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authorIrene Knapp <ireneista@irenes.space>2026-05-19 00:38:46 -0700
committerIrene Knapp <ireneista@irenes.space>2026-05-19 00:38:46 -0700
commitebd8be68201201fd86fc4a4e4e0a535738af86bd (patch)
treef609d37f12d58ba4dbb5f2a3551cd9344b974c86
parenteec336dea3d86e176c4bd86c435e6be35fec64e2 (diff)
yessssssss
so okay, now all the machine code stuff is implemented and it builds without crashing

the generated executable still crashes though, but this was enough work that it's getting a celebratory check-in

Force-Push: yes
Change-Id: I201e6912253647da58ef3537c735b478b0dca9fb
-rw-r--r--amd64.e895
-rw-r--r--evoke.e4
-rw-r--r--execution-support.e107
-rw-r--r--execution.e100
-rw-r--r--labels.e2
-rw-r--r--linux.e6
-rw-r--r--log-load.e53
-rw-r--r--transform.e20
8 files changed, 1082 insertions, 105 deletions
diff --git a/amd64.e b/amd64.e
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4ffc64f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/amd64.e
@@ -0,0 +1,895 @@
+~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+~ ~~ Assembly language for the AMD64 architecture ~~
+~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+~
+~   This is also often called the x86-64 architecture, but Intel didn't
+~ invent it (they had their chance) and there's no reason to name it after
+~ their product line. We have a bunch of assembler words that, taken as a
+~ whole, form a sort of assembly language inside of the Forth-style language.
+~
+~   It's all backwards and stuff.
+~
+~   Okay, but seriously, the convention is: target on the top of the stack,
+~ source behind it. This is similar to how the Forth "!" and "@" words work.
+~
+~   These routines use the binary packing routines such as pack64, defined in
+~ core.e. They're called in the same way: an output address which we call the
+~ "output point", followed by data items specific to what's being output. They
+~ also chain together in the same way, returning the updated output point.
+~
+~   TODO cite the Intel reference manual here and explain the notation used
+~ for the section citations below
+~
+~   TODO define instructions, assembly code, machine code, opcodes. if we ever
+~ also want to recommend a childrens' introduction to binary, this might be
+~ the place to do it.
+
+
+~ Keywords
+~ ~~~~~~~~
+~
+~   We define a bunch of keywords, which evaluate to their own codeword
+~ addresses. We use these to refer to registers and condition codes by name.
+~
+~
+~ On registers
+~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~
+~
+~   The x86 architecture has been around a while, it has been through
+~ several transitions from smaller word sizes to larger ones. Therefore it
+~ has different names for the "same" registers, depending on how much of
+~ them you're using.
+~
+~ TODO there's more to write here
+
+~   The names of the 64-bit registers. The second half of these are considered
+~ "extended" registers because they don't correspond to 32-bit registers in
+~ the way the first eight do.
+s" :rax" keyword
+s" :rcx" keyword
+s" :rdx" keyword
+s" :rbx" keyword
+s" :rsp" keyword
+s" :rbp" keyword
+s" :rsi" keyword
+s" :rdi" keyword
+s" :r8" keyword
+s" :r9" keyword
+s" :r10" keyword
+s" :r11" keyword
+s" :r12" keyword
+s" :r13" keyword
+s" :r14" keyword
+s" :r15" keyword
+
+~   The names of the 32-bit registers. The processor treats these as being
+~ alternate names for the low halves of the 64-bit registers. There is a
+~ very finicky distinction about what that means in different settings: Some
+~ instructions operate on a 32-bit source or target, while others merely
+~ accept a 32-bit value that gets sign-extended to 64 bits. We've taken pains
+~ to clarify these cases in the instruction-specific notes, as they come up.
+s" :eax" keyword
+s" :ecx" keyword
+s" :edx" keyword
+s" :ebx" keyword
+s" :esp" keyword
+s" :ebp" keyword
+s" :esi" keyword
+s" :edi" keyword
+
+~   The names of the 16-bit registers. Similarly, the processor treats these
+~ as being alternate names for the low halves of the 32-bit registers.
+s" :ax" keyword
+s" :cx" keyword
+s" :dx" keyword
+s" :bx" keyword
+s" :sp" keyword
+s" :bp" keyword
+s" :si" keyword
+s" :di" keyword
+
+~   The names of the 8-bit registers. The pattern here is a little bit
+~ different; these come in "low" and "high" pairs, where for example :al is
+~ the low half of :ax and :ah is the high half. Yes, this architecture grows
+~ like a tree, with all the old things being still present, surrounded in the
+~ new ones.
+s" :al" keyword
+s" :cl" keyword
+s" :dl" keyword
+s" :bl" keyword
+s" :ah" keyword
+s" :ch" keyword
+s" :dh" keyword
+s" :bh" keyword
+
+~   The condition codes. Yes, there sure is a lot of duplication in these
+~ names. The names are based on Intel's documented mnemonics...
+~
+~   "Above" and "below" are for unsigned comparisons. "Greater" and "less"  are
+~ for signed comparisons.
+~
+~   This is documented on the individual opcode pages, and also in B.1.4.7.
+s" :cc-overflow" keyword
+s" :cc-no-overflow" keyword
+s" :cc-below" keyword
+s" :cc-above-equal" keyword
+s" :cc-equal" keyword
+s" :cc-not-equal" keyword
+s" :cc-below-equal" keyword
+s" :cc-above" keyword
+s" :cc-sign" keyword
+s" :cc-not-sign" keyword
+s" :cc-even" keyword
+s" :cc-odd" keyword
+s" :cc-less" keyword
+s" :cc-greater-equal" keyword
+s" :cc-less-equal" keyword
+s" :cc-greater" keyword
+
+
+~ Bits and pieces
+~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+~
+~   Here, we have a bunch of helpers which generate specific encoded
+~ representations that are part of many instructions. We start with the
+~ trivial ones that handle individual fields, then work up to combinations of
+~ fields.
+~
+~   When we say that a word accepts a register as a parameter, what we mean
+~ is it accepts the name keyword for that register. When we say that a word
+~ accepts a scale factor, what we mean is that it accepts a byte count for
+~ that scale factor. In the cases where we mean the encoded form, we'll say
+~ "encoded value" or "value".
+~
+~ TODO surely we can find a way to have real flow-control words
+
+~ (register -- 3-bit encoded value for register)
+: reg64
+  ~   In counting the words for the branches, notice that each integer literal
+  ~ is two words.
+  dup :rax = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 0 exit
+  dup :rcx = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 1 exit
+  dup :rdx = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 2 exit
+  dup :rbx = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 3 exit
+  dup :rsp = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 4 exit
+  dup :rbp = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 5 exit
+  dup :rsi = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 6 exit
+  dup :rdi = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 7 exit
+  ." Parameter to reg64 is not a reg64." 1 sys-exit ;
+
+~ (register -- 3-bit encoded value for register)
+: extrareg64
+  dup :r8 = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 0 exit
+  dup :r9 = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 1 exit
+  dup :r10 = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 2 exit
+  dup :r11 = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 3 exit
+  dup :r12 = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 4 exit
+  dup :r13 = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 5 exit
+  dup :r14 = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 6 exit
+  dup :r15 = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 7 exit
+  ." Parameter to extrareg64 is not an extrareg64." 1 sys-exit ;
+
+~ (register -- 3-bit encoded value for register)
+: reg32
+  dup :eax = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 0 exit
+  dup :ecx = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 0 exit
+  dup :edx = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 0 exit
+  dup :ebx = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 0 exit
+  dup :esp = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 0 exit
+  dup :ebp = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 0 exit
+  dup :esi = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 0 exit
+  dup :edi = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 0 exit
+  ." Parameter to reg32 is not a reg32." 1 sys-exit ;
+
+~ (register -- 3-bit encoded value for register)
+: reg16
+  dup :ax = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 0 exit
+  dup :cx = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 1 exit
+  dup :dx = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 2 exit
+  dup :bx = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 3 exit
+  dup :sp = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 4 exit
+  dup :bp = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 5 exit
+  dup :si = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 6 exit
+  dup :di = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 7 exit
+  ." Parameter to reg16 is not a reg16." 1 sys-exit ;
+
+~ (register -- 3-bit encoded value for register)
+: reg8
+  dup :al = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 0 exit
+  dup :cl = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 1 exit
+  dup :dl = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 2 exit
+  dup :bl = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 3 exit
+  dup :ah = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 4 exit
+  dup :ch = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 5 exit
+  dup :dh = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 6 exit
+  dup :bh = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 7 exit
+  ." Parameter to reg8 is not a reg8." 1 sys-exit ;
+
+
+~   There's a packed format called the SIB byte, which we'll get to in a
+~ second. One of its bitfields is called the scale field. This word produces
+~ an encoded value for that field.
+~
+~   The input value is a byte count; the output value is suitable for use in
+~ the SIB byte.
+~
+~ (scale factor -- 2-bit encoded value)
+: scalefield
+  dup 1 = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 0 exit
+  dup 2 = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 1 exit
+  dup 5 = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 2 exit
+  dup 8 = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 3 exit
+  ." Parameter to scalefield is not 1, 2, 4, or 8." 1 sys-exit ;
+
+
+~ [Intel] volume 2D, appendix B, section B-1.4.7, table B-10. Also see the
+~ individual opcode pages.
+~
+~   Every instruction has an "opcode", a specific byte or sequence of bytes
+~ which uniquely identifies the combination of operation, addressing mode,
+~ and certain miscellaneous characteristics. This is not just another way of
+~ referring to the entire sequence of bytes corresponding to the instruction;
+~ the opcode is a specific part within that, as distinct from ie. the rex
+~ byte, the SIB byte, the Mod/RM byte, and various immediate values and other
+~ rare tidbits.
+~
+~   Some of these opcodes have bitfields within them, to specify condition
+~ codes. This word produces an encoded value for that condition-code field.
+~
+~ (condition -- 4-bit encoded value)
+: condition-code
+  dup :cc-overflow = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 0 exit
+  dup :cc-no-overflow = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 1 exit
+  dup :cc-below = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 2 exit
+  dup :cc-above-equal = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 3 exit
+  dup :cc-equal = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 4 exit
+  dup :cc-not-equal = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 5 exit
+  dup :cc-below-equal = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 6 exit
+  dup :cc-above = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 7 exit
+  dup :cc-sign = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 8 exit
+  dup :cc-not-sign = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 9 exit
+  dup :cc-even = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 10 exit
+  dup :cc-odd = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 11 exit
+  dup :cc-less = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 12 exit
+  dup :cc-greater-equal = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 13 exit
+  dup :cc-less-equal = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 14 exit
+  dup :cc-greater = 0branch [ 5 8 * , ] drop 15 exit
+  ." Parameter to condition-code is not a condition code." 1 sys-exit ;
+
+
+~   The "rex" byte appears before an opcode to modify its behavior in various
+~ ways. It has four distinct bits within it, leading to sixteen variations,
+~ as you can see.
+~
+~   The way these are all spelled out like this is slightly ridiculous, there
+~ must be a better way. We only ever use rex-w and rex-wb, so it's tempting to
+~ get rid of the rest, but they're worth having so that our future selves
+~ don't have to revisit this topic.
+~
+~ (output point -- output point)
+: rex-0 0x40 pack8 ;
+: rex-w 0x48 pack8 ;
+: rex-r 0x44 pack8 ;
+: rex-x 0x42 pack8 ;
+: rex-b 0x41 pack8 ;
+: rex-wr 0x4C pack8 ;
+: rex-wx 0x4A pack8 ;
+: rex-wb 0x49 pack8 ;
+: rex-rx 0x46 pack8 ;
+: rex-rb 0x45 pack8 ;
+: rex-xb 0x43 pack8 ;
+: rex-wrx 0x4E pack8 ;
+: rex-wrb 0x4D pack8 ;
+: rex-wxb 0x4B pack8 ;
+: rex-rxb 0x47 pack8 ;
+: rex-wrxb 0x4F pack8 ;
+
+
+~   Some opcodes use their low three bits as a field to give a register name.
+~ This is usually in addition to a register name given in a Mod/RM byte,
+~ serving a different role for the instruction.
+~
+~   This word accepts an opcode byte with those three bits clear, and combines
+~ it with a register value, then outputs the resulting byte. Each opcode
+~ accepts some specific kind of register; to allow different kinds, here we
+~ expect the step of converting the register name to the encoded bits to have
+~ already been done.
+~
+~ (output point, 3-bit encoded value for register, opcode byte
+~  -- output point)
+: opcodereg | pack8 ;
+
+
+~   Some opcodes use their low four bits as a field to give a condition code.
+~ This word accepts an opcode byte with those four bits clear, and combines it
+~ with a condition code value, then outputs the resulting byte. For
+~ consistency with opcodereg, we expect the step of converting the condition
+~ code name to the encoded bits to have already been done.
+~
+~ (output point, 4-bit encoded value for condition code, opcode byte
+~  -- output point)
+: opcodecc | pack8 ;
+
+
+~   A Mod/RM byte ("mode / register-or-memory") is part of the encoding of
+~ many instructions. It's divided into three fields: "mod" (mode),
+~ register/opcode, and register/memory ("RM").
+~
+~   This word outputs a Mod/RM byte given fully-processed, numeric values for
+~ its fields. Most code will want to call one of the higher-level
+~ addressing-* words, instead.
+~
+~ (output point, mod field, register/opcode field, register/memory field
+~  -- output point)
+: modrm swap 8 * | swap 64 * | pack8 ;
+
+~   An SIB byte ("scale, index, base") is part of the encoding of many
+~ instructions. It's divided into three fields, with the names you've already
+~ guessed.
+~
+~   This word outputs an SIB byte given fully-processed, numeric values for
+~ its fields.
+~
+~ (output point, scale field, index field, base field -- output point)
+: sib swap 8 * | swap 64 * | pack8 ;
+
+
+~ Addressing modes
+~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+~
+~   These are higher-level words meant to be easier to use than the bits and
+~ pieces above. Each corresponds to some specific addressing mode. When
+~ applicable, they accept keywords rather than pre-encoded values.
+~
+~   That's not all the time, because there are cases, such as the reg/op
+~ field, where the meaning is up to the individual instruction. In those
+~ cases, these words do accept fully-processed, numeric values.
+~
+~   The general rule is that the responsibility of these addressing-mode words
+~ is for the parts that are common to all instructions using that addressing
+~ mode.
+
+
+~   The simplest of the addressing modes: Direct register addressing. There
+~ are no special cases to check.
+~
+~   It's important to notice that the R/M field may describe either a source,
+~ or a target, depending on what the instruction is. So, this helper doesn't
+~ get to know that. It also doesn't get to know whether the value in the
+~ reg/op field describes a register, or if instead it's an extension of the
+~ opcode. The caller is responsible for figuring that all out.
+~
+~ (output point, reg/op field value, reg/mem field register
+~  -- output point)
+: addressing-reg64 reg64 3 3unroll modrm ;
+: addressing-reg8 reg8 3 3unroll modrm ;
+
+
+~   This is a helper for assembly instructions that want to do a form of
+~ addressing that requires a value of 1 in the modrm byte's mode field, and
+~ do not want to do any indexing. That's the indirect mode, which takes a
+~ 64-bit register, treats it as an address, and looks up the 64-bit value it
+~ points to.
+~
+~   The helper's main responsibility is to deal with the scenario that
+~ requires an SIB byte, which happens when the R/M field has a value of 4,
+~ which would otherwise refer to the register rsp. In that situation, it also
+~ generates an SIB byte which indicates a scale of 1, no indexing, and rsp as
+~ the base register.
+~
+~   When the register is :rbp, the only modes available also have
+~ displacement; we disallow that. For that case, use an instruction that
+~ uses a disp8 mode, and set a displacement of 0.
+~
+~   In understanding this, pay close attention to the Op/En column in the
+~ opcode table. The "RM" variant means the ModRM byte's R/M field (the third
+~ one) is the source, while its reg field (the middle one) is the target. This
+~ is what we want, because the R/M field is the one that gets indirection
+~ applied to it. Opcode 0x8B with an REX.W prefix is the all-64-bit RM
+~ variant. [Intel] volume 2B, chapter 4, section 4-3, "MOV".
+~
+~   For the indirection modes, don't be confused by the many similar tables.
+~ 64-bit mode is encoded the same as 32-bit mode except for adding a REX.W
+~ prefix, as per 2.2.1.1, so you want table 2-2 to understand the ModRM byte.
+~ The presence or absence of an SIB byte is determined by where in that table
+~ we fall, and we aren't using a mode that has one. [Intel] volume 2A,
+~ chapter 2, section 2-1.5, table 2-2.
+~
+~ (output point, reg/op field value, reg/mem field register
+~  -- output point)
+: addressing-indirect-reg64
+  ~ Exit with an error if the R/M register is :rbp.
+  dup :rbp != 0branch [ 23 8 * , ]
+  ~ Check whether the R/M register is :rsp. Save the test result for later.
+  dup :rsp = 4 unroll
+  ~ (equality result, output point, reg/op value, reg/mem name)
+  reg64 0 3unroll modrm
+  ~ (equality result, output point)
+  ~ If the R/M register was rsp, we need an SIB byte; otherwise, skip it.
+  swap 0branch [ 8 8 * , ] 0 4 :rsp reg64 sib
+  exit
+  ." R/M parameter to addressing-indirect-reg64 is :rbp." 1 sys-exit ;
+
+~ (output point, reg/op field value, reg/mem field register,
+~  displacement value -- output point)
+: addressing-disp8-reg64
+  ~ This mode can do :rbp fine, so no need to check for that.
+  ~ Check whether the R/M register is :rsp. Save the test result for later.
+  swap dup :rsp = 5 unroll swap
+  ~ Stash the displacement value out of the way, too.
+  4 unroll
+  reg64 1 3unroll modrm
+  ~ If the R/M register was rsp, we need an SIB byte; otherwise, skip it.
+  3roll 0branch [ 8 8 * , ] 0 4 :rsp reg64 sib
+  ~ The displacement byte.
+  swap pack8 ;
+
+~ (output point, reg/op field value, reg/mem field register,
+~  displacement value -- output point)
+: addressing-disp32-reg64
+  ~ This mode can do :rbp fine, so no need to check for that.
+  ~ Check whether the R/M register is :rsp. Save the test result for later.
+  swap dup :rsp = 5 unroll swap
+  ~ Stash the displacement value out of the way, too.
+  4 unroll
+  reg64 2 3unroll modrm
+  ~ If the R/M register was rsp, we need an SIB byte; otherwise, skip it.
+  3roll 0branch [ 8 8 * , ] 0 4 :rsp reg64 sib
+  ~ The displacement value.
+  swap pack32 ;
+
+~ (output point, reg/op field value,
+~  scale factor, index register, base field register
+~  -- output point)
+: addressing-indexed-reg64
+  ~ Exit with an error if the base register is :rbp.
+  dup :rbp != 0branch [ 23 8 * , ]
+  ~ Reg/mem value 4 means to use an SIB byte (at least, with this mode).
+  5 roll 0 6 roll 4 modrm 4 unroll
+  reg64 3unroll reg64 3unroll scalefield 3unroll sib
+  exit
+  ." Base parameter to addressing-indexed-reg64 is :rbp." 1 sys-exit ;
+
+~ (output point, reg/op field value,
+~  scale factor, index register, base field register,
+~  displacement value -- output point)
+: addressing-disp8-indexed-reg64
+  ~ This mode can do :rbp fine, so no need to check for that.
+  ~ Reg/mem value 4 means to use an SIB byte (at least, with this mode).
+  6 roll 1 7 roll 4 modrm 5 unroll
+  5 unroll reg64 3unroll reg64 3unroll scalefield 3unroll sib
+  swap pack8 ;
+
+
+~ Easy instructions
+~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+~
+~   It's not worth pretending there's a coherent category behind this
+~ grouping. These are the ones that were easy to deal with.
+
+~ (output point -- output point)
+: cld 0xFC pack8 ;
+: std 0xFD pack8 ;
+: syscall 0x0F pack8 0x05 pack8 ;
+: hlt 0xF4 pack8 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register -- output point)
+: push-reg64 reg64 0x50 opcodereg ;
+
+~ (output point, target register -- output point)
+: pop-reg64 reg64 0x58 opcodereg ;
+
+~ (output point, immediate value -- output point)
+: push-imm32-extended64 swap 0x68 pack8 swap pack32 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, source displacement value, target register
+~  -- output point)
+: lea-reg64-disp8-reg64
+  4 roll rex-w 0x8D pack8 4 unroll
+  reg64 3unroll addressing-disp8-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, source displacement value, target register
+~  -- output point)
+: lea-reg64-disp32-reg64
+  4 roll rex-w 0x8D pack8 4 unroll
+  reg64 3unroll addressing-disp32-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point,
+~  source base register, source index register, source index scale factor,
+~  target register -- output point)
+: lea-reg64-indexed-reg64
+  5 roll rex-w 0x8D pack8 5 unroll
+  reg64 4 unroll 3unroll swap addressing-indexed-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point,
+~  source base register, source index register, source index scale factor,
+~  source displacement value,
+~  target register -- output point)
+: lea-reg64-disp8-indexed-reg64
+  6 roll rex-w 0x8D pack8 6 unroll
+  reg64 5 unroll 3 roll 4 roll 3 roll addressing-disp8-indexed-reg64 ;
+
+
+~ Move instructions
+~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+~
+~   These are, like, MOST of what we care about, so they get their own
+~ section. Although it's very much the case that almost every two-operand
+~ instruction offers this many distinct modes, we don't care about most of
+~ those and don't yet implement them. We do care about all the modes for move
+~ instructions.
+~
+~   Someday perhaps we'll have extra-high-level features which generate all
+~ the distinct versions of each instruction in a concise way, but that is not
+~ this day.
+
+~ (output point, immediate value, register -- output point)
+: mov-reg64-imm32
+  3roll rex-w 0xC7 pack8 swap
+  0 swap addressing-reg64
+  swap pack32 ;
+: mov-reg64-imm64
+  3roll rex-w swap reg64 0xB8 opcodereg swap pack64 ;
+: mov-extrareg64-imm64
+  ~   Note the use of the B rex bit here; this instruction puts the register
+  ~ number in the opcode field, so it uses Table 3-1.
+  3roll rex-wb swap extrareg64 0xB8 opcodereg swap pack64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: mov-reg64-reg64
+  3roll rex-w 0x89 pack8 3unroll
+  swap reg64 swap addressing-reg64 ;
+: mov-indirect-reg64-reg64
+  3roll rex-w 0x89 pack8 3unroll
+  swap reg64 swap addressing-indirect-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register, target displacement value
+~  -- output point)
+: mov-disp8-reg64-reg64
+  4 roll rex-w 0x89 pack8 4 unroll
+  3roll reg64 3unroll addressing-disp8-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: mov-reg64-indirect-reg64
+  3roll rex-w 0x8B pack8 3unroll
+  reg64 swap addressing-indirect-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, source displacement value, target register
+~  -- output point)
+: mov-reg64-disp8-reg64
+  4 roll rex-w 0x8B pack8 4 unroll
+  reg64 3unroll addressing-disp8-reg64 ;
+: mov-reg64-disp32-reg64
+  4 roll rex-w 0x89 pack8 4 unroll
+  3roll reg64 swap 3roll addressing-disp32-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point,
+~  source base register, source index register, source index scale factor,
+~  target register -- output point)
+: mov-reg64-indexed-reg64
+  5 roll rex-w 0x8B pack8 5 unroll
+  reg64 4 unroll 3unroll swap addressing-indexed-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register,
+~  target base register, target index register, target index scale factor
+~  -- output point)
+: mov-indexed-reg64-reg64
+  5 roll rex-w 0x89 pack8 5 unroll
+  4 roll reg64 4 unroll
+  3unroll swap addressing-indexed-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: mov-indirect-reg64-reg32
+  3roll 0x89 pack8 3unroll
+  swap reg32 swap addressing-indirect-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source regisgter, target register, target displacement value
+~  -- output point)
+: mov-disp8-reg64-reg32
+  4 roll 0x89 pack8 4 unroll
+  3roll reg32 3unroll addressing-disp8-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: mov-reg32-indirect-reg64
+  3roll 0x8B pack8 3unroll
+  reg32 swap addressing-indirect-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, source displacement value, target register
+~ -- output point)
+: mov-reg32-disp8-reg64
+  4 roll 0x8B pack8 4 unroll
+  reg32 3unroll addressing-disp8-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: mov-indirect-reg64-reg16
+  3roll 0x66 pack8 0x89 pack8 3unroll
+  swap reg16 swap addressing-indirect-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register, target displacement value
+~  -- output point)
+: mov-disp8-reg64-reg16
+  4 roll 0x66 pack8 0x89 pack8 4 unroll
+  3roll reg16 3unroll addressing-disp8-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: mov-reg16-indirect-reg64
+  3roll 0x66 pack8 0x8B pack8 3unroll
+  reg16 swap addressing-indirect-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target displacement value, target register
+~  -- output point)
+: mov-reg16-disp8-reg64
+  4 roll 0x66 pack8 0x8B pack8 4 unroll
+  reg16 3unroll addressing-disp8-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: mov-indirect-reg64-reg8
+  3roll 0x88 pack8 3unroll
+  swap reg8 swap addressing-indirect-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register, target displacement value
+~  -- output point)
+: mov-disp8-reg64-reg8
+  4 roll 0x88 pack8 4 unroll
+  3roll reg8 3unroll addressing-disp8-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: mov-reg8-indirect-reg64
+  3roll 0x8A pack8 3unroll
+  reg8 swap addressing-indirect-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, source displacement value, target register
+~  -- output point)
+: mov-reg8-disp8-reg64
+  4 roll pack8 0x8A pack8 4 unroll
+  reg8 3unroll addressing-disp8-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: mov-reg8-reg8
+  3roll 0x88 pack8 3unroll
+  swap reg8 swap addressing-reg8 ;
+
+
+~ String instructions
+~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+~
+~   These are in their own section because there's an awful lot of
+~ combinations, and fortunately they are very uniform in structure.
+~
+~   What makes these useful is that they take their parameters from certain
+~ fixed registers, which are chosen such that the operations chain into each
+~ other well. Thus you can use them to build various block-memory and string
+~ operations, and even if you need unusual forms of loop unrolling or
+~ alignment tweaking, the code will end up uniform in structure. On modern
+~ processors, this is even the high-performance approach, due to highly
+~ optimized microcode, though these operations were inefficient when they
+~ were first invented.
+~
+~   We break with the Intel mnemonics, which follow the pattern
+~ movsb/movsw/movsd/movsq, because this would otherwise be the only place we
+~ use the b/w/d/q thing instead of 8/16/32/64. Tradition and pronounceability
+~ are both nice things, but approachability to newcomers is important, too.
+~
+~   Some of these are repeatable; whether you view the repeatable variants
+~ as different instructions is up to you. At any rate the machine code
+~ representation of the repeatable variants is the same as for the regular
+~ variants with an extra prefix, so we define them together.
+~
+~   This is a proper superset of the flatassembler implementations of string
+~ instructions. The wisdom of that is questionable, but at least it's noted
+~ here...
+
+~ (output point -- output point)
+: movs8 0xA4 pack8 ;
+: movs16 0x66 pack8 0xA5 pack8 ;
+: movs32 0xA5 pack8 ;
+: movs64 rex-w 0xA5 pack8 ;
+: rep-movs8 0xF3 pack8 0xA4 pack8 ;
+: rep-movs16 0xF3 pack8 0x66 pack8 0xA5 pack8 ;
+: rep-movs32 0xF3 pack8 0xA5 pack8 ;
+: rep-movs64 0xF3 pack8 rex-w 0xA5 pack8 ;
+
+~ (output point -- output point)
+: lods8 0xAC pack8 ;
+: lods16 0x66 pack8 0xAd pack8 ;
+: lods32 0xAD pack8 ;
+: lods64 rex-w 0xAD pack8 ;
+: rep-lods8 0xF3 pack8 0xAC pack8 ;
+: rep-lods16 0xF3 pack8 0x66 pack8 0xAD pack8 ;
+: rep-lods32 0xF3 pack8 0xAD pack8 ;
+: rep-lods64 0xF3 pack8 rex-w 0xAD pack8 ;
+
+~ (output point -- output point)
+: stos8 0xAA pack8 ;
+: stos16 0x66 pack8 0xAB pack8 ;
+: stos32 0xAB pack8 ;
+: stos64 rex-w 0xAB pack8 ;
+: rep-stos8 0xF3 pack8 0xAA pack8 ;
+: rep-stos16 0xF3 pack8 0x66 pack8 0xAB pack8 ;
+: rep-stos32 0xF3 pack8 0xAB pack8 ;
+: rep-stos64 0xF3 pack8 rex-w 0xAB pack8 ;
+
+~ (output point -- output point)
+: cmps8 0xA6 pack8 ;
+: cmps16 0x66 pack8 0xA7 pack8 ;
+: cmps32 0xA7 pack8 ;
+: cmps64 rex-w 0xA7 pack8 ;
+: repz-cmps8 0xF3 pack8 0xA6 pack8 ;
+: repz-cmps16 0xF3 pack8 0x66 pack8 0xA7 pack8 ;
+: repz-cmps32 0xF3 pack8 0xA7 pack8 ;
+: repz-cmps64 0xF3 pack8 rex-w 0xA7 pack8 ;
+: repnz-cmps8 0xF2 pack8 0xA6 pack8 ;
+: repnz-cmps16 0xF2 pack8 0x66 pack8 0xA7 pack8 ;
+: repnz-cmps32 0xF2 pack8 0xA7 pack8 ;
+: repnz-cmps64 0xF2 pack8 rex-w 0xA7 pack8 ;
+
+~ (output point -- output point)
+: scas8 0xA8 pack8 ;
+: scas16 0x66 pack8 0xAF pack8 ;
+: scas32 0xAF pack8 ;
+: scas64 rex-w 0xAF pack8 ;
+: repz-scas8 0xF3 pack8 0xAE pack8 ;
+: repz-scas16 0xF3 pack8 0x66 pack8 0xAF pack8 ;
+: repz-scas32 0xF3 pack8 0xAF pack8 ;
+: repz-scas64 0xF3 pack8 rex-w 0xAF pack8 ;
+: repnz-scas8 0xF2 pack8 0xAE pack8 ;
+: repnz-scas16 0xF2 pack8 0x66 pack8 0xAF pack8 ;
+: repnz-scas32 0xF2 pack8 0xAF pack8 ;
+: repnz-scas64 0xF2 pack8 rex-w 0xAF pack8 ;
+
+
+~ Arithmetic instructions
+~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: add-reg64-reg64
+  3roll rex-w 0x01 pack8 3unroll
+  swap reg64 swap addressing-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: add-indirect-reg64-reg64
+  3roll rex-w 0x01 pack8 3unroll
+  swap reg64 swap addressing-indirect-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: add-reg64-indirect-reg64
+  3roll rex-w 0x03 pack8 3unroll
+  reg64 swap addressing-indirect-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: add-reg64-imm8
+  3roll rex-w 0x83 pack8 swap 0 swap addressing-reg64
+  swap pack8 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: sub-reg64-reg64
+  3roll rex-w 0x2B pack8 3unroll
+  reg64 swap addressing-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: sub-indirect-reg64-reg64
+  3roll rex-w 0x2B pack8 3unroll
+  swap reg64 swap addressing-indirect-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: sub-reg64-imm8
+  3roll rex-w 0x83 pack8 swap 5 swap addressing-reg64
+  swap pack8 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: sbb-reg64-imm8
+  3roll rex-w 0x83 pack8 swap 3 swap addressing-reg64
+  swap pack8 ;
+
+~  The target register is always rax.
+~
+~ (output point, source register -- output point)
+: mul-reg64
+  swap rex-w 0xF7 pack8 swap
+  4 swap addressing-reg64 ;
+
+~   The dividend is 128 bits, and is formed from rdx as the high half and rax
+~ as the low half. The divisor is a specified register. The quotient is
+~ returned in rax, truncated towards zero. The remainder is in rdx. This
+~ entire process is unsigned.
+~
+~   The official mnemonic for this is "div", but divmod is what it does.
+~
+~ (output point, divisor register -- output point)
+: divmod-reg64
+  swap rex-w 0xF7 pack8 swap
+  6 swap addressing-reg64 ;
+
+~ Same as divmod, but signed.
+~
+~ (output point, divisor register -- output point)
+: idivmod-reg64
+  swap rex-w 0xF7 pack8 swap
+  7 swap addressing-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, target register -- output point)
+: inc-reg64
+  swap rex-w 0xFF pack8 swap 0 swap addressing-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, target register -- output point)
+: dec-reg64
+  swap rex-w 0xFF pack8 swap 1 swap addressing-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: and-reg64-reg64
+  3roll rex-w 0x23 pack8 3unroll
+  reg64 swap addressing-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source value, target register -- output point)
+: and-reg68-imm8
+  3roll rex-w 0x83 pack8 swap
+  4 swap addressing-reg64
+  swap pack8 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: or-reg64-reg64
+  3roll rex-w 0x0B pack8 3unroll
+  reg64 swap addressing-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, source value, target register -- output point)
+: or-reg64-imm8
+  3roll rex-w 0x83 pack8 swap
+  1 swap addressing-reg64
+  swap pack8 ;
+
+~ (output point, source register, target register -- output point)
+: xor-reg64-reg64
+  3roll rex-w 0x33 pack8 3unroll
+  reg64 swap addressing-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, target register -- output point)
+: not-reg64
+  swap rex-w 0xF7 pack8
+  swap 2 swap addressing-reg64 ;
+
+
+~ Control flow instructions
+~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+~ (output point, left register, right register -- output point)
+: cmp-reg64-reg64
+  3roll rex-w 0x3B pack8 3unroll
+  reg64 swap addressing-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, left register, right register -- output point)
+: test-reg64-reg64
+  3roll rex-w 0x85 pack8 3unroll
+  swap reg64 swap addressing-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, condition code, target register -- output point)
+: set-reg8-cc
+  3roll 0x0F pack8
+  3roll condition-code 0x90 opcodecc
+  swap reg8 3 0 3roll modrm ;
+
+~ (output point, address offset value, condition code -- output point)
+: jmp-cc-rel-imm8
+  3roll swap condition-code 0x70 opcodecc
+  swap pack8 ;
+
+~ (output point, address offset value, condition code -- output point)
+: jmp-cc-rel-imm32
+  3unroll 0x0F pack8
+  swap condition-code 0x70 opcodecc
+  swap pack32 ;
+
+~ (output point, register -- output point)
+: jmp-abs-indirect-reg64
+  swap 0xFF pack8 swap
+  4 swap addressing-indirect-reg64 ;
+
+~ (output point, address offset value -- output point)
+: jmp-rel-imm8
+  swap 0xEB pack8
+  swap pack8 ;
+
+~ (output point, address offset value -- output point)
+: jmp-rel-imm32
+  swap 0xE9 pack8
+  swap pack32 ;
+
diff --git a/evoke.e b/evoke.e
index 869de31..9bc6979 100644
--- a/evoke.e
+++ b/evoke.e
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ~ (cat labels.e elf.e transform.e execution.e \
-~  echo 65536 read-to-buffer; \
-~  cat core.e core-plus.e log-load.e; \
+~  echo 131072 read-to-buffer; \
+~  cat core.e core-plus.e linux.e amd64.e execution-support.e log-load.e; \
 ~  echo pyrzqxgl; \
 ~  cat evoke.e) \
 ~     | ./quine > evoke && chmod 755 evoke && ./evoke
diff --git a/execution-support.e b/execution-support.e
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b668157
--- /dev/null
+++ b/execution-support.e
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+~ Execution support
+~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+~
+~   These macros are an important part of the execution model described in
+~ execution.e. They're here, in this file, because they need to be statically
+~ available via the label transform, so that the log-load transform can rely
+~ on them.
+
+
+~ Macro next
+~ ~~~~~~~~~~
+~
+~   Include this inline at the end of a word implemented in machine-code.
+~ Conceptually, it returns. What it actually does is do the next thing the
+~ caller would do, which is call the next word from the caller's array of
+~ word pointers.
+~
+~   This is a widespread technique in Forth implementation, referred to as
+~ indirect threaded code. It's "threaded" in the sense that each word takes
+~ responsibility for finishing up by following the notional thread through the
+~ metaphorical labyrinth to figure out the next word that its caller wants to
+~ run after it. In other words, control never directly returns to the parent,
+~ it proceeds directly to the sibling.
+~
+~ Registers in:
+~
+~ * rsi points to the address of the word to execute
+~
+~ Registers out:
+~
+~ * rax points to the codeword in the contents of the word that was executed
+~ * rsi points to the next word-address after this one
+~
+~ Flags
+~ * DF = 0 is required
+~
+~ (base address -- new base address)
+: pack-next
+  ~ Copy the next word's address from *rsi into rax. Increment rsi (as per the
+  ~ DF flag).
+  lods64
+
+  ~ Load the codeword from the word's contents, and jump to the interpreter it
+  ~ points to.
+  :rax jmp-abs-indirect-reg64 ;
+
+
+~ Macro beforenext
+~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+~
+~   Sometimes we want to transfer control from a word implemented in
+~ machine-code to another word, without coming back after, as if we were
+~ simply jumping to it. This is an innovation of ours; Jonesforth doesn't do
+~ it. It is similar to the tail-call optimization that many Lisp dialects
+~ have.
+~
+~   This implementation will work regardless of how the receiving word is
+~ implemented. It impersonates the "next" snippet, setting up rax to point
+~ to the codeword then jumping to the interpreter. Since it doesn't change
+~ the control stack or rsi, when the receiving word eventually invokes
+~ "next"; it will pick up in the same place as if this sending word had done
+~ it.
+~
+~   Thus, notionally we are doing just this one transfer of control before
+~ eventually getting around to inlining "next". Hence the name.
+~
+~ (target address, base address -- new base address)
+: pack-beforenext
+  ~ Do a permanent transfer of control by setting rax and invoking the
+  ~ codeword. Of course, we could jump to docol ourselves but this will work
+  ~ regardless of what the receiving codeword is.
+  :rax mov-reg64-imm64
+  :rax jmp-abs-indirect-reg64 ;
+
+
+~ Macros pushcontrol
+~        popcontrol
+~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+~
+~   Include these inline to push an address onto the control stack, or pop
+~ one off of it. You will recall the control stack is kept in rbp. The
+~ parameter is given in a user-specified register.
+~
+~   Jonesforth's analogous macros are called PUSHRSP and POPRSP but I think
+~ that's super confusing, since rsp is also the name of a register, but a
+~ different one. I guess it was less confusing in 32-bit, since esp doesn't
+~ start with an "r". Anyway, this has to be named something that
+~ distinguishes it from Intel's PUSH and POP opcodes, so...
+~
+~   "Load effective address" is just a cute way to do arithmetic on a
+~ register, here. To push or pop we decrement or increment rbp by 8. To
+~ actually interact with the space in the stack, we indirect through rbp.
+~
+~ Registers in and out:
+~
+~ * rbp points to the top of the control stack.
+~
+~ (source register, base address -- new base address)
+: pack-pushcontrol
+  swap :rbp -8 :rbp lea-reg64-disp8-reg64
+  swap :rbp 0 mov-disp8-reg64-reg64 ;
+
+~ (target register, base address -- new base address)
+: pack-popcontrol
+  :rbp 0 3roll mov-reg64-disp8-reg64
+  :rbp 8 :rbp lea-reg64-disp8-reg64 ;
+
diff --git a/execution.e b/execution.e
index 1b9e84d..c3f99f2 100644
--- a/execution.e
+++ b/execution.e
@@ -145,104 +145,8 @@
 ~
 ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
-
-~ Macro next
-~ ~~~~~~~~~~
-~
-~   Include this inline at the end of a word implemented in machine-code.
-~ Conceptually, it returns. What it actually does is do the next thing the
-~ caller would do, which is call the next word from the caller's array of
-~ word pointers.
-~
-~   This is a widespread technique in Forth implementation, referred to as
-~ indirect threaded code. It's "threaded" in the sense that each word takes
-~ responsibility for finishing up by following the notional thread through the
-~ metaphorical labyrinth to figure out the next word that its caller wants to
-~ run after it. In other words, control never directly returns to the parent,
-~ it proceeds directly to the sibling.
-~
-~ Registers in:
-~
-~ * rsi points to the address of the word to execute
-~
-~ Registers out:
-~
-~ * rax points to the codeword in the contents of the word that was executed
-~ * rsi points to the next word-address after this one
-~
-~ Flags
-~ * DF = 0 is required
-~
-~ (base address -- new base address)
-: pack-next
-  ~ Copy the next word's address from *rsi into rax. Increment rsi (as per the
-  ~ DF flag).
-  lods64
-
-  ~ Load the codeword from the word's contents, and jump to the interpreter it
-  ~ points to.
-  :rax jmp-abs-indirect-reg64 ;
-
-
-~ Macro beforenext
-~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-~
-~   Sometimes we want to transfer control from a word implemented in
-~ machine-code to another word, without coming back after, as if we were
-~ simply jumping to it. This is an innovation of ours; Jonesforth doesn't do
-~ it. It is similar to the tail-call optimization that many Lisp dialects
-~ have.
-~
-~   This implementation will work regardless of how the receiving word is
-~ implemented. It impersonates the "next" snippet, setting up rax to point
-~ to the codeword then jumping to the interpreter. Since it doesn't change
-~ the control stack or rsi, when the receiving word eventually invokes
-~ "next"; it will pick up in the same place as if this sending word had done
-~ it.
-~
-~   Thus, notionally we are doing just this one transfer of control before
-~ eventually getting around to inlining "next". Hence the name.
-~
-~ (target address, base address -- new base address)
-: pack-beforenext
-  ~ Do a permanent transfer of control by setting rax and invoking the
-  ~ codeword. Of course, we could jump to docol ourselves but this will work
-  ~ regardless of what the receiving codeword is.
-  :rax mov-reg64-imm64
-  :rax jmp-abs-indirect-reg64 ;
-
-
-~ Macros pushcontrol
-~        popcontrol
-~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-~
-~   Include these inline to push an address onto the control stack, or pop
-~ one off of it. You will recall the control stack is kept in rbp. The
-~ parameter is given in a user-specified register.
-~
-~   Jonesforth's analogous macros are called PUSHRSP and POPRSP but I think
-~ that's super confusing, since rsp is also the name of a register, but a
-~ different one. I guess it was less confusing in 32-bit, since esp doesn't
-~ start with an "r". Anyway, this has to be named something that
-~ distinguishes it from Intel's PUSH and POP opcodes, so...
-~
-~   "Load effective address" is just a cute way to do arithmetic on a
-~ register, here. To push or pop we decrement or increment rbp by 8. To
-~ actually interact with the space in the stack, we indirect through rbp.
-~
-~ Registers in and out:
-~
-~ * rbp points to the top of the control stack.
-~
-~ (source register, base address -- new base address)
-: pack-pushcontrol
-  swap :rbp -8 :rbp lea-reg64-disp8-reg64
-  swap :rbp 0 mov-disp8-reg64-reg64 ;
-
-~ (target register, base address -- new base address)
-: pack-popcontrol
-  :rbp 0 3roll mov-reg64-disp8-reg64
-  :rbp 8 :rbp lea-reg64-disp8-reg64 ;
+~   The macros next, beforenext, pushcontrol, and popcontrol are implemented
+~ in execution-support.e. It's a good idea to go read about them now.
 
 ~ Constants
 ~ ~~~~~~~~~
diff --git a/labels.e b/labels.e
index 253488e..27752aa 100644
--- a/labels.e
+++ b/labels.e
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@
   0 swap
   ~ TODO every time you double this to fix a crash, you must publicly
   ~ apologize for deferring a real fix. those are the rules
-  0x4000 allocate dup
+  0x10000 allocate dup
   ~ (iteration count, execution token, output start, output point)
   { 3 pick 100 > }
   { 2 pick execute 4 roll 1+ 4 unroll
diff --git a/linux.e b/linux.e
index ce0b9b7..c7e9bb3 100644
--- a/linux.e
+++ b/linux.e
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-~ ~~ System calls ~~
-~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+~ ~~ System calls for the Linux kernel ~~
+~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 ~
 ~   The kernel preserves every register except rax, rcx, and r11. The system
 ~ call number goes in rax, as does the return value. Parameters go in rdi,
diff --git a/log-load.e b/log-load.e
index 71324f2..100211c 100644
--- a/log-load.e
+++ b/log-load.e
@@ -98,6 +98,14 @@
 ~ abstractions which would make it difficult or inefficient to work directly
 ~ with these topics. So, in understanding Evocation, it's important to know
 ~ about handles.
+~
+~   Some of these bootstrap words rely on being able to invoke assembler words
+~ that output machine code. Therefore, those words must be available at
+~ runtime. Since nothing can be dynamically available at runtime until after
+~ we've already run the log-load routine, which relies on the stuff in this
+~ file, the assembler words must be statically available via the label
+~ transform. That means their definitions in arm64.e must be loaded before
+~ this file.
 
 
 ~   Find-in is the main word that provides the capability to look up words by
@@ -267,9 +275,52 @@
   mov-reg64-imm64
   ~ (log address, here, output point)
 
-~   :rax push-reg64
+  :rax push-reg64
   pack-next
   8 packalign
 
   swap ! ;
 
+
+~   A keyword is a word that evaluates to its own address, which makes it
+~ suitable for use as a constant. By convention, all our keywords have names
+~ starting with a colon, which imitates the way they work in Common Lisp.
+~
+~   Specifically, it returns its own execution token. Thus, executing its
+~ result repeatedly will keep giving the same value. We aren't in the habit of
+~ doing quote-exec kinds of things in Evocation, but it seems as good as any
+~ other unique value, so we might as well.
+~
+~   Unlike CL, we don't currently have the lexer automatically create keywords
+~ for us; we create them explicitly. Even if we did someday have it be
+~ automatic, the log-load routine would need a way to do it explicitly, which
+~ is this.
+~
+~   It's kind of a pain to look up the appropriate "docol" from here, so we
+~ do it in assembler instead.
+~
+~ (log address, string pointer -- log address)
+: log-load-keyword
+  log-load-create
+  ~ (log address)
+
+  log-load-here @ dup
+  ~ (log address, self execution token, output point)
+
+  dup 8 + pack64
+  ~ (log address, self execution token, output point)
+
+  swap :rax mov-reg64-imm64
+  ~ (log address, output point)
+
+  :rax push-reg64
+  pack-next
+  8 packalign
+  ~ (log address, output point)
+
+  swap log-load-here
+  ~ (output point, log address, here)
+  swap 3unroll
+  ~ (log address, output point, here)
+  ! ;
+
diff --git a/transform.e b/transform.e
index 7f3d9ef..0c39489 100644
--- a/transform.e
+++ b/transform.e
@@ -410,6 +410,24 @@ allocate-transform-state s" transform-state" variable
   ; make-immediate
 
 
+~ TODO there should really be an actual word that this alternate is replacing
+~
+~ (string pointer --)
+: label-keyword-alternate
+  Lcreate
+
+  here @ dup
+  ~ (self execution token, output point)
+  dup 8 + pack64
+  swap :rax mov-reg64-imm64
+  ~ (output point)
+  :rax push-reg64
+  pack-next
+  8 packalign
+  here !
+  ; make-immediate
+
+
 ~   Because docol requires it, we provide a special mini-version of the label
 ~ system. We only do L@' and L!', because that's all we need. These are real
 ~ labels; there can be arbitrarily many of them, and they can have forward
@@ -482,6 +500,8 @@ allocate-transform-state s" transform-state" variable
   dup s" ;asm" stringcmp 0 = { swap drop ' L;asm swap } if
   dup s" L@'" stringcmp 0 = { swap drop ' label-L@'-alternate swap } if
   dup s" L!'" stringcmp 0 = { swap drop ' label-L!'-alternate swap } if
+  dup s" keyword" stringcmp 0 = {
+    swap drop ' label-keyword-alternate swap } if
   drop swap
   ~ (name as stack string, 0 or alternate entry pointer, name pointer)