diff --git a/janet/base.janet b/janet/base.janet
index 22e7472..88488ed 100644
--- a/janet/base.janet
+++ b/janet/base.janet
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
     :dict (dict-str value)
     :set
       (string/join (map stringify (keys value)) ", ")
-    :ref (stringify (value :^value))
+    :box (stringify (value :^value))
     :fn (string "fn " (value :name))
     :applied (string "fn " (value :name))
     :function (string "builtin " (string value))
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
     :list (string "[" (stringify x) "]")
     :dict (string "#{" (stringify x) "}")
     :set (string "${" (stringify x) "}")
-    :ref (string "box " (x :name) " [ " (stringify x) " ]")
+    :box (string "box " (x :name) " [ " (stringify x) " ]")
     :pkg (show-pkg x)
     (stringify x)))
 
diff --git a/janet/errors.janet b/janet/errors.janet
index 6e49987..b4357ea 100644
--- a/janet/errors.janet
+++ b/janet/errors.janet
@@ -1,10 +1,34 @@
 (import spork/json :as j)
 (import /base :as b)
 
+(defn- get-line [source line]
+ ((string/split "\n" source) (dec line)))
+
 (defn scan-error [e out] (set (out :errors) e) (j/encode out))
 
-(defn parse-error [e out] (set (out :errors) e) (j/encode out))
+(defn parse-error [e] 
+ (def msg (e :msg))
+ (def line-num (get-in e [:token :line]))
+ (def source (get-in e [:token :source]))
+ (def source-line (get-line source line-num))
+ (print "Parsing error: " msg)
+ (print "On line " line-num ":")
+ (print source-line))
 
-(defn validation-error [e out] (set (out :errors) e) (j/encode out))
+
+(defn validation-error [e]
+ (def msg (e :msg))
+ (def line-num (get-in e [:node :token :line]))
+ (def source (get-in e [:node :token :source]))
+ (def source-line (get-line source line-num))
+ (case msg
+  "unbound name"
+  (do
+   (print "Validation error: " msg " " (get-in e [:node :data]))
+   (print "on line " line-num)
+   (print source-line)
+  )
+ )
+)
 
 (defn runtime-error [e out] (set (out :errors) e) (j/encode out))
diff --git a/janet/interpreter.janet b/janet/interpreter.janet
index 6d0950a..f53ae8f 100644
--- a/janet/interpreter.janet
+++ b/janet/interpreter.janet
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@
 (defn- ref [ast ctx]
   (def {:data value-ast :name name} ast)
   (def value (interpret value-ast ctx))
-  (def box @{:^type :ref :^value value :name name})
+  (def box @{:^type :box :^value value :name name})
   (set (ctx name) box)
   box)
 
diff --git a/janet/ludus.janet b/janet/ludus.janet
index d7e1680..1e8d9fe 100644
--- a/janet/ludus.janet
+++ b/janet/ludus.janet
@@ -16,16 +16,16 @@ The API from the old Clojure Ludus interpreter returns an object with four field
  * `errors`: an array of errors, which are just strings
 
 This new scene will have to return a JSON POJSO:
-{:console [...] :result "..." :draw [...] :errors [...]}
+{:console "..." :result "..." :draw [...] :errors [...]}
 )
 
-(def console @"")
-(setdyn :out console)
-(print "foo")
-(pp {:a 1 :b 2})
-(setdyn :out stdout)
-(print "collected out")
-(print console)
+(def prelude-src (slurp "prelude.ld"))
+(def prelude-scanned (s/scan prelude-src))
+(def prelude-parsed (p/parse prelude-scanned))
+(def parse-errors (prelude-parsed :errors))
+(when (any? parse-errors) (each err parse-errors (e/parse-error err)))
+(def prelude-validated (v/valid prelude-parsed @{"base" b/base}))
+(each err (prelude-validated :errors) (e/validation-error err))
 
 (defn run [source]
  (def errors @[])
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ This new scene will have to return a JSON POJSO:
   (break (-> :errors validated (e/validation-error out))))
  (setdyn :out console)
  (try
-  (set result (b/show (i/interpret (parsed :ast) @{})))
+  (set result (b/show (i/interpret (parsed :ast) @{:^parent b/base})))
   ([err] (e/runtime-error err out)))
  (set (out :result) result)
  (j/encode out))
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ This new scene will have to return a JSON POJSO:
  (run source))
 
 (def source `
- fn foo () -> :foo
- foo ()
+let foo = fn () -> :bar
+foo ()
 `)
 
 (-> source run j/decode)
diff --git a/janet/parser.janet b/janet/parser.janet
index ec8aa01..a4f5056 100644
--- a/janet/parser.janet
+++ b/janet/parser.janet
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ### A recursive descent parser for Ludus
 
 ### We still need to scan some things
-# (try (os/cd "janet") ([_] nil)) # when in repl to do relative imports
+(try (os/cd "janet") ([_] nil)) # when in repl to do relative imports
 (import ./scanner :as s)
 
 (defmacro declare
@@ -773,7 +773,7 @@
 (defn- lambda [parser]
  (def origin (current parser))
  (expect parser :fn) (advance parser)
- @{:type :fn :data (fn-simple parser) :token origin})
+ @{:type :fn :data ((fn-simple parser) :clauses) :token origin})
 
 (defn- fnn [parser]
  (if (= :lparen (-> parser peek type)) (break (lambda parser)))
@@ -1104,6 +1104,7 @@
  (def origin (current parser))
  (def lines @[])
  (while (not (check parser :eof))
+  (accept-many parser :newline)
   (array/push lines (capture toplevel parser))
   (capture terminator parser))
  {:type :script :data lines :token origin})
@@ -1116,10 +1117,10 @@
 
 # (do
 (comment
-(def source `pkg Foo {}
+(def source `fn () -> 42
 `)
 (def scanned (s/scan source))
 # (print "\n***NEW PARSE***\n")
 (def a-parser (new-parser scanned))
-(def parsed (pkg a-parser))
+(def parsed (fnn a-parser))
 )
diff --git a/janet/prelude.ld b/janet/prelude.ld
index 3a0bb72..1005a61 100644
--- a/janet/prelude.ld
+++ b/janet/prelude.ld
@@ -7,6 +7,29 @@
 & tuple?
 & ref?
 
+& some forward declarations
+& TODO: fix this so that we don't need (as many of) them
+fn first
+fn append
+fn some?
+fn update!
+fn string
+fn join
+fn neg?
+fn atan/2
+fn mod
+fn assoc?
+fn dict
+fn get
+fn unbox
+fn store!
+fn turn/rad
+fn deg/rad
+fn floor
+fn and
+fn apply_command
+fn state/call
+
 & the very base: know something's type
 fn type {
 	"Returns a keyword representing the type of the value passed in."
@@ -28,6 +51,40 @@ fn eq? {
 		else false
 }
 
+&&& true & false: boolean logic (part the first)
+fn bool? {
+	"Returns true if a value is of type :boolean."
+	(false) -> true
+	(true) -> true
+	(_) -> false
+}
+
+fn true? {
+	"Returns true if a value is boolean `true`. Useful to distinguish between `true` and anything else."
+	(true) -> true
+	(_) -> false
+}
+
+fn false? {
+	"Returns `true` if a value is `false`, otherwise returns `false`. Useful to distinguish between `false` and `nil`."
+	(false) -> true
+	(_) -> false
+}
+
+fn bool {
+	"Returns false if a value is nil or false, otherwise returns true."
+	(nil) -> false
+	(false) -> false
+	(_) -> true
+}
+
+fn not {
+	"Returns false if a value is truthy, true if a value is falsy."
+	(nil) -> true
+	(false) -> true
+	(_) -> false
+}
+
 fn neq? {
 	"Returns true if none of the arguments have the same value."
 	(x) -> false
@@ -73,55 +130,6 @@ fn dec {
 	(x as :number) -> base :dec (x)
 }
 
-fn at {
-	"Returns the element at index n of a list or tuple. Zero-indexed: the first element is at index 0."
-	(xs as :list, n as :number) -> when {
-		neg? (n) -> nil
-		gte? (n, count (xs)) -> nil
-		else -> base :nth (xs, inc (n))
-	}
-	(xs as :tuple, n as :number) -> when {
-		neg? (n) -> nil
-		gte? (n, count (xs)) -> nil
-		else -> base :nth (xs, inc (n))
-	}
-	(_) -> nil
-}
-
-fn first {
-	"Returns the first element of a list or tuple."
-	(xs) -> at (xs, 0)
-}
-
-fn second {
-	"Returns the second element of a list or tuple."
-	(xs) -> at (xs, 1)
-}
-
-fn last {
-	"Returns the last element of a list or tuple."
-	(xs) -> at (xs, sub (count (xs), 1))
-}
-
-fn butlast {
-	"Returns a list, omitting the last element."
-	(xs as :list) -> base :slice (xs, sub (count (xs), 1))
-}
-
-fn slice {
-	"Returns a slice of a list, representing a sub-list."
-	(xs as :list, end as :number) -> slice (xs, 0, end) 
-	(xs as :list, start as :number, end as :number) -> when {
-		gte? (start, end) -> []
-		gt? (end, count (xs)) -> slice (xs, start, count (xs))
-		neg? (start) -> slice (xs, 0, end)
-		else -> {
-			let slice = base :slice (xs, inc (start), inc (end))
-			base :into ([], slice)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 fn count {
 	"Returns the number of elements in a collection (including string)."
 	(xs as :list) -> dec (base :count (xs))
@@ -142,6 +150,16 @@ fn empty? {
 	(_) -> false
 }
 
+fn any? {
+	"Returns true if something is not empty, otherwise returns false (including for things that can't be logically full, like numbers)."
+	([...]) -> true
+	(#{...}) -> true
+	(s as :set) -> not (empty? (s))
+	((...)) -> true
+	(s as :string) -> not (empty? (s))
+	(_) -> false
+}
+
 fn list? {
 	"Returns true if the value is a list."
 	(l as :list) -> true
@@ -153,6 +171,7 @@ fn list {
 	(x) -> base :to_list (x)
 }
 
+& TODO: make this work with Janet base
 fn set {
 	"Takes an ordered collection--list or tuple--and turns it into a set."
 	(xs as :list) -> base :into (${}, xs)
@@ -180,6 +199,7 @@ fn fold {
 	}
 }
 
+& TODO: optimize these with base :conj!
 fn map {
 	"Maps a function over a list: returns a new list with elements that are the result of applying the function to each element in the original list. E.g., `map ([1, 2, 3], inc) &=> [2, 3, 4]`."
 	(f as :fn, xs) -> {
@@ -227,13 +247,13 @@ fn concat {
 & the console: sending messages to the outside world
 & the console is *both* something we send to the host language's console
 & ...and also a list of messages.
-ref console = []
+box console = []
 
 fn flush! {
 	"Clears the console, and returns the messages."
 	() -> {
-		let msgs = deref (console)
-		make! (console, [])
+		let msgs = unbox (console)
+		store! (console, [])
 		msgs 
 	}
 }
@@ -320,28 +340,28 @@ fn join {
 
 &&& references: mutable state and state changes
 
-fn ref? {
-	"Returns true if a value is a ref."
-	(r as :ref) -> true
+fn box? {
+	"Returns true if a value is a box."
+	(b as :box) -> true
 	(_) -> false
 }
 
-fn deref {
-	"Resolves a ref into a value."
-	(r as :ref) -> base :deref (r)
+fn unbox {
+	"Returns the value that is stored in a box."
+	(b as :box) -> base :unbox (b)
 }
 
-fn make! {
-	"Sets the value of a ref."
-	(r as :ref, value) -> base :set! (r, value)
+fn store! {
+	"Stores a value in a box, replacing the value that was previously there. Returns the value."
+	(b as :box, value) -> base :set! (b, value)
 }
 
 fn update! {
-	"Updates a ref by applying a function to its value. Returns the new value."
-	(r as :ref, f as :fn) -> {
-		let current = deref (r)
+	"Updates a box by applying a function to its value. Returns the new value."
+	(b as :box, f as :fn) -> {
+		let current = unbox (b)
 		let new = f (current)
-		make! (r, new)
+		store! (b, new)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -541,6 +561,56 @@ fn max {
 	(x, y, ...zs) -> fold (max, zs, max (x, y))
 }
 
+& additional list operations now that we have comparitors
+fn at {
+	"Returns the element at index n of a list or tuple. Zero-indexed: the first element is at index 0."
+	(xs as :list, n as :number) -> when {
+		neg? (n) -> nil
+		gte? (n, count (xs)) -> nil
+		true -> base :nth (xs, inc (n))
+	}
+	(xs as :tuple, n as :number) -> when {
+		neg? (n) -> nil
+		gte? (n, count (xs)) -> nil
+		true -> base :nth (xs, inc (n))
+	}
+	(_) -> nil
+}
+
+fn first {
+	"Returns the first element of a list or tuple."
+	(xs) -> at (xs, 0)
+}
+
+fn second {
+	"Returns the second element of a list or tuple."
+	(xs) -> at (xs, 1)
+}
+
+fn last {
+	"Returns the last element of a list or tuple."
+	(xs) -> at (xs, dec (count (xs)))
+}
+
+fn butlast {
+	"Returns a list, omitting the last element."
+	(xs as :list) -> base :slice (xs, dec (count (xs)))
+}
+
+fn slice {
+	"Returns a slice of a list, representing a sub-list."
+	(xs as :list, end as :number) -> slice (xs, 0, end) 
+	(xs as :list, start as :number, end as :number) -> when {
+		gte? (start, end) -> []
+		gt? (end, count (xs)) -> slice (xs, start, count (xs))
+		neg? (start) -> slice (xs, 0, end)
+		true -> {
+			let slice = base :slice (xs, inc (start), inc (end))
+			base :into ([], slice)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 &&& keywords: funny names
 fn keyword? {
 	"Returns true if a value is a keyword, otherwise returns false."
@@ -570,40 +640,6 @@ fn some {
 	(value, _) -> value 
 }
 
-&&& true & false: boolean logic
-
-fn bool? {
-	"Returns true if a value is of type :boolean."
-	(false) -> true
-	(true) -> true
-	(_) -> false
-}
-
-fn true? {
-	"Returns true if a value is boolean `true`. Useful to distinguish between `true` and anything else."
-	(true) -> true
-	(_) -> false
-}
-
-fn false? {
-	"Returns `true` if a value is `false`, otherwise returns `false`. Useful to distinguish between `false` and `nil`."
-	(false) -> true
-	(_) -> false
-}
-
-fn bool {
-	"Returns false if a value is nil or false, otherwise returns true."
-	(nil) -> false
-	(false) -> false
-	(_) -> true
-}
-
-fn not {
-	"Returns false if a value is truthy, true if a value is falsy."
-	(nil) -> true
-	(false) -> true
-	(_) -> false
-}
 
 & TODO: make `and` and `or` special forms which lazily evaluate arguments
 fn and {
@@ -689,7 +725,6 @@ fn diff {
 fn coll? {
 	"Returns true if a value is a collection: dict, struct, list, tuple, or set."
 	(coll as :dict) -> true
-	(coll as :struct) -> true
 	(coll as :list) -> true
 	(coll as :tuple) -> true
 	(coll as :set) -> true
@@ -988,29 +1023,29 @@ let turtle_init = #{
 
 & turtle states: refs that get modified by calls
 & turtle_commands is a list of commands, expressed as tuples
-ref turtle_commands = []
+box turtle_commands = []
 
 & and a list of turtle states
-ref turtle_states = [turtle_init]
+box turtle_states = [turtle_init]
 
 fn reset_turtle! {
 	"Resets the turtle to its original state."
-	() -> make! (turtle_states, [turtle_init])
+	() -> store! (turtle_states, [turtle_init])
 }
 
 & and a list of calls to p5--at least for now
-ref p5_calls = []
+box p5_calls = []
 
 & ...and finally, a background color
 & we need to store this separately because, while it can be updated later,
 & it must be the first call to p5.
-ref bgcolor = colors :black
+box bgcolor = colors :black
 
 fn add_call! (call) -> update! (p5_calls, append (_, call))
 
 fn add_command! (command) -> {
 	update! (turtle_commands, append (_, command))	
-	let prev = do turtle_states > deref > last
+	let prev = do turtle_states > unbox > last
 	let curr = apply_command (prev, command)
 	update! (turtle_states, append (_, curr))
 	let call = state/call ()
@@ -1026,7 +1061,7 @@ let turtle_angle = 0.385
 let turtle_color = (255, 255, 255, 150)
 
 fn render_turtle! () -> {
-	let state = do turtle_states > deref > last
+	let state = do turtle_states > unbox > last
 	if state :visible?
 		then {
 			let (r, g, b, a) = turtle_color
@@ -1055,8 +1090,8 @@ fn render_turtle! () -> {
 }
 
 fn state/call () -> {
-	let cmd = do turtle_commands > deref > last > first
-	let states = deref (turtle_states)
+	let cmd = do turtle_commands > unbox > last > first
+	let states = unbox (turtle_states)
 	let curr = last (states)
 	let prev = at (states, sub (count (states), 2))
 	match cmd with {
@@ -1078,7 +1113,7 @@ fn state/call () -> {
 			(:stroke, r, g, b, a)
 		}
 		:clear -> (:background, 0, 0, 0, 255)
-		else -> nil
+		_ -> nil
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1144,9 +1179,9 @@ let pw! = penwidth!
 
 fn background! {
 	"Sets the background color behind the turtle and path. Alias: bg!"
-	(gray as :number) -> make! (bgcolor, (gray, gray, gray, 255))
-	((r as :number, g as :number, b as :number)) -> make! (bgcolor, (r, b, g, 255))
-	((r as :number, g as :number, b as :number, a as :number)) -> make! (bgcolor, (r, g, b, a))
+	(gray as :number) -> store! (bgcolor, (gray, gray, gray, 255))
+	((r as :number, g as :number, b as :number)) -> store! (bgcolor, (r, b, g, 255))
+	((r as :number, g as :number, b as :number, a as :number)) -> store! (bgcolor, (r, g, b, a))
 }
 
 let bg! = background!
@@ -1205,7 +1240,7 @@ fn apply_command {
 
 fn turtle_state {
 	"Returns the turtle's current state."
-	() -> do turtle_states > deref > last
+	() -> do turtle_states > unbox > last
 }
 
 & position () -> (x, y)
@@ -1234,12 +1269,14 @@ fn penwidth {
 	() -> turtle_state () :pencolor
 }
 
-ns prelude {
+pkg Prelude {
 	type
 	eq?
 	neq?
 	tuple?
 	fn?
+	empty?
+	any?
 	first
 	second
 	rest
@@ -1266,9 +1303,9 @@ ns prelude {
 	report!
 	doc!
 	concat
-	ref?
-	deref
-	make!
+	box?
+	unbox
+	store!
 	update!
 	string
 	string?
diff --git a/janet/validate.janet b/janet/validate.janet
index d6c8e6f..bbb94ea 100644
--- a/janet/validate.janet
+++ b/janet/validate.janet
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ Deferred until a later iteration of Ludus:
  :dict
  :list
  :fn
- :ref
+ :box
  :pkg
 ])
 
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ Deferred until a later iteration of Ludus:
 (defn- fnn [validator]
  (def ast (validator :ast))
  (def name (ast :name))
- # (print "function name: " name)
+ (print "function name: " name)
  (def status (validator :status))
  (def tail? (status :tail))
  (set (status :tail) true)