diff --git a/ase/stx/bootstrp.c b/ase/stx/bootstrp.c
index 2d26e61e..4bc5ed53 100644
--- a/ase/stx/bootstrp.c
+++ b/ase/stx/bootstrp.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: bootstrp.c,v 1.23 2005-07-07 07:45:05 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: bootstrp.c,v 1.24 2005-07-11 13:41:59 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/stx/bootstrp.h>
@@ -135,6 +135,14 @@ static class_info_t class_info[] =
 		XP_NULL,
 		XP_STX_SPEC_NOT_INDEXABLE
 	},
+	{
+		XP_TEXT("Character"),
+		XP_TEXT("Magnitude"),
+		XP_TEXT("value"),
+		XP_NULL,
+		XP_NULL,
+		XP_STX_SPEC_NOT_INDEXABLE
+	},
 	{
 		XP_TEXT("Collection"),
 		XP_TEXT("Magnitude"),
@@ -242,7 +250,7 @@ static class_info_t class_info[] =
 	}
 };
 
-xp_word_t xp_stx_new_array (xp_stx_t* stx, xp_word_t size)
+xp_word_t INLINE __new_array (xp_stx_t* stx, xp_word_t size)
 {
 	xp_word_t x;
 
@@ -253,7 +261,7 @@ xp_word_t xp_stx_new_array (xp_stx_t* stx, xp_word_t size)
 	return x;	
 }
 
-xp_word_t xp_stx_new_string (xp_stx_t* stx, const xp_char_t* str)
+xp_word_t INLINE __new_string (xp_stx_t* stx, const xp_char_t* str)
 {
 	xp_word_t x;
 
@@ -278,6 +286,7 @@ int xp_stx_bootstrap (xp_stx_t* stx)
 	stx->class_array = xp_stx_new_class (stx, XP_TEXT("Array"));
 	stx->class_bytearray = xp_stx_new_class (stx, XP_TEXT("ByteArray"));
 	stx->class_string = xp_stx_new_class (stx, XP_TEXT("String"));
+	stx->class_character = xp_stx_new_class (stx, XP_TEXT("Character"));
 	stx->class_dictionary = xp_stx_new_class (stx, XP_TEXT("Dictionary"));
 	stx->class_method = xp_stx_new_class (stx, XP_TEXT("Method"));
 
@@ -293,7 +302,7 @@ int xp_stx_bootstrap (xp_stx_t* stx)
 	/* for some fun here */
 	{
 		xp_word_t array;
-		array = xp_stx_new_array (stx, 1);
+		array = __new_array (stx, 1);
 		XP_STX_WORDAT(stx,array,0) = object_meta;
 		XP_STX_WORDAT(stx,stx->class_class,XP_STX_CLASS_SUBCLASSES) = array;
 	}
@@ -503,7 +512,7 @@ static void __create_builtin_classes (xp_stx_t* stx)
 		if (p->instance_variables != XP_NULL) {
 			nfields += __count_names (p->instance_variables);
 			class_obj->variables = 
-				xp_stx_new_string (stx, p->instance_variables);
+				__new_string (stx, p->instance_variables);
 		}
 
 		xp_assert (nfields <= 0 || (nfields > 0 && 
@@ -537,7 +546,7 @@ static void __create_builtin_classes (xp_stx_t* stx)
 	/* fill subclasses */
 	for (p = class_info; p->name != XP_NULL; p++) {
 		n = __count_subclasses (p->name);
-		array = xp_stx_new_array (stx, n);
+		array = __new_array (stx, n);
 		__set_subclasses (stx, XP_STX_DATA(stx,array), p->name);
 
 		class = xp_stx_lookup_class(stx, p->name);
@@ -549,7 +558,7 @@ static void __create_builtin_classes (xp_stx_t* stx)
 	/* fill subclasses for metaclasses */
 	for (p = class_info; p->name != XP_NULL; p++) {
 		n = __count_subclasses (p->name);
-		array = xp_stx_new_array (stx, n);
+		array = __new_array (stx, n);
 		__set_metaclass_subclasses (stx, XP_STX_DATA(stx,array), p->name);
 
 		class = xp_stx_lookup_class(stx, p->name);
diff --git a/ase/stx/bootstrp.h b/ase/stx/bootstrp.h
index 342c4b50..91ac2d53 100644
--- a/ase/stx/bootstrp.h
+++ b/ase/stx/bootstrp.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: bootstrp.h,v 1.5 2005-06-30 12:07:02 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: bootstrp.h,v 1.6 2005-07-11 13:41:59 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef _XP_STX_BOOTSTRP_H_
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ extern "C" {
 #endif
 
 xp_word_t xp_stx_new_array (xp_stx_t* stx, xp_word_t size);
-xp_word_t xp_stx_new_string (xp_stx_t* stx, const xp_char_t* str);
 int xp_stx_bootstrap (xp_stx_t* stx);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
diff --git a/ase/stx/bytecode.c b/ase/stx/bytecode.c
index f757b838..8f578a86 100644
--- a/ase/stx/bytecode.c
+++ b/ase/stx/bytecode.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: bytecode.c,v 1.6 2005-07-10 16:50:50 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: bytecode.c,v 1.7 2005-07-11 13:41:59 bacon Exp $
  */
 #include <xp/stx/bytecode.h>
 #include <xp/stx/class.h>
@@ -17,19 +17,64 @@ int xp_stx_decode (xp_stx_t* stx, xp_word_t class)
 	class_obj = (xp_stx_class_t*)XP_STX_OBJECT(stx, class);
 	if (class_obj->methods == stx->nil) return 0;
 
+
 /* TODO */
 	xp_stx_hash_traverse (stx, class_obj->methods, __decode1, class_obj);
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static void __dump_object (xp_stx_t* stx, xp_word_t obj)
+{
+	if (XP_STX_IS_SMALLINT(obj)) {
+		xp_printf (XP_TEXT("%d"), XP_STX_FROM_SMALLINT(obj));
+	}	
+	else if (XP_STX_CLASS(stx,obj) == stx->class_character) {
+		xp_printf (XP_TEXT("$%c"), XP_STX_WORDAT(stx,obj,0));
+	}
+	else if (XP_STX_CLASS(stx,obj) == stx->class_string) {
+		xp_printf (XP_TEXT("'%s'"), XP_STX_DATA(stx,obj));
+	}
+	else if (XP_STX_CLASS(stx,obj) == stx->class_symbol) {
+		xp_printf (XP_TEXT("#%s"), XP_STX_DATA(stx,obj));
+	}
+	else if (XP_STX_IS_CHAR_OBJECT(stx, obj)) {
+		xp_printf (XP_TEXT("unknow char object [%s]"), XP_STX_DATA(stx,obj));
+	}
+	else if (XP_STX_IS_BYTE_OBJECT(stx, obj)) {
+		xp_printf (XP_TEXT("unknown byte object"), XP_STX_DATA(stx,obj));
+	}
+	else if (XP_STX_IS_WORD_OBJECT(stx, obj)) {
+		xp_printf (XP_TEXT("unknown word object"), XP_STX_DATA(stx,obj));
+	}
+	else {
+		xp_printf (XP_TEXT("invalid object type"));
+	}
+}
+
 static void __decode1 (xp_stx_t* stx, xp_word_t idx, void* data)
 {
 	xp_stx_method_t* method_obj;
+	xp_stx_class_t* class_obj;
 	xp_word_t key = XP_STX_WORDAT(stx,idx,XP_STX_PAIRLINK_KEY);
 	xp_word_t value = XP_STX_WORDAT(stx,idx,XP_STX_PAIRLINK_VALUE);
+	xp_word_t* literals;
+	xp_word_t literal_count, i;
+
+	class_obj = (xp_stx_class_t*)data;
 
 	xp_printf (XP_TEXT("Method: %s\n"), XP_STX_DATA(stx, key));
 	method_obj = (xp_stx_method_t*)XP_STX_OBJECT(stx, value);
+
+	literals = method_obj->literals;
+	literal_count = XP_STX_SIZE(stx, value) - 
+		(XP_STX_FROM_SMALLINT(class_obj->spec) >> XP_STX_SPEC_INDEXABLE_BITS);
+
+	xp_printf (XP_TEXT("literal count %d\n"), literal_count);
+	for (i = 0; i < literal_count; i++) {
+		xp_printf (XP_TEXT("%d. ["), i);
+		__dump_object (stx, literals[i]);
+		xp_printf (XP_TEXT("]\n"));
+	}
 	__decode2 (stx, data, method_obj);
 }
 
@@ -54,6 +99,7 @@ static int __decode2 (xp_stx_t* stx,
 		XP_TEXT("send_to_super")
 	};
 
+
 	bytecodes = XP_STX_BYTE_OBJECT(stx, method_obj->bytecodes);
 	bytecode_size = XP_STX_SIZE(stx, method_obj->bytecodes);
 
diff --git a/ase/stx/parser.c b/ase/stx/parser.c
index b491aecc..a6f79748 100644
--- a/ase/stx/parser.c
+++ b/ase/stx/parser.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: parser.c,v 1.62 2005-07-10 16:50:50 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: parser.c,v 1.63 2005-07-11 13:41:59 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/stx/parser.h>
@@ -164,7 +164,8 @@ const xp_char_t* xp_stx_parser_error_string (xp_stx_parser_t* parser)
 		XP_TEXT("block argument list not closed"),
 		XP_TEXT("block not closed"),
 
-		XP_TEXT("undeclared name")
+		XP_TEXT("undeclared name"),
+		XP_TEXT("too many literals")
 	};
 
 	if (parser->error_code >= 0 && 
@@ -346,6 +347,8 @@ static INLINE int __emit_send_to_self (
 		EMIT_CODE (parser, nargs);
 		EMIT_CODE (parser, selector);
 	}
+
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static INLINE int __emit_send_to_super (
@@ -363,6 +366,8 @@ static INLINE int __emit_send_to_super (
 		EMIT_CODE (parser, nargs);
 		EMIT_CODE (parser, selector);
 	}
+
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static INLINE int __emit_do_primitive (xp_stx_parser_t* parser, int no)
@@ -375,6 +380,16 @@ static INLINE int __emit_do_primitive (xp_stx_parser_t* parser, int no)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static INLINE int __add_literal (xp_stx_parser_t* parser, xp_word_t literal)
+{
+	if (parser->literal_count >= xp_countof(parser->literals)) {
+		parser->error_code = XP_STX_PARSER_ERROR_TOO_MANY_LITERALS;
+		return -1;
+	}
+	parser->literals[parser->literal_count++] = literal;
+	return parser->literal_count - 1;
+}
+
 int xp_stx_parser_parse_method (
 	xp_stx_parser_t* parser, xp_word_t method_class, void* input)
 {
@@ -850,17 +865,32 @@ static int __parse_primary (xp_stx_parser_t* parser, const xp_char_t* ident)
 	 * 	<block constructor> | ( '('<expression>')' )
 	 */
 
+	xp_stx_t* stx = parser->stx;
+
 	if (ident == XP_NULL) {
+		int pos;
+		xp_word_t literal;
+
 		if (parser->token.type == XP_STX_TOKEN_IDENT) {
 			if (__parse_primary_ident(parser, parser->token.name.buffer) == -1) return -1;
 			GET_TOKEN (parser);
 		}
 		else if (parser->token.type == XP_STX_TOKEN_CHARLIT) {
-			EMIT_CODE_TEST (parser, XP_TEXT("PushLiteral(CHAR)"), parser->token.name.buffer);
+			literal = xp_stx_instantiate (
+				stx, stx->class_character, 
+				parser->token.name.buffer, XP_NULL, 0);
+			pos = __add_literal(parser, literal);
+			if (pos == -1) return -1;
+			EMIT_PUSH_LITERAL_CONSTANT (parser, pos);
 			GET_TOKEN (parser);
 		}
 		else if (parser->token.type == XP_STX_TOKEN_STRLIT) {
-			EMIT_CODE_TEST (parser, XP_TEXT("PushLiteral(STR)"), parser->token.name.buffer);
+			literal = xp_stx_instantiate (
+				stx, stx->class_string, XP_NULL,
+				parser->token.name.buffer, parser->token.name.size);
+			pos = __add_literal(parser, literal);
+			if (pos == -1) return -1;
+			EMIT_PUSH_LITERAL_CONSTANT (parser, pos);
 			GET_TOKEN (parser);
 		}
 		else if (parser->token.type == XP_STX_TOKEN_NUMLIT) {
diff --git a/ase/stx/parser.h b/ase/stx/parser.h
index 8dfe8186..a62ff29f 100644
--- a/ase/stx/parser.h
+++ b/ase/stx/parser.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: parser.h,v 1.31 2005-07-07 16:32:37 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: parser.h,v 1.32 2005-07-11 13:41:59 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef _XP_STX_PARSER_H_
@@ -46,7 +46,8 @@ enum
 	XP_STX_PARSER_ERROR_BLOCK_ARGUMENT_LIST,
 	XP_STX_PARSER_ERROR_BLOCK_NOT_CLOSED,
 
-	XP_STX_PARSER_ERROR_UNDECLARED_NAME
+	XP_STX_PARSER_ERROR_UNDECLARED_NAME,
+	XP_STX_PARSER_ERROR_TOO_MANY_LITERALS
 };
 
 enum
diff --git a/ase/stx/stx.h b/ase/stx/stx.h
index 1e2e9664..4489ce16 100644
--- a/ase/stx/stx.h
+++ b/ase/stx/stx.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: stx.h,v 1.34 2005-07-05 10:22:35 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: stx.h,v 1.35 2005-07-11 13:41:59 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef _XP_STX_STX_H_
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ struct xp_stx_t
 	xp_word_t class_array;
 	xp_word_t class_bytearray;
 	xp_word_t class_string;
+	xp_word_t class_character;
 	xp_word_t class_dictionary;
 	xp_word_t class_method;
 
diff --git a/ase/test/stx/test.st b/ase/test/stx/test.st
index f04c7176..6859f81d 100644
--- a/ase/test/stx/test.st
+++ b/ase/test/stx/test.st
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ perform: method with: x with: y with: z with: a1 with: b2 with: c2
 "
 	b := -30 xxx nil this.
 	b := 30 + 20.
-	b := 30 xxx: 10 xy zzzz: 30 ccc:10.
+	b := 'zzzzzz' xxx: 'cccccc' xy zzzz: 30 ccc:10.
+	$3 asString.
 
 	selector := 20.
 "