diff --git a/.cvsignore b/.cvsignore
index 35eb6f0..c97a903 100644
--- a/.cvsignore
+++ b/.cvsignore
@@ -23,3 +23,4 @@ havealloca.h
 uudecode
 haveuint128.h
 ent
+tags
diff --git a/buffer.h b/buffer.h
index 24ff5e1..935b9bf 100644
--- a/buffer.h
+++ b/buffer.h
@@ -16,20 +16,22 @@ typedef struct buffer {
   size_t p;		/* current position */
   size_t n;		/* current size of string in buffer */
   size_t a;		/* allocated buffer size */
-  int fd;		/* passed as first argument to op */
   ssize_t (*op)();	/* use read(2) or write(2) */
-  enum { NOTHING, FREE, MUNMAP } todo;
-  void* cookie;
+  void* cookie;			/* used internally by the to-stralloc buffers, and for buffer chaining */
+  void (*deinit)(void*);	/* called to munmap/free cleanup, with a pointer to the buffer as argument */
+  int fd;		/* passed as first argument to op */
 } buffer;
 
-#define BUFFER_INIT(op,fd,buf,len) { (buf), 0, 0, (len), (fd), (op), NOTHING, NULL }
-#define BUFFER_INIT_FREE(op,fd,buf,len) { (buf), 0, 0, (len), (fd), (op), FREE }
+#define BUFFER_INIT(op,fd,buf,len) { (buf), 0, 0, (len), (op), NULL, NULL, (fd) }
+#define BUFFER_INIT_FREE(op,fd,buf,len) { (buf), 0, 0, (len), (op), NULL, buffer_free, (fd) }
 #define BUFFER_INIT_READ(op,fd,buf,len) BUFFER_INIT(op,fd,buf,len) /*obsolete*/
 #define BUFFER_INSIZE 8192
 #define BUFFER_OUTSIZE 8192
 
 void buffer_init(buffer* b,ssize_t (*op)(),int fd,char* y,size_t ylen);
 void buffer_init_free(buffer* b,ssize_t (*op)(),int fd,char* y,size_t ylen);
+void buffer_free(void* buf);
+void buffer_munmap(void* buf);
 int buffer_mmapread(buffer* b,const char* filename);
 void buffer_close(buffer* b);
 
@@ -56,8 +58,8 @@ int buffer_putnlflush(buffer* b); /* put \n and flush */
   )
 
 ssize_t buffer_get(buffer* b,char* x,size_t len);
-int buffer_feed(buffer* b);
-int buffer_getc(buffer* b,char* x);
+ssize_t buffer_feed(buffer* b);
+ssize_t buffer_getc(buffer* b,char* x);
 ssize_t buffer_getn(buffer* b,char* x,size_t len);
 
 /* read bytes until the destination buffer is full (len bytes), end of
diff --git a/buffer/buffer_close.c b/buffer/buffer_close.c
index 41d57d9..ebd8691 100644
--- a/buffer/buffer_close.c
+++ b/buffer/buffer_close.c
@@ -1,22 +1,7 @@
 #include <buffer.h>
-#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
-#ifdef __MINGW32__
-#include <windows.h>
-#else
-#include <sys/mman.h>
-#endif
 
 void buffer_close(buffer* b) {
   if (b->fd != -1) close(b->fd);
-  switch (b->todo) {
-  case FREE: free(b->x); break;
-  case MUNMAP:
-#ifdef __MINGW32__
-    UnmapViewOfFile(b->x);
-#else
-    munmap(b->x,b->a); break;
-#endif
-  default: ;
-  }
+  if (b->deinit) b->deinit(b);
 }
diff --git a/buffer/buffer_feed.c b/buffer/buffer_feed.c
index 4fe06a0..9d97eda 100644
--- a/buffer/buffer_feed.c
+++ b/buffer/buffer_feed.c
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 #include "buffer.h"
 
-extern int buffer_stubborn_read(ssize_t (*op)(),int fd,const char* buf, size_t len,void* cookie);
+extern ssize_t buffer_stubborn_read(ssize_t (*op)(),int fd,const char* buf, size_t len,void* cookie);
 
-int buffer_feed(buffer* b) {
+ssize_t buffer_feed(buffer* b) {
   if (b->p==b->n) {
-    int w;
+    ssize_t w;
     if ((w=buffer_stubborn_read(b->op,b->fd,b->x,b->a,b))<0)
       return -1;
-    b->n=w;
+    b->n=(size_t)w;
     b->p=0;
   }
-  return (b->n-b->p);
+  return (ssize_t)(b->n-b->p);
 }
diff --git a/buffer/buffer_flush.c b/buffer/buffer_flush.c
index 40eae2a..786cb16 100644
--- a/buffer/buffer_flush.c
+++ b/buffer/buffer_flush.c
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 #include "buffer.h"
 
-extern int buffer_stubborn(ssize_t (*op)(),int fd,const char* buf, size_t len,void* cookie);
+extern ssize_t buffer_stubborn(ssize_t (*op)(),int fd,const char* buf, size_t len,void* cookie);
 
 extern int buffer_flush(buffer* b) {
-  register int p;
+  register size_t p;
+  register ssize_t r;
   if (!(p=b->p)) return 0; /* buffer already empty */
   b->p=0;
-  return buffer_stubborn(b->op,b->fd,b->x,p,b);
+  r=buffer_stubborn(b->op,b->fd,b->x,p,b);
+  if (r>0) r=0;
+  return (int)r;
 }
diff --git a/buffer/buffer_free.c b/buffer/buffer_free.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..521deae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/buffer/buffer_free.c
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include "buffer.h"
+
+void buffer_free(void* buf) {
+  free(buf);
+}
diff --git a/buffer/buffer_frombuf.c b/buffer/buffer_frombuf.c
index fe849ac..0d22e50 100644
--- a/buffer/buffer_frombuf.c
+++ b/buffer/buffer_frombuf.c
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ static ssize_t dummyreadwrite(int fd,char* buf,size_t len) {
 }
 
 void buffer_frombuf(buffer* b,const char* x,size_t l) {
-  b->x=x;
+  b->x=(char*)x;
   b->p=0;
   b->n=l;
   b->a=l;
diff --git a/buffer/buffer_get.3 b/buffer/buffer_get.3
index de21c26..619301e 100644
--- a/buffer/buffer_get.3
+++ b/buffer/buffer_get.3
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ bytes, buffer_get copies only that many bytes, and returns that number.
 If the string is empty, buffer_get first uses a \fBread operation\fR to
 feed data into the string. The \fBread operation\fR may indicate end of
 input, in which case buffer_get returns 0; or a read error, in which
-case buffer_get returns -1, setting \fIerrno\fR approporiately.
+case buffer_get returns -1, setting \fIerrno\fR appropriately.
 
 The preallocated space and the \fBread operation\fR are specified by
 \fIb\fR. You must initialize \fBb\fR using buffer_init before calling
diff --git a/buffer/buffer_get.c b/buffer/buffer_get.c
index 5f35009..be64f53 100644
--- a/buffer/buffer_get.c
+++ b/buffer/buffer_get.c
@@ -2,16 +2,17 @@
 #include "buffer.h"
 
 ssize_t buffer_get(buffer* b,char* x,size_t len) {
-  unsigned long done;
-  int blen;
+  ssize_t done;
+  ssize_t blen;
   done=0;
+  if ((ssize_t)len < 0) len=(ssize_t)(((size_t)-1)>>1);
   while (len) {
     if ((blen=buffer_feed(b))<=0) return blen;
-    if ((unsigned long int) blen>=len)
-      blen=len;
-    byte_copy(x,blen,b->x+b->p);
-    b->p+=blen;
-    len-=blen;
+    if (blen>=(ssize_t)len)
+      blen=(ssize_t)len;
+    byte_copy(x,(size_t)blen,b->x+b->p);
+    b->p+=(size_t)blen;
+    len-=(size_t)blen;
     x+=blen;
     done+=blen;
   }
diff --git a/buffer/buffer_get_token.c b/buffer/buffer_get_token.c
index 25ae46d..4106fd0 100644
--- a/buffer/buffer_get_token.c
+++ b/buffer/buffer_get_token.c
@@ -5,12 +5,13 @@
 ssize_t buffer_get_token(buffer* b,char* x,size_t len,const char* charset,size_t setlen) {
   size_t blen;
 
+  if ((ssize_t)len<0) len=(ssize_t)(((size_t)-1)>>1);
   for (blen=0;blen<len;++blen) {
-    register int r;
+    register ssize_t r;
     if ((r=buffer_getc(b,x))<0) return r;
     if (r==0) { *x=0; break; }
     if (byte_chr(charset,setlen,*x)<setlen) break;
     ++x;
   }
-  return blen;
+  return (ssize_t)blen;
 }
diff --git a/buffer/buffer_get_token_pred.c b/buffer/buffer_get_token_pred.c
index e992b73..69c59a6 100644
--- a/buffer/buffer_get_token_pred.c
+++ b/buffer/buffer_get_token_pred.c
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ ssize_t buffer_get_token_pred(buffer* b,char* x,size_t len,
   unsigned int blen;
 
   for (blen=0;blen<len;++blen) {
-    register int r;
+    register ssize_t r;
     if ((r=buffer_getc(b,x))<0) return r;
     if (r==0) break;
     if (p(x-blen,blen+1)) break;
diff --git a/buffer/buffer_getc.c b/buffer/buffer_getc.c
index b507c2a..de979ae 100644
--- a/buffer/buffer_getc.c
+++ b/buffer/buffer_getc.c
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 #include "byte.h"
 #include "buffer.h"
 
-int buffer_getc(buffer* b,char* x) {
+ssize_t buffer_getc(buffer* b,char* x) {
   if (b->p==b->n) {
-    register int blen;
+    register ssize_t blen;
     if ((blen=buffer_feed(b))<=0) return blen;
   }
   *x=b->x[b->p];
diff --git a/buffer/buffer_getn.c b/buffer/buffer_getn.c
index 2c6405a..0981e7a 100644
--- a/buffer/buffer_getn.c
+++ b/buffer/buffer_getn.c
@@ -4,11 +4,12 @@
 ssize_t buffer_getn(buffer* b,char* x,size_t len) {
   size_t blen;
 
+  if ((ssize_t)len < 0) len=((size_t)-1)>>1;
   for(blen=0;blen<len;++blen) {
     register ssize_t r;
     if ((r=buffer_getc(b,x))<0) return r;
     if (r==0) break;
     ++x;
   }
-  return blen;
+  return (ssize_t)blen;
 }
diff --git a/buffer/buffer_init.c b/buffer/buffer_init.c
index ac91687..772a96b 100644
--- a/buffer/buffer_init.c
+++ b/buffer/buffer_init.c
@@ -8,6 +8,6 @@ void buffer_init(buffer* b,ssize_t (*op)(),int fd,
   b->a=ylen;
   b->p=0;
   b->n=0;
-  b->todo=NOTHING;
   b->cookie=0;
+  b->deinit=0;
 }
diff --git a/buffer/buffer_init_free.c b/buffer/buffer_init_free.c
index 5173008..35044f6 100644
--- a/buffer/buffer_init_free.c
+++ b/buffer/buffer_init_free.c
@@ -3,5 +3,5 @@
 void buffer_init_free(buffer* b,ssize_t (*op)(),int fd,
 		 char* y,size_t ylen) {
   buffer_init(b,op,fd,y,ylen);
-  b->todo=FREE;
+  b->deinit=buffer_free;
 }
diff --git a/buffer/buffer_mmapread.c b/buffer/buffer_mmapread.c
index 901aa57..e9239f8 100644
--- a/buffer/buffer_mmapread.c
+++ b/buffer/buffer_mmapread.c
@@ -10,6 +10,6 @@ int buffer_mmapread(buffer* b,const char* filename) {
   b->p=0; b->a=b->n;
   b->fd=-1;
   b->op=op;
-  b->todo=MUNMAP;
+  b->deinit=buffer_munmap;
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/buffer/buffer_munmap.c b/buffer/buffer_munmap.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ae56d69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/buffer/buffer_munmap.c
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#include "buffer.h"
+#ifdef __MINGW32__
+#include <windows.h>
+#else
+#include <sys/mman.h>
+#endif
+
+void buffer_munmap(void* buf) {
+  buffer* b=(buffer*)buf;
+#ifdef __MINGW32__
+  UnmapViewOfFile(b->x);
+#else
+  munmap(b->x,b->a);
+#endif
+}
diff --git a/buffer/buffer_putalign.c b/buffer/buffer_putalign.c
index 631cd8c..ae39f18 100644
--- a/buffer/buffer_putalign.c
+++ b/buffer/buffer_putalign.c
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #include "buffer.h"
 
 int buffer_putalign(buffer* b,const char* buf,size_t len) {
-  unsigned int tmp;
+  size_t tmp;
   while (len>(tmp=b->a-b->p)) {
     byte_copy(b->x+b->p, tmp, buf);
     b->p+=tmp;
diff --git a/buffer/buffer_stubborn.c b/buffer/buffer_stubborn.c
index 53aa143..3ac07c0 100644
--- a/buffer/buffer_stubborn.c
+++ b/buffer/buffer_stubborn.c
@@ -2,14 +2,14 @@
 #include "buffer.h"
 
 int buffer_stubborn(ssize_t (*op)(),int fd,const char* buf, size_t len,void* cookie) {
-  int w;
+  ssize_t w;
   while (len) {
     if ((w=op(fd,buf,len,cookie))<0) {
       if (errno == EINTR) continue;
       return -1;
     };
     buf+=w;
-    len-=w;
+    len-=(size_t)w;
   }
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/buffer/buffer_stubborn2.c b/buffer/buffer_stubborn2.c
index 8feddae..b9146e2 100644
--- a/buffer/buffer_stubborn2.c
+++ b/buffer/buffer_stubborn2.c
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include "buffer.h"
 
-int buffer_stubborn_read(ssize_t (*op)(),int fd,const char* buf, size_t len,void* cookie) {
-  int w;
+ssize_t buffer_stubborn_read(ssize_t (*op)(),int fd,const char* buf, size_t len,void* cookie) {
+  ssize_t w;
   for (;;) {
     if ((w=op(fd,buf,len,cookie))<0)
       if (errno == EINTR) continue;
diff --git a/buffer/buffer_tosa.c b/buffer/buffer_tosa.c
index f5e4b5b..aa6f119 100644
--- a/buffer/buffer_tosa.c
+++ b/buffer/buffer_tosa.c
@@ -4,14 +4,13 @@
 static ssize_t strallocwrite(int fd,char* buf,size_t len,void* myself) {
   buffer* b=myself;
   stralloc* sa=b->cookie;
-  sa->len+=len;
   if (stralloc_readyplus(sa,1024)==0) return 0;
   b->x=sa->s+sa->len;
   b->p=0;
   b->a=1024;
   (void)fd;
   (void)buf;
-  return len;
+  return (ssize_t)len;
 }
 
 int buffer_tosa(buffer* b,stralloc* sa) {
diff --git a/dns.h b/dns.h
index 3dfcc0e..4fd75a5 100644
--- a/dns.h
+++ b/dns.h
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ unsigned int dns_domain_length(const char *);
 int dns_domain_equal(const char *,const char *);
 int dns_domain_suffix(const char *,const char *);
 unsigned int dns_domain_suffixpos(const char *,const char *);
-int dns_domain_fromdot(char **,const char *,unsigned int);
+int dns_domain_fromdot(char **,const char *,size_t);
 int dns_domain_todot_cat(stralloc *,const char *);
 
 unsigned int dns_packet_copy(const char *,unsigned int,unsigned int,char *,unsigned int);
diff --git a/dns/dns_dfd.c b/dns/dns_dfd.c
index eb8aeac..67f4c49 100644
--- a/dns/dns_dfd.c
+++ b/dns/dns_dfd.c
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #include "byte.h"
 #include "dns.h"
 
-int dns_domain_fromdot(char **out,const char *buf,unsigned int n)
+int dns_domain_fromdot(char **out,const char *buf,size_t n)
 {
   char label[63];
   unsigned int labellen = 0; /* <= sizeof label */
diff --git a/dns/dns_dtda.c b/dns/dns_dtda.c
index ba1db4f..7d4dfe0 100644
--- a/dns/dns_dtda.c
+++ b/dns/dns_dtda.c
@@ -16,15 +16,15 @@ int dns_domain_todot_cat(stralloc *out,const char *d)
     while (ch--) {
       ch2 = *d++;
       if ((ch2 >= 'A') && (ch2 <= 'Z'))
-	ch2 += 32;
+	ch2 = (char)(ch2 + 32);
       if (((ch2 >= 'a') && (ch2 <= 'z')) || ((ch2 >= '0') && (ch2 <= '9')) || (ch2 == '-') || (ch2 == '_')) {
         if (!stralloc_append(out,&ch2)) return 0;
       }
       else {
-	ch3 = ch2;
-	buf[3] = '0' + (ch3 & 7); ch3 >>= 3;
-	buf[2] = '0' + (ch3 & 7); ch3 >>= 3;
-	buf[1] = '0' + (ch3 & 7);
+	ch3 = (unsigned char)ch2;
+	buf[3] = (char)('0' + (ch3 & 7)); ch3 >>= 3;
+	buf[2] = (char)('0' + (ch3 & 7)); ch3 >>= 3;
+	buf[1] = (char)('0' + (ch3 & 7));
 	buf[0] = '\\';
 	if (!stralloc_catb(out,buf,4)) return 0;
       }
diff --git a/dns/dns_rcrw.c b/dns/dns_rcrw.c
index 0559f51..68616b6 100644
--- a/dns/dns_rcrw.c
+++ b/dns/dns_rcrw.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ static int init(stralloc *rules)
     i = 0;
     for (j = 0;j < data.len;++j)
       if (data.s[j] == '\n') {
-        if (!stralloc_catb(rules,data.s + i,j - i)) return -1;
+        if (!stralloc_catb(rules,data.s + i,(size_t)(j - i))) return -1;
         while (rules->len) {
           if (rules->s[rules->len - 1] != ' ')
           if (rules->s[rules->len - 1] != '\t')
diff --git a/ip4.h b/ip4.h
index cbb7435..df74e7e 100644
--- a/ip4.h
+++ b/ip4.h
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
-unsigned int scan_ip4(const char *src,char *ip);
-unsigned int fmt_ip4(char *dest,const char *ip);
+size_t scan_ip4(const char *src,char *ip);
+size_t fmt_ip4(char *dest,const char *ip);
 
 /* for djb backwards compatibility */
 #define ip4_scan scan_ip4
diff --git a/ip6.h b/ip6.h
index 482a582..c85cfa1 100644
--- a/ip6.h
+++ b/ip6.h
@@ -9,16 +9,16 @@
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
-unsigned int scan_ip6(const char* src,char* ip);
-unsigned int fmt_ip6(char* dest,const char* ip);
-unsigned int fmt_ip6c(char* dest,const char* ip);
+size_t scan_ip6(const char* src,char* ip);
+size_t fmt_ip6(char* dest,const char* ip);
+size_t fmt_ip6c(char* dest,const char* ip);
 
-unsigned int scan_ip6if(const char* src,char* ip,uint32* scope_id);
-unsigned int fmt_ip6if(char* dest,const char* ip,uint32 scope_id);
-unsigned int fmt_ip6ifc(char* dest,const char* ip,uint32 scope_id);
+size_t scan_ip6if(const char* src,char* ip,uint32* scope_id);
+size_t fmt_ip6if(char* dest,const char* ip,uint32 scope_id);
+size_t fmt_ip6ifc(char* dest,const char* ip,uint32 scope_id);
 
-unsigned int scan_ip6_flat(const char *src,char *);
-unsigned int fmt_ip6_flat(char *dest,const char *);
+size_t scan_ip6_flat(const char *src,char *);
+size_t fmt_ip6_flat(char *dest,const char *);
 
 /*
  ip6 address syntax: (h = hex digit), no leading '0' required
diff --git a/mmap/mmap_private.c b/mmap/mmap_private.c
index 391f2bf..1850ce0 100644
--- a/mmap/mmap_private.c
+++ b/mmap/mmap_private.c
@@ -27,7 +27,9 @@ char* mmap_private(const char* filename,size_t * filesize) {
   int fd=open_read(filename);
   char *map;
   if (fd>=0) {
-    *filesize=lseek(fd,0,SEEK_END);
+    register off_t o=lseek(fd,0,SEEK_END);
+    if (sizeof(off_t)!=sizeof(size_t) && o > (off_t)(size_t)-1) { close(fd); return 0; }
+    *filesize=(size_t)o;
     map=(char*)mmap(0,*filesize,PROT_READ|PROT_WRITE,MAP_PRIVATE,fd,0);
     if (map==(char*)-1)
       map=0;
diff --git a/mmap/mmap_read.c b/mmap/mmap_read.c
index d3ea7f8..61ddb37 100644
--- a/mmap/mmap_read.c
+++ b/mmap/mmap_read.c
@@ -27,7 +27,9 @@ extern char* mmap_read(const char* filename,size_t * filesize) {
   int fd=open_read(filename);
   char *map;
   if (fd>=0) {
-    *filesize=lseek(fd,0,SEEK_END);
+    register off_t o=lseek(fd,0,SEEK_END);
+    if (sizeof(off_t)!=sizeof(size_t) && o > (off_t)(size_t)-1) { close(fd); return 0; }
+    *filesize=(size_t)o;
     map=mmap(0,*filesize,PROT_READ,MAP_SHARED,fd,0);
     if (map==(char*)-1)
       map=0;
diff --git a/mmap/mmap_shared.c b/mmap/mmap_shared.c
index 205f122..d4c99ff 100644
--- a/mmap/mmap_shared.c
+++ b/mmap/mmap_shared.c
@@ -27,7 +27,9 @@ extern char* mmap_shared(const char* filename,size_t * filesize) {
   int fd=open_rw(filename);
   char *map;
   if (fd>=0) {
-    *filesize=lseek(fd,0,SEEK_END);
+    register off_t o=lseek(fd,0,SEEK_END);
+    if (sizeof(off_t)!=sizeof(size_t) && o > (off_t)(size_t)-1) { close(fd); return 0; }
+    *filesize=(size_t)o;
     map=mmap(0,*filesize,PROT_READ|PROT_WRITE,MAP_SHARED,fd,0);
     if (map==(char*)-1)
       map=0;
diff --git a/open/openreadclose.3 b/open/openreadclose.3
index 26993c1..8187fbd 100644
--- a/open/openreadclose.3
+++ b/open/openreadclose.3
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ openreadclose \- read a whole file into a stralloc
 .SH SYNTAX
 .B #include <openreadclose.h>
 
-int \fBopenreadclose\fP(const char *\fIfilename\fR,
+ssize_t \fBopenreadclose\fP(const char *\fIfilename\fR,
            stralloc* \fIsa\fR,size_t \fIbufsize\fR);
 .SH DESCRIPTION
 openreadclose opens the file \fIfilename\fR for reading and reads the
diff --git a/open/readclose.c b/open/readclose.c
index c798773..2ed56d0 100644
--- a/open/readclose.c
+++ b/open/readclose.c
@@ -2,19 +2,19 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include "readclose.h"
 
-int readclose_append(int fd,stralloc *sa,size_t bufsize)
+ssize_t readclose_append(int fd,stralloc *sa,size_t bufsize)
 {
-  int r;
+  ssize_t r;
   for (;;) {
     if (!stralloc_readyplus(sa,bufsize)) { close(fd); return -1; }
     r = read(fd,sa->s + sa->len,bufsize);
     if (r == -1) if (errno == EINTR) continue;
     if (r <= 0) { close(fd); return r; }
-    sa->len += r;
+    sa->len += (size_t)r;
   }
 }
 
-int readclose(int fd,stralloc *sa,size_t bufsize)
+ssize_t readclose(int fd,stralloc *sa,size_t bufsize)
 {
   if (!stralloc_copys(sa,"")) { close(fd); return -1; }
   return readclose_append(fd,sa,bufsize);
diff --git a/open/readclose_append.3 b/open/readclose_append.3
index 2b4ad4e..2f098ac 100644
--- a/open/readclose_append.3
+++ b/open/readclose_append.3
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ readclose_append \- read a whole file into a stralloc
 .SH SYNTAX
 .B #include <readclose.h>
 
-int \fBreadclose_append\fP(int fd,stralloc* \fIsa\fR,
+ssize_t \fBreadclose_append\fP(int fd,stralloc* \fIsa\fR,
                      size_t \fIbufsize\fR);
 .SH DESCRIPTION
 readclose_append reads the
diff --git a/readclose.h b/readclose.h
index 4f75a90..0e142dd 100644
--- a/readclose.h
+++ b/readclose.h
@@ -1,14 +1,17 @@
 #ifndef READCLOSE_H
 #define READCLOSE_H
 
+/* for ssize_t */
+#include <sys/types.h>
+
 #include "stralloc.h"
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
-int readclose_append(int fd,stralloc *buf,size_t initlen);
-int readclose(int fd,stralloc *buf,size_t initlen);
+ssize_t readclose_append(int fd,stralloc *buf,size_t initlen);
+ssize_t readclose(int fd,stralloc *buf,size_t initlen);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/scan/scan_double.c b/scan/scan_double.c
index 1ccb5f8..864900e 100644
--- a/scan/scan_double.c
+++ b/scan/scan_double.c
@@ -52,5 +52,5 @@ size_t scan_double(const char *in, double *dest) {
   }
 done:
   *dest=(neg?-d:d);
-  return c-in;
+  return (size_t)(c-in);
 }
diff --git a/socket/fmt_ip4.c b/socket/fmt_ip4.c
index 78e4327..87271fa 100644
--- a/socket/fmt_ip4.c
+++ b/socket/fmt_ip4.c
@@ -1,14 +1,13 @@
 #include "fmt.h"
 #include "ip4.h"
 
-unsigned int fmt_ip4(char *s,const char ip[4])
+size_t fmt_ip4(char *s,const char ip[4])
 {
-  unsigned int len;
-  int i;
+  size_t i,len;
 
   len = 0;
   for (i=0; i<4; ++i) {
-    register unsigned int j;
+    register size_t j;
     len+=(j=fmt_ulong(s,(unsigned long) (unsigned char) ip[i]))+1;
     if (s && i<3) { s+=j; *s++='.'; }
   }
diff --git a/socket/fmt_ip6.c b/socket/fmt_ip6.c
index a661d00..63f6a18 100644
--- a/socket/fmt_ip6.c
+++ b/socket/fmt_ip6.c
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@
 #include "ip4.h"
 #include "ip6.h"
 
-unsigned int fmt_ip6(char *s,const char ip[16])
+size_t fmt_ip6(char *s,const char ip[16])
 {
-  unsigned long len,temp, k, pos0=0,len0=0, pos1=0, compr=0;
+  unsigned long temp;
+  size_t len, k, pos0=0,len0=0, pos1=0, compr=0;
 
   for (k=0; k<16; k+=2) {
     if (ip[k]==0 && ip[k+1]==0) {
diff --git a/socket/fmt_ip6_flat.c b/socket/fmt_ip6_flat.c
index a903d78..4351cc3 100644
--- a/socket/fmt_ip6_flat.c
+++ b/socket/fmt_ip6_flat.c
@@ -1,17 +1,14 @@
 #include "ip6.h"
 #include "haveinline.h"
+#include "fmt.h"
 
-static inline char tohex(char c) {
-  return c>=10?c-10+'a':c+'0';
-}
-
-unsigned int fmt_ip6_flat(char *s,const char ip[16])
+size_t fmt_ip6_flat(char *s,const char ip[16])
 {
   int i;
   if (!s) return 32;
   for (i=0; i<16; i++) {
-    *s++=tohex((unsigned char)ip[i] >> 4);
-    *s++=tohex((unsigned char)ip[i] & 15);
+    *s++=fmt_tohex((char)((unsigned char)ip[i] >> 4));
+    *s++=fmt_tohex((unsigned char)ip[i] & 15);
   }
   return 32;
 }
diff --git a/socket/fmt_ip6c.c b/socket/fmt_ip6c.c
index 64ac8de..86f7d6d 100644
--- a/socket/fmt_ip6c.c
+++ b/socket/fmt_ip6c.c
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #include "ip4.h"
 #include "ip6.h"
 
-unsigned int fmt_ip6c(char *s,const char ip[16])
+size_t fmt_ip6c(char *s,const char ip[16])
 {
   if (ip6_isv4mapped(ip))
     return fmt_ip4(s,ip+12);
diff --git a/socket/fmt_ip6if.c b/socket/fmt_ip6if.c
index aba677e..c3d61a1 100644
--- a/socket/fmt_ip6if.c
+++ b/socket/fmt_ip6if.c
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 #include "fmt.h"
 #include "socket.h"
 
-unsigned int fmt_ip6if(char* dest,const char* ip,uint32 scope_id) {
-  int i=fmt_ip6(dest,ip);
+size_t fmt_ip6if(char* dest,const char* ip,uint32 scope_id) {
+  size_t i=fmt_ip6(dest,ip);
   if (scope_id) {
     if (dest) {
       dest[i]='%'; ++i; dest+=i;
diff --git a/socket/scan_ip4.c b/socket/scan_ip4.c
index e375de2..44502f1 100644
--- a/socket/scan_ip4.c
+++ b/socket/scan_ip4.c
@@ -1,18 +1,17 @@
 #include "scan.h"
 #include "ip4.h"
 
-unsigned int scan_ip4(const char *s,char ip[4])
+size_t scan_ip4(const char *s,char ip[4])
 {
-  unsigned int len;
+  size_t i,len;
   unsigned long u;
-  int i;
 
   len = 0;
   for (i=0; i<4; ++i) {
-    register unsigned int j;
+    register size_t j;
     len+=(j=scan_ulong(s,&u))+1;
-    if (!j) return 0;
-    ip[i]=u; s+=j;
+    if (!j || u>255) return 0;
+    ip[i]=(char)u; s+=j;
     if (i<3 && *s!='.') return 0; ++s;
   }
   return len-1;
diff --git a/socket/scan_ip6.c b/socket/scan_ip6.c
index b71afba..5efb0ed 100644
--- a/socket/scan_ip6.c
+++ b/socket/scan_ip6.c
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@
  *   3. The last two words may be written as IPv4 address
  */
 
-unsigned int scan_ip6(const char *s,char ip[16])
+size_t scan_ip6(const char *s,char ip[16])
 {
-  unsigned int i;
-  unsigned int len=0;
+  size_t i;
+  size_t len=0;
   unsigned long u;
 
   char suffix[16];
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ unsigned int scan_ip6(const char *s,char ip[16])
       else
 	return 0;
     }
-    ip[prefixlen++] = (u >> 8);
-    ip[prefixlen++] = (u & 255);
+    ip[prefixlen++] = (char)(u >> 8);
+    ip[prefixlen++] = (char)u;
     s += i; len += i;
     if (prefixlen==16)
       return len;
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ unsigned int scan_ip6(const char *s,char ip[16])
       break;
     }
     if (suffixlen+prefixlen<=12 && s[i]=='.') {
-      int j=scan_ip4(s,suffix+suffixlen);
+      size_t j=scan_ip4(s,suffix+suffixlen);
       if (j) {
 	suffixlen+=4;
 	len+=j;
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ unsigned int scan_ip6(const char *s,char ip[16])
       } else
 	prefixlen=12-suffixlen;	/* make end-of-loop test true */
     }
-    suffix[suffixlen++] = (u >> 8);
-    suffix[suffixlen++] = (u & 255);
+    suffix[suffixlen++] = (char)(u >> 8);
+    suffix[suffixlen++] = (char)u;
     s += i; len += i;
     if (prefixlen+suffixlen==16)
       break;
diff --git a/socket/scan_ip6_flat.c b/socket/scan_ip6_flat.c
index d9b28f1..95ac974 100644
--- a/socket/scan_ip6_flat.c
+++ b/socket/scan_ip6_flat.c
@@ -1,16 +1,16 @@
 #include "scan.h"
 
-unsigned int scan_ip6_flat(const char *s,char ip[16])
+size_t scan_ip6_flat(const char *s,char ip[16])
 {
-  int i;
+  size_t i;
   for (i=0; i<16; i++) {
     int tmp;
-    tmp=scan_fromhex(*s++);
+    tmp=scan_fromhex((unsigned char)*s++);
     if (tmp<0) return 0;
-    ip[i]=tmp << 4;
-    tmp=scan_fromhex(*s++);
+    ip[i]=(char)(tmp << 4);
+    tmp=scan_fromhex((unsigned char)*s++);
     if (tmp<0) return 0;
-    ip[i]+=tmp;
+    ip[i] = ip[i] | (char)tmp;
   }
   return 32;
 }
diff --git a/socket/scan_ip6if.c b/socket/scan_ip6if.c
index efb7626..cb28bb1 100644
--- a/socket/scan_ip6if.c
+++ b/socket/scan_ip6if.c
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@
 #include "socket.h"
 #include "havealloca.h"
 
-unsigned int scan_ip6if(const char* src,char* ip,uint32* scope_id) {
-  int i=scan_ip6(src,ip);
+size_t scan_ip6if(const char* src,char* ip,uint32* scope_id) {
+  size_t i=scan_ip6(src,ip);
   *scope_id=0;
   if (src[i]=='%') {
-    int j;
+    size_t j;
     char* tmp;
     for (j=i+1; isalnum(src[j]); ++j) ;
     if (!src[j])
diff --git a/socket/socket_listen.c b/socket/socket_listen.c
index 431d3aa..a9efe17 100644
--- a/socket/socket_listen.c
+++ b/socket/socket_listen.c
@@ -28,6 +28,6 @@ int socket_listen(int s,unsigned int backlog) {
   }
   return r;
 #else
-  return listen(s, backlog);
+  return listen(s, (int)backlog);
 #endif
 }
diff --git a/stralloc.h b/stralloc.h
index 1c4d990..c66c04d 100644
--- a/stralloc.h
+++ b/stralloc.h
@@ -107,15 +107,19 @@ int stralloc_diffs(const stralloc* a,const char* b) __pure__;
 int stralloc_catulong0(stralloc* sa,unsigned long int in,size_t n);
 
 /* stralloc_catlong0 appends a '0' padded ASCII representation of in */
+/* note that the n does not include the sign:
+ * stralloc_catlong0(&sa,-10,4) -> "-0010" */
 int stralloc_catlong0(stralloc* sa,signed long int in,size_t n);
 
 /* stralloc_free frees the storage associated with sa */
 void stralloc_free(stralloc* sa);
 
 #define stralloc_catlong(sa,l) (stralloc_catlong0((sa),(l),0))
+#define stralloc_catulong(sa,l) (stralloc_catulong0((sa),(l),0))
 #define stralloc_catuint0(sa,i,n) (stralloc_catulong0((sa),(i),(n)))
 #define stralloc_catint0(sa,i,n) (stralloc_catlong0((sa),(i),(n)))
 #define stralloc_catint(sa,i) (stralloc_catlong0((sa),(i),0))
+#define stralloc_catuint(sa,i) (stralloc_catulong0((sa),(i),0))
 
 /* remove last char.  Return removed byte as unsigned char (or -1 if stralloc was empty). */
 int stralloc_chop(stralloc* sa);
@@ -129,7 +133,7 @@ int buffer_putsa(buffer* b,stralloc* sa);
 /* write stralloc to buffer and flush */
 int buffer_putsaflush(buffer* b,stralloc* sa);
 
-/* these "read token" functions return 0 if the token was complete or
+/* these "read token" functions return 1 for a complete token, 0 if
  * EOF was hit or -1 on error.  In contrast to the non-stralloc token
  * functions, the separator is also put in the stralloc; use
  * stralloc_chop or stralloc_chomp to get rid of it. */
@@ -158,9 +162,10 @@ int buffer_get_token_sa_pred(buffer* b,stralloc* sa,sa_predicate p);
 int buffer_get_new_token_sa_pred(buffer* b,stralloc* sa,sa_predicate p);
 
 
-/* make a buffer from a stralloc.
+/* make a buffer (for reading) from a stralloc.
  * Do not change the stralloc after this! */
 void buffer_fromsa(buffer* b,stralloc* sa);
+int buffer_tosa(buffer*b,stralloc* sa);		/* write to sa, auto-growing it */
 #endif
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
diff --git a/stralloc/stralloc_catlong0.c b/stralloc/stralloc_catlong0.c
index b0e03a7..c0e0814 100644
--- a/stralloc/stralloc_catlong0.c
+++ b/stralloc/stralloc_catlong0.c
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@
 #include "fmt.h"
 
 int stralloc_catlong0(stralloc *sa,signed long int in,size_t n) {
-  if (stralloc_readyplus(sa,fmt_minus(0,in)+fmt_ulong0(0,in,n))) {
-    sa->len+=fmt_minus(sa->s+sa->len,in);
-    sa->len+=fmt_ulong0(sa->s+sa->len,in>=0?in:-in,n);
+  int neg=-(in<0);
+  if (neg) in=-in;
+  if (stralloc_readyplus(sa,fmt_minus(0,neg)+fmt_ulong0(0,(unsigned long)in,n))) {
+    sa->len+=fmt_minus(sa->s+sa->len,neg);
+    sa->len+=fmt_ulong0(sa->s+sa->len,(unsigned long)in,n);
     return 1;
   } else
     return 0;
diff --git a/t.c b/t.c
index 82206f9..0903acb 100644
--- a/t.c
+++ b/t.c
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ static int64 writecb(int64 fd,const void* buf,uint64 n) {
 int main(int argc,char* argv[]) {
   char buf[1024];
   size_t l;
+  unsigned char c;
+  printf("%d\n",(c=scan_fromhex('.')));
+  (void)argc;
+  (void)argv;
   assert(fmt_jsonescape(buf,"foo\nbar\\",8)==14 && byte_equal(buf,14,"foo\\u000abar\\\\"));
   memset(buf,0,sizeof(buf));
   assert(scan_jsonescape("foo\\u000abar\\\\",buf,&l)==14 && l==8 && byte_equal(buf,8,"foo\nbar\\"));
diff --git a/tai/tai_pack.c b/tai/tai_pack.c
index 0a2bc06..2d27223 100644
--- a/tai/tai_pack.c
+++ b/tai/tai_pack.c
@@ -5,12 +5,12 @@ void tai_pack(char *s,const struct tai *t)
   uint64 x;
 
   x = t->x;
-  s[7] = x & 255; x >>= 8;
-  s[6] = x & 255; x >>= 8;
-  s[5] = x & 255; x >>= 8;
-  s[4] = x & 255; x >>= 8;
-  s[3] = x & 255; x >>= 8;
-  s[2] = x & 255; x >>= 8;
-  s[1] = x & 255; x >>= 8;
-  s[0] = x;
+  s[7] = (char)x; x >>= 8;
+  s[6] = (char)x; x >>= 8;
+  s[5] = (char)x; x >>= 8;
+  s[4] = (char)x; x >>= 8;
+  s[3] = (char)x; x >>= 8;
+  s[2] = (char)x; x >>= 8;
+  s[1] = (char)x; x >>= 8;
+  s[0] = (char)x;
 }
diff --git a/taia/taia_add.c b/taia/taia_add.c
index 3044a26..01bd5f4 100644
--- a/taia/taia_add.c
+++ b/taia/taia_add.c
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@ void taia_add(struct taia *t,const struct taia *u,const struct taia *v)
   t->nano = u->nano + v->nano;
   t->atto = u->atto + v->atto;
   if (t->atto > 999999999UL) {
-    t->atto -= 1000000000UL;
+    t->atto -= (uint32)1000000000UL;
     ++t->nano;
   }
   if (t->nano > 999999999UL) {
-    t->nano -= 1000000000UL;
+    t->nano -= (uint32)1000000000UL;
     ++t->sec.x;
   }
 }
diff --git a/taia/taia_addsec.c b/taia/taia_addsec.c
index 03a04b5..32ac295 100644
--- a/taia/taia_addsec.c
+++ b/taia/taia_addsec.c
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 void taia_addsec(struct taia *t,const struct taia *u,long secs)
 {
-  t->sec.x = u->sec.x + secs;
+  t->sec.x = u->sec.x + (uint64)(int64)secs;
   t->nano = u->nano;
   t->atto = u->atto;
 }
diff --git a/taia/taia_half.c b/taia/taia_half.c
index 189bd0c..9d27719 100644
--- a/taia/taia_half.c
+++ b/taia/taia_half.c
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 
 void taia_half(tai6464* t,const tai6464* u) {
   t->atto = u->atto >> 1;
-  if (u->nano & 1) t->atto += 500000000UL;
+  if (u->nano & 1) t->atto += (uint32)500000000UL;
   t->nano = u->nano >> 1;
-  if (u->sec.x & 1) t->nano += 500000000UL;
+  if (u->sec.x & 1) t->nano += (uint32)500000000UL;
   t->sec.x = u->sec.x >> 1;
 }
diff --git a/taia/taia_now.c b/taia/taia_now.c
index 54d5837..03c3bc2 100644
--- a/taia/taia_now.c
+++ b/taia/taia_now.c
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ void taia_now(struct taia *t)
   struct timeval now;
   gettimeofday(&now,(struct timezone *) 0);
   tai_unix(&t->sec,now.tv_sec);
-  t->nano = 1000 * now.tv_usec + 500;
+  t->nano = (uint32)(1000 * now.tv_usec + 500);
   t->atto = 0;
 #endif
 }
diff --git a/taia/taia_pack.c b/taia/taia_pack.c
index 89e2c16..b2f9ebf 100644
--- a/taia/taia_pack.c
+++ b/taia/taia_pack.c
@@ -2,19 +2,19 @@
 
 void taia_pack(char *s,const struct taia *t)
 {
-  unsigned long x;
+  uint32 x;
 
   tai_pack(s,&t->sec);
   s += 8;
 
   x = t->atto;
-  s[7] = x & 255; x >>= 8;
-  s[6] = x & 255; x >>= 8;
-  s[5] = x & 255; x >>= 8;
-  s[4] = x;
+  s[7] = (char)x; x >>= 8;
+  s[6] = (char)x; x >>= 8;
+  s[5] = (char)x; x >>= 8;
+  s[4] = (char)x;
   x = t->nano;
-  s[3] = x & 255; x >>= 8;
-  s[2] = x & 255; x >>= 8;
-  s[1] = x & 255; x >>= 8;
-  s[0] = x;
+  s[3] = (char)x; x >>= 8;
+  s[2] = (char)x; x >>= 8;
+  s[1] = (char)x; x >>= 8;
+  s[0] = (char)x;
 }
diff --git a/taia/taia_sub.c b/taia/taia_sub.c
index 6944689..4e27a3c 100644
--- a/taia/taia_sub.c
+++ b/taia/taia_sub.c
@@ -4,18 +4,18 @@
 
 void taia_sub(struct taia *t,const struct taia *u,const struct taia *v)
 {
-  unsigned long unano = u->nano;
-  unsigned long uatto = u->atto;
+  uint32 unano = u->nano;
+  uint32 uatto = u->atto;
   
   t->sec.x = u->sec.x - v->sec.x;
   t->nano = unano - v->nano;
   t->atto = uatto - v->atto;
   if (t->atto > uatto) {
-    t->atto += 1000000000UL;
+    t->atto += (uint32)1000000000UL;
     --t->nano;
   }
   if (t->nano > unano) {
-    t->nano += 1000000000UL;
+    t->nano += (uint32)1000000000UL;
     --t->sec.x;
   }
 }
diff --git a/taia/taia_unpack.c b/taia/taia_unpack.c
index f55ae86..d6e5376 100644
--- a/taia/taia_unpack.c
+++ b/taia/taia_unpack.c
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 void taia_unpack(const char* s,struct taia* t)
 {
-  unsigned long x;
+  uint32_t x;
 
   tai_unpack(s,&t->sec);
   s += 8;
diff --git a/test/marshal.c b/test/marshal.c
index 9062381..57cbad5 100644
--- a/test/marshal.c
+++ b/test/marshal.c
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
 #include <fmt.h>
+#include <stralloc.h>
+#include <buffer.h>
 #include <scan.h>
 #include <textcode.h>
 #include <byte.h>
@@ -12,6 +14,7 @@
 #include <uint64.h>
 #include <openreadclose.h>
 #include <mmap.h>
+#include <str.h>
 
 char buf[100];
 stralloc sa;
@@ -355,5 +358,50 @@ int main() {
   assert(stralloc_readyplus(&sa,(size_t)-1)==0);
   assert(stralloc_ready(&sa,(size_t)-1)==0);
 
+  stralloc_zero(&sa);
+  assert(stralloc_copys(&sa,"hello, "));
+  assert(stralloc_cats(&sa,"world!"));
+  assert(stralloc_diffs(&sa,"hello, world!") == 0);
+  assert(stralloc_equals(&sa,"hello, world!"));
+  assert(stralloc_0(&sa));
+  assert(str_equal(sa.s,"hello, world!"));
+  assert(stralloc_equal(&sa,&sa));
+
+  assert(stralloc_copym(&sa,"hallo",", ","welt","!\n"));
+  assert(stralloc_equals(&sa,"hallo, welt!\n"));
+
+  stralloc_zero(&sa);
+  assert(stralloc_catlong(&sa,1));
+  assert(stralloc_catint(&sa,2));
+  assert(stralloc_catulong(&sa,3));
+  assert(stralloc_catuint(&sa,4));
+  assert(stralloc_equals(&sa,"1234"));
+  assert(stralloc_catulong0(&sa,5678,6));
+  assert(stralloc_equals(&sa,"1234005678"));
+  stralloc_zero(&sa);
+  assert(stralloc_catlong0(&sa,-5678,6));
+  assert(stralloc_equals(&sa,"-005678"));
+  assert(stralloc_chop(&sa));
+  assert(stralloc_equals(&sa,"-00567"));
+  assert(stralloc_chomp(&sa)==0);
+  assert(stralloc_equals(&sa,"-00567"));
+  assert(stralloc_cats(&sa,"\r\n"));
+  assert(stralloc_equals(&sa,"-00567\r\n"));
+  assert(stralloc_chomp(&sa)==2);
+  assert(stralloc_equals(&sa,"-00567"));
+
+  stralloc_zero(&sa);
+  assert(stralloc_copys(&sa,"foo\nbar\r\nbaz"));
+  {
+    buffer b;
+    stralloc s;
+    buffer_fromsa(&b,&sa);
+    stralloc_init(&s);
+    assert(buffer_getline_sa(&b,&s)==1 && stralloc_equals(&s,"foo\n"));
+    assert(buffer_getnewline_sa(&b,&s)==1 && stralloc_equals(&s,"bar\r\n"));
+    assert(buffer_getnewline_sa(&b,&s)==0 && stralloc_equals(&s,"baz"));
+    buffer_close(&b);
+  }
+
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/unix/iopause.c b/unix/iopause.c
index 2ffdd00..316ea5b 100644
--- a/unix/iopause.c
+++ b/unix/iopause.c
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ void iopause(iopause_fd *x,unsigned int len,struct taia *deadline,struct taia *s
     taia_sub(&t,deadline,&t);
     d = taia_approx(&t);
     if (d > 1000.0) d = 1000.0;
-    millisecs = d * 1000.0 + 20.0;
+    millisecs = (int)(d * 1000.0 + 20.0);
   }
 
   for (i = 0;i < len;++i)