diff --git a/build.zig b/build.zig
index f7b08f9..467240c 100644
--- a/build.zig
+++ b/build.zig
@@ -24,19 +24,19 @@ fn setupLinks(step: *builds.LibExeObjStep) void {
 
     for (possible_lilv_include_dirs) |possible_lilv_dir| {
         var possible_dir = std.fs.cwd().openDir(possible_lilv_dir, .{}) catch |err| {
-            std.debug.print("possible lilv {s} fail: {s}\n", .{ possible_lilv_dir, err });
+            std.debug.warn("possible lilv {s} fail: {s}\n", .{ possible_lilv_dir, err });
             continue;
         };
 
         possible_dir.close();
         found_any_lilv = true;
 
-        std.debug.print("found lilv at '{s}'\n", .{possible_lilv_dir});
+        std.debug.warn("found lilv at '{s}'\n", .{possible_lilv_dir});
         step.addIncludeDir(possible_lilv_dir);
     }
 
     if (!found_any_lilv) {
-        std.debug.print("No LILV library was found :(\n", .{});
+        std.debug.warn("No LILV library was found :(\n", .{});
         @panic("no lilv found");
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/bmp_valid.zig b/src/bmp_valid.zig
index 55970b8..6468658 100644
--- a/src/bmp_valid.zig
+++ b/src/bmp_valid.zig
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 const std = @import("std");
-const log = std.log.scoped(.scritcher_bmp);
+
 pub const BMPValidError = error{InvalidMagic};
 
 const VALID_MAGICS = [_][]const u8{
     "BM",
     "BA",
+
     "CI",
     "CP",
     "IC",
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ pub fn magicValid(magic: []const u8) !void {
     }
 
     if (!valid) {
-        log.debug("\tINVALID HEADER: '{s}'\n", .{magic});
+        std.debug.warn("\tINVALID HEADER: '{s}'\n", .{magic});
         return BMPValidError.InvalidMagic;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/custom.zig b/src/custom.zig
index 4e48d6a..03120f0 100644
--- a/src/custom.zig
+++ b/src/custom.zig
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ const lv2 = @import("lv2_helpers.zig");
 const plugins = @import("plugin.zig");
 const image = @import("image.zig");
 
-const log = std.log.scoped(.scritcher_custom);
 const c = lv2.c;
 
 const RunBuffers = plugins.RunBuffers;
@@ -12,11 +11,11 @@ const RunBuffers = plugins.RunBuffers;
 pub const RandomNoise = struct {
     r: std.rand.DefaultPrng,
     rand_buf: ?[]f32 = null,
-    allocator: ?std.mem.Allocator = null,
+    allocator: ?*std.mem.Allocator = null,
     cnt: usize = 0,
 
     pub fn init(
-        allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+        allocator: *std.mem.Allocator,
         params: anytype,
     ) ?RandomNoise {
         var r = std.rand.DefaultPrng.init(params.seed);
@@ -25,7 +24,7 @@ pub const RandomNoise = struct {
             var rand_buf = allocator.alloc(f32, params.fill_bytes) catch return null;
 
             for (rand_buf) |_, idx| {
-                rand_buf[idx] = r.random().float(f32);
+                rand_buf[idx] = r.random.float(f32);
             }
 
             return RandomNoise{
@@ -52,7 +51,7 @@ pub const RandomNoise = struct {
             bufs.out[0] = rand_buf[self.cnt];
             self.cnt += 1;
         } else {
-            bufs.out[0] = self.r.random().float(f32);
+            bufs.out[0] = self.r.random.float(f32);
         }
     }
 };
@@ -60,11 +59,11 @@ pub const RandomNoise = struct {
 pub const WildNoise = struct {
     r: std.rand.DefaultPrng,
     rand_buf: ?[]f32 = null,
-    allocator: ?std.mem.Allocator = null,
+    allocator: ?*std.mem.Allocator = null,
     cnt: usize = 0,
 
     pub fn init(
-        allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+        allocator: *std.mem.Allocator,
         params: anytype,
     ) ?WildNoise {
         var r = std.rand.DefaultPrng.init(params.seed);
@@ -73,7 +72,7 @@ pub const WildNoise = struct {
             var rand_buf = allocator.alloc(f32, params.fill_bytes) catch return null;
 
             for (rand_buf) |_, idx| {
-                rand_buf[idx] = @intToFloat(f32, r.random().int(u1));
+                rand_buf[idx] = @intToFloat(f32, r.random.int(u1));
             }
 
             return WildNoise{
@@ -99,7 +98,7 @@ pub const WildNoise = struct {
             bufs.out[0] = rand_buf[self.cnt];
             self.cnt += 1;
         } else {
-            bufs.out[0] = @intToFloat(f32, self.r.random().int(u1));
+            bufs.out[0] = @intToFloat(f32, self.r.random.int(u1));
         }
     }
 };
@@ -112,18 +111,15 @@ pub const Write = struct {
     data: f32,
 
     pub fn init(
-        allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+        allocator: *std.mem.Allocator,
         params: anytype,
     ) Write {
-        _ = allocator;
         return Write{
             .data = params.data,
         };
     }
 
-    pub fn deinit(self: *Write) void {
-        _ = self;
-    }
+    pub fn deinit(self: *Write) void {}
 
     pub fn run(self: *Write, bufs: *RunBuffers) void {
         bufs.out[0] = self.data;
@@ -131,13 +127,13 @@ pub const Write = struct {
 };
 
 pub const Embed = struct {
-    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    allocator: *std.mem.Allocator,
     filepath: []const u8,
 
     sndfile: *c.SNDFILE = undefined,
     buf: []f32 = undefined,
 
-    pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, params: anytype) @This() {
+    pub fn init(allocator: *std.mem.Allocator, params: anytype) @This() {
         return Embed{
             .allocator = allocator,
             .filepath = params.path,
@@ -166,9 +162,7 @@ pub const Embed = struct {
         self.buf = try self.allocator.alloc(f32, @intCast(usize, in_fmt.channels));
     }
 
-    pub fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {
-        _ = self;
-    }
+    pub fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {}
 
     pub fn run(self: *@This(), bufs: *RunBuffers) void {
         const read_bytes = c.sf_readf_float(self.sndfile, self.buf.ptr, 1);
@@ -180,7 +174,7 @@ pub const Embed = struct {
 
         if (read_bytes < 0) {
             const st: i32 = c.sf_error(self.sndfile);
-            log.debug("Failed to read {s} ({s})\n", .{
+            std.debug.warn("Failed to read {s} ({s})\n", .{
                 self.filepath,
                 c.sf_error_number(st),
             });
diff --git a/src/image.zig b/src/image.zig
index 073ffc4..b6e13ae 100644
--- a/src/image.zig
+++ b/src/image.zig
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ const lv2 = @import("lv2_helpers.zig");
 const c = lv2.c;
 const bmp = @import("bmp_valid.zig");
 
-const log = std.log.scoped(.scritcher_image);
 const plugins = @import("plugin.zig");
 
 /// Buffer size for main image copying.
@@ -21,7 +20,7 @@ pub const ImageError = error{
 
 /// Low level integration function with libsndfile.
 pub fn sopen(
-    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    allocator: *std.mem.Allocator,
     path: []const u8,
     mode: i32,
     fmt: *c.SF_INFO,
@@ -33,7 +32,7 @@ pub fn sopen(
     const st: i32 = c.sf_error(file);
 
     if (st != 0) {
-        log.debug("Failed to open {s} ({s})\n", .{
+        std.debug.warn("Failed to open {s} ({s})\n", .{
             path,
             c.sf_error_number(st),
         });
@@ -43,12 +42,12 @@ pub fn sopen(
 
     const frames_on_end = c.sf_seek(file, 0, c.SEEK_END);
     _ = c.sf_seek(file, 0, c.SEEK_SET);
-    try std.testing.expectEqual(fmt.frames, frames_on_end);
+    std.testing.expectEqual(fmt.frames, frames_on_end);
 
     const frames_on_end_by_end = c.sf_seek(file, frames_on_end, c.SEEK_SET);
-    try std.testing.expectEqual(frames_on_end, frames_on_end_by_end);
+    std.testing.expectEqual(frames_on_end, frames_on_end_by_end);
 
-    log.debug("frames on end: {}, frame on end (2): {}\n", .{ frames_on_end, frames_on_end_by_end });
+    std.debug.warn("frames on end: {}, frame on end (2): {}\n", .{ frames_on_end, frames_on_end_by_end });
 
     return file.?;
 }
@@ -57,7 +56,7 @@ pub fn swrite(file: *c.SNDFILE, buf: [*]f32, frames: i64) !void {
     const count = c.sf_writef_float(file, buf, frames);
 
     if (count != frames) {
-        log.debug("Wanted to write {}, got {}\n", .{ frames, count });
+        std.debug.warn("Wanted to write {}, got {}\n", .{ frames, count });
         return ImageError.WriteFail;
     }
 }
@@ -66,15 +65,15 @@ pub fn sseek(file: *c.SNDFILE, offset: usize) void {
     const offset_i64 = @intCast(i64, offset);
     const frames = c.sf_seek(file, offset_i64, c.SEEK_SET);
     const frames_current = c.sf_seek(file, 0, c.SEEK_CUR);
-    std.debug.assert(frames == frames_current);
+    std.testing.expectEqual(frames, frames_current);
 
     if (frames != offset_i64) {
-        log.debug("failed to seek to {} (seeked {} frames, offset_i64={})\n", .{ offset, frames, offset_i64 });
+        std.debug.warn("failed to seek to {} (seeked {} frames, offset_i64={})\n", .{ offset, frames, offset_i64 });
     }
 }
 
 /// Caller owns the returned memory.
-pub fn temporaryName(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) ![]u8 {
+pub fn temporaryName(allocator: *std.mem.Allocator) ![]u8 {
     const template_start = "/temp/temp_";
     const template = "/tmp/temp_XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX";
     var nam = try allocator.alloc(u8, template.len);
@@ -89,7 +88,7 @@ pub fn temporaryName(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) ![]u8 {
     while (i < 100) : (i += 1) {
         // generate a random uppercase letter, that is, 65 + random number.
         for (fill) |_, f_idx| {
-            var idx = @intCast(u8, r.random().uintLessThan(u5, 24));
+            var idx = @intCast(u8, r.random.uintLessThan(u5, 24));
             var letter = @as(u8, 65) + idx;
             fill[f_idx] = letter;
         }
@@ -97,7 +96,7 @@ pub fn temporaryName(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) ![]u8 {
         // if we fail to access it, we assume it doesn't exist and return it.
         var tmp_file: std.fs.File = std.fs.cwd().openFile(
             nam,
-            .{ .mode = .read_only },
+            .{ .read = true, .write = false },
         ) catch |err| {
             if (err == error.FileNotFound) return nam else continue;
         };
@@ -122,7 +121,7 @@ pub fn mkSfInfo() c.SF_INFO {
 }
 
 pub const Image = struct {
-    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    allocator: *std.mem.Allocator,
 
     /// Pointer to the underlying libsndfile's SNDFILE struct.
     sndfile: *c.SNDFILE,
@@ -137,7 +136,7 @@ pub const Image = struct {
     curpath: []const u8,
 
     /// Open a BMP image for later.
-    pub fn open(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, path: []const u8) !*Image {
+    pub fn open(allocator: *std.mem.Allocator, path: []const u8) !*Image {
         var in_fmt = mkSfInfo();
         var sndfile = try sopen(allocator, path, c.SFM_READ, &in_fmt);
 
@@ -182,7 +181,7 @@ pub const Image = struct {
     pub fn close(self: *Image) void {
         var st: i32 = c.sf_close(self.sndfile);
         if (st != 0) {
-            log.debug("Failed to close {s} ({s})\n", .{
+            std.debug.warn("Failed to close {s} ({s})\n", .{
                 self.path,
                 c.sf_error_number(st),
             });
@@ -197,7 +196,9 @@ pub const Image = struct {
     }
 
     pub fn read(self: *Image, file_chans: c_int, buf: []f32) bool {
-        const n_read: c.sf_count_t = c.sf_readf_float(self.sndfile, buf.ptr, 1);
+        var file = file_opt.?;
+
+        const n_read: c.sf_count_t = c.sf_readf_float(file, buf.ptr, 1);
         const buf_chans = @intCast(c_int, buf.len);
 
         var i = file_chans - 1;
@@ -227,7 +228,7 @@ pub const Image = struct {
         sseek(out_file, start);
 
         while (i <= end) : (i += buf.len) {
-            log.debug("\t\ti={d}, buf.len={d}, end={d}\n", .{ i, buf.len, end });
+            std.debug.warn("\t\ti={d}, buf.len={d}, end={d}\n", .{ i, buf.len, end });
             sseek(self.sndfile, i);
             sseek(out_file, i);
 
@@ -253,7 +254,7 @@ pub const Image = struct {
     fn getSeekPos(self: *Image, position: plugins.Position) plugins.SeekPos {
         const file_end = self.frames;
         var seek_pos = position.seekPos(file_end);
-        log.debug("\tstart {d} end {d}\n", .{ seek_pos.start, seek_pos.end });
+        std.debug.warn("\tstart {d} end {d}\n", .{ seek_pos.start, seek_pos.end });
         return seek_pos;
     }
 
@@ -266,7 +267,7 @@ pub const Image = struct {
         self.curpath = path;
         self.frames = @intCast(usize, in_fmt.frames);
 
-        log.debug("\timage: reopened on '{s}' (frames={d}, fmt.frames={d})\n", .{
+        std.debug.warn("\timage: reopened on '{s}' (frames={d}, fmt.frames={d})\n", .{
             self.curpath,
             self.frames,
             in_fmt.frames,
@@ -274,7 +275,7 @@ pub const Image = struct {
     }
 
     pub fn checkValid(self: *Image) !void {
-        var file = try std.fs.cwd().openFile(self.path, .{ .mode = .read_only });
+        var file = try std.fs.cwd().openFile(self.path, .{ .read = true });
         defer file.close();
 
         // main bmp header:
@@ -309,12 +310,12 @@ pub const Image = struct {
         defer ctx.allocator.free(ports);
 
         if (ctx.n_audio_in > 2) {
-            log.debug("plugin <{s}> has more than two inputs.\n", .{plugin_uri});
+            std.debug.warn("plugin <{s}> has more than two inputs.\n", .{plugin_uri});
             return ImageError.InvalidPlugin;
         }
 
         if (ctx.n_audio_out > 2) {
-            log.debug("plugin <{s}> has more than two outputs.\n", .{plugin_uri});
+            std.debug.warn("plugin <{s}> has more than two outputs.\n", .{plugin_uri});
             return ImageError.InvalidPlugin;
         }
 
@@ -326,14 +327,14 @@ pub const Image = struct {
 
             var sym = c.lilv_new_string(ctx.world, sym_cstr.ptr);
             const port = c.lilv_plugin_get_port_by_symbol(ctx.plugin, sym) orelse {
-                log.debug("assert fail: symbol {s} not found on port\n", .{param.sym});
+                std.debug.warn("assert fail: symbol {s} not found on port\n", .{param.sym});
                 return ImageError.InvalidSymbol;
             };
 
             c.lilv_node_free(sym);
 
             var idx = c.lilv_port_get_index(ctx.plugin, port);
-            log.debug("\tset sym={s}, idx={d} to val={}\n", .{
+            std.debug.warn("\tset sym={s}, idx={d} to val={}\n", .{
                 param.sym,
                 idx,
                 param.value,
@@ -344,7 +345,7 @@ pub const Image = struct {
         // now we need to generate a temporary file and put the output of
         // running the plugin on that file
         var tmpnam = try temporaryName(self.allocator);
-        log.debug("\trunning plugin from '{s}' to '{s}'\n", .{ self.curpath, tmpnam });
+        std.debug.warn("\trunning plugin from '{s}' to '{s}'\n", .{ self.curpath, tmpnam });
 
         var out_fmt = mkSfInfo();
         var out_file = try sopen(self.allocator, tmpnam, c.SFM_WRITE, &out_fmt);
@@ -377,7 +378,7 @@ pub const Image = struct {
         sseek(self.sndfile, seek_pos.start);
 
         var i: usize = seek_pos.start;
-        log.debug("\tseek pos start: {d} end: {d}\n", .{ seek_pos.start, seek_pos.end });
+        std.debug.warn("\tseek pos start: {d} end: {d}\n", .{ seek_pos.start, seek_pos.end });
 
         var inbuf = &rctx.buffers.in;
         var outbuf = &rctx.buffers.out;
@@ -388,7 +389,7 @@ pub const Image = struct {
 
             const read_bytes = c.sf_readf_float(self.sndfile, inbuf, 1);
             if (read_bytes == 0) {
-                log.debug("WARN! reached EOF at idx={d}\n", .{i});
+                std.debug.warn("WARN! reached EOF at idx={d}\n", .{i});
                 break;
             }
 
@@ -417,11 +418,11 @@ pub const Image = struct {
         try self.checkValid();
 
         var time_taken = timer.read();
-        log.debug("\ttook {d:.2}ms running plugin\n", .{time_taken / std.time.us_per_ms});
+        std.debug.warn("\ttook {d:.2}ms running plugin\n", .{time_taken / std.time.us_per_ms});
     }
 
     pub fn saveTo(self: *Image, out_path: []const u8) !void {
-        log.debug("\timg: copy from '{s}' to '{s}'\n", .{ self.curpath, out_path });
+        std.debug.warn("\timg: copy from '{s}' to '{s}'\n", .{ self.curpath, out_path });
         try std.fs.copyFileAbsolute(self.curpath, out_path, .{});
     }
 
@@ -449,7 +450,7 @@ pub const Image = struct {
         // the code here is a copypaste of runPlugin() without the specific
         // lilv things.
         var tmpnam = try temporaryName(self.allocator);
-        log.debug("\trunning CUSTOM plugin from '{s}' to '{s}'\n", .{ self.curpath, tmpnam });
+        std.debug.warn("\trunning CUSTOM plugin from '{s}' to '{s}'\n", .{ self.curpath, tmpnam });
 
         var out_fmt = mkSfInfo();
         var out_file = try sopen(self.allocator, tmpnam, c.SFM_WRITE, &out_fmt);
@@ -476,7 +477,7 @@ pub const Image = struct {
         sseek(self.sndfile, seek_pos.start);
 
         var i: usize = seek_pos.start;
-        log.debug("\tseek pos start: {d} end: {d}\n", .{ seek_pos.start, seek_pos.end });
+        std.debug.warn("\tseek pos start: {d} end: {d}\n", .{ seek_pos.start, seek_pos.end });
 
         var inbuf = &bufs.in;
         var outbuf = &bufs.out;
@@ -484,7 +485,7 @@ pub const Image = struct {
         while (i <= seek_pos.end) : (i += 1) {
             const read_bytes = c.sf_readf_float(self.sndfile, inbuf, 1);
             if (read_bytes == 0) {
-                log.debug("WARN! reached EOF at idx={d}\n", .{i});
+                std.debug.warn("WARN! reached EOF at idx={d}\n", .{i});
                 break;
             }
 
diff --git a/src/lang.zig b/src/lang.zig
index 98b1e77..3ad0c41 100644
--- a/src/lang.zig
+++ b/src/lang.zig
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ const std = @import("std");
 const plugin = @import("plugin.zig");
 const custom = @import("custom.zig");
 
-const log = std.log.scoped(.scritcher_lang);
 pub const ParseError = error{ParseFail};
 
 pub const CommandType = enum {
@@ -147,7 +146,7 @@ pub const Command = struct {
     }
 
     pub fn print(base: *const @This()) void {
-        log.debug("tag: {s}\n", .{base.tag});
+        std.debug.warn("tag: {s}\n", .{base.tag});
     }
 
     pub const Noop = struct {
@@ -471,7 +470,7 @@ pub const CommandList = struct {
     list: CmdArrayList,
     const Self = @This();
 
-    pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) Self {
+    pub fn init(allocator: *std.mem.Allocator) Self {
         return .{
             .list = CmdArrayList.init(allocator),
         };
@@ -479,25 +478,7 @@ pub const CommandList = struct {
 
     pub fn deinit(self: *Self) void {
         for (self.list.items) |cmd_ptr| {
-            //self.list.allocator.destroy(cmd_ptr);
-            inline for (@typeInfo(Command.Tag).Enum.fields) |field| {
-                if (cmd_ptr.tag == @field(Command.Tag, field.name)) {
-                    const actual_tag =
-                        @field(Command.Tag, field.name);
-                    // if we find a match on the tag, we can get the type
-                    const typ = Command.tagToType(actual_tag);
-                    _ = typ;
-
-                    // TODO fix
-
-                    //inline for (@typeInfo(typ).Struct.fields) |cmd_field| {
-                    //    switch (cmd_field.field_type) {
-                    //        []u8, []const u8 => self.list.allocator.destroy(@field(typ, cmd_field.name)),
-                    //        else => {},
-                    //    }
-                    //}
-                }
-            }
+            self.list.allocator.destroy(cmd_ptr);
         }
         self.list.deinit();
     }
@@ -509,20 +490,18 @@ pub const CommandList = struct {
 
 /// A parser.
 pub const Lang = struct {
-    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    allocator: *std.mem.Allocator,
 
     has_error: bool = false,
     line: usize = 0,
 
-    pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) Lang {
+    pub fn init(allocator: *std.mem.Allocator) Lang {
         return Lang{
             .allocator = allocator,
         };
     }
 
-    pub fn deinit(self: *Lang) void {
-        _ = self;
-    }
+    pub fn deinit(self: *Lang) void {}
 
     pub fn reset(self: *Lang) void {
         self.has_error = false;
@@ -530,16 +509,16 @@ pub const Lang = struct {
     }
 
     fn doError(self: *Lang, comptime fmt: []const u8, args: anytype) void {
-        log.err("ERROR! at line {}: ", .{self.line});
-        log.err(fmt, args);
-        log.err("\n", .{});
+        std.debug.warn("ERROR! at line {}: ", .{self.line});
+        std.debug.warn(fmt, args);
+        std.debug.warn("\n", .{});
         self.has_error = true;
     }
 
     fn parseCommandArguments(
         self: *@This(),
         comptime command_struct: type,
-        tok_it: *std.mem.SplitIterator(u8),
+        tok_it: *std.mem.TokenIterator,
         commands: *CommandList,
     ) !void {
         // Based on the command struct fields, we can parse the arguments.
@@ -582,7 +561,7 @@ pub const Lang = struct {
                     f32 => try std.fmt.parseFloat(f32, arg),
                     u64 => try std.fmt.parseInt(u64, arg, 10),
                     usize => try std.fmt.parseInt(usize, arg, 10),
-                    []const u8 => @as([]const u8, try self.allocator.dupe(u8, arg)),
+                    []const u8 => arg,
                     else => @compileError("parameter struct has unsupported type " ++ @typeName(cmd_field.field_type)),
                 };
 
@@ -607,11 +586,11 @@ pub const Lang = struct {
                     usize => try std.fmt.parseInt(usize, arg, 10),
                     i32 => try std.fmt.parseInt(i32, arg, 10),
                     f32 => try std.fmt.parseFloat(f32, arg),
-                    []const u8 => @as([]const u8, try self.allocator.dupe(u8, arg)),
+                    []const u8 => arg,
                     else => @compileError("Invalid parameter type (" ++ @typeName(cmd_field.field_type) ++ ") left on command struct " ++ @typeName(command_struct) ++ "."),
                 };
 
-                log.debug("parsing {s}, arg of type {s} => {any}\n", .{
+                std.debug.warn("parsing {s}, arg of type {s} => {any}\n", .{
                     @typeName(command_struct),
                     @typeName(@TypeOf(argument_value)),
                     argument_value,
@@ -623,11 +602,11 @@ pub const Lang = struct {
 
         cmd.base.tag = command_struct.base_tag;
         const command = cmd.base.cast(command_struct).?;
-        log.debug("cmd: {s}\n", .{command});
+        std.debug.warn("cmd: {s}\n", .{command});
     }
 
     pub fn parse(self: *Lang, data: []const u8) !CommandList {
-        var splitted_it = std.mem.split(u8, data, ";");
+        var splitted_it = std.mem.split(data, ";");
         var cmds = CommandList.init(self.allocator);
         errdefer cmds.deinit();
 
@@ -640,7 +619,7 @@ pub const Lang = struct {
             if (std.mem.startsWith(u8, stmt, "#")) continue;
 
             // TODO better tokenizer instead of just tokenize(" ")...maybe????
-            var tok_it = std.mem.split(u8, stmt, " ");
+            var tok_it = std.mem.tokenize(stmt, " ");
 
             var cmd_opt = tok_it.next();
             if (cmd_opt == null) {
@@ -652,23 +631,15 @@ pub const Lang = struct {
             var found: bool = false;
 
             inline for (@typeInfo(Command).Struct.decls) |cmd_struct_decl| {
+                switch (cmd_struct_decl.data) {
+                    .Type => |typ| switch (@typeInfo(typ)) {
+                        .Struct => {},
+                        else => continue,
+                    },
+                    else => continue,
+                }
+
                 const struct_name = cmd_struct_decl.name;
-                const cmd_struct_type = @field(Command, struct_name);
-
-                const info_of_info = @typeInfo(@TypeOf(cmd_struct_type));
-
-                switch (info_of_info) {
-                    .Type => {},
-                    else => continue,
-                }
-
-                const info = @typeInfo(cmd_struct_type);
-
-                switch (info) {
-                    .Struct => {},
-                    else => continue,
-                }
-
                 comptime var lowered_command_name = [_]u8{0} ** struct_name.len;
                 comptime {
                     for (struct_name) |c, i| {
@@ -686,8 +657,9 @@ pub const Lang = struct {
                 // Attempting to use ComptimeHashMap hits compiler bugs and I'm
                 // not sure if we can map strings to *types* in it.
 
-                if ((!found) and std.mem.eql(u8, &lowered_command_name, command_string)) {
+                if (std.mem.eql(u8, &lowered_command_name, command_string)) {
                     found = true;
+                    const cmd_struct_type = cmd_struct_decl.data.Type;
                     try self.parseCommandArguments(cmd_struct_type, &tok_it, &cmds);
                 }
             }
@@ -711,8 +683,8 @@ test "noop" {
     var cmds = try lang.parse("noop;");
     defer cmds.deinit();
 
-    try std.testing.expectEqual(cmds.list.items.len, 1);
-    try std.testing.expectEqual(cmds.list.items[0].tag, .noop);
+    std.testing.expectEqual(cmds.list.items.len, 1);
+    std.testing.expectEqual(cmds.list.items[0].tag, .noop);
 }
 
 test "load, phaser, quicksave" {
@@ -728,10 +700,10 @@ test "load, phaser, quicksave" {
     var cmds = try lang.parse(prog);
     defer cmds.deinit();
 
-    try std.testing.expectEqual(cmds.list.items.len, 3);
-    try std.testing.expectEqual(cmds.list.items[0].tag, .load);
-    try std.testing.expectEqual(cmds.list.items[1].tag, .phaser);
-    try std.testing.expectEqual(cmds.list.items[2].tag, .quicksave);
+    std.testing.expectEqual(cmds.list.items.len, 3);
+    std.testing.expectEqual(cmds.list.items[0].tag, .load);
+    std.testing.expectEqual(cmds.list.items[1].tag, .phaser);
+    std.testing.expectEqual(cmds.list.items[2].tag, .quicksave);
 }
 
 test "load, phaser with errors, quicksave" {
@@ -744,5 +716,9 @@ test "load, phaser with errors, quicksave" {
         \\quicksave;
     ;
 
-    try std.testing.expectError(error.ParseFail, lang.parse(prog));
+    var cmds = lang.parse(prog) catch |err| {
+        return;
+    };
+
+    unreachable;
 }
diff --git a/src/lv2_helpers.zig b/src/lv2_helpers.zig
index 62570df..599370c 100644
--- a/src/lv2_helpers.zig
+++ b/src/lv2_helpers.zig
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 const std = @import("std");
 const plugin = @import("plugin.zig");
 
-const log = std.log.scoped(.scritcher_lv2);
-
 pub const c = @cImport({
     @cInclude("sndfile.h");
     @cInclude("lilv/lilv.h");
@@ -23,7 +21,7 @@ const LV2_CORE__connectionOptional = Lv2Core("#connectionOptional");
 pub fn lilv_instance_connect_port(
     instance: [*c]c.LilvInstance,
     port_index: u32,
-    data_location: ?*anyopaque,
+    data_location: ?*c_void,
 ) void {
     instance.?.*.lv2_descriptor.?.*.connect_port.?(instance.?.*.lv2_handle, port_index, data_location);
 }
@@ -120,7 +118,7 @@ pub fn setupPorts(ctx: *plugin.Context) ![]Port {
         if (c.lilv_port_is_a(ctx.plugin, lport, lv2_InputPort)) {
             port.is_input = true;
         } else if (!c.lilv_port_is_a(ctx.plugin, lport, lv2_OutputPort) and !port.optional) {
-            log.debug("Port {d} is neither input or output\n", .{i});
+            std.debug.warn("Port {d} is neither input or output\n", .{i});
             return error.UnassignedIOPort;
         }
 
@@ -136,7 +134,7 @@ pub fn setupPorts(ctx: *plugin.Context) ![]Port {
                 ctx.n_audio_out += 1;
             }
         } else if (!port.optional) {
-            log.debug("Port {d} has unsupported type\n", .{i});
+            std.debug.warn("Port {d} has unsupported type\n", .{i});
             return error.UnsupportedPortType;
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/magick.zig b/src/magick.zig
index c88ceba..dd5f295 100644
--- a/src/magick.zig
+++ b/src/magick.zig
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 const std = @import("std");
 const images = @import("image.zig");
 
-const log = std.log.scoped(.scritcher_magick);
 const Image = images.Image;
 
 const mc = @cImport({
@@ -29,7 +28,6 @@ pub const MagickContext = struct {
     }
 
     pub fn doErr(self: *MagickContext) !void {
-        _ = self;
         return error.WandError;
     }
 };
@@ -41,7 +39,7 @@ fn magickLoad(image: *Image) !MagickContext {
     var curpath = try std.cstr.addNullByte(image.allocator, image.curpath);
     defer image.allocator.free(curpath);
 
-    log.debug("loading '{s}'\n", .{curpath});
+    std.debug.warn("loading '{s}'\n", .{curpath});
 
     if (mc.MagickReadImage(mctx.wand, curpath.ptr) != 1)
         return error.MagickReadFail;
@@ -56,12 +54,12 @@ fn magickSave(image: *Image, wand: *mc.MagickWand) !void {
     var c_tmpnam = try std.cstr.addNullByte(allocator, tmpnam);
     defer allocator.free(c_tmpnam);
 
-    log.debug("\tmagick: saving to '{s}'..", .{c_tmpnam});
+    std.debug.warn("\tmagick: saving to '{s}'..", .{c_tmpnam});
 
     if (mc.MagickWriteImage(wand, c_tmpnam.ptr) != 1)
         return error.MagickWriteFail;
 
-    log.debug("OK\n", .{});
+    std.debug.warn("OK\n", .{});
 
     try image.reopen(tmpnam);
 }
diff --git a/src/main.zig b/src/main.zig
index 9045304..f1cb3c8 100644
--- a/src/main.zig
+++ b/src/main.zig
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ const langs = @import("lang.zig");
 const runners = @import("runner.zig");
 const printer = @import("printer.zig");
 
-const log = std.log.scoped(.scritcher);
-
 test "scritcher" {
     _ = @import("lang.zig");
     _ = @import("runner.zig");
@@ -18,13 +16,13 @@ const readline = @cImport({
     @cInclude("readline/history.h");
 });
 
-fn wrapInCmdList(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, cmd: *langs.Command) !langs.CommandList {
+fn wrapInCmdList(allocator: *std.mem.Allocator, cmd: *langs.Command) !langs.CommandList {
     var cmds = langs.CommandList.init(allocator);
     try cmds.append(cmd);
     return cmds;
 }
 
-fn copyCommandToHeap(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, command: langs.Command, comptime tag: langs.Command.Tag) !*langs.Command {
+fn copyCommandToHeap(allocator: *std.mem.Allocator, command: langs.Command, comptime tag: langs.Command.Tag) !*langs.Command {
     const CommandStruct = langs.Command.tagToType(tag);
     const casted = command.cast(CommandStruct).?;
     var heap_cmd = try allocator.create(CommandStruct);
@@ -38,12 +36,10 @@ fn copyCommandToHeap(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, command: langs.Command, compt
     return &heap_cmd.base;
 }
 
-pub fn doRepl(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, args_it: anytype) !void {
+pub fn doRepl(allocator: *std.mem.Allocator, args_it: anytype) !void {
     var stdout_file = std.io.getStdOut();
     const stdout = &stdout_file.writer();
     const scri_path = try (args_it.next(allocator) orelse @panic("expected scri path"));
-    errdefer allocator.free(scri_path);
-    defer allocator.free(scri_path);
 
     var file_read_opt: ?std.fs.File = std.fs.cwd().openFile(scri_path, .{}) catch |err| blk: {
         if (err == error.FileNotFound) break :blk null;
@@ -58,9 +54,11 @@ pub fn doRepl(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, args_it: anytype) !void {
     defer lang.deinit();
 
     if (total_bytes > 0) {
+        // this MUST BE long lived (a reference to it is kept inside
+        // existing_cmds, and then passed along to cmds),
+        // we can't defer them here
         var scri_existing = try allocator.alloc(u8, total_bytes);
         _ = try file_read_opt.?.read(scri_existing);
-        defer allocator.free(scri_existing);
 
         // we can't defer this directly because we copy the
         // Command pointers to the cmds list. running deinit() directly
@@ -91,9 +89,9 @@ pub fn doRepl(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, args_it: anytype) !void {
         file_read.close();
     }
 
-    var file = try std.fs.cwd().createFile(scri_path, .{
+    var file = try std.fs.cwd().openFile(scri_path, .{
+        .write = true,
         .read = false,
-        .truncate = true,
     });
     defer file.close();
 
@@ -134,7 +132,7 @@ pub fn doRepl(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, args_it: anytype) !void {
 
         var rd_line = readline.readline("> ");
         if (rd_line == null) {
-            log.debug("leaving from eof\n", .{});
+            std.debug.warn("leaving from eof\n", .{});
             break;
         }
         readline.add_history(rd_line);
@@ -202,14 +200,14 @@ pub fn doRepl(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, args_it: anytype) !void {
             try printer.printList(cmds, stream);
             continue;
         } else if (std.mem.eql(u8, line, "quit") or std.mem.eql(u8, line, "q")) {
-            log.debug("leaving\n", .{});
+            std.debug.warn("leaving\n", .{});
             break;
         } else if (std.mem.startsWith(u8, line, "#")) {
             continue;
         }
 
         var cmds_parsed = lang.parse(line) catch |err| {
-            log.debug("repl: error while parsing: {}\n", .{err});
+            std.debug.warn("repl: error while parsing: {}\n", .{err});
             continue;
         };
 
@@ -233,13 +231,13 @@ pub fn doRepl(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, args_it: anytype) !void {
 }
 
 fn doHelp() void {
-    log.debug("scritcher!\n", .{});
-    log.debug("usage: scritcher [run|help|repl]\n", .{});
-    log.debug("\tscritcher run path_to_script.scri path_to_input_file.bmp\n", .{});
-    log.debug("\tscritcher repl path_to_script.scri path_to_input_file.bmp\n", .{});
+    std.debug.warn("scritcher!\n", .{});
+    std.debug.warn("usage: scritcher [run|help|repl]\n", .{});
+    std.debug.warn("\tscritcher run path_to_script.scri path_to_input_file.bmp\n", .{});
+    std.debug.warn("\tscritcher repl path_to_script.scri path_to_input_file.bmp\n", .{});
 }
 
-fn doRun(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, args_it: anytype) !void {
+fn doRun(allocator: *std.mem.Allocator, args_it: anytype) !void {
     var lang = langs.Lang.init(allocator);
     defer lang.deinit();
 
@@ -290,7 +288,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     } else if (std.mem.eql(u8, cli_command, "run")) {
         return try doRun(allocator, &args_it);
     } else {
-        log.debug("unknown command: '{s}'\n", .{cli_command});
+        std.debug.warn("unknown command: '{s}'\n", .{cli_command});
         return error.UnknownCommand;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/plugin.zig b/src/plugin.zig
index 8e88283..cb8c64a 100644
--- a/src/plugin.zig
+++ b/src/plugin.zig
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ const std = @import("std");
 const lv2 = @import("lv2_helpers.zig");
 const c = lv2.c;
 
-const log = std.log.scoped(.scritcher_plugin);
 const ImageError = @import("image.zig").ImageError;
 
 /// Control port
@@ -47,7 +46,7 @@ pub const Position = struct {
 
 /// Represents the starting context for a single plugin run.
 pub const Context = struct {
-    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    allocator: *std.mem.Allocator,
     world: *c.LilvWorld,
     plugin: *const c.LilvPlugin,
 
@@ -75,11 +74,9 @@ pub const RunContext = struct {
     instance: *c.LilvInstance,
 
     pub fn init(
-        allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+        allocator: *std.mem.Allocator,
         plugin: *const c.LilvPlugin,
     ) !RunContext {
-        _ = allocator; // TODO batch RunBuffers?
-
         var instance = c.lilv_plugin_instantiate(plugin, @as(f64, 44100), null);
         errdefer c.lilv_instance_free(instance);
 
@@ -130,7 +127,7 @@ pub const RunContext = struct {
     }
 };
 
-pub fn makeContext(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, plugin_uri: []const u8) !Context {
+pub fn makeContext(allocator: *std.mem.Allocator, plugin_uri: []const u8) !Context {
     const cstr_plugin_uri = try std.cstr.addNullByte(allocator, plugin_uri);
     defer allocator.free(cstr_plugin_uri);
 
@@ -140,7 +137,7 @@ pub fn makeContext(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, plugin_uri: []const u8) !Contex
     c.lilv_world_load_all(world);
 
     var uri: *c.LilvNode = c.lilv_new_uri(world, cstr_plugin_uri.ptr) orelse {
-        log.debug("Invalid plugin URI <{s}>\n", .{plugin_uri});
+        std.debug.warn("Invalid plugin URI <{s}>\n", .{plugin_uri});
         return ImageError.InvalidPlugin;
     };
     defer c.lilv_node_free(uri);
@@ -148,7 +145,7 @@ pub fn makeContext(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, plugin_uri: []const u8) !Contex
     const plugins: *const c.LilvPlugins = c.lilv_world_get_all_plugins(world).?;
 
     var plugin: *const c.LilvPlugin = c.lilv_plugins_get_by_uri(plugins, uri) orelse {
-        log.debug("Plugin <{s}> not found\n", .{plugin_uri});
+        std.debug.warn("Plugin <{s}> not found\n", .{plugin_uri});
         return ImageError.UnknownPlugin;
     };
 
diff --git a/src/printer.zig b/src/printer.zig
index a851602..c1fab31 100644
--- a/src/printer.zig
+++ b/src/printer.zig
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 const std = @import("std");
 const langs = @import("lang.zig");
 
-const log = std.log.scoped(.scritcher_printer);
-
 fn printCommandWithParams(stream: anytype, command: anytype) !void {
     const Parameters = @TypeOf(command.parameters);
     try stream.print(" {d} {d}", .{ command.split, command.index });
diff --git a/src/runner.zig b/src/runner.zig
index eb41231..16bbc12 100644
--- a/src/runner.zig
+++ b/src/runner.zig
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@ const plugin = @import("plugin.zig");
 const custom = @import("custom.zig");
 const magick = @import("magick.zig");
 
-const log = std.log.scoped(.scritcher_runner);
-
 const Position = plugin.Position;
 const ParamList = plugin.ParamList;
 const ParamMap = plugin.ParamMap;
@@ -20,7 +18,7 @@ pub const RunError = error{
 };
 
 pub const Runner = struct {
-    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    allocator: *std.mem.Allocator,
 
     /// The currently opened image in the runner
     image: ?*Image = null,
@@ -30,7 +28,7 @@ pub const Runner = struct {
 
     args: []const [:0]u8,
 
-    pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, repl: bool) Runner {
+    pub fn init(allocator: *std.mem.Allocator, repl: bool) Runner {
         return Runner{
             .allocator = allocator,
             .repl = repl,
@@ -67,12 +65,12 @@ pub const Runner = struct {
             // 'scritcher repl ./script ./image'
 
             // ':0' should ALWAYS point to the image.
-            if (self.repl) index += 3 else index += 3;
+            if (self.repl) index += 4 else index += 3;
 
             for (self.args) |arg, idx| {
-                log.debug("arg{d} = {s}\n", .{ idx, arg });
+                std.debug.warn("arg{d} = {s}\n", .{ idx, arg });
             }
-            log.debug("fetch arg idx={d}, val={s}\n", .{ index, self.args[index] });
+            std.debug.warn("fetch arg idx={d}, val={s}\n", .{ index, self.args[index] });
             return self.args[index];
         } else {
             return load_path;
@@ -92,7 +90,7 @@ pub const Runner = struct {
 
     fn loadCmd(self: *Runner, path_or_argidx: []const u8) !void {
         const load_path = try self.resolveArgPath(path_or_argidx);
-        log.debug("\tload path: {s}\n", .{load_path});
+        std.debug.warn("\tload path: {s}\n", .{load_path});
 
         // we could use ImageMagick to convert from X to BMP
         // but i can't find an easy way to do things in memory.
@@ -102,7 +100,7 @@ pub const Runner = struct {
         // krita/gimp and make it export a bmp and while in the program you can
         // apply filters, etc.
         if (!std.mem.endsWith(u8, load_path, ".bmp") and !std.mem.endsWith(u8, load_path, ".ppm")) {
-            log.debug("Only BMP files are allowed to be loaded. Got path '{s}'\n", .{load_path});
+            std.debug.warn("Only BMP files are allowed to be loaded. Got path '{s}'\n", .{load_path});
             return RunError.NoBMP;
         }
 
@@ -117,7 +115,7 @@ pub const Runner = struct {
         if (self.image) |image| {
             return image;
         } else {
-            log.debug("image is required!\n", .{});
+            std.debug.warn("image is required!\n", .{});
             return RunError.ImageRequired;
         }
     }
@@ -164,8 +162,6 @@ pub const Runner = struct {
                     // if N isn't a number, we just ignore that file
                     const idx_str = entry.name[entry_gidx + 2 .. entry_pidx];
                     const idx = std.fmt.parseInt(usize, idx_str, 10) catch |err| {
-                        log.debug("ignoring file {s}", .{@errorName(err)});
-
                         break :blk {};
                     };
 
@@ -205,7 +201,7 @@ pub const Runner = struct {
         );
         defer proc.deinit();
 
-        log.debug("running '{s} {s}'\n", .{ runqs.program, out_path });
+        std.debug.warn("running '{s} {s}'\n", .{ runqs.program, out_path });
         _ = try proc.spawnAndWait();
     }
 
@@ -256,7 +252,7 @@ pub const Runner = struct {
         cmd: lang.Command,
         comptime tag: lang.Command.Tag,
     ) !void {
-        const typ = lang.Command.tagToType(tag);
+        comptime const typ = lang.Command.tagToType(tag);
         const command = cmd.cast(typ).?;
         const ctype = typ.command_type;
         switch (ctype) {
@@ -317,7 +313,6 @@ pub const Runner = struct {
         cmds: lang.CommandList,
         debug_flag: bool,
     ) !void {
-        _ = debug_flag;
         for (cmds.list.items) |cmd| {
             cmd.print();
             try self.runCommand(cmd.*);
@@ -326,15 +321,18 @@ pub const Runner = struct {
 };
 
 test "running noop" {
-    const allocator = std.testing.allocator;
+    const allocator = std.heap.direct_allocator;
     var cmds = lang.CommandList.init(allocator);
     defer cmds.deinit();
 
-    var command = lang.Command{ .tag = .noop };
-    var noop = lang.Command.Noop{ .base = command };
-    try cmds.append(&noop.base);
+    var cmd_ptr = try allocator.create(lang.Command);
+    cmd_ptr.* = lang.Command{
+        .command = .Noop,
+        .args = lang.ArgList.init(allocator),
+    };
+    try cmds.append(cmd_ptr);
 
-    var runner = Runner.init(allocator, false);
+    var runner = Runner.init(allocator);
     defer runner.deinit();
 
     try runner.runCommands(cmds, false);