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-rw-r--r--subx/061read-byte.subx62
-rw-r--r--subx/064write-byte.subx111
-rw-r--r--subx/066print-byte.subx93
-rw-r--r--subx/068error-byte.subx4
-rw-r--r--subx/071read-line.subx40
-rw-r--r--subx/072slice.subx24
-rw-r--r--subx/Readme.md14
-rwxr-xr-xsubx/apps/assortbin21492 -> 21961 bytes
-rw-r--r--subx/apps/assort.subx14
-rwxr-xr-xsubx/apps/crenshaw2-1bin18651 -> 19120 bytes
-rw-r--r--subx/apps/crenshaw2-1.subx4
-rwxr-xr-xsubx/apps/crenshaw2-1bbin19210 -> 19679 bytes
-rw-r--r--subx/apps/crenshaw2-1b.subx7
-rw-r--r--subx/apps/dquotesbin21106 -> 23219 bytes
-rw-r--r--subx/apps/dquotes.subx684
-rwxr-xr-xsubx/apps/factorialbin17567 -> 18036 bytes
-rwxr-xr-xsubx/apps/handlebin18394 -> 18863 bytes
-rwxr-xr-xsubx/apps/hexbin21660 -> 22129 bytes
-rw-r--r--subx/apps/hex.subx18
-rwxr-xr-xsubx/apps/packbin36252 -> 36721 bytes
-rw-r--r--subx/apps/pack.subx72
-rw-r--r--subx/apps/subx-common.subx6
22 files changed, 988 insertions, 165 deletions
diff --git a/subx/061read-byte.subx b/subx/061read-byte.subx
index 7503818f..81080393 100644
--- a/subx/061read-byte.subx
+++ b/subx/061read-byte.subx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# read-byte: one higher-level abstraction atop 'read'.
+# read-byte-buffered: one higher-level abstraction atop 'read'.
 #
 # There are many situations where 'read' is a lot to manage, and we need
 # to abstract some details away. One of them is when we want to read a file
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ Stdin:
 # . 1-3 bytes   3 bits              2 bits          3 bits        3 bits      3 bits        2 bits      2 bits      0/1/2/4 bytes   0/1/2/4 bytes
 
 #? Entry:  # run a single test, while debugging
-#?     e8/call test-read-byte-multiple/disp32
-#?     e8/call test-read-byte-refills-buffer/disp32
+#?     e8/call test-read-byte-buffered-multiple/disp32
+#?     e8/call test-read-byte-buffered-refills-buffer/disp32
 #?     # syscall(exit, Num-test-failures)
 #?     8b/copy                         0/mod/indirect  5/rm32/.disp32            .             .           3/r32/EBX   Num-test-failures/disp32          # copy *Num-test-failures to EBX
 #?     b8/copy-to-EAX  1/imm32/exit
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ Stdin:
 
 # return next byte value in EAX, with top 3 bytes cleared.
 # On reaching end of file, return 0xffffffff (Eof).
-read-byte:  # f : (address buffered-file) -> byte-or-Eof/EAX
+read-byte-buffered:  # f : (address buffered-file) -> byte-or-Eof/EAX
     # . prolog
     55/push-EBP
     89/copy                         3/mod/direct    5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to EBP
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ read-byte:  # f : (address buffered-file) -> byte-or-Eof/EAX
     8b/copy                         1/mod/*+disp8   6/rm32/ESI    .           .             .           1/r32/ECX   8/disp8         .                 # copy *(ESI+8) to ECX
     # if (f->read >= f->write) populate stream from file
     3b/compare                      1/mod/*+disp8   6/rm32/ESI    .           .             .           1/r32/ECX   4/disp8         .                 # compare ECX with *(ESI+4)
-    7c/jump-if-lesser  $read-byte:from-stream/disp8
+    7c/jump-if-lesser  $read-byte-buffered:from-stream/disp8
     # . clear-stream(stream = f+4)
     # . . push args
     8d/copy-address                 1/mod/*+disp8   6/rm32/ESI    .           .             .           0/r32/EAX   4/disp8         .                 # copy ESI+4 to EAX
@@ -75,17 +75,17 @@ read-byte:  # f : (address buffered-file) -> byte-or-Eof/EAX
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # if (EAX == 0) return 0xffffffff
     3d/compare-EAX-and  0/imm32
-    75/jump-if-not-equal  $read-byte:from-stream/disp8
+    75/jump-if-not-equal  $read-byte-buffered:from-stream/disp8
     b8/copy-to-EAX  0xffffffff/imm32/Eof
-    eb/jump  $read-byte:end/disp8
-$read-byte:from-stream:
+    eb/jump  $read-byte-buffered:end/disp8
+$read-byte-buffered:from-stream:
     # read byte from stream
     # AL = f->data[f->read]
     31/xor                          3/mod/direct    0/rm32/EAX    .           .             .           0/r32/EAX   .               .                 # clear EAX
     8a/copy-byte                    1/mod/*+disp8   4/rm32/sib    6/base/ESI  1/index/ECX   .           0/r32/AL    0x10/disp8      .                 # copy byte at *(ESI+ECX+16) to AL
     # ++f->read
     ff          0/subop/increment   1/mod/*+disp8   6/rm32/ESI    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         .                 # increment *(ESI+8)
-$read-byte:end:
+$read-byte-buffered:end:
     # . restore registers
     5e/pop-to-ESI
     59/pop-to-ECX
@@ -96,8 +96,8 @@ $read-byte:end:
 
 # - tests
 
-test-read-byte-single:
-    # - check that read-byte returns first byte of 'file'
+test-read-byte-buffered-single:
+    # - check that read-byte-buffered returns first byte of 'file'
     # setup
     # . clear-stream(_test-stream)
     # . . push args
@@ -123,16 +123,16 @@ test-read-byte-single:
     e8/call  write/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
-    # read-byte(_test-buffered-file)
+    # read-byte-buffered(_test-buffered-file)
     # . . push args
     68/push  _test-buffered-file/imm32
     # . . call
-    e8/call  read-byte/disp32
+    e8/call  read-byte-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
     # check-ints-equal(EAX, 'A', msg)
     # . . push args
-    68/push  "F - test-read-byte-single"/imm32
+    68/push  "F - test-read-byte-buffered-single"/imm32
     68/push  0x41/imm32
     50/push-EAX
     # . . call
@@ -142,8 +142,8 @@ test-read-byte-single:
     # . end
     c3/return
 
-test-read-byte-multiple:
-    # - call read-byte twice, check that second call returns second byte
+test-read-byte-buffered-multiple:
+    # - call read-byte-buffered twice, check that second call returns second byte
     # setup
     # . clear-stream(_test-stream)
     # . . push args
@@ -169,23 +169,23 @@ test-read-byte-multiple:
     e8/call  write/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
-    # read-byte(_test-buffered-file)
+    # read-byte-buffered(_test-buffered-file)
     # . . push args
     68/push  _test-buffered-file/imm32
     # . . call
-    e8/call  read-byte/disp32
+    e8/call  read-byte-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
-    # read-byte(_test-buffered-file)
+    # read-byte-buffered(_test-buffered-file)
     # . . push args
     68/push  _test-buffered-file/imm32
     # . . call
-    e8/call  read-byte/disp32
+    e8/call  read-byte-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
     # check-ints-equal(EAX, 'b', msg)
     # . . push args
-    68/push  "F - test-read-byte-multiple"/imm32
+    68/push  "F - test-read-byte-buffered-multiple"/imm32
     68/push  0x62/imm32
     50/push-EAX
     # . . call
@@ -195,8 +195,8 @@ test-read-byte-multiple:
     # . end
     c3/return
 
-test-read-byte-end-of-file:
-    # - call read-byte on an empty 'file', check that it returns Eof
+test-read-byte-buffered-end-of-file:
+    # - call read-byte-buffered on an empty 'file', check that it returns Eof
     # setup
     # . clear-stream(_test-stream)
     # . . push args
@@ -214,16 +214,16 @@ test-read-byte-end-of-file:
     e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
-    # read-byte(_test-buffered-file)
+    # read-byte-buffered(_test-buffered-file)
     # . . push args
     68/push  _test-buffered-file/imm32
     # . . call
-    e8/call  read-byte/disp32
+    e8/call  read-byte-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
     # check-ints-equal(EAX, 0xffffffff, msg)
     # . . push args
-    68/push  "F - test-read-byte-end-of-file"/imm32
+    68/push  "F - test-read-byte-buffered-end-of-file"/imm32
     68/push  0xffffffff/imm32/Eof
     50/push-EAX
     # . . call
@@ -233,8 +233,8 @@ test-read-byte-end-of-file:
     # . end
     c3/return
 
-test-read-byte-refills-buffer:
-    # - consume buffered-file's buffer, check that next read-byte still works
+test-read-byte-buffered-refills-buffer:
+    # - consume buffered-file's buffer, check that next read-byte-buffered still works
     # setup
     # . clear-stream(_test-stream)
     # . . push args
@@ -264,16 +264,16 @@ test-read-byte-refills-buffer:
     # . _test-buffered-file->read = 6  # >= _test-buffered-file->length
     b8/copy-to-EAX  _test-buffered-file/imm32
     c7          0/subop/copy        1/mod/*+disp8   0/rm32/EAX    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         6/imm32           # copy to *(EAX+8)
-    # read-byte(_test-buffered-file)
+    # read-byte-buffered(_test-buffered-file)
     # . . push args
     68/push  _test-buffered-file/imm32
     # . . call
-    e8/call  read-byte/disp32
+    e8/call  read-byte-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
     # check-ints-equal(EAX, 'A', msg)
     # . . push args
-    68/push  "F - test-read-byte-refills-buffer"/imm32
+    68/push  "F - test-read-byte-buffered-refills-buffer"/imm32
     68/push  0x41/imm32
     50/push-EAX
     # . . call
diff --git a/subx/064write-byte.subx b/subx/064write-byte.subx
index 9f97c336..606cc7d3 100644
--- a/subx/064write-byte.subx
+++ b/subx/064write-byte.subx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# write-byte: write a single byte to a buffered-file. The write may be buffered.
+# write-byte-buffered: add a single byte to a buffered-file.
 # flush: write out any buffered writes to disk.
 #
 # TODO: Come up with a way to signal failure to write to disk. This is hard
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Stdout:
 # . 1-3 bytes   3 bits              2 bits          3 bits        3 bits      3 bits        2 bits      2 bits      0/1/2/4 bytes   0/1/2/4 bytes
 
 # Write lower byte of 'n' to 'f'.
-write-byte:  # f : (address buffered-file), n : int -> <void>
+write-byte-buffered:  # f : (address buffered-file), n : int -> <void>
     # . prolog
     55/push-EBP
     89/copy                         3/mod/direct    5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to EBP
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ write-byte:  # f : (address buffered-file), n : int -> <void>
     8b/copy                         1/mod/*+disp8   7/rm32/EDI    .           .             .           1/r32/ECX   4/disp8         .                 # copy *(EDI+4) to ECX
     # if (f->write >= f->length) flush and clear f's stream
     3b/compare                      1/mod/*+disp8   7/rm32/EDI    .           .             .           1/r32/ECX   0xc/disp8       .                 # compare ECX with *(EDI+12)
-    7c/jump-if-lesser  $write-byte:to-stream/disp8
+    7c/jump-if-lesser  $write-byte-buffered:to-stream/disp8
     # . flush(f)
     # . . push args
     57/push-EDI
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ write-byte:  # f : (address buffered-file), n : int -> <void>
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
     # . f->write must now be 0; update its cache at ECX
     31/xor                          3/mod/direct    1/rm32/ECX    .           .             .           1/r32/ECX   .               .                 # clear ECX
-$write-byte:to-stream:
+$write-byte-buffered:to-stream:
     # write to stream
     # f->data[f->write] = LSB(n)
     31/xor                          3/mod/direct    0/rm32/EAX    .           .             .           0/r32/EAX   .               .                 # clear EAX
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ $write-byte:to-stream:
     88/copy-byte                    1/mod/*+disp8   4/rm32/sib    7/base/EDI  1/index/ECX   .           0/r32/AL    0x10/disp8      .                 # copy AL to *(EDI+ECX+16)
     # ++f->write
     ff          0/subop/increment   1/mod/*+disp8   7/rm32/EDI    .           .             .           .           4/disp8         .                 # increment *(EDI+4)
-$write-byte:end:
+$write-byte-buffered:end:
     # . restore registers
     5f/pop-to-EDI
     59/pop-to-ECX
@@ -103,10 +103,8 @@ $flush:end:
     5d/pop-to-EBP
     c3/return
 
-# - tests
-
-test-write-byte-single:
-    # - check that write-byte writes to first byte of 'file'
+test-write-byte-buffered-single:
+    # - check that write-byte-buffered writes to first byte of 'file'
     # setup
     # . clear-stream(_test-stream)
     # . . push args
@@ -124,12 +122,12 @@ test-write-byte-single:
     e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
-    # write-byte(_test-buffered-file, 'A')
+    # write-byte-buffered(_test-buffered-file, 'A')
     # . . push args
     68/push  0x41/imm32
     68/push  _test-buffered-file/imm32
     # . . call
-    e8/call  write-byte/disp32
+    e8/call  write-byte-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # flush(_test-buffered-file)
@@ -141,7 +139,7 @@ test-write-byte-single:
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
     # check-stream-equal(_test-stream, "A", msg)
     # . . push args
-    68/push  "F - test-write-byte-single"/imm32
+    68/push  "F - test-write-byte-buffered-single"/imm32
     68/push  "A"/imm32
     68/push  _test-stream/imm32
     # . . call
@@ -151,8 +149,8 @@ test-write-byte-single:
     # . end
     c3/return
 
-test-write-byte-multiple-flushes:
-    # - check that write-byte correctly flushes buffered data
+test-write-byte-buffered-multiple-flushes:
+    # - check that write-byte-buffered correctly flushes buffered data
     # setup
     # . clear-stream(_test-stream)
     # . . push args
@@ -181,12 +179,12 @@ test-write-byte-multiple-flushes:
     e8/call  write/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
-    # write-byte(_test-buffered-file, 'g')
+    # write-byte-buffered(_test-buffered-file, 'g')
     # . . push args
     68/push  0x67/imm32
     68/push  _test-buffered-file/imm32
     # . . call
-    e8/call  write-byte/disp32
+    e8/call  write-byte-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # flush(_test-buffered-file)
@@ -198,7 +196,7 @@ test-write-byte-multiple-flushes:
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
     # check-stream-equal(_test-stream, "abcdef", msg)
     # . . push args
-    68/push  "F - test-write-byte-multiple-flushes: 1"/imm32
+    68/push  "F - test-write-byte-buffered-multiple-flushes: 1"/imm32
     68/push  "abcdefg"/imm32
     68/push  _test-stream/imm32
     # . . call
@@ -208,4 +206,83 @@ test-write-byte-multiple-flushes:
     # . end
     c3/return
 
+# - variant without buffering
+
+# Write lower byte of 'n' to 'f'.
+append-byte:  # f : (address stream), n : int -> <void>
+    # . prolog
+    55/push-EBP
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to EBP
+    # . save registers
+    51/push-ECX
+    57/push-EDI
+    # EDI = f
+    8b/copy                         1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           7/r32/EDI   8/disp8         .                 # copy *(EBP+8) to EDI
+    # ECX = f->write
+    8b/copy                         0/mod/indirect  7/rm32/EDI    .           .             .           1/r32/ECX   .               .                 # copy *EDI to ECX
+    # if (f->write >= f->length) abort
+    3b/compare                      1/mod/*+disp8   7/rm32/EDI    .           .             .           1/r32/ECX   8/disp8         .                 # compare ECX with *(EDI+8)
+    7d/jump-if-greater-or-equal  $append-byte:abort/disp8
+$append-byte:to-stream:
+    # write to stream
+    # f->data[f->write] = LSB(n)
+    31/xor                          3/mod/direct    0/rm32/EAX    .           .             .           0/r32/EAX   .               .                 # clear EAX
+    8a/copy-byte                    1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           0/r32/AL    0xc/disp8       .                 # copy byte at *(EBP+12) to AL
+    88/copy-byte                    1/mod/*+disp8   4/rm32/sib    7/base/EDI  1/index/ECX   .           0/r32/AL    0xc/disp8       .                 # copy AL to *(EDI+ECX+12)
+    # ++f->write
+    ff          0/subop/increment   0/mod/indirect  7/rm32/EDI    .           .             .           .           .               .                 # increment *EDI
+$append-byte:end:
+    # . restore registers
+    5f/pop-to-EDI
+    59/pop-to-ECX
+    # . epilog
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           5/r32/EBP   .               .                 # copy EBP to ESP
+    5d/pop-to-EBP
+    c3/return
+
+$append-byte:abort:
+    # . _write(2/stderr, error)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  "append-byte: out of space"/imm32
+    68/push  2/imm32/stderr
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  _write/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # . syscall(exit, 1)
+    bb/copy-to-EBX  1/imm32
+    b8/copy-to-EAX  1/imm32/exit
+    cd/syscall  0x80/imm8
+    # never gets here
+
+test-append-byte-single:
+    # - check that append-byte writes to first byte of 'file'
+    # setup
+    # . clear-stream(_test-stream)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  _test-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # append-byte(_test-stream, 'A')
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  0x41/imm32
+    68/push  _test-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  append-byte/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # check-stream-equal(_test-stream, "A", msg)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  "F - test-append-byte-single"/imm32
+    68/push  "A"/imm32
+    68/push  _test-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  check-stream-equal/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               0xc/imm32         # add to ESP
+    # . end
+    c3/return
+
 # . . vim:nowrap:textwidth=0
diff --git a/subx/066print-byte.subx b/subx/066print-byte.subx
index 39d7793e..80a29a0c 100644
--- a/subx/066print-byte.subx
+++ b/subx/066print-byte.subx
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 # . op          subop               mod             rm32          base        index         scale       r32
 # . 1-3 bytes   3 bits              2 bits          3 bits        3 bits      3 bits        2 bits      2 bits      0/1/2/4 bytes   0/1/2/4 bytes
 
-print-byte:  # f : (address buffered-file), n : int -> <void>
+append-byte-hex:  # f : (address stream), n : int -> <void>
     # . prolog
     55/push-EBP
     89/copy                         3/mod/direct    5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to EBP
@@ -17,12 +17,12 @@ print-byte:  # f : (address buffered-file), n : int -> <void>
     25/and-EAX  0xf/imm32
     # . AL = to-hex-char(AL)
     e8/call  to-hex-char/disp32
-    # write-byte(f, AL)
+    # append-byte(f, AL)
     # . . push args
     50/push-EAX
     ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         .                 # push *(EBP+8)
     # . . call
-    e8/call  write-byte/disp32
+    e8/call  append-byte/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # AL = convert lower nibble to hex
@@ -30,15 +30,15 @@ print-byte:  # f : (address buffered-file), n : int -> <void>
     25/and-EAX  0xf/imm32
     # . AL = to-hex-char(AL)
     e8/call  to-hex-char/disp32
-    # write-byte(f, AL)
+    # append-byte(f, AL)
     # . . push args
     50/push-EAX
     ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         .                 # push *(EBP+8)
     # . . call
-    e8/call  write-byte/disp32
+    e8/call  append-byte/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
-$print-byte:end:
+$append-byte-hex:end:
     # . restore registers
     58/pop-to-EAX
     # . epilog
@@ -46,8 +46,79 @@ $print-byte:end:
     5d/pop-to-EBP
     c3/return
 
-test-print-byte:
-    # - check that print-byte prints the hex textual representation
+test-append-byte-hex:
+    # - check that append-byte-hex adds the hex textual representation
+    # setup
+    # . clear-stream(_test-stream)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  _test-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # append-byte-hex(_test-stream, 0xa)  # exercises digit, non-digit as well as leading zero
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  0xa/imm32
+    68/push  _test-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  append-byte-hex/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # check-stream-equal(_test-stream, "0a", msg)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  "F - test-append-byte-hex"/imm32
+    68/push  "0a"/imm32
+    68/push  _test-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  check-stream-equal/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               0xc/imm32         # add to ESP
+    # . end
+    c3/return
+
+print-byte-buffered:  # f : (address buffered-file), n : int -> <void>
+    # . prolog
+    55/push-EBP
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to EBP
+    # . save registers
+    50/push-EAX
+    # AL = convert upper nibble to hex
+    8b/copy                         1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           0/r32/EAX   0xc/disp8       .                 # copy *(EBP+12) to EAX
+    c1/shift    5/subop/logic-right 3/mod/direct    0/rm32/EAX    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm8            # shift EAX right by 4 bits, while padding zeroes
+    25/and-EAX  0xf/imm32
+    # . AL = to-hex-char(AL)
+    e8/call  to-hex-char/disp32
+    # write-byte-buffered(f, AL)
+    # . . push args
+    50/push-EAX
+    ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         .                 # push *(EBP+8)
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  write-byte-buffered/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # AL = convert lower nibble to hex
+    8b/copy                         1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           0/r32/EAX   0xc/disp8       .                 # copy *(EBP+12) to EAX
+    25/and-EAX  0xf/imm32
+    # . AL = to-hex-char(AL)
+    e8/call  to-hex-char/disp32
+    # write-byte-buffered(f, AL)
+    # . . push args
+    50/push-EAX
+    ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         .                 # push *(EBP+8)
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  write-byte-buffered/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+$print-byte-buffered:end:
+    # . restore registers
+    58/pop-to-EAX
+    # . epilog
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           5/r32/EBP   .               .                 # copy EBP to ESP
+    5d/pop-to-EBP
+    c3/return
+
+test-print-byte-buffered:
+    # - check that print-byte-buffered prints the hex textual representation
     # setup
     # . clear-stream(_test-stream)
     # . . push args
@@ -65,12 +136,12 @@ test-print-byte:
     e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
-    # print-byte(_test-buffered-file, 0xa)  # exercises digit, non-digit as well as leading zero
+    # print-byte-buffered(_test-buffered-file, 0xa)  # exercises digit, non-digit as well as leading zero
     # . . push args
     68/push  0xa/imm32
     68/push  _test-buffered-file/imm32
     # . . call
-    e8/call  print-byte/disp32
+    e8/call  print-byte-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # flush(_test-buffered-file)
@@ -82,7 +153,7 @@ test-print-byte:
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
     # check-stream-equal(_test-stream, "0a", msg)
     # . . push args
-    68/push  "F - test-print-byte"/imm32
+    68/push  "F - test-print-byte-buffered"/imm32
     68/push  "0a"/imm32
     68/push  _test-stream/imm32
     # . . call
diff --git a/subx/068error-byte.subx b/subx/068error-byte.subx
index 252aff20..dcffd026 100644
--- a/subx/068error-byte.subx
+++ b/subx/068error-byte.subx
@@ -52,12 +52,12 @@ error-byte:  # ed : (address exit-descriptor), out : (address buffered-file), ms
     e8/call  write-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
-    # print-byte(out, byte)
+    # print-byte-buffered(out, byte)
     # . . push args
     ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           0x14/disp8      .                 # push *(EBP+20)
     ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           0xc/disp8       .                 # push *(EBP+12)
     # . . call
-    e8/call  print-byte/disp32
+    e8/call  print-byte-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # write-buffered(out, Newline)
diff --git a/subx/071read-line.subx b/subx/071read-line.subx
index 39c5f576..f33fd035 100644
--- a/subx/071read-line.subx
+++ b/subx/071read-line.subx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 # . 1-3 bytes   3 bits              2 bits          3 bits        3 bits      3 bits        2 bits      2 bits      0/1/2/4 bytes   0/1/2/4 bytes
 
 #? Entry:  # run a single test, while debugging
-#?     e8/call test-read-line/disp32
+#?     e8/call test-read-line-buffered/disp32
 #?     # syscall(exit, Num-test-failures)
 #?     8b/copy                         0/mod/indirect  5/rm32/.disp32            .             .           3/r32/EBX   Num-test-failures/disp32          # copy *Num-test-failures to EBX
 #?     b8/copy-to-EAX  1/imm32/exit
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 # read bytes from 'f' until (and including) a newline and store them into 's'
 # 's' fails to grow if and only if no data found
 # just abort if 's' is too small
-read-line:  # f : (address buffered-file), s : (address stream byte) -> <void>
+read-line-buffered:  # f : (address buffered-file), s : (address stream byte) -> <void>
     # pseudocode:
     #   while true
     #     if (s->write >= s->length) abort
@@ -41,13 +41,13 @@ read-line:  # f : (address buffered-file), s : (address stream byte) -> <void>
     8b/copy                         1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           7/r32/EDI   0xc/disp8       .                 # copy *(EBP+12) to EDI
     # EDX = s->write
     8b/copy                         0/mod/indirect  7/rm32/EDI    .           .             .           2/r32/EDX   .               .                 # copy *EDI to EDX
-$read-line:loop:
+$read-line-buffered:loop:
     # if (s->write >= s->length) abort
     3b/compare                      1/mod/*+disp8   7/rm32/EDI    .           .             .           2/r32/EDX   8/disp8         .                 # compare EDX with *(EDI+8)
-    7d/jump-if-greater-or-equal  $read-line:abort/disp8
+    7d/jump-if-greater-or-equal  $read-line-buffered:abort/disp8
     # if (f->read >= f->write) populate stream from file
     3b/compare                      1/mod/*+disp8   6/rm32/ESI    .           .             .           1/r32/ECX   4/disp8         .                 # compare ECX with *(ESI+4)
-    7c/jump-if-lesser  $read-line:from-stream/disp8
+    7c/jump-if-lesser  $read-line-buffered:from-stream/disp8
     # . clear-stream(stream = f+4)
     # . . push args
     8d/copy-address                 1/mod/*+disp8   6/rm32/ESI    .           .             .           0/r32/EAX   4/disp8         .                 # copy ESI+4 to EAX
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ $read-line:loop:
     # since f->read was initially 0, EAX is the same as f->write
     # . if (EAX == 0) return true
     3d/compare-EAX-and  0/imm32
-    74/jump-if-equal  $read-line:end/disp8
-$read-line:from-stream:
+    74/jump-if-equal  $read-line-buffered:end/disp8
+$read-line-buffered:from-stream:
     # AL = f->data[f->read]
     31/xor                          3/mod/direct    0/rm32/EAX    .           .             .           0/r32/EAX   .               .                 # clear EAX
     8a/copy-byte                    1/mod/*+disp8   4/rm32/sib    6/base/ESI  1/index/ECX   .           0/r32/AL    0x10/disp8      .                 # copy byte at *(ESI+ECX+16) to AL
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ $read-line:from-stream:
     42/increment-EDX
     # if (AL == '\n') return
     3d/compare-EAX-and  0xa/imm32
-    75/jump-if-not-equal  $read-line:loop/disp8
-$read-line:end:
+    75/jump-if-not-equal  $read-line-buffered:loop/disp8
+$read-line-buffered:end:
     # save f->read
     89/copy                         1/mod/*+disp8   6/rm32/ESI    .           .             .           1/r32/ECX   8/disp8         .                 # copy ECX to *(ESI+8)
     # save s->write
@@ -100,10 +100,10 @@ $read-line:end:
     5d/pop-to-EBP
     c3/return
 
-$read-line:abort:
+$read-line-buffered:abort:
     # . _write(2/stderr, error)
     # . . push args
-    68/push  "read-line: line too long\n"/imm32
+    68/push  "read-line-buffered: line too long\n"/imm32
     68/push  2/imm32/stderr
     # . . call
     e8/call  _write/disp32
@@ -115,8 +115,8 @@ $read-line:abort:
     cd/syscall  0x80/imm8
     # never gets here
 
-test-read-line:
-    # - check that read-line stops at a newline
+test-read-line-buffered:
+    # - check that read-line-buffered stops at a newline
     # setup
     # . clear-stream(_test-stream)
     # . . push args
@@ -150,17 +150,17 @@ test-read-line:
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # read a line from _test-stream (buffered by _test-buffered-file) into _test-tmp-stream
-    # . EAX = read-line(_test-buffered-file, _test-tmp-stream)
+    # . EAX = read-line-buffered(_test-buffered-file, _test-tmp-stream)
     # . . push args
     68/push  _test-tmp-stream/imm32
     68/push  _test-buffered-file/imm32
     # . . call
-    e8/call  read-line/disp32
+    e8/call  read-line-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # check-next-stream-line-equal(_test-tmp-stream, "ab", msg)
     # . . push args
-    68/push  "F - test-read-line"/imm32
+    68/push  "F - test-read-line-buffered"/imm32
     68/push  "ab"/imm32
     68/push  _test-tmp-stream/imm32
     # . . call
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ test-read-line:
     # end
     c3/return
 
-test-read-line-reads-final-line-until-Eof:
+test-read-line-buffered-reads-final-line-until-Eof:
     # setup
     # . clear-stream(_test-stream)
     # . . push args
@@ -204,17 +204,17 @@ test-read-line-reads-final-line-until-Eof:
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # read a line from _test-stream (buffered by _test-buffered-file) into _test-tmp-stream
-    # . EAX = read-line(_test-buffered-file, _test-tmp-stream)
+    # . EAX = read-line-buffered(_test-buffered-file, _test-tmp-stream)
     # . . push args
     68/push  _test-tmp-stream/imm32
     68/push  _test-buffered-file/imm32
     # . . call
-    e8/call  read-line/disp32
+    e8/call  read-line-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # check-stream-equal(_test-tmp-stream, "cd", msg)
     # . . push args
-    68/push  "F - test-read-line-reads-final-line-until-Eof"/imm32
+    68/push  "F - test-read-line-buffered-reads-final-line-until-Eof"/imm32
     68/push  "cd"/imm32
     68/push  _test-tmp-stream/imm32
     # . . call
diff --git a/subx/072slice.subx b/subx/072slice.subx
index 683c4c7b..82ce883e 100644
--- a/subx/072slice.subx
+++ b/subx/072slice.subx
@@ -704,7 +704,7 @@ test-slice-starts-with-fails-2:
     5d/pop-to-EBP
     c3/return
 
-write-slice:  # out : (address buffered-file), s : (address slice)
+write-slice-buffered:  # out : (address buffered-file), s : (address slice)
     # . prolog
     55/push-EBP
     89/copy                         3/mod/direct    5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to EBP
@@ -727,13 +727,13 @@ write-slice:  # out : (address buffered-file), s : (address slice)
     8b/copy                         1/mod/*+disp8   7/rm32/EDI    .           .             .           2/r32/EDX   0xc/disp8       .                 # copy *(EDI+12) to EDX
     # EBX = out->write
     8b/copy                         1/mod/*+disp8   7/rm32/EDI    .           .             .           3/r32/EBX   4/disp8         .                 # copy *(EDI+4) to EBX
-$write-slice:loop:
+$write-slice-buffered:loop:
     # if (curr >= max) break
     39/compare                      3/mod/direct    1/rm32/ECX    .           .             .           6/r32/ESI   .               .                 # compare ECX with ESI
-    7d/jump-if-greater-or-equal  $write-slice:loop-end/disp8
+    7d/jump-if-greater-or-equal  $write-slice-buffered:loop-end/disp8
     # if (out->write >= out->length) flush and clear out's stream
     39/compare                      3/mod/direct    3/rm32/EBX    .           .             .           2/r32/EDX   .               .                 # compare EBX with EDX
-    7c/jump-if-lesser  $write-slice:to-stream/disp8
+    7c/jump-if-lesser  $write-slice-buffered:to-stream/disp8
     # . persist out->write
     89/copy                         1/mod/*+disp8   7/rm32/EDI    .           .             .           3/r32/EBX   4/disp8         .                 # copy EBX to *(EDI+4)
     # . flush(out)
@@ -753,7 +753,7 @@ $write-slice:loop:
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
     # . out->write must now be 0; update its cache at EBX
     31/xor                          3/mod/direct    3/rm32/EBX    .           .             .           3/r32/EBX   .               .                 # clear EBX
-$write-slice:to-stream:
+$write-slice-buffered:to-stream:
     # out->data[out->write] = *in
     # . AL = *in
     31/xor                          3/mod/direct    0/rm32/EAX    .           .             .           0/r32/EAX   .               .                 # clear EAX
@@ -764,11 +764,11 @@ $write-slice:to-stream:
     43/increment-EBX
     # ++in
     41/increment-ECX
-    eb/jump  $write-slice:loop/disp8
-$write-slice:loop-end:
+    eb/jump  $write-slice-buffered:loop/disp8
+$write-slice-buffered:loop-end:
     # persist necessary variables from registers
     89/copy                         1/mod/*+disp8   7/rm32/EDI    .           .             .           3/r32/EBX   4/disp8         .                 # copy EBX to *(EDI+4)
-$write-slice:end:
+$write-slice-buffered:end:
     # . restore registers
     5f/pop-to-EDI
     5e/pop-to-ESI
@@ -781,7 +781,7 @@ $write-slice:end:
     5d/pop-to-EBP
     c3/return
 
-test-write-slice:
+test-write-slice-buffered:
     # . prolog
     55/push-EBP
     89/copy                         3/mod/direct    5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to EBP
@@ -806,12 +806,12 @@ test-write-slice:
     68/push  _test-slice-data-3/imm32/end
     68/push  _test-slice-data-0/imm32/start
     89/copy                         3/mod/direct    1/rm32/ECX    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to ECX
-    # write-slice(_test-buffered-file, slice)
+    # write-slice-buffered(_test-buffered-file, slice)
     # . . push args
     51/push-ECX
     68/push  _test-buffered-file/imm32
     # . . call
-    e8/call  write-slice/disp32
+    e8/call  write-slice-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # flush(_test-buffered-file)
@@ -823,7 +823,7 @@ test-write-slice:
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
     # check-stream-equal(_test-stream, "Abc", msg)
     # . . push args
-    68/push  "F - test-write-slice"/imm32
+    68/push  "F - test-write-slice-buffered"/imm32
     68/push  "Abc"/imm32
     68/push  _test-stream/imm32
     # . . call
diff --git a/subx/Readme.md b/subx/Readme.md
index e8e4ad6d..517515d8 100644
--- a/subx/Readme.md
+++ b/subx/Readme.md
@@ -626,17 +626,23 @@ allocated memory for it.)_
 * `write-stream`: stream -> file
   - Can also be used to cat one stream into another.
   - Will abort the entire program if there isn't enough room.
+* `append-byte`: int -> stream
+  - Will abort the entire program if there isn't enough room.
+* `append-byte-hex`: int -> stream
+  - Will abort the entire program if there isn't enough room.
 * `write-buffered`: string -> buffered-file
-* `write-slice`: slice -> buffered-file
+* `write-slice-buffered`: slice -> buffered-file
 * `flush`: buffered-file
-* `print-byte`:  buffered-file, int
+* `write-byte-buffered`: int -> buffered-file
+* `print-byte-buffered`: int -> buffered-file
+  - textual representation in hex
 
 #### reading from disk
 * `read`: file -> stream
   - Can also be used to cat one stream into another.
   - Will silently stop reading when destination runs out of space.
-* `read-byte`: buffered-file -> byte
-* `read-line`: buffered-file -> stream
+* `read-byte-buffered`: buffered-file -> byte
+* `read-line-buffered`: buffered-file -> stream
   - Will abort the entire program if there isn't enough room.
 
 #### non-IO operations on streams
diff --git a/subx/apps/assort b/subx/apps/assort
index e331ce8a..fb24828b 100755
--- a/subx/apps/assort
+++ b/subx/apps/assort
Binary files differdiff --git a/subx/apps/assort.subx b/subx/apps/assort.subx
index cfdef5e1..7498cc3a 100644
--- a/subx/apps/assort.subx
+++ b/subx/apps/assort.subx
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ read-segments:  # in : (address buffered-file), table : (address stream row)
     #   var line = new-stream(512, 1)
     #   while true
     #     clear-stream(line)
-    #     read-line(in, line)
+    #     read-line-buffered(in, line)
     #     if (line->write == 0) break             # end of file
     #     var word-slice = next-word(line)
     #     if slice-empty?(word-slice)             # whitespace
@@ -497,12 +497,12 @@ $read-segments:loop:
     e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
-    # read-line(in, line)
+    # read-line-buffered(in, line)
     # . . push args
     51/push-ECX
     ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         .                 # push *(EBP+8)
     # . . call
-    e8/call  read-line/disp32
+    e8/call  read-line-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
 $read-segments:check0:
@@ -584,12 +584,12 @@ $read-segments:check-for-segment-header:
 #?     e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
 #?     # . . discard args
 #?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
-#?     # . write-slice(Stderr, word-slice)
+#?     # . write-slice-buffered(Stderr, word-slice)
 #?     # . . push args
 #?     52/push-EDX
 #?     68/push  Stderr/imm32
 #?     # . . call
-#?     e8/call  write-slice/disp32
+#?     e8/call  write-slice-buffered/disp32
 #?     # . . discard args
 #?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
 #?     # . flush(Stderr)
@@ -648,12 +648,12 @@ $read-segments:check-for-segment-header:
 #?     e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
 #?     # . . discard args
 #?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
-#?     # . write-slice(Stderr, word-slice)
+#?     # . write-slice-buffered(Stderr, word-slice)
 #?     # . . push args
 #?     52/push-EDX
 #?     68/push  Stderr/imm32
 #?     # . . call
-#?     e8/call  write-slice/disp32
+#?     e8/call  write-slice-buffered/disp32
 #?     # . . discard args
 #?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
 #?     # . flush(Stderr)
diff --git a/subx/apps/crenshaw2-1 b/subx/apps/crenshaw2-1
index eb187bb3..2ffc8a84 100755
--- a/subx/apps/crenshaw2-1
+++ b/subx/apps/crenshaw2-1
Binary files differdiff --git a/subx/apps/crenshaw2-1.subx b/subx/apps/crenshaw2-1.subx
index 20560288..2f1fec9e 100644
--- a/subx/apps/crenshaw2-1.subx
+++ b/subx/apps/crenshaw2-1.subx
@@ -512,11 +512,11 @@ get-char:  # f : (address buffered-file) -> <void>
     89/copy                         3/mod/direct    5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to EBP
     # . save registers
     50/push-EAX
-    # read-byte(f)
+    # EAX = read-byte-buffered(f)
     # . . push args
     ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         .                 # push *(EBP+8)
     # . . call
-    e8/call  read-byte/disp32
+    e8/call  read-byte-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
     # save EAX to Look
diff --git a/subx/apps/crenshaw2-1b b/subx/apps/crenshaw2-1b
index e8d72937..6144d591 100755
--- a/subx/apps/crenshaw2-1b
+++ b/subx/apps/crenshaw2-1b
Binary files differdiff --git a/subx/apps/crenshaw2-1b.subx b/subx/apps/crenshaw2-1b.subx
index 2c396fb3..8dee0dbc 100644
--- a/subx/apps/crenshaw2-1b.subx
+++ b/subx/apps/crenshaw2-1b.subx
@@ -195,7 +195,8 @@ get-num:  # in : (address buffered-file), out : (address stream), err : fd or (a
     #     Look = get-char(in)
     #   while is-digit?(Look)
     # This is complicated because I don't want to hard-code the error strategy in
-    # a general helper like write-byte. Maybe I should just create a local helper.
+    # a general helper like write-byte-buffered. Maybe I should just create a
+    # local helper.
     #
     # within the loop we'll try to keep things in registers:
     #   in: ESI
@@ -711,11 +712,11 @@ get-char:  # f : (address buffered-file) -> <void>
     89/copy                         3/mod/direct    5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to EBP
     # . save registers
     50/push-EAX
-    # read-byte(f)
+    # EAX = read-byte-buffered(f)
     # . . push args
     ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         .                 # push *(EBP+8)
     # . . call
-    e8/call  read-byte/disp32
+    e8/call  read-byte-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
     # save EAX to Look
diff --git a/subx/apps/dquotes b/subx/apps/dquotes
index b63744d1..a91f829d 100644
--- a/subx/apps/dquotes
+++ b/subx/apps/dquotes
Binary files differdiff --git a/subx/apps/dquotes.subx b/subx/apps/dquotes.subx
index fcac2698..e6b24698 100644
--- a/subx/apps/dquotes.subx
+++ b/subx/apps/dquotes.subx
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Entry:  # run tests if necessary, convert stdin if not
 #?     # . . discard args
 #?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
 #?     # . test()
-#?     e8/call test-next-word-returns-string-with-escapes/disp32
+#?     e8/call test-emit-string-literal-data/disp32
 #?     8b/copy                         0/mod/indirect  5/rm32/.disp32            .             .           3/r32/EBX   Num-test-failures/disp32          # copy *Num-test-failures to EBX
 #?     eb/jump  $main:end/disp8
 
@@ -89,6 +89,10 @@ $main:end:
     b8/copy-to-EAX  1/imm32/exit
     cd/syscall  0x80/imm8
 
+# conceptual hierarchy within a line:
+#   line = words separated by ' ', maybe followed by comment starting with '#'
+#   word = datum until '/', then 0 or more metadata separated by '/'
+
 convert:  # in : (address buffered-file), out : (address buffered-file) -> <void>
     # pseudocode:
     #   var line = new-stream(512, 1)
@@ -96,7 +100,7 @@ convert:  # in : (address buffered-file), out : (address buffered-file) -> <void
     #   write-stream(new-data-segment, "== data\n")
     #   while true
     #     clear-stream(line)
-    #     read-line(in, line)
+    #     read-line-buffered(in, line)
     #     if (line->write == 0) break               # end of file
     #     while true
     #       var word-slice = next-word(line)
@@ -107,7 +111,7 @@ convert:  # in : (address buffered-file), out : (address buffered-file) -> <void
     #       if slice-starts-with?(word-slice, '"')  # string literal <== what we're here for
     #         process-string-literal(word-slice, out, new-data-segment)
     #       else
-    #         write-slice(out, word-slice)
+    #         write-slice-buffered(out, word-slice)
     #   write-stream-data(out, new-data-segment)
     #   flush(out)
     #
@@ -159,12 +163,12 @@ $convert:line-loop:
     e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
-    # read-line(in, line)
+    # read-line-buffered(in, line)
     # . . push args
     51/push-ECX
     ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         .                 # push *(EBP+8)
     # . . call
-    e8/call  read-line/disp32
+    e8/call  read-line-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
 $convert:check0:
@@ -218,12 +222,12 @@ $convert:string-literal:
     # continue
     eb/jump  $convert:next-word/disp8
 $convert:regular-word:
-    # write-slice(out, word-slice)
+    # write-slice-buffered(out, word-slice)
     # . . push args
     52/push-EDX
     ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           0xc/disp8       .                 # push *(EBP+12)
     # . . call
-    e8/call  write-slice/disp32
+    e8/call  write-slice-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # fall through
@@ -296,6 +300,13 @@ process-string-literal:  # string-literal : (address slice), out : (address buff
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # . print-int32-decimal(out-segment, *Next-string-literal)
+    # . . push args
+    ff          6/subop/push        0/mod/indirect  5/rm32/.disp32            .             .           .           Next-string-literal/disp32        # push *Next-string-literal
+    ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           0x10/disp8      .                 # push *(EBP+16)
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  print-int32-decimal/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # . write(out-segment, ":\n")
     # . . push args
     68/push  ":\n"/imm32
@@ -322,8 +333,30 @@ process-string-literal:  # string-literal : (address slice), out : (address buff
     e8/call  write-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
-    # . print-int32-decimal(tmp, *Next-string-literal)
+    # . print-int32-decimal(int32-stream, *Next-string-literal)
+    # . . push args
+    ff          6/subop/push        0/mod/indirect  5/rm32/.disp32            .             .           .           Next-string-literal/disp32        # push *Next-string-literal
+    51/push-ECX
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  print-int32-decimal/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # . write-stream-data(out, int32-stream)
+    # . . push args
+    51/push-ECX
+    ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           0xc/disp8       .                 # push *(EBP+12)
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  write-stream-data/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # emit-metadata(out, string-literal)
+    # . . push args
+    ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         .                 # push *(EBP+8)
+    ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           0xc/disp8       .                 # push *(EBP+12)
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  emit-metadata/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # ++ *Next-string-literal
     ff          0/subop/increment   0/mod/indirect  5/rm32/.disp32            .             .           .           Next-string-literal/disp32        # increment *Num-test-failures
 $process-string-literal:end:
@@ -593,6 +626,611 @@ test-convert-is-idempotent-by-default:
     5d/pop-to-EBP
     c3/return
 
+test-convert-processes-string-literals:
+    # . prolog
+    55/push-EBP
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to EBP
+    # setup
+    # . clear-stream(_test-input-stream)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  _test-input-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # . clear-stream(_test-input-buffered-file+4)
+    # . . push args
+    b8/copy-to-EAX  _test-input-buffered-file/imm32
+    05/add-to-EAX  4/imm32
+    50/push-EAX
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # . clear-stream(_test-output-stream)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # . clear-stream(_test-output-buffered-file+4)
+    # . . push args
+    b8/copy-to-EAX  _test-output-buffered-file/imm32
+    05/add-to-EAX  4/imm32
+    50/push-EAX
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # initialize input (meta comments in parens)
+    #   == code  (new segment)
+    #   1 "a"/x
+    #   2 "bc"/y
+    68/push  "== code\n"/imm32
+    68/push  _test-input-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  write/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # . write(_test-input-stream, "1 \"a\"/x\n")
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  "1 \"a\"/x\n"/imm32
+    68/push  _test-input-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  write/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # . write(_test-input-stream, "2 \"bc\"/y\n")
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  "2 \"bc\"/y\n"/imm32
+    68/push  _test-input-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  write/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # convert(_test-input-buffered-file, _test-output-buffered-file)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  _test-output-buffered-file/imm32
+    68/push  _test-input-buffered-file/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  convert/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # . flush(_test-output-buffered-file)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  _test-output-buffered-file/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  flush/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # check output
+    #   == code
+    #   1 _string1/x
+    #   2 _string2/y
+    #   == data
+    #   _string1:
+    #   1/imm32 61/a
+    #   _string2:
+    #   2/imm32 62/b 63/c
+    # We don't care right now what exactly happens to comments. Trailing spaces are also minor details.
+    #
+    # Open question: how to make this check more robust.
+    # We don't actually care what the auto-generated string variables are
+    # called. We just want to make sure instructions using string literals
+    # switch to a string variable with the right value.
+    # (Modifying string literals completely off the radar for now.)
+#?     # dump output {{{
+#?     # . write(2/stderr, "result: ^")
+#?     # . . push args
+#?     68/push  "result: ^"/imm32
+#?     68/push  2/imm32/stderr
+#?     # . . call
+#?     e8/call  write/disp32
+#?     # . . discard args
+#?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+#?     # . write-stream(2/stderr, _test-output-stream)
+#?     # . . push args
+#?     68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+#?     68/push  2/imm32/stderr
+#?     # . . call
+#?     e8/call  write-stream/disp32
+#?     # . . discard args
+#?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+#?     # . write(2/stderr, "$\n")
+#?     # . . push args
+#?     68/push  "$\n"/imm32
+#?     68/push  2/imm32/stderr
+#?     # . . call
+#?     e8/call  write/disp32
+#?     # . . discard args
+#?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+#?     # }}}
+    # . check-next-stream-line-equal(_test-output-stream, "== code ", msg)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  "F - test-convert-processes-string-literals/0"/imm32
+    68/push  "== code "/imm32
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  check-next-stream-line-equal/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               0xc/imm32         # add to ESP
+    # . check-next-stream-line-equal(_test-output-stream, "1 _string1/x ", msg)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  "F - test-convert-processes-string-literals/1"/imm32
+    68/push  "1 _string1/x "/imm32
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  check-next-stream-line-equal/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               0xc/imm32         # add to ESP
+    # . check-next-stream-line-equal(_test-output-stream, "2 _string2/y ", msg)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  "F - test-convert-processes-string-literals/2"/imm32
+    68/push  "2 3 "/imm32
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  check-next-stream-line-equal/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               0xc/imm32         # add to ESP
+    # . check-next-stream-line-equal(_test-output-stream, "== data ", msg)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  "F - test-convert-processes-string-literals/3"/imm32
+    68/push  "== data "/imm32
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  check-next-stream-line-equal/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               0xc/imm32         # add to ESP
+    # . check-next-stream-line-equal(_test-output-stream, "_string1: ", msg)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  "F - test-convert-processes-string-literals/4"/imm32
+    68/push  "_string1: "/imm32
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  check-next-stream-line-equal/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               0xc/imm32         # add to ESP
+    # . check-next-stream-line-equal(_test-output-stream, "1/imm32 61/a ", msg)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  "F - test-convert-processes-string-literals/5"/imm32
+    68/push  "1/imm32 61/a "/imm32
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  check-next-stream-line-equal/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               0xc/imm32         # add to ESP
+    # . check-next-stream-line-equal(_test-output-stream, "_string2: ", msg)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  "F - test-convert-processes-string-literals/6"/imm32
+    68/push  "_string2: "/imm32
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  check-next-stream-line-equal/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               0xc/imm32         # add to ESP
+    # . check-next-stream-line-equal(_test-output-stream, "2/imm32 62/b 63/c ", msg)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  "F - test-convert-processes-string-literals/7"/imm32
+    68/push  "2/imm32 62/b 63/c "/imm32
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  check-next-stream-line-equal/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               0xc/imm32         # add to ESP
+    # . epilog
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           5/r32/EBP   .               .                 # copy EBP to ESP
+    5d/pop-to-EBP
+    c3/return
+
+# generate the data segment contents byte by byte for a given slice
+emit-string-literal-data:  # out : (address stream), word : (address slice)
+    # pseudocode
+    #   curr = word->start
+    #   ++curr  # skip '"'
+    #   while true
+    #     if (curr >= word->end) break
+    #     c = *curr
+    #     if (c == '"') break
+    #     append-byte-hex(out, c)
+    #     if c is alphanumeric:
+    #       write(out, "/")
+    #       append-byte(out, c)
+    #     write(out, " ")
+    #     ++curr
+    #
+    # . prolog
+    55/push-EBP
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to EBP
+    # . save registers
+    50/push-EAX
+    51/push-ECX
+    52/push-EDX
+    56/push-ESI
+    # ESI = word
+    8b/copy                         1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           6/r32/ESI   0xc/disp8       .                 # copy *(EBP+12) to ESI
+    # curr/EDX = word->start
+    8b/copy                         0/mod/indirect  6/rm32/ESI    .           .             .           2/r32/EDX   .               .                 # copy *ESI to EDX
+    # ++curr  # skip initial '"'
+    42/increment-EDX
+    # max/ESI = word->end
+    8b/copy                         1/mod/*+disp8   6/rm32/ESI    .           .             .           6/r32/ESI   4/disp8         .                 # copy *(ESI+4) to ESI
+    # ECX = 0
+    31/xor                          3/mod/direct    1/rm32/ECX    .           .             .           1/r32/ECX   .               .                 # clear ECX
+$emit-string-literal-data:loop:
+    # if (curr >= max) break
+    39/compare                      3/mod/direct    2/rm32/EDX    .           .             .           6/r32/ESI   .               .                 # compare EDX with ESI
+    7d/jump-if-greater-or-equal  $emit-string-literal-data:end/disp8
+    # CL = *curr
+    8a/copy-byte                    0/mod/indirect  2/rm32/EDX    .           .             .           1/r32/CL    .               .                 # copy byte at *EDX to CL
+    # if (ECX == '"') break
+    81          7/subop/compare     3/mod/direct    1/rm32/ECX    .           .             .           .           .               0x22/imm32/dquote # compare ECX
+    74/jump-if-equal  $emit-string-literal-data:end/disp8
+    # append-byte-hex(out, CL)
+    # . . push args
+    51/push-ECX
+    ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         .                 # push *(EBP+8)
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  append-byte-hex/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # if (is-alphanumeric?(*curr)) print(out, "/#{*curr}")
+    # . EAX = is-alphanumeric?(CL)
+    # . . push args
+    51/push-ECX
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  is-alphanumeric?/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # . if (EAX == 0) goto char-done
+    3d/compare-EAX-and  0/imm32
+    74/jump-if-equal  $emit-string-literal-data:char-done/disp8
+    # . write(out, "/")
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  Slash/imm32
+    ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         .                 # push *(EBP+8)
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  write/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # . append-byte(out, *curr)
+    # . . push args
+    51/push-ECX
+    ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         .                 # push *(EBP+8)
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  append-byte/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+$emit-string-literal-data:char-done:
+    # write(out, " ")
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  Space/imm32
+    ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         .                 # push *(EBP+8)
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  write/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # ++curr
+    42/increment-EDX
+    eb/jump $emit-string-literal-data:loop/disp8
+$emit-string-literal-data:end:
+    # . restore registers
+    5e/pop-to-ESI
+    5a/pop-to-EDX
+    59/pop-to-ECX
+    58/pop-to-EAX
+    # . epilog
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           5/r32/EBP   .               .                 # copy EBP to ESP
+    5d/pop-to-EBP
+    c3/return
+
+is-alphanumeric?:  # c : int -> EAX : boolean
+    # . prolog
+    55/push-EBP
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to EBP
+    # EAX = c
+    8b/copy                         1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           0/r32/EAX   8/disp8         .                 # copy *(EBP+8) to EAX
+    # if (EAX < '0') return false
+    3d/compare-EAX-with  0x30/imm32/0
+    7c/jump-if-lesser  $is-alphanumeric?:false/disp8
+    # if (EAX <= '9') return true
+    3d/compare-EAX-with  0x39/imm32/9
+    7e/jump-if-lesser-or-equal  $is-alphanumeric?:true/disp8
+    # if (EAX < 'A') return false
+    3d/compare-EAX-with  0x41/imm32/A
+    7c/jump-if-lesser  $is-alphanumeric?:false/disp8
+    # if (EAX <= 'Z') return true
+    3d/compare-EAX-with  0x5a/imm32/Z
+    7e/jump-if-lesser-or-equal  $is-alphanumeric?:true/disp8
+    # if (EAX < 'a') return false
+    3d/compare-EAX-with  0x61/imm32/a
+    7c/jump-if-lesser  $is-alphanumeric?:false/disp8
+    # if (EAX <= 'z') return true
+    3d/compare-EAX-with  0x7a/imm32/z
+    7e/jump-if-lesser-or-equal  $is-alphanumeric?:true/disp8
+    # return false
+$is-alphanumeric?:false:
+    b8/copy-to-EAX  0/imm32/false
+    eb/jump  $is-alphanumeric?:end/disp8
+$is-alphanumeric?:true:
+    b8/copy-to-EAX  1/imm32/true
+$is-alphanumeric?:end:
+    # . epilog
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           5/r32/EBP   .               .                 # copy EBP to ESP
+    5d/pop-to-EBP
+    c3/return
+
+test-emit-string-literal-data:
+    # . prolog
+    55/push-EBP
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to EBP
+    # setup
+    # . clear-stream(_test-output-stream)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # var slice/ECX = '"abc"'
+    68/push  _test-slice-abc-end/imm32
+    68/push  _test-slice-abc/imm32
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    1/rm32/ECX    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to ECX
+    # emit-string-literal-data(_test-output-stream, slice)
+    # . . push args
+    51/push-ECX
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  emit-string-literal-data/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+#?     # dump output {{{
+#?     # . write(2/stderr, "result: ^")
+#?     # . . push args
+#?     68/push  "result: ^"/imm32
+#?     68/push  2/imm32/stderr
+#?     # . . call
+#?     e8/call  write/disp32
+#?     # . . discard args
+#?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+#?     # . write-stream(2/stderr, _test-output-stream)
+#?     # . . push args
+#?     68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+#?     68/push  2/imm32/stderr
+#?     # . . call
+#?     e8/call  write-stream/disp32
+#?     # . . discard args
+#?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+#?     # . write(2/stderr, "$\n")
+#?     # . . push args
+#?     68/push  "$\n"/imm32
+#?     68/push  2/imm32/stderr
+#?     # . . call
+#?     e8/call  write/disp32
+#?     # . . discard args
+#?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+#?     # }}}
+    # . check-stream-equal(_test-output-stream, "61/a 62/b 63/c ", msg)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  "F - test-emit-string-literal-data"/imm32
+    68/push  "61/a 62/b 63/c "/imm32
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  check-stream-equal/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               0xc/imm32         # add to ESP
+    # . epilog
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           5/r32/EBP   .               .                 # copy EBP to ESP
+    5d/pop-to-EBP
+    c3/return
+
+test-emit-string-literal-data-empty:
+    # . prolog
+    55/push-EBP
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to EBP
+    # setup
+    # . clear-stream(_test-output-stream)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # var slice/ECX = '""'
+    68/push  _test-slice-empty-string-literal-end/imm32
+    68/push  _test-slice-empty-string-literal/imm32
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    1/rm32/ECX    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to ECX
+    # emit-string-literal-data(_test-output-stream, slice)
+    # . . push args
+    51/push-ECX
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  emit-string-literal-data/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+#?     # dump output {{{
+#?     # . write(2/stderr, "result: ^")
+#?     # . . push args
+#?     68/push  "result: ^"/imm32
+#?     68/push  2/imm32/stderr
+#?     # . . call
+#?     e8/call  write/disp32
+#?     # . . discard args
+#?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+#?     # . write-stream(2/stderr, _test-output-stream)
+#?     # . . push args
+#?     68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+#?     68/push  2/imm32/stderr
+#?     # . . call
+#?     e8/call  write-stream/disp32
+#?     # . . discard args
+#?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+#?     # . write(2/stderr, "$\n")
+#?     # . . push args
+#?     68/push  "$\n"/imm32
+#?     68/push  2/imm32/stderr
+#?     # . . call
+#?     e8/call  write/disp32
+#?     # . . discard args
+#?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+#?     # }}}
+    # . check-stream-equal(_test-output-stream, "", msg)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  "F - test-emit-string-literal-data-empty"/imm32
+    68/push  ""/imm32
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  check-stream-equal/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               0xc/imm32         # add to ESP
+    # . epilog
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           5/r32/EBP   .               .                 # copy EBP to ESP
+    5d/pop-to-EBP
+    c3/return
+
+# just to keep things simple
+test-emit-string-literal-data-no-metadata-for-non-alphanumerics:
+    # . prolog
+    55/push-EBP
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to EBP
+    # setup
+    # . clear-stream(_test-output-stream)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # var slice/ECX = '"a b"'
+    68/push  _test-slice-a-space-b-end/imm32
+    68/push  _test-slice-a-space-b/imm32
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    1/rm32/ECX    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to ECX
+    # emit-string-literal-data(_test-output-stream, slice)
+    # . . push args
+    51/push-ECX
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  emit-string-literal-data/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+#?     # dump output {{{
+#?     # . write(2/stderr, "result: ^")
+#?     # . . push args
+#?     68/push  "result: ^"/imm32
+#?     68/push  2/imm32/stderr
+#?     # . . call
+#?     e8/call  write/disp32
+#?     # . . discard args
+#?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+#?     # . write-stream(2/stderr, _test-output-stream)
+#?     # . . push args
+#?     68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+#?     68/push  2/imm32/stderr
+#?     # . . call
+#?     e8/call  write-stream/disp32
+#?     # . . discard args
+#?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+#?     # . write(2/stderr, "$\n")
+#?     # . . push args
+#?     68/push  "$\n"/imm32
+#?     68/push  2/imm32/stderr
+#?     # . . call
+#?     e8/call  write/disp32
+#?     # . . discard args
+#?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+#?     # }}}
+    # . check-stream-equal(_test-output-stream, "61/a 20 62/b ", msg)  # ideally we'd like to say '20/space' but that requires managing names for codepoints
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  "F - test-emit-string-literal-data-no-metadata-for-non-alphanumerics"/imm32
+    68/push  "61/a 20 62/b "/imm32
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  check-stream-equal/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               0xc/imm32         # add to ESP
+    # . epilog
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           5/r32/EBP   .               .                 # copy EBP to ESP
+    5d/pop-to-EBP
+    c3/return
+
+test-emit-string-literal-data-handles-escape-sequences:
+    # . prolog
+    55/push-EBP
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to EBP
+    # setup
+    # . clear-stream(_test-output-stream)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
+    # var slice/ECX = '"a\"b"'
+    68/push  _test-slice-a-dquote-b-end/imm32
+    68/push  _test-slice-a-dquote-b/imm32
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    1/rm32/ECX    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to ECX
+    # emit-string-literal-data(_test-output-stream, slice)
+    # . . push args
+    51/push-ECX
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  emit-string-literal-data/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+#?     # dump output {{{
+#?     # . write(2/stderr, "result: ^")
+#?     # . . push args
+#?     68/push  "result: ^"/imm32
+#?     68/push  2/imm32/stderr
+#?     # . . call
+#?     e8/call  write/disp32
+#?     # . . discard args
+#?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+#?     # . write-stream(2/stderr, _test-output-stream)
+#?     # . . push args
+#?     68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+#?     68/push  2/imm32/stderr
+#?     # . . call
+#?     e8/call  write-stream/disp32
+#?     # . . discard args
+#?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+#?     # . write(2/stderr, "$\n")
+#?     # . . push args
+#?     68/push  "$\n"/imm32
+#?     68/push  2/imm32/stderr
+#?     # . . call
+#?     e8/call  write/disp32
+#?     # . . discard args
+#?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
+#?     # }}}
+    # . check-stream-equal(_test-output-stream, "61/a 22 62/b ", msg)
+    # . . push args
+    68/push  "F - test-emit-string-literal-data-handles-escape-sequences"/imm32
+    68/push  "61/a 22 62/b "/imm32
+    68/push  _test-output-stream/imm32
+    # . . call
+    e8/call  check-stream-equal/disp32
+    # . . discard args
+    81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               0xc/imm32         # add to ESP
+    # . epilog
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           5/r32/EBP   .               .                 # copy EBP to ESP
+    5d/pop-to-EBP
+    c3/return
+
+# emit everything from a word except the initial datum
+emit-metadata:  # out : (address buffered-file), word : (address slice)
+    # . prolog
+    55/push-EBP
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to EBP
+    # . save registers
+$emit-metadata:end:
+    # . reclaim locals
+    # . restore registers
+    # . epilog
+    89/copy                         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           5/r32/EBP   .               .                 # copy EBP to ESP
+    5d/pop-to-EBP
+    c3/return
+
 # (re)compute the bounds of the next word in the line
 # return empty string on reaching end of file
 next-word:  # line : (address stream byte), out : (address slice)
@@ -1078,4 +1716,34 @@ Heap:
   # limit
   0/imm32
 
+# length-prefixed string containing just a single space
+Space:
+    # size
+    1/imm32
+    # data
+    20/space
+
+# length-prefixed string containing just a single slash
+Slash:
+    # size
+    1/imm32
+    # data
+    2f/slash
+
+_test-slice-abc:
+  22/dquote 61/a 62/b 63/c 22/dquote  # "abc"
+_test-slice-abc-end:
+
+_test-slice-empty-string-literal:
+  22/dquote 22/dquote  # ""
+_test-slice-empty-string-literal-end:
+
+_test-slice-a-space-b:
+  22/dquote 61/a 20/space 62/b 22/dquote  # "a b"
+_test-slice-a-space-b-end:
+
+_test-slice-a-dquote-b:
+  22/dquote 61/a 5c/backslash 22/dquote 62/b 22/dquote  # "a\"b"
+_test-slice-a-dquote-b-end:
+
 # . . vim:nowrap:textwidth=0
diff --git a/subx/apps/factorial b/subx/apps/factorial
index 2c47ab8a..d1bd5f17 100755
--- a/subx/apps/factorial
+++ b/subx/apps/factorial
Binary files differdiff --git a/subx/apps/handle b/subx/apps/handle
index 274677fe..b77ebba6 100755
--- a/subx/apps/handle
+++ b/subx/apps/handle
Binary files differdiff --git a/subx/apps/hex b/subx/apps/hex
index 70734450..dde157e3 100755
--- a/subx/apps/hex
+++ b/subx/apps/hex
Binary files differdiff --git a/subx/apps/hex.subx b/subx/apps/hex.subx
index c0627c77..3730351f 100644
--- a/subx/apps/hex.subx
+++ b/subx/apps/hex.subx
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ convert:  # in : (address buffered-file), out : (address buffered-file), err : (
     #   while true
     #     EAX = convert-next-octet(in, err, ed)
     #     if (EAX == Eof) break
-    #     write-byte(out, AL)
+    #     write-byte-buffered(out, AL)
     #   flush(out)
     #
     # . prolog
@@ -96,12 +96,12 @@ $convert:loop:
     # if (EAX == Eof) break
     3d/compare-EAX-and  0xffffffff/imm32/Eof
     74/jump-if-equal  $convert:loop-end/disp8
-    # write-byte(out, AL)
+    # write-byte-buffered(out, AL)
     # . . push args
     50/push-EAX
     ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           0xc/disp8       .                 # push *(EBP+12)
     # . . call
-    e8/call  write-byte/disp32
+    e8/call  write-byte-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # loop
@@ -489,7 +489,7 @@ $test-convert-next-octet-aborts-on-single-hex-byte:end:
 scan-next-byte:  # in : (address buffered-file), err : (address buffered-file), ed : (address exit-descriptor) -> byte-or-Eof/EAX
     # pseudocode:
     #   while true
-    #     EAX = read-byte(in)
+    #     EAX = read-byte-buffered(in)
     #     if (EAX == Eof) return EAX
     #     if (is-hex-digit?(EAX)) return EAX
     #     if (EAX == ' ' or '\t' or '\n') continue
@@ -501,11 +501,11 @@ scan-next-byte:  # in : (address buffered-file), err : (address buffered-file),
     89/copy                         3/mod/direct    5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to EBP
     # . save registers
 $scan-next-byte:loop:
-    # EAX = read-byte(in)
+    # EAX = read-byte-buffered(in)
     # . . push args
     ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         .                 # push *(EBP+8)
     # . . call
-    e8/call  read-byte/disp32
+    e8/call  read-byte-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
     # if (EAX == Eof) return EAX
@@ -1389,7 +1389,7 @@ skip-until-newline:  # in : (address buffered-file) -> <void>
     # pseudocode:
     #   push EAX
     #   while true
-    #     EAX = read-byte(in)
+    #     EAX = read-byte-buffered(in)
     #     if (EAX == Eof) break
     #     if (EAX == 0x0a) break
     #   pop EAX
@@ -1399,11 +1399,11 @@ skip-until-newline:  # in : (address buffered-file) -> <void>
     # . save registers
     50/push-EAX
 $skip-until-newline:loop:
-    # . EAX = read-byte(in)
+    # . EAX = read-byte-buffered(in)
     # . . push args
     ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         .                 # push *(EBP+8)
     # . . call
-    e8/call  read-byte/disp32
+    e8/call  read-byte-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
     # . if (EAX == Eof) break
diff --git a/subx/apps/pack b/subx/apps/pack
index 7e8cc761..1154be78 100755
--- a/subx/apps/pack
+++ b/subx/apps/pack
Binary files differdiff --git a/subx/apps/pack.subx b/subx/apps/pack.subx
index 6ac03fc4..88ed23b6 100644
--- a/subx/apps/pack.subx
+++ b/subx/apps/pack.subx
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ convert:  # in : (address buffered-file), out : (address buffered-file) -> <void
     #   var in-code? = false
     #   while true
     #     clear-stream(line)
-    #     read-line(in, line)
+    #     read-line-buffered(in, line)
     #     if (line->write == 0) break             # end of file
     #     var word-slice = next-word(line)
     #     if slice-empty?(word-slice)             # whitespace
@@ -141,12 +141,12 @@ $convert:loop:
     e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
-    # read-line(in, line)
+    # read-line-buffered(in, line)
     # . . push args
     51/push-ECX
     ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         .                 # push *(EBP+8)
     # . . call
-    e8/call  read-line/disp32
+    e8/call  read-line-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
 $convert:check0:
@@ -218,12 +218,12 @@ $convert:check2:
 #?     e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
 #?     # . . discard args
 #?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
-#?     # . write-slice(Stderr, word-slice)
+#?     # . write-slice-buffered(Stderr, word-slice)
 #?     # . . push args
 #?     52/push-EDX
 #?     68/push  Stderr/imm32
 #?     # . . call
-#?     e8/call  write-slice/disp32
+#?     e8/call  write-slice-buffered/disp32
 #?     # . . discard args
 #?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
 #?     # . flush(Stderr)
@@ -283,12 +283,12 @@ $convert:check2:
 #?     e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
 #?     # . . discard args
 #?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
-#?     # . write-slice(Stderr, word-slice)
+#?     # . write-slice-buffered(Stderr, word-slice)
 #?     # . . push args
 #?     52/push-EDX
 #?     68/push  Stderr/imm32
 #?     # . . call
-#?     e8/call  write-slice/disp32
+#?     e8/call  write-slice-buffered/disp32
 #?     # . . discard args
 #?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
 #?     # . flush(Stderr)
@@ -937,7 +937,7 @@ convert-data:  # line : (address stream byte), out : (address buffered-file) ->
     #     if slice-empty?(word-slice)                 # end of file (maybe including trailing whitespace)
     #       break  # skip emitting some whitespace
     #     if slice-starts-with?(word-slice, "#")      # comment
-    #       write-slice(out, word-slice)
+    #       write-slice-buffered(out, word-slice)
     #       break
     #     if slice-ends-with?(word-slice, ":")        # label
     #       write-stream-data(out, line)
@@ -1012,12 +1012,12 @@ $convert-data:loop:
 #?     e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
 #?     # . . discard args
 #?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
-#?     # . write-slice(Stderr, word-slice)
+#?     # . write-slice-buffered(Stderr, word-slice)
 #?     # . . push args
 #?     51/push-ECX
 #?     68/push  Stderr/imm32
 #?     # . . call
-#?     e8/call  write-slice/disp32
+#?     e8/call  write-slice-buffered/disp32
 #?     # . . discard args
 #?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
 #?     # . flush(Stderr)
@@ -1059,12 +1059,12 @@ $convert-data:check-for-comment:
     3d/compare-EAX-and  0x23/imm32/hash
     75/jump-if-not-equal  $convert-data:check-for-label/disp8
 $convert-data:comment:
-    # write-slice(out, word-slice)
+    # write-slice-buffered(out, word-slice)
     # . . push args
     51/push-ECX
     ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           0xc/disp8       .                 # push *(EBP+12)
     # . . call
-    e8/call  write-slice/disp32
+    e8/call  write-slice-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # break
@@ -1999,14 +1999,14 @@ emit-opcodes:  # line : (address stream byte), out : (address buffered-file) ->
     #   var op1 = next-word(line)
     #   if (slice-empty?(op1) || slice-starts-with?(op1, "#")) return
     #   op1 = next-token-from-slice(op1->start, op1->end, "/")
-    #   write-slice(out, op1)
+    #   write-slice-buffered(out, op1)
     #   if !slice-equal?(op1, "0f") && !slice-equal?(op1, "f2") && !slice-equal?(op1, "f3")
     #     return
     #
     #   var op2 = next-word(line)
     #   if (slice-empty?(op2) || slice-starts-with?(op2, "#")) return
     #   op2 = next-token-from-slice(op2->start, op2->end, "/")
-    #   write-slice(out, op2)
+    #   write-slice-buffered(out, op2)
     #   if slice-equal?(op1, "0f")
     #     return
     #   if !slice-equal?(op2, "0f")
@@ -2015,7 +2015,7 @@ emit-opcodes:  # line : (address stream byte), out : (address buffered-file) ->
     #   var op3 = next-word(line)
     #   if (slice-empty?(op3) || slice-starts-with?(op3, "#")) return
     #   op3 = next-token-from-slice(op3->start, op3->end, "/")
-    #   write-slice(out, op3)
+    #   write-slice-buffered(out, op3)
     #
     # . prolog
     55/push-EBP
@@ -2079,12 +2079,12 @@ $emit-opcodes:op1:
     e8/call  next-token-from-slice/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               0x10/imm32        # add to ESP
-    # write-slice(out, op1)
+    # write-slice-buffered(out, op1)
     # . . push args
     51/push-ECX
     ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           0xc/disp8       .                 # push *(EBP+12)
     # . . call
-    e8/call  write-slice/disp32
+    e8/call  write-slice-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # write-buffered(out, " ")
@@ -2172,12 +2172,12 @@ $emit-opcodes:op2:
     e8/call  next-token-from-slice/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               0x10/imm32        # add to ESP
-    # write-slice(out, op2)
+    # write-slice-buffered(out, op2)
     # . . push args
     52/push-EDX
     ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           0xc/disp8       .                 # push *(EBP+12)
     # . . call
-    e8/call  write-slice/disp32
+    e8/call  write-slice-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # write-buffered(out, " ")
@@ -2251,12 +2251,12 @@ $emit-opcodes:op3:
     e8/call  next-token-from-slice/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               0x10/imm32        # add to ESP
-    # write-slice(out, op3)
+    # write-slice-buffered(out, op3)
     # . . push args
     52/push-EDX
     ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           0xc/disp8       .                 # push *(EBP+12)
     # . . call
-    e8/call  write-slice/disp32
+    e8/call  write-slice-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # write-buffered(out, " ")
@@ -2388,12 +2388,12 @@ $emit-modrm:loop:
 #?     e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
 #?     # . . discard args
 #?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
-#?     # . write-slice(Stderr, word-slice)
+#?     # . write-slice-buffered(Stderr, word-slice)
 #?     # . . push args
 #?     51/push-ECX
 #?     68/push  Stderr/imm32
 #?     # . . call
-#?     e8/call  write-slice/disp32
+#?     e8/call  write-slice-buffered/disp32
 #?     # . . discard args
 #?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
 #?     # . flush(Stderr)
@@ -2699,12 +2699,12 @@ $emit-sib:loop:
 #?     e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
 #?     # . . discard args
 #?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
-#?     # . write-slice(Stderr, word-slice)
+#?     # . write-slice-buffered(Stderr, word-slice)
 #?     # . . push args
 #?     51/push-ECX
 #?     68/push  Stderr/imm32
 #?     # . . call
-#?     e8/call  write-slice/disp32
+#?     e8/call  write-slice-buffered/disp32
 #?     # . . discard args
 #?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
 #?     # . flush(Stderr)
@@ -2964,12 +2964,12 @@ $emit-disp:loop:
 #?     e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
 #?     # . . discard args
 #?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
-#?     # . write-slice(Stderr, word-slice)
+#?     # . write-slice-buffered(Stderr, word-slice)
 #?     # . . push args
 #?     51/push-ECX
 #?     68/push  Stderr/imm32
 #?     # . . call
-#?     e8/call  write-slice/disp32
+#?     e8/call  write-slice-buffered/disp32
 #?     # . . discard args
 #?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
 #?     # . flush(Stderr)
@@ -3185,12 +3185,12 @@ $emit-imm:loop:
 #?     e8/call  clear-stream/disp32
 #?     # . . discard args
 #?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               4/imm32           # add to ESP
-#?     # . write-slice(Stderr, word-slice)
+#?     # . write-slice-buffered(Stderr, word-slice)
 #?     # . . push args
 #?     51/push-ECX
 #?     68/push  Stderr/imm32
 #?     # . . call
-#?     e8/call  write-slice/disp32
+#?     e8/call  write-slice-buffered/disp32
 #?     # . . discard args
 #?     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
 #?     # . flush(Stderr)
@@ -6373,7 +6373,7 @@ emit:  # out : (address buffered-file), word : (address slice), width : int -> <
     e8/call  next-token-from-slice/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               0x10/imm32        # add to ESP
-    # if (is-valid-name?(datum)) write-slice(out, word) and return
+    # if (is-valid-name?(datum)) write-slice-buffered(out, word) and return
     # . EAX = is-valid-name?(name)
     # . . push args
     57/push-EDI
@@ -6385,12 +6385,12 @@ emit:  # out : (address buffered-file), word : (address slice), width : int -> <
     3d/compare-EAX-and  0/imm32
     74/jump-if-equal  $emit:hex-int/disp8
 $emit:name:
-    # . write-slice(out, word)
+    # . write-slice-buffered(out, word)
     # . . push args
     56/push-ESI
     ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         .                 # push *(EBP+8)
     # . . call
-    e8/call  write-slice/disp32
+    e8/call  write-slice-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # . write-buffered(out, " ")
@@ -7054,20 +7054,20 @@ $emit-hex:loop:
     # if (curr >= width) break
     39/compare                      3/mod/direct    1/rm32/ECX    .           .             .           2/r32/EDX   .               .                 # compare ECX with EDX
     7d/jump-if-greater-or-equal  $emit-hex:end/disp8
-    # print-byte(out, EBX)
+    # print-byte-buffered(out, EBX)
     # . . push args
     53/push-EBX
     57/push-EDI
     # . . call
-    e8/call  print-byte/disp32
+    e8/call  print-byte-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
-    # write-byte(out, ' ')
+    # write-byte-buffered(out, ' ')
     # . . push args
     68/push  0x20/imm32/space
     57/push-EDI
     # . . call
-    e8/call  write-byte/disp32
+    e8/call  write-byte-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
     # EBX = EBX >> 8
diff --git a/subx/apps/subx-common.subx b/subx/apps/subx-common.subx
index 0807b210..cba1e9cc 100644
--- a/subx/apps/subx-common.subx
+++ b/subx/apps/subx-common.subx
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 # write an entire stream's contents to a buffered-file
 # ways to do this:
-#   - construct a 'maximal slice' and pass it to write-slice
+#   - construct a 'maximal slice' and pass it to write-slice-buffered
 #   - flush the buffered-file and pass the stream directly to its fd (disabling buffering)
 # we'll go with the first way for now
 write-stream-data:  # f : (address buffered-file), s : (address stream) -> <void>
@@ -30,12 +30,12 @@ write-stream-data:  # f : (address buffered-file), s : (address stream) -> <void
     50/push-EAX
     # . ECX = ESP
     89/copy                         3/mod/direct    1/rm32/ECX    .           .             .           4/r32/ESP   .               .                 # copy ESP to ECX
-    # write-slice(f, slice)
+    # write-slice-buffered(f, slice)
     # . . push args
     51/push-ECX
     ff          6/subop/push        1/mod/*+disp8   5/rm32/EBP    .           .             .           .           8/disp8         .                 # push *(EBP+8)
     # . . call
-    e8/call  write-slice/disp32
+    e8/call  write-slice-buffered/disp32
     # . . discard args
     81          0/subop/add         3/mod/direct    4/rm32/ESP    .           .             .           .           .               8/imm32           # add to ESP
 $write-stream-data:end: