Commit 96164ce613

Andrew Kelley <superjoe30@gmail.com>
2018-06-04 07:09:15
disallow single-item pointer indexing
add pointer arithmetic for unknown length pointer
1 parent 4c27312
doc/langref.html.in
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ test "string literals" {
 
     // A C string literal is a null terminated pointer.
     const null_terminated_bytes = c"hello";
-    assert(@typeOf(null_terminated_bytes) == *const u8);
+    assert(@typeOf(null_terminated_bytes) == [*]const u8);
     assert(null_terminated_bytes[5] == 0);
 }
       {#code_end#}
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ const c_string_literal =
 ;
       {#code_end#}
       <p>
-      In this example the variable <code>c_string_literal</code> has type <code>*const char</code> and
+      In this example the variable <code>c_string_literal</code> has type <code>[*]const char</code> and
       has a terminating null byte.
       </p>
       {#see_also|@embedFile#}
@@ -1288,7 +1288,7 @@ const assert = @import("std").debug.assert;
 const mem = @import("std").mem;
 
 // array literal
-const message = []u8{'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'};
+const message = []u8{ 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o' };
 
 // get the size of an array
 comptime {
@@ -1324,11 +1324,11 @@ test "modify an array" {
 
 // array concatenation works if the values are known
 // at compile time
-const part_one = []i32{1, 2, 3, 4};
-const part_two = []i32{5, 6, 7, 8};
+const part_one = []i32{ 1, 2, 3, 4 };
+const part_two = []i32{ 5, 6, 7, 8 };
 const all_of_it = part_one ++ part_two;
 comptime {
-    assert(mem.eql(i32, all_of_it, []i32{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8}));
+    assert(mem.eql(i32, all_of_it, []i32{ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 }));
 }
 
 // remember that string literals are arrays
@@ -1357,7 +1357,7 @@ comptime {
 var fancy_array = init: {
     var initial_value: [10]Point = undefined;
     for (initial_value) |*pt, i| {
-        pt.* = Point {
+        pt.* = Point{
             .x = i32(i),
             .y = i32(i) * 2,
         };
@@ -1377,7 +1377,7 @@ test "compile-time array initalization" {
 // call a function to initialize an array
 var more_points = []Point{makePoint(3)} ** 10;
 fn makePoint(x: i32) Point {
-    return Point {
+    return Point{
         .x = x,
         .y = x * 2,
     };
@@ -1414,25 +1414,24 @@ test "address of syntax" {
 }
 
 test "pointer array access" {
-    // Pointers do not support pointer arithmetic. If you
-    // need such a thing, use array index syntax:
+    // Taking an address of an individual element gives a
+    // pointer to a single item. This kind of pointer
+    // does not support pointer arithmetic.
 
     var array = []u8{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10};
-    const ptr = &array[1];
+    const ptr = &array[2];
+    assert(@typeOf(ptr) == *u8);
 
     assert(array[2] == 3);
-    ptr[1] += 1;
+    ptr.* += 1;
     assert(array[2] == 4);
 }
 
 test "pointer slicing" {
     // In Zig, we prefer using slices over null-terminated pointers.
-    // You can turn a pointer into a slice using slice syntax:
+    // You can turn an array into a slice using slice syntax:
     var array = []u8{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10};
-    const ptr = &array[1];
-    const slice = ptr[1..3];
-
-    assert(slice.ptr == &ptr[1]);
+    const slice = array[2..4];
     assert(slice.len == 2);
 
     // Slices have bounds checking and are therefore protected
@@ -1622,18 +1621,27 @@ fn foo(bytes: []u8) u32 {
 const assert = @import("std").debug.assert;
 
 test "basic slices" {
-    var array = []i32{1, 2, 3, 4};
+    var array = []i32{ 1, 2, 3, 4 };
     // A slice is a pointer and a length. The difference between an array and
     // a slice is that the array's length is part of the type and known at
     // compile-time, whereas the slice's length is known at runtime.
     // Both can be accessed with the `len` field.
     const slice = array[0..array.len];
-    assert(slice.ptr == &array[0]);
+    assert(&slice[0] == &array[0]);
     assert(slice.len == array.len);
 
+    // Using the address-of operator on a slice gives a pointer to a single
+    // item, while using the `ptr` field gives an unknown length pointer.
+    assert(@typeOf(slice.ptr) == [*]i32);
+    assert(@typeOf(&slice[0]) == *i32);
+    assert(@ptrToInt(slice.ptr) == @ptrToInt(&slice[0]));
+
     // Slices have array bounds checking. If you try to access something out
     // of bounds, you'll get a safety check failure:
     slice[10] += 1;
+
+    // Note that `slice.ptr` does not invoke safety checking, while `&slice[0]`
+    // asserts that the slice has len >= 1.
 }
       {#code_end#}
       <p>This is one reason we prefer slices to pointers.</p>
@@ -5937,7 +5945,7 @@ pub const __zig_test_fn_slice = {}; // overwritten later
       {#header_open|C String Literals#}
       {#code_begin|exe#}
       {#link_libc#}
-extern fn puts(*const u8) void;
+extern fn puts([*]const u8) void;
 
 pub fn main() void {
     puts(c"this has a null terminator");
src/all_types.hpp
@@ -974,8 +974,14 @@ struct FnTypeId {
 uint32_t fn_type_id_hash(FnTypeId*);
 bool fn_type_id_eql(FnTypeId *a, FnTypeId *b);
 
+enum PtrLen {
+    PtrLenUnknown,
+    PtrLenSingle,
+};
+
 struct TypeTableEntryPointer {
     TypeTableEntry *child_type;
+    PtrLen ptr_len;
     bool is_const;
     bool is_volatile;
     uint32_t alignment;
@@ -1397,6 +1403,7 @@ struct TypeId {
     union {
         struct {
             TypeTableEntry *child_type;
+            PtrLen ptr_len;
             bool is_const;
             bool is_volatile;
             uint32_t alignment;
@@ -2268,6 +2275,7 @@ struct IrInstructionElemPtr {
 
     IrInstruction *array_ptr;
     IrInstruction *elem_index;
+    PtrLen ptr_len;
     bool is_const;
     bool safety_check_on;
 };
@@ -2419,6 +2427,7 @@ struct IrInstructionPtrType {
     IrInstruction *child_type;
     uint32_t bit_offset_start;
     uint32_t bit_offset_end;
+    PtrLen ptr_len;
     bool is_const;
     bool is_volatile;
 };
src/analyze.cpp
@@ -381,14 +381,14 @@ TypeTableEntry *get_promise_type(CodeGen *g, TypeTableEntry *result_type) {
 }
 
 TypeTableEntry *get_pointer_to_type_extra(CodeGen *g, TypeTableEntry *child_type, bool is_const,
-        bool is_volatile, uint32_t byte_alignment, uint32_t bit_offset, uint32_t unaligned_bit_count)
+        bool is_volatile, PtrLen ptr_len, uint32_t byte_alignment, uint32_t bit_offset, uint32_t unaligned_bit_count)
 {
     assert(!type_is_invalid(child_type));
 
     TypeId type_id = {};
     TypeTableEntry **parent_pointer = nullptr;
     uint32_t abi_alignment = get_abi_alignment(g, child_type);
-    if (unaligned_bit_count != 0 || is_volatile || byte_alignment != abi_alignment) {
+    if (unaligned_bit_count != 0 || is_volatile || byte_alignment != abi_alignment || ptr_len != PtrLenSingle) {
         type_id.id = TypeTableEntryIdPointer;
         type_id.data.pointer.child_type = child_type;
         type_id.data.pointer.is_const = is_const;
@@ -396,6 +396,7 @@ TypeTableEntry *get_pointer_to_type_extra(CodeGen *g, TypeTableEntry *child_type
         type_id.data.pointer.alignment = byte_alignment;
         type_id.data.pointer.bit_offset = bit_offset;
         type_id.data.pointer.unaligned_bit_count = unaligned_bit_count;
+        type_id.data.pointer.ptr_len = ptr_len;
 
         auto existing_entry = g->type_table.maybe_get(type_id);
         if (existing_entry)
@@ -414,16 +415,17 @@ TypeTableEntry *get_pointer_to_type_extra(CodeGen *g, TypeTableEntry *child_type
     TypeTableEntry *entry = new_type_table_entry(TypeTableEntryIdPointer);
     entry->is_copyable = true;
 
+    const char *star_str = ptr_len == PtrLenSingle ? "*" : "[*]";
     const char *const_str = is_const ? "const " : "";
     const char *volatile_str = is_volatile ? "volatile " : "";
     buf_resize(&entry->name, 0);
     if (unaligned_bit_count == 0 && byte_alignment == abi_alignment) {
-        buf_appendf(&entry->name, "*%s%s%s", const_str, volatile_str, buf_ptr(&child_type->name));
+        buf_appendf(&entry->name, "%s%s%s%s", star_str, const_str, volatile_str, buf_ptr(&child_type->name));
     } else if (unaligned_bit_count == 0) {
-        buf_appendf(&entry->name, "*align(%" PRIu32 ") %s%s%s", byte_alignment,
+        buf_appendf(&entry->name, "%salign(%" PRIu32 ") %s%s%s", star_str, byte_alignment,
                 const_str, volatile_str, buf_ptr(&child_type->name));
     } else {
-        buf_appendf(&entry->name, "*align(%" PRIu32 ":%" PRIu32 ":%" PRIu32 ") %s%s%s", byte_alignment,
+        buf_appendf(&entry->name, "%salign(%" PRIu32 ":%" PRIu32 ":%" PRIu32 ") %s%s%s", star_str, byte_alignment,
                 bit_offset, bit_offset + unaligned_bit_count, const_str, volatile_str, buf_ptr(&child_type->name));
     }
 
@@ -433,7 +435,9 @@ TypeTableEntry *get_pointer_to_type_extra(CodeGen *g, TypeTableEntry *child_type
 
     if (!entry->zero_bits) {
         assert(byte_alignment > 0);
-        if (is_const || is_volatile || unaligned_bit_count != 0 || byte_alignment != abi_alignment) {
+        if (is_const || is_volatile || unaligned_bit_count != 0 || byte_alignment != abi_alignment ||
+            ptr_len != PtrLenSingle)
+        {
             TypeTableEntry *peer_type = get_pointer_to_type(g, child_type, false);
             entry->type_ref = peer_type->type_ref;
             entry->di_type = peer_type->di_type;
@@ -451,6 +455,7 @@ TypeTableEntry *get_pointer_to_type_extra(CodeGen *g, TypeTableEntry *child_type
         entry->di_type = g->builtin_types.entry_void->di_type;
     }
 
+    entry->data.pointer.ptr_len = ptr_len;
     entry->data.pointer.child_type = child_type;
     entry->data.pointer.is_const = is_const;
     entry->data.pointer.is_volatile = is_volatile;
@@ -467,7 +472,8 @@ TypeTableEntry *get_pointer_to_type_extra(CodeGen *g, TypeTableEntry *child_type
 }
 
 TypeTableEntry *get_pointer_to_type(CodeGen *g, TypeTableEntry *child_type, bool is_const) {
-    return get_pointer_to_type_extra(g, child_type, is_const, false, get_abi_alignment(g, child_type), 0, 0);
+    return get_pointer_to_type_extra(g, child_type, is_const, false, PtrLenSingle,
+            get_abi_alignment(g, child_type), 0, 0);
 }
 
 TypeTableEntry *get_promise_frame_type(CodeGen *g, TypeTableEntry *return_type) {
@@ -757,6 +763,7 @@ static void slice_type_common_init(CodeGen *g, TypeTableEntry *pointer_type, Typ
 
 TypeTableEntry *get_slice_type(CodeGen *g, TypeTableEntry *ptr_type) {
     assert(ptr_type->id == TypeTableEntryIdPointer);
+    assert(ptr_type->data.pointer.ptr_len == PtrLenUnknown);
 
     TypeTableEntry **parent_pointer = &ptr_type->data.pointer.slice_parent;
     if (*parent_pointer) {
@@ -768,14 +775,16 @@ TypeTableEntry *get_slice_type(CodeGen *g, TypeTableEntry *ptr_type) {
 
     // replace the & with [] to go from a ptr type name to a slice type name
     buf_resize(&entry->name, 0);
-    buf_appendf(&entry->name, "[]%s", buf_ptr(&ptr_type->name) + 1);
+    size_t name_offset = (ptr_type->data.pointer.ptr_len == PtrLenSingle) ? 1 : 3;
+    buf_appendf(&entry->name, "[]%s", buf_ptr(&ptr_type->name) + name_offset);
 
     TypeTableEntry *child_type = ptr_type->data.pointer.child_type;
-    uint32_t abi_alignment;
+    uint32_t abi_alignment = get_abi_alignment(g, child_type);
     if (ptr_type->data.pointer.is_const || ptr_type->data.pointer.is_volatile ||
-        ptr_type->data.pointer.alignment != (abi_alignment = get_abi_alignment(g, child_type)))
+        ptr_type->data.pointer.alignment != abi_alignment)
     {
-        TypeTableEntry *peer_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type(g, child_type, false);
+        TypeTableEntry *peer_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(g, child_type, false, false,
+                PtrLenUnknown, abi_alignment, 0, 0);
         TypeTableEntry *peer_slice_type = get_slice_type(g, peer_ptr_type);
 
         slice_type_common_init(g, ptr_type, entry);
@@ -799,9 +808,11 @@ TypeTableEntry *get_slice_type(CodeGen *g, TypeTableEntry *ptr_type) {
         if (child_ptr_type->data.pointer.is_const || child_ptr_type->data.pointer.is_volatile ||
             child_ptr_type->data.pointer.alignment != get_abi_alignment(g, grand_child_type))
         {
-            TypeTableEntry *bland_child_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type(g, grand_child_type, false);
+            TypeTableEntry *bland_child_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(g, grand_child_type, false, false,
+                    PtrLenUnknown, get_abi_alignment(g, grand_child_type), 0, 0);
             TypeTableEntry *bland_child_slice = get_slice_type(g, bland_child_ptr_type);
-            TypeTableEntry *peer_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type(g, bland_child_slice, false);
+            TypeTableEntry *peer_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(g, bland_child_slice, false, false,
+                    PtrLenUnknown, get_abi_alignment(g, bland_child_slice), 0, 0);
             TypeTableEntry *peer_slice_type = get_slice_type(g, peer_ptr_type);
 
             entry->type_ref = peer_slice_type->type_ref;
@@ -1284,7 +1295,8 @@ static bool analyze_const_align(CodeGen *g, Scope *scope, AstNode *node, uint32_
 }
 
 static bool analyze_const_string(CodeGen *g, Scope *scope, AstNode *node, Buf **out_buffer) {
-    TypeTableEntry *ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8, true);
+    TypeTableEntry *ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8, true, false,
+            PtrLenUnknown, get_abi_alignment(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8), 0, 0);
     TypeTableEntry *str_type = get_slice_type(g, ptr_type);
     IrInstruction *instr = analyze_const_value(g, scope, node, str_type, nullptr);
     if (type_is_invalid(instr->value.type))
@@ -2954,7 +2966,8 @@ static void typecheck_panic_fn(CodeGen *g, FnTableEntry *panic_fn) {
     if (fn_type_id->param_count != 2) {
         return wrong_panic_prototype(g, proto_node, fn_type);
     }
-    TypeTableEntry *const_u8_ptr = get_pointer_to_type(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8, true);
+    TypeTableEntry *const_u8_ptr = get_pointer_to_type_extra(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8, true, false,
+            PtrLenUnknown, get_abi_alignment(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8), 0, 0);
     TypeTableEntry *const_u8_slice = get_slice_type(g, const_u8_ptr);
     if (fn_type_id->param_info[0].type != const_u8_slice) {
         return wrong_panic_prototype(g, proto_node, fn_type);
@@ -4994,7 +5007,9 @@ void init_const_c_str_lit(CodeGen *g, ConstExprValue *const_val, Buf *str) {
 
     // then make the pointer point to it
     const_val->special = ConstValSpecialStatic;
-    const_val->type = get_pointer_to_type(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8, true);
+    // TODO make this `[*]null u8` instead of `[*]u8`
+    const_val->type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8, true, false,
+            PtrLenUnknown, get_abi_alignment(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8), 0, 0);
     const_val->data.x_ptr.special = ConstPtrSpecialBaseArray;
     const_val->data.x_ptr.data.base_array.array_val = array_val;
     const_val->data.x_ptr.data.base_array.elem_index = 0;
@@ -5135,7 +5150,9 @@ void init_const_slice(CodeGen *g, ConstExprValue *const_val, ConstExprValue *arr
 {
     assert(array_val->type->id == TypeTableEntryIdArray);
 
-    TypeTableEntry *ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type(g, array_val->type->data.array.child_type, is_const);
+    TypeTableEntry *ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(g, array_val->type->data.array.child_type,
+            is_const, false, PtrLenUnknown, get_abi_alignment(g, array_val->type->data.array.child_type),
+            0, 0);
 
     const_val->special = ConstValSpecialStatic;
     const_val->type = get_slice_type(g, ptr_type);
@@ -5759,6 +5776,7 @@ uint32_t type_id_hash(TypeId x) {
             return hash_ptr(x.data.error_union.err_set_type) ^ hash_ptr(x.data.error_union.payload_type);
         case TypeTableEntryIdPointer:
             return hash_ptr(x.data.pointer.child_type) +
+                ((x.data.pointer.ptr_len == PtrLenSingle) ? (uint32_t)1120226602 : (uint32_t)3200913342) +
                 (x.data.pointer.is_const ? (uint32_t)2749109194 : (uint32_t)4047371087) +
                 (x.data.pointer.is_volatile ? (uint32_t)536730450 : (uint32_t)1685612214) +
                 (((uint32_t)x.data.pointer.alignment) ^ (uint32_t)0x777fbe0e) +
@@ -5807,6 +5825,7 @@ bool type_id_eql(TypeId a, TypeId b) {
 
         case TypeTableEntryIdPointer:
             return a.data.pointer.child_type == b.data.pointer.child_type &&
+                a.data.pointer.ptr_len == b.data.pointer.ptr_len &&
                 a.data.pointer.is_const == b.data.pointer.is_const &&
                 a.data.pointer.is_volatile == b.data.pointer.is_volatile &&
                 a.data.pointer.alignment == b.data.pointer.alignment &&
src/analyze.hpp
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ ErrorMsg *add_error_note(CodeGen *g, ErrorMsg *parent_msg, AstNode *node, Buf *m
 TypeTableEntry *new_type_table_entry(TypeTableEntryId id);
 TypeTableEntry *get_pointer_to_type(CodeGen *g, TypeTableEntry *child_type, bool is_const);
 TypeTableEntry *get_pointer_to_type_extra(CodeGen *g, TypeTableEntry *child_type, bool is_const,
-        bool is_volatile, uint32_t byte_alignment, uint32_t bit_offset, uint32_t unaligned_bit_count);
+        bool is_volatile, PtrLen ptr_len, uint32_t byte_alignment, uint32_t bit_offset, uint32_t unaligned_bit_count);
 uint64_t type_size(CodeGen *g, TypeTableEntry *type_entry);
 uint64_t type_size_bits(CodeGen *g, TypeTableEntry *type_entry);
 TypeTableEntry **get_int_type_ptr(CodeGen *g, bool is_signed, uint32_t size_in_bits);
src/ast_render.cpp
@@ -625,7 +625,13 @@ static void render_node_extra(AstRender *ar, AstNode *node, bool grouped) {
         case NodeTypePointerType:
             {
                 if (!grouped) fprintf(ar->f, "(");
-                fprintf(ar->f, "*");
+                const char *star = "[*]";
+                if (node->data.pointer_type.star_token != nullptr &&
+                    (node->data.pointer_type.star_token->id == TokenIdStar || node->data.pointer_type.star_token->id == TokenIdStarStar))
+                {
+                    star = "*";
+                }
+                fprintf(ar->f, "%s", star);
                 if (node->data.pointer_type.align_expr != nullptr) {
                     fprintf(ar->f, "align(");
                     render_node_grouped(ar, node->data.pointer_type.align_expr);
src/codegen.cpp
@@ -893,7 +893,8 @@ static LLVMValueRef get_panic_msg_ptr_val(CodeGen *g, PanicMsgId msg_id) {
         assert(val->global_refs->llvm_global);
     }
 
-    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8, true);
+    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8, true, false,
+            PtrLenUnknown, get_abi_alignment(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8), 0, 0);
     TypeTableEntry *str_type = get_slice_type(g, u8_ptr_type);
     return LLVMConstBitCast(val->global_refs->llvm_global, LLVMPointerType(str_type->type_ref, 0));
 }
@@ -1461,7 +1462,8 @@ static LLVMValueRef get_safety_crash_err_fn(CodeGen *g) {
     LLVMValueRef full_buf_ptr = LLVMConstInBoundsGEP(global_array, full_buf_ptr_indices, 2);
 
 
-    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8, true);
+    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8, true, false,
+            PtrLenUnknown, get_abi_alignment(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8), 0, 0);
     TypeTableEntry *str_type = get_slice_type(g, u8_ptr_type);
     LLVMValueRef global_slice_fields[] = {
         full_buf_ptr,
@@ -2212,9 +2214,13 @@ static LLVMValueRef ir_render_bin_op(CodeGen *g, IrExecutable *executable,
     IrInstruction *op2 = bin_op_instruction->op2;
 
     assert(op1->value.type == op2->value.type || op_id == IrBinOpBitShiftLeftLossy ||
-            op_id == IrBinOpBitShiftLeftExact || op_id == IrBinOpBitShiftRightLossy ||
-            op_id == IrBinOpBitShiftRightExact ||
-            (op1->value.type->id == TypeTableEntryIdErrorSet && op2->value.type->id == TypeTableEntryIdErrorSet));
+        op_id == IrBinOpBitShiftLeftExact || op_id == IrBinOpBitShiftRightLossy ||
+        op_id == IrBinOpBitShiftRightExact ||
+        (op1->value.type->id == TypeTableEntryIdErrorSet && op2->value.type->id == TypeTableEntryIdErrorSet) ||
+        (op1->value.type->id == TypeTableEntryIdPointer &&
+            (op_id == IrBinOpAdd || op_id == IrBinOpSub) &&
+            op1->value.type->data.pointer.ptr_len == PtrLenUnknown)
+    );
     TypeTableEntry *type_entry = op1->value.type;
 
     bool want_runtime_safety = bin_op_instruction->safety_check_on &&
@@ -2222,6 +2228,8 @@ static LLVMValueRef ir_render_bin_op(CodeGen *g, IrExecutable *executable,
 
     LLVMValueRef op1_value = ir_llvm_value(g, op1);
     LLVMValueRef op2_value = ir_llvm_value(g, op2);
+
+
     switch (op_id) {
         case IrBinOpInvalid:
         case IrBinOpArrayCat:
@@ -2260,7 +2268,11 @@ static LLVMValueRef ir_render_bin_op(CodeGen *g, IrExecutable *executable,
             }
         case IrBinOpAdd:
         case IrBinOpAddWrap:
-            if (type_entry->id == TypeTableEntryIdFloat) {
+            if (type_entry->id == TypeTableEntryIdPointer) {
+                assert(type_entry->data.pointer.ptr_len == PtrLenUnknown);
+                // TODO runtime safety
+                return LLVMBuildInBoundsGEP(g->builder, op1_value, &op2_value, 1, "");
+            } else if (type_entry->id == TypeTableEntryIdFloat) {
                 ZigLLVMSetFastMath(g->builder, ir_want_fast_math(g, &bin_op_instruction->base));
                 return LLVMBuildFAdd(g->builder, op1_value, op2_value, "");
             } else if (type_entry->id == TypeTableEntryIdInt) {
@@ -2323,7 +2335,12 @@ static LLVMValueRef ir_render_bin_op(CodeGen *g, IrExecutable *executable,
             }
         case IrBinOpSub:
         case IrBinOpSubWrap:
-            if (type_entry->id == TypeTableEntryIdFloat) {
+            if (type_entry->id == TypeTableEntryIdPointer) {
+                assert(type_entry->data.pointer.ptr_len == PtrLenUnknown);
+                // TODO runtime safety
+                LLVMValueRef subscript_value = LLVMBuildNeg(g->builder, op2_value, "");
+                return LLVMBuildInBoundsGEP(g->builder, op1_value, &subscript_value, 1, "");
+            } else if (type_entry->id == TypeTableEntryIdFloat) {
                 ZigLLVMSetFastMath(g->builder, ir_want_fast_math(g, &bin_op_instruction->base));
                 return LLVMBuildFSub(g->builder, op1_value, op2_value, "");
             } else if (type_entry->id == TypeTableEntryIdInt) {
@@ -2770,7 +2787,7 @@ static LLVMValueRef ir_render_decl_var(CodeGen *g, IrExecutable *executable,
     if (have_init_expr) {
         assert(var->value->type == init_value->value.type);
         TypeTableEntry *var_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(g, var->value->type, false, false,
-                var->align_bytes, 0, 0);
+                PtrLenSingle, var->align_bytes, 0, 0);
         gen_assign_raw(g, var->value_ref, var_ptr_type, ir_llvm_value(g, init_value));
     } else {
         bool want_safe = ir_want_runtime_safety(g, &decl_var_instruction->base);
@@ -4172,7 +4189,7 @@ static LLVMValueRef ir_render_struct_init(CodeGen *g, IrExecutable *executable,
         uint32_t field_align_bytes = get_abi_alignment(g, type_struct_field->type_entry);
 
         TypeTableEntry *ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(g, type_struct_field->type_entry,
-                false, false, field_align_bytes,
+                false, false, PtrLenSingle, field_align_bytes,
                 (uint32_t)type_struct_field->packed_bits_offset, (uint32_t)type_struct_field->unaligned_bit_count);
 
         gen_assign_raw(g, field_ptr, ptr_type, value);
@@ -4188,7 +4205,7 @@ static LLVMValueRef ir_render_union_init(CodeGen *g, IrExecutable *executable, I
 
     uint32_t field_align_bytes = get_abi_alignment(g, type_union_field->type_entry);
     TypeTableEntry *ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(g, type_union_field->type_entry,
-            false, false, field_align_bytes,
+            false, false, PtrLenSingle, field_align_bytes,
             0, 0);
 
     LLVMValueRef uncasted_union_ptr;
@@ -4435,7 +4452,8 @@ static LLVMValueRef get_coro_alloc_helper_fn_val(CodeGen *g, LLVMTypeRef alloc_f
 
     LLVMPositionBuilderAtEnd(g->builder, ok_block);
     LLVMValueRef payload_ptr = LLVMBuildStructGEP(g->builder, sret_ptr, err_union_payload_index, "");
-    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8, false);
+    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8, false, false,
+            PtrLenUnknown, get_abi_alignment(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8), 0, 0);
     TypeTableEntry *slice_type = get_slice_type(g, u8_ptr_type);
     size_t ptr_field_index = slice_type->data.structure.fields[slice_ptr_index].gen_index;
     LLVMValueRef ptr_field_ptr = LLVMBuildStructGEP(g->builder, payload_ptr, ptr_field_index, "");
@@ -5377,7 +5395,8 @@ static void generate_error_name_table(CodeGen *g) {
 
     assert(g->errors_by_index.length > 0);
 
-    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8, true);
+    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8, true, false,
+            PtrLenUnknown, get_abi_alignment(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8), 0, 0);
     TypeTableEntry *str_type = get_slice_type(g, u8_ptr_type);
 
     LLVMValueRef *values = allocate<LLVMValueRef>(g->errors_by_index.length);
@@ -5415,7 +5434,8 @@ static void generate_error_name_table(CodeGen *g) {
 }
 
 static void generate_enum_name_tables(CodeGen *g) {
-    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8, true);
+    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8, true, false,
+            PtrLenUnknown, get_abi_alignment(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8), 0, 0);
     TypeTableEntry *str_type = get_slice_type(g, u8_ptr_type);
 
     TypeTableEntry *usize = g->builtin_types.entry_usize;
@@ -6869,7 +6889,8 @@ static void create_test_compile_var_and_add_test_runner(CodeGen *g) {
         exit(0);
     }
 
-    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8, true);
+    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8, true, false,
+            PtrLenUnknown, get_abi_alignment(g, g->builtin_types.entry_u8), 0, 0);
     TypeTableEntry *str_type = get_slice_type(g, u8_ptr_type);
     TypeTableEntry *fn_type = get_test_fn_type(g);
 
src/ir.cpp
@@ -1009,12 +1009,13 @@ static IrInstruction *ir_build_var_ptr(IrBuilder *irb, Scope *scope, AstNode *so
 }
 
 static IrInstruction *ir_build_elem_ptr(IrBuilder *irb, Scope *scope, AstNode *source_node, IrInstruction *array_ptr,
-        IrInstruction *elem_index, bool safety_check_on)
+        IrInstruction *elem_index, bool safety_check_on, PtrLen ptr_len)
 {
     IrInstructionElemPtr *instruction = ir_build_instruction<IrInstructionElemPtr>(irb, scope, source_node);
     instruction->array_ptr = array_ptr;
     instruction->elem_index = elem_index;
     instruction->safety_check_on = safety_check_on;
+    instruction->ptr_len = ptr_len;
 
     ir_ref_instruction(array_ptr, irb->current_basic_block);
     ir_ref_instruction(elem_index, irb->current_basic_block);
@@ -1022,15 +1023,6 @@ static IrInstruction *ir_build_elem_ptr(IrBuilder *irb, Scope *scope, AstNode *s
     return &instruction->base;
 }
 
-static IrInstruction *ir_build_elem_ptr_from(IrBuilder *irb, IrInstruction *old_instruction,
-        IrInstruction *array_ptr, IrInstruction *elem_index, bool safety_check_on)
-{
-    IrInstruction *new_instruction = ir_build_elem_ptr(irb, old_instruction->scope,
-            old_instruction->source_node, array_ptr, elem_index, safety_check_on);
-    ir_link_new_instruction(new_instruction, old_instruction);
-    return new_instruction;
-}
-
 static IrInstruction *ir_build_field_ptr_instruction(IrBuilder *irb, Scope *scope, AstNode *source_node,
     IrInstruction *container_ptr, IrInstruction *field_name_expr)
 {
@@ -1188,14 +1180,15 @@ static IrInstruction *ir_build_br_from(IrBuilder *irb, IrInstruction *old_instru
 }
 
 static IrInstruction *ir_build_ptr_type(IrBuilder *irb, Scope *scope, AstNode *source_node,
-        IrInstruction *child_type, bool is_const, bool is_volatile, IrInstruction *align_value,
-        uint32_t bit_offset_start, uint32_t bit_offset_end)
+        IrInstruction *child_type, bool is_const, bool is_volatile, PtrLen ptr_len,
+        IrInstruction *align_value, uint32_t bit_offset_start, uint32_t bit_offset_end)
 {
     IrInstructionPtrType *ptr_type_of_instruction = ir_build_instruction<IrInstructionPtrType>(irb, scope, source_node);
     ptr_type_of_instruction->align_value = align_value;
     ptr_type_of_instruction->child_type = child_type;
     ptr_type_of_instruction->is_const = is_const;
     ptr_type_of_instruction->is_volatile = is_volatile;
+    ptr_type_of_instruction->ptr_len = ptr_len;
     ptr_type_of_instruction->bit_offset_start = bit_offset_start;
     ptr_type_of_instruction->bit_offset_end = bit_offset_end;
 
@@ -3547,7 +3540,7 @@ static IrInstruction *ir_gen_array_access(IrBuilder *irb, Scope *scope, AstNode
         return subscript_instruction;
 
     IrInstruction *ptr_instruction = ir_build_elem_ptr(irb, scope, node, array_ref_instruction,
-            subscript_instruction, true);
+            subscript_instruction, true, PtrLenSingle);
     if (lval.is_ptr)
         return ptr_instruction;
 
@@ -4626,6 +4619,11 @@ static IrInstruction *ir_lval_wrap(IrBuilder *irb, Scope *scope, IrInstruction *
 
 static IrInstruction *ir_gen_pointer_type(IrBuilder *irb, Scope *scope, AstNode *node) {
     assert(node->type == NodeTypePointerType);
+    // The null check here is for C imports which don't set a token on the AST node. We could potentially
+    // update that code to create a fake token and then remove this check.
+    PtrLen ptr_len = (node->data.pointer_type.star_token != nullptr &&
+            (node->data.pointer_type.star_token->id == TokenIdStar ||
+             node->data.pointer_type.star_token->id == TokenIdStarStar)) ? PtrLenSingle : PtrLenUnknown;
     bool is_const = node->data.pointer_type.is_const;
     bool is_volatile = node->data.pointer_type.is_volatile;
     AstNode *expr_node = node->data.pointer_type.op_expr;
@@ -4675,7 +4673,7 @@ static IrInstruction *ir_gen_pointer_type(IrBuilder *irb, Scope *scope, AstNode
     }
 
     return ir_build_ptr_type(irb, scope, node, child_type, is_const, is_volatile,
-            align_value, bit_offset_start, bit_offset_end);
+            ptr_len, align_value, bit_offset_start, bit_offset_end);
 }
 
 static IrInstruction *ir_gen_err_assert_ok(IrBuilder *irb, Scope *scope, AstNode *source_node, AstNode *expr_node,
@@ -5172,7 +5170,7 @@ static IrInstruction *ir_gen_for_expr(IrBuilder *irb, Scope *parent_scope, AstNo
     ir_mark_gen(ir_build_cond_br(irb, child_scope, node, cond, body_block, else_block, is_comptime));
 
     ir_set_cursor_at_end_and_append_block(irb, body_block);
-    IrInstruction *elem_ptr = ir_build_elem_ptr(irb, child_scope, node, array_val_ptr, index_val, false);
+    IrInstruction *elem_ptr = ir_build_elem_ptr(irb, child_scope, node, array_val_ptr, index_val, false, PtrLenSingle);
     IrInstruction *elem_val;
     if (node->data.for_expr.elem_is_ptr) {
         elem_val = elem_ptr;
@@ -6811,9 +6809,13 @@ bool ir_gen(CodeGen *codegen, AstNode *node, Scope *scope, IrExecutable *ir_exec
 
         ir_set_cursor_at_end_and_append_block(irb, irb->exec->coro_normal_final);
         if (type_has_bits(return_type)) {
+            IrInstruction *u8_ptr_type_unknown_len = ir_build_const_type(irb, scope, node,
+                    get_pointer_to_type_extra(irb->codegen, irb->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8,
+                        false, false, PtrLenUnknown, get_abi_alignment(irb->codegen, irb->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8),
+                        0, 0));
             IrInstruction *result_ptr = ir_build_load_ptr(irb, scope, node, irb->exec->coro_result_ptr_field_ptr);
-            IrInstruction *result_ptr_as_u8_ptr = ir_build_ptr_cast(irb, scope, node, u8_ptr_type, result_ptr);
-            IrInstruction *return_value_ptr_as_u8_ptr = ir_build_ptr_cast(irb, scope, node, u8_ptr_type,
+            IrInstruction *result_ptr_as_u8_ptr = ir_build_ptr_cast(irb, scope, node, u8_ptr_type_unknown_len, result_ptr);
+            IrInstruction *return_value_ptr_as_u8_ptr = ir_build_ptr_cast(irb, scope, node, u8_ptr_type_unknown_len,
                     irb->exec->coro_result_field_ptr);
             IrInstruction *return_type_inst = ir_build_const_type(irb, scope, node,
                     fn_entry->type_entry->data.fn.fn_type_id.return_type);
@@ -7691,6 +7693,7 @@ static ConstCastOnly types_match_const_cast_only(IrAnalyze *ira, TypeTableEntry
     // pointer const
     if (expected_type->id == TypeTableEntryIdPointer &&
         actual_type->id == TypeTableEntryIdPointer &&
+        (actual_type->data.pointer.ptr_len == expected_type->data.pointer.ptr_len) &&
         (!actual_type->data.pointer.is_const || expected_type->data.pointer.is_const) &&
         (!actual_type->data.pointer.is_volatile || expected_type->data.pointer.is_volatile) &&
         actual_type->data.pointer.bit_offset == expected_type->data.pointer.bit_offset &&
@@ -8644,7 +8647,11 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_resolve_peer_types(IrAnalyze *ira, AstNode *source_nod
 
     if (convert_to_const_slice) {
         assert(prev_inst->value.type->id == TypeTableEntryIdArray);
-        TypeTableEntry *ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type(ira->codegen, prev_inst->value.type->data.array.child_type, true);
+        TypeTableEntry *ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(
+                ira->codegen, prev_inst->value.type->data.array.child_type,
+                true, false, PtrLenUnknown,
+                get_abi_alignment(ira->codegen, prev_inst->value.type->data.array.child_type),
+                0, 0);
         TypeTableEntry *slice_type = get_slice_type(ira->codegen, ptr_type);
         if (err_set_type != nullptr) {
             return get_error_union_type(ira->codegen, err_set_type, slice_type);
@@ -8961,7 +8968,7 @@ static IrInstruction *ir_get_const_ptr(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInstruction *instructio
         ConstPtrMut ptr_mut, bool ptr_is_const, bool ptr_is_volatile, uint32_t ptr_align)
 {
     TypeTableEntry *ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, pointee_type,
-            ptr_is_const, ptr_is_volatile, ptr_align, 0, 0);
+            ptr_is_const, ptr_is_volatile, PtrLenSingle, ptr_align, 0, 0);
     IrInstruction *const_instr = ir_get_const(ira, instruction);
     ConstExprValue *const_val = &const_instr->value;
     const_val->type = ptr_type;
@@ -9302,7 +9309,7 @@ static IrInstruction *ir_get_ref(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInstruction *source_instructi
     }
 
     TypeTableEntry *ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, value->value.type,
-            is_const, is_volatile, get_abi_alignment(ira->codegen, value->value.type), 0, 0);
+            is_const, is_volatile, PtrLenSingle, get_abi_alignment(ira->codegen, value->value.type), 0, 0);
     IrInstruction *new_instruction = ir_build_ref(&ira->new_irb, source_instruction->scope,
             source_instruction->source_node, value, is_const, is_volatile);
     new_instruction->value.type = ptr_type;
@@ -10399,7 +10406,9 @@ static Buf *ir_resolve_str(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInstruction *value) {
     if (type_is_invalid(value->value.type))
         return nullptr;
 
-    TypeTableEntry *ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type(ira->codegen, ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8, true);
+    TypeTableEntry *ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8,
+            true, false, PtrLenUnknown,
+            get_abi_alignment(ira->codegen, ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8), 0, 0);
     TypeTableEntry *str_type = get_slice_type(ira->codegen, ptr_type);
     IrInstruction *casted_value = ir_implicit_cast(ira, value, str_type);
     if (type_is_invalid(casted_value->value.type))
@@ -11054,11 +11063,27 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_bit_shift(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInstructionBinOp *
 static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_bin_op_math(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInstructionBinOp *bin_op_instruction) {
     IrInstruction *op1 = bin_op_instruction->op1->other;
     IrInstruction *op2 = bin_op_instruction->op2->other;
+    IrBinOp op_id = bin_op_instruction->op_id;
+
+    // look for pointer math
+    if (op1->value.type->id == TypeTableEntryIdPointer && op1->value.type->data.pointer.ptr_len == PtrLenUnknown &&
+        (op_id == IrBinOpAdd || op_id == IrBinOpSub))
+    {
+        IrInstruction *casted_op2 = ir_implicit_cast(ira, op2, ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_usize);
+        if (casted_op2 == ira->codegen->invalid_instruction)
+            return ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_invalid;
+
+        IrInstruction *result = ir_build_bin_op(&ira->new_irb, bin_op_instruction->base.scope,
+                bin_op_instruction->base.source_node, op_id, op1, casted_op2, true);
+        result->value.type = op1->value.type;
+        ir_link_new_instruction(result, &bin_op_instruction->base);
+        return result->value.type;
+    }
+
     IrInstruction *instructions[] = {op1, op2};
     TypeTableEntry *resolved_type = ir_resolve_peer_types(ira, bin_op_instruction->base.source_node, nullptr, instructions, 2);
     if (type_is_invalid(resolved_type))
         return resolved_type;
-    IrBinOp op_id = bin_op_instruction->op_id;
 
     bool is_int = resolved_type->id == TypeTableEntryIdInt || resolved_type->id == TypeTableEntryIdNumLitInt;
     bool is_float = resolved_type->id == TypeTableEntryIdFloat || resolved_type->id == TypeTableEntryIdNumLitFloat;
@@ -11331,7 +11356,8 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_array_cat(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInstructionBinOp *
 
         out_array_val = out_val;
     } else if (is_slice(op1_type) || is_slice(op2_type)) {
-        TypeTableEntry *ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type(ira->codegen, child_type, true);
+        TypeTableEntry *ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, child_type,
+                true, false, PtrLenUnknown, get_abi_alignment(ira->codegen, child_type), 0, 0);
         result_type = get_slice_type(ira->codegen, ptr_type);
         out_array_val = create_const_vals(1);
         out_array_val->special = ConstValSpecialStatic;
@@ -11351,7 +11377,9 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_array_cat(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInstructionBinOp *
     } else {
         new_len += 1; // null byte
 
-        result_type = get_pointer_to_type(ira->codegen, child_type, true);
+        // TODO make this `[*]null T` instead of `[*]T`
+        result_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, child_type, true, false,
+                PtrLenUnknown, get_abi_alignment(ira->codegen, child_type), 0, 0);
 
         out_array_val = create_const_vals(1);
         out_array_val->special = ConstValSpecialStatic;
@@ -12173,7 +12201,7 @@ no_mem_slot:
     IrInstruction *var_ptr_instruction = ir_build_var_ptr(&ira->new_irb,
             instruction->scope, instruction->source_node, var);
     var_ptr_instruction->value.type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, var->value->type,
-            var->src_is_const, is_volatile, var->align_bytes, 0, 0);
+            var->src_is_const, is_volatile, PtrLenSingle, var->align_bytes, 0, 0);
     type_ensure_zero_bits_known(ira->codegen, var->value->type);
 
     bool in_fn_scope = (scope_fn_entry(var->parent_scope) != nullptr);
@@ -12352,7 +12380,9 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_fn_call(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInstructionCall *cal
 
     IrInstruction *casted_new_stack = nullptr;
     if (call_instruction->new_stack != nullptr) {
-        TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr = get_pointer_to_type(ira->codegen, ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8, false);
+        TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8,
+                false, false, PtrLenUnknown,
+                get_abi_alignment(ira->codegen, ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8), 0, 0);
         TypeTableEntry *u8_slice = get_slice_type(ira->codegen, u8_ptr);
         IrInstruction *new_stack = call_instruction->new_stack->other;
         if (type_is_invalid(new_stack->value.type))
@@ -13112,10 +13142,21 @@ static TypeTableEntry *adjust_ptr_align(CodeGen *g, TypeTableEntry *ptr_type, ui
     return get_pointer_to_type_extra(g,
             ptr_type->data.pointer.child_type,
             ptr_type->data.pointer.is_const, ptr_type->data.pointer.is_volatile,
+            ptr_type->data.pointer.ptr_len,
             new_align,
             ptr_type->data.pointer.bit_offset, ptr_type->data.pointer.unaligned_bit_count);
 }
 
+static TypeTableEntry *adjust_ptr_len(CodeGen *g, TypeTableEntry *ptr_type, PtrLen ptr_len) {
+    assert(ptr_type->id == TypeTableEntryIdPointer);
+    return get_pointer_to_type_extra(g,
+            ptr_type->data.pointer.child_type,
+            ptr_type->data.pointer.is_const, ptr_type->data.pointer.is_volatile,
+            ptr_len,
+            ptr_type->data.pointer.alignment,
+            ptr_type->data.pointer.bit_offset, ptr_type->data.pointer.unaligned_bit_count);
+}
+
 static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_instruction_elem_ptr(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInstructionElemPtr *elem_ptr_instruction) {
     IrInstruction *array_ptr = elem_ptr_instruction->array_ptr->other;
     if (type_is_invalid(array_ptr->value.type))
@@ -13146,6 +13187,7 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_instruction_elem_ptr(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInstruc
         if (ptr_type->data.pointer.unaligned_bit_count == 0) {
             return_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, child_type,
                     ptr_type->data.pointer.is_const, ptr_type->data.pointer.is_volatile,
+                    elem_ptr_instruction->ptr_len,
                     ptr_type->data.pointer.alignment, 0, 0);
         } else {
             uint64_t elem_val_scalar;
@@ -13157,12 +13199,19 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_instruction_elem_ptr(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInstruc
 
             return_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, child_type,
                     ptr_type->data.pointer.is_const, ptr_type->data.pointer.is_volatile,
+                    elem_ptr_instruction->ptr_len,
                     1, (uint32_t)bit_offset, (uint32_t)bit_width);
         }
     } else if (array_type->id == TypeTableEntryIdPointer) {
-        return_type = array_type;
+        if (array_type->data.pointer.ptr_len == PtrLenSingle) {
+            ir_add_error_node(ira, elem_ptr_instruction->base.source_node,
+                    buf_sprintf("indexing not allowed on pointer to single item"));
+            return ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_invalid;
+        }
+        return_type = adjust_ptr_len(ira->codegen, array_type, elem_ptr_instruction->ptr_len);
     } else if (is_slice(array_type)) {
-        return_type = array_type->data.structure.fields[slice_ptr_index].type_entry;
+        return_type = adjust_ptr_len(ira->codegen, array_type->data.structure.fields[slice_ptr_index].type_entry,
+                elem_ptr_instruction->ptr_len);
     } else if (array_type->id == TypeTableEntryIdArgTuple) {
         ConstExprValue *ptr_val = ir_resolve_const(ira, array_ptr, UndefBad);
         if (!ptr_val)
@@ -13304,8 +13353,10 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_instruction_elem_ptr(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInstruc
             } else if (is_slice(array_type)) {
                 ConstExprValue *ptr_field = &array_ptr_val->data.x_struct.fields[slice_ptr_index];
                 if (ptr_field->data.x_ptr.special == ConstPtrSpecialHardCodedAddr) {
-                    ir_build_elem_ptr_from(&ira->new_irb, &elem_ptr_instruction->base, array_ptr,
-                            casted_elem_index, false);
+                    IrInstruction *result = ir_build_elem_ptr(&ira->new_irb, elem_ptr_instruction->base.scope, elem_ptr_instruction->base.source_node,
+                            array_ptr, casted_elem_index, false, elem_ptr_instruction->ptr_len);
+                    result->value.type = return_type;
+                    ir_link_new_instruction(result, &elem_ptr_instruction->base);
                     return return_type;
                 }
                 ConstExprValue *len_field = &array_ptr_val->data.x_struct.fields[slice_len_index];
@@ -13373,8 +13424,10 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_instruction_elem_ptr(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInstruc
         }
     }
 
-    ir_build_elem_ptr_from(&ira->new_irb, &elem_ptr_instruction->base, array_ptr,
-            casted_elem_index, safety_check_on);
+    IrInstruction *result = ir_build_elem_ptr(&ira->new_irb, elem_ptr_instruction->base.scope, elem_ptr_instruction->base.source_node,
+            array_ptr, casted_elem_index, safety_check_on, elem_ptr_instruction->ptr_len);
+    result->value.type = return_type;
+    ir_link_new_instruction(result, &elem_ptr_instruction->base);
     return return_type;
 }
 
@@ -13449,7 +13502,7 @@ static IrInstruction *ir_analyze_container_field_ptr(IrAnalyze *ira, Buf *field_
                         return ira->codegen->invalid_instruction;
                     ConstExprValue *field_val = &struct_val->data.x_struct.fields[field->src_index];
                     TypeTableEntry *ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, field_val->type,
-                            is_const, is_volatile, align_bytes,
+                            is_const, is_volatile, PtrLenSingle, align_bytes,
                             (uint32_t)(ptr_bit_offset + field->packed_bits_offset),
                             (uint32_t)unaligned_bit_count_for_result_type);
                     IrInstruction *result = ir_get_const(ira, source_instr);
@@ -13465,6 +13518,7 @@ static IrInstruction *ir_analyze_container_field_ptr(IrAnalyze *ira, Buf *field_
             IrInstruction *result = ir_build_struct_field_ptr(&ira->new_irb, source_instr->scope, source_instr->source_node,
                     container_ptr, field);
             result->value.type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, field->type_entry, is_const, is_volatile,
+                    PtrLenSingle,
                     align_bytes,
                     (uint32_t)(ptr_bit_offset + field->packed_bits_offset),
                     (uint32_t)unaligned_bit_count_for_result_type);
@@ -13511,7 +13565,9 @@ static IrInstruction *ir_analyze_container_field_ptr(IrAnalyze *ira, Buf *field_
                         payload_val->type = field_type;
                     }
 
-                    TypeTableEntry *ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, field_type, is_const, is_volatile,
+                    TypeTableEntry *ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, field_type,
+                            is_const, is_volatile,
+                            PtrLenSingle,
                             get_abi_alignment(ira->codegen, field_type), 0, 0);
 
                     IrInstruction *result = ir_get_const(ira, source_instr);
@@ -13526,7 +13582,7 @@ static IrInstruction *ir_analyze_container_field_ptr(IrAnalyze *ira, Buf *field_
 
             IrInstruction *result = ir_build_union_field_ptr(&ira->new_irb, source_instr->scope, source_instr->source_node, container_ptr, field);
             result->value.type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, field->type_entry, is_const, is_volatile,
-                    get_abi_alignment(ira->codegen, field->type_entry), 0, 0);
+                    PtrLenSingle, get_abi_alignment(ira->codegen, field->type_entry), 0, 0);
             return result;
         } else {
             return ir_analyze_container_member_access_inner(ira, bare_type, field_name,
@@ -14119,7 +14175,7 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_instruction_to_ptr_type(IrAnalyze *ira,
     if (type_entry->id == TypeTableEntryIdArray) {
         ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type(ira->codegen, type_entry->data.array.child_type, false);
     } else if (is_slice(type_entry)) {
-        ptr_type = type_entry->data.structure.fields[0].type_entry;
+        ptr_type = adjust_ptr_len(ira->codegen, type_entry->data.structure.fields[0].type_entry, PtrLenSingle);
     } else if (type_entry->id == TypeTableEntryIdArgTuple) {
         ConstExprValue *arg_tuple_val = ir_resolve_const(ira, value, UndefBad);
         if (!arg_tuple_val)
@@ -14367,7 +14423,7 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_instruction_slice_type(IrAnalyze *ira,
             {
                 type_ensure_zero_bits_known(ira->codegen, child_type);
                 TypeTableEntry *slice_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, child_type,
-                        is_const, is_volatile, align_bytes, 0, 0);
+                        is_const, is_volatile, PtrLenUnknown, align_bytes, 0, 0);
                 TypeTableEntry *result_type = get_slice_type(ira->codegen, slice_ptr_type);
                 ConstExprValue *out_val = ir_build_const_from(ira, &slice_type_instruction->base);
                 out_val->data.x_type = result_type;
@@ -14619,6 +14675,7 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_instruction_unwrap_maybe(IrAnalyze *ira,
     TypeTableEntry *child_type = type_entry->data.maybe.child_type;
     TypeTableEntry *result_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, child_type,
             ptr_type->data.pointer.is_const, ptr_type->data.pointer.is_volatile,
+            PtrLenSingle,
             get_abi_alignment(ira->codegen, child_type), 0, 0);
 
     if (instr_is_comptime(value)) {
@@ -15566,7 +15623,8 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_instruction_err_name(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInstruc
     if (type_is_invalid(casted_value->value.type))
         return ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_invalid;
 
-    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type(ira->codegen, ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8, true);
+    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8,
+            true, false, PtrLenUnknown, get_abi_alignment(ira->codegen, ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8), 0, 0);
     TypeTableEntry *str_type = get_slice_type(ira->codegen, u8_ptr_type);
     if (casted_value->value.special == ConstValSpecialStatic) {
         ErrorTableEntry *err = casted_value->value.data.x_err_set;
@@ -15607,7 +15665,11 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_instruction_enum_tag_name(IrAnalyze *ira, IrIn
     IrInstruction *result = ir_build_tag_name(&ira->new_irb, instruction->base.scope,
             instruction->base.source_node, target);
     ir_link_new_instruction(result, &instruction->base);
-    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type(ira->codegen, ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8, true);
+    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(
+            ira->codegen, ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8,
+            true, false, PtrLenUnknown,
+            get_abi_alignment(ira->codegen, ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8),
+            0, 0);
     result->value.type = get_slice_type(ira->codegen, u8_ptr_type);
     return result->value.type;
 }
@@ -15660,6 +15722,7 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_instruction_field_parent_ptr(IrAnalyze *ira,
     TypeTableEntry *field_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, field->type_entry,
             field_ptr->value.type->data.pointer.is_const,
             field_ptr->value.type->data.pointer.is_volatile,
+            PtrLenSingle,
             field_ptr_align, 0, 0);
     IrInstruction *casted_field_ptr = ir_implicit_cast(ira, field_ptr, field_ptr_type);
     if (type_is_invalid(casted_field_ptr->value.type))
@@ -15668,6 +15731,7 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_instruction_field_parent_ptr(IrAnalyze *ira,
     TypeTableEntry *result_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, container_type,
             casted_field_ptr->value.type->data.pointer.is_const,
             casted_field_ptr->value.type->data.pointer.is_volatile,
+            PtrLenSingle,
             parent_ptr_align, 0, 0);
 
     if (instr_is_comptime(casted_field_ptr)) {
@@ -15983,11 +16047,13 @@ static bool ir_make_type_info_defs(IrAnalyze *ira, ConstExprValue *out_val, Scop
                     // lib_name: ?[]const u8
                     ensure_field_index(fn_def_val->type, "lib_name", 6);
                     fn_def_fields[6].special = ConstValSpecialStatic;
-                    fn_def_fields[6].type = get_maybe_type(ira->codegen,
-                            get_slice_type(ira->codegen, get_pointer_to_type(ira->codegen,
-                                    ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8, true)));
-                    if (fn_node->is_extern && buf_len(fn_node->lib_name) > 0)
-                    {
+                    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr = get_pointer_to_type_extra(
+                        ira->codegen, ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8,
+                        true, false, PtrLenUnknown,
+                        get_abi_alignment(ira->codegen, ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8),
+                        0, 0);
+                    fn_def_fields[6].type = get_maybe_type(ira->codegen, get_slice_type(ira->codegen, u8_ptr));
+                    if (fn_node->is_extern && buf_len(fn_node->lib_name) > 0) {
                         fn_def_fields[6].data.x_maybe = create_const_vals(1);
                         ConstExprValue *lib_name = create_const_str_lit(ira->codegen, fn_node->lib_name);
                         init_const_slice(ira->codegen, fn_def_fields[6].data.x_maybe, lib_name, 0, buf_len(fn_node->lib_name), true);
@@ -16009,8 +16075,8 @@ static bool ir_make_type_info_defs(IrAnalyze *ira, ConstExprValue *out_val, Scop
                     size_t fn_arg_count = fn_entry->variable_list.length;
                     ConstExprValue *fn_arg_name_array = create_const_vals(1);
                     fn_arg_name_array->special = ConstValSpecialStatic;
-                    fn_arg_name_array->type = get_array_type(ira->codegen, get_slice_type(ira->codegen,
-                            get_pointer_to_type(ira->codegen, ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8, true)), fn_arg_count);
+                    fn_arg_name_array->type = get_array_type(ira->codegen,
+                            get_slice_type(ira->codegen, u8_ptr), fn_arg_count);
                     fn_arg_name_array->data.x_array.special = ConstArraySpecialNone;
                     fn_arg_name_array->data.x_array.s_none.parent.id = ConstParentIdNone;
                     fn_arg_name_array->data.x_array.s_none.elements = create_const_vals(fn_arg_count);
@@ -17088,7 +17154,8 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_instruction_memset(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInstructi
     TypeTableEntry *u8 = ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8;
     uint32_t dest_align = (dest_uncasted_type->id == TypeTableEntryIdPointer) ?
         dest_uncasted_type->data.pointer.alignment : get_abi_alignment(ira->codegen, u8);
-    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, u8, false, dest_is_volatile, dest_align, 0, 0);
+    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, u8, false, dest_is_volatile,
+            PtrLenUnknown, dest_align, 0, 0);
 
     IrInstruction *casted_dest_ptr = ir_implicit_cast(ira, dest_ptr, u8_ptr);
     if (type_is_invalid(casted_dest_ptr->value.type))
@@ -17184,8 +17251,10 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_instruction_memcpy(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInstructi
         src_uncasted_type->data.pointer.alignment : get_abi_alignment(ira->codegen, u8);
 
     TypeTableEntry *usize = ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_usize;
-    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_mut = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, u8, false, dest_is_volatile, dest_align, 0, 0);
-    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_const = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, u8, true, src_is_volatile, src_align, 0, 0);
+    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_mut = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, u8, false, dest_is_volatile,
+            PtrLenUnknown, dest_align, 0, 0);
+    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_const = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, u8, true, src_is_volatile,
+            PtrLenUnknown, src_align, 0, 0);
 
     IrInstruction *casted_dest_ptr = ir_implicit_cast(ira, dest_ptr, u8_ptr_mut);
     if (type_is_invalid(casted_dest_ptr->value.type))
@@ -17333,11 +17402,13 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_instruction_slice(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInstructio
         TypeTableEntry *slice_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, array_type->data.array.child_type,
             ptr_type->data.pointer.is_const || is_comptime_const,
             ptr_type->data.pointer.is_volatile,
+            PtrLenUnknown,
             byte_alignment, 0, 0);
         return_type = get_slice_type(ira->codegen, slice_ptr_type);
     } else if (array_type->id == TypeTableEntryIdPointer) {
         TypeTableEntry *slice_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, array_type->data.pointer.child_type,
                 array_type->data.pointer.is_const, array_type->data.pointer.is_volatile,
+                PtrLenUnknown,
                 array_type->data.pointer.alignment, 0, 0);
         return_type = get_slice_type(ira->codegen, slice_ptr_type);
         if (!end) {
@@ -17774,6 +17845,7 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_instruction_overflow_op(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInst
     if (result_ptr->value.type->id == TypeTableEntryIdPointer) {
         expected_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, dest_type,
                 false, result_ptr->value.type->data.pointer.is_volatile,
+                PtrLenSingle,
                 result_ptr->value.type->data.pointer.alignment, 0, 0);
     } else {
         expected_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type(ira->codegen, dest_type, false);
@@ -17929,6 +18001,7 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_instruction_unwrap_err_payload(IrAnalyze *ira,
         TypeTableEntry *payload_type = type_entry->data.error_union.payload_type;
         TypeTableEntry *result_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, payload_type,
                 ptr_type->data.pointer.is_const, ptr_type->data.pointer.is_volatile,
+                PtrLenSingle,
                 get_abi_alignment(ira->codegen, payload_type), 0, 0);
         if (instr_is_comptime(value)) {
             ConstExprValue *ptr_val = ir_resolve_const(ira, value, UndefBad);
@@ -18270,7 +18343,8 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_instruction_panic(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInstructio
         return ir_unreach_error(ira);
     }
 
-    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type(ira->codegen, ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8, true);
+    TypeTableEntry *u8_ptr_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8,
+            true, false, PtrLenUnknown, get_abi_alignment(ira->codegen, ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_u8), 0, 0);
     TypeTableEntry *str_type = get_slice_type(ira->codegen, u8_ptr_type);
     IrInstruction *casted_msg = ir_implicit_cast(ira, msg, str_type);
     if (type_is_invalid(casted_msg->value.type))
@@ -18801,7 +18875,8 @@ static TypeTableEntry *ir_analyze_instruction_ptr_type(IrAnalyze *ira, IrInstruc
 
     ConstExprValue *out_val = ir_build_const_from(ira, &instruction->base);
     out_val->data.x_type = get_pointer_to_type_extra(ira->codegen, child_type,
-            instruction->is_const, instruction->is_volatile, align_bytes,
+            instruction->is_const, instruction->is_volatile,
+            instruction->ptr_len, align_bytes,
             instruction->bit_offset_start, instruction->bit_offset_end - instruction->bit_offset_start);
 
     return ira->codegen->builtin_types.entry_type;
src/parser.cpp
@@ -1225,6 +1225,7 @@ static AstNode *ast_parse_prefix_op_expr(ParseContext *pc, size_t *token_index,
         AstNode *child_node = ast_parse_pointer_type(pc, token_index, token);
         child_node->column += 1;
         AstNode *parent_node = ast_create_node(pc, NodeTypePointerType, token);
+        parent_node->data.pointer_type.star_token = token;
         parent_node->data.pointer_type.op_expr = child_node;
         return parent_node;
     }
std/c/darwin.zig
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 extern "c" fn __error() *c_int;
-pub extern "c" fn _NSGetExecutablePath(buf: *u8, bufsize: *u32) c_int;
+pub extern "c" fn _NSGetExecutablePath(buf: [*]u8, bufsize: *u32) c_int;
 
-pub extern "c" fn __getdirentries64(fd: c_int, buf_ptr: *u8, buf_len: usize, basep: *i64) usize;
+pub extern "c" fn __getdirentries64(fd: c_int, buf_ptr: [*]u8, buf_len: usize, basep: *i64) usize;
 
 pub extern "c" fn mach_absolute_time() u64;
 pub extern "c" fn mach_timebase_info(tinfo: ?*mach_timebase_info_data) void;
std/c/index.zig
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ pub use switch (builtin.os) {
 };
 const empty_import = @import("../empty.zig");
 
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265 on this whole file
+
 pub extern "c" fn abort() noreturn;
 pub extern "c" fn exit(code: c_int) noreturn;
 pub extern "c" fn isatty(fd: c_int) c_int;
@@ -16,45 +18,45 @@ pub extern "c" fn close(fd: c_int) c_int;
 pub extern "c" fn fstat(fd: c_int, buf: *Stat) c_int;
 pub extern "c" fn @"fstat$INODE64"(fd: c_int, buf: *Stat) c_int;
 pub extern "c" fn lseek(fd: c_int, offset: isize, whence: c_int) isize;
-pub extern "c" fn open(path: *const u8, oflag: c_int, ...) c_int;
+pub extern "c" fn open(path: [*]const u8, oflag: c_int, ...) c_int;
 pub extern "c" fn raise(sig: c_int) c_int;
-pub extern "c" fn read(fd: c_int, buf: *c_void, nbyte: usize) isize;
-pub extern "c" fn stat(noalias path: *const u8, noalias buf: *Stat) c_int;
-pub extern "c" fn write(fd: c_int, buf: *const c_void, nbyte: usize) isize;
-pub extern "c" fn mmap(addr: ?*c_void, len: usize, prot: c_int, flags: c_int, fd: c_int, offset: isize) ?*c_void;
-pub extern "c" fn munmap(addr: *c_void, len: usize) c_int;
-pub extern "c" fn unlink(path: *const u8) c_int;
-pub extern "c" fn getcwd(buf: *u8, size: usize) ?*u8;
+pub extern "c" fn read(fd: c_int, buf: [*]c_void, nbyte: usize) isize;
+pub extern "c" fn stat(noalias path: [*]const u8, noalias buf: *Stat) c_int;
+pub extern "c" fn write(fd: c_int, buf: [*]const c_void, nbyte: usize) isize;
+pub extern "c" fn mmap(addr: ?[*]c_void, len: usize, prot: c_int, flags: c_int, fd: c_int, offset: isize) ?[*]c_void;
+pub extern "c" fn munmap(addr: [*]c_void, len: usize) c_int;
+pub extern "c" fn unlink(path: [*]const u8) c_int;
+pub extern "c" fn getcwd(buf: [*]u8, size: usize) ?[*]u8;
 pub extern "c" fn waitpid(pid: c_int, stat_loc: *c_int, options: c_int) c_int;
 pub extern "c" fn fork() c_int;
-pub extern "c" fn access(path: *const u8, mode: c_uint) c_int;
-pub extern "c" fn pipe(fds: *c_int) c_int;
-pub extern "c" fn mkdir(path: *const u8, mode: c_uint) c_int;
-pub extern "c" fn symlink(existing: *const u8, new: *const u8) c_int;
-pub extern "c" fn rename(old: *const u8, new: *const u8) c_int;
-pub extern "c" fn chdir(path: *const u8) c_int;
-pub extern "c" fn execve(path: *const u8, argv: *const ?*const u8, envp: *const ?*const u8) c_int;
+pub extern "c" fn access(path: [*]const u8, mode: c_uint) c_int;
+pub extern "c" fn pipe(fds: *[2]c_int) c_int;
+pub extern "c" fn mkdir(path: [*]const u8, mode: c_uint) c_int;
+pub extern "c" fn symlink(existing: [*]const u8, new: [*]const u8) c_int;
+pub extern "c" fn rename(old: [*]const u8, new: [*]const u8) c_int;
+pub extern "c" fn chdir(path: [*]const u8) c_int;
+pub extern "c" fn execve(path: [*]const u8, argv: [*]const ?[*]const u8, envp: [*]const ?[*]const u8) c_int;
 pub extern "c" fn dup(fd: c_int) c_int;
 pub extern "c" fn dup2(old_fd: c_int, new_fd: c_int) c_int;
-pub extern "c" fn readlink(noalias path: *const u8, noalias buf: *u8, bufsize: usize) isize;
-pub extern "c" fn realpath(noalias file_name: *const u8, noalias resolved_name: *u8) ?*u8;
+pub extern "c" fn readlink(noalias path: [*]const u8, noalias buf: [*]u8, bufsize: usize) isize;
+pub extern "c" fn realpath(noalias file_name: [*]const u8, noalias resolved_name: [*]u8) ?[*]u8;
 pub extern "c" fn sigprocmask(how: c_int, noalias set: *const sigset_t, noalias oset: ?*sigset_t) c_int;
 pub extern "c" fn gettimeofday(tv: ?*timeval, tz: ?*timezone) c_int;
 pub extern "c" fn sigaction(sig: c_int, noalias act: *const Sigaction, noalias oact: ?*Sigaction) c_int;
 pub extern "c" fn nanosleep(rqtp: *const timespec, rmtp: ?*timespec) c_int;
 pub extern "c" fn setreuid(ruid: c_uint, euid: c_uint) c_int;
 pub extern "c" fn setregid(rgid: c_uint, egid: c_uint) c_int;
-pub extern "c" fn rmdir(path: *const u8) c_int;
+pub extern "c" fn rmdir(path: [*]const u8) c_int;
 
-pub extern "c" fn aligned_alloc(alignment: usize, size: usize) ?*c_void;
-pub extern "c" fn malloc(usize) ?*c_void;
-pub extern "c" fn realloc(*c_void, usize) ?*c_void;
-pub extern "c" fn free(*c_void) void;
-pub extern "c" fn posix_memalign(memptr: **c_void, alignment: usize, size: usize) c_int;
+pub extern "c" fn aligned_alloc(alignment: usize, size: usize) ?[*]c_void;
+pub extern "c" fn malloc(usize) ?[*]c_void;
+pub extern "c" fn realloc([*]c_void, usize) ?[*]c_void;
+pub extern "c" fn free([*]c_void) void;
+pub extern "c" fn posix_memalign(memptr: *[*]c_void, alignment: usize, size: usize) c_int;
 
 pub extern "pthread" fn pthread_create(noalias newthread: *pthread_t, noalias attr: ?*const pthread_attr_t, start_routine: extern fn (?*c_void) ?*c_void, noalias arg: ?*c_void) c_int;
 pub extern "pthread" fn pthread_attr_init(attr: *pthread_attr_t) c_int;
-pub extern "pthread" fn pthread_attr_setstack(attr: *pthread_attr_t, stackaddr: *c_void, stacksize: usize) c_int;
+pub extern "pthread" fn pthread_attr_setstack(attr: *pthread_attr_t, stackaddr: [*]c_void, stacksize: usize) c_int;
 pub extern "pthread" fn pthread_attr_destroy(attr: *pthread_attr_t) c_int;
 pub extern "pthread" fn pthread_join(thread: pthread_t, arg_return: ?*?*c_void) c_int;
 
std/c/linux.zig
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 pub use @import("../os/linux/errno.zig");
 
-pub extern "c" fn getrandom(buf_ptr: *u8, buf_len: usize, flags: c_uint) c_int;
+pub extern "c" fn getrandom(buf_ptr: [*]u8, buf_len: usize, flags: c_uint) c_int;
 extern "c" fn __errno_location() *c_int;
 pub const _errno = __errno_location;
 
std/os/linux/index.zig
@@ -665,15 +665,18 @@ pub fn dup2(old: i32, new: i32) usize {
     return syscall2(SYS_dup2, usize(old), usize(new));
 }
 
-pub fn chdir(path: *const u8) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn chdir(path: [*]const u8) usize {
     return syscall1(SYS_chdir, @ptrToInt(path));
 }
 
-pub fn chroot(path: *const u8) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn chroot(path: [*]const u8) usize {
     return syscall1(SYS_chroot, @ptrToInt(path));
 }
 
-pub fn execve(path: *const u8, argv: *const ?*const u8, envp: *const ?*const u8) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn execve(path: [*]const u8, argv: [*]const ?[*]const u8, envp: [*]const ?[*]const u8) usize {
     return syscall3(SYS_execve, @ptrToInt(path), @ptrToInt(argv), @ptrToInt(envp));
 }
 
@@ -685,11 +688,11 @@ pub fn futex_wait(uaddr: usize, futex_op: u32, val: i32, timeout: ?*timespec) us
     return syscall4(SYS_futex, uaddr, futex_op, @bitCast(u32, val), @ptrToInt(timeout));
 }
 
-pub fn getcwd(buf: *u8, size: usize) usize {
+pub fn getcwd(buf: [*]u8, size: usize) usize {
     return syscall2(SYS_getcwd, @ptrToInt(buf), size);
 }
 
-pub fn getdents(fd: i32, dirp: *u8, count: usize) usize {
+pub fn getdents(fd: i32, dirp: [*]u8, count: usize) usize {
     return syscall3(SYS_getdents, usize(fd), @ptrToInt(dirp), count);
 }
 
@@ -698,27 +701,32 @@ pub fn isatty(fd: i32) bool {
     return syscall3(SYS_ioctl, usize(fd), TIOCGWINSZ, @ptrToInt(&wsz)) == 0;
 }
 
-pub fn readlink(noalias path: *const u8, noalias buf_ptr: *u8, buf_len: usize) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn readlink(noalias path: [*]const u8, noalias buf_ptr: [*]u8, buf_len: usize) usize {
     return syscall3(SYS_readlink, @ptrToInt(path), @ptrToInt(buf_ptr), buf_len);
 }
 
-pub fn mkdir(path: *const u8, mode: u32) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn mkdir(path: [*]const u8, mode: u32) usize {
     return syscall2(SYS_mkdir, @ptrToInt(path), mode);
 }
 
-pub fn mount(special: *const u8, dir: *const u8, fstype: *const u8, flags: usize, data: usize) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn mount(special: [*]const u8, dir: [*]const u8, fstype: [*]const u8, flags: usize, data: usize) usize {
     return syscall5(SYS_mount, @ptrToInt(special), @ptrToInt(dir), @ptrToInt(fstype), flags, data);
 }
 
-pub fn umount(special: *const u8) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn umount(special: [*]const u8) usize {
     return syscall2(SYS_umount2, @ptrToInt(special), 0);
 }
 
-pub fn umount2(special: *const u8, flags: u32) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn umount2(special: [*]const u8, flags: u32) usize {
     return syscall2(SYS_umount2, @ptrToInt(special), flags);
 }
 
-pub fn mmap(address: ?*u8, length: usize, prot: usize, flags: u32, fd: i32, offset: isize) usize {
+pub fn mmap(address: ?[*]u8, length: usize, prot: usize, flags: u32, fd: i32, offset: isize) usize {
     return syscall6(SYS_mmap, @ptrToInt(address), length, prot, flags, usize(fd), @bitCast(usize, offset));
 }
 
@@ -726,23 +734,26 @@ pub fn munmap(address: usize, length: usize) usize {
     return syscall2(SYS_munmap, address, length);
 }
 
-pub fn read(fd: i32, buf: *u8, count: usize) usize {
+pub fn read(fd: i32, buf: [*]u8, count: usize) usize {
     return syscall3(SYS_read, usize(fd), @ptrToInt(buf), count);
 }
 
-pub fn rmdir(path: *const u8) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn rmdir(path: [*]const u8) usize {
     return syscall1(SYS_rmdir, @ptrToInt(path));
 }
 
-pub fn symlink(existing: *const u8, new: *const u8) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn symlink(existing: [*]const u8, new: [*]const u8) usize {
     return syscall2(SYS_symlink, @ptrToInt(existing), @ptrToInt(new));
 }
 
-pub fn pread(fd: i32, buf: *u8, count: usize, offset: usize) usize {
+pub fn pread(fd: i32, buf: [*]u8, count: usize, offset: usize) usize {
     return syscall4(SYS_pread, usize(fd), @ptrToInt(buf), count, offset);
 }
 
-pub fn access(path: *const u8, mode: u32) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn access(path: [*]const u8, mode: u32) usize {
     return syscall2(SYS_access, @ptrToInt(path), mode);
 }
 
@@ -754,27 +765,31 @@ pub fn pipe2(fd: *[2]i32, flags: usize) usize {
     return syscall2(SYS_pipe2, @ptrToInt(fd), flags);
 }
 
-pub fn write(fd: i32, buf: *const u8, count: usize) usize {
+pub fn write(fd: i32, buf: [*]const u8, count: usize) usize {
     return syscall3(SYS_write, usize(fd), @ptrToInt(buf), count);
 }
 
-pub fn pwrite(fd: i32, buf: *const u8, count: usize, offset: usize) usize {
+pub fn pwrite(fd: i32, buf: [*]const u8, count: usize, offset: usize) usize {
     return syscall4(SYS_pwrite, usize(fd), @ptrToInt(buf), count, offset);
 }
 
-pub fn rename(old: *const u8, new: *const u8) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn rename(old: [*]const u8, new: [*]const u8) usize {
     return syscall2(SYS_rename, @ptrToInt(old), @ptrToInt(new));
 }
 
-pub fn open(path: *const u8, flags: u32, perm: usize) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn open(path: [*]const u8, flags: u32, perm: usize) usize {
     return syscall3(SYS_open, @ptrToInt(path), flags, perm);
 }
 
-pub fn create(path: *const u8, perm: usize) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn create(path: [*]const u8, perm: usize) usize {
     return syscall2(SYS_creat, @ptrToInt(path), perm);
 }
 
-pub fn openat(dirfd: i32, path: *const u8, flags: usize, mode: usize) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn openat(dirfd: i32, path: [*]const u8, flags: usize, mode: usize) usize {
     return syscall4(SYS_openat, usize(dirfd), @ptrToInt(path), flags, mode);
 }
 
@@ -801,7 +816,7 @@ pub fn exit(status: i32) noreturn {
     unreachable;
 }
 
-pub fn getrandom(buf: *u8, count: usize, flags: u32) usize {
+pub fn getrandom(buf: [*]u8, count: usize, flags: u32) usize {
     return syscall3(SYS_getrandom, @ptrToInt(buf), count, usize(flags));
 }
 
@@ -809,7 +824,8 @@ pub fn kill(pid: i32, sig: i32) usize {
     return syscall2(SYS_kill, @bitCast(usize, isize(pid)), usize(sig));
 }
 
-pub fn unlink(path: *const u8) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn unlink(path: [*]const u8) usize {
     return syscall1(SYS_unlink, @ptrToInt(path));
 }
 
@@ -942,8 +958,8 @@ pub fn sigaction(sig: u6, noalias act: *const Sigaction, noalias oact: ?*Sigacti
         .restorer = @ptrCast(extern fn () void, restore_rt),
     };
     var ksa_old: k_sigaction = undefined;
-    @memcpy(@ptrCast(*u8, *ksa.mask), @ptrCast(*const u8, *act.mask), 8);
-    const result = syscall4(SYS_rt_sigaction, sig, @ptrToInt(*ksa), @ptrToInt(*ksa_old), @sizeOf(@typeOf(ksa.mask)));
+    @memcpy(@ptrCast([*]u8, &ksa.mask), @ptrCast([*]const u8, &act.mask), 8);
+    const result = syscall4(SYS_rt_sigaction, sig, @ptrToInt(&ksa), @ptrToInt(&ksa_old), @sizeOf(@typeOf(ksa.mask)));
     const err = getErrno(result);
     if (err != 0) {
         return result;
@@ -951,7 +967,7 @@ pub fn sigaction(sig: u6, noalias act: *const Sigaction, noalias oact: ?*Sigacti
     if (oact) |old| {
         old.handler = ksa_old.handler;
         old.flags = @truncate(u32, ksa_old.flags);
-        @memcpy(@ptrCast(*u8, *old.mask), @ptrCast(*const u8, *ksa_old.mask), @sizeOf(@typeOf(ksa_old.mask)));
+        @memcpy(@ptrCast([*]u8, &old.mask), @ptrCast([*]const u8, &ksa_old.mask), @sizeOf(@typeOf(ksa_old.mask)));
     }
     return 0;
 }
@@ -1036,7 +1052,7 @@ pub const sockaddr_in6 = extern struct {
 };
 
 pub const iovec = extern struct {
-    iov_base: *u8,
+    iov_base: [*]u8,
     iov_len: usize,
 };
 
@@ -1052,11 +1068,11 @@ pub fn socket(domain: u32, socket_type: u32, protocol: u32) usize {
     return syscall3(SYS_socket, domain, socket_type, protocol);
 }
 
-pub fn setsockopt(fd: i32, level: u32, optname: u32, optval: *const u8, optlen: socklen_t) usize {
+pub fn setsockopt(fd: i32, level: u32, optname: u32, optval: [*]const u8, optlen: socklen_t) usize {
     return syscall5(SYS_setsockopt, usize(fd), level, optname, usize(optval), @ptrToInt(optlen));
 }
 
-pub fn getsockopt(fd: i32, level: u32, optname: u32, noalias optval: *u8, noalias optlen: *socklen_t) usize {
+pub fn getsockopt(fd: i32, level: u32, optname: u32, noalias optval: [*]u8, noalias optlen: *socklen_t) usize {
     return syscall5(SYS_getsockopt, usize(fd), level, optname, @ptrToInt(optval), @ptrToInt(optlen));
 }
 
@@ -1072,7 +1088,7 @@ pub fn recvmsg(fd: i32, msg: *msghdr, flags: u32) usize {
     return syscall3(SYS_recvmsg, usize(fd), @ptrToInt(msg), flags);
 }
 
-pub fn recvfrom(fd: i32, noalias buf: *u8, len: usize, flags: u32, noalias addr: ?*sockaddr, noalias alen: ?*socklen_t) usize {
+pub fn recvfrom(fd: i32, noalias buf: [*]u8, len: usize, flags: u32, noalias addr: ?*sockaddr, noalias alen: ?*socklen_t) usize {
     return syscall6(SYS_recvfrom, usize(fd), @ptrToInt(buf), len, flags, @ptrToInt(addr), @ptrToInt(alen));
 }
 
@@ -1088,7 +1104,7 @@ pub fn listen(fd: i32, backlog: u32) usize {
     return syscall2(SYS_listen, usize(fd), backlog);
 }
 
-pub fn sendto(fd: i32, buf: *const u8, len: usize, flags: u32, addr: ?*const sockaddr, alen: socklen_t) usize {
+pub fn sendto(fd: i32, buf: [*]const u8, len: usize, flags: u32, addr: ?*const sockaddr, alen: socklen_t) usize {
     return syscall6(SYS_sendto, usize(fd), @ptrToInt(buf), len, flags, @ptrToInt(addr), usize(alen));
 }
 
@@ -1108,59 +1124,72 @@ pub fn fstat(fd: i32, stat_buf: *Stat) usize {
     return syscall2(SYS_fstat, usize(fd), @ptrToInt(stat_buf));
 }
 
-pub fn stat(pathname: *const u8, statbuf: *Stat) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn stat(pathname: [*]const u8, statbuf: *Stat) usize {
     return syscall2(SYS_stat, @ptrToInt(pathname), @ptrToInt(statbuf));
 }
 
-pub fn lstat(pathname: *const u8, statbuf: *Stat) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn lstat(pathname: [*]const u8, statbuf: *Stat) usize {
     return syscall2(SYS_lstat, @ptrToInt(pathname), @ptrToInt(statbuf));
 }
 
-pub fn listxattr(path: *const u8, list: *u8, size: usize) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn listxattr(path: [*]const u8, list: [*]u8, size: usize) usize {
     return syscall3(SYS_listxattr, @ptrToInt(path), @ptrToInt(list), size);
 }
 
-pub fn llistxattr(path: *const u8, list: *u8, size: usize) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn llistxattr(path: [*]const u8, list: [*]u8, size: usize) usize {
     return syscall3(SYS_llistxattr, @ptrToInt(path), @ptrToInt(list), size);
 }
 
-pub fn flistxattr(fd: usize, list: *u8, size: usize) usize {
+pub fn flistxattr(fd: usize, list: [*]u8, size: usize) usize {
     return syscall3(SYS_flistxattr, fd, @ptrToInt(list), size);
 }
 
-pub fn getxattr(path: *const u8, name: *const u8, value: *void, size: usize) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn getxattr(path: [*]const u8, name: [*]const u8, value: [*]u8, size: usize) usize {
     return syscall4(SYS_getxattr, @ptrToInt(path), @ptrToInt(name), @ptrToInt(value), size);
 }
 
-pub fn lgetxattr(path: *const u8, name: *const u8, value: *void, size: usize) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn lgetxattr(path: [*]const u8, name: [*]const u8, value: [*]u8, size: usize) usize {
     return syscall4(SYS_lgetxattr, @ptrToInt(path), @ptrToInt(name), @ptrToInt(value), size);
 }
 
-pub fn fgetxattr(fd: usize, name: *const u8, value: *void, size: usize) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn fgetxattr(fd: usize, name: [*]const u8, value: [*]u8, size: usize) usize {
     return syscall4(SYS_lgetxattr, fd, @ptrToInt(name), @ptrToInt(value), size);
 }
 
-pub fn setxattr(path: *const u8, name: *const u8, value: *const void, size: usize, flags: usize) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn setxattr(path: [*]const u8, name: [*]const u8, value: *const void, size: usize, flags: usize) usize {
     return syscall5(SYS_setxattr, @ptrToInt(path), @ptrToInt(name), @ptrToInt(value), size, flags);
 }
 
-pub fn lsetxattr(path: *const u8, name: *const u8, value: *const void, size: usize, flags: usize) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn lsetxattr(path: [*]const u8, name: [*]const u8, value: *const void, size: usize, flags: usize) usize {
     return syscall5(SYS_lsetxattr, @ptrToInt(path), @ptrToInt(name), @ptrToInt(value), size, flags);
 }
 
-pub fn fsetxattr(fd: usize, name: *const u8, value: *const void, size: usize, flags: usize) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn fsetxattr(fd: usize, name: [*]const u8, value: *const void, size: usize, flags: usize) usize {
     return syscall5(SYS_fsetxattr, fd, @ptrToInt(name), @ptrToInt(value), size, flags);
 }
 
-pub fn removexattr(path: *const u8, name: *const u8) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn removexattr(path: [*]const u8, name: [*]const u8) usize {
     return syscall2(SYS_removexattr, @ptrToInt(path), @ptrToInt(name));
 }
 
-pub fn lremovexattr(path: *const u8, name: *const u8) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn lremovexattr(path: [*]const u8, name: [*]const u8) usize {
     return syscall2(SYS_lremovexattr, @ptrToInt(path), @ptrToInt(name));
 }
 
-pub fn fremovexattr(fd: usize, name: *const u8) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn fremovexattr(fd: usize, name: [*]const u8) usize {
     return syscall2(SYS_fremovexattr, fd, @ptrToInt(name));
 }
 
@@ -1188,7 +1217,7 @@ pub fn epoll_ctl(epoll_fd: i32, op: u32, fd: i32, ev: *epoll_event) usize {
     return syscall4(SYS_epoll_ctl, usize(epoll_fd), usize(op), usize(fd), @ptrToInt(ev));
 }
 
-pub fn epoll_wait(epoll_fd: i32, events: *epoll_event, maxevents: u32, timeout: i32) usize {
+pub fn epoll_wait(epoll_fd: i32, events: [*]epoll_event, maxevents: u32, timeout: i32) usize {
     return syscall4(SYS_epoll_wait, usize(epoll_fd), @ptrToInt(events), usize(maxevents), usize(timeout));
 }
 
std/os/linux/test.zig
@@ -35,5 +35,6 @@ test "timer" {
     const events_one: linux.epoll_event = undefined;
     var events = []linux.epoll_event{events_one} ** 8;
 
-    err = linux.epoll_wait(i32(epoll_fd), &events[0], 8, -1);
+    // TODO implicit cast from *[N]T to [*]T
+    err = linux.epoll_wait(i32(epoll_fd), @ptrCast([*]linux.epoll_event, &events), 8, -1);
 }
std/os/linux/vdso.zig
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ pub fn lookup(vername: []const u8, name: []const u8) usize {
     var ph_addr: usize = vdso_addr + eh.e_phoff;
     const ph = @intToPtr(*elf.Phdr, ph_addr);
 
-    var maybe_dynv: ?*usize = null;
+    var maybe_dynv: ?[*]usize = null;
     var base: usize = @maxValue(usize);
     {
         var i: usize = 0;
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ pub fn lookup(vername: []const u8, name: []const u8) usize {
             const this_ph = @intToPtr(*elf.Phdr, ph_addr);
             switch (this_ph.p_type) {
                 elf.PT_LOAD => base = vdso_addr + this_ph.p_offset - this_ph.p_vaddr,
-                elf.PT_DYNAMIC => maybe_dynv = @intToPtr(*usize, vdso_addr + this_ph.p_offset),
+                elf.PT_DYNAMIC => maybe_dynv = @intToPtr([*]usize, vdso_addr + this_ph.p_offset),
                 else => {},
             }
         }
@@ -31,10 +31,10 @@ pub fn lookup(vername: []const u8, name: []const u8) usize {
     const dynv = maybe_dynv ?? return 0;
     if (base == @maxValue(usize)) return 0;
 
-    var maybe_strings: ?*u8 = null;
-    var maybe_syms: ?*elf.Sym = null;
-    var maybe_hashtab: ?*linux.Elf_Symndx = null;
-    var maybe_versym: ?*u16 = null;
+    var maybe_strings: ?[*]u8 = null;
+    var maybe_syms: ?[*]elf.Sym = null;
+    var maybe_hashtab: ?[*]linux.Elf_Symndx = null;
+    var maybe_versym: ?[*]u16 = null;
     var maybe_verdef: ?*elf.Verdef = null;
 
     {
@@ -42,10 +42,10 @@ pub fn lookup(vername: []const u8, name: []const u8) usize {
         while (dynv[i] != 0) : (i += 2) {
             const p = base + dynv[i + 1];
             switch (dynv[i]) {
-                elf.DT_STRTAB => maybe_strings = @intToPtr(*u8, p),
-                elf.DT_SYMTAB => maybe_syms = @intToPtr(*elf.Sym, p),
-                elf.DT_HASH => maybe_hashtab = @intToPtr(*linux.Elf_Symndx, p),
-                elf.DT_VERSYM => maybe_versym = @intToPtr(*u16, p),
+                elf.DT_STRTAB => maybe_strings = @intToPtr([*]u8, p),
+                elf.DT_SYMTAB => maybe_syms = @intToPtr([*]elf.Sym, p),
+                elf.DT_HASH => maybe_hashtab = @intToPtr([*]linux.Elf_Symndx, p),
+                elf.DT_VERSYM => maybe_versym = @intToPtr([*]u16, p),
                 elf.DT_VERDEF => maybe_verdef = @intToPtr(*elf.Verdef, p),
                 else => {},
             }
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ pub fn lookup(vername: []const u8, name: []const u8) usize {
         if (0 == (u32(1) << u5(syms[i].st_info & 0xf) & OK_TYPES)) continue;
         if (0 == (u32(1) << u5(syms[i].st_info >> 4) & OK_BINDS)) continue;
         if (0 == syms[i].st_shndx) continue;
-        if (!mem.eql(u8, name, cstr.toSliceConst(&strings[syms[i].st_name]))) continue;
+        if (!mem.eql(u8, name, cstr.toSliceConst(strings + syms[i].st_name))) continue;
         if (maybe_versym) |versym| {
             if (!checkver(??maybe_verdef, versym[i], vername, strings))
                 continue;
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ pub fn lookup(vername: []const u8, name: []const u8) usize {
     return 0;
 }
 
-fn checkver(def_arg: *elf.Verdef, vsym_arg: i32, vername: []const u8, strings: *u8) bool {
+fn checkver(def_arg: *elf.Verdef, vsym_arg: i32, vername: []const u8, strings: [*]u8) bool {
     var def = def_arg;
     const vsym = @bitCast(u32, vsym_arg) & 0x7fff;
     while (true) {
@@ -87,5 +87,5 @@ fn checkver(def_arg: *elf.Verdef, vsym_arg: i32, vername: []const u8, strings: *
         def = @intToPtr(*elf.Verdef, @ptrToInt(def) + def.vd_next);
     }
     const aux = @intToPtr(*elf.Verdaux, @ptrToInt(def) + def.vd_aux);
-    return mem.eql(u8, vername, cstr.toSliceConst(&strings[aux.vda_name]));
+    return mem.eql(u8, vername, cstr.toSliceConst(strings + aux.vda_name));
 }
std/os/windows/index.zig
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ pub extern "advapi32" stdcallcc fn CryptAcquireContextA(
 
 pub extern "advapi32" stdcallcc fn CryptReleaseContext(hProv: HCRYPTPROV, dwFlags: DWORD) BOOL;
 
-pub extern "advapi32" stdcallcc fn CryptGenRandom(hProv: HCRYPTPROV, dwLen: DWORD, pbBuffer: *BYTE) BOOL;
+pub extern "advapi32" stdcallcc fn CryptGenRandom(hProv: HCRYPTPROV, dwLen: DWORD, pbBuffer: [*]BYTE) BOOL;
 
 pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn CloseHandle(hObject: HANDLE) BOOL;
 
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn DeleteFileA(lpFileName: LPCSTR) BOOL;
 
 pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn ExitProcess(exit_code: UINT) noreturn;
 
-pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn FreeEnvironmentStringsA(penv: LPCH) BOOL;
+pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn FreeEnvironmentStringsA(penv: [*]u8) BOOL;
 
 pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn GetCommandLineA() LPSTR;
 
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn GetConsoleMode(in_hConsoleHandle: HANDLE, out
 
 pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn GetCurrentDirectoryA(nBufferLength: WORD, lpBuffer: ?LPSTR) DWORD;
 
-pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn GetEnvironmentStringsA() ?LPCH;
+pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn GetEnvironmentStringsA() ?[*]u8;
 
 pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn GetEnvironmentVariableA(lpName: LPCSTR, lpBuffer: LPSTR, nSize: DWORD) DWORD;
 
@@ -101,17 +101,17 @@ pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn GetSystemTimeAsFileTime(?*FILETIME) void;
 
 pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn HeapCreate(flOptions: DWORD, dwInitialSize: SIZE_T, dwMaximumSize: SIZE_T) ?HANDLE;
 pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn HeapDestroy(hHeap: HANDLE) BOOL;
-pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn HeapReAlloc(hHeap: HANDLE, dwFlags: DWORD, lpMem: *c_void, dwBytes: SIZE_T) ?*c_void;
-pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn HeapSize(hHeap: HANDLE, dwFlags: DWORD, lpMem: *const c_void) SIZE_T;
-pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn HeapValidate(hHeap: HANDLE, dwFlags: DWORD, lpMem: *const c_void) BOOL;
+pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn HeapReAlloc(hHeap: HANDLE, dwFlags: DWORD, lpMem: [*]c_void, dwBytes: SIZE_T) ?[*]c_void;
+pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn HeapSize(hHeap: HANDLE, dwFlags: DWORD, lpMem: [*]const c_void) SIZE_T;
+pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn HeapValidate(hHeap: HANDLE, dwFlags: DWORD, lpMem: [*]const c_void) BOOL;
 pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn HeapCompact(hHeap: HANDLE, dwFlags: DWORD) SIZE_T;
 pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn HeapSummary(hHeap: HANDLE, dwFlags: DWORD, lpSummary: LPHEAP_SUMMARY) BOOL;
 
 pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn GetStdHandle(in_nStdHandle: DWORD) ?HANDLE;
 
-pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn HeapAlloc(hHeap: HANDLE, dwFlags: DWORD, dwBytes: SIZE_T) ?*c_void;
+pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn HeapAlloc(hHeap: HANDLE, dwFlags: DWORD, dwBytes: SIZE_T) ?[*]c_void;
 
-pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn HeapFree(hHeap: HANDLE, dwFlags: DWORD, lpMem: *c_void) BOOL;
+pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn HeapFree(hHeap: HANDLE, dwFlags: DWORD, lpMem: [*]c_void) BOOL;
 
 pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn MoveFileExA(
     lpExistingFileName: LPCSTR,
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn PathFileExists(pszPath: ?LPCTSTR) BOOL;
 
 pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn ReadFile(
     in_hFile: HANDLE,
-    out_lpBuffer: *c_void,
+    out_lpBuffer: [*]c_void,
     in_nNumberOfBytesToRead: DWORD,
     out_lpNumberOfBytesRead: *DWORD,
     in_out_lpOverlapped: ?*OVERLAPPED,
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn WaitForSingleObject(hHandle: HANDLE, dwMillis
 
 pub extern "kernel32" stdcallcc fn WriteFile(
     in_hFile: HANDLE,
-    in_lpBuffer: *const c_void,
+    in_lpBuffer: [*]const c_void,
     in_nNumberOfBytesToWrite: DWORD,
     out_lpNumberOfBytesWritten: ?*DWORD,
     in_out_lpOverlapped: ?*OVERLAPPED,
@@ -178,16 +178,16 @@ pub const HMODULE = *@OpaqueType();
 pub const INT = c_int;
 pub const LPBYTE = *BYTE;
 pub const LPCH = *CHAR;
-pub const LPCSTR = *const CHAR;
-pub const LPCTSTR = *const TCHAR;
+pub const LPCSTR = [*]const CHAR;
+pub const LPCTSTR = [*]const TCHAR;
 pub const LPCVOID = *const c_void;
 pub const LPDWORD = *DWORD;
-pub const LPSTR = *CHAR;
+pub const LPSTR = [*]CHAR;
 pub const LPTSTR = if (UNICODE) LPWSTR else LPSTR;
 pub const LPVOID = *c_void;
-pub const LPWSTR = *WCHAR;
+pub const LPWSTR = [*]WCHAR;
 pub const PVOID = *c_void;
-pub const PWSTR = *WCHAR;
+pub const PWSTR = [*]WCHAR;
 pub const SIZE_T = usize;
 pub const TCHAR = if (UNICODE) WCHAR else u8;
 pub const UINT = c_uint;
std/os/windows/util.zig
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ pub const WriteError = error{
 };
 
 pub fn windowsWrite(handle: windows.HANDLE, bytes: []const u8) WriteError!void {
-    if (windows.WriteFile(handle, @ptrCast(*const c_void, bytes.ptr), u32(bytes.len), null, null) == 0) {
+    if (windows.WriteFile(handle, @ptrCast([*]const c_void, bytes.ptr), u32(bytes.len), null, null) == 0) {
         const err = windows.GetLastError();
         return switch (err) {
             windows.ERROR.INVALID_USER_BUFFER => WriteError.SystemResources,
std/os/child_process.zig
@@ -639,7 +639,7 @@ pub const ChildProcess = struct {
     }
 };
 
-fn windowsCreateProcess(app_name: *u8, cmd_line: *u8, envp_ptr: ?*u8, cwd_ptr: ?*u8, lpStartupInfo: *windows.STARTUPINFOA, lpProcessInformation: *windows.PROCESS_INFORMATION) !void {
+fn windowsCreateProcess(app_name: [*]u8, cmd_line: [*]u8, envp_ptr: ?[*]u8, cwd_ptr: ?[*]u8, lpStartupInfo: *windows.STARTUPINFOA, lpProcessInformation: *windows.PROCESS_INFORMATION) !void {
     if (windows.CreateProcessA(app_name, cmd_line, null, null, windows.TRUE, 0, @ptrCast(?*c_void, envp_ptr), cwd_ptr, lpStartupInfo, lpProcessInformation) == 0) {
         const err = windows.GetLastError();
         return switch (err) {
std/os/darwin.zig
@@ -317,7 +317,8 @@ pub fn lseek(fd: i32, offset: isize, whence: c_int) usize {
     return errnoWrap(c.lseek(fd, offset, whence));
 }
 
-pub fn open(path: *const u8, flags: u32, mode: usize) usize {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265 on the whole file
+pub fn open(path: [*]const u8, flags: u32, mode: usize) usize {
     return errnoWrap(c.open(path, @bitCast(c_int, flags), mode));
 }
 
@@ -325,33 +326,33 @@ pub fn raise(sig: i32) usize {
     return errnoWrap(c.raise(sig));
 }
 
-pub fn read(fd: i32, buf: *u8, nbyte: usize) usize {
-    return errnoWrap(c.read(fd, @ptrCast(*c_void, buf), nbyte));
+pub fn read(fd: i32, buf: [*]u8, nbyte: usize) usize {
+    return errnoWrap(c.read(fd, @ptrCast([*]c_void, buf), nbyte));
 }
 
-pub fn stat(noalias path: *const u8, noalias buf: *stat) usize {
+pub fn stat(noalias path: [*]const u8, noalias buf: *stat) usize {
     return errnoWrap(c.stat(path, buf));
 }
 
-pub fn write(fd: i32, buf: *const u8, nbyte: usize) usize {
-    return errnoWrap(c.write(fd, @ptrCast(*const c_void, buf), nbyte));
+pub fn write(fd: i32, buf: [*]const u8, nbyte: usize) usize {
+    return errnoWrap(c.write(fd, @ptrCast([*]const c_void, buf), nbyte));
 }
 
-pub fn mmap(address: ?*u8, length: usize, prot: usize, flags: u32, fd: i32, offset: isize) usize {
-    const ptr_result = c.mmap(@ptrCast(*c_void, address), length, @bitCast(c_int, c_uint(prot)), @bitCast(c_int, c_uint(flags)), fd, offset);
+pub fn mmap(address: ?[*]u8, length: usize, prot: usize, flags: u32, fd: i32, offset: isize) usize {
+    const ptr_result = c.mmap(@ptrCast([*]c_void, address), length, @bitCast(c_int, c_uint(prot)), @bitCast(c_int, c_uint(flags)), fd, offset);
     const isize_result = @bitCast(isize, @ptrToInt(ptr_result));
     return errnoWrap(isize_result);
 }
 
 pub fn munmap(address: usize, length: usize) usize {
-    return errnoWrap(c.munmap(@intToPtr(*c_void, address), length));
+    return errnoWrap(c.munmap(@intToPtr([*]c_void, address), length));
 }
 
-pub fn unlink(path: *const u8) usize {
+pub fn unlink(path: [*]const u8) usize {
     return errnoWrap(c.unlink(path));
 }
 
-pub fn getcwd(buf: *u8, size: usize) usize {
+pub fn getcwd(buf: [*]u8, size: usize) usize {
     return if (c.getcwd(buf, size) == null) @bitCast(usize, -isize(c._errno().*)) else 0;
 }
 
@@ -364,40 +365,40 @@ pub fn fork() usize {
     return errnoWrap(c.fork());
 }
 
-pub fn access(path: *const u8, mode: u32) usize {
+pub fn access(path: [*]const u8, mode: u32) usize {
     return errnoWrap(c.access(path, mode));
 }
 
 pub fn pipe(fds: *[2]i32) usize {
     comptime assert(i32.bit_count == c_int.bit_count);
-    return errnoWrap(c.pipe(@ptrCast(*c_int, fds)));
+    return errnoWrap(c.pipe(@ptrCast(*[2]c_int, fds)));
 }
 
-pub fn getdirentries64(fd: i32, buf_ptr: *u8, buf_len: usize, basep: *i64) usize {
+pub fn getdirentries64(fd: i32, buf_ptr: [*]u8, buf_len: usize, basep: *i64) usize {
     return errnoWrap(@bitCast(isize, c.__getdirentries64(fd, buf_ptr, buf_len, basep)));
 }
 
-pub fn mkdir(path: *const u8, mode: u32) usize {
+pub fn mkdir(path: [*]const u8, mode: u32) usize {
     return errnoWrap(c.mkdir(path, mode));
 }
 
-pub fn symlink(existing: *const u8, new: *const u8) usize {
+pub fn symlink(existing: [*]const u8, new: [*]const u8) usize {
     return errnoWrap(c.symlink(existing, new));
 }
 
-pub fn rename(old: *const u8, new: *const u8) usize {
+pub fn rename(old: [*]const u8, new: [*]const u8) usize {
     return errnoWrap(c.rename(old, new));
 }
 
-pub fn rmdir(path: *const u8) usize {
+pub fn rmdir(path: [*]const u8) usize {
     return errnoWrap(c.rmdir(path));
 }
 
-pub fn chdir(path: *const u8) usize {
+pub fn chdir(path: [*]const u8) usize {
     return errnoWrap(c.chdir(path));
 }
 
-pub fn execve(path: *const u8, argv: *const ?*const u8, envp: *const ?*const u8) usize {
+pub fn execve(path: [*]const u8, argv: [*]const ?[*]const u8, envp: [*]const ?[*]const u8) usize {
     return errnoWrap(c.execve(path, argv, envp));
 }
 
@@ -405,7 +406,7 @@ pub fn dup2(old: i32, new: i32) usize {
     return errnoWrap(c.dup2(old, new));
 }
 
-pub fn readlink(noalias path: *const u8, noalias buf_ptr: *u8, buf_len: usize) usize {
+pub fn readlink(noalias path: [*]const u8, noalias buf_ptr: [*]u8, buf_len: usize) usize {
     return errnoWrap(c.readlink(path, buf_ptr, buf_len));
 }
 
@@ -417,7 +418,7 @@ pub fn nanosleep(req: *const timespec, rem: ?*timespec) usize {
     return errnoWrap(c.nanosleep(req, rem));
 }
 
-pub fn realpath(noalias filename: *const u8, noalias resolved_name: *u8) usize {
+pub fn realpath(noalias filename: [*]const u8, noalias resolved_name: [*]u8) usize {
     return if (c.realpath(filename, resolved_name) == null) @bitCast(usize, -isize(c._errno().*)) else 0;
 }
 
std/os/file.zig
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ pub const File = struct {
         if (is_posix) {
             var index: usize = 0;
             while (index < buffer.len) {
-                const amt_read = posix.read(self.handle, &buffer[index], buffer.len - index);
+                const amt_read = posix.read(self.handle, buffer.ptr + index, buffer.len - index);
                 const read_err = posix.getErrno(amt_read);
                 if (read_err > 0) {
                     switch (read_err) {
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ pub const File = struct {
             while (index < buffer.len) {
                 const want_read_count = windows.DWORD(math.min(windows.DWORD(@maxValue(windows.DWORD)), buffer.len - index));
                 var amt_read: windows.DWORD = undefined;
-                if (windows.ReadFile(self.handle, @ptrCast(*c_void, &buffer[index]), want_read_count, &amt_read, null) == 0) {
+                if (windows.ReadFile(self.handle, @ptrCast([*]c_void, buffer.ptr + index), want_read_count, &amt_read, null) == 0) {
                     const err = windows.GetLastError();
                     return switch (err) {
                         windows.ERROR.OPERATION_ABORTED => continue,
std/os/index.zig
@@ -134,20 +134,7 @@ pub fn getRandomBytes(buf: []u8) !void {
             }
         },
         Os.zen => {
-            const randomness = []u8{
-                42,
-                1,
-                7,
-                12,
-                22,
-                17,
-                99,
-                16,
-                26,
-                87,
-                41,
-                45,
-            };
+            const randomness = []u8{ 42, 1, 7, 12, 22, 17, 99, 16, 26, 87, 41, 45 };
             var i: usize = 0;
             while (i < buf.len) : (i += 1) {
                 if (i > randomness.len) return error.Unknown;
@@ -238,7 +225,7 @@ pub fn posixRead(fd: i32, buf: []u8) !void {
     var index: usize = 0;
     while (index < buf.len) {
         const want_to_read = math.min(buf.len - index, usize(max_buf_len));
-        const rc = posix.read(fd, &buf[index], want_to_read);
+        const rc = posix.read(fd, buf.ptr + index, want_to_read);
         const err = posix.getErrno(rc);
         if (err > 0) {
             return switch (err) {
@@ -278,7 +265,7 @@ pub fn posixWrite(fd: i32, bytes: []const u8) !void {
     var index: usize = 0;
     while (index < bytes.len) {
         const amt_to_write = math.min(bytes.len - index, usize(max_bytes_len));
-        const rc = posix.write(fd, &bytes[index], amt_to_write);
+        const rc = posix.write(fd, bytes.ptr + index, amt_to_write);
         const write_err = posix.getErrno(rc);
         if (write_err > 0) {
             return switch (write_err) {
@@ -328,7 +315,8 @@ pub fn posixOpen(allocator: *Allocator, file_path: []const u8, flags: u32, perm:
     return posixOpenC(path_with_null.ptr, flags, perm);
 }
 
-pub fn posixOpenC(file_path: *const u8, flags: u32, perm: usize) !i32 {
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
+pub fn posixOpenC(file_path: [*]const u8, flags: u32, perm: usize) !i32 {
     while (true) {
         const result = posix.open(file_path, flags, perm);
         const err = posix.getErrno(result);
@@ -374,19 +362,19 @@ pub fn posixDup2(old_fd: i32, new_fd: i32) !void {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn createNullDelimitedEnvMap(allocator: *Allocator, env_map: *const BufMap) ![]?*u8 {
+pub fn createNullDelimitedEnvMap(allocator: *Allocator, env_map: *const BufMap) ![]?[*]u8 {
     const envp_count = env_map.count();
-    const envp_buf = try allocator.alloc(?*u8, envp_count + 1);
-    mem.set(?*u8, envp_buf, null);
+    const envp_buf = try allocator.alloc(?[*]u8, envp_count + 1);
+    mem.set(?[*]u8, envp_buf, null);
     errdefer freeNullDelimitedEnvMap(allocator, envp_buf);
     {
         var it = env_map.iterator();
         var i: usize = 0;
         while (it.next()) |pair| : (i += 1) {
             const env_buf = try allocator.alloc(u8, pair.key.len + pair.value.len + 2);
-            @memcpy(&env_buf[0], pair.key.ptr, pair.key.len);
+            @memcpy(env_buf.ptr, pair.key.ptr, pair.key.len);
             env_buf[pair.key.len] = '=';
-            @memcpy(&env_buf[pair.key.len + 1], pair.value.ptr, pair.value.len);
+            @memcpy(env_buf.ptr + pair.key.len + 1, pair.value.ptr, pair.value.len);
             env_buf[env_buf.len - 1] = 0;
 
             envp_buf[i] = env_buf.ptr;
@@ -397,7 +385,7 @@ pub fn createNullDelimitedEnvMap(allocator: *Allocator, env_map: *const BufMap)
     return envp_buf;
 }
 
-pub fn freeNullDelimitedEnvMap(allocator: *Allocator, envp_buf: []?*u8) void {
+pub fn freeNullDelimitedEnvMap(allocator: *Allocator, envp_buf: []?[*]u8) void {
     for (envp_buf) |env| {
         const env_buf = if (env) |ptr| ptr[0 .. cstr.len(ptr) + 1] else break;
         allocator.free(env_buf);
@@ -411,8 +399,8 @@ pub fn freeNullDelimitedEnvMap(allocator: *Allocator, envp_buf: []?*u8) void {
 /// `argv[0]` is the executable path.
 /// This function also uses the PATH environment variable to get the full path to the executable.
 pub fn posixExecve(argv: []const []const u8, env_map: *const BufMap, allocator: *Allocator) !void {
-    const argv_buf = try allocator.alloc(?*u8, argv.len + 1);
-    mem.set(?*u8, argv_buf, null);
+    const argv_buf = try allocator.alloc(?[*]u8, argv.len + 1);
+    mem.set(?[*]u8, argv_buf, null);
     defer {
         for (argv_buf) |arg| {
             const arg_buf = if (arg) |ptr| cstr.toSlice(ptr) else break;
@@ -422,7 +410,7 @@ pub fn posixExecve(argv: []const []const u8, env_map: *const BufMap, allocator:
     }
     for (argv) |arg, i| {
         const arg_buf = try allocator.alloc(u8, arg.len + 1);
-        @memcpy(&arg_buf[0], arg.ptr, arg.len);
+        @memcpy(arg_buf.ptr, arg.ptr, arg.len);
         arg_buf[arg.len] = 0;
 
         argv_buf[i] = arg_buf.ptr;
@@ -494,7 +482,7 @@ fn posixExecveErrnoToErr(err: usize) PosixExecveError {
 }
 
 pub var linux_aux_raw = []usize{0} ** 38;
-pub var posix_environ_raw: []*u8 = undefined;
+pub var posix_environ_raw: [][*]u8 = undefined;
 
 /// Caller must free result when done.
 pub fn getEnvMap(allocator: *Allocator) !BufMap {
@@ -1311,7 +1299,7 @@ pub const Dir = struct {
             const next_index = self.index + linux_entry.d_reclen;
             self.index = next_index;
 
-            const name = cstr.toSlice(&linux_entry.d_name);
+            const name = cstr.toSlice(@ptrCast([*]u8, &linux_entry.d_name));
 
             // skip . and .. entries
             if (mem.eql(u8, name, ".") or mem.eql(u8, name, "..")) {
@@ -1485,12 +1473,12 @@ pub const ArgIteratorPosix = struct {
 
     /// This is marked as public but actually it's only meant to be used
     /// internally by zig's startup code.
-    pub var raw: []*u8 = undefined;
+    pub var raw: [][*]u8 = undefined;
 };
 
 pub const ArgIteratorWindows = struct {
     index: usize,
-    cmd_line: *const u8,
+    cmd_line: [*]const u8,
     in_quote: bool,
     quote_count: usize,
     seen_quote_count: usize,
@@ -1501,7 +1489,7 @@ pub const ArgIteratorWindows = struct {
         return initWithCmdLine(windows.GetCommandLineA());
     }
 
-    pub fn initWithCmdLine(cmd_line: *const u8) ArgIteratorWindows {
+    pub fn initWithCmdLine(cmd_line: [*]const u8) ArgIteratorWindows {
         return ArgIteratorWindows{
             .index = 0,
             .cmd_line = cmd_line,
@@ -1616,7 +1604,7 @@ pub const ArgIteratorWindows = struct {
         }
     }
 
-    fn countQuotes(cmd_line: *const u8) usize {
+    fn countQuotes(cmd_line: [*]const u8) usize {
         var result: usize = 0;
         var backslash_count: usize = 0;
         var index: usize = 0;
@@ -1722,39 +1710,12 @@ pub fn argsFree(allocator: *mem.Allocator, args_alloc: []const []u8) void {
 }
 
 test "windows arg parsing" {
-    testWindowsCmdLine(c"a   b\tc d", [][]const u8{
-        "a",
-        "b",
-        "c",
-        "d",
-    });
-    testWindowsCmdLine(c"\"abc\" d e", [][]const u8{
-        "abc",
-        "d",
-        "e",
-    });
-    testWindowsCmdLine(c"a\\\\\\b d\"e f\"g h", [][]const u8{
-        "a\\\\\\b",
-        "de fg",
-        "h",
-    });
-    testWindowsCmdLine(c"a\\\\\\\"b c d", [][]const u8{
-        "a\\\"b",
-        "c",
-        "d",
-    });
-    testWindowsCmdLine(c"a\\\\\\\\\"b c\" d e", [][]const u8{
-        "a\\\\b c",
-        "d",
-        "e",
-    });
-    testWindowsCmdLine(c"a   b\tc \"d f", [][]const u8{
-        "a",
-        "b",
-        "c",
-        "\"d",
-        "f",
-    });
+    testWindowsCmdLine(c"a   b\tc d", [][]const u8{ "a", "b", "c", "d" });
+    testWindowsCmdLine(c"\"abc\" d e", [][]const u8{ "abc", "d", "e" });
+    testWindowsCmdLine(c"a\\\\\\b d\"e f\"g h", [][]const u8{ "a\\\\\\b", "de fg", "h" });
+    testWindowsCmdLine(c"a\\\\\\\"b c d", [][]const u8{ "a\\\"b", "c", "d" });
+    testWindowsCmdLine(c"a\\\\\\\\\"b c\" d e", [][]const u8{ "a\\\\b c", "d", "e" });
+    testWindowsCmdLine(c"a   b\tc \"d f", [][]const u8{ "a", "b", "c", "\"d", "f" });
 
     testWindowsCmdLine(c"\".\\..\\zig-cache\\build\" \"bin\\zig.exe\" \".\\..\" \".\\..\\zig-cache\" \"--help\"", [][]const u8{
         ".\\..\\zig-cache\\build",
@@ -1765,7 +1726,7 @@ test "windows arg parsing" {
     });
 }
 
-fn testWindowsCmdLine(input_cmd_line: *const u8, expected_args: []const []const u8) void {
+fn testWindowsCmdLine(input_cmd_line: [*]const u8, expected_args: []const []const u8) void {
     var it = ArgIteratorWindows.initWithCmdLine(input_cmd_line);
     for (expected_args) |expected_arg| {
         const arg = ??it.next(debug.global_allocator) catch unreachable;
@@ -2350,7 +2311,7 @@ pub fn posixConnectAsync(sockfd: i32, sockaddr: *const posix.sockaddr) PosixConn
 pub fn posixGetSockOptConnectError(sockfd: i32) PosixConnectError!void {
     var err_code: i32 = undefined;
     var size: u32 = @sizeOf(i32);
-    const rc = posix.getsockopt(sockfd, posix.SOL_SOCKET, posix.SO_ERROR, @ptrCast(*u8, &err_code), &size);
+    const rc = posix.getsockopt(sockfd, posix.SOL_SOCKET, posix.SO_ERROR, @ptrCast([*]u8, &err_code), &size);
     assert(size == 4);
     const err = posix.getErrno(rc);
     switch (err) {
@@ -2401,7 +2362,7 @@ pub const Thread = struct {
         },
         builtin.Os.windows => struct {
             handle: windows.HANDLE,
-            alloc_start: *c_void,
+            alloc_start: [*]c_void,
             heap_handle: windows.HANDLE,
         },
         else => @compileError("Unsupported OS"),
@@ -2500,7 +2461,7 @@ pub fn spawnThread(context: var, comptime startFn: var) SpawnThreadError!*Thread
         const byte_count = @alignOf(WinThread.OuterContext) + @sizeOf(WinThread.OuterContext);
         const bytes_ptr = windows.HeapAlloc(heap_handle, 0, byte_count) ?? return SpawnThreadError.OutOfMemory;
         errdefer assert(windows.HeapFree(heap_handle, 0, bytes_ptr) != 0);
-        const bytes = @ptrCast(*u8, bytes_ptr)[0..byte_count];
+        const bytes = @ptrCast([*]u8, bytes_ptr)[0..byte_count];
         const outer_context = std.heap.FixedBufferAllocator.init(bytes).allocator.create(WinThread.OuterContext) catch unreachable;
         outer_context.inner = context;
         outer_context.thread.data.heap_handle = heap_handle;
@@ -2572,7 +2533,7 @@ pub fn spawnThread(context: var, comptime startFn: var) SpawnThreadError!*Thread
 
         // align to page
         stack_end -= stack_end % os.page_size;
-        assert(c.pthread_attr_setstack(&attr, @intToPtr(*c_void, stack_addr), stack_end - stack_addr) == 0);
+        assert(c.pthread_attr_setstack(&attr, @intToPtr([*]c_void, stack_addr), stack_end - stack_addr) == 0);
 
         const err = c.pthread_create(&thread_ptr.data.handle, &attr, MainFuncs.posixThreadMain, @intToPtr(*c_void, arg));
         switch (err) {
std/special/bootstrap.zig
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ const root = @import("@root");
 const std = @import("std");
 const builtin = @import("builtin");
 
-var argc_ptr: *usize = undefined;
+var argc_ptr: [*]usize = undefined;
 
 comptime {
     const strong_linkage = builtin.GlobalLinkage.Strong;
@@ -28,12 +28,12 @@ nakedcc fn _start() noreturn {
     switch (builtin.arch) {
         builtin.Arch.x86_64 => {
             argc_ptr = asm ("lea (%%rsp), %[argc]"
-                : [argc] "=r" (-> *usize)
+                : [argc] "=r" (-> [*]usize)
             );
         },
         builtin.Arch.i386 => {
             argc_ptr = asm ("lea (%%esp), %[argc]"
-                : [argc] "=r" (-> *usize)
+                : [argc] "=r" (-> [*]usize)
             );
         },
         else => @compileError("unsupported arch"),
@@ -49,15 +49,17 @@ extern fn WinMainCRTStartup() noreturn {
     std.os.windows.ExitProcess(callMain());
 }
 
+// TODO https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/265
 fn posixCallMainAndExit() noreturn {
     const argc = argc_ptr.*;
-    const argv = @ptrCast(**u8, &argc_ptr[1]);
-    const envp_nullable = @ptrCast(*?*u8, &argv[argc + 1]);
+    const argv = @ptrCast([*][*]u8, argc_ptr + 1);
+
+    const envp_nullable = @ptrCast([*]?[*]u8, argv + argc + 1);
     var envp_count: usize = 0;
     while (envp_nullable[envp_count]) |_| : (envp_count += 1) {}
-    const envp = @ptrCast(**u8, envp_nullable)[0..envp_count];
+    const envp = @ptrCast([*][*]u8, envp_nullable)[0..envp_count];
     if (builtin.os == builtin.Os.linux) {
-        const auxv = &@ptrCast(*usize, envp.ptr)[envp_count + 1];
+        const auxv = @ptrCast([*]usize, envp.ptr + envp_count + 1);
         var i: usize = 0;
         while (auxv[i] != 0) : (i += 2) {
             if (auxv[i] < std.os.linux_aux_raw.len) std.os.linux_aux_raw[auxv[i]] = auxv[i + 1];
@@ -68,16 +70,16 @@ fn posixCallMainAndExit() noreturn {
     std.os.posix.exit(callMainWithArgs(argc, argv, envp));
 }
 
-fn callMainWithArgs(argc: usize, argv: **u8, envp: []*u8) u8 {
+fn callMainWithArgs(argc: usize, argv: [*][*]u8, envp: [][*]u8) u8 {
     std.os.ArgIteratorPosix.raw = argv[0..argc];
     std.os.posix_environ_raw = envp;
     return callMain();
 }
 
-extern fn main(c_argc: i32, c_argv: **u8, c_envp: *?*u8) i32 {
+extern fn main(c_argc: i32, c_argv: [*][*]u8, c_envp: [*]?[*]u8) i32 {
     var env_count: usize = 0;
     while (c_envp[env_count] != null) : (env_count += 1) {}
-    const envp = @ptrCast(**u8, c_envp)[0..env_count];
+    const envp = @ptrCast([*][*]u8, c_envp)[0..env_count];
     return callMainWithArgs(usize(c_argc), c_argv, envp);
 }
 
std/special/builtin.zig
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ pub fn panic(msg: []const u8, error_return_trace: ?*builtin.StackTrace) noreturn
     }
 }
 
-export fn memset(dest: ?*u8, c: u8, n: usize) ?*u8 {
+export fn memset(dest: ?[*]u8, c: u8, n: usize) ?[*]u8 {
     @setRuntimeSafety(false);
 
     var index: usize = 0;
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export fn memset(dest: ?*u8, c: u8, n: usize) ?*u8 {
     return dest;
 }
 
-export fn memcpy(noalias dest: ?*u8, noalias src: ?*const u8, n: usize) ?*u8 {
+export fn memcpy(noalias dest: ?[*]u8, noalias src: ?[*]const u8, n: usize) ?[*]u8 {
     @setRuntimeSafety(false);
 
     var index: usize = 0;
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ export fn memcpy(noalias dest: ?*u8, noalias src: ?*const u8, n: usize) ?*u8 {
     return dest;
 }
 
-export fn memmove(dest: ?*u8, src: ?*const u8, n: usize) ?*u8 {
+export fn memmove(dest: ?[*]u8, src: ?[*]const u8, n: usize) ?[*]u8 {
     @setRuntimeSafety(false);
 
     if (@ptrToInt(dest) < @ptrToInt(src)) {
std/buffer.zig
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ pub const Buffer = struct {
     }
 
     /// For passing to C functions.
-    pub fn ptr(self: *const Buffer) *u8 {
+    pub fn ptr(self: *const Buffer) [*]u8 {
         return self.list.items.ptr;
     }
 };
std/cstr.zig
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ pub fn addNullByte(allocator: *mem.Allocator, slice: []const u8) ![]u8 {
 pub const NullTerminated2DArray = struct {
     allocator: *mem.Allocator,
     byte_count: usize,
-    ptr: ?*?*u8,
+    ptr: ?[*]?[*]u8,
 
     /// Takes N lists of strings, concatenates the lists together, and adds a null terminator
     /// Caller must deinit result
@@ -79,12 +79,12 @@ pub const NullTerminated2DArray = struct {
         errdefer allocator.free(buf);
 
         var write_index = index_size;
-        const index_buf = ([]?*u8)(buf);
+        const index_buf = ([]?[*]u8)(buf);
 
         var i: usize = 0;
         for (slices) |slice| {
             for (slice) |inner| {
-                index_buf[i] = &buf[write_index];
+                index_buf[i] = buf.ptr + write_index;
                 i += 1;
                 mem.copy(u8, buf[write_index..], inner);
                 write_index += inner.len;
@@ -97,12 +97,12 @@ pub const NullTerminated2DArray = struct {
         return NullTerminated2DArray{
             .allocator = allocator,
             .byte_count = byte_count,
-            .ptr = @ptrCast(?*?*u8, buf.ptr),
+            .ptr = @ptrCast(?[*]?[*]u8, buf.ptr),
         };
     }
 
     pub fn deinit(self: *NullTerminated2DArray) void {
-        const buf = @ptrCast(*u8, self.ptr);
+        const buf = @ptrCast([*]u8, self.ptr);
         self.allocator.free(buf[0..self.byte_count]);
     }
 };
std/heap.zig
@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@ var c_allocator_state = Allocator{
 
 fn cAlloc(self: *Allocator, n: usize, alignment: u29) ![]u8 {
     assert(alignment <= @alignOf(c_longdouble));
-    return if (c.malloc(n)) |buf| @ptrCast(*u8, buf)[0..n] else error.OutOfMemory;
+    return if (c.malloc(n)) |buf| @ptrCast([*]u8, buf)[0..n] else error.OutOfMemory;
 }
 
 fn cRealloc(self: *Allocator, old_mem: []u8, new_size: usize, alignment: u29) ![]u8 {
-    const old_ptr = @ptrCast(*c_void, old_mem.ptr);
+    const old_ptr = @ptrCast([*]c_void, old_mem.ptr);
     if (c.realloc(old_ptr, new_size)) |buf| {
         return @ptrCast(*u8, buf)[0..new_size];
     } else if (new_size <= old_mem.len) {
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ fn cRealloc(self: *Allocator, old_mem: []u8, new_size: usize, alignment: u29) ![
 }
 
 fn cFree(self: *Allocator, old_mem: []u8) void {
-    const old_ptr = @ptrCast(*c_void, old_mem.ptr);
+    const old_ptr = @ptrCast([*]c_void, old_mem.ptr);
     c.free(old_ptr);
 }
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ pub const DirectAllocator = struct {
                 const addr = p.mmap(null, alloc_size, p.PROT_READ | p.PROT_WRITE, p.MAP_PRIVATE | p.MAP_ANONYMOUS, -1, 0);
                 if (addr == p.MAP_FAILED) return error.OutOfMemory;
 
-                if (alloc_size == n) return @intToPtr(*u8, addr)[0..n];
+                if (alloc_size == n) return @intToPtr([*]u8, addr)[0..n];
 
                 var aligned_addr = addr & ~usize(alignment - 1);
                 aligned_addr += alignment;
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ pub const DirectAllocator = struct {
                 //It is impossible that there is an unoccupied page at the top of our
                 //  mmap.
 
-                return @intToPtr(*u8, aligned_addr)[0..n];
+                return @intToPtr([*]u8, aligned_addr)[0..n];
             },
             Os.windows => {
                 const amt = n + alignment + @sizeOf(usize);
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ pub const DirectAllocator = struct {
                 const adjusted_addr = root_addr + march_forward_bytes;
                 const record_addr = adjusted_addr + n;
                 @intToPtr(*align(1) usize, record_addr).* = root_addr;
-                return @intToPtr(*u8, adjusted_addr)[0..n];
+                return @intToPtr([*]u8, adjusted_addr)[0..n];
             },
             else => @compileError("Unsupported OS"),
         }
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ pub const DirectAllocator = struct {
                 const old_adjusted_addr = @ptrToInt(old_mem.ptr);
                 const old_record_addr = old_adjusted_addr + old_mem.len;
                 const root_addr = @intToPtr(*align(1) usize, old_record_addr).*;
-                const old_ptr = @intToPtr(os.windows.LPVOID, root_addr);
+                const old_ptr = @intToPtr([*]c_void, root_addr);
                 const amt = new_size + alignment + @sizeOf(usize);
                 const new_ptr = os.windows.HeapReAlloc(??self.heap_handle, 0, old_ptr, amt) ?? blk: {
                     if (new_size > old_mem.len) return error.OutOfMemory;
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ pub const DirectAllocator = struct {
                 assert(new_adjusted_addr % alignment == 0);
                 const new_record_addr = new_adjusted_addr + new_size;
                 @intToPtr(*align(1) usize, new_record_addr).* = new_root_addr;
-                return @intToPtr(*u8, new_adjusted_addr)[0..new_size];
+                return @intToPtr([*]u8, new_adjusted_addr)[0..new_size];
             },
             else => @compileError("Unsupported OS"),
         }
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ pub const DirectAllocator = struct {
             Os.windows => {
                 const record_addr = @ptrToInt(bytes.ptr) + bytes.len;
                 const root_addr = @intToPtr(*align(1) usize, record_addr).*;
-                const ptr = @intToPtr(os.windows.LPVOID, root_addr);
+                const ptr = @intToPtr([*]c_void, root_addr);
                 _ = os.windows.HeapFree(??self.heap_handle, 0, ptr);
             },
             else => @compileError("Unsupported OS"),
std/segmented_list.zig
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ pub fn SegmentedList(comptime T: type, comptime prealloc_item_count: usize) type
         const ShelfIndex = std.math.Log2Int(usize);
 
         prealloc_segment: [prealloc_item_count]T,
-        dynamic_segments: []*T,
+        dynamic_segments: [][*]T,
         allocator: *Allocator,
         len: usize,
 
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ pub fn SegmentedList(comptime T: type, comptime prealloc_item_count: usize) type
                 .allocator = allocator,
                 .len = 0,
                 .prealloc_segment = undefined,
-                .dynamic_segments = []*T{},
+                .dynamic_segments = [][*]T{},
             };
         }
 
@@ -160,11 +160,11 @@ pub fn SegmentedList(comptime T: type, comptime prealloc_item_count: usize) type
             const new_cap_shelf_count = shelfCount(new_capacity);
             const old_shelf_count = ShelfIndex(self.dynamic_segments.len);
             if (new_cap_shelf_count > old_shelf_count) {
-                self.dynamic_segments = try self.allocator.realloc(*T, self.dynamic_segments, new_cap_shelf_count);
+                self.dynamic_segments = try self.allocator.realloc([*]T, self.dynamic_segments, new_cap_shelf_count);
                 var i = old_shelf_count;
                 errdefer {
                     self.freeShelves(i, old_shelf_count);
-                    self.dynamic_segments = self.allocator.shrink(*T, self.dynamic_segments, old_shelf_count);
+                    self.dynamic_segments = self.allocator.shrink([*]T, self.dynamic_segments, old_shelf_count);
                 }
                 while (i < new_cap_shelf_count) : (i += 1) {
                     self.dynamic_segments[i] = (try self.allocator.alloc(T, shelfSize(i))).ptr;
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ pub fn SegmentedList(comptime T: type, comptime prealloc_item_count: usize) type
                 const len = ShelfIndex(self.dynamic_segments.len);
                 self.freeShelves(len, 0);
                 self.allocator.free(self.dynamic_segments);
-                self.dynamic_segments = []*T{};
+                self.dynamic_segments = [][*]T{};
                 return;
             }
 
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ pub fn SegmentedList(comptime T: type, comptime prealloc_item_count: usize) type
             }
 
             self.freeShelves(old_shelf_count, new_cap_shelf_count);
-            self.dynamic_segments = self.allocator.shrink(*T, self.dynamic_segments, new_cap_shelf_count);
+            self.dynamic_segments = self.allocator.shrink([*]T, self.dynamic_segments, new_cap_shelf_count);
         }
 
         pub fn uncheckedAt(self: *Self, index: usize) *T {
test/cases/align.zig
@@ -167,54 +167,41 @@ test "@ptrCast preserves alignment of bigger source" {
     assert(@typeOf(ptr) == *align(16) u8);
 }
 
-test "compile-time known array index has best alignment possible" {
+test "runtime known array index has best alignment possible" {
     // take full advantage of over-alignment
-    var array align(4) = []u8{
-        1,
-        2,
-        3,
-        4,
-    };
+    var array align(4) = []u8{ 1, 2, 3, 4 };
     assert(@typeOf(&array[0]) == *align(4) u8);
     assert(@typeOf(&array[1]) == *u8);
     assert(@typeOf(&array[2]) == *align(2) u8);
     assert(@typeOf(&array[3]) == *u8);
 
     // because align is too small but we still figure out to use 2
-    var bigger align(2) = []u64{
-        1,
-        2,
-        3,
-        4,
-    };
+    var bigger align(2) = []u64{ 1, 2, 3, 4 };
     assert(@typeOf(&bigger[0]) == *align(2) u64);
     assert(@typeOf(&bigger[1]) == *align(2) u64);
     assert(@typeOf(&bigger[2]) == *align(2) u64);
     assert(@typeOf(&bigger[3]) == *align(2) u64);
 
     // because pointer is align 2 and u32 align % 2 == 0 we can assume align 2
-    var smaller align(2) = []u32{
-        1,
-        2,
-        3,
-        4,
-    };
-    testIndex(&smaller[0], 0, *align(2) u32);
-    testIndex(&smaller[0], 1, *align(2) u32);
-    testIndex(&smaller[0], 2, *align(2) u32);
-    testIndex(&smaller[0], 3, *align(2) u32);
+    var smaller align(2) = []u32{ 1, 2, 3, 4 };
+    comptime assert(@typeOf(smaller[0..]) == []align(2) u32);
+    comptime assert(@typeOf(smaller[0..].ptr) == [*]align(2) u32);
+    testIndex(smaller[0..].ptr, 0, *align(2) u32);
+    testIndex(smaller[0..].ptr, 1, *align(2) u32);
+    testIndex(smaller[0..].ptr, 2, *align(2) u32);
+    testIndex(smaller[0..].ptr, 3, *align(2) u32);
 
     // has to use ABI alignment because index known at runtime only
-    testIndex2(&array[0], 0, *u8);
-    testIndex2(&array[0], 1, *u8);
-    testIndex2(&array[0], 2, *u8);
-    testIndex2(&array[0], 3, *u8);
+    testIndex2(array[0..].ptr, 0, *u8);
+    testIndex2(array[0..].ptr, 1, *u8);
+    testIndex2(array[0..].ptr, 2, *u8);
+    testIndex2(array[0..].ptr, 3, *u8);
 }
-fn testIndex(smaller: *align(2) u32, index: usize, comptime T: type) void {
-    assert(@typeOf(&smaller[index]) == T);
+fn testIndex(smaller: [*]align(2) u32, index: usize, comptime T: type) void {
+    comptime assert(@typeOf(&smaller[index]) == T);
 }
-fn testIndex2(ptr: *align(4) u8, index: usize, comptime T: type) void {
-    assert(@typeOf(&ptr[index]) == T);
+fn testIndex2(ptr: [*]align(4) u8, index: usize, comptime T: type) void {
+    comptime assert(@typeOf(&ptr[index]) == T);
 }
 
 test "alignstack" {
test/cases/const_slice_child.zig
@@ -1,15 +1,16 @@
 const debug = @import("std").debug;
 const assert = debug.assert;
 
-var argv: *const *const u8 = undefined;
+var argv: [*]const [*]const u8 = undefined;
 
 test "const slice child" {
-    const strs = ([]*const u8){
+    const strs = ([][*]const u8){
         c"one",
         c"two",
         c"three",
     };
-    argv = &strs[0];
+    // TODO this should implicitly cast
+    argv = @ptrCast([*]const [*]const u8, &strs);
     bar(strs.len);
 }
 
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ fn bar(argc: usize) void {
     foo(args);
 }
 
-fn strlen(ptr: *const u8) usize {
+fn strlen(ptr: [*]const u8) usize {
     var count: usize = 0;
     while (ptr[count] != 0) : (count += 1) {}
     return count;
test/cases/for.zig
@@ -35,34 +35,12 @@ fn mangleString(s: []u8) void {
 }
 
 test "basic for loop" {
-    const expected_result = []u8{
-        9,
-        8,
-        7,
-        6,
-        0,
-        1,
-        2,
-        3,
-        9,
-        8,
-        7,
-        6,
-        0,
-        1,
-        2,
-        3,
-    };
+    const expected_result = []u8{ 9, 8, 7, 6, 0, 1, 2, 3, 9, 8, 7, 6, 0, 1, 2, 3 };
 
     var buffer: [expected_result.len]u8 = undefined;
     var buf_index: usize = 0;
 
-    const array = []u8{
-        9,
-        8,
-        7,
-        6,
-    };
+    const array = []u8{ 9, 8, 7, 6 };
     for (array) |item| {
         buffer[buf_index] = item;
         buf_index += 1;
test/cases/misc.zig
@@ -171,8 +171,8 @@ test "memcpy and memset intrinsics" {
     var foo: [20]u8 = undefined;
     var bar: [20]u8 = undefined;
 
-    @memset(&foo[0], 'A', foo.len);
-    @memcpy(&bar[0], &foo[0], bar.len);
+    @memset(foo[0..].ptr, 'A', foo.len);
+    @memcpy(bar[0..].ptr, foo[0..].ptr, bar.len);
 
     if (bar[11] != 'A') unreachable;
 }
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ test "slicing" {
     if (slice.len != 5) unreachable;
 
     const ptr = &slice[0];
-    if (ptr[0] != 1234) unreachable;
+    if (ptr.* != 1234) unreachable;
 
     var slice_rest = array[10..];
     if (slice_rest.len != 10) unreachable;
@@ -464,8 +464,9 @@ test "array 2D const double ptr" {
 }
 
 fn testArray2DConstDoublePtr(ptr: *const f32) void {
-    assert(ptr[0] == 1.0);
-    assert(ptr[1] == 2.0);
+    const ptr2 = @ptrCast([*]const f32, ptr);
+    assert(ptr2[0] == 1.0);
+    assert(ptr2[1] == 2.0);
 }
 
 const Tid = builtin.TypeId;
test/cases/pointers.zig
@@ -12,3 +12,33 @@ fn testDerefPtr() void {
     y.* += 1;
     assert(x == 1235);
 }
+
+test "pointer arithmetic" {
+    var ptr = c"abcd";
+
+    assert(ptr[0] == 'a');
+    ptr += 1;
+    assert(ptr[0] == 'b');
+    ptr += 1;
+    assert(ptr[0] == 'c');
+    ptr += 1;
+    assert(ptr[0] == 'd');
+    ptr += 1;
+    assert(ptr[0] == 0);
+    ptr -= 1;
+    assert(ptr[0] == 'd');
+    ptr -= 1;
+    assert(ptr[0] == 'c');
+    ptr -= 1;
+    assert(ptr[0] == 'b');
+    ptr -= 1;
+    assert(ptr[0] == 'a');
+}
+
+test "double pointer parsing" {
+    comptime assert(PtrOf(PtrOf(i32)) == **i32);
+}
+
+fn PtrOf(comptime T: type) type {
+    return *T;
+}
test/cases/struct.zig
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ const VoidStructFieldsFoo = struct {
 
 test "structs" {
     var foo: StructFoo = undefined;
-    @memset(@ptrCast(*u8, &foo), 0, @sizeOf(StructFoo));
+    @memset(@ptrCast([*]u8, &foo), 0, @sizeOf(StructFoo));
     foo.a += 1;
     foo.b = foo.a == 1;
     testFoo(foo);
@@ -396,8 +396,8 @@ const Bitfields = packed struct {
 test "native bit field understands endianness" {
     var all: u64 = 0x7765443322221111;
     var bytes: [8]u8 = undefined;
-    @memcpy(&bytes[0], @ptrCast(*u8, &all), 8);
-    var bitfields = @ptrCast(*Bitfields, &bytes[0]).*;
+    @memcpy(bytes[0..].ptr, @ptrCast([*]u8, &all), 8);
+    var bitfields = @ptrCast(*Bitfields, bytes[0..].ptr).*;
 
     assert(bitfields.f1 == 0x1111);
     assert(bitfields.f2 == 0x2222);
test/compare_output.zig
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ const tests = @import("tests.zig");
 pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.CompareOutputContext) void {
     cases.addC("hello world with libc",
         \\const c = @cImport(@cInclude("stdio.h"));
-        \\export fn main(argc: c_int, argv: **u8) c_int {
+        \\export fn main(argc: c_int, argv: [*][*]u8) c_int {
         \\    _ = c.puts(c"Hello, world!");
         \\    return 0;
         \\}
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.CompareOutputContext) void {
         \\    @cInclude("stdio.h");
         \\});
         \\
-        \\export fn main(argc: c_int, argv: **u8) c_int {
+        \\export fn main(argc: c_int, argv: [*][*]u8) c_int {
         \\    if (is_windows) {
         \\        // we want actual \n, not \r\n
         \\        _ = c._setmode(1, c._O_BINARY);
@@ -284,9 +284,9 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.CompareOutputContext) void {
     cases.addC("expose function pointer to C land",
         \\const c = @cImport(@cInclude("stdlib.h"));
         \\
-        \\export fn compare_fn(a: ?*const c_void, b: ?*const c_void) c_int {
-        \\    const a_int = @ptrCast(*align(1) const i32, a ?? unreachable);
-        \\    const b_int = @ptrCast(*align(1) const i32, b ?? unreachable);
+        \\export fn compare_fn(a: ?[*]const c_void, b: ?[*]const c_void) c_int {
+        \\    const a_int = @ptrCast(*const i32, @alignCast(@alignOf(i32), a));
+        \\    const b_int = @ptrCast(*const i32, @alignCast(@alignOf(i32), b));
         \\    if (a_int.* < b_int.*) {
         \\        return -1;
         \\    } else if (a_int.* > b_int.*) {
@@ -297,9 +297,9 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.CompareOutputContext) void {
         \\}
         \\
         \\export fn main() c_int {
-        \\    var array = []u32 { 1, 7, 3, 2, 0, 9, 4, 8, 6, 5 };
+        \\    var array = []u32{ 1, 7, 3, 2, 0, 9, 4, 8, 6, 5 };
         \\
-        \\    c.qsort(@ptrCast(*c_void, &array[0]), c_ulong(array.len), @sizeOf(i32), compare_fn);
+        \\    c.qsort(@ptrCast(?[*]c_void, array[0..].ptr), c_ulong(array.len), @sizeOf(i32), compare_fn);
         \\
         \\    for (array) |item, i| {
         \\        if (item != i) {
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.CompareOutputContext) void {
         \\    @cInclude("stdio.h");
         \\});
         \\
-        \\export fn main(argc: c_int, argv: **u8) c_int {
+        \\export fn main(argc: c_int, argv: [*][*]u8) c_int {
         \\    if (is_windows) {
         \\        // we want actual \n, not \r\n
         \\        _ = c._setmode(1, c._O_BINARY);
test/compile_errors.zig
@@ -1,6 +1,15 @@
 const tests = @import("tests.zig");
 
 pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.CompileErrorContext) void {
+    cases.add(
+        "indexing single-item pointer",
+        \\export fn entry(ptr: *i32) i32 {
+        \\    return ptr[1];
+        \\}
+    ,
+        ".tmp_source.zig:2:15: error: indexing not allowed on pointer to single item",
+    );
+
     cases.add(
         "invalid deref on switch target",
         \\const NextError = error{NextError};
@@ -1002,7 +1011,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.CompileErrorContext) void {
         \\    return a;
         \\}
     ,
-        ".tmp_source.zig:3:12: error: expected type 'i32', found '*const u8'",
+        ".tmp_source.zig:3:12: error: expected type 'i32', found '[*]const u8'",
     );
 
     cases.add(
@@ -2442,13 +2451,13 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.CompileErrorContext) void {
         \\var s_buffer: [10]u8 = undefined;
         \\pub fn pass(in: []u8) []u8 {
         \\    var out = &s_buffer;
-        \\    out[0].* = in[0];
+        \\    out.*.* = in[0];
         \\    return out.*[0..1];
         \\}
         \\
         \\export fn entry() usize { return @sizeOf(@typeOf(pass)); }
     ,
-        ".tmp_source.zig:4:11: error: attempt to dereference non pointer type '[10]u8'",
+        ".tmp_source.zig:4:10: error: attempt to dereference non pointer type '[10]u8'",
     );
 
     cases.add(
test/translate_c.zig
@@ -14,11 +14,11 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
         \\};
     ,
         \\pub const struct_Foo = extern struct {
-        \\    a: ?*Foo,
+        \\    a: ?[*]Foo,
         \\};
         \\pub const Foo = struct_Foo;
         \\pub const struct_Bar = extern struct {
-        \\    a: ?*Foo,
+        \\    a: ?[*]Foo,
         \\};
     );
 
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
     cases.add("restrict -> noalias",
         \\void foo(void *restrict bar, void *restrict);
     ,
-        \\pub extern fn foo(noalias bar: ?*c_void, noalias arg1: ?*c_void) void;
+        \\pub extern fn foo(noalias bar: ?[*]c_void, noalias arg1: ?[*]c_void) void;
     );
 
     cases.add("simple struct",
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
     ,
         \\const struct_Foo = extern struct {
         \\    x: c_int,
-        \\    y: ?*u8,
+        \\    y: ?[*]u8,
         \\};
     ,
         \\pub const Foo = struct_Foo;
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
     ,
         \\pub const BarB = enum_Bar.B;
     ,
-        \\pub extern fn func(a: ?*struct_Foo, b: ?*(?*enum_Bar)) void;
+        \\pub extern fn func(a: ?[*]struct_Foo, b: ?[*](?[*]enum_Bar)) void;
     ,
         \\pub const Foo = struct_Foo;
     ,
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
     cases.add("constant size array",
         \\void func(int array[20]);
     ,
-        \\pub extern fn func(array: ?*c_int) void;
+        \\pub extern fn func(array: ?[*]c_int) void;
     );
 
     cases.add("self referential struct with function pointer",
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
         \\};
     ,
         \\pub const struct_Foo = extern struct {
-        \\    derp: ?extern fn(?*struct_Foo) void,
+        \\    derp: ?extern fn(?[*]struct_Foo) void,
         \\};
     ,
         \\pub const Foo = struct_Foo;
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
     ,
         \\pub const struct_Foo = @OpaqueType();
     ,
-        \\pub extern fn some_func(foo: ?*struct_Foo, x: c_int) ?*struct_Foo;
+        \\pub extern fn some_func(foo: ?[*]struct_Foo, x: c_int) ?[*]struct_Foo;
     ,
         \\pub const Foo = struct_Foo;
     );
@@ -219,11 +219,11 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
         \\};
     ,
         \\pub const struct_Bar = extern struct {
-        \\    next: ?*struct_Foo,
+        \\    next: ?[*]struct_Foo,
         \\};
     ,
         \\pub const struct_Foo = extern struct {
-        \\    next: ?*struct_Bar,
+        \\    next: ?[*]struct_Bar,
         \\};
     );
 
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
     ,
         \\pub const Foo = c_void;
     ,
-        \\pub extern fn fun(a: ?*Foo) Foo;
+        \\pub extern fn fun(a: ?[*]Foo) Foo;
     );
 
     cases.add("generate inline func for #define global extern fn",
@@ -505,7 +505,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
         \\    return 6;
         \\}
     ,
-        \\pub export fn and_or_none_bool(a: c_int, b: f32, c: ?*c_void) c_int {
+        \\pub export fn and_or_none_bool(a: c_int, b: f32, c: ?[*]c_void) c_int {
         \\    if ((a != 0) and (b != 0)) return 0;
         \\    if ((b != 0) and (c != null)) return 1;
         \\    if ((a != 0) and (c != null)) return 2;
@@ -607,7 +607,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
         \\pub const struct_Foo = extern struct {
         \\    field: c_int,
         \\};
-        \\pub export fn read_field(foo: ?*struct_Foo) c_int {
+        \\pub export fn read_field(foo: ?[*]struct_Foo) c_int {
         \\    return (??foo).field;
         \\}
     );
@@ -653,8 +653,8 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
         \\    return x;
         \\}
     ,
-        \\pub export fn foo(x: ?*c_ushort) ?*c_void {
-        \\    return @ptrCast(?*c_void, x);
+        \\pub export fn foo(x: ?[*]c_ushort) ?[*]c_void {
+        \\    return @ptrCast(?[*]c_void, x);
         \\}
     );
 
@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
         \\    return 0;
         \\}
     ,
-        \\pub export fn foo() ?*c_int {
+        \\pub export fn foo() ?[*]c_int {
         \\    return null;
         \\}
     );
@@ -983,7 +983,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
         \\    *x = 1;
         \\}
     ,
-        \\pub export fn foo(x: ?*c_int) void {
+        \\pub export fn foo(x: ?[*]c_int) void {
         \\    (??x).* = 1;
         \\}
     );
@@ -1011,7 +1011,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
     ,
         \\pub fn foo() c_int {
         \\    var x: c_int = 1234;
-        \\    var ptr: ?*c_int = &x;
+        \\    var ptr: ?[*]c_int = &x;
         \\    return (??ptr).*;
         \\}
     );
@@ -1021,7 +1021,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
         \\    return "bar";
         \\}
     ,
-        \\pub fn foo() ?*const u8 {
+        \\pub fn foo() ?[*]const u8 {
         \\    return c"bar";
         \\}
     );
@@ -1150,8 +1150,8 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
         \\    return (float *)a;
         \\}
     ,
-        \\fn ptrcast(a: ?*c_int) ?*f32 {
-        \\    return @ptrCast(?*f32, a);
+        \\fn ptrcast(a: ?[*]c_int) ?[*]f32 {
+        \\    return @ptrCast(?[*]f32, a);
         \\}
     );
 
@@ -1173,7 +1173,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
         \\    return !c;
         \\}
     ,
-        \\pub fn foo(a: c_int, b: f32, c: ?*c_void) c_int {
+        \\pub fn foo(a: c_int, b: f32, c: ?[*]c_void) c_int {
         \\    return !(a == 0);
         \\    return !(a != 0);
         \\    return !(b != 0);
@@ -1194,7 +1194,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
     cases.add("const ptr initializer",
         \\static const char *v0 = "0.0.0";
     ,
-        \\pub var v0: ?*const u8 = c"0.0.0";
+        \\pub var v0: ?[*]const u8 = c"0.0.0";
     );
 
     cases.add("static incomplete array inside function",
@@ -1203,14 +1203,14 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
         \\}
     ,
         \\pub fn foo() void {
-        \\    const v2: *const u8 = c"2.2.2";
+        \\    const v2: [*]const u8 = c"2.2.2";
         \\}
     );
 
     cases.add("macro pointer cast",
         \\#define NRF_GPIO ((NRF_GPIO_Type *) NRF_GPIO_BASE)
     ,
-        \\pub const NRF_GPIO = if (@typeId(@typeOf(NRF_GPIO_BASE)) == @import("builtin").TypeId.Pointer) @ptrCast(*NRF_GPIO_Type, NRF_GPIO_BASE) else if (@typeId(@typeOf(NRF_GPIO_BASE)) == @import("builtin").TypeId.Int) @intToPtr(*NRF_GPIO_Type, NRF_GPIO_BASE) else (*NRF_GPIO_Type)(NRF_GPIO_BASE);
+        \\pub const NRF_GPIO = if (@typeId(@typeOf(NRF_GPIO_BASE)) == @import("builtin").TypeId.Pointer) @ptrCast([*]NRF_GPIO_Type, NRF_GPIO_BASE) else if (@typeId(@typeOf(NRF_GPIO_BASE)) == @import("builtin").TypeId.Int) @intToPtr([*]NRF_GPIO_Type, NRF_GPIO_BASE) else ([*]NRF_GPIO_Type)(NRF_GPIO_BASE);
     );
 
     cases.add("if on none bool",
@@ -1231,7 +1231,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
         \\    B,
         \\    C,
         \\};
-        \\pub fn if_none_bool(a: c_int, b: f32, c: ?*c_void, d: enum_SomeEnum) c_int {
+        \\pub fn if_none_bool(a: c_int, b: f32, c: ?[*]c_void, d: enum_SomeEnum) c_int {
         \\    if (a != 0) return 0;
         \\    if (b != 0) return 1;
         \\    if (c != null) return 2;
@@ -1248,7 +1248,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
         \\    return 3;
         \\}
     ,
-        \\pub fn while_none_bool(a: c_int, b: f32, c: ?*c_void) c_int {
+        \\pub fn while_none_bool(a: c_int, b: f32, c: ?[*]c_void) c_int {
         \\    while (a != 0) return 0;
         \\    while (b != 0) return 1;
         \\    while (c != null) return 2;
@@ -1264,7 +1264,7 @@ pub fn addCases(cases: *tests.TranslateCContext) void {
         \\    return 3;
         \\}
     ,
-        \\pub fn for_none_bool(a: c_int, b: f32, c: ?*c_void) c_int {
+        \\pub fn for_none_bool(a: c_int, b: f32, c: ?[*]c_void) c_int {
         \\    while (a != 0) return 0;
         \\    while (b != 0) return 1;
         \\    while (c != null) return 2;