diff --git a/moo/kernel/test-001.moo b/moo/kernel/test-001.moo
index c18cd98..981011f 100644
--- a/moo/kernel/test-001.moo
+++ b/moo/kernel/test-001.moo
@@ -29,14 +29,14 @@ extend SmallInteger
 
 class TestObject(Object)
 {
-	dcl(#class) Q R.
-	dcl(#classinst) a1 a2.
+	var(#class) Q, R.
+	var(#classinst) a1, a2.
 }
 
 
 class MyObject(TestObject)
 {
-	#declare(#classinst) t1 t2.
+	var(#classinst) t1, t2.
 	method(#class) xxxx
 	{
 		| g1 g2 |
diff --git a/moo/kernel/test-002.moo b/moo/kernel/test-002.moo
index 8ce6585..4376134 100644
--- a/moo/kernel/test-002.moo
+++ b/moo/kernel/test-002.moo
@@ -29,14 +29,14 @@ extend SmallInteger
 
 class TestObject(Object)
 {
-	dcl(#class) Q R.
-	dcl(#classinst) a1 a2.
+	var(#class) Q, R.
+	var(#classinst) a1, a2.
 }
 
 
 class MyObject(TestObject)
 {
-	#declare(#classinst) t1 t2.
+	var(#classinst) t1, t2.
 	method(#class) xxxx
 	{
 		| g1 g2 |
diff --git a/moo/kernel/test-003.moo b/moo/kernel/test-003.moo
index ab0ef03..3e1e93c 100644
--- a/moo/kernel/test-003.moo
+++ b/moo/kernel/test-003.moo
@@ -29,14 +29,15 @@ extend SmallInteger
 
 class TestObject(Object)
 {
-	dcl(#class) Q R.
-	dcl(#classinst) a1 a2.
+	var(#class) Q, R.
+	var(#classinst) a1, a2.
 }
 
 
 class MyObject(TestObject)
 {
-	#declare(#classinst) t1 t2.
+	var(#classinst) t1, t2.
+
 	method(#class) xxxx
 	{
 		| g1 g2 |
diff --git a/moo/kernel/test-004.moo b/moo/kernel/test-004.moo
index 4a8a616..a91947b 100644
--- a/moo/kernel/test-004.moo
+++ b/moo/kernel/test-004.moo
@@ -29,14 +29,15 @@ extend SmallInteger
 
 class TestObject(Object)
 {
-	dcl(#class) Q R.
-	dcl(#classinst) a1 a2.
+	var(#class) Q, R.
+	var(#classinst) a1, a2.
 }
 
 
 class MyObject(TestObject)
 {
-	#declare(#classinst) t1 t2.
+	var(#classinst) t1, t2.
+
 	method(#class) xxxx
 	{
 		| g1 g2 |
diff --git a/moo/kernel/test-005.moo b/moo/kernel/test-005.moo
index b612777..4ac6b64 100644
--- a/moo/kernel/test-005.moo
+++ b/moo/kernel/test-005.moo
@@ -29,14 +29,14 @@ extend SmallInteger
 
 class TestObject(Object)
 {
-	dcl(#class) Q R.
-	dcl(#classinst) t1 t2.
+	var(#class) Q, R.
+	var(#classinst) t1, t2.
 }
 
 
 class MyObject(TestObject)
 {
-	dcl(#class) C B A.
+	var(#class) C, B, A.
 
 	method getTrue
 	{
@@ -116,11 +116,11 @@ class MyObject(TestObject)
 
 		#[ 1 2 3] dump.
 		#[ 4 5 6] dump.
-	#(abc:def: 2 'string is good' 3 4 (5 6) (7 (8 9)) 10) dump.
-		#([] #[]) dump.
+	#(#abc:def: 2 'string is good' 3 4 #(5 6) #(7 #(8 9)) 10) dump.
+		#(#[] #[]) dump.
 
 
-	a := #(abc:def: -2 'string is good' 3 #[2 3 4] 4 (5 6) (7 (8 [4 56] 'hello' 9)) 10 -93952 self true false nil thisContext super).
+	a := #(#abc:def: -2 'string is good' 3 #[2 3 4] 4 #(5 6) #(7 #(8 #[4 56] 'hello' 9)) 10 -93952 #self true false nil #thisContext #super).
 	a at: 3 put: 'hello world'; dump.
 
 
@@ -224,10 +224,10 @@ class MyObject(TestObject)
 		[self getTen] value dump.
 	}
 
-	method(#class) abc
+	(*method(#class) abc
 	{
 		<primitive: #snd_open>
-	}
+	}*)
 
 	method(#class) a: a b: b c: c
 	{
@@ -441,16 +441,16 @@ PROCESS TESTING
 '====================' dump.
 
 [ :a :b | a dump. b dump. a := 20.  b := [ a + 20 ]. b value.] value dump.  ## not sufficient arguments. it must fail
-"[ :a :b | a dump. b dump. a := 20.  b := [ a + 20 ]. b value.] on: Exception do: [:ex | 'Exception' dump]."
+##[ :a :b | a dump. b dump. a := 20.  b := [ a + 20 ]. b value.] on: Exception do: [:ex | 'Exception' dump].
 
-"
+(*
 		FFI isNil dump.
 		FFI notNil dump.
 		nil isNil dump.
 		nil notNil dump.
 		nil class dump.
 		nil class class class dump.
-"
+*)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/moo/kernel/test-006.moo b/moo/kernel/test-006.moo
index 9897023..fd1e67c 100644
--- a/moo/kernel/test-006.moo
+++ b/moo/kernel/test-006.moo
@@ -29,14 +29,14 @@ extend SmallInteger
 
 class TestObject(Object)
 {
-	dcl(#class) Q R.
-	dcl(#classinst) t1 t2.
+	var(#class) Q, R.
+	var(#classinst) t1, t2.
 }
 
 
 class MyObject(TestObject)
 {
-	dcl(#class) C B A.
+	var(#class) C, B, A.
 
 	method getTrue
 	{
diff --git a/moo/kernel/test-007.moo b/moo/kernel/test-007.moo
index 32ecf5f..89bf8ae 100644
--- a/moo/kernel/test-007.moo
+++ b/moo/kernel/test-007.moo
@@ -29,14 +29,14 @@ extend SmallInteger
 
 class TestObject(Object)
 {
-	dcl(#class) Q R.
-	dcl(#classinst) t1 t2.
+	var(#class) Q, R.
+	var(#classinst) t1, t2.
 }
 
 
 class MyObject(TestObject)
 {
-	dcl(#class) C B A.
+	var(#class) C, B, A.
 
 	method getTrue
 	{
@@ -65,11 +65,11 @@ class MyObject(TestObject)
 	{
 		| p p2 |
                 'START OF MAIN' dump.
- 		##p := [ :a :b :c :d | a dump. b dump. (c + d) dump. ^10. ] newProcessWith: #(abc def 10 20).
- 		p := [ :a :b :c :d | a dump. b dump. (c + d) dump. ] newProcessWith: #(abc def 10 20).
+ 		##p := [ :a :b :c :d | a dump. b dump. (c + d) dump. ^10. ] newProcessWith: #(#abc #def 10 20).
+ 		p := [ :a :b :c :d | a dump. b dump. (c + d) dump. ] newProcessWith: #(#abc #def 10 20).
  		p2 := [ :a :b :c :d | a dump. b dump. a dump. b dump. (c + d) dump. ^10000 ] newProcessWith: #(
-			AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
-			BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB 
+			#AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
+			#BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB 
 			1000000000000000
 			299999999999999999999999999999999999999999
 		).
diff --git a/moo/kernel/test-008.moo b/moo/kernel/test-008.moo
index 8455c9f..ab3e9f8 100644
--- a/moo/kernel/test-008.moo
+++ b/moo/kernel/test-008.moo
@@ -29,14 +29,14 @@ extend SmallInteger
 
 class TestObject(Object)
 {
-	dcl(#class) Q R.
-	dcl(#classinst) a1 a2.
+	var(#class) Q, R.
+	var(#classinst) a1, a2.
 }
 
 
 class MyObject(TestObject)
 {
-	#declare(#classinst) t1 t2 t3.
+	var(#classinst) t1, t2, t3.
 	method(#class) xxxx
 	{
 		| g1 g2 |
@@ -57,9 +57,6 @@ class MyObject(TestObject)
 		t2 := t2 value.  
 		'END OF t2 value' dump.
 		t2 dump.
-
-
-		
 	}
 
 }
diff --git a/moo/kernel/test-009.moo b/moo/kernel/test-009.moo
index 053f337..03d1e73 100644
--- a/moo/kernel/test-009.moo
+++ b/moo/kernel/test-009.moo
@@ -29,14 +29,14 @@ extend SmallInteger
 
 class TestObject(Object)
 {
-	dcl(#class) Q R.
-	dcl(#classinst) a1 a2.
+	var(#class) Q, R.
+	var(#classinst) a1, a2.
 }
 
 
 class MyObject(TestObject)
 {
-	#declare(#classinst) t1 t2.
+	var(#classinst) t1, t2.
 
 	method(#class) main2
 	{
diff --git a/moo/kernel/test-010.moo b/moo/kernel/test-010.moo
index 8987c3a..83e4280 100644
--- a/moo/kernel/test-010.moo
+++ b/moo/kernel/test-010.moo
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ extend SmallInteger
 
 class TestObject(Object)
 {
-	dcl(#class) Q R.
-	dcl(#classinst) a1 a2.
+	var(#class) Q, R.
+	var(#classinst) a1, a2.
 
 	method test999
 	{
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ class TestObject(Object)
 
 class B.TestObject(Object)
 {
-	dcl(#class) Q R.
-	dcl(#classinst) a1 a2.
+	var(#class) Q, R.
+	var(#classinst) a1, a2.
 
 	method test000
 	{
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class B.TestObject(Object)
 
 pooldic ABC 
 {
-	#KKK := 20.
+	KKK := 20.
 }
 
 
diff --git a/moo/kernel/test-011.moo b/moo/kernel/test-011.moo
index b000100..a11d0c0 100644
--- a/moo/kernel/test-011.moo
+++ b/moo/kernel/test-011.moo
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ extend SmallInteger
 
 class TestObject(Object)
 {
-	dcl(#class) Q R.
-	dcl(#classinst) a1 a2.
+	var(#class) Q, R.
+	var(#classinst) a1, a2.
 }
 
 
diff --git a/moo/kernel/test-012.moo b/moo/kernel/test-012.moo
index 8d314c3..d778798 100644
--- a/moo/kernel/test-012.moo
+++ b/moo/kernel/test-012.moo
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ extend SmallInteger
 
 class TestObject(Object)
 {
-	dcl(#class) Q R.
-	dcl(#classinst) a1 a2.
+	var(#class) Q, R.
+	var(#classinst) a1, a2.
 
 	method test999
 	{
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ class TestObject(Object)
 
 class B.TestObject(Object)
 {
-	dcl(#class) Q R.
-	dcl(#classinst) a1 a2.
+	var(#class) Q, R.
+	var(#classinst) a1, a2.
 
 	method test000
 	{
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class B.TestObject(Object)
 
 pooldic ABC 
 {
-	#KKK := 20.
+	KKK := 20.
 }
 
 
@@ -65,12 +65,12 @@ class MyObject(TestObject)
 			k := 99.
 			[
 				[
-					##[ Exception signal: 'simulated error' ] ensure: [('ensure 1 ', (k asString)) dump ].
-					[ ^ 20 ] ensure: [ ('ensure 1 ', (k asString)) dump. ].
+					##[ Exception signal: 'simulated error' ] ensure: [('ensure 1 ' & (k asString)) dump ].
+					[ ^ 20 ] ensure: [ ('ensure 1 ' & (k asString)) dump. ].
 				] ensure: ['ensure 2' dump ].
 			] ensure: ['ensure 3' dump ].
 		] on: Exception do: [:ex | 
-			('EXCETION - ' , ex messageText) dump.
+			('EXCETION - ' & ex messageText) dump.
 			## Exception signal: 'qqq'.
 		].
 		^v1
@@ -88,11 +88,11 @@ class MyObject(TestObject)
 
 		##[ Exception signal: 'simulated error' ] on: Exception do: [:ex | 'CAUGHT...' dump. Exception signal: 'jjjjjjj' ].
 		
-		"[
+		(*[
 				[ Exception signal: 'simulated error' ] ensure: ['ensure 1' dump ].
-		] on: Exception do: [:ex | ('EXCETION - ' , ex messageText) dump. Exception signal: 'qqq'. ]."
+		] on: Exception do: [:ex | ('EXCETION - ' & ex messageText) dump. Exception signal: 'qqq'. ].
 
-		"[1 xxx] ifCurtailed: ['XXXXXXXX CURTAILED XXXXXXXXX' dump. Exception signal: 'jjjj']."
+		[1 xxx] ifCurtailed: ['XXXXXXXX CURTAILED XXXXXXXXX' dump. Exception signal: 'jjjj']. *)
 
 		v1 := [ 
 			[
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ class MyObject(TestObject)
 						[ '@@@@@' dump. 
 						  Exception signal: 'simulated error'.
 						  '^^^^^^' dump. ] ensure: [
-							('ensure 11 ', (k asString)) dump. 
+							('ensure 11 ' & (k asString)) dump. 
 							Exception signal: 'qqq'.
 						].
 
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ class MyObject(TestObject)
 					'JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ' dump.
 				] ensure: ['ensure 3' dump ].
 			] on: Exception do: [:ex | 
-				('>>>> EXCETION - ' , ex messageText) dump.
+				('>>>> EXCETION - ' & ex messageText) dump.
 				ex pass.
 
 				##Exception signal: 'XXXXXXXXXXXXx'.
@@ -125,10 +125,10 @@ class MyObject(TestObject)
 			'ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ' dump.
 		]
 		on: PrimitiveFailureException do: [:ex | 
-			('PRIMITIVE FAILURE EXCETION AT OUTER - ' , ex messageText) dump. 
+			('PRIMITIVE FAILURE EXCETION AT OUTER - ' & ex messageText) dump. 
 		]
 		on: Exception do: [:ex |
-			('>>>> EXCETION AT OUTER - ' , ex messageText) dump.
+			('>>>> EXCETION AT OUTER - ' & ex messageText) dump.
 		].
 
 
diff --git a/moo/kernel/test-013.moo b/moo/kernel/test-013.moo
index 644a07b..bdcf2bb 100644
--- a/moo/kernel/test-013.moo
+++ b/moo/kernel/test-013.moo
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ extend SmallInteger
 
 class TestObject(Object)
 {
-	dcl(#class) Q R.
-	dcl(#classinst) a1 a2.
+	var(#class) Q, R.
+	var(#classinst) a1, a2.
 
 	method test999
 	{
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ class TestObject(Object)
 
 class B.TestObject(Object)
 {
-	dcl(#class) Q R.
-	dcl(#classinst) a1 a2.
+	var(#class) Q, R.
+	var(#classinst) a1, a2.
 
 	method test000
 	{
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class B.TestObject(Object)
 
 pooldic ABC 
 {
-	#KKK := 20.
+	KKK := 20.
 }
 
 
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ class MyObject(TestObject)
 		]
 		on: Exception
 		do: [:ex |
-			System logNl: ('Exception: ', ex messageText).
+			System logNl: ('Exception: ' & ex messageText).
 			ex return: 10.
 			##ex retry.
 			System logNl: '--- THIS MUST NOT BE PRINTED ---'.
diff --git a/moo/kernel/test-014.moo b/moo/kernel/test-014.moo
index ff0d49e..83e0ca0 100644
--- a/moo/kernel/test-014.moo
+++ b/moo/kernel/test-014.moo
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ extend SmallInteger
 
 class TestObject(Object)
 {
-	dcl(#class) Q R.
-	dcl(#classinst) a1 a2.
+	var(#class) Q, R.
+	var(#classinst) a1, a2.
 
 	method test999
 	{
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ class TestObject(Object)
 
 class B.TestObject(Object)
 {
-	dcl(#class) Q R.
-	dcl(#classinst) a1 a2.
+	dcl(#class) Q, R.
+	dcl(#classinst) a1, a2.
 
 	method test000
 	{
@@ -90,8 +90,9 @@ class MyConsole(Console)
 
 class MyObject(TestObject)
 {
-	dcl(#pooldic) ABC SRX.ABC.
-
+	##import(#pooldic) ABC, SRX.ABC.
+	import ABC, SRX.ABC.
+	
 	method(#class) main
 	{
 		| v1 v2 |
diff --git a/moo/lib/comp.c b/moo/lib/comp.c
index 9a92a4b..83157d9 100644
--- a/moo/lib/comp.c
+++ b/moo/lib/comp.c
@@ -945,12 +945,13 @@ static int get_ident (moo_t* moo, moo_ooci_t char_read_ahead)
 		ADD_TOKEN_CHAR(moo, char_read_ahead);
 	}
 
-	do 
+	/* while() instead of do..while() because when char_read_ahead is not EOF
+	 * c may not be a identifier character */
+	while (is_identchar(c))
 	{
 		ADD_TOKEN_CHAR (moo, c);
 		GET_CHAR_TO (moo, c);
 	} 
-	while (is_identchar(c));
 
 	if (c == '(' && is_token_word(moo, VOCA_ERROR))
 	{
@@ -3322,10 +3323,27 @@ static int compile_class_level_imports (moo_t* moo)
 			/* it falls back to the name space of the class */
 			ns_oop = moo->c->cls.ns_oop; 
 		}
-		else break;
+		else if (TOKEN_TYPE(moo) == MOO_IOTOK_COMMA || TOKEN_TYPE(moo) == MOO_IOTOK_EOF || TOKEN_TYPE(moo) == MOO_IOTOK_PERIOD)
+		{
+			/* no variable name is present */
+			set_syntax_error (moo, MOO_SYNERR_VARNAMEDUPL, TOKEN_LOC(moo), TOKEN_NAME(moo));
+			return -1;
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			break;
+		}
 
 		if (import_pool_dictionary(moo, ns_oop, &last, TOKEN_NAME(moo), TOKEN_LOC(moo)) <= -1) return -1;
 		GET_TOKEN (moo);
+
+		if (TOKEN_TYPE(moo) == MOO_IOTOK_IDENT_DOTTED || TOKEN_TYPE(moo) == MOO_IOTOK_IDENT)
+		{
+			set_syntax_error (moo, MOO_SYNERR_COMMA, TOKEN_LOC(moo), TOKEN_NAME(moo));
+			return -1;
+		}
+		else if (TOKEN_TYPE(moo) != MOO_IOTOK_COMMA) break; /* hopefully . */
+		GET_TOKEN (moo);
 	}
 	while (1);
 
diff --git a/moo/lib/exec.c b/moo/lib/exec.c
index 99aabb2..c615c1d 100644
--- a/moo/lib/exec.c
+++ b/moo/lib/exec.c
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@
 	/* the old intel c code builder doesn't support __FUNCTION__ */
 #	define __PRIMITIVE_NAME__ "<<primitive>>"
 #else
-#	define __PRIMITIVE_NAME__ (&__FUNCTION__[4])
+#	define __PRIMITIVE_NAME__ (&__FUNCTION__[0])
 #endif
 
 static void signal_io_semaphore (moo_t* moo, moo_ooi_t mask, void* ctx);