diff --git a/krakenGrammer.kgm b/krakenGrammer.kgm
index 99b7401..9982f5a 100644
--- a/krakenGrammer.kgm
+++ b/krakenGrammer.kgm
@@ -51,13 +51,13 @@ param_assign_list = param_assign WS "," WS param_assign_list | param_assign ;
 param_assign = identifier WS "=" WS identifier | identifier ;
 opt_string = string | ;
 
-triple_quoted_string = "\"\"\"((\"\"(`|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|<|>|\?| )+)|(\"(`|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|<|>|\?| )+))*(`|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|<|>|\?| )*(((`|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|<|>|\?| )+\")|((`|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|<|>|\?| )+\"\")|((`|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|<|>|\?| )+))*\"\"\"" ;
+triple_quoted_string = "\"\"\"((\"\"(`|[0-9]|-|=|	|[a-z]|\[|]|\\|;|'|
+|,|.|/|~|!|@|#|$|%|^|&|\*|\(|\)|_|\+|[A-Z]|{|}|\||:|<|>|\?| )+)|(\"(`|[0-9]|-|=|	|[a-z]|\[|]|\\|'|
+|,|.|/|~|!|@|#|$|%|^|&|\*|\(|\)|_|\+|[A-Z]|{|}|\||:|<|>|\?| )+))*(`|[0-9]|-|=|	|[a-z]|\[|]|\\|;|'|
+|,|.|/|~|!|@|#|$|%|^|&|\*|\(|\)|_|\+|[A-Z]|{|}|\||:|<|>|\?| )*(((`|[0-9]|-|=|	|[a-z]|\[|]|\\|;|'|
+|,|.|/|~|!|@|#|$|%|^|&|\*|\(|\)|_|\+|[A-Z]|{|}|\||:|<|>|\?| )+\")|((`|[0-9]|-|=|	|[a-z]|\[|]|\\|;|'|
+|,|.|/|~|!|@|#|$|%|^|&|\*|\(|\)|_|\+|[A-Z]|{|}|\||:|<|>|\?| )+\"\")|((`|[0-9]|-|=|	|[a-z]|\[|]|\\|;|'|
+|,|.|/|~|!|@|#|$|%|^|&|\*|\(|\)|_|\+|[A-Z]|{|}|\||:|<|>|\?| )+))*\"\"\"" ;
 
 #identifier = alpha_alphanumeric ;
 identifier = augmented_alpha_alphanumeric ;
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ scoped_identifier = scoped_identifier WS scope_op WS identifier | identifier ;
 
 #Note that to prevent confilct with nested templates (T<A<B>>) right_shift is a nonterminal contructed as follows
 right_shift = ">" ">" ;
-overloadable_operator = "\+" | "-" | "\*" | "/" | "%" | "^" | "&" | "\|" | "~" | "!" | "," | "=" | "\+\+" | "--" | "<<" | right_shift | "==" | "!=" | "&&" | "\|\|" | "\+=" | "-=" | "/=" | "%=" | "^=" | "&=" | "\|=" | "\*=" | "<<=" | ">>=" | "->" | "\(" "\)" | "[]" | "[]=" ;
+overloadable_operator = "\+" | "-" | "\*" | "/" | "%" | "^" | "&" | "\|" | "~" | "!" | "," | "=" | "\+\+" | "--" | "<<" | right_shift | "==" | "!=" | "&&" | "\|\|" | "\+=" | "-=" | "/=" | "%=" | "^=" | "&=" | "\|=" | "\*=" | "<<=" | ">>=" | "->" | "\(" "\)" | "\[]" | "\[]=" ;
 func_identifier = identifier | identifier overloadable_operator ;
 # allow omitting of return type (automatic void)
 
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ expression = expression WS "<<" WS term | expression WS right_shift WS shiftand
 shiftand = shiftand WS "-" WS term | shiftand WS "\+" WS term | term ;
 term = term WS "/" WS factor | term WS "\*" WS factor | term WS "%" WS factor | factor ;
 factor = "\+\+" WS unarad | unarad WS "\+\+" | "--" WS unarad | unarad WS "--" | "\+" WS unarad | "-" WS unarad | "!" WS unarad | "~" WS unarad | "\*" WS unarad | "&" WS unarad | unarad ;
-unarad = number | scoped_identifier | scoped_identifier WS template_inst | access_operation | function_call | compiler_intrinsic | bool | string | character | "\(" WS boolean_expression WS "\)" | unarad WS "[" WS expression WS "]" | lambda | cast_expression ; 
+unarad = number | scoped_identifier | scoped_identifier WS template_inst | access_operation | function_call | compiler_intrinsic | bool | string | character | "\(" WS boolean_expression WS "\)" | unarad WS "\[" WS expression WS "]" | lambda | cast_expression ; 
 cast_expression = "\(" WS boolean_expression WS "\)" WS "cast" WS type ;
 number = integer | floating_literal ;
 access_operation = unarad WS "." WS identifier | unarad WS "->" WS identifier | unarad WS "." WS identifier WS template_inst | unarad WS "->" WS identifier WS template_inst ;
@@ -141,23 +141,23 @@ access_operation = unarad WS "." WS identifier | unarad WS "->" WS identifier |
 assignment_statement = factor WS "=" WS boolean_expression | factor WS "\+=" WS boolean_expression | factor WS "-=" WS boolean_expression | factor WS "\*=" WS boolean_expression | factor WS "/=" WS boolean_expression ;
 # if it's being assigned to, we allow type inferencing
 declaration_statement = "var" WS identifier WS "=" WS boolean_expression | "var" WS identifier WS dec_type WS "=" WS boolean_expression | "var" WS identifier WS dec_type | "var" WS identifier WS "." WS identifier WS "\(" WS opt_parameter_list WS "\)" WS dec_type ;
-hexadecimal = "0x(0|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|a|b|c|d|e|f)+" ;
+hexadecimal = "0x([0-9]|[a-f])+" ;
 integer = numeric | hexadecimal ;
 floating_literal = numeric "." float_end ;
-float_end = "(0|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9)+" | "(0|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9)+f" | "(0|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9)+d" ;
+float_end = "[0-9]+" | "[0-9]+f" | "[0-9]+d" ;
 bool = "true" | "false" ;
-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))'" ;
+character = "'(`|[0-9]|-|=|(\\t)|[a-z]|\[|]|(\\\\)|;|(\\')|(\\n)|,|.|/|~|!|@|#|$|%|^|&|\*|\(|\)|_|\+|[A-Z]|{|}|\||:|\"|<|>|\?| |(\\0))'" ;
 
 keywords_also_identifiers = "obj" | "def" | "fun" | "var" | "ref" | "adt" | "cast" | "import" | "simple_passthrough" ;
-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)*" ;
+alpha_alphanumeric = "([a-z]|[A-Z]|_)([a-z]|[A-Z]|_|[0-9])*" ;
 augmented_alpha_alphanumeric = alpha_alphanumeric augmented_alpha_alphanumeric | keywords_also_identifiers augmented_alpha_alphanumeric | alpha_alphanumeric | keywords_also_identifiers ;
 
-numeric = "(0|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9)+" ;
+numeric = "[0-9]+" ;
 # note the hacks around \things. Hmm, I feel like it actually shouldn't be like this. Added \\\* because I want to come back later
-string = triple_quoted_string | "\"(`|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|0|-|=|	|q|w|e|r|t|y|u|i|o|p|[|]|(\\\\)|(\\n)|(\\t)|(\\\*)|(\\0)|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|<|>|\?| |(\\\"))*\"" ;
+string = triple_quoted_string | "\"(`|[0-9]|-|=|	|[a-z]|\[|]|(\\\\)|(\\n)|(\\t)|(\\\*)|(\\0)|;|'|
+|,|.|/|~|!|@|#|$|%|^|&|\*|\(|\)|_|\+|[A-Z]|{|}|\||:|<|>|\?| |(\\\"))*\"" ;
 comment = cpp_comment | c_comment ;
-cpp_comment = "//(`|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|<|>|\?| )*
+cpp_comment = "//(`|[0-9]|-|=|	|[a-z]|\[|]|\\|;|'|,|.|/|~|!|@|#|$|%|^|&|\*|\(|\)|_|\+|[A-Z]|{|}|\||:|\"|<|>|\?| )*
 " ;
-c_comment = "(/\*/*\**((`|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|<|>|\?| )/*\**)+\*/)|(/\*\*/)" ;
+c_comment = "(/\*/*\**((`|[0-9]|-|=|	|[a-z]|\[|]|\\|;|'|
+|,|.|~|!|@|#|$|%|^|&|\(|\)|_|\+|[A-Z]|{|}|\||:|\"|<|>|\?| )/*\**)+\*/)|(/\*\*/)" ;
diff --git a/stdlib/ast_transformation.krak b/stdlib/ast_transformation.krak
index 116e1d6..9efe733 100644
--- a/stdlib/ast_transformation.krak
+++ b/stdlib/ast_transformation.krak
@@ -638,8 +638,7 @@ obj ast_transformation (Object) {
             if (factor_part->children.size == 1) {
                 /*println("Factor has only one child!")*/
                 var inner_unarad = get_node("unarad", factor_part)
-                if (get_node("\"[\"", inner_unarad)) {
-                    /*println("Inner Unarad has [!")*/
+                if (get_node("\"]\"", inner_unarad)) {
                     var assign_to = transform(get_node("unarad", inner_unarad), scope, template_replacements)
                     var assign_idx = transform(get_node("expression", inner_unarad), scope, template_replacements)
                     var possible_bracket_assign = find_and_make_any_operator_overload_call(string("[]="), vector(assign_to, assign_idx, to_assign), scope, template_replacements)
diff --git a/stdlib/grammer.krak b/stdlib/grammer.krak
index 1661f9b..795a215 100644
--- a/stdlib/grammer.krak
+++ b/stdlib/grammer.krak
@@ -179,22 +179,22 @@ obj grammer (Object, Serializable) {
     }
     fun first_vector(rhs: ref vector::vector<symbol::symbol>): set::set<symbol::symbol> {
         var toRet = set::set<symbol::symbol>()
-            if (rhs.size) {
-                for (var i = 0; i < rhs.size; i++;) {
-                    var lookahead = first_set_map[rhs[i]]
-                        if (lookahead.contains(symbol::null_symbol())) {
-                            // remove the null if this is not the last in the rule
-                            if (i != rhs.size-1)
-                                lookahead.remove(symbol::null_symbol())
-                                    toRet.add(lookahead)
-                        } else {
-                            toRet.add(lookahead)
-                                break
-                        }
+        if (rhs.size) {
+            for (var i = 0; i < rhs.size; i++;) {
+                var lookahead = first_set_map[rhs[i]]
+                if (lookahead.contains(symbol::null_symbol())) {
+                    // remove the null if this is not the last in the rule
+                    if (i != rhs.size-1)
+                        lookahead.remove(symbol::null_symbol())
+                    toRet.add(lookahead)
+                } else {
+                    toRet.add(lookahead)
+                    break
                 }
-            } else {
-                toRet.add(symbol::null_symbol())
             }
+        } else {
+            toRet.add(symbol::null_symbol())
+        }
         return toRet
     }
 
diff --git a/stdlib/parser.krak b/stdlib/parser.krak
index 442ff9a..55f596f 100644
--- a/stdlib/parser.krak
+++ b/stdlib/parser.krak
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ obj parser (Object) {
     var to_shift: stack< pair<*tree<int>, int> >
     var SPPFStepNodes: vector< pair<*tree<symbol>, int> >
     var packed_map: map<*tree<symbol>, bool>
+    var reduces_to_null_map: map<vector<symbol>, bool>
 
     fun construct(grammerIn: grammer): *parser {
         input.construct()
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ obj parser (Object) {
         to_shift.construct()
         SPPFStepNodes.construct()
         packed_map.construct()
+        reduces_to_null_map.construct()
         return this
     }
     fun copy_construct(old: *parser) {
@@ -38,6 +40,7 @@ obj parser (Object) {
         to_shift.copy_construct(&old->to_shift)
         SPPFStepNodes.copy_construct(&old->SPPFStepNodes)
         packed_map.copy_construct(&old->packed_map)
+        reduces_to_null_map.copy_construct(&old->reduces_to_null_map)
     }
     fun operator=(old: ref parser) {
         destruct()
@@ -51,6 +54,7 @@ obj parser (Object) {
         to_shift.destruct()
         SPPFStepNodes.destruct()
         packed_map.destruct()
+        reduces_to_null_map.destruct()
     }
 
     fun parse_input(inputStr: string, name: string): *tree<symbol> {
@@ -386,7 +390,9 @@ obj parser (Object) {
         return r.position == 0 && reduces_to_null(r)
     }
     fun reduces_to_null(r: ref rule): bool {
-        return gram.first_vector(r.rhs).contains(null_symbol())
+        if (!reduces_to_null_map.contains_key(r.rhs))
+            reduces_to_null_map[r.rhs] = gram.first_vector(r.rhs).contains(null_symbol())
+        return reduces_to_null_map[r.rhs]
     }
     fun get_nullable_parts(r: ref rule): *tree<symbol> {
         if (reduces_to_null(r))
diff --git a/stdlib/regex.krak b/stdlib/regex.krak
index b6ec195..64113ef 100644
--- a/stdlib/regex.krak
+++ b/stdlib/regex.krak
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import io
+import string
+import ast_transformation
 import vector
 import string
 import mem
@@ -15,10 +17,16 @@ fun regex(in: string::string):regex {
 }
 
 obj regexState (Object) {
-    var character: char
+    // if only one character, both are the same
+    var characterBegin: char
+    var characterEnd: char
     var next_states: set::set<*regexState>
     fun construct(charIn:char): *regexState {
-        character = charIn
+        return construct(charIn, charIn)
+    }
+    fun construct(charFirst:char, charSecond:char): *regexState {
+        characterBegin = charFirst
+        characterEnd = charSecond
         next_states.construct()
         return this
     }
@@ -26,17 +34,18 @@ obj regexState (Object) {
         return construct((0) cast char)
     }
     fun copy_construct(old:*regexState): void {
-        character = old->character
+        characterBegin = old->characterBegin
+        characterEnd = old->characterEnd
         next_states.copy_construct(&old->next_states)
     }
     fun destruct():void {
         next_states.destruct()
     }
     fun match_char(input: char): set::set<*regexState> {
-        return next_states.filter(fun(it:*regexState):bool { return it->character == input; })
+        return next_states.filter(fun(it:*regexState):bool { return it->characterBegin <= input && input <= it->characterEnd; })
     }
     fun is_end():bool {
-        return next_states.any_true(fun(state: *regexState):bool { return state->character == 1; })
+        return next_states.any_true(fun(state: *regexState):bool { return state->characterBegin == 1; })
     }
 }
 
@@ -67,14 +76,6 @@ obj regex (Object, Serializable) {
         begin = old->begin
         referenceCounter = old->referenceCounter
         *referenceCounter += 1
-        /*construct(old->regexString)*/
-        /*begin = mem::safe_recursive_clone(old->begin, fun(it: *regexState, cloner: fun(*regexState):*regexState, register: fun(*regexState):void): void {*/
-            /*var newOne = mem::new<regexState>()->construct(it->character)*/
-            /*register(newOne)*/
-            /*it->next_states.for_each(fun(next_state: *regexState) {*/
-                /*newOne->next_states.add(cloner(next_state))*/
-            /*})*/
-        /*})*/
     }
 
     fun destruct():void {
@@ -105,6 +106,7 @@ obj regex (Object, Serializable) {
     }
 
     fun compile(regex_string: string::string): util::pair<*regexState, set::set<*regexState>> {
+        /*io::println(regex_string)*/
         var first = mem::new<regexState>()->construct()
         var previous_begin = set::set<*regexState>()
         var previous_end = set::set<*regexState>()
@@ -132,11 +134,14 @@ obj regex (Object, Serializable) {
             } else if (regex_string[i] == '(' && !escapeing) {
                 // note that we don't have a ')' case, as we skip past it with our indicies
                 var perenEnd = i + 1
-                for (var depth = 1; depth > 0; perenEnd++;)
+                for (var depth = 1; depth > 0; perenEnd++;) {
+                    if (perenEnd >= regex_string.length())
+                        ast_transformation::error(string::string("can't find matching peren in: ") + regex_string)
                     if (regex_string[perenEnd] == '(')
                         depth++
                     else if (regex_string[perenEnd] == ')')
                         depth--
+                }
                 var innerBeginEnd = compile(regex_string.slice(i+1, perenEnd-1))
                 // NOTE: perenEnd is one past the close peren
                 i = perenEnd-1
@@ -158,7 +163,13 @@ obj regex (Object, Serializable) {
                 escapeing = true
 
             } else {
-                var next = mem::new<regexState>()->construct(regex_string[i])
+                var next: *regexState
+                if (regex_string[i] == '[' && !escapeing) {
+                    next = mem::new<regexState>()->construct(regex_string[i+1], regex_string[i+3])
+                    i += 4 // [a-b] is 5, i++ adds one
+                } else {
+                    next = mem::new<regexState>()->construct(regex_string[i])
+                }
                 if (alternating) {
                     previous_end.for_each(fun(it: *regexState):void { it->next_states.add(next); })
                     current_begin.add(next)
diff --git a/stdlib/set.krak b/stdlib/set.krak
index f04b6ad..2b6e1cb 100644
--- a/stdlib/set.krak
+++ b/stdlib/set.krak
@@ -34,8 +34,9 @@ obj set<T> (Object, Serializable) {
         data.copy_construct(&old->data)
     }
     fun operator=(rhs: ref set<T>) {
-        destruct()
-        copy_construct(&rhs)
+        /*destruct()*/
+        /*copy_construct(&rhs)*/
+        data = rhs.data
     }
     fun serialize(): vector::vector<char> {
         return serialize::serialize(data)
@@ -43,12 +44,12 @@ obj set<T> (Object, Serializable) {
     fun unserialize(it: ref vector::vector<char>, pos: int): int {
         return data.unserialize(it, pos)
     }
-    fun operator==(rhs: set<T>): bool {
+    fun operator==(rhs: ref set<T>): bool {
         if (size() != rhs.size())
             return false
         return !data.any_true( fun(item: T): bool return !rhs.contains(item); )
     }
-    fun operator!=(rhs: set<T>): bool {
+    fun operator!=(rhs: ref set<T>): bool {
         return ! (*this == rhs)
     }
     fun destruct() {
@@ -57,10 +58,10 @@ obj set<T> (Object, Serializable) {
     fun size():int {
         return data.size
     }
-    fun contains(items: set<T>): bool {
+    fun contains(items: ref set<T>): bool {
         return items.size() == 0 || !items.any_true( fun(item: T): bool return !contains(item); )
     }
-    fun contains(item: T): bool {
+    fun contains(item: ref T): bool {
         return data.find(item) != -1
     }
     fun operator+=(item: ref T) {
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ obj set<T> (Object, Serializable) {
     fun add(items: ref set<T>) {
         items.for_each( fun(item: ref T) add(item); )
     }
-    fun remove(item: T) {
+    fun remove(item: ref T) {
         var idx = data.find(item)
         if (idx == -1) {
             /*io::println("CANNOT FIND ITEM TO REMOVE")*/
diff --git a/stdlib/string.krak b/stdlib/string.krak
index 10e70d3..0259a79 100644
--- a/stdlib/string.krak
+++ b/stdlib/string.krak
@@ -94,8 +94,9 @@ obj string (Object, Serializable) {
     }
 
     fun operator=(str: ref string): void {
-        destruct();
-        data.copy_construct(&str.data)
+        /*destruct();*/
+        /*data.copy_construct(&str.data)*/
+        data = str.data
     }
 
     fun destruct():void {
@@ -147,8 +148,9 @@ obj string (Object, Serializable) {
     }
 
     fun operator+(str: ref string): string {
-        var newStr.construct(str):string
-        var ret.construct(data + newStr.data):string
+        /*var newStr.construct(str):string*/
+        /*var ret.construct(data + newStr.data):string*/
+        var ret.construct(data + str.data):string
         return ret
     }
 
@@ -210,7 +212,7 @@ obj string (Object, Serializable) {
         out.add(current)
         return out
     }
-    fun join(to_join: vector::vector<string>): string {
+    fun join(to_join: ref vector::vector<string>): string {
         var to_ret = to_join.first()
         for (var i = 1; i < to_join.size; i++;)
             to_ret += *this + to_join[i]
diff --git a/stdlib/vector.krak b/stdlib/vector.krak
index 2bd0229..54f5233 100644
--- a/stdlib/vector.krak
+++ b/stdlib/vector.krak
@@ -65,31 +65,36 @@ obj vector<T> (Object, Serializable) {
         data = 0
     }
 
-    fun operator=(other:vector<T>):void {
-        destruct()
-        copy_construct(&other)
+    fun operator=(other:ref vector<T>):void {
+        if (size < other.size) {
+            destruct()
+            copy_construct(&other)
+        } else {
+            clear()
+            for (var i = 0; i < other.size; i++;)
+                addEnd(other.get(i))
+        }
     }
 
-    fun operator+(other:vector<T>):vector<T> {
-        // lets be at least a little bit smarter by copy_constructing our copy.
-        // We could get a lot better than this by initially creating enough space
-        // for both and copy_constructing all of them, but this is just a quick fix
-        var newVec.copy_construct(this):vector<T>
+    fun operator+(other: ref vector<T>):vector<T> {
+        var newVec.construct(size+other.size):vector<T>
+        for (var i = 0; i < size; i++;)
+            newVec.addEnd(get(i))
         for (var i = 0; i < other.size; i++;)
             newVec.addEnd(other.get(i))
         return newVec
     }
-    fun operator+(other: T):vector<T> {
+    fun operator+(other: ref T):vector<T> {
         var newVec.copy_construct(this):vector<T>
         newVec.addEnd(other)
         return newVec
     }
 
-    fun operator+=(other: T):void {
+    fun operator+=(other: ref T):void {
         addEnd(other)
     }
 
-    fun operator+=(other:vector<T>):void {
+    fun operator+=(other: ref vector<T>):void {
         for (var i = 0; i < other.size; i++;)
             addEnd(other.get(i))
     }
@@ -180,7 +185,7 @@ obj vector<T> (Object, Serializable) {
         return true
     }
 
-    fun set(index: int, dataIn: T): void {
+    fun set(index: int, dataIn: ref T): void {
         if (index < 0 || index  >= size)
             return;
         data[index] = dataIn;
@@ -190,7 +195,7 @@ obj vector<T> (Object, Serializable) {
             addEnd(dataIn[i]);
     }
     // same darn trick
-    fun add_unique<U>(dataIn: U): void {
+    fun add_unique<U>(dataIn: ref U): void {
         if (!contains(dataIn))
             addEnd(dataIn)
     }