Initial stab at lowering mutable and exterior into the type system.

15 files changed, 937 insertions, 904 deletions

diff --git a/src/boot/driver/llvm/glue.ml b/src/boot/driver/llvm/glue.ml
index ef5c1c8653b..30fce0cd2d7 100644
--- a/src/boot/driver/llvm/glue.ml
+++ b/src/boot/driver/llvm/glue.ml
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ let alt_pipeline sess sem_cx crate =
     [|
       Resolve.process_crate;
       Type.process_crate;
-      Effect.process_crate;
       Typestate.process_crate;
+      Effect.process_crate;
       Loop.process_crate;
       Alias.process_crate;
       Dead.process_crate;
diff --git a/src/boot/driver/main.ml b/src/boot/driver/main.ml
index 8cfe4048b9c..5655604d3f2 100644
--- a/src/boot/driver/main.ml
+++ b/src/boot/driver/main.ml
@@ -316,8 +316,8 @@ let main_pipeline _ =
          exit_if_failed ())
       [| Resolve.process_crate;
          Type.process_crate;
-         Effect.process_crate;
          Typestate.process_crate;
+         Effect.process_crate;
          Loop.process_crate;
          Alias.process_crate;
          Dead.process_crate;
diff --git a/src/boot/fe/ast.ml b/src/boot/fe/ast.ml
index 770b57bf82b..8b1ce71fb34 100644
--- a/src/boot/fe/ast.ml
+++ b/src/boot/fe/ast.ml
@@ -9,11 +9,6 @@
 open Common;;
 open Fmt;;
 
-(*
- * Slot names are given by a dot-separated path within the current
- * module namespace.
- *)
-
 type ident = string
 ;;
 
@@ -70,11 +65,11 @@ and ty =
   | TY_str
 
   | TY_tup of ty_tup
-  | TY_vec of slot
+  | TY_vec of ty
   | TY_rec of ty_rec
 
   (*
-   * Note that ty_idx is only valid inside a slot of a ty_iso group, not
+   * Note that ty_idx is only valid inside a ty of a ty_iso group, not
    * in a general type term.
    *)
   | TY_tag of ty_tag
@@ -93,18 +88,25 @@ and ty =
   | TY_named of name
   | TY_type
 
+  | TY_exterior of ty
+  | TY_mutable of ty
+
   | TY_constrained of (ty * constrs)
 
+(*
+ * FIXME: this should be cleaned up to be a different
+ * type definition. Only args can be by-ref, only locals
+ * can be auto. The structure here is historical.
+ *)
+
 and mode =
-    MODE_exterior
   | MODE_interior
   | MODE_alias
 
 and slot = { slot_mode: mode;
-             slot_mutable: bool;
              slot_ty: ty option; }
 
-and ty_tup = slot array
+and ty_tup = ty array
 
 (* In closed type terms a constraint may refer to components of the term by
  * anchoring off the "formal symbol" '*', which represents "the term this
@@ -147,7 +149,7 @@ and constr =
 
 and constrs = constr array
 
-and ty_rec = (ident * slot) array
+and ty_rec = (ident * ty) array
 
 (* ty_tag is a sum type.
  *
@@ -185,9 +187,9 @@ and ty_obj = (effect * ((ident,ty_fn) Hashtbl.t))
 
 and check_calls = (lval * (atom array)) array
 
-and rec_input = (ident * mode * bool * atom)
+and rec_input = (ident * atom)
 
-and tup_input = (mode * bool * atom)
+and tup_input = atom
 
 and stmt' =
 
@@ -195,10 +197,11 @@ and stmt' =
     STMT_spawn of (lval * domain * lval * (atom array))
   | STMT_init_rec of (lval * (rec_input array) * lval option)
   | STMT_init_tup of (lval * (tup_input array))
-  | STMT_init_vec of (lval * slot * (atom array))
+  | STMT_init_vec of (lval * atom array)
   | STMT_init_str of (lval * string)
   | STMT_init_port of lval
   | STMT_init_chan of (lval * (lval option))
+  | STMT_init_exterior of (lval * atom)
   | STMT_copy of (lval * expr)
   | STMT_copy_binop of (lval * binop * atom)
   | STMT_call of (lval * lval * (atom array))
@@ -516,13 +519,8 @@ and fmt_name (ff:Format.formatter) (n:name) : unit =
         fmt ff ".";
         fmt_name_component ff nc
 
-and fmt_mutable (ff:Format.formatter) (m:bool) : unit =
-  if m
-  then fmt ff "mutable ";
-
 and fmt_mode (ff:Format.formatter) (m:mode) : unit =
   match m with
-      MODE_exterior -> fmt ff "@@"
     | MODE_alias -> fmt ff "&"
     | MODE_interior -> ()
 
@@ -530,10 +528,27 @@ and fmt_slot (ff:Format.formatter) (s:slot) : unit =
   match s.slot_ty with
       None -> fmt ff "auto"
     | Some t ->
-        fmt_mutable ff s.slot_mutable;
         fmt_mode ff s.slot_mode;
         fmt_ty ff t
 
+and fmt_tys
+    (ff:Format.formatter)
+    (tys:ty array)
+    : unit =
+  fmt_bracketed_arr_sep "(" ")" "," fmt_ty ff tys
+
+and fmt_ident_tys
+    (ff:Format.formatter)
+    (entries:(ident * ty) array)
+    : unit =
+  fmt_bracketed_arr_sep "(" ")" ","
+    (fun ff (ident, ty) ->
+       fmt_ty ff ty;
+       fmt ff " ";
+       fmt_ident ff ident)
+    ff
+    entries
+
 and fmt_slots
     (ff:Format.formatter)
     (slots:slot array)
@@ -594,7 +609,7 @@ and fmt_tag (ff:Format.formatter) (ttag:ty_tag) : unit =
            then first := false
            else fmt ff ",@ ");
           fmt_name ff name;
-          fmt_slots ff ttup None
+          fmt_tys ff ttup
       end
       ttag;
     fmt ff "@])@]"
@@ -623,19 +638,15 @@ and fmt_ty (ff:Format.formatter) (t:ty) : unit =
   | TY_char -> fmt ff "char"
   | TY_str -> fmt ff "str"
 
-  | TY_tup slots -> (fmt ff "tup"; fmt_slots ff slots None)
-  | TY_vec s -> (fmt ff "vec["; fmt_slot ff s; fmt ff "]")
+  | TY_tup tys -> (fmt ff "tup"; fmt_tys ff tys)
+  | TY_vec t -> (fmt ff "vec["; fmt_ty ff t; fmt ff "]")
   | TY_chan t -> (fmt ff "chan["; fmt_ty ff t; fmt ff "]")
   | TY_port t -> (fmt ff "port["; fmt_ty ff t; fmt ff "]")
 
-  | TY_rec slots ->
-      let (idents, slots) =
-        let (idents, slots) = List.split (Array.to_list slots) in
-          (Array.of_list idents, Array.of_list slots)
-      in
-        fmt ff "@[rec";
-        fmt_slots ff slots (Some idents);
-        fmt ff "@]"
+  | TY_rec entries ->
+      fmt ff "@[rec";
+      fmt_ident_tys ff entries;
+      fmt ff "@]"
 
   | TY_param (i, e) -> (fmt_effect ff e;
                         if e <> PURE then fmt ff " ";
@@ -644,6 +655,14 @@ and fmt_ty (ff:Format.formatter) (t:ty) : unit =
   | TY_named n -> fmt_name ff n
   | TY_type -> fmt ff "type"
 
+  | TY_exterior t ->
+      fmt ff "@@";
+      fmt_ty ff t
+
+  | TY_mutable t ->
+      fmt ff "mutable ";
+      fmt_ty ff t
+
   | TY_fn tfn -> fmt_ty_fn ff None tfn
   | TY_task -> fmt ff "task"
   | TY_tag ttag -> fmt_tag ff ttag
@@ -964,7 +983,7 @@ and fmt_stmt_body (ff:Format.formatter) (s:stmt) : unit =
           fmt_lval ff lv;
           fmt ff " ";
           fmt_binop ff binop;
-          fmt ff "=";
+          fmt ff "= ";
           fmt_atom ff at;
           fmt ff ";"
 
@@ -999,11 +1018,9 @@ and fmt_stmt_body (ff:Format.formatter) (s:stmt) : unit =
           do
             if i != 0
             then fmt ff ", ";
-            let (ident, mode, mut, atom) = entries.(i) in
+            let (ident, atom) = entries.(i) in
               fmt_ident ff ident;
               fmt ff " = ";
-              fmt_mutable ff mut;
-              fmt_mode ff mode;
               fmt_atom ff atom;
           done;
           begin
@@ -1015,7 +1032,7 @@ and fmt_stmt_body (ff:Format.formatter) (s:stmt) : unit =
           end;
           fmt ff ");"
 
-      | STMT_init_vec (dst, _, atoms) ->
+      | STMT_init_vec (dst, atoms) ->
           fmt_lval ff dst;
           fmt ff " = vec(";
           for i = 0 to (Array.length atoms) - 1
@@ -1033,10 +1050,7 @@ and fmt_stmt_body (ff:Format.formatter) (s:stmt) : unit =
           do
             if i != 0
             then fmt ff ", ";
-            let (mode, mut, atom) = entries.(i) in
-              fmt_mutable ff mut;
-              fmt_mode ff mode;
-              fmt_atom ff atom;
+            fmt_atom ff entries.(i);
           done;
           fmt ff ");";
 
@@ -1153,6 +1167,12 @@ and fmt_stmt_body (ff:Format.formatter) (s:stmt) : unit =
           fmt_lval ff t;
           fmt ff ";"
 
+      | STMT_init_exterior (lv, at) ->
+          fmt_lval ff lv;
+          fmt ff " = @";
+          fmt_atom ff at;
+          fmt ff ";"
+
       | STMT_alt_tag _ -> fmt ff "?stmt_alt_tag?"
       | STMT_alt_type _ -> fmt ff "?stmt_alt_type?"
       | STMT_alt_port _ -> fmt ff "?stmt_alt_port?"
@@ -1321,7 +1341,6 @@ let sprintf_lval_component = sprintf_fmt fmt_lval_component;;
 let sprintf_atom = sprintf_fmt fmt_atom;;
 let sprintf_slot = sprintf_fmt fmt_slot;;
 let sprintf_slot_key = sprintf_fmt fmt_slot_key;;
-let sprintf_mutable = sprintf_fmt fmt_mutable;;
 let sprintf_ty = sprintf_fmt fmt_ty;;
 let sprintf_effect = sprintf_fmt fmt_effect;;
 let sprintf_tag = sprintf_fmt fmt_tag;;
diff --git a/src/boot/fe/item.ml b/src/boot/fe/item.ml
index 3efd4e2a061..5c0a7c65608 100644
--- a/src/boot/fe/item.ml
+++ b/src/boot/fe/item.ml
@@ -128,6 +128,13 @@ and parse_auto_slot_and_init
 and parse_stmts (ps:pstate) : Ast.stmt array =
   let apos = lexpos ps in
 
+  let ensure_mutable slot =
+    match slot.Ast.slot_ty with
+        None -> slot
+      | Some (Ast.TY_mutable _) -> slot
+      | Some t -> { slot with Ast.slot_ty = Some (Ast.TY_mutable t) }
+  in
+
   let rec name_to_lval (apos:pos) (bpos:pos) (name:Ast.name)
       : Ast.lval =
     match name with
@@ -236,7 +243,6 @@ and parse_stmts (ps:pstate) : Ast.stmt array =
                                   Ast.NAME_base (Ast.BASE_ident ident) ->
                                     let slot =
                                       { Ast.slot_mode = Ast.MODE_interior;
-                                        Ast.slot_mutable = false;
                                         Ast.slot_ty = None }
                                     in
                                       Ast.PAT_slot
@@ -456,7 +462,7 @@ and parse_stmts (ps:pstate) : Ast.stmt array =
           bump ps;
           let (stmts, slot, ident) =
             ctxt "stmt slot" parse_slot_and_ident_and_init ps in
-          let slot = Pexp.apply_mutability slot true in
+          let slot = ensure_mutable slot in
           let bpos = lexpos ps in
           let decl = Ast.DECL_slot (Ast.KEY_ident ident,
                                     (span ps apos bpos slot))
@@ -467,7 +473,7 @@ and parse_stmts (ps:pstate) : Ast.stmt array =
           bump ps;
           let (stmts, slot, ident) =
             ctxt "stmt slot" parse_auto_slot_and_init ps in
-          let slot = Pexp.apply_mutability slot true in
+          let slot = ensure_mutable slot in
           let bpos = lexpos ps in
           let decl = Ast.DECL_slot (Ast.KEY_ident ident,
                                     (span ps apos bpos slot))
@@ -979,7 +985,9 @@ and expand_tags
                            (ps, "unexpected name type while expanding tag"))
             in
             let header =
-              Array.map (fun slot -> (clone_span ps item slot)) tup
+              Array.map (fun ty -> (clone_span ps item
+                                      { Ast.slot_mode = Ast.MODE_alias;
+                                        Ast.slot_ty = Some ty})) tup
             in
             let tag_item' = Ast.MOD_ITEM_tag (header, ttag, id) in
             let cloned_params =
diff --git a/src/boot/fe/parser.ml b/src/boot/fe/parser.ml
index 5df44303664..97cf898533b 100644
--- a/src/boot/fe/parser.ml
+++ b/src/boot/fe/parser.ml
@@ -181,13 +181,11 @@ let err (str:string) (ps:pstate) =
 
 let (slot_nil:Ast.slot) =
   { Ast.slot_mode = Ast.MODE_interior;
-    Ast.slot_mutable = false;
     Ast.slot_ty = Some Ast.TY_nil }
 ;;
 
 let (slot_auto:Ast.slot) =
   { Ast.slot_mode = Ast.MODE_interior;
-    Ast.slot_mutable = true;
     Ast.slot_ty = None }
 ;;
 
diff --git a/src/boot/fe/pexp.ml b/src/boot/fe/pexp.ml
index e859d135e92..25352e5c752 100644
--- a/src/boot/fe/pexp.ml
+++ b/src/boot/fe/pexp.ml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ type pexp' =
   | PEXP_bind of (pexp * pexp option array)
   | PEXP_rec of ((Ast.ident * pexp) array * pexp option)
   | PEXP_tup of (pexp array)
-  | PEXP_vec of (Ast.slot * (pexp array))
+  | PEXP_vec of (pexp array)
   | PEXP_port
   | PEXP_chan of (pexp option)
   | PEXP_binop of (Ast.binop * pexp * pexp)
@@ -261,11 +261,10 @@ and parse_atomic_ty (ps:pstate) : Ast.ty =
 
     | VEC ->
         bump ps;
-        Ast.TY_vec (bracketed LBRACKET RBRACKET (parse_slot false) ps)
+        Ast.TY_vec (bracketed LBRACKET RBRACKET parse_ty ps)
 
     | IDENT _ -> Ast.TY_named (parse_name ps)
 
-
     | TAG ->
         bump ps;
         let htab = Hashtbl.create 4 in
@@ -273,7 +272,7 @@ and parse_atomic_ty (ps:pstate) : Ast.ty =
           let ident = parse_ident ps in
           let tup =
             match peek ps with
-                LPAREN -> paren_comma_list (parse_slot false) ps
+                LPAREN -> paren_comma_list parse_ty ps
               | _ -> raise (err "tag variant missing argument list" ps)
           in
             htab_put htab (Ast.NAME_base (Ast.BASE_ident ident)) tup
@@ -287,9 +286,8 @@ and parse_atomic_ty (ps:pstate) : Ast.ty =
     | REC ->
         bump ps;
         let parse_rec_entry ps =
-          let mut = parse_mutability ps in
-          let (slot, ident) = parse_slot_and_ident false ps in
-            (ident, apply_mutability slot mut)
+          let (ty, ident) = parse_ty_and_ident ps in
+            (ident, ty)
         in
         let entries = paren_comma_list parse_rec_entry ps in
         let labels = Array.map (fun (l, _) -> l) entries in
@@ -300,8 +298,8 @@ and parse_atomic_ty (ps:pstate) : Ast.ty =
 
     | TUP ->
         bump ps;
-        let slots = paren_comma_list (parse_slot false) ps in
-          Ast.TY_tup slots
+        let tys = paren_comma_list parse_ty ps in
+          Ast.TY_tup tys
 
     | MACH m ->
         bump ps;
@@ -333,6 +331,14 @@ and parse_atomic_ty (ps:pstate) : Ast.ty =
               | _ -> raise (unexpected ps)
           end
 
+    | AT ->
+        bump ps;
+        Ast.TY_exterior (parse_ty ps)
+
+    | MUTABLE ->
+        bump ps;
+        Ast.TY_mutable (parse_ty ps)
+
     | LPAREN ->
         begin
           bump ps;
@@ -356,21 +362,15 @@ and flag (ps:pstate) (tok:token) : bool =
 and parse_mutability (ps:pstate) : bool =
   flag ps MUTABLE
 
-and apply_mutability (slot:Ast.slot) (mut:bool) : Ast.slot =
-  { slot with Ast.slot_mutable = mut }
-
 and parse_slot (aliases_ok:bool) (ps:pstate) : Ast.slot =
-  let mut = parse_mutability ps in
   let mode =
   match (peek ps, aliases_ok) with
-      (AT, _) -> bump ps; Ast.MODE_exterior
-    | (AND, true) -> bump ps; Ast.MODE_alias
+      (AND, true) -> bump ps; Ast.MODE_alias
     | (AND, false) -> raise (err "alias slot in prohibited context" ps)
     | _ -> Ast.MODE_interior
   in
   let ty = parse_ty ps in
     { Ast.slot_mode = mode;
-      Ast.slot_mutable = mut;
       Ast.slot_ty = Some ty }
 
 and parse_slot_and_ident
@@ -381,6 +381,13 @@ and parse_slot_and_ident
   let ident = ctxt "slot and ident: ident" parse_ident ps in
     (slot, ident)
 
+and parse_ty_and_ident
+    (ps:pstate)
+    : (Ast.ty * Ast.ident) =
+  let ty = ctxt "ty and ident: ty" parse_ty ps in
+  let ident = ctxt "ty and ident: ident" parse_ident ps in
+    (ty, ident)
+
 and parse_slot_and_optional_ignored_ident
     (aliases_ok:bool)
     (ps:pstate)
@@ -494,16 +501,9 @@ and parse_bottom_pexp (ps:pstate) : pexp =
     | VEC ->
         bump ps;
         begin
-          let slot =
-            match peek ps with
-                LBRACKET -> bracketed LBRACKET RBRACKET (parse_slot false) ps
-              | _ -> { Ast.slot_mode = Ast.MODE_interior;
-                       Ast.slot_mutable = false;
-                       Ast.slot_ty = None }
-          in
           let pexps = ctxt "vec pexp: exprs" parse_pexp_list ps in
           let bpos = lexpos ps in
-            span ps apos bpos (PEXP_vec (slot, pexps))
+            span ps apos bpos (PEXP_vec pexps)
         end
 
 
@@ -1088,7 +1088,9 @@ and desugar_expr_atom
       | PEXP_call _
       | PEXP_bind _
       | PEXP_spawn _
-      | PEXP_custom _ ->
+      | PEXP_custom _
+      | PEXP_exterior _
+      | PEXP_mutable _ ->
           let (_, tmp, decl_stmt) = build_tmp ps slot_auto apos bpos in
           let stmts = desugar_expr_init ps tmp pexp in
             (Array.append [| decl_stmt |] stmts,
@@ -1101,31 +1103,6 @@ and desugar_expr_atom
           let (stmts, lval) = desugar_lval ps pexp in
             (stmts, Ast.ATOM_lval lval)
 
-      | PEXP_exterior _ ->
-          raise (err "exterior symbol in atom context" ps)
-
-      | PEXP_mutable _ ->
-          raise (err "mutable keyword in atom context" ps)
-
-
-and desugar_expr_mode_mut_atom
-    (ps:pstate)
-    (pexp:pexp)
-    : (Ast.stmt array * (Ast.mode * bool * Ast.atom)) =
-  let desugar_inner mode mut e =
-    let (stmts, atom) = desugar_expr_atom ps e in
-      (stmts, (mode, mut, atom))
-  in
-    match pexp.node with
-        PEXP_mutable {node=(PEXP_exterior e); id=_} ->
-          desugar_inner Ast.MODE_exterior true e
-      | PEXP_exterior e ->
-          desugar_inner Ast.MODE_exterior false e
-      | PEXP_mutable e ->
-          desugar_inner Ast.MODE_interior true e
-      | _ ->
-          desugar_inner Ast.MODE_interior false pexp
-
 and desugar_expr_atoms
     (ps:pstate)
     (pexps:pexp array)
@@ -1138,12 +1115,6 @@ and desugar_opt_expr_atoms
     : (Ast.stmt array * Ast.atom option array) =
   arj1st (Array.map (desugar_opt_expr_atom ps) pexps)
 
-and desugar_expr_mode_mut_atoms
-    (ps:pstate)
-    (pexps:pexp array)
-    : (Ast.stmt array * (Ast.mode * bool * Ast.atom) array) =
-  arj1st (Array.map (desugar_expr_mode_mut_atom ps) pexps)
-
 and desugar_expr_init
     (ps:pstate)
     (dst_lval:Ast.lval)
@@ -1253,10 +1224,10 @@ and desugar_expr_init
                 Array.map
                   begin
                     fun (ident, pexp) ->
-                      let (stmts, (mode, mut, atom)) =
-                        desugar_expr_mode_mut_atom ps pexp
+                      let (stmts, atom) =
+                        desugar_expr_atom ps pexp
                       in
-                        (stmts, (ident, mode, mut, atom))
+                        (stmts, (ident, atom))
                   end
                   args
               end
@@ -1278,19 +1249,19 @@ and desugar_expr_init
             end
 
       | PEXP_tup args ->
-          let (arg_stmts, arg_mode_atoms) =
-            desugar_expr_mode_mut_atoms ps args
+          let (arg_stmts, arg_atoms) =
+            desugar_expr_atoms ps args
           in
-          let stmt = ss (Ast.STMT_init_tup (dst_lval, arg_mode_atoms)) in
+          let stmt = ss (Ast.STMT_init_tup (dst_lval, arg_atoms)) in
             aa arg_stmts [| stmt |]
 
       | PEXP_str s ->
           let stmt = ss (Ast.STMT_init_str (dst_lval, s)) in
             [| stmt |]
 
-      | PEXP_vec (slot, args) ->
+      | PEXP_vec args ->
           let (arg_stmts, arg_atoms) = desugar_expr_atoms ps args in
-          let stmt = ss (Ast.STMT_init_vec (dst_lval, slot, arg_atoms)) in
+          let stmt = ss (Ast.STMT_init_vec (dst_lval, arg_atoms)) in
             aa arg_stmts [| stmt |]
 
       | PEXP_port ->
@@ -1315,11 +1286,19 @@ and desugar_expr_init
           in
             aa port_stmts [| chan_stmt |]
 
-      | PEXP_exterior _ ->
-          raise (err "exterior symbol in initialiser context" ps)
+      | PEXP_exterior arg ->
+          let (arg_stmts, arg_mode_atom) =
+            desugar_expr_atom ps arg
+          in
+          let stmt = ss (Ast.STMT_init_exterior (dst_lval, arg_mode_atom)) in
+            aa arg_stmts [| stmt |]
 
-      | PEXP_mutable _ ->
-          raise (err "mutable keyword in initialiser context" ps)
+      | PEXP_mutable arg ->
+          (* Initializing a local from a "mutable" atom is the same as
+           * initializing it from an immutable one; all locals are mutable
+           * anyways. So this is just a fall-through.
+           *)
+          desugar_expr_init ps dst_lval arg
 
       | PEXP_custom (n, a, b) ->
           let (arg_stmts, args) = desugar_expr_atoms ps a in
diff --git a/src/boot/me/alias.ml b/src/boot/me/alias.ml
index 25d4ed04497..b603e77919e 100644
--- a/src/boot/me/alias.ml
+++ b/src/boot/me/alias.ml
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ let alias_analysis_visitor
           | Ast.STMT_recv (dst, _) -> alias dst
           | Ast.STMT_init_port (dst) -> alias dst
           | Ast.STMT_init_chan (dst, _) -> alias dst
-          | Ast.STMT_init_vec (dst, _, _) -> alias dst
+          | Ast.STMT_init_vec (dst, _) -> alias dst
           | Ast.STMT_init_str (dst, _) -> alias dst
           | Ast.STMT_for_each sfe ->
               let (slot, _) = sfe.Ast.for_each_slot in
diff --git a/src/boot/me/dwarf.ml b/src/boot/me/dwarf.ml
index b7fdf309e5e..410ff402ca3 100644
--- a/src/boot/me/dwarf.ml
+++ b/src/boot/me/dwarf.ml
@@ -1307,56 +1307,65 @@ let (abbrev_alias_slot:abbrev) =
   (DW_TAG_reference_type, DW_CHILDREN_no,
    [|
      (DW_AT_type, DW_FORM_ref_addr);
-     (DW_AT_mutable, DW_FORM_flag);
    |])
 ;;
 
-let (abbrev_exterior_slot:abbrev) =
-  (DW_TAG_reference_type, DW_CHILDREN_no,
+(* FIXME: Perverse, but given dwarf's vocabulary it seems at least plausible
+ * that a "mutable const type" is a correct way of saying "mutable". Or else we
+ * make up our own. Revisit perhaps.
+ *)
+let (abbrev_mutable_type:abbrev) =
+  (DW_TAG_const_type, DW_CHILDREN_no,
    [|
      (DW_AT_type, DW_FORM_ref_addr);
      (DW_AT_mutable, DW_FORM_flag);
+   |])
+;;
+
+let (abbrev_exterior_type:abbrev) =
+  (DW_TAG_pointer_type, DW_CHILDREN_no,
+   [|
+     (DW_AT_type, DW_FORM_ref_addr);
      (DW_AT_data_location, DW_FORM_block1);
    |])
 ;;
 
 let (abbrev_struct_type:abbrev) =
-    (DW_TAG_structure_type, DW_CHILDREN_yes,
-     [|
-       (DW_AT_byte_size, DW_FORM_block4)
-     |])
+  (DW_TAG_structure_type, DW_CHILDREN_yes,
+   [|
+     (DW_AT_byte_size, DW_FORM_block4)
+   |])
 ;;
 
 let (abbrev_struct_type_member:abbrev) =
-    (DW_TAG_member, DW_CHILDREN_no,
-     [|
-       (DW_AT_name, DW_FORM_string);
-       (DW_AT_type, DW_FORM_ref_addr);
-       (DW_AT_mutable, DW_FORM_flag);
-       (DW_AT_data_member_location, DW_FORM_block4);
-       (DW_AT_byte_size, DW_FORM_block4)
-     |])
+  (DW_TAG_member, DW_CHILDREN_no,
+   [|
+     (DW_AT_name, DW_FORM_string);
+     (DW_AT_type, DW_FORM_ref_addr);
+     (DW_AT_data_member_location, DW_FORM_block4);
+     (DW_AT_byte_size, DW_FORM_block4)
+   |])
 ;;
 
 let (abbrev_variant_part:abbrev) =
-    (DW_TAG_variant_part, DW_CHILDREN_yes,
-     [|
-       (DW_AT_discr, DW_FORM_ref_addr)
-     |])
+  (DW_TAG_variant_part, DW_CHILDREN_yes,
+   [|
+     (DW_AT_discr, DW_FORM_ref_addr)
+   |])
 ;;
 
 
 let (abbrev_variant:abbrev) =
-    (DW_TAG_variant, DW_CHILDREN_yes,
-     [|
-       (DW_AT_discr_value, DW_FORM_udata)
-     |])
+  (DW_TAG_variant, DW_CHILDREN_yes,
+   [|
+     (DW_AT_discr_value, DW_FORM_udata)
+   |])
 ;;
 
 let (abbrev_subroutine_type:abbrev) =
-    (DW_TAG_subroutine_type, DW_CHILDREN_yes,
-     [|
-       (DW_AT_type, DW_FORM_ref_addr); (* NB: output type. *)
+  (DW_TAG_subroutine_type, DW_CHILDREN_yes,
+   [|
+     (DW_AT_type, DW_FORM_ref_addr); (* NB: output type. *)
        (DW_AT_mutable, DW_FORM_flag);
        (DW_AT_pure, DW_FORM_flag);
        (DW_AT_rust_iterator, DW_FORM_flag);
@@ -1541,33 +1550,8 @@ let dwarf_visitor
       in
 
         match slot.Ast.slot_mode with
-            Ast.MODE_exterior ->
-              let fix = new_fixup "exterior DIE" in
-              let body_off =
-                word_sz_int * Abi.exterior_rc_slot_field_body
-              in
-                emit_die (DEF (fix, SEQ [|
-                                 uleb (get_abbrev_code abbrev_exterior_slot);
-                                 (* DW_AT_type: DW_FORM_ref_addr *)
-                                 (ref_type_die (slot_ty slot));
-                                 (* DW_AT_mutable: DW_FORM_flag *)
-                                 BYTE (if slot.Ast.slot_mutable
-                                       then 1 else 0);
-                                 (* DW_AT_data_location: DW_FORM_block1 *)
-                                 (* This is a DWARF expression for moving
-                                    from the address of an exterior
-                                    allocation to the address of its
-                                    body. *)
-                                 dw_form_block1
-                                   [| DW_OP_push_object_address;
-                                      DW_OP_lit body_off;
-                                      DW_OP_plus;
-                                      DW_OP_deref |]
-                               |]));
-                ref_addr_for_fix fix
-
-          (* FIXME (issue #72): encode mutable-ness of interiors. *)
-          | Ast.MODE_interior -> ref_type_die (slot_ty slot)
+          | Ast.MODE_interior ->
+              ref_type_die (slot_ty slot)
 
           | Ast.MODE_alias ->
               let fix = new_fixup "alias DIE" in
@@ -1575,8 +1559,6 @@ let dwarf_visitor
                                  uleb (get_abbrev_code abbrev_alias_slot);
                                  (* DW_AT_type: DW_FORM_ref_addr *)
                                  (ref_type_die (slot_ty slot));
-                                 (* DW_AT_mutable: DW_FORM_flag *)
-                                 BYTE (if slot.Ast.slot_mutable then 1 else 0)
                                |]));
                 ref_addr_for_fix fix
 
@@ -1708,15 +1690,13 @@ let dwarf_visitor
           emit_die die;
           Array.iteri
             begin
-              fun i (ident, slot) ->
+              fun i (ident, ty) ->
                 emit_die (SEQ [|
                             uleb (get_abbrev_code abbrev_struct_type_member);
                             (* DW_AT_name: DW_FORM_string *)
                             ZSTRING ident;
                             (* DW_AT_type: DW_FORM_ref_addr *)
-                            (ref_slot_die slot);
-                            (* DW_AT_mutable: DW_FORM_flag *)
-                            BYTE (if slot.Ast.slot_mutable then 1 else 0);
+                            (ref_type_die ty);
                             (* DW_AT_data_member_location: DW_FORM_block4 *)
                             size_block4
                               (Il.get_element_offset word_bits rtys i)
@@ -1904,10 +1884,6 @@ let dwarf_visitor
         unspecified_ptr_with_ref rust_ty (ref_type_die ty)
       in
 
-      let unspecified_ptr_with_ref_slot rust_ty slot =
-        unspecified_ptr_with_ref rust_ty (ref_slot_die slot)
-      in
-
       let unspecified_ptr rust_ty =
         unspecified_ptr_with_ref rust_ty (unspecified_anon_struct ())
       in
@@ -1974,9 +1950,7 @@ let dwarf_visitor
                  (* DW_AT_name: DW_FORM_string *)
                  ZSTRING "tag";
                  (* DW_AT_type: DW_FORM_ref_addr *)
-                 (ref_slot_die (interior_slot Ast.TY_uint));
-                 (* DW_AT_mutable: DW_FORM_flag *)
-                 BYTE 0;
+                 (ref_type_die Ast.TY_uint);
                  (* DW_AT_data_member_location: DW_FORM_block4 *)
                  size_block4
                    (Il.get_element_offset word_bits rtys 0)
@@ -2038,6 +2012,41 @@ let dwarf_visitor
         ref_addr_for_fix (Stack.top iso_stack).(i)
       in
 
+      let exterior_type t =
+        let fix = new_fixup "exterior DIE" in
+        let body_off =
+          word_sz_int * Abi.exterior_rc_slot_field_body
+        in
+          emit_die (DEF (fix, SEQ [|
+                           uleb (get_abbrev_code abbrev_exterior_type);
+                           (* DW_AT_type: DW_FORM_ref_addr *)
+                           (ref_type_die t);
+                           (* DW_AT_data_location: DW_FORM_block1 *)
+                           (* This is a DWARF expression for moving
+                              from the address of an exterior
+                              allocation to the address of its
+                              body. *)
+                           dw_form_block1
+                             [| DW_OP_push_object_address;
+                                DW_OP_lit body_off;
+                                DW_OP_plus;
+                                DW_OP_deref |]
+                         |]));
+          ref_addr_for_fix fix
+      in
+
+      let mutable_type t =
+        let fix = new_fixup "mutable DIE" in
+          emit_die (DEF (fix, SEQ [|
+                           uleb (get_abbrev_code abbrev_mutable_type);
+                           (* DW_AT_type: DW_FORM_ref_addr *)
+                           (ref_type_die t);
+                           (* DW_AT_mutable: DW_FORM_flag *)
+                           BYTE 1;
+                         |]));
+          ref_addr_for_fix fix
+      in
+
         match ty with
             Ast.TY_nil -> unspecified_struct DW_RUST_nil
           | Ast.TY_bool -> base ("bool", DW_ATE_boolean, 1)
@@ -2058,7 +2067,7 @@ let dwarf_visitor
           | Ast.TY_tag ttag -> tag_type None ttag
           | Ast.TY_iso tiso -> iso_type tiso
           | Ast.TY_idx i -> idx_type i
-          | Ast.TY_vec s -> unspecified_ptr_with_ref_slot DW_RUST_vec s
+          | Ast.TY_vec t -> unspecified_ptr_with_ref_ty DW_RUST_vec t
           | Ast.TY_chan t -> unspecified_ptr_with_ref_ty DW_RUST_chan t
           | Ast.TY_port t -> unspecified_ptr_with_ref_ty DW_RUST_port t
           | Ast.TY_task -> unspecified_ptr DW_RUST_task
@@ -2067,6 +2076,8 @@ let dwarf_visitor
           | Ast.TY_native i -> native_ptr_type i
           | Ast.TY_param p -> rust_type_param p
           | Ast.TY_obj ob -> obj_type ob
+          | Ast.TY_mutable t -> mutable_type t
+          | Ast.TY_exterior t -> exterior_type t
           | _ ->
               bug () "unimplemented dwarf encoding for type %a"
                 Ast.sprintf_ty ty
@@ -2893,7 +2904,7 @@ let rec extract_mod_items
 
         | DW_TAG_pointer_type
             when is_rust_type die DW_RUST_vec ->
-            Ast.TY_vec (get_referenced_slot die)
+            Ast.TY_vec (get_referenced_ty die)
 
         | DW_TAG_pointer_type
             when is_rust_type die DW_RUST_type_param ->
@@ -2903,6 +2914,13 @@ let rec extract_mod_items
             when is_rust_type die DW_RUST_native ->
             Ast.TY_native (get_opaque_of (get_native_id die))
 
+        | DW_TAG_pointer_type ->
+            Ast.TY_exterior (get_referenced_ty die)
+
+        | DW_TAG_const_type
+            when ((get_num die DW_AT_mutable) = 1) ->
+            Ast.TY_mutable (get_referenced_ty die)
+
         | DW_TAG_string_type -> Ast.TY_str
 
         | DW_TAG_base_type ->
@@ -2953,13 +2971,13 @@ let rec extract_mod_items
                 assert ((Array.length members) > 0);
                 if is_num_idx (get_name members.(0))
                 then
-                  let slots = Array.map get_referenced_slot members in
-                    Ast.TY_tup slots
+                  let tys = Array.map get_referenced_ty members in
+                    Ast.TY_tup tys
                 else
                   let entries =
                     Array.map
                       (fun member_die -> ((get_name member_die),
-                                          (get_referenced_slot member_die)))
+                                          (get_referenced_ty member_die)))
                       members
                   in
                     Ast.TY_rec entries
@@ -2989,23 +3007,11 @@ let rec extract_mod_items
     match die.die_tag with
         DW_TAG_reference_type ->
           let ty = get_referenced_ty die in
-          let mut = get_flag die DW_AT_mutable in
-          let mode =
-            (* Exterior slots have a 'data_location' attr. *)
-            match atab_search die.die_attrs DW_AT_data_location with
-                Some _ -> Ast.MODE_exterior
-              | None -> Ast.MODE_alias
-          in
-            { Ast.slot_mode = mode;
-              Ast.slot_mutable = mut;
+            { Ast.slot_mode = Ast.MODE_alias;
               Ast.slot_ty = Some ty }
       | _ ->
           let ty = get_ty die in
-            (* FIXME (issue #28): encode mutability of interior slots
-             * properly.
-             *)
             { Ast.slot_mode = Ast.MODE_interior;
-              Ast.slot_mutable = false;
               Ast.slot_ty = Some ty }
 
   and get_referenced_ty die =
diff --git a/src/boot/me/effect.ml b/src/boot/me/effect.ml
index ad9a4cb362d..22edce7c7eb 100644
--- a/src/boot/me/effect.ml
+++ b/src/boot/me/effect.ml
@@ -33,12 +33,18 @@ let mutability_checking_visitor
       | _ -> ()
   in
 
-  let check_write id dst =
-    let dst_slot = lval_slot cx dst in
-      if (dst_slot.Ast.slot_mutable or
-            (Hashtbl.mem cx.ctxt_copy_stmt_is_init id))
+  let check_write s dst =
+    let dst_ty = lval_ty cx dst in
+    let is_mutable =
+      match dst_ty with
+          Ast.TY_mutable _ -> true
+        | _ -> false
+    in
+      if (is_mutable or (Hashtbl.mem cx.ctxt_copy_stmt_is_init s.id))
       then ()
-      else err (Some id) "writing to non-mutable slot"
+      else err (Some s.id)
+        "writing to non-mutable slot of type %a in statement %a"
+        Ast.sprintf_ty dst_ty Ast.sprintf_stmt s
   in
     (* FIXME (issue #75): enforce the no-write-alias-to-immutable-slot
      * rule.
@@ -46,10 +52,10 @@ let mutability_checking_visitor
   let visit_stmt_pre s =
     begin
       match s.node with
-          Ast.STMT_copy (dst, _) -> check_write s.id dst
-        | Ast.STMT_copy_binop (dst, _, _) -> check_write s.id dst
-        | Ast.STMT_call (dst, _, _) -> check_write s.id dst
-        | Ast.STMT_recv (dst, _) -> check_write s.id dst
+          Ast.STMT_copy (dst, _) -> check_write s dst
+        | Ast.STMT_copy_binop (dst, _, _) -> check_write s dst
+        | Ast.STMT_call (dst, _, _) -> check_write s dst
+        | Ast.STMT_recv (dst, _) -> check_write s dst
         | _ -> ()
     end;
     inner.Walk.visit_stmt_pre s
@@ -151,8 +157,7 @@ let function_effect_propagation_visitor
             in
               if lval_is_slot cx fn
               then
-                let t = lval_slot cx fn in
-                  lower_to_callee_ty (slot_ty t)
+                lower_to_callee_ty (lval_ty cx fn)
               else
                 begin
                   let item = lval_item cx fn in
diff --git a/src/boot/me/semant.ml b/src/boot/me/semant.ml
index 5160429ef50..746f83bf6b6 100644
--- a/src/boot/me/semant.ml
+++ b/src/boot/me/semant.ml
@@ -582,15 +582,13 @@ let atoms_slots (cx:ctxt) (az:Ast.atom array) : node_id array =
 ;;
 
 let tup_inputs_slots (cx:ctxt) (az:Ast.tup_input array) : node_id array =
-  Array.concat (List.map
-                  (fun (_,_,a) -> atom_slots cx a)
-                  (Array.to_list az))
+  Array.concat (List.map (atom_slots cx) (Array.to_list az))
 ;;
 
 let rec_inputs_slots (cx:ctxt)
     (inputs:Ast.rec_input array) : node_id array =
   Array.concat (List.map
-                  (fun (_, _, _, atom) -> atom_slots cx atom)
+                  (fun (_, atom) -> atom_slots cx atom)
                   (Array.to_list inputs))
 ;;
 
@@ -606,14 +604,27 @@ let expr_slots (cx:ctxt) (e:Ast.expr) : node_id array =
 (* Type extraction. *)
 
 let interior_slot_full mut ty : Ast.slot =
-  { Ast.slot_mode = Ast.MODE_interior;
-    Ast.slot_mutable = mut;
-    Ast.slot_ty = Some ty }
+  let ty =
+    if mut
+    then Ast.TY_mutable ty
+    else ty
+  in
+    { Ast.slot_mode = Ast.MODE_interior;
+      Ast.slot_ty = Some ty }
 ;;
 
 let exterior_slot_full mut ty : Ast.slot =
-  { Ast.slot_mode = Ast.MODE_exterior;
-    Ast.slot_mutable = mut;
+  let ty =
+    match ty with
+        Ast.TY_exterior _ -> ty
+      | _ -> Ast.TY_exterior ty
+  in
+  let ty =
+    if mut
+    then Ast.TY_mutable ty
+    else ty
+  in
+  { Ast.slot_mode = Ast.MODE_interior;
     Ast.slot_ty = Some ty }
 ;;
 
@@ -626,12 +637,13 @@ let exterior_slot ty : Ast.slot = exterior_slot_full false ty
 
 (* General folds of Ast.ty. *)
 
-type ('ty, 'slot, 'slots, 'tag) ty_fold =
+type ('ty, 'tys, 'slot, 'slots, 'tag) ty_fold =
     {
       (* Functions that correspond to interior nodes in Ast.ty. *)
-      ty_fold_slot : (Ast.mode * bool * 'ty) -> 'slot;
+      ty_fold_slot : (Ast.mode * 'ty) -> 'slot;
       ty_fold_slots : ('slot array) -> 'slots;
-      ty_fold_tags : (Ast.name, 'slots) Hashtbl.t -> 'tag;
+      ty_fold_tys : ('ty array) -> 'tys;
+      ty_fold_tags : (Ast.name, 'tys) Hashtbl.t -> 'tag;
 
       (* Functions that correspond to the Ast.ty constructors. *)
       ty_fold_any: unit -> 'ty;
@@ -642,9 +654,9 @@ type ('ty, 'slot, 'slots, 'tag) ty_fold =
       ty_fold_uint : unit -> 'ty;
       ty_fold_char : unit -> 'ty;
       ty_fold_str : unit -> 'ty;
-      ty_fold_tup : 'slots -> 'ty;
-      ty_fold_vec : 'slot -> 'ty;
-      ty_fold_rec : (Ast.ident * 'slot) array -> 'ty;
+      ty_fold_tup : 'tys -> 'ty;
+      ty_fold_vec : 'ty -> 'ty;
+      ty_fold_rec : (Ast.ident * 'ty) array -> 'ty;
       ty_fold_tag : 'tag -> 'ty;
       ty_fold_iso : (int * 'tag array) -> 'ty;
       ty_fold_idx : int -> 'ty;
@@ -659,21 +671,29 @@ type ('ty, 'slot, 'slots, 'tag) ty_fold =
       ty_fold_param : (int * Ast.effect) -> 'ty;
       ty_fold_named : Ast.name -> 'ty;
       ty_fold_type : unit -> 'ty;
+      ty_fold_exterior : 'ty -> 'ty;
+      ty_fold_mutable : 'ty -> 'ty;
       ty_fold_constrained : ('ty * Ast.constrs) -> 'ty }
 ;;
 
-let rec fold_ty (f:('ty, 'slot, 'slots, 'tag) ty_fold) (ty:Ast.ty) : 'ty =
+let rec fold_ty (f:('ty, 'tys, 'slot, 'slots, 'tag) ty_fold) (ty:Ast.ty) : 'ty =
   let fold_slot (s:Ast.slot) : 'slot =
     f.ty_fold_slot (s.Ast.slot_mode,
-                    s.Ast.slot_mutable,
                     fold_ty f (slot_ty s))
   in
+
   let fold_slots (slots:Ast.slot array) : 'slots =
     f.ty_fold_slots (Array.map fold_slot slots)
   in
+
+  let fold_tys (tys:Ast.ty array) : 'tys =
+    f.ty_fold_tys (Array.map (fold_ty f) tys)
+  in
+
   let fold_tags (ttag:Ast.ty_tag) : 'tag =
-    f.ty_fold_tags (htab_map ttag (fun k v -> (k, fold_slots v)))
+    f.ty_fold_tags (htab_map ttag (fun k v -> (k, fold_tys v)))
   in
+
   let fold_sig tsig =
     (fold_slots tsig.Ast.sig_input_slots,
      tsig.Ast.sig_input_constrs,
@@ -692,13 +712,15 @@ let rec fold_ty (f:('ty, 'slot, 'slots, 'tag) ty_fold) (ty:Ast.ty) : 'ty =
   | Ast.TY_char -> f.ty_fold_char ()
   | Ast.TY_str -> f.ty_fold_str ()
 
-  | Ast.TY_tup t -> f.ty_fold_tup (fold_slots t)
-  | Ast.TY_vec s -> f.ty_fold_vec (fold_slot s)
-  | Ast.TY_rec r -> f.ty_fold_rec (Array.map (fun (k,v) -> (k,fold_slot v)) r)
+  | Ast.TY_tup t -> f.ty_fold_tup (fold_tys t)
+  | Ast.TY_vec t -> f.ty_fold_vec (fold_ty f t)
+  | Ast.TY_rec r ->
+      f.ty_fold_rec (Array.map (fun (k,v) -> (k,fold_ty f v)) r)
 
   | Ast.TY_tag tt -> f.ty_fold_tag (fold_tags tt)
-  | Ast.TY_iso ti -> f.ty_fold_iso (ti.Ast.iso_index,
-                                    (Array.map fold_tags ti.Ast.iso_group))
+  | Ast.TY_iso ti ->
+      f.ty_fold_iso (ti.Ast.iso_index,
+                     (Array.map fold_tags ti.Ast.iso_group))
   | Ast.TY_idx i -> f.ty_fold_idx i
 
   | Ast.TY_fn (tsig,taux) -> f.ty_fold_fn (fold_sig tsig, taux)
@@ -713,16 +735,20 @@ let rec fold_ty (f:('ty, 'slot, 'slots, 'tag) ty_fold) (ty:Ast.ty) : 'ty =
   | Ast.TY_named n -> f.ty_fold_named n
   | Ast.TY_type -> f.ty_fold_type ()
 
+  | Ast.TY_exterior t -> f.ty_fold_exterior (fold_ty f t)
+  | Ast.TY_mutable t -> f.ty_fold_mutable (fold_ty f t)
+
   | Ast.TY_constrained (t, constrs) ->
       f.ty_fold_constrained (fold_ty f t, constrs)
 
 ;;
 
-type 'a simple_ty_fold = ('a, 'a, 'a, 'a) ty_fold
+type 'a simple_ty_fold = ('a, 'a, 'a, 'a, 'a) ty_fold
 ;;
 
 let ty_fold_default (default:'a) : 'a simple_ty_fold =
-    { ty_fold_slot = (fun _ -> default);
+    { ty_fold_tys = (fun _ -> default);
+      ty_fold_slot = (fun _ -> default);
       ty_fold_slots = (fun _ -> default);
       ty_fold_tags = (fun _ -> default);
       ty_fold_any = (fun _ -> default);
@@ -748,19 +774,22 @@ let ty_fold_default (default:'a) : 'a simple_ty_fold =
       ty_fold_param = (fun _ -> default);
       ty_fold_named = (fun _ -> default);
       ty_fold_type = (fun _ -> default);
+      ty_fold_exterior = (fun _ -> default);
+      ty_fold_mutable = (fun _ -> default);
       ty_fold_constrained = (fun _ -> default) }
 ;;
 
 let ty_fold_rebuild (id:Ast.ty -> Ast.ty)
-    : (Ast.ty, Ast.slot, Ast.slot array, Ast.ty_tag) ty_fold =
+    : (Ast.ty, Ast.ty array, Ast.slot, Ast.slot array, Ast.ty_tag) ty_fold =
   let rebuild_fn ((islots, constrs, oslot), aux) =
     ({ Ast.sig_input_slots = islots;
        Ast.sig_input_constrs = constrs;
        Ast.sig_output_slot = oslot }, aux)
   in
-  { ty_fold_slot = (fun (mode, mut, t) ->
+    {
+    ty_fold_tys = (fun ts -> ts);
+    ty_fold_slot = (fun (mode, t) ->
                       { Ast.slot_mode = mode;
-                        Ast.slot_mutable = mut;
                         Ast.slot_ty = Some t });
     ty_fold_slots = (fun slots -> slots);
     ty_fold_tags = (fun htab -> htab);
@@ -773,7 +802,7 @@ let ty_fold_rebuild (id:Ast.ty -> Ast.ty)
     ty_fold_char = (fun _ -> id Ast.TY_char);
     ty_fold_str = (fun _ -> id Ast.TY_str);
     ty_fold_tup =  (fun slots -> id (Ast.TY_tup slots));
-    ty_fold_vec = (fun slot -> id (Ast.TY_vec slot));
+    ty_fold_vec = (fun t -> id (Ast.TY_vec t));
     ty_fold_rec = (fun entries -> id (Ast.TY_rec entries));
     ty_fold_tag = (fun tag -> id (Ast.TY_tag tag));
     ty_fold_iso = (fun (i, tags) -> id (Ast.TY_iso { Ast.iso_index = i;
@@ -791,6 +820,8 @@ let ty_fold_rebuild (id:Ast.ty -> Ast.ty)
     ty_fold_param = (fun (i, mut) -> id (Ast.TY_param (i, mut)));
     ty_fold_named = (fun n -> id (Ast.TY_named n));
     ty_fold_type = (fun _ -> id (Ast.TY_type));
+    ty_fold_exterior = (fun t -> id (Ast.TY_exterior t));
+    ty_fold_mutable = (fun t -> id (Ast.TY_mutable t));
     ty_fold_constrained = (fun (t, constrs) ->
                              id (Ast.TY_constrained (t, constrs))) }
 ;;
@@ -892,7 +923,7 @@ let associative_binary_op_ty_fold
   in
     { base with
         ty_fold_slots = (fun slots -> reduce (Array.to_list slots));
-        ty_fold_slot = (fun (_, _, a) -> a);
+        ty_fold_slot = (fun (_, a) -> a);
         ty_fold_tags = (fun tab -> reduce (htab_vals tab));
         ty_fold_tup = (fun a -> a);
         ty_fold_vec = (fun a -> a);
@@ -957,13 +988,9 @@ let lower_effect_of x y =
 ;;
 
 let type_effect (t:Ast.ty) : Ast.effect =
-  let fold_slot ((*mode*)_, mut, eff) =
-    if mut
-    then lower_effect_of Ast.STATE eff
-    else eff
-  in
+  let fold_mutable _ = Ast.STATE in
   let fold = associative_binary_op_ty_fold Ast.PURE lower_effect_of in
-  let fold = { fold with ty_fold_slot = fold_slot } in
+  let fold = { fold with ty_fold_mutable = fold_mutable } in
     fold_ty fold t
 ;;
 
@@ -1037,15 +1064,15 @@ let check_concrete params thing =
 ;;
 
 
-let project_type_to_slot
+let project_type
     (base_ty:Ast.ty)
     (comp:Ast.lval_component)
-    : Ast.slot =
+    : Ast.ty =
   match (base_ty, comp) with
       (Ast.TY_rec elts, Ast.COMP_named (Ast.COMP_ident id)) ->
         begin
           match atab_search elts id with
-              Some slot -> slot
+              Some ty -> ty
             | None -> err None "unknown record-member '%s'" id
         end
 
@@ -1054,14 +1081,10 @@ let project_type_to_slot
         then elts.(i)
         else err None "out-of-range tuple index %d" i
 
-    | (Ast.TY_vec slot, Ast.COMP_atom _) ->
-        slot
-
-    | (Ast.TY_str, Ast.COMP_atom _) ->
-        interior_slot (Ast.TY_mach TY_u8)
-
+    | (Ast.TY_vec ty, Ast.COMP_atom _) -> ty
+    | (Ast.TY_str, Ast.COMP_atom _) -> (Ast.TY_mach TY_u8)
     | (Ast.TY_obj (_, fns), Ast.COMP_named (Ast.COMP_ident id)) ->
-        interior_slot (Ast.TY_fn (Hashtbl.find fns id))
+        (Ast.TY_fn (Hashtbl.find fns id))
 
     | (_,_) ->
         bug ()
@@ -1070,16 +1093,6 @@ let project_type_to_slot
           Ast.sprintf_ty base_ty Ast.sprintf_lval_component comp
 ;;
 
-
-(* NB: this will fail if lval is not a slot. *)
-let rec lval_slot (cx:ctxt) (lval:Ast.lval) : Ast.slot =
-  match lval with
-      Ast.LVAL_base nb -> lval_to_slot cx nb.id
-    | Ast.LVAL_ext (base, comp) ->
-        let base_ty = slot_ty (lval_slot cx base) in
-          project_type_to_slot base_ty comp
-;;
-
 let exports_permit (view:Ast.mod_view) (ident:Ast.ident) : bool =
   (Hashtbl.mem view.Ast.view_exports Ast.EXPORT_all_decls) ||
     (Hashtbl.mem view.Ast.view_exports (Ast.EXPORT_ident ident))
@@ -1150,6 +1163,10 @@ let lval_is_direct_mod (cx:ctxt) (lval:Ast.lval) : bool =
         | _ -> false
 ;;
 
+let lval_ty (cx:ctxt) (lval:Ast.lval) : Ast.ty =
+  Hashtbl.find cx.ctxt_all_lval_types (lval_base_id lval)
+;;
+
 let lval_is_static (cx:ctxt) (lval:Ast.lval) : bool =
   defn_is_static (resolve_lval cx lval)
 ;;
@@ -1164,7 +1181,7 @@ let lval_is_obj_vtbl (cx:ctxt) (lval:Ast.lval) : bool =
     match lval with
         Ast.LVAL_ext (base, _) ->
           begin
-            match slot_ty (lval_slot cx base) with
+            match lval_ty cx base with
                 Ast.TY_obj _ -> true
               | _ -> false
           end
@@ -1172,11 +1189,6 @@ let lval_is_obj_vtbl (cx:ctxt) (lval:Ast.lval) : bool =
   else false
 ;;
 
-let rec lval_ty (cx:ctxt) (lval:Ast.lval) : Ast.ty =
-  let base_id = lval_base_id lval in
-    Hashtbl.find cx.ctxt_all_lval_types base_id
-;;
-
 let rec atom_type (cx:ctxt) (at:Ast.atom) : Ast.ty =
   match at with
       Ast.ATOM_literal {node=(Ast.LIT_int _); id=_} -> Ast.TY_int
@@ -1741,7 +1753,7 @@ let rec referent_type (abi:Abi.abi) (t:Ast.ty) : Il.referent_ty =
   let ptr = sp Il.OpaqueTy in
   let rc_ptr = sp (Il.StructTy [| word; Il.OpaqueTy |]) in
   let codeptr = sp Il.CodeTy in
-  let tup ttup = Il.StructTy (Array.map (slot_referent_type abi) ttup) in
+  let tup ttup = Il.StructTy (Array.map (referent_type abi) ttup) in
   let tag ttag =
     let union =
       Il.UnionTy
@@ -1802,6 +1814,11 @@ let rec referent_type (abi:Abi.abi) (t:Ast.ty) : Il.referent_ty =
 
       | Ast.TY_native _ -> ptr
 
+      | Ast.TY_exterior t ->
+          sp (Il.StructTy [| word; referent_type abi t |])
+
+      | Ast.TY_mutable t -> referent_type abi t
+
       | Ast.TY_param (i, _) -> Il.ParamTy i
 
       | Ast.TY_named _ -> bug () "named type in referent_type"
@@ -1809,16 +1826,11 @@ let rec referent_type (abi:Abi.abi) (t:Ast.ty) : Il.referent_ty =
 
 and slot_referent_type (abi:Abi.abi) (sl:Ast.slot) : Il.referent_ty =
   let s t = Il.ScalarTy t in
-  let v b = Il.ValTy b in
   let p t = Il.AddrTy t in
-  let sv b = s (v b) in
   let sp t = s (p t) in
 
-  let word = sv abi.Abi.abi_word_bits in
-
   let rty = referent_type abi (slot_ty sl) in
     match sl.Ast.slot_mode with
-        Ast.MODE_exterior _ -> sp (Il.StructTy [| word; rty |])
       | Ast.MODE_interior _ -> rty
       | Ast.MODE_alias _ -> sp rty
 ;;
@@ -1940,14 +1952,17 @@ let word_slot (abi:Abi.abi) : Ast.slot =
 
 let alias_slot (ty:Ast.ty) : Ast.slot =
   { Ast.slot_mode = Ast.MODE_alias;
-    Ast.slot_mutable = false;
     Ast.slot_ty = Some ty }
 ;;
 
 let mutable_alias_slot (ty:Ast.ty) : Ast.slot =
-  { Ast.slot_mode = Ast.MODE_alias;
-    Ast.slot_mutable = true;
-    Ast.slot_ty = Some ty }
+  let ty =
+    match ty with
+        Ast.TY_mutable _ -> ty
+      | _ -> Ast.TY_mutable ty
+  in
+    { Ast.slot_mode = Ast.MODE_alias;
+      Ast.slot_ty = Some ty }
 ;;
 
 let mk_ty_fn_or_iter
@@ -2002,12 +2017,10 @@ let item_str (cx:ctxt) (id:node_id) : string =
 
 let ty_str (ty:Ast.ty) : string =
   let base = associative_binary_op_ty_fold "" (fun a b -> a ^ b) in
-  let fold_slot (mode,mut,ty) =
-    (if mut then "m" else "")
-    ^ (match mode with
-           Ast.MODE_exterior -> "e"
-         | Ast.MODE_alias -> "a"
-         | Ast.MODE_interior -> "")
+  let fold_slot (mode,ty) =
+    (match mode with
+         Ast.MODE_alias -> "a"
+       | Ast.MODE_interior -> "")
     ^ ty
   in
   let num n = (string_of_int n) ^ "$" in
@@ -2080,6 +2093,8 @@ let ty_str (ty:Ast.ty) : string =
          ty_fold_native = (fun _ -> "N");
          ty_fold_param = (fun _ -> "P");
          ty_fold_type = (fun _ -> "Y");
+         ty_fold_mutable = (fun t -> "m" ^ t);
+         ty_fold_exterior = (fun t -> "e" ^ t);
 
          (* FIXME (issue #78): encode obj types. *)
          (* FIXME (issue #78): encode opaque and param numbers. *)
diff --git a/src/boot/me/trans.ml b/src/boot/me/trans.ml
index 8ecc743e56c..5a15eadadca 100644
--- a/src/boot/me/trans.ml
+++ b/src/boot/me/trans.ml
@@ -55,13 +55,14 @@ let trans_visitor
   let (abi:Abi.abi) = cx.ctxt_abi in
   let (word_sz:int64) = word_sz abi in
   let (word_slot:Ast.slot) = word_slot abi in
+  let (word_ty:Ast.ty) = Ast.TY_mach abi.Abi.abi_word_ty in
 
   let oper_str = Il.string_of_operand abi.Abi.abi_str_of_hardreg in
   let cell_str = Il.string_of_cell abi.Abi.abi_str_of_hardreg in
 
   let (word_bits:Il.bits) = abi.Abi.abi_word_bits in
-  let (word_ty:Il.scalar_ty) = Il.ValTy word_bits in
-  let (word_rty:Il.referent_ty) = Il.ScalarTy word_ty in
+  let (word_sty:Il.scalar_ty) = Il.ValTy word_bits in
+  let (word_rty:Il.referent_ty) = Il.ScalarTy word_sty in
   let (word_ty_mach:ty_mach) =
     match word_bits with
         Il.Bits8 -> TY_u8
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ let trans_visitor
   let imm_true = imm_of_ty 1L TY_u8 in
   let imm_false = imm_of_ty 0L TY_u8 in
   let nil_ptr = Il.Mem ((Il.Abs (Asm.IMM 0L)), Il.NilTy) in
-  let wordptr_ty = Il.AddrTy (Il.ScalarTy word_ty) in
+  let wordptr_ty = Il.AddrTy (Il.ScalarTy word_sty) in
 
   let crate_rel fix =
     Asm.SUB (Asm.M_POS fix, Asm.M_POS cx.ctxt_crate_fixup)
@@ -431,8 +432,8 @@ let trans_visitor
   in
 
 
-  let make_tydesc_slots n =
-    Array.init n (fun _ -> interior_slot Ast.TY_type)
+  let make_tydesc_tys n =
+    Array.init n (fun _ -> Ast.TY_type)
   in
 
   let cell_vreg_num (vr:(int option) ref) : int =
@@ -521,7 +522,7 @@ let trans_visitor
         begin
           let obj = get_obj_for_current_frame() in
           let tydesc = get_element_ptr obj 1 in
-          let ty_params_ty = Ast.TY_tup (make_tydesc_slots n_ty_params) in
+          let ty_params_ty = Ast.TY_tup (make_tydesc_tys n_ty_params) in
           let ty_params_rty = referent_type abi ty_params_ty in
           let ty_params =
             get_element_ptr (deref tydesc) Abi.tydesc_field_first_param
@@ -595,28 +596,28 @@ let trans_visitor
 
               | SIZE_rt_neg a ->
                   let op_a = sub_sz a in
-                  let tmp = next_vreg_cell word_ty in
+                  let tmp = next_vreg_cell word_sty in
                     emit (Il.unary Il.NEG tmp op_a);
                     Il.Cell tmp
 
               | SIZE_rt_add (a, b) ->
                   let op_a = sub_sz a in
                   let op_b = sub_sz b in
-                  let tmp = next_vreg_cell word_ty in
+                  let tmp = next_vreg_cell word_sty in
                     add tmp op_a op_b;
                     Il.Cell tmp
 
               | SIZE_rt_mul (a, b) ->
                   let op_a = sub_sz a in
                   let op_b = sub_sz b in
-                  let tmp = next_vreg_cell word_ty in
+                  let tmp = next_vreg_cell word_sty in
                     emit (Il.binary Il.UMUL tmp op_a op_b);
                     Il.Cell tmp
 
               | SIZE_rt_max (a, b) ->
                   let op_a = sub_sz a in
                   let op_b = sub_sz b in
-                  let tmp = next_vreg_cell word_ty in
+                  let tmp = next_vreg_cell word_sty in
                     mov tmp op_a;
                     emit (Il.cmp op_a op_b);
                     let jmp = mark () in
@@ -643,8 +644,8 @@ let trans_visitor
                   let op_align = sub_sz align in
                     annotate "fetch offset";
                     let op_off = sub_sz off in
-                    let mask = next_vreg_cell word_ty in
-                    let off = next_vreg_cell word_ty in
+                    let mask = next_vreg_cell word_sty in
+                    let off = next_vreg_cell word_sty in
                       mov mask op_align;
                       sub_from mask one;
                       mov off op_off;
@@ -678,8 +679,8 @@ let trans_visitor
       | None ->
              let runtime_size = calculate_sz ty_params size in
              let v = next_vreg () in
-             let c = (Il.Reg (v, word_ty)) in
-               mov c (Il.Cell (Il.Reg (reg, word_ty)));
+             let c = (Il.Reg (v, word_sty)) in
+               mov c (Il.Cell (Il.Reg (reg, word_sty)));
                add_to c runtime_size;
                based v
 
@@ -690,17 +691,17 @@ let trans_visitor
     based_sz (get_ty_params_of_current_frame()) abi.Abi.abi_sp_reg size
   in
 
-  let slot_sz_in_current_frame (slot:Ast.slot) : Il.operand =
-    let rty = slot_referent_type abi slot in
+  let ty_sz_in_current_frame (ty:Ast.ty) : Il.operand =
+    let rty = referent_type abi ty in
     let sz = Il.referent_ty_size word_bits rty in
       calculate_sz_in_current_frame sz
   in
 
-  let slot_sz_with_ty_params
+  let ty_sz_with_ty_params
       (ty_params:Il.cell)
-      (slot:Ast.slot)
+      (ty:Ast.ty)
       : Il.operand =
-    let rty = slot_referent_type abi slot in
+    let rty = referent_type abi ty in
     let sz = Il.referent_ty_size word_bits rty in
       calculate_sz ty_params sz
   in
@@ -722,8 +723,8 @@ let trans_visitor
                       Il.Mem (Il.mem_off_imm mem fixed_off, elt_rty)
                   | sz ->
                       let sz = calculate_sz ty_params sz in
-                      let v = next_vreg word_ty in
-                      let vc = Il.Reg (v, word_ty) in
+                      let v = next_vreg word_sty in
+                      let vc = Il.Reg (v, word_sty) in
                         lea vc mem;
                         add_to vc sz;
                         Il.Mem (based v, elt_rty)
@@ -739,12 +740,6 @@ let trans_visitor
     get_element_ptr_dyn (get_ty_params_of_current_frame()) mem_cell i
   in
 
-  let get_explicit_args_for_current_frame _ =
-    get_element_ptr_dyn_in_current_frame (get_args_for_current_frame ())
-      Abi.calltup_elt_args
-  in
-
-
   let deref_off_sz
       (ty_params:Il.cell)
       (ptr:Il.cell)
@@ -890,15 +885,15 @@ let trans_visitor
       (base_ty:Ast.ty)
       (cell:Il.cell)
       (comp:Ast.lval_component)
-      : (Il.cell * Ast.slot) =
+      : (Il.cell * Ast.ty) =
 
-    let bounds_checked_access at slot =
+    let bounds_checked_access at ty =
       let atop = trans_atom at in
-      let unit_sz = slot_sz_in_current_frame slot in
-      let idx = next_vreg_cell word_ty in
+      let unit_sz = ty_sz_in_current_frame ty in
+      let idx = next_vreg_cell word_sty in
         emit (Il.binary Il.UMUL idx atop unit_sz);
         let elt_mem = trans_bounds_check (deref cell) (Il.Cell idx) in
-          (Il.Mem (elt_mem, slot_referent_type abi slot), slot)
+          (Il.Mem (elt_mem, referent_type abi ty), ty)
     in
 
     match (base_ty, comp) with
@@ -911,18 +906,18 @@ let trans_visitor
          Ast.COMP_named (Ast.COMP_idx i)) ->
           (get_element_ptr_dyn_in_current_frame cell i, entries.(i))
 
-      | (Ast.TY_vec slot,
+      | (Ast.TY_vec ty,
          Ast.COMP_atom at) ->
-          bounds_checked_access at slot
+          bounds_checked_access at ty
 
       | (Ast.TY_str,
          Ast.COMP_atom at) ->
-          bounds_checked_access at (interior_slot (Ast.TY_mach TY_u8))
+          bounds_checked_access at (Ast.TY_mach TY_u8)
 
       | (Ast.TY_obj obj_ty,
          Ast.COMP_named (Ast.COMP_ident id)) ->
           let (cell, fn_ty) = get_vtbl_entry cell obj_ty id in
-            (cell, (interior_slot (Ast.TY_fn fn_ty)))
+            (cell, (Ast.TY_fn fn_ty))
 
 
       | _ -> bug () "unhandled form of lval_ext in trans_slot_lval_ext"
@@ -938,7 +933,7 @@ let trans_visitor
     let (base:Il.cell) = next_vreg_cell Il.voidptr_t in
     let (elt_reg:Il.reg) = next_vreg () in
     let (elt:Il.cell) = Il.Reg (elt_reg, Il.voidptr_t) in
-    let (diff:Il.cell) = next_vreg_cell word_ty in
+    let (diff:Il.cell) = next_vreg_cell word_sty in
       annotate "bounds check";
       lea base (fst (need_mem_cell data));
       add elt (Il.Cell base) mul_idx;
@@ -950,23 +945,27 @@ let trans_visitor
   and trans_lval_full
       (initializing:bool)
       (lv:Ast.lval)
-      : (Il.cell * Ast.slot) =
+      : (Il.cell * Ast.ty) =
 
     let rec trans_slot_lval_full (initializing:bool) lv =
-      let (cell, slot) =
+      let (cell, ty) =
         match lv with
             Ast.LVAL_ext (base, comp) ->
-              let (base_cell, base_slot) =
+              let (base_cell, base_ty) =
                 trans_slot_lval_full initializing base
               in
-              let base_cell' = deref_slot initializing base_cell base_slot in
-                trans_slot_lval_ext (slot_ty base_slot) base_cell' comp
+              let (base_cell, base_ty) =
+                deref_ty initializing base_cell base_ty
+              in
+                trans_slot_lval_ext base_ty base_cell comp
 
           | Ast.LVAL_base nb ->
               let slot = lval_to_slot cx nb.id in
               let referent = lval_to_referent cx nb.id in
               let cell = cell_of_block_slot referent in
-                (cell, slot)
+              let ty = slot_ty slot in
+              let cell = deref_slot initializing cell slot in
+                deref_ty initializing cell ty
       in
         iflog
           begin
@@ -976,7 +975,7 @@ let trans_visitor
                    Ast.sprintf_lval lv
                    (cell_str cell))
           end;
-        (cell, slot)
+        (cell, ty)
 
     in
       if lval_is_slot cx lv
@@ -994,13 +993,13 @@ let trans_visitor
   and trans_lval_maybe_init
       (initializing:bool)
       (lv:Ast.lval)
-      : (Il.cell * Ast.slot) =
+      : (Il.cell * Ast.ty) =
     trans_lval_full initializing lv
 
-  and trans_lval_init (lv:Ast.lval) : (Il.cell * Ast.slot) =
+  and trans_lval_init (lv:Ast.lval) : (Il.cell * Ast.ty) =
     trans_lval_maybe_init true lv
 
-  and trans_lval (lv:Ast.lval) : (Il.cell * Ast.slot) =
+  and trans_lval (lv:Ast.lval) : (Il.cell * Ast.ty) =
     trans_lval_maybe_init false lv
 
   and trans_callee
@@ -1231,8 +1230,8 @@ let trans_visitor
 
     match atom with
         Ast.ATOM_lval lv ->
-          let (cell, slot) = trans_lval lv in
-            Il.Cell (deref_slot false cell slot)
+          let (cell, ty) = trans_lval lv in
+            Il.Cell (fst (deref_ty false cell ty))
 
       | Ast.ATOM_literal lit -> trans_lit lit.node
 
@@ -1302,7 +1301,7 @@ let trans_visitor
 
   and check_interrupt_flag _ =
     let dom = next_vreg_cell wordptr_ty in
-    let flag = next_vreg_cell word_ty in
+    let flag = next_vreg_cell word_sty in
       mov dom (Il.Cell (tp_imm (word_n Abi.task_field_dom)));
       mov flag (Il.Cell (deref_imm dom
                            (word_n Abi.dom_field_interrupt_flag)));
@@ -1393,7 +1392,7 @@ let trans_visitor
       (bs:Ast.slot array)
       (* FIXME (issue #5): mutability flag *)
       : Il.referent_ty =
-    let rc = Il.ScalarTy word_ty in
+    let rc = Il.ScalarTy word_sty in
     let targ = referent_type abi (mk_simple_ty_fn [||]) in
     let bindings = Array.map (slot_referent_type abi) bs in
       Il.StructTy [| rc; targ; Il.StructTy bindings |]
@@ -1557,7 +1556,7 @@ let trans_visitor
 
   and ty_params_covering (t:Ast.ty) : Ast.slot =
     let n_ty_params = n_used_type_params t in
-    let params = make_tydesc_slots n_ty_params in
+    let params = make_tydesc_tys n_ty_params in
       alias_slot (Ast.TY_tup params)
 
   and get_drop_glue
@@ -1570,7 +1569,7 @@ let trans_visitor
       let cell = get_element_ptr args 1 in
         note_drop_step ty "in drop-glue, dropping";
         trace_word cx.ctxt_sess.Session.sess_trace_drop cell;
-        drop_ty ty_params ty (deref cell) curr_iso;
+        drop_ty ty_params (deref cell) ty curr_iso;
         note_drop_step ty "drop-glue complete";
     in
     let ty_params_ptr = ty_params_covering ty in
@@ -1621,7 +1620,7 @@ let trans_visitor
     let inner _ (args:Il.cell) =
       let ty_params = deref (get_element_ptr args 0) in
       let cell = get_element_ptr args 1 in
-        sever_ty ty_params ty (deref cell) curr_iso
+        sever_ty ty_params (deref cell) ty curr_iso
     in
     let ty_params_ptr = ty_params_covering ty in
     let fty = mk_simple_ty_fn [| ty_params_ptr; alias_slot ty |] in
@@ -1636,7 +1635,7 @@ let trans_visitor
     let inner _ (args:Il.cell) =
       let ty_params = deref (get_element_ptr args 0) in
       let cell = get_element_ptr args 1 in
-        mark_ty ty_params ty (deref cell) curr_iso
+        mark_ty ty_params (deref cell) ty curr_iso
     in
     let ty_params_ptr = ty_params_covering ty in
     let fty = mk_simple_ty_fn [| ty_params_ptr; alias_slot ty |] in
@@ -1653,7 +1652,7 @@ let trans_visitor
       let ty_params = deref (get_element_ptr args 0) in
       let src = deref (get_element_ptr args 1) in
       let clone_task = get_element_ptr args 2 in
-        clone_ty ty_params clone_task ty dst src curr_iso
+        clone_ty ty_params clone_task dst src ty curr_iso
     in
     let ty_params_ptr = ty_params_covering ty in
     let fty =
@@ -1677,7 +1676,7 @@ let trans_visitor
       let dst = deref out_ptr in
       let ty_params = deref (get_element_ptr args 0) in
       let src = deref (get_element_ptr args 1) in
-        copy_ty ty_params ty dst src curr_iso
+        copy_ty ty_params dst src ty curr_iso
     in
     let ty_params_ptr = ty_params_covering ty in
     let fty =
@@ -2096,8 +2095,8 @@ let trans_visitor
         end
 
   and trans_init_port (dst:Ast.lval) : unit =
-    let (dstcell, dst_slot) = trans_lval_init dst in
-    let unit_ty = match slot_ty dst_slot with
+    let (dstcell, dst_ty) = trans_lval_init dst in
+    let unit_ty = match dst_ty with
         Ast.TY_port t -> t
       | _ -> bug () "init dst of port-init has non-port type"
     in
@@ -2134,19 +2133,18 @@ let trans_visitor
    *)
 
   and trans_init_vec (dst:Ast.lval) (atoms:Ast.atom array) : unit =
-    let (dst_cell, dst_slot) = trans_lval_init dst in
-    let dst_ty = slot_ty dst_slot in
+    let (dst_cell, dst_ty) = trans_lval_init dst in
     let gc_ctrl =
-      if (slot_mem_ctrl dst_slot) = MEM_gc
-      then Il.Cell (get_tydesc None (slot_ty dst_slot))
+      if (ty_mem_ctrl dst_ty) = MEM_gc
+      then Il.Cell (get_tydesc None dst_ty)
       else zero
     in
-    let unit_slot = match dst_ty with
-        Ast.TY_vec s -> s
+    let unit_ty = match dst_ty with
+        Ast.TY_vec t -> t
       | _ -> bug () "init dst of vec-init has non-vec type"
     in
-    let fill = next_vreg_cell word_ty in
-    let unit_sz = slot_sz_in_current_frame unit_slot in
+    let fill = next_vreg_cell word_sty in
+    let unit_sz = ty_sz_in_current_frame unit_ty in
       umul fill unit_sz (imm (Int64.of_int (Array.length atoms)));
       trans_upcall "upcall_new_vec" dst_cell [| Il.Cell fill; gc_ctrl |];
       let vec = deref dst_cell in
@@ -2155,14 +2153,14 @@ let trans_visitor
                  (get_element_ptr_dyn_in_current_frame
                     vec Abi.vec_elt_data))
         in
-        let unit_rty = slot_referent_type abi unit_slot in
+        let unit_rty = referent_type abi unit_ty in
         let body_rty = Il.StructTy (Array.map (fun _ -> unit_rty) atoms) in
         let body = Il.Mem (body_mem, body_rty) in
           Array.iteri
             begin
               fun i atom ->
                 let cell = get_element_ptr_dyn_in_current_frame body i in
-                  trans_init_slot_from_atom CLONE_none cell unit_slot atom
+                  trans_init_ty_from_atom cell unit_ty atom
             end
             atoms;
             mov (get_element_ptr vec Abi.vec_elt_fill) (Il.Cell fill);
@@ -2221,36 +2219,35 @@ let trans_visitor
     exterior_ctrl_cell cell Abi.exterior_rc_slot_field_refcnt
 
   and exterior_allocation_size
-      (slot:Ast.slot)
+      (ty:Ast.ty)
       : Il.operand =
     let header_sz =
-      match slot_mem_ctrl slot with
+      match ty_mem_ctrl ty with
           MEM_gc
         | MEM_rc_opaque
         | MEM_rc_struct -> word_n Abi.exterior_rc_header_size
         | MEM_interior -> bug () "exterior_allocation_size of MEM_interior"
     in
-    let t = slot_ty slot in
     let refty_sz =
-      Il.referent_ty_size abi.Abi.abi_word_bits (referent_type abi t)
+      Il.referent_ty_size abi.Abi.abi_word_bits (referent_type abi ty)
     in
       match refty_sz with
-          SIZE_fixed _ -> imm (Int64.add (ty_sz abi t) header_sz)
+          SIZE_fixed _ -> imm (Int64.add (ty_sz abi ty) header_sz)
         | _ ->
             let ty_params = get_ty_params_of_current_frame() in
             let refty_sz = calculate_sz ty_params refty_sz in
-            let v = next_vreg word_ty in
-            let vc = Il.Reg (v, word_ty) in
+            let v = next_vreg word_sty in
+            let vc = Il.Reg (v, word_sty) in
               mov vc refty_sz;
               add_to vc (imm header_sz);
               Il.Cell vc;
 
-  and iter_tag_slots
+  and iter_tag_parts
       (ty_params:Il.cell)
       (dst_cell:Il.cell)
       (src_cell:Il.cell)
       (ttag:Ast.ty_tag)
-      (f:Il.cell -> Il.cell -> Ast.slot -> (Ast.ty_iso option) -> unit)
+      (f:Il.cell -> Il.cell -> Ast.ty -> (Ast.ty_iso option) -> unit)
       (curr_iso:Ast.ty_iso option)
       : unit =
     let tag_keys = sorted_htab_keys ttag in
@@ -2258,8 +2255,8 @@ let trans_visitor
     let dst_tag = get_element_ptr dst_cell 0 in
     let src_union = get_element_ptr_dyn ty_params src_cell 1 in
     let dst_union = get_element_ptr_dyn ty_params dst_cell 1 in
-    let tmp = next_vreg_cell word_ty in
-      f dst_tag src_tag word_slot curr_iso;
+    let tmp = next_vreg_cell word_sty in
+      f dst_tag src_tag word_ty curr_iso;
       mov tmp (Il.Cell src_tag);
       Array.iteri
         begin
@@ -2271,7 +2268,7 @@ let trans_visitor
               trans_compare Il.JNE (Il.Cell tmp) (imm (Int64.of_int i))
             in
             let ttup = Hashtbl.find ttag key in
-              iter_tup_slots
+              iter_tup_parts
                 (get_element_ptr_dyn ty_params)
                 (get_variant_ptr dst_union i)
                 (get_variant_ptr src_union i)
@@ -2284,24 +2281,24 @@ let trans_visitor
     tiso.Ast.iso_group.(tiso.Ast.iso_index)
 
 
-  and seq_unit_slot (seq:Ast.ty) : Ast.slot =
+  and seq_unit_ty (seq:Ast.ty) : Ast.ty =
     match seq with
-        Ast.TY_vec s -> s
-      | Ast.TY_str -> (interior_slot (Ast.TY_mach TY_u8))
-      | _ -> bug () "seq_unit_slot of non-vec, non-str type"
+        Ast.TY_vec t -> t
+      | Ast.TY_str -> Ast.TY_mach TY_u8
+      | _ -> bug () "seq_unit_ty of non-vec, non-str type"
 
 
-  and iter_seq_slots
+  and iter_seq_parts
       (ty_params:Il.cell)
       (dst_cell:Il.cell)
       (src_cell:Il.cell)
-      (unit_slot:Ast.slot)
-      (f:Il.cell -> Il.cell -> Ast.slot -> (Ast.ty_iso option) -> unit)
+      (unit_ty:Ast.ty)
+      (f:Il.cell -> Il.cell -> Ast.ty -> (Ast.ty_iso option) -> unit)
       (curr_iso:Ast.ty_iso option)
       : unit =
-    let unit_sz = slot_sz_with_ty_params ty_params unit_slot in
+    let unit_sz = ty_sz_with_ty_params ty_params unit_ty in
       (* 
-       * Unlike most of the iter_ty_slots helpers; this one allocates a
+       * Unlike most of the iter_ty_parts helpers; this one allocates a
        * vreg and so has to be aware of when it's iterating over 2
        * sequences of cells or just 1.
        *)
@@ -2323,9 +2320,9 @@ let trans_visitor
             let back_jmp_target = mark () in
             let fwd_jmps = trans_compare Il.JAE (Il.Cell ptr) (Il.Cell lim) in
             let unit_cell =
-              deref (ptr_cast ptr (slot_referent_type abi unit_slot))
+              deref (ptr_cast ptr (referent_type abi unit_ty))
             in
-              f unit_cell unit_cell unit_slot curr_iso;
+              f unit_cell unit_cell unit_ty curr_iso;
               add_to ptr unit_sz;
               check_interrupt_flag ();
               emit (Il.jmp Il.JMP (Il.CodeLabel back_jmp_target));
@@ -2337,12 +2334,12 @@ let trans_visitor
         end
 
 
-  and iter_ty_slots_full
+  and iter_ty_parts_full
       (ty_params:Il.cell)
-      (ty:Ast.ty)
       (dst_cell:Il.cell)
       (src_cell:Il.cell)
-      (f:Il.cell -> Il.cell -> Ast.slot -> (Ast.ty_iso option) -> unit)
+      (ty:Ast.ty)
+      (f:Il.cell -> Il.cell -> Ast.ty -> (Ast.ty_iso option) -> unit)
       (curr_iso:Ast.ty_iso option)
       : unit =
     (* 
@@ -2352,84 +2349,74 @@ let trans_visitor
      *)
     match ty with
         Ast.TY_rec entries ->
-          iter_rec_slots
+          iter_rec_parts
             (get_element_ptr_dyn ty_params) dst_cell src_cell
             entries f curr_iso
 
-      | Ast.TY_tup slots ->
-          iter_tup_slots
+      | Ast.TY_tup tys ->
+          iter_tup_parts
             (get_element_ptr_dyn ty_params) dst_cell src_cell
-            slots f curr_iso
+            tys f curr_iso
 
       | Ast.TY_tag tag ->
-          iter_tag_slots ty_params dst_cell src_cell tag f curr_iso
+          iter_tag_parts ty_params dst_cell src_cell tag f curr_iso
 
       | Ast.TY_iso tiso ->
           let ttag = get_iso_tag tiso in
-            iter_tag_slots ty_params dst_cell src_cell ttag f (Some tiso)
+            iter_tag_parts ty_params dst_cell src_cell ttag f (Some tiso)
 
       | Ast.TY_fn _
       | Ast.TY_obj _ -> bug () "Attempting to iterate over fn/pred/obj slots"
 
       | Ast.TY_vec _
       | Ast.TY_str ->
-          let unit_slot = seq_unit_slot ty in
-            iter_seq_slots ty_params dst_cell src_cell unit_slot f curr_iso
+          let unit_ty = seq_unit_ty ty in
+            iter_seq_parts ty_params dst_cell src_cell unit_ty f curr_iso
 
       | _ -> ()
 
   (* 
-   * This just calls iter_ty_slots_full with your cell as both src and
-   * dst, with an adaptor function that discards the dst slots of the
+   * This just calls iter_ty_parts_full with your cell as both src and
+   * dst, with an adaptor function that discards the dst parts of the
    * parallel traversal and and calls your provided function on the
-   * passed-in src slots.
+   * passed-in src parts.
    *)
-  and iter_ty_slots
+  and iter_ty_parts
       (ty_params:Il.cell)
-      (ty:Ast.ty)
       (cell:Il.cell)
-      (f:Il.cell -> Ast.slot -> (Ast.ty_iso option) -> unit)
+      (ty:Ast.ty)
+      (f:Il.cell -> Ast.ty -> (Ast.ty_iso option) -> unit)
       (curr_iso:Ast.ty_iso option)
       : unit =
-    iter_ty_slots_full ty_params ty cell cell
-      (fun _ src_cell slot curr_iso -> f src_cell slot curr_iso)
+    iter_ty_parts_full ty_params cell cell ty
+      (fun _ src_cell ty curr_iso -> f src_cell ty curr_iso)
       curr_iso
 
   and drop_ty
       (ty_params:Il.cell)
-      (ty:Ast.ty)
       (cell:Il.cell)
+      (ty:Ast.ty)
       (curr_iso:Ast.ty_iso option)
       : unit =
-    match ty with
-        Ast.TY_param (i, _) ->
-          iflog (fun _ -> annotate
-                   (Printf.sprintf "drop_ty: parametric drop %#d" i));
-          aliasing false cell
-            begin
-              fun cell ->
-                trans_call_simple_dynamic_glue
-                   i Abi.tydesc_field_drop_glue ty_params cell
-            end
 
-      | Ast.TY_fn _ ->
-          begin
+    let ty = maybe_iso curr_iso ty in
+    let curr_iso = maybe_enter_iso ty curr_iso in
+    let mctrl = ty_mem_ctrl ty in
+
+      match ty with
+
+          Ast.TY_fn _ ->
             let binding = get_element_ptr cell Abi.binding_field_binding in
             let null_jmp = null_check binding in
               (* Drop non-null bindings. *)
-              (* FIXME (issue #58): this is completely wrong,
-               * need a second thunk that generates code to make
-               * use of a runtime type descriptor extracted from
-               * a binding tuple. For now this only works by
-               * accident. 
+              (* FIXME (issue #58): this is completely wrong, Closures need to
+               * carry tydescs like objs. For now this only works by accident,
+               * and will leak closures with exterior substructure.
                *)
-              drop_slot ty_params binding
-                (exterior_slot Ast.TY_int) curr_iso;
+              drop_ty ty_params binding (Ast.TY_exterior Ast.TY_int) curr_iso;
               patch null_jmp
-          end
 
-      | Ast.TY_obj _ ->
-          begin
+        | Ast.TY_obj _ ->
             let binding = get_element_ptr cell Abi.binding_field_binding in
             let null_jmp = null_check binding in
             let obj = deref binding in
@@ -2445,55 +2432,109 @@ let trans_visitor
             in
             let null_dtor_jmp = null_check dtor in
               (* Call any dtor, if present. *)
-              trans_call_dynamic_glue tydesc
-                Abi.tydesc_field_obj_drop_glue None [| binding |];
-              patch null_dtor_jmp;
-              (* Drop the body. *)
-              trans_call_dynamic_glue tydesc
-                Abi.tydesc_field_drop_glue None [| ty_params; alias body |];
-              (* FIXME: this will fail if the user has lied about the
-               * state-ness of their obj. We need to store state-ness in the
-               * captured tydesc, and use that.  *)
-              trans_free binding (type_has_state ty);
-              mov binding zero;
-              patch rc_jmp;
-              patch null_jmp
-          end
+            trans_call_dynamic_glue tydesc
+              Abi.tydesc_field_obj_drop_glue None [| binding |];
+            patch null_dtor_jmp;
+            (* Drop the body. *)
+            trans_call_dynamic_glue tydesc
+              Abi.tydesc_field_drop_glue None [| ty_params; alias body |];
+            (* FIXME: this will fail if the user has lied about the
+             * state-ness of their obj. We need to store state-ness in the
+             * captured tydesc, and use that.  *)
+            trans_free binding (type_has_state ty);
+            mov binding zero;
+            patch rc_jmp;
+            patch null_jmp
+
 
+      | Ast.TY_param (i, _) ->
+          iflog (fun _ -> annotate
+                   (Printf.sprintf "drop_ty: parametric drop %#d" i));
+          aliasing false cell
+            begin
+              fun cell ->
+                trans_call_simple_dynamic_glue
+                  i Abi.tydesc_field_drop_glue ty_params cell
+            end
 
       | _ ->
-          iter_ty_slots ty_params ty cell (drop_slot ty_params) curr_iso
+          match mctrl with
+              MEM_gc
+            | MEM_rc_opaque
+            | MEM_rc_struct ->
+
+                let _ = check_exterior_rty cell in
+                let null_jmp = null_check cell in
+                let rc = exterior_rc_cell cell in
+                let j = drop_refcount_and_cmp rc in
+
+                  (* FIXME (issue #25): check to see that the exterior has
+                   * further exterior members; if it doesn't we can elide the
+                   * call to the glue function.  *)
+
+                  if mctrl = MEM_rc_opaque
+                  then
+                    free_ty false ty_params ty cell curr_iso
+                  else
+                    trans_call_simple_static_glue
+                      (get_free_glue ty (mctrl = MEM_gc) curr_iso)
+                      ty_params cell;
+
+                  (* Null the slot out to prevent double-free if the frame
+                   * unwinds.
+                   *)
+                  mov cell zero;
+                  patch j;
+                  patch null_jmp
+
+            | MEM_interior when type_is_structured ty ->
+                (iflog (fun _ ->
+                          annotate ("drop interior slot " ^
+                                      (Fmt.fmt_to_str Ast.fmt_ty ty))));
+                let (mem, _) = need_mem_cell cell in
+                let vr = next_vreg_cell Il.voidptr_t in
+                  lea vr mem;
+                  trans_call_simple_static_glue
+                    (get_drop_glue ty curr_iso)
+                    ty_params vr
+
+            | MEM_interior ->
+                (* Interior allocation of all-interior value not caught above:
+                 * nothing to do.
+                 *)
+                ()
 
   and sever_ty
       (ty_params:Il.cell)
-      (ty:Ast.ty)
       (cell:Il.cell)
-      (curr_iso:Ast.ty_iso option)
-      : unit =
-    match ty with
-      | Ast.TY_fn _
-      | Ast.TY_obj _ -> ()
-      | _ ->
-          iter_ty_slots ty_params ty cell (sever_slot ty_params) curr_iso
-
-  and mark_ty
-      (ty_params:Il.cell)
       (ty:Ast.ty)
-      (cell:Il.cell)
       (curr_iso:Ast.ty_iso option)
       : unit =
-    match ty with
-      | Ast.TY_fn _
-      | Ast.TY_obj _ -> ()
-      | _ ->
-          iter_ty_slots ty_params ty cell (mark_slot ty_params) curr_iso
+    let _ = note_gc_step ty "severing" in
+      match ty_mem_ctrl ty with
+          MEM_gc ->
+
+            let _ = check_exterior_rty cell in
+            let null_jmp = null_check cell in
+            let rc = exterior_rc_cell cell in
+            let _ = note_gc_step ty "severing GC slot" in
+              emit (Il.binary Il.SUB rc (Il.Cell rc) one);
+              mov cell zero;
+              patch null_jmp
+
+        | MEM_interior when type_is_structured ty ->
+            iter_ty_parts ty_params cell ty
+              (sever_ty ty_params) curr_iso
+
+        | _ -> ()
+            (* No need to follow links / call glue; severing is shallow. *)
 
   and clone_ty
       (ty_params:Il.cell)
       (clone_task:Il.cell)
-      (ty:Ast.ty)
       (dst:Il.cell)
       (src:Il.cell)
+      (ty:Ast.ty)
       (curr_iso:Ast.ty_iso option)
       : unit =
     match ty with
@@ -2508,15 +2549,21 @@ let trans_visitor
           -> mov dst (Il.Cell src)
       | Ast.TY_fn _
       | Ast.TY_obj _ -> ()
+      | Ast.TY_exterior ty ->
+          let glue_fix = get_clone_glue ty curr_iso in
+            trans_call_static_glue
+              (code_fixup_to_ptr_operand glue_fix)
+              (Some dst)
+              [| alias ty_params; src; clone_task |]
       | _ ->
-          iter_ty_slots_full ty_params ty dst src
-            (clone_slot ty_params clone_task) curr_iso
+          iter_ty_parts_full ty_params dst src ty
+            (clone_ty ty_params clone_task) curr_iso
 
   and copy_ty
       (ty_params:Il.cell)
-      (ty:Ast.ty)
       (dst:Il.cell)
       (src:Il.cell)
+      (ty:Ast.ty)
       (curr_iso:Ast.ty_iso option)
       : unit =
     iflog (fun _ ->
@@ -2565,18 +2612,18 @@ let trans_visitor
                  * through to the binding's self-copy fptr. For now
                  * this only works by accident.
                  *)
-                trans_copy_slot ty_params true
-                  dst_binding (exterior_slot Ast.TY_int)
-                  src_binding (exterior_slot Ast.TY_int)
+                trans_copy_ty ty_params true
+                  dst_binding (Ast.TY_exterior Ast.TY_int)
+                  src_binding (Ast.TY_exterior Ast.TY_int)
                   curr_iso;
                 patch null_jmp
           end
 
       | _ ->
-          iter_ty_slots_full ty_params ty dst src
-            (fun dst src slot curr_iso ->
-               trans_copy_slot ty_params true
-                 dst slot src slot curr_iso)
+          iter_ty_parts_full ty_params dst src ty
+            (fun dst src ty curr_iso ->
+               trans_copy_ty ty_params true
+                 dst ty src ty curr_iso)
             curr_iso
 
   and free_ty
@@ -2591,8 +2638,8 @@ let trans_visitor
       | Ast.TY_chan _ -> trans_del_chan cell
       | Ast.TY_task -> trans_kill_task cell
       | Ast.TY_vec s ->
-          iter_seq_slots ty_params cell cell s
-            (fun _ src slot iso -> drop_slot ty_params src slot iso) curr_iso;
+          iter_seq_parts ty_params cell cell s
+            (fun _ src ty iso -> drop_ty ty_params src ty iso) curr_iso;
           trans_free cell is_gc
 
       | _ -> trans_free cell is_gc
@@ -2603,7 +2650,7 @@ let trans_visitor
       : Ast.ty =
     match (curr_iso, t) with
         (Some iso, Ast.TY_idx n) ->
-          Ast.TY_iso { iso with Ast.iso_index = n }
+          Ast.TY_exterior (Ast.TY_iso { iso with Ast.iso_index = n })
       | (None, Ast.TY_idx _) ->
           bug () "TY_idx outside TY_iso"
       | _ -> t
@@ -2616,74 +2663,46 @@ let trans_visitor
         Ast.TY_iso tiso -> Some tiso
       | _ -> curr_iso
 
-  and sever_slot
+  and mark_slot
       (ty_params:Il.cell)
       (cell:Il.cell)
       (slot:Ast.slot)
       (curr_iso:Ast.ty_iso option)
       : unit =
-    let _ = note_gc_step slot "severing" in
-    let ty = slot_ty slot in
-      match slot_mem_ctrl slot with
-          MEM_gc ->
-
-            let _ = check_exterior_rty cell in
-            let null_jmp = null_check cell in
-            let rc = exterior_rc_cell cell in
-            let _ = note_gc_step slot "severing GC slot" in
-              emit (Il.binary Il.SUB rc (Il.Cell rc) one);
-              mov cell zero;
-              patch null_jmp
-
-        | MEM_interior when type_is_structured ty ->
-            let (mem, _) = need_mem_cell cell in
-            let tmp = next_vreg_cell Il.voidptr_t in
-            let ty = maybe_iso curr_iso ty in
-            let curr_iso = maybe_enter_iso ty curr_iso in
-              lea tmp mem;
-              trans_call_simple_static_glue
-                (get_sever_glue ty curr_iso)
-                ty_params tmp
+    (* Marking goes straight through aliases. Reachable means reachable. *)
+    mark_ty ty_params (deref_slot false cell slot) (slot_ty slot) curr_iso
 
-        | MEM_interior ->
-            (* Interior allocation of all-interior value: sever directly. *)
-            let ty = maybe_iso curr_iso ty in
-              sever_ty ty_params ty cell curr_iso
-
-        | _ -> ()
-
-  and mark_slot
+  and mark_ty
       (ty_params:Il.cell)
       (cell:Il.cell)
-      (slot:Ast.slot)
+      (ty:Ast.ty)
       (curr_iso:Ast.ty_iso option)
       : unit =
-    let ty = slot_ty slot in
-      match slot_mem_ctrl slot with
-          MEM_gc ->
-            let tmp = next_vreg_cell Il.voidptr_t in
+    match ty_mem_ctrl ty with
+        MEM_gc ->
+          let tmp = next_vreg_cell Il.voidptr_t in
             trans_upcall "upcall_mark" tmp [| Il.Cell cell |];
-              let marked_jump =
-                trans_compare Il.JE (Il.Cell tmp) zero;
-              in
-                (* Iterate over exterior slots marking outgoing links. *)
-              let (body_mem, _) =
-                need_mem_cell
-                  (get_element_ptr (deref cell)
-                     Abi.exterior_gc_slot_field_body)
-              in
-              let ty = maybe_iso curr_iso ty in
-              let curr_iso = maybe_enter_iso ty curr_iso in
-                lea tmp body_mem;
-                trans_call_simple_static_glue
-                  (get_mark_glue ty curr_iso)
-                  ty_params tmp;
-                List.iter patch marked_jump;
+            let marked_jump =
+              trans_compare Il.JE (Il.Cell tmp) zero;
+            in
+              (* Iterate over exterior parts marking outgoing links. *)
+            let (body_mem, _) =
+              need_mem_cell
+                (get_element_ptr (deref cell)
+                   Abi.exterior_gc_slot_field_body)
+            in
+            let ty = maybe_iso curr_iso ty in
+            let curr_iso = maybe_enter_iso ty curr_iso in
+              lea tmp body_mem;
+              trans_call_simple_static_glue
+                (get_mark_glue ty curr_iso)
+                ty_params tmp;
+              List.iter patch marked_jump;
 
         | MEM_interior when type_is_structured ty ->
             (iflog (fun _ ->
                       annotate ("mark interior slot " ^
-                                  (Fmt.fmt_to_str Ast.fmt_slot slot))));
+                                  (Fmt.fmt_to_str Ast.fmt_ty ty))));
             let (mem, _) = need_mem_cell cell in
             let tmp = next_vreg_cell Il.voidptr_t in
             let ty = maybe_iso curr_iso ty in
@@ -2704,30 +2723,6 @@ let trans_visitor
           "expected plausibly-exterior cell, got %s"
             (Il.string_of_referent_ty (Il.cell_referent_ty cell))
 
-  and clone_slot
-      (ty_params:Il.cell)
-      (clone_task:Il.cell)
-      (dst:Il.cell)
-      (src:Il.cell)
-      (dst_slot:Ast.slot)
-      (curr_iso:Ast.ty_iso option)
-      : unit =
-    let ty = slot_ty dst_slot in
-      match dst_slot.Ast.slot_mode with
-          Ast.MODE_exterior _ ->
-            let ty = maybe_iso curr_iso ty in
-            let curr_iso = maybe_enter_iso ty curr_iso in
-            let dst = deref_slot true dst dst_slot in
-            let glue_fix = get_clone_glue (slot_ty dst_slot) curr_iso in
-              trans_call_static_glue
-                (code_fixup_to_ptr_operand glue_fix)
-                (Some dst)
-                [| alias ty_params; src; clone_task |]
-
-        | Ast.MODE_alias _ -> bug () "cloning into alias slot"
-        | Ast.MODE_interior _ ->
-            clone_ty ty_params clone_task ty dst src curr_iso
-
   and drop_slot_in_current_frame
       (cell:Il.cell)
       (slot:Ast.slot)
@@ -2755,54 +2750,11 @@ let trans_visitor
       (slot:Ast.slot)
       (curr_iso:Ast.ty_iso option)
       : unit =
-    let ty = slot_ty slot in
-    let ty = maybe_iso curr_iso ty in
-    let curr_iso = maybe_enter_iso ty curr_iso in
-    let slot = {slot with Ast.slot_ty = Some ty} in
-    let mctrl = slot_mem_ctrl slot in
-      match mctrl with
-          MEM_rc_opaque
-        | MEM_gc
-        | MEM_rc_struct ->
-            let _ = check_exterior_rty cell in
-            let null_jmp = null_check cell in
-            let rc = exterior_rc_cell cell in
-            let j = drop_refcount_and_cmp rc in
-
-              (* FIXME (issue #25): check to see that the exterior has
-               * further exterior members; if it doesn't we can elide the
-               * call to the glue function.  *)
-
-              if mctrl = MEM_rc_opaque
-              then
-                free_ty false ty_params ty cell curr_iso
-              else
-                trans_call_simple_static_glue
-                  (get_free_glue ty (mctrl = MEM_gc) curr_iso)
-                  ty_params cell;
-
-              (* Null the slot out to prevent double-free if the frame
-               * unwinds.
-               *)
-              mov cell zero;
-              patch j;
-              patch null_jmp
-
-        | MEM_interior when type_is_structured ty ->
-            (iflog (fun _ ->
-                      annotate ("drop interior slot " ^
-                                  (Fmt.fmt_to_str Ast.fmt_slot slot))));
-            let (mem, _) = need_mem_cell cell in
-            let vr = next_vreg_cell Il.voidptr_t in
-              lea vr mem;
-              trans_call_simple_static_glue
-                (get_drop_glue ty curr_iso)
-                ty_params vr
-
-        | MEM_interior ->
-            (* Interior allocation of all-interior value: free directly. *)
-            let ty = maybe_iso curr_iso ty in
-              drop_ty ty_params ty cell curr_iso
+    match slot.Ast.slot_mode with
+        Ast.MODE_alias
+          (* Aliases are always free to drop. *)
+      | Ast.MODE_interior ->
+          drop_ty ty_params cell (slot_ty slot) curr_iso
 
   and note_drop_step ty step =
     if cx.ctxt_sess.Session.sess_trace_drop ||
@@ -2815,44 +2767,70 @@ let trans_visitor
           trace_str cx.ctxt_sess.Session.sess_trace_drop str
         end
 
-  and note_gc_step slot step =
+  and note_gc_step ty step =
     if cx.ctxt_sess.Session.sess_trace_gc ||
       cx.ctxt_sess.Session.sess_log_trans
     then
       let mctrl_str =
-        match slot_mem_ctrl slot with
+        match ty_mem_ctrl ty with
             MEM_gc -> "MEM_gc"
           | MEM_rc_struct -> "MEM_rc_struct"
           | MEM_rc_opaque -> "MEM_rc_opaque"
           | MEM_interior -> "MEM_interior"
       in
-      let slotstr = Fmt.fmt_to_str Ast.fmt_slot slot in
-      let str = step ^ " " ^ mctrl_str ^ " " ^ slotstr in
+      let tystr = Fmt.fmt_to_str Ast.fmt_ty ty in
+      let str = step ^ " " ^ mctrl_str ^ " " ^ tystr in
         begin
           annotate str;
           trace_str cx.ctxt_sess.Session.sess_trace_gc str
         end
 
   (* Returns the offset of the slot-body in the initialized allocation. *)
-  and init_exterior_slot (cell:Il.cell) (slot:Ast.slot) : unit =
-    let mctrl = slot_mem_ctrl slot in
+  and init_exterior (cell:Il.cell) (ty:Ast.ty) : unit =
+    let mctrl = ty_mem_ctrl ty in
       match mctrl with
           MEM_gc
         | MEM_rc_opaque
         | MEM_rc_struct ->
             let ctrl =
               if mctrl = MEM_gc
-              then Il.Cell (get_tydesc None (slot_ty slot))
+              then Il.Cell (get_tydesc None ty)
               else zero
             in
               iflog (fun _ -> annotate "init exterior: malloc");
-              let sz = exterior_allocation_size slot in
+              let sz = exterior_allocation_size ty in
                 trans_malloc cell sz ctrl;
                 iflog (fun _ -> annotate "init exterior: load refcount");
                 let rc = exterior_rc_cell cell in
                   mov rc one
 
-      | MEM_interior -> bug () "init_exterior_slot of MEM_interior"
+      | MEM_interior -> bug () "init_exterior of MEM_interior"
+
+  and deref_ty
+      (initializing:bool)
+      (cell:Il.cell)
+      (ty:Ast.ty)
+      : (Il.cell * Ast.ty) =
+    match ty with
+
+      | Ast.TY_mutable ty
+      | Ast.TY_constrained (ty, _) ->
+          deref_ty initializing cell ty
+
+      | Ast.TY_exterior ty ->
+          check_exterior_rty cell;
+          if initializing
+          then init_exterior cell ty;
+          let cell =
+            get_element_ptr_dyn_in_current_frame
+              (deref cell)
+              (Abi.exterior_rc_slot_field_body)
+          in
+            (* Init recursively so @@@@T chain works. *)
+            deref_ty initializing cell ty
+
+      | _ -> (cell, ty)
+
 
   and deref_slot
       (initializing:bool)
@@ -2860,17 +2838,9 @@ let trans_visitor
       (slot:Ast.slot)
       : Il.cell =
     match slot.Ast.slot_mode with
-        Ast.MODE_interior _ ->
+        Ast.MODE_interior ->
           cell
 
-      | Ast.MODE_exterior _ ->
-          check_exterior_rty cell;
-          if initializing
-          then init_exterior_slot cell slot;
-          get_element_ptr_dyn_in_current_frame
-            (deref cell)
-            Abi.exterior_rc_slot_field_body
-
       | Ast.MODE_alias _  ->
           if initializing
           then cell
@@ -2881,24 +2851,32 @@ let trans_visitor
       (initializing:bool)
       (dst:Il.cell)
       (src:Il.cell)
-      (slots:Ast.ty_tup)
+      (tys:Ast.ty_tup)
       : unit =
     Array.iteri
       begin
-        fun i slot ->
+        fun i ty ->
           let sub_dst_cell = get_element_ptr_dyn ty_params dst i in
           let sub_src_cell = get_element_ptr_dyn ty_params src i in
-            trans_copy_slot
+            trans_copy_ty
               ty_params initializing
-              sub_dst_cell slot sub_src_cell slot None
+              sub_dst_cell ty sub_src_cell ty None
       end
-      slots
+      tys
 
-  and trans_copy_slot
+  and without_exterior t =
+    match t with
+      | Ast.TY_mutable t
+      | Ast.TY_exterior t
+      | Ast.TY_constrained (t, _) ->
+          without_exterior t
+      | _ -> t
+
+  and trans_copy_ty
       (ty_params:Il.cell)
       (initializing:bool)
-      (dst:Il.cell) (dst_slot:Ast.slot)
-      (src:Il.cell) (src_slot:Ast.slot)
+      (dst:Il.cell) (dst_ty:Ast.ty)
+      (src:Il.cell) (src_ty:Ast.ty)
       (curr_iso:Ast.ty_iso option)
       : unit =
     let anno (weight:string) : unit =
@@ -2908,13 +2886,12 @@ let trans_visitor
             annotate
               (Printf.sprintf "%sweight copy: %a <- %a"
                  weight
-                 Ast.sprintf_slot dst_slot
-                 Ast.sprintf_slot src_slot)
+                 Ast.sprintf_ty dst_ty
+                 Ast.sprintf_ty src_ty)
         end;
     in
-      assert (slot_ty src_slot = slot_ty dst_slot);
-      match (slot_mem_ctrl src_slot,
-             slot_mem_ctrl dst_slot) with
+      assert (without_exterior src_ty = without_exterior dst_ty);
+      match (ty_mem_ctrl src_ty, ty_mem_ctrl dst_ty) with
 
         | (MEM_rc_opaque, MEM_rc_opaque)
         | (MEM_gc, MEM_gc)
@@ -2924,14 +2901,14 @@ let trans_visitor
             add_to (exterior_rc_cell src) one;
             if not initializing
             then
-              drop_slot ty_params dst dst_slot None;
+              drop_ty ty_params dst dst_ty None;
             mov dst (Il.Cell src)
 
         | _ ->
             (* Heavyweight copy: duplicate 1 level of the referent. *)
             anno "heavy";
-            trans_copy_slot_heavy ty_params initializing
-              dst dst_slot src src_slot curr_iso
+            trans_copy_ty_heavy ty_params initializing
+              dst dst_ty src src_ty curr_iso
 
   (* NB: heavyweight copying here does not mean "producing a deep
    * clone of the entire data tree rooted at the src operand". It means
@@ -2960,39 +2937,44 @@ let trans_visitor
    * 
    *)
 
-  and trans_copy_slot_heavy
+  and trans_copy_ty_heavy
       (ty_params:Il.cell)
       (initializing:bool)
-      (dst:Il.cell) (dst_slot:Ast.slot)
-      (src:Il.cell) (src_slot:Ast.slot)
+      (dst:Il.cell) (dst_ty:Ast.ty)
+      (src:Il.cell) (src_ty:Ast.ty)
       (curr_iso:Ast.ty_iso option)
       : unit =
-    assert (slot_ty src_slot = slot_ty dst_slot);
+    assert (without_exterior src_ty = without_exterior dst_ty);
     iflog (fun _ ->
              annotate ("heavy copy: slot preparation"));
 
-    let ty = slot_ty src_slot in
+    let ty = without_exterior src_ty in
     let ty = maybe_iso curr_iso ty in
     let curr_iso = maybe_enter_iso ty curr_iso in
-    let dst_slot = { dst_slot with Ast.slot_ty = Some ty } in
-    let src_slot = { src_slot with Ast.slot_ty = Some ty } in
-    let dst = deref_slot initializing dst dst_slot in
-    let src = deref_slot false src src_slot in
-      copy_ty ty_params ty dst src curr_iso
+    let (dst, dst_ty) = deref_ty initializing dst dst_ty in
+    let (src, src_ty) = deref_ty false src src_ty in
+      assert (dst_ty = ty);
+      assert (src_ty = ty);
+      copy_ty ty_params dst src ty curr_iso
 
   and trans_copy
       (initializing:bool)
       (dst:Ast.lval)
       (src:Ast.expr)
       : unit =
-    let (dst_cell, dst_slot) = trans_lval_maybe_init initializing dst in
-      match (slot_ty dst_slot, src) with
-          (Ast.TY_vec _,
+    let (dst_cell, dst_ty) = trans_lval_maybe_init initializing dst in
+    let rec can_append t =
+      match t with
+          Ast.TY_vec _
+        | Ast.TY_str -> true
+        | Ast.TY_exterior t when can_append t -> true
+        | _ -> false
+    in
+      match (dst_ty, src) with
+          (t,
            Ast.EXPR_binary (Ast.BINOP_add,
                             Ast.ATOM_lval a, Ast.ATOM_lval b))
-        | (Ast.TY_str,
-           Ast.EXPR_binary (Ast.BINOP_add,
-                            Ast.ATOM_lval a, Ast.ATOM_lval b)) ->
+            when can_append t ->
             (*
              * Translate str or vec
              * 
@@ -3003,14 +2985,14 @@ let trans_visitor
              *   s = a;
              *   s += b;
              *)
-            let (a_cell, a_slot) = trans_lval a in
-            let (b_cell, b_slot) = trans_lval b in
-              trans_copy_slot
+            let (a_cell, a_ty) = trans_lval a in
+            let (b_cell, b_ty) = trans_lval b in
+              trans_copy_ty
                 (get_ty_params_of_current_frame())
-                initializing dst_cell dst_slot
-                a_cell a_slot None;
-              trans_vec_append dst_cell dst_slot
-                (Il.Cell b_cell) (slot_ty b_slot)
+                initializing dst_cell dst_ty
+                a_cell a_ty None;
+              trans_vec_append dst_cell dst_ty
+                (Il.Cell b_cell) b_ty
 
 
         | (Ast.TY_obj caller_obj_ty,
@@ -3026,7 +3008,6 @@ let trans_visitor
                     | _ -> bug () "obj cast from non-obj type"
                 in
                 let src_cell = need_cell (trans_atom a) in
-                let src_slot = interior_slot src_ty in
 
                 (* FIXME (issue #84): this is wrong. It treats the underlying
                  * obj-state as the same as the callee and simply substitutes
@@ -3036,16 +3017,16 @@ let trans_visitor
                  * refcounted obj to hold the callee's vtbl+state pair, copy
                  * that in as the state here.  *)
                 let _ =
-                  trans_copy_slot (get_ty_params_of_current_frame())
+                  trans_copy_ty (get_ty_params_of_current_frame())
                     initializing
-                    dst_cell dst_slot
-                    src_cell src_slot
+                    dst_cell dst_ty
+                    src_cell src_ty
                 in
                 let caller_vtbl_oper =
                   get_forwarding_vtbl caller_obj_ty callee_obj_ty
                 in
-                let caller_obj =
-                  deref_slot initializing dst_cell dst_slot
+                let (caller_obj, _) =
+                  deref_ty initializing dst_cell dst_ty
                 in
                 let caller_vtbl =
                   get_element_ptr caller_obj Abi.binding_field_item
@@ -3061,19 +3042,19 @@ let trans_visitor
              * so copy is just MOV into the lval.
              *)
             let src_operand = trans_expr src in
-              mov (deref_slot false dst_cell dst_slot) src_operand
+              mov (fst (deref_ty false dst_cell dst_ty)) src_operand
 
         | (_, Ast.EXPR_atom (Ast.ATOM_lval src_lval)) ->
             if lval_is_direct_fn cx src_lval then
               trans_copy_direct_fn dst_cell src_lval
             else
               (* Possibly-large structure copying *)
-              let (src_cell, src_slot) = trans_lval src_lval in
-                trans_copy_slot
+              let (src_cell, src_ty) = trans_lval src_lval in
+                trans_copy_ty
                   (get_ty_params_of_current_frame())
                   initializing
-                  dst_cell dst_slot
-                  src_cell src_slot
+                  dst_cell dst_ty
+                  src_cell src_ty
                   None
 
   and trans_copy_direct_fn
@@ -3089,120 +3070,117 @@ let trans_visitor
     let dst_pair_binding_cell =
       get_element_ptr dst_cell Abi.binding_field_binding
     in
-
       mov dst_pair_item_cell (crate_rel_imm fix);
       mov dst_pair_binding_cell zero
 
 
   and trans_init_structural_from_atoms
       (dst:Il.cell)
-      (dst_slots:Ast.slot array)
+      (dst_tys:Ast.ty array)
       (atoms:Ast.atom array)
       : unit =
     Array.iteri
       begin
         fun i atom ->
-          trans_init_slot_from_atom
-            CLONE_none
+          trans_init_ty_from_atom
             (get_element_ptr_dyn_in_current_frame dst i)
-            dst_slots.(i)
-            atom
+            dst_tys.(i) atom
       end
       atoms
 
   and trans_init_rec_update
       (dst:Il.cell)
-      (dst_slots:Ast.slot array)
+      (dst_tys:Ast.ty array)
       (trec:Ast.ty_rec)
-      (atab:(Ast.ident * Ast.mode * bool * Ast.atom) array)
+      (atab:(Ast.ident * Ast.atom) array)
       (base:Ast.lval)
       : unit =
     Array.iteri
       begin
         fun i (fml_ident, _) ->
-          let fml_entry _ (act_ident, _, _, atom) =
+          let fml_entry _ (act_ident, atom) =
             if act_ident = fml_ident then Some atom else None
           in
-          let slot = dst_slots.(i) in
+          let dst_ty = dst_tys.(i) in
             match arr_search atab fml_entry with
                 Some atom ->
-                  trans_init_slot_from_atom
-                    CLONE_none
+                  trans_init_ty_from_atom
                     (get_element_ptr_dyn_in_current_frame dst i)
-                    slot
-                    atom
+                    dst_ty atom
               | None ->
-                  let (src, _) = trans_lval base in
-                    trans_copy_slot
+                  let (src, src_ty) = trans_lval base in
+                    trans_copy_ty
                       (get_ty_params_of_current_frame()) true
-                      (get_element_ptr_dyn_in_current_frame dst i) slot
-                      (get_element_ptr_dyn_in_current_frame src i) slot
+                      (get_element_ptr_dyn_in_current_frame dst i) dst_ty
+                      (get_element_ptr_dyn_in_current_frame src i) src_ty
                       None
       end
       trec
 
-  and trans_init_slot_from_atom
-      (clone:clone_ctrl)
-      (dst:Il.cell) (dst_slot:Ast.slot)
-      (atom:Ast.atom)
+  and trans_init_ty_from_atom
+      (dst:Il.cell) (ty:Ast.ty) (atom:Ast.atom)
       : unit =
-    let is_alias_cell =
-      match dst_slot.Ast.slot_mode with
-          Ast.MODE_alias _ -> true
-        | _ -> false
-    in
-      match atom with
-        | Ast.ATOM_literal _ ->
-            let src = trans_atom atom in
-              if is_alias_cell
-              then
-                match clone with
-                    CLONE_none ->
-                      (* Aliasing a literal is a bit weird since nobody
-                       * else will ever see it, but it seems harmless.
-                       *)
-                      mov dst (Il.Cell (alias (Il.Mem (force_to_mem src))))
-                  | _ ->
-                      bug () "attempting to clone alias cell"
-              else
-                mov (deref_slot true dst dst_slot) src
-        | Ast.ATOM_lval src_lval ->
-            let (src, src_slot) = trans_lval src_lval in
-              trans_init_slot_from_cell clone dst dst_slot src src_slot
+    let src = Il.Mem (force_to_mem (trans_atom atom)) in
+      trans_copy_ty (get_ty_params_of_current_frame())
+       true dst ty src ty None
 
   and trans_init_slot_from_cell
+      (ty_params:Il.cell)
       (clone:clone_ctrl)
       (dst:Il.cell) (dst_slot:Ast.slot)
-      (src:Il.cell) (src_slot:Ast.slot)
+      (src:Il.cell) (src_ty:Ast.ty)
       : unit =
-    assert (slot_ty src_slot = slot_ty dst_slot);
-    let is_alias_cell =
-      match dst_slot.Ast.slot_mode with
-          Ast.MODE_alias _ -> true
-        | _ -> false
-    in
-      match clone with
-          CLONE_chan clone_task ->
+    let dst_ty = slot_ty dst_slot in
+    assert (src_ty = dst_ty);
+    match (dst_slot.Ast.slot_mode, clone) with
+        (Ast.MODE_alias, CLONE_none) ->
+          mov dst (Il.Cell (alias (Il.Mem (need_mem_cell src))))
+
+      | (Ast.MODE_interior, CLONE_none) ->
+          trans_copy_ty
+            ty_params true
+            dst dst_ty src src_ty None
+
+      | (Ast.MODE_alias, _) ->
+          bug () "attempting to clone into alias slot"
+
+      | (_, CLONE_chan clone_task) ->
             let clone =
-              if (type_contains_chan (slot_ty src_slot))
+              if (type_contains_chan src_ty)
               then CLONE_all clone_task
               else CLONE_none
             in
-              trans_init_slot_from_cell clone dst dst_slot src src_slot
-        | CLONE_none ->
-            if is_alias_cell
-            then mov dst (Il.Cell (alias src))
-            else
-              trans_copy_slot
-                (get_ty_params_of_current_frame())
-                true dst dst_slot src src_slot None
-        | CLONE_all clone_task ->
-            if is_alias_cell
-            then bug () "attempting to clone alias cell"
-            else
-              clone_slot
-                (get_ty_params_of_current_frame())
-                clone_task dst src dst_slot None
+              (* Feed back with massaged args. *)
+              trans_init_slot_from_cell ty_params
+                clone dst dst_slot src src_ty
+
+      | (_, CLONE_all clone_task) ->
+          clone_ty ty_params clone_task dst src src_ty None
+
+
+  and trans_init_slot_from_atom
+      (clone:clone_ctrl)
+      (dst:Il.cell) (dst_slot:Ast.slot)
+      (src_atom:Ast.atom)
+      : unit =
+    match (dst_slot.Ast.slot_mode, clone, src_atom) with
+        (Ast.MODE_alias, CLONE_none,
+         Ast.ATOM_literal _) ->
+          (* Aliasing a literal is a bit weird since nobody
+           * else will ever see it, but it seems harmless.
+           *)
+          let src = trans_atom src_atom in
+            mov dst (Il.Cell (alias (Il.Mem (force_to_mem src))))
+
+      | (Ast.MODE_alias, CLONE_chan _, _)
+      | (Ast.MODE_alias, CLONE_all _, _) ->
+          bug () "attempting to clone into alias slot"
+      | _ ->
+          let src = Il.Mem (force_to_mem (trans_atom src_atom)) in
+            trans_init_slot_from_cell
+              (get_ty_params_of_current_frame())
+              clone dst dst_slot src (atom_type cx src_atom)
+
 
   and trans_be_fn
       (cx:ctxt)
@@ -3376,9 +3354,10 @@ let trans_visitor
     (* Emit arg1 of any call: the task pointer. *)
     iflog (fun _ -> annotate "fn-call arg 1: task pointer");
     trans_init_slot_from_cell
+      (get_ty_params_of_current_frame())
       CLONE_none
       arg_cell word_slot
-      abi.Abi.abi_tp_cell word_slot
+      abi.Abi.abi_tp_cell word_ty
 
   and trans_argN
       (clone:clone_ctrl)
@@ -3509,9 +3488,11 @@ let trans_visitor
                      annotate
                        (Printf.sprintf "fn-call ty param %d of %d"
                           i n_ty_params));
-            trans_init_slot_from_cell CLONE_none
+            trans_init_slot_from_cell
+              (get_ty_params_of_current_frame())
+              CLONE_none
               (get_element_ptr callee_ty_params i) word_slot
-              (get_tydesc None ty_param) word_slot
+              (get_tydesc None ty_param) word_ty
         end
         call.call_callee_ty_params;
 
@@ -3609,7 +3590,7 @@ let trans_visitor
                            (Printf.sprintf
                               "extract bound arg %d as actual arg %d"
                               !bound_i arg_i));
-                  get_element_ptr closure_args_cell (!bound_i);
+                  get_element_ptr closure_args_cell (!bound_i)
                 end
               else
                 begin
@@ -3623,9 +3604,10 @@ let trans_visitor
               iflog (fun _ -> annotate
                        (Printf.sprintf
                           "copy into actual-arg %d" arg_i));
-              trans_copy_slot
-                self_ty_params_cell
-                true dst_cell slot src_cell slot None;
+              trans_init_slot_from_cell
+                self_ty_params_cell CLONE_none
+                dst_cell slot
+                (deref_slot false src_cell slot) (slot_ty slot);
               incr (if is_bound then bound_i else unbound_i);
           done;
           assert ((!bound_i + !unbound_i) == n_args)
@@ -3765,7 +3747,7 @@ let trans_visitor
       let (pat, block) = arm.node in
         (* Translates the pattern and returns the addresses of the branch
          * instructions, which are taken if the match fails. *)
-      let rec trans_pat pat src_cell src_slot =
+      let rec trans_pat pat src_cell src_ty =
         match pat with
             Ast.PAT_lit lit ->
               trans_compare Il.JNE (trans_lit lit) (Il.Cell src_cell)
@@ -3773,7 +3755,7 @@ let trans_visitor
           | Ast.PAT_tag (lval, pats) ->
               let tag_name = tag_ctor_name_to_tag_name (lval_to_name lval) in
               let ty_tag =
-                match slot_ty src_slot with
+                match src_ty with
                     Ast.TY_tag tag_ty -> tag_ty
                   | Ast.TY_iso ti -> (ti.Ast.iso_group).(ti.Ast.iso_index)
                   | _ -> bug cx "expected tag type"
@@ -3782,9 +3764,6 @@ let trans_visitor
               let tag_number = arr_idx tag_keys tag_name in
               let ty_tup = Hashtbl.find ty_tag tag_name in
 
-              (* NB: follow any exterior pointer as we go. *)
-              let src_cell = deref_slot false src_cell src_slot in
-
               let tag_cell:Il.cell = get_element_ptr src_cell 0 in
               let union_cell =
                 get_element_ptr_dyn_in_current_frame src_cell 1
@@ -3801,8 +3780,8 @@ let trans_visitor
                 let elem_cell =
                   get_element_ptr_dyn_in_current_frame tup_cell i
                 in
-                let elem_slot = ty_tup.(i) in
-                  trans_pat elem_pat elem_cell elem_slot
+                let elem_ty = ty_tup.(i) in
+                  trans_pat elem_pat elem_cell elem_ty
               in
 
               let elem_jumps = Array.mapi trans_elem_pat pats in
@@ -3811,11 +3790,10 @@ let trans_visitor
           | Ast.PAT_slot (dst, _) ->
               let dst_slot = get_slot cx dst.id in
               let dst_cell = cell_of_block_slot dst.id in
-                trans_copy_slot
-                  (get_ty_params_of_current_frame()) true
-                  dst_cell dst_slot
-                  src_cell src_slot
-                  None;
+                trans_init_slot_from_cell
+                  (get_ty_params_of_current_frame())
+                  CLONE_none dst_cell dst_slot
+                  src_cell src_ty;
                 []                (* irrefutable *)
 
           | Ast.PAT_wild -> []    (* irrefutable *)
@@ -3909,16 +3887,16 @@ let trans_visitor
     let (dst_slot, _) = fo.Ast.for_slot in
     let dst_cell = cell_of_block_slot dst_slot.id in
     let (head_stmts, seq) = fo.Ast.for_seq in
-    let (seq_cell, seq_slot) = trans_lval_full false seq in
-    let unit_slot = seq_unit_slot (slot_ty seq_slot) in
+    let (seq_cell, seq_ty) = trans_lval_full false seq in
+    let unit_ty = seq_unit_ty seq_ty in
       Array.iter trans_stmt head_stmts;
-      iter_seq_slots ty_params seq_cell seq_cell unit_slot
+      iter_seq_parts ty_params seq_cell seq_cell unit_ty
         begin
-          fun _ src_cell unit_slot curr_iso ->
-            trans_copy_slot
-              ty_params true
+          fun _ src_cell unit_ty _ ->
+            trans_init_slot_from_cell
+              ty_params CLONE_none
               dst_cell dst_slot.node
-              src_cell unit_slot curr_iso;
+              src_cell unit_ty;
             trans_block fo.Ast.for_body;
         end
         None
@@ -3978,13 +3956,10 @@ let trans_visitor
       mov vr zero;
       trans_call_glue (code_of_operand block_fptr) None [| vr; fp |]
 
-  and trans_vec_append dst_cell dst_slot src_oper src_ty =
-    let (dst_elt_slot, trim_trailing_null) =
-      match slot_ty dst_slot with
-          Ast.TY_str -> (interior_slot (Ast.TY_mach TY_u8), true)
-        | Ast.TY_vec e -> (e, false)
-        | _ ->  bug () "unexpected dst type in trans_vec_append"
-    in
+  and trans_vec_append dst_cell dst_ty src_oper src_ty =
+    let elt_ty = seq_unit_ty dst_ty in
+    let trim_trailing_null = dst_ty = Ast.TY_str in
+      assert (src_ty = dst_ty);
       match src_ty with
           Ast.TY_str
         | Ast.TY_vec _ ->
@@ -3992,12 +3967,6 @@ let trans_visitor
             let src_cell = need_cell src_oper in
             let src_vec = deref src_cell in
             let src_fill = get_element_ptr src_vec Abi.vec_elt_fill in
-            let src_elt_slot =
-              match src_ty with
-                  Ast.TY_str -> interior_slot (Ast.TY_mach TY_u8)
-                | Ast.TY_vec e -> e
-                | _ -> bug () "unexpected src type in trans_vec_append"
-            in
             let dst_vec = deref dst_cell in
             let dst_fill = get_element_ptr dst_vec Abi.vec_elt_fill in
               if trim_trailing_null
@@ -4018,12 +3987,11 @@ let trans_visitor
               let dst_fill = get_element_ptr dst_vec Abi.vec_elt_fill in
 
               (* Copy loop: *)
-              let pty s = Il.AddrTy (slot_referent_type abi s) in
-              let dptr = next_vreg_cell (pty dst_elt_slot) in
-              let sptr = next_vreg_cell (pty src_elt_slot) in
-              let dlim = next_vreg_cell (pty dst_elt_slot) in
-              let dst_elt_sz = slot_sz_in_current_frame dst_elt_slot in
-              let src_elt_sz = slot_sz_in_current_frame src_elt_slot in
+              let eltp_rty = Il.AddrTy (referent_type abi elt_ty) in
+              let dptr = next_vreg_cell eltp_rty in
+              let sptr = next_vreg_cell eltp_rty in
+              let dlim = next_vreg_cell eltp_rty in
+              let elt_sz = ty_sz_in_current_frame elt_ty in
               let dst_data =
                 get_element_ptr_dyn_in_current_frame
                   dst_vec Abi.vec_elt_data
@@ -4041,20 +4009,20 @@ let trans_visitor
                   emit (Il.jmp Il.JMP Il.CodeNone);
                   let back_jmp_targ = mark () in
                     (* copy slot *)
-                    trans_copy_slot
+                    trans_copy_ty
                       (get_ty_params_of_current_frame()) true
-                      (deref dptr) dst_elt_slot
-                      (deref sptr) src_elt_slot
+                      (deref dptr) elt_ty
+                      (deref sptr) elt_ty
                       None;
-                    add_to dptr dst_elt_sz;
-                    add_to sptr src_elt_sz;
+                    add_to dptr elt_sz;
+                    add_to sptr elt_sz;
                     patch fwd_jmp;
                     check_interrupt_flag ();
                     let back_jmp =
                       trans_compare Il.JB (Il.Cell dptr) (Il.Cell dlim) in
                       List.iter
                         (fun j -> patch_existing j back_jmp_targ) back_jmp;
-                      let v = next_vreg_cell word_ty in
+                      let v = next_vreg_cell word_sty in
                         mov v (Il.Cell src_fill);
                         add_to dst_fill (Il.Cell v);
         | t ->
@@ -4064,14 +4032,14 @@ let trans_visitor
 
 
   and trans_copy_binop dst binop a_src =
-    let (dst_cell, dst_slot) = trans_lval_maybe_init false dst in
+    let (dst_cell, dst_ty) = trans_lval_maybe_init false dst in
     let src_oper = trans_atom a_src in
-      match slot_ty dst_slot with
+      match dst_ty with
           Ast.TY_str
         | Ast.TY_vec _ when binop = Ast.BINOP_add ->
-            trans_vec_append dst_cell dst_slot src_oper (atom_type cx a_src)
+            trans_vec_append dst_cell dst_ty src_oper (atom_type cx a_src)
         | _ ->
-            let dst_cell = deref_slot false dst_cell dst_slot in
+            let (dst_cell, _) = deref_ty false dst_cell dst_ty in
             let op = trans_binop binop in
               emit (Il.binary op dst_cell (Il.Cell dst_cell) src_oper);
 
@@ -4159,46 +4127,43 @@ let trans_visitor
           end
 
       | Ast.STMT_init_rec (dst, atab, base) ->
-          let (slot_cell, slot) = trans_lval_init dst in
-          let (trec, dst_slots) =
-            match slot_ty slot with
+          let (slot_cell, ty) = trans_lval_init dst in
+          let (trec, dst_tys) =
+            match ty with
                 Ast.TY_rec trec -> (trec, Array.map snd trec)
               | _ ->
                   bugi cx stmt.id
                     "non-rec destination type in stmt_init_rec"
           in
-          let dst_cell = deref_slot true slot_cell slot in
+          let (dst_cell, _) = deref_ty true slot_cell ty in
             begin
               match base with
                   None ->
-                    let atoms =
-                      Array.map (fun (_, _, _, atom) -> atom) atab
-                    in
+                    let atoms = Array.map snd atab in
                       trans_init_structural_from_atoms
-                        dst_cell dst_slots atoms
+                        dst_cell dst_tys atoms
                 | Some base_lval ->
                     trans_init_rec_update
-                      dst_cell dst_slots trec atab base_lval
+                      dst_cell dst_tys trec atab base_lval
             end
 
-      | Ast.STMT_init_tup (dst, mode_atoms) ->
-          let (slot_cell, slot) = trans_lval_init dst in
-          let dst_slots =
-            match slot_ty slot with
+      | Ast.STMT_init_tup (dst, atoms) ->
+          let (slot_cell, ty) = trans_lval_init dst in
+          let dst_tys =
+            match ty with
                 Ast.TY_tup ttup -> ttup
               | _ ->
                   bugi cx stmt.id
                     "non-tup destination type in stmt_init_tup"
           in
-          let atoms = Array.map (fun (_, _, atom) -> atom) mode_atoms in
-          let dst_cell = deref_slot true slot_cell slot in
-            trans_init_structural_from_atoms dst_cell dst_slots atoms
+          let (dst_cell, _) = deref_ty true slot_cell ty in
+            trans_init_structural_from_atoms dst_cell dst_tys atoms
 
 
       | Ast.STMT_init_str (dst, s) ->
           trans_init_str dst s
 
-      | Ast.STMT_init_vec (dst, _, atoms) ->
+      | Ast.STMT_init_vec (dst, atoms) ->
           trans_init_vec dst atoms
 
       | Ast.STMT_init_port dst ->
@@ -4424,7 +4389,7 @@ let trans_visitor
 
   let trans_obj_ctor
       (obj_id:node_id)
-      (state:Ast.header_slots)
+      (header:Ast.header_slots)
       : unit =
     trans_frame_entry obj_id;
 
@@ -4439,21 +4404,14 @@ let trans_visitor
         all_args_cell Abi.calltup_elt_ty_params
     in
 
-    let obj_args_tup = Array.map (fun (sloti,_) -> sloti.node) state in
-    let obj_args_slot = interior_slot (Ast.TY_tup obj_args_tup) in
-    let state_ty =
-      Ast.TY_tup [| interior_slot Ast.TY_type;
-                    obj_args_slot |]
-    in
-    let state_rty = slot_referent_type abi (interior_slot state_ty) in
-    let state_ptr_slot = exterior_slot state_ty in
-    let state_ptr_rty = slot_referent_type abi state_ptr_slot in
-    let state_malloc_sz =
-      calculate_sz_in_current_frame
-        (SIZE_rt_add
-           ((SIZE_fixed (word_n Abi.exterior_rc_header_size)),
-            (Il.referent_ty_size word_bits state_rty)))
+    let obj_args_tup =
+      Array.map (fun (sloti,_) -> (slot_ty sloti.node)) header
     in
+    let obj_args_ty = Ast.TY_tup obj_args_tup in
+    let state_ty = Ast.TY_tup [| Ast.TY_type; obj_args_ty |] in
+    let state_ptr_ty = Ast.TY_exterior state_ty in
+    let state_ptr_rty = referent_type abi state_ptr_ty in
+    let state_malloc_sz = exterior_allocation_size state_ty in
 
     let ctor_ty = Hashtbl.find cx.ctxt_all_item_types obj_id in
     let obj_ty =
@@ -4508,10 +4466,17 @@ let trans_visitor
            * because the arg slot ids are actually given layout
            * positions inside the object state, and are at different
            * offsets within that state than within the current
-           * frame. So we manually drop the argument tuple here,
-           * without mentioning the arg slot ids.
+           * frame. So we manually drop the argument slots here,
+           * without mentioning the slot ids.
            *)
-          drop_slot frame_ty_params frame_args obj_args_slot None;
+          Array.iteri
+            (fun i (sloti, _) ->
+               let cell =
+                 get_element_ptr_dyn_in_current_frame
+                   frame_args i
+               in
+                 drop_slot frame_ty_params cell sloti.node None)
+            header;
           trans_frame_exit obj_id false;
   in
 
@@ -4682,27 +4647,32 @@ let trans_visitor
         | Ast.TY_iso tiso -> get_iso_tag tiso
         | _ -> bugi cx tagid "unexpected fn type for tag constructor"
     in
-    let slots =
-      Array.map (fun sloti -> referent_to_slot cx sloti.id) header_tup
-    in
     let tag_keys = sorted_htab_keys ttag in
     let i = arr_idx tag_keys (Ast.NAME_base (Ast.BASE_ident n)) in
     let _ = log cx "tag variant: %s -> tag value #%d" n i in
     let (dst_cell, dst_slot) = get_current_output_cell_and_slot() in
     let dst_cell = deref_slot true dst_cell dst_slot in
-    let src = get_explicit_args_for_current_frame () in
     let tag_cell = get_element_ptr dst_cell 0 in
     let union_cell = get_element_ptr_dyn_in_current_frame dst_cell 1 in
     let tag_body_cell = get_variant_ptr union_cell i in
     let tag_body_rty = snd (need_mem_cell tag_body_cell) in
+    let ty_params = get_ty_params_of_current_frame() in
       (* A clever compiler will inline this. We are not clever. *)
       iflog (fun _ -> annotate (Printf.sprintf "write tag #%d" i));
       mov tag_cell (imm (Int64.of_int i));
       iflog (fun _ -> annotate ("copy tag-content tuple: tag_body_rty=" ^
                                   (Il.string_of_referent_ty tag_body_rty)));
-      trans_copy_tup
-        (get_ty_params_of_current_frame())
-        true tag_body_cell src slots;
+      Array.iteri
+        begin
+          fun i sloti ->
+            let slot = sloti.node in
+            let ty = slot_ty slot in
+              trans_copy_ty ty_params true
+                (get_element_ptr_dyn_in_current_frame tag_body_cell i) ty
+                (deref_slot false (cell_of_block_slot sloti.id) slot) ty
+                None;
+        end
+        header_tup;
       trace_str cx.ctxt_sess.Session.sess_trace_tag
         ("finished tag constructor " ^ n);
       trans_frame_exit tagid true;
diff --git a/src/boot/me/transutil.ml b/src/boot/me/transutil.ml
index cb867fefc54..8c6b8bc3175 100644
--- a/src/boot/me/transutil.ml
+++ b/src/boot/me/transutil.ml
@@ -112,29 +112,35 @@ let word_ty_signed_mach (abi:Abi.abi) : ty_mach =
 ;;
 
 
-let slot_mem_ctrl (slot:Ast.slot) : mem_ctrl =
-  let ty = slot_ty slot in
-    match ty with
-        Ast.TY_port _
-      | Ast.TY_chan _
-      | Ast.TY_task
-      | Ast.TY_str -> MEM_rc_opaque
-      | Ast.TY_vec _ ->
-          if type_has_state ty
-          then MEM_gc
+let rec ty_mem_ctrl (ty:Ast.ty) : mem_ctrl =
+  match ty with
+      Ast.TY_port _
+    | Ast.TY_chan _
+    | Ast.TY_task
+    | Ast.TY_str -> MEM_rc_opaque
+    | Ast.TY_vec _ ->
+        if type_has_state ty
+        then MEM_gc
+        else MEM_rc_opaque
+    | Ast.TY_exterior t ->
+        if type_has_state t
+        then MEM_gc
+        else
+          if type_is_structured t
+          then MEM_rc_struct
           else MEM_rc_opaque
-      | _ ->
-          match slot.Ast.slot_mode with
-              Ast.MODE_exterior _ when type_is_structured ty ->
-                if type_has_state ty
-                then MEM_gc
-                else MEM_rc_struct
-            | Ast.MODE_exterior _ ->
-                if type_has_state ty
-                then MEM_gc
-                else MEM_rc_opaque
-            | _ ->
-                MEM_interior
+    | Ast.TY_mutable t
+    | Ast.TY_constrained (t, _) ->
+        ty_mem_ctrl t
+    | _ ->
+        MEM_interior
+;;
+
+let slot_mem_ctrl (slot:Ast.slot) : mem_ctrl =
+  match slot.Ast.slot_mode with
+      Ast.MODE_alias -> MEM_interior
+    | Ast.MODE_interior ->
+        ty_mem_ctrl (slot_ty slot)
 ;;
 
 
@@ -200,33 +206,33 @@ let next_power_of_two (x:int64) : int64 =
     Int64.add 1L (!xr)
 ;;
 
-let iter_tup_slots
+let iter_tup_parts
     (get_element_ptr:'a -> int -> 'a)
     (dst_ptr:'a)
     (src_ptr:'a)
     (slots:Ast.ty_tup)
-    (f:'a -> 'a -> Ast.slot -> (Ast.ty_iso option) -> unit)
+    (f:'a -> 'a -> Ast.ty -> (Ast.ty_iso option) -> unit)
     (curr_iso:Ast.ty_iso option)
     : unit =
   Array.iteri
     begin
-      fun i slot ->
+      fun i ty ->
         f (get_element_ptr dst_ptr i)
           (get_element_ptr src_ptr i)
-          slot curr_iso
+          ty curr_iso
     end
     slots
 ;;
 
-let iter_rec_slots
+let iter_rec_parts
     (get_element_ptr:'a -> int -> 'a)
     (dst_ptr:'a)
     (src_ptr:'a)
     (entries:Ast.ty_rec)
-    (f:'a -> 'a -> Ast.slot -> (Ast.ty_iso option) -> unit)
+    (f:'a -> 'a -> Ast.ty -> (Ast.ty_iso option) -> unit)
     (curr_iso:Ast.ty_iso option)
     : unit =
-  iter_tup_slots get_element_ptr dst_ptr src_ptr
+  iter_tup_parts get_element_ptr dst_ptr src_ptr
     (Array.map snd entries) f curr_iso
 ;;
 
diff --git a/src/boot/me/type.ml b/src/boot/me/type.ml
index 346c6e39492..5311a4a4fb4 100644
--- a/src/boot/me/type.ml
+++ b/src/boot/me/type.ml
@@ -33,6 +33,23 @@ type binopsig =
   | BINOPSIG_plus_plus_plus     (* plusable a * plusable a -> plusable a *)
 ;;
 
+
+(* In some instances we will strip off a layer of mutability or exterior-ness,
+ * as trans is willing to transplant and/or overlook mutability / exterior
+ * differences wrt. many operators.
+ * 
+ * Note: there is a secondary mutability-checking pass in effect.ml to ensure
+ * you're not actually mutating the insides of an immutable. That's not the
+ * typechecker's job.
+ *)
+let simplified t =
+  match t with
+      Ast.TY_mutable (Ast.TY_exterior t) -> t
+    | Ast.TY_mutable t -> t
+    | Ast.TY_exterior t -> t
+    | _ -> t
+;;
+
 let rec tyspec_to_str (ts:tyspec) : string =
 
   let fmt = Format.fprintf in
@@ -253,17 +270,14 @@ let process_crate (cx:ctxt) (crate:Ast.crate) : unit =
           (dct:dict)
           (fields:Ast.ty_rec)
           : unit =
-        let rec find_slot (query:Ast.ident) i : Ast.slot =
-          if i = Array.length fields
-          then fail ()
-          else match fields.(i) with
-              (ident, slot) ->
-                if ident = query then slot
-                else find_slot query (i + 1)
+        let find_ty (query:Ast.ident) : Ast.ty =
+          match atab_search fields query with
+              None -> fail()
+            | Some t -> t
         in
 
         let check_entry ident tv =
-          unify_slot (find_slot ident 0) None tv
+          unify_ty (find_ty ident) tv
         in
           Hashtbl.iter check_entry dct
       in
@@ -290,18 +304,20 @@ let process_crate (cx:ctxt) (crate:Ast.crate) : unit =
           | Ast.TY_fn _ | Ast.TY_obj _
           | Ast.TY_param _ | Ast.TY_native _ | Ast.TY_type -> false
           | Ast.TY_named _ -> bug () "unexpected named type"
+          | Ast.TY_exterior ty
+          | Ast.TY_mutable ty
           | Ast.TY_constrained (ty, _) ->
               is_comparable_or_ordered comparable ty
       in
 
       let floating (ty:Ast.ty) : bool =
-        match ty with
+        match simplified ty with
             Ast.TY_mach TY_f32 | Ast.TY_mach TY_f64 -> true
           | _ -> false
       in
 
       let integral (ty:Ast.ty) : bool =
-        match ty with
+        match simplified ty with
             Ast.TY_int | Ast.TY_uint | Ast.TY_mach TY_u8 | Ast.TY_mach TY_u16
           | Ast.TY_mach TY_u32 | Ast.TY_mach TY_u64 | Ast.TY_mach TY_i8
           | Ast.TY_mach TY_i16 | Ast.TY_mach TY_i32
@@ -313,7 +329,7 @@ let process_crate (cx:ctxt) (crate:Ast.crate) : unit =
       let numeric (ty:Ast.ty) : bool = (integral ty) || (floating ty) in
 
       let plusable (ty:Ast.ty) : bool =
-        match ty with
+        match simplified ty with
             Ast.TY_str -> true
           | Ast.TY_vec _ -> true
           | _ -> numeric ty
@@ -369,7 +385,7 @@ let process_crate (cx:ctxt) (crate:Ast.crate) : unit =
           | (TYSPEC_collection tv, TYSPEC_resolved (params, ty)) ->
               begin
                 match ty with
-                    Ast.TY_vec slot -> unify_slot slot None tv
+                    Ast.TY_vec ty -> unify_ty ty tv
                   | Ast.TY_str -> unify_ty (Ast.TY_mach TY_u8) tv
                   | _ -> fail ()
               end;
@@ -439,12 +455,12 @@ let process_crate (cx:ctxt) (crate:Ast.crate) : unit =
           | (TYSPEC_tuple tvs, TYSPEC_resolved (params, ty)) ->
               begin
                 match ty with
-                    Ast.TY_tup (elem_slots:Ast.slot array) ->
-                      if (Array.length elem_slots) < (Array.length tvs)
+                    Ast.TY_tup (elem_tys:Ast.ty array) ->
+                      if (Array.length elem_tys) <> (Array.length tvs)
                       then fail ()
                       else
                         let check_elem i tv =
-                          unify_slot (elem_slots.(i)) None tv
+                          unify_ty (elem_tys.(i)) tv
                         in
                           Array.iteri check_elem tvs
                   | _ -> fail ()
@@ -455,9 +471,9 @@ let process_crate (cx:ctxt) (crate:Ast.crate) : unit =
           | (TYSPEC_vector tv, TYSPEC_resolved (params, ty)) ->
               begin
                 match ty with
-                    Ast.TY_vec slot ->
-                      unify_slot slot None tv;
-                      TYSPEC_resolved (params, ty)
+                    Ast.TY_vec ty ->
+                      unify_ty ty tv;
+                      TYSPEC_resolved (params, Ast.TY_vec ty)
                   | _ -> fail ()
               end
 
@@ -942,7 +958,7 @@ let process_crate (cx:ctxt) (crate:Ast.crate) : unit =
                 unify_lval' base base_tv;
                 match !(resolve_tyvar base_tv) with
                     TYSPEC_resolved (_, ty) ->
-                      unify_ty (slot_ty (project_type_to_slot ty comp)) tv
+                      unify_ty (project_type ty comp) tv
                   | _ ->
                       ()
 
@@ -981,7 +997,7 @@ let process_crate (cx:ctxt) (crate:Ast.crate) : unit =
         | Ast.STMT_init_rec (lval, fields, Some base) ->
             let dct = Hashtbl.create 10 in
             let tvrec = ref (TYSPEC_record dct) in
-            let add_field (ident, _, _, atom) =
+            let add_field (ident, atom) =
               let tv = ref TYSPEC_all in
                 unify_atom atom tv;
                 Hashtbl.add dct ident tv
@@ -994,7 +1010,7 @@ let process_crate (cx:ctxt) (crate:Ast.crate) : unit =
 
         | Ast.STMT_init_rec (lval, fields, None) ->
             let dct = Hashtbl.create 10 in
-            let add_field (ident, _, _, atom) =
+            let add_field (ident, atom) =
               let tv = ref TYSPEC_all in
                 unify_atom atom tv;
                 Hashtbl.add dct ident tv
@@ -1003,7 +1019,7 @@ let process_crate (cx:ctxt) (crate:Ast.crate) : unit =
               unify_lval lval (ref (TYSPEC_record dct))
 
         | Ast.STMT_init_tup (lval, members) ->
-            let member_to_tv (_, _, atom) =
+            let member_to_tv atom =
               let tv = ref TYSPEC_all in
                 unify_atom atom tv;
                 tv
@@ -1011,7 +1027,7 @@ let process_crate (cx:ctxt) (crate:Ast.crate) : unit =
             let member_tvs = Array.map member_to_tv members in
               unify_lval lval (ref (TYSPEC_tuple member_tvs))
 
-        | Ast.STMT_init_vec (lval, _, atoms) ->
+        | Ast.STMT_init_vec (lval, atoms) ->
             let tv = ref TYSPEC_all in
             let unify_with_tv atom = unify_atom atom tv in
               Array.iter unify_with_tv atoms;
@@ -1181,8 +1197,7 @@ let process_crate (cx:ctxt) (crate:Ast.crate) : unit =
                     Ast.TY_fn (tsig, _) ->
                       begin
                         let vec_str =
-                          interior_slot (Ast.TY_vec
-                                           (interior_slot Ast.TY_str))
+                          interior_slot (Ast.TY_vec Ast.TY_str)
                         in
                           match tsig.Ast.sig_input_slots with
                               [| |] -> ()
@@ -1236,13 +1251,7 @@ let process_crate (cx:ctxt) (crate:Ast.crate) : unit =
                 let tag_tv = ref TYSPEC_all in
                   unify_ty tag_ty tag_tv;
                   unify_tyvars expected tag_tv;
-                  List.iter
-                    begin
-                      fun slot ->
-                        match slot.Ast.slot_ty with
-                          Some ty -> expect ty
-                          | None -> bug () "no slot type in tag slot tuple"
-                    end
+                  List.iter expect
                     (List.rev (Array.to_list tag_ty_tup));
 
           | Ast.PAT_slot (sloti, _) ->
@@ -1336,8 +1345,14 @@ let process_crate (cx:ctxt) (crate:Ast.crate) : unit =
           let defn = Hashtbl.find cx.ctxt_all_defns id in
             match defn with
                 DEFN_slot slot_defn ->
-                  Hashtbl.replace cx.ctxt_all_defns id
-                    (DEFN_slot { slot_defn with Ast.slot_ty = Some ty })
+                  begin
+                    match slot_defn.Ast.slot_ty with
+                        Some _ -> ()
+                      | None ->
+                          Hashtbl.replace cx.ctxt_all_defns id
+                            (DEFN_slot { slot_defn with
+                                           Ast.slot_ty = Some ty })
+                  end
               | _ -> bug () "check_auto_tyvar: no slot defn"
         in
 
@@ -1349,7 +1364,7 @@ let process_crate (cx:ctxt) (crate:Ast.crate) : unit =
                   begin
                     match !(resolve_tyvar tv) with
                         TYSPEC_resolved ([||], ty) ->
-                          (Ast.TY_vec (interior_slot ty))
+                          (Ast.TY_vec ty)
                       | _ ->
                           err (Some id)
                             "unresolved vector-element type in %s (%d)"
diff --git a/src/boot/me/typestate.ml b/src/boot/me/typestate.ml
index d42aaf6d5ed..79e4784566e 100644
--- a/src/boot/me/typestate.ml
+++ b/src/boot/me/typestate.ml
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ let condition_assigning_visitor
               raise_precondition s.id precond;
               raise_postcondition s.id postcond
 
-        | Ast.STMT_init_vec (dst, _, atoms) ->
+        | Ast.STMT_init_vec (dst, atoms) ->
             let precond = slot_inits (atoms_slots cx atoms) in
             let postcond = slot_inits (lval_slots cx dst) in
               raise_precondition s.id precond;
@@ -980,13 +980,19 @@ let lifecycle_visitor
                 if initializing
                 then
                   begin
-                    Hashtbl.add cx.ctxt_copy_stmt_is_init s.id ();
+                    iflog cx
+                      begin
+                        fun _ ->
+                          log cx "noting lval %a init at stmt %a"
+                            Ast.sprintf_lval lv_dst Ast.sprintf_stmt s
+                      end;
+                    Hashtbl.replace cx.ctxt_copy_stmt_is_init s.id ();
                     init_lval lv_dst
                   end;
 
           | Ast.STMT_init_rec (lv_dst, _, _)
           | Ast.STMT_init_tup (lv_dst, _)
-          | Ast.STMT_init_vec (lv_dst, _, _)
+          | Ast.STMT_init_vec (lv_dst, _)
           | Ast.STMT_init_str (lv_dst, _)
           | Ast.STMT_init_port lv_dst
           | Ast.STMT_init_chan (lv_dst, _) ->
diff --git a/src/boot/me/walk.ml b/src/boot/me/walk.ml
index 203acfce7d6..64c08724a72 100644
--- a/src/boot/me/walk.ml
+++ b/src/boot/me/walk.ml
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ and walk_mod_item
       item
 
 
-and walk_ty_tup v ttup = Array.iter (walk_slot v) ttup
+and walk_ty_tup v ttup = Array.iter (walk_ty v) ttup
 
 and walk_ty_tag v ttag = Hashtbl.iter (fun _ t -> walk_ty_tup v t) ttag
 
@@ -273,8 +273,8 @@ and walk_ty
   let children _ =
     match ty with
         Ast.TY_tup ttup -> walk_ty_tup v ttup
-      | Ast.TY_vec s -> walk_slot v s
-      | Ast.TY_rec trec -> Array.iter (fun (_, s) -> walk_slot v s) trec
+      | Ast.TY_vec s -> walk_ty v s
+      | Ast.TY_rec trec -> Array.iter (fun (_, s) -> walk_ty v s) trec
       | Ast.TY_tag ttag -> walk_ty_tag v ttag
       | Ast.TY_iso tiso -> Array.iter (walk_ty_tag v) tiso.Ast.iso_group
       | Ast.TY_fn tfn -> walk_ty_fn v tfn
@@ -301,6 +301,8 @@ and walk_ty
       | Ast.TY_nil -> ()
       | Ast.TY_task -> ()
       | Ast.TY_any -> ()
+      | Ast.TY_exterior m -> walk_ty v m
+      | Ast.TY_mutable m -> walk_ty v m
   in
     walk_bracketed
       v.visit_ty_pre
@@ -448,16 +450,16 @@ and walk_stmt
 
       | Ast.STMT_init_rec (lv, atab, base) ->
           walk_lval v lv;
-          Array.iter (fun (_, _, _, a) -> walk_atom v a) atab;
+          Array.iter (fun (_, a) -> walk_atom v a) atab;
           walk_option (walk_lval v) base;
 
-      | Ast.STMT_init_vec (lv, _, atoms) ->
+      | Ast.STMT_init_vec (lv, atoms) ->
           walk_lval v lv;
           Array.iter (walk_atom v) atoms
 
       | Ast.STMT_init_tup (lv, mut_atoms) ->
           walk_lval v lv;
-          Array.iter (fun (_, _, a) -> walk_atom v a) mut_atoms
+          Array.iter (walk_atom v) mut_atoms
 
       | Ast.STMT_init_str (lv, _) ->
           walk_lval v lv
@@ -469,6 +471,10 @@ and walk_stmt
           walk_option (walk_lval v) port;
           walk_lval v chan;
 
+      | Ast.STMT_init_exterior (dst, src) ->
+          walk_lval v dst;
+          walk_atom v src
+
       | Ast.STMT_for f ->
           walk_stmt_for f