diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
index 06583b4..0b4bf89 100644
--- a/.gitmodules
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
 [submodule "3rd/sc"]
 	path = 3rd/sc
 	url = https://github.com/tezc/sc.git
-[submodule "3rd/str"]
-	path = 3rd/str
-	url = https://github.com/maxim2266/str.git
diff --git a/3rd/str.c b/3rd/str.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..37c9754
--- /dev/null
+++ b/3rd/str.c
@@ -0,0 +1,839 @@
+/*
+BSD 3-Clause License
+
+Copyright (c) 2020,2021,2022,2023,2024 Maxim Konakov and contributors
+All rights reserved.
+
+Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+
+* Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
+  list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+* Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+  this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
+  and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+
+* Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the names of its
+  contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+  this software without specific prior written permission.
+
+THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
+SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER
+CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
+OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+*/
+
+#define _DEFAULT_SOURCE		// for strncasecmp()
+#define _XOPEN_SOURCE 500	// for IOV_MAX
+
+#include "str.h"
+
+#include <limits.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <sys/uio.h>
+#include <sys/types.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+#include <fcntl.h>
+
+// append to destination and return the end pointer
+static inline
+void* mem_append(void* dest, const void* src, const size_t n)
+{
+	return memcpy(dest, src, n) + n;
+}
+
+// string deallocation
+void str_free(const str s)
+{
+	if(str_is_owner(s))
+		free((void*)s.ptr);
+}
+
+// version of str_free() for str_auto macro
+void str_free_auto(const str* const ps)
+{
+	if(ps)
+		str_free(*ps);
+}
+
+// memory allocation helpers
+#define ALLOC(n)	\
+({	\
+	void* const ___p = malloc(n);	\
+	if(!___p) return ENOMEM;	\
+	___p;	\
+})
+
+#define REALLOC(p, n) \
+	({ \
+	void* const ___p = realloc((p), (n)); \
+	if(!___p) return ENOMEM; \
+	___p; \
+})
+
+
+// errno checker
+#define RETURN_ON_ERROR(expr)	\
+	while((expr) < 0) do { const int __err = errno; if(__err != EINTR) return __err; } while(0)
+
+// swap
+void str_swap(str* const s1, str* const s2)
+{
+	const str tmp = *s1;
+
+	*s1 = *s2;
+	*s2 = tmp;
+}
+
+// empty string
+const char* const str_empty_string = "";
+
+// string comparison ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+// compare two strings lexicographically
+int str_cmp(const str s1, const str s2)
+{
+	const size_t n1 = str_len(s1), n2 = str_len(s2);
+
+	// either string may be missing a null terminator, hence "memcmp"
+	const int res = memcmp(str_ptr(s1), str_ptr(s2), (n1 < n2) ? n1 : n2);
+
+	if(res != 0 || n1 == n2)
+		return res;
+
+	return (n1 < n2) ? -1 : 1;
+}
+
+// case-insensitive comparison
+int str_cmp_ci(const str s1, const str s2)
+{
+	const size_t n1 = str_len(s1), n2 = str_len(s2);
+
+	// either string may be missing a null terminator, hence "strNcasecmp"
+	const int res = strncasecmp(str_ptr(s1), str_ptr(s2), (n1 < n2) ? n1 : n2);
+
+	if(res != 0 || n1 == n2)
+		return res;
+
+	return (n1 < n2) ? -1 : 1;
+}
+
+// test for prefix
+bool str_has_prefix(const str s, const str prefix)
+{
+	const size_t n = str_len(prefix);
+
+	return (n == 0)
+		|| (str_len(s) >= n && memcmp(str_ptr(s), str_ptr(prefix), n) == 0);
+}
+
+// test for suffix
+bool str_has_suffix(const str s, const str suffix)
+{
+	const size_t n = str_len(suffix);
+
+	return (n == 0)
+		|| (str_len(s) >= n && memcmp(str_end(s) - n, str_ptr(suffix), n) == 0);
+}
+
+// string constructors -----------------------------------------------------------------
+// create a reference to the given range of chars
+str str_ref_chars(const char* const s, const size_t n)
+{
+	return (s && n > 0) ? ((str){ s, str_ref_info(n) }) : str_null;
+}
+
+str str_ref_from_ptr(const char* const s)
+{
+	return s ? str_ref_chars(s, strlen(s)) : str_null;
+}
+
+// take ownership of the given range of chars
+str str_acquire_chars(const char* const s, const size_t n)
+{
+	if(!s)
+		return str_null;
+
+	if(n == 0)
+	{
+		free((void*)s);
+		return str_null;
+	}
+
+	return (str){ s, str_owner_info(n) };
+}
+
+// take ownership of the given C string
+str str_acquire(const char* const s)
+{
+	return s ? str_acquire_chars(s, strlen(s)) : str_null;
+}
+
+// allocate a copy of the given string
+int str_dup_impl(str* const dest, const str s)
+{
+	const size_t n = str_len(s);
+
+	if(n == 0)
+		str_clear(dest);
+	else
+	{
+		char* const p = memcpy(ALLOC(n + 1), str_ptr(s), n);
+
+		p[n] = 0;
+		str_assign(dest, str_acquire_chars(p, n));
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+#ifndef STR_MAX_FILE_SIZE
+#define STR_MAX_FILE_SIZE	(64 * 1024 * 1024 - 1)
+#endif
+
+static
+int get_file_size(const int fd, off_t* const size)
+{
+	// stat the file
+	struct stat info;
+
+	RETURN_ON_ERROR(fstat(fd, &info));
+
+	*size = info.st_size;
+
+	// only regular files are allowed
+	switch(info.st_mode & S_IFMT)
+	{
+		case S_IFREG:
+			return (info.st_size > STR_MAX_FILE_SIZE) ? EFBIG : 0;
+		case S_IFDIR:
+			return EISDIR;
+		default:
+			return EOPNOTSUPP;
+	}
+}
+
+static
+int read_from_fd(const int fd, void* p, off_t* const psize)
+{
+	const void* const end = p + *psize;
+	ssize_t n;
+
+	do
+	{
+		RETURN_ON_ERROR(n = read(fd, p, end - p));
+
+		p += n;
+	} while(n > 0 && p < end);
+
+	*psize -= end - p;
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static
+int read_from_fd_cont(const int fd, void* p, off_t* const psize)
+{
+	const void* end = p + *psize;
+	void *buf = p;
+	ssize_t n;
+	ssize_t nread = 0;
+
+	do
+	{
+		RETURN_ON_ERROR(n = read(fd, p, end - p));
+
+		p += n;
+		nread += n;
+
+		// pre-emptively realloc, even though we could potentially be at the end
+		if (p == end) {
+			*psize *= 2;
+			buf = REALLOC(buf, *psize);
+			p = buf + nread;
+			end = buf + *psize;
+		}
+
+	} while(n > 0);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+
+static
+int str_from_fd(const int fd, const off_t size, str* const dest)
+{
+	if(size == 0)
+	{
+		str_clear(dest);
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	char* buff = ALLOC(size + 1);
+	off_t n = size;
+	const int err = read_from_fd(fd, buff, &n);
+
+	if(err != 0)
+	{
+		free(buff);
+		return err;
+	}
+
+	if(n == 0)
+	{
+		free(buff);
+		str_clear(dest);
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	if(n < size)
+	{
+		char* const p = realloc(buff, n + 1);
+
+		if(!p)
+		{
+			free(buff);
+			return ENOMEM;
+		}
+
+		buff = p;
+	}
+
+	buff[n] = 0;
+	str_assign(dest, str_acquire_chars(buff, n));
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static
+int str_from_stream_cont(const int fd, str* const dest, int *nmax)
+{
+	const size_t start_size = 8192;
+
+	char* buff = ALLOC(start_size + 1);
+	off_t n = start_size;
+	const int err = read_from_fd_cont(fd, buff, &n);
+
+	if(err != 0)
+	{
+		free(buff);
+		return err;
+	}
+
+	if(n == 0)
+	{
+		free(buff);
+		str_clear(dest);
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	if(n < start_size)
+	{
+		char* const p = realloc(buff, n + 1);
+
+		if(!p)
+		{
+			free(buff);
+			return ENOMEM;
+		}
+
+		buff = p;
+	}
+
+	buff[n] = '\0';
+	str_assign(dest, str_acquire_chars(buff, n));
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int str_from_file(str* const dest, const char* const file_name)
+{
+	int fd;
+
+	RETURN_ON_ERROR(fd = open(file_name, O_CLOEXEC | O_RDONLY));
+
+	off_t size = 0;
+	int err = get_file_size(fd, &size);
+
+	if(err == 0)
+		err = str_from_fd(fd, size, dest);
+
+	close(fd);
+	return err;
+}
+
+int str_from_stream(str* const dest, const char* const file_name, int *nread)
+{
+	int fd;
+
+	RETURN_ON_ERROR(fd = open(file_name, O_CLOEXEC | O_RDONLY));
+
+	int nmax = nread ? *nread : 0;
+
+	off_t chunk_size = 4096;
+	int err = 0;
+	if (nmax == 0)
+		err = str_from_stream_cont(fd, dest, &nmax);
+	else
+		err = str_from_fd(fd, nmax, dest);
+
+	if (nread)
+		*nread = nmax;
+
+	close(fd);
+	return err;
+}
+
+// string composition -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+// append string
+static inline
+char* append_str(char* p, const str s)
+{
+	return mem_append(p, str_ptr(s), str_len(s));
+}
+
+static
+size_t total_length(const str* src, size_t count)
+{
+	size_t sum = 0;
+
+	for(; count > 0; --count)
+		sum += str_len(*src++);
+
+	return sum;
+}
+
+// concatenate strings
+int str_cat_range_impl(str* const dest, const str* src, size_t count)
+{
+	if(!src)
+	{
+		str_clear(dest);
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	// calculate total length
+	const size_t num = total_length(src, count);
+
+	if(num == 0)
+	{
+		str_clear(dest);
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	// allocate
+	char* const buff = ALLOC(num + 1);
+
+	// copy bytes
+	char* p = buff;
+
+	for(; count > 0; --count)
+		p = append_str(p, *src++);
+
+	// null-terminate and assign
+	*p = 0;
+	str_assign(dest, str_acquire_chars(buff, num));
+	return 0;
+}
+
+// writing to file descriptor
+int str_cpy_to_fd(const int fd, const str s)
+{
+	size_t n = str_len(s);
+	const void* p = str_ptr(s);
+
+	while(n > 0)
+	{
+		ssize_t m;
+
+		RETURN_ON_ERROR(m = write(fd, p, n));
+
+		n -= m;
+		p += m;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+// writing to byte stream
+int str_cpy_to_stream(FILE* const stream, const str s)
+{
+	const size_t n = str_len(s);
+
+	return (n > 0 && fwrite(str_ptr(s), 1, n, stream) < n) ? EIO : 0;
+}
+
+// write iovec
+static
+int write_iovec(const int fd, struct iovec* pv, unsigned nv)
+{
+	while(nv > 0)
+	{
+		ssize_t n;
+
+		RETURN_ON_ERROR(n = writev(fd, pv, nv));
+
+		// discard items already written
+		for(; nv > 0; ++pv, --nv)
+		{
+			if(n < (ssize_t)pv->iov_len)
+			{
+				pv->iov_base += n;
+				pv->iov_len -= n;
+				break;
+			}
+
+			n -= (ssize_t)pv->iov_len;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+// concatenate to file descriptor
+static
+struct iovec* vec_append(struct iovec* const pv, const str s)
+{
+	*pv = (struct iovec){ (void*)str_ptr(s), str_len(s) };
+
+	return pv + 1;
+}
+
+static
+struct iovec* vec_append_nonempty(struct iovec* const pv, const str s)
+{
+	return str_is_empty(s) ? pv : vec_append(pv, s);
+}
+
+int str_cat_range_to_fd(const int fd, const str* src, size_t count)
+{
+	if(!src)
+		return 0;
+
+	struct iovec v[IOV_MAX];
+
+	while(count > 0)
+	{
+		struct iovec* p = vec_append_nonempty(v, *src++);
+
+		while(--count > 0 && p < v + IOV_MAX)
+			p = vec_append_nonempty(p, *src++);
+
+		const size_t n = p - v;
+
+		if(n == 0)
+			break;
+
+		const int ret = write_iovec(fd, v, n);
+
+		if(ret != 0)
+			return ret;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int str_cat_range_to_stream(FILE* const stream, const str* src, size_t count)
+{
+	if(!src)
+		return 0;
+
+	int err = 0;
+
+	for(; count > 0 && err == 0; --count)
+		err = str_cpy(stream, *src++);
+
+	return err;
+}
+
+// join strings
+int str_join_range_impl(str* const dest, const str sep, const str* src, size_t count)
+{
+	// test for simple cases
+	if(str_is_empty(sep))
+		return str_cat_range(dest, src, count);
+
+	if(!src || count == 0)
+	{
+		str_clear(dest);
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	if(count == 1)
+		return str_cpy(dest, *src);
+
+	// calculate total length
+	const size_t num = total_length(src, count) + str_len(sep) * (count - 1);
+
+	// allocate
+	char* const buff = ALLOC(num + 1);
+
+	// copy bytes
+	char* p = append_str(buff, *src++);
+
+	while(--count > 0)
+		p = append_str(append_str(p, sep), *src++);
+
+	// null-terminate and assign
+	*p = 0;
+	str_assign(dest, str_acquire_chars(buff, num));
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int str_join_range_to_fd(const int fd, const str sep, const str* src, size_t count)
+{
+	if(str_is_empty(sep))
+		return str_cat_range(fd, src, count);
+
+	if(!src || count == 0)
+		return 0;
+
+	if(count == 1)
+		return str_cpy(fd, *src);
+
+	struct iovec v[IOV_MAX];
+
+	struct iovec* p = vec_append_nonempty(v, *src++);
+
+	for(--count; count > 0; p = v)
+	{
+		p = vec_append_nonempty(vec_append(p, sep), *src++);
+
+		while(--count > 0 && p < v + IOV_MAX - 1)
+			p = vec_append_nonempty(vec_append(p, sep), *src++);
+
+		const size_t n = p - v;
+
+		if(n == 0)
+			break;
+
+		const int ret = write_iovec(fd, v, n);
+
+		if(ret != 0)
+			return ret;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int str_join_range_to_stream(FILE* const stream, const str sep, const str* src, size_t count)
+{
+	if(str_is_empty(sep))
+		return str_cat_range(stream, src, count);
+
+	if(!src || count == 0)
+		return 0;
+
+	int err = str_cpy(stream, *src++);
+
+	while(--count > 0 && err == 0)
+		err = str_cat(stream, sep, *src++);
+
+	return err;
+}
+
+// searching and sorting --------------------------------------------------------------------
+// string partitioning
+bool str_partition(const str src, const str patt, str* const prefix, str* const suffix)
+{
+	const size_t patt_len = str_len(patt);
+
+	if(patt_len > 0 && !str_is_empty(src))
+	{
+		const char* s = memmem(str_ptr(src), str_len(src), str_ptr(patt), patt_len);
+
+		if(s)
+		{
+			if(prefix)
+				str_assign(prefix, str_ref_chars(str_ptr(src), s - str_ptr(src)));
+
+			if(suffix)
+			{
+				s += patt_len;
+				str_assign(suffix, str_ref_chars(s, str_end(src) - s));
+			}
+
+			return true;
+		}
+	}
+
+	if(prefix)
+		str_assign(prefix, str_ref(src));
+
+	if(suffix)
+		str_clear(suffix);
+
+	return false;
+}
+
+// comparison functions
+int str_order_asc(const void* const s1, const void* const s2)
+{
+	return str_cmp(*(const str*)s1, *(const str*)s2);
+}
+
+int str_order_desc(const void* const s1, const void* const s2)
+{
+	return -str_cmp(*(const str*)s1, *(const str*)s2);
+}
+
+int str_order_asc_ci(const void* const s1, const void* const s2)
+{
+	return str_cmp_ci(*(const str*)s1, *(const str*)s2);
+}
+
+int str_order_desc_ci(const void* const s1, const void* const s2)
+{
+	return -str_cmp_ci(*(const str*)s1, *(const str*)s2);
+}
+
+// sorting
+void str_sort_range(const str_cmp_func cmp, str* const array, const size_t count)
+{
+	if(array && count > 1)
+		qsort(array, count, sizeof(array[0]), cmp);
+}
+
+// searching
+const str* str_search_range(const str key, const str* const array, const size_t count)
+{
+	if(!array || count == 0)
+		return NULL;
+
+	if(count == 1)
+		return str_eq(key, array[0]) ? array : NULL;
+
+	return bsearch(&key, array, count, sizeof(str), str_order_asc);
+}
+
+// partitioning
+size_t str_partition_range(bool (*pred)(const str), str* const array, const size_t count)
+{
+	if(!array)
+		return 0;
+
+	const str* const end = array + count;
+	str* p = array;
+
+	while(p < end && pred(*p))
+		++p;
+
+	for(str* s = p + 1; s < end; ++s)
+		if(pred(*s))
+			str_swap(p++, s);
+
+	return p - array;
+}
+
+// unique partitioning
+size_t str_unique_range(str* const array, const size_t count)
+{
+	if(!array || count == 0)
+		return 0;
+
+	if(count == 1)
+		return 1;
+
+	str_sort_range(str_order_asc, array, count);
+
+	const str* const end = array + count;
+	str* p = array;
+
+	for(str* s = array + 1; s < end; ++s)
+		if(!str_eq(*p, *s) && (++p < s))
+			str_swap(p, s);
+
+	return p + 1 - array;
+}
+
+// string iterator function
+#ifdef __STDC_UTF_32__
+
+char32_t str_cp_iterator_next(str_cp_iterator* const it)
+{
+	if(it->curr >= it->end)
+		return CPI_END_OF_STRING;
+
+	char32_t c;
+	const size_t n = mbrtoc32(&c, it->curr, it->end - it->curr, &it->state);
+
+	switch(n)	// see https://en.cppreference.com/w/c/string/multibyte/mbrtoc32
+	{
+		case 0:				// null character (U+0000) is allowed
+			++it->curr;
+			return 0;
+		case (size_t)-1:	// encoding error
+		case (size_t)-3:	// surrogate pair detected
+			return CPI_ERR_INVALID_ENCODING;
+		case (size_t)-2:	// incomplete sequence
+			return CPI_ERR_INCOMPLETE_SEQ;
+		default:			// ok
+			it->curr += n;
+			return c;
+	}
+}
+
+#endif	// ifdef __STDC_UTF_32__
+
+// tokeniser
+static inline
+bool is_delim(const str_tok_state* const state, const char c)
+{
+	return state->bits[(unsigned char)c >> 3] & (1 << (c & 0x7));
+}
+
+static inline
+void set_bit(str_tok_state* const state, const char c)
+{
+	state->bits[(unsigned char)c >> 3] |= (1 << (c & 0x7));
+}
+
+void str_tok_delim(str_tok_state* const state, const str delim_set)
+{
+	memset(state->bits, 0, sizeof(state->bits));
+
+	const char* const end = str_end(delim_set);
+
+	for(const char* s = str_ptr(delim_set); s < end; ++s)
+		set_bit(state, *s);
+}
+
+void str_tok_init(str_tok_state* const state, const str src, const str delim_set)
+{
+	state->src = str_ptr(src);
+	state->end = str_end(src);
+
+	str_tok_delim(state, delim_set);
+}
+
+bool str_tok(str* const dest, str_tok_state* const state)
+{
+	// token start
+	const char* begin = state->src;
+
+	while(begin < state->end && is_delim(state, *begin))
+		++begin;
+
+	if(begin == state->end)
+	{
+		str_clear(dest);
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	// token end
+	const char* end = begin + 1;
+
+	while(end < state->end && !is_delim(state, *end))
+		++end;
+
+	state->src = end;
+	str_assign(dest, str_ref_chars(begin, end - begin));
+
+	return true;
+}
diff --git a/3rd/str.h b/3rd/str.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..55708fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/3rd/str.h
@@ -0,0 +1,296 @@
+/*
+BSD 3-Clause License
+
+Copyright (c) 2020,2021,2022,2023,2024 Maxim Konakov and contributors
+All rights reserved.
+
+Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+
+* Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
+  list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+* Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+  this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
+  and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+
+* Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the names of its
+  contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+  this software without specific prior written permission.
+
+THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
+SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER
+CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
+OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+*/
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+// string type ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+typedef struct
+{
+	const char* ptr;
+	size_t info;
+} str;
+
+// NULL string
+#define str_null ((str){ 0, 0 })
+
+// helper macros
+#define str_ref_info(n)	((n) << 1)
+#define str_owner_info(n)	(str_ref_info(n) | 1)
+
+// string properties ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+// length of the string
+static inline
+size_t str_len(const str s) { return s.info >> 1; }
+
+// pointer to the string
+static inline
+const char* str_ptr(const str s)
+{
+	extern const char* const str_empty_string;
+
+	return s.ptr ? s.ptr : str_empty_string;
+}
+
+// end of the string
+static inline
+const char* str_end(const str s) { return str_ptr(s) + str_len(s); }
+
+// test if the string is empty
+static inline
+bool str_is_empty(const str s) { return str_len(s) == 0; }
+
+// test if the string is allocated on the heap
+static inline
+bool str_is_owner(const str s) { return (s.info & 1) != 0; }
+
+// test if the string is a reference
+static inline
+bool str_is_ref(const str s) { return !str_is_owner(s); }
+
+// string memory control -------------------------------------------------------------------
+// free memory allocated for the string
+void str_free(const str s);
+
+// automatic cleanup
+void str_free_auto(const str* const ps);
+
+#define str_auto	str __attribute__((cleanup(str_free_auto)))
+
+// string movements -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+// free target string, then assign the new value to it
+static inline
+void str_assign(str* const ps, const str s) { str_free(*ps); *ps = s; }
+
+// move the string, resetting the source to str_null
+static inline
+str str_move(str* const ps) { const str t = *ps; *ps = str_null; return t; }
+
+// pass ownership of the string
+static inline
+str str_pass(str* const ps) { const str t = *ps; ps->info &= ~(size_t)1; return t; }
+
+// swap two string objects
+void str_swap(str* const s1, str* const s2);
+
+// string helpers --------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// reset the string to str_null
+static inline
+void str_clear(str* const ps) { str_assign(ps, str_null); }
+
+// compare two strings lexicographically
+int str_cmp(const str s1, const str s2);
+
+// test if two strings match
+static inline
+bool str_eq(const str s1, const str s2) { return str_cmp(s1, s2) == 0; }
+
+// case-insensitive comparison
+int str_cmp_ci(const str s1, const str s2);
+
+// case-insensitive match
+static inline
+bool str_eq_ci(const str s1, const str s2) { return str_cmp_ci(s1, s2) == 0; }
+
+// test for prefix
+bool str_has_prefix(const str s, const str prefix);
+
+// test for suffix
+bool str_has_suffix(const str s, const str suffix);
+
+// string composition ------------------------------------------------------------------
+// implementation helpers
+int str_dup_impl(str* const dest, const str s);
+int str_cpy_to_fd(const int fd, const str s);
+int str_cpy_to_stream(FILE* const stream, const str s);
+
+// copy string
+#define str_cpy(dest, src)	\
+	_Generic((dest),	\
+		str*:	str_dup_impl,	\
+		int:	str_cpy_to_fd,	\
+		FILE*:	str_cpy_to_stream	\
+	)((dest), (src))
+
+// implementation helpers
+int str_cat_range_impl(str* const dest, const str* src, size_t count);
+int str_cat_range_to_fd(const int fd, const str* src, size_t count);
+int str_cat_range_to_stream(FILE* const stream, const str* src, size_t count);
+
+// concatenate range of strings
+#define str_cat_range(dest, src, count)	\
+	_Generic((dest),	\
+		str*:	str_cat_range_impl,	\
+		int:	str_cat_range_to_fd,	\
+		FILE*:	str_cat_range_to_stream	\
+	)((dest), (src), (count))
+
+// concatenate string arguments
+#define str_cat(dest, ...)	\
+({	\
+	const str args[] = { __VA_ARGS__ };	\
+	str_cat_range((dest), args, sizeof(args)/sizeof(args[0]));	\
+})
+
+// implementation helpers
+int str_join_range_impl(str* const dest, const str sep, const str* src, size_t count);
+int str_join_range_to_fd(const int fd, const str sep, const str* src, size_t count);
+int str_join_range_to_stream(FILE* const stream, const str sep, const str* src, size_t count);
+
+// join strings around the separator
+#define str_join_range(dest, sep, src, count)	\
+	_Generic((dest),	\
+		str*:	str_join_range_impl,	\
+		int:	str_join_range_to_fd,	\
+		FILE*:	str_join_range_to_stream	\
+	)((dest), (sep), (src), (count))
+
+// join string arguments around the separator
+#define str_join(dest, sep, ...)	\
+({	\
+	const str args[] = { __VA_ARGS__ };	\
+	str_join_range((dest), (sep), args, sizeof(args)/sizeof(args[0]));	\
+})
+
+// constructors ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// string reference from a string literal
+#define str_lit(s)	((str){ "" s, str_ref_info(sizeof(s) - 1) })
+
+static inline
+str str_ref_impl(const str s) { return (str){ s.ptr, s.info & ~(size_t)1 }; }
+
+str str_ref_from_ptr(const char* const s);
+
+// string reference from anything
+#define str_ref(s)	\
+	_Generic((s),	\
+		str:			str_ref_impl,	\
+		char*:			str_ref_from_ptr,	\
+		const char*:	str_ref_from_ptr	\
+	)(s)
+
+// create a reference to the given range of chars
+str str_ref_chars(const char* const s, const size_t n);
+
+// take ownership of the given range of chars
+str str_acquire_chars(const char* const s, const size_t n);
+
+// take ownership of the given string
+str str_acquire(const char* const s);
+
+// string from file
+int str_from_file(str* const dest, const char* const file_name);
+
+// read maximum nread bytes from file, write bytes read. 0 reads until EOS.
+int str_from_stream(str* const dest, const char* const file_name, int *nread);
+
+// searching and sorting --------------------------------------------------------------------
+// string partitioning (substring search)
+bool str_partition(const str src, const str patt, str* const prefix, str* const suffix);
+
+// comparison functions
+typedef int (*str_cmp_func)(const void*, const void*);
+
+int str_order_asc(const void* const s1, const void* const s2);
+int str_order_desc(const void* const s1, const void* const s2);
+int str_order_asc_ci(const void* const s1, const void* const s2);
+int str_order_desc_ci(const void* const s1, const void* const s2);
+
+// sort array of strings
+void str_sort_range(const str_cmp_func cmp, str* const array, const size_t count);
+
+// searching
+const str* str_search_range(const str key, const str* const array, const size_t count);
+
+// partitioning
+size_t str_partition_range(bool (*pred)(const str), str* const array, const size_t count);
+
+// unique partitioning
+size_t str_unique_range(str* const array, const size_t count);
+
+// UTF-32 codepoint iterator ----------------------------------------------------------------
+#ifdef __STDC_UTF_32__
+#include <uchar.h>
+
+// iterator
+#define for_each_codepoint(var, src)	\
+	for_each_cp((var), (src), CAT1(inner_it_, __COUNTER__))
+
+// iterator error codes
+#define CPI_END_OF_STRING			((char32_t)-1)
+#define CPI_ERR_INCOMPLETE_SEQ		((char32_t)-2)
+#define CPI_ERR_INVALID_ENCODING	((char32_t)-3)
+
+// implementation
+#define for_each_cp(var, src, it)	\
+	for(str_cp_iterator it = str_make_cp_iterator(src); (var = str_cp_iterator_next(&it)) <= 0x10FFFFu;)
+
+#define CAT1(x, y)	CAT2(x, y)
+#define CAT2(x, y)	x ## y
+
+typedef struct
+{
+	const char* curr;
+	const char* const end;
+	mbstate_t state;
+} str_cp_iterator;
+
+static inline
+str_cp_iterator str_make_cp_iterator(const str s)
+{
+	return (str_cp_iterator){ .curr = str_ptr(s), .end = str_end(s) };
+}
+
+char32_t str_cp_iterator_next(str_cp_iterator* const it);
+
+#endif	// ifdef __STDC_UTF_32__
+
+// tokeniser --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+typedef struct
+{
+	unsigned char bits[32];	// 256 / 8
+	const char *src, *end;
+} str_tok_state;
+
+void str_tok_init(str_tok_state* const state, const str src, const str delim_set);
+bool str_tok(str* const dest, str_tok_state* const state);
+void str_tok_delim(str_tok_state* const state, const str delim_set);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
diff --git a/src/hiload.c b/src/hiload.c
index 7ea7516..c4f083d 100644
--- a/src/hiload.c
+++ b/src/hiload.c
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "logger.h"
 #include "memory.h"
 #include "symbols.h"
+#include "types.h"
 
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <dlfcn.h>
@@ -19,6 +20,12 @@ typedef struct {
   size_t capacity;      // Allocated capacity
 } ModuleInfos;
 
+typedef struct {
+  struct sc_array_memreg *memory_regions;
+} HiloadContext;
+
+static HiloadContext context = {0};
+
 static ModuleInfos *module_infos = 0;
 
 // Callback function for dl_iterate_phdr
@@ -259,7 +266,11 @@ int hi_init() {
   }
   sc_log_set_level("DEBUG");
 
-  read_memory_maps_self();
+
+  if (read_memory_maps_self(context.memory_regions) != HILOAD_OK) {
+    sc_log_error("Could not populate program memory maps.\n");
+    return HILOAD_FAIL;
+  }
 
   ModuleInfos *infos = gather_shared_libraries();
   if (!infos) {
diff --git a/src/memory.c b/src/memory.c
index 1708cf0..bc24b07 100644
--- a/src/memory.c
+++ b/src/memory.c
@@ -4,15 +4,22 @@
 #include "logger.h"
 #include "types.h"
 
-static
-str read_memory_maps_self() {
+void hi_clear_memreg(struct sc_array_memreg *regions)
+{
+  MemoryRegions *reg;
+  sc_array_foreach(regions, *reg) {
+
+  }
+}
+
+HiloadResult read_memory_maps_self(struct sc_array_memreg *regions) {
   str memory_str = str_null;
 
   HiloadResult res = read_stream_to_str(&memory_str, "/proc/self/maps");
   if (res == HILOAD_FAIL)
-      return str_null;
+      return HILOAD_FAIL;
 
   sc_log_debug("Memory Map\n-- /proc/self/maps:\n%s\n", str_ptr(memory_str));
 
-  return memory_str;
+  return HILOAD_OK;
 }
diff --git a/src/memory.h b/src/memory.h
index 6d62350..77c7f5b 100644
--- a/src/memory.h
+++ b/src/memory.h
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 #include "types.h"
 #include "array.h"
 
+#include <assert.h>
+
 enum MemoryPermissions {
   HI_MEMORY_READ = 1 << 0,
   HI_MEMORY_WRITE = 1 << 1,
@@ -13,13 +15,22 @@ enum MemoryPermissions {
   HI_MEMORY_PRIVATE = 1 << 4
 };
 
-#define REGIONS_MAX 256
+#define HI_MEM_REG_MAX 256
 typedef struct {
-  void *region_starts[REGIONS_MAX];
-  void *region_end[REGIONS_MAX];
-  u32 region_flags[REGIONS_MAX]; // enum MemoryPermissions
-  u32 offset[REGIONS_MAX];
-  str pathname[REGIONS_MAX];
+  void *region_starts[HI_MEM_REG_MAX];
+  void *region_end[HI_MEM_REG_MAX];
+  u32 region_flags[HI_MEM_REG_MAX]; // enum MemoryPermissions
+  u32 offset[HI_MEM_REG_MAX];
+  str pathname[HI_MEM_REG_MAX];
 } MemoryRegions;
 
+sc_array_def(MemoryRegions, memreg);
+_Static_assert(sizeof(MemoryRegions) < 1024 * 11, "MemoryRegion size has increased. Fix this assert.");
+
+/* Needed to free the underlying pathnames before clear */
+void hi_clear_memreg(struct sc_array_memreg *regions);
+
+/* A pointer that can be used to place the memory regions into. If mr isn't cleared, the content will be cleared. */
+HiloadResult read_memory_maps_self(struct sc_array_memreg *regions);
+
 #endif // MEMORY_H_