diff --git a/k.krak b/k.krak
index 39065fc..b952993 100644
--- a/k.krak
+++ b/k.krak
@@ -136,11 +136,11 @@ fun main(argc: int, argv: **char): int {
                 set_ast_binding(binding, options[0])
             }
         }
-        var handle_type: fun(*type, *tree<ast>): void = fun(t: *type, n: *tree<ast>) {
-            match(t->base) {
+        var handle_type: fun(*binding<type>, *tree<ast>): void = fun(t: *binding<type>, n: *tree<ast>) {
+            match(t->bound_to->base) {
                 base_type::_obj(b) try_binding(b, n, true)
                 base_type::_fun(b) {
-                    b.first.first.for_each(fun(it: *type) {
+                    b.first.first.for_each(fun(it: *binding<type>) {
                         handle_type(it, n)
                     })
                     handle_type(b.first.second, n)
@@ -153,8 +153,8 @@ fun main(argc: int, argv: **char): int {
                 ast::_identifier(b)         handle_type(b.second, t)
                 /*_binding: triple<str, vec<*type>, *tree<ast>>,*/
                 ast::_function(b)           handle_type(b.second, t)
-                ast::_compiler_intrinsic(b) b.second.for_each(fun(ty: *type) {
-                    handle_type(ty, t)
+                ast::_compiler_intrinsic(b) b.second.for_each(fun(tb: *binding<type>) {
+                    handle_type(tb, t)
                 })
                 ast::_cast(b)               handle_type(b, t)
                 /*_value: pair<str, *type>*/
@@ -181,7 +181,8 @@ fun main(argc: int, argv: **char): int {
             return
         }
 
-        var to_c_type = fun(t: *type): str {
+        var to_c_type = fun(tb: *binding<type>): str {
+            var t = tb->bound_to
             var ind = str("*") * t->indirection
             if (t->is_ref)
                 error("type is ref in to_c_type")
@@ -238,7 +239,7 @@ fun main(argc: int, argv: **char): int {
                 ast::_adt_def(b)            { error("no adt_def should remain at C emit"); }
                 ast::_function(b)           {
                     var fun_name = b.first
-                    var fun_type = b.second
+                    var fun_type = b.second->bound_to
                     var is_ext   = b.third
                     var return_type     = fun_type->base._fun.first.second
                     var parameter_types = fun_type->base._fun.first.first
@@ -342,21 +343,21 @@ fun main(argc: int, argv: **char): int {
     // starting generation of the entire program
     var real_main = _function(
                     str("main"),
-                    type(base_type::_fun(make_triple(make_pair(vec(
-                                    type(base_type::_int(), 0, false),
-                                    type(base_type::_char(), 2, false)
+                    binding(type(base_type::_fun(make_triple(make_pair(vec(
+                                    binding(type(base_type::_int(), 0, false)),
+                                    binding(type(base_type::_char(), 2, false))
                                 ),
-                            type(base_type::_int(), 0, false)
-                        ), false, false)), 0, false),
+                            binding(type(base_type::_int(), 0, false))
+                        ), false, false)), 0, false)),
                     true, vec(
-                                _identifier(str("argc"), type(base_type::_int(), 0, false)),
-                                _identifier(str("argv"), type(base_type::_char(), 2, false)),
+                                _identifier(str("argc"), binding(type(base_type::_int(), 0, false))),
+                                _identifier(str("argv"), binding(type(base_type::_char(), 2, false))),
                                 _return(vec(_call(vec(make_ast_binding("fmain"), make_ast_binding("argc"), make_ast_binding("argv")))))
                               )
                     )
     var top_unit = _translation_unit(str(), vec(
                        _import(make_ast_binding(kraken_file_name), set(str("*")), vec(
-                            _identifier(kraken_file_name, type(base_type::_void(), 0, false))
+                            _identifier(kraken_file_name, binding(type(base_type::_void(), 0, false)))
                        )),
                        real_main
                    ))
@@ -391,7 +392,7 @@ fun main(argc: int, argv: **char): int {
     return 0
 }
 
-fun parse_type(syntax: *tree<symbol>): *type {
+fun parse_type(syntax: *tree<symbol>): *binding<type> {
     var is_ref = get_node("\"ref\"", syntax) != null<tree<symbol>>()
     var indr = 0
     syntax = get_node("pre_reffed", syntax)
@@ -407,39 +408,39 @@ fun parse_type(syntax: *tree<symbol>): *type {
     if (ident != null<tree<symbol>>()) {
         var template_inst = get_node("template_inst", syntax)
         if (template_inst != null<tree<symbol>>()) {
-            return type(base_type::_obj(make_ast_binding(concat(ident) + "<somin>")), indr, is_ref)
+            return binding(type(base_type::_obj(make_ast_binding(concat(ident) + "<somin>")), indr, is_ref))
         } else {
-            return type(base_type::_obj(make_ast_binding(concat(ident))), indr, is_ref)
+            return binding(type(base_type::_obj(make_ast_binding(concat(ident))), indr, is_ref))
         }
     } else if (func != null<tree<symbol>>()) {
-        var param_types = vec<*type>()
-        var return_type = type(base_type::_void(), 0, false)
+        var param_types = vec<*binding<type>>()
+        var return_type = binding(type(base_type::_void(), 0, false))
         var variadic = false
         var raw = false
-        return type(base_type::_fun(make_triple(make_pair(param_types, return_type),
-                                    variadic, raw)), indr, is_ref)
+        return binding(type(base_type::_fun(make_triple(make_pair(param_types, return_type),
+                                    variadic, raw)), indr, is_ref))
     } else if (first_child_name == "\"void\"") {
-        return type(base_type::_void(), indr, is_ref)
+        return binding(type(base_type::_void(), indr, is_ref))
     } else if (first_child_name == "\"char\"") {
-        return type(base_type::_char(), indr, is_ref)
+        return binding(type(base_type::_char(), indr, is_ref))
     } else if (first_child_name == "\"uchar\"") {
-        return type(base_type::_uchar(), indr, is_ref)
+        return binding(type(base_type::_uchar(), indr, is_ref))
     } else if (first_child_name == "\"short\"") {
-        return type(base_type::_short(), indr, is_ref)
+        return binding(type(base_type::_short(), indr, is_ref))
     } else if (first_child_name == "\"ushort\"") {
-        return type(base_type::_ushort(), indr, is_ref)
+        return binding(type(base_type::_ushort(), indr, is_ref))
     } else if (first_child_name == "\"int\"") {
-        return type(base_type::_int(), indr, is_ref)
+        return binding(type(base_type::_int(), indr, is_ref))
     } else if (first_child_name == "\"uint\"") {
-        return type(base_type::_uint(), indr, is_ref)
+        return binding(type(base_type::_uint(), indr, is_ref))
     } else if (first_child_name == "\"long\"") {
-        return type(base_type::_long(), indr, is_ref)
+        return binding(type(base_type::_long(), indr, is_ref))
     } else if (first_child_name == "\"ulong\"") {
-        return type(base_type::_ulong(), indr, is_ref)
+        return binding(type(base_type::_ulong(), indr, is_ref))
     } else if (first_child_name == "\"float\"") {
-        return type(base_type::_float(), indr, is_ref)
+        return binding(type(base_type::_float(), indr, is_ref))
     } else if (first_child_name == "\"double\"") {
-        return type(base_type::_double(), indr, is_ref)
+        return binding(type(base_type::_double(), indr, is_ref))
     }
     error(syntax, "could not parse type " + first_child_name)
 }
@@ -467,13 +468,13 @@ fun syntax_to_ast(file_name: str, syntax: *tree<symbol>, import_paths: ref vec<s
         } else if (syntax->data.name == "function") {
             var parameters  = get_nodes("typed_parameter", syntax).map(syntax_to_ast_helper)
             var body        = syntax_to_ast_helper(get_node("statement", syntax))
-            var return_type = null<type>()
+            var return_type = null<binding<type>>()
             var return_type_node = get_node("typed_return", syntax)
             if (return_type_node != null<tree<symbol>>())
                 return_type = parse_type(get_node("type", return_type_node))
             else
-                return_type = type(base_type::_void(), 0, false)
-            var function_type = type(base_type::_fun(make_triple(make_pair(parameters.map(fun(i: *tree<ast>): *type return i->data._identifier.second;), return_type), false, false)), 0, false)
+                return_type = binding(type(base_type::_void(), 0, false))
+            var function_type = binding(type(base_type::_fun(make_triple(make_pair(parameters.map(fun(i: *tree<ast>): *binding<type> return i->data._identifier.second;), return_type), false, false)), 0, false))
             var n = _function(concat(get_node("func_identifier", syntax)), function_type, false, parameters + body)
             var template = get_node("template_dec", syntax)
             if (template == null<tree<symbol>>()) {
@@ -499,7 +500,7 @@ fun syntax_to_ast(file_name: str, syntax: *tree<symbol>, import_paths: ref vec<s
                                 if (option_type != null<tree<symbol>>())
                                     return _identifier(concat(get_node("identifier", s)), parse_type(option_type))
                                 else
-                                    return _identifier(concat(get_node("identifier", s)), type(base_type::_void(), 0, false))
+                                    return _identifier(concat(get_node("identifier", s)), binding(type(base_type::_void(), 0, false)))
                              }))
             var template = get_node("template_dec", syntax)
             if (template == null<tree<symbol>>()) {
@@ -523,7 +524,7 @@ fun syntax_to_ast(file_name: str, syntax: *tree<symbol>, import_paths: ref vec<s
                                     return _case(s->children.map(syntax_to_ast_helper))
                               }))
         } else if (syntax->data.name == "declaration_statement") {
-            var t = type(base_type::_unknown(), 0, false)
+            var t = binding(type(base_type::_unknown(), 0, false))
             var type_syntax = get_node("type", syntax)
             if type_syntax != null<tree<symbol>>()
                 t = parse_type(type_syntax)
@@ -571,9 +572,9 @@ fun syntax_to_ast(file_name: str, syntax: *tree<symbol>, import_paths: ref vec<s
                                  syntax_to_ast_helper(syntax->children[2])))
             }
         } else if (syntax->data.name == "number")
-            return _value(concat(syntax), type(base_type::_int(), 0, false))
+            return _value(concat(syntax), binding(type(base_type::_int(), 0, false)))
         else if (syntax->data.name == "bool")
-            return _value(concat(syntax), type(base_type::_bool(), 0, false))
+            return _value(concat(syntax), binding(type(base_type::_bool(), 0, false)))
         else if (syntax->data.name == "scoped_identifier" || syntax->data.name == "identifier")
             return make_ast_binding(concat(syntax))
         else {
diff --git a/stdlib/ast.krak b/stdlib/ast.krak
index 0960af1..9a6df8f 100644
--- a/stdlib/ast.krak
+++ b/stdlib/ast.krak
@@ -9,11 +9,11 @@ import mem:*
 adt ast {
     _translation_unit: str,
     _import: pair<*tree<ast>, set<str>>,
-    _identifier: pair<str, *type>,
+    _identifier: pair<str, *binding<type>>,
     _binding: pair<str, *binding<tree<ast>>>,
     _type_def: str,
     _adt_def: str,
-    _function: triple<str, *type, bool>,
+    _function: triple<str, *binding<type>, bool>,
     _template: pair<str, set<str>>,
     _declaration,
     _assignment,
@@ -28,19 +28,19 @@ adt ast {
     _continue,
     _defer,
     _call,
-    _compiler_intrinsic: pair<str, vec<*type>>,
-    _cast: *type,
-    _value: pair<str, *type>
+    _compiler_intrinsic: pair<str, vec<*binding<type>>>,
+    _cast: *binding<type>,
+    _value: pair<str, *binding<type>>
 }
 fun to_string(a: ref ast): str {
     match(a) {
         ast::_translation_unit(b)   return str("_translation_unit(") + b + ")"
         ast::_import(b)             return str("_import(") + to_string(b.first->data) + ")[" + str(",").join(b.second.data) + "]"
-        ast::_identifier(b)         return str("_identifier(") + b.first + ": " + deref_to_string(b.second) + ")"
+        ast::_identifier(b)         return str("_identifier(") + b.first + ": " + deref_to_string(b.second->bound_to) + ")"
         ast::_binding(b)            return str("_binding(") + b.first + "->" + to_string(b.second->bound_to) + ")"
         ast::_type_def(b)           return str("_type_def(") + b + ")"
         ast::_adt_def(b)            return str("_adt_def(") + b + ")"
-        ast::_function(b)           return str("_function(") + b.first + ": " + deref_to_string(b.second) + ", ext?:" + to_string(b.third) + ")"
+        ast::_function(b)           return str("_function(") + b.first + ": " + deref_to_string(b.second->bound_to) + ", ext?:" + to_string(b.third) + ")"
         ast::_template(b)           return str("_template(") + b.first + "[" + str(",").join(b.second.data) + "])"
         ast::_declaration()         return str("_declaration")
         ast::_assignment()          return str("_assignment")
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ fun to_string(a: ref ast): str {
         ast::_call()                return str("_call")
         ast::_compiler_intrinsic(b) return str("_compiler_intrinsic(") + b.first + ")"
         ast::_cast(b)               return str("_cast")
-        ast::_value(b)              return str("_value(") + b.first + ": " + deref_to_string(b.second) + ")"
+        ast::_value(b)              return str("_value(") + b.first + ": " + deref_to_string(b.second->bound_to) + ")"
     }
 }
 fun _translation_unit(p: str): *tree<ast> {
@@ -72,25 +72,25 @@ fun _type_def(p: str): *tree<ast> {
 fun _adt_def(p: str): *tree<ast> {
     return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_adt_def(p))
 }
-fun _cast(p: *type): *tree<ast> {
+fun _cast(p: *binding<type>): *tree<ast> {
     return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_cast(p))
 }
-fun _identifier(p1: str, p2: *type): *tree<ast> {
+fun _identifier(p1: str, p2: *binding<type>): *tree<ast> {
     return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_identifier(make_pair(p1, p2)))
 }
 fun _binding(p1: str, p2: *binding<tree<ast>>): *tree<ast> {
     return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_binding(make_pair(p1, p2)))
 }
-fun _function(p1: str, p2: *type, p3: bool): *tree<ast> {
+fun _function(p1: str, p2: *binding<type>, p3: bool): *tree<ast> {
     return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_function(make_triple(p1, p2, p3)))
 }
 fun _template(p1: str, p2: set<str>): *tree<ast> {
     return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_template(make_pair(p1, p2)))
 }
-fun _compiler_intrinsic(p1: str, p2: vec<*type>): *tree<ast> {
+fun _compiler_intrinsic(p1: str, p2: vec<*binding<type>>): *tree<ast> {
     return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_compiler_intrinsic(make_pair(p1, p2)))
 }
-fun _value(p1: str, p2: *type): *tree<ast> {
+fun _value(p1: str, p2: *binding<type>): *tree<ast> {
     return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_value(make_pair(p1, p2)))
 }
 fun _declaration(): *tree<ast> {
@@ -147,25 +147,25 @@ fun _type_def(p: str, c: ref vec<*tree<ast>>): *tree<ast> {
 fun _adt_def(p: str, c: ref vec<*tree<ast>>): *tree<ast> {
     return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_adt_def(p), c)
 }
-fun _cast(p: *type, c: ref vec<*tree<ast>>): *tree<ast> {
+fun _cast(p: *binding<type>, c: ref vec<*tree<ast>>): *tree<ast> {
     return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_cast(p), c)
 }
-fun _identifier(p1: str, p2: *type, c: ref vec<*tree<ast>>): *tree<ast> {
+fun _identifier(p1: str, p2: *binding<type>, c: ref vec<*tree<ast>>): *tree<ast> {
     return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_identifier(make_pair(p1, p2)), c)
 }
 fun _binding(p1: str, p2: *binding<tree<ast>>, c: ref vec<*tree<ast>>): *tree<ast> {
     return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_binding(make_pair(p1, p2)), c)
 }
-fun _function(p1: str, p2: *type, p3: bool, c: ref vec<*tree<ast>>): *tree<ast> {
+fun _function(p1: str, p2: *binding<type>, p3: bool, c: ref vec<*tree<ast>>): *tree<ast> {
     return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_function(make_triple(p1, p2, p3)), c)
 }
 fun _template(p1: str, p2: set<str>, c: ref vec<*tree<ast>>): *tree<ast> {
     return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_template(make_pair(p1, p2)), c)
 }
-fun _compiler_intrinsic(p1: str, p2: vec<*type>, c: ref vec<*tree<ast>>): *tree<ast> {
+fun _compiler_intrinsic(p1: str, p2: vec<*binding<type>>, c: ref vec<*tree<ast>>): *tree<ast> {
     return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_compiler_intrinsic(make_pair(p1, p2)), c)
 }
-fun _value(p1: str, p2: *type, c: ref vec<*tree<ast>>): *tree<ast> {
+fun _value(p1: str, p2: *binding<type>, c: ref vec<*tree<ast>>): *tree<ast> {
     return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_value(make_pair(p1, p2)), c)
 }
 fun _declaration(c: ref vec<*tree<ast>>): *tree<ast> {
@@ -241,7 +241,10 @@ fun is_top_level_item(i: *tree<ast>): bool { return i->parent != null<tree<ast>>
 var bindings: *vec<*void>
 
 fun binding<T>(): *binding<T> {
-    var to_ret = new<binding<T>>()->construct()
+    return binding(null<T>())
+}
+fun binding<T>(it: *T): *binding<T> {
+    var to_ret = new<binding<T>>()->construct(it)
     if (bindings == null<vec<*void>>())
         bindings = new<vec<*void>>()->construct()
     bindings->add( (to_ret) cast *void )
@@ -254,6 +257,10 @@ obj binding<T> (Object) {
         bound_to = null<T>()
         return this
     }
+    fun construct(it: *T): *binding<T> {
+        bound_to = it
+        return this
+    }
     fun copy_construct(old: *binding<T>): void {
         bound_to = old->bound_to
     }
@@ -274,6 +281,10 @@ obj binding<T> (Object) {
             if ( ((bindings->get(i)) cast *binding<T>)->bound_to == from)
                 ((bindings->get(i)) cast *binding<T>)->bound_to = to
     }
+    fun to_string(): str {
+        return "binding(" + to_string(bound_to) + ")"
+        /*return "binding(" + deref_to_string(bound_to) + ")"*/
+    }
 }
 
 
diff --git a/stdlib/type2.krak b/stdlib/type2.krak
index 50501b7..9f4a2e7 100644
--- a/stdlib/type2.krak
+++ b/stdlib/type2.krak
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ adt base_type {
     _void,
     _obj: *tree<ast>,
     // triple<pair<param_types, return_type>, is_variadic, is raw>
-    _fun: triple<pair<vec<*type>, *type>, bool, bool>,
+    _fun: triple<pair<vec<*binding<type>>, *binding<type>>, bool, bool>,
     _template_placeholder,
     _bool,
     _char,
@@ -81,10 +81,10 @@ obj type (Object) {
                     to_ret += "_run("
                 else
                     to_ret += "_fun("
-                to_ret += str(", ").join(b.first.first.map(fun(pt: *type): str return pt->to_string();))
+                to_ret += str(", ").join(b.first.first.map(fun(pt: *binding<type>): str return pt->bound_to->to_string();))
                 if (b.third)
                     to_ret += " ..."
-                return to_ret + "): " + b.first.second->to_string()
+                return to_ret + "): " + b.first.second->bound_to->to_string()
             }
             base_type::_template_placeholder()  return indr_string + "_template_placeholder"
             base_type::_bool()                  return indr_string + "_bool"