok: var TToken)
-  # reads in the next token into tok and skips it
-
 proc getLineInfo*(L: TLexer, tok: TToken): TLineInfo {.inline.} =
   newLineInfo(L.fileIdx, tok.line, tok.col)
 
-proc closeLexer*(lex: var TLexer)
-proc printTok*(tok: TToken)
-proc tokToStr*(tok: TToken): string
-
-proc openLexer*(lex: var TLexer, filename: string, inputstream: PLLStream) =
-  openLexer(lex, filename.fileInfoIdx, inputstream)
-
-proc lexMessage*(L: TLexer, msg: TMsgKind, arg = "")
-
-proc isKeyword(kind: TTokType): bool =
+proc isKeyword*(kind: TTokType): bool =
   result = (kind >= tokKeywordLow) and (kind <= tokKeywordHigh)
 
 proc isNimIdentifier*(s: string): bool =
@@ -206,14 +192,17 @@ proc fillToken(L: var TToken) =
   L.base = base10
   L.ident = dummyIdent
 
-proc openLexer(lex: var TLexer, fileIdx: int32, inputstream: PLLStream) =
+proc openLexer*(lex: var TLexer, fileIdx: int32, inputstream: PLLStream) =
   openBaseLexer(lex, inputstream)
   lex.fileIdx = fileidx
   lex.indentAhead = - 1
   lex.currLineIndent = 0
   inc(lex.lineNumber, inputstream.lineOffset)
 
-proc closeLexer(lex: var TLexer) =
+proc openLexer*(lex: var TLexer, filename: string, inputstream: PLLStream) =
+  openLexer(lex, filename.fileInfoIdx, inputstream)
+
+proc closeLexer*(lex: var TLexer) =
   inc(gLinesCompiled, lex.lineNumber)
   closeBaseLexer(lex)
 
@@ -229,7 +218,7 @@ proc dispMessage(L: TLexer; info: TLineInfo; msg: TMsgKind; arg: string) =
   else:
     L.errorHandler(info, msg, arg)
 
-proc lexMessage(L: TLexer, msg: TMsgKind, arg = "") =
+proc lexMessage*(L: TLexer, msg: TMsgKind, arg = "") =
   L.dispMessage(getLineInfo(L), msg, arg)
 
 proc lexMessagePos(L: var TLexer, msg: TMsgKind, pos: int, arg = "") =
@@ -785,7 +774,7 @@ proc skip(L: var TLexer, tok: var TToken) =
       break                   # EndOfFile also leaves the loop
   L.bufpos = pos
 
-proc rawGetTok(L: var TLexer, tok: var TToken) =
+proc rawGetTok*(L: var TLexer, tok: var TToken) =
   fillToken(tok)
   if L.indentAhead >= 0:
     tok.indent = L.indentAhead
diff --git a/compiler/lowerings.nim b/compiler/lowerings.nim
index a51ca9ed6..0b4f97ead 100644
--- a/compiler/lowerings.nim
+++ b/compiler/lowerings.nim
@@ -382,11 +382,11 @@ proc getRoot*(n: PNode): PSym =
     if getMagic(n) == mSlice: result = getRoot(n.sons[1])
   else: discard
 
-proc newIntLit(value: BiggestInt): PNode =
+proc newIntLit*(value: BiggestInt): PNode =
   result = nkIntLit.newIntNode(value)
   result.typ = getSysType(tyInt)
 
-proc genHigh(n: PNode): PNode =
+proc genHigh*(n: PNode): PNode =
   if skipTypes(n.typ, abstractVar).kind in {tyArrayConstr, tyArray}:
     result = newIntLit(lastOrd(skipTypes(n.typ, abstractVar)))
   else:
diff --git a/compiler/main.nim b/compiler/main.nim
index 363327e40..0c80c19b7 100644
--- a/compiler/main.nim
+++ b/compiler/main.nim
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ proc commandDoc2 =
   finishDoc2Pass(gProjectName)
 
 proc commandCompileToC =
+  extccomp.initVars()
   semanticPasses()
   registerPass(cgenPass)
   rodPass()
diff --git a/compiler/msgs.nim b/compiler/msgs.nim
index 22ef9dc30..778b839f3 100644
--- a/compiler/msgs.nim
+++ b/compiler/msgs.nim
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ const
     warnProveField: "cannot prove that field '$1' is accessible [ProveField]",
     warnProveIndex: "cannot prove index '$1' is valid [ProveIndex]",
     warnGcUnsafe: "not GC-safe: '$1' [GcUnsafe]",
-    warnGcUnsafe2: "cannot prove '$1' is GC-safe. Does not compile with --threads:on.",
+    warnGcUnsafe2: "$1",
     warnUninit: "'$1' might not have been initialized [Uninit]",
     warnGcMem: "'$1' uses GC'ed memory [GcMem]",
     warnDestructor: "usage of a type with a destructor in a non destructible context. This will become a compile time error in the future. [Destructor]",
@@ -449,10 +449,10 @@ type
     fullPath: string           # This is a canonical full filesystem path
     projPath*: string          # This is relative to the project's root
     shortName*: string         # short name of the module
-    quotedName*: PRope         # cached quoted short name for codegen
+    quotedName*: Rope         # cached quoted short name for codegen
                                # purposes
 
-    lines*: seq[PRope]         # the source code of the module
+    lines*: seq[Rope]         # the source code of the module
                                #   used for better error messages and
                                #   embedding the original source in the
                                #   generated code
@@ -493,24 +493,20 @@ proc toCChar*(c: char): string =
   of '\'', '\"', '\\': result = '\\' & c
   else: result = $(c)
 
-proc makeCString*(s: string): PRope =
-  # BUGFIX: We have to split long strings into many ropes. Otherwise
-  # this could trigger an internalError(). See the ropes module for
-  # further information.
+proc makeCString*(s: string): Rope =
   const
     MaxLineLength = 64
   result = nil
-  var res = "\""
+  var res = newStringOfCap(int(s.len.toFloat * 1.1) + 1)
+  add(res, "\"")
   for i in countup(0, len(s) - 1):
     if (i + 1) mod MaxLineLength == 0:
       add(res, '\"')
       add(res, tnl)
-      app(result, toRope(res)) # reset:
-      setLen(res, 1)
-      res[0] = '\"'
+      add(res, '\"')
     add(res, toCChar(s[i]))
   add(res, '\"')
-  app(result, toRope(res))
+  add(result, rope(res))
 
 
 proc newFileInfo(fullPath, projPath: string): TFileInfo =
@@ -568,7 +564,7 @@ var gCodegenLineInfo* = newLineInfo(int32(1), 1, 1)
 proc raiseRecoverableError*(msg: string) {.noinline, noreturn.} =
   raise newException(ERecoverableError, msg)
 
-proc sourceLine*(i: TLineInfo): PRope
+proc sourceLine*(i: TLineInfo): Rope
 
 var
   gNotes*: TNoteKinds = {low(TNoteKind)..high(TNoteKind)} -
@@ -776,7 +772,7 @@ proc rawMessage*(msg: TMsgKind, arg: string) =
 
 proc writeSurroundingSrc(info: TLineInfo) =
   const indent = "  "
-  msgWriteln(indent & info.sourceLine.ropeToStr)
+  msgWriteln(indent & $info.sourceLine)
   msgWriteln(indent & spaces(info.col) & '^')
 
 proc formatMsg*(info: TLineInfo, msg: TMsgKind, arg: string): string =
@@ -831,6 +827,9 @@ proc localError*(info: TLineInfo, msg: TMsgKind, arg = "") =
 proc localError*(info: TLineInfo, arg: string) =
   liMessage(info, errGenerated, arg, doNothing)
 
+proc localError*(info: TLineInfo, format: string, params: openarray[string]) =
+  localError(info, format % params)
+
 proc message*(info: TLineInfo, msg: TMsgKind, arg = "") =
   liMessage(info, msg, arg, doNothing)
 
@@ -852,9 +851,9 @@ template internalAssert*(e: bool): stmt =
   if not e: internalError($instantiationInfo())
 
 proc addSourceLine*(fileIdx: int32, line: string) =
-  fileInfos[fileIdx].lines.add line.toRope
+  fileInfos[fileIdx].lines.add line.rope
 
-proc sourceLine*(i: TLineInfo): PRope =
+proc sourceLine*(i: TLineInfo): Rope =
   if i.fileIndex < 0: return nil
 
   if not optPreserveOrigSource and fileInfos[i.fileIndex].lines.len == 0:
@@ -869,16 +868,14 @@ proc sourceLine*(i: TLineInfo): PRope =
 
   result = fileInfos[i.fileIndex].lines[i.line-1]
 
-proc quotedFilename*(i: TLineInfo): PRope =
+proc quotedFilename*(i: TLineInfo): Rope =
   internalAssert i.fileIndex >= 0
   result = fileInfos[i.fileIndex].quotedName
 
-ropes.errorHandler = proc (err: TRopesError, msg: string, useWarning: bool) =
+ropes.errorHandler = proc (err: RopesError, msg: string, useWarning: bool) =
   case err
   of rInvalidFormatStr:
     internalError("ropes: invalid format string: " & msg)
-  of rTokenTooLong:
-    internalError("ropes: token too long: " & msg)
   of rCannotOpenFile:
     rawMessage(if useWarning: warnCannotOpenFile else: errCannotOpenFile, msg)
 
diff --git a/compiler/options.nim b/compiler/options.nim
index 1b4a624ab..65250f519 100644
--- a/compiler/options.nim
+++ b/compiler/options.nim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 import
   os, lists, strutils, strtabs, osproc, sets
-  
+
 const
   hasTinyCBackend* = defined(tinyc)
   useEffectSystem* = true
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@ const
 type                          # please make sure we have under 32 options
                               # (improves code efficiency a lot!)
   TOption* = enum             # **keep binary compatible**
-    optNone, optObjCheck, optFieldCheck, optRangeCheck, optBoundsCheck, 
+    optNone, optObjCheck, optFieldCheck, optRangeCheck, optBoundsCheck,
     optOverflowCheck, optNilCheck,
     optNaNCheck, optInfCheck,
-    optAssert, optLineDir, optWarns, optHints, 
+    optAssert, optLineDir, optWarns, optHints,
     optOptimizeSpeed, optOptimizeSize, optStackTrace, # stack tracing support
     optLineTrace,             # line tracing support (includes stack tracing)
     optEndb,                  # embedded debugger
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ type                          # please make sure we have under 32 options
 
   TOptions* = set[TOption]
   TGlobalOption* = enum       # **keep binary compatible**
-    gloptNone, optForceFullMake, optDeadCodeElim, 
-    optListCmd, optCompileOnly, optNoLinking, 
+    gloptNone, optForceFullMake, optDeadCodeElim,
+    optListCmd, optCompileOnly, optNoLinking,
     optSafeCode,              # only allow safe code
     optCDebug,                # turn on debugging information
     optGenDynLib,             # generate a dynamic library
@@ -67,9 +67,9 @@ type                          # please make sure we have under 32 options
   TGlobalOptions* = set[TGlobalOption]
   TCommands* = enum           # Nim's commands
                               # **keep binary compatible**
-    cmdNone, cmdCompileToC, cmdCompileToCpp, cmdCompileToOC, 
-    cmdCompileToJS, cmdCompileToLLVM, cmdInterpret, cmdPretty, cmdDoc, 
-    cmdGenDepend, cmdDump, 
+    cmdNone, cmdCompileToC, cmdCompileToCpp, cmdCompileToOC,
+    cmdCompileToJS, cmdCompileToLLVM, cmdInterpret, cmdPretty, cmdDoc,
+    cmdGenDepend, cmdDump,
     cmdCheck,                 # semantic checking for whole project
     cmdParse,                 # parse a single file (for debugging)
     cmdScan,                  # scan a single file (for debugging)
@@ -90,12 +90,12 @@ var
   gIdeCmd*: TIdeCmd
 
 const
-  ChecksOptions* = {optObjCheck, optFieldCheck, optRangeCheck, optNilCheck, 
+  ChecksOptions* = {optObjCheck, optFieldCheck, optRangeCheck, optNilCheck,
     optOverflowCheck, optBoundsCheck, optAssert, optNaNCheck, optInfCheck}
 
-var 
-  gOptions*: TOptions = {optObjCheck, optFieldCheck, optRangeCheck, 
-                         optBoundsCheck, optOverflowCheck, optAssert, optWarns, 
+var
+  gOptions*: TOptions = {optObjCheck, optFieldCheck, optRangeCheck,
+                         optBoundsCheck, optOverflowCheck, optAssert, optWarns,
                          optHints, optStackTrace, optLineTrace,
                          optPatterns, optNilCheck}
   gGlobalOptions*: TGlobalOptions = {optThreadAnalysis}
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ template optPreserveOrigSource*: expr =
 template optPrintSurroundingSrc*: expr =
   gVerbosity >= 2
 
-const 
+const
   genSubDir* = "nimcache"
   NimExt* = "nim"
   RodExt* = "rod"
@@ -168,20 +168,20 @@ proc mainCommandArg*: string =
   else:
     result = gProjectName
 
-proc existsConfigVar*(key: string): bool = 
+proc existsConfigVar*(key: string): bool =
   result = hasKey(gConfigVars, key)
 
-proc getConfigVar*(key: string): string = 
+proc getConfigVar*(key: string): string =
   result = gConfigVars[key]
 
-proc setConfigVar*(key, val: string) = 
+proc setConfigVar*(key, val: string) =
   gConfigVars[key] = val
 
-proc getOutFile*(filename, ext: string): string = 
+proc getOutFile*(filename, ext: string): string =
   if options.outFile != "": result = options.outFile
   else: result = changeFileExt(filename, ext)
-  
-proc getPrefixDir*(): string = 
+
+proc getPrefixDir*(): string =
   ## gets the application directory
   result = splitPath(getAppDir()).head
 
@@ -189,22 +189,22 @@ proc canonicalizePath*(path: string): string =
   when not FileSystemCaseSensitive: result = path.expandFilename.toLower
   else: result = path.expandFilename
 
-proc shortenDir*(dir: string): string = 
+proc shortenDir*(dir: string): string =
   ## returns the interesting part of a dir
   var prefix = getPrefixDir() & DirSep
-  if startsWith(dir, prefix): 
+  if startsWith(dir, prefix):
     return substr(dir, len(prefix))
   prefix = gProjectPath & DirSep
   if startsWith(dir, prefix):
     return substr(dir, len(prefix))
   result = dir
 
-proc removeTrailingDirSep*(path: string): string = 
-  if (len(path) > 0) and (path[len(path) - 1] == DirSep): 
+proc removeTrailingDirSep*(path: string): string =
+  if (len(path) > 0) and (path[len(path) - 1] == DirSep):
     result = substr(path, 0, len(path) - 2)
-  else: 
+  else:
     result = path
-  
+
 proc getGeneratedPath: string =
   result = if nimcacheDir.len > 0: nimcacheDir else: gProjectPath.shortenDir /
                                                          genSubDir
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ proc withPackageName*(path: string): string =
     let (p, file, ext) = path.splitFile
     result = (p / (x & '_' & file)) & ext
 
-proc toGeneratedFile*(path, ext: string): string = 
+proc toGeneratedFile*(path, ext: string): string =
   ## converts "/home/a/mymodule.nim", "rod" to "/home/a/nimcache/mymodule.rod"
   var (head, tail) = splitPath(path)
   #if len(head) > 0: head = shortenDir(head & dirSep)
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ proc completeGeneratedFilePath*(f: string, createSubDir: bool = true): string =
   result = joinPath(subdir, tail)
   #echo "completeGeneratedFilePath(", f, ") = ", result
 
-iterator iterSearchPath*(searchPaths: TLinkedList): string = 
+iterator iterSearchPath*(searchPaths: TLinkedList): string =
   var it = PStrEntry(searchPaths.head)
   while it != nil:
     yield it.data
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ proc rawFindFile2(f: string): string =
     it = PStrEntry(it.next)
   result = ""
 
-proc findFile*(f: string): string {.procvar.} = 
+proc findFile*(f: string): string {.procvar.} =
   result = f.rawFindFile
   if result.len == 0:
     result = f.toLower.rawFindFile
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ proc findModule*(modulename, currentModule: string): string =
   if not existsFile(result):
     result = findFile(m)
 
-proc libCandidates*(s: string, dest: var seq[string]) = 
+proc libCandidates*(s: string, dest: var seq[string]) =
   var le = strutils.find(s, '(')
   var ri = strutils.find(s, ')', le+1)
   if le >= 0 and ri > le:
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ proc libCandidates*(s: string, dest: var seq[string]) =
     var suffix = substr(s, ri + 1)
     for middle in split(substr(s, le + 1, ri - 1), '|'):
       libCandidates(prefix & middle & suffix, dest)
-  else: 
+  else:
     add(dest, s)
 
 proc canonDynlibName(s: string): string =
@@ -376,17 +376,17 @@ proc inclDynlibOverride*(lib: string) =
 proc isDynlibOverride*(lib: string): bool =
   result = gDllOverrides.hasKey(lib.canonDynlibName)
 
-proc binaryStrSearch*(x: openArray[string], y: string): int = 
+proc binaryStrSearch*(x: openArray[string], y: string): int =
   var a = 0
   var b = len(x) - 1
-  while a <= b: 
+  while a <= b:
     var mid = (a + b) div 2
     var c = cmpIgnoreCase(x[mid], y)
-    if c < 0: 
+    if c < 0:
       a = mid + 1
-    elif c > 0: 
+    elif c > 0:
       b = mid - 1
-    else: 
+    else:
       return mid
   result = - 1
 
diff --git a/compiler/parampatterns.nim b/compiler/parampatterns.nim
index 8c0875ab1..3f67005b9 100644
--- a/compiler/parampatterns.nim
+++ b/compiler/parampatterns.nim
@@ -131,11 +131,10 @@ proc semNodeKindConstraints*(p: PNode): PNode =
   result.strVal.add(ppEof)
 
 type
-  TSideEffectAnalysis = enum
+  TSideEffectAnalysis* = enum
     seUnknown, seSideEffect, seNoSideEffect
 
-proc checkForSideEffects(n: PNode): TSideEffectAnalysis =
-  # XXX is 'raise' a side effect?
+proc checkForSideEffects*(n: PNode): TSideEffectAnalysis =
   case n.kind
   of nkCallKinds:
     # only calls can produce side effects:
@@ -162,6 +161,8 @@ proc checkForSideEffects(n: PNode): TSideEffectAnalysis =
     # an atom cannot produce a side effect:
     result = seNoSideEffect
   else:
+    # assume no side effect:
+    result = seNoSideEffect
     for i in 0 .. <n.len:
       let ret = checkForSideEffects(n.sons[i])
       if ret == seSideEffect: return ret
diff --git a/compiler/parser.nim b/compiler/parser.nim
index d1aa2d8e3..7da2f0d22 100644
--- a/compiler/parser.nim
+++ b/compiler/parser.nim
@@ -212,27 +212,29 @@ proc getPrecedence(tok: TToken, strongSpaces: bool): int =
     let relevantChar = tok.ident.s[0]
 
     # arrow like?
-    if L > 1 and tok.ident.s[L-1] == '>': return considerStrongSpaces(1)
+    if L > 1 and tok.ident.s[L-1] == '>' and
+      tok.ident.s[L-2] in {'-', '~', '='}: return considerStrongSpaces(1)
 
     template considerAsgn(value: expr) =
-      result = if tok.ident.s[L-1] == '=': 1 else: considerStrongSpaces(value)
+      result = if tok.ident.s[L-1] == '=': 1 else: value
 
     case relevantChar
     of '$', '^': considerAsgn(10)
     of '*', '%', '/', '\\': considerAsgn(9)
-    of '~': result = considerStrongSpaces(8)
+    of '~': result = 8
     of '+', '-', '|': considerAsgn(8)
     of '&': considerAsgn(7)
-    of '=', '<', '>', '!': result = considerStrongSpaces(5)
+    of '=', '<', '>', '!': result = 5
     of '.': considerAsgn(6)
-    of '?': result = considerStrongSpaces(2)
+    of '?': result = 2
     else: considerAsgn(2)
   of tkDiv, tkMod, tkShl, tkShr: result = 9
   of tkIn, tkNotin, tkIs, tkIsnot, tkNot, tkOf, tkAs: result = 5
-  of tkDotDot: result = considerStrongSpaces(6)
+  of tkDotDot: result = 6
   of tkAnd: result = 4
   of tkOr, tkXor, tkPtr, tkRef: result = 3
-  else: result = -10
+  else: return -10
+  result = considerStrongSpaces(result)
 
 proc isOperator(tok: TToken): bool =
   ## Determines if the given token is an operator type token.
@@ -241,9 +243,15 @@ proc isOperator(tok: TToken): bool =
 
 proc isUnary(p: TParser): bool =
   ## Check if the current parser token is a unary operator
-  p.strongSpaces and p.tok.tokType in {tkOpr, tkDotDot} and
-    p.tok.strongSpaceB == 0 and
-    p.tok.strongSpaceA > 0
+  if p.tok.tokType in {tkOpr, tkDotDot} and
+     p.tok.strongSpaceB == 0 and
+     p.tok.strongSpaceA > 0:
+    # XXX change this after 0.10.4 is out
+    if p.strongSpaces:
+      result = true
+    else:
+      parMessage(p, warnDeprecated,
+        "will be parsed as unary operator; inconsistent spacing")
 
 proc checkBinary(p: TParser) {.inline.} =
   ## Check if the current parser token is a binary operator.
@@ -1132,9 +1140,11 @@ proc parseMacroColon(p: var TParser, x: PNode): PNode =
     result = makeCall(result)
     getTok(p)
     skipComment(p, result)
+    let stmtList = newNodeP(nkStmtList, p)
     if p.tok.tokType notin {tkOf, tkElif, tkElse, tkExcept}:
       let body = parseStmt(p)
-      addSon(result, makeStmtList(body))
+      stmtList.add body
+      #addSon(result, makeStmtList(body))
     while sameInd(p):
       var b: PNode
       case p.tok.tokType
@@ -1157,8 +1167,13 @@ proc parseMacroColon(p: var TParser, x: PNode): PNode =
         eat(p, tkColon)
       else: break
       addSon(b, parseStmt(p))
-      addSon(result, b)
+      addSon(stmtList, b)
       if b.kind == nkElse: break
+    if stmtList.len == 1 and stmtList[0].kind == nkStmtList:
+      # to keep backwards compatibility (see tests/vm/tstringnil)
+      result.add stmtList[0]
+    else:
+      result.add stmtList
 
 proc parseExprStmt(p: var TParser): PNode =
   #| exprStmt = simpleExpr
@@ -2024,8 +2039,8 @@ proc parseString*(s: string; filename: string = ""; line: int = 0;
   var parser: TParser
   # XXX for now the builtin 'parseStmt/Expr' functions do not know about strong
   # spaces...
-  openParser(parser, filename, stream, false)
   parser.lex.errorHandler = errorHandler
+  openParser(parser, filename, stream, false)
 
   result = parser.parseAll
   closeParser(parser)
diff --git a/compiler/pragmas.nim b/compiler/pragmas.nim
index 056e4f4c0..c048d78e9 100644
--- a/compiler/pragmas.nim
+++ b/compiler/pragmas.nim
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ const
   varPragmas* = {wImportc, wExportc, wVolatile, wRegister, wThreadVar, wNodecl,
     wMagic, wHeader, wDeprecated, wCompilerproc, wDynlib, wExtern,
     wImportCpp, wImportObjC, wError, wNoInit, wCompileTime, wGlobal,
-    wGensym, wInject, wCodegenDecl, wGuard}
+    wGensym, wInject, wCodegenDecl, wGuard, wGoto}
   constPragmas* = {wImportc, wExportc, wHeader, wDeprecated, wMagic, wNodecl,
     wExtern, wImportCpp, wImportObjC, wError, wGensym, wInject}
   letPragmas* = varPragmas
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ proc pragmaAsm*(c: PContext, n: PNode): char =
         invalidPragma(it)
 
 proc setExternName(s: PSym, extname: string) =
-  s.loc.r = toRope(extname % s.name.s)
+  s.loc.r = rope(extname % s.name.s)
   if gCmd == cmdPretty and '$' notin extname:
     # note that '{.importc.}' is transformed into '{.importc: "$1".}'
     s.loc.flags.incl(lfFullExternalName)
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ proc validateExternCName(s: PSym, info: TLineInfo) =
   ## Valid identifiers are those alphanumeric including the underscore not
   ## starting with a number. If the check fails, a generic error will be
   ## displayed to the user.
-  let target = ropeToStr(s.loc.r)
+  let target = $s.loc.r
   if target.len < 1 or target[0] notin IdentStartChars or
       not target.allCharsInSet(IdentChars):
     localError(info, errGenerated, "invalid exported symbol")
@@ -677,7 +677,7 @@ proc singlePragma(c: PContext, sym: PSym, n: PNode, i: int,
           incl(sym.loc.flags, lfHeader)
           incl(sym.loc.flags, lfNoDecl)
           # implies nodecl, because otherwise header would not make sense
-          if sym.loc.r == nil: sym.loc.r = toRope(sym.name.s)
+          if sym.loc.r == nil: sym.loc.r = rope(sym.name.s)
         of wDestructor:
           sym.flags.incl sfOverriden
           if sym.name.s.normalize != "destroy":
@@ -843,6 +843,11 @@ proc singlePragma(c: PContext, sym: PSym, n: PNode, i: int,
             invalidPragma(it)
           else:
             sym.guard = pragmaGuard(c, it, sym.kind)
+        of wGoto:
+          if sym == nil or sym.kind notin {skVar, skLet}:
+            invalidPragma(it)
+          else:
+            sym.flags.incl sfGoto
         of wInjectStmt:
           if it.kind != nkExprColonExpr:
             localError(it.info, errExprExpected)
@@ -865,9 +870,11 @@ proc implicitPragmas*(c: PContext, sym: PSym, n: PNode,
     while it != nil:
       let o = it.otherPragmas
       if not o.isNil:
+        pushInfoContext(n.info)
         for i in countup(0, sonsLen(o) - 1):
           if singlePragma(c, sym, o, i, validPragmas):
             internalError(n.info, "implicitPragmas")
+        popInfoContext()
       it = it.next.POptionEntry
 
     if lfExportLib in sym.loc.flags and sfExportc notin sym.flags:
@@ -877,7 +884,7 @@ proc implicitPragmas*(c: PContext, sym: PSym, n: PNode,
         sfImportc in sym.flags and lib != nil:
       incl(sym.loc.flags, lfDynamicLib)
       addToLib(lib, sym)
-      if sym.loc.r == nil: sym.loc.r = toRope(sym.name.s)
+      if sym.loc.r == nil: sym.loc.r = rope(sym.name.s)
 
 proc hasPragma*(n: PNode, pragma: TSpecialWord): bool =
   if n == nil or n.sons == nil:
diff --git a/compiler/renderer.nim b/compiler/renderer.nim
index ce818e3cd..ffdb60696 100644
--- a/compiler/renderer.nim
+++ b/compiler/renderer.nim
@@ -503,6 +503,7 @@ proc gsub(g: var TSrcGen, n: PNode) =
 
 proc hasCom(n: PNode): bool =
   result = false
+  if n.isNil: return false
   if n.comment != nil: return true
   case n.kind
   of nkEmpty..nkNilLit: discard
diff --git a/compiler/rodread.nim b/compiler/rodread.nim
index 545a8dda9..e92f7ecfa 100644
--- a/compiler/rodread.nim
+++ b/compiler/rodread.nim
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ proc decodeLoc(r: PRodReader, loc: var TLoc, info: TLineInfo) =
       loc.t = nil
     if r.s[r.pos] == '!': 
       inc(r.pos)
-      loc.r = toRope(decodeStr(r.s, r.pos))
+      loc.r = rope(decodeStr(r.s, r.pos))
     else: 
       loc.r = nil
     if r.s[r.pos] == '>': inc(r.pos)
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ proc decodeLib(r: PRodReader, info: TLineInfo): PLib =
     result.kind = TLibKind(decodeVInt(r.s, r.pos))
     if r.s[r.pos] != '|': internalError("decodeLib: 1")
     inc(r.pos)
-    result.name = toRope(decodeStr(r.s, r.pos))
+    result.name = rope(decodeStr(r.s, r.pos))
     if r.s[r.pos] != '|': internalError("decodeLib: 2")
     inc(r.pos)
     result.path = decodeNode(r, info)
diff --git a/compiler/rodwrite.nim b/compiler/rodwrite.nim
index 0f211b4ba..e178b7ce6 100644
--- a/compiler/rodwrite.nim
+++ b/compiler/rodwrite.nim
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ proc encodeLoc(w: PRodWriter, loc: TLoc, result: var string) =
     pushType(w, loc.t)
   if loc.r != nil: 
     add(result, '!')
-    encodeStr(ropeToStr(loc.r), result)
+    encodeStr($loc.r, result)
   if oldLen + 1 == result.len:
     # no data was necessary, so remove the '<' again:
     setLen(result, oldLen)
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ proc encodeLib(w: PRodWriter, lib: PLib, info: TLineInfo, result: var string) =
   add(result, '|')
   encodeVInt(ord(lib.kind), result)
   add(result, '|')
-  encodeStr(ropeToStr(lib.name), result)
+  encodeStr($lib.name, result)
   add(result, '|')
   encodeNode(w, info, lib.path, result)
 
diff --git a/compiler/ropes.nim b/compiler/ropes.nim
index ae71234c4..edac8e9d0 100644
--- a/compiler/ropes.nim
+++ b/compiler/ropes.nim
@@ -56,77 +56,59 @@
 #  To cache them they are inserted in a `cache` array.
 
 import
-  strutils, platform, hashes, crc, options
+  platform, hashes
 
 type
-  TFormatStr* = string # later we may change it to CString for better
+  FormatStr* = string  # later we may change it to CString for better
                        # performance of the code generator (assignments
                        # copy the format strings
                        # though it is not necessary)
-  PRope* = ref TRope
-  TRope*{.acyclic.} = object of RootObj # the empty rope is represented
-                                        # by nil to safe space
-    left*, right*: PRope
+  Rope* = ref RopeObj
+  RopeObj*{.acyclic.} = object of RootObj # the empty rope is represented
+                                          # by nil to safe space
+    left*, right*: Rope
     length*: int
     data*: string             # != nil if a leaf
 
-  TRopeSeq* = seq[PRope]
+  RopeSeq* = seq[Rope]
 
-  TRopesError* = enum
+  RopesError* = enum
     rCannotOpenFile
     rInvalidFormatStr
-    rTokenTooLong
-
-proc con*(a, b: PRope): PRope
-proc con*(a: PRope, b: string): PRope
-proc con*(a: string, b: PRope): PRope
-proc con*(a: varargs[PRope]): PRope
-proc app*(a: var PRope, b: PRope)
-proc app*(a: var PRope, b: string)
-proc prepend*(a: var PRope, b: PRope)
-proc toRope*(s: string): PRope
-proc toRope*(i: BiggestInt): PRope
-proc ropeLen*(a: PRope): int
-proc writeRopeIfNotEqual*(r: PRope, filename: string): bool
-proc ropeToStr*(p: PRope): string
-proc ropef*(frmt: TFormatStr, args: varargs[PRope]): PRope
-proc appf*(c: var PRope, frmt: TFormatStr, args: varargs[PRope])
-proc ropeEqualsFile*(r: PRope, f: string): bool
-  # returns true if the rope r is the same as the contents of file f
-proc ropeInvariant*(r: PRope): bool
-  # exported for debugging
+
 # implementation
 
-var errorHandler*: proc(err: TRopesError, msg: string, useWarning = false)
+var errorHandler*: proc(err: RopesError, msg: string, useWarning = false)
   # avoid dependency on msgs.nim
 
-proc ropeLen(a: PRope): int =
+proc len*(a: Rope): int =
+  ## the rope's length
   if a == nil: result = 0
   else: result = a.length
 
-proc newRope*(data: string = nil): PRope =
+proc newRope(data: string = nil): Rope =
   new(result)
   if data != nil:
     result.length = len(data)
     result.data = data
 
-proc newMutableRope*(capacity = 30): PRope =
+proc newMutableRope*(capacity = 30): Rope =
   ## creates a new rope that supports direct modifications of the rope's
   ## 'data' and 'length' fields.
   new(result)
   result.data = newStringOfCap(capacity)
 
-proc freezeMutableRope*(r: PRope) {.inline.} =
+proc freezeMutableRope*(r: Rope) {.inline.} =
   r.length = r.data.len
 
 var
-  cache: array[0..2048*2 - 1, PRope]
+  cache: array[0..2048*2 - 1, Rope]
 
 proc resetRopeCache* =
   for i in low(cache)..high(cache):
     cache[i] = nil
 
-proc ropeInvariant(r: PRope): bool =
+proc ropeInvariant(r: Rope): bool =
   if r == nil:
     result = true
   else:
@@ -143,7 +125,7 @@ var gCacheTries* = 0
 var gCacheMisses* = 0
 var gCacheIntTries* = 0
 
-proc insertInCache(s: string): PRope =
+proc insertInCache(s: string): Rope =
   inc gCacheTries
   var h = hash(s) and high(cache)
   result = cache[h]
@@ -152,82 +134,77 @@ proc insertInCache(s: string): PRope =
     result = newRope(s)
     cache[h] = result
 
-proc toRope(s: string): PRope =
+proc rope*(s: string): Rope =
+  ## Converts a string to a rope.
   if s.len == 0:
     result = nil
   else:
     result = insertInCache(s)
   assert(ropeInvariant(result))
 
-proc ropeSeqInsert(rs: var TRopeSeq, r: PRope, at: Natural) =
-  var length = len(rs)
-  if at > length:
-    setLen(rs, at + 1)
-  else:
-    setLen(rs, length + 1)    # move old rope elements:
-  for i in countdown(length, at + 1):
-    rs[i] = rs[i - 1] # this is correct, I used pen and paper to validate it
-  rs[at] = r
-
-proc newRecRopeToStr(result: var string, resultLen: var int, r: PRope) =
-  var stack = @[r]
-  while len(stack) > 0:
-    var it = pop(stack)
-    while it.data == nil:
-      add(stack, it.right)
-      it = it.left
-    assert(it.data != nil)
-    copyMem(addr(result[resultLen]), addr(it.data[0]), it.length)
-    inc(resultLen, it.length)
-    assert(resultLen <= len(result))
-
-proc ropeToStr(p: PRope): string =
-  if p == nil:
-    result = ""
-  else:
-    result = newString(p.length)
-    var resultLen = 0
-    newRecRopeToStr(result, resultLen, p)
+proc rope*(i: BiggestInt): Rope =
+  ## Converts an int to a rope.
+  inc gCacheIntTries
+  result = rope($i)
 
-proc con(a, b: PRope): PRope =
-  if a == nil: result = b
-  elif b == nil: result = a
+proc rope*(f: BiggestFloat): Rope =
+  ## Converts a float to a rope.
+  result = rope($f)
+
+proc `&`*(a, b: Rope): Rope =
+  if a == nil:
+    result = b
+  elif b == nil:
+    result = a
   else:
     result = newRope()
     result.length = a.length + b.length
     result.left = a
     result.right = b
 
-proc con(a: PRope, b: string): PRope = result = con(a, toRope(b))
-proc con(a: string, b: PRope): PRope = result = con(toRope(a), b)
-
-proc con(a: varargs[PRope]): PRope =
-  for i in countup(0, high(a)): result = con(result, a[i])
-
-proc ropeConcat*(a: varargs[PRope]): PRope =
-  # not overloaded version of concat to speed-up `rfmt` a little bit
-  for i in countup(0, high(a)): result = con(result, a[i])
-
-proc toRope(i: BiggestInt): PRope =
-  inc gCacheIntTries
-  result = toRope($i)
-
-proc app(a: var PRope, b: PRope) = a = con(a, b)
-proc app(a: var PRope, b: string) = a = con(a, b)
-proc prepend(a: var PRope, b: PRope) = a = con(b, a)
-
-proc writeRope*(f: File, c: PRope) =
-  var stack = @[c]
-  while len(stack) > 0:
-    var it = pop(stack)
-    while it.data == nil:
-      add(stack, it.right)
-      it = it.left
-      assert(it != nil)
-    assert(it.data != nil)
-    write(f, it.data)
-
-proc writeRope*(head: PRope, filename: string, useWarning = false) =
+proc `&`*(a: Rope, b: string): Rope =
+  ## the concatenation operator for ropes.
+  result = a & rope(b)
+
+proc `&`*(a: string, b: Rope): Rope =
+  ## the concatenation operator for ropes.
+  result = rope(a) & b
+
+proc `&`*(a: openArray[Rope]): Rope =
+  ## the concatenation operator for an openarray of ropes.
+  for i in countup(0, high(a)): result = result & a[i]
+
+proc add*(a: var Rope, b: Rope) =
+  ## adds `b` to the rope `a`.
+  a = a & b
+
+proc add*(a: var Rope, b: string) =
+  ## adds `b` to the rope `a`.
+  a = a & b
+
+iterator leaves*(r: Rope): string =
+  ## iterates over any leaf string in the rope `r`.
+  if r != nil:
+    var stack = @[r]
+    while stack.len > 0:
+      var it = stack.pop
+      while isNil(it.data):
+        stack.add(it.right)
+        it = it.left
+        assert(it != nil)
+      assert(it.data != nil)
+      yield it.data
+
+iterator items*(r: Rope): char =
+  ## iterates over any character in the rope `r`.
+  for s in leaves(r):
+    for c in items(s): yield c
+
+proc writeRope*(f: File, r: Rope) =
+  ## writes a rope to a file.
+  for s in leaves(r): write(f, s)
+
+proc writeRope*(head: Rope, filename: string, useWarning = false) =
   var f: File
   if open(f, filename, fmWrite):
     if head != nil: writeRope(f, head)
@@ -235,42 +212,69 @@ proc writeRope*(head: PRope, filename: string, useWarning = false) =
   else:
     errorHandler(rCannotOpenFile, filename, useWarning)
 
+proc `$`*(r: Rope): string =
+  ## converts a rope back to a string.
+  result = newString(r.len)
+  setLen(result, 0)
+  for s in leaves(r): add(result, s)
+
+proc ropeConcat*(a: varargs[Rope]): Rope =
+  # not overloaded version of concat to speed-up `rfmt` a little bit
+  for i in countup(0, high(a)): result = result & a[i]
+
+proc prepend*(a: var Rope, b: Rope) = a = b & a
+proc prepend*(a: var Rope, b: string) = a = b & a
+
 var
   rnl* = tnl.newRope
   softRnl* = tnl.newRope
 
-proc ropef(frmt: TFormatStr, args: varargs[PRope]): PRope =
+proc `%`*(frmt: FormatStr, args: openArray[Rope]): Rope =
   var i = 0
   var length = len(frmt)
   result = nil
   var num = 0
-  while i <= length - 1:
+  while i < length:
     if frmt[i] == '$':
       inc(i)                  # skip '$'
       case frmt[i]
       of '$':
-        app(result, "$")
+        add(result, "$")
         inc(i)
       of '#':
         inc(i)
-        app(result, args[num])
+        add(result, args[num])
         inc(num)
       of '0'..'9':
         var j = 0
         while true:
-          j = (j * 10) + ord(frmt[i]) - ord('0')
+          j = j * 10 + ord(frmt[i]) - ord('0')
+          inc(i)
+          if frmt[i] notin {'0'..'9'}: break
+        num = j
+        if j > high(args) + 1:
+          errorHandler(rInvalidFormatStr, $(j))
+        else:
+          add(result, args[j-1])
+      of '{':
+        inc(i)
+        var j = 0
+        while frmt[i] in {'0'..'9'}:
+          j = j * 10 + ord(frmt[i]) - ord('0')
           inc(i)
-          if (i > length + 0 - 1) or not (frmt[i] in {'0'..'9'}): break
         num = j
+        if frmt[i] == '}': inc(i)
+        else: errorHandler(rInvalidFormatStr, $(frmt[i]))
+
         if j > high(args) + 1:
           errorHandler(rInvalidFormatStr, $(j))
         else:
-          app(result, args[j - 1])
+          add(result, args[j-1])
       of 'n':
-        app(result, softRnl)
-        inc i
+        add(result, softRnl)
+        inc(i)
       of 'N':
-        app(result, rnl)
+        add(result, rnl)
         inc(i)
       else:
         errorHandler(rInvalidFormatStr, $(frmt[i]))
@@ -279,83 +283,67 @@ proc ropef(frmt: TFormatStr, args: varargs[PRope]): PRope =
       if frmt[i] != '$': inc(i)
       else: break
     if i - 1 >= start:
-      app(result, substr(frmt, start, i - 1))
+      add(result, substr(frmt, start, i - 1))
   assert(ropeInvariant(result))
 
+proc addf*(c: var Rope, frmt: FormatStr, args: openArray[Rope]) =
+  ## shortcut for ``add(c, frmt % args)``.
+  add(c, frmt % args)
+
 when true:
-  template `~`*(r: string): PRope = r.ropef
+  template `~`*(r: string): Rope = r % []
 else:
   {.push stack_trace: off, line_trace: off.}
-  proc `~`*(r: static[string]): PRope =
+  proc `~`*(r: static[string]): Rope =
     # this is the new optimized "to rope" operator
     # the mnemonic is that `~` looks a bit like a rope :)
-    var r {.global.} = r.ropef
+    var r {.global.} = r % []
     return r
   {.pop.}
 
-proc appf(c: var PRope, frmt: TFormatStr, args: varargs[PRope]) =
-  app(c, ropef(frmt, args))
-
 const
   bufSize = 1024              # 1 KB is reasonable
 
-proc auxRopeEqualsFile(r: PRope, bin: var File, buf: pointer): bool =
-  if r.data != nil:
-    if r.length > bufSize:
-      errorHandler(rTokenTooLong, r.data)
-      return
-    var readBytes = readBuffer(bin, buf, r.length)
-    result = readBytes == r.length and
-        equalMem(buf, addr(r.data[0]), r.length) # BUGFIX
-  else:
-    result = auxRopeEqualsFile(r.left, bin, buf)
-    if result: result = auxRopeEqualsFile(r.right, bin, buf)
-
-proc ropeEqualsFile(r: PRope, f: string): bool =
-  var bin: File
-  result = open(bin, f)
-  if not result:
-    return                    # not equal if file does not exist
-  var buf = alloc(bufSize)
-  result = auxRopeEqualsFile(r, bin, buf)
+proc equalsFile*(r: Rope, f: File): bool =
+  ## returns true if the contents of the file `f` equal `r`.
+  var 
+    buf: array[bufSize, char]
+    bpos = buf.len
+    blen = buf.len
+
+  for s in leaves(r):
+    var spos = 0
+    let slen = s.len
+    while spos < slen:
+      if bpos == blen:
+        # Read more data
+        bpos = 0
+        blen = readBuffer(f, addr(buf[0]), buf.len)
+        if blen == 0:  # no more data in file
+          result = false
+          return
+      let n = min(blen - bpos, slen - spos)
+      # TODO There's gotta be a better way of comparing here...
+      if not equalMem(addr(buf[bpos]), cast[pointer](cast[int](cstring(s))+spos), n):
+        result = false
+        return
+      spos += n
+      bpos += n
+
+  result = readBuffer(f, addr(buf[0]), 1) == 0  # check that we've read all
+
+proc equalsFile*(r: Rope, filename: string): bool =
+  ## returns true if the contents of the file `f` equal `r`. If `f` does not
+  ## exist, false is returned.
+  var f: File
+  result = open(f, filename)
   if result:
-    result = readBuffer(bin, buf, bufSize) == 0 # really at the end of file?
-  dealloc(buf)
-  close(bin)
-
-proc crcFromRopeAux(r: PRope, startVal: TCrc32): TCrc32 =
-  if r.data != nil:
-    result = startVal
-    for i in countup(0, len(r.data) - 1):
-      result = updateCrc32(r.data[i], result)
-  else:
-    result = crcFromRopeAux(r.left, startVal)
-    result = crcFromRopeAux(r.right, result)
-
-proc newCrcFromRopeAux(r: PRope, startVal: TCrc32): TCrc32 =
-  # XXX profiling shows this is actually expensive
-  var stack: TRopeSeq = @[r]
-  result = startVal
-  while len(stack) > 0:
-    var it = pop(stack)
-    while it.data == nil:
-      add(stack, it.right)
-      it = it.left
-    assert(it.data != nil)
-    var i = 0
-    var L = len(it.data)
-    while i < L:
-      result = updateCrc32(it.data[i], result)
-      inc(i)
-
-proc crcFromRope(r: PRope): TCrc32 =
-  result = newCrcFromRopeAux(r, InitCrc32)
-
-proc writeRopeIfNotEqual(r: PRope, filename: string): bool =
+    result = equalsFile(r, f)
+    close(f)
+
+proc writeRopeIfNotEqual*(r: Rope, filename: string): bool =
   # returns true if overwritten
-  var c: TCrc32
-  c = crcFromFile(filename)
-  if c != crcFromRope(r):
+  if not equalsFile(r, filename):
     writeRope(r, filename)
     result = true
   else:
diff --git a/compiler/sem.nim b/compiler/sem.nim
index 2d2f15fab..7eabaf491 100644
--- a/compiler/sem.nim
+++ b/compiler/sem.nim
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ proc myOpen(module: PSym): PPassContext =
   c.semInferredLambda = semInferredLambda
   c.semGenerateInstance = generateInstance
   c.semTypeNode = semTypeNode
-  c.instDeepCopy = sigmatch.instDeepCopy
+  c.instTypeBoundOp = sigmatch.instTypeBoundOp
 
   pushProcCon(c, module)
   pushOwner(c.module)
diff --git a/compiler/semasgn.nim b/compiler/semasgn.nim
index 208c4ce1a..a1e209263 100644
--- a/compiler/semasgn.nim
+++ b/compiler/semasgn.nim
@@ -7,111 +7,84 @@
 #    distribution, for details about the copyright.
 #
 
-## This module implements lifting for assignments and ``deepCopy``.
+## This module implements lifting for assignments. Later versions of this code
+## will be able to also lift ``=deepCopy`` and ``=destroy``.
 
 # included from sem.nim
 
 type
-  TTypeAttachedOp = enum
-    attachedDestructor,
-    attachedAsgn,
-    attachedDeepCopy
-
   TLiftCtx = object
     c: PContext
     info: TLineInfo # for construction
-    result: PNode
     kind: TTypeAttachedOp
+    fn: PSym
+    asgnForType: PType
+    recurse: bool
 
-type
-  TFieldInstCtx = object  # either 'tup[i]' or 'field' is valid
-    tupleType: PType      # if != nil we're traversing a tuple
-    tupleIndex: int
-    field: PSym
-    replaceByFieldName: bool
+proc liftBodyAux(c: var TLiftCtx; t: PType; body, x, y: PNode)
+proc liftBody(c: PContext; typ: PType; info: TLineInfo): PSym
+
+proc at(a, i: PNode, elemType: PType): PNode =
+  result = newNodeI(nkBracketExpr, a.info, 2)
+  result.sons[0] = a
+  result.sons[1] = i
+  result.typ = elemType
+
+proc liftBodyTup(c: var TLiftCtx; t: PType; body, x, y: PNode) =
+  for i in 0 .. <t.len:
+    let lit = lowerings.newIntLit(i)
+    liftBodyAux(c, t.sons[i], body, x.at(lit, t.sons[i]), y.at(lit, t.sons[i]))
+
+proc dotField(x: PNode, f: PSym): PNode =
+  result = newNodeI(nkDotExpr, x.info, 2)
+  result.sons[0] = x
+  result.sons[1] = newSymNode(f, x.info)
+  result.typ = f.typ
 
-proc instFieldLoopBody(c: TFieldInstCtx, n: PNode, forLoop: PNode): PNode =
+proc liftBodyObj(c: var TLiftCtx; n, body, x, y: PNode) =
   case n.kind
-  of nkEmpty..pred(nkIdent), succ(nkIdent)..nkNilLit: result = n
-  of nkIdent:
-    result = n
-    var L = sonsLen(forLoop)
-    if c.replaceByFieldName:
-      if n.ident.id == forLoop[0].ident.id:
-        let fieldName = if c.tupleType.isNil: c.field.name.s
-                        elif c.tupleType.n.isNil: "Field" & $c.tupleIndex
-                        else: c.tupleType.n.sons[c.tupleIndex].sym.name.s
-        result = newStrNode(nkStrLit, fieldName)
-        return
-    # other fields:
-    for i in ord(c.replaceByFieldName)..L-3:
-      if n.ident.id == forLoop[i].ident.id:
-        var call = forLoop.sons[L-2]
-        var tupl = call.sons[i+1-ord(c.replaceByFieldName)]
-        if c.field.isNil:
-          result = newNodeI(nkBracketExpr, n.info)
-          result.add(tupl)
-          result.add(newIntNode(nkIntLit, c.tupleIndex))
-        else:
-          result = newNodeI(nkDotExpr, n.info)
-          result.add(tupl)
-          result.add(newSymNode(c.field, n.info))
-        break
-  else:
-    if n.kind == nkContinueStmt:
-      localError(n.info, errGenerated,
-                 "'continue' not supported in a 'fields' loop")
-    result = copyNode(n)
-    newSons(result, sonsLen(n))
-    for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n)-1):
-      result.sons[i] = instFieldLoopBody(c, n.sons[i], forLoop)
-
-proc liftBodyObj(c: TLiftCtx; typ, x, y: PNode) =
-  case typ.kind
   of nkSym:
-    var fc: TFieldInstCtx  # either 'tup[i]' or 'field' is valid
-    fc.field = typ.sym
-    fc.replaceByFieldName = c.m == mFieldPairs
-    openScope(c.c)
-    inc c.c.inUnrolledContext
-    let body = instFieldLoopBody(fc, lastSon(forLoop), forLoop)
-    father.add(semStmt(c.c, body))
-    dec c.c.inUnrolledContext
-    closeScope(c.c)
+    let f = n.sym
+    liftBodyAux(c, f.typ, body, x.dotField(f), y.dotField(f))
   of nkNilLit: discard
   of nkRecCase:
-    let L = forLoop.len
-    let call = forLoop.sons[L-2]
-    if call.len > 2:
-      localError(forLoop.info, errGenerated,
-                 "parallel 'fields' iterator does not work for 'case' objects")
-      return
-    # iterate over the selector:
-    asgnForObjectFields(c, typ[0], forLoop, father)
+    # copy the selector:
+    liftBodyObj(c, n[0], body, x, y)
     # we need to generate a case statement:
     var caseStmt = newNodeI(nkCaseStmt, c.info)
+    # XXX generate 'if' that checks same branches
     # generate selector:
-    var access = newNodeI(nkDotExpr, forLoop.info, 2)
-    access.sons[0] = call.sons[1]
-    access.sons[1] = newSymNode(typ.sons[0].sym, forLoop.info)
-    caseStmt.add(semExprWithType(c.c, access))
+    var access = dotField(x, n[0].sym)
+    caseStmt.add(access)
     # copy the branches over, but replace the fields with the for loop body:
-    for i in 1 .. <typ.len:
-      var branch = copyTree(typ[i])
+    for i in 1 .. <n.len:
+      var branch = copyTree(n[i])
       let L = branch.len
-      branch.sons[L-1] = newNodeI(nkStmtList, forLoop.info)
-      semForObjectFields(c, typ[i].lastSon, forLoop, branch[L-1])
+      branch.sons[L-1] = newNodeI(nkStmtList, c.info)
+
+      liftBodyObj(c, n[i].lastSon, branch.sons[L-1], x, y)
       caseStmt.add(branch)
-    father.add(caseStmt)
+    body.add(caseStmt)
+    localError(c.info, "cannot lift assignment operator to 'case' object")
   of nkRecList:
-    for t in items(typ): liftBodyObj(c, t, x, y)
+    for t in items(n): liftBodyObj(c, t, body, x, y)
   else:
-    illFormedAstLocal(typ)
+    illFormedAstLocal(n)
 
-proc newAsgnCall(op: PSym; x, y: PNode): PNode =
+proc genAddr(c: PContext; x: PNode): PNode =
+  if x.kind == nkHiddenDeref:
+    checkSonsLen(x, 1)
+    result = x.sons[0]
+  else:
+    result = newNodeIT(nkHiddenAddr, x.info, makeVarType(c, x.typ))
+    addSon(result, x)
+
+proc newAsgnCall(c: PContext; op: PSym; x, y: PNode): PNode =
+  if sfError in op.flags:
+    localError(x.info, errWrongSymbolX, op.name.s)
   result = newNodeI(nkCall, x.info)
-  result.add(newSymNode(op))
-  result.add x
+  result.add newSymNode(op)
+  result.add genAddr(c, x)
   result.add y
 
 proc newAsgnStmt(le, ri: PNode): PNode =
@@ -127,63 +100,124 @@ proc newDestructorCall(op: PSym; x: PNode): PNode =
 proc newDeepCopyCall(op: PSym; x, y: PNode): PNode =
   result = newAsgnStmt(x, newDestructorCall(op, y))
 
-proc considerOverloadedOp(c: TLiftCtx; t: PType; x, y: PNode): bool =
-  let op = t.attachedOps[c.kind]
-  if op != nil:
-    markUsed(c.info, op)
-    styleCheckUse(c.info, op)
-    case c.kind
-    of attachedDestructor:
-      c.result.add newDestructorCall(op, x)
-    of attachedAsgn:
-      c.result.add newAsgnCall(op, x, y)
-    of attachedDeepCopy:
-      c.result.add newDeepCopyCall(op, x, y)
-    result = true
-
-proc defaultOp(c: TLiftCtx; t: PType; x, y: PNode) =
+proc considerOverloadedOp(c: var TLiftCtx; t: PType; body, x, y: PNode): bool =
+  case c.kind
+  of attachedDestructor:
+    let op = t.destructor
+    if op != nil:
+      markUsed(c.info, op)
+      styleCheckUse(c.info, op)
+      body.add newDestructorCall(op, x)
+      result = true
+  of attachedAsgn:
+    if tfHasAsgn in t.flags:
+      var op: PSym
+      if sameType(t, c.asgnForType):
+        # generate recursive call:
+        if c.recurse:
+          op = c.fn
+        else:
+          c.recurse = true
+          return false
+      else:
+        op = t.assignment
+        if op == nil:
+          op = liftBody(c.c, t, c.info)
+      markUsed(c.info, op)
+      styleCheckUse(c.info, op)
+      body.add newAsgnCall(c.c, op, x, y)
+      result = true
+  of attachedDeepCopy:
+    let op = t.deepCopy
+    if op != nil:
+      markUsed(c.info, op)
+      styleCheckUse(c.info, op)
+      body.add newDeepCopyCall(op, x, y)
+      result = true
+
+proc defaultOp(c: var TLiftCtx; t: PType; body, x, y: PNode) =
   if c.kind != attachedDestructor:
-    c.result.add newAsgnStmt(x, y)
-
-proc liftBodyAux(c: TLiftCtx; t: PType; x, y: PNode) =
-  const hasAttachedOp: array[TTypeAttachedOp, TTypeIter] = [
-    (proc (t: PType, closure: PObject): bool =
-       t.attachedOp[attachedDestructor] != nil),
-    (proc (t: PType, closure: PObject): bool =
-       t.attachedOp[attachedAsgn] != nil),
-    (proc (t: PType, closure: PObject): bool =
-       t.attachedOp[attachedDeepCopy] != nil)]
+    body.add newAsgnStmt(x, y)
+
+proc addVar(father, v, value: PNode) =
+  var vpart = newNodeI(nkIdentDefs, v.info, 3)
+  vpart.sons[0] = v
+  vpart.sons[1] = ast.emptyNode
+  vpart.sons[2] = value
+  addSon(father, vpart)
+
+proc declareCounter(c: var TLiftCtx; body: PNode; first: BiggestInt): PNode =
+  var temp = newSym(skTemp, getIdent(lowerings.genPrefix), c.fn, c.info)
+  temp.typ = getSysType(tyInt)
+  incl(temp.flags, sfFromGeneric)
+
+  var v = newNodeI(nkVarSection, c.info)
+  result = newSymNode(temp)
+  v.addVar(result, lowerings.newIntLit(first))
+  body.add v
+
+proc genBuiltin(magic: TMagic; name: string; i: PNode): PNode =
+  result = newNodeI(nkCall, i.info)
+  result.add createMagic(name, magic).newSymNode
+  result.add i
+
+proc genWhileLoop(c: var TLiftCtx; i, dest: PNode): PNode =
+  result = newNodeI(nkWhileStmt, c.info, 2)
+  let cmp = genBuiltin(mLeI, "<=", i)
+  cmp.add genHigh(dest)
+  cmp.typ = getSysType(tyBool)
+  result.sons[0] = cmp
+  result.sons[1] = newNodeI(nkStmtList, c.info)
+
+proc addIncStmt(body, i: PNode) =
+  let incCall = genBuiltin(mInc, "inc", i)
+  incCall.add lowerings.newIntLit(1)
+  body.add incCall
+
+proc newSeqCall(c: PContext; x, y: PNode): PNode =
+  # don't call genAddr(c, x) here:
+  result = genBuiltin(mNewSeq, "newSeq", x)
+  let lenCall = genBuiltin(mLengthSeq, "len", y)
+  lenCall.typ = getSysType(tyInt)
+  result.add lenCall
+
+proc liftBodyAux(c: var TLiftCtx; t: PType; body, x, y: PNode) =
   case t.kind
   of tyNone, tyEmpty: discard
-  of tyPointer, tySet, tyBool, tyChar, tyEnum, tyInt..tyUInt64, tyCString:
-    defaultOp(c, t, x, y)
-  of tyPtr, tyString:
-    if not considerOverloadedOp(c, t, x, y):
-      defaultOp(c, t, x, y)
+  of tyPointer, tySet, tyBool, tyChar, tyEnum, tyInt..tyUInt64, tyCString,
+      tyPtr, tyString, tyRef:
+    defaultOp(c, t, body, x, y)
   of tyArrayConstr, tyArray, tySequence:
-    if iterOverType(lastSon(t), hasAttachedOp[c.kind], nil):
-      # generate loop and call the attached Op:
-
+    if tfHasAsgn in t.flags:
+      if t.kind == tySequence:
+        # XXX add 'nil' handling here
+        body.add newSeqCall(c.c, x, y)
+      let i = declareCounter(c, body, firstOrd(t))
+      let whileLoop = genWhileLoop(c, i, x)
+      let elemType = t.lastSon
+      liftBodyAux(c, elemType, whileLoop.sons[1], x.at(i, elemType),
+                                                  y.at(i, elemType))
+      addIncStmt(whileLoop.sons[1], i)
+      body.add whileLoop
     else:
-      defaultOp(c, t, x, y)
-  of tyObject:
-    liftBodyObj(c, t.n, x, y)
+      defaultOp(c, t, body, x, y)
+  of tyObject, tyDistinct:
+    if not considerOverloadedOp(c, t, body, x, y):
+      if t.sons[0] != nil: liftBodyAux(c, t.sons[0], body, x, y)
+      if t.kind == tyObject: liftBodyObj(c, t.n, body, x, y)
   of tyTuple:
-    liftBodyTup(c, t, x, y)
-  of tyRef:
-    # we MUST NOT check for acyclic here as a DAG might still share nodes:
-
+    liftBodyTup(c, t, body, x, y)
   of tyProc:
     if t.callConv != ccClosure or c.kind != attachedDeepCopy:
-      defaultOp(c, t, x, y)
+      defaultOp(c, t, body, x, y)
     else:
       # a big problem is that we don't know the enviroment's type here, so we
       # have to go through some indirection; we delegate this to the codegen:
-      call = newNodeI(nkCall, n.info, 2)
+      let call = newNodeI(nkCall, c.info, 2)
       call.typ = t
       call.sons[0] = newSymNode(createMagic("deepCopy", mDeepCopy))
       call.sons[1] = y
-      c.result.add newAsgnStmt(x, call)
+      body.add newAsgnStmt(x, call)
   of tyVarargs, tyOpenArray:
     localError(c.info, errGenerated, "cannot copy openArray")
   of tyFromExpr, tyIter, tyProxy, tyBuiltInTypeClass, tyUserTypeClass,
@@ -191,13 +225,60 @@ proc liftBodyAux(c: TLiftCtx; t: PType; x, y: PNode) =
      tyMutable, tyGenericParam, tyGenericBody, tyNil, tyExpr, tyStmt,
      tyTypeDesc, tyGenericInvocation, tyBigNum, tyConst, tyForward:
     internalError(c.info, "assignment requested for type: " & typeToString(t))
-  of tyDistinct, tyOrdinal, tyRange,
+  of tyOrdinal, tyRange,
      tyGenericInst, tyFieldAccessor, tyStatic, tyVar:
-    liftBodyAux(c, lastSon(t))
+    liftBodyAux(c, lastSon(t), body, x, y)
+
+proc newProcType(info: TLineInfo; owner: PSym): PType =
+  result = newType(tyProc, owner)
+  result.n = newNodeI(nkFormalParams, info)
+  rawAddSon(result, nil) # return type
+  # result.n[0] used to be `nkType`, but now it's `nkEffectList` because
+  # the effects are now stored in there too ... this is a bit hacky, but as
+  # usual we desperately try to save memory:
+  addSon(result.n, newNodeI(nkEffectList, info))
 
-proc liftBody(c: PContext; typ: PType; info: TLineInfo): PNode =
+proc addParam(procType: PType; param: PSym) =
+  param.position = procType.len-1
+  addSon(procType.n, newSymNode(param))
+  rawAddSon(procType, param.typ)
+
+proc liftBody(c: PContext; typ: PType; info: TLineInfo): PSym =
   var a: TLiftCtx
   a.info = info
-  a.result = newNodeI(nkStmtList, info)
-  liftBodyAux(a, typ)
-  result = a.result
+  let body = newNodeI(nkStmtList, info)
+  result = newSym(skProc, getIdent":lifted=", typ.owner, info)
+  a.fn = result
+  a.asgnForType = typ
+
+  let dest = newSym(skParam, getIdent"dest", result, info)
+  let src = newSym(skParam, getIdent"src", result, info)
+  dest.typ = makeVarType(c, typ)
+  src.typ = typ
+
+  result.typ = newProcType(info, typ.owner)
+  result.typ.addParam dest
+  result.typ.addParam src
+
+  liftBodyAux(a, typ, body, newSymNode(dest).newDeref, newSymNode(src))
+
+  var n = newNodeI(nkProcDef, info, bodyPos+1)
+  for i in 0 .. < n.len: n.sons[i] = emptyNode
+  n.sons[namePos] = newSymNode(result)
+  n.sons[paramsPos] = result.typ.n
+  n.sons[bodyPos] = body
+  result.ast = n
+
+  # register late as recursion is handled differently
+  typ.assignment = result
+  #echo "Produced this ", n
+
+proc getAsgnOrLiftBody(c: PContext; typ: PType; info: TLineInfo): PSym =
+  let t = typ.skipTypes({tyGenericInst, tyVar})
+  result = t.assignment
+  if result.isNil:
+    result = liftBody(c, t, info)
+
+proc overloadedAsgn(c: PContext; dest, src: PNode): PNode =
+  let a = getAsgnOrLiftBody(c, dest.typ, dest.info)
+  result = newAsgnCall(c, a, dest, src)
diff --git a/compiler/semcall.nim b/compiler/semcall.nim
index 4309661f3..c48e761e3 100644
--- a/compiler/semcall.nim
+++ b/compiler/semcall.nim
@@ -201,7 +201,8 @@ proc resolveOverloads(c: PContext, n, orig: PNode,
 
     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 calleeName = newStrNode(nkStrLit,
+        f.ident.s[0..f.ident.s.len-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]
diff --git a/compiler/semdata.nim b/compiler/semdata.nim
index 27d441000..1c2720006 100644
--- a/compiler/semdata.nim
+++ b/compiler/semdata.nim
@@ -9,13 +9,13 @@
 
 ## This module contains the data structures for the semantic checking phase.
 
-import 
+import
   strutils, lists, intsets, options, lexer, ast, astalgo, trees, treetab,
-  wordrecg, 
-  ropes, msgs, platform, os, condsyms, idents, renderer, types, extccomp, math, 
+  wordrecg,
+  ropes, msgs, platform, os, condsyms, idents, renderer, types, extccomp, math,
   magicsys, nversion, nimsets, parser, times, passes, rodread, vmdef
 
-type 
+type
   TOptionEntry* = object of lists.TListEntry # entries to put on a
                                              # stack for pragma parsing
     options*: TOptions
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ type
 
   POptionEntry* = ref TOptionEntry
   PProcCon* = ref TProcCon
-  TProcCon*{.final.} = object # procedure context; also used for top-level
+  TProcCon* = object          # procedure context; also used for top-level
                               # statements
     owner*: PSym              # the symbol this context belongs to
     resultSym*: PSym          # the result symbol (if we are in a proc)
@@ -36,16 +36,23 @@ type
                               # in standalone ``except`` and ``finally``
     next*: PProcCon           # used for stacking procedure contexts
     wasForwarded*: bool       # whether the current proc has a separate header
-  
+    bracketExpr*: PNode       # current bracket expression (for ^ support)
+
   TInstantiationPair* = object
     genericSym*: PSym
     inst*: PInstantiation
 
-  TExprFlag* = enum 
-    efLValue, efWantIterator, efInTypeof, efWantStmt, efDetermineType,
+  TExprFlag* = enum
+    efLValue, efWantIterator, efInTypeof,
+    efWantStmt, efAllowStmt, efDetermineType,
     efAllowDestructor, efWantValue, efOperand, efNoSemCheck
   TExprFlags* = set[TExprFlag]
 
+  TTypeAttachedOp* = enum
+    attachedAsgn,
+    attachedDeepCopy,
+    attachedDestructor
+
   PContext* = ref TContext
   TContext* = object of TPassContext # a context represents a module
     module*: PSym              # the module sym belonging to the context
@@ -57,7 +64,7 @@ type
                                # this is used so that generic instantiations
                                # can access private object fields
     instCounter*: int          # to prevent endless instantiations
-   
+
     ambiguousSymbols*: IntSet  # ids of all ambiguous symbols (cannot
                                # store this info in the syms themselves!)
     inTypeClass*: int          # > 0 if we are in a user-defined type class
@@ -92,10 +99,10 @@ type
     lastGenericIdx*: int      # used for the generics stack
     hloLoopDetector*: int     # used to prevent endless loops in the HLO
     inParallelStmt*: int
-    instDeepCopy*: proc (c: PContext; dc: PSym; t: PType;
-                         info: TLineInfo): PSym {.nimcall.}
+    instTypeBoundOp*: proc (c: PContext; dc: PSym; t: PType; info: TLineInfo;
+                            op: TTypeAttachedOp): PSym {.nimcall.}
+
 
-   
 proc makeInstPair*(s: PSym, inst: PInstantiation): TInstantiationPair =
   result.genericSym = s
   result.inst = inst
@@ -127,7 +134,7 @@ proc popOwner*()
 
 var gOwners*: seq[PSym] = @[]
 
-proc getCurrOwner(): PSym = 
+proc getCurrOwner(): PSym =
   # owner stack (used for initializing the
   # owner field of syms)
   # the documentation comment always gets
@@ -135,19 +142,19 @@ proc getCurrOwner(): PSym =
   # BUGFIX: global array is needed!
   result = gOwners[high(gOwners)]
 
-proc pushOwner(owner: PSym) = 
+proc pushOwner(owner: PSym) =
   add(gOwners, owner)
 
-proc popOwner() = 
+proc popOwner() =
   var length = len(gOwners)
   if length > 0: setLen(gOwners, length - 1)
   else: internalError("popOwner")
 
-proc lastOptionEntry(c: PContext): POptionEntry = 
+proc lastOptionEntry(c: PContext): POptionEntry =
   result = POptionEntry(c.optionStack.tail)
 
-proc pushProcCon*(c: PContext, owner: PSym) {.inline.} = 
-  if owner == nil: 
+proc pushProcCon*(c: PContext, owner: PSym) {.inline.} =
+  if owner == nil:
     internalError("owner is nil")
     return
   var x: PProcCon
@@ -158,7 +165,7 @@ proc pushProcCon*(c: PContext, owner: PSym) {.inline.} =
 
 proc popProcCon*(c: PContext) {.inline.} = c.p = c.p.next
 
-proc newOptionEntry(): POptionEntry = 
+proc newOptionEntry(): POptionEntry =
   new(result)
   result.options = gOptions
   result.defaultCC = ccDefault
@@ -182,8 +189,8 @@ proc newContext(module: PSym): PContext =
 
 proc inclSym(sq: var TSymSeq, s: PSym) =
   var L = len(sq)
-  for i in countup(0, L - 1): 
-    if sq[i].id == s.id: return 
+  for i in countup(0, L - 1):
+    if sq[i].id == s.id: return
   setLen(sq, L + 1)
   sq[L] = s
 
@@ -193,20 +200,20 @@ proc addConverter*(c: PContext, conv: PSym) =
 proc addPattern*(c: PContext, p: PSym) =
   inclSym(c.patterns, p)
 
-proc newLib(kind: TLibKind): PLib = 
+proc newLib(kind: TLibKind): PLib =
   new(result)
   result.kind = kind          #initObjectSet(result.syms)
-  
+
 proc addToLib(lib: PLib, sym: PSym) =
   #if sym.annex != nil and not isGenericRoutine(sym):
   #  LocalError(sym.info, errInvalidPragma)
   sym.annex = lib
 
-proc makePtrType(c: PContext, baseType: PType): PType = 
+proc makePtrType(c: PContext, baseType: PType): PType =
   result = newTypeS(tyPtr, c)
   addSonSkipIntLit(result, baseType.assertNotNil)
 
-proc makeVarType(c: PContext, baseType: PType): PType = 
+proc makeVarType(c: PContext, baseType: PType): PType =
   result = newTypeS(tyVar, c)
   addSonSkipIntLit(result, baseType.assertNotNil)
 
@@ -240,6 +247,7 @@ proc makeAndType*(c: PContext, t1, t2: PType): PType =
   propagateToOwner(result, t1)
   propagateToOwner(result, t2)
   result.flags.incl((t1.flags + t2.flags) * {tfHasStatic})
+  result.flags.incl tfHasMeta
 
 proc makeOrType*(c: PContext, t1, t2: PType): PType =
   result = newTypeS(tyOr, c)
@@ -247,12 +255,14 @@ proc makeOrType*(c: PContext, t1, t2: PType): PType =
   propagateToOwner(result, t1)
   propagateToOwner(result, t2)
   result.flags.incl((t1.flags + t2.flags) * {tfHasStatic})
+  result.flags.incl tfHasMeta
 
 proc makeNotType*(c: PContext, t1: PType): PType =
   result = newTypeS(tyNot, c)
   result.sons = @[t1]
   propagateToOwner(result, t1)
   result.flags.incl(t1.flags * {tfHasStatic})
+  result.flags.incl tfHasMeta
 
 proc nMinusOne*(n: PNode): PNode =
   result = newNode(nkCall, n.info, @[
@@ -286,7 +296,7 @@ proc errorNode*(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode =
   result = newNodeI(nkEmpty, n.info)
   result.typ = errorType(c)
 
-proc fillTypeS(dest: PType, kind: TTypeKind, c: PContext) = 
+proc fillTypeS(dest: PType, kind: TTypeKind, c: PContext) =
   dest.kind = kind
   dest.owner = getCurrOwner()
   dest.size = - 1
@@ -311,13 +321,13 @@ proc illFormedAst*(n: PNode) =
 proc illFormedAstLocal*(n: PNode) =
   localError(n.info, errIllFormedAstX, renderTree(n, {renderNoComments}))
 
-proc checkSonsLen*(n: PNode, length: int) = 
+proc checkSonsLen*(n: PNode, length: int) =
   if sonsLen(n) != length: illFormedAst(n)
-  
-proc checkMinSonsLen*(n: PNode, length: int) = 
+
+proc checkMinSonsLen*(n: PNode, length: int) =
   if sonsLen(n) < length: illFormedAst(n)
 
-proc isTopLevel*(c: PContext): bool {.inline.} = 
+proc isTopLevel*(c: PContext): bool {.inline.} =
   result = c.currentScope.depthLevel <= 2
 
 proc experimentalMode*(c: PContext): bool {.inline.} =
diff --git a/compiler/semdestruct.nim b/compiler/semdestruct.nim
index bbc68ee87..aaab49a10 100644
--- a/compiler/semdestruct.nim
+++ b/compiler/semdestruct.nim
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # included from sem.nim
 
 # special marker values that indicates that we are
-# 1) AnalyzingDestructor: currently analyzing the type for destructor 
+# 1) AnalyzingDestructor: currently analyzing the type for destructor
 # generation (needed for recursive types)
 # 2) DestructorIsTrivial: completed the analysis before and determined
 # that the type has a trivial destructor
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ proc doDestructorStuff(c: PContext, s: PSym, n: PNode) =
     if t.kind != tyGenericBody:
       localError(n.info, errDestructorNotGenericEnough)
       return
-  
+
   t.destructor = s
   # automatically insert calls to base classes' destructors
   if n.sons[bodyPos].kind != nkEmpty:
@@ -71,17 +71,18 @@ proc destroyCase(c: PContext, n: PNode, holder: PNode): PNode =
   result.addSon(newNode(nkDotExpr, n.info, @[holder, n.sons[0]]))
   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 stmt = destroyFieldOrFields(c, n[i].lastSon, holder)
+    let ni = n[i]
+    var caseBranch = newNode(ni.kind, ni.info, ni.sons[0..ni.len-2])
+
+    let stmt = destroyFieldOrFields(c, ni.lastSon, holder)
     if stmt == nil:
-      caseBranch.addSon(newNode(nkStmtList, n[i].info, @[]))
+      caseBranch.addSon(newNode(nkStmtList, ni.info, @[]))
     else:
       caseBranch.addSon(stmt)
       nonTrivialFields += stmt.len
-    
+
     result.addSon(caseBranch)
-  
+
   # maybe no fields were destroyed?
   if nonTrivialFields == 0:
     result = nil
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ proc destroyFieldOrFields(c: PContext, field: PNode, holder: PNode): PNode =
 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
-  
+
   # XXX: This may be true for some C-imported types such as
   # Tposix_spawnattr
   if t.n == nil or t.n.sons == nil: return
@@ -120,13 +121,13 @@ proc generateDestructor(c: PContext, t: PType): PNode =
 
 proc instantiateDestructor(c: PContext, typ: PType): PType =
   # returns nil if a variable of type `typ` doesn't require a
-  # destructor. Otherwise, returns the type, which holds the 
+  # destructor. Otherwise, returns the type, which holds the
   # destructor that must be used for the varialbe.
   # The destructor is either user-defined or automatically
   # generated by the compiler in a member-wise fashion.
   var t = skipTypes(typ, {tyConst, tyMutable}).skipGenericAlias
   let typeHoldingUserDefinition = if t.kind == tyGenericInst: t.base else: t
-  
+
   if typeHoldingUserDefinition.destructor != nil:
     # XXX: This is not entirely correct for recursive types, but we need
     # it temporarily to hide the "destroy is already defined" problem
@@ -135,7 +136,7 @@ proc instantiateDestructor(c: PContext, typ: PType): PType =
       return typeHoldingUserDefinition
     else:
       return nil
-  
+
   t = t.skipTypes({tyGenericInst})
   case t.kind
   of tySequence, tyArray, tyArrayConstr, tyOpenArray, tyVarargs:
@@ -200,16 +201,16 @@ proc insertDestructors(c: PContext,
       varId = varSection[j][0]
       varTyp = varId.sym.typ
       info = varId.info
-    
+
     if varTyp == nil or sfGlobal in varId.sym.flags: continue
     let destructableT = instantiateDestructor(c, varTyp)
-    
+
     if destructableT != nil:
       var tryStmt = newNodeI(nkTryStmt, info)
 
       if j < totalVars - 1:
         var remainingVars = newNodeI(varSection.kind, info)
-        remainingVars.sons = varSection.sons[(j+1)..(-1)]
+        remainingVars.sons = varSection.sons[(j+1)..varSection.len-1]
         let (outer, inner) = insertDestructors(c, remainingVars)
         if outer != nil:
           tryStmt.addSon(outer)
@@ -221,7 +222,7 @@ proc insertDestructors(c: PContext,
       else:
         result.inner = newNodeI(nkStmtList, info)
         tryStmt.addSon(result.inner)
-    
+
       tryStmt.addSon(
         newNode(nkFinally, info, @[
           semStmt(c, newNode(nkCall, info, @[
diff --git a/compiler/semexprs.nim b/compiler/semexprs.nim
index a56de1028..eb8d0c561 100644
--- a/compiler/semexprs.nim
+++ b/compiler/semexprs.nim
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ proc semOperand(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags = {}): PNode =
   if result.typ != nil:
     # XXX tyGenericInst here?
     if result.typ.kind == tyVar: result = newDeref(result)
-  elif efWantStmt in flags:
+  elif {efWantStmt, efAllowStmt} * flags != {}:
     result.typ = newTypeS(tyEmpty, c)
   else:
     localError(n.info, errExprXHasNoType,
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ proc isOpImpl(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode =
     maybeLiftType(t2, c, n.info)
     var m: TCandidate
     initCandidate(c, m, t2)
-    let match = typeRel(m, t2, t1) != isNone
+    let match = typeRel(m, t2, t1) >= isSubtype # isNone
     result = newIntNode(nkIntLit, ord(match))
 
   result.typ = n.typ
@@ -1133,19 +1133,20 @@ proc semSubscript(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
   ## returns nil if not a built-in subscript operator; also called for the
   ## checking of assignments
   if sonsLen(n) == 1:
-    var x = semDeref(c, n)
+    let x = semDeref(c, n)
     if x == nil: return nil
     result = newNodeIT(nkDerefExpr, x.info, x.typ)
     result.add(x[0])
     return
   checkMinSonsLen(n, 2)
   n.sons[0] = semExprWithType(c, n.sons[0])
-  var arr = skipTypes(n.sons[0].typ, {tyGenericInst, tyVar, tyPtr, tyRef})
+  let arr = skipTypes(n.sons[0].typ, {tyGenericInst, tyVar, tyPtr, tyRef})
   case arr.kind
   of tyArray, tyOpenArray, tyVarargs, tyArrayConstr, tySequence, tyString,
      tyCString:
     if n.len != 2: return nil
     n.sons[0] = makeDeref(n.sons[0])
+    c.p.bracketExpr = n.sons[0]
     for i in countup(1, sonsLen(n) - 1):
       n.sons[i] = semExprWithType(c, n.sons[i],
                                   flags*{efInTypeof, efDetermineType})
@@ -1166,6 +1167,7 @@ proc semSubscript(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
   of tyTuple:
     checkSonsLen(n, 2)
     n.sons[0] = makeDeref(n.sons[0])
+    c.p.bracketExpr = n.sons[0]
     # [] operator for tuples requires constant expression:
     n.sons[1] = semConstExpr(c, n.sons[1])
     if skipTypes(n.sons[1].typ, {tyGenericInst, tyRange, tyOrdinal}).kind in
@@ -1176,13 +1178,16 @@ proc semSubscript(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
     else:
       localError(n.info, errIndexTypesDoNotMatch)
     result = n
-  else: discard
+  else:
+    c.p.bracketExpr = n.sons[0]
 
 proc semArrayAccess(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
+  let oldBracketExpr = c.p.bracketExpr
   result = semSubscript(c, n, flags)
   if result == nil:
     # overloaded [] operator:
     result = semExpr(c, buildOverloadedSubscripts(n, getIdent"[]"))
+  c.p.bracketExpr = oldBracketExpr
 
 proc propertyWriteAccess(c: PContext, n, nOrig, a: PNode): PNode =
   var id = considerQuotedIdent(a[1])
@@ -1249,11 +1254,15 @@ proc semAsgn(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode =
   of nkBracketExpr:
     # a[i] = x
     # --> `[]=`(a, i, x)
+    let oldBracketExpr = c.p.bracketExpr
     a = semSubscript(c, a, {efLValue})
     if a == nil:
       result = buildOverloadedSubscripts(n.sons[0], getIdent"[]=")
       add(result, n[1])
-      return semExprNoType(c, result)
+      result = semExprNoType(c, result)
+      c.p.bracketExpr = oldBracketExpr
+      return result
+    c.p.bracketExpr = oldBracketExpr
   of nkCurlyExpr:
     # a{i} = x -->  `{}=`(a, i, x)
     result = buildOverloadedSubscripts(n.sons[0], getIdent"{}=")
@@ -1289,6 +1298,9 @@ proc semAsgn(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode =
           typeMismatch(n, lhs.typ, rhs.typ)
 
     n.sons[1] = fitNode(c, le, rhs)
+    if tfHasAsgn in lhs.typ.flags and not lhsIsResult:
+      return overloadedAsgn(c, lhs, n.sons[1])
+
     fixAbstractType(c, n)
     asgnToResultVar(c, n, n.sons[0], n.sons[1])
   result = n
@@ -1895,7 +1907,8 @@ proc checkInitialized(n: PNode, ids: IntSet, info: TLineInfo) =
         of nkOfBranch, nkElse: checkInitialized(lastSon(n.sons[i]), ids, info)
         else: internalError(info, "checkInitialized")
   of nkSym:
-    if tfNeedsInit in n.sym.typ.flags and n.sym.name.id notin ids:
+    if {tfNotNil, tfNeedsInit} * n.sym.typ.flags != {} and
+        n.sym.name.id notin ids:
       message(info, errGenerated, "field not initialized: " & n.sym.name.s)
   else: internalError(info, "checkInitialized")
 
diff --git a/compiler/semfold.nim b/compiler/semfold.nim
index a3f1b1c13..52931bc2b 100644
--- a/compiler/semfold.nim
+++ b/compiler/semfold.nim
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@
 # this module folds constants; used by semantic checking phase
 # and evaluation phase
 
-import 
-  strutils, lists, options, ast, astalgo, trees, treetab, nimsets, times, 
+import
+  strutils, lists, options, ast, astalgo, trees, treetab, nimsets, times,
   nversion, platform, math, msgs, os, condsyms, idents, renderer, types,
   commands, magicsys, saturate
 
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ proc newIntNodeT(intVal: BiggestInt, n: PNode): PNode =
     result.typ = n.typ
   result.info = n.info
 
-proc newFloatNodeT(floatVal: BiggestFloat, n: PNode): PNode = 
+proc newFloatNodeT(floatVal: BiggestFloat, n: PNode): PNode =
   result = newFloatNode(nkFloatLit, floatVal)
   if skipTypes(n.typ, abstractVarRange).kind == tyFloat:
     result.typ = getFloatLitType(result)
@@ -49,27 +49,27 @@ proc newFloatNodeT(floatVal: BiggestFloat, n: PNode): PNode =
     result.typ = n.typ
   result.info = n.info
 
-proc newStrNodeT(strVal: string, n: PNode): PNode = 
+proc newStrNodeT(strVal: string, n: PNode): PNode =
   result = newStrNode(nkStrLit, strVal)
   result.typ = n.typ
   result.info = n.info
 
-proc ordinalValToString*(a: PNode): string = 
+proc ordinalValToString*(a: PNode): string =
   # because $ has the param ordinal[T], `a` is not necessarily an enum, but an
   # ordinal
   var x = getInt(a)
-  
+
   var t = skipTypes(a.typ, abstractRange)
   case t.kind
-  of tyChar: 
+  of tyChar:
     result = $chr(int(x) and 0xff)
   of tyEnum:
     var n = t.n
-    for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1): 
+    for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
       if n.sons[i].kind != nkSym: internalError(a.info, "ordinalValToString")
       var field = n.sons[i].sym
-      if field.position == x: 
-        if field.ast == nil: 
+      if field.position == x:
+        if field.ast == nil:
           return field.name.s
         else:
           return field.ast.strVal
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ proc pickMaxInt(n: PNode): BiggestInt =
   else:
     internalError(n.info, "pickMaxInt")
 
-proc makeRange(typ: PType, first, last: BiggestInt): PType = 
+proc makeRange(typ: PType, first, last: BiggestInt): PType =
   let minA = min(first, last)
   let maxA = max(first, last)
   let lowerNode = newIntNode(nkIntLit, minA)
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ proc getIntervalType*(m: TMagic, n: PNode): PType =
   # Nimrod requires interval arithmetic for ``range`` types. Lots of tedious
   # work but the feature is very nice for reducing explicit conversions.
   result = n.typ
-  
+
   template commutativeOp(opr: expr) {.immediate.} =
     let a = n.sons[1]
     let b = n.sons[2]
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ proc getIntervalType*(m: TMagic, n: PNode): PType =
       result = makeRange(pickIntRange(a.typ, b.typ),
                          opr(pickMinInt(a), pickMinInt(b)),
                          opr(pickMaxInt(a), pickMaxInt(b)))
-  
+
   template binaryOp(opr: expr) {.immediate.} =
     let a = n.sons[1]
     let b = n.sons[2]
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ proc getIntervalType*(m: TMagic, n: PNode): PType =
       result = makeRange(a.typ,
                          opr(pickMinInt(a), pickMinInt(b)),
                          opr(pickMaxInt(a), pickMaxInt(b)))
-  
+
   case m
   of mUnaryMinusI, mUnaryMinusI64:
     let a = n.sons[1].typ
@@ -170,13 +170,19 @@ proc getIntervalType*(m: TMagic, n: PNode): PType =
     let a = n.sons[1].typ
     if isFloatRange(a):
       # abs(-5.. 1) == (1..5)
-      result = makeRangeF(a, abs(getFloat(a.n.sons[1])),
-                             abs(getFloat(a.n.sons[0])))
+      if a.n[0].floatVal <= 0.0:
+        result = makeRangeF(a, 0.0, abs(getFloat(a.n.sons[0])))
+      else:
+        result = makeRangeF(a, abs(getFloat(a.n.sons[1])),
+                               abs(getFloat(a.n.sons[0])))
   of mAbsI, mAbsI64:
     let a = n.sons[1].typ
     if isIntRange(a):
-      result = makeRange(a, `|abs|`(getInt(a.n.sons[1])),
-                            `|abs|`(getInt(a.n.sons[0])))
+      if a.n[0].intVal <= 0:
+        result = makeRange(a, 0, `|abs|`(getInt(a.n.sons[0])))
+      else:
+        result = makeRange(a, `|abs|`(getInt(a.n.sons[1])),
+                              `|abs|`(getInt(a.n.sons[0])))
   of mSucc:
     let a = n.sons[1].typ
     let b = n.sons[2].typ
@@ -231,7 +237,7 @@ proc getIntervalType*(m: TMagic, n: PNode): PType =
   of mMaxI, mMaxI64:
     commutativeOp(max)
   else: discard
-  
+
 discard """
   mShlI, mShlI64,
   mShrI, mShrI64, mAddF64, mSubF64, mMulF64, mDivF64, mMaxF64, mMinF64
@@ -242,7 +248,7 @@ proc evalIs(n, a: PNode): PNode =
   internalAssert a.kind == nkSym and a.sym.kind == skType
   internalAssert n.sonsLen == 3 and
     n[2].kind in {nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit, nkType}
-  
+
   let t1 = a.sym.typ
 
   if n[2].kind in {nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit}:
@@ -250,12 +256,12 @@ proc evalIs(n, a: PNode): PNode =
     of "closure":
       let t = skipTypes(t1, abstractRange)
       result = newIntNode(nkIntLit, ord(t.kind == tyProc and
-                                        t.callConv == ccClosure and 
+                                        t.callConv == ccClosure and
                                         tfIterator notin t.flags))
     of "iterator":
       let t = skipTypes(t1, abstractRange)
       result = newIntNode(nkIntLit, ord(t.kind == tyProc and
-                                        t.callConv == ccClosure and 
+                                        t.callConv == ccClosure and
                                         tfIterator in t.flags))
     else: discard
   else:
@@ -265,7 +271,7 @@ proc evalIs(n, a: PNode): PNode =
     result = newIntNode(nkIntLit, ord(match))
   result.typ = n.typ
 
-proc evalOp(m: TMagic, n, a, b, c: PNode): PNode = 
+proc evalOp(m: TMagic, n, a, b, c: PNode): PNode =
   # b and c may be nil
   result = nil
   case m
@@ -280,14 +286,14 @@ proc evalOp(m: TMagic, n, a, b, c: PNode): PNode =
   of mLengthArray: result = newIntNodeT(lengthOrd(a.typ), n)
   of mLengthSeq, mLengthOpenArray: result = newIntNodeT(sonsLen(a), n) # BUGFIX
   of mUnaryPlusI, mUnaryPlusI64, mUnaryPlusF64: result = a # throw `+` away
-  of mToFloat, mToBiggestFloat: 
+  of mToFloat, mToBiggestFloat:
     result = newFloatNodeT(toFloat(int(getInt(a))), n)
   of mToInt, mToBiggestInt: result = newIntNodeT(system.toInt(getFloat(a)), n)
   of mAbsF64: result = newFloatNodeT(abs(getFloat(a)), n)
-  of mAbsI, mAbsI64: 
+  of mAbsI, mAbsI64:
     if getInt(a) >= 0: result = a
     else: result = newIntNodeT(- getInt(a), n)
-  of mZe8ToI, mZe8ToI64, mZe16ToI, mZe16ToI64, mZe32ToI64, mZeIToI64: 
+  of mZe8ToI, mZe8ToI64, mZe16ToI, mZe16ToI64, mZe32ToI64, mZeIToI64:
     # byte(-128) = 1...1..1000_0000'64 --> 0...0..1000_0000'64
     result = newIntNodeT(getInt(a) and (`shl`(1, getSize(a.typ) * 8) - 1), n)
   of mToU8: result = newIntNodeT(getInt(a) and 0x000000FF, n)
@@ -299,21 +305,21 @@ proc evalOp(m: TMagic, n, a, b, c: PNode): PNode =
   of mAddI, mAddI64: result = newIntNodeT(getInt(a) + getInt(b), n)
   of mSubI, mSubI64: result = newIntNodeT(getInt(a) - getInt(b), n)
   of mMulI, mMulI64: result = newIntNodeT(getInt(a) * getInt(b), n)
-  of mMinI, mMinI64: 
+  of mMinI, mMinI64:
     if getInt(a) > getInt(b): result = newIntNodeT(getInt(b), n)
     else: result = newIntNodeT(getInt(a), n)
-  of mMaxI, mMaxI64: 
+  of mMaxI, mMaxI64:
     if getInt(a) > getInt(b): result = newIntNodeT(getInt(a), n)
     else: result = newIntNodeT(getInt(b), n)
-  of mShlI, mShlI64: 
+  of mShlI, mShlI64:
     case skipTypes(n.typ, abstractRange).kind
     of tyInt8: result = newIntNodeT(int8(getInt(a)) shl int8(getInt(b)), n)
     of tyInt16: result = newIntNodeT(int16(getInt(a)) shl int16(getInt(b)), n)
     of tyInt32: result = newIntNodeT(int32(getInt(a)) shl int32(getInt(b)), n)
-    of tyInt64, tyInt, tyUInt..tyUInt64: 
+    of tyInt64, tyInt, tyUInt..tyUInt64:
       result = newIntNodeT(`shl`(getInt(a), getInt(b)), n)
     else: internalError(n.info, "constant folding for shl")
-  of mShrI, mShrI64: 
+  of mShrI, mShrI64:
     case skipTypes(n.typ, abstractRange).kind
     of tyInt8: result = newIntNodeT(int8(getInt(a)) shr int8(getInt(b)), n)
     of tyInt16: result = newIntNodeT(int16(getInt(a)) shr int16(getInt(b)), n)
@@ -332,34 +338,34 @@ proc evalOp(m: TMagic, n, a, b, c: PNode): PNode =
   of mAddF64: result = newFloatNodeT(getFloat(a) + getFloat(b), n)
   of mSubF64: result = newFloatNodeT(getFloat(a) - getFloat(b), n)
   of mMulF64: result = newFloatNodeT(getFloat(a) * getFloat(b), n)
-  of mDivF64: 
-    if getFloat(b) == 0.0: 
+  of mDivF64:
+    if getFloat(b) == 0.0:
       if getFloat(a) == 0.0: result = newFloatNodeT(NaN, n)
       else: result = newFloatNodeT(Inf, n)
-    else: 
+    else:
       result = newFloatNodeT(getFloat(a) / getFloat(b), n)
-  of mMaxF64: 
+  of mMaxF64:
     if getFloat(a) > getFloat(b): result = newFloatNodeT(getFloat(a), n)
     else: result = newFloatNodeT(getFloat(b), n)
-  of mMinF64: 
+  of mMinF64:
     if getFloat(a) > getFloat(b): result = newFloatNodeT(getFloat(b), n)
     else: result = newFloatNodeT(getFloat(a), n)
   of mIsNil: result = newIntNodeT(ord(a.kind == nkNilLit), n)
-  of mLtI, mLtI64, mLtB, mLtEnum, mLtCh: 
+  of mLtI, mLtI64, mLtB, mLtEnum, mLtCh:
     result = newIntNodeT(ord(getOrdValue(a) < getOrdValue(b)), n)
-  of mLeI, mLeI64, mLeB, mLeEnum, mLeCh: 
+  of mLeI, mLeI64, mLeB, mLeEnum, mLeCh:
     result = newIntNodeT(ord(getOrdValue(a) <= getOrdValue(b)), n)
-  of mEqI, mEqI64, mEqB, mEqEnum, mEqCh: 
-    result = newIntNodeT(ord(getOrdValue(a) == getOrdValue(b)), n) 
+  of mEqI, mEqI64, mEqB, mEqEnum, mEqCh:
+    result = newIntNodeT(ord(getOrdValue(a) == getOrdValue(b)), n)
   of mLtF64: result = newIntNodeT(ord(getFloat(a) < getFloat(b)), n)
   of mLeF64: result = newIntNodeT(ord(getFloat(a) <= getFloat(b)), n)
-  of mEqF64: result = newIntNodeT(ord(getFloat(a) == getFloat(b)), n) 
+  of mEqF64: result = newIntNodeT(ord(getFloat(a) == getFloat(b)), n)
   of mLtStr: result = newIntNodeT(ord(getStr(a) < getStr(b)), n)
   of mLeStr: result = newIntNodeT(ord(getStr(a) <= getStr(b)), n)
   of mEqStr: result = newIntNodeT(ord(getStr(a) == getStr(b)), n)
-  of mLtU, mLtU64: 
+  of mLtU, mLtU64:
     result = newIntNodeT(ord(`<%`(getOrdValue(a), getOrdValue(b))), n)
-  of mLeU, mLeU64: 
+  of mLeU, mLeU64:
     result = newIntNodeT(ord(`<=%`(getOrdValue(a), getOrdValue(b))), n)
   of mBitandI, mBitandI64, mAnd: result = newIntNodeT(a.getInt and b.getInt, n)
   of mBitorI, mBitorI64, mOr: result = newIntNodeT(getInt(a) or getInt(b), n)
@@ -377,18 +383,18 @@ proc evalOp(m: TMagic, n, a, b, c: PNode): PNode =
       result = newIntNodeT(`/%`(getInt(a), y), n)
   of mLeSet: result = newIntNodeT(ord(containsSets(a, b)), n)
   of mEqSet: result = newIntNodeT(ord(equalSets(a, b)), n)
-  of mLtSet: 
+  of mLtSet:
     result = newIntNodeT(ord(containsSets(a, b) and not equalSets(a, b)), n)
-  of mMulSet: 
+  of mMulSet:
     result = nimsets.intersectSets(a, b)
     result.info = n.info
-  of mPlusSet: 
+  of mPlusSet:
     result = nimsets.unionSets(a, b)
     result.info = n.info
-  of mMinusSet: 
+  of mMinusSet:
     result = nimsets.diffSets(a, b)
     result.info = n.info
-  of mSymDiffSet: 
+  of mSymDiffSet:
     result = nimsets.symdiffSets(a, b)
     result.info = n.info
   of mConStrStr: result = newStrNodeT(getStrOrChar(a) & getStrOrChar(b), n)
@@ -397,104 +403,104 @@ proc evalOp(m: TMagic, n, a, b, c: PNode): PNode =
     # BUGFIX: we cannot eval mRepr here for reasons that I forgot.
     discard
   of mIntToStr, mInt64ToStr: result = newStrNodeT($(getOrdValue(a)), n)
-  of mBoolToStr: 
+  of mBoolToStr:
     if getOrdValue(a) == 0: result = newStrNodeT("false", n)
     else: result = newStrNodeT("true", n)
   of mCopyStr: result = newStrNodeT(substr(getStr(a), int(getOrdValue(b))), n)
-  of mCopyStrLast: 
-    result = newStrNodeT(substr(getStr(a), int(getOrdValue(b)), 
+  of mCopyStrLast:
+    result = newStrNodeT(substr(getStr(a), int(getOrdValue(b)),
                                            int(getOrdValue(c))), n)
   of mFloatToStr: result = newStrNodeT($getFloat(a), n)
   of mCStrToStr, mCharToStr: result = newStrNodeT(getStrOrChar(a), n)
   of mStrToStr: result = a
   of mEnumToStr: result = newStrNodeT(ordinalValToString(a), n)
-  of mArrToSeq: 
+  of mArrToSeq:
     result = copyTree(a)
     result.typ = n.typ
   of mCompileOption:
-    result = newIntNodeT(ord(commands.testCompileOption(a.getStr, n.info)), n)  
+    result = newIntNodeT(ord(commands.testCompileOption(a.getStr, n.info)), n)
   of mCompileOptionArg:
     result = newIntNodeT(ord(
       testCompileOptionArg(getStr(a), getStr(b), n.info)), n)
-  of mNewString, mNewStringOfCap, 
-     mExit, mInc, ast.mDec, mEcho, mSwap, mAppendStrCh, 
-     mAppendStrStr, mAppendSeqElem, mSetLengthStr, mSetLengthSeq, 
-     mParseExprToAst, mParseStmtToAst, mExpandToAst, mTypeTrait,
+  of mNewString, mNewStringOfCap,
+     mExit, mInc, ast.mDec, mEcho, mSwap, mAppendStrCh,
+     mAppendStrStr, mAppendSeqElem, mSetLengthStr, mSetLengthSeq,
+     mParseExprToAst, mParseStmtToAst, mExpandToAst, mTypeTrait, mDotDot,
      mNLen..mNError, mEqRef, mSlurp, mStaticExec, mNGenSym, mSpawn, mParallel:
     discard
   else: internalError(a.info, "evalOp(" & $m & ')')
-  
-proc getConstIfExpr(c: PSym, n: PNode): PNode = 
+
+proc getConstIfExpr(c: PSym, n: PNode): PNode =
   result = nil
-  for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1): 
+  for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
     var it = n.sons[i]
     if it.len == 2:
       var e = getConstExpr(c, it.sons[0])
       if e == nil: return nil
-      if getOrdValue(e) != 0: 
-        if result == nil: 
+      if getOrdValue(e) != 0:
+        if result == nil:
           result = getConstExpr(c, it.sons[1])
-          if result == nil: return 
+          if result == nil: return
     elif it.len == 1:
       if result == nil: result = getConstExpr(c, it.sons[0])
     else: internalError(it.info, "getConstIfExpr()")
 
-proc partialAndExpr(c: PSym, n: PNode): PNode = 
+proc partialAndExpr(c: PSym, n: PNode): PNode =
   # partial evaluation
   result = n
   var a = getConstExpr(c, n.sons[1])
   var b = getConstExpr(c, n.sons[2])
-  if a != nil: 
+  if a != nil:
     if getInt(a) == 0: result = a
     elif b != nil: result = b
     else: result = n.sons[2]
-  elif b != nil: 
+  elif b != nil:
     if getInt(b) == 0: result = b
     else: result = n.sons[1]
-  
-proc partialOrExpr(c: PSym, n: PNode): PNode = 
+
+proc partialOrExpr(c: PSym, n: PNode): PNode =
   # partial evaluation
   result = n
   var a = getConstExpr(c, n.sons[1])
   var b = getConstExpr(c, n.sons[2])
-  if a != nil: 
+  if a != nil:
     if getInt(a) != 0: result = a
     elif b != nil: result = b
     else: result = n.sons[2]
-  elif b != nil: 
+  elif b != nil:
     if getInt(b) != 0: result = b
     else: result = n.sons[1]
-  
-proc leValueConv(a, b: PNode): bool = 
+
+proc leValueConv(a, b: PNode): bool =
   result = false
   case a.kind
-  of nkCharLit..nkUInt64Lit: 
+  of nkCharLit..nkUInt64Lit:
     case b.kind
     of nkCharLit..nkUInt64Lit: result = a.intVal <= b.intVal
     of nkFloatLit..nkFloat128Lit: result = a.intVal <= round(b.floatVal)
     else: internalError(a.info, "leValueConv")
-  of nkFloatLit..nkFloat128Lit: 
+  of nkFloatLit..nkFloat128Lit:
     case b.kind
     of nkFloatLit..nkFloat128Lit: result = a.floatVal <= b.floatVal
     of nkCharLit..nkUInt64Lit: result = a.floatVal <= toFloat(int(b.intVal))
     else: internalError(a.info, "leValueConv")
   else: internalError(a.info, "leValueConv")
-  
+
 proc magicCall(m: PSym, n: PNode): PNode =
   if sonsLen(n) <= 1: return
 
   var s = n.sons[0].sym
   var a = getConstExpr(m, n.sons[1])
   var b, c: PNode
-  if a == nil: return 
-  if sonsLen(n) > 2: 
+  if a == nil: return
+  if sonsLen(n) > 2:
     b = getConstExpr(m, n.sons[2])
-    if b == nil: return 
-    if sonsLen(n) > 3: 
+    if b == nil: return
+    if sonsLen(n) > 3:
       c = getConstExpr(m, n.sons[3])
-      if c == nil: return 
+      if c == nil: return
   result = evalOp(s.magic, n, a, b, c)
-  
+
 proc getAppType(n: PNode): PNode =
   if gGlobalOptions.contains(optGenDynLib):
     result = newStrNodeT("lib", n)
@@ -510,48 +516,48 @@ proc rangeCheck(n: PNode, value: BiggestInt) =
     localError(n.info, errGenerated, "cannot convert " & $value &
                                      " to " & typeToString(n.typ))
 
-proc foldConv*(n, a: PNode; check = false): PNode = 
+proc foldConv*(n, a: PNode; check = false): PNode =
   # XXX range checks?
   case skipTypes(n.typ, abstractRange).kind
-  of tyInt..tyInt64: 
+  of tyInt..tyInt64:
     case skipTypes(a.typ, abstractRange).kind
     of tyFloat..tyFloat64:
       result = newIntNodeT(int(getFloat(a)), n)
     of tyChar: result = newIntNodeT(getOrdValue(a), n)
-    else: 
+    else:
       result = a
       result.typ = n.typ
     if check: rangeCheck(n, result.intVal)
   of tyFloat..tyFloat64:
     case skipTypes(a.typ, abstractRange).kind
-    of tyInt..tyInt64, tyEnum, tyBool, tyChar: 
+    of tyInt..tyInt64, tyEnum, tyBool, tyChar:
       result = newFloatNodeT(toFloat(int(getOrdValue(a))), n)
     else:
       result = a
       result.typ = n.typ
-  of tyOpenArray, tyVarargs, tyProc: 
+  of tyOpenArray, tyVarargs, tyProc:
     discard
-  else: 
+  else:
     result = a
     result.typ = n.typ
-  
+
 proc getArrayConstr(m: PSym, n: PNode): PNode =
   if n.kind == nkBracket:
     result = n
   else:
     result = getConstExpr(m, n)
     if result == nil: result = n
-  
-proc foldArrayAccess(m: PSym, n: PNode): PNode = 
+
+proc foldArrayAccess(m: PSym, n: PNode): PNode =
   var x = getConstExpr(m, n.sons[0])
   if x == nil or x.typ.skipTypes({tyGenericInst}).kind == tyTypeDesc: return
-  
+
   var y = getConstExpr(m, n.sons[1])
   if y == nil: return
-  
+
   var idx = getOrdValue(y)
   case x.kind
-  of nkPar: 
+  of nkPar:
     if idx >= 0 and idx < sonsLen(x):
       result = x.sons[int(idx)]
       if result.kind == nkExprColonExpr: result = result.sons[1]
@@ -563,14 +569,14 @@ proc foldArrayAccess(m: PSym, n: PNode): PNode =
     else: localError(n.info, errIndexOutOfBounds)
   of nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit:
     result = newNodeIT(nkCharLit, x.info, n.typ)
-    if idx >= 0 and idx < len(x.strVal): 
+    if idx >= 0 and idx < len(x.strVal):
       result.intVal = ord(x.strVal[int(idx)])
-    elif idx == len(x.strVal): 
+    elif idx == len(x.strVal):
       discard
-    else: 
+    else:
       localError(n.info, errIndexOutOfBounds)
   else: discard
-  
+
 proc foldFieldAccess(m: PSym, n: PNode): PNode =
   # a real field access; proc calls have already been transformed
   var x = getConstExpr(m, n.sons[0])
@@ -584,15 +590,15 @@ proc foldFieldAccess(m: PSym, n: PNode): PNode =
       result = x.sons[field.position]
       if result.kind == nkExprColonExpr: result = result.sons[1]
       return
-    if it.sons[0].sym.name.id == field.name.id: 
+    if it.sons[0].sym.name.id == field.name.id:
       result = x.sons[i].sons[1]
       return
   localError(n.info, errFieldXNotFound, field.name.s)
-  
-proc foldConStrStr(m: PSym, n: PNode): PNode = 
+
+proc foldConStrStr(m: PSym, n: PNode): PNode =
   result = newNodeIT(nkStrLit, n.info, n.typ)
   result.strVal = ""
-  for i in countup(1, sonsLen(n) - 1): 
+  for i in countup(1, sonsLen(n) - 1):
     let a = getConstExpr(m, n.sons[i])
     if a == nil: return nil
     result.strVal.add(getStrOrChar(a))
@@ -602,10 +608,10 @@ proc newSymNodeTypeDesc*(s: PSym; info: TLineInfo): PNode =
   result.typ = newType(tyTypeDesc, s.owner)
   result.typ.addSonSkipIntLit(s.typ)
 
-proc getConstExpr(m: PSym, n: PNode): PNode = 
+proc getConstExpr(m: PSym, n: PNode): PNode =
   result = nil
   case n.kind
-  of nkSym: 
+  of nkSym:
     var s = n.sym
     case s.kind
     of skEnumField:
@@ -636,14 +642,14 @@ proc getConstExpr(m: PSym, n: PNode): PNode =
       else:
         result = newSymNodeTypeDesc(s, n.info)
     else: discard
-  of nkCharLit..nkNilLit: 
+  of nkCharLit..nkNilLit:
     result = copyNode(n)
-  of nkIfExpr: 
+  of nkIfExpr:
     result = getConstIfExpr(m, n)
-  of nkCall, nkCommand, nkCallStrLit, nkPrefix, nkInfix: 
-    if n.sons[0].kind != nkSym: return 
+  of nkCall, nkCommand, nkCallStrLit, nkPrefix, nkInfix:
+    if n.sons[0].kind != nkSym: return
     var s = n.sons[0].sym
-    if s.kind != skProc: return 
+    if s.kind != skProc: return
     try:
       case s.magic
       of mNone:
@@ -651,8 +657,8 @@ proc getConstExpr(m: PSym, n: PNode): PNode =
         return
       of mSizeOf:
         var a = n.sons[1]
-        if computeSize(a.typ) < 0: 
-          localError(a.info, errCannotEvalXBecauseIncompletelyDefined, 
+        if computeSize(a.typ) < 0:
+          localError(a.info, errCannotEvalXBecauseIncompletelyDefined,
                      "sizeof")
           result = nil
         elif skipTypes(a.typ, typedescInst).kind in
@@ -662,21 +668,21 @@ proc getConstExpr(m: PSym, n: PNode): PNode =
         else:
           result = nil
           # XXX: size computation for complex types is still wrong
-      of mLow: 
+      of mLow:
         result = newIntNodeT(firstOrd(n.sons[1].typ), n)
-      of mHigh: 
+      of mHigh:
         if skipTypes(n.sons[1].typ, abstractVar).kind notin
             {tySequence, tyString, tyCString, tyOpenArray, tyVarargs}:
           result = newIntNodeT(lastOrd(skipTypes(n[1].typ, abstractVar)), n)
         else:
           var a = getArrayConstr(m, n.sons[1])
           if a.kind == nkBracket:
-            # we can optimize it away: 
+            # we can optimize it away:
             result = newIntNodeT(sonsLen(a)-1, n)
       of mLengthOpenArray:
         var a = getArrayConstr(m, n.sons[1])
         if a.kind == nkBracket:
-          # we can optimize it away! This fixes the bug ``len(134)``. 
+          # we can optimize it away! This fixes the bug ``len(134)``.
           result = newIntNodeT(sonsLen(a), n)
         else:
           result = magicCall(m, n)
@@ -694,33 +700,33 @@ proc getConstExpr(m: PSym, n: PNode): PNode =
           result = evalIs(n, a)
       else:
         result = magicCall(m, n)
-    except OverflowError: 
+    except OverflowError:
       localError(n.info, errOverOrUnderflow)
-    except DivByZeroError: 
+    except DivByZeroError:
       localError(n.info, errConstantDivisionByZero)
-  of nkAddr: 
+  of nkAddr:
     var a = getConstExpr(m, n.sons[0])
-    if a != nil: 
+    if a != nil:
       result = n
       n.sons[0] = a
-  of nkBracket: 
+  of nkBracket:
     result = copyTree(n)
-    for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1): 
+    for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
       var a = getConstExpr(m, n.sons[i])
       if a == nil: return nil
       result.sons[i] = a
     incl(result.flags, nfAllConst)
-  of nkRange: 
+  of nkRange:
     var a = getConstExpr(m, n.sons[0])
-    if a == nil: return 
+    if a == nil: return
     var b = getConstExpr(m, n.sons[1])
-    if b == nil: return 
+    if b == nil: return
     result = copyNode(n)
     addSon(result, a)
     addSon(result, b)
-  of nkCurly: 
+  of nkCurly:
     result = copyTree(n)
-    for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1): 
+    for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
       var a = getConstExpr(m, n.sons[i])
       if a == nil: return nil
       result.sons[i] = a
@@ -735,33 +741,33 @@ proc getConstExpr(m: PSym, n: PNode): PNode =
   of nkPar:
     # tuple constructor
     result = copyTree(n)
-    if (sonsLen(n) > 0) and (n.sons[0].kind == nkExprColonExpr): 
-      for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1): 
+    if (sonsLen(n) > 0) and (n.sons[0].kind == nkExprColonExpr):
+      for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
         var a = getConstExpr(m, n.sons[i].sons[1])
         if a == nil: return nil
         result.sons[i].sons[1] = a
-    else: 
-      for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1): 
+    else:
+      for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
         var a = getConstExpr(m, n.sons[i])
         if a == nil: return nil
         result.sons[i] = a
     incl(result.flags, nfAllConst)
-  of nkChckRangeF, nkChckRange64, nkChckRange: 
+  of nkChckRangeF, nkChckRange64, nkChckRange:
     var a = getConstExpr(m, n.sons[0])
-    if a == nil: return 
-    if leValueConv(n.sons[1], a) and leValueConv(a, n.sons[2]): 
+    if a == nil: return
+    if leValueConv(n.sons[1], a) and leValueConv(a, n.sons[2]):
       result = a              # a <= x and x <= b
       result.typ = n.typ
-    else: 
+    else:
       localError(n.info, errGenerated, `%`(
-          msgKindToString(errIllegalConvFromXtoY), 
+          msgKindToString(errIllegalConvFromXtoY),
           [typeToString(n.sons[0].typ), typeToString(n.typ)]))
-  of nkStringToCString, nkCStringToString: 
+  of nkStringToCString, nkCStringToString:
     var a = getConstExpr(m, n.sons[0])
-    if a == nil: return 
+    if a == nil: return
     result = a
     result.typ = n.typ
-  of nkHiddenStdConv, nkHiddenSubConv, nkConv: 
+  of nkHiddenStdConv, nkHiddenSubConv, nkConv:
     var a = getConstExpr(m, n.sons[1])
     if a == nil: return
     result = foldConv(n, a, check=n.kind == nkHiddenStdConv)
diff --git a/compiler/seminst.nim b/compiler/seminst.nim
index dc36ecf34..f72e2dc5b 100644
--- a/compiler/seminst.nim
+++ b/compiler/seminst.nim
@@ -176,7 +176,9 @@ proc instantiateProcType(c: PContext, pt: TIdTable,
 
   for i in 1 .. <result.len:
     # twrong_field_caching requires these 'resetIdTable' calls:
-    if i > 1: resetIdTable(cl.symMap)
+    if i > 1:
+      resetIdTable(cl.symMap)
+      resetIdTable(cl.localCache)
     result.sons[i] = replaceTypeVarsT(cl, result.sons[i])
     propagateToOwner(result, result.sons[i])
     internalAssert originalParams[i].kind == nkSym
@@ -196,6 +198,7 @@ proc instantiateProcType(c: PContext, pt: TIdTable,
       addDecl(c, result.n.sons[i].sym)
 
   resetIdTable(cl.symMap)
+  resetIdTable(cl.localCache)
   result.sons[0] = replaceTypeVarsT(cl, result.sons[0])
   result.n.sons[0] = originalParams[0].copyTree
 
diff --git a/compiler/semmagic.nim b/compiler/semmagic.nim
index 3c9784152..de7700be6 100644
--- a/compiler/semmagic.nim
+++ b/compiler/semmagic.nim
@@ -130,6 +130,18 @@ proc semLocals(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode =
         result.add(a)
 
 proc semShallowCopy(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags): PNode
+
+proc isStrangeArray(t: PType): bool =
+  let t = t.skipTypes(abstractInst)
+  result = t.kind == tyArray and t.firstOrd != 0
+
+proc isNegative(n: PNode): bool =
+  let n = n.skipConv
+  if n.kind in {nkCharLit..nkUInt64Lit}:
+    result = n.intVal < 0
+  elif n.kind in nkCallKinds and n.sons[0].kind == nkSym:
+    result = n.sons[0].sym.magic in {mUnaryMinusI, mUnaryMinusI64}
+
 proc magicsAfterOverloadResolution(c: PContext, n: PNode,
                                    flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
   case n[0].sym.magic
@@ -153,4 +165,35 @@ proc magicsAfterOverloadResolution(c: PContext, n: PNode,
   of mProcCall:
     result = n
     result.typ = n[1].typ
+  of mDotDot:
+    result = n
+    # disallow negative indexing for now:
+    if not c.p.bracketExpr.isNil:
+      if isNegative(n.sons[1]) or (n.len > 2 and isNegative(n.sons[2])):
+        localError(n.info, "use '^' instead of '-'; negative indexing is obsolete")
+  of mRoof:
+    # error correction:
+    result = n.sons[1]
+    if c.p.bracketExpr.isNil:
+      localError(n.info, "no surrounding array access context for '^'")
+    elif c.p.bracketExpr.checkForSideEffects != seNoSideEffect:
+      localError(n.info, "invalid context for '^' as '$#' has side effects" %
+        renderTree(c.p.bracketExpr))
+    elif c.p.bracketExpr.typ.isStrangeArray:
+      localError(n.info, "invalid context for '^' as len!=high+1 for '$#'" %
+        renderTree(c.p.bracketExpr))
+    else:
+      # ^x  is rewritten to: len(a)-x
+      let lenExpr = newNodeI(nkCall, n.info)
+      lenExpr.add newIdentNode(getIdent"len", n.info)
+      lenExpr.add c.p.bracketExpr
+      let lenExprB = semExprWithType(c, lenExpr)
+      if lenExprB.typ.isNil or not isOrdinalType(lenExprB.typ):
+        localError(n.info, "'$#' has to be of an ordinal type for '^'" %
+          renderTree(lenExpr))
+      else:
+        result = newNodeIT(nkCall, n.info, getSysType(tyInt))
+        result.add newSymNode(createMagic("-", mSubI), n.info)
+        result.add lenExprB
+        result.add n.sons[1]
   else: result = n
diff --git a/compiler/sempass2.nim b/compiler/sempass2.nim
index 48f54fa6c..5a243afa0 100644
--- a/compiler/sempass2.nim
+++ b/compiler/sempass2.nim
@@ -194,8 +194,38 @@ proc warnAboutGcUnsafe(n: PNode) =
   #assert false
   message(n.info, warnGcUnsafe, renderTree(n))
 
-template markGcUnsafe(a: PEffects) =
+proc markGcUnsafe(a: PEffects; reason: PSym) =
   a.gcUnsafe = true
+  if a.owner.kind in routineKinds: a.owner.gcUnsafetyReason = reason
+
+proc markGcUnsafe(a: PEffects; reason: PNode) =
+  a.gcUnsafe = true
+  if a.owner.kind in routineKinds:
+    if reason.kind == nkSym:
+      a.owner.gcUnsafetyReason = reason.sym
+    else:
+      a.owner.gcUnsafetyReason = newSym(skUnknown, getIdent("<unknown>"),
+                                        a.owner, reason.info)
+
+proc listGcUnsafety(s: PSym; onlyWarning: bool) =
+  let u = s.gcUnsafetyReason
+  if u != nil:
+    let msgKind = if onlyWarning: warnGcUnsafe2 else: errGenerated
+    if u.kind in {skLet, skVar}:
+      message(s.info, msgKind,
+        ("'$#' is not GC-safe as it accesses '$#'" &
+        " which is a global using GC'ed memory") % [s.name.s, u.name.s])
+    elif u.kind in routineKinds:
+      # recursive call *always* produces only a warning so the full error
+      # message is printed:
+      listGcUnsafety(u, true)
+      message(s.info, msgKind,
+        "'$#' is not GC-safe as it calls '$#'" %
+        [s.name.s, u.name.s])
+    else:
+      internalAssert u.kind == skUnknown
+      message(u.info, msgKind,
+        "'$#' is not GC-safe as it performs an indirect call here" % s.name.s)
 
 proc useVar(a: PEffects, n: PNode) =
   let s = n.sym
@@ -210,8 +240,8 @@ proc useVar(a: PEffects, n: PNode) =
   if {sfGlobal, sfThread} * s.flags == {sfGlobal} and s.kind in {skVar, skLet}:
     if s.guard != nil: guardGlobal(a, n, s.guard)
     if (tfHasGCedMem in s.typ.flags or s.typ.isGCedMem):
-      if warnGcUnsafe in gNotes: warnAboutGcUnsafe(n)
-      markGcUnsafe(a)
+      #if warnGcUnsafe in gNotes: warnAboutGcUnsafe(n)
+      markGcUnsafe(a, s)
 
 type
   TIntersection = seq[tuple[id, count: int]] # a simple count table
@@ -450,7 +480,7 @@ proc propagateEffects(tracked: PEffects, n: PNode, s: PSym) =
 
   if notGcSafe(s.typ) and sfImportc notin s.flags:
     if warnGcUnsafe in gNotes: warnAboutGcUnsafe(n)
-    markGcUnsafe(tracked)
+    markGcUnsafe(tracked, s)
   mergeLockLevels(tracked, n, s.getLockLevel)
 
 proc notNilCheck(tracked: PEffects, n: PNode, paramType: PType) =
@@ -504,13 +534,13 @@ proc trackOperand(tracked: PEffects, n: PNode, paramType: PType) =
       # assume GcUnsafe unless in its type; 'forward' does not matter:
       if notGcSafe(op) and not isOwnedProcVar(a, tracked.owner):
         if warnGcUnsafe in gNotes: warnAboutGcUnsafe(n)
-        markGcUnsafe(tracked)
+        markGcUnsafe(tracked, a)
     else:
       mergeEffects(tracked, effectList.sons[exceptionEffects], n)
       mergeTags(tracked, effectList.sons[tagEffects], n)
       if notGcSafe(op):
         if warnGcUnsafe in gNotes: warnAboutGcUnsafe(n)
-        markGcUnsafe(tracked)
+        markGcUnsafe(tracked, a)
   notNilCheck(tracked, n, paramType)
 
 proc breaksBlock(n: PNode): bool =
@@ -658,7 +688,7 @@ proc track(tracked: PEffects, n: PNode) =
           # and it's not a recursive call:
           if not (a.kind == nkSym and a.sym == tracked.owner):
             warnAboutGcUnsafe(n)
-            markGcUnsafe(tracked)
+            markGcUnsafe(tracked, a)
     for i in 1 .. <len(n): trackOperand(tracked, n.sons[i], paramType(op, i))
     if a.kind == nkSym and a.sym.magic in {mNew, mNewFinalize, mNewSeq}:
       # may not look like an assignment, but it is:
@@ -734,7 +764,7 @@ proc track(tracked: PEffects, n: PNode) =
     setLen(tracked.locked, oldLocked)
     tracked.currLockLevel = oldLockLevel
   of nkTypeSection, nkProcDef, nkConverterDef, nkMethodDef, nkIteratorDef,
-      nkMacroDef, nkTemplateDef:
+      nkMacroDef, nkTemplateDef, nkLambda, nkDo:
     discard
   else:
     for i in 0 .. <safeLen(n): track(tracked, n.sons[i])
@@ -853,9 +883,11 @@ proc trackProc*(s: PSym, body: PNode) =
 
   if sfThread in s.flags and t.gcUnsafe:
     if optThreads in gGlobalOptions and optThreadAnalysis in gGlobalOptions:
-      localError(s.info, "'$1' is not GC-safe" % s.name.s)
+      #localError(s.info, "'$1' is not GC-safe" % s.name.s)
+      listGcUnsafety(s, onlyWarning=false)
     else:
-      localError(s.info, warnGcUnsafe2, s.name.s)
+      listGcUnsafety(s, onlyWarning=true)
+      #localError(s.info, warnGcUnsafe2, s.name.s)
   if not t.gcUnsafe:
     s.typ.flags.incl tfGcSafe
   if s.typ.lockLevel == UnspecifiedLockLevel:
diff --git a/compiler/semstmts.nim b/compiler/semstmts.nim
index ae0cbd84f..a8463cbed 100644
--- a/compiler/semstmts.nim
+++ b/compiler/semstmts.nim
@@ -340,6 +340,39 @@ proc checkNilable(v: PSym) =
     elif tfNotNil in v.typ.flags and tfNotNil notin v.ast.typ.flags:
       message(v.info, warnProveInit, v.name.s)
 
+include semasgn
+
+proc addToVarSection(c: PContext; result: var PNode; orig, identDefs: PNode) =
+  # consider this:
+  #   var
+  #     x = 0
+  #     withOverloadedAssignment = foo()
+  #     y = use(withOverloadedAssignment)
+  # We need to split this into a statement list with multiple 'var' sections
+  # in order for this transformation to be correct.
+  let L = identDefs.len
+  let value = identDefs[L-1]
+  if value.typ != nil and tfHasAsgn in value.typ.flags:
+    # the spec says we need to rewrite 'var x = T()' to 'var x: T; x = T()':
+    identDefs.sons[L-1] = emptyNode
+    if result.kind != nkStmtList:
+      let oldResult = result
+      oldResult.add identDefs
+      result = newNodeI(nkStmtList, result.info)
+      result.add oldResult
+    else:
+      let o = copyNode(orig)
+      o.add identDefs
+      result.add o
+    for i in 0 .. L-3:
+      result.add overloadedAsgn(c, identDefs[i], value)
+  elif result.kind == nkStmtList:
+    let o = copyNode(orig)
+    o.add identDefs
+    result.add o
+  else:
+    result.add identDefs
+
 proc semVarOrLet(c: PContext, n: PNode, symkind: TSymKind): PNode =
   var b: PNode
   result = copyNode(n)
@@ -396,7 +429,7 @@ proc semVarOrLet(c: PContext, n: PNode, symkind: TSymKind): PNode =
         newSons(b, length)
         b.sons[length-2] = a.sons[length-2] # keep type desc for doc generator
         b.sons[length-1] = def
-        addSon(result, b)
+        addToVarSection(c, result, n, b)
     elif tup.kind == tyTuple and def.kind == nkPar and
         a.kind == nkIdentDefs and a.len > 3:
       message(a.info, warnEachIdentIsTuple)
@@ -429,7 +462,7 @@ proc semVarOrLet(c: PContext, n: PNode, symkind: TSymKind): PNode =
         addSon(b, newSymNode(v))
         addSon(b, a.sons[length-2])      # keep type desc for doc generator
         addSon(b, copyTree(def))
-        addSon(result, b)
+        addToVarSection(c, result, n, b)
       else:
         if def.kind == nkPar: v.ast = def[j]
         v.typ = tup.sons[j]
@@ -654,6 +687,16 @@ proc typeSectionRightSidePass(c: PContext, n: PNode) =
         #debug s.typ
       s.ast = a
       popOwner()
+    let aa = a.sons[2]
+    if aa.kind in {nkRefTy, nkPtrTy} and aa.len == 1 and
+       aa.sons[0].kind == nkObjectTy:
+      # give anonymous object a dummy symbol:
+      var st = s.typ
+      if st.kind == tyGenericBody: st = st.lastSon
+      internalAssert st.kind in {tyPtr, tyRef}
+      internalAssert st.lastSon.sym == nil
+      st.lastSon.sym = newSym(skType, getIdent(s.name.s & ":ObjectType"),
+                              getCurrOwner(), s.info)
 
 proc checkForMetaFields(n: PNode) =
   template checkMeta(t) =
@@ -697,16 +740,6 @@ proc typeSectionFinalPass(c: PContext, n: PNode) =
       checkConstructedType(s.info, s.typ)
       if s.typ.kind in {tyObject, tyTuple} and not s.typ.n.isNil:
         checkForMetaFields(s.typ.n)
-    let aa = a.sons[2]
-    if aa.kind in {nkRefTy, nkPtrTy} and aa.len == 1 and
-       aa.sons[0].kind == nkObjectTy:
-      # give anonymous object a dummy symbol:
-      var st = s.typ
-      if st.kind == tyGenericBody: st = st.lastSon
-      internalAssert st.kind in {tyPtr, tyRef}
-      internalAssert st.lastSon.sym == nil
-      st.lastSon.sym = newSym(skType, getIdent(s.name.s & ":ObjectType"),
-                              getCurrOwner(), s.info)
 
 proc semTypeSection(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode =
   ## Processes a type section. This must be done in separate passes, in order
@@ -909,11 +942,12 @@ proc maybeAddResult(c: PContext, s: PSym, n: PNode) =
 
 proc semOverride(c: PContext, s: PSym, n: PNode) =
   case s.name.s.normalize
-  of "destroy":
+  of "destroy", "=destroy":
     doDestructorStuff(c, s, n)
     if not experimentalMode(c):
       localError n.info, "use the {.experimental.} pragma to enable destructors"
-  of "deepcopy":
+    incl(s.flags, sfUsed)
+  of "deepcopy", "=deepcopy":
     if s.typ.len == 2 and
         s.typ.sons[1].skipTypes(abstractInst).kind in {tyRef, tyPtr} and
         sameType(s.typ.sons[1], s.typ.sons[0]):
@@ -935,10 +969,35 @@ proc semOverride(c: PContext, s: PSym, n: PNode) =
     else:
       localError(n.info, errGenerated,
                  "signature for 'deepCopy' must be proc[T: ptr|ref](x: T): T")
-  of "=": discard
-  else: localError(n.info, errGenerated,
-                   "'destroy' or 'deepCopy' expected for 'override'")
-  incl(s.flags, sfUsed)
+    incl(s.flags, sfUsed)
+  of "=":
+    incl(s.flags, sfUsed)
+    let t = s.typ
+    if t.len == 3 and t.sons[0] == nil and t.sons[1].kind == tyVar:
+      var obj = t.sons[1].sons[0]
+      while true:
+        incl(obj.flags, tfHasAsgn)
+        if obj.kind == tyGenericBody: obj = obj.lastSon
+        elif obj.kind == tyGenericInvocation: obj = obj.sons[0]
+        else: break
+      var objB = t.sons[2]
+      while true:
+        if objB.kind == tyGenericBody: objB = objB.lastSon
+        elif objB.kind == tyGenericInvocation: objB = objB.sons[0]
+        else: break
+      if obj.kind in {tyObject, tyDistinct} and sameType(obj, objB):
+        if obj.assignment.isNil:
+          obj.assignment = s
+        else:
+          localError(n.info, errGenerated,
+                     "cannot bind another '=' to: " & typeToString(obj))
+        return
+    localError(n.info, errGenerated,
+               "signature for '=' must be proc[T: object](x: var T; y: T)")
+  else:
+    if sfOverriden in s.flags:
+      localError(n.info, errGenerated,
+                 "'destroy' or 'deepCopy' expected for 'override'")
 
 type
   TProcCompilationSteps = enum
@@ -970,7 +1029,7 @@ proc semProcAux(c: PContext, n: PNode, kind: TSymKind,
       s = semIdentDef(c, n.sons[0], kind)
     n.sons[namePos] = newSymNode(s)
     s.ast = n
-    s.scope = c.currentScope
+    #s.scope = c.currentScope
 
     if sfNoForward in c.module.flags and
        sfSystemModule notin c.module.flags:
@@ -982,14 +1041,14 @@ proc semProcAux(c: PContext, n: PNode, kind: TSymKind,
     s.owner = getCurrOwner()
     typeIsDetermined = s.typ == nil
     s.ast = n
-    s.scope = c.currentScope
+    #s.scope = c.currentScope
 
     # if typeIsDetermined: assert phase == stepCompileBody
     # else: assert phase == stepDetermineType
   # before compiling the proc body, set as current the scope
   # where the proc was declared
   let oldScope = c.currentScope
-  c.currentScope = s.scope
+  #c.currentScope = s.scope
   pushOwner(s)
   openScope(c)
   var gp: PNode
@@ -1014,7 +1073,7 @@ proc semProcAux(c: PContext, n: PNode, kind: TSymKind,
   if s.kind in skIterators:
     s.typ.flags.incl(tfIterator)
 
-  var proto = searchForProc(c, s.scope, s)
+  var proto = searchForProc(c, oldScope, s)
   if proto == nil:
     if s.kind == skClosureIterator: s.typ.callConv = ccClosure
     else: s.typ.callConv = lastOptionEntry(c).defaultCC
@@ -1022,10 +1081,10 @@ proc semProcAux(c: PContext, n: PNode, kind: TSymKind,
     if sfGenSym in s.flags: discard
     elif kind in OverloadableSyms:
       if not typeIsDetermined:
-        addInterfaceOverloadableSymAt(c, s.scope, s)
+        addInterfaceOverloadableSymAt(c, oldScope, s)
     else:
       if not typeIsDetermined:
-        addInterfaceDeclAt(c, s.scope, s)
+        addInterfaceDeclAt(c, oldScope, s)
     if n.sons[pragmasPos].kind != nkEmpty:
       pragma(c, s, n.sons[pragmasPos], validPragmas)
     else:
@@ -1055,7 +1114,7 @@ proc semProcAux(c: PContext, n: PNode, kind: TSymKind,
     popOwner()
     pushOwner(s)
   s.options = gOptions
-  if sfOverriden in s.flags: semOverride(c, s, n)
+  if sfOverriden in s.flags or s.name.s[0] == '=': semOverride(c, s, n)
   if n.sons[bodyPos].kind != nkEmpty:
     # for DLL generation it is annoying to check for sfImportc!
     if sfBorrow in s.flags:
@@ -1093,7 +1152,7 @@ proc semProcAux(c: PContext, n: PNode, kind: TSymKind,
     elif sfBorrow in s.flags: semBorrow(c, n, s)
   sideEffectsCheck(c, s)
   closeScope(c)           # close scope for parameters
-  c.currentScope = oldScope
+  # c.currentScope = oldScope
   popOwner()
   if n.sons[patternPos].kind != nkEmpty:
     c.patterns.add(s)
@@ -1281,7 +1340,7 @@ proc semStmtList(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
       var tryStmt = newNodeI(nkTryStmt, n.sons[i].info)
       var body = newNodeI(nkStmtList, n.sons[i].info)
       if i < n.sonsLen - 1:
-        body.sons = n.sons[(i+1)..(-1)]
+        body.sons = n.sons[(i+1)..n.len-1]
       tryStmt.addSon(body)
       tryStmt.addSon(deferPart)
       n.sons[i] = semTry(c, tryStmt)
diff --git a/compiler/semtempl.nim b/compiler/semtempl.nim
index b6efa5119..161d22fc1 100644
--- a/compiler/semtempl.nim
+++ b/compiler/semtempl.nim
@@ -482,7 +482,7 @@ proc semTemplateDef(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode =
     s = semIdentVis(c, skTemplate, n.sons[0], {})
   styleCheckDef(s)
   # check parameter list:
-  s.scope = c.currentScope
+  #s.scope = c.currentScope
   pushOwner(s)
   openScope(c)
   n.sons[namePos] = newSymNode(s, n.sons[namePos].info)
diff --git a/compiler/semtypes.nim b/compiler/semtypes.nim
index a19cc65c3..9e36341bb 100644
--- a/compiler/semtypes.nim
+++ b/compiler/semtypes.nim
@@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ proc semRecordNodeAux(c: PContext, n: PNode, check: var IntSet, pos: var int,
       f.position = pos
       if (rec != nil) and ({sfImportc, sfExportc} * rec.flags != {}) and
           (f.loc.r == nil):
-        f.loc.r = toRope(f.name.s)
+        f.loc.r = rope(f.name.s)
         f.flags = f.flags + ({sfImportc, sfExportc} * rec.flags)
       inc(pos)
       if containsOrIncl(check, f.name.id):
@@ -646,14 +646,17 @@ proc semObjectNode(c: PContext, n: PNode, prev: PType): PType =
   # n.sons[0] contains the pragmas (if any). We process these later...
   checkSonsLen(n, 3)
   if n.sons[1].kind != nkEmpty:
-    base = skipTypes(semTypeNode(c, n.sons[1].sons[0], nil), skipPtrs)
-    var concreteBase = skipGenericInvocation(base).skipTypes(skipPtrs)
-    if concreteBase.kind == tyObject and tfFinal notin concreteBase.flags:
-      addInheritedFields(c, check, pos, concreteBase)
+    base = skipTypesOrNil(semTypeNode(c, n.sons[1].sons[0], nil), skipPtrs)
+    if base.isNil:
+      localError(n.info, errIllegalRecursionInTypeX, "object")
     else:
-      if concreteBase.kind != tyError:
-        localError(n.sons[1].info, errInheritanceOnlyWithNonFinalObjects)
-      base = nil
+      var concreteBase = skipGenericInvocation(base).skipTypes(skipPtrs)
+      if concreteBase.kind == tyObject and tfFinal notin concreteBase.flags:
+        addInheritedFields(c, check, pos, concreteBase)
+      else:
+        if concreteBase.kind != tyError:
+          localError(n.sons[1].info, errInheritanceOnlyWithNonFinalObjects)
+        base = nil
   if n.kind != nkObjectTy: internalError(n.info, "semObjectNode")
   result = newOrPrevType(tyObject, prev, c)
   rawAddSon(result, base)
@@ -786,7 +789,7 @@ proc liftParamType(c: PContext, procKind: TSymKind, genericParams: PNode,
                                   @[newTypeS(paramType.kind, c)])
       result = addImplicitGeneric(typ)
     else:
-      for i in 0 .. <paramType.sons.len:
+      for i in 0 .. <paramType.len:
         if paramType.sons[i] == paramType:
           globalError(info, errIllegalRecursionInTypeX, typeToString(paramType))
         var lifted = liftingWalk(paramType.sons[i])
@@ -831,7 +834,7 @@ proc liftParamType(c: PContext, procKind: TSymKind, genericParams: PNode,
       cp.kind = tyUserTypeClassInst
       return addImplicitGeneric(cp)
 
-    for i in 1 .. (paramType.sons.len - 2):
+    for i in 1 .. paramType.len-2:
       var lifted = liftingWalk(paramType.sons[i])
       if lifted != nil:
         paramType.sons[i] = lifted
@@ -844,7 +847,7 @@ proc liftParamType(c: PContext, procKind: TSymKind, genericParams: PNode,
       result.shouldHaveMeta
 
   of tyGenericInvocation:
-    for i in 1 .. <paramType.sonsLen:
+    for i in 1 .. <paramType.len:
       let lifted = liftingWalk(paramType.sons[i])
       if lifted != nil: paramType.sons[i] = lifted
     when false:
@@ -1175,6 +1178,10 @@ proc semTypeNode(c: PContext, n: PNode, prev: PType): PType =
         result = semAnyRef(c, n, tyPtr, prev)
       elif op.id == ord(wRef):
         result = semAnyRef(c, n, tyRef, prev)
+      elif op.id == ord(wType):
+        checkSonsLen(n, 2)
+        let typExpr = semExprWithType(c, n.sons[1], {efInTypeof})
+        result = typExpr.typ.skipTypes({tyIter})
       else:
         result = semTypeExpr(c, n)
   of nkWhenStmt:
diff --git a/compiler/semtypinst.nim b/compiler/semtypinst.nim
index 5779c3c4b..c5caf8b92 100644
--- a/compiler/semtypinst.nim
+++ b/compiler/semtypinst.nim
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ const
 
 proc sharedPtrCheck(info: TLineInfo, t: PType) =
   if t.kind == tyPtr and t.len > 1:
-    if t.sons[0].sym.magic in {mShared, mGuarded}:
+    if t.sons[0].sym.magic == mShared:
       incl(t.flags, tfShared)
-      if t.sons[0].sym.magic == mGuarded: incl(t.flags, tfGuarded)
+      #if t.sons[0].sym.magic == mGuarded: incl(t.flags, tfGuarded)
       if tfHasGCedMem in t.flags or t.isGCedMem:
         localError(info, errGenerated,
                    "shared memory may not refer to GC'ed thread local memory")
@@ -233,7 +233,9 @@ proc instCopyType*(cl: var TReplTypeVars, t: PType): PType =
   # XXX: relying on allowMetaTypes is a kludge
   result = copyType(t, t.owner, cl.allowMetaTypes)
   result.flags.incl tfFromGeneric
-  result.flags.excl tfInstClearedFlags
+  if not (t.kind in tyMetaTypes or
+         (t.kind == tyStatic and t.n == nil)):
+    result.flags.excl tfInstClearedFlags
 
 proc handleGenericInvocation(cl: var TReplTypeVars, t: PType): PType =
   # tyGenericInvocation[A, tyGenericInvocation[A, B]]
@@ -307,7 +309,13 @@ proc handleGenericInvocation(cl: var TReplTypeVars, t: PType): PType =
   if dc != nil and sfFromGeneric notin newbody.deepCopy.flags:
     # 'deepCopy' needs to be instantiated for
     # generics *when the type is constructed*:
-    newbody.deepCopy = cl.c.instDeepCopy(cl.c, dc, result, cl.info)
+    newbody.deepCopy = cl.c.instTypeBoundOp(cl.c, dc, result, cl.info,
+                                            attachedDeepCopy)
+  let asgn = newbody.assignment
+  if asgn != nil and sfFromGeneric notin asgn.flags:
+    # '=' needs to be instantiated for generics when the type is constructed:
+    newbody.assignment = cl.c.instTypeBoundOp(cl.c, asgn, result, cl.info,
+                                              attachedAsgn)
 
 proc eraseVoidParams*(t: PType) =
   # transform '(): void' into '()' because old parts of the compiler really
@@ -412,15 +420,23 @@ proc replaceTypeVarsTAux(cl: var TReplTypeVars, t: PType): PType =
     result = t
 
   of tyGenericInst:
+    result = PType(idTableGet(cl.localCache, t))
+    if result != nil: return result
     result = instCopyType(cl, t)
+    idTablePut(cl.localCache, t, result)
     for i in 1 .. <result.sonsLen:
       result.sons[i] = replaceTypeVarsT(cl, result.sons[i])
     propagateToOwner(result, result.lastSon)
 
   else:
     if containsGenericType(t):
+      #if not cl.allowMetaTypes:
+      result = PType(idTableGet(cl.localCache, t))
+      if result != nil: return result
       result = instCopyType(cl, t)
       result.size = -1 # needs to be recomputed
+      #if not cl.allowMetaTypes:
+      idTablePut(cl.localCache, t, result)
 
       for i in countup(0, sonsLen(result) - 1):
         if result.sons[i] != nil:
diff --git a/compiler/sigmatch.nim b/compiler/sigmatch.nim
index 1fce99e50..5c8a3bc58 100644
--- a/compiler/sigmatch.nim
+++ b/compiler/sigmatch.nim
@@ -99,9 +99,12 @@ proc initCandidate*(ctx: PContext, c: var TCandidate, callee: PSym,
   c.calleeSym = callee
   if callee.kind in skProcKinds and calleeScope == -1:
     if callee.originatingModule == ctx.module:
-      let rootSym = if sfFromGeneric notin callee.flags: callee
-                    else: callee.owner
-      c.calleeScope = rootSym.scope.depthLevel
+      c.calleeScope = 2
+      var owner = callee
+      while true:
+        owner = owner.skipGenericOwner
+        if owner.kind == skModule: break
+        inc c.calleeScope
     else:
       c.calleeScope = 1
   else:
@@ -1105,8 +1108,10 @@ proc typeRel(c: var TCandidate, f, aOrig: PType, doBind = true): TTypeRelation =
       localError(f.n.info, errTypeExpected)
       result = isNone
 
+  of tyNone:
+    if a.kind == tyNone: result = isEqual
   else:
-    internalAssert false
+    internalError " unknown type kind " & $f.kind
 
 proc cmpTypes*(c: PContext, f, a: PType): TTypeRelation =
   var m: TCandidate
@@ -1419,9 +1424,12 @@ proc prepareOperand(c: PContext; formal: PType; a: PNode): PNode =
     # a.typ == nil is valid
     result = a
   elif a.typ.isNil:
+    # XXX This is unsound! 'formal' can differ from overloaded routine to
+    # overloaded routine!
     let flags = if formal.kind == tyIter: {efDetermineType, efWantIterator}
-                elif formal.kind == tyStmt: {efDetermineType, efWantStmt}
-                else: {efDetermineType}
+                else: {efDetermineType, efAllowStmt}
+                #elif formal.kind == tyStmt: {efDetermineType, efWantStmt}
+                #else: {efDetermineType}
     result = c.semOperand(c, a, flags)
   else:
     result = a
@@ -1627,12 +1635,15 @@ proc argtypeMatches*(c: PContext, f, a: PType): bool =
   # instantiate generic converters for that
   result = res != nil
 
-proc instDeepCopy*(c: PContext; dc: PSym; t: PType; info: TLineInfo): PSym {.
-                    procvar.} =
+proc instTypeBoundOp*(c: PContext; dc: PSym; t: PType; info: TLineInfo;
+                      op: TTypeAttachedOp): PSym {.procvar.} =
   var m: TCandidate
   initCandidate(c, m, dc.typ)
   var f = dc.typ.sons[1]
-  if f.kind in {tyRef, tyPtr}: f = f.lastSon
+  if op == attachedDeepCopy:
+    if f.kind in {tyRef, tyPtr}: f = f.lastSon
+  else:
+    if f.kind == tyVar: f = f.lastSon
   if typeRel(m, f, t) == isNone:
     localError(info, errGenerated, "cannot instantiate 'deepCopy'")
   else:
diff --git a/compiler/trees.nim b/compiler/trees.nim
index 86a1139a0..2c631af99 100644
--- a/compiler/trees.nim
+++ b/compiler/trees.nim
@@ -9,40 +9,40 @@
 
 # tree helper routines
 
-import 
+import
   ast, astalgo, lexer, msgs, strutils, wordrecg
 
-proc hasSon(father, son: PNode): bool = 
-  for i in countup(0, sonsLen(father) - 1): 
-    if father.sons[i] == son: 
+proc hasSon(father, son: PNode): bool =
+  for i in countup(0, sonsLen(father) - 1):
+    if father.sons[i] == son:
       return true
   result = false
 
-proc cyclicTreeAux(n, s: PNode): bool = 
-  if n == nil: 
+proc cyclicTreeAux(n, s: PNode): bool =
+  if n == nil:
     return false
-  if hasSon(s, n): 
+  if hasSon(s, n):
     return true
   var m = sonsLen(s)
   addSon(s, n)
-  if not (n.kind in {nkEmpty..nkNilLit}): 
-    for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1): 
-      if cyclicTreeAux(n.sons[i], s): 
+  if not (n.kind in {nkEmpty..nkNilLit}):
+    for i in countup(0, sonsLen(n) - 1):
+      if cyclicTreeAux(n.sons[i], s):
         return true
   result = false
   delSon(s, m)
 
-proc cyclicTree*(n: PNode): bool = 
+proc cyclicTree*(n: PNode): bool =
   var s = newNodeI(nkEmpty, n.info)
   result = cyclicTreeAux(n, s)
 
-proc exprStructuralEquivalent*(a, b: PNode): bool = 
+proc exprStructuralEquivalent*(a, b: PNode): bool =
   result = false
-  if a == b: 
+  if a == b:
     result = true
-  elif (a != nil) and (b != nil) and (a.kind == b.kind): 
+  elif (a != nil) and (b != nil) and (a.kind == b.kind):
     case a.kind
-    of nkSym: 
+    of nkSym:
       # don't go nuts here: same symbol as string is enough:
       result = a.sym.name.id == b.sym.name.id
     of nkIdent: result = a.ident.id == b.ident.id
@@ -50,12 +50,12 @@ proc exprStructuralEquivalent*(a, b: PNode): bool =
     of nkFloatLit..nkFloat64Lit: result = a.floatVal == b.floatVal
     of nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit: result = a.strVal == b.strVal
     of nkEmpty, nkNilLit, nkType: result = true
-    else: 
-      if sonsLen(a) == sonsLen(b): 
-        for i in countup(0, sonsLen(a) - 1): 
-          if not exprStructuralEquivalent(a.sons[i], b.sons[i]): return 
+    else:
+      if sonsLen(a) == sonsLen(b):
+        for i in countup(0, sonsLen(a) - 1):
+          if not exprStructuralEquivalent(a.sons[i], b.sons[i]): return
         result = true
-  
+
 proc sameTree*(a, b: PNode): bool =
   result = false
   if a == b:
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ proc sameTree*(a, b: PNode): bool =
     if a.info.col != b.info.col:
       return                  #if a.info.fileIndex <> b.info.fileIndex then exit;
     case a.kind
-    of nkSym: 
+    of nkSym:
       # don't go nuts here: same symbol as string is enough:
       result = a.sym.name.id == b.sym.name.id
     of nkIdent: result = a.ident.id == b.ident.id
@@ -75,15 +75,15 @@ proc sameTree*(a, b: PNode): bool =
     of nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit: result = a.strVal == b.strVal
     of nkEmpty, nkNilLit, nkType: result = true
     else:
-      if sonsLen(a) == sonsLen(b): 
-        for i in countup(0, sonsLen(a) - 1): 
-          if not sameTree(a.sons[i], b.sons[i]): return 
+      if sonsLen(a) == sonsLen(b):
+        for i in countup(0, sonsLen(a) - 1):
+          if not sameTree(a.sons[i], b.sons[i]): return
         result = true
-  
-proc getProcSym*(call: PNode): PSym = 
+
+proc getProcSym*(call: PNode): PSym =
   result = call.sons[0].sym
 
-proc getOpSym*(op: PNode): PSym = 
+proc getOpSym*(op: PNode): PSym =
   if op.kind notin {nkCall, nkHiddenCallConv, nkCommand, nkCallStrLit}:
     result = nil
   else:
@@ -91,25 +91,25 @@ proc getOpSym*(op: PNode): PSym =
     elif op.sons[0].kind == nkSym: result = op.sons[0].sym
     else: result = nil
 
-proc getMagic*(op: PNode): TMagic = 
+proc getMagic*(op: PNode): TMagic =
   case op.kind
   of nkCallKinds:
     case op.sons[0].kind
     of nkSym: result = op.sons[0].sym.magic
     else: result = mNone
   else: result = mNone
-  
-proc treeToSym*(t: PNode): PSym = 
+
+proc treeToSym*(t: PNode): PSym =
   result = t.sym
 
-proc isConstExpr*(n: PNode): bool = 
+proc isConstExpr*(n: PNode): bool =
   result = (n.kind in
-      {nkCharLit..nkInt64Lit, nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit, 
+      {nkCharLit..nkInt64Lit, nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit,
        nkFloatLit..nkFloat64Lit, nkNilLit}) or (nfAllConst in n.flags)
 
 proc isDeepConstExpr*(n: PNode): bool =
   case n.kind
-  of nkCharLit..nkInt64Lit, nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit, 
+  of nkCharLit..nkInt64Lit, nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit,
       nkFloatLit..nkFloat64Lit, nkNilLit:
     result = true
   of nkExprEqExpr, nkExprColonExpr, nkHiddenStdConv, nkHiddenSubConv:
@@ -122,33 +122,33 @@ proc isDeepConstExpr*(n: PNode): bool =
     result = n.typ.isNil or n.typ.skipTypes({tyGenericInst, tyDistinct}).kind != tyObject
   else: discard
 
-proc flattenTreeAux(d, a: PNode, op: TMagic) = 
+proc flattenTreeAux(d, a: PNode, op: TMagic) =
   if (getMagic(a) == op):     # a is a "leaf", so add it:
     for i in countup(1, sonsLen(a) - 1): # BUGFIX
       flattenTreeAux(d, a.sons[i], op)
-  else: 
+  else:
     addSon(d, copyTree(a))
-  
-proc flattenTree*(root: PNode, op: TMagic): PNode = 
+
+proc flattenTree*(root: PNode, op: TMagic): PNode =
   result = copyNode(root)
   if getMagic(root) == op:
     # BUGFIX: forget to copy prc
     addSon(result, copyNode(root.sons[0]))
     flattenTreeAux(result, root, op)
 
-proc swapOperands*(op: PNode) = 
+proc swapOperands*(op: PNode) =
   var tmp = op.sons[1]
   op.sons[1] = op.sons[2]
   op.sons[2] = tmp
 
-proc isRange*(n: PNode): bool {.inline.} = 
-  if n.kind == nkInfix:
+proc isRange*(n: PNode): bool {.inline.} =
+  if n.kind in nkCallKinds:
     if n[0].kind == nkIdent and n[0].ident.id == ord(wDotDot) or
-        n[0].kind in {nkClosedSymChoice, nkOpenSymChoice} and 
+        n[0].kind in {nkClosedSymChoice, nkOpenSymChoice} and
         n[0][1].sym.name.id == ord(wDotDot):
       result = true
 
-proc whichPragma*(n: PNode): TSpecialWord = 
+proc whichPragma*(n: PNode): TSpecialWord =
   let key = if n.kind == nkExprColonExpr: n.sons[0] else: n
   if key.kind == nkIdent: result = whichKeyword(key.ident)
 
diff --git a/compiler/types.nim b/compiler/types.nim
index f4ac4daea..7f05e7051 100644
--- a/compiler/types.nim
+++ b/compiler/types.nim
@@ -541,6 +541,9 @@ proc typeToString(typ: PType, prefer: TPreferedDesc = preferName): string =
   of tyProc:
     result = if tfIterator in t.flags: "iterator (" else: "proc ("
     for i in countup(1, sonsLen(t) - 1):
+      if t.n != nil and i < t.n.len and t.n[i].kind == nkSym:
+        add(result, t.n[i].sym.name.s)
+        add(result, ": ")
       add(result, typeToString(t.sons[i]))
       if i < sonsLen(t) - 1: add(result, ", ")
     add(result, ')')
@@ -590,7 +593,7 @@ proc firstOrd(t: PType): BiggestInt =
   of tyUInt..tyUInt64: result = 0
   of tyEnum:
     # if basetype <> nil then return firstOrd of basetype
-    if (sonsLen(t) > 0) and (t.sons[0] != nil):
+    if sonsLen(t) > 0 and t.sons[0] != nil:
       result = firstOrd(t.sons[0])
     else:
       assert(t.n.sons[0].kind == nkSym)
diff --git a/compiler/vm.nim b/compiler/vm.nim
index 3b5c8e7f3..6fae5a8b7 100644
--- a/compiler/vm.nim
+++ b/compiler/vm.nim
@@ -1043,7 +1043,14 @@ proc rawExecute(c: PCtx, start: int, tos: PStackFrame): TFullReg =
       decodeB(rkNode)
       let newLen = regs[rb].intVal.int
       if regs[ra].node.isNil: stackTrace(c, tos, pc, errNilAccess)
-      else: setLen(regs[ra].node.sons, newLen)
+      else:
+        let oldLen = regs[ra].node.len
+        setLen(regs[ra].node.sons, newLen)
+        if oldLen < newLen:
+          # XXX This is still not entirely correct
+          # set to default value:
+          for i in oldLen .. <newLen:
+            regs[ra].node.sons[i] = newNodeI(nkEmpty, c.debug[pc])
     of opcSwap:
       let rb = instr.regB
       if regs[ra].kind == regs[rb].kind:
diff --git a/compiler/vmdef.nim b/compiler/vmdef.nim
index 90b9f2517..b4892d010 100644
--- a/compiler/vmdef.nim
+++ b/compiler/vmdef.nim
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ const
   byteExcess* = 128 # we use excess-K for immediates
   wordExcess* = 32768
 
-  MaxLoopIterations* = 500_000 # max iterations of all loops
+  MaxLoopIterations* = 1500_000 # max iterations of all loops
 
 
 type
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ type
     opcRet,         # return
     opcYldYoid,     # yield with no value
     opcYldVal,      # yield with a value
-    
+
     opcAsgnInt,
     opcAsgnStr,
     opcAsgnFloat,
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ type
     opcWrDeref,
     opcWrStrIdx,
     opcLdStrIdx, # a = b[c]
-    
-    opcAddInt, 
+
+    opcAddInt,
     opcAddImmInt,
     opcSubInt,
     opcSubImmInt,
@@ -58,36 +58,36 @@ type
 
     opcIncl, opcInclRange, opcExcl, opcCard, opcMulInt, opcDivInt, opcModInt,
     opcAddFloat, opcSubFloat, opcMulFloat, opcDivFloat, opcShrInt, opcShlInt,
-    opcBitandInt, opcBitorInt, opcBitxorInt, opcAddu, opcSubu, opcMulu, 
-    opcDivu, opcModu, opcEqInt, opcLeInt, opcLtInt, opcEqFloat, 
-    opcLeFloat, opcLtFloat, opcLeu, opcLtu, opcEqRef, opcEqNimrodNode, opcXor, 
-    opcNot, opcUnaryMinusInt, opcUnaryMinusFloat, opcBitnotInt, 
+    opcBitandInt, opcBitorInt, opcBitxorInt, opcAddu, opcSubu, opcMulu,
+    opcDivu, opcModu, opcEqInt, opcLeInt, opcLtInt, opcEqFloat,
+    opcLeFloat, opcLtFloat, opcLeu, opcLtu, opcEqRef, opcEqNimrodNode, opcXor,
+    opcNot, opcUnaryMinusInt, opcUnaryMinusFloat, opcBitnotInt,
     opcEqStr, opcLeStr, opcLtStr, opcEqSet, opcLeSet, opcLtSet,
     opcMulSet, opcPlusSet, opcMinusSet, opcSymdiffSet, opcConcatStr,
     opcContainsSet, opcRepr, opcSetLenStr, opcSetLenSeq,
     opcSwap, opcIsNil, opcOf, opcIs,
     opcSubStr, opcParseFloat, opcConv, opcCast, opcQuit, opcReset,
     opcNarrowS, opcNarrowU,
-    
+
     opcAddStrCh,
     opcAddStrStr,
     opcAddSeqElem,
     opcRangeChck,
-    
+
     opcNAdd,
     opcNAddMultiple,
-    opcNKind, 
-    opcNIntVal, 
-    opcNFloatVal, 
-    opcNSymbol, 
+    opcNKind,
+    opcNIntVal,
+    opcNFloatVal,
+    opcNSymbol,
     opcNIdent,
     opcNGetType,
     opcNStrVal,
-    
+
     opcNSetIntVal,
     opcNSetFloatVal, opcNSetSymbol, opcNSetIdent, opcNSetType, opcNSetStrVal,
     opcNNewNimNode, opcNCopyNimNode, opcNCopyNimTree, opcNDel, opcGenSym,
-    
+
     opcSlurp,
     opcGorge,
     opcParseExprToAst,
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ type
     opcEqIdent,
     opcStrToIdent,
     opcIdentToStr,
-    
+
     opcEcho,
     opcIndCall, # dest = call regStart, n; where regStart = fn, arg1, ...
     opcIndCallAsgn, # dest = call regStart, n; where regStart = fn, arg1, ...
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ type
     opcNSetChild,
     opcCallSite,
     opcNewStr,
-  
+
     opcTJmp,  # jump Bx if A != 0
     opcFJmp,  # jump Bx if A == 0
     opcJmp,   # jump Bx
@@ -178,13 +178,13 @@ type
     slots*: pointer
     currentException*: PNode
   VmCallback* = proc (args: VmArgs) {.closure.}
-  
+
   PCtx* = ref TCtx
   TCtx* = object of passes.TPassContext # code gen context
     code*: seq[TInstr]
     debug*: seq[TLineInfo]  # line info for every instruction; kept separate
                             # to not slow down interpretation
-    globals*: PNode         # 
+    globals*: PNode         #
     constants*: PNode       # constant data
     types*: seq[PType]      # some instructions reference types (e.g. 'except')
     currentExceptionA*, currentExceptionB*: PNode
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ type
   TPosition* = distinct int
 
   PEvalContext* = PCtx
-  
+
 proc newCtx*(module: PSym): PCtx =
   PCtx(code: @[], debug: @[],
     globals: newNode(nkStmtListExpr), constants: newNode(nkStmtList), types: @[],
diff --git a/compiler/vmdeps.nim b/compiler/vmdeps.nim
index 2b80f6aed..21ee4967b 100644
--- a/compiler/vmdeps.nim
+++ b/compiler/vmdeps.nim
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ proc opSlurp*(file: string, info: TLineInfo, module: PSym): string =
 
 proc atomicTypeX(name: string; t: PType; info: TLineInfo): PNode =
   let sym = newSym(skType, getIdent(name), t.owner, info)
+  sym.typ = t
   result = newSymNode(sym)
   result.typ = t
 
@@ -143,7 +144,9 @@ proc mapTypeToAst(t: PType, info: TLineInfo; allowRecursion=false): PNode =
   of tyIter: result = mapTypeToBracket("iter", t, info)
   of tyProxy: result = atomicType"error"
   of tyBuiltInTypeClass: result = mapTypeToBracket("builtinTypeClass", t, info)
-  of tyUserTypeClass: result = mapTypeToBracket("userTypeClass", t, info)
+  of tyUserTypeClass:
+    result = mapTypeToBracket("concept", t, info)
+    result.add t.n.copyTree
   of tyCompositeTypeClass: result = mapTypeToBracket("compositeTypeClass", t, info)
   of tyAnd: result = mapTypeToBracket("and", t, info)
   of tyOr: result = mapTypeToBracket("or", t, info)
diff --git a/compiler/vmgen.nim b/compiler/vmgen.nim
index 2383e2542..4526687c9 100644
--- a/compiler/vmgen.nim
+++ b/compiler/vmgen.nim
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ proc sameConstant*(a, b: PNode): bool =
     case a.kind
     of nkSym: result = a.sym == b.sym
     of nkIdent: result = a.ident.id == b.ident.id
-    of nkCharLit..nkInt64Lit: result = a.intVal == b.intVal
+    of nkCharLit..nkUInt64Lit: result = a.intVal == b.intVal
     of nkFloatLit..nkFloat64Lit: result = a.floatVal == b.floatVal
     of nkStrLit..nkTripleStrLit: result = a.strVal == b.strVal
     of nkType, nkNilLit: result = a.typ == b.typ
@@ -1008,7 +1008,8 @@ proc genMagic(c: PCtx; n: PNode; dest: var TDest) =
     if dest < 0: dest = c.getTemp(n.typ)
     c.gABC(n, opcCallSite, dest)
   of mNGenSym: genBinaryABC(c, n, dest, opcGenSym)
-  of mMinI, mMaxI, mMinI64, mMaxI64, mAbsF64, mMinF64, mMaxF64, mAbsI, mAbsI64:
+  of mMinI, mMaxI, mMinI64, mMaxI64, mAbsF64, mMinF64, mMaxF64, mAbsI,
+     mAbsI64, mDotDot:
     c.genCall(n, dest)
   of mExpandToAst:
     if n.len != 2:
@@ -1363,7 +1364,7 @@ proc getNullValue(typ: PType, info: TLineInfo): PNode =
   of tyCString, tyString:
     result = newNodeIT(nkStrLit, info, t)
   of tyVar, tyPointer, tyPtr, tySequence, tyExpr,
-     tyStmt, tyTypeDesc, tyStatic, tyRef:
+     tyStmt, tyTypeDesc, tyStatic, tyRef, tyNil:
     result = newNodeIT(nkNilLit, info, t)
   of tyProc:
     if t.callConv != ccClosure:
@@ -1390,7 +1391,7 @@ proc getNullValue(typ: PType, info: TLineInfo): PNode =
       addSon(result, getNullValue(t.sons[i], info))
   of tySet:
     result = newNodeIT(nkCurly, info, t)
-  else: internalError("getNullValue: " & $t.kind)
+  else: internalError(info, "getNullValue: " & $t.kind)
 
 proc ldNullOpcode(t: PType): TOpcode =
   if fitsRegister(t): opcLdNullReg else: opcLdNull
@@ -1609,7 +1610,8 @@ proc gen(c: PCtx; n: PNode; dest: var TDest; flags: TGenFlags = {}) =
     genBreak(c, n)
   of nkTryStmt: genTry(c, n, dest)
   of nkStmtList:
-    unused(n, dest)
+    #unused(n, dest)
+    # XXX Fix this bug properly, lexim triggers it
     for x in n: gen(c, x)
   of nkStmtListExpr:
     let L = n.len-1
diff --git a/doc/manual/generics.txt b/doc/manual/generics.txt
index cce3a8830..2736f88fb 100644
--- a/doc/manual/generics.txt
+++ b/doc/manual/generics.txt
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ Concepts are written in the following form:
       (x < y) is bool
 
     Container[T] = concept c
-      c.len is ordinal
+      c.len is Ordinal
       items(c) is iterator
       for value in c:
         type(value) is T
diff --git a/doc/manual/lexing.txt b/doc/manual/lexing.txt
index e2f006f04..df6d85636 100644
--- a/doc/manual/lexing.txt
+++ b/doc/manual/lexing.txt
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ Numerical constants are of a single type and have the form::
   INT32_LIT = INT_LIT ['\''] ('i' | 'I') '32'
   INT64_LIT = INT_LIT ['\''] ('i' | 'I') '64'
 
-  UINT8_LIT = INT_LIT ['\''] ('u' | 'U')
+  UINT_LIT = INT_LIT ['\''] ('u' | 'U')
   UINT8_LIT = INT_LIT ['\''] ('u' | 'U') '8'
   UINT16_LIT = INT_LIT ['\''] ('u' | 'U') '16'
   UINT32_LIT = INT_LIT ['\''] ('u' | 'U') '32'
diff --git a/doc/manual/pragmas.txt b/doc/manual/pragmas.txt
index 34428233f..39aebd826 100644
--- a/doc/manual/pragmas.txt
+++ b/doc/manual/pragmas.txt
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ deprecated pragma
 
 The deprecated pragma is used to mark a symbol as deprecated:
 
-.. code-block:: nimrod
+.. code-block:: nim
   proc p() {.deprecated.}
   var x {.deprecated.}: char
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ It can also be used as a statement. Then it takes a list of *renamings*. The
 upcoming ``nimfix`` tool can automatically update the code and perform these
 renamings:
 
-.. code-block:: nimrod
+.. code-block:: nim
   type
     File = object
     Stream = ref object
@@ -71,14 +71,13 @@ procedural variable.
 
 compileTime pragma
 ------------------
-The ``compileTime`` pragma is used to mark a proc to be used at compile
-time only. No code will be generated for it. Compile time procs are useful
-as helpers for macros.
-
+The ``compileTime`` pragma is used to mark a proc or variable to be used at
+compile time only. No code will be generated for it. Compile time procs are
+useful as helpers for macros.
 
 noReturn pragma
 ---------------
-The ``noreturn`` pragma is used to mark a proc that never returns. 
+The ``noreturn`` pragma is used to mark a proc that never returns.
 
 
 acyclic pragma
@@ -122,25 +121,25 @@ shallow pragma
 --------------
 The ``shallow`` pragma affects the semantics of a type: The compiler is
 allowed to make a shallow copy. This can cause serious semantic issues and
-break memory safety! However, it can speed up assignments considerably, 
-because the semantics of Nim require deep copying of sequences and strings. 
+break memory safety! However, it can speed up assignments considerably,
+because the semantics of Nim require deep copying of sequences and strings.
 This can be expensive, especially if sequences are used to build a tree
-structure: 
+structure:
 
 .. code-block:: nim
   type
     NodeKind = enum nkLeaf, nkInner
     Node {.final, shallow.} = object
       case kind: NodeKind
-      of nkLeaf: 
+      of nkLeaf:
         strVal: string
-      of nkInner: 
+      of nkInner:
         children: seq[Node]
 
 
 pure pragma
 -----------
-An object type can be marked with the ``pure`` pragma so that its type 
+An object type can be marked with the ``pure`` pragma so that its type
 field which is used for runtime type identification is omitted. This used to be
 necessary for binary compatibility with other compiled languages.
 
@@ -163,12 +162,12 @@ error pragma
 ------------
 The ``error`` pragma is used to make the compiler output an error message
 with the given content. Compilation does not necessarily abort after an error
-though. 
+though.
 
 The ``error`` pragma can also be used to
 annotate a symbol (like an iterator or proc). The *usage* of the symbol then
 triggers a compile-time error. This is especially useful to rule out that some
-operation is valid due to overloading and type conversions: 
+operation is valid due to overloading and type conversions:
 
 .. code-block:: nim
   ## check that underlying int values are compared and not the pointers:
@@ -201,7 +200,7 @@ The ``line`` pragma can be used to affect line information of the annotated
 statement as seen in stack backtraces:
 
 .. code-block:: nim
-  
+
   template myassert*(cond: expr, msg = "") =
     if not cond:
       # change run-time line information of the 'raise' statement:
@@ -215,26 +214,26 @@ If the ``line`` pragma is used with a parameter, the parameter needs be a
 
 linearScanEnd pragma
 --------------------
-The ``linearScanEnd`` pragma can be used to tell the compiler how to 
+The ``linearScanEnd`` pragma can be used to tell the compiler how to
 compile a Nim `case`:idx: statement. Syntactically it has to be used as a
 statement:
 
 .. code-block:: nim
   case myInt
-  of 0: 
+  of 0:
     echo "most common case"
-  of 1: 
+  of 1:
     {.linearScanEnd.}
     echo "second most common case"
   of 2: echo "unlikely: use branch table"
   else: echo "unlikely too: use branch table for ", myInt
 
-In the example, the case branches ``0`` and ``1`` are much more common than 
-the other cases. Therefore the generated assembler code should test for these 
-values first, so that the CPU's branch predictor has a good chance to succeed 
+In the example, the case branches ``0`` and ``1`` are much more common than
+the other cases. Therefore the generated assembler code should test for these
+values first, so that the CPU's branch predictor has a good chance to succeed
 (avoiding an expensive CPU pipeline stall). The other cases might be put into a
 jump table for O(1) overhead, but at the cost of a (very likely) pipeline
-stall. 
+stall.
 
 The ``linearScanEnd`` pragma should be put into the last branch that should be
 tested against via linear scanning. If put into the last branch of the
@@ -243,8 +242,8 @@ whole ``case`` statement, the whole ``case`` statement uses linear scanning.
 
 computedGoto pragma
 -------------------
-The ``computedGoto`` pragma can be used to tell the compiler how to 
-compile a Nim `case`:idx: in a ``while true`` statement. 
+The ``computedGoto`` pragma can be used to tell the compiler how to
+compile a Nim `case`:idx: in a ``while true`` statement.
 Syntactically it has to be used as a statement inside the loop:
 
 .. code-block:: nim
@@ -278,21 +277,21 @@ Syntactically it has to be used as a statement inside the loop:
       of enumE:
         break
       inc(pc)
-    
+
   vm()
 
 As the example shows ``computedGoto`` is mostly useful for interpreters. If
-the underlying backend (C compiler) does not support the computed goto 
+the underlying backend (C compiler) does not support the computed goto
 extension the pragma is simply ignored.
 
 
 unroll pragma
 -------------
 The ``unroll`` pragma can be used to tell the compiler that it should unroll
-a `for`:idx: or `while`:idx: loop for runtime efficiency: 
+a `for`:idx: or `while`:idx: loop for runtime efficiency:
 
 .. code-block:: nim
-  proc searchChar(s: string, c: char): int = 
+  proc searchChar(s: string, c: char): int =
     for i in 0 .. s.high:
       {.unroll: 4.}
       if s[i] == c: return i
@@ -440,7 +439,7 @@ Example:
 
   Please note that if a callable symbol is never used in this scenario, its body
   will never be compiled. This is the default behavior leading to best compilation
-  times, but if exhaustive compilation of all definitions is required, using 
+  times, but if exhaustive compilation of all definitions is required, using
   ``nim check`` provides this option as well.
 
   Example:
@@ -461,9 +460,9 @@ Example:
 pragma pragma
 -------------
 
-The ``pragma`` pragma can be used to declare user defined pragmas. This is 
-useful because Nim's templates and macros do not affect pragmas. User 
-defined pragmas are in a different module-wide scope than all other symbols. 
+The ``pragma`` pragma can be used to declare user defined pragmas. This is
+useful because Nim's templates and macros do not affect pragmas. User
+defined pragmas are in a different module-wide scope than all other symbols.
 They cannot be imported from a module.
 
 Example:
@@ -473,8 +472,8 @@ Example:
     {.pragma: rtl, exportc, dynlib, cdecl.}
   else:
     {.pragma: rtl, importc, dynlib: "client.dll", cdecl.}
-    
-  proc p*(a, b: int): int {.rtl.} = 
+
+  proc p*(a, b: int): int {.rtl.} =
     result = a+b
 
 In the example a new pragma named ``rtl`` is introduced that either imports
diff --git a/doc/manual/procs.txt b/doc/manual/procs.txt
index 9b04bf518..9de984ecf 100644
--- a/doc/manual/procs.txt
+++ b/doc/manual/procs.txt
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ different; for this a special setter syntax is needed:
 .. code-block:: nim
   
   type
-    Socket* = object of RootObj
+    Socket* = ref object of RootObj
       FHost: int # cannot be accessed from the outside of the module
                  # the `F` prefix is a convention to avoid clashes since
                  # the accessors are named `host`
@@ -134,8 +134,8 @@ different; for this a special setter syntax is needed:
     ## getter of hostAddr
     s.FHost
 
-  var
-    s: Socket
+  var s: Socket
+  new s
   s.host = 34  # same as `host=`(s, 34)
 
 
@@ -351,32 +351,32 @@ dispatch.
 
 .. code-block:: nim
   type
-    Expression = object of RootObj ## abstract base class for an expression
-    Literal = object of Expression
+    Expression = ref object of RootObj ## abstract base class for an expression
+    Literal = ref object of Expression
       x: int
-    PlusExpr = object of Expression
-      a, b: ref Expression
-      
-  method eval(e: ref Expression): int =
+    PlusExpr = ref object of Expression
+      a, b: Expression
+  
+  method eval(e: Expression): int =
     # override this base method
     quit "to override!"
   
-  method eval(e: ref Literal): int = return e.x
-
-  method eval(e: ref PlusExpr): int =
+  method eval(e: Literal): int = return e.x
+  
+  method eval(e: PlusExpr): int =
     # watch out: relies on dynamic binding
     result = eval(e.a) + eval(e.b)
   
-  proc newLit(x: int): ref Literal =
+  proc newLit(x: int): Literal =
     new(result)
     result.x = x
-    
-  proc newPlus(a, b: ref Expression): ref PlusExpr =
+  
+  proc newPlus(a, b: Expression): PlusExpr =
     new(result)
     result.a = a
     result.b = b
-  
-  echo eval(newPlus(newPlus(newLit(1), newLit(2)), newLit(4)))
+
+echo eval(newPlus(newPlus(newLit(1), newLit(2)), newLit(4)))
   
 In the example the constructors ``newLit`` and ``newPlus`` are procs
 because they should use static binding, but ``eval`` is a method because it
@@ -387,8 +387,8 @@ dispatching:
 
 .. code-block:: nim
   type
-    Thing = object of RootObj
-    Unit = object of Thing
+    Thing = ref object of RootObj
+    Unit = ref object of Thing
       x: int
       
   method collide(a, b: Thing) {.inline.} =
@@ -400,8 +400,9 @@ dispatching:
   method collide(a: Unit, b: Thing) {.inline.} =
     echo "2"
   
-  var
-    a, b: Unit
+  var a, b: Unit
+  new a
+  new b
   collide(a, b) # output: 2
 
 
diff --git a/doc/manual/syntax.txt b/doc/manual/syntax.txt
index cf44eb588..24644bce2 100644
--- a/doc/manual/syntax.txt
+++ b/doc/manual/syntax.txt
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@ Associativity
 Binary operators whose first character is ``^`` are right-associative, all
 other binary operators are left-associative.
 
-Operators ending in ``>`` but longer than a single character are 
-called `arrow like`:idx:.
 
 
 Precedence
@@ -33,9 +31,12 @@ as ``(@x).abc`` whereas ``$x.abc`` is parsed as ``$(x.abc)``.
 For binary operators that are not keywords the precedence is determined by the
 following rules:
 
+Operators ending in either ``->``, ``~>`` or ``=>`` are called
+`arrow like`:idx:, and have the lowest precedence of all operators.
+
 If the operator ends with ``=`` and its first character is none of 
 ``<``, ``>``, ``!``, ``=``, ``~``, ``?``, it is an *assignment operator* which
-has the lowest precedence.
+has the second lowest precedence.
 
 Otherwise precedence is determined by the first character.
 
@@ -43,14 +44,14 @@ Otherwise precedence is determined by the first character.
 Precedence level    Operators                                      First character     Terminal symbol
 ================  ===============================================  ==================  ===============
  10 (highest)                                                      ``$  ^``            OP10
-  9               ``*    /    div   mod   shl  shr  %``            ``* % \  /``        OP9
-  8               ``+    -``                                       ``+  ~  |``         OP8
+  9               ``*    /    div   mod   shl  shr  %``            ``*  %  \  /``      OP9
+  8               ``+    -``                                       ``+  -  ~  |``      OP8
   7               ``&``                                            ``&``               OP7
   6               ``..``                                           ``.``               OP6
-  5               ``==  <= < >= > !=  in notin is isnot not of``   ``= <  > !``        OP5
+  5               ``==  <= < >= > !=  in notin is isnot not of``   ``=  <  >  !``      OP5
   4               ``and``                                                              OP4
   3               ``or xor``                                                           OP3
-  2                                                                ``@  : ?``          OP2
+  2                                                                ``@  :  ?``         OP2
   1               *assignment operator* (like ``+=``, ``*=``)                          OP1
   0 (lowest)      *arrow like operator* (like ``->``, ``=>``)                          OP0
 ================  ===============================================  ==================  ===============
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ is still parsed as ``1 + (3 * 4)``, but ``1+3 * 4`` is parsed as ``(1+3) * 4``:
 
 .. code-block:: nim
   #! strongSpaces
-  if foo+4 * 4 == 8 and b&c | 9  ++
+  if foo+4 * 4 == 8  and  b&c | 9  ++
       bar:
     echo ""
   # is parsed as
diff --git a/doc/manual/threads.txt b/doc/manual/threads.txt
index 245545f6f..fc3040c87 100644
--- a/doc/manual/threads.txt
+++ b/doc/manual/threads.txt
@@ -1,16 +1,16 @@
 Threads
 =======
 
-To enable thread support the ``--threads:on`` command line switch needs to 
-be used. The ``system`` module then contains several threading primitives. 
-See the `threads <threads.html>`_ and `channels <channels.html>`_ modules 
+To enable thread support the ``--threads:on`` command line switch needs to
+be used. The ``system`` module then contains several threading primitives.
+See the `threads <threads.html>`_ and `channels <channels.html>`_ modules
 for the low level thread API. There are also high level parallelism constructs
 available. See `spawn`_ for further details.
 
 Nim's memory model for threads is quite different than that of other common
-programming languages (C, Pascal, Java): Each thread has its own (garbage 
-collected) heap and sharing of memory is restricted to global variables. This 
-helps to prevent race conditions. GC efficiency is improved quite a lot, 
+programming languages (C, Pascal, Java): Each thread has its own (garbage
+collected) heap and sharing of memory is restricted to global variables. This
+helps to prevent race conditions. GC efficiency is improved quite a lot,
 because the GC never has to stop other threads and see what they reference.
 Memory allocation requires no lock at all! This design easily scales to massive
 multicore processors that are becoming the norm.
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ Thread pragma
 A proc that is executed as a new thread of execution should be marked by the
 ``thread`` pragma for reasons of readability. The compiler checks for
 violations of the `no heap sharing restriction`:idx:\: This restriction implies
-that it is invalid to construct a data structure that consists of memory 
+that it is invalid to construct a data structure that consists of memory
 allocated from different (thread local) heaps.
 
-A thread proc is passed to ``createThread`` or ``spawn`` and invoked 
+A thread proc is passed to ``createThread`` or ``spawn`` and invoked
 indirectly; so the ``thread`` pragma implies ``procvar``.
 
 
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ GC safety
 
 We call a proc ``p`` `GC safe`:idx: when it doesn't access any global variable
 that contains GC'ed memory (``string``, ``seq``, ``ref`` or a closure) either
-directly or indirectly through a call to a GC unsafe proc. 
+directly or indirectly through a call to a GC unsafe proc.
 
 The `gcsafe`:idx: annotation can be used to mark a proc to be gcsafe,
 otherwise this property is inferred by the compiler. Note that ``noSideEfect``
@@ -45,10 +45,9 @@ contain a ``ref`` or ``closure`` type. This enforces
 the *no heap sharing restriction*.
 
 Routines that are imported from C are always assumed to be ``gcsafe``.
-To enable the GC-safety checking the ``--threadAnalysis:on`` command line
-switch must be used. This is a temporary workaround to ease the porting effort
-from old code to the new threading model. In the future the thread analysis
-will always be performed.
+To disable the GC-safety checking the ``--threadAnalysis:off`` command line
+switch can be used. This is a temporary workaround to ease the porting effort
+from old code to the new threading model.
 
 
 Future directions:
@@ -59,13 +58,13 @@ Future directions:
 Threadvar pragma
 ----------------
 
-A global variable can be marked with the ``threadvar`` pragma; it is 
+A global variable can be marked with the ``threadvar`` pragma; it is
 a `thread-local`:idx: variable then:
 
 .. code-block:: nim
   var checkpoints* {.threadvar.}: seq[string]
 
-Due to implementation restrictions thread local variables cannot be 
+Due to implementation restrictions thread local variables cannot be
 initialized within the ``var`` section. (Every thread local variable needs to
 be replicated at thread creation.)
 
@@ -73,7 +72,7 @@ be replicated at thread creation.)
 Threads and exceptions
 ----------------------
 
-The interaction between threads and exceptions is simple: A *handled* exception 
+The interaction between threads and exceptions is simple: A *handled* exception
 in one thread cannot affect any other thread. However, an *unhandled* exception
 in one thread terminates the whole *process*!
 
@@ -82,7 +81,7 @@ in one thread terminates the whole *process*!
 Parallel & Spawn
 ================
 
-Nim has two flavors of parallelism: 
+Nim has two flavors of parallelism:
 1) `Structured`:idx: parallelism via the ``parallel`` statement.
 2) `Unstructured`:idx: parallelism via the standalone ``spawn`` statement.
 
@@ -115,7 +114,7 @@ Spawn statement
 
   proc processLine(line: string) =
     discard "do some heavy lifting here"
-  
+
   for x in lines("myinput.txt"):
     spawn processLine(x)
   sync()
@@ -144,7 +143,7 @@ wait on multiple flow variables at the same time:
 
 .. code-block:: nim
   import threadpool, ...
-  
+
   # wait until 2 out of 3 servers received the update:
   proc main =
     var responses = newSeq[RawFlowVar](3)
@@ -203,8 +202,7 @@ restrictions / changes:
   the ``parallel`` section. This is called the *immutability check*. Currently
   it is not specified what exactly "complex location" means. We need to make
   this an optimization!
-* Every array access has to be provably within bounds. This is called 
+* Every array access has to be provably within bounds. This is called
   the *bounds check*.
 * Slices are optimized so that no copy is performed. This optimization is not
-  yet performed for ordinary slices outside of a ``parallel`` section. Slices
-  are also special in that they currently do not support negative indexes!
+  yet performed for ordinary slices outside of a ``parallel`` section.
diff --git a/doc/manual/type_bound_ops.txt b/doc/manual/type_bound_ops.txt
index 59d55a6cd..c707979fe 100644
--- a/doc/manual/type_bound_ops.txt
+++ b/doc/manual/type_bound_ops.txt
@@ -21,27 +21,49 @@ helper distinct or object type has to be used for one pointer type.
 operator `=`
 ------------
 
-This operator is the assignment operator. Note that in the contexts 
-like ``let v = expr``, ``var v = expr``, ``parameter = defaultValue`` or for
-parameter passing no assignment is performed. The ``override`` pragma is
-optional for overriding ``=``.
+This operator is the assignment operator. Note that in the contexts
+``result = expr``, ``parameter = defaultValue`` or for
+parameter passing no assignment is performed. For a type ``T`` that has an
+overloaded assignment operator ``var v = T()`` is rewritten
+to ``var v: T; v = T()``; in other words ``var`` and ``let`` contexts do count
+as assignments.
+
+The assignment operator needs to be attached to an object or distinct
+type ``T``. Its signature has to be ``(var T, T)``. Example:
+
+.. code-block:: nim
+  type
+    Concrete = object
+      a, b: string
+
+  proc `=`(d: var Concrete; src: Concrete) =
+    shallowCopy(d.a, src.a)
+    shallowCopy(d.b, src.b)
+    echo "Concrete '=' called"
+
+  var x, y: array[0..2, Concrete]
+  var cA, cB: Concrete
+
+  var cATup, cBTup: tuple[x: int, ha: Concrete]
+
+  x = y
+  cA = cB
+  cATup = cBTup
 
-**Note**: Overriding of operator ``=`` is not yet implemented.
 
 
 destructors
 -----------
 
 A destructor must have a single parameter with a concrete type (the name of a
-generic type is allowed too). The name of the destructor has to be ``destroy``
-and it need to be annotated with the ``override`` pragma.
+generic type is allowed too). The name of the destructor has to be ``=destroy``.
 
-``destroy(v)`` will be automatically invoked for every local stack 
+``=destroy(v)`` will be automatically invoked for every local stack
 variable ``v`` that goes out of scope.
 
-If a structured type features a field with destructable type and 
+If a structured type features a field with destructable type and
 the user has not provided an explicit implementation, a destructor for the
-structured type will be automatically generated. Calls to any base class 
+structured type will be automatically generated. Calls to any base class
 destructors in both user-defined and generated destructors will be inserted.
 
 A destructor is attached to the type it destructs; expressions of this type
@@ -52,13 +74,13 @@ can then only be used in *destructible contexts* and as parameters:
     MyObj = object
       x, y: int
       p: pointer
-      
-  proc destroy(o: var MyObj) {.override.} =
+
+  proc `=destroy`(o: var MyObj) =
     if o.p != nil: dealloc o.p
-    
+
   proc open: MyObj =
     result = MyObj(x: 1, y: 2, p: alloc(3))
- 
+
   proc work(o: MyObj) =
     echo o.x
     # No destructor invoked here for 'o' as 'o' is a parameter.
@@ -68,7 +90,7 @@ can then only be used in *destructible contexts* and as parameters:
     var x = open()
     # valid: pass 'x' to some other proc:
     work(x)
-    
+
     # Error: usage of a type with a destructor in a non destructible context
     echo open()
 
@@ -85,7 +107,7 @@ be destructed at its scope exit. Later versions of the language will improve
 the support of destructors.
 
 Be aware that destructors are not called for objects allocated with ``new``.
-This may change in future versions of language, but for now the ``finalizer``
+This may change in future versions of language, but for now the `finalizer`:idx:
 parameter to ``new`` has to be used.
 
 **Note**: Destructors are still experimental and the spec might change
@@ -95,7 +117,7 @@ significantly in order to incorporate an escape analysis.
 deepCopy
 --------
 
-``deepCopy`` is a builtin that is invoked whenever data is passed to
+``=deepCopy`` is a builtin that is invoked whenever data is passed to
 a ``spawn``'ed proc to ensure memory safety. The programmer can override its
 behaviour for a specific ``ref`` or ``ptr`` type ``T``. (Later versions of the
 language may weaken this restriction.)
@@ -103,10 +125,10 @@ language may weaken this restriction.)
 The signature has to be:
 
 .. code-block:: nim
-  proc deepCopy(x: T): T {.override.}
+  proc `=deepCopy`(x: T): T
 
-This mechanism is used by most data structures that support shared memory like
-channels to implement thread safe automatic memory management.
+This mechanism will be used by most data structures that support shared memory
+like channels to implement thread safe automatic memory management.
 
 The builtin ``deepCopy`` can even clone closures and their environments. See
 the documentation of `spawn`_ for details.
diff --git a/doc/manual/types.txt b/doc/manual/types.txt
index c78984db8..bdf51941d 100644
--- a/doc/manual/types.txt
+++ b/doc/manual/types.txt
@@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ the ``of`` operator can be used to determine the object's type.
       name*: string   # the * means that `name` is accessible from other modules
       age: int        # no * means that the field is hidden
 
-    Student = object of Person # a student is a person
+    Student = ref object of Person # a student is a person
       id: int                  # with an id field
 
   var
@@ -864,7 +864,9 @@ Future directions:
 * Builtin regions like ``private``, ``global`` and ``local`` will
   prove very useful for the upcoming OpenCL target.
 * Builtin "regions" can model ``lent`` and ``unique`` pointers.
-
+* An assignment operator can be attached to a region so that proper write
+  barriers can be generated. This would imply that the GC can be implemented
+  completely in user-space.
 
 
 Procedural type
diff --git a/doc/nimc.txt b/doc/nimc.txt
index 831fce567..cfbccc479 100644
--- a/doc/nimc.txt
+++ b/doc/nimc.txt
@@ -506,7 +506,7 @@ For example:
 .. code-block:: nim
 
   type Input {.importcpp: "System::Input".} = object
-  proc getSubsystem*[T](): ptr T {.importcpp: "SystemManager::getSubsystem<'*0>()".}
+  proc getSubsystem*[T](): ptr T {.importcpp: "SystemManager::getSubsystem<'*0>()", nodecl.}
 
   let x: ptr Input = getSubsystem[Input]()
 
@@ -596,6 +596,25 @@ Produces:
   x[6] = 91.4;
 
 
+- If more precise control is needed, the apostrophe ``'`` can be used in the
+  supplied pattern to denote the concrete type parameters of the generic type.
+  See the usage of the apostrophe operator in proc patterns for more details.
+
+.. code-block:: nim
+
+  type
+    VectorIterator {.importcpp: "std::vector<'0>::iterator".} [T] = object
+
+  var x: VectorIterator[cint]
+
+
+Produces:
+
+.. code-block:: C
+  
+  std::vector<int>::iterator x;
+
+
 ImportObjC pragma
 -----------------
 Similar to the `importc pragma for C <manual.html#importc-pragma>`_, the
diff --git a/doc/tut2.txt b/doc/tut2.txt
index 4d30b1445..e1ac20074 100644
--- a/doc/tut2.txt
+++ b/doc/tut2.txt
@@ -56,12 +56,12 @@ Objects have access to their type at runtime. There is an
 
 .. code-block:: nim
   type
-    Person = object of RootObj
+    Person = ref object of RootObj
       name*: string  # the * means that `name` is accessible from other modules
       age: int       # no * means that the field is hidden from other modules
 
-    Student = object of Person # Student inherits from Person
-      id: int                  # with an id field
+    Student = ref object of Person # Student inherits from Person
+      id: int                      # with an id field
 
   var
     student: Student
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ Objects have access to their type at runtime. There is an
   assert(student of Student) # is true
   # object construction:
   student = Student(name: "Anton", age: 5, id: 2)
+  echo student[]
 
 Object fields that should be visible from outside the defining module have to
 be marked by ``*``. In contrast to tuples, different object types are
@@ -82,6 +83,9 @@ no ancestor are implicitly ``final``. You can use the ``inheritable`` pragma
 to introduce new object roots apart from ``system.RootObj``. (This is used
 in the GTK wrapper for instance.)
 
+Ref objects should be used whenever inheritance is used. It isn't strictly
+necessary, but with non-ref objects assignments such as ``let person: Person =
+Student(id: 123)`` will truncate subclass fields.
 
 **Note**: Composition (*has-a* relation) is often preferable to inheritance
 (*is-a* relation) for simple code reuse. Since objects are value types in
@@ -228,7 +232,7 @@ is needed:
 .. code-block:: nim
 
   type
-    Socket* = object of RootObj
+    Socket* = ref object of RootObj
       FHost: int # cannot be accessed from the outside of the module
                  # the `F` prefix is a convention to avoid clashes since
                  # the accessors are named `host`
@@ -241,8 +245,8 @@ is needed:
     ## getter of hostAddr
     s.FHost
 
-  var
-    s: Socket
+  var s: Socket
+  new s
   s.host = 34  # same as `host=`(s, 34)
 
 (The example also shows ``inline`` procedures.)
@@ -313,8 +317,8 @@ dispatching:
 .. code-block:: nim
 
   type
-    Thing = object of RootObj
-    Unit = object of Thing
+    Thing = ref object of RootObj
+    Unit = ref object of Thing
       x: int
 
   method collide(a, b: Thing) {.inline.} =
@@ -326,8 +330,9 @@ dispatching:
   method collide(a: Unit, b: Thing) {.inline.} =
     echo "2"
 
-  var
-    a, b: Unit
+  var a, b: Unit
+  new a
+  new b
   collide(a, b) # output: 2
 
 
diff --git a/lib/core/macros.nim b/lib/core/macros.nim
index 5583748e0..35f0f61c1 100644
--- a/lib/core/macros.nim
+++ b/lib/core/macros.nim
@@ -88,7 +88,9 @@ type
     ntyBigNum,
     ntyConst, ntyMutable, ntyVarargs,
     ntyIter,
-    ntyError
+    ntyError,
+    ntyBuiltinTypeClass, ntyConcept, ntyConceptInst, ntyComposite,
+    ntyAnd, ntyOr, ntyNot
 
   TNimTypeKinds* {.deprecated.} = set[NimTypeKind]
   NimSymKind* = enum
@@ -162,6 +164,7 @@ proc kind*(n: NimNode): NimNodeKind {.magic: "NKind", noSideEffect.}
   ## returns the `kind` of the node `n`.
 
 proc intVal*(n: NimNode): BiggestInt {.magic: "NIntVal", noSideEffect.}
+proc boolVal*(n: NimNode): bool {.compileTime, noSideEffect.} = n.intVal != 0
 proc floatVal*(n: NimNode): BiggestFloat {.magic: "NFloatVal", noSideEffect.}
 proc symbol*(n: NimNode): NimSym {.magic: "NSymbol", noSideEffect.}
 proc ident*(n: NimNode): NimIdent {.magic: "NIdent", noSideEffect.}
@@ -355,6 +358,12 @@ proc expectLen*(n: NimNode, len: int) {.compileTime.} =
   ## macros that check its number of arguments.
   if n.len != len: error("macro expects a node with " & $len & " children")
 
+proc newTree*(kind: NimNodeKind,
+              children: varargs[NimNode]): NimNode {.compileTime.} =
+  ## produces a new node with children.
+  result = newNimNode(kind)
+  result.add(children)
+
 proc newCall*(theProc: NimNode,
               args: varargs[NimNode]): NimNode {.compileTime.} =
   ## produces a new call node. `theProc` is the proc that is called with
@@ -389,6 +398,11 @@ proc newLit*(i: BiggestInt): NimNode {.compileTime.} =
   result = newNimNode(nnkIntLit)
   result.intVal = i
 
+proc newLit*(b: bool): NimNode {.compileTime.} =
+  ## produces a new boolean literal node.
+  result = newNimNode(nnkIntLit)
+  result.intVal = ord(b)
+
 proc newLit*(f: BiggestFloat): NimNode {.compileTime.} =
   ## produces a new float literal node.
   result = newNimNode(nnkFloatLit)
diff --git a/lib/impure/re.nim b/lib/impure/re.nim
index c24734f89..fb95610f6 100644
--- a/lib/impure/re.nim
+++ b/lib/impure/re.nim
@@ -7,8 +7,11 @@
 #    distribution, for details about the copyright.
 #
 
-## Regular expression support for Nim. Consider using the pegs module
-## instead.
+## Regular expression support for Nim. Consider using the pegs module instead.
+##
+## There is an alternative regular expressions library with a more unified API:
+## `nre <https://github.com/flaviut/nre>`_. It may be added to the standard
+## library in the future, instead of `re`.
 ##
 ## **Note:** The 're' proc defaults to the **extended regular expression
 ## syntax** which lets you use whitespace freely to make your regexes readable.
@@ -36,31 +39,31 @@ const
 type
   RegexFlag* = enum     ## options for regular expressions
     reIgnoreCase = 0,    ## do caseless matching
-    reMultiLine = 1,     ## ``^`` and ``$`` match newlines within data 
+    reMultiLine = 1,     ## ``^`` and ``$`` match newlines within data
     reDotAll = 2,        ## ``.`` matches anything including NL
     reExtended = 3,      ## ignore whitespace and ``#`` comments
     reStudy = 4          ## study the expression (may be omitted if the
                          ## expression will be used only once)
-    
+  
   RegexDesc = object 
-    h: PPcre
-    e: ptr TExtra
-    
+    h: ptr Pcre
+    e: ptr ExtraData
+  
   Regex* = ref RegexDesc ## a compiled regular expression
-    
+
   RegexError* = object of ValueError
     ## is raised if the pattern is no valid regular expression.
 
 {.deprecated: [TRegexFlag: RegexFlag, TRegexDesc: RegexDesc, TRegex: Regex,
     EInvalidRegEx: RegexError].}
 
-proc raiseInvalidRegex(msg: string) {.noinline, noreturn.} = 
+proc raiseInvalidRegex(msg: string) {.noinline, noreturn.} =
   var e: ref RegexError
   new(e)
   e.msg = msg
   raise e
 
-proc rawCompile(pattern: string, flags: cint): PPcre =
+proc rawCompile(pattern: string, flags: cint): ptr Pcre =
   var
     msg: cstring
     offset: cint
@@ -68,10 +71,10 @@ proc rawCompile(pattern: string, flags: cint): PPcre =
   if result == nil:
     raiseInvalidRegex($msg & "\n" & pattern & "\n" & spaces(offset) & "^\n")
 
-proc finalizeRegEx(x: Regex) = 
+proc finalizeRegEx(x: Regex) =
   # XXX This is a hack, but PCRE does not export its "free" function properly.
   # Sigh. The hack relies on PCRE's implementation (see ``pcre_get.c``).
-  # Fortunately the implementation is unlikely to change. 
+  # Fortunately the implementation is unlikely to change.
   pcre.free_substring(cast[cstring](x.h))
   if not isNil(x.e):
     pcre.free_substring(cast[cstring](x.e))
@@ -84,7 +87,7 @@ proc re*(s: string, flags = {reExtended, reStudy}): Regex =
   result.h = rawCompile(s, cast[cint](flags - {reStudy}))
   if reStudy in flags:
     var msg: cstring
-    result.e = pcre.study(result.h, 0, msg)
+    result.e = pcre.study(result.h, 0, addr msg)
     if not isNil(msg): raiseInvalidRegex($msg)
 
 proc matchOrFind(s: string, pattern: Regex, matches: var openArray[string],
@@ -101,10 +104,10 @@ proc matchOrFind(s: string, pattern: Regex, matches: var openArray[string],
     if a >= 0'i32: matches[i-1] = substr(s, int(a), int(b)-1)
     else: matches[i-1] = nil
   return rawMatches[1] - rawMatches[0]
-  
+
 proc findBounds*(s: string, pattern: Regex, matches: var openArray[string],
                  start = 0): tuple[first, last: int] =
-  ## returns the starting position and end position of `pattern` in `s` 
+  ## returns the starting position and end position of `pattern` in `s`
   ## and the captured
   ## substrings in the array `matches`. If it does not match, nothing
   ## is written into `matches` and ``(-1,0)`` is returned.
@@ -120,12 +123,12 @@ proc findBounds*(s: string, pattern: Regex, matches: var openArray[string],
     if a >= 0'i32: matches[i-1] = substr(s, int(a), int(b)-1)
     else: matches[i-1] = nil
   return (rawMatches[0].int, rawMatches[1].int - 1)
-  
-proc findBounds*(s: string, pattern: Regex, 
+
+proc findBounds*(s: string, pattern: Regex,
                  matches: var openArray[tuple[first, last: int]],
                  start = 0): tuple[first, last: int] =
-  ## returns the starting position and end position of ``pattern`` in ``s`` 
-  ## and the captured substrings in the array `matches`. 
+  ## returns the starting position and end position of ``pattern`` in ``s``
+  ## and the captured substrings in the array `matches`.
   ## If it does not match, nothing is written into `matches` and
   ## ``(-1,0)`` is returned.
   var
@@ -141,7 +144,7 @@ proc findBounds*(s: string, pattern: Regex,
     else: matches[i-1] = (-1,0)
   return (rawMatches[0].int, rawMatches[1].int - 1)
 
-proc findBounds*(s: string, pattern: Regex, 
+proc findBounds*(s: string, pattern: Regex,
                  start = 0): tuple[first, last: int] =
   ## returns the starting position of `pattern` in `s`. If it does not
   ## match, ``(-1,0)`` is returned.
@@ -152,7 +155,7 @@ proc findBounds*(s: string, pattern: Regex,
       cast[ptr cint](rawMatches), 3)
   if res < 0'i32: return (int(res), 0)
   return (int(rawMatches[0]), int(rawMatches[1]-1))
-  
+
 proc matchOrFind(s: string, pattern: Regex, start, flags: cint): cint =
   var
     rtarray = initRtArray[cint](3)
@@ -172,7 +175,7 @@ proc matchLen*(s: string, pattern: Regex, matches: var openArray[string],
 proc matchLen*(s: string, pattern: Regex, start = 0): int =
   ## the same as ``match``, but it returns the length of the match,
   ## if there is no match, -1 is returned. Note that a match length
-  ## of zero can happen. 
+  ## of zero can happen.
   return matchOrFind(s, pattern, start.cint, pcre.ANCHORED)
 
 proc match*(s: string, pattern: Regex, start = 0): bool =
@@ -216,7 +219,7 @@ proc find*(s: string, pattern: Regex, start = 0): int =
   if res < 0'i32: return res
   return rawMatches[0]
 
-iterator findAll*(s: string, pattern: Regex, start = 0): string = 
+iterator findAll*(s: string, pattern: Regex, start = 0): string =
   ## Yields all matching *substrings* of `s` that match `pattern`.
   ##
   ## Note that since this is an iterator you should not modify the string you
@@ -231,10 +234,11 @@ iterator findAll*(s: string, pattern: Regex, start = 0): string =
     if res < 0'i32: break
     let a = rawMatches[0]
     let b = rawMatches[1]
+    if a == b and a == i: break
     yield substr(s, int(a), int(b)-1)
     i = b
 
-proc findAll*(s: string, pattern: Regex, start = 0): seq[string] = 
+proc findAll*(s: string, pattern: Regex, start = 0): seq[string] =
   ## returns all matching *substrings* of `s` that match `pattern`.
   ## If it does not match, @[] is returned.
   accumulateResult(findAll(s, pattern, start))
@@ -242,13 +246,13 @@ proc findAll*(s: string, pattern: Regex, start = 0): seq[string] =
 when not defined(nimhygiene):
   {.pragma: inject.}
 
-template `=~` *(s: string, pattern: Regex): expr = 
-  ## This calls ``match`` with an implicit declared ``matches`` array that 
-  ## can be used in the scope of the ``=~`` call: 
-  ## 
+template `=~` *(s: string, pattern: Regex): expr =
+  ## This calls ``match`` with an implicit declared ``matches`` array that
+  ## can be used in the scope of the ``=~`` call:
+  ##
   ## .. code-block:: nim
   ##
-  ##   if line =~ re"\s*(\w+)\s*\=\s*(\w+)": 
+  ##   if line =~ re"\s*(\w+)\s*\=\s*(\w+)":
   ##     # matches a key=value pair:
   ##     echo("Key: ", matches[0])
   ##     echo("Value: ", matches[1])
@@ -260,9 +264,9 @@ template `=~` *(s: string, pattern: Regex): expr =
   ##   else:
   ##     echo("syntax error")
   ##
-  bind MaxSubPatterns
+  bind MaxSubpatterns
   when not declaredInScope(matches):
-    var matches {.inject.}: array[0..MaxSubpatterns-1, string]
+    var matches {.inject.}: array[MaxSubpatterns, string]
   match(s, pattern, matches)
 
 # ------------------------- more string handling ------------------------------
@@ -286,7 +290,7 @@ proc endsWith*(s: string, suffix: Regex): bool =
     if matchLen(s, suffix, i) == s.len - i: return true
 
 proc replace*(s: string, sub: Regex, by = ""): string =
-  ## Replaces `sub` in `s` by the string `by`. Captures cannot be 
+  ## Replaces `sub` in `s` by the string `by`. Captures cannot be
   ## accessed in `by`. Examples:
   ##
   ## .. code-block:: nim
@@ -306,7 +310,7 @@ proc replace*(s: string, sub: Regex, by = ""): string =
     add(result, by)
     prev = match.last + 1
   add(result, substr(s, prev))
-  
+
 proc replacef*(s: string, sub: Regex, by: string): string =
   ## Replaces `sub` in `s` by the string `by`. Captures can be accessed in `by`
   ## with the notation ``$i`` and ``$#`` (see strutils.`%`). Examples:
@@ -320,7 +324,7 @@ proc replacef*(s: string, sub: Regex, by: string): string =
   ##
   ## "var1<-keykey; val2<-key2key2"
   result = ""
-  var caps: array[0..MaxSubpatterns-1, string]
+  var caps: array[MaxSubpatterns, string]
   var prev = 0
   while true:
     var match = findBounds(s, sub, caps, prev)
@@ -338,7 +342,7 @@ proc parallelReplace*(s: string, subs: openArray[
   ## applied in parallel.
   result = ""
   var i = 0
-  var caps: array[0..MaxSubpatterns-1, string]
+  var caps: array[MaxSubpatterns, string]
   while i < s.len:
     block searchSubs:
       for j in 0..high(subs):
@@ -359,7 +363,7 @@ proc transformFile*(infile, outfile: string,
   ## error occurs. This is supposed to be used for quick scripting.
   var x = readFile(infile).string
   writeFile(outfile, x.parallelReplace(subs))
-  
+
 iterator split*(s: string, sep: Regex): string =
   ## Splits the string `s` into substrings.
   ##
@@ -373,64 +377,73 @@ iterator split*(s: string, sep: Regex): string =
   ## Results in:
   ##
   ## .. code-block:: nim
+  ##   ""
   ##   "this"
   ##   "is"
   ##   "an"
   ##   "example"
+  ##   ""
   ##
   var
-    first = 0
-    last = 0
+    first = -1
+    last = -1
   while last < len(s):
     var x = matchLen(s, sep, last)
     if x > 0: inc(last, x)
     first = last
+    if x == 0: inc(last)
     while last < len(s):
-      inc(last)
       x = matchLen(s, sep, last)
-      if x > 0: break
-    if first < last:
+      if x >= 0: break
+      inc(last)
+    if first <= last:
       yield substr(s, first, last-1)
 
 proc split*(s: string, sep: Regex): seq[string] =
   ## Splits the string `s` into substrings.
   accumulateResult(split(s, sep))
-  
-proc escapeRe*(s: string): string = 
-  ## escapes `s` so that it is matched verbatim when used as a regular 
+
+proc escapeRe*(s: string): string =
+  ## escapes `s` so that it is matched verbatim when used as a regular
   ## expression.
   result = ""
   for c in items(s):
     case c
     of 'a'..'z', 'A'..'Z', '0'..'9', '_':
       result.add(c)
-    else: 
+    else:
       result.add("\\x")
       result.add(toHex(ord(c), 2))
-  
+
 const ## common regular expressions
-  reIdentifier* = r"\b[a-zA-Z_]+[a-zA-Z_0-9]*\b"  ## describes an identifier
-  reNatural* = r"\b\d+\b" ## describes a natural number
-  reInteger* = r"\b[-+]?\d+\b" ## describes an integer
-  reHex* = r"\b0[xX][0-9a-fA-F]+\b" ## describes a hexadecimal number
-  reBinary* = r"\b0[bB][01]+\b" ## describes a binary number (example: 0b11101)
-  reOctal* = r"\b0[oO][0-7]+\b" ## describes an octal number (example: 0o777)
-  reFloat* = r"\b[-+]?[0-9]*\.?[0-9]+([eE][-+]?[0-9]+)?\b"
+  reIdentifier* {.deprecated.} = r"\b[a-zA-Z_]+[a-zA-Z_0-9]*\b"
+    ## describes an identifier
+  reNatural* {.deprecated.} = r"\b\d+\b"
+    ## describes a natural number
+  reInteger* {.deprecated.} = r"\b[-+]?\d+\b"
+    ## describes an integer
+  reHex* {.deprecated.} = r"\b0[xX][0-9a-fA-F]+\b"
+    ## describes a hexadecimal number
+  reBinary* {.deprecated.} = r"\b0[bB][01]+\b"
+    ## describes a binary number (example: 0b11101)
+  reOctal* {.deprecated.} = r"\b0[oO][0-7]+\b"
+    ## describes an octal number (example: 0o777)
+  reFloat* {.deprecated.} = r"\b[-+]?[0-9]*\.?[0-9]+([eE][-+]?[0-9]+)?\b"
     ## describes a floating point number
-  reEmail* = r"\b[a-zA-Z0-9!#$%&'*+/=?^_`{|}~\-]+(?:\. &" &
-             r"[a-zA-Z0-9!#$%&'*+/=?^_`{|}~-]+)" &
-             r"*@(?:[a-zA-Z0-9](?:[a-zA-Z0-9-]*[a-zA-Z0-9])?\.)+" &
-             r"(?:[a-zA-Z]{2}|com|org|" &
-             r"net|gov|mil|biz|info|mobi|name|aero|jobs|museum)\b"
+  reEmail* {.deprecated.} = r"\b[a-zA-Z0-9!#$%&'*+/=?^_`{|}~\-]+(?:\. &" &
+                            r"[a-zA-Z0-9!#$%&'*+/=?^_`{|}~-]+)*@" &
+                            r"(?:[a-zA-Z0-9](?:[a-zA-Z0-9-]*[a-zA-Z0-9])?\.)+" &
+                            r"(?:[a-zA-Z]{2}|com|org|net|gov|mil|biz|" &
+                            r"info|mobi|name|aero|jobs|museum)\b"
     ## describes a common email address
-  reURL* = r"\b(http(s)?|ftp|gopher|telnet|file|notes|ms\-help):" &
-           r"((//)|(\\\\))+[\w\d:#@%/;$()~_?\+\-\=\\\.\&]*\b"
+  reURL* {.deprecated.} = r"\b(http(s)?|ftp|gopher|telnet|file|notes|ms-help)" &
+                          r":((//)|(\\\\))+[\w\d:#@%/;$()~_?\+\-\=\\\.\&]*\b"
     ## describes an URL
 
 when isMainModule:
   assert match("(a b c)", re"\( .* \)")
   assert match("WHiLe", re("while", {reIgnoreCase}))
-  
+
   assert "0158787".match(re"\d+")
   assert "ABC 0232".match(re"\w+\s+\d+")
   assert "ABC".match(re"\d+ | \w+")
@@ -439,21 +452,21 @@ when isMainModule:
 
   var pattern = re"[a-z0-9]+\s*=\s*[a-z0-9]+"
   assert matchLen("key1=  cal9", pattern) == 11
-  
+
   assert find("_____abc_______", re"abc") == 5
-  
-  var matches: array[0..5, string]
-  if match("abcdefg", re"c(d)ef(g)", matches, 2): 
+
+  var matches: array[6, string]
+  if match("abcdefg", re"c(d)ef(g)", matches, 2):
     assert matches[0] == "d"
     assert matches[1] == "g"
   else:
     assert false
-  
+
   if "abc" =~ re"(a)bcxyz|(\w+)":
     assert matches[1] == "abc"
   else:
     assert false
-  
+
   if "abc" =~ re"(cba)?.*":
     assert matches[0] == nil
   else: assert false
@@ -461,7 +474,7 @@ when isMainModule:
   if "abc" =~ re"().*":
     assert matches[0] == ""
   else: assert false
-    
+
   assert "var1=key; var2=key2".endsWith(re"\w+=\w+")
   assert("var1=key; var2=key2".replacef(re"(\w+)=(\w+)", "$1<-$2$2") ==
          "var1<-keykey; var2<-key2key2")
@@ -471,7 +484,12 @@ when isMainModule:
   var accum: seq[string] = @[]
   for word in split("00232this02939is39an22example111", re"\d+"):
     accum.add(word)
-  assert(accum == @["this", "is", "an", "example"])
+  assert(accum == @["", "this", "is", "an", "example", ""])
+
+  accum = @[]
+  for word in split("AAA :   : BBB", re"\s*:\s*"):
+    accum.add(word)
+  assert(accum == @["AAA", "", "BBB"])
 
   for x in findAll("abcdef", re"^{.}", 3):
     assert x == "d"
@@ -484,7 +502,7 @@ when isMainModule:
   assert("XYZ".match(re"^\d*") == true)
 
   block:
-    var matches: array[0..15, string]
+    var matches: array[16, string]
     if match("abcdefghijklmnop", re"(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)(i)(j)(k)(l)(m)(n)(o)(p)", matches):
       for i in 0..matches.high:
         assert matches[i] == $chr(i + 'a'.ord)
diff --git a/lib/js/dom.nim b/lib/js/dom.nim
index 870213db3..94f4fa29c 100644
--- a/lib/js/dom.nim
+++ b/lib/js/dom.nim
@@ -36,8 +36,11 @@ type
     onsubmit*: proc (event: ref TEvent) {.nimcall.}
     onunload*: proc (event: ref TEvent) {.nimcall.}
 
-  TWindow* {.importc.} = object of TEventHandlers
-    document*: ref TDocument
+    addEventListener*: proc(ev: cstring, cb: proc(ev: ref TEvent), useCapture: bool = false) {.nimcall.}
+
+  Window* = ref WindowObj
+  WindowObj {.importc.} = object of TEventHandlers
+    document*: Document
     event*: ref TEvent
     history*: ref THistory
     location*: ref TLocation
@@ -55,7 +58,6 @@ type
     status*: cstring
     toolbar*: ref TToolBar
 
-    addEventListener*: proc(ev: cstring, cb: proc(ev: ref TEvent) ) {.nimcall.}
     alert*: proc (msg: cstring) {.nimcall.}
     back*: proc () {.nimcall.}
     blur*: proc () {.nimcall.}
@@ -66,7 +68,7 @@ type
     confirm*: proc (msg: cstring): bool {.nimcall.}
     disableExternalCapture*: proc () {.nimcall.}
     enableExternalCapture*: proc () {.nimcall.}
-    find*: proc (text: cstring, caseSensitive = false, 
+    find*: proc (text: cstring, caseSensitive = false,
                  backwards = false) {.nimcall.}
     focus*: proc () {.nimcall.}
     forward*: proc () {.nimcall.}
@@ -75,7 +77,7 @@ type
     moveBy*: proc (x, y: int) {.nimcall.}
     moveTo*: proc (x, y: int) {.nimcall.}
     open*: proc (uri, windowname: cstring,
-                 properties: cstring = nil): ref TWindow {.nimcall.}
+                 properties: cstring = nil): Window {.nimcall.}
     print*: proc () {.nimcall.}
     prompt*: proc (text, default: cstring): cstring {.nimcall.}
     releaseEvents*: proc (eventMask: int) {.nimcall.}
@@ -89,10 +91,65 @@ type
     stop*: proc () {.nimcall.}
     frames*: seq[TFrame]
 
-  TFrame* {.importc.} = object of TWindow
+  Frame* = ref FrameObj
+  FrameObj {.importc.} = object of WindowObj
+
+  ClassList* {.importc.} = object of RootObj
+    add*: proc (class: cstring) {.nimcall.}
+    remove*: proc (class: cstring) {.nimcall.}
+    contains*: proc (class: cstring):bool {.nimcall.}
+    toggle*: proc (class: cstring) {.nimcall.}
+
+  TNodeType* = enum
+    ElementNode = 1,
+    AttributeNode,
+    TextNode,
+    CDATANode,
+    EntityRefNode,
+    EntityNode,
+    ProcessingInstructionNode,
+    CommentNode,
+    DocumentNode,
+    DocumentTypeNode,
+    DocumentFragmentNode,
+    NotationNode
+
+  Node* = ref NodeObj
+  NodeObj {.importc.} = object of TEventHandlers
+    attributes*: seq[Node]
+    childNodes*: seq[Node]
+    children*: seq[Node]
+    data*: cstring
+    firstChild*: Node
+    lastChild*: Node
+    nextSibling*: Node
+    nodeName*: cstring
+    nodeType*: TNodeType
+    nodeValue*: cstring
+    parentNode*: Node
+    previousSibling*: Node
+    appendChild*: proc (child: Node) {.nimcall.}
+    appendData*: proc (data: cstring) {.nimcall.}
+    cloneNode*: proc (copyContent: bool): Node {.nimcall.}
+    deleteData*: proc (start, len: int) {.nimcall.}
+    getAttribute*: proc (attr: cstring): cstring {.nimcall.}
+    getAttributeNode*: proc (attr: cstring): Node {.nimcall.}
+    hasChildNodes*: proc (): bool {.nimcall.}
+    innerHTML*: cstring
+    insertBefore*: proc (newNode, before: Node) {.nimcall.}
+    insertData*: proc (position: int, data: cstring) {.nimcall.}
+    removeAttribute*: proc (attr: cstring) {.nimcall.}
+    removeAttributeNode*: proc (attr: Node) {.nimcall.}
+    removeChild*: proc (child: Node) {.nimcall.}
+    replaceChild*: proc (newNode, oldNode: Node) {.nimcall.}
+    replaceData*: proc (start, len: int, text: cstring) {.nimcall.}
+    scrollIntoView*: proc () {.nimcall.}
+    setAttribute*: proc (name, value: cstring) {.nimcall.}
+    setAttributeNode*: proc (attr: Node) {.nimcall.}
+    style*: ref TStyle
 
-  TDocument* {.importc.} = object of TEventHandlers
-    addEventListener*: proc(ev: cstring, cb: proc(ev: ref TEvent) ) {.nimcall.}
+  Document* = ref DocumentObj
+  DocumentObj {.importc.} = object of NodeObj
     alinkColor*: cstring
     bgColor*: cstring
     charset*: cstring
@@ -106,13 +163,13 @@ type
     URL*: cstring
     vlinkColor*: cstring
     captureEvents*: proc (eventMask: int) {.nimcall.}
-    createAttribute*: proc (identifier: cstring): ref TNode {.nimcall.}
-    createElement*: proc (identifier: cstring): ref TNode {.nimcall.}
-    createTextNode*: proc (identifier: cstring): ref TNode {.nimcall.}
-    getElementById*: proc (id: cstring): ref TNode {.nimcall.}
-    getElementsByName*: proc (name: cstring): seq[ref TNode] {.nimcall.}
-    getElementsByTagName*: proc (name: cstring): seq[ref TNode] {.nimcall.}
-    getElementsByClassName*: proc (name: cstring): seq[ref TNode] {.nimcall.}
+    createAttribute*: proc (identifier: cstring): Node {.nimcall.}
+    createElement*: proc (identifier: cstring): Element {.nimcall.}
+    createTextNode*: proc (identifier: cstring): Node {.nimcall.}
+    getElementById*: proc (id: cstring): Element {.nimcall.}
+    getElementsByName*: proc (name: cstring): seq[Element] {.nimcall.}
+    getElementsByTagName*: proc (name: cstring): seq[Element] {.nimcall.}
+    getElementsByClassName*: proc (name: cstring): seq[Element] {.nimcall.}
     getSelection*: proc (): cstring {.nimcall.}
     handleEvent*: proc (event: ref TEvent) {.nimcall.}
     open*: proc () {.nimcall.}
@@ -120,24 +177,43 @@ type
     routeEvent*: proc (event: ref TEvent) {.nimcall.}
     write*: proc (text: cstring) {.nimcall.}
     writeln*: proc (text: cstring) {.nimcall.}
-    anchors*: seq[ref TAnchor]
-    forms*: seq[ref TForm]
-    images*: seq[ref TImage]
+    anchors*: seq[AnchorElement]
+    forms*: seq[FormElement]
+    images*: seq[ImageElement]
     applets*: seq[ref TApplet]
-    embeds*: seq[ref TEmbed]
-    links*: seq[ref TLink]
+    embeds*: seq[EmbedElement]
+    links*: seq[LinkElement]
 
-  TLink* {.importc.} = object of RootObj
+  Element* = ref ElementObj
+  ElementObj {.importc.} = object of NodeObj
+    classList*: ref Classlist
+    checked*: bool
+    defaultChecked*: bool
+    defaultValue*: cstring
+    disabled*: bool
+    form*: FormElement
     name*: cstring
+    readOnly*: bool
+    blur*: proc () {.nimcall.}
+    click*: proc () {.nimcall.}
+    focus*: proc () {.nimcall.}
+    handleEvent*: proc (event: ref TEvent) {.nimcall.}
+    select*: proc () {.nimcall.}
+    options*: seq[OptionElement]
+    getElementsByTagName*: proc (name: cstring): seq[Element] {.nimcall.}
+    getElementsByClassName*: proc (name: cstring): seq[Element] {.nimcall.}
+
+  LinkElement* = ref LinkObj
+  LinkObj {.importc.} = object of ElementObj
     target*: cstring
     text*: cstring
     x*: int
     y*: int
 
-  TEmbed* {.importc.} = object of RootObj
+  EmbedElement* = ref EmbedObj
+  EmbedObj {.importc.} = object of ElementObj
     height*: int
     hspace*: int
-    name*: cstring
     src*: cstring
     width*: int
     `type`*: cstring
@@ -145,115 +221,42 @@ type
     play*: proc () {.nimcall.}
     stop*: proc () {.nimcall.}
 
-  TAnchor* {.importc.} = object of RootObj
-    name*: cstring
+  AnchorElement* = ref AnchorObj
+  AnchorObj {.importc.} = object of ElementObj
     text*: cstring
     x*, y*: int
 
   TApplet* {.importc.} = object of RootObj
 
-  TElement* {.importc.} = object of TEventHandlers
-    checked*: bool
-    defaultChecked*: bool
-    defaultValue*: cstring
-    disabled*: bool
-    form*: ref TForm
-    name*: cstring
-    readOnly*: bool
-    `type`*: cstring
-    value*: cstring
-    blur*: proc () {.nimcall.}
-    click*: proc () {.nimcall.}
-    focus*: proc () {.nimcall.}
-    handleEvent*: proc (event: ref TEvent) {.nimcall.}
-    select*: proc () {.nimcall.}
-    options*: seq[ref TOption]
-
-  TOption* {.importc.} = object of RootObj
+  OptionElement* = ref OptionObj
+  OptionObj {.importc.} = object of ElementObj
     defaultSelected*: bool
     selected*: bool
     selectedIndex*: int
     text*: cstring
     value*: cstring
 
-  TForm* {.importc.} = object of TEventHandlers
+  FormElement* = ref FormObj
+  FormObj {.importc.} = object of ElementObj
     action*: cstring
     encoding*: cstring
     `method`*: cstring
-    name*: cstring
     target*: cstring
-    handleEvent*: proc (event: ref TEvent) {.nimcall.}
     reset*: proc () {.nimcall.}
     submit*: proc () {.nimcall.}
-    elements*: seq[ref TElement]
+    elements*: seq[Element]
 
-  TImage* {.importc.} = object of TEventHandlers
+  ImageElement* = ref ImageObj
+  ImageObj {.importc.} = object of ElementObj
     border*: int
     complete*: bool
     height*: int
     hspace*: int
     lowsrc*: cstring
-    name*: cstring
     src*: cstring
     vspace*: int
     width*: int
-    handleEvent*: proc (event: ref TEvent) {.nimcall.}
 
-  ClassList* {.importc.} = object of RootObj
-    add*: proc (class: cstring) {.nimcall.}
-    remove*: proc (class: cstring) {.nimcall.}
-    contains*: proc (class: cstring):bool {.nimcall.}
-    toggle*: proc (class: cstring) {.nimcall.}
-
-  TNodeType* = enum
-    ElementNode = 1,
-    AttributeNode,
-    TextNode,
-    CDATANode,
-    EntityRefNode,
-    EntityNode,
-    ProcessingInstructionNode,
-    CommentNode,
-    DocumentNode,
-    DocumentTypeNode,
-    DocumentFragmentNode,
-    NotationNode
-  TNode* {.importc.} = object of RootObj
-    attributes*: seq[ref TNode]
-    childNodes*: seq[ref TNode]
-    children*: seq[ref TNode]
-    classList*: ref Classlist
-    data*: cstring
-    firstChild*: ref TNode
-    lastChild*: ref TNode
-    nextSibling*: ref TNode
-    nodeName*: cstring
-    nodeType*: TNodeType
-    nodeValue*: cstring
-    parentNode*: ref TNode
-    previousSibling*: ref TNode
-    appendChild*: proc (child: ref TNode) {.nimcall.}
-    appendData*: proc (data: cstring) {.nimcall.}
-    cloneNode*: proc (copyContent: bool): ref TNode {.nimcall.}
-    deleteData*: proc (start, len: int) {.nimcall.}
-    getAttribute*: proc (attr: cstring): cstring {.nimcall.}
-    getAttributeNode*: proc (attr: cstring): ref TNode {.nimcall.}
-    getElementsByTagName*: proc (name: cstring): seq[ref TNode] {.nimcall.}
-    getElementsByClassName*: proc (name: cstring): seq[ref TNode] {.nimcall.}
-    hasChildNodes*: proc (): bool {.nimcall.}
-    innerHTML*: cstring
-    insertBefore*: proc (newNode, before: ref TNode) {.nimcall.}
-    insertData*: proc (position: int, data: cstring) {.nimcall.}
-    addEventListener*: proc(ev: cstring, cb: proc(ev: ref TEvent)) {.nimcall.}
-    removeAttribute*: proc (attr: cstring) {.nimcall.}
-    removeAttributeNode*: proc (attr: ref TNode) {.nimcall.}
-    removeChild*: proc (child: ref TNode) {.nimcall.}
-    replaceChild*: proc (newNode, oldNode: ref TNode) {.nimcall.}
-    replaceData*: proc (start, len: int, text: cstring) {.nimcall.}
-    scrollIntoView*: proc () {.nimcall.}
-    setAttribute*: proc (name, value: cstring) {.nimcall.}
-    setAttributeNode*: proc (attr: ref TNode) {.nimcall.}
-    style*: ref TStyle
 
   TStyle* {.importc.} = object of RootObj
     background*: cstring
@@ -350,7 +353,7 @@ type
     setAttribute*: proc (attr, value: cstring, caseSensitive=false) {.nimcall.}
 
   TEvent* {.importc.} = object of RootObj
-    target*: ref TNode
+    target*: Node
     altKey*, ctrlKey*, shiftKey*: bool
     button*: int
     clientX*, clientY*: int
@@ -448,8 +451,8 @@ type
   TInterval* {.importc.} = object of RootObj
 
 var
-  window* {.importc, nodecl.}: ref TWindow
-  document* {.importc, nodecl.}: ref TDocument
+  window* {.importc, nodecl.}: Window
+  document* {.importc, nodecl.}: Document
   navigator* {.importc, nodecl.}: ref TNavigator
   screen* {.importc, nodecl.}: ref TScreen
 
@@ -466,3 +469,17 @@ proc isNaN*(x: BiggestFloat): bool {.importc, nodecl.}
 proc parseFloat*(s: cstring): BiggestFloat {.importc, nodecl.}
 proc parseInt*(s: cstring): int {.importc, nodecl.}
 proc parseInt*(s: cstring, radix: int):int {.importc, nodecl.}
+
+
+type
+  TWindow* {.deprecated.} = WindowObj
+  TFrame* {.deprecated.} = FrameObj
+  TNode* {.deprecated.} = NodeObj
+  TDocument* {.deprecated.} = DocumentObj
+  TElement* {.deprecated.} = ElementObj
+  TLink* {.deprecated.} = LinkObj
+  TEmbed* {.deprecated.} = EmbedObj
+  TAnchor* {.deprecated.} = AnchorObj
+  TOption* {.deprecated.} = OptionObj
+  TForm* {.deprecated.} = FormObj
+  TImage* {.deprecated.} = ImageObj
diff --git a/lib/packages/docutils/rst.nim b/lib/packages/docutils/rst.nim
index 97784898e..2ee94ba13 100644
--- a/lib/packages/docutils/rst.nim
+++ b/lib/packages/docutils/rst.nim
@@ -11,25 +11,25 @@
 ## subset is implemented. Some features of the `markdown`:idx: wiki syntax are
 ## also supported.
 
-import 
+import
   os, strutils, rstast
 
 type
-  TRstParseOption* = enum     ## options for the RST parser 
+  TRstParseOption* = enum     ## options for the RST parser
     roSkipPounds,             ## skip ``#`` at line beginning (documentation
                               ## embedded in Nim comments)
     roSupportSmilies,         ## make the RST parser support smilies like ``:)``
     roSupportRawDirective,    ## support the ``raw`` directive (don't support
                               ## it for sandboxing)
     roSupportMarkdown         ## support additional features of markdown
-  
+
   TRstParseOptions* = set[TRstParseOption]
-  
+
   TMsgClass* = enum
-    mcHint = "Hint", 
-    mcWarning = "Warning", 
+    mcHint = "Hint",
+    mcWarning = "Warning",
     mcError = "Error"
-  
+
   TMsgKind* = enum          ## the possible messages
     meCannotOpenFile,
     meExpected,
@@ -41,20 +41,20 @@ type
     mwUnknownSubstitution,
     mwUnsupportedLanguage,
     mwUnsupportedField
-  
+
   TMsgHandler* = proc (filename: string, line, col: int, msgKind: TMsgKind,
                        arg: string) {.nimcall.} ## what to do in case of an error
   TFindFileHandler* = proc (filename: string): string {.nimcall.}
 
 const
   messages: array [TMsgKind, string] = [
-    meCannotOpenFile: "cannot open '$1'", 
+    meCannotOpenFile: "cannot open '$1'",
     meExpected: "'$1' expected",
     meGridTableNotImplemented: "grid table is not implemented",
-    meNewSectionExpected: "new section expected", 
+    meNewSectionExpected: "new section expected",
     meGeneralParseError: "general parse error",
     meInvalidDirective: "invalid directive: '$1'",
-    mwRedefinitionOfLabel: "redefinition of label '$1'", 
+    mwRedefinitionOfLabel: "redefinition of label '$1'",
     mwUnknownSubstitution: "unknown substitution '$1'",
     mwUnsupportedLanguage: "language '$1' not supported",
     mwUnsupportedField: "field '$1' not supported"
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ proc getArgument*(n: PRstNode): string
 
 # ----------------------------- scanner part --------------------------------
 
-const 
+const
   SymChars: set[char] = {'a'..'z', 'A'..'Z', '0'..'9', '\x80'..'\xFF'}
   SmileyStartChars: set[char] = {':', ';', '8'}
   Smilies = {
@@ -111,14 +111,14 @@ const
   }
 
 type
-  TTokType = enum 
+  TTokType = enum
     tkEof, tkIndent, tkWhite, tkWord, tkAdornment, tkPunct, tkOther
   TToken = object             # a RST token
     kind*: TTokType           # the type of the token
     ival*: int                # the indentation or parsed integer value
     symbol*: string           # the parsed symbol as string
     line*, col*: int          # line and column of the token
-  
+
   TTokenSeq = seq[TToken]
   TLexer = object of RootObj
     buf*: cstring
@@ -127,61 +127,61 @@ type
     skipPounds*: bool
 
 
-proc getThing(L: var TLexer, tok: var TToken, s: set[char]) = 
+proc getThing(L: var TLexer, tok: var TToken, s: set[char]) =
   tok.kind = tkWord
   tok.line = L.line
   tok.col = L.col
   var pos = L.bufpos
-  while true: 
+  while true:
     add(tok.symbol, L.buf[pos])
     inc(pos)
-    if L.buf[pos] notin s: break 
+    if L.buf[pos] notin s: break
   inc(L.col, pos - L.bufpos)
   L.bufpos = pos
 
-proc getAdornment(L: var TLexer, tok: var TToken) = 
+proc getAdornment(L: var TLexer, tok: var TToken) =
   tok.kind = tkAdornment
   tok.line = L.line
   tok.col = L.col
   var pos = L.bufpos
   var c = L.buf[pos]
-  while true: 
+  while true:
     add(tok.symbol, L.buf[pos])
     inc(pos)
-    if L.buf[pos] != c: break 
+    if L.buf[pos] != c: break
   inc(L.col, pos - L.bufpos)
   L.bufpos = pos
 
-proc getIndentAux(L: var TLexer, start: int): int = 
+proc getIndentAux(L: var TLexer, start: int): int =
   var pos = start
-  var buf = L.buf                 
+  var buf = L.buf
   # skip the newline (but include it in the token!)
-  if buf[pos] == '\x0D': 
+  if buf[pos] == '\x0D':
     if buf[pos + 1] == '\x0A': inc(pos, 2)
     else: inc(pos)
-  elif buf[pos] == '\x0A': 
+  elif buf[pos] == '\x0A':
     inc(pos)
-  if L.skipPounds: 
+  if L.skipPounds:
     if buf[pos] == '#': inc(pos)
     if buf[pos] == '#': inc(pos)
-  while true: 
+  while true:
     case buf[pos]
-    of ' ', '\x0B', '\x0C': 
+    of ' ', '\x0B', '\x0C':
       inc(pos)
       inc(result)
-    of '\x09': 
+    of '\x09':
       inc(pos)
       result = result - (result mod 8) + 8
-    else: 
+    else:
       break                   # EndOfFile also leaves the loop
-  if buf[pos] == '\0': 
+  if buf[pos] == '\0':
     result = 0
-  elif (buf[pos] == '\x0A') or (buf[pos] == '\x0D'): 
+  elif (buf[pos] == '\x0A') or (buf[pos] == '\x0D'):
     # look at the next line for proper indentation:
     result = getIndentAux(L, pos)
   L.bufpos = pos              # no need to set back buf
-  
-proc getIndent(L: var TLexer, tok: var TToken) = 
+
+proc getIndent(L: var TLexer, tok: var TToken) =
   tok.col = 0
   tok.kind = tkIndent         # skip the newline (but include it in the token!)
   tok.ival = getIndentAux(L, L.bufpos)
@@ -191,85 +191,85 @@ proc getIndent(L: var TLexer, tok: var TToken) =
   tok.ival = max(tok.ival - L.baseIndent, 0)
   tok.symbol = "\n" & spaces(tok.ival)
 
-proc rawGetTok(L: var TLexer, tok: var TToken) = 
+proc rawGetTok(L: var TLexer, tok: var TToken) =
   tok.symbol = ""
   tok.ival = 0
   var c = L.buf[L.bufpos]
   case c
-  of 'a'..'z', 'A'..'Z', '\x80'..'\xFF', '0'..'9': 
+  of 'a'..'z', 'A'..'Z', '\x80'..'\xFF', '0'..'9':
     getThing(L, tok, SymChars)
-  of ' ', '\x09', '\x0B', '\x0C': 
+  of ' ', '\x09', '\x0B', '\x0C':
     getThing(L, tok, {' ', '\x09'})
     tok.kind = tkWhite
-    if L.buf[L.bufpos] in {'\x0D', '\x0A'}: 
+    if L.buf[L.bufpos] in {'\x0D', '\x0A'}:
       rawGetTok(L, tok)       # ignore spaces before \n
-  of '\x0D', '\x0A': 
+  of '\x0D', '\x0A':
     getIndent(L, tok)
-  of '!', '\"', '#', '$', '%', '&', '\'', '(', ')', '*', '+', ',', '-', '.', 
+  of '!', '\"', '#', '$', '%', '&', '\'', '(', ')', '*', '+', ',', '-', '.',
      '/', ':', ';', '<', '=', '>', '?', '@', '[', '\\', ']', '^', '_', '`', '{',
-     '|', '}', '~': 
+     '|', '}', '~':
     getAdornment(L, tok)
     if len(tok.symbol) <= 3: tok.kind = tkPunct
-  else: 
+  else:
     tok.line = L.line
     tok.col = L.col
-    if c == '\0': 
+    if c == '\0':
       tok.kind = tkEof
-    else: 
+    else:
       tok.kind = tkOther
       add(tok.symbol, c)
       inc(L.bufpos)
       inc(L.col)
   tok.col = max(tok.col - L.baseIndent, 0)
 
-proc getTokens(buffer: string, skipPounds: bool, tokens: var TTokenSeq): int = 
+proc getTokens(buffer: string, skipPounds: bool, tokens: var TTokenSeq): int =
   var L: TLexer
   var length = len(tokens)
   L.buf = cstring(buffer)
   L.line = 0                  # skip UTF-8 BOM
-  if (L.buf[0] == '\xEF') and (L.buf[1] == '\xBB') and (L.buf[2] == '\xBF'): 
+  if (L.buf[0] == '\xEF') and (L.buf[1] == '\xBB') and (L.buf[2] == '\xBF'):
     inc(L.bufpos, 3)
   L.skipPounds = skipPounds
-  if skipPounds: 
-    if L.buf[L.bufpos] == '#': 
+  if skipPounds:
+    if L.buf[L.bufpos] == '#':
       inc(L.bufpos)
       inc(result)
-    if L.buf[L.bufpos] == '#': 
+    if L.buf[L.bufpos] == '#':
       inc(L.bufpos)
       inc(result)
     L.baseIndent = 0
-    while L.buf[L.bufpos] == ' ': 
+    while L.buf[L.bufpos] == ' ':
       inc(L.bufpos)
       inc(L.baseIndent)
       inc(result)
-  while true: 
+  while true:
     inc(length)
     setLen(tokens, length)
     rawGetTok(L, tokens[length - 1])
-    if tokens[length - 1].kind == tkEof: break 
-  if tokens[0].kind == tkWhite: 
+    if tokens[length - 1].kind == tkEof: break
+  if tokens[0].kind == tkWhite:
     # BUGFIX
     tokens[0].ival = len(tokens[0].symbol)
     tokens[0].kind = tkIndent
 
 type
   TLevelMap = array[char, int]
-  TSubstitution = object 
+  TSubstitution = object
     key*: string
     value*: PRstNode
 
-  TSharedState = object 
+  TSharedState = object
     options: TRstParseOptions   # parsing options
     uLevel, oLevel: int         # counters for the section levels
     subs: seq[TSubstitution]    # substitutions
     refs: seq[TSubstitution]    # references
     underlineToLevel: TLevelMap # Saves for each possible title adornment
                                 # character its level in the
-                                # current document. 
+                                # current document.
                                 # This is for single underline adornments.
-    overlineToLevel: TLevelMap  # Saves for each possible title adornment 
+    overlineToLevel: TLevelMap  # Saves for each possible title adornment
                                 # character its level in the current
-                                # document. 
+                                # document.
                                 # This is for over-underline adornments.
     msgHandler: TMsgHandler     # How to handle errors.
     findFile: TFindFileHandler  # How to find files.
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ proc whichMsgClass*(k: TMsgKind): TMsgClass =
   of 'w', 'W': result = mcWarning
   of 'h', 'H': result = mcHint
   else: assert false, "msgkind does not fit naming scheme"
-  
+
 proc defaultMsgHandler*(filename: string, line, col: int, msgkind: TMsgKind,
                         arg: string) {.procvar.} =
   let mc = msgkind.whichMsgClass
@@ -302,31 +302,31 @@ proc defaultMsgHandler*(filename: string, line, col: int, msgkind: TMsgKind,
   if mc == mcError: raise newException(EParseError, message)
   else: writeln(stdout, message)
 
-proc defaultFindFile*(filename: string): string {.procvar.} = 
+proc defaultFindFile*(filename: string): string {.procvar.} =
   if existsFile(filename): result = filename
   else: result = ""
 
 proc newSharedState(options: TRstParseOptions,
                     findFile: TFindFileHandler,
-                    msgHandler: TMsgHandler): PSharedState = 
+                    msgHandler: TMsgHandler): PSharedState =
   new(result)
   result.subs = @[]
   result.refs = @[]
   result.options = options
   result.msgHandler = if not isNil(msgHandler): msgHandler else: defaultMsgHandler
   result.findFile = if not isNil(findFile): findFile else: defaultFindFile
-  
-proc rstMessage(p: TRstParser, msgKind: TMsgKind, arg: string) = 
-  p.s.msgHandler(p.filename, p.line + p.tok[p.idx].line, 
+
+proc rstMessage(p: TRstParser, msgKind: TMsgKind, arg: string) =
+  p.s.msgHandler(p.filename, p.line + p.tok[p.idx].line,
                              p.col + p.tok[p.idx].col, msgKind, arg)
 
-proc rstMessage(p: TRstParser, msgKind: TMsgKind, arg: string, line, col: int) = 
+proc rstMessage(p: TRstParser, msgKind: TMsgKind, arg: string, line, col: int) =
   p.s.msgHandler(p.filename, p.line + line,
                              p.col + col, msgKind, arg)
 
-proc rstMessage(p: TRstParser, msgKind: TMsgKind) = 
-  p.s.msgHandler(p.filename, p.line + p.tok[p.idx].line, 
-                             p.col + p.tok[p.idx].col, msgKind, 
+proc rstMessage(p: TRstParser, msgKind: TMsgKind) =
+  p.s.msgHandler(p.filename, p.line + p.tok[p.idx].line,
+                             p.col + p.tok[p.idx].col, msgKind,
                              p.tok[p.idx].symbol)
 
 when false:
@@ -334,16 +334,16 @@ when false:
     assert p.indentStack[0] == 0
     for i in 1 .. high(p.indentStack): assert p.indentStack[i] < 1_000
 
-proc currInd(p: TRstParser): int = 
+proc currInd(p: TRstParser): int =
   result = p.indentStack[high(p.indentStack)]
 
-proc pushInd(p: var TRstParser, ind: int) = 
+proc pushInd(p: var TRstParser, ind: int) =
   add(p.indentStack, ind)
 
 proc popInd(p: var TRstParser) =
   if len(p.indentStack) > 1: setLen(p.indentStack, len(p.indentStack) - 1)
-  
-proc initParser(p: var TRstParser, sharedState: PSharedState) = 
+
+proc initParser(p: var TRstParser, sharedState: PSharedState) =
   p.indentStack = @[0]
   p.tok = @[]
   p.idx = 0
@@ -353,150 +353,150 @@ proc initParser(p: var TRstParser, sharedState: PSharedState) =
   p.line = 1
   p.s = sharedState
 
-proc addNodesAux(n: PRstNode, result: var string) = 
-  if n.kind == rnLeaf: 
+proc addNodesAux(n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
+  if n.kind == rnLeaf:
     add(result, n.text)
-  else: 
+  else:
     for i in countup(0, len(n) - 1): addNodesAux(n.sons[i], result)
-  
-proc addNodes(n: PRstNode): string = 
+
+proc addNodes(n: PRstNode): string =
   result = ""
   addNodesAux(n, result)
 
-proc rstnodeToRefnameAux(n: PRstNode, r: var string, b: var bool) = 
-  if n.kind == rnLeaf: 
-    for i in countup(0, len(n.text) - 1): 
+proc rstnodeToRefnameAux(n: PRstNode, r: var string, b: var bool) =
+  if n.kind == rnLeaf:
+    for i in countup(0, len(n.text) - 1):
       case n.text[i]
-      of '0'..'9': 
-        if b: 
+      of '0'..'9':
+        if b:
           add(r, '-')
           b = false
         if len(r) == 0: add(r, 'Z')
         add(r, n.text[i])
-      of 'a'..'z': 
-        if b: 
+      of 'a'..'z':
+        if b:
           add(r, '-')
           b = false
         add(r, n.text[i])
-      of 'A'..'Z': 
-        if b: 
+      of 'A'..'Z':
+        if b:
           add(r, '-')
           b = false
         add(r, chr(ord(n.text[i]) - ord('A') + ord('a')))
-      else: 
+      else:
         if (len(r) > 0): b = true
-  else: 
+  else:
     for i in countup(0, len(n) - 1): rstnodeToRefnameAux(n.sons[i], r, b)
-  
-proc rstnodeToRefname(n: PRstNode): string = 
+
+proc rstnodeToRefname(n: PRstNode): string =
   result = ""
   var b = false
   rstnodeToRefnameAux(n, result, b)
 
-proc findSub(p: var TRstParser, n: PRstNode): int = 
-  var key = addNodes(n)           
+proc findSub(p: var TRstParser, n: PRstNode): int =
+  var key = addNodes(n)
   # the spec says: if no exact match, try one without case distinction:
-  for i in countup(0, high(p.s.subs)): 
-    if key == p.s.subs[i].key: 
+  for i in countup(0, high(p.s.subs)):
+    if key == p.s.subs[i].key:
       return i
-  for i in countup(0, high(p.s.subs)): 
-    if cmpIgnoreStyle(key, p.s.subs[i].key) == 0: 
+  for i in countup(0, high(p.s.subs)):
+    if cmpIgnoreStyle(key, p.s.subs[i].key) == 0:
       return i
   result = -1
 
-proc setSub(p: var TRstParser, key: string, value: PRstNode) = 
+proc setSub(p: var TRstParser, key: string, value: PRstNode) =
   var length = len(p.s.subs)
-  for i in countup(0, length - 1): 
-    if key == p.s.subs[i].key: 
+  for i in countup(0, length - 1):
+    if key == p.s.subs[i].key:
       p.s.subs[i].value = value
-      return 
+      return
   setLen(p.s.subs, length + 1)
   p.s.subs[length].key = key
   p.s.subs[length].value = value
 
-proc setRef(p: var TRstParser, key: string, value: PRstNode) = 
+proc setRef(p: var TRstParser, key: string, value: PRstNode) =
   var length = len(p.s.refs)
-  for i in countup(0, length - 1): 
+  for i in countup(0, length - 1):
     if key == p.s.refs[i].key:
       if p.s.refs[i].value.addNodes != value.addNodes:
         rstMessage(p, mwRedefinitionOfLabel, key)
 
       p.s.refs[i].value = value
-      return 
+      return
   setLen(p.s.refs, length + 1)
   p.s.refs[length].key = key
   p.s.refs[length].value = value
 
-proc findRef(p: var TRstParser, key: string): PRstNode = 
-  for i in countup(0, high(p.s.refs)): 
-    if key == p.s.refs[i].key: 
+proc findRef(p: var TRstParser, key: string): PRstNode =
+  for i in countup(0, high(p.s.refs)):
+    if key == p.s.refs[i].key:
       return p.s.refs[i].value
 
-proc newLeaf(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+proc newLeaf(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   result = newRstNode(rnLeaf, p.tok[p.idx].symbol)
 
-proc getReferenceName(p: var TRstParser, endStr: string): PRstNode = 
+proc getReferenceName(p: var TRstParser, endStr: string): PRstNode =
   var res = newRstNode(rnInner)
-  while true: 
+  while true:
     case p.tok[p.idx].kind
-    of tkWord, tkOther, tkWhite: 
+    of tkWord, tkOther, tkWhite:
       add(res, newLeaf(p))
-    of tkPunct: 
-      if p.tok[p.idx].symbol == endStr: 
+    of tkPunct:
+      if p.tok[p.idx].symbol == endStr:
         inc(p.idx)
-        break 
-      else: 
+        break
+      else:
         add(res, newLeaf(p))
-    else: 
+    else:
       rstMessage(p, meExpected, endStr)
-      break 
+      break
     inc(p.idx)
   result = res
 
-proc untilEol(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+proc untilEol(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   result = newRstNode(rnInner)
-  while not (p.tok[p.idx].kind in {tkIndent, tkEof}): 
+  while not (p.tok[p.idx].kind in {tkIndent, tkEof}):
     add(result, newLeaf(p))
     inc(p.idx)
 
-proc expect(p: var TRstParser, tok: string) = 
+proc expect(p: var TRstParser, tok: string) =
   if p.tok[p.idx].symbol == tok: inc(p.idx)
   else: rstMessage(p, meExpected, tok)
-  
-proc isInlineMarkupEnd(p: TRstParser, markup: string): bool = 
+
+proc isInlineMarkupEnd(p: TRstParser, markup: string): bool =
   result = p.tok[p.idx].symbol == markup
-  if not result: 
+  if not result:
     return                    # Rule 3:
   result = not (p.tok[p.idx - 1].kind in {tkIndent, tkWhite})
-  if not result: 
+  if not result:
     return                    # Rule 4:
   result = (p.tok[p.idx + 1].kind in {tkIndent, tkWhite, tkEof}) or
       (p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol[0] in
-      {'\'', '\"', ')', ']', '}', '>', '-', '/', '\\', ':', '.', ',', ';', '!', 
+      {'\'', '\"', ')', ']', '}', '>', '-', '/', '\\', ':', '.', ',', ';', '!',
        '?', '_'})
-  if not result: 
+  if not result:
     return                    # Rule 7:
-  if p.idx > 0: 
-    if (markup != "``") and (p.tok[p.idx - 1].symbol == "\\"): 
+  if p.idx > 0:
+    if (markup != "``") and (p.tok[p.idx - 1].symbol == "\\"):
       result = false
 
-proc isInlineMarkupStart(p: TRstParser, markup: string): bool = 
+proc isInlineMarkupStart(p: TRstParser, markup: string): bool =
   var d: char
   result = p.tok[p.idx].symbol == markup
-  if not result: 
+  if not result:
     return                    # Rule 1:
   result = (p.idx == 0) or (p.tok[p.idx - 1].kind in {tkIndent, tkWhite}) or
       (p.tok[p.idx - 1].symbol[0] in
       {'\'', '\"', '(', '[', '{', '<', '-', '/', ':', '_'})
-  if not result: 
+  if not result:
     return                    # Rule 2:
   result = not (p.tok[p.idx + 1].kind in {tkIndent, tkWhite, tkEof})
-  if not result: 
+  if not result:
     return                    # Rule 5 & 7:
-  if p.idx > 0: 
-    if p.tok[p.idx - 1].symbol == "\\": 
+  if p.idx > 0:
+    if p.tok[p.idx - 1].symbol == "\\":
       result = false
-    else: 
+    else:
       var c = p.tok[p.idx - 1].symbol[0]
       case c
       of '\'', '\"': d = c
@@ -507,7 +507,7 @@ proc isInlineMarkupStart(p: TRstParser, markup: string): bool =
       else: d = '\0'
       if d != '\0': result = p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol[0] != d
 
-proc match(p: TRstParser, start: int, expr: string): bool = 
+proc match(p: TRstParser, start: int, expr: string): bool =
   # regular expressions are:
   # special char     exact match
   # 'w'              tkWord
@@ -521,7 +521,7 @@ proc match(p: TRstParser, start: int, expr: string): bool =
   var i = 0
   var j = start
   var last = len(expr) - 1
-  while i <= last: 
+  while i <= last:
     case expr[i]
     of 'w': result = p.tok[j].kind == tkWord
     of ' ': result = p.tok[j].kind == tkWhite
@@ -531,75 +531,75 @@ proc match(p: TRstParser, start: int, expr: string): bool =
     of 'o': result = p.tok[j].kind == tkOther
     of 'T': result = true
     of 'E': result = p.tok[j].kind in {tkEof, tkWhite, tkIndent}
-    of 'e': 
+    of 'e':
       result = (p.tok[j].kind == tkWord) or (p.tok[j].symbol == "#")
-      if result: 
+      if result:
         case p.tok[j].symbol[0]
         of 'a'..'z', 'A'..'Z': result = len(p.tok[j].symbol) == 1
         of '0'..'9': result = allCharsInSet(p.tok[j].symbol, {'0'..'9'})
         else: discard
-    else: 
+    else:
       var c = expr[i]
       var length = 0
-      while (i <= last) and (expr[i] == c): 
+      while (i <= last) and (expr[i] == c):
         inc(i)
         inc(length)
       dec(i)
       result = (p.tok[j].kind in {tkPunct, tkAdornment}) and
           (len(p.tok[j].symbol) == length) and (p.tok[j].symbol[0] == c)
-    if not result: return 
+    if not result: return
     inc(j)
     inc(i)
   result = true
-  
-proc fixupEmbeddedRef(n, a, b: PRstNode) = 
+
+proc fixupEmbeddedRef(n, a, b: PRstNode) =
   var sep = - 1
-  for i in countdown(len(n) - 2, 0): 
-    if n.sons[i].text == "<": 
+  for i in countdown(len(n) - 2, 0):
+    if n.sons[i].text == "<":
       sep = i
-      break 
+      break
   var incr = if (sep > 0) and (n.sons[sep - 1].text[0] == ' '): 2 else: 1
   for i in countup(0, sep - incr): add(a, n.sons[i])
   for i in countup(sep + 1, len(n) - 2): add(b, n.sons[i])
-  
-proc parsePostfix(p: var TRstParser, n: PRstNode): PRstNode = 
+
+proc parsePostfix(p: var TRstParser, n: PRstNode): PRstNode =
   result = n
-  if isInlineMarkupEnd(p, "_"): 
+  if isInlineMarkupEnd(p, "_") or isInlineMarkupEnd(p, "__"):
     inc(p.idx)
     if p.tok[p.idx-2].symbol == "`" and p.tok[p.idx-3].symbol == ">":
       var a = newRstNode(rnInner)
       var b = newRstNode(rnInner)
       fixupEmbeddedRef(n, a, b)
-      if len(a) == 0: 
+      if len(a) == 0:
         result = newRstNode(rnStandaloneHyperlink)
         add(result, b)
-      else: 
+      else:
         result = newRstNode(rnHyperlink)
         add(result, a)
         add(result, b)
         setRef(p, rstnodeToRefname(a), b)
-    elif n.kind == rnInterpretedText: 
+    elif n.kind == rnInterpretedText:
       n.kind = rnRef
-    else: 
+    else:
       result = newRstNode(rnRef)
       add(result, n)
-  elif match(p, p.idx, ":w:"): 
+  elif match(p, p.idx, ":w:"):
     # a role:
-    if p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == "idx": 
+    if p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == "idx":
       n.kind = rnIdx
-    elif p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == "literal": 
+    elif p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == "literal":
       n.kind = rnInlineLiteral
-    elif p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == "strong": 
+    elif p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == "strong":
       n.kind = rnStrongEmphasis
-    elif p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == "emphasis": 
+    elif p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == "emphasis":
       n.kind = rnEmphasis
     elif (p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == "sub") or
-        (p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == "subscript"): 
+        (p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == "subscript"):
       n.kind = rnSub
     elif (p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == "sup") or
-        (p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == "supscript"): 
+        (p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == "supscript"):
       n.kind = rnSup
-    else: 
+    else:
       result = newRstNode(rnGeneralRole)
       n.kind = rnInner
       add(result, n)
@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ proc matchVerbatim(p: TRstParser, start: int, expr: string): int =
     inc j, p.tok[result].symbol.len
     inc result
   if j < expr.len: result = 0
-  
+
 proc parseSmiley(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   if p.tok[p.idx].symbol[0] notin SmileyStartChars: return
   for key, val in items(Smilies):
@@ -636,17 +636,17 @@ proc isUrl(p: TRstParser, i: int): bool =
     (p.tok[i+3].kind == tkWord) and
     (p.tok[i].symbol in ["http", "https", "ftp", "telnet", "file"])
 
-proc parseUrl(p: var TRstParser, father: PRstNode) = 
+proc parseUrl(p: var TRstParser, father: PRstNode) =
   #if p.tok[p.idx].symbol[strStart] == '<':
   if isUrl(p, p.idx):
     var n = newRstNode(rnStandaloneHyperlink)
-    while true: 
+    while true:
       case p.tok[p.idx].kind
       of tkWord, tkAdornment, tkOther: discard
-      of tkPunct: 
+      of tkPunct:
         if p.tok[p.idx+1].kind notin {tkWord, tkAdornment, tkOther, tkPunct}:
           break
-      else: break 
+      else: break
       add(n, newLeaf(p))
       inc(p.idx)
     add(father, n)
@@ -655,13 +655,13 @@ proc parseUrl(p: var TRstParser, father: PRstNode) =
     inc(p.idx)
     if p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "_": n = parsePostfix(p, n)
     add(father, n)
-  
-proc parseBackslash(p: var TRstParser, father: PRstNode) = 
+
+proc parseBackslash(p: var TRstParser, father: PRstNode) =
   assert(p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkPunct)
-  if p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "\\\\": 
+  if p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "\\\\":
     add(father, newRstNode(rnLeaf, "\\"))
     inc(p.idx)
-  elif p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "\\": 
+  elif p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "\\":
     # XXX: Unicode?
     inc(p.idx)
     if p.tok[p.idx].kind != tkWhite: add(father, newLeaf(p))
@@ -674,13 +674,13 @@ when false:
   proc parseAdhoc(p: var TRstParser, father: PRstNode, verbatim: bool) =
     if not verbatim and isURL(p, p.idx):
       var n = newRstNode(rnStandaloneHyperlink)
-      while true: 
+      while true:
         case p.tok[p.idx].kind
         of tkWord, tkAdornment, tkOther: nil
-        of tkPunct: 
+        of tkPunct:
           if p.tok[p.idx+1].kind notin {tkWord, tkAdornment, tkOther, tkPunct}:
             break
-        else: break 
+        else: break
         add(n, newLeaf(p))
         inc(p.idx)
       add(father, n)
@@ -694,33 +694,33 @@ when false:
       if p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "_": n = parsePostfix(p, n)
       add(father, n)
 
-proc parseUntil(p: var TRstParser, father: PRstNode, postfix: string, 
-                interpretBackslash: bool) = 
+proc parseUntil(p: var TRstParser, father: PRstNode, postfix: string,
+                interpretBackslash: bool) =
   let
     line = p.tok[p.idx].line
     col = p.tok[p.idx].col
   inc p.idx
-  while true: 
+  while true:
     case p.tok[p.idx].kind
-    of tkPunct: 
-      if isInlineMarkupEnd(p, postfix): 
+    of tkPunct:
+      if isInlineMarkupEnd(p, postfix):
         inc(p.idx)
-        break 
-      elif interpretBackslash: 
+        break
+      elif interpretBackslash:
         parseBackslash(p, father)
-      else: 
+      else:
         add(father, newLeaf(p))
         inc(p.idx)
-    of tkAdornment, tkWord, tkOther: 
+    of tkAdornment, tkWord, tkOther:
       add(father, newLeaf(p))
       inc(p.idx)
-    of tkIndent: 
+    of tkIndent:
       add(father, newRstNode(rnLeaf, " "))
       inc(p.idx)
-      if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent: 
+      if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent:
         rstMessage(p, meExpected, postfix, line, col)
-        break 
-    of tkWhite: 
+        break
+    of tkWhite:
       add(father, newRstNode(rnLeaf, " "))
       inc(p.idx)
     else: rstMessage(p, meExpected, postfix, line, col)
@@ -753,20 +753,20 @@ proc parseMarkdownCodeblock(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   result = newRstNode(rnCodeBlock)
   add(result, args)
   add(result, nil)
-  add(result, lb)  
-  
-proc parseInline(p: var TRstParser, father: PRstNode) = 
+  add(result, lb)
+
+proc parseInline(p: var TRstParser, father: PRstNode) =
   case p.tok[p.idx].kind
-  of tkPunct: 
+  of tkPunct:
     if isInlineMarkupStart(p, "***"):
       var n = newRstNode(rnTripleEmphasis)
       parseUntil(p, n, "***", true)
       add(father, n)
-    elif isInlineMarkupStart(p, "**"): 
+    elif isInlineMarkupStart(p, "**"):
       var n = newRstNode(rnStrongEmphasis)
       parseUntil(p, n, "**", true)
       add(father, n)
-    elif isInlineMarkupStart(p, "*"): 
+    elif isInlineMarkupStart(p, "*"):
       var n = newRstNode(rnEmphasis)
       parseUntil(p, n, "*", true)
       add(father, n)
@@ -777,12 +777,12 @@ proc parseInline(p: var TRstParser, father: PRstNode) =
       var n = newRstNode(rnInlineLiteral)
       parseUntil(p, n, "``", false)
       add(father, n)
-    elif isInlineMarkupStart(p, "`"): 
+    elif isInlineMarkupStart(p, "`"):
       var n = newRstNode(rnInterpretedText)
       parseUntil(p, n, "`", true)
       n = parsePostfix(p, n)
       add(father, n)
-    elif isInlineMarkupStart(p, "|"): 
+    elif isInlineMarkupStart(p, "|"):
       var n = newRstNode(rnSubstitutionReferences)
       parseUntil(p, n, "|", false)
       add(father, n)
@@ -800,7 +800,7 @@ proc parseInline(p: var TRstParser, father: PRstNode) =
         add(father, n)
         return
     parseUrl(p, father)
-  of tkAdornment, tkOther, tkWhite: 
+  of tkAdornment, tkOther, tkWhite:
     if roSupportSmilies in p.s.options:
       let n = parseSmiley(p)
       if n != nil:
@@ -809,75 +809,75 @@ proc parseInline(p: var TRstParser, father: PRstNode) =
     add(father, newLeaf(p))
     inc(p.idx)
   else: discard
-  
-proc getDirective(p: var TRstParser): string = 
-  if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkWhite and p.tok[p.idx+1].kind == tkWord: 
+
+proc getDirective(p: var TRstParser): string =
+  if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkWhite and p.tok[p.idx+1].kind == tkWord:
     var j = p.idx
     inc(p.idx)
     result = p.tok[p.idx].symbol
     inc(p.idx)
-    while p.tok[p.idx].kind in {tkWord, tkPunct, tkAdornment, tkOther}: 
-      if p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "::": break 
+    while p.tok[p.idx].kind in {tkWord, tkPunct, tkAdornment, tkOther}:
+      if p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "::": break
       add(result, p.tok[p.idx].symbol)
       inc(p.idx)
     if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkWhite: inc(p.idx)
-    if p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "::": 
+    if p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "::":
       inc(p.idx)
       if (p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkWhite): inc(p.idx)
-    else: 
+    else:
       p.idx = j               # set back
       result = ""             # error
-  else: 
+  else:
     result = ""
-  
-proc parseComment(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+
+proc parseComment(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   case p.tok[p.idx].kind
-  of tkIndent, tkEof: 
-    if p.tok[p.idx].kind != tkEof and p.tok[p.idx + 1].kind == tkIndent: 
+  of tkIndent, tkEof:
+    if p.tok[p.idx].kind != tkEof and p.tok[p.idx + 1].kind == tkIndent:
       inc(p.idx)              # empty comment
-    else: 
+    else:
       var indent = p.tok[p.idx].ival
-      while true: 
+      while true:
         case p.tok[p.idx].kind
-        of tkEof: 
-          break 
-        of tkIndent: 
-          if (p.tok[p.idx].ival < indent): break 
-        else: 
+        of tkEof:
+          break
+        of tkIndent:
+          if (p.tok[p.idx].ival < indent): break
+        else:
           discard
         inc(p.idx)
   else:
     while p.tok[p.idx].kind notin {tkIndent, tkEof}: inc(p.idx)
   result = nil
 
-type 
+type
   TDirKind = enum             # must be ordered alphabetically!
     dkNone, dkAuthor, dkAuthors, dkCode, dkCodeBlock, dkContainer, dkContents,
     dkFigure, dkImage, dkInclude, dkIndex, dkRaw, dkTitle
 
-const 
+const
   DirIds: array[0..12, string] = ["", "author", "authors", "code",
     "code-block", "container", "contents", "figure", "image", "include",
     "index", "raw", "title"]
 
-proc getDirKind(s: string): TDirKind = 
+proc getDirKind(s: string): TDirKind =
   let i = find(DirIds, s)
   if i >= 0: result = TDirKind(i)
   else: result = dkNone
-  
-proc parseLine(p: var TRstParser, father: PRstNode) = 
-  while true: 
+
+proc parseLine(p: var TRstParser, father: PRstNode) =
+  while true:
     case p.tok[p.idx].kind
     of tkWhite, tkWord, tkOther, tkPunct: parseInline(p, father)
-    else: break 
+    else: break
 
-proc parseUntilNewline(p: var TRstParser, father: PRstNode) = 
-  while true: 
+proc parseUntilNewline(p: var TRstParser, father: PRstNode) =
+  while true:
     case p.tok[p.idx].kind
     of tkWhite, tkWord, tkAdornment, tkOther, tkPunct: parseInline(p, father)
     of tkEof, tkIndent: break
-  
-proc parseSection(p: var TRstParser, result: PRstNode)
+
+proc parseSection(p: var TRstParser, result: PRstNode) {.gcsafe.}
 proc parseField(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   ## Returns a parsed rnField node.
   ##
@@ -888,9 +888,9 @@ proc parseField(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   parseUntil(p, fieldname, ":", false)
   var fieldbody = newRstNode(rnFieldBody)
   if p.tok[p.idx].kind != tkIndent: parseLine(p, fieldbody)
-  if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent: 
+  if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent:
     var indent = p.tok[p.idx].ival
-    if indent > col: 
+    if indent > col:
       pushInd(p, indent)
       parseSection(p, fieldbody)
       popInd(p)
@@ -909,14 +909,14 @@ proc parseFields(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
     var col = if atStart: p.tok[p.idx].col else: p.tok[p.idx].ival
     result = newRstNode(rnFieldList)
     if not atStart: inc(p.idx)
-    while true: 
+    while true:
       add(result, parseField(p))
       if (p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent) and (p.tok[p.idx].ival == col) and
-          (p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == ":"): 
+          (p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == ":"):
         inc(p.idx)
-      else: 
-        break 
-  
+      else:
+        break
+
 proc getFieldValue*(n: PRstNode): string =
   ## Returns the value of a specific ``rnField`` node.
   ##
@@ -929,122 +929,122 @@ proc getFieldValue*(n: PRstNode): string =
   assert n.sons[1].kind == rnFieldBody
   result = addNodes(n.sons[1]).strip
 
-proc getFieldValue(n: PRstNode, fieldname: string): string = 
+proc getFieldValue(n: PRstNode, fieldname: string): string =
   result = ""
-  if n.sons[1] == nil: return 
-  if (n.sons[1].kind != rnFieldList): 
+  if n.sons[1] == nil: return
+  if (n.sons[1].kind != rnFieldList):
     #InternalError("getFieldValue (2): " & $n.sons[1].kind)
     # We don't like internal errors here anymore as that would break the forum!
     return
-  for i in countup(0, len(n.sons[1]) - 1): 
+  for i in countup(0, len(n.sons[1]) - 1):
     var f = n.sons[1].sons[i]
-    if cmpIgnoreStyle(addNodes(f.sons[0]), fieldname) == 0: 
+    if cmpIgnoreStyle(addNodes(f.sons[0]), fieldname) == 0:
       result = addNodes(f.sons[1])
       if result == "": result = "\x01\x01" # indicates that the field exists
-      return 
+      return
 
-proc getArgument(n: PRstNode): string = 
+proc getArgument(n: PRstNode): string =
   if n.sons[0] == nil: result = ""
   else: result = addNodes(n.sons[0])
-  
-proc parseDotDot(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode
-proc parseLiteralBlock(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+
+proc parseDotDot(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode {.gcsafe.}
+proc parseLiteralBlock(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   result = newRstNode(rnLiteralBlock)
   var n = newRstNode(rnLeaf, "")
-  if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent: 
+  if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent:
     var indent = p.tok[p.idx].ival
     inc(p.idx)
-    while true: 
+    while true:
       case p.tok[p.idx].kind
-      of tkEof: 
-        break 
-      of tkIndent: 
-        if (p.tok[p.idx].ival < indent): 
-          break 
-        else: 
+      of tkEof:
+        break
+      of tkIndent:
+        if (p.tok[p.idx].ival < indent):
+          break
+        else:
           add(n.text, "\n")
           add(n.text, spaces(p.tok[p.idx].ival - indent))
           inc(p.idx)
-      else: 
+      else:
         add(n.text, p.tok[p.idx].symbol)
         inc(p.idx)
-  else: 
-    while not (p.tok[p.idx].kind in {tkIndent, tkEof}): 
+  else:
+    while not (p.tok[p.idx].kind in {tkIndent, tkEof}):
       add(n.text, p.tok[p.idx].symbol)
       inc(p.idx)
   add(result, n)
 
-proc getLevel(map: var TLevelMap, lvl: var int, c: char): int = 
-  if map[c] == 0: 
+proc getLevel(map: var TLevelMap, lvl: var int, c: char): int =
+  if map[c] == 0:
     inc(lvl)
     map[c] = lvl
   result = map[c]
 
-proc tokenAfterNewline(p: TRstParser): int = 
+proc tokenAfterNewline(p: TRstParser): int =
   result = p.idx
-  while true: 
+  while true:
     case p.tok[result].kind
-    of tkEof: 
-      break 
-    of tkIndent: 
+    of tkEof:
+      break
+    of tkIndent:
       inc(result)
-      break 
+      break
     else: inc(result)
-  
-proc isLineBlock(p: TRstParser): bool = 
+
+proc isLineBlock(p: TRstParser): bool =
   var j = tokenAfterNewline(p)
   result = (p.tok[p.idx].col == p.tok[j].col) and (p.tok[j].symbol == "|") or
       (p.tok[j].col > p.tok[p.idx].col)
 
-proc predNL(p: TRstParser): bool = 
+proc predNL(p: TRstParser): bool =
   result = true
   if p.idx > 0:
     result = p.tok[p.idx-1].kind == tkIndent and
         p.tok[p.idx-1].ival == currInd(p)
-  
-proc isDefList(p: TRstParser): bool = 
+
+proc isDefList(p: TRstParser): bool =
   var j = tokenAfterNewline(p)
   result = (p.tok[p.idx].col < p.tok[j].col) and
       (p.tok[j].kind in {tkWord, tkOther, tkPunct}) and
       (p.tok[j - 2].symbol != "::")
 
-proc isOptionList(p: TRstParser): bool = 
+proc isOptionList(p: TRstParser): bool =
   result = match(p, p.idx, "-w") or match(p, p.idx, "--w") or
            match(p, p.idx, "/w") or match(p, p.idx, "//w")
 
-proc whichSection(p: TRstParser): TRstNodeKind = 
+proc whichSection(p: TRstParser): TRstNodeKind =
   case p.tok[p.idx].kind
-  of tkAdornment: 
+  of tkAdornment:
     if match(p, p.idx + 1, "ii"): result = rnTransition
     elif match(p, p.idx + 1, " a"): result = rnTable
     elif match(p, p.idx + 1, "i"): result = rnOverline
     else: result = rnLeaf
-  of tkPunct: 
-    if match(p, tokenAfterNewline(p), "ai"): 
+  of tkPunct:
+    if match(p, tokenAfterNewline(p), "ai"):
       result = rnHeadline
-    elif p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "::": 
+    elif p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "::":
       result = rnLiteralBlock
     elif predNL(p) and
         ((p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "+") or (p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "*") or
-        (p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "-")) and (p.tok[p.idx + 1].kind == tkWhite): 
+        (p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "-")) and (p.tok[p.idx + 1].kind == tkWhite):
       result = rnBulletList
-    elif (p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "|") and isLineBlock(p): 
+    elif (p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "|") and isLineBlock(p):
       result = rnLineBlock
-    elif (p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "..") and predNL(p): 
+    elif (p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "..") and predNL(p):
       result = rnDirective
     elif match(p, p.idx, ":w:") and predNL(p):
       # (p.tok[p.idx].symbol == ":")
       result = rnFieldList
-    elif match(p, p.idx, "(e) "): 
+    elif match(p, p.idx, "(e) "):
       result = rnEnumList
-    elif match(p, p.idx, "+a+"): 
+    elif match(p, p.idx, "+a+"):
       result = rnGridTable
       rstMessage(p, meGridTableNotImplemented)
-    elif isDefList(p): 
+    elif isDefList(p):
       result = rnDefList
-    elif isOptionList(p): 
+    elif isOptionList(p):
       result = rnOptionList
-    else: 
+    else:
       result = rnParagraph
   of tkWord, tkOther, tkWhite:
     if match(p, tokenAfterNewline(p), "ai"): result = rnHeadline
@@ -1052,58 +1052,58 @@ proc whichSection(p: TRstParser): TRstNodeKind =
     elif isDefList(p): result = rnDefList
     else: result = rnParagraph
   else: result = rnLeaf
-  
-proc parseLineBlock(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+
+proc parseLineBlock(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   result = nil
-  if p.tok[p.idx + 1].kind == tkWhite: 
+  if p.tok[p.idx + 1].kind == tkWhite:
     var col = p.tok[p.idx].col
     result = newRstNode(rnLineBlock)
     pushInd(p, p.tok[p.idx + 2].col)
     inc(p.idx, 2)
-    while true: 
+    while true:
       var item = newRstNode(rnLineBlockItem)
       parseSection(p, item)
       add(result, item)
       if (p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent) and (p.tok[p.idx].ival == col) and
           (p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == "|") and
-          (p.tok[p.idx + 2].kind == tkWhite): 
+          (p.tok[p.idx + 2].kind == tkWhite):
         inc(p.idx, 3)
-      else: 
-        break 
+      else:
+        break
     popInd(p)
 
-proc parseParagraph(p: var TRstParser, result: PRstNode) = 
-  while true: 
+proc parseParagraph(p: var TRstParser, result: PRstNode) =
+  while true:
     case p.tok[p.idx].kind
-    of tkIndent: 
-      if p.tok[p.idx + 1].kind == tkIndent: 
+    of tkIndent:
+      if p.tok[p.idx + 1].kind == tkIndent:
         inc(p.idx)
-        break 
-      elif (p.tok[p.idx].ival == currInd(p)): 
+        break
+      elif (p.tok[p.idx].ival == currInd(p)):
         inc(p.idx)
         case whichSection(p)
-        of rnParagraph, rnLeaf, rnHeadline, rnOverline, rnDirective: 
+        of rnParagraph, rnLeaf, rnHeadline, rnOverline, rnDirective:
           add(result, newRstNode(rnLeaf, " "))
-        of rnLineBlock: 
+        of rnLineBlock:
           addIfNotNil(result, parseLineBlock(p))
-        else: break 
-      else: 
-        break 
-    of tkPunct: 
+        else: break
+      else:
+        break
+    of tkPunct:
       if (p.tok[p.idx].symbol == "::") and
           (p.tok[p.idx + 1].kind == tkIndent) and
-          (currInd(p) < p.tok[p.idx + 1].ival): 
+          (currInd(p) < p.tok[p.idx + 1].ival):
         add(result, newRstNode(rnLeaf, ":"))
         inc(p.idx)            # skip '::'
         add(result, parseLiteralBlock(p))
-        break 
-      else: 
+        break
+      else:
         parseInline(p, result)
-    of tkWhite, tkWord, tkAdornment, tkOther: 
+    of tkWhite, tkWord, tkAdornment, tkOther:
       parseInline(p, result)
     else: break
 
-proc parseHeadline(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+proc parseHeadline(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   result = newRstNode(rnHeadline)
   parseUntilNewline(p, result)
   assert(p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent)
@@ -1112,31 +1112,31 @@ proc parseHeadline(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   inc(p.idx, 2)
   result.level = getLevel(p.s.underlineToLevel, p.s.uLevel, c)
 
-type 
+type
   TIntSeq = seq[int]
 
-proc tokEnd(p: TRstParser): int = 
+proc tokEnd(p: TRstParser): int =
   result = p.tok[p.idx].col + len(p.tok[p.idx].symbol) - 1
 
-proc getColumns(p: var TRstParser, cols: var TIntSeq) = 
+proc getColumns(p: var TRstParser, cols: var TIntSeq) =
   var L = 0
-  while true: 
+  while true:
     inc(L)
     setLen(cols, L)
     cols[L - 1] = tokEnd(p)
     assert(p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkAdornment)
     inc(p.idx)
-    if p.tok[p.idx].kind != tkWhite: break 
+    if p.tok[p.idx].kind != tkWhite: break
     inc(p.idx)
-    if p.tok[p.idx].kind != tkAdornment: break 
-  if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent: inc(p.idx)                
+    if p.tok[p.idx].kind != tkAdornment: break
+  if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent: inc(p.idx)
   # last column has no limit:
   cols[L - 1] = 32000
 
-proc parseDoc(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode
+proc parseDoc(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode {.gcsafe.}
 
-proc parseSimpleTable(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
-  var 
+proc parseSimpleTable(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
+  var
     cols: TIntSeq
     row: seq[string]
     i, last, line: int
@@ -1148,36 +1148,36 @@ proc parseSimpleTable(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   row = @[]
   a = nil
   c = p.tok[p.idx].symbol[0]
-  while true: 
-    if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkAdornment: 
+  while true:
+    if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkAdornment:
       last = tokenAfterNewline(p)
-      if p.tok[last].kind in {tkEof, tkIndent}: 
+      if p.tok[last].kind in {tkEof, tkIndent}:
         # skip last adornment line:
         p.idx = last
-        break 
+        break
       getColumns(p, cols)
       setLen(row, len(cols))
-      if a != nil: 
+      if a != nil:
         for j in 0..len(a)-1: a.sons[j].kind = rnTableHeaderCell
-    if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkEof: break 
+    if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkEof: break
     for j in countup(0, high(row)): row[j] = ""
     # the following while loop iterates over the lines a single cell may span:
     line = p.tok[p.idx].line
-    while true: 
+    while true:
       i = 0
-      while not (p.tok[p.idx].kind in {tkIndent, tkEof}): 
-        if (tokEnd(p) <= cols[i]): 
+      while not (p.tok[p.idx].kind in {tkIndent, tkEof}):
+        if (tokEnd(p) <= cols[i]):
           add(row[i], p.tok[p.idx].symbol)
           inc(p.idx)
-        else: 
+        else:
           if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkWhite: inc(p.idx)
           inc(i)
       if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent: inc(p.idx)
-      if tokEnd(p) <= cols[0]: break 
-      if p.tok[p.idx].kind in {tkEof, tkAdornment}: break 
+      if tokEnd(p) <= cols[0]: break
+      if p.tok[p.idx].kind in {tkEof, tkAdornment}: break
       for j in countup(1, high(row)): add(row[j], '\x0A')
     a = newRstNode(rnTableRow)
-    for j in countup(0, high(row)): 
+    for j in countup(0, high(row)):
       initParser(q, p.s)
       q.col = cols[j]
       q.line = line - 1
@@ -1188,95 +1188,95 @@ proc parseSimpleTable(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
       add(a, b)
     add(result, a)
 
-proc parseTransition(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+proc parseTransition(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   result = newRstNode(rnTransition)
   inc(p.idx)
   if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent: inc(p.idx)
   if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent: inc(p.idx)
-  
-proc parseOverline(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+
+proc parseOverline(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   var c = p.tok[p.idx].symbol[0]
   inc(p.idx, 2)
   result = newRstNode(rnOverline)
-  while true: 
+  while true:
     parseUntilNewline(p, result)
-    if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent: 
+    if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent:
       inc(p.idx)
-      if p.tok[p.idx - 1].ival > currInd(p): 
+      if p.tok[p.idx - 1].ival > currInd(p):
         add(result, newRstNode(rnLeaf, " "))
-      else: 
-        break 
-    else: 
-      break 
+      else:
+        break
+    else:
+      break
   result.level = getLevel(p.s.overlineToLevel, p.s.oLevel, c)
-  if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkAdornment: 
+  if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkAdornment:
     inc(p.idx)                # XXX: check?
     if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent: inc(p.idx)
-  
-proc parseBulletList(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+
+proc parseBulletList(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   result = nil
-  if p.tok[p.idx + 1].kind == tkWhite: 
+  if p.tok[p.idx + 1].kind == tkWhite:
     var bullet = p.tok[p.idx].symbol
     var col = p.tok[p.idx].col
     result = newRstNode(rnBulletList)
     pushInd(p, p.tok[p.idx + 2].col)
     inc(p.idx, 2)
-    while true: 
+    while true:
       var item = newRstNode(rnBulletItem)
       parseSection(p, item)
       add(result, item)
       if (p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent) and (p.tok[p.idx].ival == col) and
           (p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == bullet) and
-          (p.tok[p.idx + 2].kind == tkWhite): 
+          (p.tok[p.idx + 2].kind == tkWhite):
         inc(p.idx, 3)
-      else: 
-        break 
+      else:
+        break
     popInd(p)
 
-proc parseOptionList(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+proc parseOptionList(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   result = newRstNode(rnOptionList)
-  while true: 
+  while true:
     if isOptionList(p):
       var a = newRstNode(rnOptionGroup)
       var b = newRstNode(rnDescription)
       var c = newRstNode(rnOptionListItem)
       if match(p, p.idx, "//w"): inc(p.idx)
-      while not (p.tok[p.idx].kind in {tkIndent, tkEof}): 
-        if (p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkWhite) and (len(p.tok[p.idx].symbol) > 1): 
+      while not (p.tok[p.idx].kind in {tkIndent, tkEof}):
+        if (p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkWhite) and (len(p.tok[p.idx].symbol) > 1):
           inc(p.idx)
-          break 
+          break
         add(a, newLeaf(p))
         inc(p.idx)
       var j = tokenAfterNewline(p)
       if (j > 0) and (p.tok[j - 1].kind == tkIndent) and
-          (p.tok[j - 1].ival > currInd(p)): 
+          (p.tok[j - 1].ival > currInd(p)):
         pushInd(p, p.tok[j - 1].ival)
         parseSection(p, b)
         popInd(p)
-      else: 
+      else:
         parseLine(p, b)
       if (p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent): inc(p.idx)
       add(c, a)
       add(c, b)
       add(result, c)
-    else: 
-      break 
-  
-proc parseDefinitionList(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+    else:
+      break
+
+proc parseDefinitionList(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   result = nil
   var j = tokenAfterNewline(p) - 1
   if (j >= 1) and (p.tok[j].kind == tkIndent) and
-      (p.tok[j].ival > currInd(p)) and (p.tok[j - 1].symbol != "::"): 
+      (p.tok[j].ival > currInd(p)) and (p.tok[j - 1].symbol != "::"):
     var col = p.tok[p.idx].col
     result = newRstNode(rnDefList)
-    while true: 
+    while true:
       j = p.idx
       var a = newRstNode(rnDefName)
       parseLine(p, a)
       if (p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent) and
           (p.tok[p.idx].ival > currInd(p)) and
           (p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol != "::") and
-          not (p.tok[p.idx + 1].kind in {tkIndent, tkEof}): 
+          not (p.tok[p.idx + 1].kind in {tkIndent, tkEof}):
         pushInd(p, p.tok[p.idx].ival)
         var b = newRstNode(rnDefBody)
         parseSection(p, b)
@@ -1285,74 +1285,74 @@ proc parseDefinitionList(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
         add(c, b)
         add(result, c)
         popInd(p)
-      else: 
+      else:
         p.idx = j
-        break 
-      if (p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent) and (p.tok[p.idx].ival == col): 
+        break
+      if (p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent) and (p.tok[p.idx].ival == col):
         inc(p.idx)
         j = tokenAfterNewline(p) - 1
         if j >= 1 and p.tok[j].kind == tkIndent and p.tok[j].ival > col and
-            p.tok[j-1].symbol != "::" and p.tok[j+1].kind != tkIndent: 
+            p.tok[j-1].symbol != "::" and p.tok[j+1].kind != tkIndent:
           discard
-        else: 
-          break 
+        else:
+          break
     if len(result) == 0: result = nil
-  
-proc parseEnumList(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
-  const 
+
+proc parseEnumList(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
+  const
     wildcards: array[0..2, string] = ["(e) ", "e) ", "e. "]
     wildpos: array[0..2, int] = [1, 0, 0]
   result = nil
   var w = 0
-  while w <= 2: 
-    if match(p, p.idx, wildcards[w]): break 
+  while w <= 2:
+    if match(p, p.idx, wildcards[w]): break
     inc(w)
-  if w <= 2: 
+  if w <= 2:
     var col = p.tok[p.idx].col
     result = newRstNode(rnEnumList)
     inc(p.idx, wildpos[w] + 3)
     var j = tokenAfterNewline(p)
-    if (p.tok[j].col == p.tok[p.idx].col) or match(p, j, wildcards[w]): 
+    if (p.tok[j].col == p.tok[p.idx].col) or match(p, j, wildcards[w]):
       pushInd(p, p.tok[p.idx].col)
-      while true: 
+      while true:
         var item = newRstNode(rnEnumItem)
         parseSection(p, item)
         add(result, item)
         if (p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent) and (p.tok[p.idx].ival == col) and
-            match(p, p.idx + 1, wildcards[w]): 
+            match(p, p.idx + 1, wildcards[w]):
           inc(p.idx, wildpos[w] + 4)
-        else: 
-          break 
+        else:
+          break
       popInd(p)
-    else: 
+    else:
       dec(p.idx, wildpos[w] + 3)
       result = nil
 
-proc sonKind(father: PRstNode, i: int): TRstNodeKind = 
+proc sonKind(father: PRstNode, i: int): TRstNodeKind =
   result = rnLeaf
   if i < len(father): result = father.sons[i].kind
-  
-proc parseSection(p: var TRstParser, result: PRstNode) = 
-  while true: 
+
+proc parseSection(p: var TRstParser, result: PRstNode) =
+  while true:
     var leave = false
     assert(p.idx >= 0)
-    while p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent: 
-      if currInd(p) == p.tok[p.idx].ival: 
+    while p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent:
+      if currInd(p) == p.tok[p.idx].ival:
         inc(p.idx)
-      elif p.tok[p.idx].ival > currInd(p): 
+      elif p.tok[p.idx].ival > currInd(p):
         pushInd(p, p.tok[p.idx].ival)
         var a = newRstNode(rnBlockQuote)
         parseSection(p, a)
         add(result, a)
         popInd(p)
-      else: 
+      else:
         leave = true
         break
     if leave or p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkEof: break
     var a: PRstNode = nil
     var k = whichSection(p)
     case k
-    of rnLiteralBlock: 
+    of rnLiteralBlock:
       inc(p.idx)              # skip '::'
       a = parseLiteralBlock(p)
     of rnBulletList: a = parseBulletList(p)
@@ -1362,7 +1362,7 @@ proc parseSection(p: var TRstParser, result: PRstNode) =
     of rnLeaf: rstMessage(p, meNewSectionExpected)
     of rnParagraph: discard
     of rnDefList: a = parseDefinitionList(p)
-    of rnFieldList: 
+    of rnFieldList:
       if p.idx > 0: dec(p.idx)
       a = parseFields(p)
     of rnTransition: a = parseTransition(p)
@@ -1373,35 +1373,35 @@ proc parseSection(p: var TRstParser, result: PRstNode) =
     else:
       #InternalError("rst.parseSection()")
       discard
-    if a == nil and k != rnDirective: 
+    if a == nil and k != rnDirective:
       a = newRstNode(rnParagraph)
       parseParagraph(p, a)
     addIfNotNil(result, a)
-  if sonKind(result, 0) == rnParagraph and sonKind(result, 1) != rnParagraph: 
+  if sonKind(result, 0) == rnParagraph and sonKind(result, 1) != rnParagraph:
     result.sons[0].kind = rnInner
-  
-proc parseSectionWrapper(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+
+proc parseSectionWrapper(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   result = newRstNode(rnInner)
   parseSection(p, result)
-  while (result.kind == rnInner) and (len(result) == 1): 
+  while (result.kind == rnInner) and (len(result) == 1):
     result = result.sons[0]
-  
+
 proc `$`(t: TToken): string =
   result = $t.kind & ' ' & (if isNil(t.symbol): "NIL" else: t.symbol)
 
-proc parseDoc(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+proc parseDoc(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   result = parseSectionWrapper(p)
-  if p.tok[p.idx].kind != tkEof: 
+  if p.tok[p.idx].kind != tkEof:
     when false:
       assert isAllocatedPtr(cast[pointer](p.tok))
       for i in 0 .. high(p.tok):
-        assert isNil(p.tok[i].symbol) or 
+        assert isNil(p.tok[i].symbol) or
                isAllocatedPtr(cast[pointer](p.tok[i].symbol))
       echo "index: ", p.idx, " length: ", high(p.tok), "##",
           p.tok[p.idx-1], p.tok[p.idx], p.tok[p.idx+1]
     #assert isAllocatedPtr(cast[pointer](p.indentStack))
     rstMessage(p, meGeneralParseError)
-  
+
 type
   TDirFlag = enum
     hasArg, hasOptions, argIsFile, argIsWord
@@ -1421,55 +1421,55 @@ proc parseDirective(p: var TRstParser, flags: TDirFlags): PRstNode =
   result = newRstNode(rnDirective)
   var args: PRstNode = nil
   var options: PRstNode = nil
-  if hasArg in flags: 
+  if hasArg in flags:
     args = newRstNode(rnDirArg)
-    if argIsFile in flags: 
-      while true: 
+    if argIsFile in flags:
+      while true:
         case p.tok[p.idx].kind
-        of tkWord, tkOther, tkPunct, tkAdornment: 
+        of tkWord, tkOther, tkPunct, tkAdornment:
           add(args, newLeaf(p))
           inc(p.idx)
-        else: break 
+        else: break
     elif argIsWord in flags:
       while p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkWhite: inc(p.idx)
-      if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkWord: 
+      if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkWord:
         add(args, newLeaf(p))
         inc(p.idx)
       else:
         args = nil
-    else: 
+    else:
       parseLine(p, args)
   add(result, args)
-  if hasOptions in flags: 
+  if hasOptions in flags:
     if (p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent) and (p.tok[p.idx].ival >= 3) and
-        (p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == ":"): 
+        (p.tok[p.idx + 1].symbol == ":"):
       options = parseFields(p)
   add(result, options)
-  
-proc indFollows(p: TRstParser): bool = 
+
+proc indFollows(p: TRstParser): bool =
   result = p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkIndent and p.tok[p.idx].ival > currInd(p)
-  
-proc parseDirective(p: var TRstParser, flags: TDirFlags, 
-                    contentParser: TSectionParser): PRstNode = 
+
+proc parseDirective(p: var TRstParser, flags: TDirFlags,
+                    contentParser: TSectionParser): PRstNode =
   ## Returns a generic rnDirective tree.
   ##
   ## The children are rnDirArg, rnFieldList and rnLineBlock. Any might be nil.
   result = parseDirective(p, flags)
-  if not isNil(contentParser) and indFollows(p): 
+  if not isNil(contentParser) and indFollows(p):
     pushInd(p, p.tok[p.idx].ival)
     var content = contentParser(p)
     popInd(p)
     add(result, content)
-  else: 
+  else:
     add(result, nil)
 
-proc parseDirBody(p: var TRstParser, contentParser: TSectionParser): PRstNode = 
-  if indFollows(p): 
+proc parseDirBody(p: var TRstParser, contentParser: TSectionParser): PRstNode =
+  if indFollows(p):
     pushInd(p, p.tok[p.idx].ival)
     result = contentParser(p)
     popInd(p)
-  
-proc dirInclude(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+
+proc dirInclude(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   #
   #The following options are recognized:
   #
@@ -1490,18 +1490,18 @@ proc dirInclude(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   var n = parseDirective(p, {hasArg, argIsFile, hasOptions}, nil)
   var filename = strip(addNodes(n.sons[0]))
   var path = p.s.findFile(filename)
-  if path == "": 
+  if path == "":
     rstMessage(p, meCannotOpenFile, filename)
-  else: 
+  else:
     # XXX: error handling; recursive file inclusion!
-    if getFieldValue(n, "literal") != "": 
+    if getFieldValue(n, "literal") != "":
       result = newRstNode(rnLiteralBlock)
       add(result, newRstNode(rnLeaf, readFile(path)))
     else:
       var q: TRstParser
       initParser(q, p.s)
       q.filename = filename
-      q.col += getTokens(readFile(path), false, q.tok) 
+      q.col += getTokens(readFile(path), false, q.tok)
       # workaround a GCC bug; more like the interior pointer bug?
       #if find(q.tok[high(q.tok)].symbol, "\0\x01\x02") > 0:
       #  InternalError("Too many binary zeros in include file")
@@ -1526,7 +1526,7 @@ proc dirCodeBlock(p: var TRstParser, nimrodExtension = false): PRstNode =
   ## file.
   result = parseDirective(p, {hasArg, hasOptions}, parseLiteralBlock)
   var filename = strip(getFieldValue(result, "file"))
-  if filename != "": 
+  if filename != "":
     var path = p.s.findFile(filename)
     if path == "": rstMessage(p, meCannotOpenFile, filename)
     var n = newRstNode(rnLiteralBlock)
@@ -1548,49 +1548,49 @@ proc dirCodeBlock(p: var TRstParser, nimrodExtension = false): PRstNode =
 
   result.kind = rnCodeBlock
 
-proc dirContainer(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+proc dirContainer(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   result = parseDirective(p, {hasArg}, parseSectionWrapper)
   assert(result.kind == rnDirective)
   assert(len(result) == 3)
   result.kind = rnContainer
 
-proc dirImage(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+proc dirImage(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   result = parseDirective(p, {hasOptions, hasArg, argIsFile}, nil)
   result.kind = rnImage
 
-proc dirFigure(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
-  result = parseDirective(p, {hasOptions, hasArg, argIsFile}, 
+proc dirFigure(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
+  result = parseDirective(p, {hasOptions, hasArg, argIsFile},
                           parseSectionWrapper)
   result.kind = rnFigure
 
-proc dirTitle(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+proc dirTitle(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   result = parseDirective(p, {hasArg}, nil)
   result.kind = rnTitle
 
-proc dirContents(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+proc dirContents(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   result = parseDirective(p, {hasArg}, nil)
   result.kind = rnContents
 
-proc dirIndex(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+proc dirIndex(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   result = parseDirective(p, {}, parseSectionWrapper)
   result.kind = rnIndex
 
 proc dirRawAux(p: var TRstParser, result: var PRstNode, kind: TRstNodeKind,
-               contentParser: TSectionParser) = 
+               contentParser: TSectionParser) =
   var filename = getFieldValue(result, "file")
-  if filename.len > 0: 
+  if filename.len > 0:
     var path = p.s.findFile(filename)
-    if path.len == 0: 
+    if path.len == 0:
       rstMessage(p, meCannotOpenFile, filename)
-    else: 
+    else:
       var f = readFile(path)
       result = newRstNode(kind)
       add(result, newRstNode(rnLeaf, f))
-  else:      
+  else:
     result.kind = kind
     add(result, parseDirBody(p, contentParser))
 
-proc dirRaw(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+proc dirRaw(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   #
   #The following options are recognized:
   #
@@ -1603,19 +1603,19 @@ proc dirRaw(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   if result.sons[0] != nil:
     if cmpIgnoreCase(result.sons[0].sons[0].text, "html") == 0:
       dirRawAux(p, result, rnRawHtml, parseLiteralBlock)
-    elif cmpIgnoreCase(result.sons[0].sons[0].text, "latex") == 0: 
+    elif cmpIgnoreCase(result.sons[0].sons[0].text, "latex") == 0:
       dirRawAux(p, result, rnRawLatex, parseLiteralBlock)
     else:
       rstMessage(p, meInvalidDirective, result.sons[0].sons[0].text)
   else:
     dirRawAux(p, result, rnRaw, parseSectionWrapper)
 
-proc parseDotDot(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode = 
+proc parseDotDot(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
   result = nil
   var col = p.tok[p.idx].col
   inc(p.idx)
   var d = getDirective(p)
-  if d != "": 
+  if d != "":
     pushInd(p, col)
     case getDirKind(d)
     of dkInclude: result = dirInclude(p)
@@ -1634,66 +1634,66 @@ proc parseDotDot(p: var TRstParser): PRstNode =
     of dkIndex: result = dirIndex(p)
     else: rstMessage(p, meInvalidDirective, d)
     popInd(p)
-  elif match(p, p.idx, " _"): 
+  elif match(p, p.idx, " _"):
     # hyperlink target:
     inc(p.idx, 2)
     var a = getReferenceName(p, ":")
     if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkWhite: inc(p.idx)
     var b = untilEol(p)
     setRef(p, rstnodeToRefname(a), b)
-  elif match(p, p.idx, " |"): 
+  elif match(p, p.idx, " |"):
     # substitution definitions:
     inc(p.idx, 2)
     var a = getReferenceName(p, "|")
     var b: PRstNode
     if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkWhite: inc(p.idx)
-    if cmpIgnoreStyle(p.tok[p.idx].symbol, "replace") == 0: 
+    if cmpIgnoreStyle(p.tok[p.idx].symbol, "replace") == 0:
       inc(p.idx)
       expect(p, "::")
       b = untilEol(p)
-    elif cmpIgnoreStyle(p.tok[p.idx].symbol, "image") == 0: 
+    elif cmpIgnoreStyle(p.tok[p.idx].symbol, "image") == 0:
       inc(p.idx)
       b = dirImage(p)
-    else: 
+    else:
       rstMessage(p, meInvalidDirective, p.tok[p.idx].symbol)
     setSub(p, addNodes(a), b)
-  elif match(p, p.idx, " ["): 
+  elif match(p, p.idx, " ["):
     # footnotes, citations
     inc(p.idx, 2)
     var a = getReferenceName(p, "]")
     if p.tok[p.idx].kind == tkWhite: inc(p.idx)
     var b = untilEol(p)
     setRef(p, rstnodeToRefname(a), b)
-  else: 
+  else:
     result = parseComment(p)
-  
-proc resolveSubs(p: var TRstParser, n: PRstNode): PRstNode = 
+
+proc resolveSubs(p: var TRstParser, n: PRstNode): PRstNode =
   result = n
-  if n == nil: return 
+  if n == nil: return
   case n.kind
-  of rnSubstitutionReferences: 
+  of rnSubstitutionReferences:
     var x = findSub(p, n)
-    if x >= 0: 
+    if x >= 0:
       result = p.s.subs[x].value
-    else: 
+    else:
       var key = addNodes(n)
       var e = getEnv(key)
       if e != "": result = newRstNode(rnLeaf, e)
       else: rstMessage(p, mwUnknownSubstitution, key)
-  of rnRef: 
+  of rnRef:
     var y = findRef(p, rstnodeToRefname(n))
-    if y != nil: 
+    if y != nil:
       result = newRstNode(rnHyperlink)
       n.kind = rnInner
       add(result, n)
       add(result, y)
-  of rnLeaf: 
+  of rnLeaf:
     discard
-  of rnContents: 
+  of rnContents:
     p.hasToc = true
-  else: 
+  else:
     for i in countup(0, len(n) - 1): n.sons[i] = resolveSubs(p, n.sons[i])
-  
+
 proc rstParse*(text, filename: string,
                line, column: int, hasToc: var bool,
                options: TRstParseOptions,
diff --git a/lib/packages/docutils/rstast.nim b/lib/packages/docutils/rstast.nim
index 614001d76..c3956ab8b 100644
--- a/lib/packages/docutils/rstast.nim
+++ b/lib/packages/docutils/rstast.nim
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ type
     rnField,                  # a field item
     rnFieldName,              # consisting of a field name ...
     rnFieldBody,              # ... and a field body
-    rnOptionList, rnOptionListItem, rnOptionGroup, rnOption, rnOptionString, 
+    rnOptionList, rnOptionListItem, rnOptionGroup, rnOption, rnOptionString,
     rnOptionArgument, rnDescription, rnLiteralBlock, rnQuotedLiteralBlock,
     rnLineBlock,              # the | thingie
     rnLineBlockItem,          # sons of the | thing
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ type
                               #     * `file#id <file#id>'_
     rnSubstitutionDef,        # a definition of a substitution
     rnGeneralRole,            # Inline markup:
-    rnSub, rnSup, rnIdx, 
+    rnSub, rnSup, rnIdx,
     rnEmphasis,               # "*"
     rnStrongEmphasis,         # "**"
     rnTripleEmphasis,         # "***"
@@ -71,25 +71,25 @@ type
     level*: int               ## valid for some node kinds
     sons*: TRstNodeSeq        ## the node's sons
 
-proc len*(n: PRstNode): int = 
+proc len*(n: PRstNode): int =
   result = len(n.sons)
 
-proc newRstNode*(kind: TRstNodeKind): PRstNode = 
+proc newRstNode*(kind: TRstNodeKind): PRstNode =
   new(result)
   result.sons = @[]
   result.kind = kind
 
-proc newRstNode*(kind: TRstNodeKind, s: string): PRstNode = 
+proc newRstNode*(kind: TRstNodeKind, s: string): PRstNode =
   result = newRstNode(kind)
   result.text = s
 
-proc lastSon*(n: PRstNode): PRstNode = 
+proc lastSon*(n: PRstNode): PRstNode =
   result = n.sons[len(n.sons)-1]
 
 proc add*(father, son: PRstNode) =
   add(father.sons, son)
 
-proc addIfNotNil*(father, son: PRstNode) = 
+proc addIfNotNil*(father, son: PRstNode) =
   if son != nil: add(father, son)
 
 
@@ -98,26 +98,27 @@ type
     indent: int
     verbatim: int
 
-proc renderRstToRst(d: var TRenderContext, n: PRstNode, result: var string)
+proc renderRstToRst(d: var TRenderContext, n: PRstNode,
+                    result: var string) {.gcsafe.}
 
-proc renderRstSons(d: var TRenderContext, n: PRstNode, result: var string) = 
-  for i in countup(0, len(n) - 1): 
+proc renderRstSons(d: var TRenderContext, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
+  for i in countup(0, len(n) - 1):
     renderRstToRst(d, n.sons[i], result)
-  
+
 proc renderRstToRst(d: var TRenderContext, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   # this is needed for the index generation; it may also be useful for
   # debugging, but most code is already debugged...
-  const 
+  const
     lvlToChar: array[0..8, char] = ['!', '=', '-', '~', '`', '<', '*', '|', '+']
   if n == nil: return
   var ind = spaces(d.indent)
   case n.kind
-  of rnInner: 
+  of rnInner:
     renderRstSons(d, n, result)
   of rnHeadline:
     result.add("\n")
     result.add(ind)
-    
+
     let oldLen = result.len
     renderRstSons(d, n, result)
     let headlineLen = result.len - oldLen
@@ -131,16 +132,16 @@ proc renderRstToRst(d: var TRenderContext, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
 
     var headline = ""
     renderRstSons(d, n, headline)
-    
+
     let lvl = repeat(lvlToChar[n.level], headline.len - d.indent)
     result.add(lvl)
     result.add("\n")
     result.add(headline)
-    
+
     result.add("\n")
     result.add(ind)
     result.add(lvl)
-  of rnTransition: 
+  of rnTransition:
     result.add("\n\n")
     result.add(ind)
     result.add repeat('-', 78-d.indent)
@@ -149,11 +150,11 @@ proc renderRstToRst(d: var TRenderContext, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
     result.add("\n\n")
     result.add(ind)
     renderRstSons(d, n, result)
-  of rnBulletItem: 
+  of rnBulletItem:
     inc(d.indent, 2)
     var tmp = ""
     renderRstSons(d, n, tmp)
-    if tmp.len > 0: 
+    if tmp.len > 0:
       result.add("\n")
       result.add(ind)
       result.add("* ")
@@ -163,22 +164,22 @@ proc renderRstToRst(d: var TRenderContext, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
     inc(d.indent, 4)
     var tmp = ""
     renderRstSons(d, n, tmp)
-    if tmp.len > 0: 
+    if tmp.len > 0:
       result.add("\n")
       result.add(ind)
       result.add("(#) ")
       result.add(tmp)
     dec(d.indent, 4)
-  of rnOptionList, rnFieldList, rnDefList, rnDefItem, rnLineBlock, rnFieldName, 
-     rnFieldBody, rnStandaloneHyperlink, rnBulletList, rnEnumList: 
+  of rnOptionList, rnFieldList, rnDefList, rnDefItem, rnLineBlock, rnFieldName,
+     rnFieldBody, rnStandaloneHyperlink, rnBulletList, rnEnumList:
     renderRstSons(d, n, result)
-  of rnDefName: 
+  of rnDefName:
     result.add("\n\n")
     result.add(ind)
     renderRstSons(d, n, result)
   of rnDefBody:
     inc(d.indent, 2)
-    if n.sons[0].kind != rnBulletList: 
+    if n.sons[0].kind != rnBulletList:
       result.add("\n")
       result.add(ind)
       result.add("  ")
@@ -187,10 +188,10 @@ proc renderRstToRst(d: var TRenderContext, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   of rnField:
     var tmp = ""
     renderRstToRst(d, n.sons[0], tmp)
-    
+
     var L = max(tmp.len + 3, 30)
     inc(d.indent, L)
-    
+
     result.add "\n"
     result.add ind
     result.add ':'
@@ -198,9 +199,9 @@ proc renderRstToRst(d: var TRenderContext, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
     result.add ':'
     result.add spaces(L - tmp.len - 2)
     renderRstToRst(d, n.sons[1], result)
-    
+
     dec(d.indent, L)
-  of rnLineBlockItem: 
+  of rnLineBlockItem:
     result.add("\n")
     result.add(ind)
     result.add("| ")
@@ -209,11 +210,11 @@ proc renderRstToRst(d: var TRenderContext, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
     inc(d.indent, 2)
     renderRstSons(d, n, result)
     dec(d.indent, 2)
-  of rnRef: 
+  of rnRef:
     result.add("`")
     renderRstSons(d, n, result)
     result.add("`_")
-  of rnHyperlink: 
+  of rnHyperlink:
     result.add('`')
     renderRstToRst(d, n.sons[0], result)
     result.add(" <")
@@ -225,23 +226,23 @@ proc renderRstToRst(d: var TRenderContext, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
     result.add("`:")
     renderRstToRst(d, n.sons[1],result)
     result.add(':')
-  of rnSub: 
+  of rnSub:
     result.add('`')
     renderRstSons(d, n, result)
     result.add("`:sub:")
-  of rnSup: 
+  of rnSup:
     result.add('`')
     renderRstSons(d, n, result)
     result.add("`:sup:")
-  of rnIdx: 
+  of rnIdx:
     result.add('`')
     renderRstSons(d, n, result)
     result.add("`:idx:")
-  of rnEmphasis: 
+  of rnEmphasis:
     result.add("*")
     renderRstSons(d, n, result)
     result.add("*")
-  of rnStrongEmphasis: 
+  of rnStrongEmphasis:
     result.add("**")
     renderRstSons(d, n, result)
     result.add("**")
@@ -249,11 +250,11 @@ proc renderRstToRst(d: var TRenderContext, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
     result.add("***")
     renderRstSons(d, n, result)
     result.add("***")
-  of rnInterpretedText: 
+  of rnInterpretedText:
     result.add('`')
     renderRstSons(d, n, result)
     result.add('`')
-  of rnInlineLiteral: 
+  of rnInlineLiteral:
     inc(d.verbatim)
     result.add("``")
     renderRstSons(d, n, result)
@@ -266,11 +267,11 @@ proc renderRstToRst(d: var TRenderContext, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
       result.add("\\\\") # XXX: escape more special characters!
     else:
       result.add(n.text)
-  of rnIndex: 
+  of rnIndex:
     result.add("\n\n")
     result.add(ind)
     result.add(".. index::\n")
-    
+
     inc(d.indent, 3)
     if n.sons[2] != nil: renderRstSons(d, n.sons[2], result)
     dec(d.indent, 3)
@@ -280,7 +281,7 @@ proc renderRstToRst(d: var TRenderContext, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
     result.add(".. contents::")
   else:
     result.add("Error: cannot render: " & $n.kind)
-  
+
 proc renderRstToRst*(n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   ## renders `n` into its string representation and appends to `result`.
   var d: TRenderContext
@@ -302,7 +303,7 @@ proc renderRstToJsonNode(node: PRstNode): JsonNode =
 
 proc renderRstToJson*(node: PRstNode): string =
   ## Writes the given RST node as JSON that is in the form
-  ## :: 
+  ## ::
   ##   {
   ##     "kind":string node.kind,
   ##     "text":optional string node.text,
diff --git a/lib/packages/docutils/rstgen.nim b/lib/packages/docutils/rstgen.nim
index da05be9bf..a44740bcf 100644
--- a/lib/packages/docutils/rstgen.nim
+++ b/lib/packages/docutils/rstgen.nim
@@ -34,14 +34,14 @@ type
   TOutputTarget* = enum ## which document type to generate
     outHtml,            # output is HTML
     outLatex            # output is Latex
-  
-  TTocEntry = object 
+
+  TTocEntry = object
     n*: PRstNode
     refname*, header*: string
 
-  TMetaEnum* = enum 
+  TMetaEnum* = enum
     metaNone, metaTitle, metaSubtitle, metaAuthor, metaVersion
-    
+
   TRstGenerator* = object of RootObj
     target*: TOutputTarget
     config*: StringTableRef
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ type
     seenIndexTerms: Table[string, int] ## \
     ## Keeps count of same text index terms to generate different identifiers
     ## for hyperlinks. See renderIndexTerm proc for details.
-  
+
   PDoc = var TRstGenerator ## Alias to type less.
 
   CodeBlockParams = object ## Stores code block params.
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ proc initRstGenerator*(g: var TRstGenerator, target: TOutputTarget,
     g.currentSection = "Module " & fileParts.name
   g.seenIndexTerms = initTable[string, int]()
   g.msgHandler = msgHandler
-  
+
   let s = config["split.item.toc"]
   if s != "": g.splitAfter = parseInt(s)
   for i in low(g.meta)..high(g.meta): g.meta[i] = ""
@@ -147,23 +147,23 @@ proc writeIndexFile*(g: var TRstGenerator, outfile: string) =
   ## You previously need to add entries to the index with the `setIndexTerm()
   ## <#setIndexTerm>`_ proc. If the index is empty the file won't be created.
   if g.theIndex.len > 0: writeFile(outfile, g.theIndex)
-  
-proc addXmlChar(dest: var string, c: char) = 
+
+proc addXmlChar(dest: var string, c: char) =
   case c
   of '&': add(dest, "&amp;")
   of '<': add(dest, "&lt;")
   of '>': add(dest, "&gt;")
   of '\"': add(dest, "&quot;")
   else: add(dest, c)
-  
-proc addRtfChar(dest: var string, c: char) = 
+
+proc addRtfChar(dest: var string, c: char) =
   case c
   of '{': add(dest, "\\{")
   of '}': add(dest, "\\}")
   of '\\': add(dest, "\\\\")
   else: add(dest, c)
-  
-proc addTexChar(dest: var string, c: char) = 
+
+proc addTexChar(dest: var string, c: char) =
   case c
   of '_': add(dest, "\\_")
   of '{': add(dest, "\\symbol{123}")
@@ -183,54 +183,54 @@ proc addTexChar(dest: var string, c: char) =
 
 var splitter*: string = "<wbr />"
 
-proc escChar*(target: TOutputTarget, dest: var string, c: char) {.inline.} = 
+proc escChar*(target: TOutputTarget, dest: var string, c: char) {.inline.} =
   case target
   of outHtml:  addXmlChar(dest, c)
   of outLatex: addTexChar(dest, c)
-  
-proc nextSplitPoint*(s: string, start: int): int = 
+
+proc nextSplitPoint*(s: string, start: int): int =
   result = start
-  while result < len(s) + 0: 
+  while result < len(s) + 0:
     case s[result]
-    of '_': return 
-    of 'a'..'z': 
-      if result + 1 < len(s) + 0: 
-        if s[result + 1] in {'A'..'Z'}: return 
+    of '_': return
+    of 'a'..'z':
+      if result + 1 < len(s) + 0:
+        if s[result + 1] in {'A'..'Z'}: return
     else: discard
     inc(result)
   dec(result)                 # last valid index
-  
-proc esc*(target: TOutputTarget, s: string, splitAfter = -1): string = 
+
+proc esc*(target: TOutputTarget, s: string, splitAfter = -1): string =
   result = ""
-  if splitAfter >= 0: 
+  if splitAfter >= 0:
     var partLen = 0
     var j = 0
-    while j < len(s): 
+    while j < len(s):
       var k = nextSplitPoint(s, j)
-      if (splitter != " ") or (partLen + k - j + 1 > splitAfter): 
+      if (splitter != " ") or (partLen + k - j + 1 > splitAfter):
         partLen = 0
         add(result, splitter)
       for i in countup(j, k): escChar(target, result, s[i])
       inc(partLen, k - j + 1)
       j = k + 1
-  else: 
+  else:
     for i in countup(0, len(s) - 1): escChar(target, result, s[i])
 
 
 proc disp(target: TOutputTarget, xml, tex: string): string =
-  if target != outLatex: result = xml 
+  if target != outLatex: result = xml
   else: result = tex
-  
-proc dispF(target: TOutputTarget, xml, tex: string, 
-           args: varargs[string]): string = 
-  if target != outLatex: result = xml % args 
+
+proc dispF(target: TOutputTarget, xml, tex: string,
+           args: varargs[string]): string =
+  if target != outLatex: result = xml % args
   else: result = tex % args
-  
-proc dispA(target: TOutputTarget, dest: var string, 
+
+proc dispA(target: TOutputTarget, dest: var string,
            xml, tex: string, args: varargs[string]) =
   if target != outLatex: addf(dest, xml, args)
   else: addf(dest, tex, args)
-  
+
 proc `or`(x, y: string): string {.inline.} =
   result = if x.isNil: y else: x
 
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ proc renderRstToOut*(d: var TRstGenerator, n: PRstNode, result: var string)
   ##   renderRstToOut(gen, rst, generatedHTML)
   ##   echo generatedHTML
 
-proc renderAux(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) = 
+proc renderAux(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   for i in countup(0, len(n)-1): renderRstToOut(d, n.sons[i], result)
 
 proc renderAux(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, frmtA, frmtB: string, result: var string) =
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ proc renderIndexTerm*(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   var term = ""
   renderAux(d, n, term)
   setIndexTerm(d, id, term, d.currentSection)
-  dispA(d.target, result, "<span id=\"$1\">$2</span>", "$2\\label{$1}", 
+  dispA(d.target, result, "<span id=\"$1\">$2</span>", "$2\\label{$1}",
         [id, term])
 
 type
@@ -656,7 +656,7 @@ proc mergeIndexes*(dir: string): string =
     result.add("<h2>API symbols</h2>\n")
     result.add(generateSymbolIndex(symbols))
 
-  
+
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 proc stripTOCHTML(s: string): string =
@@ -677,7 +677,7 @@ proc stripTOCHTML(s: string): string =
     result.delete(first, last)
     first = result.find('<', first)
 
-proc renderHeadline(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) = 
+proc renderHeadline(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   var tmp = ""
   for i in countup(0, len(n) - 1): renderRstToOut(d, n.sons[i], tmp)
   d.currentSection = tmp
@@ -700,9 +700,9 @@ proc renderHeadline(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
       "id=\"$2\" href=\"#$2\">$3</a></h$1>", "\\rsth$4{$3}\\label{$2}\n",
       [$n.level, d.tocPart[length].refname, tmp, $chr(n.level - 1 + ord('A'))])
   else:
-    dispA(d.target, result, "\n<h$1 id=\"$2\">$3</h$1>", 
+    dispA(d.target, result, "\n<h$1 id=\"$2\">$3</h$1>",
                             "\\rsth$4{$3}\\label{$2}\n", [
-        $n.level, refname, tmp, 
+        $n.level, refname, tmp,
         $chr(n.level - 1 + ord('A'))])
 
   # Generate index entry using spaces to indicate TOC level for the output HTML.
@@ -710,7 +710,7 @@ proc renderHeadline(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   setIndexTerm(d, refname, tmp.stripTOCHTML,
     spaces(max(0, n.level)) & tmp)
 
-proc renderOverline(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) = 
+proc renderOverline(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   if d.meta[metaTitle].len == 0:
     for i in countup(0, len(n)-1):
       renderRstToOut(d, n.sons[i], d.meta[metaTitle])
@@ -723,14 +723,14 @@ proc renderOverline(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
     var tmp = ""
     for i in countup(0, len(n) - 1): renderRstToOut(d, n.sons[i], tmp)
     d.currentSection = tmp
-    dispA(d.target, result, "<h$1 id=\"$2\"><center>$3</center></h$1>", 
+    dispA(d.target, result, "<h$1 id=\"$2\"><center>$3</center></h$1>",
                    "\\rstov$4{$3}\\label{$2}\n", [$n.level,
         rstnodeToRefname(n), tmp, $chr(n.level - 1 + ord('A'))])
-  
 
-proc renderTocEntry(d: PDoc, e: TTocEntry, result: var string) = 
+
+proc renderTocEntry(d: PDoc, e: TTocEntry, result: var string) =
   dispA(d.target, result,
-    "<li><a class=\"reference\" id=\"$1_toc\" href=\"#$1\">$2</a></li>\n", 
+    "<li><a class=\"reference\" id=\"$1_toc\" href=\"#$1\">$2</a></li>\n",
     "\\item\\label{$1_toc} $2\\ref{$1}\n", [e.refname, e.header])
 
 proc renderTocEntries*(d: var TRstGenerator, j: var int, lvl: int,
@@ -759,33 +759,33 @@ proc renderImage(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   var options = ""
   var s = getFieldValue(n, "scale")
   if s.valid: dispA(d.target, options, " scale=\"$1\"", " scale=$1", [strip(s)])
-  
+
   s = getFieldValue(n, "height")
   if s.valid: dispA(d.target, options, " height=\"$1\"", " height=$1", [strip(s)])
-  
+
   s = getFieldValue(n, "width")
   if s.valid: dispA(d.target, options, " width=\"$1\"", " width=$1", [strip(s)])
-  
+
   s = getFieldValue(n, "alt")
   if s.valid: dispA(d.target, options, " alt=\"$1\"", "", [strip(s)])
-  
+
   s = getFieldValue(n, "align")
   if s.valid: dispA(d.target, options, " align=\"$1\"", "", [strip(s)])
-  
+
   if options.len > 0: options = dispF(d.target, "$1", "[$1]", [options])
 
   let arg = getArgument(n)
   if arg.valid:
-    dispA(d.target, result, "<img src=\"$1\"$2 />", "\\includegraphics$2{$1}", 
+    dispA(d.target, result, "<img src=\"$1\"$2 />", "\\includegraphics$2{$1}",
           [arg, options])
   if len(n) >= 3: renderRstToOut(d, n.sons[2], result)
-  
+
 proc renderSmiley(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   dispA(d.target, result,
-    """<img src="$1" width="15" 
+    """<img src="$1" width="15"
         height="17" hspace="2" vspace="2" class="smiley" />""",
     "\\includegraphics{$1}", [d.config["doc.smiley_format"] % n.text])
-  
+
 proc parseCodeBlockField(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, params: var CodeBlockParams) =
   ## Parses useful fields which can appear before a code block.
   ##
@@ -880,11 +880,11 @@ proc renderCodeBlock(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   else:
     var g: TGeneralTokenizer
     initGeneralTokenizer(g, m.text)
-    while true: 
+    while true:
       getNextToken(g, params.lang)
       case g.kind
-      of gtEof: break 
-      of gtNone, gtWhitespace: 
+      of gtEof: break
+      of gtNone, gtWhitespace:
         add(result, substr(m.text, g.start, g.length + g.start - 1))
       else:
         dispA(d.target, result, "<span class=\"$2\">$1</span>", "\\span$2{$1}", [
@@ -893,36 +893,36 @@ proc renderCodeBlock(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
     deinitGeneralTokenizer(g)
   dispA(d.target, result, blockEnd, "\n\\end{rstpre}\n")
 
-proc renderContainer(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) = 
+proc renderContainer(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   var tmp = ""
   renderRstToOut(d, n.sons[2], tmp)
   var arg = strip(getArgument(n))
-  if arg == "": 
+  if arg == "":
     dispA(d.target, result, "<div>$1</div>", "$1", [tmp])
   else:
     dispA(d.target, result, "<div class=\"$1\">$2</div>", "$2", [arg, tmp])
-  
-proc texColumns(n: PRstNode): string = 
+
+proc texColumns(n: PRstNode): string =
   result = ""
   for i in countup(1, len(n)): add(result, "|X")
-  
-proc renderField(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) = 
+
+proc renderField(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   var b = false
-  if d.target == outLatex: 
+  if d.target == outLatex:
     var fieldname = addNodes(n.sons[0])
     var fieldval = esc(d.target, strip(addNodes(n.sons[1])))
-    if cmpIgnoreStyle(fieldname, "author") == 0 or 
+    if cmpIgnoreStyle(fieldname, "author") == 0 or
        cmpIgnoreStyle(fieldname, "authors") == 0:
       if d.meta[metaAuthor].len == 0:
         d.meta[metaAuthor] = fieldval
         b = true
-    elif cmpIgnoreStyle(fieldname, "version") == 0: 
+    elif cmpIgnoreStyle(fieldname, "version") == 0:
       if d.meta[metaVersion].len == 0:
         d.meta[metaVersion] = fieldval
         b = true
   if not b:
     renderAux(d, n, "<tr>$1</tr>\n", "$1", result)
-  
+
 proc renderRstToOut(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   if n == nil: return
   case n.kind
@@ -947,54 +947,54 @@ proc renderRstToOut(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   of rnDefBody: renderAux(d, n, "<dd>$1</dd>\n", "$1\n", result)
   of rnFieldList:
     var tmp = ""
-    for i in countup(0, len(n) - 1): 
+    for i in countup(0, len(n) - 1):
       renderRstToOut(d, n.sons[i], tmp)
-    if tmp.len != 0: 
+    if tmp.len != 0:
       dispA(d.target, result,
           "<table class=\"docinfo\" frame=\"void\" rules=\"none\">" &
           "<col class=\"docinfo-name\" />" &
-          "<col class=\"docinfo-content\" />" & 
+          "<col class=\"docinfo-content\" />" &
           "<tbody valign=\"top\">$1" &
-          "</tbody></table>", 
-          "\\begin{description}$1\\end{description}\n", 
+          "</tbody></table>",
+          "\\begin{description}$1\\end{description}\n",
           [tmp])
   of rnField: renderField(d, n, result)
-  of rnFieldName: 
+  of rnFieldName:
     renderAux(d, n, "<th class=\"docinfo-name\">$1:</th>",
                     "\\item[$1:]", result)
-  of rnFieldBody: 
+  of rnFieldBody:
     renderAux(d, n, "<td>$1</td>", " $1\n", result)
-  of rnIndex: 
+  of rnIndex:
     renderRstToOut(d, n.sons[2], result)
-  of rnOptionList: 
-    renderAux(d, n, "<table frame=\"void\">$1</table>", 
+  of rnOptionList:
+    renderAux(d, n, "<table frame=\"void\">$1</table>",
       "\\begin{description}\n$1\\end{description}\n", result)
-  of rnOptionListItem: 
+  of rnOptionListItem:
     renderAux(d, n, "<tr>$1</tr>\n", "$1", result)
-  of rnOptionGroup: 
+  of rnOptionGroup:
     renderAux(d, n, "<th align=\"left\">$1</th>", "\\item[$1]", result)
-  of rnDescription: 
+  of rnDescription:
     renderAux(d, n, "<td align=\"left\">$1</td>\n", " $1\n", result)
-  of rnOption, rnOptionString, rnOptionArgument: 
+  of rnOption, rnOptionString, rnOptionArgument:
     doAssert false, "renderRstToOut"
   of rnLiteralBlock:
-    renderAux(d, n, "<pre>$1</pre>\n", 
+    renderAux(d, n, "<pre>$1</pre>\n",
                     "\\begin{rstpre}\n$1\n\\end{rstpre}\n", result)
-  of rnQuotedLiteralBlock: 
+  of rnQuotedLiteralBlock:
     doAssert false, "renderRstToOut"
-  of rnLineBlock: 
+  of rnLineBlock:
     renderAux(d, n, "<p>$1</p>", "$1\n\n", result)
-  of rnLineBlockItem: 
+  of rnLineBlockItem:
     renderAux(d, n, "$1<br />", "$1\\\\\n", result)
-  of rnBlockQuote: 
-    renderAux(d, n, "<blockquote><p>$1</p></blockquote>\n", 
+  of rnBlockQuote:
+    renderAux(d, n, "<blockquote><p>$1</p></blockquote>\n",
                     "\\begin{quote}$1\\end{quote}\n", result)
-  of rnTable, rnGridTable: 
-    renderAux(d, n, 
-      "<table border=\"1\" class=\"docutils\">$1</table>", 
+  of rnTable, rnGridTable:
+    renderAux(d, n,
+      "<table border=\"1\" class=\"docutils\">$1</table>",
       "\\begin{table}\\begin{rsttab}{" &
         texColumns(n) & "|}\n\\hline\n$1\\end{rsttab}\\end{table}", result)
-  of rnTableRow: 
+  of rnTableRow:
     if len(n) >= 1:
       if d.target == outLatex:
         #var tmp = ""
@@ -1007,25 +1007,25 @@ proc renderRstToOut(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
         result.add("<tr>")
         renderAux(d, n, result)
         result.add("</tr>\n")
-  of rnTableDataCell: 
+  of rnTableDataCell:
     renderAux(d, n, "<td>$1</td>", "$1", result)
-  of rnTableHeaderCell: 
+  of rnTableHeaderCell:
     renderAux(d, n, "<th>$1</th>", "\\textbf{$1}", result)
-  of rnLabel: 
+  of rnLabel:
     doAssert false, "renderRstToOut" # used for footnotes and other
-  of rnFootnote: 
+  of rnFootnote:
     doAssert false, "renderRstToOut" # a footnote
-  of rnCitation: 
+  of rnCitation:
     doAssert false, "renderRstToOut" # similar to footnote
-  of rnRef: 
+  of rnRef:
     var tmp = ""
     renderAux(d, n, tmp)
     dispA(d.target, result,
       "<a class=\"reference external\" href=\"#$2\">$1</a>",
       "$1\\ref{$2}", [tmp, rstnodeToRefname(n)])
-  of rnStandaloneHyperlink: 
-    renderAux(d, n, 
-      "<a class=\"reference external\" href=\"$1\">$1</a>", 
+  of rnStandaloneHyperlink:
+    renderAux(d, n,
+      "<a class=\"reference external\" href=\"$1\">$1</a>",
       "\\href{$1}{$1}", result)
   of rnHyperlink:
     var tmp0 = ""
@@ -1042,11 +1042,11 @@ proc renderRstToOut(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   of rnRawLatex:
     if d.target == outLatex:
       result.add addNodes(lastSon(n))
-      
+
   of rnImage, rnFigure: renderImage(d, n, result)
   of rnCodeBlock: renderCodeBlock(d, n, result)
   of rnContainer: renderContainer(d, n, result)
-  of rnSubstitutionReferences, rnSubstitutionDef: 
+  of rnSubstitutionReferences, rnSubstitutionDef:
     renderAux(d, n, "|$1|", "|$1|", result)
   of rnDirective:
     renderAux(d, n, "", "", result)
@@ -1063,15 +1063,15 @@ proc renderRstToOut(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   of rnStrongEmphasis:
     renderAux(d, n, "<strong>$1</strong>", "\\textbf{$1}", result)
   of rnTripleEmphasis:
-    renderAux(d, n, "<strong><em>$1</em></strong>", 
+    renderAux(d, n, "<strong><em>$1</em></strong>",
                     "\\textbf{emph{$1}}", result)
   of rnInterpretedText:
     renderAux(d, n, "<cite>$1</cite>", "\\emph{$1}", result)
   of rnIdx:
     renderIndexTerm(d, n, result)
-  of rnInlineLiteral: 
-    renderAux(d, n, 
-      "<tt class=\"docutils literal\"><span class=\"pre\">$1</span></tt>", 
+  of rnInlineLiteral:
+    renderAux(d, n,
+      "<tt class=\"docutils literal\"><span class=\"pre\">$1</span></tt>",
       "\\texttt{$1}", result)
   of rnSmiley: renderSmiley(d, n, result)
   of rnLeaf: result.add(esc(d.target, n.text))
@@ -1082,55 +1082,55 @@ proc renderRstToOut(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-proc getVarIdx(varnames: openArray[string], id: string): int = 
-  for i in countup(0, high(varnames)): 
-    if cmpIgnoreStyle(varnames[i], id) == 0: 
+proc getVarIdx(varnames: openArray[string], id: string): int =
+  for i in countup(0, high(varnames)):
+    if cmpIgnoreStyle(varnames[i], id) == 0:
       return i
   result = -1
 
-proc formatNamedVars*(frmt: string, varnames: openArray[string], 
-                      varvalues: openArray[string]): string = 
+proc formatNamedVars*(frmt: string, varnames: openArray[string],
+                      varvalues: openArray[string]): string =
   var i = 0
   var L = len(frmt)
   result = ""
   var num = 0
-  while i < L: 
-    if frmt[i] == '$': 
+  while i < L:
+    if frmt[i] == '$':
       inc(i)                  # skip '$'
       case frmt[i]
-      of '#': 
+      of '#':
         add(result, varvalues[num])
         inc(num)
         inc(i)
-      of '$': 
+      of '$':
         add(result, "$")
         inc(i)
-      of '0'..'9': 
+      of '0'..'9':
         var j = 0
-        while true: 
+        while true:
           j = (j * 10) + ord(frmt[i]) - ord('0')
           inc(i)
-          if i > L-1 or frmt[i] notin {'0'..'9'}: break 
+          if i > L-1 or frmt[i] notin {'0'..'9'}: break
         if j > high(varvalues) + 1:
           raise newException(ValueError, "invalid index: " & $j)
         num = j
         add(result, varvalues[j - 1])
-      of 'A'..'Z', 'a'..'z', '\x80'..'\xFF': 
+      of 'A'..'Z', 'a'..'z', '\x80'..'\xFF':
         var id = ""
-        while true: 
+        while true:
           add(id, frmt[i])
           inc(i)
-          if frmt[i] notin {'A'..'Z', '_', 'a'..'z', '\x80'..'\xFF'}: break 
+          if frmt[i] notin {'A'..'Z', '_', 'a'..'z', '\x80'..'\xFF'}: break
         var idx = getVarIdx(varnames, id)
-        if idx >= 0: 
+        if idx >= 0:
           add(result, varvalues[idx])
         else:
           raise newException(ValueError, "unknown substitution var: " & id)
-      of '{': 
+      of '{':
         var id = ""
         inc(i)
-        while frmt[i] != '}': 
-          if frmt[i] == '\0': 
+        while frmt[i] != '}':
+          if frmt[i] == '\0':
             raise newException(ValueError, "'}' expected")
           add(id, frmt[i])
           inc(i)
@@ -1138,12 +1138,12 @@ proc formatNamedVars*(frmt: string, varnames: openArray[string],
                               # search for the variable:
         var idx = getVarIdx(varnames, id)
         if idx >= 0: add(result, varvalues[idx])
-        else: 
+        else:
           raise newException(ValueError, "unknown substitution var: " & id)
       else:
         raise newException(ValueError, "unknown substitution: $" & $frmt[i])
     var start = i
-    while i < L: 
+    while i < L:
       if frmt[i] != '$': inc(i)
       else: break
     if i-1 >= start: add(result, substr(frmt, start, i - 1))
@@ -1163,10 +1163,10 @@ proc defaultConfig*(): StringTableRef =
   ## pages, while this proc returns just the content for procs like
   ## ``rstToHtml`` to generate the bare minimum HTML.
   result = newStringTable(modeStyleInsensitive)
-  
+
   template setConfigVar(key, val: expr) =
     result[key] = val
-  
+
   # If you need to modify these values, it might be worth updating the template
   # file in config/nimdoc.cfg.
   setConfigVar("split.item.toc", "20")
@@ -1214,7 +1214,7 @@ $content
 
 # ---------- forum ---------------------------------------------------------
 
-proc rstToHtml*(s: string, options: TRstParseOptions, 
+proc rstToHtml*(s: string, options: TRstParseOptions,
                 config: StringTableRef): string =
   ## Converts an input rst string into embeddable HTML.
   ##
@@ -1236,13 +1236,13 @@ proc rstToHtml*(s: string, options: TRstParseOptions,
   ## output you have to create your own ``TRstGenerator`` with
   ## ``initRstGenerator`` and related procs.
 
-  proc myFindFile(filename: string): string = 
+  proc myFindFile(filename: string): string =
     # we don't find any files in online mode:
     result = ""
 
   const filen = "input"
   var d: TRstGenerator
-  initRstGenerator(d, outHtml, config, filen, options, myFindFile, 
+  initRstGenerator(d, outHtml, config, filen, options, myFindFile,
                    rst.defaultMsgHandler)
   var dummyHasToc = false
   var rst = rstParse(s, filen, 0, 1, dummyHasToc, options)
diff --git a/lib/posix/posix.nim b/lib/posix/posix.nim
index 00b655a10..0c7b84090 100644
--- a/lib/posix/posix.nim
+++ b/lib/posix/posix.nim
@@ -95,10 +95,11 @@ type
              header: "<dirent.h>", final, pure.} = object ## dirent_t struct
     d_ino*: Tino  ## File serial number.
     when defined(linux) or defined(macosx) or defined(bsd):
-      d_off*: TOff  ## Not an offset. Value that ``telldir()`` would return.
       d_reclen*: cshort ## Length of this record. (not POSIX)
       d_type*: int8 ## Type of file; not supported by all filesystem types.
                     ## (not POSIX)
+      when defined(linux) or defined(bsd):
+        d_off*: TOff  ## Not an offset. Value that ``telldir()`` would return.
     d_name*: array [0..255, char] ## Name of entry.
 
   Tflock* {.importc: "struct flock", final, pure,
@@ -1579,8 +1580,11 @@ else:
 
 when defined(macosx):
   # We can't use the NOSIGNAL flag in the ``send`` function, it has no effect
-  var
+  # Instead we should use SO_NOSIGPIPE in setsockopt
+  const
     MSG_NOSIGNAL* = 0'i32
+  var
+    SO_NOSIGPIPE* {.importc, header: "<sys/socket.h>".}: cint
 else:
   var
     MSG_NOSIGNAL* {.importc, header: "<sys/socket.h>".}: cint
diff --git a/lib/pure/algorithm.nim b/lib/pure/algorithm.nim
index 08d224dfd..f7ccb9234 100644
--- a/lib/pure/algorithm.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/algorithm.nim
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ proc `*`*(x: int, order: SortOrder): int {.inline.} =
   var y = order.ord - 1
   result = (x xor y) - y
 
-proc reverse*[T](a: var openArray[T], first, last: int) =
+proc reverse*[T](a: var openArray[T], first, last: Natural) =
   ## reverses the array ``a[first..last]``.
   var x = first
   var y = last
@@ -37,11 +37,11 @@ proc reverse*[T](a: var openArray[T]) =
   ## reverses the array `a`.
   reverse(a, 0, a.high)
 
-proc reversed*[T](a: openArray[T], first, last: int): seq[T] =
+proc reversed*[T](a: openArray[T], first, last: Natural): seq[T] =
   ## returns the reverse of the array `a[first..last]`.
   result = newSeq[T](last - first + 1)
-  var x = first
-  var y = last
+  var x = first.int
+  var y = last.int
   while x <= last:
     result[x] = a[y]
     dec(y)
@@ -253,16 +253,16 @@ proc product*[T](x: openArray[seq[T]]): seq[seq[T]] =
   while true:
     while indexes[index] == -1:
       indexes[index] = initial[index]
-      index +=1
+      index += 1
       if index == x.len: return
-      indexes[index] -=1
+      indexes[index] -= 1
     for ni, i in indexes:
       next[ni] = x[ni][i]
     var res: seq[T]
     shallowCopy(res, next)
     result.add(res)
     index = 0
-    indexes[index] -=1
+    indexes[index] -= 1
 
 proc nextPermutation*[T](x: var openarray[T]): bool {.discardable.} =
   ## Calculates the next lexicographic permutation, directly modifying ``x``.
diff --git a/lib/pure/asyncdispatch.nim b/lib/pure/asyncdispatch.nim
index 8e0ac8d21..27f77cef2 100644
--- a/lib/pure/asyncdispatch.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/asyncdispatch.nim
@@ -841,6 +841,8 @@ else:
   proc newAsyncRawSocket*(domain: cint, typ: cint, protocol: cint): TAsyncFD =
     result = newRawSocket(domain, typ, protocol).TAsyncFD
     result.SocketHandle.setBlocking(false)
+    when defined(macosx):
+        result.SocketHandle.setSockOptInt(SOL_SOCKET, SO_NOSIGPIPE, 1)
     register(result)
 
   proc newAsyncRawSocket*(domain: Domain = AF_INET,
@@ -848,6 +850,8 @@ else:
                protocol: Protocol = IPPROTO_TCP): TAsyncFD =
     result = newRawSocket(domain, typ, protocol).TAsyncFD
     result.SocketHandle.setBlocking(false)
+    when defined(macosx):
+        result.SocketHandle.setSockOptInt(SOL_SOCKET, SO_NOSIGPIPE, 1)
     register(result)
 
   proc closeSocket*(sock: TAsyncFD) =
@@ -959,7 +963,6 @@ else:
       result = true
       let res = recv(sock.SocketHandle, addr readBuffer[0], size.cint,
                      flags.toOSFlags())
-      #echo("recv cb res: ", res)
       if res < 0:
         let lastError = osLastError()
         if lastError.int32 notin {EINTR, EWOULDBLOCK, EAGAIN}:
@@ -1273,7 +1276,7 @@ proc processBody(node, retFutureSym: NimNode,
   else: discard
 
   for i in 0 .. <result.len:
-    result[i] = processBody(result[i], retFutureSym, subTypeIsVoid, tryStmt)
+    result[i] = processBody(result[i], retFutureSym, subTypeIsVoid, nil)
 
 proc getName(node: NimNode): string {.compileTime.} =
   case node.kind
@@ -1378,8 +1381,8 @@ macro async*(prc: stmt): stmt {.immediate.} =
   result[6] = outerProcBody
 
   #echo(treeRepr(result))
-  if prc[0].getName == "test3":
-    echo(toStrLit(result))
+  #if prc[0].getName == "test":
+  #  echo(toStrLit(result))
 
 proc recvLine*(socket: TAsyncFD): Future[string] {.async.} =
   ## Reads a line of data from ``socket``. Returned future will complete once
diff --git a/lib/pure/asyncftpclient.nim b/lib/pure/asyncftpclient.nim
index 8558ad10d..96f54b49e 100644
--- a/lib/pure/asyncftpclient.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/asyncftpclient.nim
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ proc pasv(ftp: AsyncFtpClient) {.async.} =
   assertReply(pasvMsg, "227")
   var betweenParens = captureBetween(pasvMsg.string, '(', ')')
   var nums = betweenParens.split(',')
-  var ip = nums[0.. -3]
-  var port = nums[-2.. -1]
+  var ip = nums[0.. ^3]
+  var port = nums[^2.. ^1]
   var properPort = port[0].parseInt()*256+port[1].parseInt()
   await ftp.dsock.connect(ip.join("."), Port(properPort.toU16))
   ftp.dsockConnected = true
diff --git a/lib/pure/asyncio.nim b/lib/pure/asyncio.nim
index 6a7cbe396..f58bb4302 100644
--- a/lib/pure/asyncio.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/asyncio.nim
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ import sockets, os
 ## This module implements an asynchronous event loop together with asynchronous
 ## sockets which use this event loop.
 ## It is akin to Python's asyncore module. Many modules that use sockets
-## have an implementation for this module, those modules should all have a 
-## ``register`` function which you should use to add the desired objects to a 
+## have an implementation for this module, those modules should all have a
+## ``register`` function which you should use to add the desired objects to a
 ## dispatcher which you created so
 ## that you can receive the events associated with that module's object.
 ##
@@ -27,19 +27,19 @@ import sockets, os
 ## function in a while loop.
 ##
 ## **Note:** Most modules have tasks which need to be ran regularly, this is
-## why you should not call ``poll`` with a infinite timeout, or even a 
+## why you should not call ``poll`` with a infinite timeout, or even a
 ## very long one. In most cases the default timeout is fine.
 ##
 ## **Note:** This module currently only supports select(), this is limited by
 ## FD_SETSIZE, which is usually 1024. So you may only be able to use 1024
 ## sockets at a time.
-## 
+##
 ## Most (if not all) modules that use asyncio provide a userArg which is passed
 ## on with the events. The type that you set userArg to must be inheriting from
 ## ``RootObj``!
 ##
-## **Note:** If you want to provide async ability to your module please do not 
-## use the ``Delegate`` object, instead use ``AsyncSocket``. It is possible 
+## **Note:** If you want to provide async ability to your module please do not
+## use the ``Delegate`` object, instead use ``AsyncSocket``. It is possible
 ## that in the future this type's fields will not be exported therefore breaking
 ## your code.
 ##
@@ -59,11 +59,11 @@ import sockets, os
 ## socket which will give you the client which is connecting. You should then
 ## set any events that you want to use on that client and add it to your dispatcher
 ## using the ``register`` procedure.
-## 
+##
 ## An example ``handleAccept`` follows:
-## 
+##
 ## .. code-block:: nim
-##   
+##
 ##    var disp = newDispatcher()
 ##    ...
 ##    proc handleAccept(s: AsyncSocket) =
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ import sockets, os
 ##      client.handleRead = ...
 ##      disp.register(client)
 ##    ...
-## 
+##
 ## For client sockets you should only be interested in the ``handleRead`` and
 ## ``handleConnect`` events. The former gets called whenever the socket has
 ## received messages and can be read from and the latter gets called whenever
@@ -83,14 +83,14 @@ import sockets, os
 ##
 ## Getting a blocking client from an AsyncSocket
 ## =============================================
-## 
+##
 ## If you need a asynchronous server socket but you wish to process the clients
 ## synchronously then you can use the ``getSocket`` converter to get
 ## a ``Socket`` from the ``AsyncSocket`` object, this can then be combined
 ## with ``accept`` like so:
 ##
 ## .. code-block:: nim
-##    
+##
 ##    proc handleAccept(s: AsyncSocket) =
 ##      var client: Socket
 ##      getSocket(s).accept(client)
@@ -113,11 +113,11 @@ type
     handleWrite*: proc (h: RootRef) {.nimcall, gcsafe.}
     handleError*: proc (h: RootRef) {.nimcall, gcsafe.}
     hasDataBuffered*: proc (h: RootRef): bool {.nimcall, gcsafe.}
-    
+
     open*: bool
     task*: proc (h: RootRef) {.nimcall, gcsafe.}
     mode*: FileMode
-    
+
   Delegate* = ref DelegateObj
 
   Dispatcher* = ref DispatcherObj
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ type
     deleg: Delegate
 
   SocketStatus* = enum
-    SockIdle, SockConnecting, SockConnected, SockListening, SockClosed, 
+    SockIdle, SockConnecting, SockConnected, SockListening, SockClosed,
     SockUDPBound
 
 {.deprecated: [TDelegate: DelegateObj, PDelegate: Delegate,
@@ -176,8 +176,8 @@ proc newAsyncSocket(): AsyncSocket =
   result.lineBuffer = "".TaintedString
   result.sendBuffer = ""
 
-proc asyncSocket*(domain: Domain = AF_INET, typ: SockType = SOCK_STREAM, 
-                  protocol: Protocol = IPPROTO_TCP, 
+proc asyncSocket*(domain: Domain = AF_INET, typ: SockType = SOCK_STREAM,
+                  protocol: Protocol = IPPROTO_TCP,
                   buffered = true): AsyncSocket =
   ## Initialises an AsyncSocket object. If a socket cannot be initialised
   ## EOS is raised.
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ proc asyncSockHandleWrite(h: RootRef) =
     if AsyncSocket(h).socket.isSSL and not
          AsyncSocket(h).socket.gotHandshake:
       return
-  
+
   if AsyncSocket(h).info == SockConnecting:
     AsyncSocket(h).handleConnect(AsyncSocket(h))
     AsyncSocket(h).info = SockConnected
@@ -256,10 +256,10 @@ proc asyncSockHandleWrite(h: RootRef) =
           # do nothing instead.
           discard
         elif bytesSent != sock.sendBuffer.len:
-          sock.sendBuffer = sock.sendBuffer[bytesSent .. -1]
+          sock.sendBuffer = sock.sendBuffer[bytesSent .. ^1]
         elif bytesSent == sock.sendBuffer.len:
           sock.sendBuffer = ""
-        
+
         if AsyncSocket(h).handleWrite != nil:
           AsyncSocket(h).handleWrite(AsyncSocket(h))
       except OSError:
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ when defined(ssl):
       else:
         # handshake will set socket's ``sslNoHandshake`` field.
         discard AsyncSocket(h).socket.handshake()
-        
+
 
 proc asyncSockTask(h: RootRef) =
   when defined(ssl):
@@ -377,9 +377,9 @@ proc acceptAddr*(server: AsyncSocket, client: var AsyncSocket,
 
   if c == invalidSocket: raiseSocketError(server.socket)
   c.setBlocking(false) # TODO: Needs to be tested.
-  
+
   # deleg.open is set in ``toDelegate``.
-  
+
   client.socket = c
   client.lineBuffer = "".TaintedString
   client.sendBuffer = ""
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ proc accept*(server: AsyncSocket, client: var AsyncSocket) =
 proc acceptAddr*(server: AsyncSocket): tuple[sock: AsyncSocket,
                                               address: string] {.deprecated.} =
   ## Equivalent to ``sockets.acceptAddr``.
-  ## 
+  ##
   ## **Deprecated since version 0.9.0:** Please use the function above.
   var client = newAsyncSocket()
   var address: string = ""
@@ -441,17 +441,17 @@ proc isConnected*(s: AsyncSocket): bool =
   ## Determines whether ``s`` is connected.
   return s.info == SockConnected
 proc isListening*(s: AsyncSocket): bool =
-  ## Determines whether ``s`` is listening for incoming connections.  
+  ## Determines whether ``s`` is listening for incoming connections.
   return s.info == SockListening
 proc isConnecting*(s: AsyncSocket): bool =
-  ## Determines whether ``s`` is connecting.  
+  ## Determines whether ``s`` is connecting.
   return s.info == SockConnecting
 proc isClosed*(s: AsyncSocket): bool =
   ## Determines whether ``s`` has been closed.
   return s.info == SockClosed
 proc isSendDataBuffered*(s: AsyncSocket): bool =
   ## Determines whether ``s`` has data waiting to be sent, i.e. whether this
-  ## socket's sendBuffer contains data. 
+  ## socket's sendBuffer contains data.
   return s.sendBuffer.len != 0
 
 proc setHandleWrite*(s: AsyncSocket,
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ proc send*(sock: AsyncSocket, data: string) =
     sock.sendBuffer.add(data)
     sock.deleg.mode = fmReadWrite
   elif bytesSent != data.len:
-    sock.sendBuffer.add(data[bytesSent .. -1])
+    sock.sendBuffer.add(data[bytesSent .. ^1])
     sock.deleg.mode = fmReadWrite
 
 proc timeValFromMilliseconds(timeout = 500): Timeval =
@@ -561,10 +561,10 @@ proc timeValFromMilliseconds(timeout = 500): Timeval =
 
 proc createFdSet(fd: var TFdSet, s: seq[Delegate], m: var int) =
   FD_ZERO(fd)
-  for i in items(s): 
+  for i in items(s):
     m = max(m, int(i.fd))
     FD_SET(i.fd, fd)
-   
+
 proc pruneSocketSet(s: var seq[Delegate], fd: var TFdSet) =
   var i = 0
   var L = s.len
@@ -576,16 +576,16 @@ proc pruneSocketSet(s: var seq[Delegate], fd: var TFdSet) =
       inc(i)
   setLen(s, L)
 
-proc select(readfds, writefds, exceptfds: var seq[Delegate], 
+proc select(readfds, writefds, exceptfds: var seq[Delegate],
              timeout = 500): int =
   var tv {.noInit.}: Timeval = timeValFromMilliseconds(timeout)
-  
+
   var rd, wr, ex: TFdSet
   var m = 0
   createFdSet(rd, readfds, m)
   createFdSet(wr, writefds, m)
   createFdSet(ex, exceptfds, m)
-  
+
   if timeout != -1:
     result = int(select(cint(m+1), addr(rd), addr(wr), addr(ex), addr(tv)))
   else:
@@ -599,7 +599,7 @@ proc poll*(d: Dispatcher, timeout: int = 500): bool =
   ## This function checks for events on all the delegates in the `PDispatcher`.
   ## It then proceeds to call the correct event handler.
   ##
-  ## This function returns ``True`` if there are file descriptors that are still 
+  ## This function returns ``True`` if there are file descriptors that are still
   ## open, otherwise ``False``. File descriptors that have been
   ## closed are immediately removed from the dispatcher automatically.
   ##
@@ -611,7 +611,7 @@ proc poll*(d: Dispatcher, timeout: int = 500): bool =
   var readDg, writeDg, errorDg: seq[Delegate] = @[]
   var len = d.delegates.len
   var dc = 0
-  
+
   while dc < len:
     let deleg = d.delegates[dc]
     if (deleg.mode != fmWrite or deleg.mode != fmAppend) and deleg.open:
@@ -625,20 +625,20 @@ proc poll*(d: Dispatcher, timeout: int = 500): bool =
       # File/socket has been closed. Remove it from dispatcher.
       d.delegates[dc] = d.delegates[len-1]
       dec len
-      
+
   d.delegates.setLen(len)
-  
+
   var hasDataBufferedCount = 0
   for d in d.delegates:
     if d.hasDataBuffered(d.deleVal):
       hasDataBufferedCount.inc()
       d.handleRead(d.deleVal)
   if hasDataBufferedCount > 0: return true
-  
+
   if readDg.len() == 0 and writeDg.len() == 0:
     ## TODO: Perhaps this shouldn't return if errorDg has something?
     return false
-  
+
   if select(readDg, writeDg, errorDg, timeout) != 0:
     for i in 0..len(d.delegates)-1:
       if i > len(d.delegates)-1: break # One delegate might've been removed.
@@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ proc poll*(d: Dispatcher, timeout: int = 500): bool =
         deleg.handleWrite(deleg.deleVal)
       if deleg notin errorDg:
         deleg.handleError(deleg.deleVal)
-  
+
   # Execute tasks
   for i in items(d.delegates):
     i.task(i.deleVal)
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ when isMainModule:
 
   proc testConnect(s: AsyncSocket, no: int) =
     echo("Connected! " & $no)
-  
+
   proc testRead(s: AsyncSocket, no: int) =
     echo("Reading! " & $no)
     var data = ""
@@ -682,31 +682,31 @@ when isMainModule:
     var address = ""
     s.acceptAddr(client, address)
     echo("Accepted ", address)
-    client.handleRead = 
+    client.handleRead =
       proc (s: AsyncSocket) =
         testRead(s, 2)
     disp.register(client)
 
   proc main =
     var d = newDispatcher()
-    
+
     var s = asyncSocket()
     s.connect("amber.tenthbit.net", Port(6667))
-    s.handleConnect = 
+    s.handleConnect =
       proc (s: AsyncSocket) =
         testConnect(s, 1)
-    s.handleRead = 
+    s.handleRead =
       proc (s: AsyncSocket) =
         testRead(s, 1)
     d.register(s)
-    
+
     var server = asyncSocket()
     server.handleAccept =
-      proc (s: AsyncSocket) = 
+      proc (s: AsyncSocket) =
         testAccept(s, d, 78)
     server.bindAddr(Port(5555))
     server.listen()
     d.register(server)
-    
+
     while d.poll(-1): discard
   main()
diff --git a/lib/pure/collections/intsets.nim b/lib/pure/collections/intsets.nim
index 7520e6e46..ae26c5af6 100644
--- a/lib/pure/collections/intsets.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/collections/intsets.nim
@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@
 ## copy; use ``assign`` to get a deep copy.
 
 import
-  os, hashes, math
+  hashes, math
 
 type
   BitScalar = int
 
-const 
+const
   InitIntSetSize = 8         # must be a power of two!
   TrunkShift = 9
   BitsPerTrunk = 1 shl TrunkShift # needs to be a power of 2 and
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@ const
 
 type
   PTrunk = ref TTrunk
-  TTrunk {.final.} = object 
+  TTrunk {.final.} = object
     next: PTrunk             # all nodes are connected with this pointer
     key: int                 # start address at bit 0
     bits: array[0..IntsPerTrunk - 1, BitScalar] # a bit vector
-  
+
   TTrunkSeq = seq[PTrunk]
   IntSet* = object ## an efficient set of 'int' implemented as a sparse bit set
     counter, max: int
@@ -44,42 +44,42 @@ type
 
 {.deprecated: [TIntSet: IntSet].}
 
-proc mustRehash(length, counter: int): bool {.inline.} = 
+proc mustRehash(length, counter: int): bool {.inline.} =
   assert(length > counter)
   result = (length * 2 < counter * 3) or (length - counter < 4)
 
-proc nextTry(h, maxHash: THash): THash {.inline.} = 
-  result = ((5 * h) + 1) and maxHash 
+proc nextTry(h, maxHash: THash): THash {.inline.} =
+  result = ((5 * h) + 1) and maxHash
 
-proc intSetGet(t: IntSet, key: int): PTrunk = 
+proc intSetGet(t: IntSet, key: int): PTrunk =
   var h = key and t.max
-  while t.data[h] != nil: 
-    if t.data[h].key == key: 
+  while t.data[h] != nil:
+    if t.data[h].key == key:
       return t.data[h]
     h = nextTry(h, t.max)
   result = nil
 
-proc intSetRawInsert(t: IntSet, data: var TTrunkSeq, desc: PTrunk) = 
+proc intSetRawInsert(t: IntSet, data: var TTrunkSeq, desc: PTrunk) =
   var h = desc.key and t.max
-  while data[h] != nil: 
+  while data[h] != nil:
     assert(data[h] != desc)
     h = nextTry(h, t.max)
   assert(data[h] == nil)
   data[h] = desc
 
-proc intSetEnlarge(t: var IntSet) = 
+proc intSetEnlarge(t: var IntSet) =
   var n: TTrunkSeq
   var oldMax = t.max
   t.max = ((t.max + 1) * 2) - 1
   newSeq(n, t.max + 1)
-  for i in countup(0, oldMax): 
+  for i in countup(0, oldMax):
     if t.data[i] != nil: intSetRawInsert(t, n, t.data[i])
   swap(t.data, n)
 
-proc intSetPut(t: var IntSet, key: int): PTrunk = 
+proc intSetPut(t: var IntSet, key: int): PTrunk =
   var h = key and t.max
-  while t.data[h] != nil: 
-    if t.data[h].key == key: 
+  while t.data[h] != nil:
+    if t.data[h].key == key:
       return t.data[h]
     h = nextTry(h, t.max)
   if mustRehash(t.max + 1, t.counter): intSetEnlarge(t)
@@ -94,43 +94,43 @@ proc intSetPut(t: var IntSet, key: int): PTrunk =
   t.data[h] = result
 
 proc contains*(s: IntSet, key: int): bool =
-  ## returns true iff `key` is in `s`.  
+  ## returns true iff `key` is in `s`.
   var t = intSetGet(s, `shr`(key, TrunkShift))
-  if t != nil: 
+  if t != nil:
     var u = key and TrunkMask
     result = (t.bits[`shr`(u, IntShift)] and `shl`(1, u and IntMask)) != 0
-  else: 
+  else:
     result = false
-  
-proc incl*(s: var IntSet, key: int) = 
+
+proc incl*(s: var IntSet, key: int) =
   ## includes an element `key` in `s`.
   var t = intSetPut(s, `shr`(key, TrunkShift))
   var u = key and TrunkMask
   t.bits[`shr`(u, IntShift)] = t.bits[`shr`(u, IntShift)] or
       `shl`(1, u and IntMask)
 
-proc excl*(s: var IntSet, key: int) = 
+proc excl*(s: var IntSet, key: int) =
   ## excludes `key` from the set `s`.
   var t = intSetGet(s, `shr`(key, TrunkShift))
-  if t != nil: 
+  if t != nil:
     var u = key and TrunkMask
     t.bits[`shr`(u, IntShift)] = t.bits[`shr`(u, IntShift)] and
         not `shl`(1, u and IntMask)
 
-proc containsOrIncl*(s: var IntSet, key: int): bool = 
+proc containsOrIncl*(s: var IntSet, key: int): bool =
   ## returns true if `s` contains `key`, otherwise `key` is included in `s`
   ## and false is returned.
   var t = intSetGet(s, `shr`(key, TrunkShift))
-  if t != nil: 
+  if t != nil:
     var u = key and TrunkMask
     result = (t.bits[`shr`(u, IntShift)] and `shl`(1, u and IntMask)) != 0
-    if not result: 
+    if not result:
       t.bits[`shr`(u, IntShift)] = t.bits[`shr`(u, IntShift)] or
           `shl`(1, u and IntMask)
-  else: 
+  else:
     incl(s, key)
     result = false
-    
+
 proc initIntSet*: IntSet =
   ## creates a new int set that is empty.
   newSeq(result.data, InitIntSetSize)
@@ -140,14 +140,14 @@ proc initIntSet*: IntSet =
 
 proc assign*(dest: var IntSet, src: IntSet) =
   ## copies `src` to `dest`. `dest` does not need to be initialized by
-  ## `initIntSet`. 
+  ## `initIntSet`.
   dest.counter = src.counter
   dest.max = src.max
   newSeq(dest.data, src.data.len)
-  
+
   var it = src.head
   while it != nil:
-    
+
     var h = it.key and dest.max
     while dest.data[h] != nil: h = nextTry(h, dest.max)
     assert(dest.data[h] == nil)
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ iterator items*(s: IntSet): int {.inline.} =
   while r != nil:
     var i = 0
     while i <= high(r.bits):
-      var w = r.bits[i] 
+      var w = r.bits[i]
       # taking a copy of r.bits[i] here is correct, because
       # modifying operations are not allowed during traversation
       var j = 0
diff --git a/lib/pure/collections/sets.nim b/lib/pure/collections/sets.nim
index 4a20d00a4..bd6c2dc20 100644
--- a/lib/pure/collections/sets.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/collections/sets.nim
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ proc mustRehash(length, counter: int): bool {.inline.} =
   assert(length > counter)
   result = (length * 2 < counter * 3) or (length - counter < 4)
 
-proc rightSize*(count: int): int {.inline.} =
+proc rightSize*(count: Natural): int {.inline.} =
   ## Return the value of `initialSize` to support `count` items.
   ##
   ## If more items are expected to be added, simply add that
@@ -798,177 +798,178 @@ proc `==`*[A](s, t: OrderedSet[A]): bool =
     g = nxg
   result = compared == s.counter
 
-proc testModule() =
-  ## Internal micro test to validate docstrings and such.
-  block isValidTest:
-    var options: HashSet[string]
-    proc savePreferences(options: HashSet[string]) =
-      assert options.isValid, "Pass an initialized set!"
-    options = initSet[string]()
-    options.savePreferences
-
-  block lenTest:
-    var values: HashSet[int]
-    assert(not values.isValid)
-    assert values.len == 0
-    assert values.card == 0
-
-  block setIterator:
-    type pair = tuple[a, b: int]
-    var a, b = initSet[pair]()
-    a.incl((2, 3))
-    a.incl((3, 2))
-    a.incl((2, 3))
-    for x, y in a.items:
-      b.incl((x - 2, y + 1))
-    assert a.len == b.card
-    assert a.len == 2
-    #echo b
-
-  block setContains:
-    var values = initSet[int]()
-    assert(not values.contains(2))
-    values.incl(2)
-    assert values.contains(2)
-    values.excl(2)
-    assert(not values.contains(2))
-
-    values.incl(4)
-    var others = toSet([6, 7])
-    values.incl(others)
-    assert values.len == 3
-
-    values.init
-    assert values.containsOrIncl(2) == false
-    assert values.containsOrIncl(2) == true
-    var
-      a = toSet([1, 2])
-      b = toSet([1])
-    b.incl(2)
-    assert a == b
-
-  block exclusions:
-    var s = toSet([2, 3, 6, 7])
-    s.excl(2)
-    s.excl(2)
-    assert s.len == 3
-
-    var
-      numbers = toSet([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])
-      even = toSet([2, 4, 6, 8])
-    numbers.excl(even)
-    #echo numbers
-    # --> {1, 3, 5}
-
-  block toSeqAndString:
-    var a = toSet([2, 4, 5])
-    var b = initSet[int]()
-    for x in [2, 4, 5]: b.incl(x)
-    assert($a == $b)
-    #echo a
-    #echo toSet(["no", "esc'aping", "is \" provided"])
-
-  #block orderedToSeqAndString:
-  #  echo toOrderedSet([2, 4, 5])
-  #  echo toOrderedSet(["no", "esc'aping", "is \" provided"])
-
-  block setOperations:
-    var
-      a = toSet(["a", "b"])
-      b = toSet(["b", "c"])
-      c = union(a, b)
-    assert c == toSet(["a", "b", "c"])
-    var d = intersection(a, b)
-    assert d == toSet(["b"])
-    var e = difference(a, b)
-    assert e == toSet(["a"])
-    var f = symmetricDifference(a, b)
-    assert f == toSet(["a", "c"])
-    assert d < a and d < b
-    assert((a < a) == false)
-    assert d <= a and d <= b
-    assert((a <= a))
-    # Alias test.
-    assert a + b == toSet(["a", "b", "c"])
-    assert a * b == toSet(["b"])
-    assert a - b == toSet(["a"])
-    assert a -+- b == toSet(["a", "c"])
-    assert disjoint(a, b) == false
-    assert disjoint(a, b - a) == true
-
-  block mapSet:
-    var a = toSet([1, 2, 3])
-    var b = a.map(proc (x: int): string = $x)
-    assert b == toSet(["1", "2", "3"])
-
-  block isValidTest:
-    var cards: OrderedSet[string]
-    proc saveTarotCards(cards: OrderedSet[string]) =
-      assert cards.isValid, "Pass an initialized set!"
-    cards = initOrderedSet[string]()
-    cards.saveTarotCards
-
-  block lenTest:
-    var values: OrderedSet[int]
-    assert(not values.isValid)
-    assert values.len == 0
-    assert values.card == 0
-
-  block setIterator:
-    type pair = tuple[a, b: int]
-    var a, b = initOrderedSet[pair]()
-    a.incl((2, 3))
-    a.incl((3, 2))
-    a.incl((2, 3))
-    for x, y in a.items:
-      b.incl((x - 2, y + 1))
-    assert a.len == b.card
-    assert a.len == 2
-
-  #block orderedSetIterator:
-  #  var a = initOrderedSet[int]()
-  #  for value in [9, 2, 1, 5, 1, 8, 4, 2]:
-  #    a.incl(value)
-  #  for value in a.items:
-  #    echo "Got ", value
-
-  block setContains:
-    var values = initOrderedSet[int]()
-    assert(not values.contains(2))
-    values.incl(2)
-    assert values.contains(2)
-
-  block toSeqAndString:
-    var a = toOrderedSet([2, 4, 5])
-    var b = initOrderedSet[int]()
-    for x in [2, 4, 5]: b.incl(x)
-    assert($a == $b)
-    assert(a == b) # https://github.com/Araq/Nimrod/issues/1413
-
-  block initBlocks:
-    var a: OrderedSet[int]
-    a.init(4)
-    a.incl(2)
-    a.init
-    assert a.len == 0 and a.isValid
-    a = initOrderedSet[int](4)
-    a.incl(2)
-    assert a.len == 1
-
-    var b: HashSet[int]
-    b.init(4)
-    b.incl(2)
-    b.init
-    assert b.len == 0 and b.isValid
-    b = initSet[int](4)
-    b.incl(2)
-    assert b.len == 1
-
-  for i in 0 .. 32:
-    var s = rightSize(i)
-    if s <= i or mustRehash(s, i):
-      echo "performance issue: rightSize() will not elide enlarge() at ", i
-
-  echo "Micro tests run successfully."
-
-when isMainModule and not defined(release): testModule()
+when isMainModule and not defined(release):
+  proc testModule() =
+    ## Internal micro test to validate docstrings and such.
+    block isValidTest:
+      var options: HashSet[string]
+      proc savePreferences(options: HashSet[string]) =
+        assert options.isValid, "Pass an initialized set!"
+      options = initSet[string]()
+      options.savePreferences
+
+    block lenTest:
+      var values: HashSet[int]
+      assert(not values.isValid)
+      assert values.len == 0
+      assert values.card == 0
+
+    block setIterator:
+      type pair = tuple[a, b: int]
+      var a, b = initSet[pair]()
+      a.incl((2, 3))
+      a.incl((3, 2))
+      a.incl((2, 3))
+      for x, y in a.items:
+        b.incl((x - 2, y + 1))
+      assert a.len == b.card
+      assert a.len == 2
+      #echo b
+
+    block setContains:
+      var values = initSet[int]()
+      assert(not values.contains(2))
+      values.incl(2)
+      assert values.contains(2)
+      values.excl(2)
+      assert(not values.contains(2))
+
+      values.incl(4)
+      var others = toSet([6, 7])
+      values.incl(others)
+      assert values.len == 3
+
+      values.init
+      assert values.containsOrIncl(2) == false
+      assert values.containsOrIncl(2) == true
+      var
+        a = toSet([1, 2])
+        b = toSet([1])
+      b.incl(2)
+      assert a == b
+
+    block exclusions:
+      var s = toSet([2, 3, 6, 7])
+      s.excl(2)
+      s.excl(2)
+      assert s.len == 3
+
+      var
+        numbers = toSet([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])
+        even = toSet([2, 4, 6, 8])
+      numbers.excl(even)
+      #echo numbers
+      # --> {1, 3, 5}
+
+    block toSeqAndString:
+      var a = toSet([2, 4, 5])
+      var b = initSet[int]()
+      for x in [2, 4, 5]: b.incl(x)
+      assert($a == $b)
+      #echo a
+      #echo toSet(["no", "esc'aping", "is \" provided"])
+
+    #block orderedToSeqAndString:
+    #  echo toOrderedSet([2, 4, 5])
+    #  echo toOrderedSet(["no", "esc'aping", "is \" provided"])
+
+    block setOperations:
+      var
+        a = toSet(["a", "b"])
+        b = toSet(["b", "c"])
+        c = union(a, b)
+      assert c == toSet(["a", "b", "c"])
+      var d = intersection(a, b)
+      assert d == toSet(["b"])
+      var e = difference(a, b)
+      assert e == toSet(["a"])
+      var f = symmetricDifference(a, b)
+      assert f == toSet(["a", "c"])
+      assert d < a and d < b
+      assert((a < a) == false)
+      assert d <= a and d <= b
+      assert((a <= a))
+      # Alias test.
+      assert a + b == toSet(["a", "b", "c"])
+      assert a * b == toSet(["b"])
+      assert a - b == toSet(["a"])
+      assert a -+- b == toSet(["a", "c"])
+      assert disjoint(a, b) == false
+      assert disjoint(a, b - a) == true
+
+    block mapSet:
+      var a = toSet([1, 2, 3])
+      var b = a.map(proc (x: int): string = $x)
+      assert b == toSet(["1", "2", "3"])
+
+    block isValidTest:
+      var cards: OrderedSet[string]
+      proc saveTarotCards(cards: OrderedSet[string]) =
+        assert cards.isValid, "Pass an initialized set!"
+      cards = initOrderedSet[string]()
+      cards.saveTarotCards
+
+    block lenTest:
+      var values: OrderedSet[int]
+      assert(not values.isValid)
+      assert values.len == 0
+      assert values.card == 0
+
+    block setIterator:
+      type pair = tuple[a, b: int]
+      var a, b = initOrderedSet[pair]()
+      a.incl((2, 3))
+      a.incl((3, 2))
+      a.incl((2, 3))
+      for x, y in a.items:
+        b.incl((x - 2, y + 1))
+      assert a.len == b.card
+      assert a.len == 2
+
+    #block orderedSetIterator:
+    #  var a = initOrderedSet[int]()
+    #  for value in [9, 2, 1, 5, 1, 8, 4, 2]:
+    #    a.incl(value)
+    #  for value in a.items:
+    #    echo "Got ", value
+
+    block setContains:
+      var values = initOrderedSet[int]()
+      assert(not values.contains(2))
+      values.incl(2)
+      assert values.contains(2)
+
+    block toSeqAndString:
+      var a = toOrderedSet([2, 4, 5])
+      var b = initOrderedSet[int]()
+      for x in [2, 4, 5]: b.incl(x)
+      assert($a == $b)
+      assert(a == b) # https://github.com/Araq/Nimrod/issues/1413
+
+    block initBlocks:
+      var a: OrderedSet[int]
+      a.init(4)
+      a.incl(2)
+      a.init
+      assert a.len == 0 and a.isValid
+      a = initOrderedSet[int](4)
+      a.incl(2)
+      assert a.len == 1
+
+      var b: HashSet[int]
+      b.init(4)
+      b.incl(2)
+      b.init
+      assert b.len == 0 and b.isValid
+      b = initSet[int](4)
+      b.incl(2)
+      assert b.len == 1
+
+    for i in 0 .. 32:
+      var s = rightSize(i)
+      if s <= i or mustRehash(s, i):
+        echo "performance issue: rightSize() will not elide enlarge() at ", i
+
+    echo "Micro tests run successfully."
+
+  testModule()
diff --git a/lib/pure/collections/tables.nim b/lib/pure/collections/tables.nim
index a32abdb0f..232e52c89 100644
--- a/lib/pure/collections/tables.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/collections/tables.nim
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ proc mustRehash(length, counter: int): bool {.inline.} =
   assert(length > counter)
   result = (length * 2 < counter * 3) or (length - counter < 4)
 
-proc rightSize*(count: int): int {.inline.} =
+proc rightSize*(count: Natural): int {.inline.} =
   ## Return the value of `initialSize` to support `count` items.
   ##
   ## If more items are expected to be added, simply add that
diff --git a/lib/pure/concurrency/threadpool.nim b/lib/pure/concurrency/threadpool.nim
index a8ad30d04..9f1e53fb8 100644
--- a/lib/pure/concurrency/threadpool.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/concurrency/threadpool.nim
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ proc nimFlowVarSignal(fv: FlowVarBase) {.compilerProc.} =
     inc fv.ai.cv.counter
     release(fv.ai.cv.L)
     signal(fv.ai.cv.c)
-  if fv.usesSemaphore: 
+  if fv.usesSemaphore:
     signal(fv.cv)
 
 proc awaitAndThen*[T](fv: FlowVar[T]; action: proc (x: T) {.closure.}) =
diff --git a/lib/pure/ftpclient.nim b/lib/pure/ftpclient.nim
index 46af1d528..dc387b79c 100644
--- a/lib/pure/ftpclient.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/ftpclient.nim
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ from rawsockets import nil
 from asyncdispatch import PFuture
 
 ## This module **partially** implements an FTP client as specified
-## by `RFC 959 <http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc959>`_. 
-## 
+## by `RFC 959 <http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc959>`_.
+##
 ## This module provides both a synchronous and asynchronous implementation.
 ## The asynchronous implementation requires you to use the ``asyncFTPClient``
 ## function. You are then required to register the ``AsyncFTPClient`` with a
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ from asyncdispatch import PFuture
 ## file transfers, calls to functions which use the command socket will block.
 ##
 ## Here is some example usage of this module:
-## 
+##
 ## .. code-block:: Nim
 ##    var ftp = ftpClient("example.org", user = "user", pass = "pass")
 ##    ftp.connect()
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ type
       port*: rawsockets.Port
     else:
       port*: Port
-    
+
     jobInProgress*: bool
     job*: FTPJob[SockType]
 
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ type
     of EvLines:
       lines*: string ## Lines that have been transferred.
     of EvRetr, EvStore: ## Retr/Store operation finished.
-      nil 
+      nil
     of EvTransferProgress:
       bytesTotal*: BiggestInt     ## Bytes total.
       bytesFinished*: BiggestInt  ## Bytes transferred.
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ proc handleConnect(s: AsyncSocket, ftp: AsyncFTPClient) =
 proc handleRead(s: AsyncSocket, ftp: AsyncFTPClient) =
   assert ftp.jobInProgress
   assert ftp.job.typ != JStore
-  # This can never return true, because it shouldn't check for code 
+  # This can never return true, because it shouldn't check for code
   # 226 from csock.
   assert(not ftp.job.prc(ftp, true))
 
@@ -236,13 +236,13 @@ proc pasv[T](ftp: FtpBase[T]) =
     ftp.disp.register(ftp.dsock)
   else:
     {.fatal: "Incorrect socket instantiation".}
-  
+
   var pasvMsg = ftp.send("PASV").string.strip.TaintedString
   assertReply(pasvMsg, "227")
   var betweenParens = captureBetween(pasvMsg.string, '(', ')')
   var nums = betweenParens.split(',')
-  var ip = nums[0.. -3]
-  var port = nums[-2.. -1]
+  var ip = nums[0.. ^3]
+  var port = nums[^2.. ^1]
   var properPort = port[0].parseInt()*256+port[1].parseInt()
   ftp.dsock.connect(ip.join("."), Port(properPort.toU16))
   when T is AsyncSocket:
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ proc getLines[T](ftp: FtpBase[T], async: bool = false): bool =
         ftp.job.lines.add(r.string & "\n")
     else:
       {.fatal: "Incorrect socket instantiation".}
-  
+
   if not async:
     var readSocks: seq[Socket] = @[ftp.csock]
     # This is only needed here. Asyncio gets this socket...
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ proc chmod*[T](ftp: FtpBase[T], path: string,
 proc list*[T](ftp: FtpBase[T], dir: string = "", async = false): string =
   ## Lists all files in ``dir``. If ``dir`` is ``""``, uses the current
   ## working directory. If ``async`` is true, this function will return
-  ## immediately and it will be your job to call asyncio's 
+  ## immediately and it will be your job to call asyncio's
   ## ``poll`` to progress this operation.
   ftp.createJob(getLines[T], JRetrText)
   ftp.pasv()
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ proc retrText*[T](ftp: FtpBase[T], file: string, async = false): string =
   ftp.createJob(getLines[T], JRetrText)
   ftp.pasv()
   assertReply ftp.send("RETR " & file.normalizePathSep), ["125", "150"]
-  
+
   if not async:
     while not ftp.job.prc(ftp, false): discard
     result = ftp.job.lines
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ proc getFile[T](ftp: FtpBase[T], async = false): bool =
       else:
         bytesRead = ftp.dsock.recvAsync(r, BufferSize)
         returned = bytesRead != -1
-    else: 
+    else:
       bytesRead = ftp.dsock.recv(r, BufferSize)
       returned = true
     let r2 = r.string
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ proc getFile[T](ftp: FtpBase[T], async = false): bool =
 proc retrFile*[T](ftp: FtpBase[T], file, dest: string, async = false) =
   ## Downloads ``file`` and saves it to ``dest``. Usage of this function
   ## asynchronously is recommended to view the progress of the download.
-  ## The ``EvRetr`` event is passed to the specified ``handleEvent`` function 
+  ## The ``EvRetr`` event is passed to the specified ``handleEvent`` function
   ## when the download is finished, and the ``filename`` field will be equal
   ## to ``file``.
   ftp.createJob(getFile[T], JRetr)
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ proc retrFile*[T](ftp: FtpBase[T], file, dest: string, async = false) =
   var fileSize: BiggestInt
   if reply.string.captureBetween('(', ')').parseBiggestInt(fileSize) == 0:
     raise newException(ReplyError, "Reply has no file size.")
-    
+
   ftp.job.total = fileSize
   ftp.job.lastProgressReport = epochTime()
   ftp.job.filename = file.normalizePathSep
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ proc doUpload[T](ftp: FtpBase[T], async = false): bool =
       if bytesSent == ftp.job.toStore.len:
         ftp.job.toStore = ""
       elif bytesSent != ftp.job.toStore.len and bytesSent != 0:
-        ftp.job.toStore = ftp.job.toStore[bytesSent .. -1]
+        ftp.job.toStore = ftp.job.toStore[bytesSent .. ^1]
       ftp.job.progress.inc(bytesSent)
       ftp.job.oneSecond.inc(bytesSent)
     else:
@@ -499,12 +499,12 @@ proc doUpload[T](ftp: FtpBase[T], async = false): bool =
         # File finished uploading.
         ftp.dsock.close()
         ftp.dsockConnected = false
-  
+
         if not async:
           assertReply ftp.expectReply(), "226"
           return true
         return false
-    
+
       if not async:
         ftp.dsock.send(s)
       else:
@@ -512,9 +512,9 @@ proc doUpload[T](ftp: FtpBase[T], async = false): bool =
         if bytesSent == 0:
           ftp.job.toStore.add(s)
         elif bytesSent != s.len:
-          ftp.job.toStore.add(s[bytesSent .. -1])
+          ftp.job.toStore.add(s[bytesSent .. ^1])
         len = bytesSent
-      
+
       ftp.job.progress.inc(len)
       ftp.job.oneSecond.inc(len)
 
@@ -522,8 +522,8 @@ proc store*[T](ftp: FtpBase[T], file, dest: string, async = false) =
   ## Uploads ``file`` to ``dest`` on the remote FTP server. Usage of this
   ## function asynchronously is recommended to view the progress of
   ## the download.
-  ## The ``EvStore`` event is passed to the specified ``handleEvent`` function 
-  ## when the upload is finished, and the ``filename`` field will be 
+  ## The ``EvStore`` event is passed to the specified ``handleEvent`` function
+  ## when the upload is finished, and the ``filename`` field will be
   ## equal to ``file``.
   ftp.createJob(doUpload[T], JStore)
   ftp.job.file = open(file)
@@ -531,7 +531,7 @@ proc store*[T](ftp: FtpBase[T], file, dest: string, async = false) =
   ftp.job.lastProgressReport = epochTime()
   ftp.job.filename = file
   ftp.pasv()
-  
+
   assertReply ftp.send("STOR " & dest.normalizePathSep), ["125", "150"]
 
   if not async:
@@ -564,12 +564,12 @@ proc csockHandleRead(s: AsyncSocket, ftp: AsyncFTPClient) =
       if ftp.job.progress != ftp.job.total:
         raise newException(FTPError, "Didn't upload full file.")
     ftp.deleteJob()
-    
+
     ftp.handleEvent(ftp, r)
 
 proc asyncFTPClient*(address: string, port = Port(21),
                      user, pass = "",
-    handleEvent: proc (ftp: AsyncFTPClient, ev: FTPEvent) {.closure,gcsafe.} = 
+    handleEvent: proc (ftp: AsyncFTPClient, ev: FTPEvent) {.closure,gcsafe.} =
       (proc (ftp: AsyncFTPClient, ev: FTPEvent) = discard)): AsyncFTPClient =
   ## Create a ``AsyncFTPClient`` object.
   ##
@@ -617,7 +617,7 @@ when isMainModule:
           echo d.len
         else: assert(false)
     var ftp = asyncFTPClient("example.com", user = "foo", pass = "bar", handleEvent = hev)
-    
+
     d.register(ftp)
     d.len.echo()
     ftp.connect()
diff --git a/lib/pure/httpclient.nim b/lib/pure/httpclient.nim
index f11101511..4c2580da0 100644
--- a/lib/pure/httpclient.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/httpclient.nim
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ proc parseResponse(s: Socket, getBody: bool, timeout: int): Response =
       inc(linei, le)
       # Status code
       linei.inc skipWhitespace(line, linei)
-      result.status = line[linei .. -1]
+      result.status = line[linei .. ^1]
       parsedStatus = true
     else:
       # Parse headers
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ proc parseResponse(s: Socket, getBody: bool, timeout: int): Response =
       if line[linei] != ':': httpError("invalid headers")
       inc(linei) # Skip :
 
-      result.headers[name] = line[linei.. -1].strip()
+      result.headers[name] = line[linei.. ^1].strip()
   if not fullyRead:
     httpError("Connection was closed before full request has been made")
   if getBody:
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ proc request*(url: string, httpMethod = httpGET, extraHeaders = "",
   ## | Extra headers can be specified and must be separated by ``\c\L``
   ## | An optional timeout can be specified in miliseconds, if reading from the
   ## server takes longer than specified an ETimeout exception will be raised.
-  result = request(url, $httpMethod, extraHeaders, body, sslContext, timeout, 
+  result = request(url, $httpMethod, extraHeaders, body, sslContext, timeout,
                    userAgent, proxy)
 
 proc redirection(status: string): bool =
@@ -725,7 +725,7 @@ proc parseResponse(client: AsyncHttpClient,
       inc(linei, le)
       # Status code
       linei.inc skipWhitespace(line, linei)
-      result.status = line[linei .. -1]
+      result.status = line[linei .. ^1]
       parsedStatus = true
     else:
       # Parse headers
@@ -736,7 +736,7 @@ proc parseResponse(client: AsyncHttpClient,
       if line[linei] != ':': httpError("invalid headers")
       inc(linei) # Skip :
 
-      result.headers[name] = line[linei.. -1].strip()
+      result.headers[name] = line[linei.. ^1].strip()
   if not fullyRead:
     httpError("Connection was closed before full request has been made")
   if getBody:
diff --git a/lib/pure/json.nim b/lib/pure/json.nim
index c3db5bdf8..f0c554551 100644
--- a/lib/pure/json.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/json.nim
@@ -605,6 +605,49 @@ proc newJArray*(): JsonNode =
   result.kind = JArray
   result.elems = @[]
 
+proc getStr*(n: JsonNode, default: string = ""): string =
+  ## Retrieves the string value of a `JString JsonNode`.
+  ##
+  ## Returns ``default`` if ``n`` is not a ``JString``.
+  if n.kind != JString: return default
+  else: return n.str
+
+proc getNum*(n: JsonNode, default: BiggestInt = 0): BiggestInt =
+  ## Retrieves the int value of a `JInt JsonNode`.
+  ##
+  ## Returns ``default`` if ``n`` is not a ``JInt``.
+  if n.kind != JInt: return default
+  else: return n.num
+
+proc getFNum*(n: JsonNode, default: float = 0.0): float =
+  ## Retrieves the float value of a `JFloat JsonNode`.
+  ##
+  ## Returns ``default`` if ``n`` is not a ``JFloat``.
+  if n.kind != JFloat: return default
+  else: return n.fnum
+
+proc getBVal*(n: JsonNode, default: bool = false): bool =
+  ## Retrieves the bool value of a `JBool JsonNode`.
+  ##
+  ## Returns ``default`` if ``n`` is not a ``JBool``.
+  if n.kind != JBool: return default
+  else: return n.bval
+
+proc getFields*(n: JsonNode,
+    default: seq[tuple[key: string, val: JsonNode]] = @[]):
+        seq[tuple[key: string, val: JsonNode]] =
+  ## Retrieves the key, value pairs of a `JObject JsonNode`.
+  ##
+  ## Returns ``default`` if ``n`` is not a ``JObject``.
+  if n.kind != JObject: return default
+  else: return n.fields
+
+proc getElems*(n: JsonNode, default: seq[JsonNode] = @[]): seq[JsonNode] =
+  ## Retrieves the int value of a `JArray JsonNode`.
+  ##
+  ## Returns ``default`` if ``n`` is not a ``JArray``.
+  if n.kind != JArray: return default
+  else: return n.elems
 
 proc `%`*(s: string): JsonNode =
   ## Generic constructor for JSON data. Creates a new `JString JsonNode`.
@@ -765,22 +808,25 @@ proc `[]=`*(obj: JsonNode, key: string, val: JsonNode) =
       return
   obj.fields.add((key, val))
 
-proc `{}`*(node: JsonNode, key: string): JsonNode =
-  ## Transverses the node and gets the given value. If any of the
-  ## names does not exist, returns nil
+proc `{}`*(node: JsonNode, keys: varargs[string]): JsonNode =
+  ## Traverses the node and gets the given value. If any of the
+  ## keys do not exist, returns nil. Also returns nil if one of the
+  ## intermediate data structures is not an object
   result = node
-  if isNil(node): return nil
-  result = result[key]
-
-proc `{}=`*(node: JsonNode, names: varargs[string], value: JsonNode) =
-  ## Transverses the node and tries to set the value at the given location
-  ## to `value` If any of the names are missing, they are added
+  for key in keys:
+    if isNil(result) or result.kind!=JObject:
+      return nil    
+    result=result[key]
+
+proc `{}=`*(node: JsonNode, keys: varargs[string], value: JsonNode) =
+  ## Traverses the node and tries to set the value at the given location
+  ## to `value` If any of the keys are missing, they are added
   var node = node
-  for i in 0..(names.len-2):
-    if isNil(node[names[i]]):
-      node[names[i]] = newJObject()
-    node = node[names[i]]
-  node[names[names.len-1]] = value
+  for i in 0..(keys.len-2):
+    if isNil(node[keys[i]]):
+      node[keys[i]] = newJObject()
+    node = node[keys[i]]
+  node[keys[keys.len-1]] = value
 
 proc delete*(obj: JsonNode, key: string) =
   ## Deletes ``obj[key]`` preserving the order of the other (key, value)-pairs.
@@ -1143,9 +1189,17 @@ when isMainModule:
   except:
     assert(false, "EInvalidIndex thrown for valid index")
 
+  assert(testJson{"b"}.str=="asd", "Couldn't fetch a singly nested key with {}") 
+  assert(isNil(testJson{"nonexistent"}), "Non-existent keys should return nil") 
+  assert(parsed2{"repository", "description"}.str=="IRC Library for Haskell", "Couldn't fetch via multiply nested key using {}")
+  assert(isNil(testJson{"a", "b"}), "Indexing through a list should return nil")
+  assert(isNil(testJson{"a", "b"}), "Indexing through a list should return nil")
+  assert(testJson{"a"}==parseJson"[1, 2, 3, 4]", "Didn't return a non-JObject when there was one to be found")
+  assert(isNil(parseJson("[1, 2, 3]"){"foo"}), "Indexing directly into a list should return nil")
+ 
   # Generator:
   var j = %* [{"name": "John", "age": 30}, {"name": "Susan", "age": 31}]
-  assert j == %[%{"name": %"John", "age": %30}, %{"name": %"Susan", "age": %31}]
+  assert j == %[%{"name": %"John", "age": %30}, %{"name": %"Susan", "age": %31}] 
 
   var j2 = %*
     [
@@ -1173,7 +1227,7 @@ when isMainModule:
       }
     ]
   assert j3 == %[%{"name": %"John", "age": %30}, %{"name": %"Susan", "age": %31}]
-
+  
   discard """
   while true:
     var json = stdin.readLine()
diff --git a/lib/pure/logging.nim b/lib/pure/logging.nim
index 16c36e1f0..ca674af4b 100644
--- a/lib/pure/logging.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/logging.nim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 ## This module implements a simple logger. It has been designed to be as simple
 ## as possible to avoid bloat, if this library does not fulfill your needs,
 ## write your own.
-## 
+##
 ## Format strings support the following variables which must be prefixed with
 ## the dollar operator (``$``):
 ##
@@ -21,13 +21,13 @@
 ## $time         Current time
 ## $app          ``os.getAppFilename()``
 ## ============  =======================
-## 
+##
 ##
 ## The following example demonstrates logging to three different handlers
 ## simultaneously:
 ##
 ## .. code-block:: nim
-##     
+##
 ##    var L = newConsoleLogger()
 ##    var fL = newFileLogger("test.log", fmtStr = verboseFmtStr)
 ##    var rL = newRollingFileLogger("rolling.log", fmtStr = verboseFmtStr)
@@ -64,20 +64,20 @@ const
 
 type
   Logger* = ref object of RootObj ## abstract logger; the base type of all loggers
-    levelThreshold*: Level    ## only messages of level >= levelThreshold 
+    levelThreshold*: Level    ## only messages of level >= levelThreshold
                               ## should be processed
     fmtStr: string ## = defaultFmtStr by default, see substituteLog for $date etc.
-    
+
   ConsoleLogger* = ref object of Logger ## logger that writes the messages to the
                                         ## console
-  
+
   FileLogger* = ref object of Logger ## logger that writes the messages to a file
     f: File
-  
-  RollingFileLogger* = ref object of FileLogger ## logger that writes the 
+
+  RollingFileLogger* = ref object of FileLogger ## logger that writes the
                                                 ## messages to a file and
                                                 ## performs log rotation
-    maxLines: int # maximum number of lines    
+    maxLines: int # maximum number of lines
     curLine : int
     baseName: string # initial filename
     baseMode: FileMode # initial file mode
@@ -86,22 +86,22 @@ type
 {.deprecated: [TLevel: Level, PLogger: Logger, PConsoleLogger: ConsoleLogger,
     PFileLogger: FileLogger, PRollingFileLogger: RollingFileLogger].}
 
-proc substituteLog(frmt: string): string = 
+proc substituteLog(frmt: string): string =
   ## converts $date to the current date
   ## converts $time to the current time
   ## converts $app to getAppFilename()
-  ## converts 
+  ## converts
   result = newStringOfCap(frmt.len + 20)
   var i = 0
-  while i < frmt.len: 
-    if frmt[i] != '$': 
+  while i < frmt.len:
+    if frmt[i] != '$':
       result.add(frmt[i])
       inc(i)
     else:
       inc(i)
       var v = ""
       var app = getAppFilename()
-      while frmt[i] in IdentChars: 
+      while frmt[i] in IdentChars:
         v.add(toLower(frmt[i]))
         inc(i)
       case v
@@ -114,12 +114,12 @@ proc substituteLog(frmt: string): string =
 
 method log*(logger: Logger, level: Level,
             frmt: string, args: varargs[string, `$`]) {.
-            raises: [Exception], 
+            raises: [Exception],
             tags: [TimeEffect, WriteIOEffect, ReadIOEffect].} =
   ## Override this method in custom loggers. Default implementation does
   ## nothing.
   discard
-  
+
 method log*(logger: ConsoleLogger, level: Level,
             frmt: string, args: varargs[string, `$`]) =
   ## Logs to the console using ``logger`` only.
@@ -127,14 +127,14 @@ method log*(logger: ConsoleLogger, level: Level,
     writeln(stdout, LevelNames[level], " ", substituteLog(logger.fmtStr),
             frmt % args)
 
-method log*(logger: FileLogger, level: Level, 
+method log*(logger: FileLogger, level: Level,
             frmt: string, args: varargs[string, `$`]) =
   ## Logs to a file using ``logger`` only.
   if level >= logger.levelThreshold:
     writeln(logger.f, LevelNames[level], " ",
             substituteLog(logger.fmtStr), frmt % args)
 
-proc defaultFilename*(): string = 
+proc defaultFilename*(): string =
   ## Returns the default filename for a logger.
   var (path, name, ext) = splitFile(getAppFilename())
   result = changeFileExt(path / name, "log")
@@ -145,10 +145,10 @@ proc newConsoleLogger*(levelThreshold = lvlAll, fmtStr = defaultFmtStr): Console
   result.fmtStr = fmtStr
   result.levelThreshold = levelThreshold
 
-proc newFileLogger*(filename = defaultFilename(), 
+proc newFileLogger*(filename = defaultFilename(),
                     mode: FileMode = fmAppend,
                     levelThreshold = lvlAll,
-                    fmtStr = defaultFmtStr): FileLogger = 
+                    fmtStr = defaultFmtStr): FileLogger =
   ## Creates a new file logger. This logger logs to a file.
   new(result)
   result.levelThreshold = levelThreshold
@@ -170,14 +170,14 @@ proc countFiles(filename: string): int =
     if kind == pcFile:
       let llfn = name & ext & ExtSep
       if path.extractFilename.startsWith(llfn):
-        let numS = path.extractFilename[llfn.len .. -1]
+        let numS = path.extractFilename[llfn.len .. ^1]
         try:
           let num = parseInt(numS)
           if num > result:
             result = num
         except ValueError: discard
 
-proc newRollingFileLogger*(filename = defaultFilename(), 
+proc newRollingFileLogger*(filename = defaultFilename(),
                            mode: FileMode = fmReadWrite,
                            levelThreshold = lvlAll,
                            fmtStr = defaultFmtStr,
@@ -192,9 +192,9 @@ proc newRollingFileLogger*(filename = defaultFilename(),
   result.curLine = 0
   result.baseName = filename
   result.baseMode = mode
-  
+
   result.logFiles = countFiles(filename)
-  
+
   if mode == fmAppend:
     # We need to get a line count because we will be appending to the file.
     result.curLine = countLogLines(result)
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ proc rotate(logger: RollingFileLogger) =
     moveFile(dir / (name & ext & srcSuff),
              dir / (name & ext & ExtSep & $(i+1)))
 
-method log*(logger: RollingFileLogger, level: Level, 
+method log*(logger: RollingFileLogger, level: Level,
             frmt: string, args: varargs[string, `$`]) =
   ## Logs to a file using rolling ``logger`` only.
   if level >= logger.levelThreshold:
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ method log*(logger: RollingFileLogger, level: Level,
       logger.logFiles.inc
       logger.curLine = 0
       logger.f = open(logger.baseName, logger.baseMode)
-    
+
     writeln(logger.f, LevelNames[level], " ",substituteLog(logger.fmtStr), frmt % args)
     logger.curLine.inc
 
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ var level {.threadvar.}: Level   ## global log filter
 var handlers {.threadvar.}: seq[Logger] ## handlers with their own log levels
 
 proc logLoop(level: Level, frmt: string, args: varargs[string, `$`]) =
-  for logger in items(handlers): 
+  for logger in items(handlers):
     if level >= logger.levelThreshold:
       log(logger, level, frmt, args)
 
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ template log*(level: Level, frmt: string, args: varargs[string, `$`]) =
   bind logLoop
   bind `%`
   bind logging.level
-  
+
   if level >= logging.level:
     logLoop(level, frmt, args)
 
@@ -243,19 +243,19 @@ template debug*(frmt: string, args: varargs[string, `$`]) =
   ## Logs a debug message to all registered handlers.
   log(lvlDebug, frmt, args)
 
-template info*(frmt: string, args: varargs[string, `$`]) = 
+template info*(frmt: string, args: varargs[string, `$`]) =
   ## Logs an info message to all registered handlers.
   log(lvlInfo, frmt, args)
 
-template warn*(frmt: string, args: varargs[string, `$`]) = 
+template warn*(frmt: string, args: varargs[string, `$`]) =
   ## Logs a warning message to all registered handlers.
   log(lvlWarn, frmt, args)
 
-template error*(frmt: string, args: varargs[string, `$`]) = 
+template error*(frmt: string, args: varargs[string, `$`]) =
   ## Logs an error message to all registered handlers.
   log(lvlError, frmt, args)
-  
-template fatal*(frmt: string, args: varargs[string, `$`]) =  
+
+template fatal*(frmt: string, args: varargs[string, `$`]) =
   ## Logs a fatal error message to all registered handlers.
   log(lvlFatal, frmt, args)
 
@@ -287,5 +287,5 @@ when isMainModule:
   addHandler(rL)
   for i in 0 .. 25:
     info("hello" & $i, [])
-  
+
 
diff --git a/lib/pure/math.nim b/lib/pure/math.nim
index c902af381..aa64933fb 100644
--- a/lib/pure/math.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/math.nim
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ proc randomize*(seed: int) {.benign.}
   ## Note: Does nothing for the JavaScript target,
   ## as JavaScript does not support this.
 
+{.push noSideEffect.}
 when not defined(JS):
   proc sqrt*(x: float): float {.importc: "sqrt", header: "<math.h>".}
     ## computes the square root of `x`.
@@ -273,6 +274,8 @@ else:
     var y = exp(2.0*x)
     return (y-1.0)/(y+1.0)
 
+{.pop.}
+
 proc `mod`*(x, y: float): float =
   result = if y == 0.0: x else: x - y * (x/y).floor
 
@@ -370,3 +373,7 @@ when isMainModule and not defined(JS):
   for i in 0..SIZE-1:
     assert buf[i] == random(high(int)), "non deterministic random seeding"
   echo "random values equal after reseeding"
+
+  # Check for no side effect annotation
+  proc mySqrt(num: float): float {.noSideEffect.} =
+    return sqrt(num)
diff --git a/lib/pure/osproc.nim b/lib/pure/osproc.nim
index cd3700019..dce0673ba 100644
--- a/lib/pure/osproc.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/osproc.nim
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ proc startProcess*(command: string,
   ## `env` is the environment that will be passed to the process.
   ## If ``env == nil`` the environment is inherited of
   ## the parent process. `options` are additional flags that may be passed
-  ## to `startProcess`. See the documentation of ``TProcessOption`` for the
+  ## to `startProcess`. See the documentation of ``ProcessOption`` for the
   ## meaning of these flags. You need to `close` the process when done.
   ##
   ## Note that you can't pass any `args` if you use the option
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ proc terminate*(p: Process) {.rtl, extern: "nosp$1", tags: [].}
 proc kill*(p: Process) {.rtl, extern: "nosp$1", tags: [].}
   ## Kill the process `p`. On Posix OSes the procedure sends ``SIGKILL`` to
   ## the process. On Windows ``kill()`` is simply an alias for ``terminate()``.
-  
+
 proc running*(p: Process): bool {.rtl, extern: "nosp$1", tags: [].}
   ## Returns true iff the process `p` is still running. Returns immediately.
 
@@ -666,7 +666,7 @@ elif not defined(useNimRtl):
     data.workingDir = workingDir
 
 
-    when declared(posix_spawn) and not defined(useFork) and 
+    when declared(posix_spawn) and not defined(useFork) and
         not defined(useClone) and not defined(linux):
       pid = startProcessAuxSpawn(data)
     else:
@@ -823,7 +823,7 @@ elif not defined(useNimRtl):
         discard execvp(data.sysCommand, data.sysArgs)
       else:
         when defined(uClibc):
-          # uClibc environment (OpenWrt included) doesn't have the full execvpe 
+          # uClibc environment (OpenWrt included) doesn't have the full execvpe
           discard execve(data.sysCommand, data.sysArgs, data.sysEnv)
         else:
           discard execvpe(data.sysCommand, data.sysArgs, data.sysEnv)
@@ -864,9 +864,9 @@ elif not defined(useNimRtl):
       raiseOsError(osLastError())
 
   proc kill(p: Process) =
-    if kill(p.id, SIGKILL) != 0'i32: 
+    if kill(p.id, SIGKILL) != 0'i32:
       raiseOsError(osLastError())
-    
+
   proc waitForExit(p: Process, timeout: int = -1): int =
     #if waitPid(p.id, p.exitCode, 0) == int(p.id):
     # ``waitPid`` fails if the process is not running anymore. But then
@@ -883,7 +883,7 @@ elif not defined(useNimRtl):
     var ret = waitpid(p.id, p.exitCode, WNOHANG)
     var b = ret == int(p.id)
     if b: result = -1
-    if p.exitCode == -3: result = -1
+    if not WIFEXITED(p.exitCode): result = -1
     else: result = p.exitCode.int shr 8
 
   proc createStream(stream: var Stream, handle: var FileHandle,
@@ -907,7 +907,7 @@ elif not defined(useNimRtl):
       createStream(p.errStream, p.errHandle, fmRead)
     return p.errStream
 
-  proc csystem(cmd: cstring): cint {.nodecl, importc: "system", 
+  proc csystem(cmd: cstring): cint {.nodecl, importc: "system",
                                      header: "<stdlib.h>".}
 
   proc execCmd(command: string): int =
diff --git a/lib/pure/rationals.nim b/lib/pure/rationals.nim
index 04aa8316a..3b68a2381 100644
--- a/lib/pure/rationals.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/rationals.nim
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 ## a denominator `den`, both of type int. The denominator can not be 0.
 
 import math
+import hashes
 
 type Rational*[T] = object
   ## a rational number, consisting of a numerator and denominator
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ proc `$`*[T](x: Rational[T]): string =
   ## Turn a rational number into a string.
   result = $x.num & "/" & $x.den
 
-proc toRational*[T](x: SomeInteger): Rational[T] =
+proc toRational*[T](x: T): Rational[T] =
   ## Convert some integer `x` to a rational number.
   result.num = x
   result.den = 1
@@ -188,7 +189,7 @@ proc `/=`*[T](x: var Rational[T], y: T) =
   x.den *= y
   reduce(x)
 
-proc cmp*(x, y: Rational): int =
+proc cmp*(x, y: Rational): int {.procvar.} =
   ## Compares two rationals.
   (x - y).num
 
@@ -205,6 +206,17 @@ proc abs*[T](x: Rational[T]): Rational[T] =
   result.num = abs x.num
   result.den = abs x.den
 
+proc hash*[T](x: Rational[T]): THash =
+  ## Computes hash for rational `x`
+  # reduce first so that hash(x) == hash(y) for x == y
+  var copy = x
+  reduce(copy)
+
+  var h: THash = 0
+  h = h !& hash(copy.num)
+  h = h !& hash(copy.den)
+  result = !$h
+  
 when isMainModule:
   var
     z = Rational[int](num: 0, den: 1)
@@ -242,11 +254,13 @@ when isMainModule:
   assert( not(o > o) )
   assert( cmp(o, o) == 0 )
   assert( cmp(z, z) == 0 )
+  assert( hash(o) == hash(o) )
 
   assert( a == b )
   assert( a >= b )
   assert( not(b > a) )
   assert( cmp(a, b) == 0 )
+  assert( hash(a) == hash(b) )
 
   var x = 1//3
 
@@ -270,6 +284,6 @@ when isMainModule:
   y /= 9
   assert( y == 13//27 )
 
-  assert toRational[int, int](5) == 5//1
+  assert toRational(5) == 5//1
   assert abs(toFloat(y) - 0.4814814814814815) < 1.0e-7
   assert toInt(z) == 0
diff --git a/lib/pure/rawsockets.nim b/lib/pure/rawsockets.nim
index ac348eb1b..a30c23ada 100644
--- a/lib/pure/rawsockets.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/rawsockets.nim
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ export
   SO_KEEPALIVE, SO_OOBINLINE, SO_REUSEADDR,
   MSG_PEEK
 
+when defined(macosx):
+    export SO_NOSIGPIPE
+
 type
   Port* = distinct uint16  ## port type
   
@@ -428,10 +431,6 @@ proc selectWrite*(writefds: var seq[SocketHandle],
   
   pruneSocketSet(writefds, (wr))
 
-# We ignore signal SIGPIPE on Darwin
-when defined(macosx):
-  signal(SIGPIPE, SIG_IGN)
-
 when defined(Windows):
   var wsa: WSAData
   if wsaStartup(0x0101'i16, addr wsa) != 0: raiseOSError(osLastError())
diff --git a/lib/pure/ropes.nim b/lib/pure/ropes.nim
index 4cc64a154..5c7fedfe3 100644
--- a/lib/pure/ropes.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/ropes.nim
@@ -52,9 +52,9 @@ proc len*(a: Rope): int {.rtl, extern: "nro$1".} =
   ## the rope's length
   if a == nil: result = 0
   else: result = a.length
-  
+
 proc newRope(): Rope = new(result)
-proc newRope(data: string): Rope = 
+proc newRope(data: string): Rope =
   new(result)
   result.length = len(data)
   result.data = data
@@ -65,18 +65,18 @@ var
 
 when countCacheMisses:
   var misses, hits: int
-  
-proc splay(s: string, tree: Rope, cmpres: var int): Rope = 
+
+proc splay(s: string, tree: Rope, cmpres: var int): Rope =
   var c: int
   var t = tree
   N.left = nil
   N.right = nil               # reset to nil
   var le = N
   var r = N
-  while true: 
+  while true:
     c = cmp(s, t.data)
-    if c < 0: 
-      if (t.left != nil) and (s < t.left.data): 
+    if c < 0:
+      if (t.left != nil) and (s < t.left.data):
         var y = t.left
         t.left = y.right
         y.right = t
@@ -85,8 +85,8 @@ proc splay(s: string, tree: Rope, cmpres: var int): Rope =
       r.left = t
       r = t
       t = t.left
-    elif c > 0: 
-      if (t.right != nil) and (s > t.right.data): 
+    elif c > 0:
+      if (t.right != nil) and (s > t.right.data):
         var y = t.right
         t.right = y.left
         y.left = t
@@ -95,8 +95,8 @@ proc splay(s: string, tree: Rope, cmpres: var int): Rope =
       le.right = t
       le = t
       t = t.right
-    else: 
-      break 
+    else:
+      break
   cmpres = c
   le.right = t.left
   r.left = t.right
@@ -104,50 +104,50 @@ proc splay(s: string, tree: Rope, cmpres: var int): Rope =
   t.right = N.left
   result = t
 
-proc insertInCache(s: string, tree: Rope): Rope = 
+proc insertInCache(s: string, tree: Rope): Rope =
   var t = tree
-  if t == nil: 
+  if t == nil:
     result = newRope(s)
     when countCacheMisses: inc(misses)
     return 
   var cmp: int
   t = splay(s, t, cmp)
-  if cmp == 0: 
+  if cmp == 0:
     # We get here if it's already in the Tree
     # Don't add it again
     result = t
     when countCacheMisses: inc(hits)
-  else: 
+  else:
     when countCacheMisses: inc(misses)
     result = newRope(s)
-    if cmp < 0: 
+    if cmp < 0:
       result.left = t.left
       result.right = t
       t.left = nil
-    else: 
+    else:
       # i > t.item:
       result.right = t.right
       result.left = t
       t.right = nil
 
 proc rope*(s: string): Rope {.rtl, extern: "nro$1Str".} =
-  ## Converts a string to a rope. 
-  if s.len == 0: 
+  ## Converts a string to a rope.
+  if s.len == 0:
     result = nil
-  elif cacheEnabled: 
+  elif cacheEnabled:
     result = insertInCache(s, cache)
     cache = result
-  else: 
+  else:
     result = newRope(s)
-  
-proc rope*(i: BiggestInt): Rope {.rtl, extern: "nro$1BiggestInt".} = 
-  ## Converts an int to a rope. 
+
+proc rope*(i: BiggestInt): Rope {.rtl, extern: "nro$1BiggestInt".} =
+  ## Converts an int to a rope.
   result = rope($i)
 
 proc rope*(f: BiggestFloat): Rope {.rtl, extern: "nro$1BiggestFloat".} =
-  ## Converts a float to a rope. 
+  ## Converts a float to a rope.
   result = rope($f)
-  
+
 proc enableCache*() {.rtl, extern: "nro$1".} =
   ## Enables the caching of leaves. This reduces the memory footprint at
   ## the cost of runtime efficiency.
@@ -160,9 +160,9 @@ proc disableCache*() {.rtl, extern: "nro$1".} =
 
 proc `&`*(a, b: Rope): Rope {.rtl, extern: "nroConcRopeRope".} =
   ## the concatenation operator for ropes.
-  if a == nil: 
+  if a == nil:
     result = b
-  elif b == nil: 
+  elif b == nil:
     result = a
   else:
     result = newRope()
@@ -177,16 +177,16 @@ proc `&`*(a, b: Rope): Rope {.rtl, extern: "nroConcRopeRope".} =
     else:
       result.left = a
       result.right = b
-  
-proc `&`*(a: Rope, b: string): Rope {.rtl, extern: "nroConcRopeStr".} = 
+
+proc `&`*(a: Rope, b: string): Rope {.rtl, extern: "nroConcRopeStr".} =
   ## the concatenation operator for ropes.
   result = a & rope(b)
-  
-proc `&`*(a: string, b: Rope): Rope {.rtl, extern: "nroConcStrRope".} = 
+
+proc `&`*(a: string, b: Rope): Rope {.rtl, extern: "nroConcStrRope".} =
   ## the concatenation operator for ropes.
   result = rope(a) & b
-  
-proc `&`*(a: openArray[Rope]): Rope {.rtl, extern: "nroConcOpenArray".} = 
+
+proc `&`*(a: openArray[Rope]): Rope {.rtl, extern: "nroConcOpenArray".} =
   ## the concatenation operator for an openarray of ropes.
   for i in countup(0, high(a)): result = result & a[i]
 
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ iterator leaves*(r: Rope): string =
   ## iterates over any leaf string in the rope `r`.
   if r != nil:
     var stack = @[r]
-    while stack.len > 0: 
+    while stack.len > 0:
       var it = stack.pop
       while isConc(it):
         stack.add(it.right)
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ iterator leaves*(r: Rope): string =
         assert(it != nil)
       assert(it.data != nil)
       yield it.data
-  
+
 iterator items*(r: Rope): char =
   ## iterates over any character in the rope `r`.
   for s in leaves(r):
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ proc write*(f: File, r: Rope) {.rtl, extern: "nro$1".} =
   ## writes a rope to a file.
   for s in leaves(r): write(f, s)
 
-proc `$`*(r: Rope): string  {.rtl, extern: "nroToString".}= 
+proc `$`*(r: Rope): string  {.rtl, extern: "nroToString".}=
   ## converts a rope back to a string.
   result = newString(r.len)
   setLen(result, 0)
@@ -251,25 +251,25 @@ when false:
     new(result)
     result.length = -idx
   
-  proc compileFrmt(frmt: string): Rope = 
+  proc compileFrmt(frmt: string): Rope =
     var i = 0
     var length = len(frmt)
     result = nil
     var num = 0
-    while i < length: 
-      if frmt[i] == '$': 
+    while i < length:
+      if frmt[i] == '$':
         inc(i)
         case frmt[i]
-        of '$': 
+        of '$':
           add(result, "$")
           inc(i)
-        of '#': 
+        of '#':
           inc(i)
           add(result, compiledArg(num+1))
           inc(num)
-        of '0'..'9': 
+        of '0'..'9':
           var j = 0
-          while true: 
+          while true:
             j = j * 10 + ord(frmt[i]) - ord('0')
             inc(i)
             if frmt[i] notin {'0'..'9'}: break 
@@ -285,13 +285,13 @@ when false:
           add(s, compiledArg(j))
         else: raise newException(EInvalidValue, "invalid format string")
       var start = i
-      while i < length: 
+      while i < length:
         if frmt[i] != '$': inc(i)
-        else: break 
-      if i - 1 >= start: 
+        else: break
+      if i - 1 >= start:
         add(result, substr(frmt, start, i-1))
-  
-proc `%`*(frmt: string, args: openArray[Rope]): Rope {. 
+
+proc `%`*(frmt: string, args: openArray[Rope]): Rope {.
   rtl, extern: "nroFormat".} =
   ## `%` substitution operator for ropes. Does not support the ``$identifier``
   ## nor ``${identifier}`` notations.
@@ -299,23 +299,23 @@ proc `%`*(frmt: string, args: openArray[Rope]): Rope {.
   var length = len(frmt)
   result = nil
   var num = 0
-  while i < length: 
-    if frmt[i] == '$': 
+  while i < length:
+    if frmt[i] == '$':
       inc(i)
       case frmt[i]
-      of '$': 
+      of '$':
         add(result, "$")
         inc(i)
-      of '#': 
+      of '#':
         inc(i)
         add(result, args[num])
         inc(num)
-      of '0'..'9': 
+      of '0'..'9':
         var j = 0
-        while true: 
+        while true:
           j = j * 10 + ord(frmt[i]) - ord('0')
           inc(i)
-          if frmt[i] notin {'0'..'9'}: break 
+          if frmt[i] notin {'0'..'9'}: break
         add(result, args[j-1])
       of '{':
         inc(i)
@@ -325,13 +325,14 @@ proc `%`*(frmt: string, args: openArray[Rope]): Rope {.
           inc(i)
         if frmt[i] == '}': inc(i)
         else: raise newException(ValueError, "invalid format string")
+
         add(result, args[j-1])
       else: raise newException(ValueError, "invalid format string")
     var start = i
-    while i < length: 
+    while i < length:
       if frmt[i] != '$': inc(i)
-      else: break 
-    if i - 1 >= start: 
+      else: break
+    if i - 1 >= start:
       add(result, substr(frmt, start, i - 1))
 
 proc addf*(c: var Rope, frmt: string, args: openArray[Rope]) {.
@@ -339,29 +340,46 @@ proc addf*(c: var Rope, frmt: string, args: openArray[Rope]) {.
   ## shortcut for ``add(c, frmt % args)``.
   add(c, frmt % args)
 
+const
+  bufSize = 1024              # 1 KB is reasonable
+
 proc equalsFile*(r: Rope, f: File): bool {.rtl, extern: "nro$1File".} =
   ## returns true if the contents of the file `f` equal `r`.
-  var bufSize = 1024 # reasonable start value
-  var buf = alloc(bufSize)
+  var 
+    buf: array[bufSize, char]
+    bpos = buf.len
+    blen = buf.len
+
   for s in leaves(r):
-    if s.len > bufSize:
-      bufSize = max(bufSize * 2, s.len)
-      buf = realloc(buf, bufSize)
-    var readBytes = readBuffer(f, buf, s.len)
-    result = readBytes == s.len and equalMem(buf, cstring(s), s.len)
-    if not result: break
-  if result:
-    result = readBuffer(f, buf, 1) == 0 # really at the end of file?
-  dealloc(buf)
+    var spos = 0
+    let slen = s.len
+    while spos < slen:
+      if bpos == blen:
+        # Read more data
+        bpos = 0
+        blen = readBuffer(f, addr(buf[0]), buf.len)
+        if blen == 0:  # no more data in file
+          result = false
+          return
+      let n = min(blen - bpos, slen - spos)
+      # TODO There's gotta be a better way of comparing here...
+      if not equalMem(addr(buf[bpos]), 
+                      cast[pointer](cast[int](cstring(s))+spos), n):
+        result = false
+        return
+      spos += n
+      bpos += n
+
+  result = readBuffer(f, addr(buf[0]), 1) == 0  # check that we've read all
 
-proc equalsFile*(r: Rope, f: string): bool {.rtl, extern: "nro$1Str".} =
+proc equalsFile*(r: Rope, filename: string): bool {.rtl, extern: "nro$1Str".} =
   ## returns true if the contents of the file `f` equal `r`. If `f` does not
   ## exist, false is returned.
-  var bin: File
-  result = open(bin, f)
+  var f: File
+  result = open(f, filename)
   if result:
-    result = equalsFile(r, bin)
-    close(bin)
+    result = equalsFile(r, f)
+    close(f)
 
 new(N) # init dummy node for splay algorithm
 
diff --git a/lib/pure/strutils.nim b/lib/pure/strutils.nim
index 655203cda..2678f4fc8 100644
--- a/lib/pure/strutils.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/strutils.nim
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ proc split*(s: string, sep: string): seq[string] {.noSideEffect,
   ## `split iterator <#split.i,string,string>`_.
   accumulateResult(split(s, sep))
 
-proc toHex*(x: BiggestInt, len: int): string {.noSideEffect,
+proc toHex*(x: BiggestInt, len: Positive): string {.noSideEffect,
   rtl, extern: "nsuToHex".} =
   ## Converts `x` to its hexadecimal representation.
   ##
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ proc toHex*(x: BiggestInt, len: int): string {.noSideEffect,
     # handle negative overflow
     if n == 0 and x < 0: n = -1
 
-proc intToStr*(x: int, minchars: int = 1): string {.noSideEffect,
+proc intToStr*(x: int, minchars: Positive = 1): string {.noSideEffect,
   rtl, extern: "nsuIntToStr".} =
   ## Converts `x` to its decimal representation.
   ##
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ proc parseEnum*[T: enum](s: string, default: T): T =
       return e
   result = default
 
-proc repeat*(c: char, count: int): string {.noSideEffect,
+proc repeat*(c: char, count: Natural): string {.noSideEffect,
   rtl, extern: "nsuRepeatChar".} =
   ## Returns a string of length `count` consisting only of
   ## the character `c`. You can use this proc to left align strings. Example:
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ proc repeat*(c: char, count: int): string {.noSideEffect,
   result = newString(count)
   for i in 0..count-1: result[i] = c
 
-proc repeat*(s: string, n: int): string {.noSideEffect,
+proc repeat*(s: string, n: Natural): string {.noSideEffect,
   rtl, extern: "nsuRepeatStr".} =
   ## Returns String `s` concatenated `n` times.  Example:
   ##
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ proc repeat*(s: string, n: int): string {.noSideEffect,
   result = newStringOfCap(n * s.len)
   for i in 1..n: result.add(s)
 
-template spaces*(n: int): string =  repeat(' ',n)
+template spaces*(n: Natural): string =  repeat(' ',n)
   ## Returns a String with `n` space characters. You can use this proc
   ## to left align strings. Example:
   ##
@@ -535,15 +535,15 @@ template spaces*(n: int): string =  repeat(' ',n)
   ##   echo text1 & spaces(max(0, width - text1.len)) & "|"
   ##   echo text2 & spaces(max(0, width - text2.len)) & "|"
 
-proc repeatChar*(count: int, c: char = ' '): string {.deprecated.} = repeat(c, count)
+proc repeatChar*(count: Natural, c: char = ' '): string {.deprecated.} = repeat(c, count)
   ## deprecated: use repeat() or spaces()
 
-proc repeatStr*(count: int, s: string): string {.deprecated.} = repeat(s, count)
+proc repeatStr*(count: Natural, s: string): string {.deprecated.} = repeat(s, count)
   ## deprecated: use repeat(string, count) or string.repeat(count)
 
-proc align*(s: string, count: int, padding = ' '): string {.
+proc align*(s: string, count: Natural, padding = ' '): string {.
   noSideEffect, rtl, extern: "nsuAlignString".} =
-  ## Aligns a string `s` with `padding`, so that is of length `count`.
+  ## Aligns a string `s` with `padding`, so that it is of length `count`.
   ##
   ## `padding` characters (by default spaces) are added before `s` resulting in
   ## right alignment. If ``s.len >= count``, no spaces are added and `s` is
@@ -682,7 +682,7 @@ proc endsWith*(s, suffix: string): bool {.noSideEffect,
     inc(i)
   if suffix[i] == '\0': return true
 
-proc continuesWith*(s, substr: string, start: int): bool {.noSideEffect,
+proc continuesWith*(s, substr: string, start: Natural): bool {.noSideEffect,
   rtl, extern: "nsuContinuesWith".} =
   ## Returns true iff ``s`` continues with ``substr`` at position ``start``.
   ##
@@ -693,8 +693,8 @@ proc continuesWith*(s, substr: string, start: int): bool {.noSideEffect,
     if s[i+start] != substr[i]: return false
     inc(i)
 
-proc addSep*(dest: var string, sep = ", ", startLen = 0) {.noSideEffect,
-                                                           inline.} =
+proc addSep*(dest: var string, sep = ", ", startLen: Natural = 0)
+  {.noSideEffect, inline.} =
   ## Adds a separator to `dest` only if its length is bigger than `startLen`.
   ##
   ## A shorthand for:
@@ -784,7 +784,7 @@ proc findAux(s, sub: string, start: int, a: SkipTable): int =
     inc(j, a[s[j+m]])
   return -1
 
-proc find*(s, sub: string, start: int = 0): int {.noSideEffect,
+proc find*(s, sub: string, start: Natural = 0): int {.noSideEffect,
   rtl, extern: "nsuFindStr".} =
   ## Searches for `sub` in `s` starting at position `start`.
   ##
@@ -793,7 +793,7 @@ proc find*(s, sub: string, start: int = 0): int {.noSideEffect,
   preprocessSub(sub, a)
   result = findAux(s, sub, start, a)
 
-proc find*(s: string, sub: char, start: int = 0): int {.noSideEffect,
+proc find*(s: string, sub: char, start: Natural = 0): int {.noSideEffect,
   rtl, extern: "nsuFindChar".} =
   ## Searches for `sub` in `s` starting at position `start`.
   ##
@@ -802,7 +802,7 @@ proc find*(s: string, sub: char, start: int = 0): int {.noSideEffect,
     if sub == s[i]: return i
   return -1
 
-proc find*(s: string, chars: set[char], start: int = 0): int {.noSideEffect,
+proc find*(s: string, chars: set[char], start: Natural = 0): int {.noSideEffect,
   rtl, extern: "nsuFindCharSet".} =
   ## Searches for `chars` in `s` starting at position `start`.
   ##
@@ -933,7 +933,7 @@ proc replaceWord*(s, sub: string, by = ""): string {.noSideEffect,
     var j = findAux(s, sub, i, a)
     if j < 0: break
     # word boundary?
-    if (j == 0 or s[j-1] notin wordChars) and 
+    if (j == 0 or s[j-1] notin wordChars) and
         (j+sub.len >= s.len or s[j+sub.len] notin wordChars):
       add result, substr(s, i, j - 1)
       add result, by
@@ -976,7 +976,7 @@ proc parseOctInt*(s: string): int {.noSideEffect,
     of '\0': break
     else: raise newException(ValueError, "invalid integer: " & s)
 
-proc toOct*(x: BiggestInt, len: int): string {.noSideEffect,
+proc toOct*(x: BiggestInt, len: Positive): string {.noSideEffect,
   rtl, extern: "nsuToOct".} =
   ## Converts `x` into its octal representation.
   ##
@@ -992,7 +992,7 @@ proc toOct*(x: BiggestInt, len: int): string {.noSideEffect,
     shift = shift + 3
     mask = mask shl 3
 
-proc toBin*(x: BiggestInt, len: int): string {.noSideEffect,
+proc toBin*(x: BiggestInt, len: Positive): string {.noSideEffect,
   rtl, extern: "nsuToBin".} =
   ## Converts `x` into its binary representation.
   ##
@@ -1221,7 +1221,7 @@ proc formatBiggestFloat*(f: BiggestFloat, format: FloatFormatMode = ffDefault,
   ## of significant digits to be printed.
   ## `precision`'s default value is the maximum number of meaningful digits
   ## after the decimal point for Nim's ``biggestFloat`` type.
-  ## 
+  ##
   ## If ``precision == 0``, it tries to format it nicely.
   const floatFormatToChar: array[FloatFormatMode, char] = ['g', 'f', 'e']
   var
@@ -1286,7 +1286,7 @@ proc findNormalized(x: string, inArray: openArray[string]): int =
   return -1
 
 proc invalidFormatString() {.noinline.} =
-  raise newException(ValueError, "invalid format string")  
+  raise newException(ValueError, "invalid format string")
 
 proc addf*(s: var string, formatstr: string, a: varargs[string, `$`]) {.
   noSideEffect, rtl, extern: "nsuAddf".} =
@@ -1416,7 +1416,7 @@ when isMainModule:
 
   doAssert "-ld a-ldz -ld".replaceWord("-ld") == " a-ldz "
   doAssert "-lda-ldz -ld abc".replaceWord("-ld") == "-lda-ldz  abc"
-  
+
   type MyEnum = enum enA, enB, enC, enuD, enE
   doAssert parseEnum[MyEnum]("enu_D") == enuD
 
diff --git a/lib/pure/times.nim b/lib/pure/times.nim
index c16cae04b..5cc9b4993 100644
--- a/lib/pure/times.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/times.nim
@@ -541,6 +541,8 @@ elif defined(JS):
 
   proc getTimezone(): int = result = newDate().getTimezoneOffset()
 
+  proc epochTime*(): float {.tags: [TimeEffect].} = newDate().toSeconds()
+
 proc getDateStr*(): string {.rtl, extern: "nt$1", tags: [TimeEffect].} =
   ## gets the current date as a string of the format ``YYYY-MM-DD``.
   var ti = getLocalTime(getTime())
diff --git a/lib/pure/unicode.nim b/lib/pure/unicode.nim
index a6f8f916b..4a9f4631d 100644
--- a/lib/pure/unicode.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/unicode.nim
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ type
   Rune16* = distinct int16 ## 16 bit Unicode character
 
 {.deprecated: [TRune: Rune, TRune16: Rune16].}
-  
+
 proc `<=%`*(a, b: Rune): bool = return int(a) <=% int(b)
 proc `<%`*(a, b: Rune): bool = return int(a) <% int(b)
 proc `==`*(a, b: Rune): bool = return int(a) == int(b)
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ proc runeLen*(s: string): int {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1".} =
     else: inc i
     inc(result)
 
-proc runeLenAt*(s: string, i: int): int =
+proc runeLenAt*(s: string, i: Natural): int =
   ## returns the number of bytes the rune starting at ``s[i]`` takes.
   if ord(s[i]) <=% 127: result = 1
   elif ord(s[i]) shr 5 == 0b110: result = 2
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ template fastRuneAt*(s: string, i: int, result: expr, doInc = true) =
     when doInc: inc(i)
   elif ord(s[i]) shr 5 == 0b110:
     # assert(ord(s[i+1]) shr 6 == 0b10)
-    result = Rune((ord(s[i]) and (ones(5))) shl 6 or 
+    result = Rune((ord(s[i]) and (ones(5))) shl 6 or
                   (ord(s[i+1]) and ones(6)))
     when doInc: inc(i, 2)
   elif ord(s[i]) shr 4 == 0b1110:
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ template fastRuneAt*(s: string, i: int, result: expr, doInc = true) =
              (ord(s[i+2]) and ones(6)) shl 6 or
              (ord(s[i+3]) and ones(6)))
     when doInc: inc(i, 4)
-  elif ord(s[i]) shr 2 == 0b111110: 
+  elif ord(s[i]) shr 2 == 0b111110:
     # assert(ord(s[i+1]) shr 6 == 0b10)
     # assert(ord(s[i+2]) shr 6 == 0b10)
     # assert(ord(s[i+3]) shr 6 == 0b10)
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ template fastRuneAt*(s: string, i: int, result: expr, doInc = true) =
              (ord(s[i+3]) and ones(6)) shl 6 or
              (ord(s[i+4]) and ones(6)))
     when doInc: inc(i, 5)
-  elif ord(s[i]) shr 1 == 0b1111110: 
+  elif ord(s[i]) shr 1 == 0b1111110:
     # assert(ord(s[i+1]) shr 6 == 0b10)
     # assert(ord(s[i+2]) shr 6 == 0b10)
     # assert(ord(s[i+3]) shr 6 == 0b10)
@@ -105,11 +105,11 @@ template fastRuneAt*(s: string, i: int, result: expr, doInc = true) =
     result = Rune(ord(s[i]))
     when doInc: inc(i)
 
-proc runeAt*(s: string, i: int): Rune =
+proc runeAt*(s: string, i: Natural): Rune =
   ## returns the unicode character in `s` at byte index `i`
   fastRuneAt(s, i, result, false)
 
-proc toUTF8*(c: Rune): string {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1".} = 
+proc toUTF8*(c: Rune): string {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1".} =
   ## converts a rune into its UTF8 representation
   var i = RuneImpl(c)
   if i <=% 127:
@@ -159,967 +159,967 @@ proc `$`*(runes: seq[Rune]): string =
 
 const
   alphaRanges = [
-    0x00d8,  0x00f6,  #  - 
-    0x00f8,  0x01f5,  #  -    
-    0x0250,  0x02a8,  #  -    
-    0x038e,  0x03a1,  #  -    
-    0x03a3,  0x03ce,  #  -    
-    0x03d0,  0x03d6,  #  -    
-    0x03e2,  0x03f3,  #  -    
-    0x0490,  0x04c4,  #  -    
-    0x0561,  0x0587,  #  -    
-    0x05d0,  0x05ea,  #  -    
-    0x05f0,  0x05f2,  #  -    
-    0x0621,  0x063a,  #  -    
-    0x0640,  0x064a,  #  -    
-    0x0671,  0x06b7,  #  -    
-    0x06ba,  0x06be,  #  -    
-    0x06c0,  0x06ce,  #  -    
-    0x06d0,  0x06d3,  #  -    
-    0x0905,  0x0939,  #  -    
-    0x0958,  0x0961,  #  -    
-    0x0985,  0x098c,  #  -    
-    0x098f,  0x0990,  #  -    
-    0x0993,  0x09a8,  #  -    
-    0x09aa,  0x09b0,  #  -    
-    0x09b6,  0x09b9,  #  -    
-    0x09dc,  0x09dd,  #  -    
-    0x09df,  0x09e1,  #  -    
-    0x09f0,  0x09f1,  #  -    
-    0x0a05,  0x0a0a,  #  -    
-    0x0a0f,  0x0a10,  #  -    
-    0x0a13,  0x0a28,  #  -    
-    0x0a2a,  0x0a30,  #  -    
-    0x0a32,  0x0a33,  #  -    
-    0x0a35,  0x0a36,  #  -    
-    0x0a38,  0x0a39,  #  -    
-    0x0a59,  0x0a5c,  #  -    
-    0x0a85,  0x0a8b,  #  -    
-    0x0a8f,  0x0a91,  #  -    
-    0x0a93,  0x0aa8,  #  -    
-    0x0aaa,  0x0ab0,  #  -    
-    0x0ab2,  0x0ab3,  #  -    
-    0x0ab5,  0x0ab9,  #  -    
-    0x0b05,  0x0b0c,  #  -    
-    0x0b0f,  0x0b10,  #  -    
-    0x0b13,  0x0b28,  #  -    
-    0x0b2a,  0x0b30,  #  -    
-    0x0b32,  0x0b33,  #  -    
-    0x0b36,  0x0b39,  #  -    
-    0x0b5c,  0x0b5d,  #  -    
-    0x0b5f,  0x0b61,  #  -    
-    0x0b85,  0x0b8a,  #  -    
-    0x0b8e,  0x0b90,  #  -    
-    0x0b92,  0x0b95,  #  -    
-    0x0b99,  0x0b9a,  #  -    
-    0x0b9e,  0x0b9f,  #  -    
-    0x0ba3,  0x0ba4,  #  -    
-    0x0ba8,  0x0baa,  #  -    
-    0x0bae,  0x0bb5,  #  -    
-    0x0bb7,  0x0bb9,  #  -    
-    0x0c05,  0x0c0c,  #  -    
-    0x0c0e,  0x0c10,  #  -    
-    0x0c12,  0x0c28,  #  -    
-    0x0c2a,  0x0c33,  #  -    
-    0x0c35,  0x0c39,  #  -    
-    0x0c60,  0x0c61,  #  -    
-    0x0c85,  0x0c8c,  #  -    
-    0x0c8e,  0x0c90,  #  -    
-    0x0c92,  0x0ca8,  #  -    
-    0x0caa,  0x0cb3,  #  -    
-    0x0cb5,  0x0cb9,  #  -    
-    0x0ce0,  0x0ce1,  #  -    
-    0x0d05,  0x0d0c,  #  -    
-    0x0d0e,  0x0d10,  #  -    
-    0x0d12,  0x0d28,  #  -    
-    0x0d2a,  0x0d39,  #  -    
-    0x0d60,  0x0d61,  #  -    
-    0x0e01,  0x0e30,  #  -    
-    0x0e32,  0x0e33,  #  -    
-    0x0e40,  0x0e46,  #  -    
-    0x0e5a,  0x0e5b,  #  -    
-    0x0e81,  0x0e82,  #  -    
-    0x0e87,  0x0e88,  #  -    
-    0x0e94,  0x0e97,  #  -    
-    0x0e99,  0x0e9f,  #  -    
-    0x0ea1,  0x0ea3,  #  -    
-    0x0eaa,  0x0eab,  #  -    
-    0x0ead,  0x0eae,  #  -    
-    0x0eb2,  0x0eb3,  #  -    
-    0x0ec0,  0x0ec4,  #  -    
-    0x0edc,  0x0edd,  #  -    
-    0x0f18,  0x0f19,  #  -    
-    0x0f40,  0x0f47,  #  -    
-    0x0f49,  0x0f69,  #  -    
-    0x10d0,  0x10f6,  #  -    
-    0x1100,  0x1159,  #  -    
-    0x115f,  0x11a2,  #  -    
-    0x11a8,  0x11f9,  #  -    
-    0x1e00,  0x1e9b,  #  -    
-    0x1f50,  0x1f57,  #  -    
-    0x1f80,  0x1fb4,  #  -    
-    0x1fb6,  0x1fbc,  #  -    
-    0x1fc2,  0x1fc4,  #  -    
-    0x1fc6,  0x1fcc,  #  -    
-    0x1fd0,  0x1fd3,  #  -    
-    0x1fd6,  0x1fdb,  #  -    
-    0x1fe0,  0x1fec,  #  -    
-    0x1ff2,  0x1ff4,  #  -    
-    0x1ff6,  0x1ffc,  #  -    
-    0x210a,  0x2113,  #  -    
-    0x2115,  0x211d,  #  -    
-    0x2120,  0x2122,  #  -    
-    0x212a,  0x2131,  #  -    
-    0x2133,  0x2138,  #  -    
-    0x3041,  0x3094,  #  -    
-    0x30a1,  0x30fa,  #  -    
-    0x3105,  0x312c,  #  -    
-    0x3131,  0x318e,  #  -    
-    0x3192,  0x319f,  #  -    
-    0x3260,  0x327b,  #  -    
-    0x328a,  0x32b0,  #  -    
-    0x32d0,  0x32fe,  #  -    
-    0x3300,  0x3357,  #  -    
-    0x3371,  0x3376,  #  -    
-    0x337b,  0x3394,  #  -    
-    0x3399,  0x339e,  #  -    
-    0x33a9,  0x33ad,  #  -    
-    0x33b0,  0x33c1,  #  -    
-    0x33c3,  0x33c5,  #  -    
-    0x33c7,  0x33d7,  #  -    
-    0x33d9,  0x33dd,  #  -    
-    0x4e00,  0x9fff,  #  -    
-    0xac00,  0xd7a3,  #  -    
-    0xf900,  0xfb06,  #  -    
-    0xfb13,  0xfb17,  #  -    
-    0xfb1f,  0xfb28,  #  -    
-    0xfb2a,  0xfb36,  #  -    
-    0xfb38,  0xfb3c,  #  -    
-    0xfb40,  0xfb41,  #  -    
-    0xfb43,  0xfb44,  #  -    
-    0xfb46,  0xfbb1,  #  -    
-    0xfbd3,  0xfd3d,  #  -    
-    0xfd50,  0xfd8f,  #  -    
-    0xfd92,  0xfdc7,  #  -    
-    0xfdf0,  0xfdf9,  #  -    
-    0xfe70,  0xfe72,  #  -    
-    0xfe76,  0xfefc,  #  -    
-    0xff66,  0xff6f,  #  -    
-    0xff71,  0xff9d,  #  -    
-    0xffa0,  0xffbe,  #  -    
-    0xffc2,  0xffc7,  #  -    
-    0xffca,  0xffcf,  #  -    
-    0xffd2,  0xffd7,  #  -    
-    0xffda,  0xffdc]  #  -    
+    0x00d8,  0x00f6,  #  -
+    0x00f8,  0x01f5,  #  -
+    0x0250,  0x02a8,  #  -
+    0x038e,  0x03a1,  #  -
+    0x03a3,  0x03ce,  #  -
+    0x03d0,  0x03d6,  #  -
+    0x03e2,  0x03f3,  #  -
+    0x0490,  0x04c4,  #  -
+    0x0561,  0x0587,  #  -
+    0x05d0,  0x05ea,  #  -
+    0x05f0,  0x05f2,  #  -
+    0x0621,  0x063a,  #  -
+    0x0640,  0x064a,  #  -
+    0x0671,  0x06b7,  #  -
+    0x06ba,  0x06be,  #  -
+    0x06c0,  0x06ce,  #  -
+    0x06d0,  0x06d3,  #  -
+    0x0905,  0x0939,  #  -
+    0x0958,  0x0961,  #  -
+    0x0985,  0x098c,  #  -
+    0x098f,  0x0990,  #  -
+    0x0993,  0x09a8,  #  -
+    0x09aa,  0x09b0,  #  -
+    0x09b6,  0x09b9,  #  -
+    0x09dc,  0x09dd,  #  -
+    0x09df,  0x09e1,  #  -
+    0x09f0,  0x09f1,  #  -
+    0x0a05,  0x0a0a,  #  -
+    0x0a0f,  0x0a10,  #  -
+    0x0a13,  0x0a28,  #  -
+    0x0a2a,  0x0a30,  #  -
+    0x0a32,  0x0a33,  #  -
+    0x0a35,  0x0a36,  #  -
+    0x0a38,  0x0a39,  #  -
+    0x0a59,  0x0a5c,  #  -
+    0x0a85,  0x0a8b,  #  -
+    0x0a8f,  0x0a91,  #  -
+    0x0a93,  0x0aa8,  #  -
+    0x0aaa,  0x0ab0,  #  -
+    0x0ab2,  0x0ab3,  #  -
+    0x0ab5,  0x0ab9,  #  -
+    0x0b05,  0x0b0c,  #  -
+    0x0b0f,  0x0b10,  #  -
+    0x0b13,  0x0b28,  #  -
+    0x0b2a,  0x0b30,  #  -
+    0x0b32,  0x0b33,  #  -
+    0x0b36,  0x0b39,  #  -
+    0x0b5c,  0x0b5d,  #  -
+    0x0b5f,  0x0b61,  #  -
+    0x0b85,  0x0b8a,  #  -
+    0x0b8e,  0x0b90,  #  -
+    0x0b92,  0x0b95,  #  -
+    0x0b99,  0x0b9a,  #  -
+    0x0b9e,  0x0b9f,  #  -
+    0x0ba3,  0x0ba4,  #  -
+    0x0ba8,  0x0baa,  #  -
+    0x0bae,  0x0bb5,  #  -
+    0x0bb7,  0x0bb9,  #  -
+    0x0c05,  0x0c0c,  #  -
+    0x0c0e,  0x0c10,  #  -
+    0x0c12,  0x0c28,  #  -
+    0x0c2a,  0x0c33,  #  -
+    0x0c35,  0x0c39,  #  -
+    0x0c60,  0x0c61,  #  -
+    0x0c85,  0x0c8c,  #  -
+    0x0c8e,  0x0c90,  #  -
+    0x0c92,  0x0ca8,  #  -
+    0x0caa,  0x0cb3,  #  -
+    0x0cb5,  0x0cb9,  #  -
+    0x0ce0,  0x0ce1,  #  -
+    0x0d05,  0x0d0c,  #  -
+    0x0d0e,  0x0d10,  #  -
+    0x0d12,  0x0d28,  #  -
+    0x0d2a,  0x0d39,  #  -
+    0x0d60,  0x0d61,  #  -
+    0x0e01,  0x0e30,  #  -
+    0x0e32,  0x0e33,  #  -
+    0x0e40,  0x0e46,  #  -
+    0x0e5a,  0x0e5b,  #  -
+    0x0e81,  0x0e82,  #  -
+    0x0e87,  0x0e88,  #  -
+    0x0e94,  0x0e97,  #  -
+    0x0e99,  0x0e9f,  #  -
+    0x0ea1,  0x0ea3,  #  -
+    0x0eaa,  0x0eab,  #  -
+    0x0ead,  0x0eae,  #  -
+    0x0eb2,  0x0eb3,  #  -
+    0x0ec0,  0x0ec4,  #  -
+    0x0edc,  0x0edd,  #  -
+    0x0f18,  0x0f19,  #  -
+    0x0f40,  0x0f47,  #  -
+    0x0f49,  0x0f69,  #  -
+    0x10d0,  0x10f6,  #  -
+    0x1100,  0x1159,  #  -
+    0x115f,  0x11a2,  #  -
+    0x11a8,  0x11f9,  #  -
+    0x1e00,  0x1e9b,  #  -
+    0x1f50,  0x1f57,  #  -
+    0x1f80,  0x1fb4,  #  -
+    0x1fb6,  0x1fbc,  #  -
+    0x1fc2,  0x1fc4,  #  -
+    0x1fc6,  0x1fcc,  #  -
+    0x1fd0,  0x1fd3,  #  -
+    0x1fd6,  0x1fdb,  #  -
+    0x1fe0,  0x1fec,  #  -
+    0x1ff2,  0x1ff4,  #  -
+    0x1ff6,  0x1ffc,  #  -
+    0x210a,  0x2113,  #  -
+    0x2115,  0x211d,  #  -
+    0x2120,  0x2122,  #  -
+    0x212a,  0x2131,  #  -
+    0x2133,  0x2138,  #  -
+    0x3041,  0x3094,  #  -
+    0x30a1,  0x30fa,  #  -
+    0x3105,  0x312c,  #  -
+    0x3131,  0x318e,  #  -
+    0x3192,  0x319f,  #  -
+    0x3260,  0x327b,  #  -
+    0x328a,  0x32b0,  #  -
+    0x32d0,  0x32fe,  #  -
+    0x3300,  0x3357,  #  -
+    0x3371,  0x3376,  #  -
+    0x337b,  0x3394,  #  -
+    0x3399,  0x339e,  #  -
+    0x33a9,  0x33ad,  #  -
+    0x33b0,  0x33c1,  #  -
+    0x33c3,  0x33c5,  #  -
+    0x33c7,  0x33d7,  #  -
+    0x33d9,  0x33dd,  #  -
+    0x4e00,  0x9fff,  #  -
+    0xac00,  0xd7a3,  #  -
+    0xf900,  0xfb06,  #  -
+    0xfb13,  0xfb17,  #  -
+    0xfb1f,  0xfb28,  #  -
+    0xfb2a,  0xfb36,  #  -
+    0xfb38,  0xfb3c,  #  -
+    0xfb40,  0xfb41,  #  -
+    0xfb43,  0xfb44,  #  -
+    0xfb46,  0xfbb1,  #  -
+    0xfbd3,  0xfd3d,  #  -
+    0xfd50,  0xfd8f,  #  -
+    0xfd92,  0xfdc7,  #  -
+    0xfdf0,  0xfdf9,  #  -
+    0xfe70,  0xfe72,  #  -
+    0xfe76,  0xfefc,  #  -
+    0xff66,  0xff6f,  #  -
+    0xff71,  0xff9d,  #  -
+    0xffa0,  0xffbe,  #  -
+    0xffc2,  0xffc7,  #  -
+    0xffca,  0xffcf,  #  -
+    0xffd2,  0xffd7,  #  -
+    0xffda,  0xffdc]  #  -
 
   alphaSinglets = [
-    0x00aa,  #    
-    0x00b5,  #    
-    0x00ba,  #    
-    0x03da,  #    
-    0x03dc,  #    
-    0x03de,  #    
-    0x03e0,  #    
-    0x06d5,  #    
-    0x09b2,  #    
-    0x0a5e,  #    
-    0x0a8d,  #    
-    0x0ae0,  #    
-    0x0b9c,  #    
-    0x0cde,  #    
-    0x0e4f,  #    
-    0x0e84,  #    
-    0x0e8a,  #    
-    0x0e8d,  #    
-    0x0ea5,  #    
-    0x0ea7,  #    
-    0x0eb0,  #    
-    0x0ebd,  #    
-    0x1fbe,  #    
-    0x207f,  #    
-    0x20a8,  #    
-    0x2102,  #    
-    0x2107,  #    
-    0x2124,  #    
-    0x2126,  #    
-    0x2128,  #    
-    0xfb3e,  #    
-    0xfe74]  #    
+    0x00aa,  #
+    0x00b5,  #
+    0x00ba,  #
+    0x03da,  #
+    0x03dc,  #
+    0x03de,  #
+    0x03e0,  #
+    0x06d5,  #
+    0x09b2,  #
+    0x0a5e,  #
+    0x0a8d,  #
+    0x0ae0,  #
+    0x0b9c,  #
+    0x0cde,  #
+    0x0e4f,  #
+    0x0e84,  #
+    0x0e8a,  #
+    0x0e8d,  #
+    0x0ea5,  #
+    0x0ea7,  #
+    0x0eb0,  #
+    0x0ebd,  #
+    0x1fbe,  #
+    0x207f,  #
+    0x20a8,  #
+    0x2102,  #
+    0x2107,  #
+    0x2124,  #
+    0x2126,  #
+    0x2128,  #
+    0xfb3e,  #
+    0xfe74]  #
 
   spaceRanges = [
-    0x0009,  0x000a,  # tab and newline   
-    0x0020,  0x0020,  # space   
-    0x00a0,  0x00a0,  #    
-    0x2000,  0x200b,  #  -    
-    0x2028,  0x2029,  #  -     0x3000,  0x3000,  #    
-    0xfeff,  0xfeff]  #    
+    0x0009,  0x000a,  # tab and newline
+    0x0020,  0x0020,  # space
+    0x00a0,  0x00a0,  #
+    0x2000,  0x200b,  #  -
+    0x2028,  0x2029,  #  -     0x3000,  0x3000,  #
+    0xfeff,  0xfeff]  #
 
   toupperRanges = [
-    0x0061,  0x007a, 468,  # a-z A-Z   
-    0x00e0,  0x00f6, 468,  # - -   
-    0x00f8,  0x00fe, 468,  # - -   
-    0x0256,  0x0257, 295,  # - -   
-    0x0258,  0x0259, 298,  # - -   
-    0x028a,  0x028b, 283,  # - -   
-    0x03ad,  0x03af, 463,  # - -   
-    0x03b1,  0x03c1, 468,  # - -   
-    0x03c3,  0x03cb, 468,  # - -   
-    0x03cd,  0x03ce, 437,  # - -   
-    0x0430,  0x044f, 468,  # - -   
-    0x0451,  0x045c, 420,  # - -   
-    0x045e,  0x045f, 420,  # - -   
-    0x0561,  0x0586, 452,  # - -   
-    0x1f00,  0x1f07, 508,  # - -   
-    0x1f10,  0x1f15, 508,  # - -   
-    0x1f20,  0x1f27, 508,  # - -   
-    0x1f30,  0x1f37, 508,  # - -   
-    0x1f40,  0x1f45, 508,  # - -   
-    0x1f60,  0x1f67, 508,  # - -   
-    0x1f70,  0x1f71, 574,  # - -   
-    0x1f72,  0x1f75, 586,  # - -   
-    0x1f76,  0x1f77, 600,  # - -   
-    0x1f78,  0x1f79, 628,  # - -   
-    0x1f7a,  0x1f7b, 612,  # - -   
-    0x1f7c,  0x1f7d, 626,  # - -   
-    0x1f80,  0x1f87, 508,  # - -   
-    0x1f90,  0x1f97, 508,  # - -   
-    0x1fa0,  0x1fa7, 508,  # - -   
-    0x1fb0,  0x1fb1, 508,  # - -   
-    0x1fd0,  0x1fd1, 508,  # - -   
-    0x1fe0,  0x1fe1, 508,  # - -   
-    0x2170,  0x217f, 484,  # - -   
-    0x24d0,  0x24e9, 474,  # - -   
-    0xff41,  0xff5a, 468]  # - -   
+    0x0061,  0x007a, 468,  # a-z A-Z
+    0x00e0,  0x00f6, 468,  # - -
+    0x00f8,  0x00fe, 468,  # - -
+    0x0256,  0x0257, 295,  # - -
+    0x0258,  0x0259, 298,  # - -
+    0x028a,  0x028b, 283,  # - -
+    0x03ad,  0x03af, 463,  # - -
+    0x03b1,  0x03c1, 468,  # - -
+    0x03c3,  0x03cb, 468,  # - -
+    0x03cd,  0x03ce, 437,  # - -
+    0x0430,  0x044f, 468,  # - -
+    0x0451,  0x045c, 420,  # - -
+    0x045e,  0x045f, 420,  # - -
+    0x0561,  0x0586, 452,  # - -
+    0x1f00,  0x1f07, 508,  # - -
+    0x1f10,  0x1f15, 508,  # - -
+    0x1f20,  0x1f27, 508,  # - -
+    0x1f30,  0x1f37, 508,  # - -
+    0x1f40,  0x1f45, 508,  # - -
+    0x1f60,  0x1f67, 508,  # - -
+    0x1f70,  0x1f71, 574,  # - -
+    0x1f72,  0x1f75, 586,  # - -
+    0x1f76,  0x1f77, 600,  # - -
+    0x1f78,  0x1f79, 628,  # - -
+    0x1f7a,  0x1f7b, 612,  # - -
+    0x1f7c,  0x1f7d, 626,  # - -
+    0x1f80,  0x1f87, 508,  # - -
+    0x1f90,  0x1f97, 508,  # - -
+    0x1fa0,  0x1fa7, 508,  # - -
+    0x1fb0,  0x1fb1, 508,  # - -
+    0x1fd0,  0x1fd1, 508,  # - -
+    0x1fe0,  0x1fe1, 508,  # - -
+    0x2170,  0x217f, 484,  # - -
+    0x24d0,  0x24e9, 474,  # - -
+    0xff41,  0xff5a, 468]  # - -
 
   toupperSinglets = [
-    0x00ff, 621,  #     
-    0x0101, 499,  #     
-    0x0103, 499,  #     
-    0x0105, 499,  #     
-    0x0107, 499,  #     
-    0x0109, 499,  #     
-    0x010b, 499,  #     
-    0x010d, 499,  #     
-    0x010f, 499,  #     
-    0x0111, 499,  #     
-    0x0113, 499,  #     
-    0x0115, 499,  #     
-    0x0117, 499,  #     
-    0x0119, 499,  #     
-    0x011b, 499,  #     
-    0x011d, 499,  #     
-    0x011f, 499,  #     
-    0x0121, 499,  #     
-    0x0123, 499,  #     
-    0x0125, 499,  #     
-    0x0127, 499,  #     
-    0x0129, 499,  #     
-    0x012b, 499,  #     
-    0x012d, 499,  #     
-    0x012f, 499,  #     
-    0x0131, 268,  #  I   
-    0x0133, 499,  #     
-    0x0135, 499,  #     
-    0x0137, 499,  #     
-    0x013a, 499,  #     
-    0x013c, 499,  #     
-    0x013e, 499,  #     
-    0x0140, 499,  #     
-    0x0142, 499,  #     
-    0x0144, 499,  #     
-    0x0146, 499,  #     
-    0x0148, 499,  #     
-    0x014b, 499,  #     
-    0x014d, 499,  #     
-    0x014f, 499,  #     
-    0x0151, 499,  #     
-    0x0153, 499,  #     
-    0x0155, 499,  #     
-    0x0157, 499,  #     
-    0x0159, 499,  #     
-    0x015b, 499,  #     
-    0x015d, 499,  #     
-    0x015f, 499,  #     
-    0x0161, 499,  #     
-    0x0163, 499,  #     
-    0x0165, 499,  #     
-    0x0167, 499,  #     
-    0x0169, 499,  #     
-    0x016b, 499,  #     
-    0x016d, 499,  #     
-    0x016f, 499,  #     
-    0x0171, 499,  #     
-    0x0173, 499,  #     
-    0x0175, 499,  #     
-    0x0177, 499,  #     
-    0x017a, 499,  #     
-    0x017c, 499,  #     
-    0x017e, 499,  #     
-    0x017f, 200,  #  S   
-    0x0183, 499,  #     
-    0x0185, 499,  #     
-    0x0188, 499,  #     
-    0x018c, 499,  #     
-    0x0192, 499,  #     
-    0x0199, 499,  #     
-    0x01a1, 499,  #     
-    0x01a3, 499,  #     
-    0x01a5, 499,  #     
-    0x01a8, 499,  #     
-    0x01ad, 499,  #     
-    0x01b0, 499,  #     
-    0x01b4, 499,  #     
-    0x01b6, 499,  #     
-    0x01b9, 499,  #     
-    0x01bd, 499,  #     
-    0x01c5, 499,  #     
-    0x01c6, 498,  #     
-    0x01c8, 499,  #     
-    0x01c9, 498,  #     
-    0x01cb, 499,  #     
-    0x01cc, 498,  #     
-    0x01ce, 499,  #     
-    0x01d0, 499,  #     
-    0x01d2, 499,  #     
-    0x01d4, 499,  #     
-    0x01d6, 499,  #     
-    0x01d8, 499,  #     
-    0x01da, 499,  #     
-    0x01dc, 499,  #     
-    0x01df, 499,  #     
-    0x01e1, 499,  #     
-    0x01e3, 499,  #     
-    0x01e5, 499,  #     
-    0x01e7, 499,  #     
-    0x01e9, 499,  #     
-    0x01eb, 499,  #     
-    0x01ed, 499,  #     
-    0x01ef, 499,  #     
-    0x01f2, 499,  #     
-    0x01f3, 498,  #     
-    0x01f5, 499,  #     
-    0x01fb, 499,  #     
-    0x01fd, 499,  #     
-    0x01ff, 499,  #     
-    0x0201, 499,  #     
-    0x0203, 499,  #     
-    0x0205, 499,  #     
-    0x0207, 499,  #     
-    0x0209, 499,  #     
-    0x020b, 499,  #     
-    0x020d, 499,  #     
-    0x020f, 499,  #     
-    0x0211, 499,  #     
-    0x0213, 499,  #     
-    0x0215, 499,  #     
-    0x0217, 499,  #     
-    0x0253, 290,  #     
-    0x0254, 294,  #     
-    0x025b, 297,  #     
-    0x0260, 295,  #     
-    0x0263, 293,  #     
-    0x0268, 291,  #     
-    0x0269, 289,  #     
-    0x026f, 289,  #     
-    0x0272, 287,  #     
-    0x0283, 282,  #     
-    0x0288, 282,  #     
-    0x0292, 281,  #     
-    0x03ac, 462,  #     
-    0x03cc, 436,  #     
-    0x03d0, 438,  #     
-    0x03d1, 443,  #     
-    0x03d5, 453,  #     
-    0x03d6, 446,  #     
-    0x03e3, 499,  #     
-    0x03e5, 499,  #     
-    0x03e7, 499,  #     
-    0x03e9, 499,  #     
-    0x03eb, 499,  #     
-    0x03ed, 499,  #     
-    0x03ef, 499,  #     
-    0x03f0, 414,  #     
-    0x03f1, 420,  #     
-    0x0461, 499,  #     
-    0x0463, 499,  #     
-    0x0465, 499,  #     
-    0x0467, 499,  #     
-    0x0469, 499,  #     
-    0x046b, 499,  #     
-    0x046d, 499,  #     
-    0x046f, 499,  #     
-    0x0471, 499,  #     
-    0x0473, 499,  #     
-    0x0475, 499,  #     
-    0x0477, 499,  #     
-    0x0479, 499,  #     
-    0x047b, 499,  #     
-    0x047d, 499,  #     
-    0x047f, 499,  #     
-    0x0481, 499,  #     
-    0x0491, 499,  #     
-    0x0493, 499,  #     
-    0x0495, 499,  #     
-    0x0497, 499,  #     
-    0x0499, 499,  #     
-    0x049b, 499,  #     
-    0x049d, 499,  #     
-    0x049f, 499,  #     
-    0x04a1, 499,  #     
-    0x04a3, 499,  #     
-    0x04a5, 499,  #     
-    0x04a7, 499,  #     
-    0x04a9, 499,  #     
-    0x04ab, 499,  #     
-    0x04ad, 499,  #     
-    0x04af, 499,  #     
-    0x04b1, 499,  #     
-    0x04b3, 499,  #     
-    0x04b5, 499,  #     
-    0x04b7, 499,  #     
-    0x04b9, 499,  #     
-    0x04bb, 499,  #     
-    0x04bd, 499,  #     
-    0x04bf, 499,  #     
-    0x04c2, 499,  #     
-    0x04c4, 499,  #     
-    0x04c8, 499,  #     
-    0x04cc, 499,  #     
-    0x04d1, 499,  #     
-    0x04d3, 499,  #     
-    0x04d5, 499,  #     
-    0x04d7, 499,  #     
-    0x04d9, 499,  #     
-    0x04db, 499,  #     
-    0x04dd, 499,  #     
-    0x04df, 499,  #     
-    0x04e1, 499,  #     
-    0x04e3, 499,  #     
-    0x04e5, 499,  #     
-    0x04e7, 499,  #     
-    0x04e9, 499,  #     
-    0x04eb, 499,  #     
-    0x04ef, 499,  #     
-    0x04f1, 499,  #     
-    0x04f3, 499,  #     
-    0x04f5, 499,  #     
-    0x04f9, 499,  #     
-    0x1e01, 499,  #     
-    0x1e03, 499,  #     
-    0x1e05, 499,  #     
-    0x1e07, 499,  #     
-    0x1e09, 499,  #     
-    0x1e0b, 499,  #     
-    0x1e0d, 499,  #     
-    0x1e0f, 499,  #     
-    0x1e11, 499,  #     
-    0x1e13, 499,  #     
-    0x1e15, 499,  #     
-    0x1e17, 499,  #     
-    0x1e19, 499,  #     
-    0x1e1b, 499,  #     
-    0x1e1d, 499,  #     
-    0x1e1f, 499,  #     
-    0x1e21, 499,  #     
-    0x1e23, 499,  #     
-    0x1e25, 499,  #     
-    0x1e27, 499,  #     
-    0x1e29, 499,  #     
-    0x1e2b, 499,  #     
-    0x1e2d, 499,  #     
-    0x1e2f, 499,  #     
-    0x1e31, 499,  #     
-    0x1e33, 499,  #     
-    0x1e35, 499,  #     
-    0x1e37, 499,  #     
-    0x1e39, 499,  #     
-    0x1e3b, 499,  #     
-    0x1e3d, 499,  #     
-    0x1e3f, 499,  #     
-    0x1e41, 499,  #     
-    0x1e43, 499,  #     
-    0x1e45, 499,  #     
-    0x1e47, 499,  #     
-    0x1e49, 499,  #     
-    0x1e4b, 499,  #     
-    0x1e4d, 499,  #     
-    0x1e4f, 499,  #     
-    0x1e51, 499,  #     
-    0x1e53, 499,  #     
-    0x1e55, 499,  #     
-    0x1e57, 499,  #     
-    0x1e59, 499,  #     
-    0x1e5b, 499,  #     
-    0x1e5d, 499,  #     
-    0x1e5f, 499,  #     
-    0x1e61, 499,  #     
-    0x1e63, 499,  #     
-    0x1e65, 499,  #     
-    0x1e67, 499,  #     
-    0x1e69, 499,  #     
-    0x1e6b, 499,  #     
-    0x1e6d, 499,  #     
-    0x1e6f, 499,  #     
-    0x1e71, 499,  #     
-    0x1e73, 499,  #     
-    0x1e75, 499,  #     
-    0x1e77, 499,  #     
-    0x1e79, 499,  #     
-    0x1e7b, 499,  #     
-    0x1e7d, 499,  #     
-    0x1e7f, 499,  #     
-    0x1e81, 499,  #     
-    0x1e83, 499,  #     
-    0x1e85, 499,  #     
-    0x1e87, 499,  #     
-    0x1e89, 499,  #     
-    0x1e8b, 499,  #     
-    0x1e8d, 499,  #     
-    0x1e8f, 499,  #     
-    0x1e91, 499,  #     
-    0x1e93, 499,  #     
-    0x1e95, 499,  #     
-    0x1ea1, 499,  #     
-    0x1ea3, 499,  #     
-    0x1ea5, 499,  #     
-    0x1ea7, 499,  #     
-    0x1ea9, 499,  #     
-    0x1eab, 499,  #     
-    0x1ead, 499,  #     
-    0x1eaf, 499,  #     
-    0x1eb1, 499,  #     
-    0x1eb3, 499,  #     
-    0x1eb5, 499,  #     
-    0x1eb7, 499,  #     
-    0x1eb9, 499,  #     
-    0x1ebb, 499,  #     
-    0x1ebd, 499,  #     
-    0x1ebf, 499,  #     
-    0x1ec1, 499,  #     
-    0x1ec3, 499,  #     
-    0x1ec5, 499,  #     
-    0x1ec7, 499,  #     
-    0x1ec9, 499,  #     
-    0x1ecb, 499,  #     
-    0x1ecd, 499,  #     
-    0x1ecf, 499,  #     
-    0x1ed1, 499,  #     
-    0x1ed3, 499,  #     
-    0x1ed5, 499,  #     
-    0x1ed7, 499,  #     
-    0x1ed9, 499,  #     
-    0x1edb, 499,  #     
-    0x1edd, 499,  #     
-    0x1edf, 499,  #     
-    0x1ee1, 499,  #     
-    0x1ee3, 499,  #     
-    0x1ee5, 499,  #     
-    0x1ee7, 499,  #     
-    0x1ee9, 499,  #     
-    0x1eeb, 499,  #     
-    0x1eed, 499,  #     
-    0x1eef, 499,  #     
-    0x1ef1, 499,  #     
-    0x1ef3, 499,  #     
-    0x1ef5, 499,  #     
-    0x1ef7, 499,  #     
-    0x1ef9, 499,  #     
-    0x1f51, 508,  #     
-    0x1f53, 508,  #     
-    0x1f55, 508,  #     
-    0x1f57, 508,  #     
-    0x1fb3, 509,  #     
-    0x1fc3, 509,  #     
-    0x1fe5, 507,  #     
-    0x1ff3, 509]  #     
+    0x00ff, 621,  #
+    0x0101, 499,  #
+    0x0103, 499,  #
+    0x0105, 499,  #
+    0x0107, 499,  #
+    0x0109, 499,  #
+    0x010b, 499,  #
+    0x010d, 499,  #
+    0x010f, 499,  #
+    0x0111, 499,  #
+    0x0113, 499,  #
+    0x0115, 499,  #
+    0x0117, 499,  #
+    0x0119, 499,  #
+    0x011b, 499,  #
+    0x011d, 499,  #
+    0x011f, 499,  #
+    0x0121, 499,  #
+    0x0123, 499,  #
+    0x0125, 499,  #
+    0x0127, 499,  #
+    0x0129, 499,  #
+    0x012b, 499,  #
+    0x012d, 499,  #
+    0x012f, 499,  #
+    0x0131, 268,  #  I
+    0x0133, 499,  #
+    0x0135, 499,  #
+    0x0137, 499,  #
+    0x013a, 499,  #
+    0x013c, 499,  #
+    0x013e, 499,  #
+    0x0140, 499,  #
+    0x0142, 499,  #
+    0x0144, 499,  #
+    0x0146, 499,  #
+    0x0148, 499,  #
+    0x014b, 499,  #
+    0x014d, 499,  #
+    0x014f, 499,  #
+    0x0151, 499,  #
+    0x0153, 499,  #
+    0x0155, 499,  #
+    0x0157, 499,  #
+    0x0159, 499,  #
+    0x015b, 499,  #
+    0x015d, 499,  #
+    0x015f, 499,  #
+    0x0161, 499,  #
+    0x0163, 499,  #
+    0x0165, 499,  #
+    0x0167, 499,  #
+    0x0169, 499,  #
+    0x016b, 499,  #
+    0x016d, 499,  #
+    0x016f, 499,  #
+    0x0171, 499,  #
+    0x0173, 499,  #
+    0x0175, 499,  #
+    0x0177, 499,  #
+    0x017a, 499,  #
+    0x017c, 499,  #
+    0x017e, 499,  #
+    0x017f, 200,  #  S
+    0x0183, 499,  #
+    0x0185, 499,  #
+    0x0188, 499,  #
+    0x018c, 499,  #
+    0x0192, 499,  #
+    0x0199, 499,  #
+    0x01a1, 499,  #
+    0x01a3, 499,  #
+    0x01a5, 499,  #
+    0x01a8, 499,  #
+    0x01ad, 499,  #
+    0x01b0, 499,  #
+    0x01b4, 499,  #
+    0x01b6, 499,  #
+    0x01b9, 499,  #
+    0x01bd, 499,  #
+    0x01c5, 499,  #
+    0x01c6, 498,  #
+    0x01c8, 499,  #
+    0x01c9, 498,  #
+    0x01cb, 499,  #
+    0x01cc, 498,  #
+    0x01ce, 499,  #
+    0x01d0, 499,  #
+    0x01d2, 499,  #
+    0x01d4, 499,  #
+    0x01d6, 499,  #
+    0x01d8, 499,  #
+    0x01da, 499,  #
+    0x01dc, 499,  #
+    0x01df, 499,  #
+    0x01e1, 499,  #
+    0x01e3, 499,  #
+    0x01e5, 499,  #
+    0x01e7, 499,  #
+    0x01e9, 499,  #
+    0x01eb, 499,  #
+    0x01ed, 499,  #
+    0x01ef, 499,  #
+    0x01f2, 499,  #
+    0x01f3, 498,  #
+    0x01f5, 499,  #
+    0x01fb, 499,  #
+    0x01fd, 499,  #
+    0x01ff, 499,  #
+    0x0201, 499,  #
+    0x0203, 499,  #
+    0x0205, 499,  #
+    0x0207, 499,  #
+    0x0209, 499,  #
+    0x020b, 499,  #
+    0x020d, 499,  #
+    0x020f, 499,  #
+    0x0211, 499,  #
+    0x0213, 499,  #
+    0x0215, 499,  #
+    0x0217, 499,  #
+    0x0253, 290,  #
+    0x0254, 294,  #
+    0x025b, 297,  #
+    0x0260, 295,  #
+    0x0263, 293,  #
+    0x0268, 291,  #
+    0x0269, 289,  #
+    0x026f, 289,  #
+    0x0272, 287,  #
+    0x0283, 282,  #
+    0x0288, 282,  #
+    0x0292, 281,  #
+    0x03ac, 462,  #
+    0x03cc, 436,  #
+    0x03d0, 438,  #
+    0x03d1, 443,  #
+    0x03d5, 453,  #
+    0x03d6, 446,  #
+    0x03e3, 499,  #
+    0x03e5, 499,  #
+    0x03e7, 499,  #
+    0x03e9, 499,  #
+    0x03eb, 499,  #
+    0x03ed, 499,  #
+    0x03ef, 499,  #
+    0x03f0, 414,  #
+    0x03f1, 420,  #
+    0x0461, 499,  #
+    0x0463, 499,  #
+    0x0465, 499,  #
+    0x0467, 499,  #
+    0x0469, 499,  #
+    0x046b, 499,  #
+    0x046d, 499,  #
+    0x046f, 499,  #
+    0x0471, 499,  #
+    0x0473, 499,  #
+    0x0475, 499,  #
+    0x0477, 499,  #
+    0x0479, 499,  #
+    0x047b, 499,  #
+    0x047d, 499,  #
+    0x047f, 499,  #
+    0x0481, 499,  #
+    0x0491, 499,  #
+    0x0493, 499,  #
+    0x0495, 499,  #
+    0x0497, 499,  #
+    0x0499, 499,  #
+    0x049b, 499,  #
+    0x049d, 499,  #
+    0x049f, 499,  #
+    0x04a1, 499,  #
+    0x04a3, 499,  #
+    0x04a5, 499,  #
+    0x04a7, 499,  #
+    0x04a9, 499,  #
+    0x04ab, 499,  #
+    0x04ad, 499,  #
+    0x04af, 499,  #
+    0x04b1, 499,  #
+    0x04b3, 499,  #
+    0x04b5, 499,  #
+    0x04b7, 499,  #
+    0x04b9, 499,  #
+    0x04bb, 499,  #
+    0x04bd, 499,  #
+    0x04bf, 499,  #
+    0x04c2, 499,  #
+    0x04c4, 499,  #
+    0x04c8, 499,  #
+    0x04cc, 499,  #
+    0x04d1, 499,  #
+    0x04d3, 499,  #
+    0x04d5, 499,  #
+    0x04d7, 499,  #
+    0x04d9, 499,  #
+    0x04db, 499,  #
+    0x04dd, 499,  #
+    0x04df, 499,  #
+    0x04e1, 499,  #
+    0x04e3, 499,  #
+    0x04e5, 499,  #
+    0x04e7, 499,  #
+    0x04e9, 499,  #
+    0x04eb, 499,  #
+    0x04ef, 499,  #
+    0x04f1, 499,  #
+    0x04f3, 499,  #
+    0x04f5, 499,  #
+    0x04f9, 499,  #
+    0x1e01, 499,  #
+    0x1e03, 499,  #
+    0x1e05, 499,  #
+    0x1e07, 499,  #
+    0x1e09, 499,  #
+    0x1e0b, 499,  #
+    0x1e0d, 499,  #
+    0x1e0f, 499,  #
+    0x1e11, 499,  #
+    0x1e13, 499,  #
+    0x1e15, 499,  #
+    0x1e17, 499,  #
+    0x1e19, 499,  #
+    0x1e1b, 499,  #
+    0x1e1d, 499,  #
+    0x1e1f, 499,  #
+    0x1e21, 499,  #
+    0x1e23, 499,  #
+    0x1e25, 499,  #
+    0x1e27, 499,  #
+    0x1e29, 499,  #
+    0x1e2b, 499,  #
+    0x1e2d, 499,  #
+    0x1e2f, 499,  #
+    0x1e31, 499,  #
+    0x1e33, 499,  #
+    0x1e35, 499,  #
+    0x1e37, 499,  #
+    0x1e39, 499,  #
+    0x1e3b, 499,  #
+    0x1e3d, 499,  #
+    0x1e3f, 499,  #
+    0x1e41, 499,  #
+    0x1e43, 499,  #
+    0x1e45, 499,  #
+    0x1e47, 499,  #
+    0x1e49, 499,  #
+    0x1e4b, 499,  #
+    0x1e4d, 499,  #
+    0x1e4f, 499,  #
+    0x1e51, 499,  #
+    0x1e53, 499,  #
+    0x1e55, 499,  #
+    0x1e57, 499,  #
+    0x1e59, 499,  #
+    0x1e5b, 499,  #
+    0x1e5d, 499,  #
+    0x1e5f, 499,  #
+    0x1e61, 499,  #
+    0x1e63, 499,  #
+    0x1e65, 499,  #
+    0x1e67, 499,  #
+    0x1e69, 499,  #
+    0x1e6b, 499,  #
+    0x1e6d, 499,  #
+    0x1e6f, 499,  #
+    0x1e71, 499,  #
+    0x1e73, 499,  #
+    0x1e75, 499,  #
+    0x1e77, 499,  #
+    0x1e79, 499,  #
+    0x1e7b, 499,  #
+    0x1e7d, 499,  #
+    0x1e7f, 499,  #
+    0x1e81, 499,  #
+    0x1e83, 499,  #
+    0x1e85, 499,  #
+    0x1e87, 499,  #
+    0x1e89, 499,  #
+    0x1e8b, 499,  #
+    0x1e8d, 499,  #
+    0x1e8f, 499,  #
+    0x1e91, 499,  #
+    0x1e93, 499,  #
+    0x1e95, 499,  #
+    0x1ea1, 499,  #
+    0x1ea3, 499,  #
+    0x1ea5, 499,  #
+    0x1ea7, 499,  #
+    0x1ea9, 499,  #
+    0x1eab, 499,  #
+    0x1ead, 499,  #
+    0x1eaf, 499,  #
+    0x1eb1, 499,  #
+    0x1eb3, 499,  #
+    0x1eb5, 499,  #
+    0x1eb7, 499,  #
+    0x1eb9, 499,  #
+    0x1ebb, 499,  #
+    0x1ebd, 499,  #
+    0x1ebf, 499,  #
+    0x1ec1, 499,  #
+    0x1ec3, 499,  #
+    0x1ec5, 499,  #
+    0x1ec7, 499,  #
+    0x1ec9, 499,  #
+    0x1ecb, 499,  #
+    0x1ecd, 499,  #
+    0x1ecf, 499,  #
+    0x1ed1, 499,  #
+    0x1ed3, 499,  #
+    0x1ed5, 499,  #
+    0x1ed7, 499,  #
+    0x1ed9, 499,  #
+    0x1edb, 499,  #
+    0x1edd, 499,  #
+    0x1edf, 499,  #
+    0x1ee1, 499,  #
+    0x1ee3, 499,  #
+    0x1ee5, 499,  #
+    0x1ee7, 499,  #
+    0x1ee9, 499,  #
+    0x1eeb, 499,  #
+    0x1eed, 499,  #
+    0x1eef, 499,  #
+    0x1ef1, 499,  #
+    0x1ef3, 499,  #
+    0x1ef5, 499,  #
+    0x1ef7, 499,  #
+    0x1ef9, 499,  #
+    0x1f51, 508,  #
+    0x1f53, 508,  #
+    0x1f55, 508,  #
+    0x1f57, 508,  #
+    0x1fb3, 509,  #
+    0x1fc3, 509,  #
+    0x1fe5, 507,  #
+    0x1ff3, 509]  #
 
   tolowerRanges = [
     0x0041,  0x005a, 532,  # A-Z a-z
-    0x00c0,  0x00d6, 532,  # - -   
-    0x00d8,  0x00de, 532,  # - -   
-    0x0189,  0x018a, 705,  # - -   
-    0x018e,  0x018f, 702,  # - -   
-    0x01b1,  0x01b2, 717,  # - -   
-    0x0388,  0x038a, 537,  # - -   
-    0x038e,  0x038f, 563,  # - -   
-    0x0391,  0x03a1, 532,  # - -   
-    0x03a3,  0x03ab, 532,  # - -   
-    0x0401,  0x040c, 580,  # - -   
-    0x040e,  0x040f, 580,  # - -   
-    0x0410,  0x042f, 532,  # - -   
-    0x0531,  0x0556, 548,  # - -   
-    0x10a0,  0x10c5, 548,  # - -   
-    0x1f08,  0x1f0f, 492,  # - -   
-    0x1f18,  0x1f1d, 492,  # - -   
-    0x1f28,  0x1f2f, 492,  # - -   
-    0x1f38,  0x1f3f, 492,  # - -   
-    0x1f48,  0x1f4d, 492,  # - -   
-    0x1f68,  0x1f6f, 492,  # - -   
-    0x1f88,  0x1f8f, 492,  # - -   
-    0x1f98,  0x1f9f, 492,  # - -   
-    0x1fa8,  0x1faf, 492,  # - -   
-    0x1fb8,  0x1fb9, 492,  # - -   
-    0x1fba,  0x1fbb, 426,  # - -   
-    0x1fc8,  0x1fcb, 414,  # - -   
-    0x1fd8,  0x1fd9, 492,  # - -   
-    0x1fda,  0x1fdb, 400,  # - -   
-    0x1fe8,  0x1fe9, 492,  # - -   
-    0x1fea,  0x1feb, 388,  # - -   
-    0x1ff8,  0x1ff9, 372,  # - -   
-    0x1ffa,  0x1ffb, 374,  # - -   
-    0x2160,  0x216f, 516,  # - -   
-    0x24b6,  0x24cf, 526,  # - -   
-    0xff21,  0xff3a, 532]  # - -   
+    0x00c0,  0x00d6, 532,  # - -
+    0x00d8,  0x00de, 532,  # - -
+    0x0189,  0x018a, 705,  # - -
+    0x018e,  0x018f, 702,  # - -
+    0x01b1,  0x01b2, 717,  # - -
+    0x0388,  0x038a, 537,  # - -
+    0x038e,  0x038f, 563,  # - -
+    0x0391,  0x03a1, 532,  # - -
+    0x03a3,  0x03ab, 532,  # - -
+    0x0401,  0x040c, 580,  # - -
+    0x040e,  0x040f, 580,  # - -
+    0x0410,  0x042f, 532,  # - -
+    0x0531,  0x0556, 548,  # - -
+    0x10a0,  0x10c5, 548,  # - -
+    0x1f08,  0x1f0f, 492,  # - -
+    0x1f18,  0x1f1d, 492,  # - -
+    0x1f28,  0x1f2f, 492,  # - -
+    0x1f38,  0x1f3f, 492,  # - -
+    0x1f48,  0x1f4d, 492,  # - -
+    0x1f68,  0x1f6f, 492,  # - -
+    0x1f88,  0x1f8f, 492,  # - -
+    0x1f98,  0x1f9f, 492,  # - -
+    0x1fa8,  0x1faf, 492,  # - -
+    0x1fb8,  0x1fb9, 492,  # - -
+    0x1fba,  0x1fbb, 426,  # - -
+    0x1fc8,  0x1fcb, 414,  # - -
+    0x1fd8,  0x1fd9, 492,  # - -
+    0x1fda,  0x1fdb, 400,  # - -
+    0x1fe8,  0x1fe9, 492,  # - -
+    0x1fea,  0x1feb, 388,  # - -
+    0x1ff8,  0x1ff9, 372,  # - -
+    0x1ffa,  0x1ffb, 374,  # - -
+    0x2160,  0x216f, 516,  # - -
+    0x24b6,  0x24cf, 526,  # - -
+    0xff21,  0xff3a, 532]  # - -
 
   tolowerSinglets = [
-    0x0100, 501,  #     
-    0x0102, 501,  #     
-    0x0104, 501,  #     
-    0x0106, 501,  #     
-    0x0108, 501,  #     
-    0x010a, 501,  #     
-    0x010c, 501,  #     
-    0x010e, 501,  #     
-    0x0110, 501,  #     
-    0x0112, 501,  #     
-    0x0114, 501,  #     
-    0x0116, 501,  #     
-    0x0118, 501,  #     
-    0x011a, 501,  #     
-    0x011c, 501,  #     
-    0x011e, 501,  #     
-    0x0120, 501,  #     
-    0x0122, 501,  #     
-    0x0124, 501,  #     
-    0x0126, 501,  #     
-    0x0128, 501,  #     
-    0x012a, 501,  #     
-    0x012c, 501,  #     
-    0x012e, 501,  #     
-    0x0130, 301,  #  i   
-    0x0132, 501,  #     
-    0x0134, 501,  #     
-    0x0136, 501,  #     
-    0x0139, 501,  #     
-    0x013b, 501,  #     
-    0x013d, 501,  #     
-    0x013f, 501,  #     
-    0x0141, 501,  #     
-    0x0143, 501,  #     
-    0x0145, 501,  #     
-    0x0147, 501,  #     
-    0x014a, 501,  #     
-    0x014c, 501,  #     
-    0x014e, 501,  #     
-    0x0150, 501,  #     
-    0x0152, 501,  #     
-    0x0154, 501,  #     
-    0x0156, 501,  #     
-    0x0158, 501,  #     
-    0x015a, 501,  #     
-    0x015c, 501,  #     
-    0x015e, 501,  #     
-    0x0160, 501,  #     
-    0x0162, 501,  #     
-    0x0164, 501,  #     
-    0x0166, 501,  #     
-    0x0168, 501,  #     
-    0x016a, 501,  #     
-    0x016c, 501,  #     
-    0x016e, 501,  #     
-    0x0170, 501,  #     
-    0x0172, 501,  #     
-    0x0174, 501,  #     
-    0x0176, 501,  #     
-    0x0178, 379,  #     
-    0x0179, 501,  #     
-    0x017b, 501,  #     
-    0x017d, 501,  #     
-    0x0181, 710,  #     
-    0x0182, 501,  #     
-    0x0184, 501,  #     
-    0x0186, 706,  #     
-    0x0187, 501,  #     
-    0x018b, 501,  #     
-    0x0190, 703,  #     
-    0x0191, 501,  #     
-    0x0193, 705,  #     
-    0x0194, 707,  #     
-    0x0196, 711,  #     
-    0x0197, 709,  #     
-    0x0198, 501,  #     
-    0x019c, 711,  #     
-    0x019d, 713,  #     
-    0x01a0, 501,  #     
-    0x01a2, 501,  #     
-    0x01a4, 501,  #     
-    0x01a7, 501,  #     
-    0x01a9, 718,  #     
-    0x01ac, 501,  #     
-    0x01ae, 718,  #     
-    0x01af, 501,  #     
-    0x01b3, 501,  #     
-    0x01b5, 501,  #     
-    0x01b7, 719,  #     
-    0x01b8, 501,  #     
-    0x01bc, 501,  #     
-    0x01c4, 502,  #     
-    0x01c5, 501,  #     
-    0x01c7, 502,  #     
-    0x01c8, 501,  #     
-    0x01ca, 502,  #     
-    0x01cb, 501,  #     
-    0x01cd, 501,  #     
-    0x01cf, 501,  #     
-    0x01d1, 501,  #     
-    0x01d3, 501,  #     
-    0x01d5, 501,  #     
-    0x01d7, 501,  #     
-    0x01d9, 501,  #     
-    0x01db, 501,  #     
-    0x01de, 501,  #     
-    0x01e0, 501,  #     
-    0x01e2, 501,  #     
-    0x01e4, 501,  #     
-    0x01e6, 501,  #     
-    0x01e8, 501,  #     
-    0x01ea, 501,  #     
-    0x01ec, 501,  #     
-    0x01ee, 501,  #     
-    0x01f1, 502,  #     
-    0x01f2, 501,  #     
-    0x01f4, 501,  #     
-    0x01fa, 501,  #     
-    0x01fc, 501,  #     
-    0x01fe, 501,  #     
-    0x0200, 501,  #     
-    0x0202, 501,  #     
-    0x0204, 501,  #     
-    0x0206, 501,  #     
-    0x0208, 501,  #     
-    0x020a, 501,  #     
-    0x020c, 501,  #     
-    0x020e, 501,  #     
-    0x0210, 501,  #     
-    0x0212, 501,  #     
-    0x0214, 501,  #     
-    0x0216, 501,  #     
-    0x0386, 538,  #     
-    0x038c, 564,  #     
-    0x03e2, 501,  #     
-    0x03e4, 501,  #     
-    0x03e6, 501,  #     
-    0x03e8, 501,  #     
-    0x03ea, 501,  #     
-    0x03ec, 501,  #     
-    0x03ee, 501,  #     
-    0x0460, 501,  #     
-    0x0462, 501,  #     
-    0x0464, 501,  #     
-    0x0466, 501,  #     
-    0x0468, 501,  #     
-    0x046a, 501,  #     
-    0x046c, 501,  #     
-    0x046e, 501,  #     
-    0x0470, 501,  #     
-    0x0472, 501,  #     
-    0x0474, 501,  #     
-    0x0476, 501,  #     
-    0x0478, 501,  #     
-    0x047a, 501,  #     
-    0x047c, 501,  #     
-    0x047e, 501,  #     
-    0x0480, 501,  #     
-    0x0490, 501,  #     
-    0x0492, 501,  #     
-    0x0494, 501,  #     
-    0x0496, 501,  #     
-    0x0498, 501,  #     
-    0x049a, 501,  #     
-    0x049c, 501,  #     
-    0x049e, 501,  #     
-    0x04a0, 501,  #     
-    0x04a2, 501,  #     
-    0x04a4, 501,  #     
-    0x04a6, 501,  #     
-    0x04a8, 501,  #     
-    0x04aa, 501,  #     
-    0x04ac, 501,  #     
-    0x04ae, 501,  #     
-    0x04b0, 501,  #     
-    0x04b2, 501,  #     
-    0x04b4, 501,  #     
-    0x04b6, 501,  #     
-    0x04b8, 501,  #     
-    0x04ba, 501,  #     
-    0x04bc, 501,  #     
-    0x04be, 501,  #     
-    0x04c1, 501,  #     
-    0x04c3, 501,  #     
-    0x04c7, 501,  #     
-    0x04cb, 501,  #     
-    0x04d0, 501,  #     
-    0x04d2, 501,  #     
-    0x04d4, 501,  #     
-    0x04d6, 501,  #     
-    0x04d8, 501,  #     
-    0x04da, 501,  #     
-    0x04dc, 501,  #     
-    0x04de, 501,  #     
-    0x04e0, 501,  #     
-    0x04e2, 501,  #     
-    0x04e4, 501,  #     
-    0x04e6, 501,  #     
-    0x04e8, 501,  #     
-    0x04ea, 501,  #     
-    0x04ee, 501,  #     
-    0x04f0, 501,  #     
-    0x04f2, 501,  #     
-    0x04f4, 501,  #     
-    0x04f8, 501,  #     
-    0x1e00, 501,  #     
-    0x1e02, 501,  #     
-    0x1e04, 501,  #     
-    0x1e06, 501,  #     
-    0x1e08, 501,  #     
-    0x1e0a, 501,  #     
-    0x1e0c, 501,  #     
-    0x1e0e, 501,  #     
-    0x1e10, 501,  #     
-    0x1e12, 501,  #     
-    0x1e14, 501,  #     
-    0x1e16, 501,  #     
-    0x1e18, 501,  #     
-    0x1e1a, 501,  #     
-    0x1e1c, 501,  #     
-    0x1e1e, 501,  #     
-    0x1e20, 501,  #     
-    0x1e22, 501,  #     
-    0x1e24, 501,  #     
-    0x1e26, 501,  #     
-    0x1e28, 501,  #     
-    0x1e2a, 501,  #     
-    0x1e2c, 501,  #     
-    0x1e2e, 501,  #     
-    0x1e30, 501,  #     
-    0x1e32, 501,  #     
-    0x1e34, 501,  #     
-    0x1e36, 501,  #     
-    0x1e38, 501,  #     
-    0x1e3a, 501,  #     
-    0x1e3c, 501,  #     
-    0x1e3e, 501,  #     
-    0x1e40, 501,  #     
-    0x1e42, 501,  #     
-    0x1e44, 501,  #     
-    0x1e46, 501,  #     
-    0x1e48, 501,  #     
-    0x1e4a, 501,  #     
-    0x1e4c, 501,  #     
-    0x1e4e, 501,  #     
-    0x1e50, 501,  #     
-    0x1e52, 501,  #     
-    0x1e54, 501,  #     
-    0x1e56, 501,  #     
-    0x1e58, 501,  #     
-    0x1e5a, 501,  #     
-    0x1e5c, 501,  #     
-    0x1e5e, 501,  #     
-    0x1e60, 501,  #     
-    0x1e62, 501,  #     
-    0x1e64, 501,  #     
-    0x1e66, 501,  #     
-    0x1e68, 501,  #     
-    0x1e6a, 501,  #     
-    0x1e6c, 501,  #     
-    0x1e6e, 501,  #     
-    0x1e70, 501,  #     
-    0x1e72, 501,  #     
-    0x1e74, 501,  #     
-    0x1e76, 501,  #     
-    0x1e78, 501,  #     
-    0x1e7a, 501,  #     
-    0x1e7c, 501,  #     
-    0x1e7e, 501,  #     
-    0x1e80, 501,  #     
-    0x1e82, 501,  #     
-    0x1e84, 501,  #     
-    0x1e86, 501,  #     
-    0x1e88, 501,  #     
-    0x1e8a, 501,  #     
-    0x1e8c, 501,  #     
-    0x1e8e, 501,  #     
-    0x1e90, 501,  #     
-    0x1e92, 501,  #     
-    0x1e94, 501,  #     
-    0x1ea0, 501,  #     
-    0x1ea2, 501,  #     
-    0x1ea4, 501,  #     
-    0x1ea6, 501,  #     
-    0x1ea8, 501,  #     
-    0x1eaa, 501,  #     
-    0x1eac, 501,  #     
-    0x1eae, 501,  #     
-    0x1eb0, 501,  #     
-    0x1eb2, 501,  #     
-    0x1eb4, 501,  #     
-    0x1eb6, 501,  #     
-    0x1eb8, 501,  #     
-    0x1eba, 501,  #     
-    0x1ebc, 501,  #     
-    0x1ebe, 501,  #     
-    0x1ec0, 501,  #     
-    0x1ec2, 501,  #     
-    0x1ec4, 501,  #     
-    0x1ec6, 501,  #     
-    0x1ec8, 501,  #     
-    0x1eca, 501,  #     
-    0x1ecc, 501,  #     
-    0x1ece, 501,  #     
-    0x1ed0, 501,  #     
-    0x1ed2, 501,  #     
-    0x1ed4, 501,  #     
-    0x1ed6, 501,  #     
-    0x1ed8, 501,  #     
-    0x1eda, 501,  #     
-    0x1edc, 501,  #     
-    0x1ede, 501,  #     
-    0x1ee0, 501,  #     
-    0x1ee2, 501,  #     
-    0x1ee4, 501,  #     
-    0x1ee6, 501,  #     
-    0x1ee8, 501,  #     
-    0x1eea, 501,  #     
-    0x1eec, 501,  #     
-    0x1eee, 501,  #     
-    0x1ef0, 501,  #     
-    0x1ef2, 501,  #     
-    0x1ef4, 501,  #     
-    0x1ef6, 501,  #     
-    0x1ef8, 501,  #     
-    0x1f59, 492,  #     
-    0x1f5b, 492,  #     
-    0x1f5d, 492,  #     
-    0x1f5f, 492,  #     
-    0x1fbc, 491,  #     
-    0x1fcc, 491,  #     
-    0x1fec, 493,  #     
-    0x1ffc, 491]  #     
+    0x0100, 501,  #
+    0x0102, 501,  #
+    0x0104, 501,  #
+    0x0106, 501,  #
+    0x0108, 501,  #
+    0x010a, 501,  #
+    0x010c, 501,  #
+    0x010e, 501,  #
+    0x0110, 501,  #
+    0x0112, 501,  #
+    0x0114, 501,  #
+    0x0116, 501,  #
+    0x0118, 501,  #
+    0x011a, 501,  #
+    0x011c, 501,  #
+    0x011e, 501,  #
+    0x0120, 501,  #
+    0x0122, 501,  #
+    0x0124, 501,  #
+    0x0126, 501,  #
+    0x0128, 501,  #
+    0x012a, 501,  #
+    0x012c, 501,  #
+    0x012e, 501,  #
+    0x0130, 301,  #  i
+    0x0132, 501,  #
+    0x0134, 501,  #
+    0x0136, 501,  #
+    0x0139, 501,  #
+    0x013b, 501,  #
+    0x013d, 501,  #
+    0x013f, 501,  #
+    0x0141, 501,  #
+    0x0143, 501,  #
+    0x0145, 501,  #
+    0x0147, 501,  #
+    0x014a, 501,  #
+    0x014c, 501,  #
+    0x014e, 501,  #
+    0x0150, 501,  #
+    0x0152, 501,  #
+    0x0154, 501,  #
+    0x0156, 501,  #
+    0x0158, 501,  #
+    0x015a, 501,  #
+    0x015c, 501,  #
+    0x015e, 501,  #
+    0x0160, 501,  #
+    0x0162, 501,  #
+    0x0164, 501,  #
+    0x0166, 501,  #
+    0x0168, 501,  #
+    0x016a, 501,  #
+    0x016c, 501,  #
+    0x016e, 501,  #
+    0x0170, 501,  #
+    0x0172, 501,  #
+    0x0174, 501,  #
+    0x0176, 501,  #
+    0x0178, 379,  #
+    0x0179, 501,  #
+    0x017b, 501,  #
+    0x017d, 501,  #
+    0x0181, 710,  #
+    0x0182, 501,  #
+    0x0184, 501,  #
+    0x0186, 706,  #
+    0x0187, 501,  #
+    0x018b, 501,  #
+    0x0190, 703,  #
+    0x0191, 501,  #
+    0x0193, 705,  #
+    0x0194, 707,  #
+    0x0196, 711,  #
+    0x0197, 709,  #
+    0x0198, 501,  #
+    0x019c, 711,  #
+    0x019d, 713,  #
+    0x01a0, 501,  #
+    0x01a2, 501,  #
+    0x01a4, 501,  #
+    0x01a7, 501,  #
+    0x01a9, 718,  #
+    0x01ac, 501,  #
+    0x01ae, 718,  #
+    0x01af, 501,  #
+    0x01b3, 501,  #
+    0x01b5, 501,  #
+    0x01b7, 719,  #
+    0x01b8, 501,  #
+    0x01bc, 501,  #
+    0x01c4, 502,  #
+    0x01c5, 501,  #
+    0x01c7, 502,  #
+    0x01c8, 501,  #
+    0x01ca, 502,  #
+    0x01cb, 501,  #
+    0x01cd, 501,  #
+    0x01cf, 501,  #
+    0x01d1, 501,  #
+    0x01d3, 501,  #
+    0x01d5, 501,  #
+    0x01d7, 501,  #
+    0x01d9, 501,  #
+    0x01db, 501,  #
+    0x01de, 501,  #
+    0x01e0, 501,  #
+    0x01e2, 501,  #
+    0x01e4, 501,  #
+    0x01e6, 501,  #
+    0x01e8, 501,  #
+    0x01ea, 501,  #
+    0x01ec, 501,  #
+    0x01ee, 501,  #
+    0x01f1, 502,  #
+    0x01f2, 501,  #
+    0x01f4, 501,  #
+    0x01fa, 501,  #
+    0x01fc, 501,  #
+    0x01fe, 501,  #
+    0x0200, 501,  #
+    0x0202, 501,  #
+    0x0204, 501,  #
+    0x0206, 501,  #
+    0x0208, 501,  #
+    0x020a, 501,  #
+    0x020c, 501,  #
+    0x020e, 501,  #
+    0x0210, 501,  #
+    0x0212, 501,  #
+    0x0214, 501,  #
+    0x0216, 501,  #
+    0x0386, 538,  #
+    0x038c, 564,  #
+    0x03e2, 501,  #
+    0x03e4, 501,  #
+    0x03e6, 501,  #
+    0x03e8, 501,  #
+    0x03ea, 501,  #
+    0x03ec, 501,  #
+    0x03ee, 501,  #
+    0x0460, 501,  #
+    0x0462, 501,  #
+    0x0464, 501,  #
+    0x0466, 501,  #
+    0x0468, 501,  #
+    0x046a, 501,  #
+    0x046c, 501,  #
+    0x046e, 501,  #
+    0x0470, 501,  #
+    0x0472, 501,  #
+    0x0474, 501,  #
+    0x0476, 501,  #
+    0x0478, 501,  #
+    0x047a, 501,  #
+    0x047c, 501,  #
+    0x047e, 501,  #
+    0x0480, 501,  #
+    0x0490, 501,  #
+    0x0492, 501,  #
+    0x0494, 501,  #
+    0x0496, 501,  #
+    0x0498, 501,  #
+    0x049a, 501,  #
+    0x049c, 501,  #
+    0x049e, 501,  #
+    0x04a0, 501,  #
+    0x04a2, 501,  #
+    0x04a4, 501,  #
+    0x04a6, 501,  #
+    0x04a8, 501,  #
+    0x04aa, 501,  #
+    0x04ac, 501,  #
+    0x04ae, 501,  #
+    0x04b0, 501,  #
+    0x04b2, 501,  #
+    0x04b4, 501,  #
+    0x04b6, 501,  #
+    0x04b8, 501,  #
+    0x04ba, 501,  #
+    0x04bc, 501,  #
+    0x04be, 501,  #
+    0x04c1, 501,  #
+    0x04c3, 501,  #
+    0x04c7, 501,  #
+    0x04cb, 501,  #
+    0x04d0, 501,  #
+    0x04d2, 501,  #
+    0x04d4, 501,  #
+    0x04d6, 501,  #
+    0x04d8, 501,  #
+    0x04da, 501,  #
+    0x04dc, 501,  #
+    0x04de, 501,  #
+    0x04e0, 501,  #
+    0x04e2, 501,  #
+    0x04e4, 501,  #
+    0x04e6, 501,  #
+    0x04e8, 501,  #
+    0x04ea, 501,  #
+    0x04ee, 501,  #
+    0x04f0, 501,  #
+    0x04f2, 501,  #
+    0x04f4, 501,  #
+    0x04f8, 501,  #
+    0x1e00, 501,  #
+    0x1e02, 501,  #
+    0x1e04, 501,  #
+    0x1e06, 501,  #
+    0x1e08, 501,  #
+    0x1e0a, 501,  #
+    0x1e0c, 501,  #
+    0x1e0e, 501,  #
+    0x1e10, 501,  #
+    0x1e12, 501,  #
+    0x1e14, 501,  #
+    0x1e16, 501,  #
+    0x1e18, 501,  #
+    0x1e1a, 501,  #
+    0x1e1c, 501,  #
+    0x1e1e, 501,  #
+    0x1e20, 501,  #
+    0x1e22, 501,  #
+    0x1e24, 501,  #
+    0x1e26, 501,  #
+    0x1e28, 501,  #
+    0x1e2a, 501,  #
+    0x1e2c, 501,  #
+    0x1e2e, 501,  #
+    0x1e30, 501,  #
+    0x1e32, 501,  #
+    0x1e34, 501,  #
+    0x1e36, 501,  #
+    0x1e38, 501,  #
+    0x1e3a, 501,  #
+    0x1e3c, 501,  #
+    0x1e3e, 501,  #
+    0x1e40, 501,  #
+    0x1e42, 501,  #
+    0x1e44, 501,  #
+    0x1e46, 501,  #
+    0x1e48, 501,  #
+    0x1e4a, 501,  #
+    0x1e4c, 501,  #
+    0x1e4e, 501,  #
+    0x1e50, 501,  #
+    0x1e52, 501,  #
+    0x1e54, 501,  #
+    0x1e56, 501,  #
+    0x1e58, 501,  #
+    0x1e5a, 501,  #
+    0x1e5c, 501,  #
+    0x1e5e, 501,  #
+    0x1e60, 501,  #
+    0x1e62, 501,  #
+    0x1e64, 501,  #
+    0x1e66, 501,  #
+    0x1e68, 501,  #
+    0x1e6a, 501,  #
+    0x1e6c, 501,  #
+    0x1e6e, 501,  #
+    0x1e70, 501,  #
+    0x1e72, 501,  #
+    0x1e74, 501,  #
+    0x1e76, 501,  #
+    0x1e78, 501,  #
+    0x1e7a, 501,  #
+    0x1e7c, 501,  #
+    0x1e7e, 501,  #
+    0x1e80, 501,  #
+    0x1e82, 501,  #
+    0x1e84, 501,  #
+    0x1e86, 501,  #
+    0x1e88, 501,  #
+    0x1e8a, 501,  #
+    0x1e8c, 501,  #
+    0x1e8e, 501,  #
+    0x1e90, 501,  #
+    0x1e92, 501,  #
+    0x1e94, 501,  #
+    0x1ea0, 501,  #
+    0x1ea2, 501,  #
+    0x1ea4, 501,  #
+    0x1ea6, 501,  #
+    0x1ea8, 501,  #
+    0x1eaa, 501,  #
+    0x1eac, 501,  #
+    0x1eae, 501,  #
+    0x1eb0, 501,  #
+    0x1eb2, 501,  #
+    0x1eb4, 501,  #
+    0x1eb6, 501,  #
+    0x1eb8, 501,  #
+    0x1eba, 501,  #
+    0x1ebc, 501,  #
+    0x1ebe, 501,  #
+    0x1ec0, 501,  #
+    0x1ec2, 501,  #
+    0x1ec4, 501,  #
+    0x1ec6, 501,  #
+    0x1ec8, 501,  #
+    0x1eca, 501,  #
+    0x1ecc, 501,  #
+    0x1ece, 501,  #
+    0x1ed0, 501,  #
+    0x1ed2, 501,  #
+    0x1ed4, 501,  #
+    0x1ed6, 501,  #
+    0x1ed8, 501,  #
+    0x1eda, 501,  #
+    0x1edc, 501,  #
+    0x1ede, 501,  #
+    0x1ee0, 501,  #
+    0x1ee2, 501,  #
+    0x1ee4, 501,  #
+    0x1ee6, 501,  #
+    0x1ee8, 501,  #
+    0x1eea, 501,  #
+    0x1eec, 501,  #
+    0x1eee, 501,  #
+    0x1ef0, 501,  #
+    0x1ef2, 501,  #
+    0x1ef4, 501,  #
+    0x1ef6, 501,  #
+    0x1ef8, 501,  #
+    0x1f59, 492,  #
+    0x1f5b, 492,  #
+    0x1f5d, 492,  #
+    0x1f5f, 492,  #
+    0x1fbc, 491,  #
+    0x1fcc, 491,  #
+    0x1fec, 493,  #
+    0x1ffc, 491]  #
 
   toTitleSinglets = [
-    0x01c4, 501,  #     
-    0x01c6, 499,  #     
-    0x01c7, 501,  #     
-    0x01c9, 499,  #     
-    0x01ca, 501,  #     
-    0x01cc, 499,  #     
-    0x01f1, 501,  #     
-    0x01f3, 499]  #     
+    0x01c4, 501,  #
+    0x01c6, 499,  #
+    0x01c7, 501,  #
+    0x01c9, 499,  #
+    0x01ca, 501,  #
+    0x01cc, 499,  #
+    0x01f1, 501,  #
+    0x01f3, 499]  #
 
-proc binarySearch(c: RuneImpl, tab: openArray[RuneImpl], len, stride: int): int = 
+proc binarySearch(c: RuneImpl, tab: openArray[RuneImpl], len, stride: int): int =
   var n = len
   var t = 0
-  while n > 1: 
+  while n > 1:
     var m = n div 2
     var p = t + m*stride
     if c >= tab[p]:
@@ -1131,9 +1131,9 @@ proc binarySearch(c: RuneImpl, tab: openArray[RuneImpl], len, stride: int): int
     return t
   return -1
 
-proc toLower*(c: Rune): Rune {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} = 
+proc toLower*(c: Rune): Rune {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} =
   ## Converts `c` into lower case. This works for any Unicode character.
-  ## If possible, prefer `toLower` over `toUpper`. 
+  ## If possible, prefer `toLower` over `toUpper`.
   var c = RuneImpl(c)
   var p = binarySearch(c, tolowerRanges, len(tolowerRanges) div 3, 3)
   if p >= 0 and c >= tolowerRanges[p] and c <= tolowerRanges[p+1]:
@@ -1143,9 +1143,9 @@ proc toLower*(c: Rune): Rune {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} =
     return Rune(c + tolowerSinglets[p+1] - 500)
   return Rune(c)
 
-proc toUpper*(c: Rune): Rune {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} = 
+proc toUpper*(c: Rune): Rune {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} =
   ## Converts `c` into upper case. This works for any Unicode character.
-  ## If possible, prefer `toLower` over `toUpper`. 
+  ## If possible, prefer `toLower` over `toUpper`.
   var c = RuneImpl(c)
   var p = binarySearch(c, toupperRanges, len(toupperRanges) div 3, 3)
   if p >= 0 and c >= toupperRanges[p] and c <= toupperRanges[p+1]:
@@ -1155,16 +1155,16 @@ proc toUpper*(c: Rune): Rune {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} =
     return Rune(c + toupperSinglets[p+1] - 500)
   return Rune(c)
 
-proc toTitle*(c: Rune): Rune {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} = 
+proc toTitle*(c: Rune): Rune {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} =
   var c = RuneImpl(c)
   var p = binarySearch(c, toTitleSinglets, len(toTitleSinglets) div 2, 2)
   if p >= 0 and c == toTitleSinglets[p]:
     return Rune(c + toTitleSinglets[p+1] - 500)
   return Rune(c)
 
-proc isLower*(c: Rune): bool {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} = 
+proc isLower*(c: Rune): bool {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} =
   ## returns true iff `c` is a lower case Unicode character
-  ## If possible, prefer `isLower` over `isUpper`. 
+  ## If possible, prefer `isLower` over `isUpper`.
   var c = RuneImpl(c)
   # Note: toUpperRanges is correct here!
   var p = binarySearch(c, toupperRanges, len(toupperRanges) div 3, 3)
@@ -1174,9 +1174,9 @@ proc isLower*(c: Rune): bool {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} =
   if p >= 0 and c == toupperSinglets[p]:
     return true
 
-proc isUpper*(c: Rune): bool {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} = 
+proc isUpper*(c: Rune): bool {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} =
   ## returns true iff `c` is a upper case Unicode character
-  ## If possible, prefer `isLower` over `isUpper`. 
+  ## If possible, prefer `isLower` over `isUpper`.
   var c = RuneImpl(c)
   # Note: toLowerRanges is correct here!
   var p = binarySearch(c, tolowerRanges, len(tolowerRanges) div 3, 3)
@@ -1186,9 +1186,9 @@ proc isUpper*(c: Rune): bool {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} =
   if p >= 0 and c == tolowerSinglets[p]:
     return true
 
-proc isAlpha*(c: Rune): bool {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} = 
+proc isAlpha*(c: Rune): bool {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} =
   ## returns true iff `c` is an *alpha* Unicode character (i.e. a letter)
-  if isUpper(c) or isLower(c): 
+  if isUpper(c) or isLower(c):
     return true
   var c = RuneImpl(c)
   var p = binarySearch(c, alphaRanges, len(alphaRanges) div 2, 2)
@@ -1197,11 +1197,11 @@ proc isAlpha*(c: Rune): bool {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} =
   p = binarySearch(c, alphaSinglets, len(alphaSinglets), 1)
   if p >= 0 and c == alphaSinglets[p]:
     return true
-  
-proc isTitle*(c: Rune): bool {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} = 
+
+proc isTitle*(c: Rune): bool {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} =
   return isUpper(c) and isLower(c)
 
-proc isWhiteSpace*(c: Rune): bool {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} = 
+proc isWhiteSpace*(c: Rune): bool {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} =
   ## returns true iff `c` is a Unicode whitespace character
   var c = RuneImpl(c)
   var p = binarySearch(c, spaceRanges, len(spaceRanges) div 2, 2)
@@ -1228,7 +1228,7 @@ iterator runes*(s: string): Rune =
     fastRuneAt(s, i, result, true)
     yield result
 
-proc cmpRunesIgnoreCase*(a, b: string): int {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} = 
+proc cmpRunesIgnoreCase*(a, b: string): int {.rtl, extern: "nuc$1", procvar.} =
   ## compares two UTF8 strings and ignores the case. Returns:
   ##
   ## | 0 iff a == b
diff --git a/lib/system.nim b/lib/system.nim
index 75d1d40a6..ac6c3a38f 100644
--- a/lib/system.nim
+++ b/lib/system.nim
@@ -76,6 +76,10 @@ type
   void* {.magic: "VoidType".}   ## meta type to denote the absence of any type
   auto* = expr
   any* = distinct auto
+  untyped* {.magic: Expr.} ## meta type to denote an expression that
+                           ## is not resolved (for templates)
+  typed* {.magic: Stmt.}   ## meta type to denote an expression that
+                           ## is resolved (for templates)
 
   SomeSignedInt* = int|int8|int16|int32|int64
     ## type class matching all signed integer types
@@ -173,12 +177,6 @@ proc new*(T: typedesc): ref T =
   ## reference to it as result value
   new(result)
 
-proc unsafeNew*[T](a: var ref T, size: int) {.magic: "New", noSideEffect.}
-  ## creates a new object of type ``T`` and returns a safe (traced)
-  ## reference to it in ``a``. This is **unsafe** as it allocates an object
-  ## of the passed ``size``. This should only be used for optimization
-  ## purposes when you know what you're doing!
-
 proc internalNew*[T](a: var ref T) {.magic: "New", noSideEffect.}
   ## leaked implementation detail. Do not use.
 
@@ -222,13 +220,13 @@ type
   set*{.magic: "Set".}[T]  ## Generic type to construct bit sets.
 
 type
-  Slice* {.final, pure.}[T] = object ## builtin slice type
-    a*, b*: T                        ## the bounds
+  Slice*[T] = object ## builtin slice type
+    a*, b*: T        ## the bounds
 
 when defined(nimalias):
   {.deprecated: [TSlice: Slice].}
 
-proc `..`*[T](a, b: T): Slice[T] {.noSideEffect, inline.} =
+proc `..`*[T](a, b: T): Slice[T] {.noSideEffect, inline, magic: "DotDot".} =
   ## `slice`:idx: operator that constructs an interval ``[a, b]``, both `a`
   ## and `b` are inclusive. Slices can also be used in the set constructor
   ## and in ordinal case statements, but then they are special-cased by the
@@ -236,7 +234,7 @@ proc `..`*[T](a, b: T): Slice[T] {.noSideEffect, inline.} =
   result.a = a
   result.b = b
 
-proc `..`*[T](b: T): Slice[T] {.noSideEffect, inline.} =
+proc `..`*[T](b: T): Slice[T] {.noSideEffect, inline, magic: "DotDot".} =
   ## `slice`:idx: operator that constructs an interval ``[default(T), b]``
   result.b = b
 
@@ -513,7 +511,13 @@ type
   ESynch: Exception
 ].}
 
-proc sizeof*[T](x: T): Natural {.magic: "SizeOf", noSideEffect.}
+proc unsafeNew*[T](a: var ref T, size: Natural) {.magic: "New", noSideEffect.}
+  ## creates a new object of type ``T`` and returns a safe (traced)
+  ## reference to it in ``a``. This is **unsafe** as it allocates an object
+  ## of the passed ``size``. This should only be used for optimization
+  ## purposes when you know what you're doing!
+
+proc sizeof*[T](x: T): int {.magic: "SizeOf", noSideEffect.}
   ## returns the size of ``x`` in bytes. Since this is a low-level proc,
   ## its usage is discouraged - using ``new`` for the most cases suffices
   ## that one never needs to know ``x``'s size. As a special semantic rule,
@@ -547,7 +551,7 @@ proc dec*[T: Ordinal|uint|uint64](x: var T, y = 1) {.magic: "Dec", noSideEffect.
   ## exist, ``EOutOfRange`` is raised or a compile time error occurs. This is a
   ## short notation for: ``x = pred(x, y)``.
 
-proc newSeq*[T](s: var seq[T], len: int) {.magic: "NewSeq", noSideEffect.}
+proc newSeq*[T](s: var seq[T], len: Natural) {.magic: "NewSeq", noSideEffect.}
   ## creates a new sequence of type ``seq[T]`` with length ``len``.
   ## This is equivalent to ``s = @[]; setlen(s, len)``, but more
   ## efficient since no reallocation is needed.
@@ -565,7 +569,7 @@ proc newSeq*[T](s: var seq[T], len: int) {.magic: "NewSeq", noSideEffect.}
   ##   inputStrings[2] = "would crash"
   ##   #inputStrings[3] = "out of bounds"
 
-proc newSeq*[T](len = 0): seq[T] =
+proc newSeq*[T](len = 0.Natural): seq[T] =
   ## creates a new sequence of type ``seq[T]`` with length ``len``.
   ##
   ## Note that the sequence will be filled with zeroed entries, which can be a
@@ -704,6 +708,7 @@ proc `div` *(x, y: int32): int32 {.magic: "DivI", noSideEffect.}
 proc `div` *(x, y: int64): int64 {.magic: "DivI64", noSideEffect.}
   ## computes the integer division. This is roughly the same as
   ## ``floor(x/y)``.
+  ##
   ## .. code-block:: Nim
   ##   1 div 2 == 0
   ##   2 div 2 == 1
@@ -723,6 +728,7 @@ proc `shr` *(x, y: int16): int16 {.magic: "ShrI", noSideEffect.}
 proc `shr` *(x, y: int32): int32 {.magic: "ShrI", noSideEffect.}
 proc `shr` *(x, y: int64): int64 {.magic: "ShrI64", noSideEffect.}
   ## computes the `shift right` operation of `x` and `y`.
+  ##
   ## .. code-block:: Nim
   ##   0b0001_0000'i8 shr 2 == 0b0100_0000'i8
   ##   0b1000_0000'i8 shr 2 == 0b0000_0000'i8
@@ -937,7 +943,7 @@ proc `@` * [IDX, T](a: array[IDX, T]): seq[T] {.
   ## sequences with the array constructor: ``@[1, 2, 3]`` has the type
   ## ``seq[int]``, while ``[1, 2, 3]`` has the type ``array[0..2, int]``.
 
-proc setLen*[T](s: var seq[T], newlen: int) {.
+proc setLen*[T](s: var seq[T], newlen: Natural) {.
   magic: "SetLengthSeq", noSideEffect.}
   ## sets the length of `s` to `newlen`.
   ## ``T`` may be any sequence type.
@@ -945,14 +951,14 @@ proc setLen*[T](s: var seq[T], newlen: int) {.
   ## ``s`` will be truncated. `s` cannot be nil! To initialize a sequence with
   ## a size, use ``newSeq`` instead.
 
-proc setLen*(s: var string, newlen: int) {.
+proc setLen*(s: var string, newlen: Natural) {.
   magic: "SetLengthStr", noSideEffect.}
   ## sets the length of `s` to `newlen`.
   ## If the current length is greater than the new length,
   ## ``s`` will be truncated. `s` cannot be nil! To initialize a string with
   ## a size, use ``newString`` instead.
 
-proc newString*(len: int): string {.
+proc newString*(len: Natural): string {.
   magic: "NewString", importc: "mnewString", noSideEffect.}
   ## returns a new string of length ``len`` but with uninitialized
   ## content. One needs to fill the string character after character
@@ -960,7 +966,7 @@ proc newString*(len: int): string {.
   ## optimization purposes; the same effect can be achieved with the
   ## ``&`` operator or with ``add``.
 
-proc newStringOfCap*(cap: int): string {.
+proc newStringOfCap*(cap: Natural): string {.
   magic: "NewStringOfCap", importc: "rawNewString", noSideEffect.}
   ## returns a new string of length ``0`` but with capacity `cap`.This
   ## procedure exists only for optimization purposes; the same effect can
@@ -1150,21 +1156,21 @@ proc shallowCopy*[T](x: var T, y: T) {.noSideEffect, magic: "ShallowCopy".}
   ## is a reason why the default assignment does a deep copy of sequences
   ## and strings.
 
-proc del*[T](x: var seq[T], i: int) {.noSideEffect.} =
+proc del*[T](x: var seq[T], i: Natural) {.noSideEffect.} =
   ## deletes the item at index `i` by putting ``x[high(x)]`` into position `i`.
   ## This is an O(1) operation.
   let xl = x.len
   shallowCopy(x[i], x[xl-1])
   setLen(x, xl-1)
 
-proc delete*[T](x: var seq[T], i: int) {.noSideEffect.} =
+proc delete*[T](x: var seq[T], i: Natural) {.noSideEffect.} =
   ## deletes the item at index `i` by moving ``x[i+1..]`` by one position.
   ## This is an O(n) operation.
   let xl = x.len
   for j in i..xl-2: shallowCopy(x[j], x[j+1])
   setLen(x, xl-1)
 
-proc insert*[T](x: var seq[T], item: T, i = 0) {.noSideEffect.} =
+proc insert*[T](x: var seq[T], item: T, i = 0.Natural) {.noSideEffect.} =
   ## inserts `item` into `x` at position `i`.
   let xl = x.len
   setLen(x, xl+1)
@@ -1310,19 +1316,19 @@ proc substr*(s: string, first, last: int): string {.
   ## or `limit`:idx: a string's length.
 
 when not defined(nimrodVM):
-  proc zeroMem*(p: pointer, size: int) {.importc, noDecl, benign.}
+  proc zeroMem*(p: pointer, size: Natural) {.importc, noDecl, benign.}
     ## overwrites the contents of the memory at ``p`` with the value 0.
     ## Exactly ``size`` bytes will be overwritten. Like any procedure
     ## dealing with raw memory this is *unsafe*.
 
-  proc copyMem*(dest, source: pointer, size: int) {.
+  proc copyMem*(dest, source: pointer, size: Natural) {.
     importc: "memcpy", header: "<string.h>", benign.}
     ## copies the contents from the memory at ``source`` to the memory
     ## at ``dest``. Exactly ``size`` bytes will be copied. The memory
     ## regions may not overlap. Like any procedure dealing with raw
     ## memory this is *unsafe*.
 
-  proc moveMem*(dest, source: pointer, size: int) {.
+  proc moveMem*(dest, source: pointer, size: Natural) {.
     importc: "memmove", header: "<string.h>", benign.}
     ## copies the contents from the memory at ``source`` to the memory
     ## at ``dest``. Exactly ``size`` bytes will be copied. The memory
@@ -1330,7 +1336,7 @@ when not defined(nimrodVM):
     ## and is thus somewhat more safe than ``copyMem``. Like any procedure
     ## dealing with raw memory this is still *unsafe*, though.
 
-  proc equalMem*(a, b: pointer, size: int): bool {.
+  proc equalMem*(a, b: pointer, size: Natural): bool {.
     importc: "equalMem", noDecl, noSideEffect.}
     ## compares the memory blocks ``a`` and ``b``. ``size`` bytes will
     ## be compared. If the blocks are equal, true is returned, false
@@ -1338,7 +1344,7 @@ when not defined(nimrodVM):
     ## *unsafe*.
 
   when hostOS != "standalone":
-    proc alloc*(size: int): pointer {.noconv, rtl, tags: [], benign.}
+    proc alloc*(size: Natural): pointer {.noconv, rtl, tags: [], benign.}
       ## allocates a new memory block with at least ``size`` bytes. The
       ## block has to be freed with ``realloc(block, 0)`` or
       ## ``dealloc(block)``. The block is not initialized, so reading
@@ -1353,7 +1359,7 @@ when not defined(nimrodVM):
       ## The allocated memory belongs to its allocating thread!
       ## Use `createSharedU` to allocate from a shared heap.
       cast[ptr T](alloc(T.sizeof * size))
-    proc alloc0*(size: int): pointer {.noconv, rtl, tags: [], benign.}
+    proc alloc0*(size: Natural): pointer {.noconv, rtl, tags: [], benign.}
       ## allocates a new memory block with at least ``size`` bytes. The
       ## block has to be freed with ``realloc(block, 0)`` or
       ## ``dealloc(block)``. The block is initialized with all bytes
@@ -1368,8 +1374,8 @@ when not defined(nimrodVM):
       ## The allocated memory belongs to its allocating thread!
       ## Use `createShared` to allocate from a shared heap.
       cast[ptr T](alloc0(T.sizeof * size))
-    proc realloc*(p: pointer, newSize: int): pointer {.noconv, rtl, tags: [],
-                                                       benign.}
+    proc realloc*(p: pointer, newSize: Natural): pointer {.noconv, rtl, tags: [],
+                                                           benign.}
       ## grows or shrinks a given memory block. If p is **nil** then a new
       ## memory block is returned. In either way the block has at least
       ## ``newSize`` bytes. If ``newSize == 0`` and p is not **nil**
@@ -1396,7 +1402,7 @@ when not defined(nimrodVM):
       ## Use `deallocShared` to deallocate from a shared heap.
     proc free*[T](p: ptr T) {.inline, benign.} =
       dealloc(p)
-    proc allocShared*(size: int): pointer {.noconv, rtl, benign.}
+    proc allocShared*(size: Natural): pointer {.noconv, rtl, benign.}
       ## allocates a new memory block on the shared heap with at
       ## least ``size`` bytes. The block has to be freed with
       ## ``reallocShared(block, 0)`` or ``deallocShared(block)``. The block
@@ -1410,7 +1416,7 @@ when not defined(nimrodVM):
       ## is not initialized, so reading from it before writing to it is
       ## undefined behaviour!
       cast[ptr T](allocShared(T.sizeof * size))
-    proc allocShared0*(size: int): pointer {.noconv, rtl, benign.}
+    proc allocShared0*(size: Natural): pointer {.noconv, rtl, benign.}
       ## allocates a new memory block on the shared heap with at
       ## least ``size`` bytes. The block has to be freed with
       ## ``reallocShared(block, 0)`` or ``deallocShared(block)``.
@@ -1423,8 +1429,8 @@ when not defined(nimrodVM):
       ## The block is initialized with all bytes
       ## containing zero, so it is somewhat safer than ``createSharedU``.
       cast[ptr T](allocShared0(T.sizeof * size))
-    proc reallocShared*(p: pointer, newSize: int): pointer {.noconv, rtl,
-                                                             benign.}
+    proc reallocShared*(p: pointer, newSize: Natural): pointer {.noconv, rtl,
+                                                                 benign.}
       ## grows or shrinks a given memory block on the heap. If p is **nil**
       ## then a new memory block is returned. In either way the block has at
       ## least ``newSize`` bytes. If ``newSize == 0`` and p is not **nil**
@@ -1738,6 +1744,12 @@ iterator items*(E: typedesc[enum]): E =
   for v in low(E)..high(E):
     yield v
 
+iterator items*[T](s: Slice[T]): T =
+  ## iterates over the slice `s`, yielding each value between `s.a` and `s.b`
+  ## (inclusively).
+  for x in s.a..s.b:
+    yield x
+
 iterator pairs*[T](a: openArray[T]): tuple[key: int, val: T] {.inline.} =
   ## iterates over each item of `a`. Yields ``(index, a[index])`` pairs.
   var i = 0
@@ -2487,37 +2499,37 @@ when not defined(JS): #and not defined(NimrodVM):
     proc getFileSize*(f: File): int64 {.tags: [ReadIOEffect], benign.}
       ## retrieves the file size (in bytes) of `f`.
 
-    proc readBytes*(f: File, a: var openArray[int8|uint8], start, len: int): int {.
+    proc readBytes*(f: File, a: var openArray[int8|uint8], start, len: Natural): int {.
       tags: [ReadIOEffect], benign.}
       ## reads `len` bytes into the buffer `a` starting at ``a[start]``. Returns
       ## the actual number of bytes that have been read which may be less than
       ## `len` (if not as many bytes are remaining), but not greater.
 
-    proc readChars*(f: File, a: var openArray[char], start, len: int): int {.
+    proc readChars*(f: File, a: var openArray[char], start, len: Natural): int {.
       tags: [ReadIOEffect], benign.}
       ## reads `len` bytes into the buffer `a` starting at ``a[start]``. Returns
       ## the actual number of bytes that have been read which may be less than
       ## `len` (if not as many bytes are remaining), but not greater.
 
-    proc readBuffer*(f: File, buffer: pointer, len: int): int {.
+    proc readBuffer*(f: File, buffer: pointer, len: Natural): int {.
       tags: [ReadIOEffect], benign.}
       ## reads `len` bytes into the buffer pointed to by `buffer`. Returns
       ## the actual number of bytes that have been read which may be less than
       ## `len` (if not as many bytes are remaining), but not greater.
 
-    proc writeBytes*(f: File, a: openArray[int8|uint8], start, len: int): int {.
+    proc writeBytes*(f: File, a: openArray[int8|uint8], start, len: Natural): int {.
       tags: [WriteIOEffect], benign.}
       ## writes the bytes of ``a[start..start+len-1]`` to the file `f`. Returns
       ## the number of actual written bytes, which may be less than `len` in case
       ## of an error.
 
-    proc writeChars*(f: File, a: openArray[char], start, len: int): int {.
+    proc writeChars*(f: File, a: openArray[char], start, len: Natural): int {.
       tags: [WriteIOEffect], benign.}
       ## writes the bytes of ``a[start..start+len-1]`` to the file `f`. Returns
       ## the number of actual written bytes, which may be less than `len` in case
       ## of an error.
 
-    proc writeBuffer*(f: File, buffer: pointer, len: int): int {.
+    proc writeBuffer*(f: File, buffer: pointer, len: Natural): int {.
       tags: [WriteIOEffect], benign.}
       ## writes the bytes of buffer pointed to by the parameter `buffer` to the
       ## file `f`. Returns the number of actual written bytes, which may be less
@@ -2539,7 +2551,7 @@ when not defined(JS): #and not defined(NimrodVM):
     when not defined(nimfix):
       {.deprecated: [fileHandle: getFileHandle].}
 
-    proc cstringArrayToSeq*(a: cstringArray, len: int): seq[string] =
+    proc cstringArrayToSeq*(a: cstringArray, len: Natural): seq[string] =
       ## converts a ``cstringArray`` to a ``seq[string]``. `a` is supposed to be
       ## of length ``len``.
       newSeq(result, len)
@@ -2809,14 +2821,14 @@ elif defined(JS):
   proc getTotalMem(): int = return -1
 
   proc dealloc(p: pointer) = discard
-  proc alloc(size: int): pointer = discard
-  proc alloc0(size: int): pointer = discard
-  proc realloc(p: pointer, newsize: int): pointer = discard
+  proc alloc(size: Natural): pointer = discard
+  proc alloc0(size: Natural): pointer = discard
+  proc realloc(p: pointer, newsize: Natural): pointer = discard
 
-  proc allocShared(size: int): pointer = discard
-  proc allocShared0(size: int): pointer = discard
+  proc allocShared(size: Natural): pointer = discard
+  proc allocShared0(size: Natural): pointer = discard
   proc deallocShared(p: pointer) = discard
-  proc reallocShared(p: pointer, newsize: int): pointer = discard
+  proc reallocShared(p: pointer, newsize: Natural): pointer = discard
 
   when defined(JS):
     include "system/jssys"
@@ -2864,28 +2876,27 @@ template spliceImpl(s, a, L, b: expr): stmt {.immediate.} =
 
 when hostOS != "standalone":
   proc `[]`*(s: string, x: Slice[int]): string {.inline.} =
-    ## slice operation for strings. Negative indexes are supported.
-    result = s.substr(x.a-|s, x.b-|s)
+    ## slice operation for strings.
+    result = s.substr(x.a, x.b)
 
   proc `[]=`*(s: var string, x: Slice[int], b: string) =
-    ## slice assignment for strings. Negative indexes are supported. If
+    ## slice assignment for strings. If
     ## ``b.len`` is not exactly the number of elements that are referred to
     ## by `x`, a `splice`:idx: is performed:
     ##
     ## .. code-block:: nim
     ##   var s = "abcdef"
-    ##   s[1 .. -2] = "xyz"
+    ##   s[1 .. ^2] = "xyz"
     ##   assert s == "axyzf"
-    var a = x.a-|s
-    var L = x.b-|s - a + 1
+    var a = x.a
+    var L = x.b - a + 1
     if L == b.len:
       for i in 0 .. <L: s[i+a] = b[i]
     else:
       spliceImpl(s, a, L, b)
 
 proc `[]`*[Idx, T](a: array[Idx, T], x: Slice[int]): seq[T] =
-  ## slice operation for arrays. Negative indexes are **not** supported
-  ## because the array might have negative bounds.
+  ## slice operation for arrays.
   when low(a) < 0:
     {.error: "Slicing for arrays with negative indices is unsupported.".}
   var L = x.b - x.a + 1
@@ -2893,8 +2904,7 @@ proc `[]`*[Idx, T](a: array[Idx, T], x: Slice[int]): seq[T] =
   for i in 0.. <L: result[i] = a[i + x.a]
 
 proc `[]=`*[Idx, T](a: var array[Idx, T], x: Slice[int], b: openArray[T]) =
-  ## slice assignment for arrays. Negative indexes are **not** supported
-  ## because the array might have negative bounds.
+  ## slice assignment for arrays.
   when low(a) < 0:
     {.error: "Slicing for arrays with negative indices is unsupported.".}
   var L = x.b - x.a + 1
@@ -2904,16 +2914,14 @@ proc `[]=`*[Idx, T](a: var array[Idx, T], x: Slice[int], b: openArray[T]) =
     sysFatal(RangeError, "different lengths for slice assignment")
 
 proc `[]`*[Idx, T](a: array[Idx, T], x: Slice[Idx]): seq[T] =
-  ## slice operation for arrays. Negative indexes are **not** supported
-  ## because the array might have negative bounds.
+  ## slice operation for arrays.
   var L = ord(x.b) - ord(x.a) + 1
   newSeq(result, L)
   for i in 0.. <L:
     result[i] = a[Idx(ord(x.a) + i)]
 
 proc `[]=`*[Idx, T](a: var array[Idx, T], x: Slice[Idx], b: openArray[T]) =
-  ## slice assignment for arrays. Negative indexes are **not** supported
-  ## because the array might have negative bounds.
+  ## slice assignment for arrays.
   var L = ord(x.b) - ord(x.a) + 1
   if L == b.len:
     for i in 0 .. <L:
@@ -2922,18 +2930,18 @@ proc `[]=`*[Idx, T](a: var array[Idx, T], x: Slice[Idx], b: openArray[T]) =
     sysFatal(RangeError, "different lengths for slice assignment")
 
 proc `[]`*[T](s: seq[T], x: Slice[int]): seq[T] =
-  ## slice operation for sequences. Negative indexes are supported.
-  var a = x.a-|s
-  var L = x.b-|s - a + 1
+  ## slice operation for sequences.
+  var a = x.a
+  var L = x.b - a + 1
   newSeq(result, L)
   for i in 0.. <L: result[i] = s[i + a]
 
 proc `[]=`*[T](s: var seq[T], x: Slice[int], b: openArray[T]) =
-  ## slice assignment for sequences. Negative indexes are supported. If
+  ## slice assignment for sequences. If
   ## ``b.len`` is not exactly the number of elements that are referred to
   ## by `x`, a `splice`:idx: is performed.
-  var a = x.a-|s
-  var L = x.b-|s - a + 1
+  var a = x.a
+  var L = x.b - a + 1
   if L == b.len:
     for i in 0 .. <L: s[i+a] = b[i]
   else:
@@ -3032,8 +3040,8 @@ proc instantiationInfo*(index = -1, fullPaths = false): tuple[
   ##     result = a[pos]
   ##
   ##   when isMainModule:
-  ##     testException(EInvalidIndex, tester(30))
-  ##     testException(EInvalidIndex, tester(1))
+  ##     testException(IndexError, tester(30))
+  ##     testException(IndexError, tester(1))
   ##     # --> Test failure at example.nim:20 with 'tester(1)'
 
 template currentSourcePath*: string = instantiationInfo(-1, true).filename
@@ -3042,13 +3050,12 @@ template currentSourcePath*: string = instantiationInfo(-1, true).filename
 proc raiseAssert*(msg: string) {.noinline.} =
   sysFatal(AssertionError, msg)
 
-when true:
-  proc failedAssertImpl*(msg: string) {.raises: [], tags: [].} =
-    # trick the compiler to not list ``EAssertionFailed`` when called
-    # by ``assert``.
-    type THide = proc (msg: string) {.noinline, raises: [], noSideEffect,
-                                      tags: [].}
-    THide(raiseAssert)(msg)
+proc failedAssertImpl*(msg: string) {.raises: [], tags: [].} =
+  # trick the compiler to not list ``AssertionError`` when called
+  # by ``assert``.
+  type THide = proc (msg: string) {.noinline, raises: [], noSideEffect,
+                                    tags: [].}
+  THide(raiseAssert)(msg)
 
 template assert*(cond: bool, msg = "") =
   ## Raises ``AssertionError`` with `msg` if `cond` is false. Note
@@ -3113,24 +3120,18 @@ when not defined(nimhygiene):
 
 template onFailedAssert*(msg: expr, code: stmt): stmt {.dirty, immediate.} =
   ## Sets an assertion failure handler that will intercept any assert
-  ## statements following `onFailedAssert` in the current lexical scope.
-  ## Can be defined multiple times in a single function.
+  ## statements following `onFailedAssert` in the current module scope.
   ##
   ## .. code-block:: nim
-  ##
-  ##   proc example(x: int): TErrorCode =
-  ##     onFailedAssert(msg):
-  ##       log msg
-  ##       return E_FAIL
-  ##
-  ##     assert(...)
-  ##
-  ##     onFailedAssert(msg):
-  ##       raise newException(EMyException, msg)
-  ##
-  ##     assert(...)
-  ##
-  template failedAssertImpl(msgIMPL: string): stmt {.dirty, immediate.} =
+  ##  # module-wide policy to change the failed assert
+  ##  # exception type in order to include a lineinfo
+  ##  onFailedAssert(msg):
+  ##    var e = new(TMyError)
+  ##    e.msg = msg
+  ##    e.lineinfo = instantiationInfo(-2)
+  ##    raise e
+  ##
+  template failedAssertImpl(msgIMPL: string): stmt {.dirty.} =
     let msg = msgIMPL
     code
 
@@ -3166,7 +3167,7 @@ when false:
     payload()
 
 when hostOS != "standalone":
-  proc insert*(x: var string, item: string, i = 0) {.noSideEffect.} =
+  proc insert*(x: var string, item: string, i = 0.Natural) {.noSideEffect.} =
     ## inserts `item` into `x` at position `i`.
     var xl = x.len
     setLen(x, xl+item.len)
@@ -3247,4 +3248,12 @@ proc procCall*(x: expr) {.magic: "ProcCall".} =
   ##   procCall someMethod(a, b)
   discard
 
+proc `^`*(x: int): int {.noSideEffect, magic: "Roof".} =
+  ## builtin `roof`:idx: operator that can be used for convenient array access.
+  ## ``a[^x]`` is rewritten to ``a[a.len-x]``. However currently the ``a``
+  ## expression must not have side effects for this to compile. Note that since
+  ## this is a builtin, it automatically works for all kinds of
+  ## overloaded ``[]`` or ``[]=`` accessors.
+  discard
+
 {.pop.} #{.push warning[GcMem]: off.}
diff --git a/lib/system/alloc.nim b/lib/system/alloc.nim
index fd3ced832..ad3419808 100644
--- a/lib/system/alloc.nim
+++ b/lib/system/alloc.nim
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #
 
 # Low level allocator for Nim. Has been designed to support the GC.
-# TODO: 
+# TODO:
 # - eliminate "used" field
 # - make searching for block O(1)
 {.push profiler:off.}
@@ -21,37 +21,37 @@
 # used with a size of 0:
 const weirdUnmap = not (defined(amd64) or defined(i386)) or defined(windows)
 
-when defined(posix): 
+when defined(posix):
   const
-    PROT_READ  = 1             # page can be read 
-    PROT_WRITE = 2             # page can be written 
-    MAP_PRIVATE = 2'i32        # Changes are private 
-  
+    PROT_READ  = 1             # page can be read
+    PROT_WRITE = 2             # page can be written
+    MAP_PRIVATE = 2'i32        # Changes are private
+
   when defined(macosx) or defined(bsd):
     const MAP_ANONYMOUS = 0x1000
-  elif defined(solaris): 
+  elif defined(solaris):
     const MAP_ANONYMOUS = 0x100
   else:
     var
       MAP_ANONYMOUS {.importc: "MAP_ANONYMOUS", header: "<sys/mman.h>".}: cint
-    
+
   proc mmap(adr: pointer, len: int, prot, flags, fildes: cint,
             off: int): pointer {.header: "<sys/mman.h>".}
 
   proc munmap(adr: pointer, len: int) {.header: "<sys/mman.h>".}
-  
-  proc osAllocPages(size: int): pointer {.inline.} = 
-    result = mmap(nil, size, PROT_READ or PROT_WRITE, 
+
+  proc osAllocPages(size: int): pointer {.inline.} =
+    result = mmap(nil, size, PROT_READ or PROT_WRITE,
                              MAP_PRIVATE or MAP_ANONYMOUS, -1, 0)
     if result == nil or result == cast[pointer](-1):
       raiseOutOfMem()
-      
+
   proc osDeallocPages(p: pointer, size: int) {.inline} =
     when reallyOsDealloc: munmap(p, size)
-  
-elif defined(windows): 
+
+elif defined(windows):
   const
-    MEM_RESERVE = 0x2000 
+    MEM_RESERVE = 0x2000
     MEM_COMMIT = 0x1000
     MEM_TOP_DOWN = 0x100000
     PAGE_READWRITE = 0x04
@@ -62,12 +62,12 @@ elif defined(windows):
   proc virtualAlloc(lpAddress: pointer, dwSize: int, flAllocationType,
                     flProtect: int32): pointer {.
                     header: "<windows.h>", stdcall, importc: "VirtualAlloc".}
-  
-  proc virtualFree(lpAddress: pointer, dwSize: int, 
+
+  proc virtualFree(lpAddress: pointer, dwSize: int,
                    dwFreeType: int32) {.header: "<windows.h>", stdcall,
                    importc: "VirtualFree".}
-  
-  proc osAllocPages(size: int): pointer {.inline.} = 
+
+  proc osAllocPages(size: int): pointer {.inline.} =
     result = virtualAlloc(nil, size, MEM_RESERVE or MEM_COMMIT,
                           PAGE_READWRITE)
     if result == nil: raiseOutOfMem()
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ elif defined(windows):
     when reallyOsDealloc: virtualFree(p, 0, MEM_RELEASE)
     #VirtualFree(p, size, MEM_DECOMMIT)
 
-else: 
+else:
   {.error: "Port memory manager to your platform".}
 
 # --------------------- end of non-portable code -----------------------------
@@ -97,17 +97,17 @@ const
   InitialMemoryRequest = ChunkOsReturn div 2 # < ChunkOsReturn!
   SmallChunkSize = PageSize
 
-type 
+type
   PTrunk = ptr TTrunk
-  TTrunk {.final.} = object 
+  TTrunk {.final.} = object
     next: PTrunk         # all nodes are connected with this pointer
     key: int             # start address at bit 0
     bits: array[0..IntsPerTrunk-1, int] # a bit vector
-  
+
   TTrunkBuckets = array[0..255, PTrunk]
-  TIntSet {.final.} = object 
+  TIntSet {.final.} = object
     data: TTrunkBuckets
-  
+
 type
   TAlignType = BiggestFloat
   TFreeCell {.final, pure.} = object
@@ -123,14 +123,14 @@ type
     prevSize: int        # size of previous chunk; for coalescing
     size: int            # if < PageSize it is a small chunk
     used: bool           # later will be optimized into prevSize...
-  
+
   TSmallChunk = object of TBaseChunk
     next, prev: PSmallChunk  # chunks of the same size
     freeList: ptr TFreeCell
-    free: int            # how many bytes remain    
+    free: int            # how many bytes remain
     acc: int             # accumulator for small object allocation
     data: TAlignType     # start of usable memory
-  
+
   TBigChunk = object of TBaseChunk # not necessarily > PageSize!
     next, prev: PBigChunk    # chunks of the same (or bigger) size
     align: int
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ type
 template smallChunkOverhead(): expr = sizeof(TSmallChunk)-sizeof(TAlignType)
 template bigChunkOverhead(): expr = sizeof(TBigChunk)-sizeof(TAlignType)
 
-proc roundup(x, v: int): int {.inline.} = 
+proc roundup(x, v: int): int {.inline.} =
   result = (x + (v-1)) and not (v-1)
   sysAssert(result >= x, "roundup: result < x")
   #return ((-x) and (v-1)) +% x
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ sysAssert(roundup(65, 8) == 72, "roundup broken 2")
 # endings of big chunks. This is needed by the merging operation. The only
 # remaining operation is best-fit for big chunks. Since there is a size-limit
 # for big chunks (because greater than the limit means they are returned back
-# to the OS), a fixed size array can be used. 
+# to the OS), a fixed size array can be used.
 
 type
   PLLChunk = ptr TLLChunk
@@ -163,21 +163,21 @@ type
     next: PLLChunk           # next low-level chunk; only needed for dealloc
 
   PAvlNode = ptr TAvlNode
-  TAvlNode {.pure, final.} = object 
-    link: array[0..1, PAvlNode] # Left (0) and right (1) links 
+  TAvlNode {.pure, final.} = object
+    link: array[0..1, PAvlNode] # Left (0) and right (1) links
     key, upperBound: int
     level: int
-    
+
   TMemRegion {.final, pure.} = object
     minLargeObj, maxLargeObj: int
     freeSmallChunks: array[0..SmallChunkSize div MemAlign-1, PSmallChunk]
     llmem: PLLChunk
     currMem, maxMem, freeMem: int # memory sizes (allocated from OS)
-    lastSize: int # needed for the case that OS gives us pages linearly 
+    lastSize: int # needed for the case that OS gives us pages linearly
     freeChunksList: PBigChunk # XXX make this a datastructure with O(1) access
     chunkStarts: TIntSet
     root, deleted, last, freeAvlNodes: PAvlNode
-  
+
 # shared:
 var
   bottomData: TAvlNode
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ proc initAllocator() =
     bottom.link[1] = bottom
 {.pop.}
 
-proc incCurrMem(a: var TMemRegion, bytes: int) {.inline.} = 
+proc incCurrMem(a: var TMemRegion, bytes: int) {.inline.} =
   inc(a.currMem, bytes)
 
 proc decCurrMem(a: var TMemRegion, bytes: int) {.inline.} =
@@ -199,11 +199,11 @@ proc decCurrMem(a: var TMemRegion, bytes: int) {.inline.} =
   dec(a.currMem, bytes)
 
 proc getMaxMem(a: var TMemRegion): int =
-  # Since we update maxPagesCount only when freeing pages, 
+  # Since we update maxPagesCount only when freeing pages,
   # maxPagesCount may not be up to date. Thus we use the
   # maximum of these both values here:
   result = max(a.currMem, a.maxMem)
-  
+
 proc llAlloc(a: var TMemRegion, size: int): pointer =
   # *low-level* alloc for the memory managers data structures. Deallocation
   # is done at he end of the allocator's life time.
@@ -251,15 +251,15 @@ proc llDeallocAll(a: var TMemRegion) =
     var next = it.next
     osDeallocPages(it, PageSize)
     it = next
-  
-proc intSetGet(t: TIntSet, key: int): PTrunk = 
+
+proc intSetGet(t: TIntSet, key: int): PTrunk =
   var it = t.data[key and high(t.data)]
-  while it != nil: 
+  while it != nil:
     if it.key == key: return it
     it = it.next
   result = nil
 
-proc intSetPut(a: var TMemRegion, t: var TIntSet, key: int): PTrunk = 
+proc intSetPut(a: var TMemRegion, t: var TIntSet, key: int): PTrunk =
   result = intSetGet(t, key)
   if result == nil:
     result = cast[PTrunk](llAlloc(a, sizeof(result[])))
@@ -267,20 +267,20 @@ proc intSetPut(a: var TMemRegion, t: var TIntSet, key: int): PTrunk =
     t.data[key and high(t.data)] = result
     result.key = key
 
-proc contains(s: TIntSet, key: int): bool = 
+proc contains(s: TIntSet, key: int): bool =
   var t = intSetGet(s, key shr TrunkShift)
-  if t != nil: 
+  if t != nil:
     var u = key and TrunkMask
     result = (t.bits[u shr IntShift] and (1 shl (u and IntMask))) != 0
-  else: 
+  else:
     result = false
-  
-proc incl(a: var TMemRegion, s: var TIntSet, key: int) = 
+
+proc incl(a: var TMemRegion, s: var TIntSet, key: int) =
   var t = intSetPut(a, s, key shr TrunkShift)
   var u = key and TrunkMask
   t.bits[u shr IntShift] = t.bits[u shr IntShift] or (1 shl (u and IntMask))
 
-proc excl(s: var TIntSet, key: int) = 
+proc excl(s: var TIntSet, key: int) =
   var t = intSetGet(s, key shr TrunkShift)
   if t != nil:
     var u = key and TrunkMask
@@ -304,11 +304,11 @@ iterator elements(t: TIntSet): int {.inline.} =
           w = w shr 1
         inc(i)
       r = r.next
-  
-proc isSmallChunk(c: PChunk): bool {.inline.} = 
+
+proc isSmallChunk(c: PChunk): bool {.inline.} =
   return c.size <= SmallChunkSize-smallChunkOverhead()
-  
-proc chunkUnused(c: PChunk): bool {.inline.} = 
+
+proc chunkUnused(c: PChunk): bool {.inline.} =
   result = not c.used
 
 iterator allObjects(m: TMemRegion): pointer {.inline.} =
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ iterator allObjects(m: TMemRegion): pointer {.inline.} =
       if not chunkUnused(c):
         if isSmallChunk(c):
           var c = cast[PSmallChunk](c)
-          
+
           let size = c.size
           var a = cast[ByteAddress](addr(c.data))
           let limit = a + c.acc
@@ -334,17 +334,17 @@ proc isCell(p: pointer): bool {.inline.} =
   result = cast[ptr TFreeCell](p).zeroField >% 1
 
 # ------------- chunk management ----------------------------------------------
-proc pageIndex(c: PChunk): int {.inline.} = 
+proc pageIndex(c: PChunk): int {.inline.} =
   result = cast[ByteAddress](c) shr PageShift
 
-proc pageIndex(p: pointer): int {.inline.} = 
+proc pageIndex(p: pointer): int {.inline.} =
   result = cast[ByteAddress](p) shr PageShift
 
-proc pageAddr(p: pointer): PChunk {.inline.} = 
+proc pageAddr(p: pointer): PChunk {.inline.} =
   result = cast[PChunk](cast[ByteAddress](p) and not PageMask)
   #sysAssert(Contains(allocator.chunkStarts, pageIndex(result)))
 
-proc requestOsChunks(a: var TMemRegion, size: int): PBigChunk = 
+proc requestOsChunks(a: var TMemRegion, size: int): PBigChunk =
   incCurrMem(a, size)
   inc(a.freeMem, size)
   result = cast[PBigChunk](osAllocPages(size))
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ proc requestOsChunks(a: var TMemRegion, size: int): PBigChunk =
     result.prevSize = 0 # unknown
   a.lastSize = size # for next request
 
-proc freeOsChunks(a: var TMemRegion, p: pointer, size: int) = 
+proc freeOsChunks(a: var TMemRegion, p: pointer, size: int) =
   # update next.prevSize:
   var c = cast[PChunk](p)
   var nxt = cast[ByteAddress](p) +% c.size
@@ -387,36 +387,36 @@ proc freeOsChunks(a: var TMemRegion, p: pointer, size: int) =
   dec(a.freeMem, size)
   #c_fprintf(c_stdout, "[Alloc] back to OS: %ld\n", size)
 
-proc isAccessible(a: TMemRegion, p: pointer): bool {.inline.} = 
+proc isAccessible(a: TMemRegion, p: pointer): bool {.inline.} =
   result = contains(a.chunkStarts, pageIndex(p))
 
-proc contains[T](list, x: T): bool = 
+proc contains[T](list, x: T): bool =
   var it = list
   while it != nil:
     if it == x: return true
     it = it.next
-    
+
 proc writeFreeList(a: TMemRegion) =
   var it = a.freeChunksList
   c_fprintf(c_stdout, "freeChunksList: %p\n", it)
-  while it != nil: 
-    c_fprintf(c_stdout, "it: %p, next: %p, prev: %p\n", 
+  while it != nil:
+    c_fprintf(c_stdout, "it: %p, next: %p, prev: %p\n",
               it, it.next, it.prev)
     it = it.next
 
-proc listAdd[T](head: var T, c: T) {.inline.} = 
+proc listAdd[T](head: var T, c: T) {.inline.} =
   sysAssert(c notin head, "listAdd 1")
   sysAssert c.prev == nil, "listAdd 2"
   sysAssert c.next == nil, "listAdd 3"
   c.next = head
-  if head != nil: 
+  if head != nil:
     sysAssert head.prev == nil, "listAdd 4"
     head.prev = c
   head = c
 
 proc listRemove[T](head: var T, c: T) {.inline.} =
   sysAssert(c in head, "listRemove")
-  if c == head: 
+  if c == head:
     head = c.next
     sysAssert c.prev == nil, "listRemove 2"
     if head != nil: head.prev = nil
@@ -426,15 +426,15 @@ proc listRemove[T](head: var T, c: T) {.inline.} =
     if c.next != nil: c.next.prev = c.prev
   c.next = nil
   c.prev = nil
-  
-proc updatePrevSize(a: var TMemRegion, c: PBigChunk, 
-                    prevSize: int) {.inline.} = 
+
+proc updatePrevSize(a: var TMemRegion, c: PBigChunk,
+                    prevSize: int) {.inline.} =
   var ri = cast[PChunk](cast[ByteAddress](c) +% c.size)
   sysAssert((cast[ByteAddress](ri) and PageMask) == 0, "updatePrevSize")
   if isAccessible(a, ri):
     ri.prevSize = prevSize
-  
-proc freeBigChunk(a: var TMemRegion, c: PBigChunk) = 
+
+proc freeBigChunk(a: var TMemRegion, c: PBigChunk) =
   var c = c
   sysAssert(c.size >= PageSize, "freeBigChunk")
   inc(a.freeMem, c.size)
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ proc freeBigChunk(a: var TMemRegion, c: PBigChunk) =
         inc(c.size, ri.size)
         excl(a.chunkStarts, pageIndex(ri))
   when coalescLeft:
-    if c.prevSize != 0: 
+    if c.prevSize != 0:
       var le = cast[PChunk](cast[ByteAddress](c) -% c.prevSize)
       sysAssert((cast[ByteAddress](le) and PageMask) == 0, "freeBigChunk 4")
       if isAccessible(a, le) and chunkUnused(le):
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ proc freeBigChunk(a: var TMemRegion, c: PBigChunk) =
   else:
     freeOsChunks(a, c, c.size)
 
-proc splitChunk(a: var TMemRegion, c: PBigChunk, size: int) = 
+proc splitChunk(a: var TMemRegion, c: PBigChunk, size: int) =
   var rest = cast[PBigChunk](cast[ByteAddress](c) +% size)
   sysAssert(rest notin a.freeChunksList, "splitChunk")
   rest.size = c.size - size
@@ -480,7 +480,7 @@ proc splitChunk(a: var TMemRegion, c: PBigChunk, size: int) =
   incl(a, a.chunkStarts, pageIndex(rest))
   listAdd(a.freeChunksList, rest)
 
-proc getBigChunk(a: var TMemRegion, size: int): PBigChunk = 
+proc getBigChunk(a: var TMemRegion, size: int): PBigChunk =
   # use first fit for now:
   sysAssert((size and PageMask) == 0, "getBigChunk 1")
   sysAssert(size > 0, "getBigChunk 2")
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ proc getBigChunk(a: var TMemRegion, size: int): PBigChunk =
   block search:
     while result != nil:
       sysAssert chunkUnused(result), "getBigChunk 3"
-      if result.size == size: 
+      if result.size == size:
         listRemove(a.freeChunksList, result)
         break search
       elif result.size > size:
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ proc getBigChunk(a: var TMemRegion, size: int): PBigChunk =
         break search
       result = result.next
       sysAssert result != a.freeChunksList, "getBigChunk 4"
-    if size < InitialMemoryRequest: 
+    if size < InitialMemoryRequest:
       result = requestOsChunks(a, InitialMemoryRequest)
       splitChunk(a, result, size)
     else:
@@ -507,7 +507,7 @@ proc getBigChunk(a: var TMemRegion, size: int): PBigChunk =
   incl(a, a.chunkStarts, pageIndex(result))
   dec(a.freeMem, size)
 
-proc getSmallChunk(a: var TMemRegion): PSmallChunk = 
+proc getSmallChunk(a: var TMemRegion): PSmallChunk =
   var res = getBigChunk(a, PageSize)
   sysAssert res.prev == nil, "getSmallChunk 1"
   sysAssert res.next == nil, "getSmallChunk 2"
@@ -521,15 +521,15 @@ proc allocInv(a: TMemRegion): bool =
   for s in low(a.freeSmallChunks)..high(a.freeSmallChunks):
     var c = a.freeSmallChunks[s]
     while c != nil:
-      if c.next == c: 
+      if c.next == c:
         echo "[SYSASSERT] c.next == c"
         return false
-      if c.size != s * MemAlign: 
+      if c.size != s * MemAlign:
         echo "[SYSASSERT] c.size != s * MemAlign"
         return false
       var it = c.freeList
       while it != nil:
-        if it.zeroField != 0: 
+        if it.zeroField != 0:
           echo "[SYSASSERT] it.zeroField != 0"
           c_printf("%ld %p\n", it.zeroField, it)
           return false
@@ -539,16 +539,16 @@ proc allocInv(a: TMemRegion): bool =
 
 proc rawAlloc(a: var TMemRegion, requestedSize: int): pointer =
   sysAssert(allocInv(a), "rawAlloc: begin")
-  sysAssert(roundup(65, 8) == 72, "rawAlloc 1")
-  sysAssert requestedSize >= sizeof(TFreeCell), "rawAlloc 2"
+  sysAssert(roundup(65, 8) == 72, "rawAlloc: roundup broken")
+  sysAssert(requestedSize >= sizeof(TFreeCell), "rawAlloc: requested size too small")
   var size = roundup(requestedSize, MemAlign)
   sysAssert(size >= requestedSize, "insufficient allocated size!")
   #c_fprintf(c_stdout, "alloc; size: %ld; %ld\n", requestedSize, size)
-  if size <= SmallChunkSize-smallChunkOverhead(): 
+  if size <= SmallChunkSize-smallChunkOverhead():
     # allocate a small block: for small chunks, we use only its next pointer
     var s = size div MemAlign
     var c = a.freeSmallChunks[s]
-    if c == nil: 
+    if c == nil:
       c = getSmallChunk(a)
       c.freeList = nil
       sysAssert c.size == PageSize, "rawAlloc 3"
@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ proc rawAlloc(a: var TMemRegion, requestedSize: int): pointer =
       #  c_fprintf(c_stdout, "csize: %lld; size %lld\n", c.size, size)
       sysAssert c.size == size, "rawAlloc 6"
       if c.freeList == nil:
-        sysAssert(c.acc + smallChunkOverhead() + size <= SmallChunkSize, 
+        sysAssert(c.acc + smallChunkOverhead() + size <= SmallChunkSize,
                   "rawAlloc 7")
         result = cast[pointer](cast[ByteAddress](addr(c.data)) +% c.acc)
         inc(c.acc, size)
@@ -621,9 +621,9 @@ proc rawDealloc(a: var TMemRegion, p: pointer) =
     f.zeroField = 0
     f.next = c.freeList
     c.freeList = f
-    when overwriteFree: 
+    when overwriteFree:
       # set to 0xff to check for usage after free bugs:
-      c_memset(cast[pointer](cast[int](p) +% sizeof(TFreeCell)), -1'i32, 
+      c_memset(cast[pointer](cast[int](p) +% sizeof(TFreeCell)), -1'i32,
                s -% sizeof(TFreeCell))
     # check if it is not in the freeSmallChunks[s] list:
     if c.free < s:
@@ -649,13 +649,13 @@ proc rawDealloc(a: var TMemRegion, p: pointer) =
   sysAssert(allocInv(a), "rawDealloc: end")
   when logAlloc: cprintf("rawDealloc: %p\n", p)
 
-proc isAllocatedPtr(a: TMemRegion, p: pointer): bool = 
+proc isAllocatedPtr(a: TMemRegion, p: pointer): bool =
   if isAccessible(a, p):
     var c = pageAddr(p)
     if not chunkUnused(c):
       if isSmallChunk(c):
         var c = cast[PSmallChunk](c)
-        var offset = (cast[ByteAddress](p) and (PageSize-1)) -% 
+        var offset = (cast[ByteAddress](p) and (PageSize-1)) -%
                      smallChunkOverhead()
         result = (c.acc >% offset) and (offset %% c.size == 0) and
           (cast[ptr TFreeCell](p).zeroField >% 1)
@@ -673,12 +673,12 @@ proc interiorAllocatedPtr(a: TMemRegion, p: pointer): pointer =
     if not chunkUnused(c):
       if isSmallChunk(c):
         var c = cast[PSmallChunk](c)
-        var offset = (cast[ByteAddress](p) and (PageSize-1)) -% 
+        var offset = (cast[ByteAddress](p) and (PageSize-1)) -%
                      smallChunkOverhead()
         if c.acc >% offset:
           sysAssert(cast[ByteAddress](addr(c.data)) +% offset ==
                     cast[ByteAddress](p), "offset is not what you think it is")
-          var d = cast[ptr TFreeCell](cast[ByteAddress](addr(c.data)) +% 
+          var d = cast[ptr TFreeCell](cast[ByteAddress](addr(c.data)) +%
                     offset -% (offset %% c.size))
           if d.zeroField >% 1:
             result = d
@@ -711,13 +711,13 @@ proc ptrSize(p: pointer): int =
   if not isSmallChunk(c):
     dec result, bigChunkOverhead()
 
-proc alloc(allocator: var TMemRegion, size: int): pointer =
+proc alloc(allocator: var TMemRegion, size: Natural): pointer =
   result = rawAlloc(allocator, size+sizeof(TFreeCell))
   cast[ptr TFreeCell](result).zeroField = 1 # mark it as used
   sysAssert(not isAllocatedPtr(allocator, result), "alloc")
   result = cast[pointer](cast[ByteAddress](result) +% sizeof(TFreeCell))
 
-proc alloc0(allocator: var TMemRegion, size: int): pointer =
+proc alloc0(allocator: var TMemRegion, size: Natural): pointer =
   result = alloc(allocator, size)
   zeroMem(result, size)
 
@@ -730,7 +730,7 @@ proc dealloc(allocator: var TMemRegion, p: pointer) =
   rawDealloc(allocator, x)
   sysAssert(not isAllocatedPtr(allocator, x), "dealloc 3")
 
-proc realloc(allocator: var TMemRegion, p: pointer, newsize: int): pointer =
+proc realloc(allocator: var TMemRegion, p: pointer, newsize: Natural): pointer =
   if newsize > 0:
     result = alloc0(allocator, newsize)
     if p != nil:
@@ -758,7 +758,7 @@ proc deallocOsPages(a: var TMemRegion) =
 
 proc getFreeMem(a: TMemRegion): int {.inline.} = result = a.freeMem
 proc getTotalMem(a: TMemRegion): int {.inline.} = result = a.currMem
-proc getOccupiedMem(a: TMemRegion): int {.inline.} = 
+proc getOccupiedMem(a: TMemRegion): int {.inline.} =
   result = a.currMem - a.freeMem
 
 # ---------------------- thread memory region -------------------------------
@@ -774,16 +774,16 @@ template instantiateForRegion(allocator: expr) =
 
   proc deallocOsPages = deallocOsPages(allocator)
 
-  proc alloc(size: int): pointer =
+  proc alloc(size: Natural): pointer =
     result = alloc(allocator, size)
 
-  proc alloc0(size: int): pointer =
+  proc alloc0(size: Natural): pointer =
     result = alloc0(allocator, size)
 
   proc dealloc(p: pointer) =
     dealloc(allocator, p)
 
-  proc realloc(p: pointer, newsize: int): pointer =
+  proc realloc(p: pointer, newsize: Natural): pointer =
     result = realloc(allocator, p, newSize)
 
   when false:
@@ -794,7 +794,7 @@ template instantiateForRegion(allocator: expr) =
         inc(result, it.size)
         it = it.next
 
-  proc getFreeMem(): int = 
+  proc getFreeMem(): int =
     result = allocator.freeMem
     #sysAssert(result == countFreeMem())
 
@@ -807,7 +807,7 @@ template instantiateForRegion(allocator: expr) =
     var heapLock: TSysLock
     initSysLock(heapLock)
 
-  proc allocShared(size: int): pointer =
+  proc allocShared(size: Natural): pointer =
     when hasThreadSupport:
       acquireSys(heapLock)
       result = alloc(sharedHeap, size)
@@ -815,20 +815,20 @@ template instantiateForRegion(allocator: expr) =
     else:
       result = alloc(size)
 
-  proc allocShared0(size: int): pointer =
+  proc allocShared0(size: Natural): pointer =
     result = allocShared(size)
     zeroMem(result, size)
 
   proc deallocShared(p: pointer) =
-    when hasThreadSupport: 
+    when hasThreadSupport:
       acquireSys(heapLock)
       dealloc(sharedHeap, p)
       releaseSys(heapLock)
     else:
       dealloc(p)
 
-  proc reallocShared(p: pointer, newsize: int): pointer =
-    when hasThreadSupport: 
+  proc reallocShared(p: pointer, newsize: Natural): pointer =
+    when hasThreadSupport:
       acquireSys(heapLock)
       result = realloc(sharedHeap, p, newsize)
       releaseSys(heapLock)
diff --git a/lib/system/atomics.nim b/lib/system/atomics.nim
index 300fa85f3..c97d2fc7f 100644
--- a/lib/system/atomics.nim
+++ b/lib/system/atomics.nim
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ when someGcc and hasThreadSupport:
 
   proc atomicCompareExchange*[T: TAtomType](p, expected, desired: ptr T,
     weak: bool, success_memmodel: AtomMemModel, failure_memmodel: AtomMemModel): bool {.
-    importc: "__atomic_compare_exchange_n ", nodecl.}
+    importc: "__atomic_compare_exchange", nodecl.}
     ## This proc implements the generic version of atomic_compare_exchange.
     ## The proc is virtually identical to atomic_compare_exchange_n, except the desired
     ## value is also a pointer.
diff --git a/lib/system/gc_ms.nim b/lib/system/gc_ms.nim
index 12eb97b1e..e287bf5d9 100644
--- a/lib/system/gc_ms.nim
+++ b/lib/system/gc_ms.nim
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ proc initGC() =
     init(gch.tempStack)
     init(gch.additionalRoots)
     when withBitvectors:
-      Init(gch.allocated)
+      init(gch.allocated)
       init(gch.marked)
 
 var
diff --git a/lib/system/mmdisp.nim b/lib/system/mmdisp.nim
index 84e532049..a378f86e7 100644
--- a/lib/system/mmdisp.nim
+++ b/lib/system/mmdisp.nim
@@ -109,24 +109,24 @@ when defined(boehmgc):
 
   when not defined(useNimRtl):
 
-    proc alloc(size: int): pointer =
+    proc alloc(size: Natural): pointer =
       result = boehmAlloc(size)
       if result == nil: raiseOutOfMem()
-    proc alloc0(size: int): pointer =
+    proc alloc0(size: Natural): pointer =
       result = alloc(size)
       zeroMem(result, size)
-    proc realloc(p: pointer, newsize: int): pointer =
+    proc realloc(p: pointer, newsize: Natural): pointer =
       result = boehmRealloc(p, newsize)
       if result == nil: raiseOutOfMem()
     proc dealloc(p: pointer) = boehmDealloc(p)
 
-    proc allocShared(size: int): pointer =
+    proc allocShared(size: Natural): pointer =
       result = boehmAlloc(size)
       if result == nil: raiseOutOfMem()
-    proc allocShared0(size: int): pointer =
+    proc allocShared0(size: Natural): pointer =
       result = alloc(size)
       zeroMem(result, size)
-    proc reallocShared(p: pointer, newsize: int): pointer =
+    proc reallocShared(p: pointer, newsize: Natural): pointer =
       result = boehmRealloc(p, newsize)
       if result == nil: raiseOutOfMem()
     proc deallocShared(p: pointer) = boehmDealloc(p)
@@ -196,24 +196,24 @@ when defined(boehmgc):
 elif defined(nogc) and defined(useMalloc):
 
   when not defined(useNimRtl):
-    proc alloc(size: int): pointer =
+    proc alloc(size: Natural): pointer =
       result = cmalloc(size)
       if result == nil: raiseOutOfMem()
-    proc alloc0(size: int): pointer =
+    proc alloc0(size: Natural): pointer =
       result = alloc(size)
       zeroMem(result, size)
-    proc realloc(p: pointer, newsize: int): pointer =
+    proc realloc(p: pointer, newsize: Natural): pointer =
       result = crealloc(p, newsize)
       if result == nil: raiseOutOfMem()
     proc dealloc(p: pointer) = cfree(p)
 
-    proc allocShared(size: int): pointer =
+    proc allocShared(size: Natural): pointer =
       result = cmalloc(size)
       if result == nil: raiseOutOfMem()
-    proc allocShared0(size: int): pointer =
+    proc allocShared0(size: Natural): pointer =
       result = alloc(size)
       zeroMem(result, size)
-    proc reallocShared(p: pointer, newsize: int): pointer =
+    proc reallocShared(p: pointer, newsize: Natural): pointer =
       result = crealloc(p, newsize)
       if result == nil: raiseOutOfMem()
     proc deallocShared(p: pointer) = cfree(p)
diff --git a/lib/system/sysio.nim b/lib/system/sysio.nim
index 468af1713..3f860655e 100644
--- a/lib/system/sysio.nim
+++ b/lib/system/sysio.nim
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
                        # of the standard library!
 
 
-proc fputs(c: cstring, f: File) {.importc: "fputs", header: "<stdio.h>", 
+proc fputs(c: cstring, f: File) {.importc: "fputs", header: "<stdio.h>",
   tags: [WriteIOEffect].}
 proc fgets(c: cstring, n: int, f: File): cstring {.
   importc: "fgets", header: "<stdio.h>", tags: [ReadIOEffect].}
@@ -26,11 +26,30 @@ proc ungetc(c: cint, f: File) {.importc: "ungetc", header: "<stdio.h>",
   tags: [].}
 proc putc(c: char, stream: File) {.importc: "putc", header: "<stdio.h>",
   tags: [WriteIOEffect].}
-proc fprintf(f: File, frmt: cstring) {.importc: "fprintf", 
+proc fprintf(f: File, frmt: cstring) {.importc: "fprintf",
   header: "<stdio.h>", varargs, tags: [WriteIOEffect].}
 proc strlen(c: cstring): int {.
   importc: "strlen", header: "<string.h>", tags: [].}
 
+when defined(posix):
+  proc getc_unlocked(stream: File): cint {.importc: "getc_unlocked",
+    header: "<stdio.h>", tags: [ReadIOEffect].}
+
+  proc flockfile(stream: File) {.importc: "flockfile", header: "<stdio.h>",
+    tags: [ReadIOEffect].}
+
+  proc funlockfile(stream: File) {.importc: "funlockfile", header: "<stdio.h>",
+    tags: [ReadIOEffect].}
+elif false:
+  # doesn't work on Windows yet:
+  proc getc_unlocked(stream: File): cint {.importc: "_fgetc_nolock",
+    header: "<stdio.h>", tags: [ReadIOEffect].}
+
+  proc flockfile(stream: File) {.importc: "_lock_file", header: "<stdio.h>",
+    tags: [ReadIOEffect].}
+
+  proc funlockfile(stream: File) {.importc: "_unlock_file", header: "<stdio.h>",
+    tags: [ReadIOEffect].}
 
 # C routine that is used here:
 proc fread(buf: pointer, size, n: int, f: File): int {.
@@ -67,39 +86,57 @@ const
 proc raiseEIO(msg: string) {.noinline, noreturn.} =
   sysFatal(IOError, msg)
 
-proc readLine(f: File, line: var TaintedString): bool =
-  # of course this could be optimized a bit; but IO is slow anyway...
-  # and it was difficult to get this CORRECT with Ansi C's methods
-  setLen(line.string, 0) # reuse the buffer!
-  while true:
-    var c = fgetc(f)
-    if c < 0'i32:
-      if line.len > 0: break
-      else: return false
-    if c == 10'i32: break # LF
-    if c == 13'i32:  # CR
-      c = fgetc(f) # is the next char LF?
-      if c != 10'i32: ungetc(c, f) # no, put the character back
-      break
-    add line.string, chr(int(c))
-  result = true
+when declared(getc_unlocked):
+  proc readLine(f: File, line: var TaintedString): bool =
+    setLen(line.string, 0) # reuse the buffer!
+    flockfile(f)
+    while true:
+      var c = getc_unlocked(f)
+      if c < 0'i32:
+        if line.len > 0: break
+        else: return false
+      if c == 10'i32: break # LF
+      if c == 13'i32:  # CR
+        c = getc_unlocked(f) # is the next char LF?
+        if c != 10'i32: ungetc(c, f) # no, put the character back
+        break
+      add line.string, chr(int(c))
+    result = true
+    funlockfile(f)
+else:
+  proc readLine(f: File, line: var TaintedString): bool =
+    # of course this could be optimized a bit; but IO is slow anyway...
+    # and it was difficult to get this CORRECT with Ansi C's methods
+    setLen(line.string, 0) # reuse the buffer!
+    while true:
+      var c = fgetc(f)
+      if c < 0'i32:
+        if line.len > 0: break
+        else: return false
+      if c == 10'i32: break # LF
+      if c == 13'i32:  # CR
+        c = fgetc(f) # is the next char LF?
+        if c != 10'i32: ungetc(c, f) # no, put the character back
+        break
+      add line.string, chr(int(c))
+    result = true
 
 proc readLine(f: File): TaintedString =
   result = TaintedString(newStringOfCap(80))
   if not readLine(f, result): raiseEIO("EOF reached")
 
-proc write(f: File, i: int) = 
+proc write(f: File, i: int) =
   when sizeof(int) == 8:
     fprintf(f, "%lld", i)
   else:
     fprintf(f, "%ld", i)
 
-proc write(f: File, i: BiggestInt) = 
+proc write(f: File, i: BiggestInt) =
   when sizeof(BiggestInt) == 8:
     fprintf(f, "%lld", i)
   else:
     fprintf(f, "%ld", i)
-    
+
 proc write(f: File, b: bool) =
   if b: write(f, "true")
   else: write(f, "false")
@@ -110,7 +147,7 @@ proc write(f: File, c: char) = putc(c, f)
 proc write(f: File, a: varargs[string, `$`]) =
   for x in items(a): write(f, x)
 
-proc readAllBuffer(file: File): string = 
+proc readAllBuffer(file: File): string =
   # This proc is for File we want to read but don't know how many
   # bytes we need to read before the buffer is empty.
   result = ""
@@ -123,8 +160,8 @@ proc readAllBuffer(file: File): string =
       buffer.setLen(bytesRead)
       result.add(buffer)
       break
-  
-proc rawFileSize(file: File): int = 
+
+proc rawFileSize(file: File): int =
   # this does not raise an error opposed to `getFileSize`
   var oldPos = ftell(file)
   discard fseek(file, 0, 2) # seek the end of the file
@@ -141,8 +178,8 @@ proc readAllFile(file: File, len: int): string =
 proc readAllFile(file: File): string =
   var len = rawFileSize(file)
   result = readAllFile(file, len)
-  
-proc readAll(file: File): TaintedString = 
+
+proc readAll(file: File): TaintedString =
   # Separate handling needed because we need to buffer when we
   # don't know the overall length of the File.
   let len = if file != stdin: rawFileSize(file) else: -1
@@ -150,7 +187,7 @@ proc readAll(file: File): TaintedString =
     result = readAllFile(file, len).TaintedString
   else:
     result = readAllBuffer(file).TaintedString
-  
+
 proc readFile(filename: string): TaintedString =
   var f = open(filename)
   try:
@@ -229,7 +266,7 @@ proc open(f: var File, filename: string,
     elif bufSize == 0:
       discard setvbuf(f, nil, IONBF, 0)
 
-proc reopen(f: File, filename: string, mode: FileMode = fmRead): bool = 
+proc reopen(f: File, filename: string, mode: FileMode = fmRead): bool =
   var p: pointer = freopen(filename, FormatOpen[mode], f)
   result = p != nil
 
@@ -243,23 +280,23 @@ proc open(f: var File, filehandle: FileHandle, mode: FileMode): bool =
 proc fwrite(buf: pointer, size, n: int, f: File): int {.
   importc: "fwrite", noDecl.}
 
-proc readBuffer(f: File, buffer: pointer, len: int): int =
+proc readBuffer(f: File, buffer: pointer, len: Natural): int =
   result = fread(buffer, 1, len, f)
 
-proc readBytes(f: File, a: var openArray[int8|uint8], start, len: int): int =
+proc readBytes(f: File, a: var openArray[int8|uint8], start, len: Natural): int =
   result = readBuffer(f, addr(a[start]), len)
 
-proc readChars(f: File, a: var openArray[char], start, len: int): int =
+proc readChars(f: File, a: var openArray[char], start, len: Natural): int =
   result = readBuffer(f, addr(a[start]), len)
 
 {.push stackTrace:off, profiler:off.}
-proc writeBytes(f: File, a: openArray[int8|uint8], start, len: int): int =
+proc writeBytes(f: File, a: openArray[int8|uint8], start, len: Natural): int =
   var x = cast[ptr array[0..1000_000_000, int8]](a)
   result = writeBuffer(f, addr(x[start]), len)
-proc writeChars(f: File, a: openArray[char], start, len: int): int =
+proc writeChars(f: File, a: openArray[char], start, len: Natural): int =
   var x = cast[ptr array[0..1000_000_000, int8]](a)
   result = writeBuffer(f, addr(x[start]), len)
-proc writeBuffer(f: File, buffer: pointer, len: int): int =
+proc writeBuffer(f: File, buffer: pointer, len: Natural): int =
   result = fwrite(buffer, 1, len, f)
 
 proc write(f: File, s: string) =
diff --git a/lib/windows/windows.nim b/lib/windows/windows.nim
index 43c595a64..b76dea6c5 100644
--- a/lib/windows/windows.nim
+++ b/lib/windows/windows.nim
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 ## Unicode version.

 

 {.deadCodeElim: on.}

-

+{.push gcsafe.}

 type

   WideChar* = uint16

   PWideChar* = ptr uint16

@@ -23481,7 +23481,7 @@ proc ListView_EnsureVisible(hwndLV: HWND, i, fPartialOK: int32): LRESULT =
                        MAKELPARAM(fPartialOK, 0))

 

 proc ListView_FindItem(wnd: HWND, iStart: int32, lvfi: var LV_FINDINFO): int32 =

-  result = SendMessage(wnd, LVM_FINDITEM, WPARAM(iStart), 

+  result = SendMessage(wnd, LVM_FINDITEM, WPARAM(iStart),

                        cast[LPARAM](addr(lvfi))).int32

 

 proc ListView_GetBkColor(wnd: HWND): LRESULT =

@@ -23615,9 +23615,9 @@ proc ListView_SetTextBkColor(wnd: HWND, clrTextBk: COLORREF): LRESULT =
 proc ListView_SetTextColor(wnd: HWND, clrText: COLORREF): LRESULT =

   result = SendMessage(wnd, LVM_SETTEXTCOLOR, 0, LPARAM(clrText))

 

-proc ListView_SortItems(hwndLV: HWND, pfnCompare: PFNLVCOMPARE, 

+proc ListView_SortItems(hwndLV: HWND, pfnCompare: PFNLVCOMPARE,

                         lPrm: LPARAM): LRESULT =

-  result = SendMessage(hwndLV, LVM_SORTITEMS, WPARAM(lPrm), 

+  result = SendMessage(hwndLV, LVM_SORTITEMS, WPARAM(lPrm),

                        cast[LPARAM](pfnCompare))

 

 proc ListView_Update(hwndLV: HWND, i: int32): LRESULT =

@@ -23924,3 +23924,5 @@ proc LOCALE_NEUTRAL(): DWORD =
 

 proc LOCALE_INVARIANT(): DWORD =

   result = MAKELCID(MAKELANGID(toU16(LANG_INVARIANT), SUBLANG_NEUTRAL), SORT_DEFAULT)

+

+{.pop.}

diff --git a/lib/wrappers/iup.nim b/lib/wrappers/iup.nim
index 27ab7d870..93e14cccd 100644
--- a/lib/wrappers/iup.nim
+++ b/lib/wrappers/iup.nim
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 #
 #    Binding for the IUP GUI toolkit
-#       (c) 2012 Andreas Rumpf 
+#       (c) 2012 Andreas Rumpf
 #    C header files translated by hand
 #    Licence of IUP follows:
 
 
 # ****************************************************************************
 # Copyright (C) 1994-2009 Tecgraf, PUC-Rio.
-# 
+#
 # Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining
 # a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the
 # "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including
@@ -30,12 +30,12 @@
 
 {.deadCodeElim: on.}
 
-when defined(windows): 
-  const dllname = "iup(30|27|26|25|24).dll"
+when defined(windows):
+  const dllname = "iup(|30|27|26|25|24).dll"
 elif defined(macosx):
-  const dllname = "libiup(3.0|2.7|2.6|2.5|2.4).dylib"
-else: 
-  const dllname = "libiup(3.0|2.7|2.6|2.5|2.4).so.1"
+  const dllname = "libiup(|3.0|2.7|2.6|2.5|2.4).dylib"
+else:
+  const dllname = "libiup(|3.0|2.7|2.6|2.5|2.4).so(|.1)"
 
 const
   IUP_NAME* = "IUP - Portable User Interface"
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ proc alarm*(title, msg, b1, b2, b3: cstring): cint {.
   importc: "IupAlarm", dynlib: dllname, cdecl.}
 proc scanf*(format: cstring): cint {.
   importc: "IupScanf", dynlib: dllname, cdecl, varargs.}
-proc listDialog*(theType: cint, title: cstring, size: cint, 
-                 list: cstringArray, op, maxCol, maxLin: cint, 
+proc listDialog*(theType: cint, title: cstring, size: cint,
+                 list: cstringArray, op, maxCol, maxLin: cint,
                  marks: ptr cint): cint {.
                  importc: "IupListDialog", dynlib: dllname, cdecl.}
 proc getText*(title, text: cstring): cint {.
@@ -77,14 +77,14 @@ proc getColor*(x, y: cint, r, g, b: var byte): cint {.
   importc: "IupGetColor", dynlib: dllname, cdecl.}
 
 type
-  Iparamcb* = proc (dialog: PIhandle, paramIndex: cint, 
+  Iparamcb* = proc (dialog: PIhandle, paramIndex: cint,
                     userData: pointer): cint {.cdecl.}
 
-proc getParam*(title: cstring, action: Iparamcb, userData: pointer, 
+proc getParam*(title: cstring, action: Iparamcb, userData: pointer,
                format: cstring): cint {.
                importc: "IupGetParam", cdecl, varargs, dynlib: dllname.}
-proc getParamv*(title: cstring, action: Iparamcb, userData: pointer, 
-                format: cstring, paramCount, paramExtra: cint, 
+proc getParamv*(title: cstring, action: Iparamcb, userData: pointer,
+                format: cstring, paramCount, paramExtra: cint,
                 paramData: pointer): cint {.
                 importc: "IupGetParamv", cdecl, dynlib: dllname.}
 
@@ -96,11 +96,11 @@ proc open*(argc: ptr cint, argv: ptr cstringArray): cint {.
 proc close*() {.importc: "IupClose", cdecl, dynlib: dllname.}
 proc imageLibOpen*() {.importc: "IupImageLibOpen", cdecl, dynlib: dllname.}
 
-proc mainLoop*(): cint {.importc: "IupMainLoop", cdecl, dynlib: dllname, 
+proc mainLoop*(): cint {.importc: "IupMainLoop", cdecl, dynlib: dllname,
                          discardable.}
 proc loopStep*(): cint {.importc: "IupLoopStep", cdecl, dynlib: dllname,
                          discardable.}
-proc mainLoopLevel*(): cint {.importc: "IupMainLoopLevel", cdecl, 
+proc mainLoopLevel*(): cint {.importc: "IupMainLoopLevel", cdecl,
                               dynlib: dllname, discardable.}
 proc flush*() {.importc: "IupFlush", cdecl, dynlib: dllname.}
 proc exitLoop*() {.importc: "IupExitLoop", cdecl, dynlib: dllname.}
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ proc getCallback*(ih: PIhandle, name: cstring): Icallback {.
   importc: "IupGetCallback", cdecl, dynlib: dllname.}
 proc setCallback*(ih: PIhandle, name: cstring, fn: Icallback): Icallback {.
   importc: "IupSetCallback", cdecl, dynlib: dllname, discardable.}
-  
+
 proc setCallbacks*(ih: PIhandle, name: cstring, fn: Icallback): PIhandle {.
   importc: "IupSetCallbacks", cdecl, dynlib: dllname, varargs, discardable.}
 
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ proc getClassName*(ih: PIhandle): cstring {.
   importc: "IupGetClassName", cdecl, dynlib: dllname.}
 proc getClassType*(ih: PIhandle): cstring {.
   importc: "IupGetClassType", cdecl, dynlib: dllname.}
-proc getClassAttributes*(classname: cstring, names: cstringArray, 
+proc getClassAttributes*(classname: cstring, names: cstringArray,
                          n: cint): cint {.
   importc: "IupGetClassAttributes", cdecl, dynlib: dllname.}
 proc saveClassAttributes*(ih: PIhandle) {.
@@ -378,12 +378,12 @@ const
   IUP_CONTINUE* = cint(-4)
 
   # IupPopup and IupShowXY Parameter Values
-  IUP_CENTER* = cint(0xFFFF) 
-  IUP_LEFT* = cint(0xFFFE) 
-  IUP_RIGHT* = cint(0xFFFD) 
-  IUP_MOUSEPOS* = cint(0xFFFC) 
-  IUP_CURRENT* = cint(0xFFFB) 
-  IUP_CENTERPARENT* = cint(0xFFFA) 
+  IUP_CENTER* = cint(0xFFFF)
+  IUP_LEFT* = cint(0xFFFE)
+  IUP_RIGHT* = cint(0xFFFD)
+  IUP_MOUSEPOS* = cint(0xFFFC)
+  IUP_CURRENT* = cint(0xFFFB)
+  IUP_CENTERPARENT* = cint(0xFFFA)
   IUP_TOP* = IUP_LEFT
   IUP_BOTTOM* = IUP_RIGHT
 
@@ -397,10 +397,10 @@ const
   # SCROLL_CB Callback Values
   IUP_SBUP* = cint(0)
   IUP_SBDN* = cint(1)
-  IUP_SBPGUP* = cint(2)   
+  IUP_SBPGUP* = cint(2)
   IUP_SBPGDN* = cint(3)
   IUP_SBPOSV* = cint(4)
-  IUP_SBDRAGV* = cint(5) 
+  IUP_SBDRAGV* = cint(5)
   IUP_SBLEFT* = cint(6)
   IUP_SBRIGHT* = cint(7)
   IUP_SBPGLEFT* = cint(8)
@@ -433,12 +433,12 @@ const
   IUP_MASK_EFLOAT* = "[+/-]?(/d+/.?/d*|/./d+)([eE][+/-]?/d+)?"
   IUP_MASK_INT* = "[+/-]?/d+"
   IUP_MASK_UINT* = "/d+"
-  
+
 # from 32 to 126, all character sets are equal,
 # the key code i the same as the character code.
 const
   K_SP* = cint(ord(' '))
-  K_exclam* = cint(ord('!'))   
+  K_exclam* = cint(ord('!'))
   K_quotedbl* = cint(ord('\"'))
   K_numbersign* = cint(ord('#'))
   K_dollar* = cint(ord('$'))
@@ -467,51 +467,51 @@ const
   K_semicolon* = cint(ord(';'))
   K_less* = cint(ord('<'))
   K_equal* = cint(ord('='))
-  K_greater* = cint(ord('>'))   
-  K_question* = cint(ord('?'))   
-  K_at* = cint(ord('@'))   
-  K_upperA* = cint(ord('A'))   
-  K_upperB* = cint(ord('B'))   
-  K_upperC* = cint(ord('C'))   
-  K_upperD* = cint(ord('D'))   
-  K_upperE* = cint(ord('E'))   
-  K_upperF* = cint(ord('F'))   
-  K_upperG* = cint(ord('G'))   
-  K_upperH* = cint(ord('H'))   
-  K_upperI* = cint(ord('I'))   
-  K_upperJ* = cint(ord('J'))   
-  K_upperK* = cint(ord('K'))   
-  K_upperL* = cint(ord('L'))   
-  K_upperM* = cint(ord('M'))   
-  K_upperN* = cint(ord('N'))   
-  K_upperO* = cint(ord('O'))   
-  K_upperP* = cint(ord('P'))   
-  K_upperQ* = cint(ord('Q'))  
-  K_upperR* = cint(ord('R'))  
-  K_upperS* = cint(ord('S'))  
-  K_upperT* = cint(ord('T'))  
-  K_upperU* = cint(ord('U'))  
-  K_upperV* = cint(ord('V')) 
-  K_upperW* = cint(ord('W')) 
-  K_upperX* = cint(ord('X'))  
-  K_upperY* = cint(ord('Y'))  
-  K_upperZ* = cint(ord('Z'))  
-  K_bracketleft* = cint(ord('[')) 
-  K_backslash* = cint(ord('\\'))  
-  K_bracketright* = cint(ord(']'))  
-  K_circum* = cint(ord('^'))   
-  K_underscore* = cint(ord('_'))   
-  K_grave* = cint(ord('`'))   
-  K_lowera* = cint(ord('a'))  
-  K_lowerb* = cint(ord('b'))   
-  K_lowerc* = cint(ord('c')) 
-  K_lowerd* = cint(ord('d'))   
-  K_lowere* = cint(ord('e'))   
-  K_lowerf* = cint(ord('f'))  
+  K_greater* = cint(ord('>'))
+  K_question* = cint(ord('?'))
+  K_at* = cint(ord('@'))
+  K_upperA* = cint(ord('A'))
+  K_upperB* = cint(ord('B'))
+  K_upperC* = cint(ord('C'))
+  K_upperD* = cint(ord('D'))
+  K_upperE* = cint(ord('E'))
+  K_upperF* = cint(ord('F'))
+  K_upperG* = cint(ord('G'))
+  K_upperH* = cint(ord('H'))
+  K_upperI* = cint(ord('I'))
+  K_upperJ* = cint(ord('J'))
+  K_upperK* = cint(ord('K'))
+  K_upperL* = cint(ord('L'))
+  K_upperM* = cint(ord('M'))
+  K_upperN* = cint(ord('N'))
+  K_upperO* = cint(ord('O'))
+  K_upperP* = cint(ord('P'))
+  K_upperQ* = cint(ord('Q'))
+  K_upperR* = cint(ord('R'))
+  K_upperS* = cint(ord('S'))
+  K_upperT* = cint(ord('T'))
+  K_upperU* = cint(ord('U'))
+  K_upperV* = cint(ord('V'))
+  K_upperW* = cint(ord('W'))
+  K_upperX* = cint(ord('X'))
+  K_upperY* = cint(ord('Y'))
+  K_upperZ* = cint(ord('Z'))
+  K_bracketleft* = cint(ord('['))
+  K_backslash* = cint(ord('\\'))
+  K_bracketright* = cint(ord(']'))
+  K_circum* = cint(ord('^'))
+  K_underscore* = cint(ord('_'))
+  K_grave* = cint(ord('`'))
+  K_lowera* = cint(ord('a'))
+  K_lowerb* = cint(ord('b'))
+  K_lowerc* = cint(ord('c'))
+  K_lowerd* = cint(ord('d'))
+  K_lowere* = cint(ord('e'))
+  K_lowerf* = cint(ord('f'))
   K_lowerg* = cint(ord('g'))
-  K_lowerh* = cint(ord('h')) 
-  K_loweri* = cint(ord('i')) 
-  K_lowerj* = cint(ord('j')) 
+  K_lowerh* = cint(ord('h'))
+  K_loweri* = cint(ord('i'))
+  K_lowerj* = cint(ord('j'))
   K_lowerk* = cint(ord('k'))
   K_lowerl* = cint(ord('l'))
   K_lowerm* = cint(ord('m'))
@@ -553,19 +553,19 @@ proc isAltXkey*(c: cint): bool = return c > 768 and c < 1024
 proc isSysXkey*(c: cint): bool = return c > 1024 and c < 1280
 
 proc iUPxCODE*(c: cint): cint = return c + cint(128) # Normal (must be above 128)
-proc iUPsxCODE*(c: cint): cint = 
+proc iUPsxCODE*(c: cint): cint =
   return c + cint(256)
-  # Shift (must have range to include the standard keys and the normal 
+  # Shift (must have range to include the standard keys and the normal
   # extended keys, so must be above 256
 
 proc iUPcxCODE*(c: cint): cint = return c + cint(512) # Ctrl
 proc iUPmxCODE*(c: cint): cint = return c + cint(768) # Alt
-proc iUPyxCODE*(c: cint): cint = return c + cint(1024) # Sys (Win or Apple) 
+proc iUPyxCODE*(c: cint): cint = return c + cint(1024) # Sys (Win or Apple)
 
 const
   IUP_NUMMAXCODES* = 1280 ## 5*256=1280  Normal+Shift+Ctrl+Alt+Sys
 
-  K_HOME* = iUPxCODE(1)                
+  K_HOME* = iUPxCODE(1)
   K_UP* = iUPxCODE(2)
   K_PGUP* = iUPxCODE(3)
   K_LEFT* = iUPxCODE(4)
@@ -574,8 +574,8 @@ const
   K_END* = iUPxCODE(7)
   K_DOWN* = iUPxCODE(8)
   K_PGDN* = iUPxCODE(9)
-  K_INS* = iUPxCODE(10)    
-  K_DEL* = iUPxCODE(11)    
+  K_INS* = iUPxCODE(10)
+  K_DEL* = iUPxCODE(11)
   K_PAUSE* = iUPxCODE(12)
   K_ESC* = iUPxCODE(13)
   K_ccedilla* = iUPxCODE(14)
@@ -728,13 +728,13 @@ const
   K_yPrint* = iUPyxCODE(K_Print)
   K_yMenu* = iUPyxCODE(K_Menu)
 
-  K_sPlus* = iUPsxCODE(K_plus)   
-  K_sComma* = iUPsxCODE(K_comma)   
-  K_sMinus* = iUPsxCODE(K_minus)   
-  K_sPeriod* = iUPsxCODE(K_period)   
-  K_sSlash* = iUPsxCODE(K_slash)   
+  K_sPlus* = iUPsxCODE(K_plus)
+  K_sComma* = iUPsxCODE(K_comma)
+  K_sMinus* = iUPsxCODE(K_minus)
+  K_sPeriod* = iUPsxCODE(K_period)
+  K_sSlash* = iUPsxCODE(K_slash)
   K_sAsterisk* = iUPsxCODE(K_asterisk)
-                        
+
   K_cupperA* = iUPcxCODE(K_upperA)
   K_cupperB* = iUPcxCODE(K_upperB)
   K_cupperC* = iUPcxCODE(K_upperC)
@@ -767,16 +767,16 @@ const
   K_c4* = iUPcxCODE(K_4)
   K_c5* = iUPcxCODE(K_5)
   K_c6* = iUPcxCODE(K_6)
-  K_c7* = iUPcxCODE(K_7)        
-  K_c8* = iUPcxCODE(K_8)         
+  K_c7* = iUPcxCODE(K_7)
+  K_c8* = iUPcxCODE(K_8)
   K_c9* = iUPcxCODE(K_9)
   K_c0* = iUPcxCODE(K_0)
-  K_cPlus* = iUPcxCODE(K_plus)   
-  K_cComma* = iUPcxCODE(K_comma)   
-  K_cMinus* = iUPcxCODE(K_minus)   
-  K_cPeriod* = iUPcxCODE(K_period)   
-  K_cSlash* = iUPcxCODE(K_slash)   
-  K_cSemicolon* = iUPcxCODE(K_semicolon) 
+  K_cPlus* = iUPcxCODE(K_plus)
+  K_cComma* = iUPcxCODE(K_comma)
+  K_cMinus* = iUPcxCODE(K_minus)
+  K_cPeriod* = iUPcxCODE(K_period)
+  K_cSlash* = iUPcxCODE(K_slash)
+  K_cSemicolon* = iUPcxCODE(K_semicolon)
   K_cEqual* = iUPcxCODE(K_equal)
   K_cBracketleft* = iUPcxCODE(K_bracketleft)
   K_cBracketright* = iUPcxCODE(K_bracketright)
@@ -815,16 +815,16 @@ const
   K_m4* = iUPmxCODE(K_4)
   K_m5* = iUPmxCODE(K_5)
   K_m6* = iUPmxCODE(K_6)
-  K_m7* = iUPmxCODE(K_7)        
-  K_m8* = iUPmxCODE(K_8)         
+  K_m7* = iUPmxCODE(K_7)
+  K_m8* = iUPmxCODE(K_8)
   K_m9* = iUPmxCODE(K_9)
   K_m0* = iUPmxCODE(K_0)
-  K_mPlus* = iUPmxCODE(K_plus)   
-  K_mComma* = iUPmxCODE(K_comma)   
-  K_mMinus* = iUPmxCODE(K_minus)   
-  K_mPeriod* = iUPmxCODE(K_period)   
-  K_mSlash* = iUPmxCODE(K_slash)   
-  K_mSemicolon* = iUPmxCODE(K_semicolon) 
+  K_mPlus* = iUPmxCODE(K_plus)
+  K_mComma* = iUPmxCODE(K_comma)
+  K_mMinus* = iUPmxCODE(K_minus)
+  K_mPeriod* = iUPmxCODE(K_period)
+  K_mSlash* = iUPmxCODE(K_slash)
+  K_mSemicolon* = iUPmxCODE(K_semicolon)
   K_mEqual* = iUPmxCODE(K_equal)
   K_mBracketleft* = iUPmxCODE(K_bracketleft)
   K_mBracketright* = iUPmxCODE(K_bracketright)
@@ -863,16 +863,16 @@ const
   K_y4* = iUPyxCODE(K_4)
   K_y5* = iUPyxCODE(K_5)
   K_y6* = iUPyxCODE(K_6)
-  K_y7* = iUPyxCODE(K_7)        
-  K_y8* = iUPyxCODE(K_8)         
+  K_y7* = iUPyxCODE(K_7)
+  K_y8* = iUPyxCODE(K_8)
   K_y9* = iUPyxCODE(K_9)
   K_y0* = iUPyxCODE(K_0)
   K_yPlus* = iUPyxCODE(K_plus)
   K_yComma* = iUPyxCODE(K_comma)
-  K_yMinus* = iUPyxCODE(K_minus)   
-  K_yPeriod* = iUPyxCODE(K_period)   
-  K_ySlash* = iUPyxCODE(K_slash)   
-  K_ySemicolon* = iUPyxCODE(K_semicolon) 
+  K_yMinus* = iUPyxCODE(K_minus)
+  K_yPeriod* = iUPyxCODE(K_period)
+  K_ySlash* = iUPyxCODE(K_slash)
+  K_ySemicolon* = iUPyxCODE(K_semicolon)
   K_yEqual* = iUPyxCODE(K_equal)
   K_yBracketleft* = iUPyxCODE(K_bracketleft)
   K_yBracketright* = iUPyxCODE(K_bracketright)
@@ -893,11 +893,11 @@ proc dial*(theType: cstring): PIhandle {.cdecl, importc: "IupDial", dynlib: dlln
 proc matrix*(action: cstring): PIhandle {.cdecl, importc: "IupMatrix", dynlib: dllname.}
 
 # IupMatrix utilities
-proc matSetAttribute*(ih: PIhandle, name: cstring, lin, col: cint, 
+proc matSetAttribute*(ih: PIhandle, name: cstring, lin, col: cint,
                       value: cstring) {.
                       cdecl, importc: "IupMatSetAttribute", dynlib: dllname.}
-proc matStoreAttribute*(ih: PIhandle, name: cstring, lin, col: cint, 
-                        value: cstring) {.cdecl, 
+proc matStoreAttribute*(ih: PIhandle, name: cstring, lin, col: cint,
+                        value: cstring) {.cdecl,
                         importc: "IupMatStoreAttribute", dynlib: dllname.}
 proc matGetAttribute*(ih: PIhandle, name: cstring, lin, col: cint): cstring {.
   cdecl, importc: "IupMatGetAttribute", dynlib: dllname.}
@@ -905,9 +905,9 @@ proc matGetInt*(ih: PIhandle, name: cstring, lin, col: cint): cint {.
   cdecl, importc: "IupMatGetInt", dynlib: dllname.}
 proc matGetFloat*(ih: PIhandle, name: cstring, lin, col: cint): cfloat {.
   cdecl, importc: "IupMatGetFloat", dynlib: dllname.}
-proc matSetfAttribute*(ih: PIhandle, name: cstring, lin, col: cint, 
-                       format: cstring) {.cdecl, 
-                       importc: "IupMatSetfAttribute", 
+proc matSetfAttribute*(ih: PIhandle, name: cstring, lin, col: cint,
+                       format: cstring) {.cdecl,
+                       importc: "IupMatSetfAttribute",
                        dynlib: dllname, varargs.}
 
 # Used by IupColorbar
@@ -931,10 +931,10 @@ proc pPlotAddStr*(ih: PIhandle, x: cstring, y: cfloat) {.
 proc pPlotEnd*(ih: PIhandle): cint {.
   cdecl, importc: "IupPPlotEnd", dynlib: dllname.}
 
-proc pPlotInsertStr*(ih: PIhandle, index, sampleIndex: cint, x: cstring, 
-                     y: cfloat) {.cdecl, importc: "IupPPlotInsertStr", 
+proc pPlotInsertStr*(ih: PIhandle, index, sampleIndex: cint, x: cstring,
+                     y: cfloat) {.cdecl, importc: "IupPPlotInsertStr",
                      dynlib: dllname.}
-proc pPlotInsert*(ih: PIhandle, index, sampleIndex: cint, 
+proc pPlotInsert*(ih: PIhandle, index, sampleIndex: cint,
                   x, y: cfloat) {.
                   cdecl, importc: "IupPPlotInsert", dynlib: dllname.}
 
diff --git a/lib/wrappers/pcre.nim b/lib/wrappers/pcre.nim
index afa8f447a..67436f026 100644
--- a/lib/wrappers/pcre.nim
+++ b/lib/wrappers/pcre.nim
@@ -1,158 +1,190 @@
 #************************************************
-#       Perl-Compatible Regular Expressions      *
-#***********************************************
+#       Perl-Compatible Regular Expressions     *
+#************************************************
 # This is the public header file for the PCRE library, to be #included by
-#applications that call the PCRE functions.
+# applications that call the PCRE functions.
 #
-#           Copyright (c) 1997-2010 University of Cambridge
+#           Copyright (c) 1997-2014 University of Cambridge
 #
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-#Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
-#modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
 #
-#     Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
+#    * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
 #      this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 #
-#     Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+#    * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
 #      notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
 #      documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
 #
-#     Neither the name of the University of Cambridge nor the names of its
+#    * Neither the name of the University of Cambridge nor the names of its
 #      contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
 #      this software without specific prior written permission.
 #
-#THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
-#AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
-#IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
-#ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
-#LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
-#CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
-#SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
-#INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
-#CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
-#ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
-#POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+# AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+# ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
+# LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
+# CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
+# SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
+# INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
+# CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+# ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+# POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-#
 
-{.deadcodeElim: on.}
-
-when not defined(pcreDll):
-  when hostOS == "windows":
-    const pcreDll = "pcre.dll"
-  elif hostOS == "macosx":
-    const pcreDll = "libpcre(.3|.1|).dylib"
-  else:
-    const pcreDll = "libpcre.so(.3|.1|)"
-  {.pragma: pcreImport, dynlib: pcreDll.}
-else:
-  {.pragma: pcreImport, header: "<pcre.h>".}
+{.deadCodeElim: on.}
 
-# The current PCRE version information. 
+# The current PCRE version information.
 
-const 
-  MAJOR* = 8
-  MINOR* = 31
-  PRERELEASE* = true
-  DATE* = "2012-07-06"
+const
+  PCRE_MAJOR* = 8
+  PCRE_MINOR* = 36
+  PCRE_PRERELEASE* = true
+  PCRE_DATE* = "2014-09-26"
 
 # When an application links to a PCRE DLL in Windows, the symbols that are
 # imported have to be identified as such. When building PCRE, the appropriate
 # export setting is defined in pcre_internal.h, which includes this file. So we
-# don't change existing definitions of PCRE_EXP_DECL and PCRECPP_EXP_DECL. 
-
-# Have to include stdlib.h in order to ensure that size_t is defined;
-# it is needed here for malloc. 
-
-# Allow for C++ users 
-
-# Options. Some are compile-time only, some are run-time only, and some are
-# both, so we keep them all distinct. 
-
-const 
-  CASELESS* = 0x00000001
-  MULTILINE* = 0x00000002
-  DOTALL* = 0x00000004
-  EXTENDED* = 0x00000008
-  ANCHORED* = 0x00000010
-  DOLLAR_ENDONLY* = 0x00000020
-  EXTRA* = 0x00000040
-  NOTBOL* = 0x00000080
-  NOTEOL* = 0x00000100
-  UNGREEDY* = 0x00000200
-  NOTEMPTY* = 0x00000400
-  UTF8* = 0x00000800
-  NO_AUTO_CAPTURE* = 0x00001000
-  NO_UTF8_CHECK* = 0x00002000
-  AUTO_CALLOUT* = 0x00004000
-  PARTIAL_SOFT* = 0x00008000
-  PARTIAL* = 0x00008000       # Backwards compatible synonym 
-  DFA_SHORTEST* = 0x00010000
-  DFA_RESTART* = 0x00020000
-  FIRSTLINE* = 0x00040000
-  DUPNAMES* = 0x00080000
-  NEWLINE_CR* = 0x00100000
-  NEWLINE_LF* = 0x00200000
-  NEWLINE_CRLF* = 0x00300000
-  NEWLINE_ANY* = 0x00400000
-  NEWLINE_ANYCRLF* = 0x00500000
-  BSR_ANYCRLF* = 0x00800000
-  BSR_UNICODE* = 0x01000000
-  JAVASCRIPT_COMPAT* = 0x02000000
-  NO_START_OPTIMIZE* = 0x04000000
-  NO_START_OPTIMISE* = 0x04000000
-  PARTIAL_HARD* = 0x08000000
-  NOTEMPTY_ATSTART* = 0x10000000
-  UCP* = 0x20000000
-
-# Exec-time and get/set-time error codes 
-
-const 
-  ERROR_NOMATCH* = (- 1)
-  ERROR_NULL* = (- 2)
-  ERROR_BADOPTION* = (- 3)
-  ERROR_BADMAGIC* = (- 4)
-  ERROR_UNKNOWN_OPCODE* = (- 5)
-  ERROR_UNKNOWN_NODE* = (- 5) # For backward compatibility 
-  ERROR_NOMEMORY* = (- 6)
-  ERROR_NOSUBSTRING* = (- 7)
-  ERROR_MATCHLIMIT* = (- 8)
-  ERROR_CALLOUT* = (- 9)      # Never used by PCRE itself 
-  ERROR_BADUTF8* = (- 10)
-  ERROR_BADUTF8_OFFSET* = (- 11)
-  ERROR_PARTIAL* = (- 12)
-  ERROR_BADPARTIAL* = (- 13)
-  ERROR_INTERNAL* = (- 14)
-  ERROR_BADCOUNT* = (- 15)
-  ERROR_DFA_UITEM* = (- 16)
-  ERROR_DFA_UCOND* = (- 17)
-  ERROR_DFA_UMLIMIT* = (- 18)
-  ERROR_DFA_WSSIZE* = (- 19)
-  ERROR_DFA_RECURSE* = (- 20)
-  ERROR_RECURSIONLIMIT* = (- 21)
-  ERROR_NULLWSLIMIT* = (- 22) # No longer actually used 
-  ERROR_BADNEWLINE* = (- 23)
-  ERROR_BADOFFSET* = (- 24)
-  ERROR_SHORTUTF8* = (- 25)
-  ERROR_RECURSELOOP* = (- 26)
-  ERROR_JIT_STACKLIMIT* = (- 27)
-  ERROR_BADMODE* = (- 28)
-  ERROR_BADENDIANNESS* = (- 29)
-  ERROR_DFA_BADRESTART* = (- 30)
-
-# Specific error codes for UTF-8 validity checks
+# don't change existing definitions of PCRE_EXP_DECL and PCRECPP_EXP_DECL.
+
+# By default, we use the standard "extern" declarations.
+
+# Allow for C++ users
+
+# Public options. Some are compile-time only, some are run-time only, and some
+# are both. Most of the compile-time options are saved with the compiled regex
+# so that they can be inspected during studying (and therefore JIT compiling).
+# Note that pcre_study() has its own set of options. Originally, all the options
+# defined here used distinct bits. However, almost all the bits in a 32-bit word
+# are now used, so in order to conserve them, option bits that were previously
+# only recognized at matching time (i.e. by pcre_exec() or pcre_dfa_exec()) may
+# also be used for compile-time options that affect only compiling and are not
+# relevant for studying or JIT compiling.
+#
+# Some options for pcre_compile() change its behaviour but do not affect the
+# behaviour of the execution functions. Other options are passed through to the
+# execution functions and affect their behaviour, with or without affecting the
+# behaviour of pcre_compile().
+#
+# Options that can be passed to pcre_compile() are tagged Cx below, with these
+# variants:
+#
+# C1   Affects compile only
+# C2   Does not affect compile; affects exec, dfa_exec
+# C3   Affects compile, exec, dfa_exec
+# C4   Affects compile, exec, dfa_exec, study
+# C5   Affects compile, exec, study
+#
+# Options that can be set for pcre_exec() and/or pcre_dfa_exec() are flagged 
+# with E and D, respectively. They take precedence over C3, C4, and C5 settings 
+# passed from pcre_compile(). Those that are compatible with JIT execution are 
+# flagged with J.
+
+const
+  CASELESS*          = 0x00000001  # C1
+  MULTILINE*         = 0x00000002  # C1
+  DOTALL*            = 0x00000004  # C1
+  EXTENDED*          = 0x00000008  # C1
+  ANCHORED*          = 0x00000010  # C4 E D
+  DOLLAR_ENDONLY*    = 0x00000020  # C2
+  EXTRA*             = 0x00000040  # C1
+  NOTBOL*            = 0x00000080  #    E D J
+  NOTEOL*            = 0x00000100  #    E D J
+  UNGREEDY*          = 0x00000200  # C1
+  NOTEMPTY*          = 0x00000400  #    E D J
+  UTF8*              = 0x00000800  # C4        )
+  UTF16*             = 0x00000800  # C4        ) Synonyms
+  UTF32*             = 0x00000800  # C4        )
+  NO_AUTO_CAPTURE*   = 0x00001000  # C1
+  NO_UTF8_CHECK*     = 0x00002000  # C1 E D J  )
+  NO_UTF16_CHECK*    = 0x00002000  # C1 E D J  ) Synonyms
+  NO_UTF32_CHECK*    = 0x00002000  # C1 E D J  )
+  AUTO_CALLOUT*      = 0x00004000  # C1
+  PARTIAL_SOFT*      = 0x00008000  #    E D J  ) Synonyms
+  PARTIAL*           = 0x00008000  #    E D J  )
+
+# This pair use the same bit.
+const
+  NEVER_UTF*         = 0x00010000  # C1        ) Overlaid
+  DFA_SHORTEST*      = 0x00010000  #      D    ) Overlaid
 
+# This pair use the same bit.
 const
-  UTF8_ERR0* = 0
-  UTF8_ERR1* = 1
-  UTF8_ERR2* = 2
-  UTF8_ERR3* = 3
-  UTF8_ERR4* = 4
-  UTF8_ERR5* = 5
-  UTF8_ERR6* = 6
-  UTF8_ERR7* = 7
-  UTF8_ERR8* = 8
-  UTF8_ERR9* = 9
+  NO_AUTO_POSSESS*   = 0x00020000  # C1        ) Overlaid
+  DFA_RESTART*       = 0x00020000  #      D    ) Overlaid
+
+const
+  FIRSTLINE*         = 0x00040000  # C3
+  DUPNAMES*          = 0x00080000  # C1
+  NEWLINE_CR*        = 0x00100000  # C3 E D
+  NEWLINE_LF*        = 0x00200000  # C3 E D
+  NEWLINE_CRLF*      = 0x00300000  # C3 E D
+  NEWLINE_ANY*       = 0x00400000  # C3 E D
+  NEWLINE_ANYCRLF*   = 0x00500000  # C3 E D
+  BSR_ANYCRLF*       = 0x00800000  # C3 E D
+  BSR_UNICODE*       = 0x01000000  # C3 E D
+  JAVASCRIPT_COMPAT* = 0x02000000  # C5
+  NO_START_OPTIMIZE* = 0x04000000  # C2 E D    ) Synonyms
+  NO_START_OPTIMISE* = 0x04000000  # C2 E D    )
+  PARTIAL_HARD*      = 0x08000000  #    E D J
+  NOTEMPTY_ATSTART*  = 0x10000000  #    E D J
+  UCP*               = 0x20000000  # C3
+
+## Exec-time and get/set-time error codes
+const
+  ERROR_NOMATCH*          =  -1
+  ERROR_NULL*             =  -2
+  ERROR_BADOPTION*        =  -3
+  ERROR_BADMAGIC*         =  -4
+  ERROR_UNKNOWN_OPCODE*   =  -5
+  ERROR_UNKNOWN_NODE*     =  -5 ## For backward compatibility
+  ERROR_NOMEMORY*         =  -6
+  ERROR_NOSUBSTRING*      =  -7
+  ERROR_MATCHLIMIT*       =  -8
+  ERROR_CALLOUT*          =  -9 ## Never used by PCRE itself
+  ERROR_BADUTF8*          = -10 ## Same for 8/16/32
+  ERROR_BADUTF16*         = -10 ## Same for 8/16/32
+  ERROR_BADUTF32*         = -10 ## Same for 8/16/32
+  ERROR_BADUTF8_OFFSET*   = -11 ## Same for 8/16
+  ERROR_BADUTF16_OFFSET*  = -11 ## Same for 8/16
+  ERROR_PARTIAL*          = -12
+  ERROR_BADPARTIAL*       = -13
+  ERROR_INTERNAL*         = -14
+  ERROR_BADCOUNT*         = -15
+  ERROR_DFA_UITEM*        = -16
+  ERROR_DFA_UCOND*        = -17
+  ERROR_DFA_UMLIMIT*      = -18
+  ERROR_DFA_WSSIZE*       = -19
+  ERROR_DFA_RECURSE*      = -20
+  ERROR_RECURSIONLIMIT*   = -21
+  ERROR_NULLWSLIMIT*      = -22 ## No longer actually used
+  ERROR_BADNEWLINE*       = -23
+  ERROR_BADOFFSET*        = -24
+  ERROR_SHORTUTF8*        = -25
+  ERROR_SHORTUTF16*       = -25 ## Same for 8/16
+  ERROR_RECURSELOOP*      = -26
+  ERROR_JIT_STACKLIMIT*   = -27
+  ERROR_BADMODE*          = -28
+  ERROR_BADENDIANNESS*    = -29
+  ERROR_DFA_BADRESTART*   = -30
+  ERROR_JIT_BADOPTION*    = -31
+  ERROR_BADLENGTH*        = -32
+  ERROR_UNSET*            = -33
+
+## Specific error codes for UTF-8 validity checks
+const
+  UTF8_ERR0*  =  0
+  UTF8_ERR1*  =  1
+  UTF8_ERR2*  =  2
+  UTF8_ERR3*  =  3
+  UTF8_ERR4*  =  4
+  UTF8_ERR5*  =  5
+  UTF8_ERR6*  =  6
+  UTF8_ERR7*  =  7
+  UTF8_ERR8*  =  8
+  UTF8_ERR9*  =  9
   UTF8_ERR10* = 10
   UTF8_ERR11* = 11
   UTF8_ERR12* = 12
@@ -165,193 +197,305 @@ const
   UTF8_ERR19* = 19
   UTF8_ERR20* = 20
   UTF8_ERR21* = 21
+  UTF8_ERR22* = 22 # Unused (was non-character)
 
-# Request types for pcre_fullinfo() 
-
-const 
-  INFO_OPTIONS* = 0
-  INFO_SIZE* = 1
-  INFO_CAPTURECOUNT* = 2
-  INFO_BACKREFMAX* = 3
-  INFO_FIRSTBYTE* = 4
-  INFO_FIRSTCHAR* = 4         # For backwards compatibility 
-  INFO_FIRSTTABLE* = 5
-  INFO_LASTLITERAL* = 6
-  INFO_NAMEENTRYSIZE* = 7
-  INFO_NAMECOUNT* = 8
-  INFO_NAMETABLE* = 9
-  INFO_STUDYSIZE* = 10
-  INFO_DEFAULT_TABLES* = 11
-  INFO_OKPARTIAL* = 12
-  INFO_JCHANGED* = 13
-  INFO_HASCRORLF* = 14
-  INFO_MINLENGTH* = 15
-  INFO_JIT* = 16
-  INFO_JITSIZE* = 17
-  INFO_MAXLOOKBEHIND* = 18
-
-# Request types for pcre_config(). Do not re-arrange, in order to remain
-# compatible. 
-
-const 
-  CONFIG_UTF8* = 0
-  CONFIG_NEWLINE* = 1
-  CONFIG_LINK_SIZE* = 2
-  CONFIG_POSIX_MALLOC_THRESHOLD* = 3
-  CONFIG_MATCH_LIMIT* = 4
-  CONFIG_STACKRECURSE* = 5
-  CONFIG_UNICODE_PROPERTIES* = 6
-  CONFIG_MATCH_LIMIT_RECURSION* = 7
-  CONFIG_BSR* = 8
-  CONFIG_JIT* = 9
-  CONFIG_JITTARGET* = 11
-
-# Request types for pcre_study(). Do not re-arrange, in order to remain
-# compatible.
+## Specific error codes for UTF-16 validity checks
+const
+  UTF16_ERR0* = 0
+  UTF16_ERR1* = 1
+  UTF16_ERR2* = 2
+  UTF16_ERR3* = 3
+  UTF16_ERR4* = 4 # Unused (was non-character)
 
+## Specific error codes for UTF-32 validity checks
 const
-  STUDY_JIT_COMPILE* = 0x00000001
-  STUDY_JIT_PARTIAL_SOFT_COMPILE* = 0x00000002
-  STUDY_JIT_PARTIAL_HARD_COMPILE* = 0x00000004
-
-# Bit flags for the pcre_extra structure. Do not re-arrange or redefine
-# these bits, just add new ones on the end, in order to remain compatible. 
-
-const 
-  EXTRA_STUDY_DATA* = 0x00000001
-  EXTRA_MATCH_LIMIT* = 0x00000002
-  EXTRA_CALLOUT_DATA* = 0x00000004
-  EXTRA_TABLES* = 0x00000008
-  EXTRA_MATCH_LIMIT_RECURSION* = 0x00000010
-  EXTRA_MARK* = 0x00000020
-  EXTRA_EXECUTABLE_JIT* = 0x00000040
-
-# Types 
-
-type 
-  TPcre*{.pure, final.} = object
-  PPcre* = ptr TPcre
-  Tjit_stack*{.pure, final.} = object
-  Pjit_stack* = ptr Tjit_stack
-
-# When PCRE is compiled as a C++ library, the subject pointer type can be
-# replaced with a custom type. For conventional use, the public interface is a
-# const char *. 
-
-# The structure for passing additional data to pcre_exec(). This is defined in
-# such as way as to be extensible. Always add new fields at the end, in order to
-# remain compatible. 
-
-type 
-  TExtra*{.pure, final.} = object 
-    flags*: int                 ## Bits for which fields are set 
-    study_data*: pointer        ## Opaque data from pcre_study() 
-    match_limit*: int           ## Maximum number of calls to match() 
-    callout_data*: pointer      ## Data passed back in callouts 
-    tables*: cstring            ## Pointer to character tables 
-    match_limit_recursion*: int ## Max recursive calls to match() 
-    mark*: ptr cstring          ## For passing back a mark pointer 
-    executable_jit*: pointer    ## Contains a pointer to a compiled jit code
-  
-
-# The structure for passing out data via the pcre_callout_function. We use a
-# structure so that new fields can be added on the end in future versions,
-# without changing the API of the function, thereby allowing old clients to work
-# without modification. 
-
-type 
-  TCalloutBlock*{.pure, final.} = object 
-    version*: cint            ## Identifies version of block 
-    callout_number*: cint     ## Number compiled into pattern 
-    offset_vector*: ptr cint  ## The offset vector 
-    subject*: cstring         ## The subject being matched 
-    subject_length*: cint     ## The length of the subject 
-    start_match*: cint        ## Offset to start of this match attempt 
-    current_position*: cint   ## Where we currently are in the subject 
-    capture_top*: cint        ## Max current capture 
-    capture_last*: cint       ## Most recently closed capture 
-    callout_data*: pointer    ## Data passed in with the call 
-    pattern_position*: cint   ## Offset to next item in the pattern 
-    next_item_length*: cint   ## Length of next item in the pattern
-    mark*: cstring            ## Pointer to current mark or NULL
-
-# Indirection for store get and free functions. These can be set to
-#alternative malloc/free functions if required. Special ones are used in the
-#non-recursive case for "frames". There is also an optional callout function
-#that is triggered by the (?) regex item. For Virtual Pascal, these definitions
-#have to take another form.
-
-# User defined callback which provides a stack just before the match starts.
+  UTF32_ERR0* = 0
+  UTF32_ERR1* = 1
+  UTF32_ERR2* = 2 # Unused (was non-character)
+  UTF32_ERR3* = 3
 
+## Request types for pcre_fullinfo()
+const
+  INFO_OPTIONS*             =  0
+  INFO_SIZE*                =  1
+  INFO_CAPTURECOUNT*        =  2
+  INFO_BACKREFMAX*          =  3
+  INFO_FIRSTBYTE*           =  4
+  INFO_FIRSTCHAR*           =  4 ## For backwards compatibility
+  INFO_FIRSTTABLE*          =  5
+  INFO_LASTLITERAL*         =  6
+  INFO_NAMEENTRYSIZE*       =  7
+  INFO_NAMECOUNT*           =  8
+  INFO_NAMETABLE*           =  9
+  INFO_STUDYSIZE*           = 10
+  INFO_DEFAULT_TABLES*      = 11
+  INFO_OKPARTIAL*           = 12
+  INFO_JCHANGED*            = 13
+  INFO_HASCRORLF*           = 14
+  INFO_MINLENGTH*           = 15
+  INFO_JIT*                 = 16
+  INFO_JITSIZE*             = 17
+  INFO_MAXLOOKBEHIND*       = 18
+  INFO_FIRSTCHARACTER*      = 19
+  INFO_FIRSTCHARACTERFLAGS* = 20
+  INFO_REQUIREDCHAR*        = 21
+  INFO_REQUIREDCHARFLAGS*   = 22
+  INFO_MATCHLIMIT*          = 23
+  INFO_RECURSIONLIMIT*      = 24
+  INFO_MATCH_EMPTY*         = 25
+
+## Request types for pcre_config(). Do not re-arrange, in order to remain
+## compatible.
+const
+  CONFIG_UTF8*                   =  0
+  CONFIG_NEWLINE*                =  1
+  CONFIG_LINK_SIZE*              =  2
+  CONFIG_POSIX_MALLOC_THRESHOLD* =  3
+  CONFIG_MATCH_LIMIT*            =  4
+  CONFIG_STACKRECURSE*           =  5
+  CONFIG_UNICODE_PROPERTIES*     =  6
+  CONFIG_MATCH_LIMIT_RECURSION*  =  7
+  CONFIG_BSR*                    =  8
+  CONFIG_JIT*                    =  9
+  CONFIG_UTF16*                  = 10
+  CONFIG_JITTARGET*              = 11
+  CONFIG_UTF32*                  = 12
+  CONFIG_PARENS_LIMIT*           = 13
+
+## Request types for pcre_study(). Do not re-arrange, in order to remain
+## compatible.
+const
+  STUDY_JIT_COMPILE*              = 0x0001
+  STUDY_JIT_PARTIAL_SOFT_COMPILE* = 0x0002
+  STUDY_JIT_PARTIAL_HARD_COMPILE* = 0x0004
+  STUDY_EXTRA_NEEDED*             = 0x0008
+
+## Bit flags for the pcre[16|32]_extra structure. Do not re-arrange or redefine
+## these bits, just add new ones on the end, in order to remain compatible.
+const
+  EXTRA_STUDY_DATA*            = 0x0001
+  EXTRA_MATCH_LIMIT*           = 0x0002
+  EXTRA_CALLOUT_DATA*          = 0x0004
+  EXTRA_TABLES*                = 0x0008
+  EXTRA_MATCH_LIMIT_RECURSION* = 0x0010
+  EXTRA_MARK*                  = 0x0020
+  EXTRA_EXECUTABLE_JIT*        = 0x0040
+
+## Types
+type
+  Pcre* = object
+  Pcre16* = object
+  Pcre32* = object
+  JitStack* = object
+  JitStack16* = object
+  JitStack32* = object
+
+
+## The structure for passing additional data to pcre_exec(). This is defined in
+## such as way as to be extensible. Always add new fields at the end, in order
+## to remain compatible.
+type
+  ExtraData* = object
+    flags*: clong                  ## Bits for which fields are set
+    study_data*: pointer           ## Opaque data from pcre_study()
+    match_limit*: clong            ## Maximum number of calls to match()
+    callout_data*: pointer         ## Data passed back in callouts
+    tables*: pointer               ## Pointer to character tables
+    match_limit_recursion*: clong  ## Max recursive calls to match()
+    mark*: pointer                 ## For passing back a mark pointer
+    executable_jit*: pointer       ## Contains a pointer to a compiled jit code
+
+## The structure for passing out data via the pcre_callout_function. We use a
+## structure so that new fields can be added on the end in future versions,
+## without changing the API of the function, thereby allowing old clients to
+## work without modification.
 type
-  TJitCallback* = proc(p: pointer): ptr Tjit_stack{.cdecl.}
-
-# Exported PCRE functions 
-
-proc compile*(a2: cstring, a3: cint, a4: ptr cstring, a5: ptr cint, 
-              a6: ptr char): ptr TPcre{.cdecl, importc: "pcre_compile", 
-    pcreImport.}
-proc compile2*(a2: cstring, a3: cint, a4: ptr cint, a5: ptr cstring, 
-               a6: ptr cint, a7: ptr char): ptr TPcre{.cdecl, 
-    importc: "pcre_compile2", pcreImport.}
-proc config*(a2: cint, a3: pointer): cint{.cdecl, importc: "pcre_config", 
-    pcreImport.}
-proc copy_named_substring*(a2: ptr TPcre, a3: cstring, a4: ptr cint, a5: cint, 
-                           a6: cstring, a7: cstring, a8: cint): cint{.cdecl, 
-    importc: "pcre_copy_named_substring", pcreImport.}
-proc copy_substring*(a2: cstring, a3: ptr cint, a4: cint, a5: cint, 
-                     a6: cstring, 
-                     a7: cint): cint{.cdecl, importc: "pcre_copy_substring", 
-                                      pcreImport.}
-proc dfa_exec*(a2: ptr TPcre, a3: ptr TExtra, a4: cstring, a5: cint, 
-               a6: cint, a7: cint, a8: ptr cint, a9: cint, a10: ptr cint, 
-               a11: cint): cint{.cdecl, importc: "pcre_dfa_exec", 
-                                 pcreImport.}
-proc exec*(a2: ptr TPcre, a3: ptr TExtra, a4: cstring, a5: cint, a6: cint, 
-           a7: cint, a8: ptr cint, a9: cint): cint {.
-           cdecl, importc: "pcre_exec", pcreImport.}
-proc free_substring*(a2: cstring){.cdecl, importc: "pcre_free_substring", 
-                                   pcreImport.}
-proc free_substring_list*(a2: cstringArray){.cdecl, 
-    importc: "pcre_free_substring_list", pcreImport.}
-proc fullinfo*(a2: ptr TPcre, a3: ptr TExtra, a4: cint, a5: pointer): cint{.
-    cdecl, importc: "pcre_fullinfo", pcreImport.}
-proc get_named_substring*(a2: ptr TPcre, a3: cstring, a4: ptr cint, a5: cint, 
-                          a6: cstring, a7: cstringArray): cint{.cdecl, 
-    importc: "pcre_get_named_substring", pcreImport.}
-proc get_stringnumber*(a2: ptr TPcre, a3: cstring): cint{.cdecl, 
-    importc: "pcre_get_stringnumber", pcreImport.}
-proc get_stringtable_entries*(a2: ptr TPcre, a3: cstring, a4: cstringArray, 
-                              a5: cstringArray): cint{.cdecl, 
-    importc: "pcre_get_stringtable_entries", pcreImport.}
-proc get_substring*(a2: cstring, a3: ptr cint, a4: cint, a5: cint, 
-                    a6: cstringArray): cint{.cdecl, 
-    importc: "pcre_get_substring", pcreImport.}
-proc get_substring_list*(a2: cstring, a3: ptr cint, a4: cint, 
-                         a5: ptr cstringArray): cint{.cdecl, 
-    importc: "pcre_get_substring_list", pcreImport.}
-proc maketables*(): ptr char{.cdecl, importc: "pcre_maketables", 
-                                       pcreImport.}
-proc refcount*(a2: ptr TPcre, a3: cint): cint{.cdecl, importc: "pcre_refcount", 
-    pcreImport.}
-proc study*(a2: ptr TPcre, a3: cint, a4: var cstring): ptr TExtra{.cdecl, 
-    importc: "pcre_study", pcreImport.}
-proc version*(): cstring{.cdecl, importc: "pcre_version", pcreImport.}
+  CalloutBlock* = object
+    version*         : cint       ## Identifies version of block
+    # ------------------------ Version 0 -------------------------------
+    callout_number*  : cint       ## Number compiled into pattern
+    offset_vector*   : ptr cint   ## The offset vector
+    subject*         : cstring    ## The subject being matched
+    subject_length*  : cint       ## The length of the subject
+    start_match*     : cint       ## Offset to start of this match attempt
+    current_position*: cint       ## Where we currently are in the subject
+    capture_top*     : cint       ## Max current capture
+    capture_last*    : cint       ## Most recently closed capture
+    callout_data*    : pointer    ## Data passed in with the call
+    # ------------------- Added for Version 1 --------------------------
+    pattern_position*: cint       ## Offset to next item in the pattern
+    next_item_length*: cint       ## Length of next item in the pattern
+    # ------------------- Added for Version 2 --------------------------
+    mark*            : pointer    ## Pointer to current mark or NULL
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+## User defined callback which provides a stack just before the match starts.
+type
+  JitCallback* = proc (a: pointer): ptr JitStack {.cdecl.}
+
+
+when not defined(usePcreHeader):
+  when hostOS == "windows":
+    const pcreDll = "pcre.dll"
+  elif hostOS == "macosx":
+    const pcreDll = "libpcre(.3|.1|).dylib"
+  else:
+    const pcreDll = "libpcre.so(.3|.1|)"
+  {.push dynlib: pcreDll.}
+else:
+  {.push header: "<pcre.h>".}
+
+{.push cdecl, importc: "pcre_$1".}
+
+# Exported PCRE functions
+
+proc compile*(pattern: cstring,
+              options: cint,
+              errptr: ptr cstring,
+              erroffset: ptr cint,
+              tableptr: pointer): ptr Pcre
+
+proc compile2*(pattern: cstring,
+               options: cint,
+               errorcodeptr: ptr cint,
+               errptr: ptr cstring,
+               erroffset: ptr cint,
+               tableptr: pointer): ptr Pcre
+
+proc config*(what: cint,
+             where: pointer): cint
+
+proc copy_named_substring*(code: ptr Pcre,
+                           subject: cstring,
+                           ovector: ptr cint,
+                           stringcount: cint,
+                           stringname: cstring,
+                           buffer: cstring,
+                           buffersize: cint): cint
+
+proc copy_substring*(subject: cstring,
+                     ovector: ptr cint,
+                     stringcount: cint,
+                     stringnumber: cint,
+                     buffer: cstring,
+                     buffersize: cint): cint
+
+proc dfa_exec*(code: ptr Pcre,
+               extra: ptr ExtraData,
+               subject: cstring,
+               length: cint,
+               startoffset: cint,
+               options: cint,
+               ovector: ptr cint,
+               ovecsize: cint,
+               workspace: ptr cint,
+               wscount: cint): cint
+
+proc exec*(code: ptr Pcre,
+           extra: ptr ExtraData,
+           subject: cstring,
+           length: cint,
+           startoffset: cint,
+           options: cint,
+           ovector: ptr cint,
+           ovecsize: cint): cint
+
+proc jit_exec*(code: ptr Pcre,
+               extra: ptr ExtraData,
+               subject: cstring,
+               length: cint,
+               startoffset: cint,
+               options: cint,
+               ovector: ptr cint,
+               ovecsize: cint,
+               jstack: ptr JitStack): cint
+
+proc free_substring*(stringptr: cstring)
+
+proc free_substring_list*(stringptr: cstringArray)
+
+proc fullinfo*(code: ptr Pcre,
+               extra: ptr ExtraData,
+               what: cint,
+               where: pointer): cint
+
+proc get_named_substring*(code: ptr Pcre,
+                          subject: cstring,
+                          ovector: ptr cint,
+                          stringcount: cint,
+                          stringname: cstring,
+                          stringptr: cstringArray): cint
+
+proc get_stringnumber*(code: ptr Pcre,
+                       name: cstring): cint
+
+proc get_stringtable_entries*(code: ptr Pcre,
+                              name: cstring,
+                              first: cstringArray,
+                              last: cstringArray): cint
+
+proc get_substring*(subject: cstring,
+                    ovector: ptr cint,
+                    stringcount: cint,
+                    stringnumber: cint,
+                    stringptr: cstringArray): cint
+
+proc get_substring_list*(subject: cstring,
+                         ovector: ptr cint,
+                         stringcount: cint,
+                         listptr: ptr cstringArray): cint
+
+proc maketables*(): pointer
+
+proc refcount*(code: ptr Pcre,
+               adjust: cint): cint
+
+proc study*(code: ptr Pcre,
+            options: cint,
+            errptr: ptr cstring): ptr ExtraData
+
+proc free_study*(extra: ptr ExtraData)
+
+proc version*(): cstring
 
 # Utility functions for byte order swaps.
 
-proc pattern_to_host_byte_order*(a2: ptr TPcre, a3: ptr TExtra,
-    a4: ptr char): cint{.cdecl, importc: "pcre_pattern_to_host_byte_order",
-    pcreImport.}
+proc pattern_to_host_byte_order*(code: ptr Pcre,
+                                 extra: ptr ExtraData,
+                                 tables: pointer): cint
 
 # JIT compiler related functions.
 
-proc jit_stack_alloc*(a2: cint, a3: cint): ptr Tjit_stack{.cdecl,
-    importc: "pcre_jit_stack_alloc", pcreImport.}
-proc jit_stack_free*(a2: ptr Tjit_stack){.cdecl, importc: "pcre_jit_stack_free",
-    pcreImport.}
-proc assign_jit_stack*(a2: ptr TExtra, a3: TJitCallback, a4: pointer){.cdecl,
-    importc: "pcre_assign_jit_stack", pcreImport.}
+proc jit_stack_alloc*(startsize: cint,
+                      maxsize: cint): ptr JitStack
+
+proc jit_stack_free*(stack: ptr JitStack)
+
+proc assign_jit_stack*(extra: ptr ExtraData,
+                       callback: JitCallback,
+                       data: pointer)
+
+proc jit_free_unused_memory*()
+
+
+# There was an odd function with `var cstring` instead of `ptr`
+proc study*(code: ptr Pcre,
+            options: cint,
+            errptr: var cstring): ptr ExtraData {.deprecated.}
+
+{.pop.}
+{.pop.}
+
+
+{.deprecated: [MAJOR: PCRE_MAJOR, MINOR: PCRE_MINOR,
+               PRERELEASE: PCRE_PRERELEASE, DATE: PCRE_DATE].}
+
+{.deprecated: [TPcre: Pcre, TJitStack: JitStack].}
+type
+  PPcre* {.deprecated.} = ptr Pcre
+  PJitStack* {.deprecated.} = ptr JitStack
 
-var 
-  pcre_free*: proc (p: ptr TPcre) {.cdecl.} 
+{.deprecated: [TExtra: ExtraData].}
+{.deprecated: [TCalloutBlock: CalloutBlock].}
+{.deprecated: [TJitCallback: JitCallback].}
diff --git a/tests/array/troof1.nim b/tests/array/troof1.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..96669a121
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/array/troof1.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+discard """
+  output: '''@[2, 3, 4]321
+9.0 4.0
+(a: 1.0, b: 2.0, c: 8.0)2.0'''
+"""
+
+proc foo[T](x, y: T): T = x
+
+var a = @[1, 2, 3, 4]
+var b: array[3, array[2, float]] = [[1.0,2], [3.0,4], [8.0,9]]
+echo a[1.. ^1], a[^2], a[^3], a[^4]
+echo b[^1][^1], " ", (b[^2]).foo(b[^1])[^1]
+
+type
+  MyArray = object
+    a, b, c: float
+
+var
+  ma = MyArray(a: 1.0, b: 2.0, c: 3.0)
+
+proc len(x: MyArray): int = 3
+
+proc `[]=`(x: var MyArray; idx: range[0..2]; val: float) =
+  case idx
+  of 0: x.a = val
+  of 1: x.b = val
+  of 2: x.c = val
+
+proc `[]`(x: var MyArray; idx: range[0..2]): float =
+  case idx
+  of 0: result = x.a
+  of 1: result = x.b
+  of 2: result = x.c
+
+ma[^1] = 8.0
+echo ma, ma[^2]
diff --git a/tests/array/troof2.nim b/tests/array/troof2.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d4c1a4982
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/array/troof2.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+discard """
+  errormsg: "invalid context for '^' as 'foo()' has side effects"
+  line: "9"
+"""
+
+proc foo(): seq[int] =
+  echo "ha"
+
+let f = foo()[^1]
+
diff --git a/tests/array/troof3.nim b/tests/array/troof3.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4b6e22223
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/array/troof3.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+discard """
+  errormsg: "invalid context for '^' as len!=high+1 for 'a'"
+  line: "8"
+"""
+
+var a: array[1..3, string]
+
+echo a[^1]
diff --git a/tests/array/troof4.nim b/tests/array/troof4.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7a262d9de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/array/troof4.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+discard """
+  errormsg: "no surrounding array access context for '^'"
+  line: "37"
+"""
+
+proc foo[T](x, y: T): T = x
+
+var a = @[1, 2, 3, 4]
+var b: array[3, array[2, float]] = [[1.0,2], [3.0,4], [8.0,9]]
+echo a[1.. ^1], a[^2], a[^3], a[^4]
+echo b[^1][^1], " ", (b[^2]).foo(b[^1])[^1]
+
+type
+  MyArray = object
+    a, b, c: float
+
+var
+  ma = MyArray(a: 1.0, b: 2.0, c: 3.0)
+
+proc len(x: MyArray): int = 3
+
+proc `[]=`(x: var MyArray; idx: range[0..2]; val: float) =
+  case idx
+  of 0: x.a = val
+  of 1: x.b = val
+  of 2: x.c = val
+
+proc `[]`(x: var MyArray; idx: range[0..2]): float =
+  case idx
+  of 0: result = x.a
+  of 1: result = x.b
+  of 2: result = x.c
+
+ma[^1] = 8.0
+echo ma, ma[^2]
+
+echo(^1)
diff --git a/tests/assert/tfailedassert.nim b/tests/assert/tfailedassert.nim
index 729cdcac7..1e6764471 100644
--- a/tests/assert/tfailedassert.nim
+++ b/tests/assert/tfailedassert.nim
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ proc bar: int =
   # local overrides that are active only
   # in this proc
   onFailedAssert(msg): echo "WARNING: " & msg
-    
+
   assert(false, "first assertion from bar")
 
   onFailedAssert(msg):
diff --git a/tests/assign/moverload_asgn2.nim b/tests/assign/moverload_asgn2.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6620adbeb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/assign/moverload_asgn2.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+type
+  Concrete* = object
+    a*, b*: string
+    rc*: int # refcount
+
+proc `=`(d: var Concrete; src: Concrete) =
+  shallowCopy(d.a, src.a)
+  shallowCopy(d.b, src.b)
+  dec d.rc
+  d.rc = src.rc + 1
diff --git a/tests/assign/toverload_asgn1.nim b/tests/assign/toverload_asgn1.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dbc3a71c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/assign/toverload_asgn1.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+discard """
+  output: '''Concrete '='
+Concrete '='
+Concrete '='
+Concrete '='
+Concrete '='
+GenericT[T] '=' int
+GenericT[T] '=' float
+GenericT[T] '=' float
+GenericT[T] '=' float
+GenericT[T] '=' string
+GenericT[T] '=' int8
+GenericT[T] '=' bool
+GenericT[T] '=' bool
+GenericT[T] '=' bool
+GenericT[T] '=' bool'''
+"""
+
+import typetraits
+
+type
+  Concrete = object
+    a, b: string
+
+proc `=`(d: var Concrete; src: Concrete) =
+  shallowCopy(d.a, src.a)
+  shallowCopy(d.b, src.b)
+  echo "Concrete '='"
+
+var x, y: array[0..2, Concrete]
+var cA, cB: Concrete
+
+var cATup, cBTup: tuple[x: int, ha: Concrete]
+
+x = y
+cA = cB
+cATup = cBTup
+
+type
+  GenericT[T] = object
+    a, b: T
+
+proc `=`[T](d: var GenericT[T]; src: GenericT[T]) =
+  shallowCopy(d.a, src.a)
+  shallowCopy(d.b, src.b)
+  echo "GenericT[T] '=' ", type(T).name
+
+var ag: GenericT[int]
+var bg: GenericT[int]
+
+ag = bg
+
+var xg, yg: array[0..2, GenericT[float]]
+var cAg, cBg: GenericT[string]
+
+var cATupg, cBTupg: tuple[x: int, ha: GenericT[int8]]
+
+xg = yg
+cAg = cBg
+cATupg = cBTupg
+
+var caSeqg, cbSeqg: seq[GenericT[bool]]
+newSeq(cbSeqg, 4)
+caSeqg = cbSeqg
+
+when false:
+  type
+    Foo = object
+      case b: bool
+      of false: xx: GenericT[int]
+      of true: yy: bool
+
+  var
+    a, b: Foo
+  a = b
diff --git a/tests/assign/toverload_asgn2.nim b/tests/assign/toverload_asgn2.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..243c90494
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/assign/toverload_asgn2.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+discard """
+  output: '''i value 88
+2aa'''
+"""
+
+import moverload_asgn2
+
+proc passAround(i: int): Concrete =
+  echo "i value ", i
+  result = Concrete(a: "aa", b: "bb", rc: 0)
+
+proc main =
+  let
+    i = 88
+    v = passAround(i)
+    z = v.a
+  var
+    x: Concrete
+  x = v
+  echo x.rc, z # 2aa
+
+main()
diff --git a/tests/async/tasynctry.nim b/tests/async/tasynctry.nim
index 99433b9d8..f77198e2e 100644
--- a/tests/async/tasynctry.nim
+++ b/tests/async/tasynctry.nim
@@ -82,6 +82,15 @@ proc test3(): Future[int] {.async.} =
     result = 2
     return
 
+proc test4(): Future[int] {.async.} =
+  try:
+    discard await foo()
+    raise newException(ValueError, "Test4")
+  except OSError:
+    result = 1
+  except:
+    result = 2
+
 var x = test()
 assert x.read
 
@@ -90,3 +99,6 @@ assert x.read
 
 var y = test3()
 assert y.read == 2
+
+y = test4()
+assert y.read == 2
diff --git a/tests/async/tasynctry2.nim b/tests/async/tasynctry2.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..444a058be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/async/tasynctry2.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+discard """
+  file: "tasynctry2.nim"
+  errormsg: "\'yield\' cannot be used within \'try\' in a non-inlined iterator"
+  line: 15
+"""
+import asyncdispatch
+
+proc foo(): Future[bool] {.async.} = discard
+
+proc test5(): Future[int] {.async.} =
+  try:
+    discard await foo()
+    raise newException(ValueError, "Test5")
+  except:
+    discard await foo()
+    result = 0
diff --git a/tests/ccgbugs/tarray_equality.nim b/tests/ccgbugs/tarray_equality.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..66a953439
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ccgbugs/tarray_equality.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+discard """
+  output: '''true
+true'''
+"""
+
+# bug #2489
+
+let a = [1]
+let b = [1]
+echo a == b
+
+# bug #2498
+var x: array[0, int]
+var y: array[0, int]
+echo x == y
diff --git a/tests/cpp/tget_subsystem.nim b/tests/cpp/tget_subsystem.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..461914739
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cpp/tget_subsystem.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+discard """
+  cmd: "nim cpp $file"
+"""
+
+{.emit: """
+
+namespace System {
+  struct Input {};
+}
+
+struct SystemManager {
+  template <class T>
+  static T* getSubsystem() { return new T; }
+};
+
+""".}
+
+type Input {.importcpp: "System::Input".} = object
+proc getSubsystem*[T](): ptr T {.
+  importcpp: "SystemManager::getSubsystem<'*0>()", nodecl.}
+
+let input: ptr Input = getSubsystem[Input]()
+
diff --git a/tests/cpp/tvector_iterator.nim b/tests/cpp/tvector_iterator.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cb5ab33af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cpp/tvector_iterator.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+discard """
+  cmd: "nim cpp $file"
+"""
+
+{.emit: """
+
+template <class T>
+struct Vector {
+  struct Iterator {};
+};
+
+""".}
+
+type
+  Vector {.importcpp: "Vector".} [T] = object
+  VectorIterator {.importcpp: "Vector<'0>::Iterator".} [T] = object
+
+var x: VectorIterator[void]
+
diff --git a/tests/destructor/tdestructor.nim b/tests/destructor/tdestructor.nim
index cbaba3154..639dba941 100644
--- a/tests/destructor/tdestructor.nim
+++ b/tests/destructor/tdestructor.nim
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ type
     x: A
     y: B
     z: C
-  
+
   TObjKind = enum A, B, C, D
 
   TCaseObj = object
@@ -57,14 +57,14 @@ type
         q: TMyGeneric3[TMyObj, int, int]
       r: string
 
-proc destroy(o: var TMyObj) {.override.} =
+proc `=destroy`(o: var TMyObj) =
   if o.p != nil: dealloc o.p
   echo "myobj destroyed"
 
-proc destroy(o: var TMyGeneric1) {.override.} =
+proc `=destroy`(o: var TMyGeneric1) =
   echo "mygeneric1 destroyed"
 
-proc destroy[A, B](o: var TMyGeneric2[A, B]) {.override.} =
+proc `=destroy`[A, B](o: var TMyGeneric2[A, B]) =
   echo "mygeneric2 destroyed"
 
 proc open: TMyObj =
@@ -83,12 +83,12 @@ proc mygeneric1() =
 
 proc mygeneric2[T](val: T) =
   var a = open()
-  
+
   var b = TMyGeneric2[int, T](x: 10, y: val)
   echo "mygeneric2 constructed"
 
   var c = TMyGeneric3[int, int, string](x: 10, y: 20, z: "test")
-  
+
 proc mygeneric3 =
   var x = TMyGeneric3[int, string, TMyGeneric1[int]](
     x: 10, y: "test", z: TMyGeneric1[int](x: 10))
@@ -111,11 +111,11 @@ 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",
diff --git a/tests/destructor/tdestructor2.nim b/tests/destructor/tdestructor2.nim
index 6f966d861..34fa466af 100644
--- a/tests/destructor/tdestructor2.nim
+++ b/tests/destructor/tdestructor2.nim
@@ -5,14 +5,14 @@ discard """
 
 {.experimental.}
 
-type  
+type
   TMyObj = object
     x, y: int
     p: pointer
-    
-proc destroy(o: var TMyObj) {.override.} =
+
+proc `=destroy`(o: var TMyObj) =
   if o.p != nil: dealloc o.p
-  
+
 proc open: TMyObj =
   result = TMyObj(x: 1, y: 2, p: alloc(3))
 
diff --git a/tests/effects/tgcsafe.nim b/tests/effects/tgcsafe.nim
index 0d5109439..d146794b6 100644
--- a/tests/effects/tgcsafe.nim
+++ b/tests/effects/tgcsafe.nim
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 discard """
-  line: 16
+  line: 17
   errormsg: "'mainUnsafe' is not GC-safe"
   cmd: "nim $target --hints:on --threads:on $options $file"
 """
diff --git a/tests/exception/texceptions.nim b/tests/exception/texceptions.nim
index 69b2d0f6a..bdf338599 100644
--- a/tests/exception/texceptions.nim
+++ b/tests/exception/texceptions.nim
@@ -35,9 +35,9 @@ echo ""
 proc reraise_in_except =
   try:
     echo "BEFORE"
-    raise newException(EIO, "")
+    raise newException(IOError, "")
 
-  except EIO:
+  except IOError:
     echo "EXCEPT"
     raise
 
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ echo ""
 proc return_in_except =
   try:
     echo "BEFORE"
-    raise newException(EIO, "")
+    raise newException(IOError, "")
 
   except:
     echo "EXCEPT"
diff --git a/tests/exception/treraise.nim b/tests/exception/treraise.nim
index cbd0b5f8a..b2a11d34f 100644
--- a/tests/exception/treraise.nim
+++ b/tests/exception/treraise.nim
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ discard """
   exitcode: "1"
 """
 type
-  ESomething = object of E_Base
-  ESomeOtherErr = object of E_Base
+  ESomething = object of Exception
+  ESomeOtherErr = object of Exception
 
 proc genErrors(s: string) =
   if s == "error!":
diff --git a/tests/exprs/texprstmt.nim b/tests/exprs/texprstmt.nim
index 355da2407..79323d82a 100644
--- a/tests/exprs/texprstmt.nim
+++ b/tests/exprs/texprstmt.nim
@@ -7,6 +7,6 @@ discard """
 
 proc test: string =
   result = "blah"
-  result[1 .. -1]
+  result[1 .. ^1]
 
 echo test()
diff --git a/tests/generics/tunique_type.nim b/tests/generics/tunique_type.nim
index e78640caa..da2f9e4b2 100644
--- a/tests/generics/tunique_type.nim
+++ b/tests/generics/tunique_type.nim
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ proc refExpr(exprNode: NimNode): string {.compileTime.} =
   "expr" & $(exprNodes.len - 1)
 
 proc derefExpr(exprRef: string): NimNode {.compileTime.} =
-  exprNodes[parseInt(exprRef[4 .. -1])]
+  exprNodes[parseInt(exprRef[4 .. ^1])]
 
 #===============================================================================
 # Define a type that allows a callable expression to be mapped onto elements
diff --git a/tests/generics/twrong_generic_object.nim b/tests/generics/twrong_generic_object.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..00d90c55e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/generics/twrong_generic_object.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+discard """
+  errormsg: "cannot instantiate: 'GenericNodeObj'"
+  line: 21
+"""
+# bug #2509
+type
+  GenericNodeObj[T] = ref object
+    obj: T
+
+  Node* = ref object
+    children*: seq[Node]
+    parent*: Node
+
+    nodeObj*: GenericNodeObj # [int]
+
+proc newNode*(nodeObj: GenericNodeObj): Node =
+  result = Node(nodeObj: nodeObj)
+  newSeq(result.children, 10)
+
+var genericObj = GenericNodeObj[int]()
+var myNode = newNode(genericObj)
diff --git a/tests/js/test2.nim b/tests/js/test2.nim
index 5a734358c..1a42fbfda 100644
--- a/tests/js/test2.nim
+++ b/tests/js/test2.nim
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 discard """
   output: '''foo
-js 3.14'''
+js 3.14
+7'''
 """
 
 # This file tests the JavaScript generator
@@ -20,3 +21,11 @@ else:
   proc foo(val: float): string = "js " & $val
 
 echo foo(3.14)
+
+# #2495
+type C = concept x
+
+proc test(x: C, T: typedesc): T =
+  cast[T](x)
+
+echo 7.test(int8)
diff --git a/tests/js/tunittests.nim b/tests/js/tunittests.nim
index af38cd9b9..8a264a5e0 100644
--- a/tests/js/tunittests.nim
+++ b/tests/js/tunittests.nim
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+discard """
+  disabled: "true"
+"""
+
+# Unittest uses lambdalifting at compile-time which we disable for the JS
+# codegen! So this cannot and will not work for quite some time.
+
 import unittest
 
 suite "Bacon":
diff --git a/tests/macros/tlexerex.nim b/tests/macros/tlexerex.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d348a4bcc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/macros/tlexerex.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+
+import macros
+
+macro match*(s: cstring|string; pos: int; sections: untyped): untyped =
+  for sec in sections.children:
+    expectKind sec, nnkOfBranch
+    expectLen sec, 2
+  result = newStmtList()
+
+when isMainModule:
+  var input = "the input"
+  var pos = 0
+  match input, pos:
+  of r"[a-zA-Z_]\w+": echo "an identifier"
+  of r"\d+": echo "an integer"
+  of r".": echo "something else"
diff --git a/tests/macros/ttryparseexpr.nim b/tests/macros/ttryparseexpr.nim
index af932eb7d..c7bbc8e5b 100644
--- a/tests/macros/ttryparseexpr.nim
+++ b/tests/macros/ttryparseexpr.nim
@@ -15,5 +15,6 @@ const
   valid = 45
   a = test("foo&&")
   b = test("valid")
+  c = test("\"") # bug #2504
 
 echo a, " ", b
diff --git a/tests/macros/typesapi2.nim b/tests/macros/typesapi2.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2e59d2154
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/macros/typesapi2.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+# tests to see if a symbol returned from macros.getType() can
+# be used as a type
+import macros
+
+macro testTypesym (t:stmt): expr =
+    var ty = t.getType
+    if ty.typekind == ntyTypedesc:
+        # skip typedesc get to the real type
+        ty = ty[1].getType
+
+    if ty.kind == nnkSym: return ty
+    assert ty.kind == nnkBracketExpr
+    assert ty[0].kind == nnkSym
+    result = ty[0]
+    return
+
+type TestFN = proc(a,b:int):int
+var iii: testTypesym(TestFN)
+static: assert iii is TestFN
+
+proc foo11 : testTypesym(void) =
+    echo "HI!"
+static: assert foo11 is (proc():void {.nimcall.})
+
+var sss: testTypesym(seq[int])
+static: assert sss is seq[int]
+# very nice :>
+
+static: assert array[2,int] is testTypesym(array[2,int])
+static: assert(ref int is testTypesym(ref int))
+static: assert(void is testTypesym(void))
+
+
+macro tts2 (t:stmt, idx:int): expr =
+    var ty = t.getType
+    if ty.typekind == ntyTypedesc:
+        # skip typedesc get to the real type
+        ty = ty[1].getType
+
+    if ty.kind == nnkSym: return ty
+    assert ty.kind == nnkBracketExpr
+    return ty[idx.intval.int]
+type TestFN2 = proc(a:int,b:float):string
+static:
+    assert(tts2(TestFN2, 0) is TestFN2)
+    assert(tts2(TestFN2, 1) is string)
+    assert(tts2(TestFN2, 2) is int)
+    assert(tts2(TestFN2, 3) is float)
+
diff --git a/tests/metatype/tautoproc.nim b/tests/metatype/tautoproc.nim
index 562f508fc..ef5377096 100644
--- a/tests/metatype/tautoproc.nim
+++ b/tests/metatype/tautoproc.nim
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 discard """
-  errormsg: "expression 'generate(builder)' has no type (or is ambiguous)"
+  output: "empty"
 """
 
 # bug #898
 
+import typetraits
+
 proc measureTime(e: auto) =
-  discard
+  echo e.type.name
 
 proc generate(a: int): void =
   discard
diff --git a/tests/misc/tcharinc.nim b/tests/misc/tcharinc.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1b5d19c18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/misc/tcharinc.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+discard """
+  output: "1"
+"""
+
+var c = '\0'
+while true:
+  if c == '\xFF': break
+  inc c
+
+echo "1"
diff --git a/tests/misc/tgtk.nim b/tests/misc/tgtk.nim
deleted file mode 100644
index 82227689d..000000000
--- a/tests/misc/tgtk.nim
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,53 +0,0 @@
-discard """

-  disabled: true

-"""

-import

-  gtk2, glib2, atk, gdk2, gdk2pixbuf, libglade2, pango,

-  pangoutils

-

-proc hello(widget: PWidget, data: pointer) {.cdecl.} =

-  write(stdout, "Hello World\n")

-

-proc delete_event(widget: PWidget, event: PEvent,

-                  data: pointer): bool {.cdecl.} =

-  # If you return FALSE in the "delete_event" signal handler,

-  # GTK will emit the "destroy" signal. Returning TRUE means

-  # you don't want the window to be destroyed.

-  # This is useful for popping up 'are you sure you want to quit?'

-  # type dialogs.

-  write(stdout, "delete event occurred\n")

-  # Change TRUE to FALSE and the main window will be destroyed with

-  # a "delete_event".

-  return false

-

-# Another callback

-proc mydestroy(widget: PWidget, data: pointer) {.cdecl.} =

-  gtk2.main_quit()

-

-proc mymain() =

-  # GtkWidget is the storage type for widgets

-  gtk2.nimrod_init()

-  var window = window_new(gtk2.WINDOW_TOPLEVEL)

-  discard g_signal_connect(window, "delete_event", 

-                           Gcallback(delete_event), nil)

-  discard g_signal_connect(window, "destroy", Gcallback(mydestroy), nil)

-  # Sets the border width of the window.

-  set_border_width(window, 10)

-

-  # Creates a new button with the label "Hello World".

-  var button = button_new("Hello World")

-

-  discard g_signal_connect(button, "clicked", Gcallback(hello), nil)

-

-  # This packs the button into the window (a gtk container).

-  add(window, button)

-

-  # The final step is to display this newly created widget.

-  show(button)

-

-  # and the window

-  show(window)

-

-  gtk2.main()

-

-mymain()

diff --git a/tests/misc/tlibs.nim b/tests/misc/tlibs.nim
deleted file mode 100644
index e7a02c7fd..000000000
--- a/tests/misc/tlibs.nim
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-discard """
-  disabled: true
-"""
-
-# Test wether the bindings at least compile...
-
-import
-  unicode, cgi, terminal, libcurl, 
-  parsexml, parseopt, parsecfg,
-  osproc, complex,
-  sdl, smpeg, sdl_gfx, sdl_net, sdl_mixer, sdl_ttf,
-  sdl_image, sdl_mixer_nosmpeg,
-  cursorfont, xatom, xf86vmode, xkb, xrandr, xshm, xvlib, keysym, xcms, xi,
-  xkblib, xrender, xutil, x, xf86dga, xinerama, xlib, xresource, xv,
-  gtk2, glib2, pango, gdk2,
-  cairowin32, cairoxlib,
-  odbcsql,
-  gl, glut, glu, glx, glext, wingl,
-  lua, lualib, lauxlib, mysql, sqlite3, python, tcl,
-  db_postgres, db_mysql, db_sqlite, ropes, sockets, browsers, httpserver,
-  httpclient, parseutils, unidecode, xmldom, xmldomparser, xmltree, xmlparser,
-  htmlparser, re, graphics, colors, pegs, subexes, dialogs
-  
-when defined(linux):
-  import
-    zlib, zipfiles
-
-writeln(stdout, "test compilation of binding modules")
diff --git a/tests/misc/tnewlibs.nim b/tests/misc/tnewlibs.nim
deleted file mode 100644
index 3b74a9b63..000000000
--- a/tests/misc/tnewlibs.nim
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,21 +0,0 @@
-discard """
-  disabled: true
-"""
-
-# Test wether the bindings at least compile...
-
-import
-  tcl,
-  sdl, smpeg, sdl_gfx, sdl_net, sdl_mixer, sdl_ttf,
-  sdl_image, sdl_mixer_nosmpeg,
-  gtk2, glib2, pango, gdk2,
-  unicode, cgi, terminal, libcurl, 
-  parsexml, parseopt, parsecfg,
-  osproc,
-  cairowin32, cairoxlib,
-  gl, glut, glu, glx, glext, wingl,
-  lua, lualib, lauxlib, mysql, sqlite3, db_mongo, md5, asyncio, mimetypes,
-  cookies, events, ftpclient, scgi, irc
-  
-
-writeln(stdout, "test compilation of binding modules")
diff --git a/tests/misc/tslices.nim b/tests/misc/tslices.nim
index 0de1171e3..388a46509 100644
--- a/tests/misc/tslices.nim
+++ b/tests/misc/tslices.nim
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ echo()
 
 
 var myseq = @[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
-myseq[0..2] = myseq[-3.. -1]
+myseq[0..2] = myseq[^3 .. ^1]
 
 for x in items(myseq): stdout.write(x)
 echo()
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ echo mystr
 mystr[4..4] = "u"
 
 # test full replacement
-mystr[.. -2] = "egerichtet"
+mystr[.. ^2] = "egerichtet"
 
 echo mystr
 
@@ -54,6 +54,6 @@ mystr[0..2] = "ve"
 echo mystr
 
 var s = "abcdef"
-s[1 .. -2] = "xyz"
+s[1 .. ^2] = "xyz"
 assert s == "axyzf"
 
diff --git a/tests/misc/tunsignedinc.nim b/tests/misc/tunsignedinc.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..95622156f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/misc/tunsignedinc.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+discard """
+  output: '''253'''
+"""
+
+# bug #2427
+
+import unsigned
+
+var x = 0'u8
+dec x # OverflowError
+x -= 1 # OverflowError
+x = x - 1 # No error
+
+echo x
diff --git a/tests/notnil/tnotnil_in_objconstr.nim b/tests/notnil/tnotnil_in_objconstr.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2110bda8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/notnil/tnotnil_in_objconstr.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+discard """
+  errormsg: "field not initialized: bar"
+  line: "13"
+"""
+
+# bug #2355
+type
+  Foo = object
+    foo: string not nil
+    bar: string not nil
+
+# Create instance without initializaing the `bar` field
+var f = Foo(foo: "foo")
+echo f.bar.isNil # true
diff --git a/tests/objects/tillegal_recursion.nim b/tests/objects/tillegal_recursion.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..171a04f87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/objects/tillegal_recursion.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+discard """
+  errormsg: "illegal recursion in type 'object'"
+  line: 7
+"""
+# bug #1691
+type
+  Foo = ref object of Foo
diff --git a/tests/objects/tobjloop.nim b/tests/objects/tobjloop.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9fea1e2fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/objects/tobjloop.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+discard """
+  output: "is Nil false"
+"""
+# bug #1658
+
+type
+  Loop* = ref object
+    onBeforeSelect*: proc (L: Loop)
+
+var L: Loop
+new L
+L.onBeforeSelect = proc (bar: Loop) =
+  echo "is Nil ", bar.isNil
+
+L.onBeforeSelect(L)
diff --git a/tests/objects/trefobjsyntax2.nim b/tests/objects/trefobjsyntax2.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8ee209cc7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/objects/trefobjsyntax2.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# bug #2508
+
+type
+  GenericNodeObj[T] = ref object
+    obj: T
+
+  Node* = ref object
+    children*: seq[Node]
+    parent*: Node
+
+    nodeObj*: GenericNodeObj[int]
+
+proc newNode*(nodeObj: GenericNodeObj): Node =
+    result = Node(nodeObj: nodeObj)
+    newSeq(result.children, 10)
+
+var genericObj = GenericNodeObj[int]()
+
+var myNode = newNode(genericObj)
diff --git a/tests/overload/tstmtoverload.nim b/tests/overload/tstmtoverload.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f1944b637
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/overload/tstmtoverload.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+
+# bug #2481
+import math
+
+template test(loopCount: int, extraI: int, testBody: stmt): stmt =
+  block:
+    for i in 0..loopCount-1:
+      testBody
+    echo "done extraI=", extraI
+
+template test(loopCount: int, extraF: float, testBody: stmt): stmt =
+  block:
+    test(loopCount, round(extraF), testBody)
+
+template test(loopCount: int, testBody: stmt): stmt =
+  block:
+    test(loopCount, 0, testBody)
+    echo "done extraI passed 0"
+
+when isMainModule:
+  var
+    loops = 0
+
+  test 0, 0:
+    loops += 1
+  echo "test 0 complete, loops=", loops
+
+  test 1, 1.0:
+    loops += 1
+  echo "test 1.0 complete, loops=", loops
+
+  when true:
+    # when true we get the following compile time error:
+    #   b.nim(35, 6) Error: expression 'loops += 1' has no type (or is ambiguous)
+    loops = 0
+    test 2:
+      loops += 1
+    echo "test no extra complete, loops=", loops
diff --git a/tests/parallel/tgc_unsafe2.nim b/tests/parallel/tgc_unsafe2.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ec4605fe9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parallel/tgc_unsafe2.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+discard """
+  line: 28
+  nimout: '''tgc_unsafe2.nim(22, 5) Warning: 'trick' is not GC-safe as it accesses 'global' which is a global using GC'ed memory
+tgc_unsafe2.nim(26, 5) Warning: 'track' is not GC-safe as it calls 'trick'
+tgc_unsafe2.nim(28, 5) Error: 'consumer' is not GC-safe as it calls 'track'
+'''
+  errormsg: "'consumer' is not GC-safe as it calls 'track'"
+"""
+
+import threadpool
+
+type StringChannel = TChannel[string]
+var channels: array[1..3, StringChannel]
+
+type
+  MyObject[T] = object
+    x: T
+
+var global: MyObject[string]
+var globalB: MyObject[float]
+
+proc trick(ix: int) =
+  echo global.x
+  echo channels[ix].recv()
+
+proc track(ix: int) = trick(ix)
+
+proc consumer(ix: int) {.thread.} =
+  track(ix)
+
+proc main =
+  for ix in 1..3: channels[ix].open()
+  for ix in 1..3: spawn consumer(ix)
+  for ix in 1..3: channels[ix].send("test")
+  sync()
+  for ix in 1..3: channels[ix].close()
+
+when isMainModule:
+  main()
diff --git a/tests/parallel/twrong_refcounts.nim b/tests/parallel/twrong_refcounts.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..db32a96d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parallel/twrong_refcounts.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+discard """
+  output: "Success"
+"""
+
+import math, threadPool
+
+# ---
+
+type
+  Person = object
+    age: int
+    friend: ref Person
+
+var
+  people: seq[ref Person] = @[]
+
+proc newPerson(age:int): ref Person =
+  result.new()
+  result.age = age
+
+proc greet(p:Person) =
+  #echo p.age, ", ", p.friend.age
+  p.friend.age += 1
+
+# ---
+
+proc setup =
+  for i in 0 .. <20:
+    people.add newPerson(i + 1)
+  for i in 0 .. <20:
+    people[i].friend = people[random(20)]
+
+proc update =
+  var countA: array[20, int]
+  var countB: array[20, int]
+
+  for i, p in people:
+    countA[i] = getRefCount(p)
+  parallel:
+    for i in 0 .. people.high:
+      spawn greet(people[i][])
+  for i, p in people:
+    countB[i] = getRefCount(p)
+
+  for i in 0 .. <20:
+    doAssert countA[i] == countB[i]
+  echo "Success"
+
+# ---
+
+when isMainModule:
+  setup()
+  update()
diff --git a/tests/parser/tstrongspaces.nim b/tests/parser/tstrongspaces.nim
index 91506daf0..e70b91988 100644
--- a/tests/parser/tstrongspaces.nim
+++ b/tests/parser/tstrongspaces.nim
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 discard """
   output: '''35
+true
+true
+4
+true
+1
+false
 77
 (Field0: 1, Field1: 2, Field2: 2)
 ha
@@ -9,11 +15,26 @@ true
 tester args
 all
 all args
+19
+-3
+false
+-2
 '''
 """
 
 echo 2+5 * 5
 
+# Keyword operators
+echo 1 + 16 shl 1 == 1 + (16 shl 1)
+echo 2 and 1  in  {0, 30}
+echo 2+2 * 2 shr 1
+echo false  or  2 and 1  in  {0, 30}
+
+proc `^`(a, b: int): int = a + b div 2
+echo 19 mod 16 ^ 4  +  2 and 1
+echo 18 mod 16 ^ 4 > 0
+
+# echo $foo gotcha
 let foo = 77
 echo $foo
 
@@ -27,7 +48,7 @@ when true:
   let b = 66
   let c = 90
   let bar = 8000
-  if foo+4 * 4 == 8 and b&c | 9  ++
+  if foo+4 * 4 == 8  and  b&c | 9  ++
       bar:
     echo "ho"
   else:
@@ -50,3 +71,13 @@ const
 echo tester & " " & args|"all"
 echo "all"  |  tester & " " & args
 echo "all"|tester & " " & args
+
+# Test arrow like operators. See also tests/macros/tclosuremacro.nim
+proc `+->`(a, b: int): int = a + b*4
+template `===>`(a, b: int): expr = a - b shr 1
+
+echo 3 +-> 2 + 2 and 4
+var arrowed = 3+->2 + 2 and 4  # arrowed = 4
+echo arrowed ===> 15
+echo (2 * 3+->2) == (2*3 +-> 2)
+echo arrowed ===> 2 + 3+->2
diff --git a/tests/stdlib/treloop.nim b/tests/stdlib/treloop.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..35236708c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/stdlib/treloop.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+discard """
+  output: "@[(, +,  1,  2, )]"
+"""
+
+import re
+
+let str = "(+ 1 2)"
+var tokenRE = re"""[\s,]*(~@|[\[\]{}()'`~^@]|"(?:\\.|[^\\"])*"|;.*|[^\s\[\]{}('"`,;)]*)"""
+echo str.findAll(tokenRE)
diff --git a/tests/system/settostring.nim b/tests/system/tsettostring.nim
index c6846ee99..c6846ee99 100644
--- a/tests/system/settostring.nim
+++ b/tests/system/tsettostring.nim
diff --git a/tests/template/ttempl2.nim b/tests/template/ttempl2.nim
index 142bbb8c7..aaa2f1344 100644
--- a/tests/template/ttempl2.nim
+++ b/tests/template/ttempl2.nim
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@ discard """
   line: 18
   errormsg: "undeclared identifier: \'b\'"
 """
-template declareInScope(x: expr, t: typeDesc): stmt {.immediate.} =
+template declareInScope(x: untyped, t: typeDesc): untyped {.immediate.} =
   var x: t
-  
-template declareInNewScope(x: expr, t: typeDesc): stmt {.immediate.} =
+
+template declareInNewScope(x: untyped, t: typeDesc): untyped {.immediate.} =
   # open a new scope:
-  block: 
+  block:
     var x: t
 
 declareInScope(a, int)
diff --git a/tests/testament/categories.nim b/tests/testament/categories.nim
index cb3649a38..4476fccf2 100644
--- a/tests/testament/categories.nim
+++ b/tests/testament/categories.nim
@@ -22,35 +22,35 @@ proc delNimCache() =
     removeDir(nimcacheDir)
   except OSError:
     echo "[Warning] could not delete: ", nimcacheDir
-    
+
 proc runRodFiles(r: var TResults, cat: Category, options: string) =
   template test(filename: expr): stmt =
     testSpec r, makeTest(rodfilesDir / filename, options, cat, actionRun)
-  
+
   delNimCache()
-  
+
   # test basic recompilation scheme:
   test "hallo"
   test "hallo"
   # test incremental type information:
   test "hallo2"
   delNimCache()
-  
+
   # test type converters:
   test "aconv"
   test "bconv"
   delNimCache()
-  
+
   # test G, A, B example from the documentation; test init sections:
   test "deada"
   test "deada2"
   delNimCache()
-  
+
   # test method generation:
   test "bmethods"
   test "bmethods2"
   delNimCache()
-  
+
   # test generics:
   test "tgeneric1"
   test "tgeneric2"
@@ -79,8 +79,8 @@ proc runBasicDLLTest(c, r: var TResults, cat: Category, options: string) =
     options & " --app:lib -d:createNimRtl", cat)
   testSpec c, makeTest("tests/dll/server.nim",
     options & " --app:lib -d:useNimRtl", cat)
-  
-  when defined(Windows): 
+
+  when defined(Windows):
     # windows looks in the dir of the exe (yay!):
     var nimrtlDll = DynlibFormat % "nimrtl"
     safeCopyFile("lib" / nimrtlDll, "tests/dll" / nimrtlDll)
@@ -91,14 +91,14 @@ proc runBasicDLLTest(c, r: var TResults, cat: Category, options: string) =
     putEnv("LD_LIBRARY_PATH", "lib:" & libpath)
     var serverDll = DynlibFormat % "server"
     safeCopyFile("tests/dll" / serverDll, "lib" / serverDll)
-  
-  testSpec r, makeTest("tests/dll/client.nim", options & " -d:useNimRtl", 
+
+  testSpec r, makeTest("tests/dll/client.nim", options & " -d:useNimRtl",
                        cat, actionRun)
 
 proc dllTests(r: var TResults, cat: Category, options: string) =
   # dummy compile result:
   var c = initResults()
-  
+
   runBasicDLLTest c, r, cat, options
   runBasicDLLTest c, r, cat, options & " -d:release"
   runBasicDLLTest c, r, cat, options & " --gc:boehm"
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ proc gcTests(r: var TResults, cat: Category, options: string) =
   test "cycleleak"
   test "closureleak"
   testWithoutMs "refarrayleak"
-  
+
   test "stackrefleak"
   test "cyclecollector"
 
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ proc threadTests(r: var TResults, cat: Category, options: string) =
       " -d:release", cat, actionRun)
     testSpec r, makeTest("tests/threads" / filename, options &
       " --tlsEmulation:on", cat, actionRun)
-  
+
   test "tactors"
   test "tactors2"
   test "threadex"
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ proc jsTests(r: var TResults, cat: Category, options: string) =
                          actionRun, targetJS)
     testSpec r, makeTest(filename, options & " -d:nodejs -d:release", cat,
                          actionRun, targetJS)
-    
+
   for t in os.walkFiles("tests/js/t*.nim"):
     test(t)
   for testfile in ["exception/texceptions", "exception/texcpt1",
@@ -199,13 +199,13 @@ proc jsTests(r: var TResults, cat: Category, options: string) =
 
 proc findMainFile(dir: string): string =
   # finds the file belonging to ".nim.cfg"; if there is no such file
-  # it returns the some ".nim" file if there is only one: 
+  # it returns the some ".nim" file if there is only one:
   const cfgExt = ".nim.cfg"
   result = ""
   var nimFiles = 0
   for kind, file in os.walkDir(dir):
     if kind == pcFile:
-      if file.endsWith(cfgExt): return file[.. -(cfgExt.len+1)] & ".nim"
+      if file.endsWith(cfgExt): return file[.. ^(cfgExt.len+1)] & ".nim"
       elif file.endsWith(".nim"):
         if result.len == 0: result = file
         inc nimFiles
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ type PackageFilter = enum
   pfExtraOnly
   pfAll
 
-let 
+let
   nimbleExe = findExe("nimble")
   nimbleDir = getHomeDir() / ".nimble"
   packageDir = nimbleDir / "pkgs"
diff --git a/tests/testament/specs.nim b/tests/testament/specs.nim
index 2a8a4ea24..8bf1a4ad7 100644
--- a/tests/testament/specs.nim
+++ b/tests/testament/specs.nim
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ type
     action*: TTestAction
     file*, cmd*: string
     outp*: string
-    line*, exitCode*: int
+    line*, column*: int
+    exitCode*: int
     msg*: string
     ccodeCheck*: string
     err*: TResultEnum
@@ -98,6 +99,8 @@ proc parseSpec*(filename: string): TSpec =
   result.nimout = ""
   result.ccodeCheck = ""
   result.cmd = cmdTemplate
+  result.line = 0
+  result.column = 0
   parseSpecAux:
     case normalize(e.key)
     of "action":
@@ -108,6 +111,7 @@ proc parseSpec*(filename: string): TSpec =
       else: echo ignoreMsg(p, e)
     of "file": result.file = e.value
     of "line": discard parseInt(e.value, result.line)
+    of "column": discard parseInt(e.value, result.column)
     of "output": 
       result.action = actionRun
       result.outp = e.value
diff --git a/tests/testament/tester.nim b/tests/testament/tester.nim
index 4c1173fe3..ed39109ad 100644
--- a/tests/testament/tester.nim
+++ b/tests/testament/tester.nim
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ type
 
 let
   pegLineError =
-    peg"{[^(]*} '(' {\d+} ', ' \d+ ') ' ('Error') ':' \s* {.*}"
+    peg"{[^(]*} '(' {\d+} ', ' {\d+} ') ' ('Error') ':' \s* {.*}"
   pegOtherError = peg"'Error:' \s* {.*}"
   pegSuccess = peg"'Hint: operation successful'.*"
   pegOfInterest = pegLineError / pegOtherError
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ proc callCompiler(cmdTemplate, filename, options: string,
                   target: TTarget): TSpec =
   let c = parseCmdLine(cmdTemplate % ["target", targetToCmd[target],
                        "options", options, "file", filename.quoteShell])
-  var p = startProcess(command=c[0], args=c[1.. -1],
+  var p = startProcess(command=c[0], args=c[1.. ^1],
                        options={poStdErrToStdOut, poUseShell})
   let outp = p.outputStream
   var suc = ""
@@ -77,11 +77,13 @@ proc callCompiler(cmdTemplate, filename, options: string,
   result.msg = ""
   result.file = ""
   result.outp = ""
-  result.line = -1
+  result.line = 0
+  result.column = 0
   if err =~ pegLineError:
     result.file = extractFilename(matches[0])
     result.line = parseInt(matches[1])
-    result.msg = matches[2]
+    result.column = parseInt(matches[2])
+    result.msg = matches[3]
   elif err =~ pegOtherError:
     result.msg = matches[0]
   elif suc =~ pegSuccess:
@@ -130,8 +132,11 @@ proc cmpMsgs(r: var TResults, expected, given: TSpec, test: TTest) =
   elif extractFilename(expected.file) != extractFilename(given.file) and
       "internal error:" notin expected.msg:
     r.addResult(test, expected.file, given.file, reFilesDiffer)
-  elif expected.line != given.line and expected.line != 0:
-    r.addResult(test, $expected.line, $given.line, reLinesDiffer)
+  elif expected.line   != given.line   and expected.line   != 0 or
+       expected.column != given.column and expected.column != 0:
+    r.addResult(test, $expected.line & ':' & $expected.column,
+                      $given.line    & ':' & $given.column,
+                      reLinesDiffer)
   else:
     r.addResult(test, expected.msg, given.msg, reSuccess)
     inc(r.passed)
@@ -284,7 +289,7 @@ proc main() =
     let testsDir = "tests" & DirSep
     for kind, dir in walkDir(testsDir):
       assert testsDir.startsWith(testsDir)
-      let cat = dir[testsDir.len .. -1]
+      let cat = dir[testsDir.len .. ^1]
       if kind == pcDir and cat notin ["testament", "testdata", "nimcache"]:
         processCategory(r, Category(cat), p.cmdLineRest.string)
     for a in AdditionalCategories:
diff --git a/tests/tuples/tuint_tuple.nim b/tests/tuples/tuint_tuple.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..24bcead5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/tuples/tuint_tuple.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# bug #1986 found by gdmoore
+
+proc test(): int64 =
+  return 0xdeadbeef.int64
+
+const items = [
+  (var1: test(), var2: 100'u32),
+  (var1: test(), var2: 192'u32)
+]
+
diff --git a/tests/types/tisopr.nim b/tests/types/tisopr.nim
index 8b7fe4e46..b9acfa5fb 100644
--- a/tests/types/tisopr.nim
+++ b/tests/types/tisopr.nim
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 discard """
-  output: '''true true false yes'''
+  output: '''true true false yes
+false
+false
+false
+true
+true
+no'''
 """
 
 proc IsVoid[T](): string =
@@ -28,7 +34,7 @@ no  s.items is iterator: float
 yes s.items is iterator: TNumber
 no  s.items is iterator: object
 
-type 
+type
   Iter[T] = iterator: T
 
 yes s.items is Iter[TNumber]
@@ -51,3 +57,34 @@ yes Foo[4, int] is Bar[int]
 no Foo[4, int] is Baz[4]
 yes Foo[4, float] is Baz[4]
 
+
+# bug #2505
+
+echo(8'i8 is int32)
+
+# bug #1853
+type SeqOrSet[E] = seq[E] or set[E]
+type SeqOfInt = seq[int]
+type SeqOrSetOfInt = SeqOrSet[int]
+
+# This prints "false", which seems less correct that (1) printing "true" or (2)
+# raising a compiler error.
+echo seq is SeqOrSet
+
+# This prints "false", as expected.
+echo seq is SeqOrSetOfInt
+
+# This prints "true", as expected.
+echo SeqOfInt is SeqOrSet
+
+# This causes an internal error (filename: compiler/semtypes.nim, line: 685).
+echo SeqOfInt is SeqOrSetOfInt
+
+# bug #2522
+proc test[T](x: T) =
+  when T is typedesc:
+    echo "yes"
+  else:
+    echo "no"
+
+test(7)
diff --git a/todo.txt b/todo.txt
index e32ebf490..a61f932a9 100644
--- a/todo.txt
+++ b/todo.txt
@@ -1,20 +1,16 @@
 version 0.10.4
 ==============
 
-- improve the parser; deal with  echo $foo  gotcha
-- improve GC-unsafety warnings
 - make 'nil' work for 'add' and 'len'
-- add "all threads are blocked" detection to 'spawn'
-- overloading of '='
-- disallow negative indexing
-
 
 version 1.0
 ===========
 
+- macro support for '='; bind '=' to a memory region
+- remove   echo $foo  gotcha
+- add "all threads are blocked" detection to 'spawn'
 - figure out why C++ bootstrapping is so much slower
 - nimsuggest: auto-completion needs to work in 'class' macros
-- improve the docs for inheritance
 - The bitwise 'not' operator will be renamed to 'bnot' to
   prevent 'not 4 == 5' from compiling. -> requires 'mixin' annotation for procs!
 - iterators always require a return type
diff --git a/web/news.txt b/web/news.txt
index 08a3cd6f5..6b109aa1c 100644
--- a/web/news.txt
+++ b/web/news.txt
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ News
     should be used instead.
   - ``nim idetools`` has been replaced by a separate tool `nimsuggest`_.
   - *arrow like* operators are not right associative anymore.
+  - *arrow like* operators are now required to end with either ``->``, ``~>`` or
+    ``=>``, not just ``>``. Examples of operators still considered arrow like:
+    ``->``, ``==>``, ``+=>``. On the other hand, the following operators are now
+    considered regular operators again: ``|>``, ``-+>``, etc.
   - Typeless parameters are now only allowed in templates and macros. The old
     way turned out to be too error-prone.
   - The 'addr' and 'type' operators are now parsed as unary function
@@ -42,7 +46,42 @@ News
     structure; for immediate macro parameters ``nkCall('addr', 'x')`` is
     produced instead of ``nkAddr('x')``.
   - ``concept`` is now a keyword and is used instead of ``generic``.
+  - The ``inc``, ``dec``, ``+=``, ``-=`` builtins now produce OverflowError
+    exceptions. This means code like the following:
 
+  .. code-block:: nim
+    var x = low(T)
+    while x <= high(T):
+      echo x
+      inc x
+
+  Needs to be replaced by something like this:
+
+  .. code-block:: nim
+    var x = low(T).int
+    while x <= high(T).int:
+      echo x.T
+      inc x
+
+  - **Negative indexing for slicing does not work anymore!** Instead
+    of ``a[0.. -1]`` you can
+    use ``a[0.. ^1]``. This also works with accessing a single
+    element ``a[^1]``. Note that we cannot detect this reliably as it is
+    determined at **runtime** whether negative indexing is used!
+    ``a[0.. -1]`` now produces the empty string/sequence.
+  - The compiler now warns about code like ``foo +=1`` which uses inconsistent
+    spacing around binary operators. Later versions of the language will parse
+    these as unary operators instead so that ``echo $foo`` finally can do what
+    people expect it to do.
+  - ``system.untyped`` and ``system.typed`` have been introduced as aliases
+    for ``expr`` and ``stmt``. The new names capture the semantics much better
+    and most likely  ``expr`` and ``stmt`` will be deprecated in favor of the
+    new names.
+  - The ``split`` method in module ``re`` has changed. It now handles the case
+    of matches having a length of 0, and empty strings being yielded from the
+    iterator. A notable change might be that a pattern being matched at the
+    beginning and end of a string, will result in an empty string being produced
+    at the start and the end of the iterator.
 
   Language Additions
   ------------------
@@ -84,6 +123,11 @@ News
     varOrConst(x) # "var"
     varOrConst(45) # "const"
 
+  - Array and seq indexing can now use the builtin ``^`` operator to access
+    things from backwards: ``a[^1]`` is like Python's ``a[-1]``.
+  - A first version of the specification and implementation of the overloading
+    of the assignment operator has arrived!
+
 
   Library additions
   -----------------