diff --git a/bin/pre.slime b/bin/pre.slime
deleted file mode 100644
index fc8a287..0000000
--- a/bin/pre.slime
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,223 +0,0 @@
-(define-syntax when (condition :rest body)
-  ;; (break)
-  `(if ,condition ,(pair prog body) nil))
-  ;; (list 'if condition (pair 'prog body) nil))
-
-(define-syntax unless (condition :rest body)
-  `(if ,condition nil ,(pair prog body)))
-
-(define-syntax defun (name arguments :rest body)
-  ;; (type-assert arguments :pair)
-  ;; `(define ,name (lambda ,arguments ,body))
-
-  ;; TODO(Felix: I think we do not need to wrap the body of the lamba
-  ;; in a prog
-
-  ;; see if we have a docstring
-  (if (and (= (type (first body)) :string) (not (= (type (rest body)) :nil)))
-      (list 'define name (list 'lambda arguments (first body) (pair 'prog (rest body))))
-    (list 'define name (list 'lambda arguments (pair 'prog body)))))
-
-
-(define-syntax defspecial (name arguments :rest body)
-  ;; (type-assert arguments :pair)
-  ;; `(define ,name (lambda ,arguments ,body))
-
-  ;; see if we have a docstring
-  (if (and (= (type (first body)) :string) (not (= (type (rest body)) :nil)))
-      (list 'define name (list 'special-lambda arguments (first body) (pair 'prog (rest body))))
-    (list 'define name (list 'special-lambda arguments (pair 'prog body)))))
-
-;; (cond
-;;  (p1 v1)
-;;  (p2 v2))
-(define-syntax cond (:rest clauses)
-  (defun rec (clauses)
-    (if (= nil clauses)
-        nil
-      (list 'if (first (first clauses))
-            (pair 'prog (rest (first clauses)))
-            (rec (rest clauses)))))
-  (rec clauses))
-
-(defun nil? (x)
-  "Checks if the argument is nil."
-  (= x nil))
-
-(defun number? (x)
-  "Checks if the argument is a number."
-  (= (type x) :number))
-
-(defun symbol? (x)
-  "Checks if the argument is a symbol."
-  (= (type x) :symbol))
-
-(defun keyword? (x)
-  "Checks if the argument is a keyword."
-  (= (type x) :keyword))
-
-(defun pair? (x)
-  "Checks if the argument is a pair."
-  (= (type x) :pair))
-
-(defun string? (x)
-  "Checks if the argument is a string."
-  (= (type x) :string))
-
-(defun lambda? (x)
-  "Checks if the argument is a function."
-  (= (type x) :dynamic-function))
-
-(defun special-lambda? (x)
-  "Checks if the argument is a macro."
-  (= (type x) :dynamic-macro))
-
-(defun built-in-function? (x)
-  "Checks if the argument is a built-in function."
-  (= (type x) :built-in-function))
-
-(defun apply (fun seq)
-  "Applies the funciton to the sequence, as in calls the function
-with ithe sequence as arguemens."
-  (eval (pair fun seq)))
-
-(defun end (seq)
-  "Returns the last pair in the sqeuence."
-  (if (or (nil? seq) (not (pair? (rest seq))))
-      seq
-    (end (rest seq))))
-
-(defun last (seq)
-  "Returns the (first) of the last (pair) of the given sequence."
-  (first (end seq)))
-
-(defun extend (seq elem)
-  "Extends a list with the given element, by putting it in
-the (rest) of the last element of the sequence."
-  (when (pair? seq)
-    (define e (end seq))
-    (mutate e (pair (first e) elem)))
-  seq)
-
-(defun append (seq elem)
-  "Appends an element to a sequence, by extendeing the list
-with (pair elem nil)."
-  (extend seq (pair elem nil)))
-
-(defun length (seq)
-  "Returns the length of the given sequence."
-  (if (nil? seq)
-      0
-    (incr (length (rest seq)))))
-
-(defun increment (val)
-  "Adds one to the argument."
-  (+ val 1))
-
-(defun decrement (val)
-  "Subtracts one from the argument."
-  (- val 1))
-
-
-;; (defmacro n-times (@times @action)
-;;   "Executes @action @times times."
-;;   (unless (<= (eval @times) 0)
-;;     (eval @action)
-;;     (apply n-times (list (list - @times 1) @action))))
-
-;; (defmacro for (@symbol @from @to :rest @for-body)
-;;   "Designed to resemble a C style for loop. It takes a symbol as
-;; well as its starting number and end number and executes the
-;; @for-body with the defined symbol for all numbers between @from
-;; to @to, where @to is exclusive."
-;;   (if (< (eval @from) (eval @to))
-;;       (macro-define @op incr)
-;;     (if (> (eval @from) (eval @to))
-;;         (macro-define @op decr)
-;;       (macro-define @op nil)))
-;;   (when @op
-;;      (macro-define (eval @symbol) (eval @from))
-;;      (eval (pair prog @for-body))
-;;      (eval (extend (list for @symbol (@op @from) @to) @for-body))))
-
-(defun range (:keys from :defaults-to 0 to)
-  "Returns a sequence of numbers starting with the number defined
-by the key 'from' and ends with the number defined in 'to'."
-  (when (< from to)
-      (pair from (range :from (+ 1 from) :to to))))
-
-(defun range-while (:keys from :defaults-to 0 to)
-  "Returns a sequence of numbers starting with the number defined
-by the key 'from' and ends with the number defined in 'to'."
-  (define result (list (copy from)))
-  (define head result)
-  (mutate from (increment from))
-  (while (< from to)
-    (prog
-     (mutate head (pair (first head) (pair (copy from) nil)))
-     (define head (rest head))
-     (mutate from (increment from))))
-  result)
-
-(defun map (fun seq)
-  "Takes a function and a sequence as arguments and returns a new
-sequence which contains the results of using the first sequences
-elemens as argument to that function."
-  (if (nil? seq)
-      seq
-    (pair (fun (first seq))
-          (map fun (rest seq)))))
-
-(defun reduce (fun seq)
-  "Takes a function and a sequence as arguments and applies the
-function to the argument sequence. This only works correctly if
-the given function accepts a variable amount of parameters. If
-your funciton is limited to two arguments, use `reduce-binary'
-instead."
-  (apply fun seq))
-
-(defun reduce-binary (fun seq)
-  "Takes a function and a sequence as arguments and applies the
-function to the argument sequence. reduce-binary applies the
-arguments `pair-wise' which means it works with binary functions
-as compared to `reduce'."
-  (if (nil? (rest seq))
-      (first seq)
-    (fun (first seq)
-         (reduce-binary fun (rest seq)))))
-
-(defun filter (fun seq)
-  "Takes a function and a sequence as arguments and applies the
-function to every value in the sequence. If the result of that
-funciton application returns a truthy value, the original value is
-added to a list, which in the end is returned."
-  (when seq
-    (if (fun (first seq))
-        (pair (first seq)
-              (filter fun (rest seq)))
-      (filter fun (rest seq)))))
-
-(defun zip (l1 l2)
-  (if (and (nil? l1) (nil? l2))
-      nil
-    (pair (list (first l1) (first l2)) (zip (rest l1) (rest l2)))))
-
-(defun printf (:keys sep :defaults-to " " end :defaults-to "\n" :rest args)
-  "A wrapper for the built-in (print) that accepts a variable number
-of arguments and also provides keywords for specifying the printed
-separators between the arguments and what should be printed after the
-las argument."
-  (defspecial printf-quoted (:keys @sep @end :rest @args)
-    (if (nil? @args)
-        (prog (print (eval @end)) nil)
-      (prog
-       (print (first @args))
-       (unless (nil? (rest @args))
-         (print (eval @sep)))
-       (eval (pair printf-quoted
-              (extend (list :@sep (eval @sep) :@end (eval @end)) (rest @args)))))))
-
-  (eval (pair printf-quoted (extend (list :@sep (eval sep) :@end (eval end)) args))))
-
-(defspecial pe (@expr)
-  (printf @expr "evaluates to" (eval @expr)))
diff --git a/bin/tests/class_macro.slime b/bin/tests/class_macro.slime
deleted file mode 100644
index 0a2fb5d..0000000
--- a/bin/tests/class_macro.slime
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,81 +0,0 @@
-(defun type-wrap (obj type)
-  (set-type obj type)
-  obj)
-
-(define-syntax defclass (name members :rest body)
-  "Macro for creatating classes."
-  (defun underscore (sym)
-    (string->symbol (concat-strings "_" (symbol->string sym))))
-
-  (define underscored-members (map underscore members))
-
-  ;; the wrapping let environment
-  (define let-body (list 'let (zip members underscored-members)))
-
-  ;; the body
-  (map (lambda (fun) (append let-body fun)) body)
-
-  ;; the dispatch function
-  (append let-body '(special-lambda (message :rest args)
-                         "This is the docs for the handle"
-                         (eval (extend (list message) args))))
-
-  ;; stuff it all in the constructor function
-  (eval (list defun (string->symbol (concat-strings "make-" (symbol->string name))) underscored-members
-           "This is the handle to an object of the class "
-           let-body)))
-
-;; (v1 print)
-;; (v1 length)
-;; (v1 get-x)
-;; (v1 set-x 10)
-
-(defclass vector3 (x y z)
-  (defun get-x () x)
-  (defun get-y () y)
-  (defun get-z () z)
-
-  (defun set-x  (new-x) (mutate x new-x))
-  (defun set-y  (new-y) (mutate y new-y))
-  (defun set-z  (new-z) (mutate z new-z))
-
-  (defun length ()
-    (** (+ (* x x) (* y y) (* z z)) 0.5))
-
-  (defun scale (fac)
-    (mutate x (* fac x))
-    (mutate y (* fac y))
-    (mutate z (* fac z))
-    fac)
-
-  (defun add (other)
-    (make-vector3
-     (+ x (other get-x))
-     (+ y (other get-y))
-     (+ z (other get-z))))
-
-  (defun subtract (other)
-    (make-vector3
-     (- x (other get-x))
-     (- y (other get-y))
-     (- z (other get-z))))
-
-  (defun scalar-product (other)
-    (+ (* x (other get-x))
-       (* y (other get-y))
-       (* z (other get-z))))
-
-  (defun cross-product (other)
-    (make-vector3
-     (- (* y (other get-z)) (* z (other get-y)))
-     (- (* z (other get-x)) (* x (other get-z)))
-     (- (* x (other get-y)) (* y (other get-x)))))
-
-  (defun printout ()
-    (printf "[vector3] (" x  y  z ")"))
-  )
-
-(define v1 (make-vector3 1 2 3))
-(define v2 (make-vector3 3 2 1))
-
-(assert (= (v1 scalar-product v2) 10))
diff --git a/bin/tests/lexical_scope.slime b/bin/tests/lexical_scope.slime
deleted file mode 100644
index d953f83..0000000
--- a/bin/tests/lexical_scope.slime
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-(defun make-counter ()
-  (let ((var 0))
-    (lambda ()
-      (mutate var (+ 1 var))
-      var)))
-
-(define counter (make-counter))
-
-(assert (= (counter) 1))
-(assert (= (counter) 3))
-(assert (= (counter) 3))
diff --git a/src/built_ins.cpp b/src/built_ins.cpp
index 800d131..676ef33 100644
--- a/src/built_ins.cpp
+++ b/src/built_ins.cpp
@@ -65,9 +65,10 @@ proc load_built_ins_into_environment(Environment* env) -> void {
     Lisp_Object* evaluated_arguments;
 
 #define cLambda [=](Lisp_Object* arguments, Environment* env) mutable -> Lisp_Object*
-#define report_error(_type) {                                   \
-        create_error(_type, current_source_code_location);      \
-        return nullptr;                                         \
+#define report_error(_type) {                                      \
+        printf("Error occurred\nin %s:%d\n", __FILE__, __LINE__); \
+        create_error(_type, current_source_code_location);         \
+        return nullptr;                                            \
     }
 
     proc defun = [&](const char* name, auto fun) {
@@ -77,6 +78,46 @@ proc load_built_ins_into_environment(Environment* env) -> void {
             env);
     };
 
+    proc parse_lambda_starting_from_args = [&](Lisp_Object* arguments, Environment* env) -> Lisp_Object* {
+        Function* function = new(Function);
+        function->parent_environment = env;
+        function->type = Function_Type::Lambda;
+
+        // if parameters were specified
+        if (arguments->value.pair->first->type != Lisp_Object_Type::Nil) {
+            try {
+                assert_type(arguments->value.pair->first, Lisp_Object_Type::Pair);
+            }
+            try {
+                parse_argument_list(arguments->value.pair->first, function);
+            }
+        } else {
+            function->positional_arguments = create_positional_argument_list(1);
+            function->keyword_arguments = create_keyword_argument_list(1);
+            function->rest_argument = nullptr;
+        }
+
+        arguments = arguments->value.pair->rest;
+        // if there is a docstring, use it
+        if (arguments->value.pair->first->type == Lisp_Object_Type::String) {
+            function->docstring = arguments->value.pair->first->value.string;
+            arguments = arguments->value.pair->rest;
+        } else {
+            function->docstring = nullptr;
+        }
+
+        // we are now in the function body, just wrap it in an
+        // implicit prog
+        function->body = Memory::create_lisp_object_pair(
+            Memory::get_or_create_lisp_object_symbol("prog"),
+            arguments);
+
+        Lisp_Object* ret = Memory::create_lisp_object();
+        ret->type = Lisp_Object_Type::Function;
+        ret->value.function = function;
+        return ret;
+    };
+
     defun("=",  cLambda {
             int arguments_length;
             try {
@@ -316,25 +357,57 @@ proc load_built_ins_into_environment(Environment* env) -> void {
                 arguments_length = list_length(arguments);
             }
 
-            if (arguments_length != 2) {
+            if (arguments_length < 2) {
                 report_error(Error_Type::Wrong_Number_Of_Arguments);
             }
 
             Lisp_Object* symbol = arguments->value.pair->first;
+            Lisp_Object* value;
 
             if (symbol->type == Lisp_Object_Type::Pair) {
+                /*
+                   1: arguments
+                   2: symbol
+                   3: real_symbol
+
+                    (define   (f x)   "docs"  (+ 1 x))
+
+                    [ | ] -> [1| ] -> [ | ] -> [ |/]
+                     |        |        |        |
+                     V        |        V        V
+                   define     |      "docs"    [ | ] -> [ | ] -> [ |/]
+                              |                 |        |        |
+                              V                 V        V        V
+                             [2| ] -> [ |/]     +        1        x
+                              |        |
+                              V        V
+                             f(3)      x
+                 */
+
+                Lisp_Object* real_symbol = symbol->value.pair->first;
+
                 try {
-                    symbol = eval_expr(symbol, env);
+                    assert_type(real_symbol, Lisp_Object_Type::Symbol);
                 }
-            }
 
-            if (symbol->type != Lisp_Object_Type::Symbol) {
-                report_error(Error_Type::Type_Missmatch);
-            }
+                Lisp_Object* fake_lambda = Memory::create_lisp_object_pair(
+                    symbol   ->value.pair->rest,
+                    arguments->value.pair->rest);
 
-            Lisp_Object* value = arguments->value.pair->rest->value.pair->first;
-            try {
-                value = eval_expr(value, env);
+                value = parse_lambda_starting_from_args(fake_lambda, env);
+                symbol = real_symbol;
+            } else {
+                if (arguments_length > 2) {
+                    report_error(Error_Type::Wrong_Number_Of_Arguments);
+                }
+                if (symbol->type != Lisp_Object_Type::Symbol) {
+                    report_error(Error_Type::Type_Missmatch);
+                }
+
+                value = arguments->value.pair->rest->value.pair->first;
+                try {
+                    value = eval_expr(value, env);
+                }
             }
 
             define_symbol(symbol, value, env);
@@ -635,7 +708,7 @@ proc load_built_ins_into_environment(Environment* env) -> void {
             return evaluated_arguments->value.pair->first;
         });
     defun("lambda", cLambda {
-            /*
+            /*  TODO(Felix): first one crashes
              *  (lambda ())
              *  (lambda (x d) (+ 1 2) (- 1 2) (* 1 2))
              */
@@ -646,43 +719,11 @@ proc load_built_ins_into_environment(Environment* env) -> void {
             if (arguments_length == 0)
                 report_error(Error_Type::Wrong_Number_Of_Arguments);
 
-            Function* function = new(Function);
-            function->parent_environment = env;
-            function->type = Function_Type::Lambda;
-
-            // if parameters were specified
-            if (arguments->value.pair->first->type != Lisp_Object_Type::Nil) {
-                try {
-                    assert_type(arguments->value.pair->first, Lisp_Object_Type::Pair);
-                }
-                try {
-                    parse_argument_list(arguments->value.pair->first, function);
-                }
-            } else {
-                function->positional_arguments = create_positional_argument_list(1);
-                function->keyword_arguments = create_keyword_argument_list(1);
-                function->rest_argument = nullptr;
-            }
-
-            arguments = arguments->value.pair->rest;
-            // if there is a docstring, use it
-            if (arguments->value.pair->first->type == Lisp_Object_Type::String) {
-                function->docstring = arguments->value.pair->first->value.string;
-                arguments = arguments->value.pair->rest;
-            } else {
-                function->docstring = nullptr;
-            }
+            Lisp_Object* function = parse_lambda_starting_from_args(arguments, env);
+            // parse lambda starting from arguments
 
-            // we are now in the function body, just wrap it in an
-            // implicit prog
-            function->body = Memory::create_lisp_object_pair(
-                Memory::get_or_create_lisp_object_symbol("prog"),
-                arguments);
 
-            Lisp_Object* ret = Memory::create_lisp_object();
-            ret->type = Lisp_Object_Type::Function;
-            ret->value.function = function;
-            return ret;
+            return function;
         });
     defun("special-lambda", cLambda {
             /*
@@ -953,6 +994,23 @@ proc load_built_ins_into_environment(Environment* env) -> void {
                 delete_error();
             }
 
+            return Memory::nil;
+        });
+    defun("show", cLambda {
+            try {
+                evaluated_arguments = eval_arguments(arguments, env, &arguments_length);
+            }
+            if (arguments_length != 1) {
+                report_error(Error_Type::Wrong_Number_Of_Arguments);
+            }
+            if (evaluated_arguments->value.pair->first->type != Lisp_Object_Type::Function) {
+                report_error(Error_Type::Type_Missmatch);
+            }
+
+            puts("body:\n");
+            print(evaluated_arguments->value.pair->first->value.function->body);
+            puts("\n");
+
             return Memory::nil;
         });
     defun("print", cLambda {
diff --git a/src/defines.cpp b/src/defines.cpp
index 725095e..43ee094 100644
--- a/src/defines.cpp
+++ b/src/defines.cpp
@@ -10,10 +10,14 @@ constexpr bool is_debug_build = false;
 #define if_debug if constexpr (is_debug_build)
 
 #ifdef _MSC_VER
+# define if_windows if constexpr (1)
+# define if_linux   if constexpr (0)
 # define debug_break() if_debug __debugbreak()
 #else
 # include <signal.h>
 # define debug_break() if_debug raise(SIGTRAP)
+# define if_windows if (0)
+# define if_linux   if (1)
 #endif
 
 #define assert(cond)                                                    \
@@ -26,26 +30,32 @@ constexpr bool is_debug_build = false;
 
 #define concat_( a, b) a##b
 #define label(prefix, lnum) concat_(prefix,lnum)
-#define try                                     \
-    if (1)                                      \
-        goto label(body,__LINE__);              \
-    else                                        \
-        while (1)                               \
-            if (1) {                            \
-                if(error) return 0;             \
-                break;                          \
-            }                                   \
+#define try                                                     \
+    if (1)                                                      \
+        goto label(body,__LINE__);                              \
+    else                                                        \
+        while (1)                                               \
+            if (1) {                                            \
+                if(error) {                                     \
+                    printf("in %s:%d\n", __FILE__, __LINE__);   \
+                    return 0;                                   \
+                }                                               \
+                break;                                          \
+            }                                                   \
             else label(body,__LINE__):
 
-#define try_void                                \
-    if (1)                                      \
-        goto label(body,__LINE__);              \
-    else                                        \
-        while (1)                               \
-            if (1) {                            \
-                if(error) return;               \
-                break;                          \
-            }                                   \
+#define try_void                                                \
+    if (1)                                                      \
+        goto label(body,__LINE__);                              \
+    else                                                        \
+        while (1)                                               \
+            if (1) {                                            \
+                if(error) {                                     \
+                    printf("in %s:%d\n", __FILE__, __LINE__);   \
+                    return;                                     \
+                }                                               \
+                break;                                          \
+            }                                                   \
             else label(body,__LINE__):
 
 
@@ -75,11 +85,11 @@ constexpr bool is_debug_build = false;
         return ret;                                                     \
     }
 
-// #define console_normal "\x1B[0m"
-// #define console_red    "\x1B[31m"
-// #define console_green  "\x1B[32m"
-// #define console_cyan   "\x1B[36m"
-#define console_normal ""
-#define console_red    ""
-#define console_green  ""
-#define console_cyan   ""
+#define console_normal "\x1B[0m"
+#define console_red    "\x1B[31m"
+#define console_green  "\x1B[32m"
+#define console_cyan   "\x1B[36m"
+// #define console_normal ""
+// #define console_red    ""
+// #define console_green  ""
+// #define console_cyan   ""
diff --git a/src/error.cpp b/src/error.cpp
index 0ccdf55..854d9f3 100644
--- a/src/error.cpp
+++ b/src/error.cpp
@@ -39,8 +39,10 @@ proc Error_Type_to_string(Error_Type type) -> const char* {
 }
 
 proc assert_type(Lisp_Object* node, Lisp_Object_Type type) -> void {
-    if (!node)
-        create_error(Error_Type::Unknown_Error, nullptr);
-    if (node->type == type) return;
-    create_error(Error_Type::Type_Missmatch, node->sourceCodeLocation);
+    if_debug {
+        if (!node)
+            create_error(Error_Type::Unknown_Error, nullptr);
+        if (node->type == type) return;
+        create_error(Error_Type::Type_Missmatch, node->sourceCodeLocation);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/eval.cpp b/src/eval.cpp
index a7c83d0..52ba6b2 100644
--- a/src/eval.cpp
+++ b/src/eval.cpp
@@ -321,6 +321,7 @@ proc extract_keyword_value(char* keyword, Parsed_Arguments* args) -> Lisp_Object
 proc eval_arguments(Lisp_Object* arguments, Environment* env, int *out_arguments_length) -> Lisp_Object* {
     int my_out_arguments_length = 0;
     if (arguments->type == Lisp_Object_Type::Nil) {
+        *(out_arguments_length) = 0;
         return arguments;
     }
 
@@ -351,11 +352,6 @@ proc eval_arguments(Lisp_Object* arguments, Environment* env, int *out_arguments
 }
 
 proc eval_expr(Lisp_Object* node, Environment* env) -> Lisp_Object* {
-#define report_error(_type) {                           \
-        create_error(_type, node->sourceCodeLocation);  \
-        return nullptr;                                 \
-    }
-
     switch (node->type) {
     case Lisp_Object_Type::T:
     case Lisp_Object_Type::Nil:
@@ -372,7 +368,7 @@ proc eval_expr(Lisp_Object* node, Environment* env) -> Lisp_Object* {
     }
     case Lisp_Object_Type::Pair: {
         current_source_code_location = node->sourceCodeLocation;
-        
+
         Lisp_Object* lispOperator;
         if (node->value.pair->first->type != Lisp_Object_Type::CFunction &&
             node->value.pair->first->type != Lisp_Object_Type::Function)
@@ -411,10 +407,10 @@ proc eval_expr(Lisp_Object* node, Environment* env) -> Lisp_Object* {
         }
     }
     default: {
-        report_error(Error_Type::Not_A_Function);
+        create_error(Error_Type::Not_A_Function, node->sourceCodeLocation);
+        return nullptr;
     }
     }
-#undef report_error
 }
 
 proc is_truthy (Lisp_Object* expression, Environment* env) -> bool {
diff --git a/src/forward_decls.cpp b/src/forward_decls.cpp
index a1187b8..8d73078 100644
--- a/src/forward_decls.cpp
+++ b/src/forward_decls.cpp
@@ -7,3 +7,4 @@ proc list_length(Lisp_Object*) -> int;
 proc load_built_ins_into_environment(Environment*) -> void;
 proc parse_argument_list(Lisp_Object*, Function*) -> void;
 proc create_error(Error_Type type, Source_Code_Location* location) -> void;
+proc assert_type(Lisp_Object* node, Lisp_Object_Type type) -> void;
diff --git a/src/io.cpp b/src/io.cpp
index 205bd04..eb6ca38 100644
--- a/src/io.cpp
+++ b/src/io.cpp
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ proc string_equal(String* str1, String* str2) -> bool {
 
 proc get_nibble(char c) -> char {
     if (c >= 'A' && c <= 'F')
-        return (c - 'a') + 10;
-    else if (c >= 'a' && c <= 'f')
         return (c - 'A') + 10;
+    else if (c >= 'a' && c <= 'f')
+        return (c - 'a') + 10;
     return (c - '0');
 }
 
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ proc unescape_string(char* in) -> bool {
         } else {
             /* escape sequence */
             switch (*++p) {
+            case '0': *out++ = '\a'; ++p; break;
             case 'a': *out++ = '\a'; ++p; break;
             case 'b': *out++ = '\b'; ++p; break;
             case 'f': *out++ = '\f'; ++p; break;
@@ -49,22 +50,21 @@ proc unescape_string(char* in) -> bool {
             case 'r': *out++ = '\r'; ++p; break;
             case 't': *out++ = '\t'; ++p; break;
             case 'v': *out++ = '\v'; ++p; break;
-
             case '"':
             case '\'':
             case '\\':
                 *out++ = *p++;
             case '?':
                 break;
-            // case 'x':
-            // case 'X':
-            //     if (!isxdigit(p[1]) || !isxdigit(p[2])) {
-            //         int_err = "Invalid character on hexadecimal escape.";
-            //     } else {
-            //         *out++ = (char)(get_nibble(p[1]) * 0x10 + get_nibble(p[2]));
-            //         p += 3;
-            //     }
-            //     break;
+            case 'x':
+            case 'X':
+                if (!isxdigit(p[1]) || !isxdigit(p[2])) {
+                    int_err = "Invalid character on hexadecimal escape.";
+                } else {
+                    *out++ = (char)(get_nibble(p[1]) * 0x10 + get_nibble(p[2]));
+                    p += 3;
+                }
+                break;
             default:
                 int_err = "Unexpected '\\' with no escape sequence.";
                 break;
@@ -227,10 +227,10 @@ proc panic(char* message) -> void {
     exit(1);
 }
 
-proc print(Lisp_Object* node) -> void {
+proc print(Lisp_Object* node, bool print_quotes = false) -> void {
     switch (node->type) {
     case (Lisp_Object_Type::Nil): {
-        printf("nil");
+        printf("()");
     } break;
     case (Lisp_Object_Type::T): {
         printf("t");
@@ -239,7 +239,10 @@ proc print(Lisp_Object* node) -> void {
         printf("%f", node->value.number->value);
     } break;
     case (Lisp_Object_Type::String): {
-        printf("\"%s\"", Memory::get_c_str(node->value.string));
+        if (print_quotes)
+            printf("\"%s\"", Memory::get_c_str(node->value.string));
+        else
+            printf("%s", Memory::get_c_str(node->value.string));
     } break;
     case (Lisp_Object_Type::Symbol): {
         printf("%s", Memory::get_c_str(node->value.symbol->identifier));
diff --git a/src/memory.cpp b/src/memory.cpp
index 1ee54d3..1eda2ed 100644
--- a/src/memory.cpp
+++ b/src/memory.cpp
@@ -46,6 +46,11 @@ namespace Memory {
         return &str->data;
     }
 
+    inline proc get_c_str(Lisp_Object* str) -> char* {
+        assert_type(str, Lisp_Object_Type::String);
+        return get_c_str(str->value.string);
+    }
+
     proc create_string(const char* str, int len) -> String* {
         // TODO(Felix): check the holes first, not just always append
         // at the end
@@ -146,6 +151,13 @@ namespace Memory {
         return node;
     }
 
+    proc create_lisp_object_string(char* str) -> Lisp_Object* {
+        Lisp_Object* node = create_lisp_object();
+        node->type = Lisp_Object_Type::String;
+        node->value.string = create_string(str);
+        return node;
+    }
+
     proc get_or_create_lisp_object_symbol(String* identifier) -> Lisp_Object* {
         // TODO(Felix): if we already have it stored somewhere then
         // reuse it and dont create new one
@@ -223,4 +235,29 @@ namespace Memory {
         load_built_ins_into_environment(ret);
         return ret;
     }
+
+    inline proc create_list(Lisp_Object* o1) -> Lisp_Object* {
+        return create_lisp_object_pair(o1, nil);
+    }
+
+    inline proc create_list(Lisp_Object* o1, Lisp_Object* o2) -> Lisp_Object* {
+        return create_lisp_object_pair(o1, create_list(o2));
+    }
+
+    inline proc create_list(Lisp_Object* o1, Lisp_Object* o2, Lisp_Object* o3) -> Lisp_Object* {
+        return create_lisp_object_pair(o1, create_list(o2, o3));
+    }
+
+    inline proc create_list(Lisp_Object* o1, Lisp_Object* o2, Lisp_Object* o3, Lisp_Object* o4) -> Lisp_Object* {
+        return create_lisp_object_pair(o1, create_list(o2, o3, o4));
+    }
+
+    inline proc create_list(Lisp_Object* o1, Lisp_Object* o2, Lisp_Object* o3, Lisp_Object* o4, Lisp_Object* o5) -> Lisp_Object* {
+        return create_lisp_object_pair(o1, create_list(o2, o3, o4, o5));
+    }
+
+    inline proc create_list(Lisp_Object* o1, Lisp_Object* o2, Lisp_Object* o3, Lisp_Object* o4, Lisp_Object* o5, Lisp_Object* o6) -> Lisp_Object* {
+        return create_lisp_object_pair(o1, create_list(o2, o3, o4, o5, o6));
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/src/parse.cpp b/src/parse.cpp
index 77d3aae..d799d9d 100644
--- a/src/parse.cpp
+++ b/src/parse.cpp
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 namespace Parser {
-
+    String* standard_in;
     String* parser_file;
     int parser_line;
     int parser_col;
+
     // NOTE(Felix): In this environment, the build in functions will
     // be loaded, and the macros will be stored in form of
     // special-lambdas, that get executed in this environment at
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ namespace Parser {
         // change that, we have to define some funcions in this
         // environment.
         environment_for_macros = env;
+        standard_in = Memory::create_string("stdin");
     }
 
     proc inject_scl(Lisp_Object* lo) -> void {
@@ -98,6 +100,7 @@ namespace Parser {
         // update the index to point to the character after the atom
         // ended
         *index_in_text += atom_length;
+        parser_col += atom_length;
 
         return ret;
     }
@@ -147,6 +150,7 @@ namespace Parser {
 
             // plus one because we want to go after the quotes
             *index_in_text += 1;
+            ++parser_col;
 
             return ret;
         }
@@ -170,18 +174,31 @@ namespace Parser {
                 create_source_code_location(parser_file, parser_line, parser_col));
             return nullptr;
         }
+
+        // TODO(Felix): manually copy to parse control sequences
+        // correctly without the need to unescape the string, also
+        // better for keeping track of the encountered new lines and
+        // characters since last new line so we can update the parser
+        // location more easily
         strcpy(&string->data, text+(*index_in_text));
-        /* manually copy to parse control sequences correctly */
-        /* int temp_index = 0; */
-        /* while (text+(temp_index+(*index_in_text)) != '\0') { */
-        /*     string[temp_index++] = text[temp_index+(*index_in_text)]; */
-        /* } */
-        /* string[temp_index++] = '\0'; */
 
         text[*index_in_text+string_length] = '"';
 
-        *index_in_text += string_length +1; // plus one because we want to
-        // go after the quotes
+        // plus one because we want to go after the quotes
+        *index_in_text += string_length +1;
+
+        // NOTE(Felix): this only has to be done until we manually
+        // copy the string and we can do some bookeeping:
+        /* recalculate the parser cursors position:  */
+        /* new col = (count chars since last \n) + 1 */
+        for (int i = 0; i < string->length; ++i) {
+            if (*((&string->data)+i) == '\n') {
+                ++parser_line;
+                parser_col = 0;
+            } else {
+                ++parser_col;
+            }
+        }
 
         Lisp_Object* ret = Memory::create_lisp_object_string(string);
         inject_scl(ret);
@@ -445,7 +462,7 @@ namespace Parser {
     }
 
     proc parse_single_expression(char* text) -> Lisp_Object* {
-        parser_file = Memory::create_string("stdin");
+        parser_file = standard_in;
         parser_line = 1;
         parser_col = 1;
 
@@ -474,6 +491,44 @@ namespace Parser {
         return nullptr;
     }
 
+    proc parse_single_expression_or_bare_words(char* text, char* bare) -> Lisp_Object* {
+        parser_file = standard_in;
+        parser_line = 1;
+        parser_col = 1;
+
+        int index_in_text = 0;
+        Lisp_Object* result;
+        eat_until_code(text, &index_in_text);
+        if (text[(index_in_text)] == '\0')
+            return Memory::nil;
+        if (text[index_in_text] == '('  ||
+            text[index_in_text] == '\'' ||
+            text[index_in_text] == '`'  ||
+            text[index_in_text] == ',')
+        {
+            try {
+                result = parse_expression(text, &index_in_text);
+            }
+
+            return result;
+        }
+        else {
+            int pos = index_in_text;
+            int end_pos = index_in_text;
+            while (text[end_pos] != '\n')
+                ++end_pos;
+
+            text[end_pos] = '\0';
+            Lisp_Object* str = Memory::create_lisp_object_string(
+                Memory::create_string(text+index_in_text));
+            text[end_pos] = '\n';
+
+            return Memory::create_list(
+                Memory::get_or_create_lisp_object_symbol(bare), str);
+        }
+
+    }
+
     proc write_expanded_file(String* file_name, Lisp_Object_Array_List* program) -> void {
         const char* ext = ".expanded";
         char* newName = (char*)calloc(10 + file_name->length, sizeof(char));
diff --git a/src/slime.h b/src/slime.h
index 4008d02..ffbe249 100644
--- a/src/slime.h
+++ b/src/slime.h
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#define _CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS
 #define _CRT_SECURE_NO_DEPRECATE
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <cmath>
+#include <ctype.h>
 // #include <type_traits>
 #include <functional>
 
@@ -25,3 +27,4 @@ namespace Slime {
 }
 
 #undef _CRT_SECURE_NO_DEPRECATE
+#undef _CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS