diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index d34dc85..7b5bbd2 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ stats
 *.swm
 *.swn
 *.swo
+*.swl
 *.png
 *krakout*
 kraklist.txt
diff --git a/k.krak b/k.krak
index 68cf301..39065fc 100644
--- a/k.krak
+++ b/k.krak
@@ -95,9 +95,9 @@ fun main(argc: int, argv: **char): int {
             for (var i = 0; i < scope->children.size; i++;) {
                 match(scope->children[i]->data) {
                     ast::_import(b) if b.second.contains(name) || b.second.contains(str("*")) {
-                        if !bound(b.first) {
+                        if !ast_bound(b.first) {
                             // Import / parse file if not already
-                            var file_path = binding_str(b.first)
+                            var file_path = ast_binding_str(b.first)
                             if (!name_ast_map.contains_key(file_path)) {
                                 printerr(file_path + ", ")
                                 var parse_tree = parse.parse_input(read_file(file_path), file_path)
@@ -106,9 +106,9 @@ fun main(argc: int, argv: **char): int {
                                 printlnerr("syntax_to_ast " + file_path + ":")
                                 print_tree(name_ast_map[file_path], 1)
                             }
-                            set_binding(b.first, name_ast_map[file_path])
+                            set_ast_binding(b.first, name_ast_map[file_path])
                         }
-                        to_ret += scope_lookup(get_binding(b.first), name, is_type)
+                        to_ret += scope_lookup(get_ast_binding(b.first), name, is_type)
                     }
                     ast::_type_def(b)   if (is_type && b == name)
                                             to_ret += scope->children[i]
@@ -129,11 +129,11 @@ fun main(argc: int, argv: **char): int {
             return to_ret
         }
         var try_binding = fun(binding: *tree<ast>, start_scope: *tree<ast>, type_binding: bool) {
-            if !bound(binding) {
+            if !ast_bound(binding) {
                 var options = scope_lookup(start_scope, binding->data._binding.first, type_binding)
                 if (options.size < 1)
                     error("Could not find any options for scope lookup of " + binding->data._binding.first)
-                set_binding(binding, options[0])
+                set_ast_binding(binding, options[0])
             }
         }
         var handle_type: fun(*type, *tree<ast>): void = fun(t: *type, n: *tree<ast>) {
@@ -227,11 +227,12 @@ fun main(argc: int, argv: **char): int {
                 ast::_import(b) { }
                 ast::_identifier(b)         { C_str += idt + b.first; }
                 ast::_binding(b)            {
-                    if (is_top_level_item(b.third))
-                        pass_poset.add_close_dep(make_pair(item, str("emit_C")), make_pair(b.third, str("emit_C")))
-                    else if (is_identifier(b.third) && is_declaration(b.third->parent) && is_top_level_item(b.third->parent))
-                        pass_poset.add_close_dep(make_pair(item, str("emit_C")), make_pair(b.third->parent, str("emit_C")))
-                    C_str += idt + get_c_name(b.third)
+                    var bound_to = b.second->bound_to
+                    if (is_top_level_item(bound_to))
+                        pass_poset.add_close_dep(make_pair(item, str("emit_C")), make_pair(bound_to, str("emit_C")))
+                    else if (is_identifier(bound_to) && is_declaration(bound_to->parent) && is_top_level_item(bound_to->parent))
+                        pass_poset.add_close_dep(make_pair(item, str("emit_C")), make_pair(bound_to->parent, str("emit_C")))
+                    C_str += get_c_name(bound_to)
                 }
                 ast::_type_def(b)           { error("type_def gen unimplemented"); }
                 ast::_adt_def(b)            { error("no adt_def should remain at C emit"); }
@@ -350,11 +351,11 @@ fun main(argc: int, argv: **char): int {
                     true, vec(
                                 _identifier(str("argc"), type(base_type::_int(), 0, false)),
                                 _identifier(str("argv"), type(base_type::_char(), 2, false)),
-                                _return(vec(_call(vec(make_binding("fmain"), make_binding("argc"), make_binding("argv")))))
+                                _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_binding(kraken_file_name), set(str("*")), vec(
+                       _import(make_ast_binding(kraken_file_name), set(str("*")), vec(
                             _identifier(kraken_file_name, type(base_type::_void(), 0, false))
                        )),
                        real_main
@@ -406,9 +407,9 @@ 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_binding(concat(ident) + "<somin>")), indr, is_ref)
+            return type(base_type::_obj(make_ast_binding(concat(ident) + "<somin>")), indr, is_ref)
         } else {
-            return type(base_type::_obj(make_binding(concat(ident))), indr, is_ref)
+            return type(base_type::_obj(make_ast_binding(concat(ident))), indr, is_ref)
         }
     } else if (func != null<tree<symbol>>()) {
         var param_types = vec<*type>()
@@ -460,7 +461,7 @@ fun syntax_to_ast(file_name: str, syntax: *tree<symbol>, import_paths: ref vec<s
 
     var syntax_to_ast_helper: fun(*tree<symbol>): *tree<ast> = fun(syntax: *tree<symbol>): *tree<ast> {
         if (syntax->data.name == "import") {
-            return _import(make_binding(resolve_import_file(concat(syntax->children[1]) + ".krak")), from_vector(syntax->children.slice(2,-1).filter(fun(s:*tree<symbol>):bool {
+            return _import(make_ast_binding(resolve_import_file(concat(syntax->children[1]) + ".krak")), from_vector(syntax->children.slice(2,-1).filter(fun(s:*tree<symbol>):bool {
                 return s->data.name == "identifier" || s->data.data == "*"
             }).map(concat)), vec(syntax_to_ast_helper(syntax->children[1])))
         } else if (syntax->data.name == "function") {
@@ -530,7 +531,7 @@ fun syntax_to_ast(file_name: str, syntax: *tree<symbol>, import_paths: ref vec<s
             children += get_nodes("boolean_expression", syntax).map(syntax_to_ast_helper)
             return _declaration(children)
         } else if (syntax->data.name == "assignment_statement")
-            return _assignment(vec(make_binding(concat(syntax->children[1])),
+            return _assignment(vec(make_ast_binding(concat(syntax->children[1])),
                                    syntax_to_ast_helper(syntax->children[0]),
                                    syntax_to_ast_helper(syntax->children[2])))
         else if (syntax->data.name == "function_call")
@@ -556,16 +557,16 @@ fun syntax_to_ast(file_name: str, syntax: *tree<symbol>, import_paths: ref vec<s
                 if (template_inst != null<tree<symbol>>()) {
                     if (syntax->children[0]->data.name != "scoped_identifier")
                         error(syntax, "Unexpected template instantiation (not on an identifier)")
-                    return make_binding(concat(syntax->children[0]) + "<somin>")
+                    return make_ast_binding(concat(syntax->children[0]) + "<somin>")
                 } else if (syntax->children[0]->data.terminal) {
-                    return _call(vec(make_binding(concat(syntax->children[0])),
+                    return _call(vec(make_ast_binding(concat(syntax->children[0])),
                                      syntax_to_ast_helper(syntax->children[1])))
                 } else {
-                    return _call(vec(make_binding(concat(syntax->children[1])),
+                    return _call(vec(make_ast_binding(concat(syntax->children[1])),
                                      syntax_to_ast_helper(syntax->children[0])))
                 }
             } else {
-                return _call(vec(make_binding(concat(syntax->children[1])),
+                return _call(vec(make_ast_binding(concat(syntax->children[1])),
                                  syntax_to_ast_helper(syntax->children[0]),
                                  syntax_to_ast_helper(syntax->children[2])))
             }
@@ -574,7 +575,7 @@ fun syntax_to_ast(file_name: str, syntax: *tree<symbol>, import_paths: ref vec<s
         else if (syntax->data.name == "bool")
             return _value(concat(syntax), type(base_type::_bool(), 0, false))
         else if (syntax->data.name == "scoped_identifier" || syntax->data.name == "identifier")
-            return make_binding(concat(syntax))
+            return make_ast_binding(concat(syntax))
         else {
             error(syntax, "Cannot transform")
             return null<tree<ast>>()
diff --git a/stdlib/ast.krak b/stdlib/ast.krak
index 286253a..0960af1 100644
--- a/stdlib/ast.krak
+++ b/stdlib/ast.krak
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ adt ast {
     _translation_unit: str,
     _import: pair<*tree<ast>, set<str>>,
     _identifier: pair<str, *type>,
-    _binding: triple<str, vec<*type>, *tree<ast>>,
+    _binding: pair<str, *binding<tree<ast>>>,
     _type_def: str,
     _adt_def: str,
     _function: triple<str, *type, bool>,
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ fun to_string(a: ref ast): str {
         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::_binding(b)            return str("_binding(") + b.first + "->" + to_string(b.third) + ")"
+        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) + ")"
@@ -78,8 +78,8 @@ fun _cast(p: *type): *tree<ast> {
 fun _identifier(p1: str, p2: *type): *tree<ast> {
     return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_identifier(make_pair(p1, p2)))
 }
-fun _binding(p1: str, p2: vec<*type>, p3: *tree<ast>): *tree<ast> {
-    return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_binding(make_triple(p1, p2, p3)))
+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> {
     return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_function(make_triple(p1, p2, p3)))
@@ -153,8 +153,8 @@ fun _cast(p: *type, c: ref vec<*tree<ast>>): *tree<ast> {
 fun _identifier(p1: str, p2: *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: vec<*type>, p3: *tree<ast>, c: ref vec<*tree<ast>>): *tree<ast> {
-    return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_binding(make_triple(p1, p2, p3)), 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> {
     return new<tree<ast>>()->construct(ast::_function(make_triple(p1, p2, p3)), c)
@@ -237,49 +237,78 @@ fun is_value(i: *tree<ast>): bool { match(i->data) { ast::_value(b) return true;
 
 fun is_top_level_item(i: *tree<ast>): bool { return i->parent != null<tree<ast>>() && is_translation_unit(i->parent); }
 
-var bindings: *vec<*tree<ast>>
-fun make_binding(s: *char): *tree<ast> {
-    return make_binding(str(s))
+
+var bindings: *vec<*void>
+
+fun binding<T>(): *binding<T> {
+    var to_ret = new<binding<T>>()->construct()
+    if (bindings == null<vec<*void>>())
+        bindings = new<vec<*void>>()->construct()
+    bindings->add( (to_ret) cast *void )
+    return to_ret
 }
-fun make_binding(s: str): *tree<ast> {
-    var binding = _binding(s, vec<*type>(), null<tree<ast>>())
-    if (bindings == null<vec<*tree<ast>>>())
-        bindings = new<vec<*tree<ast>>>()->construct()
-    bindings->add(binding)
-    return binding
+
+obj binding<T> (Object) {
+    var bound_to: *T
+    fun construct(): *binding<T> {
+        bound_to = null<T>()
+        return this
+    }
+    fun copy_construct(old: *binding<T>): void {
+        bound_to = old->bound_to
+    }
+    fun destruct() {
+        bound_to = null<T>()
+    }
+    fun bound(): bool {
+        return bound_to != null<T>()
+    }
+    fun set(to: *T) {
+        // don't set null, that will set all unbound ones
+        if (bound_to == null<tree<ast>>()) {
+            bound_to = to
+            return
+        }
+        var from = bound_to
+        for (var i = 0; i < bindings->size; i++;)
+            if ( ((bindings->get(i)) cast *binding<T>)->bound_to == from)
+                ((bindings->get(i)) cast *binding<T>)->bound_to = to
+    }
 }
-fun get_binding(binding: *tree<ast>): *tree<ast> {
+
+
+
+
+fun make_ast_binding(s: *char): *tree<ast> {
+    return make_ast_binding(str(s))
+}
+fun make_ast_binding(s: str): *tree<ast> {
+    return _binding(s, binding<tree<ast>>())
+}
+fun get_ast_binding(binding: *tree<ast>): *tree<ast> {
     match(binding->data) {
         ast::_binding(b) {
-            return b.third
+            return b.second->bound_to
         }
     }
     error("trying to get binding on not a binding")
 }
-fun set_binding(binding: *tree<ast>, to: *tree<ast>) {
+fun set_ast_binding(binding: *tree<ast>, to: *tree<ast>) {
     match(binding->data) {
         ast::_binding(b) {
-            var from = b.third
-            // don't set null, that will set all unbound ones
-            if (from == null<tree<ast>>()) {
-                b.third = to
-                return
-            }
-            for (var i = 0; i < bindings->size; i++;)
-                if (bindings->get(i)->data._binding.third == from)
-                    bindings->get(i)->data._binding.third = to
+            b.second->set(to)
             return
         }
     }
     error("trying to set binding on not a binding")
 }
-fun bound(binding: *tree<ast>): bool {
+fun ast_bound(binding: *tree<ast>): bool {
     match(binding->data) {
-        ast::_binding(b) return b.third != null<tree<ast>>()
+        ast::_binding(b) return b.second->bound()
     }
     error("Trying to check bound for not a binding")
 }
-fun binding_str(binding: *tree<ast>): str {
+fun ast_binding_str(binding: *tree<ast>): str {
     match(binding->data) {
         ast::_binding(b) return b.first
     }