diff --git a/.editorconfig b/.editorconfig
index 7ecbc3d..7c14f37 100644
--- a/.editorconfig
+++ b/.editorconfig
@@ -10,4 +10,4 @@ indent_size = 2
 
 [meson.build]
 indent_style = space
-indent_size = 2
+indent_size = 4
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 39c778e..90cb202 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1,39 +1,65 @@
 project(
-  'growl',
-  'c',
-  meson_version : '>= 1.3.0',
-  version : '0.1',
-  default_options : ['buildtype=debugoptimized', 'c_std=gnu11', 'warning_level=3'],
+    'growl',
+    'c',
+    'cpp',
+    meson_version: '>= 1.3.0',
+    version: '0.1',
+    default_options: [
+        'buildtype=debugoptimized',
+        'c_std=gnu11',
+        'cpp_std=c++20',
+        'warning_level=3',
+    ],
 )
 
 libutf = subproject('libutf')
 libutf_dep = libutf.get_variable('libutf_dep')
 
-sources = [
-  'src/arena.c',
-  'src/chunk.c',
-  'src/compile.c',
-  'src/debug.c',
-  'src/dictionary.c',
-  'src/file.c',
-  'src/lexer.c',
-  'src/object.c',
-  'src/gc.c',
-  'src/parser.c',
-  'src/primitive.c',
-  'src/print.c',
-  'src/stream.c',
-  'src/string.c',
-  'src/userdata.c',
-  'src/vm.c',
-  'src/vendor/linenoise.c',
-  'src/vendor/mpc.c',
-  'src/vendor/yar.c',
+growl_sources = [
+    'src/arena.c',
+    'src/chunk.c',
+    'src/compile.c',
+    'src/debug.c',
+    'src/dictionary.c',
+    'src/file.c',
+    'src/lexer.c',
+    'src/object.c',
+    'src/gc.c',
+    'src/parser.c',
+    'src/primitive.c',
+    'src/print.c',
+    'src/stream.c',
+    'src/string.c',
+    'src/userdata.c',
+    'src/vm.c',
+    'src/vendor/linenoise.c',
+    'src/vendor/yar.c',
 ]
 
-exe = executable(
-  'growl',
-  'src/main.c', sources,
-  dependencies : [libutf_dep],
-  install : true,
+growl = executable(
+    'growl',
+    'src/main.c',
+    growl_sources,
+    dependencies: [libutf_dep],
+    install: true,
+)
+
+growlnext_sources = [
+    'next/core/arena.c',
+    'next/core/callable.c',
+    'next/core/compiler.c',
+    'next/core/gc.c',
+    'next/core/list.c',
+    'next/core/sleb128.c',
+    'next/core/string.c',
+    'next/core/tuple.c',
+    'next/core/vm.c',
+    'next/main.c',
+]
+
+growlnext = executable(
+    'growlnext',
+    growlnext_sources,
+    include_directories: ['next/include'],
+    install: true,
 )
diff --git a/next/core/arena.c b/next/core/arena.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c7b6247
--- /dev/null
+++ b/next/core/arena.c
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#include <growl.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+void growl_arena_init(GrowlGCArena *arena, size_t size) {
+  arena->start = arena->free = malloc(size);
+  if (arena->start == NULL)
+    abort();
+  arena->end = arena->start + size;
+}
+
+void growl_arena_free(GrowlGCArena *arena) {
+  free(arena->start);
+  arena->start = arena->end = arena->free = NULL;
+}
+
+void *growl_arena_alloc(GrowlGCArena *arena, size_t size, size_t align,
+                        size_t count) {
+  ptrdiff_t padding = -(uintptr_t)arena->start & (align - 1);
+  ptrdiff_t available = arena->end - arena->start - padding;
+  if (available < 0 || count > available / size)
+    abort();
+  void *p = arena->start + padding;
+  arena->start += padding + count * size;
+  return memset(p, 0, count * size);
+}
diff --git a/next/core/callable.c b/next/core/callable.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..71052ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/next/core/callable.c
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+#include <growl.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+int growl_callable(Growl obj) {
+  if (obj == GROWL_NIL || GROWL_IMM(obj))
+    return 0;
+  GrowlObjectHeader *hdr = GROWL_UNBOX(obj);
+  switch (hdr->type) {
+  case GROWL_QUOTATION:
+  case GROWL_COMPOSE:
+  case GROWL_CURRY:
+    return 1;
+  default:
+    return 0;
+  }
+}
+
+Growl growl_make_quotation(GrowlVM *vm, const uint8_t *code, size_t code_size,
+                           const Growl *constants, size_t constants_size) {
+  size_t constants_obj_size = sizeof(GrowlObjectHeader) + sizeof(GrowlTuple) +
+                              constants_size * sizeof(Growl);
+  GrowlObjectHeader *constants_hdr =
+      growl_gc_alloc_tenured(vm, constants_obj_size);
+  constants_hdr->type = GROWL_TUPLE;
+  GrowlTuple *constants_tuple = (GrowlTuple *)(constants_hdr + 1);
+
+  constants_tuple->count = constants_size;
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < constants_size; ++i) {
+    constants_tuple->data[i] = constants[i];
+  }
+
+  size_t quotation_obj_size =
+      sizeof(GrowlObjectHeader) + sizeof(GrowlQuotation) + code_size;
+  GrowlObjectHeader *quotation_hdr =
+      growl_gc_alloc_tenured(vm, quotation_obj_size);
+  quotation_hdr->type = GROWL_QUOTATION;
+  GrowlQuotation *quotation = (GrowlQuotation *)(quotation_hdr + 1);
+
+  quotation->constants = GROWL_BOX(constants_hdr);
+  quotation->count = code_size;
+  memcpy(quotation->data, code, code_size);
+
+  return GROWL_BOX(quotation_hdr);
+}
+
+GrowlQuotation *growl_unwrap_quotation(Growl obj) {
+  if (obj == GROWL_NIL || GROWL_IMM(obj))
+    return NULL;
+  GrowlObjectHeader *hdr = GROWL_UNBOX(obj);
+  if (hdr->type != GROWL_QUOTATION)
+    return NULL;
+  return (GrowlQuotation *)(hdr + 1);
+}
+
+Growl growl_compose(GrowlVM *vm, Growl first, Growl second) {
+  if (!growl_callable(first))
+    return GROWL_NIL;
+  if (!growl_callable(second))
+    return GROWL_NIL;
+  size_t size = sizeof(GrowlObjectHeader) + sizeof(GrowlCompose);
+  GrowlObjectHeader *hdr = growl_gc_alloc(vm, size);
+  hdr->type = GROWL_COMPOSE;
+  GrowlCompose *comp = (GrowlCompose *)(hdr + 1);
+  comp->first = first;
+  comp->second = second;
+  return GROWL_BOX(hdr);
+}
+
+GrowlCompose *growl_unwrap_compose(Growl obj) {
+  if (obj == GROWL_NIL || GROWL_IMM(obj))
+    return NULL;
+  GrowlObjectHeader *hdr = GROWL_UNBOX(obj);
+  if (hdr->type != GROWL_COMPOSE)
+    return NULL;
+  return (GrowlCompose *)(hdr + 1);
+}
+
+Growl growl_curry(GrowlVM *vm, Growl value, Growl callable) {
+  if (!growl_callable(callable))
+    return GROWL_NIL;
+  size_t size = sizeof(GrowlObjectHeader) + sizeof(GrowlCurry);
+  GrowlObjectHeader *hdr = growl_gc_alloc(vm, size);
+  hdr->type = GROWL_CURRY;
+  GrowlCurry *comp = (GrowlCurry *)(hdr + 1);
+  comp->value = value;
+  comp->callable = callable;
+  return GROWL_BOX(hdr);
+}
+
+GrowlCurry *growl_unwrap_curry(Growl obj) {
+  if (obj == GROWL_NIL || GROWL_IMM(obj))
+    return NULL;
+  GrowlObjectHeader *hdr = GROWL_UNBOX(obj);
+  if (hdr->type != GROWL_CURRY)
+    return NULL;
+  return (GrowlCurry *)(hdr + 1);
+}
diff --git a/next/core/compiler.c b/next/core/compiler.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db7f5ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/next/core/compiler.c
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+#include <growl.h>
+
diff --git a/next/core/gc.c b/next/core/gc.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e17c1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/next/core/gc.c
@@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
+//
+// Created by lobo on 2/5/26.
+//
+
+#include <assert.h>
+#include <growl.h>
+#include <inttypes.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+#define ALIGN(n) (((n) + 7) & ~7)
+
+static int in_from(GrowlVM *vm, void *ptr) {
+  const uint8_t *x = ptr;
+  return (x >= vm->from.start && x < vm->from.end);
+}
+
+static Growl copy(GrowlVM *vm, GrowlObjectHeader *hdr) {
+  assert(in_from(vm, hdr));
+  assert(hdr->type != UINT32_MAX);
+  size_t size = ALIGN(hdr->size);
+  GrowlObjectHeader *new = (GrowlObjectHeader *)vm->to.free;
+  vm->to.free += size;
+  memcpy(new, hdr, size);
+  hdr->type = UINT32_MAX;
+  Growl *obj = (Growl *)(hdr + 1);
+  *obj = (Growl)(new);
+  return *obj;
+}
+
+static Growl forward(GrowlVM *vm, Growl obj) {
+  if (obj == 0)
+    return 0;
+  if (!in_from(vm, (void *)obj))
+    return obj;
+
+  GrowlObjectHeader *hdr = (GrowlObjectHeader *)obj;
+  if (hdr->type == UINT32_MAX) {
+    Growl *fwd = (Growl *)(hdr + 1);
+    return *fwd;
+  }
+  return copy(vm, hdr);
+}
+
+GrowlObjectHeader *growl_gc_alloc(GrowlVM *vm, size_t size) {
+  size = ALIGN(size);
+  if (vm->from.free + size > vm->from.end) {
+    growl_gc_collect(vm);
+    if (vm->from.free + size > vm->from.end) {
+      fprintf(stderr, "gc: oom (requested %" PRIdPTR " bytes)\n", size);
+      abort();
+    }
+  }
+  GrowlObjectHeader *hdr = (GrowlObjectHeader *)vm->from.free;
+  vm->from.free += size;
+  hdr->size = size;
+  return hdr;
+}
+
+GrowlObjectHeader *growl_gc_alloc_tenured(GrowlVM *vm, size_t size) {
+  size = ALIGN(size);
+  GrowlObjectHeader *hdr = growl_arena_alloc(&vm->arena, size, 8, 1);
+  hdr->size = size;
+  return hdr;
+}
+
+static void scan(GrowlVM *vm, GrowlObjectHeader *hdr) {
+  switch (hdr->type) {
+  case GROWL_STRING:
+    break;
+  case GROWL_LIST: {
+    GrowlList *list = (GrowlList *)(hdr + 1);
+    list->head = forward(vm, list->head);
+    list->tail = forward(vm, list->tail);
+    break;
+  }
+  case GROWL_TUPLE: {
+    GrowlTuple *tuple = (GrowlTuple *)(hdr + 1);
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < tuple->count; ++i) {
+      tuple->data[i] = forward(vm, tuple->data[i]);
+    }
+    break;
+  }
+  case GROWL_QUOTATION: {
+    GrowlQuotation *quot = (GrowlQuotation *)(hdr + 1);
+    quot->constants = forward(vm, quot->constants);
+    break;
+  }
+  case GROWL_COMPOSE: {
+    GrowlCompose *comp = (GrowlCompose *)(hdr + 1);
+    comp->first = forward(vm, comp->first);
+    comp->second = forward(vm, comp->second);
+    break;
+  }
+  case GROWL_CURRY: {
+    GrowlCurry *comp = (GrowlCurry *)(hdr + 1);
+    comp->value = forward(vm, comp->value);
+    comp->callable = forward(vm, comp->callable);
+    break;
+  }
+  case UINT32_MAX:
+    fprintf(stderr, "gc: fwd pointer during scan\n");
+    abort();
+  default:
+    fprintf(stderr, "gc: junk object type %" PRIu32 "\n", hdr->type);
+    abort();
+  }
+}
+
+static void gc_print_stats(GrowlVM *vm, const char *label) {
+  size_t used = vm->from.free - vm->from.start;
+  size_t total = vm->from.end - vm->from.start;
+  fprintf(stderr, "[%s] used=%zu/%zu bytes (%.1f%%)\n", label, used, total,
+          (double)used / (double)total * 100.0);
+}
+
+void growl_gc_collect(GrowlVM *vm) {
+  uint8_t *gc_scan = vm->to.free;
+
+  gc_print_stats(vm, "before GC");
+
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < GROWL_STACK_SIZE; ++i) {
+    vm->wst[i] = forward(vm, vm->wst[i]);
+  }
+
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < vm->root_count; ++i) {
+    *vm->roots[i] = forward(vm, *vm->roots[i]);
+  }
+
+  uint8_t *arena_scan = vm->arena.start;
+  while (arena_scan < vm->arena.free) {
+    GrowlObjectHeader *hdr = (GrowlObjectHeader *)arena_scan;
+    scan(vm, hdr);
+    arena_scan += ALIGN(hdr->size);
+  }
+
+  while (gc_scan < vm->to.free) {
+    GrowlObjectHeader *hdr = (GrowlObjectHeader *)gc_scan;
+    scan(vm, hdr);
+    gc_scan += ALIGN(hdr->size);
+  }
+
+  GrowlGCArena tmp = vm->from;
+  vm->from = vm->to;
+  vm->to = tmp;
+  vm->to.free = vm->to.start;
+  vm->scratch.free = vm->scratch.start;
+
+  gc_print_stats(vm, "after GC");
+}
+
+void growl_gc_root(GrowlVM *vm, Growl *ptr) {
+  if (vm->root_count >= vm->root_capacity) {
+    size_t cap = vm->root_capacity == 0 ? 16 : vm->root_capacity * 2;
+    Growl **data = realloc(vm->roots, cap * sizeof(Growl *));
+    if (!data) {
+      fprintf(stderr, "expanding roots array: oom\n");
+      abort();
+    }
+    vm->root_capacity = cap;
+    vm->roots = data;
+  }
+  vm->roots[vm->root_count++] = ptr;
+}
+
+size_t growl_gc_mark(GrowlVM *vm) { return vm->root_count; }
+
+void growl_gc_reset(GrowlVM *vm, size_t mark) { vm->root_count = mark; }
diff --git a/next/core/list.c b/next/core/list.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db7f5ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/next/core/list.c
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+#include <growl.h>
+
diff --git a/next/core/opcodes.h b/next/core/opcodes.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0d3eca1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/next/core/opcodes.h
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#ifndef GROWL_OPCODES_H
+#define GROWL_OPCODES_H
+
+enum {
+  GOP_NOP = 0,
+  GOP_PUSH_NIL,
+  GOP_PUSH_CONSTANT,
+  GOP_CALL,
+  GOP_RETURN,
+};
+
+#endif // GROWL_OPCODES_H
diff --git a/next/core/sleb128.c b/next/core/sleb128.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f41aad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/next/core/sleb128.c
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+//
+// Created by lobo on 2/5/26.
+//
+
+#include "sleb128.h"
+
+intptr_t growl_sleb128_decode(uint8_t **ptr) {
+  intptr_t result = 0;
+  intptr_t shift = 0;
+  uint8_t byte;
+
+  do {
+    byte = **ptr;
+    (*ptr)++;
+    result |= (intptr_t)(byte & 0x7F) << shift;
+    shift += 7;
+  } while (byte & 0x80);
+
+  if ((shift < 64) && (byte & 0x40)) {
+    result |= -(1LL << shift);
+  }
+
+  return result;
+}
+
+size_t growl_sleb128_peek(const uint8_t *ptr, intptr_t *out) {
+  intptr_t result = 0, shift = 0;
+  size_t bytes = 0;
+  uint8_t byte;
+
+  do {
+    byte = ptr[bytes];
+    bytes++;
+    result |= (intptr_t)(byte & 0x7f) << shift;
+    shift += 7;
+  } while (byte & 0x80);
+
+  if (shift < 64 && byte & 0x40) {
+    result |= -(1LL << shift);
+  }
+
+  if (out)
+    *out = result;
+  return bytes;
+}
diff --git a/next/core/sleb128.h b/next/core/sleb128.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b866f6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/next/core/sleb128.h
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#ifndef GROWL_SLEB128_H
+#define GROWL_SLEB128_H
+
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <stddef.h>
+
+intptr_t growl_sleb128_decode(uint8_t **ptr);
+size_t growl_sleb128_peek(const uint8_t *ptr, intptr_t *out);
+
+#endif // GROWL_SLEB128_H
diff --git a/next/core/string.c b/next/core/string.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..41bf42a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/next/core/string.c
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+#include <growl.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+Growl growl_make_string(GrowlVM *vm, size_t len) {
+  size_t size = sizeof(GrowlObjectHeader) + sizeof(GrowlString) + len;
+  GrowlObjectHeader *hdr = growl_gc_alloc(vm, size);
+  hdr->type = GROWL_STRING;
+  GrowlString *str = (GrowlString *)(hdr + 1);
+  str->len = len;
+  memset(str->data, 0, len);
+  return GROWL_BOX(hdr);
+}
+
+Growl growl_wrap_string(GrowlVM *vm, const char *cstr) {
+  size_t len = strlen(cstr);
+  size_t size = sizeof(GrowlObjectHeader) + sizeof(GrowlString) + len + 1;
+  GrowlObjectHeader *hdr = growl_gc_alloc(vm, size);
+  hdr->type = GROWL_STRING;
+  GrowlString *str = (GrowlString *)(hdr + 1);
+  str->len = len;
+  memcpy(str->data, cstr, len);
+  str->data[len] = 0;
+  return GROWL_BOX(hdr);
+}
+
+GrowlString *growl_unwrap_string(Growl obj) {
+  if (obj == 0 || GROWL_IMM(obj))
+    return NULL;
+  GrowlObjectHeader *hdr = GROWL_UNBOX(obj);
+  if (hdr->type != GROWL_STRING)
+    return NULL;
+  return (GrowlString *)(hdr + 1);
+}
diff --git a/next/core/tuple.c b/next/core/tuple.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f38e0b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/next/core/tuple.c
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#include <growl.h>
+
+GrowlTuple *growl_unwrap_tuple(Growl obj) {
+  if (obj == 0 || GROWL_IMM(obj))
+    return NULL;
+  GrowlObjectHeader *hdr = GROWL_UNBOX(obj);
+  if (hdr->type != GROWL_TUPLE)
+    return NULL;
+  return (GrowlTuple *)(hdr + 1);
+}
diff --git a/next/core/vm.c b/next/core/vm.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..49d94d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/next/core/vm.c
@@ -0,0 +1,164 @@
+#include <growl.h>
+#include <stdarg.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdnoreturn.h>
+
+#include "opcodes.h"
+#include "sleb128.h"
+
+#include <inttypes.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+GrowlVM *growl_vm_init(void) {
+  GrowlVM *mem = malloc(sizeof(GrowlVM));
+  if (mem == NULL) {
+    abort();
+  }
+
+  growl_arena_init(&mem->from, GROWL_HEAP_SIZE);
+  growl_arena_init(&mem->to, GROWL_HEAP_SIZE);
+  growl_arena_init(&mem->arena, GROWL_ARENA_SIZE);
+  growl_arena_init(&mem->scratch, GROWL_SCRATCH_SIZE);
+
+  mem->sp = mem->wst;
+  mem->rsp = mem->rst;
+  mem->csp = mem->cst;
+
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < GROWL_STACK_SIZE; ++i) {
+    mem->wst[i] = 0;
+    mem->rst[i] = 0;
+  }
+
+  mem->roots = NULL;
+  mem->root_count = 0;
+  mem->root_capacity = 0;
+
+  return mem;
+}
+
+void growl_vm_free(GrowlVM *vm) {
+  growl_arena_free(&vm->from);
+  growl_arena_free(&vm->to);
+  growl_arena_free(&vm->arena);
+  growl_arena_free(&vm->scratch);
+  if (vm->roots != NULL)
+    free(vm->roots);
+  free(vm);
+}
+
+__attribute__((format(printf, 2, 3))) static noreturn void
+vm_error(GrowlVM *vm, const char *fmt, ...) {
+  va_list args;
+  va_start(args, fmt);
+  fprintf(stderr, "vm: ");
+  vfprintf(stderr, fmt, args);
+  fprintf(stderr, "\n");
+  va_end(args);
+  longjmp(vm->error, -1);
+}
+
+void growl_push(GrowlVM *vm, Growl obj) {
+  if (vm->sp >= vm->wst + GROWL_STACK_SIZE)
+    vm_error(vm, "work stack overflow");
+  *vm->sp++ = obj;
+}
+
+Growl growl_pop(GrowlVM *vm) {
+  if (vm->sp <= vm->wst)
+    vm_error(vm, "work stack underflow");
+  Growl obj = *--vm->sp;
+  *vm->sp = GROWL_NIL;
+  return obj;
+}
+
+void growl_rpush(GrowlVM *vm, Growl obj) {
+  if (vm->rsp >= vm->rst + GROWL_STACK_SIZE)
+    vm_error(vm, "work stack overflow");
+  *vm->rsp++ = obj;
+}
+
+Growl growl_rpop(GrowlVM *vm) {
+  if (vm->rsp <= vm->rst)
+    vm_error(vm, "work stack underflow");
+  Growl obj = *--vm->rsp;
+  *vm->rsp = GROWL_NIL;
+  return obj;
+}
+
+static void push_call(GrowlVM *vm, GrowlQuotation *q, uint8_t *ip) {
+  if (vm->csp >= vm->cst + GROWL_CALL_STACK_SIZE)
+    vm_error(vm, "call stack overflow");
+  vm->csp->quot = q;
+  vm->csp->ip = ip;
+  vm->csp++;
+}
+static GrowlFrame pop_call(GrowlVM *vm) {
+  if (vm->csp <= vm->cst)
+    vm_error(vm, "call stack underflow");
+  return *--vm->csp;
+}
+
+int vm_doquot(GrowlVM *vm, GrowlQuotation *quot) {
+  size_t gc_mark = growl_gc_mark(vm);
+  int result = setjmp(vm->error);
+
+  if (result != 0) {
+    growl_gc_reset(vm, gc_mark);
+    return result;
+  }
+
+  GrowlTuple *constants = growl_unwrap_tuple(quot->constants);
+  if (constants != NULL) {
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < constants->count; ++i) {
+      growl_gc_root(vm, &constants->data[i]);
+    }
+  }
+
+  vm->ip = quot->data;
+  vm->quotation = quot;
+
+  for (;;) {
+    uint8_t opcode;
+    switch (opcode = *vm->ip++) {
+    case GOP_NOP:
+      break;
+    case GOP_PUSH_NIL:
+      growl_push(vm, GROWL_NIL);
+      break;
+    case GOP_PUSH_CONSTANT: {
+      intptr_t idx = growl_sleb128_decode(&vm->ip);
+      if (constants != NULL) {
+        growl_push(vm, constants->data[idx]);
+      } else {
+        vm_error(vm, "constant index %" PRIdPTR " out of bounds", idx);
+      }
+      break;
+    case GOP_CALL: { // TODO: compose and curry
+      Growl obj = growl_pop(vm);
+      push_call(vm, vm->quotation, vm->ip);
+      GrowlQuotation *obj_quot = growl_unwrap_quotation(obj);
+      if (obj_quot == NULL)
+        vm_error(vm, "attempt to call non-callable");
+      vm->quotation = obj_quot;
+      vm->ip = obj_quot->data;
+      break;
+    }
+    case GOP_RETURN:
+      if (vm->csp != vm->cst) {
+        GrowlFrame frame = pop_call(vm);
+        vm->quotation = frame.quot;
+        vm->ip = frame.ip;
+      } else {
+        goto done;
+      }
+      break;
+    }
+    default:
+      vm_error(vm, "unknown opcode %d", opcode);
+    }
+  }
+
+done:
+  growl_gc_reset(vm, gc_mark);
+  return 0;
+}
diff --git a/next/include/growl.h b/next/include/growl.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0bda72a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/next/include/growl.h
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+#ifndef GROWL_H
+#define GROWL_H
+
+#include <setjmp.h>
+#include <stddef.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+typedef uintptr_t Growl;
+
+#define GROWL_NIL ((Growl)(0))
+#define GROWL_BOX(x) ((Growl)(x))
+#define GROWL_UNBOX(x) ((GrowlObjectHeader *)(x))
+#define GROWL_IMM(x) ((Growl)(x) & (Growl)1)
+#define GROWL_NUM(x) (((Growl)((intptr_t)(x) << 1)) | (Growl)1)
+#define GROWL_ORD(x) ((intptr_t)(x) >> 1)
+
+typedef struct GrowlObjectHeader GrowlObjectHeader;
+typedef struct GrowlString GrowlString;
+typedef struct GrowlList GrowlList;
+typedef struct GrowlTuple GrowlTuple;
+typedef struct GrowlQuotation GrowlQuotation;
+typedef struct GrowlCompose GrowlCompose;
+typedef struct GrowlCurry GrowlCurry;
+typedef struct GrowlGCArena GrowlGCArena;
+typedef struct GrowlFrame GrowlFrame;
+typedef struct GrowlVM GrowlVM;
+
+enum {
+  GROWL_STRING,
+  GROWL_LIST,
+  GROWL_TUPLE,
+  GROWL_QUOTATION,
+  GROWL_COMPOSE,
+  GROWL_CURRY,
+};
+
+struct GrowlObjectHeader {
+  size_t size;
+  uint32_t type;
+};
+
+struct GrowlString {
+  size_t len;
+  char data[];
+};
+
+Growl growl_make_string(GrowlVM *vm, size_t len);
+Growl growl_wrap_string(GrowlVM *vm, const char *cstr);
+GrowlString *growl_unwrap_string(Growl obj);
+
+struct GrowlList {
+  Growl head, tail;
+};
+
+struct GrowlTuple {
+  size_t count;
+  Growl data[];
+};
+
+GrowlTuple *growl_unwrap_tuple(Growl obj);
+
+struct GrowlQuotation {
+  size_t count;
+  Growl constants;
+  uint8_t data[];
+};
+
+struct GrowlCompose {
+  Growl first, second;
+};
+
+struct GrowlCurry {
+  Growl value, callable;
+};
+
+int growl_callable(Growl obj);
+Growl growl_make_quotation(GrowlVM *vm, const uint8_t *code, size_t code_size,
+                           const Growl *constants, size_t constants_size);
+GrowlQuotation *growl_unwrap_quotation(Growl obj);
+Growl growl_compose(GrowlVM *vm, Growl first, Growl second);
+GrowlCompose *growl_unwrap_compose(Growl obj);
+Growl growl_curry(GrowlVM *vm, Growl value, Growl callable);
+GrowlCurry *growl_unwrap_curry(Growl obj);
+
+struct GrowlGCArena {
+  uint8_t *start, *end;
+  uint8_t *free;
+};
+
+void growl_arena_init(GrowlGCArena *arena, size_t size);
+void growl_arena_free(GrowlGCArena *arena);
+void *growl_arena_alloc(GrowlGCArena *arena, size_t size, size_t align,
+                        size_t count);
+#define growl_arena_new(a, t, n)                                               \
+  (t *)growl_arena_alloc(a, sizeof(t), _Alignof(t), n)
+
+#define GROWL_STACK_SIZE 128
+#define GROWL_CALL_STACK_SIZE 64
+#define GROWL_HEAP_SIZE (4 * 1024 * 1024)
+#define GROWL_ARENA_SIZE (2 * 1024 * 1024)
+#define GROWL_SCRATCH_SIZE (1024 * 1024)
+
+struct GrowlFrame {
+  GrowlQuotation *quot;
+  uint8_t *ip;
+};
+
+struct GrowlVM {
+  GrowlGCArena from, to;
+  GrowlGCArena arena;
+  GrowlGCArena scratch;
+
+  GrowlQuotation *quotation;
+  uint8_t *ip;
+  Growl wst[GROWL_STACK_SIZE], *sp;
+  Growl rst[GROWL_STACK_SIZE], *rsp;
+  GrowlFrame cst[GROWL_CALL_STACK_SIZE], *csp;
+
+  Growl **roots;
+  size_t root_count, root_capacity;
+
+  jmp_buf error;
+};
+
+GrowlVM *growl_vm_init(void);
+void growl_vm_free(GrowlVM *vm);
+GrowlObjectHeader *growl_gc_alloc(GrowlVM *vm, size_t size);
+GrowlObjectHeader *growl_gc_alloc_tenured(GrowlVM *vm, size_t size);
+void growl_gc_collect(GrowlVM *vm);
+void growl_gc_root(GrowlVM *vm, Growl *ptr);
+size_t growl_gc_mark(GrowlVM *vm);
+void growl_gc_reset(GrowlVM *vm, size_t mark);
+int vm_doquot(GrowlVM *vm, GrowlQuotation *quot);
+
+#endif // GROWL_H
diff --git a/next/main.c b/next/main.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..195abf3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/next/main.c
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#include "core/opcodes.h"
+#include <growl.h>
+
+static uint8_t code[] = {
+    GOP_PUSH_NIL,
+    GOP_RETURN,
+};
+
+int main(void) {
+  GrowlVM *vm = growl_vm_init();
+
+  Growl quot_obj = growl_make_quotation(vm, code, sizeof(code), NULL, 0);
+  GrowlQuotation *quot = (GrowlQuotation *)(GROWL_UNBOX(quot_obj) + 1);
+  vm_doquot(vm, quot);
+
+  growl_gc_collect(vm);
+  growl_vm_free(vm);
+}
diff --git a/src/compile.c b/src/compile.c
index 7542684..747f048 100644
--- a/src/compile.c
+++ b/src/compile.c
@@ -7,12 +7,11 @@
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "gc.h"
 #include "object.h"
+#include "parser.h"
 #include "src/primitive.h"
 #include "string.h"
-#include "vm.h"
-
-#include "vendor/mpc.h"
 #include "vendor/yar.h"
+#include "vm.h"
 
 // clang-format off
 struct {
@@ -26,6 +25,7 @@ struct {
   {"2dup",    {OP_2DUP, 0}},
   {"2drop",   {OP_2DROP, 0}},
   {"2swap",   {OP_2SWAP, 0}},
+  {"2over",   {OP_2TOR, OP_2DUP, OP_2FROMR, OP_2SWAP, 0}},
   {"over",    {OP_OVER, 0}},
   {"nip",     {OP_NIP, 0}},
   {"bury",    {OP_BURY, 0}},
@@ -118,8 +118,7 @@ static V optim_tailcall(Bc *chunk) {
   }
 }
 
-static I compile_expr(Cm *cm, mpc_ast_t *curr, mpc_ast_trav_t **next);
-static I compile_ast(Cm *cm, mpc_ast_t *curr, mpc_ast_trav_t **next);
+static I compile_expr(Cm *cm, Ast *node);
 
 static I compile_constant(Cm *cm, O value, I line, I col) {
   I idx = chunk_add_constant(cm->chunk, value);
@@ -169,31 +168,16 @@ static I compile_call(Cm *cm, const char *name, I line, I col) {
   return 1;
 }
 
-static I compile_command(Cm *cm, mpc_ast_t *curr, mpc_ast_trav_t **next) {
-  curr = mpc_ast_traverse_next(next);
-  const char *name = curr->contents;
-  I name_line = curr->state.row;
-  I name_col = curr->state.col;
-  (void)mpc_ast_traverse_next(next);
-  curr = mpc_ast_traverse_next(next);
-  while (curr != NULL) {
-    if (strcmp(curr->tag, "char") == 0 && strcmp(curr->contents, ";") == 0)
-      break;
-    I res = compile_expr(cm, curr, next);
-    if (!res)
+static I compile_command(Cm *cm, Ast *node) {
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < node->children.count; i++) {
+    if (!compile_expr(cm, node->children.items[i]))
       return 0;
-    curr = mpc_ast_traverse_next(next);
   }
-  compile_call(cm, name, name_line, name_col);
-  return 1;
+  return compile_call(cm, node->name, node->line, node->col);
 }
 
-static I compile_definition(Cm *cm, mpc_ast_t *curr, mpc_ast_trav_t **next) {
-  (void)mpc_ast_traverse_next(next); // skip 'def'
-  curr = mpc_ast_traverse_next(next);
-  const char *name = arena_strdup(cm->arena, curr->contents);
-  (void)mpc_ast_traverse_next(next); // skip '{'
-
+static I compile_definition(Cm *cm, Ast *node) {
+  const char *name = arena_strdup(cm->arena, node->name);
   Dt *entry = upsert(cm->dictionary, name, cm->arena);
 
   Cm inner = {0};
@@ -202,19 +186,14 @@ static I compile_definition(Cm *cm, mpc_ast_t *curr, mpc_ast_trav_t **next) {
   inner.vm = cm->vm;
   inner.dictionary = cm->dictionary;
 
-  curr = mpc_ast_traverse_next(next);
-  while (curr != NULL) {
-    if (strcmp(curr->tag, "char") == 0 && strcmp(curr->contents, "}") == 0)
-      break;
-    if (!compile_expr(&inner, curr, next)) {
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < node->children.count; i++) {
+    if (!compile_expr(&inner, node->children.items[i])) {
       chunk_release(inner.chunk);
       return 0;
     }
-    curr = mpc_ast_traverse_next(next);
   }
 
-  chunk_emit_byte_with_line(inner.chunk, OP_RETURN, curr->state.row,
-                            curr->state.col);
+  chunk_emit_byte_with_line(inner.chunk, OP_RETURN, node->line, node->col);
   optim_tailcall(inner.chunk);
 
   entry->chunk = inner.chunk;
@@ -226,7 +205,7 @@ static I compile_definition(Cm *cm, mpc_ast_t *curr, mpc_ast_trav_t **next) {
   return 1;
 }
 
-static O compile_quotation_obj(Cm *cm, mpc_ast_t *curr, mpc_ast_trav_t **next) {
+static O compile_quotation_obj(Cm *cm, Ast *node) {
   Cm inner = {0};
   inner.arena = cm->arena;
 
@@ -234,20 +213,13 @@ static O compile_quotation_obj(Cm *cm, mpc_ast_t *curr, mpc_ast_trav_t **next) {
   inner.vm = cm->vm;
   inner.dictionary = cm->dictionary;
 
-  (void)mpc_ast_traverse_next(next);
-  curr = mpc_ast_traverse_next(next);
-  while (curr != NULL) {
-    if (strcmp(curr->tag, "char") == 0 && strcmp(curr->contents, "]") == 0)
-      break;
-    I res = compile_expr(&inner, curr, next);
-    if (!res) {
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < node->children.count; i++) {
+    if (!compile_expr(&inner, node->children.items[i])) {
       chunk_release(inner.chunk);
-      return res;
+      return NIL;
     }
-    curr = mpc_ast_traverse_next(next);
   }
-  chunk_emit_byte_with_line(inner.chunk, OP_RETURN, curr->state.row,
-                            curr->state.col);
+  chunk_emit_byte_with_line(inner.chunk, OP_RETURN, node->line, node->col);
   optim_tailcall(inner.chunk);
 
   Hd *hd = gc_alloc(cm->vm, sizeof(Hd) + sizeof(Bc *));
@@ -258,158 +230,103 @@ static O compile_quotation_obj(Cm *cm, mpc_ast_t *curr, mpc_ast_trav_t **next) {
   return BOX(hd);
 }
 
-static I compile_quotation(Cm *cm, mpc_ast_t *curr, mpc_ast_trav_t **next,
-                           I line, I col) {
-  return compile_constant(cm, compile_quotation_obj(cm, curr, next), line, col);
+static I compile_quotation(Cm *cm, Ast *node) {
+  O obj = compile_quotation_obj(cm, node);
+  if (obj == NIL)
+    return 0;
+  return compile_constant(cm, obj, node->line, node->col);
 }
 
-static I compile_pragma(Cm *cm, mpc_ast_t *curr, mpc_ast_trav_t **next) {
-  (void)mpc_ast_traverse_next(next);
-  curr = mpc_ast_traverse_next(next);
-  const char *name = curr->contents;
-  I line = curr->state.row;
-  I col = curr->state.col;
-  curr = mpc_ast_traverse_next(next);
-  I has_args = 0;
-
-  if (curr != NULL && strcmp(curr->tag, "char") == 0 &&
-      strcmp(curr->contents, "(") == 0) {
-    has_args = 1;
-    curr = mpc_ast_traverse_next(next); // Skip '('
-  }
-
-  if (strcmp(name, "load") == 0) {
-    if (!has_args) {
-      fprintf(stderr,
-              "compiler error at %ld:%ld: #load requires a filename argument\n",
-              line + 1, col + 1);
+static I compile_pragma(Cm *cm, Ast *node) {
+  if (strcmp(node->name, "#load") == 0) {
+    if (node->children.count == 0) {
+      fprintf(stderr, "compiler error: #load requires argument\n");
       return 0;
     }
-    if (!strstr(curr->tag, "expr|string")) {
-      fprintf(stderr,
-              "compiler error at %ld:%ld: #load requires a string argument\n",
-              line + 1, col + 1);
+    Ast *arg = node->children.items[0];
+    if (arg->type != AST_STR) {
+      fprintf(stderr, "compiler error: #load requires string\n");
       return 0;
     }
 
-    char *fname_raw = curr->contents;
-    Z len = strlen(fname_raw);
-    char *fname = malloc(len + 1);
-    memcpy(fname, fname_raw + 1, len - 2);
-    fname[len - 2] = '\0';
-    fname = mpcf_unescape(fname);
-
-    mpc_result_t res;
-    extern mpc_parser_t *Program;
-
-    if (!mpc_parse_contents(fname, Program, &res)) {
-      fprintf(stderr, "compiler error at %ld:%ld: failed to parse file '%s':\n",
-              line + 1, col + 1, fname);
-      mpc_err_print_to(res.error, stderr);
-      mpc_err_delete(res.error);
-      free(fname);
+    char *fname = arg->name;
+    FILE *f = fopen(fname, "rb");
+    if (!f) {
+      fprintf(stderr, "compiler error: cannot open file '%s'\n", fname);
       return 0;
     }
 
-    mpc_ast_trav_t *inner_next =
-        mpc_ast_traverse_start(res.output, mpc_ast_trav_order_pre);
-    mpc_ast_t *inner_curr = mpc_ast_traverse_next(&inner_next);
+    Stream s = {filestream_vtable, f};
+    Lx *lx = lexer_make(&s);
+    Ast *root = parser_parse(lx);
 
-    I success = compile_ast(cm, inner_curr, &inner_next);
-
-    mpc_ast_delete(res.output);
-
-    if (!success) {
-      fprintf(stderr,
-              "compiler error at %ld:%ld: failed to compile file '%s'\n",
-              line + 1, col + 1, fname);
-      free(fname);
-      return 0;
-    }
-
-    free(fname);
-
-    curr = mpc_ast_traverse_next(next);
-    while (curr != NULL) {
-      if (strcmp(curr->tag, "char") == 0 && strcmp(curr->contents, ")") == 0)
+    I success = 1;
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < root->children.count; i++) {
+      if (!compile_expr(cm, root->children.items[i])) {
+        success = 0;
         break;
-      curr = mpc_ast_traverse_next(next);
+      }
     }
-  } else {
-    fprintf(stderr, "compiler warning at %ld:%ld: unknown pragma \"%s\"\n",
-            line + 1, col + 1, name);
-  }
 
-  if (has_args) {
-    if (curr == NULL || strcmp(curr->contents, ")") != 0) {
-      fprintf(stderr, "error at %ld:%ld: expected ')' after pragma arguments\n",
-              line + 1, col + 1);
-      return 0;
-    }
+    ast_free(root);
+    lexer_free(lx);
+    fclose(f);
+    return success;
   }
-
+  fprintf(stderr, "compiler warning: unknown pragma \"%s\"\n", node->name);
   return 1;
 }
 
-static I compile_expr(Cm *cm, mpc_ast_t *curr, mpc_ast_trav_t **next) {
-  I line = curr->state.row;
-  I col = curr->state.col;
-  if (strstr(curr->tag, "expr|number") != NULL) {
-    I num = strtol(curr->contents, NULL, 0);
-    return compile_constant(cm, NUM(num), line, col);
-  } else if (strstr(curr->tag, "expr|string") != NULL) {
-    curr->contents[strlen(curr->contents) - 1] = '\0';
-    char *unescaped = malloc(strlen(curr->contents + 1) + 1);
-    strcpy(unescaped, curr->contents + 1);
-    unescaped = mpcf_unescape(unescaped);
-    O obj = string_make(cm->vm, unescaped, -1);
-    free(unescaped);
-    return compile_constant(cm, obj, line, col);
-  } else if (strstr(curr->tag, "expr|word") != NULL) {
-    return compile_call(cm, curr->contents, line, col);
-  } else if (strstr(curr->tag, "expr|quotation") != NULL) {
-    return compile_quotation(cm, curr, next, line, col);
-  } else if (strstr(curr->tag, "expr|def") != NULL) {
-    return compile_definition(cm, curr, next);
-  } else if (strstr(curr->tag, "expr|command") != NULL) {
-    return compile_command(cm, curr, next);
-  } else if (strstr(curr->tag, "expr|pragma") != NULL) {
-    return compile_pragma(cm, curr, next);
-  } else if (strstr(curr->tag, "expr|comment") != NULL) {
+static I compile_expr(Cm *cm, Ast *node) {
+  if (!node)
+    return 0;
+  switch (node->type) {
+  case AST_INT: {
+    O num = NUM(node->int_val);
+    return compile_constant(cm, num, node->line, node->col);
+  }
+  case AST_STR: {
+    O obj = string_make(cm->vm, node->name, -1);
+    return compile_constant(cm, obj, node->line, node->col);
+  }
+  case AST_WORD:
+    return compile_call(cm, node->name, node->line, node->col);
+  case AST_QUOTE:
+    return compile_quotation(cm, node);
+  case AST_DEF:
+    return compile_definition(cm, node);
+  case AST_CMD:
+    return compile_command(cm, node);
+  case AST_PRAGMA:
+    return compile_pragma(cm, node);
+  case AST_PROGRAM:
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < node->children.count; i++) {
+      if (!compile_expr(cm, node->children.items[i]))
+        return 0;
+    }
     return 1;
-  } else {
-    fprintf(stderr, "compiler error at %ld:%ld: \"%s\" nyi\n", line + 1,
-            col + 1, curr->tag);
+  default:
+    fprintf(stderr, "compiler error: nyi ast type %d\n", (int)node->type);
     return 0;
   }
 }
 
-static I compile_ast(Cm *cm, mpc_ast_t *curr, mpc_ast_trav_t **next) {
-  (void)mpc_ast_traverse_next(next);
-  curr = mpc_ast_traverse_next(next);
-  while (curr != NULL) {
-    if (strcmp(curr->tag, "regex") == 0 && strcmp(curr->contents, "") == 0)
-      break;
-    I res = compile_expr(cm, curr, next);
-    if (!res)
-      return res;
-    curr = mpc_ast_traverse_next(next);
+Bc *compile_program(Cm *cm, Ast *ast) {
+  if (ast->type == AST_PROGRAM) {
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < ast->children.count; i++) {
+      if (!compile_expr(cm, ast->children.items[i])) {
+        chunk_release(cm->chunk);
+        return NULL;
+      }
+    }
+  } else {
+    if (!compile_expr(cm, ast)) {
+      chunk_release(cm->chunk);
+      return NULL;
+    }
   }
 
-  return 1;
-}
-
-Bc *compile_program(Cm *cm, mpc_ast_t *ast) {
-  mpc_ast_trav_t *next = mpc_ast_traverse_start(ast, mpc_ast_trav_order_pre);
-  mpc_ast_t *curr = mpc_ast_traverse_next(&next); // Begin traversal
-
-  if (!compile_ast(cm, curr, &next)) {
-    chunk_release(cm->chunk);
-    return NULL;
-  }
-
-  Bc *chunk = cm->chunk;
-  chunk_emit_byte(chunk, OP_RETURN);
-  optim_tailcall(chunk);
-  return chunk;
+  chunk_emit_byte(cm->chunk, OP_RETURN);
+  optim_tailcall(cm->chunk);
+  return cm->chunk;
 }
diff --git a/src/compile.h b/src/compile.h
index 3db8ce2..51cea45 100644
--- a/src/compile.h
+++ b/src/compile.h
@@ -4,10 +4,9 @@
 #include "chunk.h"
 #include "gc.h"
 #include "vm.h"
+#include "parser.h"
 
-#include "vendor/mpc.h"
-
-#define COMPILER_DEBUG DEBUG
+#define COMPILER_DEBUG 0
 
 /** Compiler context */
 typedef struct Cm {
@@ -19,4 +18,4 @@ typedef struct Cm {
 
 V compiler_init(Cm *, Vm *, const char *);
 V compiler_deinit(Cm *);
-Bc *compile_program(Cm *, mpc_ast_t *);
+Bc *compile_program(Cm *, Ast *);
diff --git a/src/debug.c b/src/debug.c
index eda0ee6..6374c16 100644
--- a/src/debug.c
+++ b/src/debug.c
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 #include "chunk.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "dictionary.h"
+#include "primitive.h"
 #include "print.h"
-#include "src/primitive.h"
 #include "vm.h"
 
 static I decode_sleb128(U8 *ptr, Z *bytes_read) {
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ static Z dis_instr(Bc *chunk, Z offset, Dt **dictionary, I indent) {
         print(obj);
         printf(")");
 
-        if (!IMM(obj) && obj != NIL && type(obj) == TYPE_QUOT) {
+        if (!IMM(obj) && obj != NIL && type(obj) == OBJ_QUOT) {
           putchar('\n');
           Hd *hdr = UNBOX(obj);
           Bc **chunk_ptr = (Bc **)(hdr + 1);
diff --git a/src/gc.h b/src/gc.h
index 2f28ba5..c3bb177 100644
--- a/src/gc.h
+++ b/src/gc.h
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #include "common.h"
 #include "object.h"
 
-#define GC_DEBUG 0
+#define GC_DEBUG 1
 #if GC_DEBUG
 #define HEAP_BYTES (8 * 1024)
 #else
diff --git a/src/lexer.c b/src/lexer.c
index 5d851d7..9b45afd 100644
--- a/src/lexer.c
+++ b/src/lexer.c
@@ -1,12 +1,42 @@
 #include <ctype.h>
 #include <err.h>
-#include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <utf.h>
 
 #include "lexer.h"
 #include "vendor/yar.h"
 
+Lx *lexer_make(Stream *s) {
+  Lx *lx = calloc(1, sizeof(Lx));
+  lx->stream = s;
+  return lx;
+}
+
+V lexer_free(Lx *lx) {
+  yar_free(lx);
+  free(lx);
+}
+
+static int lx_getc(Lx *lx) {
+  int c = ST_GETC(lx->stream);
+  if (c == '\n') {
+    lx->curr_line++;
+    lx->curr_col = 0;
+  } else if (c != -1) {
+    lx->curr_col++;
+  }
+  return c;
+}
+
+static void lx_ungetc(Lx *lx, int c) {
+  ST_UNGETC(c, lx->stream);
+  if (c == '\n') {
+    lx->curr_line--;
+  } else if (c != -1) {
+    lx->curr_col--;
+  }
+}
+
 static inline int is_delimiter(int i) {
   return i == '(' || i == ')' || i == '[' || i == ']' || i == '{' || i == '}' ||
          i == ';' || i == '\\' || i == '"';
@@ -24,7 +54,7 @@ static int getc_ws(Lx *lx) {
   if (ST_EOF(lx->stream))
     return -1;
   for (;;) {
-    int ch = ST_GETC(lx->stream);
+    int ch = lx_getc(lx);
     if (isspace(ch))
       continue;
     return ch;
@@ -32,21 +62,21 @@ static int getc_ws(Lx *lx) {
 }
 
 static int scanword(Lx *lx) {
-  int next = ST_GETC(lx->stream);
+  int next = lx_getc(lx);
 
   for (;;) {
     if (next == -1) {
-      if (lx->cursor == 0)
+      if (lx->count == 0)
         lx->kind = TOK_EOF;
       appendbyte(lx, 0);
       return lx->kind;
     } else if (is_delimiter(next) || isspace(next)) {
-      ST_UNGETC(next, lx->stream);
+      lx_ungetc(lx, next);
       appendbyte(lx, 0);
       return lx->kind;
     } else {
       appendbyte(lx, next);
-      next = ST_GETC(lx->stream);
+      next = lx_getc(lx);
       continue;
     }
   }
@@ -58,7 +88,7 @@ static void scanescape(Lx *lx) {
   Rune tmp;
 
   for (;;) {
-    next = ST_GETC(lx->stream);
+    next = lx_getc(lx);
 
     if (next == -1) {
       errx(1, "unterminated hex sequence '%s'", escbuf);
@@ -77,22 +107,28 @@ static void scanescape(Lx *lx) {
   }
 
   tmp = strtol(escbuf, &escptr, 16);
-  if (*escptr == '\0')
-    appendrune(lx, tmp);
-  else
+  if (*escptr == '\0') {
+    if (tmp < 256) {
+      appendbyte(lx, (U8)(tmp & 255));
+    } else {
+      appendrune(lx, tmp);
+    }
+
+  } else {
     errx(1, "invalid hex sequence '%s'", escbuf);
+  }
 }
 
 static int scanstring(Lx *lx) {
   int next;
 
   for (;;) {
-    next = ST_GETC(lx->stream);
+    next = lx_getc(lx);
     switch (next) {
     case -1:
       goto eof;
     case '\\':
-      next = ST_GETC(lx->stream);
+      next = lx_getc(lx);
       if (next == -1)
         goto eof;
       switch (next) {
@@ -128,8 +164,7 @@ static int scanstring(Lx *lx) {
         scanescape(lx);
         break;
       default:
-        fprintf(stderr, "unknown escape sequence '\\%c'\n", next);
-        abort();
+        return (lx->kind = TOK_INVALID);
       }
       break;
     case '"':
@@ -141,13 +176,13 @@ static int scanstring(Lx *lx) {
   }
 
 eof:
-  errx(1, "unterminated string literal");
-  return 0;
+  return (lx->kind = TOK_INVALID);
 }
 
 I lexer_next(Lx *lx) {
   int next;
   lx->cursor = 0;
+  lx->count = 0;
 
   if (ST_EOF(lx->stream)) {
     lx->kind = TOK_EOF;
@@ -156,9 +191,12 @@ I lexer_next(Lx *lx) {
 
   next = getc_ws(lx);
 
+  lx->start_line = lx->curr_line;
+  lx->start_col = (lx->curr_col > 0) ? lx->curr_col - 1 : 0;
+
   switch (next) {
   case '\\':
-    for (; next != '\n'; next = ST_GETC(lx->stream))
+    for (; next != '\n'; next = lx_getc(lx))
       ;
     return lexer_next(lx);
   case '(':
@@ -172,7 +210,7 @@ I lexer_next(Lx *lx) {
   case '"':
     return scanstring(lx);
   default:
-    ST_UNGETC(next, lx->stream);
+    lx_ungetc(lx, next);
     lx->kind = TOK_WORD;
     return scanword(lx);
   };
diff --git a/src/lexer.h b/src/lexer.h
index 217beef..f3fa2de 100644
--- a/src/lexer.h
+++ b/src/lexer.h
@@ -22,12 +22,15 @@ enum {
 typedef struct Lx {
   I kind;
   I cursor;
+  I curr_line, curr_col;
+  I start_line, start_col;
   Stream *stream;
   char *items;
   Z count, capacity;
 } Lx;
 
 Lx *lexer_make(Stream *);
+V lexer_free(Lx *lx);
 I lexer_next(Lx *);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 76ab02a..5d292cc 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
 
 #include "chunk.h"
 #include "compile.h"
@@ -8,7 +9,6 @@
 #include "vm.h"
 
 #include "vendor/linenoise.h"
-#include "vendor/mpc.h"
 
 #define REPL_BUFFER_SIZE 4096
 
@@ -18,16 +18,18 @@ I repl(void) {
 
   char *line;
   while ((line = linenoise("growl> ")) != NULL) {
-    mpc_result_t res;
-    if (!mpc_parse("<repl>", line, Program, &res)) {
-      mpc_err_print_to(res.error, stderr);
-      mpc_err_delete(res.error);
-      continue;
-    }
+    Buf b = { line, (int)strlen(line), 0, -1 };
+    Stream s = { bufstream_vtable, &b };
+
+    Lx *lx = lexer_make(&s);
+    Ast *root = parser_parse(lx);
+
     Cm cm = {0};
     compiler_init(&cm, &vm, "<repl>");
-    Bc *chunk = compile_program(&cm, res.output);
-    mpc_ast_delete(res.output);
+    Bc *chunk = compile_program(&cm, root);
+    ast_free(root);
+    lexer_free(lx);
+
     if (chunk != NULL) {
       vm_run(&vm, chunk, 0);
       chunk_release(chunk);
@@ -44,18 +46,23 @@ I loadfile(const char *fname) {
   Vm vm = {0};
   vm_init(&vm);
 
-  mpc_result_t res;
-  if (!mpc_parse_contents(fname, Program, &res)) {
-    mpc_err_print_to(res.error, stderr);
-    mpc_err_delete(res.error);
-    return 1;
+  FILE *f = fopen(fname, "rb");
+  if (!f) {
+      fprintf(stderr, "error: cannot open file '%s'\n", fname);
+      return 1;
   }
 
+  Stream s = { filestream_vtable, f };
+  Lx *lx = lexer_make(&s);
+  Ast *root = parser_parse(lx);
+
   Cm cm = {0};
   compiler_init(&cm, &vm, fname);
 
-  Bc *chunk = compile_program(&cm, res.output);
-  mpc_ast_delete(res.output);
+  Bc *chunk = compile_program(&cm, root);
+  ast_free(root);
+  lexer_free(lx);
+  fclose(f);
 
   if (chunk != NULL) {
 #if COMPILER_DEBUG
@@ -72,9 +79,6 @@ I loadfile(const char *fname) {
 }
 
 int main(int argc, const char *argv[]) {
-  parser_init();
-  atexit(parser_deinit);
-
   switch (argc) {
   case 1:
     return repl();
diff --git a/src/object.c b/src/object.c
index 6a6de05..c947ee0 100644
--- a/src/object.c
+++ b/src/object.c
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 
 I type(O o) {
   if (o == NIL)
-    return TYPE_NIL;
+    return OBJ_NIL;
   if (IMM(o))
-    return TYPE_NUM;
+    return OBJ_NUM;
   Hd *h = UNBOX(o);
   return h->type;
 }
diff --git a/src/object.h b/src/object.h
index f987b5f..3233892 100644
--- a/src/object.h
+++ b/src/object.h
@@ -11,25 +11,17 @@
 #define ORD(x) ((intptr_t)(x) >> 1)
 
 enum {
+  OBJ_NIL = 0,
+  OBJ_NUM = 1,
   OBJ_FWD = 2,
   OBJ_QUOT,
   OBJ_COMPOSE,
   OBJ_CURRY,
   OBJ_STR,
+  OBJ_ARRAY,
   OBJ_USERDATA,
 };
 
-enum {
-  TYPE_NIL = 0,
-  TYPE_NUM = 1,
-  TYPE_FWD = OBJ_FWD,
-  TYPE_QUOT = OBJ_QUOT,
-  TYPE_COMPOSE = OBJ_COMPOSE,
-  TYPE_CURRY = OBJ_CURRY,
-  TYPE_STR = OBJ_STR,
-  TYPE_USERDATA = OBJ_USERDATA,
-};
-
 typedef uintptr_t O;
 
 /** Object header */
@@ -50,7 +42,7 @@ typedef struct Qc {
 I type(O);
 static inline I callable(O o) {
   I t = type(o);
-  return t == TYPE_QUOT || t == TYPE_COMPOSE || t == TYPE_CURRY;
+  return t == OBJ_QUOT || t == OBJ_COMPOSE || t == OBJ_CURRY;
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/parser.c b/src/parser.c
index 0723efc..724bea2 100644
--- a/src/parser.c
+++ b/src/parser.c
@@ -1,51 +1,156 @@
 #include "parser.h"
-#include "vendor/mpc.h"
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
 
-mpc_parser_t *Pragma, *Comment, *Expr, *Number, *String, *Word, *Definition,
-    *Command, *List, *Table, *Quotation, *Program;
+static Ast *ast_new(I type, I line, I col) {
+  Ast *node = calloc(1, sizeof(Ast));
+  node->type = type;
+  node->line = line;
+  node->col = col;
+  return node;
+}
 
-V parser_init(V) {
-  Pragma = mpc_new("pragma");
-  Comment = mpc_new("comment");
-  Expr = mpc_new("expr");
-  Number = mpc_new("number");
-  String = mpc_new("string");
-  Word = mpc_new("word");
-  Definition = mpc_new("def");
-  Command = mpc_new("command");
-  List = mpc_new("list");
-  Table = mpc_new("table");
-  Quotation = mpc_new("quotation");
-  Program = mpc_new("program");
+void ast_free(Ast *ast) {
+  if (!ast)
+    return;
+  if (ast->name)
+    free(ast->name);
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < ast->children.count; i++) {
+    ast_free(ast->children.items[i]);
+  }
+  yar_free(&ast->children);
+  free(ast);
+}
 
-  mpc_err_t *err = mpca_lang(
-      MPCA_LANG_DEFAULT,
-      " pragma     : '#' <word> ('(' <expr>* ')')?                  ; "
-      " comment    : /\\\\[^\\n]*/                                  ; "
-      " expr       : ( <pragma> | <def> | <command> | <quotation>     "
-      "              | <number> | <list> | <table> | <string>         "
-      "              | <word> | <comment> )                         ; "
-      " number     : ( /0x[0-9A-Fa-f]+/ | /-?[0-9]+/ )              ; "
-      " string     : /\"(\\\\.|[^\"])*\"/                           ; "
-      " word       : /[a-zA-Z0-9_!?.,@#$%^&*_+\\-=><|\\/]+/         ; "
-      " def        : \"def\" <word> '{' <expr>* '}'                 ; "
-      " command    : <word> ':' <expr>+ ';'                         ; "
-      " list       : '(' <expr>* ')'                                ; "
-      " table      : '{' <expr>* '}'                                ; "
-      " quotation  : '[' <expr>* ']'                                ; "
-      " program    : /^/ <expr>* /$/                                ; ",
-      Pragma, Comment, Expr, Number, String, Word, Definition, Command, List,
-      Table, Quotation, Program, NULL);
+static Ast *parse_expr_at(Lx *lx);
 
-  // crash if i do a woopsie
-  if (err != NULL) {
-    mpc_err_print(err);
-    mpc_err_delete(err);
-    abort();
+static void parse_block(Lx *lx, Ast *parent, int close_token) {
+  while (1) {
+    if (lx->kind == TOK_EOF) {
+      if (close_token != TOK_EOF)
+        fprintf(stderr, "syntax error: unexpected EOF, expected '%c'\n",
+                close_token);
+      break;
+    }
+    if (lx->kind == close_token) {
+      lexer_next(lx);
+      break;
+    }
+    Ast *expr = parse_expr_at(lx);
+    *yar_append(&parent->children) = expr;
   }
 }
 
-V parser_deinit(V) {
-  mpc_cleanup(12, Pragma, Comment, Expr, Number, String, Word, Definition,
-              Command, List, Table, Quotation, Program);
+static Ast *parse_expr_at(Lx *lx) {
+  int kind = lx->kind;
+  I line = lx->start_line;
+  I col = lx->start_col;
+
+  if (kind == TOK_WORD) {
+    char *text = lx->items;
+
+    if (strcmp(text, "def") == 0) {
+      Ast *node = ast_new(AST_DEF, line, col);
+      lexer_next(lx);
+
+      if (lx->kind != TOK_WORD) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "syntax error: expected word after 'def' at %ld:%ld\n",
+                (long)line + 1, (long)col + 1);
+        return node;
+      }
+      node->name = strdup(lx->items);
+      lexer_next(lx);
+
+      if (lx->kind != '{') {
+        fprintf(stderr,
+                "syntax error: expected '{' after def name at %ld:%ld\n",
+                (long)lx->start_line + 1, (long)lx->start_col + 1);
+        return node;
+      }
+      lexer_next(lx);
+      parse_block(lx, node, '}');
+      return node;
+    }
+
+    size_t len = strlen(text);
+    if (len > 0 && text[len - 1] == ':') {
+      Ast *node = ast_new(AST_CMD, line, col);
+      node->name = strndup(text, len - 1);
+      lexer_next(lx);
+      parse_block(lx, node, ';');
+      return node;
+    }
+
+    if (text[0] == '#') {
+      Ast *node = ast_new(AST_PRAGMA, line, col);
+      node->name = strdup(text);
+      lexer_next(lx);
+      if (lx->kind == '(') {
+        lexer_next(lx);
+        parse_block(lx, node, ')');
+      }
+      return node;
+    }
+
+    char *end;
+    long val = strtol(text, &end, 0);
+    if (*end == '\0') {
+      Ast *node = ast_new(AST_INT, line, col);
+      node->int_val = val;
+      lexer_next(lx);
+      return node;
+    }
+
+    Ast *node = ast_new(AST_WORD, line, col);
+    node->name = strdup(text);
+    lexer_next(lx);
+    return node;
+  }
+
+  if (kind == TOK_STRING) {
+    Ast *node = ast_new(AST_STR, line, col);
+    node->name = strdup(lx->items);
+    lexer_next(lx);
+    return node;
+  }
+
+  if (kind == '[') {
+    Ast *node = ast_new(AST_QUOTE, line, col);
+    lexer_next(lx);
+    parse_block(lx, node, ']');
+    return node;
+  }
+
+  if (kind == '{') {
+    Ast *node = ast_new(AST_TABLE, line, col);
+    lexer_next(lx);
+    parse_block(lx, node, '}');
+    return node;
+  }
+
+  if (kind == '(') {
+    Ast *node = ast_new(AST_LIST, line, col);
+    lexer_next(lx);
+    parse_block(lx, node, ')');
+    return node;
+  }
+
+  if (kind == TOK_INVALID) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "syntax error: invalid token at %ld:%ld\n", (long)line + 1,
+            (long)col + 1);
+  } else {
+    fprintf(stderr, "syntax error: unexpected token '%c' (%d) at %ld:%ld\n",
+            kind, kind, (long)line + 1, (long)col + 1);
+  }
+  lexer_next(lx);
+
+  return NULL;
+}
+
+Ast *parser_parse(Lx *lx) {
+  Ast *root = ast_new(AST_PROGRAM, 0, 0);
+  lexer_next(lx);
+  parse_block(lx, root, TOK_EOF);
+  return root;
 }
diff --git a/src/parser.h b/src/parser.h
index c991dd4..ea8ddda 100644
--- a/src/parser.h
+++ b/src/parser.h
@@ -2,11 +2,34 @@
 #define PARSER_H
 
 #include "common.h"
-#include "vendor/mpc.h"
+#include "lexer.h"
+#include "vendor/yar.h"
 
-V parser_init(V);
-V parser_deinit(V);
+enum {
+  AST_PROGRAM,
+  AST_INT,
+  AST_STR,
+  AST_WORD,
+  AST_LIST,
+  AST_TABLE,
+  AST_QUOTE,
+  AST_DEF,
+  AST_CMD,
+  AST_PRAGMA,
+};
 
-extern mpc_parser_t *Program;
+typedef struct Ast {
+  I type;
+  char *name;
+  I int_val;
+  struct {
+    struct Ast **items;
+    Z count, capacity;
+  } children;
+  I line, col;
+} Ast;
+
+Ast *parser_parse(Lx *lx);
+void ast_free(Ast *ast);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/primitive.h b/src/primitive.h
index ab58696..2e6ca97 100644
--- a/src/primitive.h
+++ b/src/primitive.h
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 #ifndef PRIMITIVE_H
 #define PRIMITIVE_H
 
-#include "common.h"
 #include "vm.h"
 
 typedef struct Pr {
diff --git a/src/print.c b/src/print.c
index 8549e5d..ffb6037 100644
--- a/src/print.c
+++ b/src/print.c
@@ -1,13 +1,56 @@
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
-#include <stdlib.h>
-#include <string.h>
 
 #include "object.h"
 #include "print.h"
 #include "string.h"
 #include "userdata.h"
-#include "vendor/mpc.h"
+
+static V print_string(Str *s) {
+  putchar('"');
+  for (Z i = 0; i < s->len; i++) {
+    unsigned char c = s->data[i];
+    switch (c) {
+    case '\t':
+      printf("\\t");
+      break;
+    case '\n':
+      printf("\\n");
+      break;
+    case '\r':
+      printf("\\r");
+      break;
+    case '\b':
+      printf("\\b");
+      break;
+    case '\v':
+      printf("\\v");
+      break;
+    case '\f':
+      printf("\\f");
+      break;
+    case '\0':
+      printf("\\0");
+      break;
+    case '\x1b':
+      printf("\\e");
+      break;
+    case '\\':
+      printf("\\\\");
+      break;
+    case '\"':
+      printf("\\\"");
+      break;
+    default:
+      if (c < 32 || c > 126) {
+        printf("\\x%02x;", c);
+      } else {
+        putchar(c);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  putchar('"');
+}
 
 V print(O o) {
   if (o == NIL) {
@@ -27,14 +70,8 @@ V print(O o) {
       printf("<curried>");
       break;
     case OBJ_STR: {
-      // TODO: make this binary safe
       Str *s = string_unwrap(o);
-      char *escaped = malloc(s->len + 1);
-      memcpy(escaped, s->data, s->len);
-      escaped[s->len] = 0;
-      escaped = mpcf_escape(escaped);
-      printf("\"%s\"", escaped);
-      free(escaped);
+      print_string(s);
       break;
     }
     case OBJ_USERDATA: {
diff --git a/src/vm.c b/src/vm.c
index 8394e6c..f90c68e 100644
--- a/src/vm.c
+++ b/src/vm.c
@@ -206,8 +206,8 @@ I vm_run(Vm *vm, Bc *chunk, I offset) {
       O obj2 = vm_pop(vm);
       O obj1 = vm_pop(vm);
       vm_push(vm, obj1);
-      vm_push(vm, obj1);
       vm_push(vm, obj2);
+      vm_push(vm, obj1);
       vm_push(vm, obj2);
       break;
     }
@@ -223,10 +223,10 @@ I vm_run(Vm *vm, Bc *chunk, I offset) {
       O c = vm_pop(vm);
       O b = vm_pop(vm);
       O a = vm_pop(vm);
-      vm_push(vm, d);
       vm_push(vm, c);
-      vm_push(vm, b);
+      vm_push(vm, d);
       vm_push(vm, a);
+      vm_push(vm, b);
       break;
     }
     case OP_NIP: {
@@ -302,21 +302,21 @@ I vm_run(Vm *vm, Bc *chunk, I offset) {
       vm_rpush(vm, vm->chunk, vm->ip);
     do_call:
       switch (type(quot)) {
-      case TYPE_QUOT: {
+      case OBJ_QUOT: {
         Bc **ptr = (Bc **)(UNBOX(quot) + 1);
         Bc *chunk = *ptr;
         vm->chunk = chunk;
         vm->ip = chunk->items;
         break;
       }
-      case TYPE_COMPOSE: {
+      case OBJ_COMPOSE: {
         Qo *comp = (Qo *)(UNBOX(quot) + 1);
         vm_rpush(vm, vm->trampoline, vm->trampoline->items);
         vm->rsp[-1].obj = comp->second;
         quot = comp->first;
         goto do_call;
       }
-      case TYPE_CURRY: {
+      case OBJ_CURRY: {
         Qc *curry = (Qc *)(UNBOX(quot) + 1);
         vm_push(vm, curry->value);
         quot = curry->callable;
@@ -345,21 +345,21 @@ I vm_run(Vm *vm, Bc *chunk, I offset) {
       O quot = vm_pop(vm);
     do_tail_call:
       switch (type(quot)) {
-      case TYPE_QUOT: {
+      case OBJ_QUOT: {
         Bc **ptr = (Bc **)(UNBOX(quot) + 1);
         Bc *chunk = *ptr;
         vm->chunk = chunk;
         vm->ip = chunk->items;
         break;
       }
-      case TYPE_COMPOSE: {
+      case OBJ_COMPOSE: {
         Qo *comp = (Qo *)(UNBOX(quot) + 1);
         vm_rpush(vm, vm->trampoline, vm->trampoline->items);
         vm->rsp[-1].obj = comp->second;
         quot = comp->first;
         goto do_tail_call;
       }
-      case TYPE_CURRY: {
+      case OBJ_CURRY: {
         Qc *curry = (Qc *)(UNBOX(quot) + 1);
         vm_push(vm, curry->value);
         quot = curry->callable;
@@ -491,10 +491,10 @@ I vm_run(Vm *vm, Bc *chunk, I offset) {
     }
     case OP_CONCAT: {
       O b = vm_pop(vm);
-      if (type(b) != TYPE_STR)
+      if (type(b) != OBJ_STR)
         vm_error(vm, VM_ERR_TYPE, "expected string");
       O a = vm_pop(vm);
-      if (type(a) != TYPE_STR)
+      if (type(a) != OBJ_STR)
         vm_error(vm, VM_ERR_TYPE, "expected string");
       vm_push(vm, string_concat(vm, a, b));
       break;
diff --git a/std.grr b/std.grr
index 805ccc7..3bcce87 100644
--- a/std.grr
+++ b/std.grr
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ def 3dip { swap [2dip] dip }
 
 def keep { over [call] dip }
 def 2keep { [2dup] dip 2dip }
+def 3keep { [dup 2over dig] dip 3dip }
 
 def bi { [keep] dip call }
 def tri { [[keep] dip keep] dip call }