diff --git a/krakenGrammer.kgm b/krakenGrammer.kgm
index f46a17b..0c4377d 100644
--- a/krakenGrammer.kgm
+++ b/krakenGrammer.kgm
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ defer_statement = "defer" WS statement ;
 function_call = unarad "\(" WS opt_parameter_list WS "\)" ;
 
 boolean_expression = boolean_expression WS "\|\|" WS and_boolean_expression | and_boolean_expression ;
-and_boolean_expression = and_boolean_expression "&&" bool_exp | bool_exp ;
+and_boolean_expression = and_boolean_expression WS "&&" WS bool_exp | bool_exp ;
 bool_exp = expression WS comparator WS expression | expression ;
 comparator = "==" | "<=" | ">=" | "!=" | "<" | ">" ;
 
@@ -119,8 +119,7 @@ hexadecimal = "0x(1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|a|b|c|d|e|f)+" ;
 integer = numeric | hexadecimal ;
 floating_literal = numeric "." numeric ;
 bool = "true" | "false" ;
-character = "'(`|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|0|-|=|	|q|w|e|r|t|y|u|i|o|p|[|]|\\|a|s|d|f|g|h|j|k|l|;|'|
-|z|x|c|v|b|n|m|,|.|/|~|!|@|#|$|%|^|&|\*|\(|\)|_|\+|Q|W|E|R|T|Y|U|I|O|P|{|}|\||A|S|D|F|G|H|J|K|L|:|\"|Z|X|C|V|B|N|M|<|>|\?| )'" ;
+character = "'(`|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|0|-|=|(\\t)|q|w|e|r|t|y|u|i|o|p|[|]|(\\\\)|a|s|d|f|g|h|j|k|l|;|'|(\\n)|z|x|c|v|b|n|m|,|.|/|~|!|@|#|$|%|^|&|\*|\(|\)|_|\+|Q|W|E|R|T|Y|U|I|O|P|{|}|\||A|S|D|F|G|H|J|K|L|:|\"|Z|X|C|V|B|N|M|<|>|\?| |(\\0))'" ;
 
 keywords_also_identifiers = "obj" | "def" | "fun" | "var" ;
 alpha_alphanumeric = "(a|b|c|d|e|f|g|h|i|j|k|l|m|n|o|p|q|r|s|t|u|v|w|x|y|z|A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z|_)(a|b|c|d|e|f|g|h|i|j|k|l|m|n|o|p|q|r|s|t|u|v|w|x|y|z|A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z|_|0|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9)*" ;
diff --git a/stdlib/mem.krak b/stdlib/mem.krak
index 5eb5573..be54a14 100644
--- a/stdlib/mem.krak
+++ b/stdlib/mem.krak
@@ -67,6 +67,16 @@ fun delete<T(Object)>(toDelete: T*): void {
     free<T>(toDelete);
 }
 
+// a wrapper for construct if it has the Object trait
+fun maybe_construct<T>(it:T*):T* {
+    return it
+}
+
+fun maybe_construct<T(Object)>(it:T*):T* {
+    return it->construct()
+}
+
+
 // a wrapper for copy constructing if it has the Object trait
 fun maybe_copy_construct<T>(to:T*, from:T*):void {
     *to = *from
@@ -76,3 +86,11 @@ fun maybe_copy_construct<T(Object)>(to:T*, from:T*):void {
     to->copy_construct(from)
 }
 
+// a wrapper for destruct if it has the Object trait
+fun maybe_destruct<T>(it:T*):void {}
+
+fun maybe_destruct<T(Object)>(it:T*):void {
+    it->destruct()
+}
+
+
diff --git a/stdlib/regex.krak b/stdlib/regex.krak
index 2d214c9..baf8191 100644
--- a/stdlib/regex.krak
+++ b/stdlib/regex.krak
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import io
 import vector
 import string
 import mem
+import util
 import conversions
 
 fun regex(in: char*):regex {
@@ -52,27 +53,95 @@ obj regexState(Object) {
 obj regex(Object) {
     var regexString: string::string
     var begin: regexState
+
     fun construct(regexStringIn: string::string): regex* {
         begin.construct()
         regexString.copy_construct(&regexStringIn)
 
-        var traverse = &begin
-        for (var i = 0; i < regexString.length(); i++;) {
-            var next = mem::new<regexState>()->construct(regexString[i])
-            traverse->next_states.add(next)
-            traverse = next
-        }
-        traverse->next_states.add(mem::new<regexState>()->construct(conversions::to_char(1)))
+        var beginningAndEnd = compile(regexStringIn)
+        // add each beginning state as a next state of our begin, and the end state as the next state of each end
+        beginningAndEnd.first.do(fun(it: regexState*, begin: regexState*): void { begin->next_states.add(it); }, &begin)
+        beginningAndEnd.second.do(fun(it: regexState*, end: regexState*): void { it->next_states.add(end); }, mem::new<regexState>()->construct(conversions::to_char(1)))
+
+        io::print("begin: ")
+        beginningAndEnd.first.do(fun(it: regexState*): void { io::print(it->character); })
+        io::print("\nend: ")
+        beginningAndEnd.second.do(fun(it: regexState*): void { io::print(it->character); })
+        io::println()
+
         return this
     }
+
     fun copy_construct(old:regex*):void {
         begin.copy_construct(&old->begin)
         regexString.copy_construct(&old->regexString)
     }
+
     fun destruct():void {
         begin.destruct()
         regexString.destruct()
     }
+
+    fun operator=(other: regex):void {
+        destruct()
+        construct(other.regexString)
+    }
+
+    fun compile(regex_string: string::string): util::pair<vector::vector<regexState*>, vector::vector<regexState*>> {
+        var first = mem::new<regexState>()->construct()
+        var previous_begin = vector::vector<regexState*>()
+        var previous_end = vector::vector<regexState*>()
+        var current_begin = vector::vector(first)
+        var current_end = vector::vector(first)
+        var alternating = false
+        var escapeing = false
+
+        for (var i = 0; i < regex_string.length(); i++;) {
+            //io::print("i: "); io::println(i)
+            if (regex_string[i] == '*' && !escapeing) {
+                for (var j = 0; j < current_end.size; j++;)
+                    current_end[j]->next_states.add_all(current_begin)
+                //io::print("previous_begin size: "); io::println(previous_begin.size)
+                current_begin.add_all(previous_begin)
+                current_end.add_all(previous_end)
+            } else if (regex_string[i] == '+' && !escapeing) {
+                for (var j = 0; j < current_end.size; j++;)
+                    current_end[j]->next_states.add_all(current_begin)
+                //io::print("previous_begin size +: "); io::println(previous_begin.size)
+            } else if (regex_string[i] == '?' && !escapeing) {
+                current_begin.add_all(previous_begin)
+                current_end.add_all(previous_end)
+            } else if (regex_string[i] == '|' && !escapeing) {
+                alternating = true
+            } else if (regex_string[i] == '(' && !escapeing) {
+            } else if (regex_string[i] == '\\' && !escapeing) {
+                escapeing = true
+            } else {
+                var next = mem::new<regexState>()->construct(regex_string[i])
+                if (alternating) {
+                    previous_end.do(fun(it: regexState*, next: regexState*):void { it->next_states.add(next); }, next)
+                    current_begin.add(next)
+                    current_end.add(next)
+                } else {
+                    current_end.do(fun(it: regexState*, next: regexState*):void { io::print("adding: "); io::print(next->character); io::print(" to "); io::println(it->character); it->next_states.add(next); }, next)
+                    //current_end.do(fun(it: regexState*, next: regexState*):void { it->next_states.add(next); }, next)
+                    //io::print("previous_begin size before current: "); io::println(previous_begin.size)
+                    //io::print("current_begin size before current: "); io::println(current_begin.size)
+                    previous_begin = current_begin
+                    //io::print("previous_begin size after current: "); io::println(previous_begin.size)
+                    previous_end = current_end
+                    current_begin = vector::vector(next)
+                    //io::print("current_begin size after current: "); io::println(current_begin.size)
+                    current_end = vector::vector(next)
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        var beginAndEnd = util::make_pair(first->next_states, current_end)
+        mem::delete(first)
+        return beginAndEnd
+    }
+
+
     fun long_match(to_match: char*): int { return long_match(string::string(to_match)); }
     fun long_match(to_match: string::string): int {
         var next = vector::vector(&begin)
diff --git a/stdlib/util.krak b/stdlib/util.krak
index a46f852..d563286 100644
--- a/stdlib/util.krak
+++ b/stdlib/util.krak
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import mem
 
 fun greater<T>(a: T, b: T): T {
     if (a > b)
@@ -10,3 +11,36 @@ fun lesser<T>(a: T, b: T): T {
         return b;
     return a;
 }
+
+fun make_pair<T,U>(first: T, second: U): pair<T,U> {
+    var it.construct(first, second): pair<T,U>
+    return it
+}
+
+obj pair<T,U>(Object) {
+    var first: T
+    var second: U
+
+    fun construct(firstIn: T, secondIn: U): pair<T,U>* {
+        mem::maybe_copy_construct(&first, &firstIn)
+        mem::maybe_copy_construct(&second, &secondIn)
+        return this
+    }
+
+    fun construct(): pair<T,U>* {
+        mem::maybe_construct(&first)
+        mem::maybe_construct(&second)
+        return this
+    }
+
+    fun copy_construct(old: pair<T,U>*):void {
+        mem::maybe_copy_construct(&first, &old->first)
+        mem::maybe_copy_construct(&second, &old->second)
+    }
+
+    fun destruct():void {
+        mem::maybe_destruct(&first)
+        mem::maybe_destruct(&second)
+    }
+}
+
diff --git a/stdlib/vector.krak b/stdlib/vector.krak
index 2081d17..b2c14be 100644
--- a/stdlib/vector.krak
+++ b/stdlib/vector.krak
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@ fun vector<T>(in:T):vector<T> {
     return out
 }
 
+fun vector<T>():vector<T> {
+    var out.construct():vector<T>
+    return out
+}
+
 obj vector<T> (Object) {
     var data: T*;
     var size: int;
@@ -41,9 +46,8 @@ obj vector<T> (Object) {
     }
 
     fun operator=(other:vector<T>):void {
-        resize(other.size)
-        for (var i = 0; i < other.size; i++;)
-            set(i, other.get(i))
+        destruct()
+        copy_construct(&other)
     }
 
     fun operator+(other:vector<T>):vector<T> {
@@ -101,6 +105,10 @@ obj vector<T> (Object) {
             return;
         data[index] = dataIn;
     }
+    fun add_all(dataIn: vector<T>): void {
+        for (var i = 0; i < dataIn.size; i++;)
+            addEnd(dataIn[i]);
+    }
     fun add(dataIn: T): void { addEnd(dataIn); }
     fun addEnd(dataIn: T): void {
         size++;
@@ -112,6 +120,10 @@ obj vector<T> (Object) {
         for (var i = 0; i < size; i++;)
             func(data[i])
     }
+    fun do<U>(func: fun(T,U):void, extraParam: U):void {
+        for (var i = 0; i < size; i++;)
+            func(data[i], extraParam)
+    }
     fun in_place(func: fun(T):T):void {
         for (var i = 0; i < size; i++;)
             data[i] = func(data[i])
diff --git a/tests/test_badMath.expected_results b/tests/test_badMath.expected_results
index 8ae1da9..7b7e90f 100644
--- a/tests/test_badMath.expected_results
+++ b/tests/test_badMath.expected_results
@@ -4,3 +4,4 @@ Spam
 28
 We'll find out.
 34
+woo not
diff --git a/tests/test_badMath.krak b/tests/test_badMath.krak
index 570cd1e..6b1288e 100644
--- a/tests/test_badMath.krak
+++ b/tests/test_badMath.krak
@@ -15,4 +15,7 @@ fun main(): void {
     for (var i:int = 0; i < 20; i++;) z++;
     if (z > 20) io::println("We'll find out.");
     io::println(z);
+    var boolean = false
+    if ( z > 20 && !boolean)
+        io::println("woo not")
 }
diff --git a/tests/test_regex.krak b/tests/test_regex.krak
index 85449ae..568cf5a 100644
--- a/tests/test_regex.krak
+++ b/tests/test_regex.krak
@@ -5,5 +5,15 @@ fun main():int {
     var reg = regex("ab")
     println(reg.long_match("abab"))
     println(reg.long_match("aab"))
+
+    println("second")
+
+    reg = regex("a*b+c")
+    println(reg.long_match("bc"))
+    println(reg.long_match("aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaabc"))
+    println(reg.long_match("aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaabbbbbbbbbc"))
+    println(reg.long_match("aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"))
+    println(reg.long_match("aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaac"))
+    println(reg.long_match("aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaab"))
     return 0
 }
diff --git a/tests/test_util.expected_results b/tests/test_util.expected_results
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b83449b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_util.expected_results
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+1
+7.000000
+2
+8.000000
+3
+hi
+construct
+construct with 0
+construct with 100
+make_pair
+copy construct from 0 to 1
+copy construct from 100 to 101
+copy construct from 1 to 2
+copy construct from 101 to 102
+copy construct from 2 to 3
+copy construct from 102 to 103
+destruct with 102
+destruct with 2
+copy construct from 3 to 4
+copy construct from 103 to 104
+destruct with 3
+destruct with 103
+destruct with 101
+destruct with 1
+copy construct from 4 to 5
+copy construct from 104 to 105
+destruct with 4
+destruct with 104
+done
+destruct with 5
+destruct with 105
+destruct with 100
+destruct with 0
diff --git a/tests/test_util.krak b/tests/test_util.krak
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b37c2a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_util.krak
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import util:*
+import io:*
+
+obj test(Object) {
+    var counter:int
+    fun construct(): test* {
+        counter = 0
+        println("construct with 0")
+        return this
+    }
+
+    fun construct(it:int): test* {
+        counter = it
+        print("construct with "); println(it)
+        return this
+    }
+
+    fun copy_construct(old: test*):void {
+        counter = old->counter+1
+        print("copy construct from "); print(old->counter); print(" to "); println(counter)
+    }
+
+    fun destruct():void {
+        print("destruct with "); println(counter)
+    }
+}
+
+fun main():int {
+    println(lesser(1,2))
+    println(lesser(7.0,8.0))
+    println(greater(1,2))
+    println(greater(7.0,8.0))
+
+    var oddPair = make_pair(3, "hi")
+    println(oddPair.first)
+    println(oddPair.second)
+
+    println("construct")
+    var test1.construct():test
+    var test2.construct(100):test
+    println("make_pair")
+    var test_pair = make_pair(test1, test2)
+    println("done")
+    return 0
+}
diff --git a/tests/test_vectorTest.expected_results b/tests/test_vectorTest.expected_results
index c2c28d0..0de9de3 100644
--- a/tests/test_vectorTest.expected_results
+++ b/tests/test_vectorTest.expected_results
@@ -11,5 +11,10 @@ Copied: 1 to 2
 Destroyed: 1
 delete vector
 Destroyed: 2
+hayyy
+4.700000
+first
+first
+second
 done
 Destroyed: 0
diff --git a/tests/test_vectorTest.krak b/tests/test_vectorTest.krak
index 8faffc9..67652c7 100644
--- a/tests/test_vectorTest.krak
+++ b/tests/test_vectorTest.krak
@@ -70,6 +70,21 @@ fun main(): int {
     desVec->addEnd(testDestruct);
     println("delete vector")
     delete(desVec);
+
+    var newOne = vector("hayyy")
+    println(newOne[0])
+    var noParam = vector<double>()
+    noParam.add(4.7)
+    println(noParam[0])
+
+    var assignTest = vector("first")
+    println(assignTest[0])
+    var toAssign = vector("first")
+    toAssign.add("second")
+    assignTest = toAssign
+    println(assignTest[0])
+    println(assignTest[1])
+
     println("done")
 
     return 0;