diff --git a/DONT_README.md b/DONT_README.md
index 4e374a9..4dec60f 100644
--- a/DONT_README.md
+++ b/DONT_README.md
@@ -1,10 +1,15 @@
-# TODONE
-
 # TODO
 
-- barf for outputs, slurp for inputs
-- architecture needs more careful thought but only after something works
+- architecture needs more careful thought but only after something
+  works
 - too fuzzy right now
-- possibly:
-  - rename parser layers sequentially:
-  - gsc_
+- undo gs_ naming fuckery.. everything is `gsc_*`. it's just
+  needlessly confusing. for now let's name new things gsc_* and then
+  go back and undo the stupidity
+
+# TONOTDO
+
+- barf for outputs, slurp for inputs
+- rename parser layers sequentially
+
+# TODONE
diff --git a/cli/src/gsc_cli.erl b/cli/src/gsc_cli.erl
index 69f8b3d..f0d06b8 100644
--- a/cli/src/gsc_cli.erl
+++ b/cli/src/gsc_cli.erl
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ do(["list", "tests"]) ->
     do_tlist();
 do(["test"]) ->
     do_tests();
+do(["test" | Tests]) ->
+    do_tests(Tests);
 do(["tests"]) ->
     do_tests();
 do(["run", "tests"]) ->
@@ -106,14 +108,48 @@ less_file(Less, FilePath) ->
     end.
 
 do_tests() ->
-    io:format("TestModules = ~p~n", [known_modules_with_prefix("ts")]),
+    io:format("TestModules = ~p~n", [test_mods()]),
     do_runall_tests().
 
 do_runall_tests() ->
     lists:foreach(fun run_mod_main/1, test_mods()).
 
+
+do_tests(List) ->
+    lists:foreach(fun run_test/1, List).
+
+% n
+run_test(TestName) ->
+    % we have two candidate atoms
+    C1 = list_to_atom(TestName),
+    C2 = list_to_atom("gsc_test_" ++ TestName),
+    KnownMods = test_mods(),
+    IsC1 = lists:member(C1, KnownMods),
+    IsC2 = lists:member(C2, KnownMods),
+    if
+        IsC1 -> rmm(C1);
+        IsC2 -> rmm(C2);
+        true -> error({no_such_test, TestName})
+    end.
+
+
+rmm(X) -> run_mod_main(X).
+
+% KnownTests = test_mods(),
+% TestMods = ensure_all_known([], List, KnownTests),
+% lists:foreach(fun run_mod_main/1, TestMods).
+
+
+%ensure_all_known(Acc, [], _) ->
+%    lists:sort(Acc);
+%ensure_all_known(Acc, [T | Ts], Knowns) ->
+%    case lists:member(T, Knowns) of
+%
+%    end.
+
+
 test_mods() ->
-    known_modules_with_prefix("gs_test").
+    known_modules_with_prefix("gsc_test").
 
 known_modules_with_prefix(Pfx) ->
     ModsZipBeamsZipLoaded = code:all_available(),
diff --git a/cli/src/gsc_test_ntree.erl b/cli/src/gsc_test_ntree.erl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d7fe151
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/src/gsc_test_ntree.erl
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+-module(gsc_test_ntree).
+
+-export([
+    main/0
+]).
+
+-include("$gsc_include/gsc.hrl").
+
+
+main() ->
+    x00(),
+    ok.
+
+% x00 = example00
+x00() ->
+    io:format("Example 00:~n", []),
+    io:format("  SrcStr = ~p~n", [x00_src()]),
+    io:format("  Tokens = ~p~n", [x00_tks()]),
+    io:format("  Signal = ~p~n", [x00_sgl()]),
+    io:format("  Tree0  = ~p~n", [x00_tree0()]),
+    ok.
+
+% sample type expr, tokens, signal
+x00_src()   -> "foo => bar * baz".
+x00_tks()   -> gsc:unsafe_tokens_from_string(x00_src()).
+x00_sgl()   -> gsc:filter_signal(x00_tks()).
+x00_tree0() -> mktree(x00_sgl()).
+
+% records copypasta for now
+-record(ns, {val :: any(), kids :: list(any())}).
+-record(nl, {val :: any()}).
+
+-type ntree(X, Y) :: gsc_ntree:ntree(X, Y).
+-type ntree()     :: gsc_ntree:ntree().
+
+-type ast_stem_t() :: vtokens
+                    | {op, tk()}
+                    .
+
+-type ast() :: ntree(ast_stem_t(), tk()).
+
+
+-spec mktree(Signal) -> Tree when
+        Signal  :: gsc:signal(),
+        Tree    :: gsc_ntree:ntree().
+
+% @doc make into a tree
+mktree(Sig) ->
+    Tree0 = gsc_ntree:nstem(vtokens, Sig),
+    Tree1 = rerootl_tkstr("=>", Tree0),
+    Tree2 = rerootl_tkstr("*", Tree1),
+    Tree2.
+
+
+rerootl_tkstr(S, Tree0 = #ns{val = Root0}) ->
+    Kids0 = gsc_ntree:deleaf0(Tree0),
+    IsntS = fun(Tk) -> isnt_str(S, Tk) end,
+    case lists:splitwith(IsntS, Kids0) of
+        % found
+        % input:
+        %   *s Root0
+        %   |
+        %   +-- .l Foo
+        %   +-- .l "=>"
+        %   +-- .l Bar
+        % output:
+        %   *s "=>"
+        %   |
+        %   +-- *s Root0 -- .l Foo
+        %   +-- *s Root0 -- .l Bar
+        {LHS1, [Tk0 | RHS1]} ->
+            Root1    = Root0,
+            LTree1   = gsc_ntree:releaf0(Root1, LHS1),
+            RTree1   = rerootl_tkstr(S, gsc_ntree:releaf0(Root1, RHS1)),
+            NewRoot0 = {op, Tk0},
+            NewKids0 = [LTree1, RTree1],
+            NewTree  = gsc_ntree:releaf0(NewRoot0, NewKids0),
+            NewTree;
+        % not found, nothing to do
+        {Kids0, []} ->
+            Tree0
+    end.
+
+
+%reroot_mapsto(Tree0 = #ns{val = Root0}) ->
+%    Kids0 = gsc_ntree:deleaf0(Tree0),
+%    IsntMapsto = fun(DL) -> isnt_str("=>", Tk) end,
+%    case lists:splitwith(IsntMapsto, Kids0) of
+%        % found
+%        {LHS1, [Tk0 | RHS1]} ->
+%            Root1    = Root0,
+%            LTree1   = gsc_ntree:releaf0(Root1, LHS1),
+%            RTree1   = reroot_mapsto(gsc_ntree:releaf0(Root1, RHS1)),
+%            NewRoot0 = {op, Tk0},
+%            NewKids0 = [LTree1, RTree1],
+%            NewTree  = gsc_ntree:releaf0(NewRoot0, NewKids0),
+%            NewTree;
+%        % nothing to do
+%        {Kids0, []} ->
+%            Tree0
+%    end.
+
+
+
+isnt_str(X, Y) ->
+    not is_str(X, Y).
+
+is_str(S, #tk{str = S}) -> true;
+is_str(_, _)            -> false.
diff --git a/cli/src/gs_test_tokens.erl b/cli/src/gsc_test_tokens.erl
similarity index 99%
rename from cli/src/gs_test_tokens.erl
rename to cli/src/gsc_test_tokens.erl
index eabdeaa..4cd1482 100644
--- a/cli/src/gs_test_tokens.erl
+++ b/cli/src/gsc_test_tokens.erl
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 % gsc tokenizer tests
--module(gs_test_tokens).
+-module(gsc_test_tokens).
 
 -export([
     main/0, ct_dir/0
diff --git a/cli/src/ts_utils.erl b/cli/src/ts_utils.erl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7813171
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/src/ts_utils.erl
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+% testing utilities
+-module(ts_utils).
+
+-export([
+    ct_dir/0,
+    ct_file/1
+]).
+
+
+-spec ct_dir() -> string().
+
+% directory containing the tests for the tokenizer
+ct_dir() ->
+    zx_daemon:get_home() ++ "/ct".
+
+
+
+-spec ct_file(Name) -> AbsPath when
+        Name :: string(),
+        AbsPath :: string().
+% @doc
+% ct_file("foo.aes") -> "/path/to/ct/foo.aes"
+
+ct_file(Name) ->
+    ct_dir() ++ "/" ++ Name.
diff --git a/scratch/gsc_ast.erl b/scratch/gsc_ast.erl
index 3fd6b45..be6b848 100644
--- a/scratch/gsc_ast.erl
+++ b/scratch/gsc_ast.erl
@@ -196,13 +196,13 @@
 %gulp_file([]) ->
 %    {error, empty_file};
 %gulp_file(Tokens) ->
-%    case gs_tokens:take_block(Tokens) of
+%    case gsc_tokens:take_block(Tokens) of
 %        {Tokens, []} ->
 %            gulp_block(fun gulp_top_decl/1, Tokens);
 %            %gulp_file2([], [], Tokens);
 %        {A, B} ->
-%            StartPos = gs_tokens:start_pos(A),
-%            ErrPos = gs_tokens:start_pos(B),
+%            StartPos = gsc_tokens:start_pos(A),
+%            ErrPos = gsc_tokens:start_pos(B),
 %            Msg = efmt("gulp_file: block starting at ~p ends at ~p instead of EOF",
 %                       [StartPos, ErrPos]),
 %            {error, #parse_error{pos = ErrPos, msg = Msg}}
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@
 %
 %%gulp_file2(AccOks, AccErrs, Tokens = [_ | _]) ->
 %%    % ItemTokens will be nonempty
-%%    {ItemTokens, NewTokens} = gs_tokens:take_block_item(Tokens),
+%%    {ItemTokens, NewTokens} = gsc_tokens:take_block_item(Tokens),
 %%    case gulp_top_decl(ItemTokens) of
 %%        {gulp, Ok} -> gulp_file2([Ok | AccOks], AccErrs, NewTokens);
 %%        Err        -> gulp_file2(AccOks, [Err | AccErrs], NewTokens)
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@
 %
 %gulp_block(GulpItem, AccOks, AccErrs, Tokens = [_ | _]) ->
 %    % ItemTokens will be nonempty
-%    {ItemTokens, NewTokens} = gs_tokens:take_block_item(Tokens),
+%    {ItemTokens, NewTokens} = gsc_tokens:take_block_item(Tokens),
 %    case GulpItem(ItemTokens) of
 %        {gulp, Ok} -> gulp_block(GulpItem, [Ok | AccOks], AccErrs, NewTokens);
 %        Err        -> gulp_block(GulpItem, AccOks, [Err | AccErrs], NewTokens)
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@
 %%           | Using
 %% @end
 %gulp_top_decl(DeclTokens) ->
-%    case gs_tokens:strings(3, DeclTokens) of
+%    case gsc_tokens:strings(3, DeclTokens) of
 %        ["payable", "contract", "interface"] ->
 %            gulp_nyi(DeclTokens);
 %        ["contract", "interface" | _] ->
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@
 %%        | (EModifier* 'entrypoint' | FModifier* 'function') Block(FunDecl)
 %%        | Using
 %gulp_decl(Tokens) ->
-%    case gs_tokens:strings(1, Tokens) of
+%    case gsc_tokens:strings(1, Tokens) of
 %        ["type"] -> gulp_type_alias(Tokens);
 %        _        -> gulp_nyi(Tokens)
 %    end.
@@ -611,7 +611,7 @@
 %% Type1 = {plist, Types}            ()   (foo)    (foo, bar)
 %%       | {token, #tk{}}     foo  Bar.baz  'quux
 %slurp_type1(Tks) ->
-%    case gs_tokens:slurp_plist(Tks) of
+%    case gsc_tokens:slurp_plist(Tks) of
 %        % head token is NOT open paren -> must be id/qid/tvar
 %        {slurp, [], [Tk | NewTks]} ->
 %            TkType = Tk#tk.type,
@@ -633,7 +633,7 @@
 %
 %
 %%slurp_type_expr_plist(Tks) ->
-%%    case gs_tokens:slurp_plist(Tks) of
+%%    case gsc_tokens:slurp_plist(Tks) of
 %%        % head token is NOT open paren -> must be id/qid/tvar
 %%        {slurp, [], [Tk | NewTks]} ->
 %%            TkType = Tk#tk.type,
diff --git a/scratch/gsc_parse_type_expr.erl b/scratch/gsc_parse_type_expr.erl
index 52d39a6..c3f162e 100644
--- a/scratch/gsc_parse_type_expr.erl
+++ b/scratch/gsc_parse_type_expr.erl
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 %
 %% @doc for testing
 %unsafe_vtks_from_string(S) ->
-%    {ok, SigTks} = gs_tokens:significant_tokens(S),
+%    {ok, SigTks} = gsc_tokens:significant_tokens(S),
 %    {gulp, Vtks} = gulp_vtks(SigTks),
 %    Vtks.
 %
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@
 %    end.
 %
 %slurp_plist_rec(Tokens = [#tk{string = "(" | _]) ->
-%    case gs_tokens:slurp_plist(Tokens) of
+%    case gsc_tokens:slurp_plist(Tokens) of
 %        {slurp, [], _} ->
 %            barf;
 %        {slurp, PTokens, NewTokens} ->
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@
 %        {_Pfx = Tks1_BeforeOpen,
 %         _Sfx = Tks2_OpenNAfter
 %              = [#tk{string = "("} | _]} ->
-%            case gs_tokens:slurp_plist(Tks2_OpenNAfter) of
+%            case gsc_tokens:slurp_plist(Tks2_OpenNAfter) of
 %                {slurp, Tks2A_OpenToClose, Tks2B_AfterClose} ->
 %                    NewAcc = [Acc,
 %                              Tks1_BeforeOpen,
diff --git a/scratch/gsc_token_chunks.erl b/scratch/gsc_token_chunks.erl
index 2634676..8156339 100644
--- a/scratch/gsc_token_chunks.erl
+++ b/scratch/gsc_token_chunks.erl
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
 %-spec end_pos([gsc_token()]) -> {value, tk_pos()} | none.
 %
 %end_pos([#gsc_token{pos = Pos, string = Str}]) ->
-%    {value, gs_tokens:new_pos(Pos, Str)};
+%    {value, gsc_tokens:new_pos(Pos, Str)};
 %end_pos([_ | T]) ->
 %    end_pos(T);
 %end_pos([]) ->
diff --git a/src/gsc.erl b/src/gsc.erl
index 9bcb283..2fa5aad 100644
--- a/src/gsc.erl
+++ b/src/gsc.erl
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
 % based on original sophia compiler
 %
 % parse layers:
-% 1. gs_tokens: SrcStr -> (Tokens | SigTokens)
+% 1. gsc_tokens: SrcStr -> (Tokens | SigTokens)
 %
 %    SigTokens = not comment/whitespace
 %
 %    layers:
-%    a. gs_strmatch : matches string shapes
+%    a. gsc_strmatch : matches string shapes
 %    b. gso_scan  : converts to so_scan shapes
 %
 %
@@ -32,14 +32,29 @@
 -module(gsc).
 
 -export_type([
-    token/0
+    token/0,
+    signal/0
 ]).
 
 -export([
+    unsafe_tokens_from_file/1,
+    unsafe_tokens_from_string/1,
+    unsafe_signal_from_file/1,
+    unsafe_signal_from_string/1,
+    filter_signal/1,
+    signal_from_string/1,
+    signal_from_file/1,
     sigtokens_from_file/1,
     sigtokens_from_string/1,
     tokens_from_file/1,
-    tokens_from_string/1
+    tokens_from_string/1,
+    % sophia compatibility
+    gso_tokens_from_file/1,
+    gso_tokens_from_string/1,
+    % unicode normalization
+    very_stable_codepoints/1,
+    very_stable_string/1,
+    very_stable_file/1
 ]).
 
 -include("$gsc_include/gsc.hrl").
@@ -50,19 +65,52 @@
 
 -type token() :: tk().
 
+% @doc signal means non-noise (whitespace/comment)
+% tokens; legacy name still around is "sigtokens"
+-type signal() :: [tk()].
+
 %-----------------------------------------
-% functions
+% API: FUNCTIONS
 %-----------------------------------------
 
+%-----------------------------------------
+% aint nobody got time for case shit
+%-----------------------------------------
+% tokens
+unsafe_tokens_from_file(F) ->
+    {ok, Tks} = tokens_from_file(F),
+    Tks.
+
+unsafe_tokens_from_string(S) ->
+    {ok, Tks} = tokens_from_string(S),
+    Tks.
+
+
+% signal
+unsafe_signal_from_file(F) ->
+    {ok, Tks} = signal_from_file(F),
+    Tks.
+
+unsafe_signal_from_string(S) ->
+    {ok, Tks} = signal_from_string(S),
+    Tks.
+
+
+% 
+filter_signal(X) -> gsc_tokens:filter_significant(X).
+signal_from_file(X) -> sigtokens_from_file(X).
+signal_from_string(X) -> sigtokens_from_string(X).
+
+% @doc legacy name for signal
 sigtokens_from_file(X) ->
     case tokens_from_file(X) of
-        {ok, Y} -> {ok, gs_tokens:filter_significant(Y)};
+        {ok, Y} -> {ok, gsc_tokens:filter_significant(Y)};
         Err     -> Err
     end.
 
 sigtokens_from_string(X) ->
     case tokens_from_string(X) of
-        {ok, Y} -> {ok, gs_tokens:filter_significant(Y)};
+        {ok, Y} -> {ok, gsc_tokens:filter_significant(Y)};
         Err     -> Err
     end.
 
@@ -81,7 +129,6 @@ tokens_from_file(FilePath) ->
 
 
 
-
 -spec tokens_from_string(SrcStr) -> Result
     when SrcStr   :: string(),
          Result   :: {ok, Tokens}
@@ -89,4 +136,72 @@ tokens_from_file(FilePath) ->
          Tokens   :: [tk()].
 
 tokens_from_string(SrcStr) ->
-    gs_tokens:tokens(SrcStr).
+    gsc_tokens:tokens(SrcStr).
+
+
+
+-spec gso_tokens_from_file(FilePath) -> Result when
+        FilePath    :: string(),
+        Result      :: {ok, GsoTks} | {error, Reason},
+        GsoTks      :: [gso_scan:so_token()],
+        Reason      :: gsc_err() | any().
+
+gso_tokens_from_file(FilePath) ->
+    case file:read_file(FilePath) of
+        {ok, Bytes} -> gso_tokens_from_string(Bytes);
+        Error       -> Error
+    end.
+
+
+
+-spec gso_tokens_from_string(Str) -> Result when
+        Str     :: iolist(),
+        Result  :: {ok, GsoTks} | {error, Reason},
+        GsoTks  :: [gso_scan:so_token()],
+        Reason  :: gsc_err() | any().
+
+gso_tokens_from_string(Evil) ->
+    Str = gsc_tokens:very_stable_codepoints(Evil),
+    gso_scan:scan(Str).
+
+
+
+
+-spec very_stable_codepoints(String) -> Normalized when
+        String     :: iolist(),
+        Normalized :: string().
+
+%% @doc normalize string to utf8 NFC list form
+very_stable_codepoints(X) ->
+    gsc_tokens:very_stable_codepoints(X).
+
+
+
+-spec very_stable_string(String) -> Normalized when
+        String     :: iolist(),
+        Normalized :: string().
+
+%% @doc alias for `very_stable_codepoints/1'
+very_stable_string(X) ->
+    gsc_tokens:very_stable_codepoints(X).
+
+
+
+-spec very_stable_file(FilePath) -> Contents when
+        FilePath :: string(),
+        Contents :: string().
+
+%% @doc Read file, return contents as
+%% `unicode:characters_to_nfc_list/1' list.
+%%
+%% Please note that this function is NOT in fact very
+%% stable, as it throws an error if there's some error
+%% reading the file (e.g. not found).
+%%
+%% this function exists mostly for scripting/shell
+%% convenience
+very_stable_file(X) ->
+    case file:read_file(X) of
+        {ok, B} -> very_stable_codepoints(B);
+        Error   -> error(Error)
+    end.
diff --git a/src/gsc_ntree.erl b/src/gsc_ntree.erl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..264f941
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/gsc_ntree.erl
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+-module(gsc_ntree).
+
+-export_type([
+    ntree/2,
+    ntree/0
+]).
+
+-export([
+    nstem/2,
+    flatten/1,
+    deleaf0/1,
+    releaf0/2
+]).
+
+
+-include("$gsc_include/gsc.hrl").
+
+%%=====================================================
+%% API: types
+%%=====================================================
+
+-record(ns, {val :: any(), kids :: list(any())}).
+-record(nl, {val :: any()}).
+
+%% @doc ntree(S, L) is a "node tree" (meaning stems
+%% have values and children)
+-type ntree(S, L)
+        :: #ns{val :: S, kids :: [ntree(S, L)]}
+         | #nl{val :: L}.
+
+-type ntree() :: ntree(any(), any()).
+
+
+%%=====================================================
+%% API: functions
+%%=====================================================
+
+
+-spec nstem(Root, List) -> Tree when
+        Root :: X,
+        List :: list(Y),
+        Tree :: ntree(X, Y),
+        X    :: any(),
+        Y    :: any().
+% @doc
+% You *probably* want `releaf0/2' instead.
+%
+% This function naively wraps each element in the list
+% in a leaf type, even if it's already wrapped.
+%
+%   nstem(root, [Foo, Bar, Baz]) ~>
+%       *s root
+%       |
+%       +--- .l Foo
+%       |
+%       +--- .l Bar
+%       |
+%       +--- .l Baz
+%
+% Much more common use case is to releaf only the input
+% nodes which are not already wrapped, which is what
+% `releaf0/2' does.
+% @end
+nstem(Root, List) ->
+    {ns, Root, [{nl, Y} || Y <- List]}.
+
+
+
+-spec flatten(Tree) -> LeafVals when
+        Tree     :: ntree(any(), LeafType),
+        LeafVals :: [LeafType],
+        LeafType :: any().
+
+flatten({nl, X}) ->
+    [X];
+flatten({ns, _, Keeids}) ->
+    lists:flatten([flatten(Keeid) || Keeid <- Keeids]).
+
+
+
+-spec deleaf0(Tree) -> Result when
+        Tree   :: ntree(S, L),
+        Result :: [L | Tree],
+        S      :: any(),
+        L      :: any().
+
+% @doc unwrap the leaf children, and leave the stem
+% children intact
+%
+% ex. 1:
+%       (+ 1 2 (* 3 4) 5)
+%   ~>  '(1 2 (* 3 4) 5)
+%
+% ex. 2:
+%       {ns, '+', [{nl, 1},
+%                  {nl, 2},
+%                  {ns, '*', [{nl, 3}, {nl, 4}]},
+%                  {nl, 5}]}
+%   ~>  [1, 2, {ns, '*', [{nl, 3}, {nl, 4}]}, 5]
+% @end
+deleaf0({nl, L})     -> [L];
+deleaf0({ns, _, Ls}) -> dl0([], Ls).
+
+dl0(Stk, [])               -> lists:reverse(Stk);
+dl0(Stk, [{nl, X} | Rest]) -> dl0([X | Stk], Rest);
+dl0(Stk, [X | Rest])       -> dl0([X | Stk], Rest).
+
+
+
+-spec releaf0(Root, Keeids) -> Rooted when
+        Root   :: S,
+        Keeids :: [L | ntree(S, L)],
+        Rooted :: ntree(S, L),
+        S      :: any(),
+        L      :: any().
+
+% @doc notional inverse of `deleaf0/1'
+%
+% Note that this does **NOT** double-wrap leafs in the
+% input
+releaf0(Root, Ks) ->
+    #ns{val  = Root,
+        kids = lists:map(fun rl0/1, Ks)}.
+
+rl0(X = #ns{}) -> X;
+rl0(X = #nl{}) -> X;
+rl0(X)         -> {nl, X}.
diff --git a/src/gs_strmatch.erl b/src/gsc_strmatch.erl
similarity index 99%
rename from src/gs_strmatch.erl
rename to src/gsc_strmatch.erl
index 9fd6231..02992a8 100644
--- a/src/gs_strmatch.erl
+++ b/src/gsc_strmatch.erl
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@
 % `contract` gets tokenized as a keyword and not a variable name), and then
 % calls into this module in order to match the string shape it's looking for.
 % @end
--module(gs_strmatch).
+-module(gsc_strmatch).
 
 %-compile([export_all, nowarn_export_all]).
 
diff --git a/src/gs_tokens.erl b/src/gsc_tokens.erl
similarity index 91%
rename from src/gs_tokens.erl
rename to src/gsc_tokens.erl
index 946b7c7..2c6ec56 100644
--- a/src/gs_tokens.erl
+++ b/src/gsc_tokens.erl
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 % 2. to future-proof in case we decide to incrementally incorporate the gsc
 %    code into the legacy sophia compiler
 % @end
--module(gs_tokens).
+-module(gsc_tokens).
 
 % meta
 -export([
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@
     is_significant/1,
     filter_significant/1,
     significant_tokens/1,
+    very_stable_codepoints/1,
+    very_stable_string/1,
+    very_stable_characters/1,
     tokens_from_iolist/1,
     tokens/1,
     slurp_token/2,
@@ -188,13 +191,13 @@ slurp_dlist(All, Opens, [#tk{str = "["} = Tk | NewTks]) ->
 slurp_dlist(All, Opens, [#tk{str = "{"} = Tk | NewTks]) ->
     slurp_dlist([Tk | All], [Tk | Opens], NewTks);
 % sad: mismatch cases
-slurp_dlist(All, Opens, []) ->
+slurp_dlist(_, Opens, []) ->
     {error, {fixme, mismatch, Opens, none}};
-slurp_dlist(All, Opens, [#tk{str = "}"} = BadClose | _]) ->
+slurp_dlist(_, Opens, [#tk{str = "}"} = BadClose | _]) ->
     {error, {fixme, mismatch, Opens, {value, BadClose}}};
-slurp_dlist(All, Opens, [#tk{str = "]"} = BadClose | _]) ->
+slurp_dlist(_, Opens, [#tk{str = "]"} = BadClose | _]) ->
     {error, {fixme, mismatch, Opens, {value, BadClose}}};
-slurp_dlist(All, Opens, [#tk{str = ")"} = BadClose | _]) ->
+slurp_dlist(_, Opens, [#tk{str = ")"} = BadClose | _]) ->
     {error, {fixme, mismatch, Opens, {value, BadClose}}};
 % general case: non-terminal token gets pushed
 slurp_dlist(All, Opens, [Tk | NewTks]) ->
@@ -330,6 +333,29 @@ is_significant(#tk{shape = ws})   -> false;
 is_significant(_)                           -> true.
 
 
+
+% aliases
+very_stable_string(X) -> very_stable_codepoints(X).
+very_stable_characters(X) -> very_stable_codepoints(X).
+
+
+
+-spec very_stable_codepoints(IoList) -> NfcList when
+        IoList  :: iolist(),
+        NfcList :: string().
+
+%% @doc When Unicode sends its characters, they're not
+%% sending their best. They're not sending ASCII.
+%% They're not sending ASCII. They're sending
+%% characters that have lots of problems, and they're
+%% bringing those problems with us. They're bringing
+%% diacritics.  They're bringing homoglyphs.  They're
+%% bringing RTL.  They're rapists. And some, we assume,
+%% are good characters.
+very_stable_codepoints(S) ->
+    unicode:characters_to_nfc_list(S).
+
+
 -spec tokens_from_iolist(SrcStr) -> Result when
         SrcStr  :: iolist(),
         Result  :: {ok, Tokens}
@@ -341,6 +367,7 @@ tokens_from_iolist(S) -> tokens(S).
 
 
 
+
 -spec tokens(SrcStr) -> Result
     when SrcStr :: iolist(),
          Result :: {ok, Tokens}
@@ -355,7 +382,8 @@ tokens_from_iolist(S) -> tokens(S).
 
 tokens(S) ->
     % defensive normalization
-    tokens([], {1, 1}, unicode:characters_to_nfc_list(S)).
+    tokens([], {1, 1}, very_stable_codepoints(S)).
+
 
 tokens(Stack, _FinalPos, "") ->
     {ok, lists:reverse(Stack)};
@@ -559,8 +587,8 @@ slurp_token_of_shape(bcom, Pos, SrcStr0) ->
             no_tokmatch
     end;
 slurp_token_of_shape(ws, Pos, SrcStr) ->
-    WhitespaceMatcher = gs_strmatch:smr_sf_ws(),
-    case gs_strmatch:match(WhitespaceMatcher, SrcStr) of
+    WhitespaceMatcher = gsc_strmatch:smr_sf_ws(),
+    case gsc_strmatch:match(WhitespaceMatcher, SrcStr) of
         no_strmatch ->
             no_tokmatch;
         {strmatch, WS, Rest} ->
@@ -594,7 +622,7 @@ slurp_token_of_shape(kwd, Pos, SrcStr) ->
             no_tokmatch
     end;
 slurp_token_of_shape(op, Pos, SrcStr) ->
-    case gs_strmatch:match(gs_strmatch:smr_sf_op(), SrcStr) of
+    case gsc_strmatch:match(gsc_strmatch:smr_sf_op(), SrcStr) of
         {strmatch, Str, Rest} ->
             Token = #tk{shape = op, pos = Pos, str = Str},
             {tokmatch, Token, Rest};
@@ -602,7 +630,7 @@ slurp_token_of_shape(op, Pos, SrcStr) ->
             no_tokmatch
     end;
 slurp_token_of_shape(punct, Pos, SrcStr) ->
-    case gs_strmatch:match(gs_strmatch:smr_sf_punct(), SrcStr) of
+    case gsc_strmatch:match(gsc_strmatch:smr_sf_punct(), SrcStr) of
         {strmatch, Str, Rest} ->
             Token = #tk{shape = punct, pos = Pos, str = Str},
             {tokmatch, Token, Rest};
@@ -611,7 +639,7 @@ slurp_token_of_shape(punct, Pos, SrcStr) ->
     end;
 % SOPHIA VARIABLE NAMES: id, con, qid, qcon, tvar
 slurp_token_of_shape(id, Pos, SrcStr) ->
-    case gs_strmatch:match(gs_strmatch:smr_sf_id(), SrcStr) of
+    case gsc_strmatch:match(gsc_strmatch:smr_sf_id(), SrcStr) of
         {strmatch, IdStr, Rest} ->
             Token = #tk{shape = id, pos = Pos, str = IdStr},
             {tokmatch, Token, Rest};
@@ -619,7 +647,7 @@ slurp_token_of_shape(id, Pos, SrcStr) ->
             no_tokmatch
     end;
 slurp_token_of_shape(con, Pos, SrcStr) ->
-    case gs_strmatch:match(gs_strmatch:smr_sf_con(), SrcStr) of
+    case gsc_strmatch:match(gsc_strmatch:smr_sf_con(), SrcStr) of
         {strmatch, Str, Rest} ->
             Token = #tk{shape = con, pos = Pos, str = Str},
             {tokmatch, Token, Rest};
@@ -627,7 +655,7 @@ slurp_token_of_shape(con, Pos, SrcStr) ->
             no_tokmatch
     end;
 slurp_token_of_shape(qid, Pos, SrcStr) ->
-    case gs_strmatch:match(gs_strmatch:smr_sf_qid(), SrcStr) of
+    case gsc_strmatch:match(gsc_strmatch:smr_sf_qid(), SrcStr) of
         {strmatch, Str, Rest} ->
             Token = #tk{shape = qid, pos = Pos, str = Str},
             {tokmatch, Token, Rest};
@@ -635,7 +663,7 @@ slurp_token_of_shape(qid, Pos, SrcStr) ->
             no_tokmatch
     end;
 slurp_token_of_shape(qcon, Pos, SrcStr) ->
-    case gs_strmatch:match(gs_strmatch:smr_sf_qcon(), SrcStr) of
+    case gsc_strmatch:match(gsc_strmatch:smr_sf_qcon(), SrcStr) of
         {strmatch, Str, Rest} ->
             Token = #tk{shape = qcon, pos = Pos, str = Str},
             {tokmatch, Token, Rest};
@@ -643,7 +671,7 @@ slurp_token_of_shape(qcon, Pos, SrcStr) ->
             no_tokmatch
     end;
 slurp_token_of_shape(tvar, Pos, SrcStr) ->
-    case gs_strmatch:match(gs_strmatch:smr_sf_tvar(), SrcStr) of
+    case gsc_strmatch:match(gsc_strmatch:smr_sf_tvar(), SrcStr) of
         {strmatch, Str, Rest} ->
             Token = #tk{shape = tvar, pos = Pos, str = Str},
             {tokmatch, Token, Rest};
@@ -651,7 +679,7 @@ slurp_token_of_shape(tvar, Pos, SrcStr) ->
             no_tokmatch
     end;
 slurp_token_of_shape(int16, Pos, SrcStr) ->
-    case gs_strmatch:match(gs_strmatch:smr_sf_int16(), SrcStr) of
+    case gsc_strmatch:match(gsc_strmatch:smr_sf_int16(), SrcStr) of
         {strmatch, Str, Rest} ->
             Token = #tk{shape = int16, pos = Pos, str = Str},
             {tokmatch, Token, Rest};
@@ -659,7 +687,7 @@ slurp_token_of_shape(int16, Pos, SrcStr) ->
             no_tokmatch
     end;
 slurp_token_of_shape(int10, Pos, SrcStr) ->
-    case gs_strmatch:match(gs_strmatch:smr_sf_int10(), SrcStr) of
+    case gsc_strmatch:match(gsc_strmatch:smr_sf_int10(), SrcStr) of
         {strmatch, Str, Rest} ->
             Token = #tk{shape = int10, pos = Pos, str = Str},
             {tokmatch, Token, Rest};
@@ -671,8 +699,8 @@ slurp_token_of_shape(int10, Pos, SrcStr) ->
 %
 % char: sophia char literal
 slurp_token_of_shape(ak, Pos, SrcStr) ->
-    StringMatcher = gs_strmatch:smr_sf_ak(),
-    case gs_strmatch:match(StringMatcher, SrcStr) of
+    StringMatcher = gsc_strmatch:smr_sf_ak(),
+    case gsc_strmatch:match(StringMatcher, SrcStr) of
         no_strmatch ->
             no_tokmatch;
         {strmatch, TokenStr, Rest} ->
@@ -680,8 +708,8 @@ slurp_token_of_shape(ak, Pos, SrcStr) ->
             {tokmatch, Token, Rest}
     end;
 slurp_token_of_shape(ct, Pos, SrcStr) ->
-    StringMatcher = gs_strmatch:smr_sf_ct(),
-    case gs_strmatch:match(StringMatcher, SrcStr) of
+    StringMatcher = gsc_strmatch:smr_sf_ct(),
+    case gsc_strmatch:match(StringMatcher, SrcStr) of
         no_strmatch ->
             no_tokmatch;
         {strmatch, TokenStr, Rest} ->
@@ -689,8 +717,8 @@ slurp_token_of_shape(ct, Pos, SrcStr) ->
             {tokmatch, Token, Rest}
     end;
 slurp_token_of_shape(sg, Pos, SrcStr) ->
-    StringMatcher = gs_strmatch:smr_sf_sg(),
-    case gs_strmatch:match(StringMatcher, SrcStr) of
+    StringMatcher = gsc_strmatch:smr_sf_sg(),
+    case gsc_strmatch:match(StringMatcher, SrcStr) of
         no_strmatch ->
             no_tokmatch;
         {strmatch, TokenStr, Rest} ->
@@ -698,8 +726,8 @@ slurp_token_of_shape(sg, Pos, SrcStr) ->
             {tokmatch, Token, Rest}
     end;
 slurp_token_of_shape(char, Pos, SrcStr) ->
-    StringMatcher = gs_strmatch:smr_sf_char(),
-    case gs_strmatch:match(StringMatcher, SrcStr) of
+    StringMatcher = gsc_strmatch:smr_sf_char(),
+    case gsc_strmatch:match(StringMatcher, SrcStr) of
         no_strmatch ->
             no_tokmatch;
         {strmatch, TokenStr, Rest} ->
@@ -707,7 +735,7 @@ slurp_token_of_shape(char, Pos, SrcStr) ->
             {tokmatch, Token, Rest}
     end;
 slurp_token_of_shape(string, Pos, SrcStr) ->
-    case gs_strmatch:match(gs_strmatch:smr_sf_str(), SrcStr) of
+    case gsc_strmatch:match(gsc_strmatch:smr_sf_str(), SrcStr) of
         no_strmatch ->
             no_tokmatch;
         {strmatch, TokenStr, Rest} ->
@@ -715,7 +743,7 @@ slurp_token_of_shape(string, Pos, SrcStr) ->
             {tokmatch, Token, Rest}
     end;
 slurp_token_of_shape(bytes, Pos, SrcStr) ->
-    case gs_strmatch:match(gs_strmatch:smr_sf_bytes(), SrcStr) of
+    case gsc_strmatch:match(gsc_strmatch:smr_sf_bytes(), SrcStr) of
         no_strmatch ->
             no_tokmatch;
         {strmatch, TokenStr, Rest} ->
diff --git a/src/gso_scan.erl b/src/gso_scan.erl
index 9b7fb2d..374c191 100644
--- a/src/gso_scan.erl
+++ b/src/gso_scan.erl
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % @doc compatibility layer to test against so_scan
 %
-% converts gs_tokens data to so_scan tokens
+% converts gsc_tokens data to so_scan tokens
 %
 % Ref: so_scan.erl
 -module(gso_scan).
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@
 % @end
 
 scan(SrcStr) ->
-    case gs_tokens:tokens(SrcStr) of
+    case gsc_tokens:tokens(SrcStr) of
         {ok, SfLTokens} ->
             SoTokens = to_so_tokens(SfLTokens),
             {ok, SoTokens};